<p>For all the hyped indignation over GOP "anarchism," there has been remarkable media reticence about the president's intransigence. He has refused to negotiate anything unless the Republicans fully fund the government and raise the debt ceiling unconditionally.</p><p>For all his protestations about protecting the full faith and credit of the United States jittery markets are showing that his brinkmanship could have precisely the opposite effect the president's real intent is to score a humiliating victory over the GOP.</p><p>So far, so good. Republicans have fallen to 28 percent approval, the lowest level ever for either party in 21 years of polling and a staggering 10-point drop in the last month. Democrats have also declined, but only four points and, in the end, partisan politics is a zero-sum game. If you lose less than the other guy, you win because every seat in Congress will be allocated to one party or the other, no matter how disgusted the country is with both.</p><p>To be sure, the administration has, as always, overplayed a good hand, with punitive shutdowns such as of the World War II Memorial clearly intended to be blamed on the GOP.</p><p><a href="http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20131012/wire/131019909">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20131013/OPINION01/310130058/Another-View-There-s-a-way-out-of-D-C-s-latest-mess?Frontpage">Another View: There&#039;s a way out of DC&#039;s latest mess</a> (DesMoinesRegister.com)</p><p><a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-charles-krauthammer-101313-20131011,0,7879135.column">As nation nears debt ceiling, the way out becomes clear</a> (Orlando Sentinel)</p><p><a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/56987323-82/ceiling-debt-president-obama.html.csp">Krauthammer: Obama will blink on debt ceiling</a> (Salt Lake Tribune)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dnwDrMxJkVlcwgMK8K2U357Pf_elM&ned=us">7,406 additional articles.</a></p>