Obama urged to improve his negotiating skills

A week ago, Barack Obama was being called "the world's worst poker player".

That's because in the eyes of New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, the president was a shitty negotiator with Republicans in Congress.

Now, a veteran hostage negotiator has stepped forward with some advice on how Obama can improve in this area.

Former New York homicde detective R. Scott Wagner told Greg Sargent of the Washington Post that he needs to persuade Republicans that they are totally isolated.

Obama also must demonstrate that they have no choice but to cooperate with him.

“He has to let them know he’s in control of the situation, but it has to be very delicately played," Wagner saysin the article. "The hostage taker has to feel that he’s an active participant in determining his own fate.”