One of the easiest ways to identify an amateurish negotiator is the issuance of obviously empty threats.  Yesterday, Barack Obama issued one of the emptiest political threat in modern American history when he stomped out of the debt-ceiling negotiations yesterday in a fit of pique:

“Eric, don’t call my bluff. I’m going to the American people with this.”

Really?  Then Obama will be in for a very rude awakening when he finally meets the American people:

• Gallup: Americans paying attention oppose debt-ceiling increase almost 2-1
• CBS poll shows 69% opposed to a debt-ceiling increase
• Poll: Majority support a balanced budget amendment
• Poll shows more people concerned about national debt than national default
• Poll shows Americans getting more pessimistic on economy, want spending cuts
• Americans oppose raising debt ceiling by more than 2-1 in Gallup survey
• CBS poll shows Americans oppose debt-ceiling hike 2-1
• Hill poll shows 62% opposed to raising the debt ceiling

The people have been taking it to Barack Obama since the midterm elections.  Maybe he should do less stomping and a lot more listening.

Bonus Obamateurism: Whose idea was it at the White House to start whining about Eric Cantor’s manners as a reason for Obama’s fit of petulance?  If he can’t handle Eric Cantor without losing it, just how can we trust him to deal maturely with foreign leaders who might harbor actual animus towards American and Obama?

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at [email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.

Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!