If I negotiated my salary at work like Obama and the Democrats negotiate for things, I’d be living under an overpass eating banana peels and discarded fast food wrappers.

It’s a general principle in negotiating that you at first ask for much more than you think you are likely to get – rather than as Obama does to make massive concessions from the beginning in the hopes of bringing your opponent to you.

This never works.

For instance, the last time I was up for salary review I did something completely absurd – I demanded a 40 percent salary increase.

I am pretty good at my job and am a bit underpaid, so I can get away with things like that. Now I knew I’d not get 40 percent. But I knew if I didn’t fight for it, I’d get nothing — which is exactly what a lot of people did get.

In fact because my company did not have a great year last year mostly due to acquisition expenses being much larger than expected, most people did not get a raise above inflation nor a large bonus.

However because of my negotiating (and being in a position to do so) I got a raise above 9 percent and my bonus was larger than the year prior. In addition, I got a promotion I didn’t even ask for I think mostly due to my boldness.

That’s how you fucking begin negotiating.

What the hell Obama and team are doing I have no idea, but I’d use words like “sniveling” and “pusillanimous” and “spineless” rather than anything to do with how one should negotiate.