Speaker of the House John Boehner has changed his mind. After months spent engaged in talks with President Obama in an attempt to avoid budget-slashing government sequestration—which hits today!—he now believes that no negotiation is probably the best policy.

Both President Obama and Congressional Democrats are trying to cajole Boehner back into discussions in an attempt to halt the automatic budget cuts that should take effect later today, but the Speaker is now refusing to even discuss an increase in revenue. Negotiations with the Democrats, Boehner says, were really about:

"How much more money do we want to steal from the American people to fund more government. I'm for no more."

Boehner's promised that he won't engage in any more one-on-one negotiations with President Obama. And wouldn't you know? House Republicans are proud of their man for standing strong. Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana said:

"I think Friday will be an important day that shows we're finally willing to stand and fight for conservative principles and force Washington to start living within its means. And that will be a big victory."

The "big victory," of course, means that rebellious conservatives won't challenge Boehner's speakership.

[New York Times, image via Getty]