Negotiate with Myself
This repeat offense probably pre-dates Dubya's tenure in the White House, as he started performing it within days of his installation in 2001. Dubya's use of the concept of negotiating with himself seems aimed at allowing him to avoid saying anything specific in public.

1. I'm certainly not willing to negotiate with myself. Particularly in your column. (Jan. 24, 2001)
2. Another chance to negotiate with myself? (Mar. 29, 2001)
3. Of course, we ought to talk the top rate. But, see, you're trying to do what Gregory tried to get me to do, which is negotiate with myself again. (Mar. 29, 2001)
4. John, we're going to get a good bill. I mean, one of the things I've learned is not to try to negotiate with you or me on national TV. (Apr. 25, 2001)
5. One thing I've learned, Karen, is not to negotiate with myself, particularly in front of cameras. (Sep. 17, 2003)
6. But let me just give you one — this is a chance now to kind of start laying the groundwork for future questions. The great desire for people in Congress is for me to negotiate with myself. (Dec. 15, 2004)
7. Now, the temptation is going to be, by well-meaning people such as yourself, John, and others here, as we run up to the issue to get me to negotiate with myself in public. (Dec. 20, 2004)
8. I just want to try to condition you. I'm not doing a very good job, because the other day in the Oval when the press pool came in I was asked about this — a series of question on — a question on Social Security with these different aspects to it. And I said, I'm not going to negotiate with myself. And I will negotiate at the appropriate time with the law writers. And so thank you for trying. (Dec. 20, 2004)
9. I will try to explain how without negotiating with myself. It's a very tricky way to get me to play my cards. I understand that. (Dec. 20, 2004)
10. REPORTER: Good morning, Mr. President. I'd like to ask you on Social Security, you said that you don't like to come to the table with — having negotiated with yourself. Yet, you have ruled out tax cuts and no cuts in benefits for the retired and the near retired. I wonder how you square that statement. And also, what do you — in your mind, what is near retired?
    DUBYA: Yes, well, that's going to fall in the negotiating with myself category. (Dec. 20, 2004)
11. And I — look, I can understand why people say, make — force the President to either negotiate with himself, or lay out his own bill. I want to work with members of both political parties. (Mar. 16, 2005)
12. REPORTER: Mr. President, I'd like to ask you, Nancy Pelosi has been quite clear about her agenda for the first 100 hours. She mentions things like raising minimum wage, cutting interest rates on student loans, broadening stem cell research, and rolling back tax cuts. Which of those can you support, sir?
    DUBYA: I knew you'd probably try to get me to start negotiating with myself. (Nov. 8, 2006)