President Obama clearly is upset with the "games" being played in the budget negotiations.

I assume he's made a call to Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to voice his complaints.

To the President's credit, he's eager to host additional meetings to prevent a government shutdown...as he should be.

You can prevent the shut-down, Mr. President.

The Republicans have no choice but to blink at this moment in time.

President Obama has called them and certain Democrats out to own up to whatever it is that they have.

TEA drama aside, this is a done deal. But I will not be surprised if Rand Mconnell totally flunks econ 101 to all for the sake of sounding arrogant and ignorant.

Bout time.

Giggidy

:^X

Which way america.......dice and cut. reality rules.

Acting like grownups? That's a tall order for the childish baggers who have been taught that taking their ball home is better than negotiating compromise. Jack wagons!

President Obama will end up looking like the adult in the room if there is a government shut down. The Teapublicans will end up looking like spoiled, arrogant children who just can't seem to understand that what they are trying to do is dictate to the majority.

What majority exactly, Tom? The 47% who pay no fed income tax but recieve 70% of the gov handouts? That majority? Anyone who has a dog in the fight wants the gov to cut till it is agonizing.

The billions of dollars in lost tax revenue to the banks and corps is not a government hand-out. Please!

act like adults ,hell they are the best actors we got in this country,, why not just be adults for once and stop thinking about there fat ass retirement program and do what they are really paid for once !!!!!!!!!!

Obama said the American people expect both sides to "act like grownups" and not focus on scoring political points. Americans are worrying about gas prices and jobs, and that's what the government should be focused on, he said.

While the president said Democrats were willing to offer additional proposals for cuts, he did not offer specifics

Another shining example of leadership. Try to broker a deal, but don't twist the arms of your own party leadership to do the grown up thing. The reality that the public is no longer buying his rhetoric or believing the lip service that he gives, may eventually sink into Mr Obama's head, but apparently not yet.. They have seen his weak leadership and been given a dose of his failed policies and practices and don't like them. They are also seeing, especiaclly on foreign policy issues, that Obama has had to come to grips with the reality that what Mr. Bush was doing while in office was not borne of his political ideology, but of necessity. The same necessity that has forced Obama to adhere to many of the same foreign policies and practices of the Bush administration, albeit via a much weaker delivery/implementation.

On domestic policy he has been way worse and has failed to demonstrate any leadership capabilities. Take the budget, for example. he failed to submit a timely budget proposal for 2011, when he had full control over Congress in 2010. And then when he finally got around to making his proposed budget, welll into the 2011 fiscal year, it failed to address the things he stated we need to address to keep the economy heading in the right direction. The following are direct quotes from Mr.Obama:

To kick these problems down the road for another four years or another eight years would be to continue the same irresponsibility that led us to this point. That's not why I ran for this office. I didn't come here to pass on our problems to the next President or the next generation

We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people's pockets.

But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.

Now, even after paying for what we spent on my watch, we will still face the massive deficit we had when I took office. More importantly, the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will continue to skyrocket. That's why I've called for a bipartisan, Fiscal Commission, modeled on a proposal by Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Kent Conrad. This can't be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem. The Commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline

Moreover, just before the Nov elections Mr. Obama was warning that, after the new year, tough choices would have to be made to cut spending and reduce the deficit. However, Mr. Obama has clearly been a man of empty rhetoric and not one of action. His bluff is now being called. Repubs need to stick to the will of the voters and force Mr Obama and the Dems to live up to their rhetoric. Given Mr. Obama's words he should be forcing Harry Reid to accept what needs to be done.Instead, he is enabling stubborn resistence to what is needed to be done to deal with the reality of our situation.

Mr. Obama's lack of leadership and failure to adhere to his own words have been stunning. First, he failed to timely submit a proposed 2011 budget in 2010. This was obviously politically motivated, as he knew that if the budget he eventually did propose, well into 2011, was put before the voters before the Nov elections, members of his party would have suffered even larger defeats at the polls than the massive drubbing they suffered in Nov..

Second, the budgets Mr Obama has proposed in the past and the budget he belatedly proposed for 2011, all substantially increased deficit spending and the debt. While his proposed budget for 2011 slowed the rate of deficit spending, it still increased deficit spending. No real cuts were proposed. If that isn't kicking the can down the road, I don't know what is!

Third, Mr. Obama's proposed budget lacks tough choices and is utterly a failure when it comes to providing the leadership needed to tackle the tough choices. To the contrary, it encourages the "Progressives" to continue calling for massive big government spending with no end in sight. And he is not working with Republicans to get the tough meaningful choices enacted that will actually reduce spending and the deficit, as opposed to merely reducing the rate of increase in both, as he and the Dems continually propose.

Fourth. Mr Obama was so insistent upon having a deficit reduction commission put in place that he bypassed Congress, because they were not willing to spend the money on the Commission, and issued an executive order forming the Commission. Yet when the Commission came out with its recommendations Obama did the exact opposite of what he said he would do, and ignored virtually every recommendation they made when he issued his belated proposed budget. Indeed the Commission was yet another Washington gimmick and waste of taxpayer dollars, put in place by Mr. Obama. It was designed solely to try and placate voters into thinking that Mr Obama was serious about addressing deficit spending and the crisis level debt we are now saddled with. Which he has exponentially increased during his term in office. Which, by the way, he would continue to increase if Congress would only allow him to have his way on the budget.

I guess Mr Obama was correct, when he stated that he didn't go to Washington to pass our current problems onto the next President or generation. What he didn't tell us is that he planned on passing along even bigger problems to both.

I'm hoping that the American people have had there fill of the Tea Baggers and maybe by the next election they should be gone.

The Republicans refuse to remove the policy riders that are a sticking point in the negotiations. It is not just about the budget, it's about Republicans using the budget as a vehicle to defund specific programs to appease their base and not wanting to back away from that. Boehner said so himself just today. It is far beyond time for the GOP to do what is best for all americans, not just their base. If a lack of agreement leads to government shutdown you can blame the Republican party.

the countdown is on....only a couple more days before obama has to sell out on the liberals for the umpteenth time. Now libs repeat after me. "thank you mr president may i have another kick in the teeth"

Wow! act like grownups.

Seems that with many democrats believing that we are facing a future debt crises why is it that obama and company can't come up with a compromise plan? Has he no faith in or no control over reid and the democrat controlled senate? Does he still consider that the American public wants to support his ideas for Americas future and blow off our mounting debt as inconsequential?

Obamas dream FY2012 budget contains an estimated $73 billion in cuts, the republicans are looking at $61 billion in cuts for FY 2011. Unless the democrats don't support obamas dream budget why can't they counter the republican plan with $61 billion in cuts of their own? Last I knew 73 is a greater number than 61.

Seems more like the democrats and obama still don't want bipartisan legislative action on the issue of budgets. Same ol' same old. Obama says it is "my way or the highway!"

How interesting that he is incapable of leading America to a sustainable future. Can hardly wait for the FED to start raising the cost of borrowing $$$. All those additional billions being required to service our ever increasing debt.

Should we really need to support politicians who want to continually kick the can down the road?

Obama has become a master at the game of kick the can.

How to grow jobs, energy, the economy, remain competitive, and eliminate the deficit:

1. Legislatively remove the anti-trust exemption for insurance, The McCarran-Ferguson Act. Then Repeal Obamacare as unnecessary.
2.. Legislatively restrict the wetlands definition of "navigable waters of the United States" in the Clean Water Act.
3. Fund and begin construction of power generation and water supply projects necessary to meet future population and industrial demands.
4. Remove all geographic restrictions on oil and natural gas drilling, and use the power of federal money transfers to the States to prevent States and local governments from interfering with drilling.
5.. Remove environmental restrictions and environmental and social impact requirements for all infrastructure and utility construction for the next 10 years.
6.Cut Federal budget by 10% excluding defense, starting with those duplicative items identified in the 3/1/11 GAO report and Presidents Debt Commission, however, maintain current spending for infrastructure construction, repair and upgrade for the next 5 years. Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act.
7. Reduce corporate tax rates by 50%. Reduce Corporate tax rates by 70% on private utilities and transport companies.
8. Reinstitute significant tax and assistance payments for residential and commercial alternative energy instillations, particularly focusing on residential solar. Use Commerce Clause to force all electrical utilities to be reverse metering.
9. Subsidies the further development of electric and hybrid electric cars. Provide significant tax breaks and incentives for the purchase of same, particularly when combined with the purchase of a residential solar instillation within two years of one another. This is no longer a simple market issue, but one of national security as the time to substitution is longer than the economy can withstand when confronted with a supply side shock
10. Eliminate the Ethanol subsidy for any and all processes using foodstuffs. Redirect monies to nuclear and coal. Streamline regulation of new construction of nuclear power plants and provide incentives for same. Open Yucca Mountain as originally agreed.
11. Eliminate any power of the EPA to regulate Carbon.
12. Use the power of the Federal purse to eviscerate Kelo v. City of New London, 545 U.S. 469 (2005) and Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, 535 U.S. 302 (2002),
13. Repeal the Community Reinvestment Act.
14. Hold congressional investigations into the roll of the Community Reinvestment Act, Freddie and Fannie in inflating demand and thus prices resulting in the collapse of the real estate market.
15. Build a wall embedded with sensors and toped with razor wire along both our borders, beginning with the southern one. In the name of national security remove all environmental restrictions and environmental and social impact requirements for the construction of same.
16 Pass legislation that all jurisdictions receiving federal monies of any sort are required to enforce all of the laws of the land, including enforcement of federal immigration laws.

17. Restrict the collective bargaining power of State civil service unions in line with the 1978 Federal Civil Service Reform Act
18. Scrap the tax code and adopt a flat-tax that will build the size of the pie (and thus tax revenues) for everyone instead of the Obama class warfare of trying to redistribute a shrinking one.

19. Revisit New York Times v. Sullivan and remove the "actual malice" requirement to improve the quality, objectivity and accuracy of media reporting,

How bout this?

I think the Democrats need to go on offense and tell the Republic party that they will not go for their budget proposal unless it includes a 100% categorical passing of the Employee Free Choice Act in its original form totally intact.

Paraphrasing the words of the republic party: "Anything less than 100% is unacceptable".

Clever how the Democrats couldn't be bothered to deal with the budget in 2009 when they should have but now blame the Republicans for delaying the process. Seems if they'd done what they should have when they should have they'd have passed anything they wanted because the republicans couldn't have stopped it but their fears of reelection were greater than their sense of duty to the American people. Its time to take ownership of the bed they created and now lie in.

My budget?

Close 90% of our bases, everywhere. Perhaps one token small base on every continent. That's all. Furlough the troops, bring them home to U.S. soil. Defend the Land of the Free ONLY!!

Stop all military initiatives around the planet. Cease all non-essential military spending unless directly related to defense of American soil and our homeland. Japan, S. Korea, Israel,...sorry, but yer' on yer' own. Common-sense weapons systems expenditures. Let's see, last year's defense budget was $717 Billion (that amounts to a TARP fund EVERY year). Saving 90% of our defense by minding our own flippin' business would save us $6.453 trillion over 10 years. Debt to China, paid.

End tax loopholes for corporations shipping jobs overseas. Companies incorporated overseas can pay a 90% tariff for the privilege of selling their goods in the world's largest market economy. Apply rigid, vigilant enforcement, post enormous rewards / incentives to turn in violators.

End tax breaks for the rich pigs that are exploiting America's situation now.

Pass EFCA.

End all but humanitarian aid to other countries, yes I think Libya qualifies.

Tell China they can't manipulate currency anymore, nor import goods without a 25% tariff. Back it up with US warships if you need to. Sink their cargo freighters while they're still at sea approaching the U.S.

Dissolve NAFTA.

Fund Soc. Security and make it a lock box that neither party can raid and stuff with IOU's.

Make taking bribes ("campaign contributions") a felon offense on par with treason. Enforce it. Hang a couple of Senators to show you mean business.

Enact public funding for political campaigns only. Take the $$$ out of politics.

This is very wise advice Mr. President, and all parties had better be listening. Our President needs to take the lead on the budget issue, and he needs to stand his ground. The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) are not going listen. They believe in keeping the destruction of all economic policies that represent fairness for all. The rich must become richer, the large corporations must become larger, and the large insurance companies must gain more profits. The Wall Street Bankers must get a blank check everytime they ask for one. The elderly and the disabled do not need Government Health Care programs. This is what an individual would hear in a closed door meeting of the GOP/RNC. They will have no problem hiding their viper like fangs in public with big smiles, and little sharp comments filled with rude sarcasism. Progressive Power!!

Ok, so 5 months after an election where where the collective right and blinded angry independants were convinced by paid corporate propaganda to back right wing "fiscal responsibility" (thank you Citizens United), these elected House Republicans have already shoved a continuation of Bush tax cuts of 700B to the wealthy down the administrations throat.

The main point for today is simple - we would be able to reduce the deficit by over 600B and NONE of this petty garbage regarding the current budget would be necessary if the Republican side had not bent us all over for the corporations and the wealthy on the Bush tax cuts. This line of conduct in reality is the epitomy of a bribe, a purchased treason by the elected members of our government. If the people of this country still cannot see what is happening, or are too fat dumb and lazy to make themselves aware, the promise of America has accelarated its decline phase of the new millenium.

Again, what is the theory there, oh that it will create jobs. Of course, it worked, there are 50,000 new McJobs coming out ensuring exactly what the corporations want - those 50,000 jobs for pennies will get snapped up, the corporate directors will be getting million dollar bonuses through their foresight and control of the masses will have been advanced. Now, here comes Mr. Ryan, and he launches the Final Corporate design. This was always the plan and the nation enthusiastically did it to itself. Hopefully, the seniors and dullard independants that bought into the right wing fear garbage will see through it and realize that this is all part of the corporate power play that will further centralize the power to the wealthy, and require the rest of us to work longer, harder and for less while the ultra rich solidify their walls.

Logically, the middle and lower economic classes should all be in favor of 2nd Amendment rights. Once someone is older or cannot work, or more to the point cannot live as a family beyond poverty because of the corporate power over your income, people should have something to fight back with. However, since the right wingers have most of the guns, the Progressives would get their butts shot off...however, I digress.

Is America ready to get its collective skull out of its butt and stand up for the rights of the individual is it ready to put a stop to the corporate wealth takeover that is happening right in front of our noses? The danger is clear and present - the legislative and judicial branches are seeding the way for corporations to dictate terms of living in their world to the commonparts of this nation, ensuring themselves of ready service, continualy accrual of weath and power, yet the disparity become one that engenders rage and reaction. We see the Libyan tribals as barbaric buffoons making a valient and righteous fight for freedom but what is the difference when a quality of life disparity by munipulation is done by a whacko leader with bad Botox or the faceless powerholders of the giant corporations? Both have no liability or penalty that can be levied upon them, who is to say which is more uncaring of those it rules. If we are still too blind then we deserve the serfdom that the corporate greed and political cowardice will award us.

The Republican's and even tea baggers have some good ideas. Stop the immigration invasion (that's what it is, whether you want to admit it or not) and prevent the citizenship of anchor babies, STOP sending all humanitarian money overseas until we have a budget surplus, make some cuts, and police the entitlement system, and as I mentioned above, make sure we can stay armed so even if the corporations do take over, we can fight back someday. That being said, if a poor person votes Republican, it might be a good policy to prevent that particular person from owning a firearm due to inherent stupidity.

Sad part is we can dig ourselves out and comfortably provide for our citizens if we worked together and governed as a people, not as drones of greedy elite corporate minders..is it too late? Will it be the ultimate irony that the religious right, the backbone of the Republicans, will condemn this nation to eventual oblivion through the sin of greed? Or, are people really smart enough to through this and stop the thievery. Stay tuned....

Adults spend less than they make.  So if the president settles for anything less than a balanced budget, then no one is acting like an adult.

Stop the spending.  Don't try to take more from the taxpayers until you prove you can manage what you've already taken by balancing the budget and keeping spending under control.

As long as the budget is not balanced, no sane tax payer should even consider any form of tax increase.  They have to prove they can be responsible with what they are collecting now before a single dime more should be sent to DC.

Acting like children....well, let the "biggest child" lead.....go ahead Obama

The "cutters" are missing one huge point here - American technology, creativity and development of products and services all the way through every single step of the supply chain to manufacturing and sale of exports has been surgically removed from our economy by tax policies that encourage outsourcing instead of hiring US workers, manufacturing on US soil and the education, infrastructure & communication that makes American production possible. The revenues from each and every step are missing from the revenues we have to spend on every level of government. The "cuts" to match that loss rather than Spending to reestablish what has been lost is the death knell for the American economy. Keep cutting...don't look deeper at the reasons we shouldn't be cutting. Keep blaming instead of making a little effort to understand. Better yet...step aside and let the adults handle this.

Thanks Obama for showing up to the party at the last sec. this way if either side decides to bend and work together he can take credit for it. Come on Hillary it's time to announce you are getting in the Pres. race. You should have won 2008 you will win 2012.

 WTF are those cracker Tea Partians doing????  Who gonna get me my goverment services????  It's like these angry white men think it's real money.  Maybe Barack needs to give'em da' tour of da' Treasury, show'em Da' machine dat makes Da' coin man.......