OK Feisty old gal - 'splain it to me.

Yesterday Obama said he is "here" and expects the debt problem to be solved.

Today his spokesman says Obama will not participate.

How do YOU reconcile these two positions?

To Quote Fiesty:

About time someone tells it like it is!

I would be happy if Obama showed any type of leadership. Leading from behind would be better than what this man does.

PS: Keep it up Teapublican's - you ain't seen NOTHING yet!

Ahhh, how cute Feisty is now reduced to making personal threats.

Hey Feisty, again old gal, this really might be the right time to just power that computer off.

President Obama has "diminished" HIS office? Don't make me laugh.

This passes WELL below the level of dignity and respect that you would expect for members of Congress. How anyone can say that Obama has "diminished" the office beyond what was left to him by his "diminished capacity" predecessor is completely beyond me.

If the President spoke to Congress with derision, as I have heard charged, then he was wrong, too. But to be frank, if anyone has earned derision, it's Congress -- on BOTH sides of the aisle.

Good afternoon, everyone. So glad to see everyone in such a congenial mood. Lovely.

Hi Feisty,

It looks like Cornyn is acting like a Dick.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Cornyn the guy who devoted his time and energy to secret attempts at saving the bacon of Senator John Ensign? Like Ensign had NOT "diminished" HIS office?

How dignified was THAT?

Spanky ol' boy -

I think Feisty may have you on" ignore" so, if I am not stepping out of bounds here, allow me to 'splain it to you.

The President IS "here" doing his job and working diligently while the tea-uts, wing-nuts and Republicans refuse to perform the tasks they were elected to do and have campaigned upon the promise that they WOULD do. Get it yet?

NOTE: Since these Norquist pledgers refuse to do what they are taking our money to do, they WILL be gone Nov. 2012, wait and see.

Meanwhile, they should get off the President's back and work to try to solve the troubles this nation is now in.

Splained enough for ya?

Who will hold elected officials like Rep. Cantor (R) accountable? Mr. Cantor has investment 'shorts' that will pay him returns if the debt ceiling collapses. Again, this means Cantor will get cash returns if the US defaults on its debts for the first time in US history.

The door to the President has been open all along in the deficit and debt debate. He has met with all parties involved in this process, and will continue to do so. To say otherwise is more than empty facile lying and it won't wash.

Tired of mollycoddlying the financial sector and its minions of crisis-creating, fear-mongering, zero conscience Republican dramatis personae.

It looks like Cornyn is acting like a Dick.

Which is no different then any other day! lol

As Anna Molly pointed out, he's the last person who should be calling anyone out, given he was involved in the Ensign scandal up to his beady little eyeballs!

I think Feisty may have you on" ignore"

Roger that my friend! Makes the FR experience all the more enjoyable now that I don't have to read Skanky and the 'skid marks' he leaves on thread to thread! ;o)

Good afternoon Not as,

Hopefully, Spanky can understand.

Terrific quote from Senator Cornyn on the subject of presidential leadership.

The irony of President Obama's criticism of the Congressional leadership will be lost on most at First Read, though.

They're perfectly happy when Obama is giving it...not so much when he's taking it.

You applaud a presser like yesterday's...fine.

Just don't pout when the other shoe drops, First Readers.

I don't see how all you DumbOcrats say the Republicans are not doing what they were sent there to do. They were sent there to save this country from all you Progressives / Socialist who want to do nothing but wealth redistribution

The immediate liberal reaction is to diminish Cornyn. This is liberal job 1. Don't like what a person says about the president so go after his past.

Cornyn happens to be correct. Obama is showing a total lack of leadership... he always has. It's very simple liberals... he has NO experience leading. NONE! Nada, zero, zip. It's not his fault, he's just the wrong guy for the job. Obama is underqualified, period! I know you don't like hearing it, but I wouldn't hire Obama to do anything other than community organizing. That he has experience in.

How mature of Carrot Top... ignoring people because she doesn't like what they say... what's new about that? She ignores any challenge from anyone and only loves the praise of those who agree with her. Guess she failed constructive criticism in grade school.

@ Job1. Thanks to Mark Halperin, it looks like the "low blow" has just become the new standard in political discourse.

LoL

@ Brianb ~ It's hard for me to see how one separates John Cornyn from his character, as best revealed by his fearless defense of the martyred John Ensign, as to which he has, in all probability, requested immunity from prosecution in exchange for his cooperation.

All in all, I think Cornyn is perhaps not the best model of "leadership" or "dignity" in Washington.

Thus, pot calling kettle black comes to my mind, and I don't think it's unfair criticism.

But whether I agree with you or not, President Obama is fair game for your criticism. You could have made your point, however, without also attacking Feisty.

Feisty-

You don't like Mark Halperin's name-calling?

Lol.

Go get 'em, Feisty.

That kind of behavior is completely unacceptable.

It seems to me that members of the Republican Congress expects the President to sit with them in a class room setting and instruct them how to fix the problem, just like they voted for the 2 wars, Rx for Medicare recipients, tax cuts for the rich before doing the Arithmetic, they don't know how to begin and need their teacher for guidance..I thought they were learned individuals..guess I was wrong.

President Obama hasn't diminished the office of the Presidency. The Republicans and the media are diminishing any kind of dignity this country has left.

President Obama is the only one in DC with class. And remember, money doesn't buy you class. Intelligence, maturity, dignity is what brings you class.

Something the media and Republicans and their supporters have zero of.

He's probably the hardest working president we have ever had.

I read that another state is having crop problems because of the undocumented workers who had to leave their state. That's two states.

Maybe Halperin can do that while he's out of work. The farms need help.

Glad to see Jay Carney called NBC over Halperin's statement.

Baby boomers. Worse than the gilded age. Much much much worse. Republicans are so used to getting a free pass. They don't quite know what to do.

They're supposed to be working for us. Unfortunately they don't know what the word means. Pathetic.

Can't take the heat from the White House. Well, to be fair - they've never had to. It's about freakin' time.

The journalists in this country let this happen. By looking the other way for years and years and years.

President Obama IS the "First Boomer", Pat.

I would like to see real leadership, I would like to see people who will stand on principals, and somebody who can agree with the other side without worrying about stepping on their party`s toes. This stalemate is going nowhere. Why can`t they just do their job, and stop playing games with our lives.

MB:

You applaud a presser like yesterday's...fine.

You're not talking about me, right? Because I didn't. But when mud is being slung at you from all sides, it gets pretty hard to resist slinging some of it back.

And I don't think Cornyn is in any position of moral authority to do any slinging at all. He's been in Congress for a long time, and why is it that the only thing I associate with him are the Ensign scandal and his ridiculous remarks about global warming? What has HE done to uphold the dignity of HIS office that would give him the right to criticize the President?

President Obama IS the "First Boomer", Pat.

Really?! How about Bush and Clinton?

These GOPers are really pieces of work. I listened to the entire press conference yesterday and absolutely nothing was said that was not true. If Senator Cornyn had listened to it, he would have known it was NOT a campaign speech. The republicans in the Senate have NOT done their jobs since Jan 20, 2009. Every word President Obama said about them was true. Cornyn's poutrage is proof--me thinks thou doest protest too much.

Anna Molly said: @ Brianb ~ It's hard for me to see how one separates John Cornyn from his character, as best revealed by his fearless defense of the martyred John Ensign, as to which he has, in all probability, requested immunity from prosecution in exchange for his cooperation.

Anna - I can say the exact same thing about Obama. Who did he get his support from while seeking public office? Who did he respect? Who did he hang out with? It wasn't nice people. Bill Ayres, Wright... Who did he put in his cabinet? Van Jones, a communist. How many tax cheats did he appoint?

What past did Obama have before coming president? His greatest achievement was being a community organizer. He voted present in the state legislation and was a half term US Senator...

Where has he led? What has he taken charge of? But you liberals find it perfectly acceptable that the most important position of this country needs no experience to run it. He's a slick talking, non starter.

To all you lefties, of course Obama has diminished the office of the President. Let's see for starters he has been to 37 fund raisers since taking office. (That's 7 times more than Bush during the same period). He wimped out on the Bush tax cuts, so now he owns them. (They are now Obama's tax cuts). As Commander in Chief he did not know the difference between a corpsman and a corpseman. (3 times he said corpseman when referring to a navy corpsman). As President he has awarded two Medal of Honors and can't remember which soldier was still living and which one was KIA. But you don't see nothing about this in the MSM or MSNBC. Added over 4 trillion in debt and has nothing to show for it. Unemployment still over 9 percent, economy still in the dumps despite his trillion dollar stimulus packages. Refuses to take part in debt reduction negotiations with congress, maybe it's above his pay grade. Keeps complaining about the amount of taxes paid by millionaires and billionaires yet when asked he thinks everyone over $250K pay to little tax. Obama is in so far over his head and his ego won't let him admit it.

Context, Anna Molly.

He is the current "First Boomer".

The big kahuna, numero uno, the "pres".

He is a "boomer", no?

What do you make of Feisty's outrage over Halperin's remark?

Don't you just love the irony, AM?

Or are you not allowed to discuss that either?

And no...I wasn't talking about you.

Care to take guess about who else I might have had in mind?

No...I don't imagine you would.

anna - so you have no problem in having obama having a lottery fund raiser for dinner with him and michelle at the WH? Still sending in them $5 checks?

How about his endless campaigning and fund raising events. Wasn't he elected to do more than this?? A job called POTUS? Seems that his only interest in the economy is his own personal bottom line.

Brianb.....red herrings, red herrings. We know what Cornyn and the rest of the republican congress is against...President Obama, but what are they for? For once the President stood up to them in public, I just wish he would do it more often. They are the do nothing party, and people are starting to pay attention and know who is trying to resolve the problems, and is sure isn't the Republican/TPrs.

Take your right wing talking points over to Faux News, there you'll feel more at home.

Brian, red herrings.

Sfcret, statements proven false.

American, staements proven false.

Can't you guys get your acts together?

I disagree with Cornyn's comments about diminishing the office of the Presidency.

However, the part that is more interesting to me is this:

He added that the president shouldn't be going to two fundraisers tonight

This could become a perception problem for the President. I certainly understand that unfortunately with Presidential campaigns being what they are, fundraising is hugely important. However, the average voter watching the nightly news last night saw the President essentially saying, "GET TO WORK!" Now, that same person is going to sit down with the nightly news tonight and see that the President attended two fundraisers. Anyone else think that this leads to a perception problem? Just something to ponder.

Frank - perception problem or not, it is CONGRESS' job to crafe legislation to get the debt ceiling raised.

Period.

Maybe the perception we have is that we have 535 petulant children that are NOT doing what they are supposed to do!

All the money that floats around is just ridiculous. The President needs to spend his time being President, not candidate. I am not much for federalism, but we need public campaign financing.

american:

anna - so you have no problem in having obama having a lottery fund raiser for dinner with him and michelle at the WH? Still sending in them $5 checks?

LoL Where on earth did you read that into anything I said, american? I questioned that one out here the other day. On the other hand, if Scott Walker can have a $2,000 per plate dinner, which he recently did, then what's the operative difference? In my opinion, both are wrong, even if both are "legal."

Bag Boy:

Care to take guess about who else I might have had in mind?

No...I don't imagine you would.

Nice try. The "boomer" joke was cute, though, and I got it the first time. Really.

By the way, I always love irony, Bag Boy. And there's plenty of it to be had out here. ;-)

Brianb:

Anna - I can say the exact same thing about Obama.

Okay, and I think you already did. But that wasn't my point. In fact, I said specifically that criticizing President Obama was fair game. But I also said that questioning Cornyn's credentials to make the remark he made, which is what I did -- and what you criticized -- is ALSO fair game, especially considering what Cornyn's credential are.

Non-sum-zero.

Frank -- it is too bad that the President of the US has to raise money privately so he can compete for the right to stay in office. How many people are currently fundraising on the Republican side? And the President is doing his fundraisers at night -- after hours. Does Sen. Cornyn hold fundraisers? Why yes he does!

kirby:

... am not much for federalism, but we need public campaign financing.

And you might even be more for federalism if we had it.

It isn't the "federalism" so much as it is the "federals" that are killing us.

Gingerbread Momma - What's the matter, don't you believe in free speech? I truly understand, you only believe in liberal free speech... if it's not in support of you liberals, we "right wingers" can take our talk elsewhere. My, how liberal of you! I have an update for you GBM... this is America where we all have freedom of speech and you don't arbitrate who can stay or leave. I have a suggestion for you... take your liberal talking points, if you have any, and go to Huffington Post and comment there. How do you like them apples?

What is it with you liberals? Your opinions are your opinions and they don't represent the conservative point of view. As a conservative, I realize that you think you are 100% correct and there is zero tolerance for any contrary viewpoint. What this means is that I will simply ignore your ignorance and choose to stay and stir the pot of calling liberals out on their beliefs thank you very much.

Anna Molly said: Okay, and I think you already did. But that wasn't my point. In fact, I said specifically that criticizing President Obama was fair game. But I also said that questioning Cornyn's credentials to make the remark he made, which is what I did -- and what you criticized -- is ALSO fair game, especially considering what Cornyn's credential are.

Non-sum-zero.

But yet MSNBC still wrote a story about it. The story created a lot of discussion in FR. Most of the discussion did nothing to change people's opinions. You feel Obama is qualified to be president and I don't. You feel he's doing a good job where I don't. Cornyn's comments had no effect on you and no effect on me. We still hold the same beliefs about the tactics of the other side. So I have to agree with you a zero sum gain.

No one in Congress, from either side, should complain about President Obama's "scolding." It's about time; they need a good "scolding." If our children behaved in the same fashion as Congress has been behaving, we would scold them.

fielden, Which of my statement are false? Maybe you can correct them, but I doubt it. Help me out here tell me where I am wrong.

Pietro, Yes it is the responsibility of congress to raise or not to raise the debt ceiling, but that does not mean the President has no imput. Remember Obama is the leader of the Democrats and he is the one telling Harry Reid and the democrats to do his negotiating . Believe me Obama has a lot to say about the pending vote on this and every other subject before congress.

Pietro and Kate...

Thanks for the responses. Pietro, I'm really just talking about perception with the average voter. Us political junkies have a better understanding of some of the political realities here.

Kate...absolutely, everyone fund raises. All I'm saying is that the TIMING of these two fundraisers could present a bit of a perception problem for the President with the average voter.

(Again, I'm not debating fault or who is responsible for coming up with what proposals...just talking perception here).

So what if he attended 2 fundraisers, is he not allowed personal time, I seem to read somewhere that slavery abolished and people have a little freedom, but the way the rep/TP behave you want a 24hr houseboy and Yea I used that word because that the way it looks, I will reserve the rest of my comment because it would not be nice when addressing you redn**Ks.

The White House said Obama had no plans to accept McConnell's invitation

"What the senator invited the president to do was to hear Senate Republicans restate their maximalist position. We know what that position is," Obama spokesman Jay Carney said. "He also invited the president to hear what would not pass. That's not a conversation worth having."

What the GOP/TP want is to pull the president down to their own despicable level and become embroiled in their own mess -- And to create opportunities for press coverage to tell more lies to the public. Likewise they are trying to hold the nation hostage to force Democrats to join them in destroying Medicare, because they are looking for a way out of the Paul Ryan fiasco they all signed on to.

The claims that the president is failing to lead, or is only interested in campaigning, etc. is the new attack in lieu of the Birther BS. No matter what the president does in the course of his normal duties, they will call it campaigning. I agree with the post above -- the first thing that came to mind when I read "diminishing" the presidency was Bush/Cheney, and how the Dixie Chicks were boycotted by conservatives because they spoke the truth about embarrassment.

Aside from the incredible popularity President Obama has worldwide, if anything he has protected executive powers, such as the War Powers Resolution. Heck, he has kept too much, such as the Patriot Act. It's just yet more hypocrisy from Republicans (who you'll note criticize in vague, general terms without providing a case and point like right-wingers posting here).

Speaking of which...

fielden

Brian, red herrings.

Sfcret, statements proven false.

American, staements proven false.

Can't you guys get your acts together?

In another thread yesterday, I suggested that these right-wing nuts take a Political Ideology test before they can post here. The right-wing has moved so far to the right they would be off-the-chart Unibombers or something. To them moderates, even in the Republican Party, are commies.

Pietro, Yes it is the responsibility of congress to raise or not to raise the debt ceiling, but that does not mean the President has no imput. Remember Obama is the leader of the Democrats and he is the one telling Harry Reid and the democrats to do his negotiating . Believe me Obama has a lot to say about the pending vote on this and every other subject before congress.

sfcret - you are correct that the President has a say in every piece of legislation that is crafted. My issues with this is that the Congress had NO PROBLEM crafting and passing legislation to raise the debt ceiling 7 times prior to this one.

So if the Congress could do it 7 times with NO 'Participation' from the President, what makes doing it again this time so difficult?

I know you know the answer to that question, but that just makes my point. The Congress DOESN'T WANT TO do their job, and they deserve the scolding and shaming that they are getting.

On another note, I hope all is going well for you. I t has been a while since I have responsed to any of your posts.

Brilliant idea True P. One question though - who gets to administer your little test?

I do wonder is the a left wing test, or is that just the entrance requirement for the Lib r us group?

But it is good to see you are in keeping with the discussion - you know the goose and the gander part.

Too funny.

Oh and Not as Stupid, that's not ignoring that the old gal is doing. That's just an inability to respond, which by the way is stupid. :)

"Leading from behind." "A failure of leadership." The right-wing, trash-talk, spin-machine spits this crap out, and the empty-headed half-wits repeat it again, and again, and again.

Leadership? Who is the Senate Minority Leader? Leader, did you catch that? It's not the President. He runs the Executive Branch. Yet here comes the Minority Leader who knows full well the President's schedule and that he has previous business, and cloyingly says his bunch would dearly love to meet with the President.

Why would the President meet with this lifetime government welfare recipient? McConnell has said from day one that his mission is to make the President fail. Is that off the table now? Ten freaking years we've been listening to the carved-in-stone mantra, "Tax cuts good, tax cuts good." What happened? Did we get a new verse?

If nothing else the G.O.P. renders any number of words to be less than meaningful. Disingenuous? Hypocrisy? Those words just don't begin to convey the utter lack of ethics and honor of the G.O.P. "leadership".

Anna -

You may be right. If we had people in office that were interested in serving it could and would be a better country. Money takes that all away. That is why we currently have something like 400 lobbyists per rep & senator.

Hey Frank - I got what you are saying. I forget sometimes that not everyone analyzes things like I do.

Pietro, Yes it has been a while since we have responded to each other. I am sure the President was involved in the previous 7 debt ceiling raises, but they were not publicized like this one, and I think one big reason is Obama is trying to make it a campaign issue. Somewhere the congress has got to say "no more raising the debt ceiling until we rein in spending." I can see maybe a raise in the debt ceiling for the next 3 or 4 months with a written agreement that it will be the last one until the spending issues have been taken care of. I also hope things are going well for you. Have a wonderful 4th of July holiday.

David Walker said: " The right-wing, trash-talk, spin-machine spits this crap out, and the empty-headed half-wits repeat it again, and again, and again.

Tell me David, do you just allow your fingers free roam on your keyboard to type this sort of garbage or do you do it with intent and hatred? Not sure if it takes a whole lot of thought to spew this, or is it simply ingrained into your personna.

BrianB,

I believe that its on page one of "I AM A LIBERAL" manual...

Brianb,

While I agree that Obama is NO President by any stretch of the imagination, I disagree that the only job he could perform is community organizer.

Obama is just glib enough to make a decent waiter in an upscale restaurant. Maybe a fair new car salesman. Beyond that though.....No. Afraid not.

Sfcret,

I don't think these Democrats could honor any 3 or 4 month agreement. The best way to deal with them is to pull the nipple completely out of their mouth. No debt limit increase.....period. Time to turn the Titanic around before we enter the Ice berg field.

But Obama's own budget projections have deficit (and I mean big) deficits into the future as far as the eye can see. We can deal with the debt or we can deal with SSI and Medicare but not the way the dems are claiming they are going to do it.

cant take it .. just like to dish it out ... The GOP/TP can only retreat .. no leadership

Brain B. Please explain how Obama can be a leader in the debt issue, when your side has stated they want it all, but give nothing. All non-partisan studies show the only way to get out of this mess is to have cuts AND increased revenue. Obama has come up with trillions in cuts, but isn't going to budge on tax breaks for oil companies, and the wealthy. I say that IS leadership... however, with a majority rules and they will be the ones who cause the default. Though I have recently read the constitution actually makes default impossible so Obama and continue to fund the govt. Oh wont the other side howl then.

feildon- obama isn't offerring a chance at winning dinner at the WH? Perhaps you can provide us with the link that says obama changed his mind on this?

On campaigning, he makes a stop in DC to give his first press conference since march, chastises congress for failure to lead and the very next day goes to PA for two fundraisers, not to mention an earlier trip to IA extolling on his presidency at the Alcoa plant.

Looks like you (feildon) have failed in keeping up with current events. Bet you didn't keep up with current events in HS either.

Just a reminder, on monday we americans will be celebrating our independance from england.

Wives fan - Leadership means that the leader has the ability to pull two diverse viewpoints into one of unity so that everyone moves forward.

A leader isn't going to imply that the well off (or business owners) need to do more because they can afford it. Comparing the allowable deduction for a jet to a kids college education or meeting our debt responsibilities to china vs throwing the poor and elderly under the bus is called fear mongering.

Wouldn't you expect a potus to be able to get along with congress? Reagan and clinton both showed the ability to work with a congress controlled by the opposition.

Let's pull a liberal move on you Robert. I'll bring up Bush. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, you don't like it, do you? I will criticize Obama when he does something stupid. Unlike you liberals that blamed Bush for everything, including steering Katrina towards New Orleans because you called him racist.

Obama's economic policies are ruining this country. Don't you feel it? Maybe not. I'm sure you are so secure in your job that you have NOTHING to worry about, eh? I'm sure you are so secure in the financial stability of this nation, you have NOTHING to worry about... Hell, blame the republicans... even though for the past 6 years the democrats ruled most of the financial matters of this country, and for 2 solid years it was complete democrat control. What? you missed that? Missed what? The fact that the democrats focused solely on that abortion of all socialist bills... the ACA and completely ignored the economy. Yay Democrats... you did really good.... NOT!

Robert G. I'll second that!

Another thing that is extremely tiresome is the right-wing like Brian B's constant denial about just what policies ruined this country--anyone can check the facts and the facts tell us Bush 43 and his GOP rubber stampers nearly destroyed the economy, our reputation abroad, and have pretty much eliminated the middle class. Prior to the current republican lot of me-first, power hungry, beholden to their corporate pals, the GOP once shared common goals. Now the only goal they have is to be in power.

BrianB - Yes blame the Republicans because they've blocked bill after bill that has been brought up that would have help stimulate job growth. The only thing they have wanted to bring up for votes are limiting a woman's right to choose over and over again and again, a budget bill that doesn't create jobs or balance the budget in any meaningful timeframe, a repeal of the health care bill, etc....So it's the Republicans fault that the economy isn't further along. Cutting spending in a time of recession will only make the recession worse and longer. The Republicans will be blamed if the economy goes off a cliff after August 2nd. They have been proven to be only concerned with protecting the wealthy and corporations from having to share in the pain of this recession.

Gee Jody, what a surprise!

laurie says - The only thing they have wanted to bring up for votes are limiting a woman's right to choose over and over again and again

Maybe laurie, just maybe, they feel it's wrong to kill a child in the womb. More importantly, they don't want federal funds to pay for it. I guess you feel murdering an unprotected child is a good thing... well, a lot of us don't feel that way.

laurie further states - a budget bill that doesn't create jobs or balance the budget in any meaningful timeframe, a repeal of the health care bill, etc....So it's the Republicans fault that the economy isn't further along. Cutting spending in a time of recession will only make the recession worse and longer. The Republicans will be blamed if the economy goes off a cliff after August 2nd.

A budget bill that doesn't create jobs... well, explain to me laurie, what the democrats have done in the past 6 years to create jobs... They don't get off the hook that easily... not when there is a net negative job loss under their alleged leadership. The health care bill has nothing to do with health care. It has everything to do with forcing people to buy insurance... who benefits? The health insurance companies that will reap the windfall from increased policies. Who lobbied the hardest for the bill's passage? AARP, that's who. They will reap billions from it.

It's the republicans fault? Are you blind, or just partisan?

Jody said - anyone can check the facts and the facts tell us Bush 43 and his GOP rubber stampers nearly destroyed the economy, our reputation abroad, and have pretty much eliminated the middle class

Wow!!! talk about blanket blame towards one party. I guess they skewer cats and kill innocent children, eh? No wait! That's the democrats and their abortion stance.

What you will find Jody, is all liberals feel the same as you so your facts are all supported by the progressives. Blame the republicans... sure is funny that things really headed south when the democrats took control of congress in 07. Now 4 years later, it hasn't gotten better.

I see the liberal playbook is alive, well and being used on FR with liberality.

Brian, who gave YOU the right to make choices for women in America?

I guess you feel your moral and/or religious beliefs require you to view things a certain way. Well, a lot of us DON'T feel that way. Back off!

Felden I can ask you the same question... who gave you the right to want to kill innocent children before they are born. This has nothing to do with religion. It has everything to do with humanity.

Back off? Who are YOU to tell me to back off? I know, it's your pompus liberal attitude of supremacy. I know your type... you relish the idea of killing innocent children before they have the ability to experience life outside the womb. What you should be really relishing is the fact that your mother didn't decide to abort you... then I wouldn't have to listen to you tell me to back off without cause.

Typlical Lib BS: "budget bill that doesn't create jobs"

Can you libs please explain to me exactly how Congress or the President can "legislate" creating jobs in the private sector. I seemed to miss that one.

Your answer on this 1 question will tell all about the progressive liberal agenda.

However, I do give Omaba credit for creating 162,000 new government jobs. At least that is 162,000 people pu to work, right?

McContrary,

Cornyn is one and Mark Halprin is another. Hope that helps you digest. Link follows.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/30/mark-halperin-calls-obama-a-dick_n_887604.html

Mr. Con;

We can put up with legitimate criticism, even welcome it.

It is the hippocracy of supporting W and defending HIS "vacations" to the ranch and lying about WMD's to fulfill a personal agenda and DIMINISHING THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, then turn around to attack Obama... put the records side by side... come on! Can't you read my user name? I'm sick of the spin, half-truths, rationalizations and out and out lies, and, like most voters, refuse to listen to it any more.

I place as much faith in "The Huffington Post" as you liberals place in Fox News" The democrats have attacked every female that has even the slighest aspiration for the Presidency. Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton and now Michelle Bachman. I don't understand how a woman can support these misogynists.

Yesterday Obama said he is "here" and expects the debt problem to be solved.

Today his spokesman says Obama will not participate.

How do YOU reconcile these two positions?

Congress makes the legislation. The President signs the legislation. Legislation cannot be signed until presented. Government 101.

. I don't understand how a woman can support these misogynists.

Rick, PLEASE don't lump Hillary in with the bimbos. She is and was totally qualified to be president, and she didn't get the nomination but has always had our support and respect. Palin and Bachmann are women, but they are NOT presidential material. The misogynists are the party trying to take away the rights of women, which would be the republican party, including Palin and Bachmann.

Democrats have conceded on many (IMO some unwise) cuts in spending. Now it is time for the Republicans to concede on some revenue increases. Mark is correct, We can't cut enough spending to eliminate the deficit and still have enough middle class left to maintain an economy. Without some revenue increases also, it's not going to happen. Can anyone explain to me WHY it is unreasonable for millionaires and corporations to contribute to the maintenance of the country which has provided the means for them to become so profitable?

Hope you have a better response getting that answer than I have Heartlight3.

Seems the Norquist pledgers don't want to answer that question.

I will gladly offer my opinion on your last question Heartlight3.

There is nothing unreasonable about asking EVERYONE to contribute. There are those however who would like to know how much is enough? How much do we take? The current tax rate for those millionaires and billionaires, to my knowledge, is around 35%. That is over 1/3 of what they make in a year. How much is enough? Should we take 1/2....2/3's maybe? When does it end? When they have nothing left to give, who do we villify next to appease the masses?

Mr. Obama has proposed removing the Bush tax cuts on only the rich, which would raise the rates to around 39.7%. Roughly a 4% increase. This would generate an estimated 34.7 billion extra a year in tax revenues. Can you explain the math to me on how exactly this windfall of revenue will fix our 1.5 trillion deficit for this year alone?

My personnal feeling on the matter is it isn't fair and it isn't just to villfy these American citizens for their success. They already pay "their fair share"...a damn sight more than anyone posting on this blog I would wager. An amount in excess of 1/3 of their total income. So I ask again...how much is enough? What is their so called "fair share"? This rhetoric is just what the spin doctors want. Point at someone with more than most and call them the enemy. Deflect the issue and the problem our government created onto someone else. Class warfare at its finest and people gobble it up.

Really? - let me turn that question back on to you. How much is enough pain that middle and lower class people and the elderly are supposed to have to bear to fix this economy and the deficit problems? How much is fair I ask you? Answer that question the same way you answered for the poor wealthy people and the coporations since you seem to have such an insight into who should be made to suffer.

laurie- The anwser is we all have to suffer. We allowed this happen by blindly voting for whomever has the D or R after their name on the ballot.

What is frustrating to me is the POTUS or ANY politician saying we do this one thing and everything will be fixed. What is frustrating to me is people going along without ever taking the time to educate themselves on the issues all the while preaching to everyone about how evil such and such is.

To more directly anwser your question. We have to have cuts across the board and most likely raise taxes on EVERYONE for at least a time. Cuts should include entitlements and the military, as well as the incredibly bloated government agencies proliferating and regulating every single movement and freedom we have. We have over 900 military bases in 135 countries around the world costing us over 1 trillion a year to maintain. Cut em. Bring our men and women home. I'm not positive on the number, but I believe it's something like 25-30% of our expeditured goes towards Medicare and Medicaid and growing fast. I have no desire to see the sick, elderly or children suffer as many Democrats would accuse me of. I simply understand that if we can't pay for it, we can't have it. We have to find a way to do it better, and I don't believe Obama's plan is the anwser.

Even doing all this would likely not be enough given the enormous debt burden we are being saddled with, so tax hikes are also needed. At least until we can start getting our fiscal house in order.

I am sick and tired of the Democrats blaming "rich" people for all our problems. It is complete nonsense. I am sick and tired of Republicans defending their sacred cow, the military. It doesn't have to cost this much.

So now that I anwsered my own question, please be so kind as to give me your anwser. How much is enough? Why are these American Citizens required to provide for everyone else?

Also Really, how much do they want/need to live? How much worse will their meals be if they pay 50% tax instead of 35% (or 27%, the reality.) Will it make a drastic difference at suppertime in their home (or their other home, or the beach home, or the "cabin")?

How much less will they dress? Would they have to wear old jeans with holes?

Would a 15% tax hike force them to have to sell their automobile or down grade from a Mercedes to a Lincoln?

Please, if at all possible for you, put things in perspective. I hear you talking principles, not reality. Am I wrong?

Let me see if I get this straight, Laurie-

A family of four where the children are under age 17, with annual income of $50,000, had a federal income tax bill of zero.

Under that amount, they receive a "refundable tax credit"- that is, money they have NOT earned, taken from those who did earn it, and given to them.

So, a couple aged 65, collecting Social Security, earning $15,000 a year, who DO have a federal tax liability, are giving their money away to families earning $49,000- and below.

That makes sense.

A family earning a million dollars a year, regardless of children or their ages, is paying the government roughly $300,000 a year. That is not enough for you?

Too bad.

They drive on the same roads, are protected by the same military, and have access to the same courts. What they are probably NOT doing is using public schools, Pell grants, food stamps, section 8 housing-

They are PROVIDING those things, and a lot more, besides.

I am sick to death of hearing the classist whine that the rich do not provide enough for your comfort. Try something new- go out and earn it yourself.

And keep your hands out of other peoples' pockets.

Of course I am talking principles. What are we without them? I was told growing up that America was the land of the free. Where everone was treated equally and everyone had a fair chance. Where Justice and the rule of Law prevailed. That may not have been totally true, but it was a principle I was taught to strive for and try to live by.

The reality is that it isn't fair or just to demand more from one group while demanding nothing from another. How outraged would you be if I came over to your house and told you that you had to pay my car payment because I bought a Mercedes S class and can't afford the payments myself? I'll take a wild guess that you'd tell me to pound sand.

It is very noble and idealistic to try and provide for those with less. It is also detrimental if taken too far. All people, rich or poor, big or small have a right to the fruits of their labor. Envy of what others have and forceably taking it is tyranny. I am far from a religious man, but one of my favorite sayings comes from the Bible.

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life.

The people of this country have been living beyond their means for the last 25 years and we now take it for granted. It is sad when 47% of the population doesn't contribute. I saw an interview with Sen. Durban(sp?) yesterday. He said removing the child tax credits, earned income and all the other deductions given out each year would pay for the health care bill. Too many people with their hand out. We need to stop fighting amongst ourselves, blaming one "class" or another "class" and remember who REALLY got us in this mess. Politicians in DC bouncing checks.

Actually its none of your business how much money they "need to live" its their money they earned it NOT YOU. You have no right to take it away from them. So the democrats are going to get their way and there are going to be tax increases on the wealthy as there should be, but this attitude of how much do they need is ridiculous!!!!

How about taking from welfare recipients and giving to the middle class for a change? Here in Illinois where I live, everyone I see using food stamps has a big fancy car, the most up to date phone, and lots of diamonds and very nice clothes. Sincethey don't need it and pay for it with taxpayers money, lets all go take it away from them and give it to the middle class who can't afford that kind of stuff cause they struggle just to pay their rent/mortage and put food on the table. I wonder how that would go over, taking from welfare recipients and giving to the middle class?????

Some good points and considerations there really. I did not intend, and hope you did not take it that I am anti-pricliple for that was not my intention. However, there is a point where the facts and realities of a situation must be addressed, and we are at that point. Not fair to demand more from one group? Maybe...but from the perspective that the "more" is an investment - insurance if you will - that protects the system which allows the monetary success to operate in the future, does it not make sense to WANT to have that insurance? I have difficulty attempting to fathom killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Seems to me that those in position to do so would WANT to provide more to protect the prospect of continuing successfully tomorrow; "demand" is too strong of a term in my opinion. And isn't cutting entitlements "demanding" a different class give up more, at least percentage wise?

I like you Bible saying; it hold truth, and I believe we should practice it. But another quote may be more relevant: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man to enter the gates of Heaven." Jesus Christ

The purpose of that statement is evidenced in this blog... too much contention.

My personal position, very plainly, is STOP the partisan politics - which means forget Norquist pledges, one upmanships, games, wrong agenda (such as working to insure Obama's defeat instead of legislating solutions to our problems) and trying to make our President a failure because that also makes our nation a failure.

You allude to equality and fairness. Okay - but percentages, not amounts. This principle too is Biblical (see the story about the widow's mite.)

But our number one priority should be the welfare of ALL American citizens, and that is not accomplished by blindly taking away from them. If entitlements are cut, other arrangements must be made.

And, in reality, let us keep it ALL in proper perspective - like the questions I posted above concerning ramifications of actions, how will citizens be affected.

Enough!

I guess the whole point I was trying to make is; no one person, no single party and no single policy is to blame.

The reality is our system is horribly flawed, corrupted and overflowing with regulations and government intrusion. The whole system, our very way of doing things has to change for ALL, not just one select group. I long for the day when people would be offended if offered charity. When we took pride in doing it ourselves. Sometimes people need help and it's good we want to offer it. It's a tragedy when people demand help because it is their "right" and forceably take it from you. Our government needs an overhaul. Our leaders should be held accountable when they ignore the Constitution and they should be held accountable for their lack of accounting ability.

Agree with you on those points.

It seems to me that another change to be made is overcoming the exobitant greed factor. My "how much worse" questions are relevant to that (even though Janet thinks it is no one's business.) The lust for more and more money has become a game/mindset, and that is bad IMO.

The important point, I think, is that there IS common ground, so our public servants should do the work they were elected to do and lets address our problems and get them fixed.

OK, Kirk, I can see your argument. But here is the thing - CONGRESS is charged with passing an authorization to riase the debt ceiling. We already know that Congress had NO PROBLEM doing that 7 times prior to this one WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT HAVING TO GET INVOLVED.

So why does the President 'need to get involved' in this instance if Congress is perfectly capable of passing the legislation themselves?

What I see in this situation is this - the bag with the poop is being thrown in the President's back yard so that when you and I go by the Congress' back yard, everything is nice and pristine. We can then 'blame' the President for having smelly discharges from his back yard because, well, there are multiple bags of poop there!!

Do you see where I am going with this, Kirk?

In other words - they (the Congress) are trying to make this the PRESIDENT'S problem when the onus rests squarely with Congress (and I mean both chambers and BOTH parties). If this whole thing fails, it is NOT THEIR FAULT because they are making the President OWN the situation.

It is no wonder the President was a tad annoyed. I would be too if I had to deal with a bunch of 4th-graders being paid almost $200,000 a year for doing nothing.

A note and self chastisment: I apologise to all 4th graders reading this for equating them with Congress. I do know better and I do not condone belittling 4th Graders.

"Congress had NO PROBLEM doing that 7 times prior to this one WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT HAVING TO GET INVOLVED. So why does the President 'need to get involved' in this instance..."

They twitch and squirm and loudly deny every time the word comes up, but the answer to your question certainly appears to involve RACISM. Plain and simple there are folks, some in Washington DC, who just can not abide a black man in the white house, and are proving their sentiments by their actions. The rhetorical rationalizations they give as excuses to be Obama haters just don't hold water.

Sorry, but you cannot be a great collaborator and bring both sides together when one side refuses to cooperate in that collaboration and whose only goal is to make President Obama a one-term President. That is the Republican's ONLY goal. The country, fuggetaboutit!!???

Not as stupid as yo uthink:
No you must be stupider than I could imagine. Do you understand that Cons. just don't like his nanny state policies.

Why, thank you ernie..

but no, I do not understand "nanny state policies" at all. Could you please elaborate?

How about just a clear, concise statement of the reason for your hate? Can you do that?

Thanks, again.

Cathy, thats just talking points both sides refuse to cooperate. It only seems that way because you dont want the democrats to compromise their positions so cooperating means republicans compromising theirs. There is a reason nothing is being accomplished in the Senate and it has nothing to do with republicans or filibusters its because Reid controls the legislation brought to the floor and he has no interest in compromising. Why do you think the Senate has done absolutely nothing of substance over the last year?

Pietro--I completely get where your going and that certainly is one aspect of this or a nuance but there was a big Time article thats probably at least a year old now that talked about Leadership and what kind of leadership creates the best presidents (not policies but just true leadership in terms of respect and getting things done his way) and guess where Obama came out in comparison. In fairness the article was trying to nudge him along a different path. In their view, leadership means you take a position and the bully pulpit and push both sides to come to that conclusion. They use FDR, Reagan, Clinton but very few others as styles of this leadership. They said poor leadership is where you sit back and say "Hey you congress you figure this out and I will referee and take no risk of getting hammered on my position until the very end" They said thats why the stimulus was bound to fail because Obama left it to Pelosi and Reid to figure it out and it was loaded to the gills with pork and non useful projects. Obama should have said the stimulus must be this and I want you guys to pass it. In this process he is doing the same thing which isnt helpful to the end game but the current congressional body on both sides of the aisle are made up of bunch of 8th graders unwilling to do whats best for the country instead of getting voted back in by their constiuents.

boy do they ever hate it when we fight back!

The Teapubican's are nothing more than 'paper tiger's', blowing in the wind! ;o)

If they want to throw a punch they damn well better be prepared to receive one in return!

That sounds like a threat. First read should be deleting your account for you threating others here.

How open minded of you, openmind266.

Doesn't look like Feisty has singled out anyone to me.

Care to rephrase your post?

Feisty, every time you are presented with the truth of what's going on you either post a bunch of vile trash or you run away.

And Pietro, when someone threatens violence it doesn't have to be against a particular person, the threat of violence itself is enough.

I guess that if a conservative were to say that they were going to "throw punches", or "return a punch" then you wouldn't have any problem with that, is that correct?

Or is it just the lefties in here that are allowed to speak of committing violence and calling people the most vile names imaginable, and it's "not singling anyone out"?

And Mark, thanks AGAIN for pointing out the race of the President. It seems as though all of you on the left have to keep reminding yourselves of that, while you'll find most conservatives actually see him as just another borrow, tax, and spend spend spend liberal.

The most RACIST people I've ever seen are people like YOU, who see the color of the mans skin before you see anything else. YOU can scream that others are "racist" all you want, but in the end it's YOU that sees the color while others see the political ideology.

Isnt't that special?

L@@k at me Cheryl has crawled out from her undisclosed location...

Sorry honey... I gave you WAAY more attention then you deserved last night! lol

In parting, I will say you really, really, NEED to brush up on your reading comprehension!

Ignorant & crazy is NO way to go through life dear... ;o)

One more thing, you might find someone to proof read your rants prior to posting! Your hypocrisy appears to KNOW NO limits! lol

There you are, throwing out your vile garbage with NO intellectual abilities at all.

Why don't you put something out with some INTELLIGENCE in it? Why don't you SHOW us how Obama is doing such a great job?

Obama argued that he has "spent an hour-and-a-half with Republican Senators, Democratic Senators, and House members from both parties". That must have been between golfing outings last week. He also talked about his "thirteen and ten year old daughters" do their work ahead of time. Except that his oldest daughter is TWELVE!. People like YOU slammed Bachmann for not knowing where John Wayne is from, and yet you say NOTHING when that oh so "brilliant" leader of yours doesn't even know the age of his OWN DAUGHTER!

And please show where you can show that I am "lazy and ignorant". I actually WORK for what I EARN, while you whine about "entitlements" and "social justice" and how those that have MORE than you have to give it up. While you make plans to go on your circle jerk with Murray next month I'll be EARNING a paycheck.

YOU don't post anything intellegent, EVER. YOU come in here nearly EVERY DAY and do nothing except post filth and hate. YOU have NEVER even tried to debate a single thing with a single person in here that you disagree with.

Yesterday you said something about "cockroaches". Well, based on the fact that cockroaches RUN when they have light on them, and YOU RUN whenever the light of TRUTH is put on you, wear it well.

And please show where you can show that I am "lazy and ignorant".

Like I said honey, you really, really, really, really NEED to brush up on your reading comprehension!

I didn't say your were LAZY & ignorant, I said you're CRAZY & ignorant!

Thank you for proving my point!

Now run along sweetie - like I told you above, you will get NO more attention from me!

While you're foaming at the mouth over Birthday's, I'll continue to laser focus on IMPORTANT issues going on around us!

We're all familiar with the distraction tactic's employed by the tea baggers... Sorry, I'm not going to play along!

And Pietro, when someone threatens violence it doesn't have to be against a particular person, the threat of violence itself is enough.

I guess that if a conservative were to say that they were going to "throw punches", or "return a punch" then you wouldn't have any problem with that, is that correct?

Or is it just the lefties in here that are allowed to speak of committing violence and calling people the most vile names imaginable, and it's "not singling anyone out"?

Cheryl, FAUX OUTRAGE?? Seriously?

Is that the BEST you've got??

When we post on here, we are posting/speaking METAPHORICALLY. Even my most ardent detractor(s) on here know better. It is funny that YOU don't.

Actually, it is more SAD that you don't.

Which proves to me that you are nothing but an instigator, so Begone.

it is a wonder you are posting about intelligent postings... and we get this...

Come on Cheryl, It's time to go to the home.

BTW: Malia's Birthday is Monday July 4th.

Anyone who's ever had children refers to coming age when it's that close...

Adults....where di dyou get that hog wash?

Let's make Obama the worst president ever...spoken like gang members!

Let's filibuster everything...without reading it....spoken like gang members!

Let's vow to not compromise on anything.....spoken like spoiled girls.....probably like you.

Here's you candy coated entitlement......GROW UP!

Mary, I have no problem with Obama going to fund raisers, but not when there are more pressing things to take care of like the debt ceiling, jobs, the economy, unemployment and other matters that he should be participating in. Don't you think that 37 campaign stops since becoming president is a few to many? Don't you think that trying to raise 1 billion dollars is a little excessive?

Don't worry about the billion. At the rate he's going, he is going to have a heck of a time raising a quarter of that. He's gone from expecting to raise $60 million in June to hoping to achieve that much for the quarter.

Looks like people have decided to keep their paper route money this time. All out of Hope, looking for a change.

NO Bo, who have your decided to give your" route money" to in the current Republican pantheon?

And the republicans completely allowed them to pass anything they wanted????

I don't buy the no blame premise.

The bottom line is that CONGRESS failed to pass a budget... and that congress included republicans!

Who btw used a record number of filibusters during the "democratic" control of congress.

Personally I find both the Republican party and the Democratic party to be just as beholden to money, equally hypocritical, and equally worthless at attending to needs of our country.

Today an election ballot simply consists of which guy you want to rob you!

None of the above needs to be an option.... and when none of the above wins you have to come up with a completely new ballot.

How many elections would have been different if we as voters had not been faced with a choice of which is the lesser of two evils!

;P

;p

;p

All things considered............. you're a racist, conservative nut job who twists the facts however necessary to support your spin- doctored arguments. Ray Charles can see through the veil you call the truth.

TES, the biggest problem I have is the lack of facts that come from GOP/TP posters and the media hate mongers Hannnity and Limbaugh and the like. I hear sound bites and opinions but there are plenty of official facts out there to prove or disprove what people want to comment on. I see Leftards and lefties lefturds.... I just do not see facts to cause this hateful rhetoric. You do not have to agree with or like the president, I actually voted for W his first term for Pres because he was a pretty good governor here in Tx working with both sides but he became president and he became a party hardliner, I did not agree with him on much but he was my president.

well said sister Texan...

Anybody want to send Cornyn an email? I did this morning to let him know he is an embarrassment to Texas and the Senate and he needs to show some respect and to get busy doing his job.

http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm