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Subscribe to RSSReporters caught Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid walking from his office to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office on the House side. His message: There's not a deal yet, but getting one before the Aug. 2 deadline is in sight.
"We don't have the content of what the trigger would be," he said. "We have a few things we're still working on and there simply not done yet."
When asked if he's closer to a deal, Reid replied, "Well, closer than yesterday, but we still have a ways to go."
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At least Harry is getting some exercise "Walking " i think these guys will cave ..the bribes are way to big to lose ...they could care less about us ! How is it these guys have never had a pay cut when we all had to ?
Lawrence O'Donnell may be right...
After all the political posturing from both sides is said & done - the President will get the one page document on his desk for a clean raise to the debt ceiling...
He NOW has all the Tealiban on RECORD that they are adamantly against default!
Check MATE!
But..
You and the Libs R Us gang are on board, no matter what President Obama agrees to...
Right, Feisty?
lol
You and I both know you are.
You're no chess player, Feisty.
Nor is President Obama.
Checkers, maybe.
But...I doubt it.
Too much strategy involved in either case.
To progressives -- We need to reduce around $5 trillion of the deficit in the next ten years to preserve the credit rating and faith in our bonds.
To conservatives -- We need to reduce around $5 trillion of the deficit in the next ten years, and that will require REVENUE and not just spending cuts.
To the Tealiban within the conservative ranks, amendment to the constitution is rare, and is a long and difficult process. It's not going to happen, any more than privatizing Medicare to give additional tax cuts to the rich. So stop with your anti-democracy efforts to circumvent our constitutional democratic system, and stop with your hostage-taking treason with threats to blow up the nation if you, a minority, don't get everything you want. Just because you stopped taking your meds again doesn't mean your 16% spending and no revenue world is real.
Feisty -- A clean raise to the debt ceiling would be best if for no other reason than not setting precedent for such terrorist tactics.
If a deal is struck, and it consists of spending cuts only, keep in mind the extension of the Bush tax cuts expires in 2013. Note that the cuts expire if congress does nothing. In other words, this time it won't be about voting AGAINST something, but rather FOR something, and the votes won't be there.
The tax code will be reformed to close loopholes via any bipartisan commission. If the GOP/TP continues their fight to keep breaks for corporate jets, Big Oil, etc., or worse, try to abolish entitlements in order to give more tax breaks to the rich per the Paul Ryan plan, it will only help Dems win more seats in 2012.
Feisty,
Is the Dew Drop Inn open on Sundays?
Sue1 on another thread posted:
"My head hurts. After watching and reading the news today I can't decide whether to grab the scotch or the oreos....I think i'll dunk the oreos into the scotch!!!!"
I feel like her right now, and I would never want to drink alone!!
Northstar - DDI is always OPEN for business! ;o)
That's a funny quip - thanks for sharing...
How about a tall, ice-cold gin & tonic for you & I'll take a Absolute & cranberry juice!
I don't know if I'd do that Northstar. You might end up proverbally tossing those oreos. Something tells me the two won't mix real well. Pretty much like the Democrats and the Republicans... maybe we'll all end up hovering above the toilet bowl before this is all over. I'm not getting a fuzzy warm feeling from the Senate.
Brianb, I and Feisty will be having a drink, I am sure it will be without the oreos. I have been proimsing you that I would buy you a drink at DDI, but you have always been busy.
Now you can sit down with two women and the drink of your choice. Promise it will be a fun afternoon.
And we can all wait for congress to act...
Northstar, I've been on and off the computer. I'm cooking Red Beans and Rice. MMMmmmmMMmm. Right now the drink of my choice is ice water.
I just tasted those red beans... I think they may be the best I ever made. I tossed in a can of Rotel tomatos for some character... (smile) The rice is on... and I'll eat while hovering over the computer.
Brianb, Red beans and rice. I had some great rbr in Dominican Republic a couple of years ago. Great dish! I have fresh corn on cob cooking in a pot of water, left over BBRibs and a nice sliced homegrown tomoto with a little olive oil, pepper and basil. Watching tv and having a gin and tonic with extra limes.
Feisty and I already had a relaxing drink at the DDI. Now I are also hovering over the computer, but after I eat.
I know you mean well True Patriot. You really have a lot of passion for what you believe. I'm sure you are in-tune with the latest from CNN, MSNBC, Chris Matthews and Ed Schultz. I know you follow ThinkProgress and every one of their liberal writers... Most liberals do.
But when you make statements like this:
any more than privatizing Medicare to give additional tax cuts to the rich. So stop with your anti-democracy efforts to circumvent our constitutional democratic system, and stop with your hostage-taking treason with threats to blow up the nation if you, a minority, don't get everything you want
It really shows me you know nothing at all about the Tea Party and what they are attempting to do. The rethoric is completely wrong... and it's just... rethoric. You have grown used to making assumptions... without finding out the answers. Your assumptions drive your verbage and you end up sounding rather foolish. Your rants don't have a scant bit of truth in them. You treat the Tea Party like they are the enemy... Who's enemy? If you were republican, you'd still carry the same rant.. the Republicans don't like the Tea Party either.
So, who's enemy is the Tea Party? I'll bet you haven't even asked yourself that question, or even considered it.
Are you telling me the tea partiers finally made it to The Emerald City and found a brain and maybe a heart?
Highly unlikely. They are being attacked by the Chamber of Commerce & Wall Street monkeys, er campaign donors. And I bet they are not hearing support for default from their constituents either, especially seniors and military families in their districts.
Tell them to stick it Obama!
Unfortunately many fear that this Grand Bargin will completely devistate the Elderly, the Poor, Disabled and definitely the Middle Class. Optimism? after reading comments from the Dem Senators fearing for Medicare and the Poor is just not good news. Spin does not help the least among us.
Our country will never be the same we have shown the world how a Small Minority in our Congress can Hold the rest of our Country Hostage and Win even with lives of our Elderly and Poor hanging in the balance. This is not a Win this is Shameful.
After all the rolling over and caving in at every juncture, the majority of the Dem base is Exhausted. Following this Debucle the Dem base will now be hearded as sheep to the slaughter.
We now confirm that our Congress is the Corporations and Wealthy/Rich People's house, it no longer belongs to the people
The greatest let down is these are so called "Christians" displaying Greed Openly while pushing to just let the Poor and the Elderly in this country Die.
The Love of Money we have now seen it in full view no holes barred, unabashed, up front and personal race to the finish line for Greed.
Since as noted on this board earlier 1/3 of the Congress is Running the Country, even The House disregared the rules governing the Senate and Voted Sen. Reid's Bill down before it was voted on in the Senate, the Republicans Filibustered Sen. Reid's Bill refusing to give it an Up or Down Vote as was allowed per the rules in the Congress, but the House took an Up Or Down Vote on the House Bill.
What we are seening is Bullying at it finest. Our laws have been subverted, while many lay as willing hostages, those we placed our confidence in, yet they seem to go willing to the Slaughter.
These folk say they Hate Government yet they ran to every media outlet to get Government Jobs so that the Government could take care of them and their families while they Pushed to Take Away the American Peoples Benefits that they have been paying for for 50-60 years.
No Tax Increases for the Rich, reports from Dem Senators say this "Super Congress" when there is no agreement between Dem and Repubs will automatically trigger 'Cuts To Medicare Doctors" which will lead to our Elderly's Healthcare being rejected!
This super Congress does not "Trigger Removal of Tax Cuts for the Rich" if no agreement is met.
No Pay Cuts for Congress who's getting at least $176,000 per Senator and Representative and if no agreement is reached they still get Paid!
Term Limits, Recalls, America, we are better than this, the U.S. says it's a Christian Nation, there's nothing Christian about this entire Deal.
All the Happy Comments about support for Rolling over the Elderly, Poor, Disabled and the MiddleClass, you can bet for sure those posting somewhere in their family they have family members that will be affected and they have friends as well. That's the I only care about me syndrome.
This country will not prosper throwing the least of them under the bus for Greed.
I am reminded, by your comments June, of the Jews marching willingly to their death about 60 years ago in Germany. It is a sad day for many in this great land of ours but we must keep the faith. I have to believe that right will win. It is all I can hang onto now. Capitulation is not the road to travel so I hope someone in Washington knows more than we do about the ultimate direction of the country.
Sadly the Jews just didn't believe they were being led to the gas chambers. I hope America wakes up to see that we are being highjacked. It's the only hope we have; that and Obama's ability to show just how far the GOP and TEA PEOPLE will go to get what they want. We have to be willing to go there with them to overcome their destructive tilt. Show them for what they are. Greedy bastards without heart, ethics or reason.
We are never so blind as those who will not see.
We MUST last until 2012 when the American people will speak loudly against this mess.
Morality is lost on these Teabag pretenders. That includes not reneging on bills you owe. And I do mean the bills THEY owe, since the debt ceiling is about PAST debt.
It would be great if we could divide the bills in which Republicans would pay for the wars, Bush tax cuts, the prescription plan, and TARP, while Democrats would pay for the Affordable Health Care Act minus savings, bail-outs minus what's been paid back, stimulus minus the tax cuts, and support to NATO in Libya (a drop in the bucket compared to Iraq). It's bad enough red states are the welfare states, imagine them trying to pay their own bills without the help of blue states?
They don't need shared equity from red states anymore - Manna is scheduled to rain down anytime now...
It's rediculous. The one sided remarks on this board are totally infantile. Blame the Tea Party... Blame the Republicans... Never, ever, ever, blame any democrat. The blind partisan wrangling going on around here is plain STUPID! The democrats are neck deep in this too. My gosh, have you any sense at all? It's a negotiation, a coming together of two very different ideologies. A very difficult thing for these idiots in Washington to do and you side completely with one end of the insanity.
It's us against them.... Not us against each other. Wake up would you?
red should be blue in that last phrase.
True Patriot said: It's bad enough red states are the welfare states
Where do you get your information from True Patriot? Have you looked at the welfare rates in New York city, Chicago, Los Angeles? How about Buffalo, Detroit, Boston? Had any experience with getthos? It seems to me that the blue states have more larger metropolitan areas than the red states.
I think you just like to send out information just to watch your fingers type. It doesn't matter what you say, just as long as you see your fingers moving across the keyboard.
Richard - I really don't want the government using my tax dollars to bail out California (blue), New Jersey (blue), New York (blue), Michigan (blue), Massachusetts (blue), Washington state (blue)... States that are primarily blue in nature and can''t seem to get their financial houses in order.
[States that are primarily blue in nature and can''t seem to get their financial houses in order.]
Not so fast...better check your facts...there are PLENTY of "Red" states that return far less than they get from the Feds, and it's no surprise that they are mostly southern states.
Why is truth so difficult for Gee Oh Tea People? Red is the color of the dead beat dad states and the necks TP robots. TRUTH! They are not so good at history either until time for rewrites that is. I know I live in one.
Yeah Mickey? How's New York doing these days? How much state income tax are you paying? What's the hot dog tax like? How's Niagara Mohawk doing with it's tax rates? How's the county taxes on properties? What's the state's deficit and debt like?
All states are in debt except, I believe 2. New York is known to have the second largest debt with only California topping them by several Billion. To my recollection, both New York and California are colbolt blue in ideology. That's why when I left New York, I never looked back.
It's ridiculous FR allows people under the age of 18 to post.
Since the Great Recession and loss of revenue from property and income taxes, and then Republican governors who have cooked the books, this is why local sales taxes have gone up. Even some resturants are charging an additional "take out" tax. Schools are going to a four-day week. Fire Departments are being privatized and if citizens don't pay dues, their houses will be left to burn down. The "starve the beast" stupidity only shifts your out-of-pocket expenditures or lower the quality of services you'll receive.
[How's New York doing these days?]
Pretty good from where I sit...
[How much state income tax are you paying?]
My fair share...
[What's the hot dog tax like?]
Dunno...I don't eat hot dogs...
[How's Niagara Mohawk doing with it's tax rates?]
I could care less...not anywhere near me...
[How's the county taxes on properties?]
Where I live they are actually pretty low compared to other counties.
[What's the state's deficit and debt like?]
Since Cuomo took office, we're finally getting a handle on things...I'm not a big "Cuomo" fan, but he's the right man for the job.
Folks....
I'm sorry, but I am beginning to think that we have been in a socialistic utopia for the last 20 ~ 40 years and apparently I did not even notice. I guess I was to busy working, raising a family and living the good life of working hard and saving for my future and retirement.
Now as I read these posts, it is apparent that many, many of you actually and sincerely believe that it the MAIN job of the federal government to take care of its citizens, you know, the infamous "Nannie Sate". I propose that it is not. It is the governments job to protect us and then get the hell out of the way.
I actually feel sorry for the most of you and have no ideal how you have made it this far in life with such stupid thinking.
As for me, all this kubuto theater now playing in DC is just plain BS. All of you know that there is no actual cutting of spending, only decreases in future increases in spending.
I do really feel sorry for the whole bunch of you when it actually comes time to pay the piper. It is not going to be a fun time when the stun grenades and water hoses start getting to you.
Just Saying...
[Have you looked at the welfare rates in New York city, Chicago, Los Angeles? How about Buffalo, Detroit, Boston?]
Um, these are cities, not states...but anyhoo...there is truth to TruePatriot's post...
Here are some links to data up to and including 2005...if you can find more up-to-date information, it would be appreciated:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/show/22685.html#ftsbs-timeseries-20071016
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/92.html
http://politicaltruths.info/2010/11/16/red-states-mostly-welfare-states-dependent-on-blue-states-but-likely-too-uninformed-to-know-p2-tcot-teaparty.aspx
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/11/14/2010-11-14_palins_true_reality_free_alaska_is_a_welfare_state_that_enjoys_generous_federal_.html
Opps...missed one:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/04/the_red_state_ripoff.html
Common Sense: Isn't it time all meetings are covered by C-Span and viewed live by the American people to vote on? With all the advance technology we have today it seem someone should be able to figure out how to let the voters vote and see their vote live on screen on each item. If any group is caught cheating, expel them from the country "that day> without delay". NO MORE CLOSED BACK ROOM MEETINGTS/DEALS! Wouldn't this solve the back room deals that are not to the benefit of our country and/or we the people. Or would this be too simple? Wouldn't we then see who is trying to undermine our country and who is allowing the loop holes that favor one group or the other? This would allow us to get rid of the BS in office that isn't for America. WHY NOT ask the American people if they would like to limit Lobbyist influencing our elections and our laws. One thing for sure about this mess, it has AWAKEN the American people and we need Change we can count on, RON PAUL for President! Just a country boy's point of view ...David Deeds
,An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan"..
All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A....
After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.
As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could not be any simpler than that.