E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS“Liberals were furious as the terms of the agreement came into focus Sunday, and yet another capitulation by Obama on economic policy threatened to further dampen enthusiasm among the core Democratic voters he will need to win reelection next year,” the Washington Post writes. “But for a White House eager to improve its standing with centrist independents who have been fleeing Obama, even a losing deal can be a winning strategy.”
More: “Most important for the president, the agreement struck Sunday averted a government default — an outcome that probably would have hurt the U.S. economy and added to voters’ frustrations with Obama’s leadership.”
The New York Times’ Zeleny makes this point: “The outcome, perhaps, was better for Mr. Obama as a presidential candidate than as a president. His ability to face down House Republicans over the next 18 months is in question, but when he faces voters next year, his advisers believe that the debt ceiling fight will have created a clear contrast between his priorities and that of a Republican Party that he and his allies will no doubt portray as extreme.”
USA Today says everyone looks bad. “In the debate over raising the government's debt ceiling, President Obama has seen his approval rating fall to a new low, his political adeptness questioned and his liberal base enraged over compromises he made on line-in-the-sand issues such as protecting Medicare from cuts. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has been weakened, too. He not only was forced to retreat from a legacy-making grand bargain, but he also had to pull his own plan from the House floor for revisions demanded by conservative Tea Party members. Washington itself has looked to many American voters and international investors like a bickering, dysfunctional family, unable to address the nation's considerable and looming problems in a timely way.
“Responding to criticism from liberal Democrats, White House officials said Sunday night that the deal President Obama helped broker provides a path to end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy while protecting domestic programs,” The Hill writes.
A round up of today’s front pages:
The New York Times (with a sullen-looking photo of Obama): “Leaders agree on outlines of deal to end debt crisis.”
The Washington Post (with a smiling Minority Leader Mitch McConnell): “Leaders strike debt deal.”
The Wall Street Journal (with shots of Boehner, Reid and McConnell): “Leaders agree on debt deal.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer (also with the McConnell photo): “Accord is reached on federal budget.”
The Boston Globe: “Leaders reach 11th-hour debt deal; passage in Congress still uncertain.”
The New York Post: “House call: Deal at last – now up to reps.”
The New York Daily News: “Done deal: Obama reaches accord with Congress bigs on debt ceiling.”
The Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Obama, McConnell, Reid OK debt deal’s framework.”
The Orlando Sun-Sentinel: “Congress, Obama reach debt deal.”
The Miami Herald: “And it’s a deal.”
The Denver Post: “Hard-fought deal emerges.”
The Charlotte Observer (with a smiling Mitch McConnell on the cover): “A debt deal at last, but Congress must approve.”
Leave a Comment:
Weak
Not weak but smart. he who fights and runaway live to fight another day.
spending cuts, we need it but not now that the economy is dragging. those protecting tax sudsidies for GE, the oil giants and co will definitely have to explain to the American public because these cuts will touch home very soon. they will also explain why they should be paying more in taxes and have their safety nets threatened. who we are is pretty clear now.
All you need to know is that Grover Norquist is happy about this deal.
Unless there are going to be increased revenues, this is not a good deal. As a veteran of Vietnam, I am getting tired of having to sacrifice for this country while the rich and corporations do not have ANY sacrifice. it is getting old and it needs to stop. NOW!
hq2/11acr
I agree. Wall Street is raking in profits, but sitting on job creation, holding the country hostage in hopes of strong arming the President into relaxing financial regulations and not raising taxes on the wealthiest. There is nothing patriotic about Wall Street. They have no gratitude to the taxpayers for bailing them out.
As an outsider observing what took place about the debt ceiling, I couldn't help but wondered who's interest the Republican party had at heart, I had the same feeling watching the health care debate, it's also interesting listening to the republicans saying this is what the voters sent then to Washington to do. The American people should be worried that some elected officials are willing to put their country at risk regardless of what the outcome might be, When you have even presidential candidates saying let the country default on it's debt which would affect everyone should be a wake up call. What should also be clear to the American people is the actions of these peole is design to do one thing and that's to make the president look bad, what they fail to realize is their actions affects your country far more than it's leader. Case in point, it's not the president who owes the debt it's your country and whatever action is taken won't be against him it's your country.
And I wonder why Democrats don't want to balance the budget?
This insures that Obama will be a one term president. The republicans got everything they wanted, including no new taxes. The reason we owe that much money is because we pay less in taxes then we spend. Any serious attempt to lower our debt must include BOTH tax increases and a lowering of spending. One without the other is just political chicanery. The republicans did a great job on sticking it to the democrats this time. It's too bad the country will be the worse for it in lost jobs, lost opportunity and the lowering of our standard of living, while the rich continue to get richer.
I disagree. What this does is expose the Republicans for what they are! And before everyone concludes exactly what is in the "deal" we will have to see how it shakes out. I understand that their are tax revenues in this deal that kick in once the dust settles and is tied to cuts in the defense spending. On the other hand, we elected Obama to try to get things done and that is what he is doing. You can't expect all the changes and everything you want to happen overnight. It took years for us to get into the position we are in and it will take years to work through it and get the necessary changes! If we slow down a bit and look at all that has been accomplished and the groundwork that has been laid for even better outcomes if we can dilute and destroy the "party of no"! The Bush tax breaks for the rich will run out shortly and with the economy inching forward, things are not nearly as bad as the pundits keep blathering on an on about!
@gemini45 ... I completely agree with your evaluation. The screaming will begin again as the Bush tax cuts expire later this year. We have lived to fight another day ... the point is ... the Country we love has averted a devastating blow. Again ... we have one reasonable person in the room who is not willing to sink a ship merely to get his way. Happily, I vote: Obama 2012.
Sunspot and gemini,
I respectfully disagree with you. What we have in the basic, is one party that continues to spend without funds to offset the spending, and one party that wishes to control spending. If revenues aren't there, how can you continue to spend?
Blather on all you wish, but the senarios won't change. The one party rants about class warefare, and the need to tax the bejesus from them while providing the non-rich entitlement upon entitlement.
And sunspot, the one person in the room who has placed the ship in peril is the dude you will vote for in 2012, President RockStar.
JS- much like statistics, you can spin the story any direction you want depending on where you place the emphasis- you see the problem as taking in less than we spend, I see it as spending more than we take in. Two sides to the same coin. It does seem to me that this is the first time in recent history at least that we've tried the cut spending approach first. I will grant you that it is very likely not the be all and end all solution, but we've already tried the "Increase spending without increasing revenue" approach and it fails every time. We've been promised the "Increase taxes decrease spending" approach yet a funny thing happens- Congress gets a raise in the form of increased tax dollars and "forgets" to actually put cuts into place. "So increased spending and increased revenues also fails" as an economic plan. SO I have to say, I really am on board with a "keep revenues the same, at least short term, and decrease spending" plan, at least short term. If Congress can make meaningful spending cuts (and to me meaningful means EVERYTHING is on the table, no sacred cow program gets a pass- defense, entitlements, education, corporate tax subsidies, it's all fair game), then I'd be willing to look at tax rates. Personally, I think we should look at a total revision of the tax code in the interim. Close the loopholes that only benefit the very rich or the very poor (as in no more "refunds" larger than your liability. If you have a zero liability I don't mind you getting back everything you paid in, but you shouldn't get more back than you paid in- that's no better than corporate welfare is in the grand scheme of our treasury) and revise the rates, preferably to a flat tax for all. Then we need to demand that Congress lives within its' means. There will always be situations that arise to require deficit spending but it should not be our normal way of doing business.
Once again the Congress and the White House have shown their true color: Yellow! This self-agrandizing, self-enriching bunch of dishonest beggars who are all lap dogs of the lobbyists have soaked the media for no reason. Any voter who votes for an incumbent of either party is just plain stupid. Let's un-elect Washington, DC. They already have their future secured so why do we even expect them to work for the nation.
clary3
Un-elect Washington? I was never told that government is utopian and kudos to those who elected the present crop of teapublicants fresh men for they are wise.
Not Utopian, just true to their (recent) word...
Pius,
Like NavyBoy, give it a rest - it is getting old. If you have issues with what just went down in the legislature, blame your hero Barry O, Rock star President.
And please define what party a teapublicants is from? Willl you Progressives ever end these childish names for the opposition? Is this a rule of the Feisty one that all posts must include this? Please give it up.
Hunky
The word "teapublican" comes from the same dictionary as "obamacare." Both meaningless words.
So, if it is a meaningless word, why do you and other continue to use teapublicant as a reference to Republicans? Obamacare is used by the media to constantly equate the HC bill signed into law by Barry O, Presidential RockStar and the Progressive/Democratic party.
where is john wilkes booth when you need him???????
I'll bet the cuts are more than should have been. Did the rich get another break? Who's on first, Who wins and who's gonna lose his speaker-ship? And who's going to cry? Where are those jobs the TEA party-ers said they'd get for US? Was the pain spread evenly across the board to all tax payers? Is Granma and Granpa going to have to share medicines and biscuits? Who's going to be on the death panels? Will there be enough money to adequately service the corporate jets? Was the money distributed evenly to both owners and players of the NFL? Who's been chosen to wear the Darth Vader suit?
Wow Rudy, you have really bought into the Progressive Party kool-aid, haven't you? This class warefare issue has been developed well by this President, the Progressives, and their liberal media news and policy fabricators.
Everyone but the voting public wants to give this empty suit of a president a free pass, don't they? Spin it all you can Chuckie Todd, every voter is aware of the people in charge that created this impass with their continued spending for failed policies, continued dysfunctional leadership in the House and Senate, and the fear driven into the population from the irresponsible fear-mongering of loss of social security benefits, lack of pay for the military, and end of government.
Why, I received my VA Disability check on time. Just another Barry O, Rockstar President lie.
Great, now we can all see that the super rich, the bankers, and the corporations own both political parties.
Hunky,
It's only called class warfare when we have the nerve to fight back. Grow a pair.
Oh, my pair are large - I was born with the Hungarian curse!
As for class warefare, why isn't this one of the themes from the Progressive Party and Barry O, Presidential RockStar? Now don't tell me to grow a pair. Tell Barry O, Presidential RockStar and Robin Hood of the Progressives that he didn't win the battle or the war.
But why does you side believe in this class warfare battle anyway? Shouldn't everyone want to be one of those in the top 2% rather than a member of the non-paying tax class? Everyone has the opportunity to be a contributor.
Michele, wherever you are-- be a leader. When you say you are voting against the settlement, you are not being a leader, because you aren't leading anybody. Acknowledge your remarkable victory here, and grab the leadership of the Tea Party and the GOP. I just sent you a contribution, but I can stilll cancel the check. This is not time to try to go it alone. Be a leader. We are all relying on your leadership, not your independence. You can't even see that you have become the leader of the Tea Party and the GOP. Wake up. You decided to run for President; now run for President. Change your mind, and support the settlement. What's the matter with you??? You aren't a magician, you are a gatherer of people now. Tell your Tea Party Patriots in the House to support this settlement. Heck, if you can't even see that you've won, you are no leader.
Class warfare? You do realize where your check comes from don't you? It is not from the people (Corporations now) that have "bought" their select group of Politicians to "give" them tax-breaks, loopholes, subsidies, and write-offs! All at the expense of the working & middleclass people! Yes that is warfare and a battle worth fighting!
The "workers" paychecks have flatlined for the last 30 years or so, while the upper 10% have seen a 300% rise in their wealth. They did not "earn" their money, they chose to "steal" it from the rest of us by paying less and less to the hardworking people of this Country. That wasn't enough, when we protested, they simply went overseas to get a new bunch of "slaves".
Back to your paycheck, if this Country goes broke, you won't get a check and neither will I. We have both earned our money and since you must be a Vet, I salute the sacrifice that you have made and am only sorry that the Politicians do not take care of you and all of our Military families in the fashion that you all deserve! Unfortunately, they look after themselves and their Corporate masters!
As a retired business person, I long ago figured out how the system works and who runs the show. It isn't the small business people that work their fingers to the bone and hire people in their communities, We (small business people) cannot afford to hire the lawyers and accountants that it takes to give us a fighting chance against the huge conglomerates! They don't care about putting people to work, only about making more and more money!
No kool-aid here, just a lifetime of experience. Neither political party gives a rats-behind about the common person! Most of the time you have to hold your nose and vote for the lesser of two evils. For the last decade, the Republicans, and now with their new found friends (the so-called Tea Party), they have shown that they will not even throw us a few crumbs.
after seeing what republicans/teapartiers have done during this "contrived" debt crisis, I suspect that Americans will be in no mood to vote for a party whose only goal is to protect the wealthy and cut social programs !!! so, if there is in fact a "silver lining" for President Obama it is that Americans will likely elect a Congress that will work with him not against him in 2012 !!!
When are you spending nuts going to realize you cannot spend more than you have--I am on Social Security--have paid into it for 55 years-but I am willing to give a little--As for social programs having babies for more money is a hoot as for workiing with Obama--He has no Idea what he is doing--he is leading us straight into destruction
Smith, hate to burst your bubble but Obama is gone in 2012..... (no surprise the NY Slimes would like to frame it as O'bama scoring big points on this deal with independents at the expense of angering his left wing base) Independents have already largely walked away from this President as a result of failed,complete lack of leadership, obvious sloppy political gamesmanship throughout the debate, and most of all the damage done to the economy on his watch. They ain't coming back. Its over.
dear greg
who are you going to beat President Obama with romney, bachmann or perry ??? and before you answer go to REAL CLEAR POLITICS and check the latest polls !!!
p.s. when republicans get their asses kicked I would love to hear from you !!!
Michele, NBC is saying "did anyone win this debate over the debt ceiling?" Thanks alot, Michele for your narrow-minded answer to that. You have given Obama his big lead story now - just quote Michele Bachmann.
Great! Good leadership, Michele. Take your scaredie-cat ideas and leave our ranks. My gosh, where are our leaders. Poor Boehner -- he has led us fearlessly on a victorious path and deserves eminence and alot of credit, but he isn't going to be our President, I am afraid. WAIT A MINUTE...there is still Sarah Palin!!! Oh, thank you Lord. Come on, Sarah, jump into the race right now, and dissolve Michele into an unpleasant memory. We want Sarah now.
Democrats DO want to balance the budget. The only president in recent memory to do so was a democrat -- Bill Clinton-- remember him?
He balanced the budget by a combination of spending cuts (welfare reform, uppermost) and a rational tax base. It takes both, and we were very prosperous in those years.
Complaints, complaints &more complaints, stop this foolishness and act like adults.There is nothing perfect in the debt ceiling & none of us are perfect, same in D.C. Accept what we have and make the best of it. No President or Congress is going to make anyone of us happy. We need to move on and hope for the best.
"The bash is expected to raise big bucks for the president's re-election and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and will kick-off with a concert that will reportedly include Jennifer Hudson and Herbie Hancock.Then there's a dinner at the Aragon ballroom where attendees will pay as much as the legal allowable limit of $35,800 to attend."
If Obama just keeps campaining/fundraising , then turns the money over to the govt. ,soon we'll have the Debt problem solved.
The teabaggers are a bunch of diabolical clowns that would destroy the country in order to fix it?
by holding hostage the debt Bush ran up with his tax cuts for the rich, and 2 phoney yet expensive wars.
these clowns rode in on the short bus from the looney bin.
without revenue- economic growth is in question- thanks to the GOP... Americans should remember the grown-up next year- let say the Dems behave like the Replicans... defults would have increased every American households bills- credit card bill -interests... no red cent from " the job creators"- Bush tax cut created jobs?- that is just another creation for you there...that is the Tea Baggers for you- The world has seen what is going on- racepoliticsparochialismstuffs/-we live in interconneted world of the future-- historians should take note on how Mr. Obama has dealt with these guys...despite all the provocation by Fox and other critics of his "SOCIALISM"-HITLERISM- COMMUNISM- Our president is a good MAN...and Americans and the world are with him- Let put America first and this is a great country and the civil war is over... pls. let's marginalize the radicals in 2012!!!- the tea potters/ funny debt reduction stuff... 4 trillion dollars were rejected by these guys- GOP-: Just on TV news now- welcome to the House of Rep- Ms. Garby Gifford of Arizona- God bless- Amen
Yes, the world has seen what is going on ... we are not the only ones watching.
It is clear, and the world knows, the Republicans in Congress voted 19 times to increase the debt limit under the presidency of George W. Bush. The debt limit was increased by over $4 trillion during the Bush years, and the Republicans required no offsetting spending cuts or tax increases in order to raise the debt ceiling. The current Republicans leaders (Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Ky) all voted “yea” for well over $3 trillion in debt limit increases without any demands for spending cuts.
Not a whimper under GW's administration ... lots of screaming now. The same was true under President Reagan. Suddenly it's time to reign in.
Anyway, it's too late to reign in now ... this is spending that has already occurred. Now the wars are finally on the books for all to see ... the unfunded mandates are at last being accounted for ... the funny/ fuzzy math is getting better ... and just because we can suddenly see it doesn't mean it wasn't there before ... and it doesn't mean that this administration is wholly responsible for where we stand at the moment.
Now we can begin the work of making it better for the future.
sunspot-2447470=I do not know your politics and thanks for your comments regarding what is going on in our country - let's us pray for America not the people who try to destroy it for hate and ideologies- how can a Congress man from Colorado referred to our president as a tar baby/ not able to negotiate with him without insulting -to- all of us? Regardless of politics- let's respect our leader and-- God bless America
@baar ... I would say I am an Independent. I try to see the issues with the same eyes ... either side of the aisle. It is disturbing that vitriol is invading our conversation. Even here, where I hoped to find civil discussion, there is much in the way of silly nicknames and hateful slurs.
I would grieve for my country, except that I am so sure that there is still a majority out there who are not spending their time trying to stir the pot until it boils over.
Here, on occasion, we still see reasoned arguments with facts laid bare. We do not need to agree on everything ... neither does it make sense to dis-agree on everything.
For those who want to move forward together ... to put our backs behind this boulder and get it moving ... consider me with you.