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NBC News
It was far from a victory lap. Speaking from the Rose Garden Tuesday, President Obama called the plan to raise the debt ceiling, “an important first step to ensuring that as a nation we live within our means.” Mr. Obama then proceeded to lash out at Congress saying, “it shouldn’t take the risk of default – the risk of economic catastrophe – to get folks in this town to work together and do their jobs.”
The duality of the President’s remarks capped off a long process that has been rife with heated debate and partisan wrangling. After the speech, Mr. Obama signed the compromise plan with just hours to spare before the nation would have defaulted on its loans.
The President also seemed to want to turn the page on the debt limit debate by focusing on the future. He reiterated his call for Congress to take some immediate steps which he says would create jobs including: extending tax cuts for middle-class families, passing patent reform, and passing a set of trade deals. The familiar remarks were an indication that the President is trying to steer the conversation back to jobs and the economy and away from the ugly debate that has dominated the nation’s Capital for the past several months.
But, it’s not clear if the nation is ready to move on. According to a recent Washington Post, Pew Research Center poll, almost three quarters of Americans had a negative word to describe how they viewed the budget negotiations. The top words included, “ridiculous, disgusting and stupid.”
Acknowledging that public frustration, the President reiterated another familiar sentiment: “Voters may have chosen divided government, but they sure didn’t vote for dysfunctional government.” When White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, was asked if the President felt that he bore some of the responsibility for the “dysfunction,” Carney would only say, ”I think that this President from very early on in this process made abundantly clear his willingness to compromise, his willingness to accept the fact that he would not in this environment, in this divided government, get everything that he wanted.”
The compromise plan will increase the nation’s $14.3 trillion borrowing limit through 2012 and will be matched with about $1 trillion dollars in deficit reductions. Under the second phase of the plan, a bipartisan, bicameral “Super-Committee” will be charged with identifying about $1.5 trillion dollars more in deficit reductions (through entitlement and tax reform). If the committee does not act by Thanksgiving, mandatory across the board cuts go into effect to defense and discretionary spending. Many Democrats are upset because they say the plan will unfairly target the poor and the middle class, and some Republicans argue the cuts don’t go deep enough.
In essence, few were celebrating the passage of the bill, but everyone was breathing a sigh of relief having averted what many economists warned would be a global financial crisis if the debt ceiling were not raised. “We’ve got to do everything in our power to grow this economy and put American back to work” Mr. Obama warned. He and everyone else in D.C. hopes the nation can now, finally, move forward.
President Obama delivers a statement on the bipartisan debt bill that recently passed in both the House and Senate. The legislation pairs an increase in the government's borrowing cap with promises of more than $2 trillion in budget cuts over the upcoming decade.
Leave a Comment:
It was the Teapublian's who were taking the victory lap yesterday before the checkered flag was waved...
Even though they settled on HALF of what was originally offered to them by the President...
So who's serious about debt reduction again?
"Teapublicans"? But, Feisty...last week's lame moonbat talking points had the GOP and Tea Party in a divisive death struggle that would ruin the Party forever!
You mean we are now one and the same? United? Awesome ..
Poor Feisty -
Still clinging to that already tired thing? There are no tax increases in this so the dollars come out about the same.
Your guy lost because he lacked the testosterone to say no.
Impotent, and hurling violent words now at the people the libbies dislike because they cannot believe their arguments are not winning the day.
In fact, they have lost the national argument that they had convinced themselves they had won in 2008.
So what do we get from them now? Conservatives are terrorists, Taliban, hostage takers.
The rhetoric is bad enough, but the fact that these losers can't remember back to December 2010, when the crammed down Obamacare is astounding.
Really guys, you actually thopught there would not be profound consequences for that type of overreach?
Well, sorry to advise, there not only are, but now you must lie down on the beds you made. Obamacare - we were promised jobs from it already. And yet...
Stimulus - we were promised roads, bridges and "shovel ready" jobs, in addition to unemployment at or below 8.5% And yet...
Plus Obama said he make the economy better, end the wars, and close Gitmo. And yet....
So if all you got is to call us names, then by golly color me a hostage taking Taliban economically illiterate conservative.
So what we doing about that nasty old GDP growth? How about the real estate market? Unemployment?
You all got any answers to anything? Nope, just a bunch of super fun, name calling sore losers.
God bless you Pelosi. :)
God bless you precious heart Feisty.
God Bless the Teapublican 'fuzzy math'!
How DID we survive before the tea bagger abacus?
You mean a trillion is pocket change these days kirby? lol
Here a trillion - there a trillion - everywhere a trillion...
These Tea Baggers will get what's coming to them in the end.
Welcome to the new normal Liberals.
People saw the likes of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid spend it like they owned it, and not get anything back for their "investments", "investments" paid for by the taxpayers. That money wasn't invested, it was wasted, by a bunch of Keynesian loons.
Another useless partisan hack remark from Roselle.
Try actually looking into the particulars before you spout off. You will be surprised. Most Americans know this deal didn't go far enough. That will be rectified when Obama and the dems are removed in November of 2012.
The conversation has shifted. The liberals are truly inconsequential, as I pointed out to you a couple of months ago. And they know it. Reid and the big O are walking around with their bottom lips poked out and sulking. It is pitiful. But, go ahead, throw a quote from thinkprogress.com (snicker).
Feisty -
You poor dear. You lost this fight before you even knew you were in it. The narrative was established by the repubs and everything that happened since has been according to that narrative.
Would Obama or any other dem have ever said a word about deficit and debt reduction? The answer to that is a clear cut and resounding NO!
Speaking of fuzzy math & 'fiscal' conservatism - you all DO realize that your manufactued crisis just cost US tax payers 1.7 billion dollars in additional interest thanks to your temper tantrum?
YUP! Here's a billion - there's a trillion...
PS: Nice attempt kirby to 'drive' the narrative, keep trolling I ain't biting!
PPS: Maybe you need a bigger worm? ;o)
Keep on keeping on old gal.
"cept where'd all your libbie brethren go?
Going to be a lot of sorrows downed this weekend at the old DDI. Better stock pile up on liquor.
Another historic first for President Obama. They do keep adding up.
Nice work Barry.
It wasn't a lap for conservatives, barely a small step, but at least moving in the right direction and changing the conversation from "How much more are We going to spend?" to "How much should We cut?"
LMAO! But here your are spouting your usual nonsense...
I nominate you for the 'pants on fire' prize for today... only because NJNB has been missing in action...
She had to put an addition on her house to accommodate all of her 'trophy's' ;o)
Sure Spanks, right here: Unelect republicans!
Howzat?
Tell me.....exactly how consequential were they during this whole debate?
Not one bit. No one gave a monkey crap what they said or thought. Peolsi screamed and wailed and no one paid her any attention. They call Americans terrorist and people consider them fools....then they lie about saying it.
You may actually have to get off your fat ass and get a real job. Same as Obama.
EWWWW... such a keyboard warrior aren't you Dougie?
Take a couple Viagra & grab a tube of Preparation H then, get back to us in the morning... lol
Care for some *Cheeto's* tiny troll?
I see I hit the nail on the head.
Save the cheetos. You'll want them later.
LOL! You couldn't hit the nail on the head with both hands, a map and a flashlight!
Now all we gotta' do is get rid of those "deficit and spend republicans" and we'll be all set.
GOPisexinct - if that's you plan, by all means run with it.
Insolvent is still insolvent. Broke is broke.
An insolvent and broke country makes presidentin' hard.
Good times, sadly, still no real answers. But fantastic use of the letter Z. Outstanding really.
Sadly I just got a stack of resumes in. The number of young folkthat use text abbreviations, can't spell and have no ability to form a coherent sentence is scary.
I can't ait to see the number of tats and piercings.
Oh he's doing a victory lap - he got EVERYTHING he wanted.
Debt pushed off until after next year's election - CHECK
2.4 TRILLION dollars to be doled out to supporters - CHECK
No real cuts, just a promise - problem kicked down the road - CHECK
The republicans caved. There was NO compromise by the democrats. All of this nonsense reporting is nothing but cover for when things get worse. Then he'll stand up their and say I wanted more but the republicans won't listen.
The gall of Obama stating that republicans "manufactured" a crisis when it was HE who went on television and spouted the LIE that seniors might not get paid if there wasn't a deal. LIAR. S/S checks were in the bank on Saturday BEFORE there was a deal.
What did the Tea Party republicans get? NOTHING. The did NOT take the bribes to change their votes. They stood their ground and did what they were sent to Washington to do. VOTE NO ON SPENDING. For this they are called terrorists.
This administration that chokes on the word terrorist when it comes to the Ft. Hood shooter, the Time Square bomber and every other real TERRORIST has no problem calling representatives that are doing the job the majority of their constituents sent them to Washington to do and refusing to be bribed, terrorists. What's worse than that are the people that swallow this bs hook, line and sinker. They've sold their soul for government cheese. Enjoy.
[You all got any answers to anything?]
Yikes, Schpanky! All I've read in your posts is the same drivel over and over and over...BWAAK! AMT...BWAAK! CCB...seems you never offer any answers yourself, do you...you just like to answer a question you were asked not with an actual answer, but with another question...much like the rest of the ass-kissers here that follow your lead ...no answers, just more questions meant to deflect...nice try...so it turns out you are no better than anyone else, and you keep regurgitating the same ideological, emotional response because you cannot control the situation. It has become evident is that you couldn't debate yourself out of a paper sack...just as watching reruns of L.A. Law and Allie McBeal doesn't make you a "lawyer".
Seems you are nothing but a long-winded gasbag with nothing more than opinions which you confuse with facts. If this wasn't your intention, maybe it's time you took a really hard look at yourself...
...or maybe you truly are a long-winded gasbag...
[Nope, just a bunch of super fun, name calling sore losers.]
Really...much like yourself denigrating women and disabled veterans...typical of someone with REALLY low self esteem...or low testosterone.
As I always like to give credit where credit is due, there is one thing that you have confirmed and you should get credit for and that is Conservatism truly is a mental disorder.
PFFFTTTT!
All that blustering nonsense and no photos (or even a denial) to disprove you've got a rotund rear end. You're as bad as Reid. All hot air and no rise. It would appear I did hit the nail on the head. You? Maybe with some flour.....but I digress.
Like I said.....liberals are inconsequential.
2012 will be a banner year for conservatism. But, my apologies, you bore me and I must check my garden.
There are times in life when long suffering is not a virtue. The wise man Solomon said “there is a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which was planted, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing”.
You are putting up with stuff because you really are afraid of doing the right thing. You are afraid of the “unknown world” your decision would launch you into.
It is called cowardice not patience, weakness and not strength. You go to sleep disturbed that something is wrong you have lost your peace yet you cling to what is administering death to your soul.
The Yoruba’s have an adage that says if you don’t quickly call out a thief with time he will flip the page on the owner and make him the thief. The offender will become the offended. The sooner you let them know you won’t stand for this and move into severe action the better it will be for their souls. Regardless of the noise they make, deep down they know they have been caught and if administered in prayer the process of repentance begins.
When you know that you know that you know something isn’t working act decisively before it becomes cancerous.
A little leaven leavens the entire lump.
For the record, my ass is mighty fine!
Thanks for inquiring....
OK Spanky,....then how bout this one:
lets start a war with a nation in another hemisphere for oil. We can tell people they have weapons of mass destruction, and if any of our CIA agents don't go along we can blow their cover.
We can rack up giant tidal waves of debt and we'll tell the people gas will cost $0.78 at the pump for 30 years when its all over.
A bunch of oil execs will rake in the moolah, the body bag manufacturers will have an orgasm, and defense firms will pass out with ecstasy.
Whadye' think?
:o)
[For the record, my ass is mighty fine!]
Proof, please... 8-/
I want to congratulate the American people, at least those who voted to replace mainstream politicians with radica Tea Baggers.. They got what they voted for, a damaged America, maybe on life-support because all they wanted was to control th government, screw the middle class, e
derly and poor, and for reasons foreign to me, avoid tax reform protecting wealthy from having contribute to paying down the debt.
You have to understand how stupid these people are. Listen to them speak. They have no clue. It's sad. But it reminds me of Parliamentary governance, when a minority controls the majority by control a deciding segment of votes. It that regard they are stupid like a fox. It is unethical and anti patriotic, but it does obtain the ends they want.
US citizens can only reverse this by voting against these sociopaths and try to elect those that care not only on the fiscal path of this nation, but the ethical path as well.
Guys - meet me on the flip side - the proof is in the pudding! ;o)
Well somebody obviously thought so Feisty!! You have at least one child by my count,.....and that don't happen accidentally.......... ;o]
Not to be crass, and I intend no lewdness.
I'm confident your derriere is a nice one. I consider myself an expert in the field. Decades of dedicated research.
It appears that the libs have lost their minds. Obama talks about spending more than we have as "leaving withing our means." Last I knew, spending no more than what you are bringing in is what "living within your means" actually means. But, what do I know. Being rational and understanding economics is not what liberalism is all about. Liberalism is all about "you are too stupid to know what is best for you, so I'm going to tell you what is best for you!" It means "We are going to make sure everyone has plenty of money, no matter whether you have done anything to earn it or not!? Liberalism means: "What me worry? Nirvana is here and nothing can destroy it. Just trust me!"
GOPNONX - yeah I have a daughter - but I still keep in shape! ;o)
I might be a mother but, that doesn't mean I'm dead....
I don't claim to bring them young for a reason anymore... lol
These comments are a clear example of what's wrong with our country. We have elected people exactly like the ones making these asinine comments. They have no clue what's going on because they have immersed themselves in partisan rhetoric. All they know is that they don't want the other side to get what it wants because they are on the other team. These people are grown adults too. What a time we live in. When a few hotheads can control the conversation of the whole country. We have turned the asylum over to the inmates. Why don't we try to elect responsible people in 2012 and show the partisan windbags the door.
A statement from the head cheese:
Mr. Obama then proceeded to lash out at Congress saying, “it shouldn’t take the risk of default – the risk of economic catastrophe – to get folks in this town to work together and do their jobs.”
No? What does it take? It seems as though YOU couldn't get them moving. It seems as though you had no plan. In fact, you hid for a few days towards the end. No mood for speech giving Obama? No stomach for lying to the American people? I guess spending all the stimulus and omnibus money eating at your soul? If you have one.
And you libbies call this president a leader? In what dream are you referring to? This man couldn't lead a compliant dog down the street.
OK I am confused. Barry O says we need to live within our means. Wonderful...so why are we raising the debt ceiling and borrowing more money? The simple fact is that we cannot continue to borrow 40 cents out of every dollar the Government spends. Adding 1.5 Trillion to the debt each year is reckless not to mention just plain obscene. Complain about Bush and Reagan all you like. Barry is making them look like rank amatuers.
Hey Baggers... can you please enlighten me on how the president is spending your money? Don't give me stupid rhetoric...honestly let me know how president Obama is spending your money the way you do not like or recommend... the trivial things you guys spout do not dent the budget in any sort of way.
What's killing the budget is health-care, defense, social security - and the largest of all - Bush's recession. Now we are at a tipping point where we will eat each other alive and not truly examine what's truly causing our budget woes. In any event, have fun dancing around baggers... when the GOP/baggers are done with dismantling the government, you'll cry for the good ol days when the government got your back and tried to protect the middle class.
When regulations are dismantled and corporations are making you bend over backwards for your daily dose of you know what; I'll laugh and tell you that you got what you wished for, lol. I know I'll be alright.
Ain't a one of yall on either side got a clue. The only thing that matters is for the US to spend less than it takes in with the surplus going to reduce the debt. Any other plan is just bull $hit designed to fool the people and push the problem farther down the road. We do not need to raise taxes to generate more revenue nor do we need to reduce taxes to stimulate the economy we need to quit spending more than we take in.
Wow......all that and the two things I caught were:
1. Liberals 0 Conservatives 1
2. Fiesty's uterus is functional and her back side is ummmmm on her back side!
Yes........Us independents are not to happy with the way things were done (but who is) , but we are still center right and throwing more coal in the engine. I just want to see who the republicans pick to be on this super secret decoder ring committee! Wont it be fun if the teaparty throws a BBQ commitee style. God this is going to be fun! As my C.O. used to say its all fun and game until a live grenade hits the deck!
My god...we are going to hell in a hand basket if we allow ideology to rule us as we have allowed it to for the past three years...
conservative rule in 2012 my ass
some need to take a macro economics class for crying out-loud!
Is it just me, or did people like the Tea Party crowd better when they were busy stocking their bomb shelters with MREs and assault rifles, and having their little militia parties? I think the camoflauge was very slimming as well.
You're absolutely right they did. They should have realised that the republicans had already done so much damage to this economy that no amount of money could fix it. The democrats would have been just as well off as to do what the republicans did with trillions of dollars and given it to Iraq and the republicans private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Spending trillion in our own country to attempt to fix the mess the republicans made in this nation was not nearly enough and on that point I agree with you, we might just as well have given it to feed Cheney's contractors in Iraq instead like George Bush and Dick Cheney did for 8 of their eight years in office.
D-Nice-good post except for the part about being adults. I might challange that.
Remember the TARP, Iraq and Afghanistan were bought by Bush. Obama was just left having to pay for them.
Hey Tron Cat - would that be a macro economics class taught by a liberal instructor?
As an indepedant, I do not see any winners here.
However, I find it funny the Republicans think they won. They may not have read the small print:
- only $25 Billion in next year, so no real cuts before the election
- auto cuts to defense if 'committee' can not come to an agreement to further 'deficits adjustments'
- with no auto cuts to 'entitlements'
- so now the conservatives have a gun to their heads
- sounds like that ol brer rabbit got them again, with the Republicans holding the tar baby
Obama has been anti-business, anti-growth for 3 years now and he still doesn't get it! You don't tax in a recession when so may taxpayers are out of work, getting welfare, or on food stamps! The country's tax collection rate is the lowest in HISTORY!
Revenue will come from job creation, more jobs = a higher tax collection rate = increased revenue to reduce the deficit!
Rather than increase taxes across the board... lower them for the lower and middle class and raise them for the wealthy. Better yet close all those tax loopholes for Obama's buddies on Wall Street and you will quickly increase revenues.
Another major problem is that Obama and the libretards are addicted to spending, especially spending other peoples money! It is an addiction with them, very much like a crackhead's addiction. For them a major intervention is needed but unfortunately we'll have to wait until Nov. 2012 to have that intervention.
Obama definitely does not deserve a victory lap!
Fiesty: I am willing to bet your a$$ is just fine....... For a tugboat. Get over yourself and shove some more Mcdonalds down your neck you cow.
Biteme,
All the way from Mysogyny City USA, just to make an unforgiveable comment on this little posting board.
Ben,
You have the whole thing upside down. Your conclusions on the Democratic party and this Administration are 550% wrong.
That'll do it.
The debt ceiling vote was not the place for a protracted fight. Too much was at stake this time. The time to insist on tax increases is in september. The government can handle a shutdown for couple months and still pay those who need to be paid. Until the GOP is backed off of a cliff they will not part ways with the pledge they made. I say insist on increases in revenue no matter the GOP reacts.
While do not agree with a lot of what the Tea Party stands for, you have to admit they have a stronger spinal column than most of these professional politicians (yep, that includes Reid, Pelosi, Boehner, and McConnell, and Obama) They did what they said they were going to do. These people are properly elected representatives of their constituents and they are doing what they promised they would do. That’s a fair cry from what these “professional politicians do” These professional politicians care about nothing more than the next election. While we may not agree with all of the Tea Party’s ideals, you have to admit, they know how to get things done. They may act like children (“my way, or the highway”), but somehow everyone always caves into them. They are a very disciplined group of people, they know how to stay on message and get what they want. Its really not their fault everyone caves into them. The next election may show them all the door, they’ve pretty much made it clear they don’t really care if they are reelected or not, they are doing what they were voted into office to do. If the majority of THEIR constituents decide they aren’t doing what is needed, THEY will vote them out. But all of this constant name calling by people who are NOT their constituents is ridiculous. In fact if probably just makes their constituents more determined to reelect them, just to “show the rest of the country”
Oh really Janet, the Elected GOP who want to be reelected will cave in a protracted government shut down. With out the support of the GOP the TEA Party in congress will just be so many voices howling in the wind. Where is the thriving economy and the jobs that the GOP/TEA Party promised last year? Rank and file GOP/TEA Party voters showed up in mass to shout out their reps in Congress. This is not what they promised to anyone except the Koch Brothers.
"Victory Lap?" Show this Pathetic FAILURE the Door!
I agree show the TEA Party the door.
As usual, seniors, former middle class, average working people, and children lose big time. Welcome to the banana republic that is the Republican utopia. Oh wait, I forgot, they haven't yet ended all labor unions and reduced the minimum wage to a dollar an hour.
LyndaAZ -
What cuts were made to any entitlement program? You are just spinning what happened. We all lose something, but nobody really knows what yet.
Your crystal ball working?
The deal does not identify specific programs to be cut majorly. They kicked that can down the road to yet another commission, whose members haven't even been named yet.
So what are you in such a twist over kid?
Which one of you snarky Conservatives windbags want to wager on how many percentage points the President beats whomever you prop up to run against him in 2012? You think just because you can stamp your feet and shriek at the top of your lungs the rest of the country is impressed? Just because you didn't get picked up enough when you were infants doesn't mean you have a clue about what's actually going on in the world.
Obama is not a good leader and he is a poor negotiator.... not good traits for a President! The fact is, he's good at dismantling. He's good at critiquing. He's good at not being the last guy, the one you didn't like. But he's not good at building, creating, calling into being. He was good at summoning hope, but he's not good at directing it and turning it into something concrete that answers a broad public desire.
And so his failures in the debt ceiling fight. He wasn't serious, he was only shrewd—and shrewdness wasn't enough. He demagogued the issue—no Social Security checks—until he was called out, and then went on the hustling spouting inanities. He left conservatives scratching their heads: They could have made a better, more moving case for the liberal ideal as translated into the modern moment, than he did. He never offered a plan. In a crisis he was merely sly. And no one likes sly, no one respects it.
So he is losing a battle in which he had superior forces—the presidency, the U.S. Senate. In the process he revealed that his foes have given him too much mystique. He is not a devil, an alien, a socialist (well maybe he is...). He is a loser. And this is America, where nobody loves a loser.
The Republicans being bad doesn't make Obama or any of the other Democrats good. If you took a poll I could almost guarantee that every voter didn't vote for the person they thought was the best candidate but the least bad.
Did the small government Republicans go on a spending spree during the Bush 43 years when they controlled both houses and the POTUS? They sure did. Did Democrats (including Sen. Obama) vote against raising the debt ceiling during that time, with the main argument being you can't use one credit card to pay another? They sure did.
The fact that everyone on this board is obsessed with the letter after a pol's name is very disturbing. We as voters have a chance to effect institutional change in DC. And, the sad thing is we won't. We'll keep voting for 'our' guy cuz he's better than the 'other' guy. Depressing.
Third Wheel - The letter after my name is (I). I can rattle both cages if I so desire. I choose to rattle liberals cages because they are the ones that cry and whine so much about Republicans. They are usually the first to call people names... and use infantile arguments to try to win their points.
When Biden called the Tea Party "terrorists" that was enough for me. For the Vice President of our country to stoop that low because he couldn't handle the negotiations early on, is absolutely shocking. The Vice President of our country calling his fellow countrymen terrorists is rife with him being a lunatic. That was beneath his office and totally unbecoming of a high official of this country. He should be apologizing profusely for his verbal assault... but do the libbies think so? Not at all. They cheered him on and repeated it over and over again. They do it mindlessly and without any sense of reason.
Damn, now Bush was in office 43 years. What else can we blame on this guy.
JJ - You've made my day!
I think he may be my father! LoL that even sounded funny!
I can't wait until they start restucturing the tax code. It will lok something like this:
Income.................... TaxRate
$0-$5,000............ ......0
$5,000-$250,000 .......60%
>$250,000 .................0
The Democrats will say they had to fight hard to protect those making under $5,000. The Republicans will boast about how much they compromised, and the Tea Party will complain about how those making over $250,000 lost their deductions.
@ Scott-1352085... LOL.... ROTF LMAO
@ Jon Jones, common man~! Common~! I seriously hope that was ur attempt at a joke.
Like the old "Wide World of Sports" intro...
"The thrill of victory...and the agony of...
__________________________________________________________________________
Obama Debt Deal Shakes Supporters Heading Into Election
Democratic lawmakers are openly questioning whether they can trust President Barack Obama to cut future deals with Republicans, while disappointment among party activists is raising doubts about their investment in his 2012 re-election campaign.
“Come on, got any other jokes?” cracked Representative Peter DeFazio, an Oregon Democrat, when asked if Obama bargained hard in negotiations with congressional Republicans.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-02/obama-debt-deal-shakes-trust-of-supporters-heading-into-election-campaign.html
In Obama's defense (and I generally find him indefensible), what choice did he have? And what is the reality? This bill is worthless with one exception. 2.4 trillion over ten years? Big whoop. In that time (even if you take the most generous projections) we will still add 7 trillion to our debt. A downgrade is inevitable.
They must do better. Hopefully, after the big O is gone in 2013 and the dems are made the minority in the senate, we can get some folks who understand what needs to be done.
Sure has Dangerfield,
Now I am becoming involved with "Organizing for America" President Obama's campaign organization. I am going to have a house party for him, walk neighborhoods, allow campaigners to stay for free at my 5 bedroom house, work phone banks, donate money, hand out bumper stickers, and generally be a hot poker in the eye for anything that even remotely looks like it is republicant.
Oh,...and I just finished voting Progressive candidates in to office in my local City Council elections. I am going to see about becoming an election challenger at the polls as well.
Consider this supporter "shaken". I'm really glad you brought it up.
You really should try reading the articles before your rant...it's about the actual progressive caucus;
________________________________________________________________________
Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Oppose Deficit Deal
This is the wrong approach for our economy at the wrong time, and it goes against our basic values. For that reason, we and many of our members will be voting no. Progressives are committed to prosperity for the middle class, and we believe that reasonable deficit reduction can be achieved while advancing our values. But today's deficit-reduction deal falls short.
Caucus Members
Co-Chairs
Keith Ellison
Raúl Grijalva
http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71§iontree=2,71
_____________________________________________________________________
I hope this helps you understand my point.
The Progressive Caucus is actually about as relevant as the so-called Tea Party caucus. They are a distinct minority that, banded together, can make their collective voice heard. The are still a MINORITY. The MAJORITY, i.e. the adults in the room, get it: The President understood all along he would have to compromise to get a deal. Guess what: When the Tea Party folks stopped giving Boehner a wedgie that's exactly what the Speaker did.
The bigger picture here is that the country may (hopefully) be concluding that anyone near the polar extremes on either end is bad for the country!
yea but the progressives are a bit worse! With the right all you have is some people with a lot more money! The other way were all drones in lockstep!
Dangerfield, i read the Bloomberg article. The reporter did ask members of the Progressive Caucus all who voted against the bill. They were upset . Keith Ellison is from 5 th district, the city of Minneapolis. Trust me on this one, he will campaign for Obama in 2012. He will be on the stage with the President and our Senator Amy Klobucher when he comes to MN to campaign.
The article beyond the direct quotes was really the same old speculation that the progressives and other will not support Obama with time , money. I really don't think that will happen. but both of us will just have to see.
No one is satisfied with this law, it was a compromise. The same article showed the Pew poll for July 20-24: 66% disaprove of the job of the Republican leaders ,job approval rating for Obama 48% disapporval, 44% approval.
Northstar - You can bet the farm that the progressive caucus will stand behind Obama. They will forget all about this episode by the time the elections roll around. I don't think Obama will have quite the support from independents this time though. That's his largest liability. If unemployment doesn't get below 8%, he's toast. You can also bet the farm on that one. No incumbent in history has ever won a re-election with an unemployment rate above 7.6%. After four years, he will no longer be able to blame anyone... people are getting tired of hearing the blame game and see right through it.
Brianb, we sold our farm years ago! but you are right. Some on this board get all excited that the progressive criticize this new law and Obama in the process. The Democrats have been a unified party for this long is the real news!
Independents will all be courted like every election year. Most independents I know are even thinking about the election.As one said to me today at work. "I am glad all the bickering is over, just get things done." Hard to interpret that vote. You are an exception to the rule for independents. You really like all this political discourse!!
I know the inviolate axiom about re-election and unemployment rate %. But I think this downturn, double dip recession is truly different . Most people who lived through the great depression are not around any more.This is a whole new experience for all of us. There isn't any easy fixes or magic potions or " Deus ex Machine" to bring everything into balance here in the US or even Europe.
So I will hold judgment about the conventional wisdom about unemployment rate for awhile.
obama is too weak to take a victory lap, but he's sitting down with his feet on the desk smoking a cigarette and dreaming of the $2.4 trillion or so in 'slush funds' he has to give to his union buddies.
They will make out like bandits while the country only gets a t-shirt
To say this wasn't Obama's victory lap is an understatement. He got taken to the cleaners by the GOP.
When the GOP came up with their first draft plan, Obama had counter-proposed a plan with $3 spending cuts for every $1 increased taxes. The GOP said no.
Then Obama offered $6 in spending cuts for every $1 in increased taxes. The GOP said no.
Again and again, Obama tried to get the GOP to agree to at least some token tax increases. They said no.
So Obama signed a deal that is all spending cuts and no tax increases. Even though he has the power of the Presidency plus a Dem-controlled Senate.
I'd like to get Obama in a poker game sometime. He's the kind of player who would fold with a full house.
He really had no choice unless he used the 14th ammendment. The republicans basically were acting as extortionists, and with the economy, on the verge, of disaster, if the debt limit didn't get increased, he had no choice. Neither did the Democratic Senate. I personally believe he should get a lot of credit getting the republicans to have agreed to anything. Remember a lot of them thought there would be no consequences to a default. When you are trying to compromise with someone who is intent on extorting you, and more interested, in your failure than the countries welfare, it is hard to win. We averted disaster; good enough, for this round.
But Sinz,
I thought you people were saying that Obama never put a plan on the table. I also thought you said the GOP was not the party of "no",....... but that they compromised.
Sinz,
Do YOU know what YOU mean?
What you intentionaly ignore is there would not be a default unless there was a deliberate decision to not pay the interest due on the national debt. The US takes in enough each month to pay the interest, pay Social Security, and pay the members of the armed forces with some left over. The decision would be how to allocate the amount left over between welfare, congress, government agencies, etc.
GOP, offering spending cuts for debt increases isn't a plan. Tip O'Neal did that to Ronald Reagan in the 80's and we all know what happened there... Tip and his democrat majority didn't honor it. The republicans don't have short memories.
Mac, but what would happen to the bills that were not paid? They would get added to the debt, our interest rate would increase and we would pass the debt ceiling. Which would again increase our interest rate, downgrade our credit rating and then more bills would not get paid. How long do you think the things you mentioned would be able to get paid? A month? two months?
What you are saying is no solution. It would just exacerbate the problem. I don't think this really was a win for anyone. Least of all the American people or the economy.
Unfortunately the republican party is costing this country a fortune. They are costing us 200 million dollars a week, 4000, jobs, and 200 construction jobs, by refusing to take their union busting provision out of the FAA legislation. By not allowing any revenue increases, including monies, from closing tax loopholes, go towards the deficit, we have not reduced the deficit as much as we could have. In addition their irrational behavior, in the whole debt limit debacle, has made us look very, very bad internationally and seriously jeapardized our triple A rating. After watching the debt celing folly, I am convinced that the super committee will be filled with "my way or the highway" fanatic republicans again. They have no willingness to negotiate anything, and without the debt limit deadline, I am sure that the "automatic cuts will go into affect because there is no way that anyone can negotiate anything with them.
the deal is done, Mad Independent, but I think any super committee would be willing to raise revenue rather than make more drastic cut to spending. Remember SS is totally off the table. so the cuts would be made to defense and maybe Medicare. Now these same folks, at least 6 of them, will be up for reelection in 2012. The public was disgusted with the way Congress acted and it will be even worse come December if they do not act like grow ups and do their job. If they won't raise revenue because of their extreme pledge to never raise revenue than voters will see them clearly as incapable to govern as a congressman or Senator in any balanced way. The majority of the public wants government to work and a central balance approach.
but we all willl have to see how this plays out....
this is just my view not any better or worse than the other above on this post. It is all speculation....
you do realize why the faa thing is an issue dont you!
JOS, I certainly do. It is about counting a person who does not vote in an union election, a no vote.
Now what is my prize ? :)
Wow - so much anger at our President....
...Just tell me which one of the GOP contenders you think could take him.
The Tea Baggers suffered greater losses in the polls than President Obama.
America hates Obama like they hated Carter. They didn't want to but he forced them. And he's not done yet so we're not finished hating him. In case you haven't noticed; his policies have all failed. Everyday he loses more and more supporters. Like rats leaving a burning, sinking ship. Only in the bizarro world of brain washed sycophants does he win a second term.
ABO,ABO,ABO,ABO,ABO.........I can hear the chants now.
Anyone the GOP puts up will beat 1 Term 0bama in an electoral college landslide. This moron is in trouble in Michigan of all places. 5 other states that he won in 2008 and has to have to win in 2012 have turned very red - OH, PA, VA, NC & FL. All now have GOP govs and state houses. PA for instance has only 1 elected official at the state level that is a Dem. A first term US Senator who is in trouble and will be swept out with 1 Term 0 as the GOP takes control of both houses of Congress and the Executive branch. 1 Term 0bama couldn't get elected community organizer anywhere but Chicago these days. Dirty Harry Reid will soon be minority leader. 462 long days until we end this error. Jan 20, 2013 - 0bama's last day in office - Thank God!
Doug, people hated Carter because he was ineffective; but he was ineffective because he wouldn't play the games that the people claim to hate. People should have loved him because he refused to make back room deals etc, that is why even with a democratic congress he was unable to get anything done.
The moron Obama keeps spewing forth economic insanity.
As is stands now, according to MSNBC, the debt will grow by at least $8.5 trillion (assuming no recession, which in that case it will be at least $12.5 trillion higher) and our national debt will grow to nearly $23 trillion by 2021 and if America's GDP is $18 trillion as expected (assumes average 2% growth) then our debt to GDP ratio will be at 133%.
Just a shade under Greece and if we have a recession before then (guaranteed) it will be well over 150%.
Thanks Bush.
Thanks Obama.
Thanks all you KTCG morons.
You sold our childrens future overseas by listening to all that crap from businesses needing bigger tax breaks to create jobs and look what they did with the savings--they just sat on it! And the big fat city CEO's and CFO's laughed all the way to the bank.
Heck, some of them even owned the bank!
Yep - great work. So the next ten years will only add 12 trillion dollars onto the existing 14.3 Trillion dollars as opposed to an additional 14 trillion dollars without this deal.
Just as long as the world realizes - this aint never getting paid off BOYZZZZ.
Now go buy some US Treasuries...chumps
If president obama tried to negotiate a car deal for you. You would end up paying 2000 bucks more then its worth and 13% intrest.He would then tell you its a lousy deal.But he managed to save the car comany and the finace comany from bankruptcy. Oh well he's still better then a republican. He could'nt negotiate a deal untill he took the car hostage
The Teapublicans who insisted on linking a debt reduction deal to the debt ceiling are not only responsible for dragging the nation through this ridiculous fiasco but are also responsible for the damage this has done to the economy. The Teapublicans now OWN this economy. And because of the way this deal is structured, if there is a deadlock and they gut the military, they are also responsible for putting our national security at risk.
That is kick ass. All that power and all from only 60 House freshmen.
Sweet. Poor dems - White House+ majority in the Senate, and yet a bunch of newbies rocking their world.
Democracy. It ain't for the feint of heart.
What is also kick a** is that in Obama's 4 years in office, he will have never owned the economy.
Historic.
Glad you are finally seeing it our way JS1.
According to DNC Chair Debbie W. Schultz - the Dems own the economy. Running against Bush didn't work out very good in 2010 and won't work in 2012 as he is not going to be on the ballot. 1 Term 0bama gets voted out in 462 days.
What is this,....a tug of war over the economy?
An excellent article to repost this on:
President Obama and the Democratic party are the political victors in this. Why?
Simple. The teapublicans have shown that they are not fit to govern, only to block meaningful legislation, to hold those Americans most in need as hostages to their demands and to seriously flirt with the idea of making our nation default on its debts.
They have also shown their absolute determination to cut Social Security and Medicare which over 60% of Americans oppose, (Source July 2011 Pew Poll) More Americans will oppose this as they ratchet up their rhetoric for the election.
Also by kicking the can down the road past the 2012 elections the President has won in strategic terms. By allowing the Republicans to do more damge to themselves between now and next years election (and they will trust me) there is more certainty of a Demeocratic majority in both the house and senate.
Many Democrats are upset with the President but only because they don't take the long view as yet. He has agreed that Social Security and Medicare should be cut, but only in the nebulous future past 2012. Many things could happen that would allow him to shift his position by 2013. And with a majoity in both houses he can not only change his position he can change the current agreements to have triggers for cuts.
The President has out strategised the republicans and given up nothing by doing it.
He is playng the long game and teapartiers should be angry at the Republicans because they caved and sold the tea party out because they knew they could not afford to allow a default. They were being pragmatic and sensible in the end but the tea party agenda for wrecking our country is now DOA. The tea bag congress persons had to cave in the end and they have capitulated.
It really will be "morning in America" again after 2012.
P.S. After all this, where are the jobs that Republicans were going to focus on? Answer, nowhere, because the only political stratgy they have is obstruction.
McWatts,
Congratulations, You Got It!!
I am reminded of the story of a nice man who opened his home to some friends in need. He was very trusting and allowed them a lot of space with the intent of making them feel at home within his own house.
Gradually these friends started exhibiting patterns of behavior that contradicted the core values of this individual and the spirit upon which he intended to build his home. Boundaries were being broken and his principles were being violated. This man in his niceness chose to ignore the red warning flags, entering rather into a state of normalcy bias. He assumed his friends would eventually see his virtue of patience, respect that and change. He thought his friends were like him even when he saw signs that they clearly had no regard for his core values.
To cut the long story short, it wasn’t too long when this man found himself living outside the house he built begging others for a place to rest his head while these so called friends had taken possession of his home. Unfortunately in his naivety he walked around the house everyday hoping that his friends will see his suffering condition and have pity on him. He saw them walk past him with no sense of guilt, but with the spirit of entitlement, eat and drink in a place they knew nothing of how it came about. What baffled him most was the lack of empathy towards him. This he could not just understand and that was what finally broke him.
His friends had leveraged on their relationship with him to gain entrance and entrench themselves at the core of his life and then took ownership of his property. It is an old strategy of the Greek gift. Act like a sheep gain entrance then show your true colour.
Poju Oyemade
This article could have been titled No victory lap for "fill in the blank" because nobody won. The only lap being taken is the middle class has just taken another lap around the toilet bowl on our way to being completely flushed.
No victory lap but a victory.
President Obama and the Democratic party are the political victors in this. Why?
Simple. The teapublicans have shown that they are not fit to govern, only to block meaningful legislation, to hold those Americans most in need as hostages to their demands and to seriously flirt with the idea of making our nation default on its debts.
They have also shown their absolute determination to cut Social Security and Medicare which over 60% of Americans oppose, (Source July 2011 Pew Poll) More Americans will oppose this as they ratchet up their rhetoric for the election.
Also by kicking the can down the road past the 2012 elections the President has won in strategic terms. By allowing the Republicans to do more damge to themselves between now and next years election (and they will trust me) there is more certainty of a Demeocratic majority in both the house and senate.
Many Democrats are upset with the President but only because they don't take the long view as yet. He has agreed that Social Security and Medicare should be cut, but only in the nebulous future past 2012. Many things could happen that would allow him to shift his position by 2013. And with a majoity in both houses he can not only change his position he can change the current agreements to have triggers for cuts.
The President has out strategised the republicans and given up nothing by doing it.
He is playng the long game and teapartiers should be angry at the Republicans because they caved and sold the tea party out because they knew they could not afford to allow a default. They were being pragmatic and sensible in the end but the tea party agenda for wrecking our country is now DOA. The tea bag congress persons had to cave in the end and they have capitulated.
It really will be "morning in America" again after 2012.
P.S. After all this, where are the jobs that Republicans were going to focus on? Answer, nowhere, because the only political stratgy they have is obstruction.
Sorry posted twice. Not rubbing it in, it was just slow to show up so posted agin..
McWatts: Your post is right on the mark!
Then there was this follow up re: Social Secuity:
His veiled threat was a masterful political move. Immediately after, more Americans were holding the republicans accountable than Obama if that were to happen.
This is both a high stakes poker and chess game and the president is proving to be a master at it.
I am a social security recipient and I had not a single worry that no checks would be issued.
The Republicans have held those in need as hostages numerous times in making their demands. The president turned the tables on them and held them hostages to those in need.
The president has been painted as many things, socialist, wimp, ineffective community organizer, traitor to the democratic party. He is none of those things.
What he is, is a master politician and he is becoming the biggest (albeit subtle) gunslinger in town. In a high noon stand off I will take the gunslinger over the dewey eyed idealist every time.
McWatts,
You are right! Obama is too analytical and too smart to allow a seemly defeat. The chapters in this playbook is far from over. He knew the house would loose big in 2010 and he also knew, he had to switch gears to appeas to the ultra Corporate/TP/GOP. A quote was made by Denzel Washington in the movie "American Gangster," "The loudest man in the room is the weakest man in the room." Obama is a very good listener who work from behind the scene.
According to those I have talked to just the opposite is true. The people I have discussed this with ALL say any president that would threaten to cut off Social Security was despicable and did not deserve to be a road kill cleanup specialist.
So that's means the end of the GOP, right?
G=get
O=our
p=poor
In Madras, Beijing, Bangalore, Toluca,.....
What are you talking about, Repubs are great job creators!!!
LOL. Great point.
And where are all the jobs President Obama promised? The press keeps trying to prop him up, with how many jobs were created (primarily government). But the simple fact is that the unemployment rate is over 9%. That means that more jobs were LOST than created. If the press wasn't so liberally biased, the president would be at one of the lowest ratings in recent history.
inthemiddle:
How biased were the "Liberal" media when they were skewering Bill Clinton? Remember? 24/7 Clinton/Lewinsky coverage? Ken Starr? Paula Jones? Ring any bells?
You don't have to answer all at once, take your time.
Jobs Czar Jeffrey Immelt is creating jobs............................................IN CHINA!
As disturbing as this has been, the aftermath is no improvement. Let us undertand what just happened. The increase in the debt limit simply enables the country to continue to pay for debt already incurred. In other words, the failure to increase it would mean that the United States of America is a deadbeat nation; one that would not pay its employees (including the military) or honor contracts and commitments to it citizens or investors. And yet, the Tea Partiers are bragging because they were willing to destroy the economy and the President chose not to take the risk. Is this what we want our country to be? And please, don't tell me that we're broke. Our corporations and upper income folks are emulating Scrooge McDuck, literally swimming in cash. George Bush managed to starve the government with taxcuts and then max out the credit card with defense and war spending. And the Tea/Republican Party thinks we need to go back and follow that same strategy. We are living in scary times.
Keep dreaming McWatts...Obama is a one term president who leads from behind. In fact, the President is so bad, there is a plan or at least I hear they are considering chisseling Jimmy Carter into Mount Rushmore.
JFK: You're no John F. Kennedy. You know that. You're nothing more or less than a "lib" baiter playing a silly game that makes you feel as though you have some worth.
You keep dreaming. Teapublicans said "our way or the highway." Obama said "Make my day" when those social security checks don't go out. They said never mind.
You got nothing but misty semi-promises for an imaginary future. Please keep drinking the tea and somehow believing Boehner didn't sell out your fondest tea party dreams. I can't blame him he'd like to actually win something in 2012.
I hope your extremists go into hyper drive blathering on every media outlet there is about their vision of the future. By the way you need to get Sarah out there running. What's the holdup on that?
Obama Leads? That would news.. I have seen better leaders at Boy Scout meetings. Maybe Obama can get a job as a teleprompter salesman at the end of his 1 term (hopefully).
bill: Come on, bill. Did the Tea Party people sell you a $1.98 sheet for $15.00? That teleprompter BS is a dead on code word. Every President for the past thirty years or more have used teleprompters. Why didn't you cite either George H. W. Bush, or George W. Bush, or Ronald Reagan as a "teleprompter salesman?" You know why and everyone reading your post knows what you mean.
TJ and watts......kinda lame and way too last minute.
Hey Jolly, its the last minute that always counts. Even more so when the end result is in question. The teapublicans stalled, had their hostage taking strategy backfire on them and pissed off the American people. And not one thing to show for it.
Obama offered them a better deal (for them) than they actually accepted. How lame is that? And how much do you want to bet he knew the extremists would make them turn it down?
I am looking forward to the town hall meetings the teapublicans have coming up.
And if TJ and I are lame why don't you do a point by point rebuttal? It's lame not to at least do that...
The Dem campaign in 2012 will be simple. If you enjoyed the ridiculous fiasco of the debt ceiling debacle and the damage it did to the economy and want to go through it all over again in 2013 then vote republican.
Good idea, I believe I will
Well 70 5 of American say they believe Obama has made things worse and we are going int he wrong direction, 60 % say they would never vote for him again, close to 40 % say he is the worst president ever, and 56 % strongly disapprove of him while 26 % strongly approve I would say he deserves no victory lap and is heading to a stunning and deserved defeat!
So before all the liberals here start screaming I am wrong read the polls for yourself.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/
http://zogby.com/polls/latest/
http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx
The hard thing to figure out is if the idiots that proposed the spending cuts in a down economy are more or less stupid than the idiots that let the stupid bill pass. I'm waiting for a tea bag to show me how spending cuts create jobs and stimulate the economy. The 2012 vote will come down to the lesser of two evils and Obama will win that one hands down.
Another choice between bad and worse! The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Where are the true and dedicated Public Servants? Where are they? The ones elected to steward our country, guide the process and make no laws that encumber one against the other? The Reps have but one agenda - remove the black man and his family from the Oval office! They proved their agenda during the fiscal escapade of fools. Congress is an assembly of fools, rather than wise men. The public demands satisfaction, but is lost in the heat of the Political self serving battle of wealthy giants who do not have our best interests at heart. Atruly bipartisan group would have stuck to the script, increased revenues, lowered spending and reached an accord that would benefit the country within ten years - but they failed because of their calculating Egos, extremist positioning and mind set. Everyone, every corporation and every business must bear the burden of this debt, all of us need to join in and share the work and from what I have seen in the Congress, only a ffew are willing to show for productive work - solving the problem in a constructive manner, ceasing the chickens--- name calling and do the work. Meet every day in session until you hammer a set of laws that does in fact address the real situation. Putin says we are parasites, borrowing, borrowing and continually arguing. He has a definite point. How does it feel to be dressed down by a socialist dictator?
Our attitude towards change is our strength, without it we will fail and the sme old crap will continue to spew forth , while the leaders continue to sit, squat on their fat bottoms and refuse to see what is clearly before them.
Smith, there is a lot of truth in what you say, except for one large flaw, namely, that we, the people have called for this disgraceful bs for many years in many ways, not only in who we elect and what we elect them to do, but for our personal values and beliefs, our vanity, ignorance, arrogance and selfishness. Who is blaming us and calling for us to change our collective ways?
Nobody.
We are well and truly screwed.
All right Tea Bags now show us how cutting government spending creates jobs. Never heard of a spending cut that was called a stimulus. Show us just how that works.
I can't think of a single way that cutting government spending would create any job. However, cutting government spending would begin to chisel away at an enormous debt that every politician from either side of the aisle has bridled us with. It might also help to put money back into the SS fund that government thinks is their personal piggy bank. It also frees up money that could be used for Medicare.
Democrats and Republicans alike have caused the problems we face. Presidents are the scape goats for congress and their often irrational, illconceived laws that have strangled the live blood out of every class of people in this country.
Gosh, if "defense" spending is necessary - not larded with waste and corruption - how can it be cut even a penny?
We are laughingstock and rightly the butt of global ridicule. Putin, of all people, got it right.
The fkn media is not worth a SHI&!!!!
you're are correct John D. (i can't believe the Tea Baggetts and Fox News Republicans got away with this) give 1.6 trillion dollar tax cuts to the rich during two wars just so they could claim the nation is broke just to go after medicare and social security (did the liberal media report it) no (the labor protest of the midwest) didn't report it (the reason why) all republcians own all the major media networks (i can't believe GE allows MSNBC to be so pro middleclass)