Jul 28, 2011 8:54am

The Note: Plan Z: Hoping For The Best, Preparing For The Worst

gty boehner budget jef 110728 wb The Note: Plan Z: Hoping For The Best, Preparing For The Worst

By MICHAEL FALCONE (@michaelpfalcone) and AMY WALTER (@amyewalter)

It’s come to this: The White House is making tentative plans for a Friday evening briefing detailing which of the government’s bills will be paid and which will not come Aug. 2 if Democrats and Republicans fail to find common ground on the debt ceiling.

ABC’s Jake Tapper reports this morning that, “Officials are most concerned about paying the interest on the existing debt, since failure to do so would result in default and almost certain immediate market panic, as well as questions about how Treasury would be able to roll over a pre-existing $87 billion in debt that comes due next week. After that — a list of priorities, not all of which that can be met. Social Security checks? Medicare? Government workers? Pentagon contractors? Troops’ salaries? The FBI?” http://abcn.ws/qjKQcx

Such a briefing, Tapper notes, would take place after the markets close (4 p.m.) on Friday.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is preparing today for a vote on Speaker John Boehner’s debt-limit plan after Boehner instructed his members yesterday — especially those freshman Tea Party holdouts — to “get your ass in line” behind it.

Republican leaders worked furiously yesterday to round up sufficient support within their caucus to pass the plan. The threshold Boehner must meet in the House is 217 votes for passage and he can’t afford for any more than 23 of his fellow GOP members to vote “no.”

If it passes, the real question is where does it go from there? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has continued to insist that, as written, the Boehner plan is “dead on arrival” once it reaches the Senate. Fifty-one Democrats and two independents co-signed a letter to the Speaker yesterday telling him that they would not support his plan. President Obama has also said he would veto it.

As Tapper reported on “Good Morning America” today, the key to avoiding default on Aug. 2 may be in back-channel negotiations between Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who have been discussing a backup plan in the likely event that the Boehner bill stalls in the Senate. http://abcn.ws/nJ2epU

In a sign of the delicacy of the negotiations, however, McConell’s aides “vehemently denied that their boss was negotiating any side deal,” according to a report today in The New York Times.

“The fact is,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor yesterday, “Republicans have offered the only proposal at this point that attempts to get at the root of the problem, and which actually has a chance of getting to the president’s desk.”

TIMING: The House is expected to vote on the Boehner plan between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, ABC’s John R. Parkinson notes.

ABC NEWS’ COUNTDOWN CLOCK: 4 DAYS TO DEFAULT: http://abcnews.go.com/politics

BOEHNER’S MOMENT. Just how important is today’s planned debt-limit vote to House Speaker John Boehner? The Hill’s Molly Hooper writes that, “it is, without question, the biggest vote of Boehner’s reign. Some are even speculating that Boehner’s Speakership is on the line. A seasoned House Republican lawmaker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Hill that the vote on Boehner’s proposal is a ‘vote of confidence in the Speaker.’ ‘This is the first time that we’re almost in a parliamentary position in that the president is sort of out of it, and this is now a situation where it’s a vote of confidence in the Speaker and so, if we don’t get it through, John is out of the picture,’ the source said. “

BACHMANN’S NEXT MOVE. The Minnesota congresswoman and presidential candidate is in Washington, DC today in between campaign events in Iowa. She will deliver remarks at the National Press Club this afternoon. She has already said she’s opposed to Boehner’s debt plan, arguing at a campaign stop in the Hawkeye State earlier this week that “the premise is wrong.” She emphasized, “This Republican will not vote to raise the debt ceiling … My colleagues will have to come to their own conclusion.” Bachmann plans to take questions after her Press Club speech today. She heads back to Iowa on Saturday for three-days of events ahead of the Aug. 13 Ames Straw Poll.

 

ON TODAY’S “TOP LINE”: ABC’s Amy Walter and Zach Wolf hear from GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah. The Republican Senator wants to attach a balanced budget amendment to any debt-limit deal Also on the program, political consultant Andres Ramirez.  Ramirez leads the Nevada Latino Redistricting Coalition, a group that has drawn its own map of Congressional districts in Nevada. Watch “Top Line” LIVE at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. http://abcn.ws/toplineliveabc

“TOP LINE” REPLAY: CLUB FOR GROWTH’S CHRIS CHOCOLA. The president of the group that has been one of the biggest critics of Speaker Boehner’s so-called “two step” plan on the debt ceiling –Chocola said his group was, “willing to look at” the “latest iteration of the Boehner plan” and “hope there’s something we can be for,” but reaffirmed the club’s opposition to the bill. “The Boehner plan does not solve our long-term debt crisis,” Chocola said on “Top Line.” He acknowledged that GOP votes on this bill would factor into the scorecards that the Club for Growth creates for each candidate during election cycles. http://abcn.ws/oIlGpj

 

RICK PERRY WATCH: CALLING ALL DONORS. ABC’s Arlette Saenz reports: Texas Gov. Rick Perry will host a dinner for potential donors in Austin this evening as he weighs whether or not he can draw in the cash necessary to fund a presidential campaign. This marks his second donor dinner of this kind and plans are in the works for two more such dinners next week. He also plans to welcome a delegation from New Hampshire to discuss a presidential run.

Perry, who has not said much about debt debate in Washington, said Wednesday the fears over a potential default are being blown out of proportion. “There’s still gonna be revenues flowing in, so I think this threat that somehow or another the world is going to come to an end and the threat of  ’We’re not going to be able to pay our bills’ is a bit of a stretch,” Perry told reporters in Houston, according to the Texas Tribune. “Most Americans know this: We’ve spent too much money. We’ve gotten our house in bad shape, and we need to stop spending.”

Yesterday, he also categorized abortion as a states’ rights issue despite being a staunch social conservative who espouses pro-life initiatives.  “You either have to believe in the 10th Amendment or you don’t,” Perry said.  “You can’t believe in the 10th Amendment for a few issues and then something that doesn’t suit you say we’d rather not have states decide that.” http://abcn.ws/qeJf52

NOTED: Perry’s 10th Amendment defense on abortion comes on heels of his defense of New York’s decision to allow gay marriage. He’s staying committed to his state’s rights ideology, but will social conservatives appreciate the consistency?

 

THE BUZZ

ROMNEY STEERS CLEAR OF DEBT SPECIFICS. “In his first public event in Ohio as a 2012 presidential candidate, Republican front-runner Mitt Romney avoided wading into the federal debt-ceiling debate paralyzing Washington, saying only that he favored an already-rejected House Republican plan,” the Columbus Dispatch’s Joe Hallett and Ben Geier reports from Pataskala, Ohio. “Appearing before about 200 people at Screen Machine Industries yesterday, Romney did not mention the swirling controversy in his 20-minute speech and only fleetingly stated his position after being cornered by reporters. ‘My position is very clear, which is, I favor a ‘cut, cap and balance’ program for federal spending,’ Romney said, ignoring follow-up questions. His stance apparently comports with a bill favored by the tea party and passed last week by the GOP-controlled House – and killed by the Democratic-dominated Senate – that would require Congress to cut spending, cap future spending, and approve a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. Romney focused his remarks on jobs and the economy – meat and potatoes in a presidential battleground state that saw a slight uptick in its unemployment rate, to 8.8 percent, in June. But a recovery plan he outlined was bereft of details.” http://bit.ly/r5C9D7

TEAM HUNTSMAN FIRES BACK: “Does Mitt Romney think we need a deal on the debt limit before 8/2? Does he share Rick Perry’s view that default is no big deal?” presidential candidate Jon Huntsman’s spokesman Tim Miller asked this morning.“How does he feel default would impact American jobs? How can someone be expected to tackle the big issues as President if they hide from the tough issues as a candidate?”

AND FROM THE LEFT… @billburton716: Hard to believe Romney could stand up to China when he can’t even stand up to the Tea Party. He still has not commented on Boehner plan.

PALIN RETURNING TO IOWA. “Sarah Palin will give a keynote address at an Iowa Tea Party rally on Sept. 3, ABC News has learned. Three separate sources confirmed to ABC News that the former Alaska governor accepted an invitation to keynote a Waukee, Iowa, rally held by the Tea Party of America, an Iowa-based political action committee that was founded in May,” ABC’s Shushannah Walshe and Sheila Marikar report. “The Sept. 3 trip will be Palin’s second visit to the key election state this year. She attended the Pella, Iowa, premiere of the documentary about her, ‘The Undefeated,’ in June. Her keynote speech will fall two days after ‘The Undefeated’ gets released on pay-per-view and video-on-demand. A tea party insider with knowledge of the rally said the timing is not a coincidence: ‘Labor Day weekend is the traditional kick-off to political campaigns, [and] it’s going to be all Sarah all the time.’ The same source pointed out that Palin has ‘sucked the news cycles of three major summer holidays’ because her ‘One Nation’ bus tour launched Memorial Day weekend, ‘The Undefeated’ premiered ahead of July 4 weekend, and this event falls on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.” http://abcn.ws/ptdQ9r

LOBBYISTS SIDELINED IN DEBT TALKS.Sweltering in the heat at his son’s lacrosse tournament, Joseph Stanton sat thumbing through his blackberry — laptop nearby — as he tried to track developments in Washington’s debt debate. The chief lobbyist for the National Association of Home Builders started his work on July 24, a Sunday, at 7:30 a.m. and finished about 8 p.m., knowing little more than he did in the morning about whether the housing market would be hit in a deal,” Bloomberg News’ Alison Fitzgerald and Kristin Jensen write. “‘There’s really just mass confusion everywhere, not on Congress’s part, but the rumor mill of the lobbying world,’ said Stanton, 49. Asked how the debt-deal talks compare in terms of their frenetic atmosphere with other debates Stanton’s seen in his two decades of advocating on Capitol Hill, he said: ‘This is in the top one.’ … With President Barack Obama and congressional leaders conducting closely held private meetings in search of an accord, ‘it’s been very difficult to get information from them and into them,’ said Mark Birenbaum, head of the National Independent Laboratory Association. His group is trying to follow the status of a Republican proposal that would require labs to collect a co-payment from Medicare patients. Michael Buckley, communications director at the Alliance for Retired Americans, said his group has opted to save its energy for the post-deal period, when hundreds of billions of dollars in spending cuts tied to the debt ceiling vote are expected to be implemented. ‘There are only a handful of people in this town that are the decision-makers on this now,’ he said.” http://bloom.bg/mWBHOY

NOTED: CALL FOR INTERNS. The Note and the ABC Political Unit are in the market for interns for the Fall of 2011. We require actively enrolled students and we prefer applicants who are spending the semester in DC and can commit a regular 9-5 schedule. E-mail a resume and cover letter to Zachary.B.Wolf@abc.com

 

WHO’S TWEETING?

@l_whittington: Sharron Angle releases “Statement from a ‘TEA Party Hobbit’” attacking McCain, who campaigned for her in Nevada last year

@TheBrodyFile: Debt Ceiling Analysis: shld @TeaParty Lawmakers Just Kick the Field Goal? http://bit.ly/q4O2sa

@joshgerstein: WH to Issa: No impropriety in Obama fundraising-related events. But WH sends only explanations, not docs he demanded http://politi.co/roOV9Q

@hillballotbox: Herman Cain apologizes to Muslims http://bit.ly/oBPuML

@smkeyes: How Bob Vander Plaats convinced the entire GOP field that Pizza Ranches are a good place to campaign in Iowa is beyond me.

 

POLITICAL RADAR: 

(all times local)

*Michele Bachmann will speak at a National Press Club luncheon.

* Newt Gingrich is a guest of the local Rotary Club in Cartersville, Ga. at noon. Then at 5:30 p.m., Gingrich participates in the Anti-Tax Town Hall and Rally hosted by the Kennesaw State College Republicans and the Conservative Leadership Coalition in Marietta.

* Tim Pawlenty attends a meet-and-greet in Jefferson, Iowa at 8 a.m. At 11 a.m., he drops by a meet-and-greet in Carroll. He appears at the Cherokee meet-and-greet at 2 p.m. At 6 p.m., he attends the Sioux City Town Hall.

* Rick Santorum holds a town hall meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa at 8 a.m. He hosts another in Ft. Madison at 11 a.m. before heading to another town hall in Burlington at 1 p.m. and one in Mt. Pleasant at 3:15 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., Santorum is the featured guest at a house party in Pleasantville as part of his Santorum Family Tour.

* Jon Huntsman gives the keynote speech at the Teddy Roosevelt Dinner in Washington, D.C. at 6:30 p.m.

 The Note Futures Calendar: http://abcn.ws/ZI9gV

 

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* For breaking political news and analysis check out The Note blog: http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/and ABCNews.com/Politics: http://abcnews.com/politics

User Comments

Everyone get ready. The republicans have worked very hard to have this defalt happen so close to the election. When you all lose out (except fot the republican ultra rich that have all there money overseas) you can live in cardboard boxes and the republicans will lauph all the way to their mansions about it.

Posted by: mike | July 28, 2011, 9:24 am 9:24 am

I know this will not be popular, but the one agency that should maintain funding is the IRS. they bring the money IN so they would be very vital for paying other bills wouldn’t they?

Posted by: kay | July 28, 2011, 9:24 am 9:24 am

Well. if “modest modifications” includes members of Congress voluntarily lowering their salaries, lowering their own health care expectations and their outrageous “retirement” benefits, voluntarily eliminating their personal farm subsidies, eliminating the disgusting subsidies for oil companies and businesses who have moved their manufacturing out of the country…. maybe THEN I would approve Obama’s flexibility on other issues. But they won’t, of course. Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times, that’s 7 TIMES, with the encouragement of these same GOP hypocrites who are refusing to do it now
Well. if “modest modifications” includes members of Congress voluntarily lowering their salaries, lowering their own health care expectations and their outrageous “retirement” benefits, voluntarily eliminating their personal farm subsidies, eliminating the disgusting subsidies for oil companies and businesses who have moved their manufacturing out of the country…. maybe THEN I would approve Obama’s flexibility on other issues. But they won’t, of course. Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times, that’s 7 TIMES, with the encouragement of these same GOP hypocrites who are refusing to do it now

Posted by: achillies | July 28, 2011, 9:39 am 9:39 am

achillies…What you can’t get around is the FACT that no president (ever) has spent like Obama. Obama’s only been in office 30 months. Look at the deficits he’s been racking up, then kindly shut up! More debt makes us less secure. Think about it for a while and perhaps you’ll begin to understand why it can’t be allowed to continue. BTW, are you employed by a corporation?

Posted by: s | July 28, 2011, 9:57 am 9:57 am

Mike: I agree completely. The GOP and Tea Party have been out to get this president since day one. I hope people will open their eyes. They are the ones holding this all up. The president outlined his plan on tv and John B. just ranted about giving the pres. a blank check. They have no real plan. It’s disgusting.

Posted by: Barb | July 28, 2011, 9:57 am 9:57 am

Achilles: THAT’S RIGHT! Agree 100%

Posted by: Barb | July 28, 2011, 9:58 am 9:58 am

THe president only spent to get us out of more trouble! AND GW did the same thing bailing out the banks before he left office so try another “story”

Posted by: Barb | July 28, 2011, 10:00 am 10:00 am

7.65 million people receive unemployment benefits, thank you Mr. President. Your spending us into huge deficits for nothing, shows what a great leader you are. We are not going to default on the debt, checks will go out for social security, medicare, military, etc. unless this President decides for political reasons not to. Maybe some of his Czars should be cut, maybe he should send back the doubling of his limos, maybe we should get out of Libya, maybe the 2 million he sent to Afganistan (sp) that went to the Taliban should be retracted, maybe he should stop flying around on air force one, maybe he should think about other jobs besides his own,etc. Always a crisis with this man and the blame game.

Posted by: Freedom | July 28, 2011, 10:13 am 10:13 am

Barb; And Obama’s “job czar”, Jeff Immelt is moving jhobs from Wisconsin to China. Care to comment?

Posted by: LongT | July 28, 2011, 10:20 am 10:20 am

Freedom: Excuse me but we the taxpayers pay into our unemployment. Think how you would feel if you lost your job and couldn’t find another one and there was no unemployment! Use your common sense. The president did not borrow money for unemployment…we have that set aside…we pay for it! GEEEZZZ

Posted by: Barb | July 28, 2011, 10:21 am 10:21 am

achillies…What you can’t get around is the FACT that no president (ever) has spent like Obama. Obama’s only been in office 30 months. Look at the deficits he’s been racking up, then kindly shut up! More debt makes us less secure. Think about it for a while and perhaps you’ll begin to understand why it can’t be allowed to continue. BTW, are you employed by a corporation?
Posted by: s | Jul 28, 2011 9:57:18 AM
****************************************
If you can’t grasp what makes a deficit climb I might suggest you do not tell others to shut up. Think about that for a while.

Posted by: maemobly | July 28, 2011, 10:33 am 10:33 am

POSTED BY: S | JUL 28, 2011 9:57:18 AM posted: “What you can’t get around is the FACT that no president (ever) has spent like Obama. Obama’s only been in office 30 months. Look at the deficits he’s been racking up, then kindly shut up!”
What FACT? When Obama took office, the debt equaled $10.63 trillion. It’s currently at $14.34 trillion. And, you are missing the FACT that paying interest on Bush era debt ($5 trillion) is not “spending”. In 2008, before all of Obama’s emergency spending, interest paid on the debt for that year equaled $451 billion. Almost a HALF TRILLION in interest alone.
And you are also not taking into account the huge debt contribution of missing tax revenues as a large number of Americans lost their jobs in the Recession. That also is not due to “spending”.
Here’s your biggest missing FACT: the notion that “no president (ever) has spent like Obama” is WRONG. The winner is Ronald Reagan.
When Reagan took office (January 1981), the debt balance equaled $935 billion. 8 years later, when he left office, the debt balance equaled $2.7 trillion. That’s 187% MORE debt than when he took office. Reagan won the award for accumulating more debt than the 39 presidents before him, COMBINED.
The second award winner is G.W. Bush. When Bush took office, the debt was at $5.7 trillion. When he left office, the debt was at $10.6 trillion. Bush increased the debt by 87%.
Obama’s currently at 35% above what the debt was when he took office. And yes, yes, we all know that the rate of climb is high for under 3 years in office. We can debate about the value of President Obama’s spending, but the FACT is that his contribution to our national debt includes higher annual interest on the $5 Trillion additional debt he inherited, + less revenue coming into the federal government in a job weak recession.

Posted by: green.goddess | July 28, 2011, 10:47 am 10:47 am

Barb: Please pull your head out! Obama did nothing with porkulus but buy union votes. ALL economists agree, the unemployment numbers prove it. The porkulus was wasteful spending by an inexperienced narccist that needs to be brought under control!

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 10:52 am 10:52 am

Obama and the Democrats have never offered a written plan; they are full of BS. They only plan onthe table is the GOPs plan.

Posted by: Peter King | July 28, 2011, 11:02 am 11:02 am

Republicans have a Plan Z too its called impeachment for violating the constitution. The congress is the body thats supposed to be raising the debt ceiling and writing budgets not the President. If he did this it would be acting as a monarch. The President however is responsible for his congress and administrations misdeeds and lack of work and ethics.

Posted by: Paulie | July 28, 2011, 11:08 am 11:08 am

Would someone explain the rationale of doing the debt ceiling deal in a piece-meal approach as John Boehner has done. Why not draft a deal that will take the country through 2012 so that we do not have to revisit this political wrangling again? It’s all politics.

Posted by: what667 | July 28, 2011, 11:27 am 11:27 am

This whole crisis is the fault of the Tea Party Republicans in the House. All because of their Pledge not to raise taxes. What if the Democrats had signed a Pledge not to cut Social Security? These absurd pledges are going to ruin this nation’s economy. Compromise, compromise, compromise! Are you listening Tea Party folks?

Posted by: A.Lincoln | July 28, 2011, 11:30 am 11:30 am

It is a terrible day that a small group of American’s have blackmailed the country for it to come to this. The President should invoke the 14th Amendment and send it to the Courts instead. This is a self inflicted wound that is already causing damage. The Independents in this country will remember come the next election.

Posted by: sdf | July 28, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am

Peter King – If you repeat it enough times, people will assume it must be true. Another example of what is wrong in politics of both parties – lie and distort to convince people that something is true when it is not. We voters need to do research so we know what the facts really are!

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am

It makes no sense for Boehner to continue working on this plan so close to the deadline when he already knows it will not pass the Senate and if it should by some weird set of circumstances, will be vetoed. He should be working on a compromise that will pass. All of this crap from the Republicans in the House is nothing but grand standing at the nation’s expense. I have never been so fed up with a bunch of juvenile delinquents in my life.

Posted by: jdona | July 28, 2011, 11:36 am 11:36 am

We are lucky that the Constitutional Convention was not made up of our current elected officials! One group would be saying “We will never agree to the Constitution until slavery is outlawed” and the other group saying “we will never sign the Consitution if slavery is not permitted.” Then we have the group of small states that demand they have as many votes as the big states and the big states demanding they have more votes because they have more people. If they had been stubborn and not compromised, we would never have been the United States of America. Our continent would look like Europe with lots of little nations that have little power separately. It would be great if we had leaders that put what is best for the country first, rather than what would be best for their party in the next election!

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 11:42 am 11:42 am

S, Jul 28, 2011 9:57:18 AM, SAID:
“achillies…What you can’t get around is the FACT that no president (ever) has spent like Obama. Obama’s only been in office 30 months. Look at the deficits he’s been racking up, then kindly shut up!”
=======================================
LMAO!…. and you, “S”, are only proving that you have no clue what factors are causing those deficits. Learn to do some research and homework for once in your life. Find out “what” are the causes of the current deficits, instead of just looking at a figure and saying “Oh, he’s spending too much”, like a first grader who doesn’t have the brains to analyze a situation.
LOL!

Posted by: georgie_bushie | July 28, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am

THE BOTTOM LINE: Republicans have become “Economic Terrorist”. They hold the U.S. economy hostage unless they get their way.
Last November/December…they held the extension of unemployment benefits for working class Americans hostage, unless the Bush Tax Cuts for the rich were extended.
Now… they’re holding the U.S. government’s credit rating hostage, unless all the discussion about doing away with the Bush Tax Cuts for the rich are dropped.
Republicans = Economic Terrorist

Posted by: georgie_bushie | July 28, 2011, 11:51 am 11:51 am

Well then Paulie, why don’t we impeach all the teabags in Congress for being obstructionists and not doing their jobs… the budget and the debt ceiling are two seperate issues which the rich-loving gop have rolled into one just to score political points with 2% of the population. You say it is the job of Congress to raise the debt ceiling but the President is responsible for Congress but you don’t want him to raise the debt ceiling even though the freshman teabags aren’t doing their job… you don’t make a lot of sense dude, but I guess that is to be expected of a GOP supporter… bet you wouldn’t have had any problem with King George raising the debt limit… of course the obstructionist party DID raise the debt limint 7 times while he was monarch..

Posted by: Rockagain | July 28, 2011, 11:55 am 11:55 am

JDONA: At least they are trying to work on something. Seems alot better than anything Obama has come up with, unless you count his budget that the Dems wouldn’t even pass.

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 11:57 am 11:57 am

I have a couple of corrections to my last post… it should say “limit” where it has “limint” and I guess I should have said when W and his supporters THOUGHT he was monarch.. smh

Posted by: Rockagain | July 28, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm

Obamacare is the biggest debt boondoggle, look at what the NHS is rationing in England, and this is what we will be getting:
* Hip and knee replacements only being allowed where patients are in severe pain. Overweight patients will be made to lose weight before being considered for an operation.
* Cataract operations being withheld from patients until their sight problems “substantially” affect their ability to work.
* Patients with varicose veins only being operated on if they are suffering “chronic continuous pain”, ulceration or bleeding.
* Tonsillectomy (removing tonsils) only to be carried out in children if they have had seven bouts of tonsillitis in the previous year.
* Grommets to improve hearing in children only being inserted in “exceptional circumstances” and after monitoring for six months.
* Funding has also been cut in some areas for IVF treatment on the NHS.
Cut, cap and balance was the most reasonable alternative to staving off default. Now our almighty leader takes glee in threatening Social Security receipients and vets with no checks if default occurs. This should let America know who the almighty one favors!

Posted by: Downwithsocialism | July 28, 2011, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm

“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.” — Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: billy bob | July 28, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

“It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.”
– Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: billy bob | July 28, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

“I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” — Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: billy bob | July 28, 2011, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.” — Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: billy bob | July 28, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

I applaud Mr. Boehner for all his hard work. You have Obama saying any bill the GOP passes he will veto, so who has held up the negoitations and caused this mess: Barack Obama. Obama’s legacy will go down as the FIRST POTUS that caused the credit rating of the United States to go down. Since Obama took office, he has increased the deficit by 35%, more than the COMBINED total of ALL U.S. Presidents before him. Barack Obama is a TOTAL failure and has sealed his fate….he will be a one-term loser, worse than Jimmy Carter. And now, there are rumblings being reported by the liberal media that the Democrats are in disarray, saying Obama has not been a leader and are wanting him to be challenged next year in a primary. I LOVE IT! Watching Democrats implode makes America VERY HAPPY! HOLD FIRM, Republicans! You have Obama bowing to you now…..2012 = NOBAMA!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

“To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.” — Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: billy bob | July 28, 2011, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Default has become the best, and likely the least expensive, solution.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | July 28, 2011, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

What Part of This Negro President Must Fail at any and all costs aren’t you Bozos understanding? This is and has been the position of the Republican right Wingers.. This House Negro must FAIL!!!!!!

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

What Part of This Negro President Must Fail at any and all costs aren’t you Bozos understanding? This is and has been the position of the Republican right Wingers.. This House Negro must FAIL!!!!!!

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

Mike and Barb, where is the budget from the democrats, where is the leadership of the president on this debate, we don’t need someone who does nothing but blame the others for his shortcomings and spends money like a drunken sailor,(4.1 Billion a day) but right now we need someone who knows what to do and not go from one fundraiser to the next for his reelection.

Posted by: usgerman43 | July 28, 2011, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm

JDONA, at least the republicans are trying to solve this crisis, what are the democrats doing, NOTHING, but saying NO, NO, NO, to everything that would curb their spending.

Posted by: usgerman43 | July 28, 2011, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm

Not a Single Tax increase on Corporations and the Rich by the Republicans, not a single Tax Loophole closed, not a single Tax break cut to Corps sending your Jobs to India and China.. You can blame the Republican Party for shipping off your industries and jobs to India and China to the highest Bidder… Thanks Boneher..

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

The Republicans are not trying to Solve anything… they haven’t budged an inch when it comes to addressing the Insane Tax Breaks given to the Wealthiest American Corps, Tax Breaks to Companies sending your Jobs and Industries over to India and China.. These Republicans are the representatives of Big Corps, Big Oil, Tabacoo, Pharmaceuticals, Gun Companies etc etc etc… they don’t give a damn about your unemployment or Health..

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

To Understand the Mindset of a Republican Politician all you have to do is go listen to the Coversation Governer Scott Brown had with what he thought was the Wealthy Koke Brother!!! Like an employee talking to his Boss…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm

@Republicansgotpunked Democrats, when they realize they have failed, ALWAYS resort to the “race” card. I have NOT seen ANY posts in reference to Obama as a black man. That is lame that you would go there. There has been criticism of his policies, which deserve merit. Give it a rest.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm

@Republicansgotpunked Obama has not received “respect” as you call it, NOT because of his color, but because of his “policies.” You must remember that Dr. Martin Luther King was a Republican…when he worked so hard to get the Civil Rights Act passed, it was the REPUBLICANS that were behind the bill and pushing it through…it was the DEMOCRATS under the guidance of LBJ that wanted the Act to fail. Your argument is completely off base.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

The GOP aka Greedy OutSourcing Party hasn’t created a Single Job Creating Anything since they took office promising Jobs.. All they’ve done is to continue passing laws that either Kill Jobs or destroy any protections you have as an employee… The Only Jobs they’ve actually created have been in India and China.. Thanks Boneher… You’re a Great American…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm

Your argument is completely off base.
Posted by: David From Texas | Jul 28, 2011 12:46:41 PM
++++++++++++++++++++++++++And thats putting it mildly…

Posted by: allen | July 28, 2011, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

What you can’t get around is the FACT that no president (ever) has spent like Obama.——well, actually, you dont know your ‘facts’ do you? FDR spent more, and for good reason, the SAME reasons. Bush spent, next to FDR and Bush, the most, but then, Bush spent it on PURE CRAP!!!! WHILE Bush spent his trillions, the country was going DOWNHILL> While FDR and Obama spent theirs, the country RECOVERED!!!!! With the money Obama spent, the country’s largest 6 banks holding 60% of our GDP went from an overleveraged short sold massive albatross about to go under, to a healthy strong institutions. WHile Obama spent/invested the stock markets regained their value. While Obama invested, jobs went from negative 600,000 jobs LOST every month, to over 200,000 positive jobs GROWN every month. While obama invested the US autoindustry was saved, from going under, thereby laying off ten of thousands possibly, to being in the black, making profits, keeping or adding thousands of jobs. We were teetering on Depression, and Obama used that money to SAVE US from Depression. WHILE BUSH was spending his trillions jobs were being sent overseas en masse, the US auto industry was in a downward spiral, over 600,000 jobs were lost in the US every month, unemployment was going up a percent per month, two wars were being lost, run into the ground, wallstreet turned into Las Vegas while bush sat back like a deer in the headlights and did nothings and ubber rich were using thier ‘tax cuts’ to create over seas facilities where they were shipping out all the manufacturing jobs!!!!!!!!!!! FDR went MORE in debt than Obama and he took 25% unemployment and turned it into 9% unemployment before the bombs fell on Pearl Harbor. So you have NO ACTUAL FACTS that are accurate!!!!!! When you RE-ELECT the village idiot, and he KILLS the economy, it will take about 4 trillion to bring it back from the brink. Make note of that, because you idiots put in more village idiots who are NOW KILLING the economy once again, and this again, will cost us!!!!!!!!! We HAD 18 months of straight job growth, straight GDP growth under Obama, but you put in the idiot uneducated tea baggers and now all that growth is wasted, gone and we WILL have rising unemployment thanks to the market unsettled over this idiot republican fiasco again!!! REPUBLICANS ARE ECONOMIC POISON!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: herewego again | July 28, 2011, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm

Republicans are economic POISON!

Posted by: Seriously Now | July 28, 2011, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

I voted for Scott Brown last election. Thought it would be nice for some balance. well, if this is ‘balance’, no thanks. Not one person with an “R” next to their name will get my vote this election. Iwant all republicans OUT!!! That includes you, Brown. If you want my vote, switch parties. I’m so sick of this.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

We kicked the democrats out of my state in 2010. We will kick them out of the whitehouse in 2012..

Posted by: allen | July 28, 2011, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm

I’m an Independent and voted for Obama in 2008. I could not bring myself to vote for McCain. Obama’s rhetoric inspired me…I really felt like he was going to bring about change. But, after entering office, Obama continued to lie and deceive. It infuriated me the way he pushed ObamaCare down the throats of Americans. I don’t agree with the Tea Party, but I do applaud the efforts of John Boehner, going against the grain of his own party and the Democrats. He continues to perservere with these obstacles. Bernie Sanders and Ralph Nader BOTH are seeking a Democrat to challenge Obama next year. I would hope and PRAY that Hillary would reconsider and enter the race. She would destroy Obama in a primary and probably win the Presidency. If it is between Obama and a Republican, I will vote for the Republican, along with millions of other Independents. We have had it with the “empty suit, no substance” Barack Obama.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

Had Enough ALready | Jul 28, 2011 1:04:45 PM
++waaaah….waaaah….waaah……geez.

Posted by: allen | July 28, 2011, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

She would destroy Obama in a primary and probably win the Presidency-__I dont agree. If Obama brings one thing, it’s logic. It’s steadiness. It’s an intelligent determined mind that fixes things. when everyone was going fruit loops when our country’s banks were about to fail, Obama fixed them. Maybe that was lost on you, but for most Americans, it is not. Look at this cast of clowns, unable to get ANYTHING accomplished. Obama got things done. He saved the auto industry, he got wallstreet stabilized, my 401K, my 529 was back up. Now, these clowns, it’s dropping again. That’s MY MONEY they’re screwing with, all over their obsession with not wanting to buy their own health insurance?????????? and you’re looking for pity from people on that???? screw you. buy your own freakn health insurance and stop your whining!!! And STOP screwing with my investments, my retirement because you’re so freakn lazy and cheap!!! I think come 2012 republicans are going to be thrown out EN MASSE as they should. What people see, is insanity, and they do not blame Obama. The far right, they’re delusional. Thye dont see straight. Ivoted for Scott Brown, but that was a mistake, given the atmosphere in Washington. I wont vote for him again, even though he’s moderate. I just dont want republicans in power, at all, not one bit, until the economy is more robust. Until the Baggers are out. And their power diminished. I dont want religious freaks in government.s I dont want uneducated stupid people in government and that is pretty much their shtick. People hated 9% unemployment so much. yeah??? really?????? Stock market is going down again. how you gonna like 10%? Or 12%??? because republicans are killing the economy again. See how you like 15% and then tell me Obama did so badly keeping it steady at 9.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm

Why has the Republican Party and the Rightr Wingers decided to become a Weapon for Al Quiada?? Why would they work to Destroy the American Economy with such Vigor??? Bin Laden is very proud of you guys…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

We will kick them out of the whitehouse in 2012..—–you’re delusional. Dont you understand how badly the image of republicans is right now?? Dont you realize people with 401K and 529s and all the other plans are seeing their money go bye bye!!!! over what? abortion? taxes on the rich???? ask the average american which he would rather – raise taxes on the rich, or see your portfolio melt away and lose, personally, tens of thousands of dollars??? are you that soft in the head? You think people, other than the 15% right wingnuts, care more about taxes on the rich than their own pocketbooks??? wow. You’re hatred has really warped your sense of reality. Republicans are going to get smoked come 2012. Remember you heard it here first.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

Had Enough ALready | Jul 28, 2011 1:12:40 PM+++Steve Wynn, a prominent democrat Vegas businessman who supports Reid is on record stating that businesses are petrified of this administration. Go figure…

Posted by: allen | July 28, 2011, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm

Osama Bin Ladens Plan when he attacked the USA on 9/11 was to eventually Destroy it Economically, to Bankrupt it.. The Republican Party and Tea Baggers are making sure Bin Ladens Goal is Achieved!!! Thanks Republicans you’re great Americans…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm

I’m an Independent —no you’re not. Not even close. My goodness, you people really are delusional. They say hate does that.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm

Let’s just pray Republicans put Romney up for president. No other republican would have a shot in %*&^*& anyway, and only Romney has any credibility at all. I Dont think anyone would blame Romney for this mess. He would never support this. He’s logical. Then, whomever won, I’d be perfectly satisfied the country was in good hands.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm

David From Texas, Jul 28, 2011 12:03:24 PM, Said:
“Since Obama took office, he has increased the deficit by 35%, more than the COMBINED total of ALL U.S. Presidents before him.”
=======================================
LMAO!….. Oh Really?!!!
HERE ARE THE FACTS:
THE REAGAN LEGACY ON THE DEBT…
Reagan takes Office, Jan’81, Debt Balance = $935,075,000,000
Reagan leaves office, Jan’89, Debt Balance = $2,682,666,000,000
Reagan Results–>Debt Balance MORE THAN DOUBLED (187% Increase in the balance)
Republican Reagan DEFINITELY accumulated more debt than did all presidents before him combined.
THE GEORGE W. BUSH LEBACY:
Bush takes Office, Jan’01, Debt Balance = $5,716,071,000,000
Bush leaves office, Jan’09, Debt Balance = $10,626,877,000,000
Bush Results–>Debt Balance increased by 86%.
Bush accumulated as much debt as 86% of the presidents before him combined.
OBAMA, THUS FAR:
Obama taskes office, Jan’09, Debt Balance = $10,626,877,000,000
Obama, current Debt Balance =
$14,342,830,000,000.
Debt balance increase under Obama = 35%. Obama has accumulated as much debt as “35%” of the presidents before him, combined.
Sorry, “Dave From Texas”…the figures show that you have no idea what you’re saying… LOL!

Posted by: georgie_bushie | July 28, 2011, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm

Democrats are wanting Obama to invoke the 14th Amendment. PLEASE, Obama…PLEASE invoke the 14th Amendment! We will have you Impeached and enjoy every minute of watching your demise as we are now. Americans are fed up with your lies, deceit, and Sal Alinsky tactics of “divide & conquer.” “We the People” are taking our country back….Barack Obama will be defeated in 2012. Obama’s Failures = America’s VICOTRIES!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm

Gallup a few moments ago: OBama’s polling numbers: Disapprove: 48% Approve: 43% Rasmussen: Obama is at (-18). Yeah, Obama is winning over the public. Obama has YET to present a plan…remember in 2008, Obama voted NO to a debt limit increase, saying that an increase is due to “a breakdown in leadership”. Now, its coming back and biting Obama in the behind. Again, Obama’s Failures = America’s VICTORIES!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm

@David From texas….so you don’t think that ‘race’ has anything to do with the tea party or Southern voters desire to see this President fail do you? LOL…LOL Ever read any real good researched books on the subject” As to how these ‘grass roots’ populist groups were first formed. Any records concerning what occurred at many of the ‘tea party rallies’? Bet the answer is NO. And if I’m right then you have no business saying ‘what you think you know’. There is too much transparent documentation out here in the literary world to prove you VERY WRONG! And the BEST PART? These idiots documented AGAINST themselves.

Posted by: CND FOX | July 28, 2011, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

Obama says to senior citizens that he may not be able to pay thier social security, but REFUSES to present a plan. Obama is dillusional. WAY TO GO, REPUBLICANS!!!! MAKE OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS…SWEAT! I LOVE IT!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

Steve Wynn, a prominent democrat Vegas businessman who supports Reid is on record stating that businesses are petrified of this administration———-I live in a wealthy area in Massachusetts and, personally, know many wealthy business owners who employ thousands of people. Nobody is afraid of this administration. they are very afraid of the Baggers, however. Logical business people are always afraid of illogical, especially religiously driven, people. Almost shutting down the government over abortion actually drove off some British investors in a corporation of one of my neighbors. Fact. He was told so, point blank. Had he received their investment, he would have hired and expanded. fact. But his business does some contracts for the government, and “your government, it appears, has been recently hijacked by your religious wing” which makes “business problematic.” I know rich people. They hire when there are customers. They dont care about the tax cuts. I think the thing about right wing is that they’re lower middle class people who dont know any rich. You guess at what they think, what they want, and you look at them as your saviors. I know them. I live with them. I work with them. They do what makes them money. there’s so much you people dont understand. They look for growth in GDP, they look for banks being flush with cash. They look for customers. They’re logical. You have nothing, not a thing, in common with them and you will never be one of them.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

Here’s what’s true: This President, who TALKED oh so big about having the answers to everything, has had the answers to nothing. If it makes you feel better, blame everything and everyone, but it seems there’s not enough teflon in the universe to prevent that “buck” from an eventual stop at today’s White House. Guess what Oblamer just didn’t have the answers did he?

Posted by: n'erdowell | July 28, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

Listening to the debate on the House floor…the Democrats are “tanking” because their leader, Obama, has no backbone in supporting them or giving them a plan. They have NO rebuttal to Boehners plan. I LOVE watching Democrats implode. Still hoping Hillary will run….she’ll bring this party back together..undo the damage Obama has done to the Democrats.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm

Democrats and Obama
No plan
No clue
No way they will be reelected..

Posted by: allen | July 28, 2011, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

Here’s what’s true: This President, who TALKED oh so big about having the answers to everything, has had the answers to nothing. If it makes you feel better, blame everything and everyone, but it seems there’s not enough teflon in the universe to prevent that “buck” from an eventual stop at today’s White House. Guess what Oblamer just didn’t have the answers did he?
Posted by: n’erdowell | Jul 28, 2011 1:29:23 PM
Thanks..you have just stated what myself and millions of other Independents feel about Barack Obama. He needs us to be re-elected, but will not get our vote. Obama has lied and deceived…now, America is calling his bluff and he’ll have to fold next year during the election.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm

who TALKED oh so big about having the answers to everything, has had the answers to nothing. ———-when Obama walked in the door there were over 600,000 layoffs that month. Unemployment going up a percent per month. The country’s largest 6 banks with over 60% of the GDP were being short sold, overleveraged, out of cash and about to go down. The US auto industry was about to fold and the stock market was at half it’s value. Obama solved ALL those problems. fact. It’s sad to see illogical hatred so blinding. Re-read this post. absorb it. OPen your eyes to the truth. I really dont know who people like you think you’re kidding. Do you imagine nobody remembers seeing the numbers of laid off – 700,000, per month??? honestly. Who are you kidding?

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm

Barack Obama in 2006: “Raising the debt limit demonstrates a failure in leadership.”
My, how the words come back and bite you in the butt! I love it!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm

Now, Baggers get in, and what have we had???? Name ONE accomplishment of positive value? one? Just one? anyone??? bueller? Bueller? I can name a few horrendously poor things they’ve done. CAn you name ONE positive thing? try.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

DavidFromTexas – Stop the BS, Most real Polls show that 75% of Americans feel that the Republicans have not bargained in good faith.. they feel that Republicans only care about the Rich and Corporations.. As you saw Boneher Quickly told the Tea Party newbies to get their AZZZ’s in line! Come Election time it will be a Massacre against the Republicans just like it was a few years back…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

BREAKING: BOEHNER’S BILL JUST PASSED THE HOUSE! WOOOHOOO!!!! WAY TO GO, MR. BOEHNER!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm

Once Scott Brown is Recalled we will really start to see the Majority of Middle Class Americans take this Country back from he Greedy Corp owned Republicans…

Posted by: RepublicansGotPunked | July 28, 2011, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm

“Raising the debt limit demonstrates a failure in leadership”—— Only to those with very little intelligence. When he said that, we were not in financial recovery. We were just spending money on nothing. Bush spent trillions on crap. pure crap. That was failure. Obama spent trillions keeping us out of Depression. Big difference, to those who have a brain. To you, mentally challenged, you see no difference between 9% unemployment or 25% unemployment. YOu’d take 25% unemployment if it meant Obama would not be re-elected.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm

@Republicansgotpunked: Cite your polls, give me proof. I gave you proof on Obama’s dismal poll numbers. Look up Gallup & Rasmussen today. Go to RealClearPolitics.com, which takes an average of ALL the polls. Obama: Approval 45.6% Disapproval: 49% Thats a -4.6%. Show me your cards.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm

@Hadenoughalready I was just quoting what Barack Obama stated in 2006. Google it, its there in print. Had to swallow for you, but its true. Obama is a liar and hypocrite.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm

I applaud Mr. Boehner for all his hard work. You have Obama saying any bill the GOP passes he will veto, so who has held up the negoitations and caused this mess: Barack Obama. Obama’s legacy will go down as the FIRST POTUS that caused the credit rating of the United States to go down. Since Obama took office, he has increased the deficit by 35%, more than the COMBINED total of ALL U.S. Presidents before him. Barack Obama is a TOTAL failure and has sealed his fate….he will be a one-term loser, worse than Jimmy Carter. And now, there are rumblings being reported by the liberal media that the Democrats are in disarray, saying Obama has not been a leader and are wanting him to be challenged next year in a primary. I LOVE IT! Watching Democrats implode makes America VERY HAPPY! HOLD FIRM, Republicans! You have Obama bowing to you now…..2012 = NOBAMA!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm

Once Scott Brown is Recalled we will really start to see the Majority of Middle Class Americans take this Country back from he Greedy Corp owned Republicans..—the republicans that are owned are the politicians and the very very very rich .I say that because I am wealthy, and many who I know are wealthy, but not billion dollar wealthy. I have been amazed, really, to see so many who would have their taxes raised by Obama, continue to support Obama, because a stronger economy helps them and their businesses overall far more than simply raising their taxes and they’re all doing very very well right now anyway. In many ways, this recession has been a real boom for them. They’ve never had more discretionary spending and prices have been so low for so long. The majority of republicans in this country are lower middle class or just low class whites. The ones just one step above the poor blacks, or, in many cases, just as poor. SO much of their hatred is a sense of superiority over the other low classes, yet they fight for them for low skill jobs, etc. they blame the low class immigrants for”taking thier jobs’ when it never occurs to them maybe THEY are to blame to putting themselves in a position where they ARE worth no more, in the work world, than an immigrant. No higher education. They idolize the rich whites. They feel kinship with them. LOL! This is the funniest thing I find. Those same people who laid them off en masse, who see them as yokles. The Republicans party panders to their racism, their inferiority complex, their overgrandized egos. They were mad they had to buy their own health insurance!!!!! While they whine people on welfare don’t support themselves, they cry because they have to buy health insurance so they aren’t burdens to everyone when they get sick. THat’s rich, huh? pot calling the kettle black, huh??? and SOOOO many of them are ex military, SS, and medicare people!! ALL living off the government dole. It’s an exercise in extreme hypocracy.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm

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. (Please share this)
>
> Remember, there is a test coming up. The 2012 elections.
2012 = NOBAMA!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm

I was just quoting what Barack Obama stated in 2006. — I know. No, it’s not hard for me to swallow, at the time, I agree with him. He was talking about raising the debt limit to pay for tax cuts for the most wealthy and two wars GW was running into the ground and more overgrown government than every other president combined in history. George Bush’s spending. I agree that George Bush spent trillions and we got nothing for it. Nothing. We were WORSE off by Bush’s spending. But, the difference with obama is, we are BETTER MUCH BETTER OFF with Obama’s spending. OUr economy is better, our stock markets are better are banks are better our auto industry is better. And, your post about the ‘professor” is just stupid. You dont understand anything. So typical for a radical of your sort, who is so delusional you think you’re a “moderate”. You’re lack of knowledge is so deep, so many basic basic things you dont understand there is no reaching you. You hate Obama. WE get it. You are consumed with illogical hate. But do tell me, which do you get? Social security, Military pension or medicare? Which? Or do you get all?

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm

BOEHNERS BILL PASSES!!!! 235-186 WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm

Had Enough: I guess the you could also agree that Obama did nothing with the porkulus money he took except support his union buddies. Taking over Government Motors was foolish and accomplished nothing but buying the crook more union votes. You think business is for this administration> LMAO! The US Chamber, B of A, Wells Fargo, and many others are lobbying at this very moment to pass the Republican proposal. Why, because thet think the “Prince of Fools” is doing such a bang up job wasting money, thats why. Obama is an inexperienced narccisst that has no clue what he is doing, or where he is going. If I hired a CEO to run my company and gave him 30 months and 4 TRILLION dollars and he had the results Obama has. FIRED, just as this dip stick will be Nov 2012!

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm

OK Obama ball is in your court. No teleprompter, No voting present. Time is up. Where is your plan? Punt? Blame Bush?

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

OK Obama ball is in your court. No teleprompter, No voting present. Time is up. Where is your plan? Punt? Blame Bush?
Posted by: Huh? | Jul 28, 2011 2:04:29 PM
Agree. Lets see what the “Commander-in-Thief” brings to the table now!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

Taking over Government Motors was foolish—-shows your lack of intelligence. Thanks for that. Clarifies who are you right from the starting gate. Forbes Magazine and The Economist called saving the auto industry the best dollar-for-dollar jobs saving program of all time, including the Depression. There are many reason, for security reason, to want a large scale manufacturing industry in your country. Airplane industries may fail, Military manufacturing may go, but so long as you have an auto industry, in case of war, or need, you have in place, a large scale manufacturing infrastructure to covert to your needs if an emergency arose, so for safety reason, even in times of peace, while you whittle down a military you dont need, or cannot finance, your auto industry serves a safety purpose, and saving tens of thousands of jobs is a great thing to do when you already have over a million people being laid off per month. You call this “foolish”???? you are not in good company. I have work to do. You make my point that the supporters of the right wing are lower class low intelligence uneducated masses. oh, and which do you get….military benefits, social security, or medicare or all of the above??? do answer.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm

Its a shame the White House didn’t plan anything before this… like their OWN debt reduction, deficit reduction, or spending reduction!!!! —- Nope, it was a spending free-for-all!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm

There are two meanings to Obama’s “Raising the debt limit demonstrates a failure in leadership”. One has been mentioned, that he is a hypocrite because now he wants to increase it. Following the same logic, republicans are hypocrites because they recently voted to increase the limit everytime a republican president wanted it, but now talk like it is the worse thing possible for the country.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm

If I hired a CEO to run my company and gave him 30 months and 4 TRILLION dollars and he had the results Obama has. FIRED,—well, this is why you dont have a business and you would never be in a position to hire a CEO. If you had country with over 600,000 layoffs per month and an entire banking sytem about to fail, a major manufacturing industry, your last, about to fail and your stock market was at half it’s value,and someone put in 4 Trillion and fixed all these messes, if you had a brain cell worth it’s salt, you’d recognize, that is pretty good results. in comparison, Bush threw 300 billion at the failing banks and it did NOTHING. It evaporated. stocks continued to crash, banks were still failing. You think by simply spending 4 Trillion those problems would go away??? LOL!! Surely you jest. Bush spent 3 Trillion and killed the entire economy!!! Simply spending does not mean results. Obama got results. Bush was PURE failure, spending AND failure. Obama spent,but Obama succeeded. You republicans, you hated 9% unemployment. So terrible, huh???? Well, now that Baggers are in, now that you are killing the recovery as we speak, the stock market falling, we WILL have higher unemployment thanks to your kind next quarter. you didnt like 9%? how will you like 15%? Oh, and which government check do you get? SS, medicare, or military ??? YOu get at least one, dont you?? yeah. I know you do.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

@Mikemo1947 I agree with you. There are no winners in this debacle…however, the losers are the American people, unfortunately.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

Extremely foolish. There were companies lining up to pick up the pieces of GM and start over. Ask yourself, why did Ford not take the money? GM was poorly managed and run by the unions. That was Oblamers only thought. Buy the vote.

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

MikeMo —– Every good spending spree must come to an end!! —- Especially since Obama took the car that was running into the ditch… and ran it down the hill… through the barn… and into the pond!! —- Obama has a $1.5 Trillion DEFICIT a year… and the GOP are hypocrits?? get real!!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

A. Lincoln…so if compromise means more of the same (huge deficits and debt), where does it all end? Why not take the steps necessary now to ensure our nation’s existence? Kicking the can down the road for the poor schmucks living 100 years from now is not particularly patriotic. Let’s make it someone else’s problem is not leadership.

Posted by: s | July 28, 2011, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm

I can’t understand why the Democrats can’t understand that spending is more than $1.5 Trillion over revenues. Obama is on a spending spree…I agree…this has to STOP!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

here were companies lining up to pick up the pieces of GM and start over. —_HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! who? LOL!! Idiot. You think you can just lie and pull things out of your butt?? maybe with the usual company you keep but not here!!! There was no need, no market, for American cars. not as they were being built. You wingnuts. so niave. So simpleton. You, personally, dont know how to solve things, so you think there couldn’t be any possible solution. Just do nothing, and everything just solves itself. You see a drowning man. do nothing. but it never occurs to you, the ‘solution’ is, he dies. Those companies would have died resulting in tens of thousand of layoffs, and yet more debt because they’d all get unemployment and no tax income, and lower GDP because a huge industry would be lost. The companies are now MAKING A PROFIT!! the Wallstreet journal just did a big article on how fantastic this was for the US! LOL! Oh what a waste a time you are. good bye. I have no time for such stupidity.

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

I can’t understand why the Democrats can’t understand that spending is more than $1.5 Trillion over revenues. Obama is on a spending spree…I agree…this has to STOP!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

Wrong again, Had Enough. I do own a business. Have owned a business scince 1993. It isn’t thriving as it once was, but I’m certainly not in the hole that Obama put us in. granted Bush helped, but Obama pushed the cart over the edge with no good reason except a lame attempt at buying votes. That has even back fired on him. You see even Obama knows that he doesn’t have the experience, gonads, or brains for the position. If he did, he would not have had to try to buy so many votes. And, he might have had some kind of budget or plan at the ready instead of waiting until the last minute to blame Bush. “Prince of Fools” fits him better by the minute!

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

jdona…and Obama’s continued $1+trillioin annual deficts aren’t at the nation’s expense? Laughable.

Posted by: s | July 28, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm

You see even Obama knows that he doesn’t have the experience, gonads, or brains for the position. If he did, he would not have had to try to buy so many votes. And, he might have had some kind of budget or plan at the ready instead of waiting until the last minute to blame Bush. “Prince of Fools” fits him better by the minute!
Posted by: Huh? | Jul 28, 2011 2:18:55 PM
Good Post!

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm

Wrong again, Had Enough. I do own a business. —HA HA HA HA!!! yeah, like joe the plumber, you ‘own’ a business pulling lent out of your fat belly button!! Tell me, which government handout do you receive—social security, medicare or military benefits? which? I KNOW you get at least one. Why not fess up? Ashamed??? Fess up. Which one?

Posted by: Had Enough ALready | July 28, 2011, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm

GreenGodess…So you’re saying that Reagan took the debt from $1T to $2.7T a total increase of $1.7 trillion over 8 years. Obama’s DEFICIT spending for this year alone is something around $1.5 TRILLION. So, I’m not sure how your logic holds up. At least Obama is the best at something. Unfortunately, it will be the end of us if allowed to continue. Nice try, though.

Posted by: s | July 28, 2011, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

The White House and Democrats have conceded. First, they retreated on their push for a clean debt-ceiling raise. Then they retreated on the size of the spending cuts (now both sides say the cuts must equal or exceed the eventual debt-limit hike). Then they backed away from insisting that tax revenues be included in the final package (both the Boehner and Reid plans exclude them). And now it seems that their final line in the sand is insisting that the debt ceiling must — in one step — be raised beyond 2012, versus Boehner’s two-step approach, which would guarantee another debt showdown early next year.

Posted by: David From Texas | July 28, 2011, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm

HAD ENOUGH ALREADY — Yeah, I’v had enough of the finger-pointing blaming Bush for everything… do you remember that it was the begining of the 110th Congress (Bush’s last two years) when the stink started…… The Dems had a majority in the House 233 to 202… Dems also controlled the Senate 51 to 49 (counting the two “independents” that almost always voted Democrat). —- No SPENDING bill could pass without the Dems supporting it!!!! — Bush had a total of 11 regular vetoes and one pocket veto… AND ONE-THIRD of those vetos were overridden. —– So stop the finger-pointing!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm

Sorry to disapoint Had Enough, but sounds as if your the one on the Government dole. Why else would you support someone who is so incompetent. A nobody that has never accomplished a thing but voting present. No biz experience, no military experience, no foriegn relations experience, and no common sense. Nice pick there brain wave.

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

president OBAMA INHERITED A FAILING ECONOMY AND JOB LOSES (750,000 PER MONTH! SO THIS REPUBLICAN GAMES OF BLAMING OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA ARE FALSE AND MISLEAD THE PUBLIC. WALKER BUSH LEFT DECAYING INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND BRIDGES. BY NEGLECTING NEEDED NATIONAL REPAIRS AND PROGRAMS, HE FOCUS IN CUTTING THE RICHES’S TAXES. THE MIDDLE CLASS GOT LESS TAX CUTS AND THE WORKING CLASSES EVEN LESS.WALKER BUSH WAS AGAINST US ORDINARY AMERICANS. BOEHNER AND HIS COMRADES ARE PART OF THE WALKER BUSH GANG THAT TRIGGERED OUR ECONOMIC RECESSION, JOBLESSNESS AND DEFICIT.
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS. :((((((

Posted by: Moderate American | July 28, 2011, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm

Don’t tell me Had Enough, your next pick will be a Peanut farmer from GA.

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

Now think about how the economy has changed since Obama said “Raising the debt limit demonstrates a failure in leadership”. In 2006, an unnecessary war was started and over 100,000 troops were committed. This was far more than was committed to the war caused by attacking and killing thousands of our citizens. Republicans expanded medical coverage that they did not budget for, and they decreased taxes so there was less revenue coming into the goverment to pay for the war and expanded medical coverage. Therefore, the republican lead government wanted to borrow greater amounts of money from foreign governments. That does not sound like leadership. Today, we have come thru the biggest recession. It did not stop crashing until a few months after Obama became president. This is because Bush and Congress spent a lot of money to try to save the economy and Obama and Congress quickly passed another bill spending a lot of money to save the economy. Things have improved greatly since then except for unemployment rate that persists at a high level. However, revenue is still low because of the temporary tax cut to the wealthy that republicans refused to give up in the last budget battle with Obama. Add to that the lost revenue due to unemployment not recovering. Now republicans say it is unreasonable to increase the deficit ceiling like we did. Has the democrat run government spend too much money and did not make necessary cuts? YES, absolutely! When republicans were in charge of the government spend too much money and did not make necessary cuts? YES, absolutely! Both parties have acted like drunken sailors, and therefore, no one should be defending either of the parties because they both are responsible for the economic mess and the two parties must work together for what is best for the country and not for what is best for their party in the next election.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

Mike, you just land from Mars? “Things have improved greatly since then except for unemployment rate that persists at a high level. However, revenue is still low because of the temporary tax cut to the wealthy that republicans refused to give up in the last budget battle with Obama.” Try looking at the housing market, combined with unemployment and a dismal 1.5% growth. Obama owns this mess because he created it. You really believe that taxing 2% of the population would make up for Obamas spending over the last 30 months? Give me a break!

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm

“Obama never submitted a budget.” To those revising history, go back and check the news articles in mid February and mid April. Obama submitted his budget in February. In April it was defeated by both parties. Now it is July and both parties still refuse to vote for a compromise. If you create a budget that really is a compromise to both parties, then both parties will kill it. It is critical for both parties to do what is best for their party for the next election. Neither party will do what is best for the country until we vote out the leaders of both parties. When they both feel like losers, then we have a chance to have a government based on what the founding fathers were hoping for.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

We all know that Obama has no intention of letting the GOP control his spending…..he would rather default than do that.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | July 28, 2011, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

Sorry, but Obama’s budget was not given ONE yes vote. Dem or Repub. Why? Because of the spending was extreme. Even by Dem standards. it was not a partisan vote. it was a vote of sanity.

Posted by: Huh? | July 28, 2011, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

OBAMA HAS DONE SOME GREAT THINGS IN OFFICE, BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE BACKBONE TO DEFY BOEHNER AND THE IDOTIC FRINGE LUNATIC RIGHT-RINGERS, AND INVOKE THE 14TH AMENDMENT TO USE HIS PRESIDENTIAL POWERS IN THIS EMERGENCY–RAISING THE DEBT CEILING HIMSELF! GROW SOME GONADS MR. PRESIDENT. STAND UP TO BOEHNER AND HIS TEA-PARTY NUTJOBS. BOEHNER HAS A HARD-ON TO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET RE-ELECTED EVEN IF IT MEANS TAKING THE COUNTRY DOWN. THAT’S HIGH TREASON, BY DEFINITION. TRAITORS ARE TERRORISTS. THESE TEA-PARTIERS, ARE DOING FAR WORSE DAMAGE TO THIS NATION THAN ANY MUSLIM TERRORIST GROUP COULD EVER DO.

Posted by: John W. Flores | July 28, 2011, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

Eric Cantor wants John Boehner’s job. Did he set this thing up to bring Boehner down so he can take his place?

Posted by: Greggw | July 28, 2011, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

Huh? – You only said one thing in your two posts to me that was correct. “Obama’s budget was not given ONE yes vote. Dem or Repub.” They voted three months ago and they still have nothing they agree on. At that point, neither party was going to agree to anything. Obama submitted a budget. It is then up to Congress to approve it, kill it, revise it, or start from scratch. Obama can work with them, but it is not the President’s responsibility to keep submitting budgets until they find one they like. The President is the excuse that the parties are giving as the reason they cannot pass a budget. They need to ownership of their own responsibilities. And I am referring to every single member of Congress, not just one party.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm

MIKE —- You said “revenue is still low because of the temporary tax cut to the wealthy” —- Bullchips… stop listening to MSNBC —- You could take ALL of the wealth of the top 5% of Americans, and it would only balance the budget for ONE YEAR… then they would be broke and you would have to cut spending anyway…. so CUT SPENDING NOW!!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm

MIKE —- Obama’s budget got NO votes in the Senate because it called for INCREASED spending, taxes, and deficits!! —- His 10-year outlook was for the national debt to DOUBLE in the next 10 years!! — Since the GOP controlled the House… the Dmes in the Senate chickened out! — they were not even going to vote on it… finally did… 97 to 0!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

We need a new direction… and Obama can’t do it!!! —– Obama has had TWO & 1/2 YEARS (4 yrs of Senate and House control) to formulate HIS plan for the economy and implement it! —- What did he do??? —– Spent 14 months on Obamacare… raised general spending by 24%… tried “stimulation” of the economy which FAILED per his own economists!! — Nov 2012 can’t come soon enough!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | July 28, 2011, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm

TheLoyalOpposition – You may be loyal to your party, but you are not loyal to the nation. Tell me which party has not increased the budget and deficit every time they were in control. Which party has warned us about problems with Social Security and then spent all the excess Social Security funds each year? Which party stopped the exporting of American jobs? Which party has stopped skyrocketing cost of health care? Which party has stopped the massive inflow of illegal immigrates? Which party has not become involved in unnecessary wars? Which party won the Afghanistan war? Which party stopped the redistribution of wealth from the middle class and working poor to the wealthy? Which party stopped the housing bubble from bursting during the years 1994-2006 when housing prices went up at an unsustainable 150%? The answer to all these questions and many more is “Neither party has done anything to improve any of these problems.” They just distort the truth and point at the other party.

Posted by: MikeMo1947 | July 28, 2011, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm

Have the treasurer mint
two 1 trillion dollar coins
deposit them and write checks
no problem.
see article by
Jack M. Balkin is Knight Professor of Constitutional Law at Yale Law School

Posted by: pln0006 | July 28, 2011, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm

Time to bring this government down like
the way other countries do. Lets hit the streets and fight back!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: webmannn77 | July 28, 2011, 5:13 pm 5:13 pm

I am so tired of both sides of the polical fence acting like brats in a playground made because nobody will do what they want to do. If I had my way all future elections would end in everyone on capital hill being voted out of office. They forget their primary goal is to SERVE the nation is an ethical, professional manner. These are apparently words that politicians don’t understand either of those words. It is quite clear the plight of citizens are not considered on any front. VOTE THEM ALL OUT!!!

Posted by: Frqncine | July 28, 2011, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

boehner is a fool. just have to get that off my chest.

Posted by: didntEatDinner | July 28, 2011, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm

Anyone pointing the finger at a single party/group as the reason why we’re in this mess is flat out intellectually dishonest and swayed by ideology.
Reality check to the talking point idiologues; both parties, Dems and GOP, far right (tea party) and far left are all to blame.
Our society has become so fragmented as demonstrate in DC. Be prepared for August 2nd to come and pass with no debt limit change, blame game to go back and forth with nothing getting done, while the country goes down the toilet and we enter The Great Depression #2.
And I’m an optimist…lol

Posted by: transporter2000 | July 29, 2011, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm

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