Obama Still Holding Granny Hostage

In his Saturday morning debt-ceiling rant Obama once again threatened our nation's seniors about Social Security:

We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time – bills like Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and contracts we’ve signed with thousands of American businesses.

By and large he continues to get a pass on this from his media enablers.  But the truth is out there (as is the trust fund!).

Comments

[harrjf]

Does anyone in America listen to the President's Radio Address? Radio? Really??

If Obama talks in a forest and no one is there to listen is it still automatically a lie?

[centralcal]

I have always wondered the same thing harrjf.

[MaryD]

Me too. I wouldn't know where to listen to it if I wanted to, which I don't.

[caro]

NPR? Though it is not worth checking.

[Gmax]

For DOT, the only poster who am I sure is more ecstatic about this than me:

RAS this AM continues to show deterioration in Zero’s approval. -21 on the strong approval/strong disapproval scale. The number of strong disapproval equals his total approval for only the second time and he is -12 overall with a 56% disapproval.

I am literally laughing my @ss off that Zero thought going to the American people not once but twice was a good idea. Miserable failure has only managed to totally polarize the country, but unfortunately it getting close to 60 40 against.

And nobody ( like a MSDNC broadcast ) watched Harry Reid's little whine last night either, not that they would care that he cant unilaterally change long standing Senate rules.

[Janet]

I once tried to find where the President's radio address was broadcast to listen to W....but never did find it.

OT - I've got a Brad Thor ad in the upper left corner...He is very good looking.

[Specter]

I am getting tired of the monotonous "DOOM DOOM DOOM" tolling of the DemoNcrats. They got us here. I was just looking at the Treasury site and it looks like total government liabilities as of the end of June is now $15.47T ('course I could be reading the data wrong - see here ). That's up from $13.56T (here) as of the end of September. Another $1.9T in eight months! Sheesh...but it's GWB's fault...

[hit and run]

The number of strong disapproval equals his total approval for only the second time

Breaking my self-imposed silence due to my claim as keeper of historical Ras numbers . . . because I cannot let that stand.

It's wrong. So wrong.

Obama's strong disapproval has equalled his total approval now 15 times.

2/27/2010
3/10/2010
5/19/2010
7/17/2010
7/22/2010
8/1/2010
8/12/2010
8/26/2010
9/7/2010
9/17/2010
10/23/2010
11/9/2010
11/12/2010
7/25/2011
7/30/2011

But wait, there's more!

Obama's strong disapproval has been below his total approval 36 times,most recently last November 11.

12/22/2009
3/20/2010
5/25/2010
5/26/2010
6/16/2010
6/17/2010
6/18/2010
6/19/2010
6/20/2010
7/1/2010
7/23/2010
7/24/2010
7/25/2010
7/27/2010
7/31/2010
8/10/2010
8/11/2010
8/16/2010
8/17/2010
8/25/2010
9/4/2010
9/5/2010
9/6/2010
9/9/2010
9/10/2010
9/11/2010
9/20/2010
9/21/2010
9/30/2010
10/1/2010
10/14/2010
10/15/2010
10/16/2010
10/28/2010
10/29/2010
11/11/2010

And I say tomorrow becomes number 37.

Back to the shadows.

[Danube of Thought]

Thanks, Gmax and Hit--slept in today. (Lots of medicine last night.)

[centralcal]

Speaking of broadcasts nobody listens to, I found this to be quite funny. Love a really good Saturday morning laugh! (Thanks to IOTW and Breitbart)

Award Winning Newscasting

I kept waiting for the guys in the white coats to rush in with the net, then I remembered it was MSNBC, where insanity and stupidity are required.

[Captain Hate]

I thought I'd entered an alternate universe where DoT wasn't the keeper of the Ras flame.

[Clarice]

DoT, I hope "medicine" is a code name for martinis and that you are well.

[Jane says obamasucks]

DOT,

I bought a bottle of Tito's this morning. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

[Captain Hate]

MSNBC, where insanity and stupidity are required.

Amazing that Bathtub Boy exceeded their upper limit on those; although with the continued presence of Sgt Ed Schultz, you have to take the price tag into consideration.

Although the recent transformation of Rocky Maddow is interesting from a pathological standpoint; she currently has all the feminine appeal of a fire hydrant.

[MarkO]

Unfortunately, some had to take their medicine last night.

Speaking with some of Obama's sort-of supporters, I keep hearing that Obama has assured everyone that SS checks will NOT be held up. These folks attribute to Obama some modicum of reason that he doesn't possess. You see, were they really to pay attention, I doubt they could support him at all.

I hope the Republicans have a series of contingency plans to deal with whatever comes over the wall from the Senate and that they don't sit around and fight with each other. It is crucial to slam the Democrats.

[Ignatz]

--she currently has all the feminine appeal of a fire hydrant--

I'm sure you meant that to sting, Cap, but considering her field of interest I'm figuring she'd take it as high praise.

[Captain Hate]

I don't claim to be an expert on teh lezzos, Iggy, other than to know that my neighbors that roll that way are infinitely preferable to just about all the rest. And that Tammy Bruce can make it move with her abundant femininity no matter how she might regard the likes of me.

[Danube of Thought]

You broke the code, Clarice.

Jane, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I recommend starting the experiment at about 1 p.m. EDT.

[JM Hanes]

I was going to post a link, and snark about video taping a Presidential radio address, but the new White House Homepage foreplay stopped me in my astonished tracks:

In case you can't read the advertising here, President Obama wants your email address. Quel surprise! Rest assured, he's got a Privacy Policy -- and does not "knowingly contact or collect personal information from children under 13." If you get the "sample email" ad instead of the aspirational (iconic!) photo, and want to try again, you'll need to eliminate your White House cookies first, even if you quit your browser. After twittering away followers by the thousands yesterday, I guess the White House didn't want to overdo it.

The abuse of office in Obama's permanent campaign is hardly surprising any more, it's the sheer brazenness of it that never ceases to amaze me.

[Danube of Thought]

Check out the RCP average today--44.6 approve, 50.0 disapprove.

[jag]

Putting more detail on the lies O is spewing:

The Treasury is not going to default in August, nor in subsequent months for that matter. An estimated $172.4 billion of tax revenue next month is more than enough to cover the $29 billion of August interest payments. For fiscal 2011, which ends Sept. 30, the Treasury is expected to take in revenue of $2.2 trillion, while only $214 billion is needed to service the debt.

And even if it lacks the authority for new borrowing, the Treasury can continue to roll over existing debt.

Instead of dangling the default threat every chance they get, Obama and Geithner should be telling the world that the U.S. has every intention, and the resources, to meet its debt obligations. They should shout it from the rooftops, put a banner on the Treasury Direct website, and use the Sunday talk shows to reassure investors, not frighten them.

The administration’s stated desire to remove the uncertainty hanging over the economy flies in the face of their saber-rattling. Why, one might even conclude that they are -- perish the thought -- playing politics with the debt ceiling!

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-29/obama-geithner-may-regret-threats-of-default-commentary-by-caroline-baum.html

[MarkO]

To the extent Obama has any "genius," it lies in the fact that he acts with such brazenness that regular people are unprepared for such a violation of accepted norms.

[Ignatz]

--To the extent Obama has any "genius," it lies in the fact that he acts with such brazenness that regular people are unprepared for such a violation of accepted norms.--

Narcissism 101.

[Old Lurker]

And as jag indicates, rolling over existing debt applies to all the notes owed the SS Trust Fund, meaning there is not and never was any chance that SS checks would be impacted.

[Ignatz]

--I don't claim to be an expert on teh lezzos, Iggy, other than to know that my neighbors that roll that way are infinitely preferable to just about all the rest. And that Tammy Bruce can make it move with her abundant femininity no matter how she might regard the likes of me.--

In my equally limited knowledge, CH, I believe we may be venturing into the netherworld of butch and fem and other assorted cryptic creepiness which I'd just as soon remain a mystery.

[Ignatz]

--And as jag indicates, rolling over existing debt applies to all the notes owed the SS Trust Fund, meaning there is not and never was any chance that SS checks would be impacted.--

You're not getting it, OL.
Barry doesn't say he can't guarantee SS checks will go out as in "we may run out of money".
He says it as in "dat's a nice little SS check you've got der Ethel; it would be a shame if anything should happen to it".

[OldTimer]

JMH---the brazenness is SO over the top it leaves alert spectators speechless and numb. This presidency, from its controversial origins to its present WH occupancy is stunning in its boldly fraudulent presentation.

But the worst symptom of this American presidential migraine is the blind idiocy of millions of people who put him there, and who fully intend to keep him there.

The pain is growing unbearable.

[narciso]

So this Abdo situation, is getting a very Cops like feel to it:

Abdo’s father, Jamal Rateb Abdo, and his mother, Carlisa Morlan, divorced years ago, according to documents.

Jamal Abdo was arrested in 2004, accused of soliciting sex from a Garland detective posing online as “Molly,” a 15-year-old girl, according to records.

Between 2002 and his arrest, Jamal Abdo asked “Molly” for sex 45 times, records show. He was arrested after he showed up at an apartment complex to have sex with “Molly.”

[JM Hanes]

"Instead of dangling the default threat every chance they get, Obama and Geithner should be telling the world that the U.S. has every intention, and the resources, to meet its debt obligations. They should shout it from the rooftops, put a banner on the Treasury Direct website, and use the Sunday talk shows to reassure investors, not frighten them."

That is so worth repeating, jag.

It's one thing when pundits moan and groan about our "broken" system; it's a whole different ballgame when the President does it.

[Chubby]

for some reason I just read the title of this thread as "Obama Still Holding the Economy Hostage"

[Rick Ballard]

Chubby,

The President and Democrat Party have already executed the economy. They're trying to stuff Granny in the trunk but polling indicates that she's unexpectedly tougher than their models predicted.

[Old Lurker]

Palm to head, Iggy. Of course!

[narciso]

Currently they are just 'nailing her to the floorboards, like the Piranha (I means Kray)
brothers.

[Old Lurker]

Old Timer...go to the other thread and read the post of VDH comment concerning the two Americas that exist today. Makes it all clear.

[Captain Hate]

He says it as in "dat's a nice little SS check you've got der Ethel; it would be a shame if anything should happen to it".

I wish somebody in the Repub party would specifically point this out; and then extend it to "and these are the people you're trusting with your health care". As I said elsewhere this morning, there are plenty of drones that are quite happy to be serfs under a dictator who can lop off their heads at a whim. But I remain optimistic that there is a more-than-offsetting majority that says to hell with that noise.

But I could be wrong::groan::

[rse]

jmh-

I know a fair amount of what he has in mind from what I have turned up overseas.

It truly takes an ignorant, entitled mind to advocate for such nonsense. I keep thinking how could they not see how destructive this will be?

All they see is political gain for the political class and its allies.

So I shiver and get back to work.

[boris]

"Obama and Geithner should be telling the world that the U.S. has every intention, and the resources, to meet its debt obligations. They should shout it from the rooftops, put a banner on the Treasury Direct website, and use the Sunday talk shows to reassure investors, not frighten them."

Can't imagine GWB doing anything other than reassure the country in a similar situation. Yet was accused of exploiting every good event for political advantage and blamed for every bad event.

[Jane says obamasucks]

He says it as in "dat's a nice little SS check you've got der Ethel; it would be a shame if anything should happen to it".

That nails it Iggy.

[Threadkiller]

"Budget Control Act of 2011: NO.

This measure immediately increases the debt limit by $900 billion with conditional provision for an additional $1.6 trillion, yet is unlikely to achieve savings sufficient to prevent a downgrade of the nation’s credit rating. It increases spending authority by a half trillion dollars above the House Budget Act and postpones any significant reductions in anticipated spending for years into the future. The immediate impact for FY 2012 is to reduce spending $22 billion, or 2/3 of one percent after a 28 percent increase over the last three years. Even this modest reduction is unlikely due to provisions that exempt mandatory spending, emergency spending (determined by majority vote of the Congress) and spending on the “Global War on Terror.” The provision requiring a balanced budget amendment be sent to the states is undefined and unenforceable. The House has already passed legislation that would place the nation’s finances back on the path to solvency and if the Senate is unwilling to concur, it should return the bill to the House with amendments so that conference process can work while there is still time."

McClintock voted no.

[narciso]

A possible 'bright and shiny future', in the LUN, once one has qualms with the hipppocratic
oath, anything goes

[Danube of Thought]

An enigmatic smile just crossed my face. An observer would have no way of knowing that, for some reason, I recalled the airheads on The View a few days after Osama went down. They were cackling derisively about any Republican who would have to run against Obama now.

[Pops]

I reaslly blame the media for allowing the Democrats to act like complete idiots and get away with it.

The Democrats haven't had a single bill, nor a single up and down vote on any legislation.

Like their leader, BO, they are basically voting PRESENT.

They have tabled to bills which wasy basically, we don't want to have to take a position one way or the other.

Now Harry Reid is filibustering his own bill, insisting we wait until Sunday to vote on whether to proceed with it on the floor of the Senate.

Meanwhile, Obama sits and tweets....

Sort of like fiddling while Rome burns...

[Ignatz]

I understand the Teas Partier's desire to reign in spending; I suspect I'm more radical than most of them on how I'd like to see the government hemmed in.
However there is an excellent reason Bismarck's maxim that "politics is the art of the possible" has endured: It's an immutable truth.

[Pops]

I tuned into MSNBC just to see what was going on and one wonders who actually thinks that train wreck is going anywhere good.

I got to see Al Sharpton try to say a comprehendable sentence, which never happened and wacthed a talking head roll his eyes over how completely idiotic the entire conversation was...

[Chubby]

((Like their leader, BO, they are basically voting PRESENT))

he's organized that community very well

[Stephanie]

Going for the art of the possible is definitely a wise move. as long as you don't back down after passing that goal. ISTM that republicans (sometimes) get the possible then forget about continuing to push for the probable. Follow through is what allowed the long march to build over time. You can't prevail and quit.

[EMILY CINICOLA]

I THINK AT THIS POINT, IT IS ALL POLITICAL CRAP FOR ELECTION IN 2012 THEY HAVE WANTED IT INCREASED UNTIL 2012 FOR THEIR BENEFITS, NOT OURS. I AM SICK OF ALL POLITICIANS AND THINK ITS TIME FOR A BIG BIG CHANGE IN 2012 AND I PRAY ALL VOTERS FEEL THE SAME.

[Porchlight]

Ignatz, Stephanie,

The frustrating thing is that Boehner finally gets something through - granted, not something that made everyone happy - and then the GOP squishes in the Senate end up voting with the Dems (as Brown, Maine Twins & Murky are currently looking like they're about to do).

One wants to be charitable, but it sucks to be lectured about the art of the possible, common goals etc. only to have RINOs in the Senate screw us.

[Danube of Thought]

If those four cave, Reid will still need four more. And it'll have to be something the house will pass.

[Porchlight]

Lugar, Hutchison, ?

[OldTimer]

If Perry's going to get in the race, he better jump in the saddle now with six-guns blazing. This is the time to capture the hearts and minds of the citizenry while all eyes are on Washington. A strong leader is urgently needed to speak the truth with power and credibility. Fill up the vacuum, Governor. Grab the country's undivided attention--talk presidential! Calm the nation--tell the people the 'debt limit' facts and outline cogently the dangerous game being played at their expense by Obama and his clown posse. The path to economic solvency is SIMPLE but hard to accomplish without determined resolve. Show them your resolve, Governor! Spur that horse and win this race. A despairing nation awaits you.

[JM Hanes]

Porchlight:

I haven't been keeping tabs on today's events, but it wasn't just the usual RINOs who voted down Boehner's bill last night. Ron Paul, David Vitter, Mike Lee, Orrin Hatch, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint voted with the Democrats. Graham, of course, is desperately trying to ride Jim deMint's coattails to reelection, and Hatch is a born again conservative fighting off a tea party challenge.

[Porchlight]

Thanks JMH. I allow I have not been able to keep up with the machinations since yesterday.

[Rick Ballard]

Porchlight,

It's been a decent skirmish in the sense that tactical weaknesses have been exposed. We've learned that the President successfully diminishes his popularity with every appearance, that his "social networking" apparat has exhausted itself, that the public is resolute in its resistance to the argument that "taxes must be increased" and that Tea Party populism remains as the most vibrant element within national politics.

I sure wouldn't be concerned regarding actions taken by RINOsaurs in the Senate. The outcome of the skirmish is actually irrelevant now and focus should shift to considering how to inflict the maximum number of casualties in the coming battles.

[narciso]

They all deserve a Gibbs level stooge slap after that performance, Paul and Demint specially.

[Porchlight]

Rick,

Thanks. It is remarkable how the polls continue to slide no matter what he does.

See the moron Joe Scarborough saying today that he has talked to "40 or 50 top Democrats" and they all say the same thing: Obama can't lead.

People might be waking up.

[Pops]

""Ignatz: I understand the Teas Partier's desire to ...""

So far only the Tea Party and the Conservativesd have actually passed a bill, no, two bills.

I am assuming if Obama or Reid had a bill that would pass in Congress, they would have submitted it by now.

How about the left accept ''politics is the art of the possible'' and accept the bills??

Obama and Reid aren't trying to win a debate, they don't want to go to Congress and argue their bills and put them before the public or we would have seen a bill from them months ago.

Obama and Reids only hope is to put a gun to the countries head to make the Congressmen vote the way they want them to.

This is not the art of the possible, this is 'give me your money or I rape your children.'

[Pops]

"""but it wasn't just the usual RINOs who voted down Boehner's bill ""

Nobody voted down Boehners bill, they voted to sit it aside...essentially voting present because they are cowards.

[Porchlight]

Well, we might learn more soon:

@jamiedupree
Jamie Dupree
Sen Reid and Senate Democrats will hold a 3pm news conference on the debt limit situation at the Capitol
1 hour ago via TweetDeck

[Pops]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Natlamp73.jp"

Substitute the dog for granny and that is Obama and Reids political message.

Vote for my ridiculous wasteful spending or I pull the trigger.

[Pops]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Natlamp73.jpg

again

[Pops]

"""Sen Reid and Senate Democrats will hold a 3pm news conference on the debt limit situation at the Capitol""

Should say, Democrats collaborate with liberal media to provide new soundbites for evening hit pieces, err 'news'.

[Pops]

Think about how ridiculous this is that Pelosi, Reid and Obama just spent 3 years spending up a storm...now the press and even some Republicans are calling on the Conservatives in Congress to bail him out.

Obama/Reid/Pelosi have known for years this day would come, that they would need to raise the debt ceiling...so how come they didn't submit legislation 6 months ago?

They can't even produce a budget. It is because we are at the tipping point, the point where their desire to spend hits up against the nations ability to borrow.

So, just like any addict, they start lashing out at anyone who tries to hold them accountable for their out of control behavior. Now its everyone else fault.

They smoked all the crack, but its the dealers fault they can't get more.

[Captain Hate]

Plus it gives some of the dimmer members (Durbin for example) a chance to mind-numbingly memorize their parts for the gab shows tomorrow.

[Pops]

Don't be fooled, this is why Reid insisted on filibustering his own bill, he needs to run out the clock, he needs to load the gun, he needs to have the safety off, he needs to put it to grannies head.

They always knew that the gun was default and the bullets were checks stopping to old people. They knew they wouldn't get their way until they are about to pull the trigger.

Reid is just like a rapist who threatens to kill so you succumb to the rape, and then he tells you its your fault..

[Frau Berliner Ballen]

Bismarck's "politics is the art of the possible" meets Obama's "world as it should be."

I'm rooting for the fellow with the John Bolton mustache, the leader of what historians have called "revolutionary conservatism."

[Jack is Back!]

Re: Tea Party!

Before the 2010 elections I was inundated with emails from all the various Tea party groups. But lately I've noticed there have been none. If they are so prominent in these negotiations and discussions wouldn't you think they would be out there rallying public support?

Has anyone been receiving Tea Party emails?

[Captain Hate]

JiB, I get tons of emails from people I assume are TPers that I think go back to when LGF was still a sane site.

[Agent J. (formally known as "J"..]

JIB I receive more emails that I can keep track of, you name it I get TP emails about it..

[Frau Berliner Ballen]

Will You-Know-Who speak again today?

[Agent J. (formally known as "J"..]

JIB give me your address I we can solve your problem..

[Ignatz]

--So far only the Tea Party and the Conservativesd have actually passed a bill, no, two bills.--

Well, a good number of the Tea Partiers didn't pass Boehner's bill, which is my point; the potato DoT speaks of would be sitting squarely on Boehner and the Repub's forks had the Tea Party had its way and that would do a great deal to complicate getting rid of Reid and Alfred E. Obama come 2012, which is the only way real cuts will ever occur, not to mention protecting the court from any more wise [insert disgruntled, disaffected, ax grinding, rent seeking minority here].

[matt]

The collective economic strategy of the world's major democracies can be summarized as kicking the can down the road.

They have done so with eyes wide open for the past 30 years, but the problem is that we are now at the end of the road.

Harry & Barry want to kick it just past the 2012 election so that their propaganda machine can blame the evil Tea Party crazies.

But still, the only people so far willing to propound the ideas and concepts that will restore any modicum of fiscal sanity are Paul Ryan and people like Christie and Daniels. It is unconscionable to act so irresponsibly as leaders, and that's what we have.

The Republicans in the Senate are simply Dem Lite on perhaps the greatest issue of the generation. So far no one's signing up for anything.

And if ever there was a time for a Tea Party, this is it.

[JM Hanes]

Pops:

"Nobody voted down Boehners bill, they voted to sit it aside...essentially voting present because they are cowards."

It's the same thing for all intents and purposes save one. The Democrats can resuscitate it, if replacing its innards starts looking more attractive than bringing their own bill to the floor.

[Neo]

Washington Is Annoyed at Wall Street's Failure to Panic
He told me that the biggest obstacle he faces has been "market complacency."
Frankly, a bit of panic would be very helpful right now," he said.
As he explained it, lots of people in Washington, D.C. expected that this would be a week marked by panic in the markets. Stocks would tank. Bonds would get clobbered. The dollar would do something dramatic. And all of this would help convince reluctant lawmakers that they had to reach a compromise on the debt ceiling.
We were following the script from 2008. When the market collapsed after TARP failed, that spooked everyone enough to get them to fall in line. We thought the same thing would happen this week," he said.

[narciso]

The interesting part about that bit, is that
markets remembered after the TARP bill passed, that the market fell again, because
that was essentially a panacea,

[Jack is Back!]

" JIB give me your address I we can solve your problem.."

Agent j, a very kind offer that I must refuse out of consideration for my inbox.

Was just curious as to whether the Tea Party in all its various guises was still communicating. I guess they felt my well had run dry and preemptively unsubscribed me.

[Pops]

Ignatz,

You would do well to understand that Obama/Reid want to spent 50 Trillion in the next ten years.

The Washington establishment 'good guys' like Boehner and MCConnell only want to spent 45 Trillion.

And the Tea Party radicals want to spend
35 Trillion.

No matter if the Tea Party got all their cuts, we will still go into default, it will just be a few years later.

Washington is living in a fantasy world while the private economy is in free fall.

[Captain Hate]

O/T: Whatever the Repubs accomplish in this budget fight, they're still the party of stoopid. Check this garbage out: http://minx.cc/?post=319468

[Jane says obamasucks]

Has anyone been receiving Tea Party emails?

I get tea party emails all day long. I also send a few now and then. I've noticed that it is very easy to get ignored if you send a billion emails - cause I simply erase the ones I get from most of the tea parties. As a result I am very careful to not inundate my members with my random thoughts. I want them to actually read what I send.

[JM Hanes]

Now this would be a fascinating turn of events. With Reid stalling a vote on his own bill till 1:00 AM Sunday, the House may not be sitting still for it:

In lieu of a Senate vote, House Republicans themselves will introduce and then vote to kill the Reid plan on Saturday afternoon as a way to try to force negotiations into the next phase.

I'm playing total catch-up ball today; does anyone know if this has actually happened, or is still in the works?

Captain Hate:

You can contact your Representative with objections to the data retention bill via the Electronic Frontier Foundation. You can personalize a letter they provide and they'll send it off for you.

[JM Hanes]

Is anybody else getting a lot of Captcha windows these days?

[Captain Hate]

Thanks JMH; I might do that although with Marcia Fudge as my rep, it could be meaningless because, to paraphrase Steadman Shabbaz, I'm not one of her people.

[Captain Hate]

Is anybody else getting a lot of Captcha windows these days?

Not since I finally cleansed my laptop of viruses and installed McAfee.

[Danube of Thought]

"Ron Paul, David Vitter, Mike Lee, Orrin Hatch, Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint voted with the Democrats."

That hws to be Rand Paul. I assume that he and DeMint voted no on the principle that they oppose any debt-limit increase at all. So do I, but only when the necessary reduction in spending can be accomplished through drastic entitlement reform. That time will come, but it is not here yet.

[Danube of Thought]

Jane, how far are you from Warren, MA?

[Porchlight]

Is anybody else getting a lot of Captcha windows these days?

They seem more frequent. Today I got the first captcha I'd seen on a comment that contained no link.

[Ignatz]

--Ignatz,

You would do well to understand that Obama/Reid want to spent 50 Trillion in the next ten years.--

I do well then, Pops, because I understand precisely what they want to do.
As I said, I'm more of a Tea Partier than the Tea Parties.
I don't want to reform or adjust Social security and Medicare I want to abolish them in any form and permanently enjoin the feds from ever meddling in such again.
I don't want to repeal No Child Left Behind, I want to abolish public education in any form at every level.
And the list continues for several miles.
But neither my wants nor the Tea Parties' alter what is possible with a radical peahen in the White House and a shrill, senile, doddering old codger as big cheese of the Senate; hence my reference to Bismarck's true and wise warning.
Now, at some point the line of what is possible will intersect with the implacable line of mathematics and the impending crisis will be solved one way or another, probably disastrously, but until they do, making the perfect the enemy of the less than awful is an exercise in futility.
If what is possible was not limited by reality I would already have been granted my wish and you would be in charge of formulating Republican strategy and I would be warden of the vast and despotic Democratic Gulag.

[Elliott]

If Obama had hung onto his Senate seat, he could have introduced this cunning plan of his in legislative form all by himself.

[Ignatz]

Heh. Reid's bill croaks in the House with eleven Dems voting against.

[Captain Hate]

Lollerz; Wu voted against Hairy Reed's bill. He might be scum but he's smarter than Murscruntski and Scotty Centerfold.

[boris]

Seems to me the dimorats and Obummer are trying to force the GOP to propose a bill that would have been political suicide for dimorats and Obummer back when they had all 3 branches of government. Probably would have worked except for the Tea Party too.

[Mike Grant]

Obama's tools have already told banks privately there will BE no 'default', whatever happens with the talks.

This is while he's threatening seniors, the disabled, veterans, and Medicare recipients with the loss of their checks and Pelosi whines, 'you can kiss Medicare good bye'.

Lies covered with bullsh*t and layered with demagoguery.

[Jane says obamasucks]

Jane, how far are you from Warren, MA?

I'm close. It's one town away.

Don't tell me they are under tornado alert!

[boris]

"making the perfect the enemy of the less than awful is an exercise in futility"

OTOH a Tea Party that rolls over at the drop of a hat is less useful than one standing firm. Nobody has claimed they are clever spin wizards. The only overreach is asking for more than Obummer and dimorats are willing to accept. What they are asking is not over the line, so no, not willing to let Obummer and dimorats define what is "too much" to ask.

[Rick Ballard]

It looks like it's going to be the McDonnell plan or an iteration thereof. I forget - do we love it, hate it or just say meh...

[DrJ]

CH,

Not since I finally cleansed my laptop of viruses and installed McAfee.

Then you still have a virus. McAfee is a virus.

[SWarren]

Been following it on live feed at LUN
McConnell and Boehner know how to play the game.

[boris]

"do we love it, hate it or ..."

As long as it passes the House with at least 100 dimorat votes and zero Tea Party freshmen votes.

[maryrose]

RB:
I believe we can tolerate it because it puts the onus on Obama before 2012 and does have cuts in it with no new taxes. Dimmies will vote for it because they are desperate, McConnell gets credit because it is his idea, Reid tries to grab some credit after filibustering his own bill after the House has voted it down. Finally Obama is at 40% looking like the dunce he is and always will be. Tea Party people stay true to their principles and offer hope for another day.