I did find it interesting what Obama said and how he voted on the last attempt to raise the debt ceiling.....

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...t-limit-when-/

Yea, God Damm right we have a failure of leadership. And it is Obama's failure.

It is annoying but I am more annoyed with myself for expecting direct answers to questions.

This is why I do not watch the news. (except during elections)

I thought we discussed this part already ... Wasn't TARP successful?

Well....

Since I'm not in either category, I like that cartoon! :)

Didn't someone just get done debunking the existence of the first group? I seem to fit in the 0% who carries their fair share of taxes as well.

I just heard Boehner say that he has the same responsibilites as the president.

heh.

this after weeks and weeks of begging the president to do Boehner's job for him, to present a package that can pass the congress. I actually feel bad for Boehner, I don't think he's in a position that is survivable. I think he's been boxed into a corner by the walls of reality--that the debt ceiling must be raised--pressed into this corner by the mindless mob with pitchforks and torches demanding changes, big changes, and right now, to the whole structure of the business dealings of the country.

Sadly, these are two different problems. Both important, but one is VASTLY more acute than the other. The debt ceiling must be raised. The alarm over the budget deficit has already been raised and I have no doubt that there will be plenty of sausage made on that score.

But, people, let's put the fuse out on this powder keg **FIRST**, ok?

mercy, I frequently disagree with your politics, but your analysis here is tragically correct.

Fucking fuck.

We are heading for the shitter and both side will have to take a big bite of that sandwich at the next election.

ftfy

This is always fun to say but not true at all. The Democrats are bending on budget cuts as Republicans are bending on tax increases. Your people, the Tea Partiers are the ones forcing brinkmanship games. You are getting what you are demanding and bitching about it.

Are these the same revisionist a-holes who came up with the 'slavery wasn't really that bad, it was really lifetime job security' bullshit?

At least the Holocaust deniers try to pretend it didn't happen instead of stating that it was 'not that bad'.

As Bruce says, he lived it and UG has read it. Lincoln had words about people who spoke about slavery with no empathy, safe from the knowledge that it would never affect them.

If Lincoln could get a look at what has become of his party.........(the wildly inappropriate comment to follow has not made it past my decency filter)

It's the same mindset that blames Obama for high unemployment, at the same time that they endorse cost-cutting measures that cause federal, state, and local layoffs.

I will concede that the absolute modifier "only" makes this statement untrue. Clearly those elected officials who are in a position to make substantive decisions care about many things, including, and perhaps even near the top of the list, what is good for the country. Also very high on the list is an ACUTE awareness that every word and action coming from them (and doubtless many that don't come from them) will be used in the next election. Not just the next election but in all the daily power plays that make up the lively social economy in our federal government. Not only will their words and actions be fodder for hostile opponents, but so will their silences and inactions. Many will justify their choices with the maxim "you cannot govern unless you have been elected".

They all are considering this, that they cannot do anything for the good of the country unless they're in office. First things first.

I agree with you Griff, that Boehner's caucus is being destructively and disingenuously uncooperative. I think most of them have deceived themselves that they're standing on principle and that their position is supported by facts. This is my understanding of how they're able to justify their actions. I think their principle is uselessly oversimple and their facts are pretty much made of hot air. Neither their claims to be supported by the republican voters nor their math about what's to be spent and how.

In the meantime, I think the whole nauseating theater is causing actual harm--a further erosion of the public's faith in our government. We elected them to lead, to act and GODDAMMIT to cooperate. Right now, I see little of any of that, and the Rs are in the lead, but it's not a one horse race.

FYI, They are not "my people"....