Bills the Republicans have blocked since the President has been elected:

http://kanvaso.com/show/d9By

$150 billion is not that significant. It is where the cuts will occur that is significant and we don't know where they will be.

Whoops, looks like the economy is going to go ahead and tank anyway. That's what they get for not listening to Krugman.

I believe in small governments. I think we should start with Senators. Send 50% of senators home, FIRST. There are too many c(r)ooks---spending too much of our tax money. In this day and age of advanced technology, few senators will suffice to represent millions of people. Shrink the government from the top!

jay

The whole point of having 2 senators is that the founding fathers argued when they were writing the Constitution over representation. The larger populated states wanted representation by population which would favor them. The smaller states wanted equal representation to protect them from the tyranny of the larger states.

So they settled on a compromise (Oh! that nasty word compromise!). The House of Representative would be by state population but would have shorter terms (2 years). The Senate was to have equal representation but have only 2 senators per state and serve longer terms (6 years). What you are suggesting (maybe in jest) is unconstitutional.

The republican have nothing to fear from Obama, he huff and he puffs and then he simply blows (and does exactly what the republican tell him to do).

It's time for the base of the conservative party to turn against it's tea-vengelical fringe and it's corporate leaders. Because, as they would say: They 'tuk ur jerbs!

Dogjudge....is a Drudge follower and poster. He loves to stoke liberal fire! Wake up children....think and research for yourself.

Here are some thoughts. People do not like ugly. Just as God does not like ugly as the old adage proclaims. You know when you walk down or drive up the streets of your city what is that you see? Broken roads, holes, failed or failing bridges old dilapidated buildings poorly kept yards, weeds the city has failed to spray in medians. Old paint in lines and on walks that were once quite vibrant. Why is this? Obviously because there is NO tax revenue to pay for them to be done or fixed. Their is then no money to take on new projects either. The tea bagging republicans simply want you and America to deal with it. On a hope and a prayer they wish with all of there might that rich folk will simply volunteer to pay for it themselves after they receive just a little more tax cuts. But I'm sorry. To no avail this will never happen. And when people live in a ghetto or even a city that just looks like one it seeps into there psyche.A horrible feeling of dread and despair that things are that far out of reach.

The Government SHOULD be working together to make these things get done. To give America a scence that if the government is OK we to will be ok. Like a child knows that when his parents our getting along and doing well they have no need to worry. They may dream look to the future and dream of whats ahead. But tea bagging republicans want to force the past on us. With talk of NO hope and dread and despair ahead of us all. That is all that there hate is capable of seeing. Because of their hatred of our nations President who was voted in overwhelmingly. In fact uncertainty is perpetuated by the right when they do what they have done. And they have no plans to stop.

If business commerce the markets, could recognize what they see as togetherness as a government solving problems together instead of hating the opposition we might move along. You see uncertainty is claimed when our government is dysfunctional as it is. So the main line of thinking is that Americans to are dysfunctional as they are represented by these people. And instead of sucking it up and EVERYONE paying the taxes they should be paying you have the tea bagging republicans acting as though we should have a distinct different set of laws for the poor and the rich. Refusing to insure hope for the elderly and the disabled and poor and instead providing an uneasy uncertainty for THERE future you have nervousness. A nervousness that does not breed respect hope or outlook. Only dread and dispare.

If we could look around and see how great America is it would do SOooo much for the American psyche. But instead you see ghetto everywhere. No hope. Hopelessness. We hear of business being FORCED out of this great nation because it is cheaper for them to move to China and elsewhere to ship things back to America at a lower tax rate. That is something tea bagging republican REFUSE to address. They also refuse to relinquish there own salaries for a job I would happily serve for free. In fact tax handouts in a a time of debt and deficit are absurd. They are welfare for the rich because as soon as the middle class and poor get there few hundred dollars it goes straight away into the gas tank because gas rise in price ALWAYS coincides with this. It is simply another tax break for big oil in America while the right trys to fool you that is is yours. Indeed.

We need to be able to look around and see it. See the vibrancy. See the shining outlook. See the prosperity we create when we ALL work together. But hate racism and ignorance blinds so many to the re selfish indignation clambering for what they alone hold dear. Insisting upon absurd notions and spitting on what has worked for us all time and time again. All due to the hate they feel for one man who they see as our government as America. There is NO conspiracy theory here. He is NOT the Anti Christ and God will not come back for those of you who hate and refuse to HELP your neighbor ALL of the time. Read your good book yourself and tell me what it says to you. I will be waiting. ; ]

Cheers

doves4peace ... He may be a troll, but he's right about this one. All Obama does is give away half the store before "negotiations" begin and the other half to conclude them.

This "compromise" was another shameful effort (or lack of effort) by Obama and the Dems. This will all but guarantee a Republican president starting in 2013. Repubs are driving the economy off the cliff, and there's nothing Dems can do to change it.

I wonder if we would get automatic debt ceiling raises with a Repub president, just like we used to? maybe not, since the TPers have no allegiance to any party. No real one anyway.

Grinch, the "tea party" is just part of the Republican Party. Those people are doing exactly what the Republican leadership wants them to do. And, more importantly, what those who finance the Repubs want the party to do. They shift the discussion and the ultimate legislative results far to the right.

People who see a difference between the two are missing the point.

The Tea-vangelists grew up on Republican talking points, with a heaping helping of Right Wing Media Manure. Where the Republican Party used the rhetoric to manipulate and deal, they were careful not to break the number one political rule: Never fall for your own propaganda.

The Tea-vangelists thought that the point of a game of chicken is to be the first one off the cliff.

There are no sewer problems, failing bridges, potholes, condemned homes, hungry babies or cars on blocks in Gated Communities. Why are unemployed people in trailer parks voting Republican? WTF?....I decided to take to the streets as the results of the Debt Ceiling vote came in.....surely this will get people eager to register to vote and put an end to the Repubs attack on the middle and lower income sector.......Well, to make a short story shorter....the response was shocking....."we'd rather vote repub....than to vote for a Black man".....Really?.....Houston, We have a problem!!

Miss Press. I know right? Weak minded uneducated people are EASILY controlled. They are predictable and limited to other peoples thoughts in any and all matters. So it really depends on there parents and who gets to them first. PLUS around these parts employers shape the young minds they hire and pay. And they feel obligated to not get fired or admire that they work for someone who "knows" politics. Sad indeed.

We NEED better education in this country. Murdoch knows this hence his conspiring with Nixon on down the line. Look up the recent release of the Nixon libraries. He was also quite the biggot Nixon especially against Jews.

Sad that America lags behind communist countries in education stats. Around these parts radio hosts send there children to PRIVATE school are married to sheriffs and brain wash the cattle to cut every aspect of public funding for public schools. They have NO shame. NONE! We need our youth to be smarter. And tea bagging republicans hate the youth and blame them all for almost everything. So it remains no surprise that they treat them as such while acting LIKE children as they do. ; ] Its time to do more then vote and register to vote. In fact tea bagging republican's have a hidden agenda and if you encompass all of there actions from Ohio to Wisconsin to Washington to Kansas etc it is not impossible to comprehend. We must meet them head on and not fail. Not cower and wimper away.

One thing I have learned in working with Dems as I am neither party but have voted both ways many times over the years, is that they have NO backbone and love to talk. Talk talk talk. Many people are disappointed that B. hasn't held his own. Because they need a leader to stand up and not sit back down. He doesn't seem to recognize when this should occur. Im here for you when you need me believe me. But its hard when Im the only one with you know what. [they bounce play catch get tossed] ; ].. lols

Cheers

Stupid people have stupid children. We can't sterilize them. It's illegal. Mowdy, your argument would be brilliant if you weren't starting with stupid people who are allowed to breed.

I think in this instance, Obama should have invoked the 14th amendment. Whether or not it would have worked, it would have instantly changed the argument and wrested control of the discussion from the repugs. Instead of mindlessly repeating their dogma, they would have been forced to respond to the unprecedented action and budget cuts would have fallen by the wayside in the new scream over abuse of power.

And it would have been better theater!

mguy

The Tea Party are a bunch of rouge elephants in the GOP. It is they who are driving the GOP not the other way around or haven't you been paying attention. Like in the political cartoon posted yesterday they are the baby in Boehner's lap who is driving over the cliff. People have to start treating them for what they are irresponsible spoiled brats.

Bills the Republicans have blocked since the President has been elected:

http://kanvaso.com/show/d9By

Thank you doves4peace, thats a list EVERYONE should read.

I picked the wrong time to stop drinking!!!

I picked the right time to start again!!

I picked the wrong time to stop sniffing glue.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines!

If you don't vote democrat, you might as well vote repugnican't. A vote against Obama is still a vote for lunacy.

We are a firmly two-party system, all teabagging evidence to the contrary, and if you don't vote democratic, you might as well stand up and say you support the crazies on the right.

If you don't vote at all, then you'd better keep your mouth shut about what you don't like in our political system. Only voters get to complain.

I'll vote - and complain. I won't vote for Obama.

If you don't vote Democrat then you might as well vote Republican...

That makes YOU the hostage.

I'll vote for Obama, because the alternative is unthinkable. (President Bachmann? The thought makes my very teeth itch!)

I'll still complain, however. I think Obama is a good man, he's just not a good negotiator, and with each 'agreement' he reaches, the stakes get higher and higher. Chris Hayes pointed this out last night.

We're basically screwed until 2016.... if we still have a country remaining by 2016.

So David you would've voted for McCain and the Cheerleader? You got to think these things through.

One of the biggest reasons the Republicans have managed to seize and hold on to power for so long, even when they're not in power, is that Democrats give up quicker. You castigate Obama for giving in but then throw the election to the next Republican. How is that helping at all?

It's not even the money angle, though that helps Republicans more. But cynical Republicans are ironically more likely to accept compromise than hopeful Democrats. The "Tea Party" is an aberration that will almost disappear in 4-6 years, just like Perot's party.

No, Dave, it makes me a realist, not a hostage.

And Haddie, I only said you couldn't complain if you didn't vote. I vote, so I get to complain. I think Obama is a jellyfish. I wish Hillary had won. But he's better than John McCain, and he's better than Michele Bachman, so I'll hold my nose and vote for him again because there isn't a better candidate in the field.

Actually I would have voted for somebody other than McCain - or not cast a presidential vote.

I refuse to vote in fear. I would like to see another Democratic candidate for president. "But... that will never happen!"

Sez who?

Remember when it was unthinkable that there would be a black president?

If you discount the Tea Party I think you are missing what is happening with our country. There has been a seismic shift and the Tea Party is at the heart of it.

And the Tea Party has mad that shift possible because of their take-no-prisoners approach. The Democrats need to up their game and they won't do it with Obama in the White House.

I completely agree that the teabaggers have taken the country at gunpoint.

I also agree that this is the time for a new political model to be established, but we're herding cats. The biggest problem we have as democrats/independents/greenpeople/etc., is that we are educated, therefore think for ourselves, therefore have our own opinions, which don't necessarily mesh with those of our fellow democrats/independents/greenpeople/etc.

Repugs have been trained to think and behave in lockstep because they don't value education or independent thought.

They are a well-oiled machine, and we are unable to unite and get behind one message. They, therefore, control the conversation. We're so 'politically correct' that when they started out calling themselves teabaggers, and we snickered, they got upset, changed their name and we just went along with it! They're teabagging us, and we meekly go along with their indignant name change. Wouldn't want to upset them after all.

I voted for John Anderson a million years ago, and learned my lesson. We can't unite. Or at least we haven't yet.

As a graphic designer I've spent most of my time working as an artist for lapel pin companies, and I can tell you: the people making and wearing collectible enamel lapel pins are republicans and the religious/military right, first and foremost. It galled me no end, and I'm sure I sent a couple of files that spontaneously combusted from the energy I attached to them, but I drew all kinds of anti-democrat, deeply brotherhood, liberal-hating, sing to the heavens artwork. Not a single pin for a democratic party or activity. And I did thousands of pieces of art! They are organized behind one message, and we are not. They are well funded by sources we aren't even allowed to ask about, and we are not. They have been waging a war against America for more than 30 years, and we have not.

Until we figure out how to organize ourselves, they're going to keep winning. How do you propose we herd the cats?

OMG, Peanut ---- you paint such a bleak picture.........but I believe what you say and have to agree with you.

I don't have the faintest idea of how to herd the cats, but if I could, I'd join in a heartbeat. It's such a critical situation for the USA and I'm torn between my love for our President, and wishing he would DO something to disarm those smug,self-righteous, selfish, inhuman Repubs.

And with the exception of a handful, get the Dems in Congress off their scaredy-cat a$$e$.

Ever want to run someone over repeatedly with your car?

Sorry to bring you down, Joy. If I knew what to do, I'd be doing it.

"Career politicians are the problem, let's vote the bums out and hire a fresh batch. They couldn't be any worse than what we've got."

"Well, I'm disappointed in so-and-so. I guess it's useless to even bother to vote."

"The Democrats have been in long enough, it's time for a change."

"I'm all for divided government."

"The Tea-party is neither Republican nor Democrat. They're just pro-American, and that sounds pretty good to me."

In 2010, that's what happened, and this is where we are.

eharder you couldnt be further from the truth.The four dollar prescriptions you speak of are only about four hundred generic drugs,that have been around for years.But newer drugs are full price minus the discounts that the insurance companies negotiate which isnt a whole lot.The $2400 you speak of is actually $2840.When you hit $2840 in med costs(what you and the ins.co.pay) you must pay 100% until it reaches $4550 then you pay much less in copays.Also people making $1000 per month ca n get extra help paying for their drugs.So please dont give the repubs any ideas on cuts to this program because they could care less about people on medicare.

eharder, you really don't know what you are talking about. My drug bill each year is around $7,500 using the plan. Without it, I'd pay over $32,000/year. Should the plan be financed? Sure. Should it be eliminated? Not unless you want a lot more people dying for lack of prescription drugs.

The Tea Party has it's agenda in place: Free Markets, Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government. What's to compromise? They will support those who follow those ideas, Dem or Republican. What other organizations are required to compromise? Now if you are talking about Republicans, then yes, some compromise on both sides is needed. I would point out that no compromise was had when the Health Care debate was happening.

There are no such things as free markets. If that were the case, there would be no corporate welfare, no tax loopholes that allowed two-thirds of American corporations to pay no income tax at all last year, costing us hundreds of billions of dollars. If there were fiscal responsibility, they'd have fought against the Bush tax cuts and their extension, would have fought to bring our troops home from two wasteful wars, demanded that the most wasteful government department of all, DoD, accept large budget cuts. There is no limited government, or they would be fighting against government interference in marriage with DOMA and Prop 8. They'd be fighting against restrictions on abortion.

The Tea Party is a thinly-disguised attempt by corporations and the megawealthy to take over government to enrich themselves at the expense of the survival of our country. They are shills for Greed, Inc.

Don't forget those "shovel-ready" jobs that the stimulus package was supposed to create. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. The tax breaks didn't create jobs and the stimulus didn't really - they may have kept some construction and fire/police employed temporarily, but that's it. It is very difficult for government to "create" jobs....real jobs - not just putting people on the federal payroll.

Skip, because of repub demands, half of the stimulus was TAX CUTS, shown to be the LEAST stimulative of all measures. Had that money been spent on actual infrastructure projects, we would have gotten far more bang for out taxpayer bucks.

There is no intention to create jobs within the republican party, their sole job at this time, the past few years is to make jobs non existent in thier quest for the White House. They are coming up with every excuse from job killing taxes, job killing regulations, health care expenses, equal pay, unions, public workers, wages are to high, it doesn't matter the lame excuse given, they will make no effort to put America back to work until they gain the power they so desire. In their quest for power they are catering to the extreme far right and religious right for thier votes, taking America backward.

The jobs are overseas. The formula of "tax cuts = domestic employment" is no longer valid. It hasn't been valid for about 20-25 years. But since our politicians are lawyers and not economists, they either didn't know or forgot that the world has changed.

Did they lie or are they hopelessly ignorant? you decide, but it really makes no difference, since the net effect is the same.

Tax cuts NEVER equaled domestic employment---that was the first mistake. Non one should have bought that claptrap.

Actually, they did back in the 60s and 70s. After that it's been a game of diminishing returns and demagoguery.

Tax cuts had nothing to do with domestic employment in the 60s and 70s. Look at two major government spending programs in that era---the Vietnam War and the Apollo program and you will see the reason for the employment picture. It took a lot of people to build helicopters, ammo and moon rockets. Tax cuts don't make businesses hire people. Why in hell would a business hire workers if there were no demand for their products? That's why tax cuts for business would be a huge waste of money now. If consumers aren't buying now, why would they suddenly start buying just because corporations got a big tax cut? My spending habits have nothing to do with how much Exxon/Mobil, Target, Ford and IBM pay in taxes. The fact that some of those companies, and more, didn't pay any taxes at all makes no difference to the consumer.

It is possible to have high taxes and low unemployment, at least in some countries.

I lived for a while in Germany and revisited it a few months ago. Germany has very high taxes, but German people rather pay a little bit more in taxes and have enough police officers, good schols, good public transportation, clean streets and clean water. It's their choice.

Now Germany has rich people too, but not as rich as american rich people, their CEOs make good money, but not 67 billion a year, so after the big corporations pay their CEOs, pay taxes, there is still money left to pay the people quite good, so they can go out and shop, go on vacation (they have way more paid vacation). And, yes, they have universal health care.

I am not advocating to turn America into Germany, but when the Repubs say without tax cuts no jobs, that's just peace of crap. They are lying. And they have been lying for decades. It's all about greed.

Oh, I agree, uff...it's a difficult and circuitous route on the taxes vs. jobs road.

To the point, today, tax rates are at a level that further tax cuts lack sufficient stimulative effect to make any difference at all. Most especially because they are not occurring in a vacuum where all other factors remain constant.

I've given a lot of thought to the whole lower taxes thing, of late. And I can only conclude that 2 or 3 percentage points either way (up or down), given all the other factors in the current economic climate, have a negligible effect.

And given the fact that the national debt does really need to be addressed and has reached a point that it is having a HUGE economic effect, taxes should probably be raised. (What's that, a conservative advocated tax increases?)

With one caveat...raising taxes to generate revenue should address the debt...if they are just going to spend all the "new" revenue and continue to borrow at the current rate and don't reduce the debt, I don't really see the point in raising taxes.

I'm not even going to say that taxes necessarily need to be raised, at least for any but a tiny fraction of Americans. This nation would see a big increase in tax revenue with the simple expedient of closing corporate tax loopholes and ending corporate welfare. When two-thirds of American business paid no income taxes at all last year, (something that lowly old me, who made billions less, couldn't get away with), then there is something inherently wrong. I could even go along with the Simpson-Bowles proposal of lowering corporate tax rates if those loopholes were eliminated. We also need to see the end of the Bush tax cuts; CBO says that this one simple act would literally lead to a balanced budget in 5 years. Social Security? That can be fixed with the simple step of eliminating the cap on income subject to social security taxes. CBO says that funds Social Security at 97% liability.

Increased taxes should be used to reduce and eliminate the deficit, and if possible, generate a surplus used to pay down the debt where possible. We also need to work to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, which is becoming more and more of a competitive disadvantage to our businesses. Finally, we need to put a moratorium on all new trade deals, and review every single free trade deal we are already party to. NAFTA and other free trade deals have put America in an unfair competitive disadvantage, costing us millions of jobs.

Lack of experience. I still marvel at the voting public that thought a junior Senator with 2 years experience (1 of those mostly campaigning) was the best Democrat out there. Most Americans didn't even know this guy until he started running for President. Yeah, he did that great speech at the Democratic convention in 2004, but the average American does not have that long a memory (unless you're talking about American Idol or Survivor then they can rattle off the winners for the past decade). Whether you like the past Presidents (Bush, Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan and even Carter) they all had what I consider the minimum or higher when it comes to experience. 4 of them were Governors (executive experience), and the other was a Vice President for 8 years, US Rep, Director of the CIA, and Ambassador to China.

I just think that anyone that is going to sit in one of the most important and powerful positions on the planet should have more requirements than just being 35 and a US citizen.

Agreed that anyone running for president should have experience in Congress. It allows them to build relationships with people they will have to work with, compromise with, deal with once they get the job. The whole "outsider" cache is way overblown.

I worked and donated money - to Obama. I won't work or vote for him again. It's the only way I have left to influence things.

Liberals seem to be like an abused spouse to me. They live in fear. They vote in fear... what if Obama isn't in the White House? What if the debt ceiling isn't raised? What if we actually go all in and put it all on the line?

At this point I am ready to take the risks.

I won't sit out the election. And I won't support or vote for Obama.

I really don't see the difference between a republican and a democrat that does what the republicans tell him to do. My interests are not represented in government at all, so I don't see a point in voting at all.

Then do your damndest to elect dems to congress, state legislatures, local governments, and everywhere else. Repubs have made no secret for the past 30 years that their strategy was to start at the local level, and you will see that the strategy has paid off handsomely. They now control most governorships, state legislatures and the House. Hate Obama all you like, even refuse to vote for him, handing certified loons like Bachmann the White House. As long as there are strong dem majorities in both houses of Congress, even that loon will be limited in the damage she can create.

Or just act like a petulant child, refuse to vote, and get a replay of 2010.

Yes - get involved. No - don't vote for someone that doesn't represent my interests - Obama.

Thing is you say you will get out and vote....but not for Obama. Do you see the alternatives? Obama is still the best one on the ballot

We don't have a ballot yet. I'd like to see other Democrats to choose from.

Plus, there are things other than the presidential election to be involved in.

I'm with you David. I fully intend to vote, but I will never vote for Obama again. He has done nothing but betray us.

EXACTLY Tough Cookie. That is the ONLY reason we are in this mess. Where were the people (Democrats/Independents) who got up off their asses to elect this man in 2008 only TWO YEARS later NOT show up in the midterms. 2008 I stayed in line for 50 minutes to vote. The midterms.........only 5 minutes.

How I'd give to stay in line for 50 minutes one more time because 2008, that was the year I REALLY saw The United States of America.

I said it when those Republicans won midterms.......put the seatbelt on because you are in for a BRUTAL bumpy ride. This is what happens when you don't vote.

Not voting= you need to shut up and blame YOURSELF.

Fehrman, if you're not voting democratic, you're voting repugnican't. If you're not voting at all, you're voting repugnican't.

I understand the frustration of not having a candidate to vote for that you can 100% get behind, but ask yourself if you can get behind a teabagger agenda, because that's what you'll be getting if you don't vote, or if you don't vote democratic.

It really is a simple as that, right now, because we don't have a viable third party for non-repugs to vote for.

If the committee fails, defense gets a huge axe. Repubs don't want to see that happen. If they appoint Tea Party members to the committee, it is a signal that they are willing to gut one of their biggest constituencies, the defense contractors. So, we'll see soon how eager they are to lose the election.

I think you're naive.

Just like Obama and crew. That's why we just got screwed. If you think the Tea Party isn't going to run the Super Committee, just like they ran these negotiations, then you haven't learned anything.

Boehner has already said there will be nobody appointed to the committee that would support any new revenues.

Then they will see their precious DoD get slashed deeply.

And we will see Medicare slashed. I've already seen Tea Partiers on the air that are fine with Defense cuts.

This was a colossal bad move.

And your solution? A primary challenger to Obama who will lose to Obama, and in turn, he will lose to whatever mental midget they end up nominating. President Bachmann not scary enough for you? How about President Perry?

I know we've gone over this same thing over and over. Voting for someone because you are more afraid of what will happen if the other party gets elected is BAD, BAD, BAD. I understand that, sympathize with it, and absolutely hate having to do that. I used to be a repub back in the days when they were sane, and weren't controlled by christofascists and other riff raff. I would vote for the person I felt could do the best job, and I would vote just as often for repubs as dems. But starting with Bush, it became very evident that there was no possible way to justify voting for a repub. To be honest, I think the Clinton impeachment fiasco is what really drove it home. An individual repub politician may be pretty decent, but wehn you get them in a group, they stick together as a monolithic bloc, and individual common sense and ideals are subsumed by the radicals that run the party.

Obama has bitterly disappointed me, but to be fair, the dems in congress have disappointed me even more. Even if Obama decided to cave on issues we care about, a dem congress with cajones would have made it very, very clear to him that they wouldn't accept any kind of deal that went against their priorities. Instead, even when polls were stacked heavily in their favor, dems didn't fight for new revenues in the budget deal, didn't fight for eliminating tax loopholes, didn't vote for a public option, didn't vote for anything that the majority of us wanted.

I agree with your disappointment in congress. My representative is Dana Rohrabacher. Google him for a real nut case. And he's in like a barnacle.

And, like you say, the Dems caved big time. Harry Reid? Please!

I don't know that a SUCCESSFUL primary challenger couldn't win the general election. Think about it.

Maybe we don't need Obama to beat the crazies.

I know all about Rohrabacher, and as bad as he is, he still beats my nutty rep, Bachmann, any day of the week. I swear the woman is mentally ill.

As for Harry Reid? Imagine how much better we could have done if Hilary had stayed in the Senate as Majority leader. A great opportunity was missed because of her ego.

I simply don't see a third party candidate being anything but a win for the opposition party. We have seen that in congressional elections over and over again recently, so I see no reason to think a miracle would take place to change that dynamic.

You're right - Bachmann beats Dana for raw crazy.

Actually - I'd like to see a Democrat challenge Obama in the primary and win.

It seems to me that almost any Democrat could win if they ran a smart presidential campaign. Just a hunch on my part.

I think that ignores the post-Citizens United reality. Anyone who could raise enough money to beat Obama in the primary and win the general election will likely only be able to do it by begging for even more money from the very people who got Obama elected, such as Wall Street. Elections, now more than ever, are won with gobs of money....they're estimating $1 billion for the presidency next year.

I figure they will start a new war by then spujoe so your job will be safe. The Super Dupers will never ever cut DoD.

Very well put. How can it possibly be Obama's fault when the extremists were/are the ones refusing to compromise. He needed to keep the country afloat. And did. Period. Let's put our energies into making sure they can't do this type of hostage taking again.

I agree! The GOP plan all along is to make Obama a one term president. Demoralizing the Democratic party is playing right into their hands (Limbaugh, Trump, and the Tea Party is drooling with delight at this!) Do you really think that sitting home and letting Bauchman or Romney take over the executive and the R's both house of Congress will get you anywhere? The President and the Democrats saved us (the whole world) from worse than a recession! Get done with your crying soon and go to work to change the numbers in Congress and give this President a Congress that he can work with!

It has broken. I lost my business, but even though I paid all my taxes like a good little drone, I'm not entitled to unemployment payments because they say so. How do I pay them all that unemployment insurance money and then get told it's not mine when I need it?

Get involved - yes.

Support REAL candidates - yes.

Support Obama - no.

Don't be like an abused spouse that gets treated like crap and returns for more.

No, don't be an abused spouse, be a masochist! Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Are the democrats going to put up another candidate against Obama?

What is the likelihood Independents will field a candidate who has a chance of winning?

Sorry, but if you don't vote for the democrat, you're giving the win to the repugs, and we can't afford that!

That's voting out of fear and that's why you get treated like used baggage by Obama and team. They can take you for granted. And they have. Your vote doesn't count. It's wasted.

We're stuck with this fake Democrat. It lulls folks into complacency and that's when things are taken away.

A vote for Obama is a wasted vote.

... "fake Democrat?" ...

Who, in your opinion is a "real" Democrat?

One that doesn't offer Social Security and Medicare as bargaining chips in a fake financial crisis.

That's just for starters.

Name - just for starters - an actual Democrat that would have risked default in this situation.

That's why we lost. We were playing against a more committed opponent.

... a more "irresponsible" group of politicians is more accurate ...

Well - they were willing to go to a place we decided not to go to - that's why we're getting this rotten deal.

And they will do it over and over again.

We should have let it go to default. Really. Play rough.

So, we should have let the nation go into default -- which is what the Republicans wanted.

Obama should have held out and would have taken all the blame for the default -- which is what the Republicans wanted.

After leading the country into possibly the worst economic collapse ever, Obama would be un-electable -- which is what the Republicans wanted.

I'm sorry, but I don't want to see anyone "play rough" with my future or my country's future.

So, just curious, what what kind of a Democrat are you?

I'm an active, voting Democrat.

Obama should have held out and would have taken all the blame for the default

Not so. Didn't happen to Clinton.

After leading the country into possibly the worst economic collapse ever, Obama would be un-electable...

I think the Republicans would have gotten the blame.

As it is we are now heading into just what the Republicans wanted - an Austerity Government. take a look at England if you what to see the near future.

We should have held out.

David, I admire your courage and your principles. We should never give a blank cheque to any politician. They have to earn it to be elected. So, I suggest, keep watching, keep getting engaged, and make your decision based on someone's achivements.

And to MarkM: No, Republicans would have never let the country go into default. That was only a bluff. And Obama IS getting blamed. And jobs are being lost.

What should have Obama done? He started negotiating by giving up too much. If you start like that, you end up giving up everything. He is all for compromise, so am I, but it makes the difference, with whom you are compromising. If you are negotiating with someone who is happy with the deal that leads to a loss of 1.8 mil jobs, you can compromise only so much. I think David G. would have been a way better negotiator!!

We should have let it go to default. Really. Play rough.

would you let a baby fall on it's head - just to teach the other parent a lesson to hold on with both hands? or would you try to catch the baby?

JexKitty no Republicans would not let us go into default but the Tea Party would. They are a dangerous rouge element in the Republican party and should be treated as such. This is a bad deal all around but there are some things I at least feel good about. We don't revisit the debt ceiling till 2013 and no ridiculous balance budget amendment made its way in the deal.