These debt meetings should be conducted in the same manner as when a new Pope is selected,lock them in a room and no one leaves until a deal is reached. Food and water is to be brought in and potty breaks will be allowed every 2 hours. Reach a deal you can go home but not before.
We could fire them all and use their salaries, costs of their offices and staffs, plus perks to reduce the deficit. This has gone beyond silly and right straight to stupid.
I heard a report that yesterday’s White House meeting about the debt ceiling was to be an all day meeting but somehow it turned out to be an hour and half long meeting?
From the video of that bunch, I noticed John Boehner was stirring his cup of coffee (or whatever he drinks) – so I guess these folks can drink but not get any work done? Is that the plan?
I had to laugh at Obama when he told the press they were getting the same photos they got yesterday (Sunday) but the only difference is – the men were wearing ties. Sunday’s meeting was casual dress.
Let’s cut out all this political theatre and start dealing with the real problems
I’ve heard people associated with politics say that Obama is a master at getting things done the way they should be done. There have been times when I thought that comment should land the commentor in the loony bin. And now this Republican says basically the same thing. Maybe I should sit down, shut up, and watch.
George W Bush should be prosecuted over torture, says human rights group
Human Rights Watch claims Obama administration ‘failing to act on evidence’, and also names Cheney and Rumsfeld in report.
Hope George W. Bush wasn’t planning any overseas vacations: Human Rights Watch has called on foreign governments to prosecute the former president and some of his senior officials for war crimes. The call on foreign governments is, in part, because HRW says the Obama administration has refused to investigate the matter. “It’s become abundantly clear that there is no longer any movement on the part of the Obama administration to live up to its responsibilities to investigate these cases when the evidence just keeps piling up. … Under international law any country has jurisdiction over torture and war crimes.” Bush has admitted to two cases where he approved waterboarding and also approved the CIA’s detention and rendition programs.
If you have noticed, the little cowboy ex-president and his sidekick do not leave the boundaries of the USA (except, I do think GWB went to Canada once?).
But I think these two know they are walking targets if they were to venture out into the real world.
And isn’t it sad to think an ex-president cannot be like all the other former presidents have routine done – gone on to do thing globally?
I’ve often said that Jimmy Carter has done more good after his presidency than he was allowed to do during his presidency. Carter’s only problem was that he was not a dirty trick politician and he was much too honest for the job.
Do you think he understands the reasons President Obama enjoys higher approval ratings than Congress? I don’t. Anyone stupid enough to make this statement has no understanding of anything. We shouldn’t be surprised. Remember he told us the top agenda would be to defeat Obama. Not one word about what he might be able to do to help Americans. Not one word about fulfilling the duties of his elected office.
McConnell: no real deficit deal until Obama is gone
The Senate’s top Republican said Tuesday that he did not see a way for Republicans and Democrats to come to agreement on meaningful deficit reduction as long as President Obama remains in office.
“After years of discussions and months of negotiations, I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office, a real solution is probably unattainable,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor.
This is the old bait and switch game the CONS have used for years. They plan to wait until their rich white male get the White House job and no debt deal will ever see the light of day.
Or shall I sawy – debt reduction deal. Oh, the debt will grow very fast – kinda like GWB spending like a drunken sailor on his first shore leave.
They’re running out of time with their old white guys and the women who do their bidding. They can ignore demographics that show minorities are becoming the majorities, they can ignore the assault on the middle class who are wise enough to object to the stance being taken by corporate profiteers and their representatives in Washington — opposing the closing of loopholes that benefit multinational corporations and the wealthy, and opposing the return of tax rates on the wealthy to the levels we had when our economy was thriving and our budget was balanced, but they can’t win elections at the national level. None of their candidates can beat President Obama.
Agree 100% – that rich white male dominated population is dying off. And it seems the younger American are so busy working two jobs just to keep their heads above water and they are not too happy about having to work a third job just to keep these rich white males and their trophy wives in luxury.
They have nothing to offer, so they stonewall and waste time. That time is paid for by our tax dollars. If people in the country had any common sense, they’d see that and do something about it.
If the people in the country had any common sense, they’d never have voted for GWB (well, the majority did not the first time , as we all know). But then these folks voted again for this little cowboy.
I’m thinking that common sense is in short supply.
I suspect Ron Paul is thinking of taking the original Tea Party into a third party direction with this decision?
Ron Paul, even though I disagree with him on several issues, has always been a thorn in the GOP elephants’ big butt.
Ron Paul might just see an opening in the millions of voters who are fed up with all this partisan political theatre and wants someone to Just Say No back to all this corporate-bought political stink hole we currently seem to have.
But if Ron decides to bring in Junior – all bets are off for that third party to grow legs.
I’ve noticed that the younger Paul seems about a brick short of a full load.
As for a third party — I hope he succeeds. Of course, by the time he gets it going it will probably only be the 2nd party since the GOP is killing off their chances of remaining viable by falling off the right side.
I suspect the 2012 election will be the final one for the Grand Old Party as we know it today. The Far-Right-Wingers hafe no chance in winning the general election – so they GOP has to implode.
Steve Benen’s site coined a new term for these ‘no new taxes’ parrots who’ve violated their oath of office to kowtow to Grover Norquist: “Norquislings.”
Here is some interesting reading and it brings up an issue I’ve not heard or seen very often.
Politicians are American citizens and deserve the same protection and rights as all Americans do – so I do not fault them for filing police reports for legitimate things.
But what does it say about someone who has a history of filing police reports? Does it mean they are just subjected to more harassment due to their politician status or does it mean they are just playing the persecution card when they hold their filing police reports as justification for their narrow-version of their world?
I’ve heard several times about the report that Michele Bachmann has hid in the bushes at a gay parade event – but, you know, of course there is not a police report filed by her for that event. But isn’t that rather telling also?
After I read this article, I just filed this information under the Far-Right-Winger trash bin #13 because I am of the opinion these are the folks that suffer from crucifixion syndrome – you know the type that needs to be told to get off the cross because someone needs the wood.
Unfortunately, that crucifixion syndrome does play well to the Far-Right-Winger crowd and they eat it up like it’s cotton candy. Almost as good as that tea they drink!
correction: there was no police report filed by the gay parade event people against Michele Bachmann for hiding in the bushes.
BTW – I wonder what Michele Bachmann plans to do when the Republicans get their way and lay off all those public service workers – the police?
Who is she going to call then to file those reports? That free police protection will no longer be there – has she or any of her fellow elephants thought about that?
I hate to say it, but his last sentence rings too true. This whole mess may come down to revolution. The more angry people get, the less they can see the whole picture. But then even if they could, the whole picture is about as ugly as it can get. If those people who are supposed to be representing us, and this does include the President, don’t stop ministering to the wealthy as they, themselves, become the wealthy, they might want to start watching their backs.
Just as the Tea Party drew heavily on a public backlash against government spending, another new political movement — the Tequila Party — aims to use the latest crackdown on illegal immigration to motivate Latinos to vote in 2012.
Arizona Republican DeeDee Garcia Blase formed the National Tequila Party Movement as an answer to a Tea Party influence she blames for increased political opposition to immigration.
The group has no aspirations to become a third political party. Its focus will be registering as many of the nation’s 21 million voting-age Latinos as it can, targeting young voters in presidential battleground states.
He’s back in the game – and this time he may get even more support due to many people are fed up with their newly-elected Tea Party Darling Governor Rick Scott.
I just heard Mitch McConnell advocating a bill that would raise the debt ceiling through President Obama’s term in office. So just maybe the debt ceiling will be raised just as it has always been — with no stipulations! They really are doofuses aren’t they? They get exactly nothing!
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) floated a novel way out of default Tuesday, suggesting that Congress give up its power to raise the debt ceiling, and instead effectively transfer that authority — and the political pain that comes with it — to the White House for the remainder of Obama’s current term.
With eight days until the administration-imposed deadline to reach a deal, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told reporters he had no plans to “trash” McConnell’s plan and would give it a close look.
Under current law, Congress raises the debt ceiling, which allows the Treasury Department to issue more bonds to pay off debts and fund projects that Congress has already authorized. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize or appropriate new spending, but merely settles old bills.
Under McConnell’s plan, which he called his “last-choice option,” the White House would request an increase in the debt ceiling and Congress could only block that request with a veto-proof super majority — effectively ceding control over the debt limit to the White House. A super majority would likely be difficult to amass, especially when neither party’s leadership genuinely wants the nation to default.
McConnell said he believes the votes exist in the Senate to pass a bill that would establish such a debt-ceiling regime. If House Democrats went along, fewer than 25 Republican House votes would be needed to make the bill law. How congressional leadership could marshal those votes, however, remains a mystery.
The Republican dominated House has not introduced a jobs bill — not even one. It’s what they promised during their campaigns, but once they were elected they didn’t need to worry about those silly things like commitments any longer. You know kinda like not being willing to raise the debt ceiling to pay the bills for the money already spent — making good on commitments. That making good on promises part isn’t their strong suit.
Call me crazy, but if we set aside the question of whether or not we agree with the massive concessions offered by President Obama to get a debt ceiling deal, it seems clear to me that he has made a real proposal: Big cuts in return for smaller tax increases. The Republican response, however, has been a little more difficult to interpret, because, on the surface, it just seems utterly disconnected from reality.
So here’s a little translation guide to help readers get some clarity.
What they say:
Michele Bachmann, explaining the only circumstances under which she would vote for raising the debt ceiling.
“They’d have to cut an enormous amount, including they would have to defund Obamacare,” she said on Fox News in response to a question about the circumstances under which she’d vote to raise the debt ceiling. “Because that’s the largest entitlement in the history of the country.”
What she means:
My solution to bringing down the budget deficit is to get rid of the only part of the social safety net that is (a) paid for and (b) projected by the Congressional Budget Office to actually reduce the deficit.
What they say:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, explaining why there will be no “real solution” to the debt problem.
“After years of discussions and months of negotiations, I have little question that as long as this president is in the Oval Office a real solution is probably unattainable,” Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.
What he means:
As long as the president of the United States — a Democratic politician who has already agreed in principle to bigger cuts in Medicare and Social Security than any previous Democratic occupant of the White House — as long as he continues to refuse to unilaterally give in to every single one of our demands, we will continue our policy, established on the very first day of his presidency, of opposing with all our force everything he does.
Have you seen or heard this one? If Kansas is so broke, then why are we paying big bucks to private attorneys – not to mention the same ones that work for the Koch Brothers.
BTW – When Gov Sammy promised to create jobs before he was elected to Governor, did he mean only the job for the Koch Brothers’ high-priced lawyers?
I wonder how much higher this crime rate will get if we get a far-right-winger Republican in the White House that thinks it is okay to call homosexuals barbarians that need educated and disciplined?
Especially that discipline part. Just how far do these Far Right Wingers think they can go to discipline when they pray away the gay?
If the debt ceiling is not raised and any payments are missed the very first ones to be eliminated should be the salary of every member of Congress, then the salaries of every member of their staffs and each and every cost of their offices. No member of Congress should receive a single red cent until they do their jobs!
Politicians and commentators commonly speak of a potential default on U.S. Treasury bonds as something unprecedented. But back in 1979, the country did get a glimpse of what happens when we don’t pay bondholders in full and on time. And it’s not pretty.
PrairiePopulistsAndProgressives.net 
These debt meetings should be conducted in the same manner as when a new Pope is selected,lock them in a room and no one leaves until a deal is reached. Food and water is to be brought in and potty breaks will be allowed every 2 hours. Reach a deal you can go home but not before.
We could fire them all and use their salaries, costs of their offices and staffs, plus perks to reduce the deficit. This has gone beyond silly and right straight to stupid.
I heard a report that yesterday’s White House meeting about the debt ceiling was to be an all day meeting but somehow it turned out to be an hour and half long meeting?
From the video of that bunch, I noticed John Boehner was stirring his cup of coffee (or whatever he drinks) – so I guess these folks can drink but not get any work done? Is that the plan?
I had to laugh at Obama when he told the press they were getting the same photos they got yesterday (Sunday) but the only difference is – the men were wearing ties. Sunday’s meeting was casual dress.
Let’s cut out all this political theatre and start dealing with the real problems
I still say ignore them and use the 14th amendment. If they don’t want to behave as adults, then put them in time out and ignore their tantrums.
Can I also be allowed to take thte tantrum throwers to the woodshed for a well-deserved, long-time-coming, seat-of-the-pants attitude adjustment?
A Conservative Spins Out The GOP’s Debt Endgame
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/11/137772382/a-conservative-spins-out-the-gops-debt-endgame
Examining Bachmann’s Years as an IRS Lawyer
Tax attorney or tax collector? A closer look at the tea-party candidate’s professional history
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/examining-bachmanns-years-as-an-irs-lawyer/241735/
I’ve heard people associated with politics say that Obama is a master at getting things done the way they should be done. There have been times when I thought that comment should land the commentor in the loony bin. And now this Republican says basically the same thing. Maybe I should sit down, shut up, and watch.
Obama has always played chess while Republicans struggle to play checkers.
Excellent analogy, indy!!
George W Bush should be prosecuted over torture, says human rights group
Human Rights Watch claims Obama administration ‘failing to act on evidence’, and also names Cheney and Rumsfeld in report.
Hope George W. Bush wasn’t planning any overseas vacations: Human Rights Watch has called on foreign governments to prosecute the former president and some of his senior officials for war crimes. The call on foreign governments is, in part, because HRW says the Obama administration has refused to investigate the matter. “It’s become abundantly clear that there is no longer any movement on the part of the Obama administration to live up to its responsibilities to investigate these cases when the evidence just keeps piling up. … Under international law any country has jurisdiction over torture and war crimes.” Bush has admitted to two cases where he approved waterboarding and also approved the CIA’s detention and rendition programs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/12/george-w-bush-torture
If you have noticed, the little cowboy ex-president and his sidekick do not leave the boundaries of the USA (except, I do think GWB went to Canada once?).
But I think these two know they are walking targets if they were to venture out into the real world.
And isn’t it sad to think an ex-president cannot be like all the other former presidents have routine done – gone on to do thing globally?
I’ve often said that Jimmy Carter has done more good after his presidency than he was allowed to do during his presidency. Carter’s only problem was that he was not a dirty trick politician and he was much too honest for the job.
Do you think he understands the reasons President Obama enjoys higher approval ratings than Congress? I don’t. Anyone stupid enough to make this statement has no understanding of anything. We shouldn’t be surprised. Remember he told us the top agenda would be to defeat Obama. Not one word about what he might be able to do to help Americans. Not one word about fulfilling the duties of his elected office.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20078766-503544.html
This is the old bait and switch game the CONS have used for years. They plan to wait until their rich white male get the White House job and no debt deal will ever see the light of day.
Or shall I sawy – debt reduction deal. Oh, the debt will grow very fast – kinda like GWB spending like a drunken sailor on his first shore leave.
They’re running out of time with their old white guys and the women who do their bidding. They can ignore demographics that show minorities are becoming the majorities, they can ignore the assault on the middle class who are wise enough to object to the stance being taken by corporate profiteers and their representatives in Washington — opposing the closing of loopholes that benefit multinational corporations and the wealthy, and opposing the return of tax rates on the wealthy to the levels we had when our economy was thriving and our budget was balanced, but they can’t win elections at the national level. None of their candidates can beat President Obama.
Agree 100% – that rich white male dominated population is dying off. And it seems the younger American are so busy working two jobs just to keep their heads above water and they are not too happy about having to work a third job just to keep these rich white males and their trophy wives in luxury.
They have nothing to offer, so they stonewall and waste time. That time is paid for by our tax dollars. If people in the country had any common sense, they’d see that and do something about it.
If the people in the country had any common sense, they’d never have voted for GWB (well, the majority did not the first time , as we all know). But then these folks voted again for this little cowboy.
I’m thinking that common sense is in short supply.
I respect this decision a lot. I’ve always thought this was the correct thing to do.
Rep. Ron Paul Won’t Seek Congressional Seat in 2012
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/07/12/rep-ron-paul-wont-seek-congressional-seat-in-2012/#ixzz1RuPj8sJr
I suspect Ron Paul is thinking of taking the original Tea Party into a third party direction with this decision?
Ron Paul, even though I disagree with him on several issues, has always been a thorn in the GOP elephants’ big butt.
Ron Paul might just see an opening in the millions of voters who are fed up with all this partisan political theatre and wants someone to Just Say No back to all this corporate-bought political stink hole we currently seem to have.
But if Ron decides to bring in Junior – all bets are off for that third party to grow legs.
I’ve noticed that the younger Paul seems about a brick short of a full load.
As for a third party — I hope he succeeds. Of course, by the time he gets it going it will probably only be the 2nd party since the GOP is killing off their chances of remaining viable by falling off the right side.
I suspect the 2012 election will be the final one for the Grand Old Party as we know it today. The Far-Right-Wingers hafe no chance in winning the general election – so they GOP has to implode.
I think they must have already imploded. Look at the slate of people they’ve got running. You’re probably laughing when you look. Makes me laugh too.
I noticed a Ron Paul sign in the yard of neighbor down the street. It was a WTH moment. Like, isn’t this a big early?
Steve Benen’s site coined a new term for these ‘no new taxes’ parrots who’ve violated their oath of office to kowtow to Grover Norquist: “Norquislings.”
Here is some interesting reading and it brings up an issue I’ve not heard or seen very often.
Politicians are American citizens and deserve the same protection and rights as all Americans do – so I do not fault them for filing police reports for legitimate things.
But what does it say about someone who has a history of filing police reports? Does it mean they are just subjected to more harassment due to their politician status or does it mean they are just playing the persecution card when they hold their filing police reports as justification for their narrow-version of their world?
I’ve heard several times about the report that Michele Bachmann has hid in the bushes at a gay parade event – but, you know, of course there is not a police report filed by her for that event. But isn’t that rather telling also?
After I read this article, I just filed this information under the Far-Right-Winger trash bin #13 because I am of the opinion these are the folks that suffer from crucifixion syndrome – you know the type that needs to be told to get off the cross because someone needs the wood.
Unfortunately, that crucifixion syndrome does play well to the Far-Right-Winger crowd and they eat it up like it’s cotton candy. Almost as good as that tea they drink!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/michele-bachmann-police-reports-_n_895516.html#comments
correction: there was no police report filed by the gay parade event people against Michele Bachmann for hiding in the bushes.
BTW – I wonder what Michele Bachmann plans to do when the Republicans get their way and lay off all those public service workers – the police?
Who is she going to call then to file those reports? That free police protection will no longer be there – has she or any of her fellow elephants thought about that?
This is interesting reading —
The emperor has no economy
Corporate profits are up, consumer income is down, and Orwellian talking points are soaring.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/07/201171162151617377.html
I hate to say it, but his last sentence rings too true. This whole mess may come down to revolution. The more angry people get, the less they can see the whole picture. But then even if they could, the whole picture is about as ugly as it can get. If those people who are supposed to be representing us, and this does include the President, don’t stop ministering to the wealthy as they, themselves, become the wealthy, they might want to start watching their backs.
The ‘Tequila Party’ Hopes To Stir Latino Voters
Just as the Tea Party drew heavily on a public backlash against government spending, another new political movement — the Tequila Party — aims to use the latest crackdown on illegal immigration to motivate Latinos to vote in 2012.
Arizona Republican DeeDee Garcia Blase formed the National Tequila Party Movement as an answer to a Tea Party influence she blames for increased political opposition to immigration.
The group has no aspirations to become a third political party. Its focus will be registering as many of the nation’s 21 million voting-age Latinos as it can, targeting young voters in presidential battleground states.
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/12/137772212/the-tequila-party-hopes-to-stir-latino-voters?sc=fb&cc=fp
Remember Congressman Alan Grayson from Florida?
He’s back in the game – and this time he may get even more support due to many people are fed up with their newly-elected Tea Party Darling Governor Rick Scott.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/alan-grayson-2012-running-_n_895464.html#comments
Those new Republican governors have certainly been great ambassadors for the Democratic Party!
I know it, you know it but I wonder if these new Republican governors know it?
I think they might know who bought them and their agenda, but the dollar signs in their eyes might blur the vision of anything else.
I just heard Mitch McConnell advocating a bill that would raise the debt ceiling through President Obama’s term in office. So just maybe the debt ceiling will be raised just as it has always been — with no stipulations! They really are doofuses aren’t they? They get exactly nothing!
Here’s what I was talking about —
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/mitch-mcconnell-debt-ceiling-plan_n_896254.html
So McConnell wants to wash his hands of this responsibility completely. If he can’t have his way he just wants to take his toys and go home?
sarcasm on
What a leader!
sacrcasm off
Speaking of doofuses……. These folks are now pushing to reveal the very regulations that Bush and Gang pushed through in 2007.
But doesn’t it make a good bumper sticker to blame Obama for wanting to take your light bulbs away?
Unfrickin believable…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/light-bulb-repeal-republicans-congress_n_895133.html
correction: reveal should be repeal….
I was going to reply with this even before I noticed that over half the comments to the article was exactly the same I was thinking.
IT’S ABOUT THE JOBS, STUPID!
There, I feel a little better.
The Republican dominated House has not introduced a jobs bill — not even one. It’s what they promised during their campaigns, but once they were elected they didn’t need to worry about those silly things like commitments any longer. You know kinda like not being willing to raise the debt ceiling to pay the bills for the money already spent — making good on commitments. That making good on promises part isn’t their strong suit.
Boehner, where are the jobs?
Sure scared them off when President Obama began talking about really doing something!
continue reading:
http://www.salon.com/news/budget_showdown/index.html?story=%2Ftech%2Fhtww%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fa_translation
Have you seen or heard this one? If Kansas is so broke, then why are we paying big bucks to private attorneys – not to mention the same ones that work for the Koch Brothers.
BTW – When Gov Sammy promised to create jobs before he was elected to Governor, did he mean only the job for the Koch Brothers’ high-priced lawyers?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/kansas-planned-parenthood-koch-brothers_n_896348.html#comments
I wonder how much higher this crime rate will get if we get a far-right-winger Republican in the White House that thinks it is okay to call homosexuals barbarians that need educated and disciplined?
Especially that discipline part. Just how far do these Far Right Wingers think they can go to discipline when they pray away the gay?
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/violent-crimes-against-gays-up-13-report-says.html
If the debt ceiling is not raised and any payments are missed the very first ones to be eliminated should be the salary of every member of Congress, then the salaries of every member of their staffs and each and every cost of their offices. No member of Congress should receive a single red cent until they do their jobs!
The President’s Jobs Plan (Not)
http://robertreich.org/post/7539909777
Here are some graphs and information about the National Debt as a Percent of National Income. Very interesting.
http://zfacts.com/p/1195.html
When Did The U.S. Last Default On Treasury Bonds?
Politicians and commentators commonly speak of a potential default on U.S. Treasury bonds as something unprecedented. But back in 1979, the country did get a glimpse of what happens when we don’t pay bondholders in full and on time. And it’s not pretty.
http://www.npr.org/2011/07/11/137773341/looking-at-when-the-u-s-last-defaulted-on-treasury-bonds
Job Approval Approve Disapprove Spread
Obama 46.5% 46.8% -0.3%
Congress 19.2% 73.4% -54.2%
Spacing sucks, but if I were a member of Congress I would pay attention to who the voters definitely don’t approve of!