These clowns aren't fit to run a popsicle stand

[Cave Johnson]

Here's the setup. The R's budgetary goal was 85-15 spending cuts to tax increases. Guess what? That's basically what they've negotiated with the President.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Earlier this year House Republicans produced a report noting that an 85%-15% split between spending cuts and tax rises was the average for successful fiscal consolidations, according to historical evidence. The White House is offering an 83%-17% split (hardly a huge distance) and a promise that none of the revenue increase will come from higher marginal rates, only from eliminating loopholes. If the Republicans were real tax reformers, they would seize this offer.

http://www.economist.com/node/189286...ar/shameonthem

Moreover, I'm sure he'd be willing to go the other 2%. He's accommodating that way.

But no, getting exactly what your party wanted in the first place isn't good enough, because you've played with fire and now the inmates are close to running the asylum. So now we have the top R in the Senate trying to place the blame on Obama.

In a proposal that appears to be mostly about finding a way to raise the debt ceiling while protecting his fellow congressional Republicans from having to vote to do so, Sen. Mitch McConnell has suggested a way in which Congress could effectively give President Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling.

Under McConnell's plan, a "resolution of disapproval" to boost the debt-limit by $2.5 trillion would be introduced in both chambers with a majority of lawmakers voting for the resolution. In other words, they would have the chance to vote against any increase.

Obama would then veto the resolution, a veto Congress would be unable to override with the required two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. That would allow the U.S. to legally go beyond its $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and avoid a widely feared, first-ever general default by the U.S. government on its obligations.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolit...-ceiling-power

The presumptive frontrunner, meanwhile, has been silent on the issue. Because, after all, we need a change from the kind of leadership that stays out of the fray.

Compare Bachmann's approach to that of the GOP front-runner, Mitt Romney, who has made no public comments on the debt ceiling in more than a week. A representative for Romney said the candidate doesn't want to prejudge what may come out of negotiations.

"Mitt Romney doesn't want to do anything that would shake the confidence of the financial industry," said Pitney. "He's sensitive to those sentiments and again is thinking of himself as a potential nominee and not just someone running in the primaries but also in the fall of 2012 and doesn't want to hurt his appeal to independents."

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/13/137801...n-debt-ceiling

Hell in a handbasket, folks.

[blaise]

Popsicle stand owners are flying private jets anyway. Why should they live the high life?

[ChiefsCountry]

Funny considering Obama has never ran a business in his life.

[Cave Johnson]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Funny considering Obama has never ran a business in his life.

Fine businessman, that Mitch McConnell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell

[vailpass]

Why should the Rs have to tell obama what the budget should look like? Why didn't obama use his leadership and power of position to have a viable budget in place well before now?

The Rs shouldn't be able to push obama like this but they are because they can. Where is the weak link here?

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Why should the Rs have to tell obama what the budget should look like? Why didn't obama use his leadership and power of position to have a viable budget in place well before now?

The Rs shouldn't be able to push obama like this but they are because they can. Where is the weak link here?

The chain is only as strong as the weakest link is .

[RaiderH8r]

2 years. It has been over 2 year since D's have produced a budget in Congress. They have fundamentally failed in their fiscal duty.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by RaiderH8r

2 years. It has been over 2 year since D's have produced a budget in Congress. They have fundamentally failed in their fiscal duty.

Yep. That is squarely on obama's shoulders. I'd vote for impeachment on dereliction of duty if they put it to a vote.

[mlyonsd]

If republicans are clowns when it comes to the economy where does that put dems?

[FD]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Yep. That is squarely on obama's shoulders. I'd vote for impeachment on dereliction of duty if they put it to a vote.

How is it on Obama's shoulders? He has produced a complete budget every year.

[donkhater]

It doesn't really matter. It's clear to me even the Republicans aren't serious about spending reduction, which is the only way to get a handle on the deficit.

$4 trillion over ten years? This is the BIG deal Obama wants? Don't make me laugh.

1. I'm willing to bet most of the spending cuts occur in years 8-10 of that proposal. In other words, they'll never happen.

2. Even if the spending cuts were spread evenly through out the years of the agreement, that's only about 25% of the total deficit. So instead of balancing the budget, in 2011 we'll 'only' have a $1.2 trillion deficit. Grrreat.

Both these parties are idiots. Greece is our future. We should come to grips with it now.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Forward Dante

How is it on Obama's shoulders? He has produced a complete budget every year.

How is it the President's responsibility to ensure the country has a budget in place? Are you serious? You expect so little out of obama?

[FD]

Originally Posted by vailpass

How is it the President's responsibility to ensure the country has a budget in place? Are you serious? You expect so little out of obama?

He produced a budget every year and prevented a government shutdown from occurring when Congress took too long to pass one. Are you seriously blaming Congress's inadequacies on him? It seems like you just want to blame Obama personally for all problems in government.

[KC Dan]

Originally Posted by Forward Dante

Are you seriously blaming Congress's inadequacies on him?

Not I. He has enough inadequacies of his own to then pile on Congress'. The democratic led congress never passing a budget is reprehensible. They made damn sure they passed that monstrosity of a health care bill but failed in one of their prime duties of passing a budget to the President. They should have all been fired. The lack of a passed budget is all on the dems.

[FD]

Originally Posted by KC Dan

Not I. He has enough inadequacies of his own to then pile on Congress'. The democratic led congress never passing a budget is reprehensible. They made damn sure they passed that monstrosity of a health care bill but failed in one of their prime duties of passing a budget to the President. They should have all been fired. The lack of a passed budget is all on the dems.

I agree.