GOP Presidential candidates MIA in debt ceiling talks

[Mission Accomplished]

As many of you are well aware of we are coming up against a deadline. Where it is looking like if we don't come up with a compromise that will not only raise the debt ceiling but lower the debt that we hold. There is no real way of knowing what type of impact this is going to have on our already struggling economy. Harry Reid, Boehner, and Obama have brought plans to the table. My question is where are the Romneys, Bachmanns, Huntsmans, and the rest of the field. I think that they are laying low hoping the they don't do or say anything that will stick to them negatively through this ordeal. But, is that the type of leadership we need? Do we really want a Carlos Boozer that doesn't want to play against Amare the last game of the year to look good as a free agent?

 

[Duck Rodgers]

2 out of 3 mentioned aren't even in government right now, I'm not understanding what you want them to do. Bachmann has made her stance. You do realize this "super congress" of Reid/Boehner/McConnel/Pelosi have basically locked everybody else out of meaningful debates right? That's your "leadership" block right there. I don't think we could have found a worse group of 4 by any random grab in the entire US populace.

 

[Mission Accomplished]

Where is there voices? You can't just sit on the sideline if you want to be a leader of the free world. Where is Bachmann's plan?

 

[Duck Rodgers]

Where is there voices? You can't just sit on the sideline if you want to be a leader of the free world. Where is Bachmann's plan?

I haven't been paying close attention at all, but I'm guessing its safe to say she falls under the tea party plan that has been mentioned in the media a billion times the past few weeks.

 

[Mission Accomplished]

Do you believe that they are pulling a Boozer? Bachmann should be pushed to the front of the Tea Party if she is the type of leader to take on the problems of this country. She might not be able to with her migraines. It is nice that these folk can talk big. But, when the going gets tough where are their voices now?

 

[The Thriller]

It's pretty simple....

Repubs want to make the President look bad in any way shape or form. Once again, they mission is to do their best to make Obama a one-term president. And they're doing one great job. They jacked up his health care reform, watered down the stimuli spending, extended the Bush tax cuts, and have still made the President look bad. They've even made many blame the bailouts and terrible economy (and debt) on him (all while forgetting the previous abortion and what his horrific policy was for 8 years).

Tea party people have that same agenda, on steroids. They feel like they weren't sent to compromise, but be "martyrs" in bringing this ship down. Especially, if it means defaulting.

Demos have conceded and will continue to do so (they're wusses. Plus, I doubt many of them have the groinal fortitude to raise taxes on themselves and their ilk).

The demos will either break right before the deadline and concede to the repub demands.
Or both sides will agree to a half *** measure that will save us from defaulting but delay the problem until a few more months into the future.

 

[Scat]

Harry Reid, Boehner, and Obama have brought plans to the table.

Actually, Obama and Reid really haven't laid out the specifics of their plans. They say they have a plan but nobody knows for sure what they are.

 

[The-Joker]

So is Boehner really going to sacrifice the welfare of the whole country, in order to up his party's chances in one election???


Is that really what's happening, or is there any logical, moral, or economic basis for what Boehner is doing?

 

[One Brow]

Actually, Obama and Reid really haven't laid out the specifics of their plans. They say they have a plan but nobody knows for sure what they are.

It was laid out in detail with Boehner. It's not publically available, but that's not the same thing.

 

[One Brow]

Bachmann has been very clear: she is opposed to raising the debt ceiling, period, and opposed to raising taxes, period.

 

[The Thriller]

So is Boehner really going to sacrifice the welfare of the whole country, in order to up his party's chances in one election???


Is that really what's happening, or is there any logical, moral, or economic basis for what Boehner is doing?

Yes.

Why not? His ilk are doing quite fine in these tough economic times. Most of the politicians don't give a damn about the middle class. They're lemmings that will believe whatever the talking box tells them to believe. Boehner is probably a multi-millionaire. He's doing fine. Most of the demos are doing fine too. This whole deal is nothing more than political posturing for the next election.

His party is sending a message to demos.

He also has to deal with the wacky radical right (tea party). Even if he wanted to make compromises with the demos/Obama (which I think they actually are sorta), the tea party people won't allow it. They see themselves as being elected on a mission. A mission to be different. Even if it takes them being martyrs or creating martyrs of all of us.

Those jackasses that voted them in demanded change. And by hell, they got it.
Dumbasses that are hell bent on destroying this country (and they feel by tearing it down, they can rebuild it under the image of 18th century. Where lil nation states ruled and the federal government did nothing).

Enjoy your new hope and change folks! Don't raise my taxes and by hell, don't you dare touch my medicare! We'll balance the budget by shutting down the EPA and giving even more tax breaks to the rich!

 

[candrew]

It's pretty simple....

Repubs want to make the President look bad in any way shape or form. Once again, they mission is to do their best to make Obama a one-term president. And they're doing one great job. They jacked up his health care reform, watered down the stimuli spending, extended the Bush tax cuts, and have still made the President look bad. They've even made many blame the bailouts and terrible economy (and debt) on him (all while forgetting the previous abortion and what his horrific policy was for 8 years).

All of this while the Democrats controlled the Senate if not all of Congress. I voted for Obama and will probably vote for him again in 2012; but face it, right now he's not an effective leader. Yes a lot of it is the economy; but this guy can't negotiate his way to the finish line in a game of Candyland. Whenever he injects himself into any issue, he always comes out behind with both sides mad at him.

I was hoping he'd grow into the job like Clinton did - who had plenty of mis-steps his first two years; but by 1995, 96 he was a political master. Obama, on the other hand, is not even at first base yet.

 

[Surely]

It's pretty simple....

Repubs want to make the President look bad in any way shape or form. Once again, they mission is to do their best to make Obama a one-term president. And they're doing one great job. They jacked up his health care reform, watered down the stimuli spending, extended the Bush tax cuts, and have still made the President look bad. They've even made many blame the bailouts and terrible economy (and debt) on him (all while forgetting the previous abortion and what his horrific policy was for 8 years).

Yeah, Bush sucked and spent money like it was going out of style. Then along comes Obama and takes spending to a whole new level. Does anybody really think that we should just raise the debt ceiling and go on with business as usual? Remember all the fear mongering we've heard for years about running out of money? Well, we're here now. Without some solid plan to reduce the debt in the future what is the point of raising the debt ceiling now? We'll just hit it again in the near future. Like I said we need a solid plan and as far as I can see, Obama and the democrats haven't produced one. If I was the president (and made all sorts of promises while campaigning about running a transparent government) I would bring in C-span into the negotiating room and let the public watch what is going on. But as we all know, we'll never be privy to the behind the scenes deals that are made.

One last question concerning the budget. Isn't the senate required by law to pass a budget every year? If so, where is the budget for the last 2 years?

 

[candrew]

Does anybody really think that we should just raise the debt ceiling and go on with business as usual?

Um, yeah - as any sane person on the planet does.

Like I said we need a solid plan and as far as I can see, Obama and the democrats haven't produced one.

They've produced several - all of which with a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts that would have been considered "Republican" 25 years ago.

 

[One Brow]

Yeah, Bush sucked and spent money like it was going out of style. Then along comes Obama and takes spending to a whole new level.

Slight difference: Bush ran up the debt during economic prosperity (when you should be paying it off), Obama ran it up to stave off a depression.

 

[The Thriller]

Yeah, Bush sucked and spent money like it was going out of style. Then along comes Obama and takes spending to a whole new level. Does anybody really think that we should just raise the debt ceiling and go on with business as usual? Remember all the fear mongering we've heard for years about running out of money? Well, we're here now. Without some solid plan to reduce the debt in the future what is the point of raising the debt ceiling now? We'll just hit it again in the near future. Like I said we need a solid plan and as far as I can see, Obama and the democrats haven't produced one. If I was the president (and made all sorts of promises while campaigning about running a transparent government) I would bring in C-span into the negotiating room and let the public watch what is going on. But as we all know, we'll never be privy to the behind the scenes deals that are made.

One last question concerning the budget. Isn't the senate required by law to pass a budget every year? If so, where is the budget for the last 2 years?

Take away the programs and tax cuts meant to "save our economy" and you'll find that Obama isn't quite the spender that foxnews wants to make him out to be.

 

[bat]

THe fact that the gang of 6 measure hasn't gone through yet is a joke. It's s good compromise of spending cuts and tax hikes, but the tea partiers are so set on following campaign promises that they shouldn't have made in the first place that they are going to allow thus US to default.

The problem for the republicans is they aren't hurting the democrats one bit by holding strong. They are undercutting boehner,and creating turmoil. The last thing they need going into an election year is a malfunctioning senate majority leader that is making the entire party seem at odds with one another.

 

[Mission Accomplished]

Take away the programs and tax cuts meant to "save our economy" and you'll find that Obama isn't quite the spender that foxnews wants to make him out to be.

My wife and I were talking and if you look at legislation that Obama wanted to pass he can take credit for two actual big debt Health Care and a second stimulus. He should not get blamed for extending Bush tax cuts, our wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, and it is pretty hard to blame him for the aging Americans that want their Social Security. Also, he isn't the CEO of these companies that are getting tax break and making record profits yet are not hiring. So, if you blame him for our unemployed masses when you don't want him to hire them all to a government than you should find that an oxymoron.

 

[bat]

I agree with koc begone, republicans are saying we can't higher because we don't make enough, yet taxes are as low for the rich as they have ever been. Then they say cut the deficit, but don't bring in money to do it, just cut benefits for people who need them. Then they say don't give out government jobs, but the business owners refuse to hire despite record incomes.

I really don't get how so many people are fooled by this circle of lies they keep trotting out. I understand you think the private sector is better left to it's own accord, but show that it can function properly without allowing the wealthy to just stockpile assets while cutting the middle class out of the picture and you see more leniency towards your politics.

 

[LogGrad98]

I think they should be a ceiling on individual earnings. You know, depending on your status as a worker (hourly, managerial, professional, top executive) you should have an income ceiling. Investors and speculators alike. That way no one can make more than, say $250k per year (top execs, high-level professionals like doctors with specialties, congress, president, etc.). The remainder of the "income" should be dispersed to the rest of the population according to their need. So if you are a single mother (or father) with 5 kids you get the most, and if you are married and a 2-income family with no kids or single with no kids, you get nothing. This would instantly eliminate the wealth disparity. Everyone would be roughly at $75-$100k yearly (either due to earnings or due to welfare) and then we can have a true flat tax without any tax breaks, since the money is already being taken from the rich and being given to the poor. Simple.