Obama tells Republicans he will negotiate once they end threats

Extortion does not work in democracy. GOP, get over it.

These guys are all clowns. Both repubs and dems are controlled by the same bankers, so however this ends, it will benefit the bankers.

Not the citizens.

Time for Beohner to pull out the whiskey, get drunk, and blame everything under the sun on the Dems., then claim he never wanted a shut down after encouraging people towards a shutdown if he didn't get what he wanted. Maybe Cruz will join him for a few fingers before he too claims this is not what he wanted.

seems as though both the republicans and democrats will succeed in doing what Al Qaeda tried but failed to do - bring down the US financially and hence economically.....

Obama: "But I’m not gonna do it until the more extreme parts of the Republican Party stop forcing (House Speaker) John Boehner to issue threats about our economy. We can’t make extortion routine as part of our democracy."

Exactly, exactly. 

John Boehner isn't in charge any more.  He's having his position forced by the extremist anti-American fringe in the Tea Party. 

He's not only not even leading from behind, his decisions are ruled by fear and.... he's not even leading at all. 

I hope the Tea Party extremists realize that the ramifications of a US default will extend way beyond their state boundaries - it will go worldwide.

Interest rates will spike, as will loans, mortgages and prices and the US will end up paying even more in debt servicing costs.

In the short term, the GOP and the TP may well lose the house in the mid terms. 

I've said this before: the GOP are their own worst enemy. 

Obama has much more to lose than the house of representatives. In the end, he is responsible. You can blame whoever you like, but if Obama had even a shred of leadership ability, we never would have reached this point to begin with.

I don't care much for the strategy being used, but it is time to say "enough!". America cannot sustain it's current spending, and certainly can't afford to spend more. Like it or not, it is congress which controls the purse strings in America, not the president. If they don't want to pay for his programs, the law gives them that option. It may sound like extortion, but it is within their limit of power. The system is designed to be this way, and this has prevented presidents past, present, and future, from exercising too much power.

Obama was supposedly a professor of constitutional law, but in this instance (and a few others) he seems very ignorant about the subject he once taught. He knows that congress must approve spending for his programs, and that only congress can raise the debt ceiling. Congress knows that Obama cannot win in a pissing contest with them. You might say that it is only a small minority of tea party republicans which are doing this, but the truth is that America's democracy is controlled by about 18% of the population. These are the independent voters who have the rarest of all abilities, and that is the ability to make a choice. Democrats and republicans have no choice, they always vote the same way, and because they do, they have no voice. The tea party was elected mainly by independent voters, just like Obama was. In 2010, the independents decided to make another change, and their voice is being heard. The republican and democrat whiners here always sing the same tune, amd no one listens to it anymore but themselves.

For those who support Obama's ever increasing government, and it's increasing powers, remember that the democrat party will not always be in power, and this expanded government range and power will eventually be used by republicans when their turn comes. For all our sake, it is best to give either party as little as possible.

Obama is beginning to panic. Lefty's need to understand that it is no longer a matter of how much to raise spending every year, it's now a matter of how much to cut every year. There is no other choice. The money tree is dead.

WolfpackOct. 09, 2013 - 10:43AM JST

Obama is beginning to panic.

Very subjective observation. Actually BOOner is in panic as he knows that the enough votes are already there. All he needs to do is to call for the final vote. Let's do it and get over it.

So, if this all pans out and no more debt ceiling increases are granted, are the republicans swearing that they will NEVER attempt to increase the debt ceiling themselves? Because as far as i can see, bush did a damn fine job of increasing debt ceilings himself.

sangetsu3: if Obama had even a shred of leadership ability, we never would have reached this point to begin with.

The leadership issue is with Beohner. Hundreds of thousands of people are sitting at home and not getting paid because he want to keep his job. He could easily bring a clean CR to the floor but he won't because he will be replaced. That's the entire reason why we have the shutdown.

it is time to say "enough!". America cannot sustain it's current spending

A catchphrase is not a plan, and that's where the disagreement lies. Everyone wants reduced government spending. The question is how we're going to do it. Defaulting on the debt is not a good way to reduce spending. It's careless and irresponsible.

As for spending, check the facts. Government spending under Obama has leveled off after years of increases under Bush. We have deficits because the revenues aren't what they used to be. And they will continue to be like that as long as Republicans manufacture crisis after crisis. The Republican lie is that we have deficits because Obama's spending is out of control when spending is leveling off.

You might say that it is only a small minority of tea party republicans which are doing this, but the truth is that America's democracy is controlled by about 18% of the population. These are the independent voters

They can have an impact on national elections, but this is all about the Tea party refusing to negotiate and Beohner going along with it because he really likes his job. With gerrymandered districts, the Tea Party has far more influence than they should because they can primary people they don't like.

For those who support Obama's ever increasing government

Once again, the government under Obama is increasing at a much slower rate than it was under Bush.

Republicans are looking at the debt ceiling as an opportunity and that's scary. When they decide to add in language about contraception then we know something isn't right. The GOP can talk about reducing the debt and deficit all they want, but it's all a smokescreen. A person who wants to reduce those knows that it will take a mix of spending cuts and new revenue. Republicans refuse to increase revenue or touch military spending. The lie is that they want to balance the budget but they will only look at entitlements, which is not possible. To put it simply, the budget crisis is an opportunity for them to reduce entitlement spending. That's it.

On top of that, they have no unified message because they want to extract personal gain. Boehner is an example of that. He wants to keep his job. Guys like Cruz are another example. He'll make agreement more difficult it if helps his chances of being nominated in 2016. The Tea Part are on their own island where they refuse to compromise while Republicans tell the world that Obama refuses to compromise.

The GOP misread the situation and backed themselves into a corner and now they're praying Obama will throw them a bone. They are out of touch with anything outside of their party and they actually believed they could erase the ACA just because they said they wanted to. That's important enough to repeat: They literally thought they could force Obama to eliminate the ACA. How crazy is that?

So now everyone is a hostage because Boehner wants to keep his job, the Tea Party won't compromise, and Republicans live in a bubble. Party before country.

Very subjective observation. Actually BOOner is in panic as he knows that the enough votes are already there. All he needs to do is to call for the final vote. Let's do it and get over it.

What hog wash, Boehner and the Repubs don't have to worry about anything, they know what they are up against, if they DID care that much about next years midterm, they would have backed down a long time ago and yet, they do not. This grand stand is about principle and good on them, for once, I am happy that the Repubs didn't fall under pressure from the Dems. Obama knows the clock is ticking and his popularity is falling and fast.

Obama is beginning to panic. Lefty's need to understand that it is no longer a matter of how much to raise spending every year, it's now a matter of how much to cut every year. There is no other choice. The money tree is dead.

@sangetsu03

As always, you hit it out of the ball park!

Sad thing is, one of the problems that Dems have is that they are horrible when it comes to math and it shows every single time. Telling Dems to cut back on spending is like asking Obama to tell the truth, it ain't going to happen. This president hasn't addressed the massive $12 trillion debt, we still don't have a serious budget, his crappy healthcare is going to add to the deficit. Many rich people are leaving, Bernake is printing more and more money. The Dems they just don't care or are inept or both.

Republicans voted to increase the debt ceiling 17 times under GWB.

It's funny how they never mention that. 

Anyway, let's ignore their blatant hypocrisy and look at reality. 

Boehner is beginning to panic.  When it comes to leadership, Boehner's making Jimmy Carter look like Ronald Reagan.

Conservatives need to realize Boehner's not running this show. This show is being run by TeaPublican extremists who have about as much idea of what 'compromise' means as they do common sense, ie: none.

If the US defaults on its debt obligations, the whole world will know where to lay the blame - the GOP.

bass4funk: "What hog wash, Boehner and the Repubs don't have to worry about anything, they know what they are up against, if they DID care that much about next years midterm, they would have backed down a long time ago and yet, they do not."

So you admit they do not care.

"Telling Dems to cut back on spending is like asking Obama to tell the truth, it ain't going to happen"

Please... a more apt analogy would be saying getting the Republicans to admit they made a mistake and are simply money grubbing fools who just want to say 'no' if they don't get their way is like getting someone like Boehner to tell the truth. The guy doesn't know his head from his butthole, and not only that, he's simply a puppet for the T-baggers.

Republicans voted to increase the debt ceiling 17 times under GWB.

That's no secret, no one said, Bush wasn't a big spender and by the way, how did we get to talking about him once again? Oh, I keep forgetting, that's all that liberals have to give in a debate.

It's funny how they never mention that.

I hear it from time to time, but who is the current occupier in the WH now?

Anyway, let's ignore their blatant hypocrisy and look at reality.

You mean the reality that the Dems HAVE to make concessions and are mulling on about it. As I said, at this point, it's the last man standing and kudos to the Repubs that are not breaking on this.

Boehner is beginning to panic. When it comes to leadership, Boehner's making Jimmy Carter look like Ronald Reagan.

Boehner is in NO panic mode, doesn't need to be, but I do love watching Obama sizzle, seems like his patience is running thin. Good, hopefully, that'll make this weak president come out and have a nice pow wow with the House Repubs. Oh and You are confusing Carter with Obama AGAIN as usual.

Conservatives need to realize Boehner's not running this show. This show is being run by TeaPublican extremists who have about as much idea of what 'compromise' means as they do common sense, ie: none. If the US defaults on its debt obligations, the whole world will know where to lay the blame - the GOP.

I think it's more like the liberals and the president HAVE to understand, they will NOT get a trickle or too much of a tax increase if the spending doesn't come to a control, that is for certain. The Repubs submitted more than 10 different budget proposals and all were rejected, so compromise is something liberals never heard about. Oh, and don't be too sure, if you think that many Americans just solely put the blame on the GOP, you are seriously and laughably unaware of what the American people really think.

@smith

So you admit they do not care.

That is MY own personal opinion, don't take my word for it.

"Telling Dems to cut back on spending is like asking Obama to tell the truth, it ain't going to happen"

Please... a more apt analogy would be saying getting the Republicans to admit they made a mistake and are simply money grubbing fools who just want to say 'no' if they don't get their way is like getting someone like Boehner to tell the truth. The guy doesn't know his head from his butthole, and not only that, he's simply a puppet for the T-baggers.

I know you just didn't talk about money and Republicans in the same sentence! Your president wins the prize in throwing money out the window, for the next 3 generations, they will have to pay the price of what Obama has tripled and keeps racking up when it comes to spending. How's that stimulus doing by the way? When did Obama EVER tell the truth. Fabrication and lying are completely intertwined for most liberals and I do understand, they just can't help it, it's their nature. I have a collage of vids where Obama has lied again and again and again, don't give me that garbage. All politicians lie, but this president should get an award and put it next to the one that the Norwegians gave him, another joke. The only thing that is stopping him from bankrupting this country is the House and the House Republicans.

Bass4funk: "That is MY own personal opinion, don't take my word for it."

Oh, no, I totally agree with you -- the Republicans don't care; they don't care about you, they don't care about their fellow Americans, and they don't care one iota about the nation as a whole.

As for spending, as another poster pointed out you guys had no problem with raising the limit when bush was in control, and only now Obama is started to balance out the spending and you suddenly blame all of it on him. See those trees in front of you? that IS the forest.

nostromoOct. 09, 2013 - 09:28AM JST

seems as though both the republicans and democrats will succeed in doing what Al Qaeda tried but failed to do - bring down the US financially and hence economically

Exactly!!

As Lew has already mentioned that a bottom of barrel (global economy) may fall a couple days prior to the 17th if nothing is settled. The financial disaster will be much worst than the one we experienced in 2008 and possibly leading us to the Depression. I am ready to throw these TeaBaggers and the Koch Brothers in Boston Harbor.

Kids talk, so when the House stop their demands; the anointed one (Obama) gets what he wants. They should stop playing political games at the cost of national interest. Obama said that raising the debt ceiling is not raising deficit? If not, why do we need to raise the debt ceiling in the first place. Second, most do not believe that government will not spend the money either. The deficit is soaring and uncontrollable spending beyond the means is nonsense.

So he threatened them to stop threatening him. How very useful. i still think that this is a plan to allow default, US trasuries fall, Fed prints money and buys them at lower prices and reduces debt by cancelling the bonds...........

@smith

Oh, no, I totally agree with you -- the Republicans don't care; they don't care about you, they don't care about their fellow Americans, and they don't care one iota about the nation as a whole.

Oh, really and you think the Dems truly care about you, that they are generally concerned with the well-being of ALL Americans, because they are an honest and decent and righteous caring party??? Yeah, keep telling yourself that. Joke of the century.

As for spending, as another poster pointed out you guys had no problem with raising the limit when bush was in control, and only now Obama is started to balance out the spending and you suddenly blame all of it on him. See those trees in front of you? that IS the forest.

Apparently, you missed out what I said earlier and from previous posts. I thought Bush spent money like a liberal, although I loved the guy, his out of control spending the last two years of his admin. was just way too much, I opposed it then and thought it was wrong as most fiscally strong conservatives felt. And yes, Obama spent over 5 times of what Bush has spent and now all of a sudden, Obama is a fiscally conservative Democrat, LMAO. Smith, you are on a roll today, brother.

@global

The financial disaster will be much worst than the one we experienced in 2008 and possibly leading us to the Depression. I am ready to throw these TeaBaggers and the Koch Brothers in Boston Harbor.

How about thanking your out of control spending president for ADDING to the deficit, how about thanking your president for over taxing the American people which led to the formation of the Tea party, thanks Mr. President, why don't you thank your President for not getting the $17 trillion under control, why don't you thank your President for NOT wanting to even try to have a sit down to avoid a shutdown, why don't you thank your President for being polarizing, absolutely stubborn, unwilling to work with the opposition, why don't you thank your President for implementing a healthcare system that will destroy the very foundation of healthcare as we see it and lastly, thank your President for being known as the welfare President, since welfare recipients are up by 32% under this President. If anyone needs to take a swim in the Boston Harbor, it's NOT the Tea Partiers.

Extortion does not work in democracy. GOP, get over it.

Demanding the opposition agree to your terms and promising to talk later is better how? Both of these groups are so out of touch, and none of them have anything to lose: they're all getting paid, and are already part of the wealthy elite. Meanwhile, thousands can't get jobs that pay enough to buy insurance and feed their families, and Obama is on the golf course. It's like they want people to hate them.

$17 TRILLION. $50,000 per citizen for the US to pay back all the debt it owes, and they want to borrow even more. Bretton-Woods is collapsing around them, and before we know it, the shutdown will be permanent. These politicians are all assclowns, with Obama and "Boner" leading the circus.

In 1981 when Ronald Reagan wanted to raise the debt ceiling in exactly the way Obama does now (the debt soared at an unprecedented rate under Reagan), Tip O'Neill, Speaker of the House then, asked Reagan to write personal notes to each Democratic representative requesting the increase to ensure that Republicans could not then turn around and use this vote as ammunition against them in the next election; Reagan did so.

Say what you want about Reagan; at least he recognized reality when required. Boehner - eh, not so much.

Bgood41: The deficit is soaring

This is a microcosm of life in the Republican bubble. The deficit has been slashed since Obama took office, yet it does nothing to change the Republican mindset which needs Obama to be something he isn't so they can keep lying to themselves and pretending that this is really about facts. The facts about the deficit have been repeated dozens of times on this board and daily someone pops up to spread the misinformation.

Republicans feel threatened that their way of life in ending. You have gay marriage, a rising minority population that the GOP can't stop alienating, fewer people identifying themselves as conservatives, and a shrinking base that keeps pushing them further and further away from the White House. The writing is on the wall but they don't want to believe it. They no longer have any leaders and their message doesn't have the same impact that it once did. And Obama is the lightening rod for everything they are afraid of.

The say they want to balance the budget and the lie is that they can do it simply by slashing entitlements. They will only cut things that they do not agree with, making it a back door political maneuver. A vast majority of those who benefit from government assistance are the elderly, the disabled, children, veterans, and the working poor. The Republican lie is that 47% of the people should be written off because if you use government assistance then you're a freeloader.

They are crafting laws to roll back abortion and the lie is that women need their protection. They are making it more difficult for minorities to vote and the lie is that we have a voter fraud problem. Revenue collapsed because of the recession and the lie is that it's all due to liberal government spending. The tea party cannot compromise and is screwing over their party and the lie is that it's Obama who won't negotiate. Guns can't be removed without extreme cooperation on all levels of government and the lie is that Obama alone is about to take them. No one really knows exactly what will happen with ObamaCare, but the lie is that it will certainly bankrupt us.

Republicans refuse to enter into negotiations to pass a budget and the lie is that Obama hasn't passed one yet. Paul Ryan makes his own budget stripping out the ACA and the lie is that his numbers actually work. Creationism is fiction and the lie is that it's credible enough to be taught to our children. Republicans talk about impeachment with their constituents with the lie that a law has actually been broken.

The list goes on...and on...and on....and on. The debt ceiling is their last hope to keep the lies going. It's the chance to pass everything that their shrinking base doesn't have the votes to pass. They are trying to bury democracy and the lie is that they are saving everyone. They are an absolute mess and we're all paying the price for it.

Now they're stuck latching on to the catchphrases that their radio talk show hosts dole out on a daily basis (while, of course, promoting their book$). How many times have you heard the word "cronies" over the last week? And isn't it strange that we now have a unified chorus blaming both parties in Congress? We aren't even talking to real people anymore, just a recording of people. They have no platforms, no leaders, and no plans whatsoever.

Obama tells Republicans he will negotiate once they end threats

This is from the guy who said he would talk to rogue nations and terrorist organizations without preconditions.

To look at the mess both parties have made of the budget in understandable terms, remove 8 zeroes and pretend it's a household budget:.

Annual family income:....................$21,700

Money the family spent:..................$38,200

New debt on the credit card:.............$16,500

Outstanding balance on credit card:...$142,710

Total budget cuts of which some politicians are proud: $385

And there's to be no discussion??

And there's to be no discussion??

Oh, there is plenty of room for discussion; the problem is finding a partner with whom to discuss.

Republicans demanded that Democrats in the Senate produce a budget as a requirement for the last CR extension; the Senate did so but then could not entice the House GOP to negotiations because, as Boehner said,the sides were too far apart to war rent them.

You see, what the GOP wants is not negotiations but capitulation. Regarding the deficit, for example, the GOP sees the problem exclusively in terms of spending, while Democrats would like to address the problem from the side of revenues as wall. For the GOP, though, "negotiation" means spending cuts with zero revenue increases. Good luck with that; ain't gonna work.

The GOP's problem is thus twofold: wrong time (nobody negotiates under a gun) and wrong concept (negotiations do not commence with a pre-planned result).

The GOP is set to lose in a very big way. They have left themselves no place to retreat due to their astounding ineptness.

"revenue increases" ...........nice tap dance around the term "Tax increases"

There’s no way to default. There is enough money coming into the Treasury to pay interest and roll over principle

Nice tap dance around the phrases "throw grandma under a train" and "Who cares about things like safe drinking water or wild animals anyway?"

Of course, you could self-regulate; look at how well that worked in 2007.

The leadership issue is with Beohner. Hundreds of thousands of people are sitting at home and not getting paid because he want to keep his job. He could easily bring a clean CR to the floor but he won't because he will be replaced. That's the entire reason why we have the shutdown.

Boehner and his party won the majority in the house of representatives because they promised to do exactly what they are doing. Democracy at work, right? Were he to do otherwise, he and many of his party would have to face the music come 2014 and 2016. Right now "Boner" and his party have the power, and of course they plan to use it. The balance may be different in a couple of years, but that is then, this is now.

There is a price to pay for electing a university intellectual with no leadership experience or even five minute's experience working in the real world to be president of the world's strongest nation. Such a person could not possibly behave with enough authority, or exercise the necessary leadership to be president.

In the next election perhaps people should actually think about who they are voting for, rather than being force-fed what to think. Try to elect someone who has real-world experience, and who has experience as a leader. Try to elect someone who made it to the top through hard work and discipline, and not by selling his or her soul to special interests, or riding someone else's coat tails to the top.

Boehner and his party won the majority in the house of representatives because they promised to do exactly what they are doing.

As Wikipedia notes, "House Democrats won a plurality nation-wide by over 1.6 million more votes (1.4%), but the Republicans were able to retain a 33-seat majority in the state-wide totals." Can you say "gerrymander"? Recent polls have it (and this is well in advance of the next election, so things may well change) that the Dems could win back the House in 2014 - despite the gerrymandering. Good job GOP!

"raise the debt limit with no conditions"

Yes! More spending! More debt! Yes!

"The U.S.... and its triple-A ranking ( rating )"

Ha ha ha ha ha, joke of the century!

sangetsu: Boehner and his party won the majority in the house of representatives because they promised to do exactly what they are doing.

And gerrymandering. That helps to maintain control when your party actually receives fewer popular votes overall, wouldn't you agree?

There is a price to pay for electing a university intellectual with no leadership experience or even five minute's experience working in the real world to be president of the world's strongest nation. Such a person could not possibly behave with enough authority, or exercise the necessary leadership to be president.

You obviously have no clue how utterly useless your words are. Stupid stuff like this has no place in a discussion about finances.

From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year.

And under Obama's enlightened leadership we have the NSA listening in on countless Americans with no probable cause or warrant, and we have the IRS abusing their power by singling out and refusing conservative groups tax-exempt status. It all sounds a shade unconstitutiional to me.

As for Obama as a professor, he was popular in his first couple of years, but in the last year his performance records are available (2003), only one out of three students recommended his classes.

I also wonder what formula people use to determine that the "deficit" has been reduced under Obama. The only "reductions" were decreases in projected spending increases, not any real decrease in spending or liabilities. Perhaps they are using the same formula which says the unemployment rate is 7.1% when fully 101,000,000 Americans are receiving federal or state aid, and only 87,000,000 are working full-time.

But three more years and Obama will hit the lecture circuit, and history will judge his performance. Looking back for the last 5 years, what exactly has he done? The ACA and... Wait, let's see, Gitmo is still open, "combat operations" in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended, but tens of thousands of US soldiers are still serving there. More Americans have died in Afghanistan during Obama's tenure than during Bush's. Take a look back and tell me exactly how much "change we can believe in" has occurred. How much better are things in Washington since 2008? Plenty has changed, but certainly not for the better.

For the fun of it, try signing up for the ACA and tell me what happens. If you are actually able to get in, take a look at what your monthly payment is going to be, and tell us if you can understand how it works. The ACA is more than 10,000 pages of legalese, and now makes up more than 10% of the federal tax code. Once you have figured out how much the "affordable" care act will cost you each month, tell us how you really feel about it.

Just for kicks I have tried applying several times. I am still trying.

I wish I was wrong about all of this, and that Obama were doing a good job, but I am not, and he isn't.

"Stupid stuff like this has no place in a discussion about finances."

What place is there for discussion full stop with these radicals?

They seem to want blot out the fundamental realities behind America's staggering debt problem by refusing to comprehend these monies were well and truly spent before even Obama had presidential ambitions, and furthermore seem to think reneging on said debt is an option for the US - alongside the stupefying idiocy of using their own debts as a bargaining chip.

How any person capable of abstract thought can lap up Boehner's stupidity in refusing to surrender in a situation he and the tea party radicals planned and caused is a testament to their own stupidity, as are their woefully incorrect deficit talking points.

It's fair to say these people have long left sanity behind and jumped off the deep end. It's no longer a matter of what damage they can to do, it's how much.

Excellent posts BTW Superlib. A voice of reason in the current raging sea of hysteria.

Nice rant, Sangetsu. You've captured the disappoint many share of this president not clearing the slate of the mistakes of the former and of not meeting the hyped expectations that brought him to office. You're a genius for that.

What are you trying to say, though? That he is a failure because you can't find an equitable insurance plan on the Web through the ACA nine days after it was inaugurated and three months before you have to?

History will look at that as - well, it won't. Do you remember the hiccups that accompanied Bush's Medicare drug prescription plan? No? Didn't think so; they were aplenty. Go with it, though; between those who expect the ACA to collapse under its own weight and those who dread it will succeed and thus become another pillar of government support, your paranoia will fit in there somewhere.

By the way, you might have noticed that Syria is voluntarily disarming itself of chemical weapons - a feat Bush would have only dreamed of accomplishing with invasion, but that Obama accomplished with stern talk. That is what history will focus on, my friend, not your inability to navigate a Website.

The tea party is splitting the republican party down the middle. 2016 is a given for Hillary if this republican terrorism goes on much longer. And the House could be run by sane people next year as well, polls show republicans losing up to 30 seats. These will be the moderate republicans, by that I mean ones who are not racist Obama haters, but those staying quiet now and letting the Cruz maniacs run the show. They will be history.

Thanks republicans for insuring Hillary wins next time round. Other than that you are accomplishing nothing other than making the USA a laughingstock worldwide.

Obama: "I'm not going (negotiate) until the more extreme parts of the Republican Party stop forcing John Boehner to issue threats about our economy. We can't make extortion routine as part of our democracy."

Boehner: "What the president said today was if there's unconditional surrender by Republicans, he'll sit down and talk to us. That's not the way our government works."

In other words, Republicans think that the way our government works is by hostage-taking. He would likely think very differently if a Democrat Congress were attaching gun control bills to a Republican-introduced debt ceiling hike; after all, gun control is widely popular among the people.

Obama and Boehner share at least one thing in common; an total lack of leadership skills. Not that Reid is any better and Biden is one gaff away from hoof in mouth disease. It's no wonder the rest of the world is wondering if these fools will actually tip the economy off a cliff so they can blame each other for the collapse.

At this point the ACA is law and a minority of right wingers can't really derail it, except that the "leadership" on both sides can't lash their loose cannons to the deck. The tea party would crumble in a minute except that Boehner won't put the bill forward to a vote. Obama stayed in DC instead of going to the summit but has been largely unable to rally support. It's getting to be like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic while the crew panics.

Laguna: He would likely think very differently if a Democrat Congress

That's the future danger that Republicans are throwing into the wind. If the Republican position is accepted today and if they ever win the White House in the future then Democrats are going to do this right back to them. Cutting food stamps? No debt limit increase until they're put back in. It's a tragic way to govern and short-sighted Republicans are trying to make it standard operating procedure because it benefits them today.

gelendestrasse: Obama and Boehner share at least one thing in common; an total lack of leadership skills

Obama is the leader of the Democratic party with a unified message and support from Congress. Compare that with Boehner. He doesn't even know what he can get his party to agree to at this point. The government could be open today if he didn't think he'd be voted out by the radicals in his own party.

From the Department of Haaaaa Ha:

With the Republican-controlled House of Representatives engaged in a tense, government-shuttering budgetary standoff against a Democratic president and Senate, the Republican Party is now viewed favorably by 28% of Americans, down from 38% in September. This is the lowest favorable rating measured for either party since Gallup began asking this question in 1992.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/165317/republican-party-favorability-sinks-record-low.aspx

You know that little kid at the mall, on the floor, kicking and screaming because he can't get the toy that he wants? Y'know how everyone hates the little brat?

You know that little kid at the mall, on the floor, kicking and screaming because he can't get the toy that he wants? Y'know how everyone hates the little brat?

The ironic thing is that brats usually get their way. This little brat will likely get what he wants because it is he who is holding the keys to the cash register.

"This little brat will likely get what he wants because it is he who is holding the keys to the cash register."

More like he's grabbed daddy's loaded gun and screaming and waving it at all the adults until they give him the keys....

Obama is becoming more of a dictator every day. Even Matt Damon has turned against him. Now Obama is trying to blackmail Congress? Impeach!

The ironic thing is that brats usually get their way.

If you're a Republican, yeah.

Uh, notice how self-identifying Republican's are at an all-time low?

Heck, how many here flee the terms, and call themselves "conservative." As if that were any better...LOL

realistOct. 10, 2013 - 08:42PM JST

Obama is becoming more of a dictator every day. Even Matt Damon has turned against him. Now Obama is trying to blackmail Congress? Impeach!

A dictator does not say," I am sorry. I am fully responsible what's going on. It's all on ME.". Furthermore, if I could, I sure would like to IMPEACH YOU. Your comments suggest that you have not completed higher educations. A typical mediocre American lost in Japan!! LOL

A dictator does not say," I am sorry. I am fully responsible what's going on. It's all on ME.". Furthermore, if I could, I sure would like to IMPEACH YOU. Your comments suggest that you have not completed higher educations. A typical mediocre American lost in Japan!!

I agree with the beginning of your post, but what's with your last sentence? That doesn't even make sense.

Reader2013Nov. 17, 2013 - 07:30AM JST

I agree with the beginning of your post, but what's with your last sentence? That doesn't even make sense.

I suggest you read all his posts. Hope you do not blame me to think this way about this guy.