^ lol "grand bargain" that would require Obama actually rolling up his sleeves and working. instead, he plays golf with Tiger and other 1%ers
Make no mistake, Obama bears a lot of responsibility for this. However, he has had a lot of help. It isn't exactly like the Congress, Republican and Democrat alike, didn't see this coming. They all had months to put something together, but there has been little in the way of effort. There have, however, been plenty of recesses and off days. Deride the President all you would like for playing golf. Please don't act as though he is the only one taking some days off.
Who is the leader of this country? What are the results? Where exactly does the buck stop? With the leader. Can you please start THINKING more before posting your trash posts like this? TIA
I never thought I'd see the day that the reporter that helped bring down Nixon would be at odds with a Democratic president. The world has taken a turn for the surreal.
The House of Representatives bears the responsibility for spending. This requires the House, led by Boehner, to compromise in order to reach a deal. Instead, they left for an extended holiday after avoiding the fiscal cliff, stating that they were done negotiating. If you don't understand that, it is you who should consider engaging your brain before engaging your keyboard.
You're not understanding how Washington works. It's not as simple or as black and white as you are attempting to portray it. Tell me this -- who created and originally pushed the sequester? Obama + Biden. The Washington Times did a nice job of exposing what Obama is trying to do here. He's doing the only thing he knows how to do -- campaign to the public, but the problem is, he makes no effort to govern. Governing is hard work and frankly Obama is atrocious at it, as evidenced by the US lurching from "crisis to crisis". Obama finally realized he can't keep this up, so he granted the Republicans a meeting tomorrow (the day the cuts kick in) -- for 7 minutes. Obama is a completely ineffective leader. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/27/obama-top-lawmakers-will-meet-friday-budget-cuts/
That fact (and it was pretty much the only one in your post) has nothing to do with why the Sequester is going forward. Congress plays a role in that, and you're ignoring it. Refman spelled it out for you, and you reply with this...? ...Something that has nothing at all to do with why the Sequester will take effect now. It doesn't matter who originated it (The congress agreed to it, and Boehner said he was happy with the agreement). The problem is that nothing was done to prevent it, and Congress as well as the white house has a stake in that blame. Why aren't you addressing that issue?
AHHHH! I'm flying to Colorado for a week of skiing today. Should I just cancel the trip? Will flights even be operating, now that we're living under this scary new world? and the LINES at the airport!! Should I dare to brave them? This changes everything. *snort*
bigtexxx is right to be so apathetic. The majority are not following this. The affected as of right now are: "public rent assistance, farm loans and food programs — will see immediate cuts. The same goes for the Farm Service Agency’s loans, particularly those for small, family-owned farms, which face a cut of $5.4 million, resulting in 890 fewer direct farm aid loans." Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/...ip-ends-with-torrent-88276.html#ixzz2MJUxL5YA
Update from the front lines: the line at the airport frozen yogurt stand was three people deep! It's pandemonium!!! Somehow my flight is on time, whew!!! SEQUESTERED
Making light of it might seem funny to you if you're not affected directly, yet. I don't see the humor. Bottom line is this shows how unwilling to compromise out elected politicians are... so wrapped up in -appearing- to get their way in all things that letting the entire country see they are too lazy to actually find precise and efficient ways to address budget and deficit emergencies is more palatable than doing what is best for the country. This will be Obama's last term... I'd suggest it should be the same for the rest of them just to show them it can happen.
Assigning blame in a negotiation seems like a pointless exercise to me. That the WH concocted it or that the House held us hostage over the debt ceiling is a political version of "he started it!" The blame is communal because they can't agree. And the blame goes to the architecture of our government because obviously they aren't punished harshly enough for not compromising. But, I think it is an interesting dynamic because while the Republicans seem to be getting most of the blame for the sequester, they also benefit more in the negotiations from it. Now that the sequester is in, they have their cuts and don't need a grand bargain. They can start legislating some little swaps to fund the functions that really need the money with offsets on functions that don't. Obama can't really veto a cost-neutral bill that cuts something to pay for air traffic controllers or food safety inspectors. Meanwhile, a tax hike is basically impossible without a grand bargain. If the Republicans can get some repairs in soon so the public doesn't feel much pain from the sequester, they'll be fine by election time. They might even get to crow about it a bit. I like the position Republicans have put themselves in for getting what they want. The only thing they're still weak on is they still don't have a good handle for attacking Social Security, Medicare, and Obamacare.
The only thing they still don't have a good handle on is a long-term economic understanding of anything but how to further accelerate the economic divides in America. They're honestly weak on a lot when it comes to understanding economic policy, or at least judging by the words and the lack of ideas generated by their leadership. Weak and unrealistic versions of Rand that even Rand herself would shake her head at? Yeah, not demonstrating "a good handle."
