President Obama addressed the media today to give an update, of sorts, on where debt ceiling negotiations stand. After reassuring the press corp that he worked this weekend, he reminded Republicans in the House that he would not sign their plan even if it passes their chamber and somehow miraculously squeaks past the Senate. And there was also this…
Didn’t he just unveil his own $9 trillion deficit reduction plan… yesterday? Senator Tom Coburn has apparently re-joined the ranks of the Senate’s “Gang of Six” and is reportedly prepared to support a proposal that would attempt to cut the deficit by $3.7 trillion over ten years. The plan would include new tax revenue generated by reforms to the current tax code. The plan would also eliminate the AMT – Alternative Minimum Tax – which Coburn points out would lead to an overall tax reduction of $1.5 trillion rather than an increase.
Sunday was the day for the latest installment of the Rudy Giuliani I’m not running; but I will if I think I can win adventure as the Former New York City Mayor sat down with CNN’s Candy Crowley on State of the Union. While remaining completely nor non-committal, Giuliani said he would still consider entering the race if he believes he has the best chance of defeating Barack Obama in the general election. If not, he says he will support the GOP candidate that manages to emerge.
Time again for the weekly clip summary of the Sunday political show circuit. With the debt ceiling debate serving as the backdrop for the usual political spin, 2012, Islam, and a host of other issues managed to find their way into the commentary. Anything but an “exciting” week for the circuit, but here it is all the same…
Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain made an appearance on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace this morning and put his candidacy on full display for an electorate/viewing audience very much ready for a candidate to take command of the primary campaign. Opening the interview with a reference to his last appearance where he dropped the ball on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict saying “I’m exercising my right of return to your show.” While obviously scripted – and a little lame – Cain once again demonstrated that he’s a man not only comfortable in his own skin but also humble enough to own his missteps when they befall him.
I was beginning to wonder when this Senator Corker was going to resurface. He seemed poised and ready to take up the debt ceiling fight months ago when talk of the looming debate began on the Hill – which is why his absence from the front line of negotiations has been puzzling to this Tennessee Republican. It appears Senator Corker has been wondering why he’s been shut out as well.
On the floor of the Senate yesterday, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama asked Senator Corker of Tennessee to weigh in on the prudence of moving forward a Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations Bill amid the debate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling and in the absence of a federal budget. While both senators support the underlying bill, neither believe it to be sound governance to take up any spending bill until the greater issues have been resolved.
Flanked by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, John Boehner told the press that Congressional leaders have repeatedly asked President Obama to lead on answering our nation’s debt problems; and he has failed to do so. While unwilling to completely close the door on future negotiations and the prospect of reaching a deal with the President and Congressional Democrats, Boehner appeared resolute that he and his caucus will be moving forward with a Republican plan rather than waiting idly for negotiations to produce suitable results.
Senator Bob Corker to James Rosen: The Senate is absolutely dysfunctional; and it’s dysfunctional because neither side wants to engage in the tough decisions of the day. That’s the fact and it’s very disappointing.”
Humor me for a moment. Reach into your pocket and pull out all of your change. What’d you find? Quarters, nickels, dimes, pennies? Any one dollar “gold” coins? Yeah, didn’t think so. Take that one step further. How’d you feel the last time you were handed one with your change? Angry, irritated, short-changed? I happened to be the proud owner of three right now having received them in my change today from the trip for the morning coffee. The feeling that came over me when the cashier handed me an assortment of coins rather than any paper money compelled me to share this story with you when it came to me in my Inbox. I think you’ll “enjoy” it. That is, if it doesn’t make you scream. Do these people just sit around and dream up new ways to waste our money? Unfrigginbelievable!!
