McConnell invites Obama to GOP lunch; president says no, thanks

What if...? said:

Or: President not going to play male primate dominance and submission games with sworn enemies.

Every adult male who has ANY experience with heirarchical organizations knows exactly what game is being played here.

"Polling isn't trending well on flirting with default. The latest information we have has Independent voters holding Republicans responsible if a default occurs. Cancel your weekend plans, and get me the presidents engagement schedule. Ok, he's got a fundraiser set for midday, so issue a formal invitation for him to have lunch with us to discuss raising the debt ceiling. He will refuse, because its obviously a ploy to make him appear subordinate to us in the eyes of the people. This boxes him quite well, because we get him either way. When he refuses, we label him a hypocrite who doesn't take the issue seriously, which the "messaging" guys say should shift blame for a possible default back onto the Democrats."

/End of meeting

I wonder if any of the Republicans ACTUALLY cleared their schedules for that meeting or if it was a sham in its entirety?

Click to expand...

The Republicans actually had that lunch without Obama.

GPS_Flex said:

How ludicrous. I want to negotiate with you. I’ll start with the demand that you allow me to water board you and your family for a week followed by you setting yourself on fire. That would be on the table?

There are some things money can’t buy and some things just aren’t negotiable. I don’t care if you have a web link or not, it’s a fact of life.

Click to expand...

If that's the way you think, then that only proves you are a terrible negotiator.

The ridiculous thing is that tax rates have been higher. And nearly every decade with higher average tax rates were much better than the 2000s for this country. To say taxes aren't negotiable means you shouldn't bother negotiating.

Were we at the table, I'd walk out too. There's no point in meeting with you if you aren't going to listen to me and you've told me you aren't going to listen to me.

MistressNomad said:

The refusal to walk into what is essentially nothing more than a political temper tantrum is in itself a negociation tactic. It is not "defeatist" to refuse to waste your time when the opening line for the engagement is basically "You'll do what we tell you to do, nothing more and nothing less." Wasting your time with that is just stupid. And refusing to waste your time with it sends the message that this is not a penis size contest.

Click to expand...

Which Republican said “You'll do what we tell you to do, nothing more and nothing less”.

Do you always just make crap up to support your arguments?

Ockham said:

It's very clear what I said. Maybe you can answer the question:

Why would Obama say he'd meet with country leaders who sponsor and are connected to terrorist, but not meet with Republicans in Congress? No you pick your words very carefully... friend.

Click to expand...

If you're trying to make the arguement that the President is more willing to meet with foreign governments that are hostile towards American than he is to meet with Republicans in Congress, you're making one helluva weak argument. How long have these such budget negotiations been going on? Who ultimately is the head of Congress? And mind you, this was the very question asked of McCain's VP running mate, Sarah Palin. Take stock of how she answered that question and then you'll understand why I continue to say, "Process!" Understand it within our political system, then you'll understand just how foolish your question truly is.

FilmFestGuy said:

If that's the way you think, then that only proves you are a terrible negotiator.

The ridiculous thing is that tax rates have been higher. And nearly every decade with higher average tax rates were much better than the 2000s for this country. To say taxes aren't negotiable means you shouldn't bother negotiating.

Were we at the table, I'd walk out too. There's no point in meeting with you if you aren't going to listen to me and you've told me you aren't going to listen to me.

Click to expand...

You would lose then. You see, it is Democrats that are asking to Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. If they walk out, they lose.

GPS_Flex said:

You would lose then. You see, it is Democrats that are asking to Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. If they walk out, they lose.

Click to expand...

If Republicans don't raise the debt ceiling, we ALL lose.

You did see what happened to the markets around the world when there was the thought that Greece might default on their debt, right?

If the US defaults, you'll have another Great Recession all over again - and probably worse.

And Republicans will get blamed for it, because they are the ones trying to conditionalize the debt ceiling bill.

The taxes and spending should be tied to one another in negotiations. The debt ceiling should be passed and done so promptly.

August 3rd is when millions of seniors are supposed to get their Social Security checks. If they don't get them, it will be VERY easy to pin this on Republicans - who are already in trouble with seniors over the Ryan budget.

Government shutdowns are almost always blamed on Republicans, because Republicans are anti-government.

GPS_Flex said:

You would lose then. You see, it is Democrats that are asking to Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. If they walk out, they lose.

Click to expand...

The next time the Republicans decide to hold the country hostage, do you think we could at least get juice boxes?

About half the country thinks they're right, and about half thinks they are NOT.

I don't like it when either side tries to ram **** down the others throat. Why do some people cheer this crap when its their side doing it?

The Continental Congress almost ended without a Constitution three times. But the Founders COMPROMISED and got the damn job done.

Two party politics are destroying this country.

GPS_Flex,

Referring to your accusation, as well as that of some members of the GOP, that the President hasn't submitted a budget for 2011:


Obama's 2011 Budget Highlights

Agency: Agriculture

Spending: $148.6 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 9.7 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: $122.8 billion

Agency: Commerce

Spending: $9.1 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 34.4 percent decrease

Mandatory Spending: $180 million

Agency: Defense

Spending: $768.2 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 2.2 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: $59.9 billion

Agency: Education

Spending: $82.3 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 32.8 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: $32.6 billion

Agency: Energy

Spending: $26.8 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 9.2 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: None.

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Spending: $9.9 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 3.2 percent decrease

Mandatory Spending: None.

Agency: Health and Human Services
Spending: $915.5 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 3.9 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: $832 billion

Agency: Homeland Security

Spending: $44 billion

Percentage change from 2010: 1 percent increase

Mandatory Spending: $193 million

Agency: Housing and Urban Development

Spending: $48.9 billion

Percentage change from 2010: .9 percent decrease

Mandatory Spending: $7.3 billion

You care to retract your statement now? And notice that the CBS article is dated, "February 2, 2011". Significant because:

Each year, the President of the United States submits his budget request to Congress for the following fiscal year as required by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. Current law (31 U.S.C. § 1105(a)) requires the president to submit a budget no earlier than the first Monday in January, and no later than the first Monday in February.

Click to expand...

You posted it...now what day of the week was February 2, 2011?

Answer: It was the first Wednesday of the month of February; the 7th was the first Monday of that month. Looks like the President submitted his budget 5-days ahead of schedule.

Thank you. Come again!

Process, ladies and gentlemen. Learn it, remember it! Understand whose following it and whose not!!!

FilmFestGuy said:

If Republicans don't raise the debt ceiling, we ALL lose.

You did see what happened to the markets around the world when there was the thought that Greece might default on their debt, right?

If the US defaults, you'll have another Great Recession all over again - and probably worse.

And Republicans will get blamed for it, because they are the ones trying to conditionalize the debt ceiling bill.

The taxes and spending should be tied to one another in negotiations. The debt ceiling should be passed and done so promptly.

August 3rd is when millions of seniors are supposed to get their Social Security checks. If they don't get them, it will be VERY easy to pin this on Republicans - who are already in trouble with seniors over the Ryan budget.

Government shutdowns are almost always blamed on Republicans, because Republicans are anti-government.

Click to expand...

Actually, we all lose if the debt ceiling gets raised without serious reforms to entitlements.

Raising taxes isn’t going to do jack squat to reduce the debt but it will harm the economy so in the end, there won’t be any tax increases. Mark my words.

Republicans will get blamed but so will Democrats and Obama. If you think otherwise, live in a bubble.

Republicans aren’t in trouble with seniors over the Ryan budget. I know you liberals have been lying to them and trying really hard to scare them but they see through the smoke screen this time. Most seniors understand that social security and Medicare will need to be restructured to prevent the US economy from collapsing and they see through your “Republicans want to end ____” lies.

What if...? said:

The next time the Republicans decide to hold the country hostage, do you think we could at least get juice boxes?

About half the country thinks they're right, and about half thinks they are NOT.

I don't like it when either side tries to ram **** down the others throat. Why do some people cheer this crap when its their side doing it?

The Continental Congress almost ended without a Constitution three times. But the Founders COMPROMISED and got the damn job done.

Two party politics are destroying this country.

Click to expand...

Aren’t the Democrats currently holding the country hostage by demanding tax increases and spending increases as part of the debt ceiling increase?

I guess it depends upon who you ask doesn’t it?

Objective Voice said:

GPS_Flex,

Referring to your accusation, as well as that of some members of the GOP, that the President hasn't submitted a budget for 2011:

Click to expand...

I never said any such thing. You really have trouble understanding much of what you read don’t you Objective Voice?

Translation of this thread: GPS_Flex twists what the argument says in order to make himself look like he read the article. People read the argument, see the bull**** and a few idiots act like Republicans have any intention of solving anything.

GPS_Flex said:

I never said any such thing. You really have trouble understanding much of what you read don't you Objective Voice?

Click to expand...

I know what you said and you're right. You didn't specifically say anything about whether or not the President had submitted a budget. But in attempting to discuss the process of government, you used the president's scheduling time table for submitting a budget to Congress in an attempt to make your point concerning the President's responsiblity to adhering to the budgetary "process" under the law. Towhich, you posted:

GPs_Flex said:

United States federal budget

Each year, the President of the United States submits his budget request to Congress for the following fiscal year as required by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. Current law (31 U.S.C. § 1105(a)) requires the president to submit a budget no earlier than the first Monday in January, and no later than the first Monday in February. Typically, presidents submit budgets on the first Monday in February. The budget submission has been delayed, however, in some new presidents' first year when previous president belonged to a different party.

§ 1105. Budget contents and submission to Congress

(a) On or after the first Monday in January but not later than the first Monday in February of each year, the President shall submit a budget of the United States Government for the following fiscal year. Each budget shall include a budget message and summary and supporting information. The President shall include in each budget the following:

Click to expand...

As such, you attempted to show that the President had not followed the presidential budgetary process himself. I just proved you wrong! And now you're attempting to run from it.

GPS_Flex said:

Aren’t the Democrats currently holding the country hostage by demanding tax increases and spending increases as part of the debt ceiling increase?

I guess it depends upon who you ask doesn’t it?

Click to expand...

The Democrats have already offered up $2 trillion in cuts and are asking for $400 Billion in revenues by cutting tax loopholes.

So, if you ask someone who actually knows what's going on, you might get the right answer.

If you don't raise the debt ceiling, the interest rate on the current debt will be significantly higher, in turn creating even more debt. But never mind that (and the fact that it will destroy global markets and one again take everyone's retirement funds from them) - Tea Party freshmen pledged not to do it, and their re-election is more important.

FilmFestGuy said:

How dare he not listen to us say that we're not going to compromise with him!

Click to expand...

At a photo op in a setting of our choosing.

"Come Obama, submit to your Republican masters, live on television".

Y'all often refer to Obama's history in Chicago politics, do ya really think he's gonna fall for that?

GPS_Flex said:

Aren’t the Democrats currently holding the country hostage by demanding tax increases and spending increases as part of the debt ceiling increase?

I guess it depends upon who you ask doesn’t it?

Click to expand...

You keep conveniently leaving out the part where Dems agreed to cuts as well.

Have the Repubs offered any tax/spending increases? Nope.

So its not exactly the same thing, is it?

sangha said:

If what you said was clear, it wouldn't have been misunderstood.

Click to expand...

Then how do you explain you being the only one in the dark?

sangha said:

And your latest post doesn nothing to clarify because you have yet to explain why BO's promise to meet with foreign leaders applies to members of the republican party. All you did was ask a question, and a question is not an explanation.

Click to expand...

You're right - I made an assumption there. I assumed that BO would have an easier time deciding and meeting with Republicans without preconditions, and a more difficult time meeting with foreign leaders who sponsor terrorism against the United States. That was a bad assumption. I apologize.

Hatuey said:

Translation of this thread: GPS_Flex twists what the argument says in order to make himself look like he read the article. People read the argument, see the bull**** and a few idiots act like Republicans have any intention of solving anything.

Click to expand...

Huh? That didn't make a lick of sense.

GPS_Flex said:

Huh? That didn't make a lick of sense.

Click to expand...

Don't worry - that's par for the course with some posters.

GPS_Flex said:

This may be true. However, when you are going on fundraisers and vacations it isn’t usually wise to claim that the other guys should stay and work on the issue unless you are ready to do the same.

It makes you look like a hypocrite.

Click to expand...

Not really, it is the job of Congress to pass a budget. The President would like to be involved, but at the end of the day, he doesn't have a lot of involvement. Plus, he's delegated this off to Biden.

So if the Republicans really wanted to get it done, they could invite Pelosi and Biden. Pelosi, because she represents Dem leadership in Congress, and Biden because he's Obama's "guy" on this issue.

It's a show. The President getting involved would largely be for show, and this invitation was a show. Obama doesn't come out smelling like roses in the show, but this wasn't going to be a substantive discussion.

Objective Voice said:

You know, I get so tired of hearing people complain about the President not taking a leadership role in these budget talks. It's not the President's job to do these things. That's Congress' responsibility. They're the ones who control the country's purse strings, i.e., appropriations.

Again...process, ladies and gentlemen. Understand it and you'll understand why McConnell's "invite" was bogus.

Click to expand...

Objective Voice said:

I know what you said and you're right. You didn't specifically say anything about whether or not the President had submitted a budget. But in attempting to discuss the process of government, you used the president's scheduling time table for submitting a budget to Congress in an attempt to make your point concerning the President's responsiblity to adhering to the budgetary "process" under the law. Towhich, you posted:



As such, you attempted to show that the President had not followed the presidential budgetary process himself. I just proved you wrong! And now you're attempting to run from it.

Click to expand...

I wasn’t trying to prove he didn’t follow the budgetary process, I was simply proving that you didn’t know what you were talking about when you claimed it wasn’t the president’s job to take a leadership role in the budget process.

FilmFestGuy said:

The Democrats have already offered up $2 trillion in cuts and are asking for $400 Billion in revenues by cutting tax loopholes.

Click to expand...

I’m going to need you to provide a source for this.

FilmFestGuy said:

So, if you ask someone who actually knows what's going on, you might get the right answer.

Click to expand...

Since you “know what’s going on", I trust you will show me the source for the above.

What if...? said:

You keep conveniently leaving out the part where Dems agreed to cuts as well.

Have the Repubs offered any tax/spending increases? Nope.

So its not exactly the same thing, is it?

Click to expand...

I have no idea what the Democrats have agreed to cut. Do you?

By the way, spending increases to reduce the debt? Are you serious?

Compromise to a "Progressive" means capitulation.

You saw OUR verison of "compromise" last November.

GPS_Flex said:

McConnell invites Obama to GOP lunch; president says no, thanks



The President scolds congress for not doing enough to resolve the debt issue and compares them negatively to his daughters and says that congress should forego its 4th of July recess to “do their job” and work on a solution to the debt crisis and “get it done”. The Senate forgoes its recess, as suggested and the Republicans invite him to join them for lunch to try to work on this issue but he refuses because it’s “not a conversation worth having”? Instead he flies to Philadelphia for another fundraiser?


He has been AWOL on this entire issue and the day after he chastises republicans for “not doing their job” he decides his fundraiser is more important than him showing up to do his job for a change.

This guy is certain to be a one term President because the Voters are going to do their jobs in about 16 months when they throw this lazy butt to the curb and elect someone who will take the job serious.

Click to expand...

McConnell has said his mission was the make Obama a one term President, I can't blame Obama at all.