Governors Want Congress Debt Deal With Obama

Governors Want Congress Debt Deal With Obama - Bloomberg

U.S. governors from both major parties circulated a letter at their national meeting urging Congress to raise the federal debt ceiling rather than put the nation’s credit -- and their own states -- at risk.

The bipartisan letter was being drafted by the National Governors Association’s staff after Moody’s Investors Service warned that state bond ratings would be damaged by a U.S. default, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley said yesterday.

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Frankly, (and I know I shouldn't be) but I'm surprised that the Republicans are willing to risk everything and blow past the August 2nd deadline.

what? Republicans are putting up measures solo.


again, when the President refuses to lead, ONLY Republicans are willing to put on the table what they think we should actually do in order to survive fiscally.



The President isn't willing to say how he would reform the entitlements, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to lay out a budget, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to say specifically what he would cut, the Republicans are.


The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman has demonstrated more personal courage and leadership on fiscal issues in the last 9 months than the President of the United States. A House Committee Chairman....



REPUBLICANS are willing to risk everything and blow past Aug 2?


forgive me, which party is currently being led by Mr Don't Call My Blufff? which party is trying to make political money right now off of scaring seniors and would love to send out those scary letters?

BDBoop said:

Governors Want Congress Debt Deal With Obama - Bloomberg



Frankly, (and I know I shouldn't be) but I'm surprised that the Republicans are willing to risk everything and blow past the August 2nd deadline.

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the president isn't???

cpwill said:

The President isn't willing to say how he would reform the entitlements, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to lay out a budget, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to say specifically what he would cut, the Republicans are.

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Considering that negotiations are ongoing, perhaps he has laid this out in negotiations but doesn't want to blow his load at this point.

Believe me, I feel for the Republicans here. Boehner wants to reach a deal, and is willing to negotiate and get a deal done for the good of the country. He's being held hostage by Cantor and the Tea Baggers. If he doesn't give he gets it from the moderates, and if he does he gets it from the extremists.

It's going to be hard to get anything done if the Republicans can't get out of their own way.

rocket88 said:

Considering that negotiations are ongoing, perhaps he has laid this out in negotiations but doesn't want to blow his load at this point.

Believe me, I feel for the Republicans here. Boehner wants to reach a deal, and is willing to negotiate and get a deal done for the good of the country. He's being held hostage by Cantor and the Tea Baggers. If he doesn't give he gets it from the moderates, and if he does he gets it from the extremists.

It's going to be hard to get anything done if the Republicans can't get out of their own way.

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I was actually laughing as I read your post. You think that this political dance going on is only because one side is not willing to negotiate. All we have learned once again from this round of talks on something most important to the nation is that Obama is a superior politician but a lousy leader or negotiator.

Not sure if you were ever in a big time negotiation of any kind. But the only negotiation that really works is if you do not attempt to get something that the other side can't give. The President has proven he would rather win a debate than do what is right for the country. This should be a scary time for all.

washunut said:

the president isn't???

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He has made concessions, they have not. So no. The president isn't.

washunut said:

The President has proven he would rather win a debate than do what is right for the country. This should be a scary time for all.

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The Republicans have proven they would rather throw us under a bus than do what is right for this country, aka "bring something to the table". Deep cuts are not enough. Period, full stop.

If we want to lower the debt, everyone is going to have to lose something they want, whether its healthcare, defense, endowments for the arts, lower taxes, whatever. Its not until lowering the debt becomes more important that what you want to save will anything get done.

How about this, instead of arguing who's going to lose, lets all collectively lose together after all its our country, our problem, our responsibility to take solve it, it doesn't matter who's to blame because the fact is it falls on us regardless and, God save us all, our representatives in government. If this country was the Titanic, although its not that bad, we'd all be arguing over if its Captain's fault or the midnight watches fault no one saw that iceberg. Well you know what? It doesn't matter who's fault it is or was, its now all our problem and we can argue about who done it till we're floating in the North Atlantic and drown, or we can buckle down and get to work.

Wiseone said:

If we want to lower the debt, everyone is going to have to lose something they want, whether its healthcare, defense, endowments for the arts, lower taxes, whatever. Its not until lowering the debt becomes more important that what you want to save will anything get done.

How about this, instead of arguing who's going to lose, lets all collectively lose together after all its our country, our problem, our responsibility to take solve it, it doesn't matter who's to blame because the fact is it falls on us regardless and, God save us all, our representatives in government. If this country was the Titanic, although its not that bad, we'd all be arguing over if its Captain's fault or the midnight watches fault no one saw that iceberg. Well you know what? It doesn't matter who's fault it is or was, its now all our problem and we can argue about who done it till we're floating in the North Atlantic and drown, or we can buckle down and get to work.

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"I'll never let go, Jack!!"

washunut said:

I was actually laughing as I read your post. You think that this political dance going on is only because one side is not willing to negotiate. All we have learned once again from this round of talks on something most important to the nation is that Obama is a superior politician but a lousy leader or negotiator.

Not sure if you were ever in a big time negotiation of any kind. But the only negotiation that really works is if you do not attempt to get something that the other side can't give. The President has proven he would rather win a debate than do what is right for the country. This should be a scary time for all.

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The political dance is going on because that what happens. Neither side wants to give up anything. Obama doesn't want to cut enough, Republicans won't raise taxes on anyone (except for those here who want to tax the poor to save the rich). Neither side is exactly negotiating in good faith.

What I was objecting to was the idea that Republicans are putting forth all these ideas, and Obama isn't. I just don't think that's true. Will seems to think that because Republican ideas are the only ones in the press, they're the only ones in existence. Really? No ideas from the White House? C'mon...these would be real short negotiations if that were the case.

rocket88 said:

The political dance is going on because that what happens. Neither side wants to give up anything. Obama doesn't want to cut enough, Republicans won't raise taxes on anyone (except for those here who want to tax the poor to save the rich). Neither side is exactly negotiating in good faith.

What I was objecting to was the idea that Republicans are putting forth all these ideas, and Obama isn't. I just don't think that's true. Will seems to think that because Republican ideas are the only ones in the press, they're the only ones in existence. Really? No ideas from the White House? C'mon...these would be real short negotiations if that were the case.

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Is he KIDDING?? The press went nuts last week when the President offered deep cuts in SS, medicare and medicaid. The democrats were furious.

The Republicans didn't budge. Because no matter what is on the table, unless it's a gimme? They don't want it. They want it their way, or no way.

cpwill said:

what? Republicans are putting up measures solo.


again, when the President refuses to lead, ONLY Republicans are willing to put on the table what they think we should actually do in order to survive fiscally.



The President isn't willing to say how he would reform the entitlements, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to lay out a budget, the Republicans are.

The President isn't willing to say specifically what he would cut, the Republicans are.


The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman has demonstrated more personal courage and leadership on fiscal issues in the last 9 months than the President of the United States. A House Committee Chairman....



REPUBLICANS are willing to risk everything and blow past Aug 2?


forgive me, which party is currently being led by Mr Don't Call My Blufff? which party is trying to make political money right now off of scaring seniors and would love to send out those scary letters?

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ROFL....obama is refusing to deal ?? now thats one of the funniest pull it out of your hat statements ive heard in long time....its Cantor and the teaparty that dont want to deal...they want what they want and wont settle for anything less....what do you think the pres no matter who he is just has to take what the teaparty demands and you want to call that a deal...lol

washunut said:

All we have learned once again from this round of talks on something most important to the nation is that Obama is a superior politician but a lousy leader or negotiator.

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I've heard this refrain before. So, I'm curious...

What makes a strong leader in your opinion? What exactly should the President have done during these debt limit negotiations?

Should he have come in and done exactly as Cantor and the Tea Partiers have done - issue ultimatums and not budge from his position, i.e., "it's my way or no way?"

Should he have dictated to everyone in the room?

Should he have stated his position, allowed all sides to outline theres, summarize the positions espoused by all in attendance to clarify where things stand then delegate?

Should he have high-balled his position then negotiate down in order to find a medium deal everyone can be pleased with?

Exactly what would you have had him do?

For everyone who keeps claiming the President isn't a leader, what exactly would you have had him do?

He submitted his budget in February; Congress rejected it. Why? Because they said "it didn't go far enough in deficit reduction and it increased spending". (See NYTimes.com article here.) Yet, there he is offerring an additional $2 trillion in spending cuts from his original budget proposal of only $1 trillion over ten years and still the GOP came back with their usually rhetoric, "not enough in spending cuts, no entitlement reforms, more tax increases". And keep in mind that according to the GOP's own Pledge to America, they originally stipulated "cutting spending to pre-bailout, pre-stimulus levels saving atleast $1 billion in the first year (nevermind that their pledge never stipulated how long a duration the cuts would take place)" as their baseline. (See pages 5 and 11). The President's debt limit budget proposal would have given them $3 billion in spending cuts over TEN YEARS - way over and above their $1 billion annual rate - and they still weren't satisfied.

TWICE he offered far more in spending cuts than the GOP originally asked for and both times the GOP balked! So, when folks like you throw this "he's not being a leader" crap out there I say BULL****!!! The President's not even suppose to be part of debt and deficit discussions. NO PRESIDENT BEFORE HIM HAS EVER SAT DOWN AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE TO DO THIS! NONE!!!!

Not Reagan, neither Bush nor Clinton. NONE!!!

Why? BECAUSE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS IS THE JOB OF CONGRESS, NOT THE PRESIDENT!

Process, ladies and gentlemen...

Those who continue claiming they've read or understand the Constitution, answer me this, where does it say that it's the President's job to authorize appropriations per legislation? If you can find such a clause, post it herein...bet you won't find it. But you will find:

Art 1, Sect 8, clauses 1, 2 and 5

Art 1, Sect 9, clause 6

16th Amendement

ALL deal with money, appropriations and taxation as enumerated powers of Congress!!!

So, again I ask, "What would you have him do?"

Now, to the thread topic itself...

There's a reason Governors are insisting that the debt limit be raised. Anyone care to guess why?

Does anybody else find it funny that this is the republicans vs. the president? Why are we omitting legislative democrats from this discussion? What are their proposals and plans? What have they put on the table? Has the senate drafted/voted on anything put forth by democrats? The president doesn't really have much say until it's on his desk. Why are we looking at him to put forth plans but not holding democrat legislators to the fire?

Also, why are we looking at republicans to compromise when a comprehensive plan has not been put forth by anybody else? Compromise on what, exactly? There's been no bill or amendment. Even Obama's budget was a shell, incomplete upon presentation. All we have are vague proposals and expectations everybody is expected to meet, but no plan to get there. You want compromise? Put your detailed, outlined, completed plan on the table. Then we can have a dicussion about the merits of the three plans we've completed and proposed and whatever plan you come up with. Until then, the rhetoric of compromise is empty.

BDBoop said:

He has made concessions, they have not. So no. The president isn't.

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really. care to point to any specifics? as far as I am aware he has yet to put anything to paper.

again. unlike Republicans, whose plan is there for all to see.

lpast said:

ROFL....obama is refusing to deal ??

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no. Obama does not want a deal. not yet. he wants to go past Aug 2 so he can send out the scary letters to Social Security recipients and use any economic disruptions to bolster his 2012 campaign.

Boehner was going to give up $800 billion in tax increases.... and then at the last minute the President put a poison pill in, and killed the deal by insisting on $400 Billion more. Because he knew that a $1.2 Trillion dollar tax increase would either barely make it through and start a civil war within Republicans, or would fail, and he could take this whole thing past Aug 2 - it would have been a win/win for him, lose/lose for Republicans. Good for Boehner for not letting him get away with it.


So now it looks like we go past Aug 2. And why? because the president has realized he can't run on his record, so he's going to run on Mediscare. and he needs us to go past Aug 2 to help him do it.

BDBoop said:

Is he KIDDING?? The press went nuts last week when the President offered deep cuts in SS, medicare and medicaid. The democrats were furious.

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precisely. LEAKED. put up a balloon. made noises. but when asked for one single thing that he would cut or one single way in which he would reform the entitlements?

..... nothing.

BDBoop said:

He has made concessions, they have not. So no. The president isn't.

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didn't he even acknowledge, in yesterdays press conference, that the democratic leadership didn't sign off on any deal and then beat around the bush about the dems sinking a deal his own team successfully negotiated?