President Obama's plan

At this point I really have any idea what Washington DC needs. One thing for certain they do not need Democrats, Republicians, to Tea Party-----maybe the answer is people who really care about American Citizens and their welfare should be in office. Not like OBAMA telling us all Michele and I have be very fortunate not like most Americans and can afford to pay higher taxes. What a real nice statement to tell the America people. This is not really a political statement as much as it is a statement made in the best interest of America. Get off your ass Mr. Elected Offical and start solving problems for the betterment of America.

Believe it or not there are people in Washington (on both sides) that are open to and pushing for compromise. But this is all BS anyway and ultimately going to result in the same mess FDR had in 1937.

INstead of focusing on jobs and improving the economy we have now allowed the primary debate to shift to our long term deficit problem. Any austerity (whether it be tax hikes or reduced government spending) is not good for economic growth. Austerity of any kind should not be on the table until the recovery is on more solid ground.

Dont be upset about government not compromising on the debt. Be upset with government for even discussing the debt in the current economic environment.

PJ, I don't believe Moody's and Standard and Poors agrees with you.

"Don’t disrupt the fragile economic recovery. We need a comprehensive plan now to reduce the debt over the long term. But budget cuts should start gradually so they don’t interfere with the ongoing economic recovery. Growth is essential to restoring fiscal strength and balance."

The Moment of Truth Report...

Gee, If Obama had only supported his own bi-partisan debt commission back in January, maybe this debt 'crisis' would be viewed in the rear view mirror. They supported cuts and tax increases...just like PJ. They recognized the fragile economic recovery...just like PJ...But PJ didn't support THAT Bi-Partisan Recommendation...Nor did the current administration. No Leadership. So now we have a crisis....because Obama (and to be fair, the Republican Leadership as well) did nothing to support a bi-partisan commission in the best interest of our country....that's why they're bums.

Never ceases to amaze me how you rewrite history even after a few short months or how you cant engage me without first putting words in my mouth.

1) Not that it will stop you from misquoting me again but I have always said the debt commission was a good starting point and that nothing they discussed should be off the table. I have no problem engaging the reform of the entitlement progams and have said so many times on these boards....I simply refuse to bless it in the absence of tax reform as well. Simpson-Bowles agree with me.

2) You keep falsely claiming the president did not embrace the Simpson-Bowles plan. Simpson Bowles did not have a plan to bless. They did release details of many of the items they put on the table. You might recognize many of those items from the grand bargain the president proposed this month. The president stepped up to the plate with entitlement reform on the condition that the Republican House leader do the same with tax reform. And the spending/tax ratio was 3:1 in favor of his opponent's agenda. The rest is history - which I'm sure you will rewrite too.

PJ and the grownups in Washington have agreed to engage their end of the Simpson Bowles plan. The Tea Party has not. But as usual Alan preaches his false prophecy of "non-partisan" BS and lays it all on the back of the president (and me apparently). Let me know when you find a single revenue increase in the current debt reduction bill and then perhaps you'll have an ounce of credibility about the left not engaging in compromise.

What does PJ Call THIS?.

"This" is the debt commission report that fell three votes short of automatic up or down vote in congress. What exactly did Obama do to get the three democrat holdouts to vote in favor of this?

Please point out where I have misquoted PJ. Does PJ favor increasing taxes and cutting spending over time? Did PJ not make the statement similar to the Debt commission?

Did PJ favor the Simpson Bowles Plan and a true Bi-Partisan reform back in December? He was opposed to linking Spending to a Percent of GDP. Remember that? Or are you now supporting the Simpson Bowles Plan?

I do not blame PJ for our current mess. I only claim Obama should have embraced the Debt Commission Report, He should have pressured the 3 democrat hold outs...Hell for that matter he should have pressured the 3 Republican holdouts too. He should have taken to the people. He should have spearheaded fixing the debt issue in the best interest of our country. Instead he let Simpson-Bowles slip through his grip....he didn't lead. He didn't embrace his own bipartisan commission. And now we are all paying the price. Six months late and a few trillion short.

eh...please point out where I have EVER stated the budget should be balanced by spending cuts alone? I liked the Debt Commission recommendations because it did share between cuts and taxes. I liked it because it limited the size of the Federal Government to a % of GDP.

Talk about putting words in someone's mouth!

Oh and the entire first two years of the Obama administration was a lesson in cramming legislation down the throats of the American people with NO input from the opposition.. This, more than anything else, is why the Democrats took a drubbing last November. Unfortunately, the Republicans took the wrong message from that defeat.

Please describe a single piece of truly Bipartisan legislation passed during Obama's first two years as President.

Oh and let me add, I think the current impass is disgusting. I think both parties are responsible. I think they should unanimously pass a bill with one sentence that increases the debt limit for 6 months or a year and then focus on a bipartisan solution like the Simpson-Bowles that addressess the long term issue...but what do I know? I'm just a nonpartisan.

While this issue continues to spin out of control, bambam spends the day talking about gas mpg. Way to take charge! Completely clueless!

I dont worship at the alter of Simpson Bowles and do not support the unagreed upon plan that you like to pretend exists. I admire the fact they had the courage to challenge their own ideology and act like adults...and many of their ideas are good ones...many are not - not the least of which is the spending cap to GDP rule you cite. Regardless there is nothing in there I would leave off the table.

Since you are so hot for Simpson Bowles ask yourself an honest question and see if you are actually capable of being the non-partisan critic you pretend to be. What debt reduction plan more closely resembles Simpson Bowles? The Grand Bargain discussed in the White House 2 weeks ago? Or the Tea-Party bill coming out of the House today?

Talk about a "non plan". Are there ANY details on 'The Grand Bargain" or is it just rumor? Perhaps you can post a link to its 60 page pdf...like the debt commission's plan. Now, from what I hear about the "Gang of 6" plan, I might get behind it...if it was actually written down and I could read it.

As to the House Bill that passed today, it is a blatently partisan effort that serves no purpose other than to delay solving the immediate crisis. I would never support a such a politicized effort crafted by a single party to the exclusion of about half of the people....Just like virtually every piece of legislation the Democrats offered up for the first 2 years of the Obama administration. It makes me sick.

Although I have always supported a constitutional amendment for a balanced budget, I do not support holding America hostage to the whims of one political party or the other. I'd like to see them work together to get us out of this mess...I guess that makes me a real pretend non-partisan, huh?

Does that answer your question?