There is a Round Two™ to this debacle, coming in January to April: We will hit the debt ceiling.

[Poll_Blind]

Feel like you've been punched in the gut? There's a second punch coming- and it's coming all too soon to catch your breath. Sometime around January to April of the new year, Federal spending is going to hit the debt ceiling.

It was not covered in this set of "negotiations" and it chills me that it wasn't included in some way. Because that means that despite the President's generous "negotiations" the Republicans may very well offer him up a choice early in the new year: "Give in to our demands entirely or we shut the government down." Those demands are expected to involve major concessions in regards to social programs, among other things, that are just keeping many American heads above water at the moment.

Rememember, the Republicans will only control one goddamned third of the government. We will still have the Presidency and the Senate.

House:
:redbox: R - 242
:bluebox: D - 192

Senate:
:bluebox: D - 53
:redbox: R - 47

President:
:bluebox: Democratic Party

But if today's press conference was any window into the mind of President Obama, and I believe if there ever was one this was it, then I'm not optimistic about the outcome.

PB

[eleny]

1. Don't worry. Obama has that covered. He said so.

[Duer 157099]

2. Oh ye of little faith. Obama said he trusts Boehner!

Isn't that enough for you?

(no, it's not for me, either)

[Poll_Blind]

4. "Look, here’s my expectation -- and I’ll take John Boehner at his word..."

"...-- that nobody, Democrat or Republican, is willing to see the full faith and credit of the United States government collapse, that that would not be a good thing to happen. And so I think that there will be significant discussions about the debt limit vote. That’s something that nobody ever likes to vote on. But once John Boehner is sworn in as Speaker, then he’s going to have responsibilities to govern. You can’t just stand on the sidelines and be a bomb thrower."

This is a mistake, IMO.

What's he going to do, wag his finger at Boehner when he holds the continued running of our government hostage?

Or will he capitulate- because "the hostage takers mean it!"

:puke:

PB

[unkachuck]

3. "...Republicans will only control one goddamned third of the government..."

....are you sure?

....the way I see it, they have the House, Presidency, 2/3 of the Senate, the Supreme Court and all the corporate cash in the world....

....and we have, change.