The Democrats do not want the government to default on its debt.

[kentuck]

The Republicans could care less. The government is too big anyway. Screw it!

Those are the attitudes we are dealing with.

There are only two ways to keep the government running at its present levels - either with taxes or by borrowing. If we have neither option, government will default. There will be no money to pay 80 million people that depend on the government for a paycheck. Or there will be no money to pay our soldiers or the defense department for the ongoing wars. Or there will be no money to pay our lenders? We have to pay the interest on the debt, right?

Who should get left out if we can only pay 60% of the present government with our present receipts. We borrow 40% to pay for our entire budget. Obviously we need some new thinking in Washington. Perhaps we should not pay the interest or the lenders first. Let 'em sweat. If they have a problem, talk to their friends, the Republicans.

Perhaps we could declare all corporations that have left this country for foreign shores as persona non grata? Since they do not like the tax rate and the tax cuts that America affords them, let the country that they moved to declare their tax rate for them. They are no longer welcome in this country. Is that where we are headed? Would they be better off if we put a 25% tariff on every product they bring into this country? Maybe it's time to play hardball?

They have thrived on low wages for thirty years and now we see what they have wrought. They are "holding a gun to the heads of the American people" and nothing good will come from this. Other nations are dependent upon the financing and good will of the American economy. This is a threat to them as much as it is the American people.

Screw the Republicans! If they want to play this game, let them. We will not move on Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid as long as they continue to threaten us in such a way. They can go straight to hell! Perhaps we need to show as much obstinance as they?

Pass the word to Wall Street. Democrats will not surrender. If they want this economy to recover, then they had better sit down with their friends, the Republicans, and work something out. We have given all we can. It is time for the criminals to pay us back.

[kenny blankenship]

1. Lots of their biggest donor constituents are HOLDING that debt.

Damn right they don't want to see a default.

[elleng]

2. Right, not in balanced negotiating positions, and U.S. + world economy at risk

(aside from PrezO's position.)
:(

[Rex]

3. That is a big difference EVERYONE should be pointing out.

Repukes just spend and spend without any kind of accountablilty....Dems want to BALANCE our spending with...OMG...TAXES! What a brain teaser! Dems are trying to save what little we have left...at least Nancy Pelosi is! And I applaud her for standing up to the tyrannical RWing machine.

[kentuck]

4. Wall Street is getting nervous...

In the next few days, we could see a TARP-like collapse in the market because of this Republican intransigence and ignorance.

[Harry Callahan]

5. It's interesting to note how much an election can change a politicians point of view.

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better ~ Barack Obama