You know what makes me sad about these deficit talks?

[Tom Rinaldo]

For many decades both parties treated proposals to make even a substantative tweak to the core economic safety net Americans depend on as a really big deal, regardless of their ideological leanings. It was that enshrined. Now, in a time of great economic need changes to that same safety net gets dumped into deficit reduction talks as a potential trading chip on a virtual par in value to closing a couple of obvious tax loopholes and restoring previous tax rates for the wealthiest after a temporary tax cut legally expires.

[alsame]

1. Yes, the safety nets will never be 'off the table' again. They have

crossed a line with these 'negotiations', SS, Medicare and Medicaid are now bargaining chips. And as soon as the GOP controls both chambers and the WH, they will start whacking away.

And what I think they'll do is make the cuts so drastic that privatization will seem like the 'reasonable and balanced' solution so that people have a chance to increase their benefits by investing in the stock market. What could possibly go wrong?

[BeyondGeography]

2. Yes, it reeks of false equivalency

And, as with the tax-cut extension non-debate, it happens in the shadows. No pre-sell, no use of the bully pulpit, just fast-forward to the wheeling and dealing. That might suit the President's style, but it doesn't do anything for public comprehension.

[HereSince1628]

3. In a crisis you get to find out the stuff you are made of...

that's as true for political parties as it is for individuals.

I'm not impressed with this nation's 'stuff'

[toddwv]

4. The fact that while they are quibbling for cuts in every area,

they just passed a budget increase for the military?

[eridani]

5. What makes me sad is Obama's Repuke messaging

Even if I went along with his prioritizing of the defecit over jobs, why in GODDAM HELL soesn't he at least blame Repukes for the deficit? He hasn't quoted Cheney on the deficit even once?