Well, I congratulate the President on the outcome of the debt ceiling negotiations.

[Pholus]

It's still early and I still believe the cuts were too high a stake to gamble with but the outcome over the weekend was worthwhile to see.

http://mnpublius.com/post/7490593947/gop-puts-low-taxes-for-the-rich-above-all-else

"It’s amazing how closely events in Washington D.C. and Minnesota are tracking each other these days. And in both cases, the source of the deadlock is clear: The Republicans’ isistence that you and I must sacrifice so the rich don’t have to."

It's time to get that message out there.

[OHdem10]

1. Question by Chuck Todd: Why is it Republicans always get to

placate their base but the Democrats do not???

This is best question I have heard.

I have not heard a real answer.

The Narrative--Republicans have the upper hand. The
narrative on TV is the Narrative that counts. This
is where majority of Americans get their news.

[KingNorthTX]

2. I'd RATHER...

...that they shut it down...

SHUT IT DOWN (http://betterliberalarguments.blogspot.com/2011/03/shut-it-down.html0

"...'time is up', no more short term funding bills to avert a government shutdown."

I for one, hope the GOP follows through with this threat. Moreover, I hope that Democrats will stand firm on not allowing cuts to essential services. In the end, I hope all this leads to a shutdown of the federal government.

Far too many Americans have or are taking our government for granted. Especially among Republican voters, and or those who hold the Tea Party in such high esteem. "We need less government!", they exclaim. Let them sit with only 'essential services' operating and see how that works out. Our infrastructure is crumbling beneath us, everything from roads and bridges to to our power grids and our waste and water delivery systems.

So as America collapses and degrades before our eyes, we are engaged in now 3 wars in 3 different countries, and Republicans are toying with the idea of shutting down the federal government. I say "Let'em!"

We need a healthy dose of what our government does around us, and where your tax dollars are spent. As a nation, we have to be made aware that taxes equal services. Tax cuts have led to shortfalls, and given these cuts didn't 'stimulate' the economy as intended, there were even greater revenue shortfalls. Now, Conservatives want to cut services, to cover the deficit.

What Democrats need to do is allow Republicans to get what they are asking for, and then just sit back wait for the public backlash.

The problem is Americans haven't felt the sting of underfunding government, because we've been offered tax cuts, while we ran deficits. We simply haven't felt the years of our underfunding government.

Well, we need to. Shut it down, we have a lesson to learn.

[ewagner]

4. Assume Government shuts down....

Don't you think the Republicans have a narrative ready for that contingency?

I'm not sure what (exactly) it will be but I know it will blame the Democratic Party for the shutdown and completely ignore that they are complaining about a LACK of government services which they have heretofore loudly criticized.

I'm guessing that an optional meme will be "...see, we can get along without these services...and the lack of Social Security Checks, lack of medicare payments, pensions, military pay???? see...government only serves the "leeches"; not the producers"

[KingNorthTX]

5. It didn't work for Newt...

Because, leeches vote...especially the OLD ones.

These people just don't GET how important it is to fully fund government.

So, my theory is that we need a good dose of the absence of government.

[DFW]

3. As long as the right owns most of the media........

..the Republicans will have the upper hand even if all they have is two Representatives in
the House and one Senator. As long as the media makes them out to be important, they will
think they are important. What I don't get is everyone from Joe Blow to the White House believing it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. 'outcome' or 'still early'?

I'm not sure what you're saying has happened - or not yet happened. :shrug:

On edit - just noticed the OP was from 2 days ago. So 'still early', then . Feel free to ignore this post.