Do you think McConnell's plan is a victory for Obama?

[boston bean]

I'm not so sure. Obama does not want to revisit the debt limit issue every 3-6 months until the next election. He has said so himself. I think this is a non starter for Obama in the short term. Plus republicans get the 2.4T in spending cuts Biden negotiated.

It might be a last resort to keep the US from defaulting, but I don't think it's a political victory or a victory for Democrats.

The Republicans can keep their battering ram and club democrats over the head every few months that they are responsible for the debt. With McConnell's plan they will not need republican support to raise the debt limit.

Now some people might blame McConnell for giving this authority to the Dems, however most of your regular joe's won't see it that way. Plus republicans can just say, see we told you the dems were irresponsible tax and spenders.

Do you think Obama wants this McConnell deal?

[MadHound]

1. No,

It will be an ongoing distraction, there is no increase in revenue, and the actual constitutionality of this tactic is questionable at best.

[malaise]

2. Look Mitch has no already been broken

He has no hand to play

[boston bean]

4. Where does this leave Obama's hand?

Bottom line to all of this, is Obama wants a big deal so he doesn't have to continually re-visit the debt ceiling issue.

2.4T gets him to the heat of the next election cycle.

Mitch McConnell's plan makes him re-visit it every few months.

He is not going to want this, so what now?

[malaise]

13. Obama has already made it clear that he will veto any

short term decision. ReTHUGS have been given orders to fold.
This round is over.

[Liberalynn]

14. But if they are successful in getting enough votes to over-ride the

veto?

I am not predicting here. Just genuinely wondering what if here?

IMHO this plan is a loose for both parites. It makes them all look like they just want to play their little strategy games, and who cares the effect it has on the country and the people. Again JMHO

[boston bean]

16. you really think the President would veto raising the debt limit. Taking that on all by himself?

It would be political suicide.

[Liberalynn]

3. A guest on Olberman

said that all three sides involved will be able to claim some sort of victory. The Pukes that they didn't actually "vote" for the debt ceiling, and rasing taxes, Obama that he offered them a deal with cuts to Medicare and SS and they didn't take it proving they are not serious about cutting the debt, and the Congressional Dems that they stopped the Medicare age from being raised.

The guy also said that if the McConnel plan goes through they will still go ahead with making cuts to Medicare on the supplier side and there will still maybe "some changes" made to SS by the administration in this deal if it goes through. He said Nancy Peolosi is fighting those changes but he doesn't think she will win.

So it may be a technical win for Obama but I am still not sure it is a win for the Democratic party. We will have to wait and see. JMHO

Sorry I came in on the interview with this guy about two minutes in and didn't catch his name or who he worked for. I Googled and couldn't find it. So If any one can fill in that information, I'd be greatful.

[boston bean]

6. I suppose it makes the repubs look "not-serious".

But what good does that do anyone? Raising the ceiling this time, will be the opening salvo. There will be many more fights and a lot of politicizing of the issue.

What is the Presidents plan?

He needs the bigger package to make this go away.

[Liberalynn]

9. And it seems the temporary stop gap

he said he wouldn't accept. Just because he technically vetoes it, its still the same result. The temporary stop gap goes through, via a political trick. Plus if the PUKE are wasing their hands why do any changes to SS or Medicare, if the guy on Olberman was correct last night, need to be made at all in this deal?

Take them off the table like the Pukes took closing the loopholes off the table.

[jefferson_dem]

5. At the very least, it shows POTUS (Mr. 3-D Chess) has the GOP scumbags in total disaray...

That is the reality and a very tasty one.

That being said, McConnell's stunt is a dead letter - will never become law.

[boston bean]

7. Please tell me Obama's next step. If it's dead in the water, what type of victory is that.

Obama does not want a small deal. Even w/o McConnell's deal, the limit will have to be raised again during the next election cycle.

Obama does not want this.

[KharmaTrain]

8. "Non-Binding" Vote...

McChinless blinked when he got the message from the real bosses on Wall Street that enough was enough...no screwing with the country's credit. What he did got waa a "face saving" group of non-binding votes of "no confidence" in the raising of the debt ceiling...supposedly to give the teabaggers some cover.

A couple of other things come into play here. Ruining the economy this year wouldn't help the GOTB next year...and I'm thinking the hopes are the economy stays bad and that by kicking yet another can down the road this could bring things to a head again next year closer to the elections. In essence McChinless gave President Obama an out...a way to avoid defaulting without having to get the "consent" of the legislative.

Does this mean SS, Medicare and Medicaid are safe? For now, but then there's the budget negotiations that begin in earnest in September...so we'll see if this is some master stroke of strategy for the set up for a cave-in further down the road...

[boston bean]

10. There is a danger politically for Obama in kicking this can down the road.

He truly wants his 4T dollar deal.

He wants re-election, and I think he believes his chances are betting making cuts to SS and Medicare vs. facing the debt ceiling issue every few months.

[KharmaTrain]

18. He Does Want That Deal

Supposedly this would make him appear "bipartisan"...rising above the partisan divide. Many don't remember his messages back in the '08 campaign about being "one America"...and that view means both left and right have to take big hits. This 4T deal is one of those "big picture" type issues...like healthcare reform...that I truly think he believes is his long term legacy.

You are right...he knows he can get Democrats to cave on cuts to SS, Medicare, Medicaid and lots of other programs in return for only closing loopholes in tax codes, not raising rates on anyone. The battles ahead to try to get some kind of budget done (or face yet another government shutdown) and then another vote on retaining the boooosh tax cuts on the rich next year will be enough mellodrama...

Cheers...

[Liberalynn]

11. Again I apologize for not knowing the gentleman's name

I came in late on the interview and missed his introduction, but Keith Olberman interviewed someone on this deal last night. He said the Medicare age raise appears to be dead in the water as neither side really wants to go along with that. The guest also said though that cuts to Medicare on the "supplier's side" will still be maintained. He did say senior/disabled benefits in Medicare would not be touched. However he also said that potential changes to SS maybe included as well. He said Nancy Pelosi is strill trying to fight those but he doubts she will have much success.

If the PUKES took their closing the tax loopholes of the table why are we still leaving pontial "changes to SS(my guess it is the chained CPI, though the man didn't have specifics) on the table at all. And Obama will still be the ones that put them on and left them there while the PUKES gave him nothing except letting him raise the debt ceiling while sidling away from all blame. If the SS "changes" really are still there then it looks like we are caving. The rich get to keep their loopholes and seniors and the disabled still take a hit.


We will have to wait for more details but I am still not breathing a sigh of relief just yet. I want to hear SS and Medicare are off the table entirely.

[KharmaTrain]

15. They Aren't...

They are for this round...but there's another one ahead.

The problem is this country does have a huge defecit that has to be addressed. A decade of charging for two wars off the books along with the big loss of revenues due to the boooosh tax cuts for the rich have left this country is a big hole...one that continue to be a major issue as the economy struggles and the pinch gets greater. This administration is willing to bargain cuts in services...and yes that sadly means SS if the rushpublicans agree to closing tax loopholes (not even speaking about raising any rates). As long as the right wing is so dead-set on no revenue increases, things remain at an impaase. The good news is there won't be any cuts or changes to social programs, the downside is once something is put on the table, it's not easy to get it removed. Had the rushpulicans agreed to the 4.1 trillion dollar deal, I firmly believe President Obama would have gone along with Catfood Commission recommended cuts...but fortunately it didn't happen. But I won't assure you we won't be back here again and soon...

Cheers...

[Sherman A1]

12. That McConnell has a plan

is a victory for McConnell in an of itself. Not saying that it's anything near a good plan, but this is a huge step forward for this guy.

[Somawas]

17. Pretty much. But he shou8ld still invite chinless Mitch to blow him.

[Ganja Ninja]

19. McConnell is trying to salvage what he can and position the GOP for 2012.

He's abdicating congress's budget responsibility and handing it over to Obama. He's also trying to avoid any tax increases or subsidy cuts. The strategy is to give Obama nothing but the blame for raising the debt ceiling.

If I was Obama I would say no and veto it.