So McConnell pushes Reid aside as being non relevant

[INdemo]

and negotiates with a President with no back bone and comes up with a deal ?? If President Obama was a real leader he would have insisted that Reid be included in the discussions...Now it appears once again that Obama has caved to the Republicans.
No mention of the Bush tax cuts expiring or any other form of revenue..just the cuts in programs including medicare


http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/news/white-house-gop-discuss-potential-debt-limit-pact/6268978/

[DCBob]

1. Funny the GOPers were crowing last week about bypassing Obama...

and just working with Senate and House Dems to get something done since Obama wasnt "serious".

[ananda]

2. Reid suddenly got a backbone?

Heaven forfend - for GOPers. That's why they're trying to ignore him.

[INdemo]

13. No....Obama should not leave Reid out ...after all Reid is the Majority leader

..I am saying that McConnell is acting like he is the Majority Leader and Obama is allowing him to push Reid out of the talks...as being irrelevent...Its Obama that will cave. Nothing is mentioned about the Bush tax breaks,and Medicare is on the table and Obama is open to cutting programs for the middle class,the farmers,and no sacrifices for the rich.

http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/news/white-house-gop-discuss-potential-debt-limit-pact/6268978/

[michaz]

3. That was my thought as soon as I heard him state he was negotiating with Obama. n/t

[ProSense]

4. Reid

can't lead?

"McConnell pushes Reid aside"

Damn, it's amazing how much power McConnell has!

No bill gets to the Senate floor without Reid.

[flamingdem]

8. He is very involved according to Chuck Schumer just now with Gloria B.

Harry Reid is discussing the deal with Obama every hour today.

[butterfly77]

12. McConnell has been...

doing this for decades and always gets away with it.

[INdemo]

15. Well so far in the Senate chamber even when the

Democrats had a near filibuster proof majority...No bill got to the floor unless McConnell told Reid what they would vote on etc,etc...
The healthcare bill was not what the Democrats wanted,the banking reform bill....and on and on..It was no bill gets to the floor for a vote unless McConnell says it will. So yes Reid allowed McConnell that power and so has Obama by caving into the Repukes(McConnell's) demands.

Thats not to say that other Democrats in the Senate didn't wipe McConnell's....The whole damn legislative branch is owned(with a few exceptions) by the corporate mafia.

[DFW]

5. My dream scene for today:

Obama calls Bonehead and McTurtle and says: "Look, both of you know full well that
my job is to sign or veto legislation, and it's the job of Congress to pass legislation.

"You need to talk to Reid and Pelosi. NOW. My oath of office says I act to protect the
Constitution and that includes the clause in the 14th amendment that says we honor our
obligations. Get a deal done, one I can sign, or I invoke the 14th Amendment tomorrow,
and you can yell and scream all you want. And John, you can start impeachment proceedings
if you want. You don't have the Senate and you'll lose and I'll get Bill Clinton's
approval ratings by next November minus whatever your racists at Fox and the Koch
Brothers' political PACs can deliver. Tell your teabaggers that you will get them to
vote with you, or you will get Pelosi to vote with you. Your call. I have Iraq, Afghanistan
and Libya on hold. You have breakfast. Call me when you have something of substance for me.
Or don't. We're done here."

[Tootz]

7. Just want to say

This is an excellent post!

[DFW]

22. More like "wishful thinking," I fear

But I'm on vacation, so I'm allowed to daydream a little.

[Champion Jack]

9. +1,000,000,000

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. I'd like to recommend post # 5 for the dream scene

But I'll just rec the OP instead.

[PCIntern]

11. wonderful post...thanks! k/r

[INdemo]

14. True...Now going back in history to say the Truman era

and this is exactly what would have happen

[DFW]

21. I know

"Give 'em hell Harry" has given way to "Give 'em oatmeal Obama."

But I'm still confident Obama has it in him to give 'em a little hell, too.
I just think his kindling temperature is a little high than Truman's was.

I hope so, anyway.

[coalition_unwilling]

17. I like the cut of your jib, even though WH attorneys have reportedly

advised Obama against the 14th Amendment Solution.

[DFW]

20. I'm sure they have, and I'm sure he'd hate to resort to it

But if it's down to default or not default, then my bet is he'll opt for not to default.

Unless, that is, he can find a way to withhold all federal funding from only those states
that voted with both Senators and a majority of their House reps to block any deal,
telling the people of those states: your elected the reps who voted for this. If you don't
like it, and I'm sure you don't, let them know in no uncertain terms, and if they still keep
voting against your interests, maybe you should rethink who it is you want to represent you
come next November.

[coalition_unwilling]

25. I really like the cut of your jib now, making those who voted for

these TeaBag whackjobs pay the piper :) Ah, but then the 'Due Process' clause of selfsame 14th Amendment, Section 1 would come into play. Oh well. One can wish, I suppose.

[lonestarnot]

19. Love dat!

[adhd_what_huh]

6. Please!

[Poll_Blind]

16. Reid: 'I'm the Senate majority leader. Why don't I know about this deal?'

Reid: 'I'm the Senate majority leader. Why don't I know about this deal?'

Obama did the same damned thing last December, too.

PB

[chill_wind]

18. WH asked him to postpone his vote last night

because The Adults were cutting a final deal even as he was in the last hours on the floor.
Good thing, too because the poor fragile Republican were crying Reid was pressuring them!

http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/174555-reid-postpones-vote-to-end-gop-filibuster-of-his-debt-limit-plan

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Alass the system has completely broken

and the Pugs are getting whatever they want...

This is 20% or less of the population that is having a victory lap here folks...

Let me see, what is the name used by the founders? Oh yeah TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY.

[lonestarlib]

24. This is bothering me, too. Reid is "in contact with", but he's

not part of the "negotiation".