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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / FREAKOUT

FREAKOUT

by John Cole|  August 1, 20116:26 pm| 398 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Tell me why I am supposed to be freaking out right now. I’m remarkably calm, and not used to it. I don’t even feel angry at the moment. I’m not drunk. Am I having a heart attack?

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Previous Post: « Conservatives maybe a tad worried about Wisconsin?
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Reader Interactions

398Comments

  1. 1.

    MarkusB

    August 1, 2011 at 6:27 pm

    I’m not drunk.

    There’s your answer.

  2. 2.

    NobodySpecial

    August 1, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    They used extra lube this time? Guessing.

  3. 3.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Well most of the spending cuts are backloaded, and we have somewhat resolved this issue.

    I think most of the problem with the deal to me on first blush is that we couldn’t make Boehner cry tears of sorrow, although I don’t think switching our MO from “Trying to do right by the country” to “Making Republicans cry” works for actually doing anything right in the future.

    But it might make us feel better, so who really knows.

  4. 4.

    lottirose

    August 1, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Brain apnea – from sensory overload.

  5. 5.

    Pine Lake Larry

    August 1, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    It’s called depression. Drinking helps.

  6. 6.

    JPL

    August 1, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    Biden called the tea party terrorists during a democratic meeting today and the repub chairman is calling for an apology. Guess that is not happening soon. That’s good news.

  7. 7.

    ruemara

    August 1, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    Your laughter from them using deem and pass for the 2012 budget is keeping you jubilant.

    The 2012 budget: At one point in the negotiations, the 2012 budget was to be slashed by $36 billion. The final number of cuts: just $7 billion. And just to ensure we don’t have another bruising government shutdown fight over cuts in September, the deal deems and passes the 2012 budget. Yes, that’s right, the old Gephardt Rule or Slaughter Solution, is back. What’s deem and pass? It’s a legislative trick that essentially means that Congress will consider the budget passed without ever actually having to vote on it.

    Nothing screams amateur like this.

  8. 8.

    chopper

    August 1, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    you’re getting old. you fossil.

  9. 9.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 1, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    If it were a heart attack, you probably could not have made a blog entry.

    So it must be something else. Mind control rays from Rosie?

  10. 10.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    Hungry Freaks Daddy from Freakout. F Zappa 1966

    Mister America
    Walk on by
    Your schools that do not teach
    Mister America
    Walk on by
    The minds that won’t be reached
    Mister America
    Try to hide
    The emptiness that’s you inside
    When once you find that the way you lied
    And all the corny tricks you tried
    Will not forestall the rising tide of
    Hungry freaks, Daddy . . .

    They won’t go
    For no more
    Great mid-western hardware store
    Philosophy that turns away
    From those who aren’t afraid to say
    What’s on their minds
    (The left-behinds of the Great Society)

  11. 11.

    Cris (without an H)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    C’est chic.

  12. 12.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    Can we get a Flog Your Congressperson thread to encourage everyone to call their Congresspersons and encourage them to vote no?

    Or are we on Norquist’s side here?

  13. 13.

    lol chikinburd

    August 1, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    Because of the “SATAN SANDWICH”, of course.

    (Sorry about their ad, but it’s the only place I could find the clip.)

  14. 14.

    Johannes

    August 1, 2011 at 6:32 pm

    Jack, you dead.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6GbmrYud58

  15. 15.

    Citizen Alan

    August 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Outrage fatigue. I haven’t checked Sully’s site, but I do wonder what he thinks about it now that we really do have an honest-to-God Fifth Column plotting to destroy our country.

  16. 16.

    MojoQuestor (fka MarkusB)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    I’m still freaking out a little, what with the awesome sauce all this will bring to job creation and the economy.

    Also, too, oops, I must be the one who’s drunk. I didn’t realize I had used an old, old name with the first poast. That’s what I get for switching back and forth between browers. Firefox has a long memory.

  17. 17.

    DonkeyKong

    August 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Tunch has drugged you and will be eating well over the fall and winter.

  18. 18.

    philowitz

    August 1, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Take deep breaths as the kabuki performance winds down to its close. We have no power over this but will be forced to deal with the fallout as it happens in our lives and in those of our neighbors.

  19. 19.

    GregB

    August 1, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    Cole,

    You’ve entered the wingularity.

  20. 20.

    Riggsveda

    August 1, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    It’s the same reason you can look down at your newly amputated leg stump after a car accident and not feel anything: shock.

  21. 21.

    JGabriel

    August 1, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    @BlueDWarrior:

    I think most of the problem with the deal to me on first blush is that we couldn’t make Boehner cry tears of sorrow …

    Nah, all you have to do to make Boehner cry is insult a Fox News host or mock a billionaire.

    Unless, by “couldn’t make Boehner cry” you mean “feeling like we gave in to the demands of conservative terrorists”, because then yeah, that’s part of the problem a lot of us are having with this bill.

    .

  22. 22.

    JPL

    August 1, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    Boehner is on CBS spouting that he won because the President wasn’t serious about cutting spending. The bill is 2.1 trillion in cuts and Obama had 3 trillion in cuts. Surely the interviewer has listened to the President’s speeches but he didn’t challenge Boehner at all. I hate the press.

  23. 23.

    Cris (without an H)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    @Citizen Alan: I haven’t checked Sully’s site

    So you must feel calm as well.

  24. 24.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 6:37 pm

    @ruemara: Hrm, I did not notice that

    Is this the April Shutdown averting deal writ large again, minor cuts that are put off way down the line in order to make sure the government can actually continue to function in the here and now?

    Who knows really

    Personally anything that can keep the government functioning at or very close to what it is now until the next election when we can get rid of these Teatards will at the very least allow me to sleep at night.

  25. 25.

    MojoQuestor (fka MarkusB)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    DonkeyKong @16:

    Tunch has drugged you and will be eating well over the fall and winter.

    Or perhaps it was Rosie.

    “Banish me to a crate, hah? I’ll show you.”

  26. 26.

    harlana

    August 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    It’s what happens when you exceed Peak Outrage Fatigue, welcome to the club

  27. 27.

    Violet

    August 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Good news:

    Here’s Rupert Murdoch’s worst nightmare: Nick Davies, the tenacious investigative reporter for the Guardian who has broken much of the Hackinggate story, comes to the U.S. in search of News Corp. crimes and coverup.
    __
    Well, it’s come true. Davies arrives in New York today. He’ll be there until Friday, and then he’s going to Los Angeles in pursuit of hacking-type practices that might have been carried out on U.S. soil by Murdoch’s U.S. reporters, by his U.K. reporters working in the U.S., or by private detectives hired by News Corp.

    Yes, please commit some journalism in America. Show our “reporters” how it’s done.

  28. 28.

    gbear

    August 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    If you were having a mild heart attack it would feel like you’d swallowed a golfball (trust me on this one). If it was serious, you’d feel like you’d swallowed a cherry bomb. A lit cherry bomb.

  29. 29.

    kdaug

    August 1, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    DTs, mate. They’re a bitch

  30. 30.

    Hugh

    August 1, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    It’s sweet surrender.

  31. 31.

    Loviatar

    August 1, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    Because you’re still a Republican.

    You’ve gotten pretty much what you’ve wanted under the cover of a so called Democratic president (extension of the Bush Tax cuts, Insurance scheme giveaway to big business instead of UHC, no prosecution leading from the financial crash, continuance of two wars, etc.). Also, you’ve gotten everyone to forget your support of the execrable George W. Bush for two terms.

    So why shouldn’t you feel calm, everything else from here on in is gravy.

    I guess thats a little shrill for the you Obots, but when its true, it true no matter how shill you say it.

  32. 32.

    Mustang Bobby

    August 1, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    I’m not freaking either, but thanks for an idea for my “A Little Night Music” post tonight.

  33. 33.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    Hrm, according to new reports Biden says Obama was willing to use the 14 Amdmt if it really absolutely did come to that. Which leads me to believe that Obama actually viewed that option as a real “Only break in case of Emergency” instead of “Use to short-circut something that may benefit Republicans”

    I dunno, once again, I honestly do not know what to think of this situation, because how do you deal with someone perfectly willing to burn the house to the ground and brandishing a lit flamethrower?

    Frankly I think anyone who thought these 2 years wouldn’t be hell once the collective we let the person with the flamethrower into the house was naive.

  34. 34.

    RAM

    August 1, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    It could be a stroke. Or you might be hungry. Try a nice steak with a side of green beans and see how you feel then.

  35. 35.

    Kiril

    August 1, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Now I don’t even want to have to be associated with [Obama], it’s like touching a tar baby and you’re stuck, you’re part of the problem now. You can’t get away.

    –Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

    via

  36. 36.

    MojoQuestor (fka MarkusB)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Violet @27

    Nick Davies . . . arrives in New York today.

    Yes, please commit some journalism in America.

    Cheers

    edit: fix mah blockquote fail

  37. 37.

    boss bitch

    August 1, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    Its The Crying Wolf Syndrome

  38. 38.

    scav

    August 1, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    Catch up, because I think there may still be some hard-of-hearing alien on the far side of Mars that hasn’t figured out this nation hasn’t bothered to merely lose its marbles but is instead going for the option of jumping up and down on them violently.

  39. 39.

    ruemara

    August 1, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    @Loviatar:
    um, there’s no extension of the bush tax cuts on the upper class in this bill.

  40. 40.

    kmeyer the lurker

    August 1, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Perhaps you’ve moved on to acceptance that we are going to purposefully tank the economy during a recession because the other side has no sense of shame, never shuts up, and essentially feeds the news to our ‘broadcasters,’ while our side simply refuses to acknowledge who they are dealing with.

    There’s a great clip out there (I’m lazy) from December 2010 of a reporter asking Obama if he’s worried about the Republicans doing what they basically just did. (use the debt celing vote to throw the mother of all tantrums) Obama’s response was basically deer-in-the-headlights. He’s not a Republican plant, he’s not evil, he’s simply totally incompetent and naive.

    And over the cliff we go. I’m going to start drinking early today.

  41. 41.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    August 1, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    @gbear: Weird, I felt like that when I woke up at 2am last night, only it was a flaming golf ball. I am guessing it was reflux.

  42. 42.

    /dev/null

    August 1, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    The evil of two lessers.

  43. 43.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    Has the vote actually started yet, or is everyone still posturing on the floor of the House?

  44. 44.

    Kiril

    August 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    Yglesias says there is almost no time between the end of this crisis and the beginning of the next. Two more months of this, John:

    One question I hear people debating today is whether or not these agreed-upon spending caps will preempt a government shutdown fight when the current continuing resolution expires at the end of September. The correct answer is “no,” it will not. Even if you grant that agreement on caps preempts disagreeing about the level of domestic discretionary spending, that doesn’t take away the possibility of a huge fight over policy riders. You remember policy riders, don’t you? Provisions like defunding NPR, ensuring that nobody who receives taxpayer dollars ever shakes hands with anyone who’s ever performed an abortion, etc. Especially under a scenario where party leaders aren’t disagreeing about the total quantity of spending, the field will be wide open for debates over policy riders.

    Also, where’s Tunch? He’s inside, right?

  45. 45.

    Bruce S

    August 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    This is kind of incredible – as testament to how far off the cliff the GOP has gone. Only Huntsman among GOP Presidential hopefuls supports the deal:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/us/politics/02repubs.html

    The big problem for GOP primary voters is separating the craven and cowardly opportunists from the totally crazy people. Good luck…

  46. 46.

    srv

    August 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    No John, but we progressives have got to let you go like Chuck did.

  47. 47.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 6:47 pm

    You’re calm because HSS Dept. has made insurance companies provide birth control pills without a copay or deductible.

  48. 48.

    ruemara

    August 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    @Mnemosyne: There’s always time to posture. It’s fucking yoga all the time for them.

  49. 49.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    @Mnemosyne: They are voting to have the vote.

  50. 50.

    MojoQuestor (fka MarkusB)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Kiril @35:

    Now I don’t even want to have to be associated with [Obama], it’s like touching a tar baby and you’re stuck, you’re part of the problem now. You can’t get away.

    —Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

    Now, I don’t want to suggest anything untoward, but I thought I remember from a few years ago that “tar baby” was something of a faux pas. Have we managed to define dogwhistlery down that far?

  51. 51.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    @Kiril: Well considering the Tea Party still wants to burn the house to the ground by any means it can get it’s hands on and Boehner is willing to give them the vehicle or medium to do it. We’re gonna have to expend all our energy and political capital trying to keep the house from getting burnt to the ground.

    Exactly how do you govern effectively when one of hte parties are functionally insane. The answer: you don’t, you just grab hold of something sturdy and hang on for dear life.

  52. 52.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    @Citizen Alan: You must be joking. Everyone knows that refusing to spend money on an unnecessary war is Fifth Column material. Refusing to spend money on basic governmental services and social needs is Very Serious.

  53. 53.

    BGinCHI

    August 1, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    Hamsher will tell you when to panic.

    Just relax for now.

  54. 54.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    asshole motherfucker from North Carolina has to have a recorded vote, 15 minutes more.

  55. 55.

    Keith G

    August 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Tell me why I am supposed to be freaking out right now. I’m remarkably calm, and not used to it. I don’t even feel angry at the moment. I’m not drunk. Am I having a heart attack?

    You’re a white middle class male with a secure job, nice house and no human dependents. You are doing pretty fucking good and will continue to do so no matter what Obama does or does not do.

    If you were freaking out right now, we’d have to put you down.

  56. 56.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 1, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    @JPL:

    The Republicans should apologize for being terrorists. The only apology Biden should entertain from them is a Captain Needa apology.

  57. 57.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    @JPL:

    Biden called the tea party terrorists during a democratic meeting today and the repub chairman is calling for an apology. Guess that is not happening soon. That’s good news.

    Srsly? That’s awesome. Ten lashes for man who speak truth!

  58. 58.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter and etc. etc.

    I really hope this isn’t the beginning to another bifurcation of America, I thought we already went through this crap 150 years ago…

  59. 59.

    Redshift

    August 1, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    Somebody tell Cole’s mom that she got the dosage right.

  60. 60.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    Guess I was wrong, they’s a votin.

  61. 61.

    JGabriel

    August 1, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    JPL:

    Biden called the tea party terrorists during a democratic meeting today and the repub chairman is calling for an apology.

    Biden should apologize. Biden should say, “I’m sorry the tea party are terrorists.”

    .

  62. 62.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    jamiedupree Jamie Dupree
    GABBY GIFFORDS BACK: “Gabrielle has returned to Washington to support a bipartisan bill to prevent economic crisis. ”
    2 minutes ago

  63. 63.

    burnspbesq

    August 1, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    @Loviatar:

    You wouldn’t know the truth if it bit your dick off and spat it in your face.

  64. 64.

    tomvox1

    August 1, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Um, cause Twitter expert analysis says Obama got completely & totally ROLLED and he is a worse negotiator than Butters. Must be so, right?

  65. 65.

    JPL

    August 1, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    @Redshift: lol.. I want what John is having…

  66. 66.

    srv

    August 1, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    The Republicans should apologize for being terrorists

    Biden should apologize to terrorists for the comparison. Terrorists usually only want to kill enough people to affect their desired change. The Republicans just enjoy hurting as many people as possible.

  67. 67.

    Kiril

    August 1, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    Don’t watch this John! You’ll freak out!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOaZCkA8Zvk&feature=player_embedded

  68. 68.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    I like this. If I had my way not a single Dem would vote, yes or no, till all the Republicans have gone in

    The massive, 75-member Congressional Progressive Caucus is vowing to oppose the bill. The Congressional Black Caucus is whipping its members to withhold their votes — yes, or no — until Boehner can demonstrate that more than half of his members support the plan

    50 no votes from the Republicans so far

  69. 69.

    slag

    August 1, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    @BlueDWarrior:

    I really hope this isn’t the beginning to another bifurcation of America, I thought we already went through this crap 150 years ago…

    The beginning? The Crazification Factor wasn’t born yesterday, you know.

  70. 70.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Tough stuff that Gabby is made of. I remember being in comments here when NPR announced she was dead–wow, that seems like years ago.

    Here’s another tough grrrl, who takes one round of two with a mamma bear.

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2015790715_apusmontanabearattack.html

  71. 71.

    pragmatism

    August 1, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    all of this is good news for jane hamsher.

  72. 72.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    @slag: This is essentially the original bifurcation, isn’t it? They always said “The South Shall Rise Again!” This is it.

  73. 73.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    yowza. Gabrielle Giffords is voting

  74. 74.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    @trollhattan: Hell yes! Poor bear didn’t know what he was getting into!

  75. 75.

    Constance

    August 1, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    I’m perfectly calm. It’s as though someone was diagnosed as dying six months ago and I grieved and grieved and now they are dead and at least temporarily, I’m all grieved out. At noon today I was in a complete rage at all things Republican, Libertarian and Tea Party (which makes up about 70 percent of the population in Douglas County, Nev.) but for some reason that passed and I’m perfectly calm. But glad I don’t own guns in case the rage comes back.

  76. 76.

    j

    August 1, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    @Riggsveda: …And a year later have an itch on your leg that isn’t there. Phantom limb…

  77. 77.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    @Keith G: Ding! Ding! Ding! That’s the correct answer.

  78. 78.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Constance

    get a couple

  79. 79.

    Trurl

    August 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    Who says you should be freaking out?

    A wise and noble man is your President. And he’s “got this” – whatever the “this” of the moment is.

    Don’t worry your pretty little head about a thing. Obama is making sure you get exactly what you deserve.

  80. 80.

    DonkeyKong

    August 1, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    John coles Nightmare in waiting for tonight…..

    Michelle Bachmann: He has confessed all, brothers: Murder, Use of forbidden tools, Practice of prescribed rights, Emit science, Medicine, dance music on his iPod, Mockery, Love of small dogs and fat cats. He has not shared the punishment. He does not bear the marks.
    John cole: Marks?
    Michelle Bachmann: Show him, my patriots. Show him the pretty marks.
    [the members take off their sunglasses, revealing their albino, near-blind eyes that can’t see how fashionable Mr. Bachmann is.]
    Michelle Bachmann: These are the marks, Mr. Cole. The punishment which you and those like you brought upon us. In the beginning, we tried to help one another, those that were left. We tried to clean things up, set things straight. We buried things and burned. Then it came to me and we were chosen. Chosen for just this work: To bury what was dead. To burn what was evil. To destroy what was dangerous.
    John Cole: You’re barbarians.
    Teabaggers: Barbarians? You call us barbarians? Well… it is an honorable name. We mean to cancel the world you civilized people made. We will simply erase history from the time that shoshalism, education and teleprompters threaten more than they offered. And when you die, the last living reminder of hell will be gone. Gone!

  81. 81.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I haven’t seen anything official, but it wouldn’t be the first time that Nancy let the Republicans scramble to rustle up the votes they need to pass their own plan.

    You’ll know for sure that’s what’s going on if you see a lot of Democrats doing a “pass” when their turn comes up to force the Republicans to cast their votes first.

  82. 82.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    @JPL: Boehner is on CBS spouting that he won because the President wasn’t serious about cutting spending. The bill is 2.1 trillion in cuts and Obama had 3 trillion in cuts. Surely the interviewer has listened to the President’s speeches but he didn’t challenge Boehner at all. I hate the press. Did you expect anything different with the MSM we have? Any agreement whatsoever will automatically be a win for the Repubs, it’s in the unwritten agreement between the wingnuts and the media

  83. 83.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Pretty fucking incredible to see Gabby there.

  84. 84.

    harlana

    August 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    kmeyer the lurker: thanks for bringing that up, I heard the clip on the radio and his response was something like “I have faith in speaker Boehner” blah blah, but he did seem a bit put off guard by the question, and the reporter practically laid out a similar scenario to what we are witnessing now, right in his lap, and asked him if he was concerned about that happening. It was an interesting exchange.

  85. 85.

    danimal

    August 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    Am I having a heart attack?

    I’ve had a heart attack, and freaking out isn’t a necessary component. Pay attention to your symptoms. A lot of survivors will confirm that the symptoms aren’t nearly as dramatic as you see in a Hollywood flick.

    Pressure in the chest, nausea, pain radiating down the left arm, sweats, shallow breathing are all possible signs of a heart attack. The trouble is, they also occur when a rational person recognizes the maturity level of the typical Republican congressional representative.

    /end PSA

  86. 86.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    and it passes…

    173 for 66 against for the R
    92/92 from the Dems

  87. 87.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    August 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    It happened just like I thought it would; the teabaggers and progressives were locked out of the bill via language while the rest of the body passes the bill.

  88. 88.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    August 1, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Well that’s a rousing vote of confidence from both sides there.

  89. 89.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Did you think Gabby would be there?

  90. 90.

    boss bitch

    August 1, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    Gabrielle Giffords came back to vote. Awesome.

  91. 91.

    Keith G

    August 1, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    Speaking of drinking, I need recommendations for my next mid priced single malt. Earlier in the year I enjoyed Highland Park and recently Bowmore (a fantastic Islay).

  92. 92.

    BlueDWarrior

    August 1, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    It’s funny how the DEM vote count ended up almost exactly split, like you know, it seems like the base of the party is probably exactly split on this issue when you really drill down to it.

  93. 93.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    @DonkeyKong:

    **SPOILER ALERT**

    If you ever read the original Richard Matheson book (or see the Vincent Prince version of the movie), the ending has a very different tone as Neville realizes that he is the monster, not the “vampires,” and his execution is justified.

  94. 94.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Tweety going along with Politico-bot that both sides were petty and partisan. I suspect in the second half of the show, he’ll be blowing raspberries at the Tea Party again.

  95. 95.

    Comrade Mary

    August 1, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    So does this still have to pass the Senate (again?) Reuters is saying the Senate will have to vote tomorrow.

    Any bets on a filibuster?

  96. 96.

    slag

    August 1, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    @Barb (formerly Gex): Totally. Complete with overtly racist rhetoric.

  97. 97.

    CaseyL

    August 1, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    92/92 for the Dems, with Gabby Giffords arriving to cast her Yea vote with 30 seconds to go.

    Now, that, my children, is management. That there is iron control of one’s caucus and a fine sense of drama.

    My GOD I love Nancy Pelosi.

  98. 98.

    BombIranForChrist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    I’m not freaking out, because I have fallen back into a hopeless stupor. See Bush Administration.

    Obama is not anywhere near as bad, but he still sucks, and at some point, it doesn’t help to tell me that at least dog poop doesn’t taste as bad as cow poop. It’s still poop.

  99. 99.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Jane and company are hammering Gabby.

  100. 100.

    mikefromArlington

    August 1, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Why? Because he’s Barack O’Bushcarterbama. That’s why.

  101. 101.

    JPL

    August 1, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): That was amazing. She appears to stand and at one point I could read her lips saying thank you. I’m in tears.. Just awesome.

  102. 102.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    @CaseyL: We need Nancy Smash t-shirts.

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): Fucking predictable.

  103. 103.

    Davis X. Machina

    August 1, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    After a certain age, and Cole is pushing it, you’ve seen the Republic get killed more times than the hero’s black sidekick.

  104. 104.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Jane and company are hammering Gabby.

    ?! For being alive? For showing up? For supporting her party? For representing her constituents?

    Yeesh

  105. 105.

    chopper

    August 1, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    on the bright side, that’s 173 goopers who are going to face teabagger challengers in their next election.

  106. 106.

    Uncle Clarence Thomas

    August 1, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    .
    .
    You should freak out because those “people” at correntewire.com are calling him “President Fuck You” just because he and his kleptocrat friends are savaging the sick, elderly, young, poor and working class.
    .
    .

  107. 107.

    j

    August 1, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    @Johannes: WOWIE!!! Thanks for that blast from the past.

    I’m gonna make a highball and pretend boxer shorts and a teeshirt are a Zoot Suit and listen to that album right now!

    (Hep, hep)

    I’ll be dancin’ (in my undies) with a drink in my hand just like the swells at the Playboy club (undies =suits today) because the weather is too DAMN hot.

  108. 108.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    @trollhattan: I just suggested they could primary her too.

  109. 109.

    PanAmerican

    August 1, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    Shit then – that’s it? No magic coins? I was SO gonna get one for my collection.

  110. 110.

    Trentrunner

    August 1, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    Nice job, Tea Party:

    We will shoot you in the head, and you will still vote for our shit sandwich.

    Nice.

  111. 111.

    TaMara (BHF)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Gabby Giffords looked great, if a little overwhelmed by the standing O. Brought tears to my eyes.

  112. 112.

    Alex S.

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    The split demo vote was probably manufactured to give the impression that this is a republican bill, but the Dems do their duty. It kills any possible anti-democrat narrative.

  113. 113.

    J.D. Rhoades

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    I wouldn’t be so pissed off if I had any faith at all that Obama would hold the line and let the Bush tax cuts expire, including using the veto to make sure they do.

    But I don’t have that faith.

  114. 114.

    nastybrutishntall

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Passed House!

  115. 115.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    @kmeyer the lurker:

    And over the cliff we go. I’m going to start drinking early today.

    Be my guest but can I make a request? please gather up the rest of the whiny ass yippers here with you and move it some place else so we won’t have to remodel when you all get through hiking your legs and pissing on the furniture.

  116. 116.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Heh, where would you like your intertrons delivered?

  117. 117.

    A L

    August 1, 2011 at 7:20 pm

    Gabby Giffords christened this thing so watch the liberals fall all over themselves to hi-five everyone over the destruction of Pell grants and the like.

    You people are way too easy.

  118. 118.

    rikyrah

    August 1, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    because, you are a realist.

    ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES

    WHAT did people think would happen once the Teabagging lunatics won in November 2010?

    Harry Reid has done a yoeman’s job, shielding us from their stupidity, by letting their idiocy die in the Senate.

    Harry Reid has basically been playing whack a mole with the GOP LUNACY from the House.

    but, as with all determined sociopaths, our time was up, and they were able to inflict pain with this fire.

  119. 119.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    @trollhattan: I dropped it there my goddamn self, they know who I am.

    and here’s what I get
    “n response to Raven @ 122 (show text)

    we will,thanks for the suggestion”

  120. 120.

    Davis X. Machina

    August 1, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    @Alex S.:

    It kills any possible anti-democrat narrative.

    True for the set of any worlds, such that the world is populated by sane people.

  121. 121.

    Reality Check

    August 1, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    And the GOP wins big again. Pass the popcorn for the coming Democrat Civil War..

  122. 122.

    harlana

    August 1, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    I find the “sausage-making” analogies a bit disconcerting. So they’re making us watch the whole disgusting sausage grinding process and now we gotta eat the end result, something that’s bad for us and that, some people might consider, pretty gross. And then thank your diety they kept you from starving.

  123. 123.

    PreservedKillick

    August 1, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    Just read Sully on the debt vote.

    If he seriously thinks that the debt is our greatest problem, I want to live in his world.

  124. 124.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    My new todo list:
    1.Save even more money for my old age
    2.Work even more overtime
    3.Kiss up to my rich aunt Sophie
    4.Marry a rich man
    5.Buy lottery ticket
    6.Get third job

  125. 125.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:24 pm

    @chopper:

    that’s 173 goopers who are going to face teabagger challengers in their next election.

    2012 may be a bit tougher for Republicans than most people think

    At an Atlanta Rotary Club event in June, Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue ominously said of the freshman resistance, “We’ve got a lot of new people pounding their chest.” And, he added, “We’ll get rid of you.”

  126. 126.

    slag

    August 1, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    @Reality Check:

    And the GOP wins big again.

    The GOP win is big only in relation to the victor’s merit.

  127. 127.

    Loneoak

    August 1, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    @Barb (formerly Gex):

    @CaseyL: We need Nancy Smash t-shirts.

    Seconded!

  128. 128.

    WereBear

    August 1, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    Keith G @91: Speyburn is quite reasonable and respectable.

    On topic: another vote? My brain hurts.

  129. 129.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    @rikyrah: Do you really think this wasn’t done without the democrats? They all were for it, even if their votes in the final tally weren’t. Once they had all the yes votes that they needed, they felt free to be against it so you would post just what you did and think they fought the good fight.

  130. 130.

    me

    August 1, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    The Snooze Hour has a report about how interest rates on US bonds are dropping despite the threats of downgrade from rating agencies. The bond vigilantes apparently don’t give a fuck about Moodys.

  131. 131.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    I’m remarkably calm, and not used to it. I don’t even feel angry at the moment.

    Well I know why I am somewhat calm right now. I realize that I will get a SS check this month so I won’t have to dip into savings to pay the bills this month, and won’t have to worry about medicare paying the docs for my monthly visits. Time to celebrate. Unlike the whiney asshole trolls and naysayers here , I appreciate what Obama and the dems in the house and senate have done for me. Of course I image that most of the bitchers don’t have to worry about bills and doctors payments but I am sure that most of us on SS do appreciate what has been done for us

  132. 132.

    Anya

    August 1, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    John, I am with you. No need for a freak-out. You can always find something to be cheerful about.

  133. 133.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    @grandpajohn: Let’s see how remarkably calm you will be in a couple of years when the supercongress votes to cut your lifelines.

  134. 134.

    TaMara (BHF)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    @Kiril: Well just fuck. And on Colorado Day no less. Proud to be a Coloradoan today folks.

  135. 135.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Ugh. Either they’re irony-proof or they’re mental. I guess it could be both.

  136. 136.

    chopper

    August 1, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    @grandpajohn:

    don’t mention that over at the GOS. they were practically demanding default earlier today.

  137. 137.

    srv

    August 1, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    At least for today, we know that Wall Street still controls the Republican party.

  138. 138.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    @Anya: I had to sit through a Karl Rove commercial to get to your song. But it was worth it to hear Stephen Hawking sing Boom-dee-yada

  139. 139.

    RossInDetroit

    August 1, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    The upside of this is that no matter what the GOP did it would infuriate one of their important, diametrically opposed constituencies: the TP-ers who want the government burned to the ground or the Galtian Overlords who want the fleecing of the populace to proceed with minimal hindrance.

    They’re screwed sideways and they know it.

  140. 140.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 7:32 pm

    You? Who said anything about you?

  141. 141.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    @cathyx:

    Let’s see how remarkably calm you will be in a couple of years when the supercongress votes to cut your lifelines.

    Yes, Pelosi will let that happen, right after she eats a newborn baby live on national television.

    Run along, Chicken Little.

  142. 142.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    @trollhattan: At least TBogg jumped in as well.

  143. 143.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    @chopper:

    don’t mention that over at the GOS. they were practically demanding default earlier today.

    They have a really hard core belief in 14th Amendment Fairies over there.

    Seriously, almost every one of was going to screech about any deal whatsoever. They wanted all deals to fall through and for Obama to just ‘invoke’ the 14th amendment (whatever that means) and only a few of them were honest enough to admit it up front.

    So now they’re all going to screech about it being the worst deal in the history mankind and talk about the end of the nation simply to justify their horror that any deal was agreed upon. Because it screwed up their fantasy world.

  144. 144.

    kmeyer the lurker

    August 1, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    @grandpajohn: Well, that was hostile. Thanks for reminding me why I lurk!

  145. 145.

    Catpause

    August 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    2 years ago I was hoping for health care and retirement. Not for free. I would have gladly paid for both. Today I have neither and we are looking down the barrel of a double dip recession, á la Teatard. Seditious actions from the right must be tamped down. I invite my various democratic representatives to bring pistol to the next gun fight.

  146. 146.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    @Brian R.: It’s so cute how naive you are. Where have you been these past several years?

  147. 147.

    Irony Abounds

    August 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    I’ll choose to look on the bright side. There are 174 Republicans who may well be primaried by wacko teabaggers who will make it that much easier for the Dems to retake the House.

  148. 148.

    Johannes

    August 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    @trollhattan: All of the above, really.

  149. 149.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    @cathyx:

    Let’s see how remarkably calm you will be in a couple of years when the supercongress votes to cut your lifelines.

    Well, since he was looking at the near certainty of not getting his money without a deal and in the course of the next couple of years a variety of things could happen, including, but not limited to, a lottery win, a change in the make up of Congress, his death (no offense and not wishing for it, grandpajohn), alien invasion, an Israeli-Iran war that escalates, and the Lions winning the Super Bowl, I would guess that he, along with many people will take the sure thing and not worry too, too much about cuts that may never happen. Oh, yeah, the cuts are less likely to happen if people work their asses off to elect Democrats to Congress and keep Obama in the White House.

  150. 150.

    Anya

    August 1, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    @Reality Check: Now I know you’re not a true wingnut….… Actual wingnutes are enraged.

  151. 151.

    agrippa

    August 1, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    Elections have consequences.

    The GOP won in Nov 2010. Not only in washington, but in several states.

    People here can bitch about Obama and “Obamabots” unto the crack of doom. Be my guest.

    That does not undo the results of Nov 2010. Live with the consequences.

  152. 152.

    Southern Beale

    August 1, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    Most of Newt Gingrich’s Twitter followers are fake.

    HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

  153. 153.

    Violet

    August 1, 2011 at 7:39 pm

    @cathyx:

    My new todo list:
    1.Save even more money for my old age
    2.Work even more overtime
    3.Kiss up to my rich aunt Sophie
    4.Marry a rich man
    5.Buy lottery ticket
    6.Get third job

    Just put “die young” on the top of the list and you don’t need to worry about the other ones. It’s what the Republicans want you to do.

  154. 154.

    Anya

    August 1, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I am sorry about that. Truly sorry. When I watched, I did not see that commercial.

  155. 155.

    JGabriel

    August 1, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    House passes debt bill: 269-161

    Republicans: 174-66
    Democrats: 95-95

    .

  156. 156.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Wow, a near certainty! About as likely as all the other possibilities you listed.

  157. 157.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    Okay, mademelook. They’re jumping around themselves like a handful of fleas, aren’t they? (“But, but, but, I meant well.”)

    Now I’m gettin’ back on the boat.

  158. 158.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 7:43 pm

    @cathyx: Well, then. Please continue to freak out.

  159. 159.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    @Violet:

    But Alan Grayson was shrill.

  160. 160.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    @cathyx:

    It’s so cute how naive you are. Where have you been these past several years?

    Working in Washington D.C., including a stint doing work for the Democratic caucus in the House for a while.

    But, yeah, I’m sure you have a better grasp of what’s going on here, what with being an internet troll and all. Keep pissing in your pants if it makes you happy.

  161. 161.

    NR

    August 1, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    Maybe you should be freaking out because the White House is still fundamentally clueless about… well, everything?

    Officials also argued that enough enticements and penalties are in place to secure an effective super committee. They said members of Congress would likely recoil at the gamesmanship involved in shelving the committee’s recommendations and therefore feel compelled to place well-intentioned lawmakers on the committee.

    One White House Official said Republicans would be unlikely to stack the committee with Tea Party members, “because they have the same incentives. The worse case scenario for Republicans, if you don’t want tax increases, is to have it end up in a place where the committee fails. They do not want the committee to fail.”

    These people have obviously learned nothing from the last three months. And THAT should scare the crap out of everyone here.

  162. 162.

    Emma

    August 1, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    Kmeyer: Did you really expect him to genuflect to the people who’ve pretty much told him he should just go starve in a corner while their purity brigade got their constitutional crisis?

  163. 163.

    DS

    August 1, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    I find not giving a fuck and always expecting the worst from our political leaders is immensely therapeutic.

  164. 164.

    Davis X. Machina

    August 1, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    It’s time to live as if we were already dead.

    Because we are.

    Just so you know.

  165. 165.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    @Brian R.: You need to get out of the beltway more often. You don’t seem to have a good grasp of the realities of middle america.

  166. 166.

    priscianusjr

    August 1, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    @rikyrah:

    Harry Reid has basically been playing whack a mole with the GOP LUNACY from the House.– but, as with all determined sociopaths, our time was up, and they were able to inflict pain with this fire.

    YOU ARE RIGHT.

  167. 167.

    Zach

    August 1, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    If the GOP is smart, they’ll demand that the current marginal tax rates be made permanent in exchange for another continuing resolution in two months. They’ll absolutely lose the debate on taxes in 2012 if the debate hinges on whether or not the cuts will be fully extended. The GOP can run on Democrats raising taxes whether or not it’s true; they did it in 2008 and will do it in 2012 whether or not any taxes are scheduled to increase. If Democrats can point and say that they’re just protecting tax cuts for the rich, it helps.

  168. 168.

    Southern Beale

    August 1, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    Randi Rhodes is not having a hissy fit over the deal, either. She says:

    It might not be the “balanced approach” that Obama wanted, but this is about as balanced a deal as you get when you’re dealing with people who are completely unbalanced. As Tom Brokaw pointed out, this isn’t the end of the process, this is the beginning. That’s good news in that nobody wants it to end this way, but bad news in that nobody really wants this process to continue, at least in the way it has been. As much as I despise the phrase, essentially, the can has been kicked down the road. So it’s up to us to elect people who will do the right thing with that stupid can once we get further on down the road.

    I think we’re all just worn down and used to the BS. I simply don’t have another hissy fit left in me. It’s back to blogging about cats.

  169. 169.

    burnspbesq

    August 1, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    @me:

    The bond vigilantes apparently don’t give a fuck about Moodys.

    There never were any bond vigilantes. I forget whether it was Krugman or DeLong who posted a picture of completely empty country somewhere in the southwest and captioned it, “The Bond Vigilantes Riding Over the Ridge.”

  170. 170.

    ruemara

    August 1, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    @A L:

    There’s money in there that increases Pell Grants. Next comment from someone who hasn’t read the damn thing?

  171. 171.

    slag

    August 1, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    @Anya @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I got a Totina’s Pizza Roll commercial. Almost as bad just because of how overly enthusiastic those poor people were about pizza rolls. Quiet desperation is passe, apparently. We prefer our desperation loud and obvious.

  172. 172.

    priscianusjr

    August 1, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    @PreservedKillick:

    Just read Sully on the debt vote.– If he seriously thinks that the debt is our greatest problem, I want to live in his world.

    Can somebody tell me why people read sully? I mean us people anyway.

  173. 173.

    Davis X. Machina

    August 1, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    @trollhattan: Grayson was in an +2R district. Shrillness had little to with it. Those are the seats that you gain and lose on a bigger-than-average swing. It was Republican from ’83 to ’09 (some redistricting in there, too. Bush twice, by +9. So an Obama coat-tail seat.

    Less here than meets the eye.

  174. 174.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    oh FUCK. It passed already??

    FUCK FUCK FUCK. Fuck ALL of them.

    I am officially finished being an Obot.

  175. 175.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    @cathyx:

    You need to get out of the beltway more often. You don’t seem to have a good grasp of the realities of middle america.

    I’m sorry, what?

    Your claim was that the Super Congress committee — which, you know, will be made up of people who work inside the Beltway — was a mortal lock to sell us all out when it came to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid etc.

    And you think you know better than I do because you have the advantage over me of not knowing a fucking thing about how the Beltway works?

    Interesting, uh, “logic” there. Sounds like you should run for Congress as a Tea Partier. They love to claim they know nothing about Washington and only they can fix it.

  176. 176.

    BalJu Commenter #2401

    August 1, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXnJVkEX8O4

    We were — waist deep in the Big Muddy
    And the big fool said to push on.

  177. 177.

    Jade Jordan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    John, that sounds dangerously close to a Sarah Palin word salad.

  178. 178.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    @ruemara: Where is the fun in commenting about something about which one have knowledge when the option to just randomly spout off based on one’s preconceived notions and prejudices is available?

  179. 179.

    priscianusjr

    August 1, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    @cathyx:

    @rikyrah: Do you really think this wasn’t done without the democrats? They all were for it, even if their votes in the final tally weren’t. Once they had all the yes votes that they needed, they felt free to be against it so you would post just what you did and think they fought the good fight.

    With all respect, I think Rikyrah is several steps ahead of you on this.

  180. 180.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    August 1, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    This bill is win-win for everyone! The bill was passed by the center of the House, allowing the teabaggers and manic progressives to vote against the bill and remain pure to their followers. Now their followers can keep frothing at the mouth and attacking their parties, as usual.

    This was some brilliantly orchestrated maneuvering!

  181. 181.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    @A L:

    so watch the liberals fall all over themselves to hi-five e

    Who’s “high-fiving”? This is finding out your cancer isn’t fatal, not finding out you don’t have cancer.

    on the Tweety Show, Kelly O’Donnell’s knickers are in a twist about who said “terrorists” in the Biden-Dem caucus meeting.

  182. 182.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    @Davis X. Machina:

    Yep, I understand (kinda, from 3,000 miles away) it wasn’t a safe seat and likely to be swept up in a Republican resurgence, but when Grayson said “Republicans want you to die quickly” on the floor he got shit-hammered for basically telling the truth. And that was the old Republicans, not this shiny new 50% nuttier crew.

  183. 183.

    priscianusjr

    August 1, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    @Southern Beale:

    As much as I despise the phrase, essentially, the can has been kicked down the road. So it’s up to us to elect people who will do the right thing with that stupid can once we get further on down the road.

    Sometimes Randy Rhodes is right. This is one of those times.

  184. 184.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    August 1, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    @Reality Check: If the Freepers reactions are any sign, I hate to see a GOP defeat.
    They are calling for GOP heads. They calling President Obama, Keyser Soze and Socialist Communist Marxist Fascist Nazi(Not to mention a supporter of the Designated Hitter Rule)

  185. 185.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    Your claim was that the Super Congress committee—which, you know, will be made up of people who work inside the Beltway—was a mortal lock to sell us all out when it came to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid etc.

    Yes, they will sell us all out when it comes to social security, medicare and medicaid. Yes.

  186. 186.

    Bruce S

    August 1, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    Keith G – August 1, 2011 | 7:11 pm · Link
    Speaking of drinking, I need recommendations for my next mid priced single malt. Earlier in the year I enjoyed Highland Park and recently Bowmore (a fantastic Islay).

    I assume you’ve already been with Laphroaig. If your pocket book can handle it, creep up the Bowmore ladder from the basic single malt. It really is great. Also, Trader Joe’s has a Highland branded under their own label that’s a good “value” single malt for $20. I use it as fall-back to justify my periodic excursions into the better Bowmores.

    Thanks for moving this to appropriate responses to the day’s news…

  187. 187.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 7:56 pm

    @cathyx:

    Which you know for sure … because you know nothing about Congress.

    Great. Thanks for playing.

  188. 188.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    @eemom: Plenty of room for you at the lake, hell you can trash Gabby Giffords just for fun.

  189. 189.

    Dexter

    August 1, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    @Zach:

    If the GOP is smart, they’ll demand that the current marginal tax rates be made permanent in exchange for another continuing resolution in two months.

    AFAIK, there is not going not going to be a CR two months later. 2012 budget is going to be passed by both chambers along with debt limit vote.

  190. 190.

    trollhattan

    August 1, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    @priscianusjr:

    The can has been kicked under the bus where it awaits the pipers coming home to roost. Also, too.

    Does anybody know what Sarah(tm) thinks of the bill passing? I can’t make up my mind until she Twittertwats something.

  191. 191.

    Davis X. Machina

    August 1, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    @trollhattan: Angry, engaged, committed minorities roll apathetic majorities all the time in politics.

    It’s the #1 reason why the millennium is running late.

  192. 192.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    @Brian R.: I see, since you work inside the beltway, you know more and have more authority than anyone else. What an ego.

  193. 193.

    harlana

    August 1, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    I was going to say, where’s the committee on jobs, but omg, they’d fuck that up for sure and we’d be even more fucked than we are now. It’s terrible when doing nothing seems to be your only option. So what’s wrong with the “hostage taker” comments? We should be way past civility with these people, surely.

  194. 194.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    Winner of today’s internets:

    It’s like watching Charlton Heston’s “damn you all to hell” speech at the end of Planet of the Apes only to find out he’s reacting to the closing of an Arby’s.

  195. 195.

    lacp

    August 1, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    So…the bond vigilantes have returned to the bunkhouse, extra-large helpings of pixie dust have been left out for the confidence fairies….how ’bout that jobs bill?

  196. 196.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    that’s mean.

    Just because I’m angry doesn’t mean I’m insane.

    Sorry if I can’t partake of your all-purpose “aw fuck it” attitude. Wish I could.

  197. 197.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Tweety actually blundered into a good idea to promote a jobs program. Get a list of every sub-standard, unsafe bridge in every district, and hammer the GOP about getting them fixed. Send official looking letters “do you and YOUR CHILDREN drive across these bridges?”

  198. 198.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    @cathyx:

    I see, since you work inside the beltway, you know more and have more authority than anyone else. What an ego.

    These are people I’ve worked with, and yes, I feel confident in saying you’re not going to see any significant cuts — or likely any cuts at all — to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

    I suppose you think you know your friends and co-workers better than me, too. What arrogance. What an ego.

  199. 199.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 8:05 pm

    @different church-lady:

    Awesome.

  200. 200.

    harlana

    August 1, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Harry says it is the Essence of Compromise, I don’t care for this parfum

  201. 201.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    @harlana:

    I was going to say, where’s the committee on jobs,

    Now that our debt crisis has been resolved, jobs are next. Woohoo!

  202. 202.

    cathyx

    August 1, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    @Brian R.: I’ll tell you what. Let’s meet here in two years and we’ll compare notes on who ends up being right. I hope it’s you, but I doubt it will be, unfortunately.

  203. 203.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    @harlana:

    Harry says it is the Essence of Compromise, I don’t care for this parfum

    This is what I like about BJ: even the people you might not agree with are frequently creative instead of just emo.

  204. 204.

    MGLoraine

    August 1, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    Greetings 0bots, hope you’re all happy now! The Bush Recession will henceforth be known as the 0bama Depression! Be sure to vote for Four More Years of this shit! Good luck finding a job!

    Just thought I’d remind everyone, that when we had a horrible “Republican” president, the Congressional Democrats frequently voted like Democrats. Since 0bama took over, Congressional Dems are compelled to vote as ultra-right wing ideologues or face retribution from the White House and his OFA thugs. Everything for 0bama’s Wall Street pals, and fuck the peasants! Yeah! We need Four More Years of pillage and plunder! 0 in 2012!!

  205. 205.

    JPL

    August 1, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    Raven, thanks for the heads up about Gabby.

  206. 206.

    Violet

    August 1, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Tweety actually blundered into a good idea to promote a jobs program. Get a list of every sub-standard, unsafe bridge in every district, and hammer the GOP about getting them fixed. Send official looking letters “do you and YOUR CHILDREN drive across these bridges?”

    I saw this too. He said he did it when he was a staffer for Tip O’Neill and O’Neill actually went with it and read the list on the floor. Tweety berated whatever Dem Rep he was talking with (Moran-KY, I think) and said “Why aren’t you doing this?”

    It’s an excellent idea. Maybe we should take this on as a Balloon-Juice project. If you live in a red district, find out what bridges are listed at below appropriate safety levels and ask the Representatives why they aren’t fixing them.

  207. 207.

    gogol's wife

    August 1, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    @Emma:

    Thank you for saving me the trouble of explaining that.

  208. 208.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    @different church-lady: OTOH some are just emo.

  209. 209.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    It’s amazing, like the HCR FREAKOUT, and the LAME DUCK freakout, the CR to fund the government FREAKOUT and several other ones of lesser note, when they reach a crescendo of Obama FAIL, WEAK CAPITULATE frothing by emo libs, it can be unnerving. Like finding a giant lizard curled up in the skillet that happened to me last summer.

    But when the dust settles, and people review the action with their heads screwed back on straight, then it isn’t anything like it was feared to be.

    And the totally amazing thing to me, is that any lessons learned, or trust earned by folks who were freaking out, and dead wrong, are quickly forgotten. And when the next one occurs, it is like the very first freakout with no record of the past ones having anything to do with anything. It’s like they didn’t happen, and OBAMA SOLD US OUT, or DEMS SOLD US OUT is a fresh and tingly experience, almost like losing one’s virginity. IT IS SO FUCKING SCARY AND WONDERFUL, ALL AT ONCE.

    The SuperCongressCommittee is another example of politicians that get so wrapped up in their passions of belief, that some adults have to step in at the last minute to defuse the situation before it burns the house down. This time Mitch Mcconnell provided the layout for the escape, and punting all this shit into the future, to get done what HAD to get done, and short circuit the tea tard crazies they got elected to get the House back.

    And I strongly suspect that when the fine print is read, the reported powers of this committee will have its own relief valves, that very little ends up coming from it, in the end.

    So in a word, there will likely be some cuts made, but years down the road, and subject to change at any time, and funds added back from a 100 different tricks used by both sides. Republican voters use social safety net money, just like, and even more than dem ones do. Usually it’s all posturing, but the tea partiers hadn’t read the brochure yet, and were serious about bringing down the US government in any way they could. The old GOP bulls put that to bed though.

  210. 210.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    @MGLoraine:

    Since 0bama took over, Congressional Dems are compelled to vote as ultra-right wing ideologues or face retribution from the White House and his OFA thugs.

    Yes, Blanche Lincoln lost her election on orders from Obama, and Joe Mancin earned Obama’s super-secret election winning support by calling Obama a socialist.

    I find PUMAs weirdly cute, like baby rhinos.

  211. 211.

    gbear

    August 1, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    @Brian R.: Brian, you forgot the crippling lack of imagination.

  212. 212.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 8:15 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: I almost edited my comment when I saw that. But then I realized even that had a dash more creativity than, say, any of 400 diaries over at the GOS from today.

  213. 213.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @different church-lady: There is a fine line between genius and madness.

  214. 214.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    August 1, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @different church-lady: So very much this.

  215. 215.

    brantl

    August 1, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    @Loviatar: Go piss yourself. Oh, that’s right, you already did.

  216. 216.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Working with Grover Norquist to hold corrupt politicians accountable: BAD

    Working with Grover Norquist to drown government in a bathtub: GOOD

  217. 217.

    DonkeyKong

    August 1, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    “I really don’t understand how bipartisanship is ever going to work when one of the parties is insane. Imagine trying to negotiate an agreement on dinner plans with your date, and you suggest Italian and she states her preference would be a meal of tire rims and anthrax. If you can figure out a way to split the difference there and find a meal you will both enjoy, you can probably figure out how bipartisanship is going to work the next few years.”-John Cole

    The President has come up with a recipe that has Lamborghini tire rims. Courtasy of Centerism Fetish CookBook for Dummies.

    We will be dinning on leftovers for some time.

  218. 218.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    @eemom: I didn’t mean to be mean.

  219. 219.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    You keep this up fuckhead, and Jane is going make you king of something. Chief FDL toady rep for Balloon Juice, or something like that.

  220. 220.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:28 pm

    I can’t even describe how happy this thread is going to make me.

  221. 221.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Cole, you’re just an authoritarian at heart. It’s nothing unusual for you when the outcome is people doing what they’re told.

  222. 222.

    CalD

    August 1, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Tell me why I am supposed to be freaking out right now. I’m remarkably calm, and not used to it. I don’t even feel angry at the moment…

    Could be outrage fatigue. I’ve been suffering from it myself recently. About the best that I seem to be able to muster lately is annoyance — there’ve even been a few times I’d have to confess to being mildly amused.

  223. 223.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Couple things:
    1. The “deem and pass” nonsense. Good luck passing spending bills that way.
    2. The Bush Tax Cuts used as a Democratic bargaining chip in some way to reclaim revenue. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

  224. 224.

    slag

    August 1, 2011 at 8:34 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Maybe. But don’t you see that getting our fiscal house in order is just a prelude to progress? Like in 2000 when we were all hot and bothered over the prospect of paying the debt down too fast so Republicans and Democrats compromised to give rich people those ginormous tax cuts and engage in simultaneous nation-building. Remember that? And then just think back to all the progress we got after that! Oh wait. But still…it might work for us!

  225. 225.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:35 pm

    When this kabuki is all said and done, and yes arguingwithsignposts and John Cole, this was all always kabuki, the main thing that the voting public will remember is Boehner bald face fucking stating he “got 98% of what he asked for”.
    Now, call bullshit if that makes you happy, cite facts, stats, stroke your purple magical ponycorn if that makes you happy.
    But the nugget of what this outcome means will linger on in the voters’ minds.

  226. 226.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:36 pm

    Al Gore : HERETIC!!

  227. 227.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    @Dexter:

    AFAIK, there is not going not going to be a CR two months later. 2012 budget is going to be passed by both chambers along with debt limit vote.

    As I understand it, that’s correct: this bill includes a “deem and pass” of the FY2012 budget.

    Of course, that’s not going to stop the emo brigade from claiming over and over (and over) again that there’s another continuing resolution right around the corner because shut up, that’s why.

    Yes, it’s true — Matt Yglesias was wrong when he said there would have to be another continuing resolution for the budget. I know, shocking that Yglesias would get a detail wrong, yes?

  228. 228.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Just a couple more, folks, and he’ll be doing the text equivalent of melting clocks.

  229. 229.

    KCinDC

    August 1, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    @Brian R., so you’re saying the Super Committee will be drastically different from Simpson-Bowles? Can you share with us your reasons for being confident of that?

  230. 230.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Working with Grover Norquist to hold corrupt politicians accountable kill health insurance reform: BAD

    Sorry, Fucky, but we just can’t let you try to change history like that. The “corrupt politicians” that Hamsher and Norquist wanted to punish were the ones who passed the PPACA.

  231. 231.

    Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal

    August 1, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    there is an announcement from the secret super secret super congress on jobs, it says if you are complaining about jobs, go get a job.

  232. 232.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Sorry, Fucky, but we just can’t let you try to change history like that. The “corrupt politicians” that Hamsher and Norquist wanted to punish were the ones who passed the PPACA.

    I didn’t pay attention to the emobots back when it was happening so I googled it today and everything came up Rahm.

    Sorry if my imprecision caused you to lose any time drowning government in Grover’s bathtub.

  233. 233.

    stinkdaddy

    August 1, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    @Brian R.: I’m fascinated to hear how, having already cut a trillion in discretionary spending, you think they’re going to get to an additional $1.5 trillion without touching Medicare or Medicaid.

  234. 234.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    nothing will “linger in voters’ minds”, because most of the people who do, in fact, VOTE are too stupid to retain the events of August 1, 2011 in their little lizard brains past August 2, much less until November 2012.

    I do agree, however, that people talking stupid happy talk about tax cuts expiring, etc., are deluding themselves.

    We are a plutocracy. It is disgusting, but it is a fact.

  235. 235.

    Mnemosyne

    August 1, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Yep, everything came up Rahm … during the healthcare debate. Because they wanted to punish him for pushing Democrats to support the PPACA.

    Reading comprehension. It is your friend.

    If you really think that Jack Abramoff’s pal Grover Norquist was interested in stopping political corruption when he went after Rahm during the healthcare fight, I have a lovely bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Cheap.

  236. 236.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    …most of the people who do, in fact, VOTE are too stupid to retain the events of August 1, 2011 in their little lizard brains past August 2…

    Saying, of course, that those events ever made an impression on their brains in the first place.

  237. 237.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    @eemom:

    nothing will “linger in voters’ minds”, because most of the people who do, in fact, VOTE are too stupid to retain the events of August 1, 2011 in their little lizard brains past August 2, much less until November 2012.

    IMO, you’ve got Boehner gloating over “98% of what he wanted” and you’ve got our side gloating over “deem and pass”.
    I don’t have much faith in the memory of a voter but some things build on themselves.

  238. 238.

    Ruckus

    August 1, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    Maybe we need to send letters to the media about how crappy their coverage is. And how because their news coverage is so bad/lopsided we see no reason to purchase the products advertised therein. And letters to those advertisers letting them know that we won’t purchase their products if they keep supporting the crappy news reporting.

    Letters to your congress person are about one vote. And they seem to think that they have already sold those. So maybe we should hit them where it hurts. In their bank accounts. The one and only thing they understand. Money. The old joke, We know what they are, we are just haggling over the price. Let’s make it what they really are worth. Nothing.

  239. 239.

    Lizzy

    August 1, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    It’s called “winning” a la Charlie Sheen style …

  240. 240.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    @eemom: they banned me

  241. 241.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Where do you think you live? Socialist Europe? In America we let our bridges fall and allow those who have the initiative to survive that sort of event to do so. Anyone who decides to drown in the river was a looter anyhow.

  242. 242.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): It was bound to happen eventually.

  243. 243.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Drat. Moderation because of the government style/ed pill word.

    To Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Where do you think you live? Soshulist Europe? In America we let our bridges fall and allow those who have the initiative to survive that sort of event to do so. Anyone who decides to drown in the river was a looter anyhow.

  244. 244.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    oh no! What was the coup de grace?

  245. 245.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    @cathyx: Gee I am 74, two years from now I may not be here, but any way even old and feeble as I am, I do understand the difference in No check and a smaller check. Do You? A lot happens in two years, one possibility is a democratic controlled house think that might have an effect in changing some things? I do. But I do appreciate your concern for my welfare.

  246. 246.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:57 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Punks sent me a noreply email that I was reported for “inappropriate comments” for trashing them for trashing Gabby Giffords.

  247. 247.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    @eemom: I said “screw all of you”. That would get you flowers here!

  248. 248.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 8:59 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): Fucking officers. Wait, that’s your line.

  249. 249.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Well, some of em act like lifers!

  250. 250.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    @

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    : Punks sent me a noreply email that I was reported for “inappropriate comments” for trashing them for trashing Gabby Giffords.
    O, the delicate little poo-flingers. If only Obama had a spine like the courageous “Firepups”

  251. 251.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I mean I didn’t even call them shit-eatin-dog-fuckers-of-the-lowest-denomination!

  252. 252.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    they banned me

    Maybe they didn’t appreciate your continued attempts to derail a significant and thoughtful discussion on how to mitigate the damage done by this deal and a rational gameplan for Best Practices moving forward?

  253. 253.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Good to see some of the reasonable reality based posters are still here and understand how life really works and what is involved in logical thought processes for those of us in our later years.
    Yes, what you described explains my thought processes almost exactly. and I do understand the difference if all else fails,in no check and a smaller check.

  254. 254.

    Brian R.

    August 1, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    @stinkdaddy:

    I’m fascinated to hear how, having already cut a trillion in discretionary spending, you think they’re going to get to an additional $1.5 trillion without touching Medicare or Medicaid.

    That’s easy. They won’t get $1.5 trillion, because the current deadlock in Congress will mean the “Super Congress” won’t come up with anything.

    And that means the triggers in place in this deal will be automatically tripped, and we end up seeing $1.2 trillion in cuts split evenly between DOD and Medicare providers. Pelosi and Hoyer know that’s the end game and if they’re faced with the option of that or doing what CathyX bizarrely thinks they’d do, they’ll gladly let the Super Congress go up in smoke and take the provider cuts.

    Simple as that.

  255. 255.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    @Corner Stone: Quiet

  256. 256.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    This fucking WH is like James Woods in Family Guy where he’s surprised to see a piece of candy on the floor.
    Ooh, piece of candy!

  257. 257.

    suzanne

    August 1, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    I was at work, and I checked the news, and saw about Gabby. I totes cried.

    Somewhere along the line, I became a prude AND a softie. SHIT.

  258. 258.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    just saw the thread. For fuck’s sake, what a fucking joke that place is. You weren’t even the only one who was saying that about Giffords, and Scarecrow even sort of apologized. (Another once-sane person gone Janeshit.)

    I noticed there were still some old timers who stuck up for you however.

    Then there are the ones who are still the same fucking idiots they always were. “Larue.” GOD what an idiot. “Harrumph.”

    oh well. Poor old eunuch RBG probly still gets a big thrill in his nonexistent manhood every time he bans someone for the honor of Lady Jane, so there’s that.

  259. 259.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    @eemom: My brother the Dragon got on it some.

  260. 260.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    Well, since he was looking at the near certainty of not getting his money without a deal… (etc)

    It’s kind of amazing how ‘progressives’ will slam something because it ‘hurts real people’ and then a real person will show up and have to explain to them how the purity position will hurt them too.

  261. 261.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Maybe they didn’t appreciate your continued attempts to derail a significant and thoughtful discussion…

    Yeah. It’s not like anyone around here might try that…

  262. 262.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    @eemom: From sadlyes, the great humanitarian, about Gabby:

    oh jeebus,maybe they put aa talking chip in her head….i better go take cover,Raven,and Tbogg will git me…..g

  263. 263.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    @Brian R.: Well I am a senior on SS who lives outside the beltway and I gave her my viewpoint of realities from rural southern America and she didn’t like it either so maybe she is just hard to please.

  264. 264.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    @suzanne: Sinead O’Connor sang: But you know how it is
    And how a pregnancy can change you.

  265. 265.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    I’ll confess: I got so excited about the prospect of a default, I completely forgot about real people. I’ve set my mind to go out and meet some of them tomorrow after my golf game and drinks at the club. Can someone tell me what they look like and how I should approach them?

  266. 266.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Can someone tell me what they look like and how I should approach them?

    They are small, low to the ground, and have sharp teeth and claws. You should approach them cautiously, if at all. Wait, those are honey badgers. Never mind.

  267. 267.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I think O’donnell missed her calling, With her looks she could have made a killing being a real life whore, instead of settling for being a media whore.

  268. 268.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    August 1, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    @grandpajohn: catholic huh?

  269. 269.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: So bring honey?

  270. 270.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Chart coming up on MSNBC!

  271. 271.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Ooooooo…that wasn’t a very nice chart at all…

  272. 272.

    Suffern ACE

    August 1, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Who’s “high-fiving”? This is finding out your cancer isn’t fatal, not finding out you don’t have cancer.

    No, no. “Gosh, it could have been worse” is the same thing as throwing a victory parade. There are only two possible responses to any event.

  273. 273.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @cathyx:

    Yes, they will sell us all out when it comes to social security, medicare and medicaid. Yes.

    Let me guess, you make your living sitting in front of a crystal ball in a side show booth,working the rubes .

  274. 274.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Yep. Smear it all over yourself, step up, and say howdy. I am sure that will work very well for you.

  275. 275.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    August 1, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    And that means the triggers in place in this deal will be automatically tripped, and we end up seeing $1.2 trillion in cuts split evenly between DOD and Medicare providers.

    I’m not even sure if this is the worst case scenario anymore. I parsed the numbers this morning, and lets assume they keep their word and avoid cutting Medicare, SS, and anything remotely Defense-related (side note: to whatever chucklefuck mocked me last night for saying the VA was part of “defense spending”, please note that as part of this deal, Homeland Security and State are both considered “Defense”, so they really are just rolling it up into one big dumb ball).

    At any rate, take them at their word and say that they won’t touch those areas. The remaining Federal budget for everything- Education, Transport, the EPA, *everything*- is around $6.5 trillion a year. So these proposed cuts amount to gutting the entire federal budget around 33%.

    If you don’t think it’s fucking horrific that a Democratic Senate and Democratic President signed off on reducing the total size of most of the actual core Federal government by a third during a recession, then you fucking deserve the government you get and I hope these cuts hurt you as much as they’re going to hurt poor people.

  276. 276.

    John O

    August 1, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    Can we start a meme in which the POTUS is a center-right moderate? The media seems pliable enough.

    He (the President) is a Constitutionalist when it comes to the operation of government, that’s for sure, and just a moderate, consensus building guy across the board. Congress makes law, he signs ’em. In this case he pissed everyone off, almost by definition a good compromise. You work with the Congress you have…

    And from what I can tell, it isn’t going to be front-loaded enough to hit anyone too hard. And kudos to all for putting defense spending on the list. I think that’s a big deal. So I’m not too excited about it all either. Just getting popcorn ready for the holiday season.

  277. 277.

    MaxxLange

    August 1, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    I’d suspect that a lot of people feel, not a freakout, but the dull ache of that old Democratic voter gutpunch feeling.

    You know the one. John Kerry running as sort of “I’m like Bush, but less so”. Dukakkis posing on the Tank. Al Gore not setting the Big Dog loose on the campaign trail, because of fear of keeping the blue dress in voters’ attention.
    “Triangulate” to the “center”, which your political advisers are probably all almost in tears, begging for you to do, and then lose the election.

    I know Obama had shit choices here, and I actually think he was right to eschew his opponents’ tactics of brinksmanship on this issue. What I’m afraid of is that the White House may believe its own spin. This is a political defeat, period, and I sure hope they know that, and counterattack in some meaningful way.

  278. 278.

    cleek

    August 1, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    @ruemara:
    just remember, wingnuts shit themselves blue when Pelosi considered using it for ACA.

  279. 279.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    I’ll confess: I got so excited about the prospect of a default, I completely forgot about real people.

    No, no, no, there was never going to be a default. You were excited about a president using his magical 14th amendment potion.

    C’mon man, if you’re going to play this game, play it right.

  280. 280.

    Suffern ACE

    August 1, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh: Are these 1.5 trillion in cuts for a year, or are these 1.5 trillion in cuts over 10 years? Difference between 1.5 trillion out of 65 trillion vs. 1.5 trillion of 6.5 trillion is very large.

  281. 281.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    At any rate, take them at their word and say that they won’t touch those areas. The remaining Federal budget for everything- Education, Transport, the EPA, everything- is around $6.5 trillion a year. So these proposed cuts amount to gutting the entire federal budget around 33%.

    Maybe I’m reading your comment wrong. But the 1.5 trillion in up front cuts, is total for a ten year period. Not every year at 1.5 trill.

    Oh, and I believe, but could be wrong, that VA funding is now walled off and no longer discretionary, I think was done under the dastardly Obama reign of terror.

  282. 282.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    August 1, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @Suffern ACE: Some are spread out over time, some are lump sum immediate-effect.

    Basically this is the death of NASA, DoT, the EPA, and the IRS. This is catastrophic for the entire federal government in day to day functioning terms.

    Those of you trying to be all glib about this because “lol firebaggers mad” are not going to enjoy living in Nu Somalia in ten years, I can assure you. Having actually been in actual government, I can tell you that the 2.5% cut I dealt with at the time was incredibly difficult to deal with, so I can’t even imagine what shaving over ten times that much off *everything* is going to do.

  283. 283.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    At any rate, take them at their word and say that they won’t touch those areas. The remaining Federal budget for everything- Education, Transport, the EPA, everything- is around $6.5 trillion a year. So these proposed cuts amount to gutting the entire federal budget around 33%.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t we talking about cuts spread out over the course of ten years? Which would make that more sort of a 3.3% cut?

  284. 284.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    August 1, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @General Stuck: You are reading it wrong, since there are two cuts we are dealing with here: the ones that were just signed into law, and the SuperCongress Catfood Commission #2 cuts that are now forthcoming. One is staged, the other is lump sum.

  285. 285.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh: Dude, seriously, don’t make us drag out the McArdle analogies.

  286. 286.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh:

    What are you blathering about. This comment sounds like a drunk person wrote it. And you fucked up yer math Mrs. P. Don’t try and wiggle it away.

  287. 287.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    @different church-lady:

    No, no, no, there was never going to be a default.

    No, I figured if this bill got voted down (or vetoed), they’d just do a clean debt ceiling raise with Democrats and just enough Republicans.

  288. 288.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 9:54 pm

    @different church-lady:

    No shit. We got a live one here.

  289. 289.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: Oh, right. Forgot that one. Hard to keep up with the potions in that kit, there’s so many.

  290. 290.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: I’ll admit that I was hoping for, and guessing that, a clean bill would be the end result.

    Edited to remove extraneous word.

  291. 291.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    August 1, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    @General Stuck: OK then, glad we could engage like adults.

  292. 292.

    suzanne

    August 1, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Not sure it was the kids. I kind of offended my obstetrician as I was pushing the Mouse out. He made some bullshit comment about “the miracle of birth” inspiring me, and I snapped at him, “IF A CRACKWHORE CAN DO IT, IT’S NOT A MIRACLE.”

    It’s a wonder I have any friends at all.

  293. 293.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh:

    OK then, glad we could engage like adults.

    Well, okay then. But be sure to keep us posted on any more of your surprising brain farts.

  294. 294.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    @suzanne: Um, okay. I gotta admit that is funny.

  295. 295.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    August 1, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    I’d say something melodramatic like “Man, it’s going to be fun to come back here and watch you people deal with the ramifications of the new committee’s recommended cuts when they aren’t anywhere remotely as benign as you seem to think”, but fuck if I’m going to waste any more time encouraging you to read something past your nose. Or bothering to comment at all, really.

    That Krugman, such an ignorant guy! If only he was as smart as General Stuck, he wouldn’t need to freak out!

    I guess if you’re happy then that’s great, good for you. I just happen to think you’re insane.

  296. 296.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    @eemom: And how many of the great uniformed masses that vote will have even been watching some politician on TV when they were most likely watching Maury or some other afternoon talk “Reality” show .
    Why is it that many blogaholics seem to think that like them all the mass of regular folk voters are political show fanatics when most of them don’t watch even Fox news much less MSNBC or C-Span

  297. 297.

    General Stuck

    August 1, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh:

    That Krugman, such an ignorant guy! If only he was as smart as General Stuck, he wouldn’t need to freak out!

    Blush, awwe now, git out a here

  298. 298.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    That Krugman, such an ignorant guy! If only he was as smart as General Stuck, he wouldn’t need to freak out!

    I think it would be real neat if you could point us to the place where Krugman warned us that this deal might cut the federal budget by A THIRD.

    Because, you know, if that were a possibility you’d think someone like Krugman might have actually mentioned it in those terms.

  299. 299.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Geithner hosts debt bill pep rally
    “Top officials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,Financial Services Forum, Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, American Insurance Association, Financial Services Roundtable, American Council of Life Insurers, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, American Bankers Association and the National Retail Federation were all present.”

    Oh man. Not sure it gets more joyful than this.

  300. 300.

    cleek

    August 1, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh:

    “Man, it’s going to be fun to come back here and watch you people deal with the ramifications of the new committee’s recommended cuts when they aren’t anywhere remotely as benign as you seem to think

    that’s sweet. hopefully, it’ll be awesome sexy fun for you too, then.

  301. 301.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    @grandpajohn:

    Why is it that many blogaholics seem to think that like them all the mass of regular folk voters are political show fanatics when most of them don’t watch even Fox news much less MSNBC or C-Span

    Well, I chalk it up to a side effect of the extreme self absorption they seem to have.

  302. 302.

    Omnes Omnibus

    August 1, 2011 at 10:08 pm

    @different church-lady: That is not a very nice thing to say about me.

  303. 303.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Well, let’s be fair here: it’s not a very nice thing to say about anyone.

  304. 304.

    Irony Abounds

    August 1, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Don’t people pay attention. There isn’t $1.5T in immediate cuts. It’s under $10B in the first year and not much more than that in the second year. There are $1.0T in identifiable cuts over the 10 years. The second stage of cuts will identify the balance of the cuts. It isn’t the end of the world as we know it. Maybe, just maybe, if the money is that necessary, the government will be a bit more careful on how the money is spent so the damage can be minimized. Medicare Part D was a huge sum of money pissed away – so don’t tell me that there aren’t savings to be found.

  305. 305.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    @Irony Abounds:

    Medicare Part D was a huge sum of money pissed away – so don’t tell me that there aren’t savings to be found.

    Is Medicare Part D cut in this deal?

  306. 306.

    John O

    August 1, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    @Mr. Poppinfresh:

    Why is it that many blogaholics seem to think that like them all the mass of regular folk voters are political show fanatics when most of them don’t watch even Fox news much less MSNBC or C-Span

    This happens with everyone about everything, the way I see it. We all secretly wish everyone else was more like us and over time come to believe it.

  307. 307.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    we can rationalize the “cuts” all we want.

    The biggest, ugliest debacle here is that OBSCENELY RICH MOTHERFUCKERS don’t have to relinquish another penny — and there is now ten times the existing momentum for that state of affairs to continue — while the poor, the old, the sick, and the rest of us ordinary schlubs, stand to lose what little they/we have. AND that with less spending the economy is going to continue to get worse. No one can refute those two points.

    So you will please pardon me if I can’t sign on to this best we could have done/could’ve been worse bullshit spin, because I won’t.

  308. 308.

    Irony Abounds

    August 1, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @Corner Stone: No, Medicare Part D is not part of the deal, it’s an example of stupid wasteful spending. And I doubt it is the only such example. The point being if we have to deal with the reality of budget cuts down the road, make a real effort to cut spending that is stupid, like farm subsidies, and defense programs that the Pentagon neither wants nor our military really needs.

  309. 309.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @different church-lady:

    It’s kind of amazing how ‘progressives’ will slam something because it ‘hurts real people’ and then a real person will show up and have to explain to them how the purity position will hurt them too.

    The point I was hoping to make when I made the post.
    I guess I should confess however that I am not in the boat of many elderly where I have only my SS check I do have a retirement check that would help pay the bills for a few months, however being diabetic , I don’t know how long I could live on Ramen noodles and soup.

  310. 310.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    @eemom:

    …with less spending the economy is going to continue to get worse. No one can refute those two points.

    You’re asking us to refute a prediction?

  311. 311.

    Irony Abounds

    August 1, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    @eemom: So the obvious solution is to piss and moan and let the Republicans take control of everything in 2012 so that they can give the obscenely rich motherfuckers even more and more. Sounds like a solid strategy to me. Not saying that is your strategy, but it appears to be the mindset of more than a few.

  312. 312.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    @grandpajohn: Glad I could help amplify it.

    I’ll add to my own comment: what makes it kind of disturbing is that some progressives see ‘real people’ in no less abstract terms than conservatives. They’re just rhetorical material.

    PS: I could live a long time on ramen and soup. I just don’t know how long I could live if I have to move back in with my father.

  313. 313.

    OzoneR

    August 1, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    @Irony Abounds:

    Medicare Part D was a huge sum of money pissed away – so don’t tell me that there aren’t savings to be found.

    Wasn’t Medicare Part D dismantled in HCR?

  314. 314.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    @Irony Abounds: Oh. I thought you had identified some wasteful spending that was included as part of this deal.

  315. 315.

    John O

    August 1, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    @eemom:

    That’s the acid test for me, too, eemon. But I’ll give it until the next commission comes up with their plan.

    Not sure how to refute a prediction about general economics, though. Maybe John Galt will rescue us with a perpetual energy machine this year.

  316. 316.

    wrb

    August 1, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    @eemom:

    The biggest, ugliest debacle here is that OBSCENELY RICH MOTHERFUCKERS don’t have to relinquish another penny

    Yea, so?

    This wasn’t the deal in which there was leverage to make them do so. Life goes on

  317. 317.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    @Corner Stone: There’s not much that IS part of this deal at this point: it’s a gigantic game of kick the can.

  318. 318.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    I think I’m falling in love with eemom. Someone catch me.

  319. 319.

    jeff

    August 1, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/08/bloomberg-the-debt-deluge/

  320. 320.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Someone -catch- quarantine me.

  321. 321.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    @Corner Stone: Any real people there?

  322. 322.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: One in two marriages end in divorce. Think about it.

  323. 323.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    @different church-lady:

    I’m no economist, but that seems to be the consensus of most who are. And it’s just common sense. When people have less money, they spend less. When people spend less, the economy stagnates.

    But sure, call it a “prediction”. What the fuck ever.

    @Irony Abounds:

    No, that is NOT my strategy — and once again, the fact that the usual gang of hysterical emoprog assholes are being hysterical assholes over this too, does NOT make the reactions of those of us who have never been emoprogs any less valid.

    FUCK. I am really getting tired of this “with us or agin us” mentality.

  324. 324.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Any real people there?

    Why would there be?

    Except for the valet and service members of course. It’s understood they’re not real.

  325. 325.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    FWIW, A very visibly angry Barney Frank (after accidentally calling the entire thing a charade) said the next debate (or was it next year’s debate?) would be to tax $3 out of every $1000 made over $250,000.

    Hopefully he’ll retract the statement and apologize to the Confidence Fairy.

  326. 326.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    @different church-lady:

    One in two marriages end in divorce.

    Yeah, but the other half end in death. We could be one of the lucky couples.

    /RIP Richard Jeni

  327. 327.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    @eemom:

    FUCK. I am really getting tired of this “with us or agin us” mentality.

    It seemed to serve you well when you were an “us”.

  328. 328.

    eemom

    August 1, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    @wrb:

    This wasn’t the deal in which there was leverage to make them do so.

    I’m just dying to hear what “deal” you envision where such leverage will exist. Please tell.

  329. 329.

    Irony Abounds

    August 1, 2011 at 10:36 pm

    @eemom: I agree 100% that it is a horrible situation to be in. However, I am not sure what else to do. Unless the anti-Republicans stand united against the Republicans, this country will be Mexico Part II in very short order. Oddly enough, even if you hate the debt deal being upset about it is just counter-productive. Progressives should be saying they are thrilled with the deal. That will make the teabaggers mad, and they will primary slightly more rational Republicans, making it easier for Dems to take back the House. If that happens in 2012, it will make it that much easier to get the tax hikes on the obscenely rich motherfuckers that they deserve.

  330. 330.

    grandpajohn

    August 1, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    @Irony Abounds: To me the best solution is to some how encourage the people who are in the groups being shit on by the insane party, that it is in their best interest to vote for people in the other party and if they don’t vote, it is in their best self interest to register and do so. Of course short of some how getting democrats to develop powers of mind control I don’t know how we can do this. stupidity doesn’t seem to have a cure.

  331. 331.

    wrb

    August 1, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    @eemom:

    One in which something that they actually care about is vulnerable.

    The Bush tax cuts are the most obvious.

    Maybe there are others.

    They control the house.

    No bills will be passed that don’t cause them to think they win something.

    That is life.

  332. 332.

    Suffern ACE

    August 1, 2011 at 10:46 pm

    @eemom:

    I’m just dying to hear what “deal” you envision where such leverage will exist.

    The one where middle class people demand to raise their own taxes.

  333. 333.

    Zach

    August 1, 2011 at 11:02 pm

    This is the richest part of Sullivan’s post:

    Clinton’s eventual surplus was, alas, more mirage than reality, for it hadn’t solved the long-term entitlement problem or the healthcare cost problem, and was inflated by the tech bubble.

    1. The long term entitlement problem is the healthcare cost problem
    2. Andrew Sullivan was as responsible as almost any American in killing Clinton’s plan to restrain health care cost; this would’ve saved untold trillion per capita by this point

  334. 334.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    August 1, 2011 at 11:04 pm

    @Irony Abounds:

    Of course! If you don’t get what you want then you throw all of your toys away and pout with your thumb in your mouth. Heck, every little kid will tell you that this works.

    Once in a while.

  335. 335.

    cxs

    August 1, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): You are fucking kidding me! I thought you were pretty mild.

  336. 336.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    August 1, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Who here wanted a default? For everyone bashing Obama and the deal, who was willing to settle for a default? No more shit out of your mouths until you answer that question.

  337. 337.

    different church-lady

    August 1, 2011 at 11:11 pm

    @cxs:

    I thought you were pretty mild.

    That might be why they banned him.

  338. 338.

    Mark S.

    August 1, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    @wrb:

    The Bush tax cuts are the most obvious.

    They’ll be extended next summer. It probably wasn’t a good idea to let them expire within a month of the next presidential election.

  339. 339.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    @Mark S.:

    They’ll be extended next summer. It probably wasn’t a good idea to let them expire within a month of the next presidential election.

    Nothing else was possible, firebagger. No more shit out of your mouth.

  340. 340.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    FIREBAGGER!! Pew pew! Pew! Pew pew!

  341. 341.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    August 1, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent):

    For everyone bashing Obama and the deal, who was willing to settle for a default?

    “Dollared” is the only one I can name, but there were a couple others saying it wouldn’t be that big a deal.

    dollared – August 1, 2011 | 3:08 pm · Link
    Yup. The only way that Obama would have won this confrontation is if default had occurred. Then the blame would have flown to Republicans. Now we’re back to both sides blah blah blah.
    I’ll repeat: Obama never should have done this dance without being ready to allow default. Tough shit on our full faith and credit, and old people not getting their checks for seven days. One 700 point Dow drop, and the Republicans would have caved.

  342. 342.

    AlphaLiberal

    August 1, 2011 at 11:24 pm

    There’s a bit of everyone to be laughed at in here.

    Gollum and Smeagol on the debt deal.

  343. 343.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 1, 2011 at 11:27 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Felchathon makes the typical Obotty mistake of assuming nothing else was possible. (other than a really bad bill or default.)

  344. 344.

    A Humble Lurker

    August 1, 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Sounds like a government shutdown deal part #2 as well as cat food commission part #2. *Shrug* Am I wrong?

    Also, am I allowed to be annoyed at people still harping on the cat food commission even when nothing has come of it, and likely nothing will ever come of it? And that that was maybe the point all along?

  345. 345.

    Corner Stone

    August 1, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    @A Humble Lurker:

    Also, am I allowed to be annoyed at people still harping on the cat food commission even when nothing has come of it, and likely nothing will ever come of it? And that that was maybe the point all along?

    Yeah, sure. If you’d like to be. But CFI at least had some revenue attached to it. Can’t say the same for this deal or CFII.

  346. 346.

    Ruckus

    August 1, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    @suzanne:
    It’s always good to come back here after a while and find an absolute gem of a comment that makes one laugh like a loon.

  347. 347.

    suzanne

    August 1, 2011 at 11:51 pm

    @Ruckus: Aww, why, thankee.

    I was despondent as all hell yesterday. I’m doing better today. The moral arc of the universe, et cetera.

  348. 348.

    A Humble Lurker

    August 2, 2011 at 12:07 am

    @Corner Stone:

    Look man, I’m kinda just happy the teabaggers haven’t blown up the world and I don’t need to start stealing seeds from Glenn Beck’s sponsors.

  349. 349.

    stinkdaddy

    August 2, 2011 at 12:08 am

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): What a cute little attempt to police the discourse. Yes, clearly supporting this crock of shit or welcoming default were the only two options. You with us or against us?

  350. 350.

    Brad

    August 2, 2011 at 12:38 am

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Ah yes, the question that is supposed to stop everyone

  351. 351.

    Corner Stone

    August 2, 2011 at 12:54 am

    Think about the history here; think about all the misjudgments, all the reasons this administration has come up with not to act — not to act against the bankers, not to act on taxes, and down the line. Think of the colossal misjudgment over Republican intentions on debt. Why, at this point, should anyone trust these people when they say that they did all they could?

    Sorry, Prof Kthug. Lots of loyal minions here have spent a good long time diminishing and denigrating you. So now when you have something to say, there’s always at least one god damned fool who pips up and says, “Yeah, he knows his economist blah de har blah, but he seem not so with program on polsmatics. Har har.”

  352. 352.

    Mnemosyne

    August 2, 2011 at 12:55 am

    @A Humble Lurker:

    Sounds like a government shutdown deal part #2 as well as cat food commission part #2. Shrug Am I wrong?

    That’s what it looks like to me, too, which is why we once again have a horde of math-challenged emo-progs insisting that cuts that the bill spreads out over 10 years are all going to immediately be put into effect in one lump sum this year because shut up, that’s why.

    In three days, people will get into the internals of the bill and realize that it’s a nothingburger just like the budget deal. Three days after that, people like JSF and Mr. Poppinfresh will suddenly pivot to the next Most Biggest Defeat For Progessives Ever and never refer to this one again since it didn’t quite pan out the way they said it would.

  353. 353.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 1:00 am

    So, does anyone know what’s actually going to be cut as a result of this deal? You know, like, programs? Offices closing? Checks not going out anymore? Because a funny thing happened on the way to the worst negotiated deal in human history and the worst piece of legislation ever: so far it’s like the box containing Schrodinger’s cat, and nobody’s fucking opening it.

  354. 354.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 1:02 am

    @Mnemosyne: The important thing is that this hippie got punched and threw a shit sandwich under a bus. At least I’m pretty sure that’s what I heard.

  355. 355.

    TenguPhule

    August 2, 2011 at 1:03 am

    Because a funny thing happened on the way to the worst negotiated deal in human history and the worst piece of legislation ever: so far it’s like the box containing Schrodinger’s cat, and nobody’s fucking opening it.

    The cat is both dead and alive.

  356. 356.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 1:06 am

    @TenguPhule: That cat took my shit sandwich!

  357. 357.

    A L

    August 2, 2011 at 1:10 am

    @Irony Abounds: How the hell did you survive past birth?

  358. 358.

    A L

    August 2, 2011 at 1:14 am

    Hey all, if your plan is to support Democrats then I have a more productive use of your time: Read and follow the instructions in this book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934170291/

  359. 359.

    Corner Stone

    August 2, 2011 at 1:15 am

    @FlipYrWhig:

    That cat took my shit sandwich!

    And will return it to you 10 fold.
    There’s a future in Shit Sandwich Futures young man!

  360. 360.

    Yutsano

    August 2, 2011 at 1:20 am

    @A L:

    Read and follow the instructions in this book

    Amazon:

    This title has not yet been released

    Oops.

  361. 361.

    A L

    August 2, 2011 at 1:21 am

    @Yutsano: The cover is all you really need to read.

  362. 362.

    Mnemosyne

    August 2, 2011 at 1:28 am

    @A L:

    Is that a hint that you’re finally leaving?

    Buh-bye. Don’t let the door hit you on the ass when you go.

  363. 363.

    stinkdaddy

    August 2, 2011 at 1:34 am

    @Mnemosyne:

    why we once again have a horde of math-challenged emo-progs insisting that cuts that the bill spreads out over 10 years are all going to immediately be put into effect in one lump sum this year

    Either “horde” now means one person or you’re completely full of shit. I guess I must have missed the part where the original catfood commission came with a $1.5 trillion trigger attached.

    (And the GOP negotiated the trigger down so that the ‘defense’ cuts can come from DHS and foreign aid.)

  364. 364.

    A L

    August 2, 2011 at 1:42 am

    @Mnemosyne: Am I interfering with you defending Rahm Emanuel? What a pity.

  365. 365.

    Yutsano

    August 2, 2011 at 1:56 am

    @A L: You’ll have to explain your obsession with the mayor of Chicago.

  366. 366.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 2:09 am

    @stinkdaddy: Isn’t DHS a notorious boondoggle and the arch-nemesis of civil libertarians? Cut DHS? Please don’t throw me into _that_ briar patch.

  367. 367.

    different church-lady

    August 2, 2011 at 2:18 am

    @stinkdaddy:

    Either “horde” now means one person…

    Fair enough for the moment. However, one of the things I’m finally figuring out about Left-Blogistan is that wildly incorrect stuff like that doesn’t just come out of nowhere. (Although I can’t say I know exactly where it does come from.) Too many people say the same things too many times for it to be just random spouting.

    So it wouldn’t surprise me if we see this particular bit of misinformation (or dare I say disinformation?) coming up more than just this once.

  368. 368.

    Suffern ACE

    August 2, 2011 at 2:22 am

    @FlipYrWhig: Shush. Today’s concern is all keynesian, so it doesn’t matter what is spent in 2013, as long as it is spent on something. We’ll worry about strangers touching my junk and drones patrolling the borders tomorrow.

  369. 369.

    different church-lady

    August 2, 2011 at 2:26 am

    @Mnemosyne:

    we once again have a horde of math-challenged emo-progs insisting that cuts that the bill spreads out over 10 years are all going to immediately be put into effect in one lump sum this year

    Oh, the error was worse than that: the insistence was that it cut 1.2 trillion every year.

    I am reaching a sad conclusion: there’s a whole bunch of liberals out there that are almost as simple minded as the tea bag crowd. They might have better hearts by a long shot, but they’re no more likely to eschew mental shortcuts that give them emotional closure than their mirror images.

  370. 370.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 2:38 am

    @different church-lady: It’s just the political equivalent of a Red Sox fan being mad that Grady Little left Pedro Martinez to pitch too long in Game 7 in 2003.

  371. 371.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 2:41 am

    @Suffern ACE:

    Today’s concern is all keynesian, so it doesn’t matter what is spent in 2013, as long as it is spent on something.

    Graft and looting _are_ powerful Keynesian multipliers.

  372. 372.

    Loviatar

    August 2, 2011 at 2:42 am

    Her e-mail to me had the subject line: “I am done.” I opened the e-mail and she had written only one line: “I cannot support a President who seems incapable of standing up to bullies.”

    For someone like her, not a member of the professional left or even the avid grassroots supporters of the President, to have embraced the meme that this President “caves” is a terrible thing, I think.

    She said something to the effect that every time she hears the President on television talking about how “broken” Washington is, all she can think about is how “broken” he is because he is after all Washington

    Between the young people who can’t find jobs, the people of color who are living in the depression, and the party activists who feel as though Obama doesn’t “fight” for their principles, it is truly difficult for me to see how Barack Obama is re-elected in 2012.

    .

    Obots, keep up the FIREBAGGER chant, things are going to go so well for you next year.

    Sullivan

  373. 373.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 2:53 am

    @Loviatar: When you watch a sporting event, do you hope that your favorite team loses, so that you will get the satisfaction of having been right when it happens?

  374. 374.

    A L

    August 2, 2011 at 2:59 am

    @FlipYrWhig: Laffo a sports analogy? Fool don’t you get it? The Democrats aren’t on your “team”

  375. 375.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 2:59 am

    @Loviatar: Also, that letter is like Penthouse Forum for firebaggers. “I never thought this would happen to me, but one day my poor innocent sister told me she was thoroughly disappointed in Barack Obama, and she totally unexpectedly and with no prompting repeated all the classic doesn’t-fight, bully, bad-deal memes. Where could she have gotten them, I wonder? Trust me, The Base is very depressed.”

  376. 376.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 3:02 am

    @A L: When I go to restaurants I hope the food sucks, because that way I can complain! It’s win-win!

  377. 377.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 3:04 am

    I’m still waiting for someone to tell me all the things that were just cut. I dunno, that kinda seems like an important aspect of deciding how bad the bill is and how dispirited I should feel.

  378. 378.

    MaxxLange

    August 2, 2011 at 3:08 am

    what is Obama going to run on, in 2012?

    I think the path to victory is going to have to go like this: 1) a weak GOP candidate, chosen to appease the power players within their tent, not to appeal to real “independent voter” interests and 2) Obama runs against Congress, not against the opponent. Go Truman on their ass, imply at every chance that their Candidate is a weak figurehead for a Congress owned by what they used to call “trusts”. Attack them relentlessly for failing to do anything about jobs.

    We’ve seen condition 1) in recent elections (1996 Dole, 2008 McCain). If Romney gets the nod, we’re golden. He comes off as a tight-ass phony, and a company man. People do not want to have a beer with him!

    Condition 2) is going to be a hell of a lot harder to pull off, after the White House chose the “adults in the room, compromise and explain carefully to the people” strategy on this debt limit crapshow.

  379. 379.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 3:22 am

    @MaxxLange: I think Obama runs on being the guy who makes tough decisions even when his own party hollers at him, and has “put the house in order” while being dogged every step of the way by both sides. It’s going to be a lot of stuff about how he doesn’t panic and makes sure to listen, he’s made mistakes but he’s sure he’s done the best he can, he’ll take the criticism and own it, and it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and if anything his greatest fault is that he tries to do too much. Hence turning the whole thing into a question of character: I Don’t Get Mad and I Don’t Do Crazy Shit.

    The blogosphere is going to hate it.

  380. 380.

    Loviatar

    August 2, 2011 at 3:29 am

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Winners and losers: policy edition

    The Pentagon: They’re getting $350 billion in immediate cuts and then, if the trigger goes off, another $600 billion in cuts over the next 10 years.

    The Unemployed: This deal lets them expire at the end of the year. That means that barring some later rescue, $60 billion in support for the jobless will evaporate Dec. 31, 2011.

    The Economy: The nation’s political leaders agreed on Sunday to spend and invest less money in the American economy, a step that economists said risks the reversal of a faltering recovery.

    Medicare: Social Security is exempted from the trigger. Medicaid is exempted from the trigger. But Medicare will see significant cuts to provider payments if Congress doesn’t reach a deal.

    Add in the fact that the Obama administration was willing to lift the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67, and perhaps Medicare is in more trouble than we thought.

    Tax-raisers: There are no revenues in this deal.

    Tax-cutters: What they can’t do is touch the Bush tax cuts.

    Deficit Hawks: In fact, it includes agreement on about $900 billion in deficit reduction, and $2.1 trillion if you count the trigger as a sure thing.

    .

    Five cuts the debt commission might make to Medicare, Medicaid
    .

    What the debt ceiling deal means for the unemployed
    .

    How the debt deal will squeeze the states, in one infographic
    .

    Thats all from Ezra’s page this afternoon. Let me know if you need any more on whats going to be cut and who is going to feel the pain. You start your dispiritedness now or you can go all Obot and explain how this shit sandwich taste really, really good.

  381. 381.

    Goobergunch

    August 2, 2011 at 3:33 am

    @FlipYrWhig: The bill sets forth overall spending levels for the next ten fiscal years. The details of what will actually be cut are up to Congress when it passes each year’s appropriations bills.

  382. 382.

    Loviatar

    August 2, 2011 at 4:01 am

    What the White House Left on the Table

    These results seem to suggest that Mr. Obama left something on the table. That is, Mr. Obama could have shifted the deal tangibly toward the left and still gotten a bill through without too much of a problem.

    Specifically, it seems likely that Mr. Obama could have gotten an extension of the payroll tax cut included in the bill, or unemployment benefits, either of which would have had a stimulative effect.

    It wouldn’t have been a great deal for Democrats — still no tax increases, still lots of spending cuts, still buying into Republicans’ premise that the debt ceiling is an appropriate vehicle for fiscal reform. But it would have been a fair one, and better than what Mr. Obama got.

    .

    Clap harder Obots, reality is catching up to you and you have to drown it out.

  383. 383.

    MaxxLange

    August 2, 2011 at 4:45 am

    @FlipYrWhig: that does sound possible!
    I got a health care bill passed, I bailed out Detroit, etc but I still have a taste for hippy punching, if mean mommy Pelosi and her liberals get too cranky!

  384. 384.

    MaxxLange

    August 2, 2011 at 4:54 am

    @FlipYrWhig: that seems plausible and even thematic, based on what we have seen of Obama’s style as a politician. But I don’t think it is going to work in a re-election campaign, at least not alone. At some point, he is going to have to play the Warrior, not the Angry Daddy.

  385. 385.

    Very Serious Person

    August 2, 2011 at 5:14 am

    I’d like to have an argument.

  386. 386.

    cleek

    August 2, 2011 at 7:52 am

    @Loviatar:

    Specifically, it seems likely that Mr. Obama could have

    ah, good ol wouldaShouldaCoulda, the process by which bystanders reconcile their fantasy world with reality, and somehow always manage to end up in the black.

  387. 387.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 2, 2011 at 8:28 am

    Damn, I missed Captain Mnemo’s catty brilliance while I slept, although I’m pretty sure it meant Jay B. and not me. I was merely having a little Norquist fun with the emobots.

    And look, there’s one-trick cleek doing his tired steely-eyed realist thing. Aren’t we lucky?

  388. 388.

    Samara Morgan

    August 2, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Cole, you don’t need to freak out. Chunky Bobo is freaking out. He has enough IQ points to see what O did there, unlike his twodigit colleagues.

    There’s plenty to be said about the details of the debt ceiling deal, but let’s start with the provision that’s making conservatives unhappiest: The use of broad defense cuts as part of the “trigger” mechanism that would automatically slash spending if the latest deficit commission’s recommendations can’t pass Congress. (See Rich Lowry, Bill Kristol, Yuval Levin, and others for expressions of concern and/or outright alarm.) In effect, defense cuts assumed the role that liberals wanted revenue increases to play in these negotiations, becoming the place where Republicans would give a little in order to get the deal they wanted done.

    like i said, Obama crafted stealth revenues. If the conservitards cant get their act together to find tax reform cuts or raise revenues, the hammer falls on defense, AND O lets the Bush taxcuts expire, which is 3.6 trillion in increased revenue.
    See?
    Its genius. O can let the Bush taxcuts expire at his whim in December. In a way, he’s turned the tables and hes holding the Bush cuts hostage.
    meep meep

  389. 389.

    Samara Morgan

    August 2, 2011 at 8:51 am

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    one-trick cleek doing his tired steely-eyed realist thing.

    cleek is gurrlstyle.

  390. 390.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    August 2, 2011 at 8:59 am

    @Samara Morgan:

    Chunky Bobo is freaking out.

    Really just freaking the fuck out, right?

    If I felt as strongly about defense spending as Kristol and many other conservatives do..

    And here’s where he curses that dastardly brilliant Obama for tricking him:

    At the moment, the hawks are at a clear disadvantage. From Rand Paul to Grover Norquist, there’s a broad constituency within the conservative movement for shrinking the national security state, either as a compromise necessary to keep domestic spending low or as an end unto itself.

    You may want to hang up the politics and stick to Teen Beat.

  391. 391.

    suzanne

    August 2, 2011 at 9:17 am

    @Samara Morgan:

    cleek is gurrlstyle.

    I feel badly telling you what a complete fuckwit you are, as it’s generally not my policy to be anything but accommodating to half-As-pergers, but you just keep rubbing my nose in your stupid.

    Ah, well, the joke’s on me. Negative attention is still attention, right?

    You know, my seven-year-old is more mature.

  392. 392.

    THE

    August 2, 2011 at 9:35 am

    Even if she’s mischaracterising doubthat’s reaction somewhat, I think it’s an interesting connection to have noticed.

    In the worsening global economic environment — that we seem to be facing — the range of problems that need to be tied down are likely to drown the USA or anybody really.

    NATO is going to have to become FAR more selective in the future about where to intervene. I’m afraid I see the next decade as the new era of isolationism. A West that is more and more focused on internal issues, while the rest of the world implodes into chaos and disintegration as peak oil and climate change bites.

    Famine is already exploding in the Horn of Africa.

  393. 393.

    different church-lady

    August 2, 2011 at 10:31 am

    @Loviatar: Sullivan? You’re kidding, right?

  394. 394.

    different church-lady

    August 2, 2011 at 10:34 am

    @FlipYrWhig: You are not getting it: this is a battle to the death of the “spending GOOD!” crowd versus the “spending BAD!” crowd. Nobody cares what the cuts come from because the thinking stops at the idea that cuts are inherently bad.

  395. 395.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 10:48 am

    @Loviatar: So, nothing yet except a lot of handwringing. Good to know.

  396. 396.

    FlipYrWhig

    August 2, 2011 at 10:57 am

    @different church-lady: Seriously, when did we get this stupid? I’ve heard of vulgar Marxism, but never vulgar Keynesianism. If Blackwater had its contracts ended, would that qualify as taking money out of the economy in a time of recession/depression/panic? Wouldn’t single-payer health care, had it been the result of the HCR deliberations, cut out a bunch of middlemen… and take money out of the economy? I mean, seriously, the way we talk about policy has never been that we see two numbers, clamor for the bigger one, ask as few questions as possible, and then whimper and stomp our feet about not getting it.

  397. 397.

    different church-lady

    August 2, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    Seriously, when did we get this stupid?

    The only (even partial) answer I can think of is when the unholy alliance/feedback loop developed between cable news and the blogisphere. Emotion = frenzy, frenzy = eyeballs, eyeballs = dollars. Thinking inhibits frenzy, so it’s discouraged.

    The big ‘ZOT!’ that’s crossed my mind in the last 24 hours is that liberals have lizard parts of their brains too, and people are finally figuring out how to monetize that.

    I have heard people talk about liberal behavior like this for literally decades, but I didn’t believe it because I never saw it with my own eyes until the past year. I swear that if you sat down and tried you couldn’t write better caricatures of stereotyped liberal thinking than about 95% of what we saw at the GOS yesterday.

  398. 398.

    grandpajohn

    August 2, 2011 at 3:10 pm

    @cleek: An they all know what he should have done and should do even though they have never run a campaign for political office, never held an elective office and know nothing of the political realities involved in the running of a government whether local, state or national

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