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Country First
Author: Raine    Date: 07/14/2011 12:53:50

Some days, words fail me. Today may not one of those times. Politico reports:
When Cantor said the two sides were too far apart to get a deal that could pass the House by the Treasury Department’s Aug. 2 deadline — and that he would consider moving a short-term debt-limit increase alongside smaller spending cuts — Obama began to lecture him.

“Eric, don’t call my bluff,” the president said, warning Cantor that he would take his case “to the American people.” He told Cantor that no other president — not Ronald Reagan, the president said — would sit through such negotiations.

Democratic sources dispute Cantor’s version of Obama’s walk out, but all sides agree that the two had a blow up. The sources described Obama as “impassioned” but said he didn’t exactly storm out of the room.

“Cantor’s account of tonight’s meeting is completely overblown. For someone who knows how to walk out of a meeting, you’d think he’d know it when he saw it,” a Democratic aide said. “Cantor rudely interrupted the president three times to advocate for short-term debt ceiling increases while the president was wrapping the meeting. This is just more juvenile behavior from him and Boehner needs to rein him in, and let the grown-ups get to work.”

I was going to write a blog today trying to delineate the difference between politics, activism and governance. I find that I may have to put that subject off for a bit, because to be quite honest with you, it would be hard to describe what Eric Cantor is doing as politics. It's certainly not governing. It's the same with John Boehner, who appears to have totally checked out of any negotiations here.

There are many variables to this particular story, one that seems to have been started by Eric Cantor himself, as The Hill initially reported yesterday. Cantor told reporters the President was "agitated" and "stormed out of a meeting" -- You know, in other words, he was an angry black man who is just downright unreasonable. We've seen this dog whistle tactic before, often from the likes of Eric Cantor.

Bob Wrote yesterday about how the GOP has allowed themselves to be painted into a corner. It was a wonderful piece about how politics works and how the GOP doesn't seem to know how to govern. We've seen a lack of governance for a while, partly due to party loyalty, but when we reach a point that our credit rating may be downgraded, enough is enough. The Markets are already starting to lag just based on this warning. This is not party politics anymore, this is class warfare. It's incredibly dangerous. When ideology trumps common sense -- that tends to turn into the fanatical. The Tea Party is a good example. In sports, fanaticism is fine, but this isn't sports -- this is our nation we are talking about, not some exotic place we have read about.

There ARE lives at stake here. What the House led GOP is doing may make Wisconsin look like a drop in the bucket. This is the very essence of what Naomi Klein wrote about in her book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. We are staring down the barrel of a gun here and it's because the GOP refuses to do what they were elected to do. The consequences of not raising the Debt Ceiling will be disastrous. All one has to do is take a look at Greece or Chile. How about New Orleans or Iraq? This is what Milton Friedman advocated. It's happening right now, right here in OUR Country, known as the United States of America. We live here. We work here. We love here. We cry here. We bleed here. We do these things here, in OUR Country.

There is a difference between understanding politics and activism. Today is one of those days for activism that will help the President - and those who take this issue quite seriously - to govern. He cannot do this alone... Nancy Pelosi cannot do this alone... Clearly, the GOP has no desire to govern; instead, they obstruct and this time they are willing to take our nation down with them. It's time to at least make our voices heard.

Call Eric Cantor today:
Richmond Office - phone: (804) 747-4073 | fax: (804) 747-5308
DC Office - phone: 202-225-2815 | fax: 202-225-0011

Call John Boehner today:
Washington, D.C. Office
1011 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6205
(202) 225-0704 fax

Tell them this is our Country as much as theirs and we need them to put Country first.

ENOUGH!


and
Raine
 

90 comments (Latest Comment: 07/15/2011 01:24:31 by livingonli)
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Comment by Scoopster on 07/14/2011 13:14:19
Mornin' all..

What a difference a day makes. It feels like mid-spring outside today!

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 13:15:18
Morning

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 13:52:46
It's pretty quiet this morning.



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 13:55:24
Morning all. As you know, I've emailed the office of The Bullying Coward, John Boehner, Economic Terrorist. I will be calling the office of the Intellectually Stunted Partisan Ass, Eric Cantor later today.

Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 14:00:29
Tootling my own horn for a second....

Mrs. TriSec and I have managed to be married for 15 years on this date.

I know people that didn't stay married 15 weeks (really!).

Alas, I am at the store tonight (I usually don't bother to get weeknights of in the summer, since I work so damn few of them, go figure.) So, this is tomorrow evening's plan -->

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:01:54
I think that Boehner is just a pathetic drunken pile of a sweaty mess right now. He literally (as I mentioned in the blog... ) has totally checked out.


Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 14:05:20
Congrats on 15 Tri!

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:07:53
Happy Anniversary to the TriSec Familia!

Comment by BobR on 07/14/2011 14:11:39
Quote by TriSec:
Tootling my own horn for a second....

Mrs. TriSec and I have managed to be married for 15 years on this date.

I know people that didn't stay married 15 weeks (really!).

Alas, I am at the store tonight (I usually don't bother to get weeknights of in the summer, since I work so damn few of them, go figure.) So, this is tomorrow evening's plan -->

Congrats!!

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:17:08
I want to make a note here... the use of Country First was not meant to be Ironic... IT was meant to get people think about who was the GOP candidate in 2008.



Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:18:09
Quote by Raine:
I want to make a note here... the use of Country First was not meant to be Ironic... It was meant to get people think about who was the GOP candidate in 2008.


http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0bcD6Sd2XY6kq/610x.jpg


Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:20:01
Oh. Today is Bastille day...

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:27:46
Caller is wrong.

Kucinich is wrong. If the Treasury shuts down there is no BANK to write the checks from.



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 14:29:33
Quote by TriSec:
Tootling my own horn for a second....

Mrs. TriSec and I have managed to be married for 15 years on this date.

I know people that didn't stay married 15 weeks (really!).

Alas, I am at the store tonight (I usually don't bother to get weeknights of in the summer, since I work so damn few of them, go figure.) So, this is tomorrow evening's plan -->


Well done! Here is to 35 or more.

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:30:24
Why don't people get that? It's not scare tactics... IF we default -- there is no bank. No Social Security Checks...

There is no FDIC for our government.

Comment by clintster on 07/14/2011 14:34:28
Quote by TriSec:
Tootling my own horn for a second....

Mrs. TriSec and I have managed to be married for 15 years on this date.

I know people that didn't stay married 15 weeks (really!).

Alas, I am at the store tonight (I usually don't bother to get weeknights of in the summer, since I work so damn few of them, go figure.) So, this is tomorrow evening's plan -->


Congrats to the TriSecs!


Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 14:35:36
Quote by Raine:
Caller is wrong.

Kucinich is wrong. If the Treasury shuts down there is no BANK to write the checks from.




as they have used that money in other places so there's not the money "in the bank" that they think

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:38:45
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Caller is wrong.

Kucinich is wrong. If the Treasury shuts down there is no BANK to write the checks from.




as they have used that money in other places so there's not the money "in the bank" that they think
people don't quite understand that the money from SS goes into the treasury.

We are literally talking about the Treasury shutting down here. SS does not have a separate SS bank.


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 14:41:41
Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 14:48:38
let me put it this way, as I have understood this. (I hate trying to understand this stuff, so please feel free to tell me if I am wrong)

People pay into Social Security. SS Buys bonds with that money from the Treasury. It creates interest. That interest helps to pay for checks. Interest is important here.

If SS can't buy bonds from the treasury, we go on austerity mode. That is very bad. We have been told that SS is fine for about 12 years, (till 2025?) this oncoming crisis will just throw our nation underwater.

The entire Idea of what Obama is talking about is to try to make SS solvent for the long haul. Right now we are relying on interest to keep it solvent. We default, we have no treasury -- no treasury, no solvency.



Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:00:56
I like this very much.

I would have to say, She's not really speaking out about her half sister. I'm kind of Disappointed in this.

Mondo -- I think Salon is trying to drag LaFave into the story. She did not speak out wrt to Bachmann. She just simply spoke.

I have a republican Dad -- his last name is Koch.

They could make a story like this about me. I hope that makes some sense.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 15:09:28
John from Ashville

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:12:46
Quote by wickedpam:
John from Ashville
What a damn hot mess!


Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:19:46
You know, I read articles like this from well over 6 months ago, and I get even more angry. It's not like people we not warned. Say what the F you want about Giethner, you tell me he was not wrong:

"Failure to increase the limit would be deeply irresponsible," Geithner wrote. "For these reasons, I am requesting that Congress act to increase the limit early this year, well before the threat of default becomes imminent."

The letter comes one day after Republicans took control of the House, their membership reinforced with new lawmakers who have vowed to block further borrowing, a top priority of the conservative tea party movement. Newly elected House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) acknowledged Wednesday that default must be avoided, but he said Republicans would demand deep spending cuts and budget reforms in exchange for raising the limit on borrowing.

"The American people will not stand for such an increase unless it is accompanied by meaningful action by the president and Congress to cut spending and end the job-killing spending binge in Washington," Boehner said in a statement. "While America cannot default on its debt, we also cannot continue to borrow recklessly, dig ourselves deeper into this hole and mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters that he views the debate over the debt limit as "an opportunity, actually, for us to come together and make some significant strides toward beginning to reduce our spending and debt."


I am SO effin sick of the media and people has such a short term memory. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY SAY.

(rant over)



Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:41:57
I am damn pissed. The GOP is literally asking for permission to NOT PAY Bills. They are willing to throw the nation into economic chaos so they can be welfare queens.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 15:48:35
Cantor's voice mail boxes are full. He doesn't even provide a way to speak to a human being. Little bitch.

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:52:46
You want to see Dickatude? Here:
: House Speaker John Boehner has told the White House that he doesn't want to go to Camp David to negotiate on the deficit.

"The Speaker has told the White House he sees no need to go to Camp David this weekend," Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said in an email.


Mothafuckinsnakesonthehill


Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 15:53:33
Quote by Mondobubba:
Cantor's voice mail boxes are full. He doesn't even provide a way to speak to a human being. Little bitch.
I was able to get thru this morning -- can you fax?


Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 15:55:49
Quote by Raine:
You want to see Dickatude? Here:
: House Speaker John Boehner has told the White House that he doesn't want to go to Camp David to negotiate on the deficit.

"The Speaker has told the White House he sees no need to go to Camp David this weekend," Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said in an email.


Mothafuckinsnakesonthehill



they just have seem to have now feel for the urgency of the situation they created.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 15:57:46
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Cantor's voice mail boxes are full. He doesn't even provide a way to speak to a human being. Little bitch.
I was able to get thru this morning -- can you fax?


No, I'll try his district office when I am at lunch.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 16:16:07
Well tomorrow is my boss' offical last day - I'm happy for her to be able to retire and move to CO but I can't help feeling unsettled

Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 16:30:18
Quote by wickedpam:
Well tomorrow is my boss' offical last day - I'm happy for her to be able to retire and move to CO but I can't help feeling unsettled
Any news for you?

Do you have a new boss, or has anyone said anything?


Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 16:44:55
I'm guessing ol' Ben Franklin had this right a few years ago...

http://images.suite101.com/245321_joinordie.jpg




Comment by Scoopster on 07/14/2011 16:48:30
Back from the SEO meeting... ugh so mind-numbing.

Comment by livingonli on 07/14/2011 16:49:35
Good day folks. I think Cantor wants the default to occur since he is betting on it happening and stands to make a ton of money doing so. John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" is now more relevant than ever.

Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 17:04:45
Quote by livingonli:
Good day folks. I think Cantor wants the default to occur since he is betting on it happening and stands to make a ton of money doing so. John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" is now more relevant than ever.


That sounds vaguely criminal....when people manipulate the market to profit themselves in the business world, that's called "Insider Trading".




Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/14/2011 17:17:53
Afternoon all

I've spent the day so far by taking my mother into Boston for some eye surgery (removing scar tissue and straightening folds in her retina) and restoring my dad's PC (hard drive failure). I though the backups we did would work, but though the data is there, I can't just restore the programs. Oh well.


Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 17:20:23
Manchester United can suck my prong, BTW.



Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 17:22:02
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by livingonli:
Good day folks. I think Cantor wants the default to occur since he is betting on it happening and stands to make a ton of money doing so. John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" is now more relevant than ever.


That sounds vaguely criminal....when people manipulate the market to profit themselves in the business world, that's called "Insider Trading".


It's totally legal.

Moral? No.
Legal, Yes.


Comment by Raine on 07/14/2011 17:24:09
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Afternoon all

I've spent the day so far by taking my mother into Boston for some eye surgery (removing scar tissue and straightening folds in her retina) and restoring my dad's PC (hard drive failure). I though the backups we did would work, but though the data is there, I can't just restore the programs. Oh well.

OH!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RABBIT!



and a good to boot.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 17:35:27
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Well tomorrow is my boss' offical last day - I'm happy for her to be able to retire and move to CO but I can't help feeling unsettled
Any news for you?

Do you have a new boss, or has anyone said anything?



nope don't know anything at this point - I'm sure they'll find someone to fit into the culture of the office instead of us fitting them, I'm just not liking this kind of change.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 17:37:06
So Tri, how did the "Join or Die" emblem get morphed into the Teabagger logo of "Don't tread on me"?

Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 17:37:45
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Afternoon all

I've spent the day so far by taking my mother into Boston for some eye surgery (removing scar tissue and straightening folds in her retina) and restoring my dad's PC (hard drive failure). I though the backups we did would work, but though the data is there, I can't just restore the programs. Oh well.

OH!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RABBIT!



and a good to boot.



Happy B-Day Rabbit



Comment by livingonli on 07/14/2011 17:40:37
Another day, another donut.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/14/2011 17:41:26
Thanks all. I'll toot my own horn that I'm still magically around after 55 years.....

Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 17:43:34
Quote by wickedpam:
So Tri, how did the "Join or Die" emblem get morphed into the Teabagger logo of "Don't tread on me"?

-

Well, there were some hallucinogenic mushrooms involved, then a sordid evening in a greasy motel with a re-enactor and a musket, but that's all I've heard.




Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 17:55:49
Oh, and I curse my command of the English Language.

I have been using "erstwhile" where I meant "mercurial".



Comment by wickedpam on 07/14/2011 17:56:56
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by wickedpam:
So Tri, how did the "Join or Die" emblem get morphed into the Teabagger logo of "Don't tread on me"?

-

Well, there were some hallucinogenic mushrooms involved, then a sordid evening in a greasy motel with a re-enactor and a musket, but that's all I've heard.





I knew you'd have the dirt

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/14/2011 17:57:05
Quote by TriSec:
Manchester United can suck my prong, BTW.



Why? What have the Sith of the EPL done now?

Comment by TriSec on 07/14/2011 18:06:12
Quote by Mondobubba:


Why? What have the Sith of the EPL done now?



Man United 4, Revolution 1