I'm still processing this one, to be quite honest. I'm not sure I am in the mood to try to win people over this morning regarding the deal, because I just don't know enough about it.

I perused this quick face sheet from WaPo. You should too. I refuse to become part of the outrage brigade that I am seeing all over so many social networking sights.

I will remind people of this, with regard to a "Clean Debt Ceiling" vote (especially for those that wanted it) we actually had one back in May. We were told of this back in April. You can see that at that point, the White house released this information: FACT SHEET: The President's Framework for Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility. I think it's important to compare it to the "Deal" that we are going to see voted on today: Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Debt Deal: A Win for the Economy and Budget Discipline -- and what is MOST important to me, is that there are NO Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In other words: The Ryan Budget deal appears to be dead. The agreement that is out there now, looks eerily similar to the one the White House sought. Considering there is a Republican majority in the House, I'm surprised the end result isn't far worse.

I refuse to defend Obama on this -- nor will I sit here in outrage over this deal. We avoided a total Economic Failure of our nation. Everyone in Congress used this crisis for political advantage, and it looks like no one gained anything; they are all tarnished for it. We maintained the status quo. It's not a win, but the alternative was far more dire.

I WILL say that I am sick of the U.S. Congress constantly putting America in a state of crisis. In addition, what we are witnessing is the result of all those people who stayed at home in 2010 who were just hell-bent on showing THEM! They did a helluva job. Thanks. FWIW - Elections Matter.

and
Raine