Obama says he will not negotiate with Congress on debt ceiling

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Obama says he will not negotiate with Congress on debt ceiling

By Steve Holland and Mark Felsenthal
WASHINGTON | Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:15pm EDT

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Republicans in Congress on Monday that he will not negotiate over an extension of the U.S. debt ceiling as part of a budget battle that will soon dominate Washington, with a deadline fast approaching.

Pivoting to domestic policy after devoting weeks to the crisis in Syria, Obama scolded his political opponents for threatening a federal government shutdown and attempting to attach conditions to funding the budget for the 2014 fiscal year that begins October 1.

"Let's stop the threats. Let's stop the political posturing. Let's keep our government open. Let's pay our bills on time. Let's pass a budget," Obama said.

In a speech marking five years of the start of the financial crisis that sent Wall Street teetering, the U.S. banking system to the brink of collapse and the economy into recession, Obama said much progress had been made in rebuilding the economy but much more remains to be done.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/16/us-usa-economy-obama-idUSBRE98F0OA20130916

[Historic NY]

1. finally he won't negotiate with terrorists.

[Kablooie]

2. He has said this every year. It's a negotiating tactic.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. So him saying he's not negotiating

Means he IS negotiating?

[davidpdx]

3. I think there will be a government shutdown

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Stand your ground, Mr. President

Republicans are trying to use these hardball measures to get stuff they can't win popular/legislative support for. This should NOT be allowed!

[bigwillq]

6. Well, I hope not (nt)

[JustAnotherGen]

7. If he can spin it so that

It lays 100% on the House and Senate republicans IN THE MEDIA - then so be it. All we've gotten out of those people since January 2011 is abject stupidity. Enough. Call their bluff.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. People aren't overwhelmingly behind repealing Obamacare/ACA

If the Republicans shut the government down or refuse to raise the debt ceiling over Obamacare/ACA, I don't think that there is any way that they can spin it to make it look positive for them- or that they are taking a principled stand against something truly hideous. The Republicans are trying to achieve something that they haven't been able to through the normal legislative/political process. The Senate and President Obama will NEVER agree to defund/repeal ACA and I don't think that people are going to side with the Republicans on this. I just don't. However they try to spin it, it just doesn't look good for Republicans. *ugh*

[JustAnotherGen]

9. To their true believers

It will be a principled stand. That's the sad truth of it. Even if they are impacted and Obama blinks - they will paint someone like Cruz as the great savior.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

10. The true believers, yes

but the "true believers" are not in the majority- otherwise we'd be dealing with a fully Republican Congress and President Romney. It wasn't even close last year despite all of the hackneyed and wild polling.

[JustAnotherGen]

11. They don't need a majority

Across the US to make us all miserable. They just need it in winnable House Districts.

NJ - 7th will not care one lick - they will still vote for Leonard Lance (R- NJ7) next November . . . and he's starting to come across as flat out gung ho for a shutdown. He'll use this to get them to come out next year.

Sorry - can't be that positive. 18 flat out hang ups calling for the Gov's race last night from possible voters.

This is a country where a belligerent bully (Christie) is revered. House Republicans will be applauded for this by their base. The "I'm against Obama" crowd will love it. And those people vote.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. I understand

I don't know why Dems seem to be basically throwing in the towel on Christie. As I posted earlier, I know of some Democratic-leaning Obama voting people talking positively about Christie but have no idea why. He may be one of the *saner* Republicans out of the lot but he still embodies their policies and agenda of the 1% and is no friend of the majority of people in the country.

I still don't think that the Republicans have a leg to stand on in regards to ACA. People have already been feeling some of its benefits and I don't feel that they would demand that President Obama and Democrats sign on to any plan to keep government operating and bills being paid that also includes a repeal/defunding of ACA. It will certainly be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Arkana]

13. Well, he didn't last time--maybe he's finally getting it, 5 years later.