Pelosi undermining Obama on debt talks, sez Ken Duberstein

[Enrique]

i say, go Nancy, "undermine" away! :bounce:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43547197

(...)

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi demanded over the weekend that her caucus be at the debt talks table if they're expected to vote for any deal that the President makes. Ken Duberstein, former chief of staff to President Ronald Reagan and a supporter of President Obama in the

2008 election, says the President needs to become a more active participant in these debt discussions.

"If an agreement is to be reached the President has to get going and lead. Pelosi's unhelpful comments can impact Obama's flexibility in reaching a consensus that gets him more than 218 votes. While I'm dubious a grand compromise can be reached and gain congressional approval quickly, remember, congress always takes the path of least resistance and danger," Duberstein said.

(...)

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Obama has spent most of his presidency hiding to avoid being attacked. nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. Yeah, Ken, your budget process was brilliant.

Just what we need, your insights.

[joeybee12]

3. Go nancy! Does Obama know what partyt he is supposedly a member of? knr

[frazzled]

4. Consider the source

Ken Duberstein, Reagan's Chief of Staff, an adviser to Richard Armitage.

[Enrique]

5. and big-time corporate lobbyist

if Nancy is causing him some discomfort, I hope she does more of it.

[Lionessa]

6. I'll take Nancy at the table over Obama any day.

[Rageneau]

10. Me, too. I know Nancy is a Democrat. Not always sure about Obama.

[Autumn]

7. Hell, I find Nancy's comments very helpful, but then

I'm not a fucking republican. Go get them Nancy.

[vroomvroom]

8. THANK GOD! Finally someone in the Room to Fight For Us!

[woo me with science]

11. No kidding!

Can we tether him to her somehow? Longterm?

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Nancy!

:)

[Hippo_Tron]

12. If Pelosi has 218 votes for a discharge petitition, then by all means let her negotiate

Until then we're at the whims of Boehner and his hand picked Rules committee to bring a bill to the floor. Despite what Ken Duberstein says, I have little doubt that Boehner and Obama can collectively reach 218 votes, most of which will have to come from Boehner.

[flpoljunkie]

13. Trouble is, Boehner likely won't have the 217 votes needed in his own party

I think Jane Harman's seat is still unfilled and then there's Anthony Weiner's empty seat.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Obama can find enough Democrats to make up the difference

[flpoljunkie]

15. R's have already said no to his 5-1 spending cuts to revenue increases

Forget About an Agreement
Josh Marshall
June 27, 2011, 4:53PM


Mitch McConnell's bright lines for a debt limit deal -- zero revenue tax hikes and deep Medicare cuts -- seem to make an agreement impossible.

Dems are apparently pushing for revenue hikes in the neighborhood of 20% of the spending cuts Republicans get in the negotiations. But that's a non-starter. McConnell says debt reduction has to come 100% from spending cuts.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/06/forget_about_an_agreement.php?ref=fpblg

[Scruffy1]

16. The only Dem with ball is a woman. n/t