Looks to me like the GOP already won

[edhopper]

they won't get "everything" the want. But they controlled the debate.
Obama gave in to their language where cutting spending ( a truly stupid idea) superseded any talk of the Bush Tax Cuts, which the GOP forced an extension of and which are the biggest cause of the current deficit.
Whatever deal they make, much like the Healthcare bill, it will be a GOP plan.
I weep for my country.

[Bandit]

1. IMO they won the very minute Obama was elected.

:shrug:

[CelticThunder]

4. Bingo

[woo me with science]

32. The banks won the moment Obama was elected.

Both parties represent them now.

[warrior1]

2. here we go

[DCBob]

3. raising the debt ceiling is a win for all of us.

this deal is good enough... the alternative is unthinkable.

[CelticThunder]

5. Would you be just as happy with it if the president was Bush?

[DCBob]

9. I wasnt happy about anything when Bush was president.

so?

[Mass]

12. Have you ever been unhappy of anything president Obama did?\nt

[DCBob]

15. yes.

[boston bean]

34. spill it, what have you been unhappy with Obama about.

[DCBob]

45. my biggest gripe is not getting out of Iraq sooner...

also dont like the WH not doing much about the global warming/climate change crisis. There are other issues but those are big ones to me.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. But they raised the debt ceiling again and again and you say

that is good. Under Bush, by the way, the raised the ceiling even as they cut taxes, same day. Effortlessly.

[edhopper]

19. It could be worse

rather than why aren't they doing better is a pathetic argument.

[Tennessee Gal]

6. I thought so, but not so sure about this current deal. nt

[edhopper]

8. This should have been a non controversial vote

like the dozens of times they did it before. Almost procedural.
To make it a referendum on crushing social programs is a big win for the GOP.

[DCBob]

14. yes, it should have been but it wasnt.

the GOPers are acting like terrorists but unforunately we have to deal with them because they are legally elected and have votes.

[MadHound]

22. And becoming victim of the largest spending cuts in our history,

During the middle of an economic crisis, that is a huge loss for the entire country. There is no win in this deal, there is only loss. The only difference between this deal, and defaulting, is the difference between dying slowly and dying quickly. Me, I've always wanted to die quick.

[Warren Stupidity]

24. same old song, same chorus

an abysmally corrupt health insurance 'reform' bill instead of actual universal health care: big win the alternative was unthinkable.

extension of the bush(obama) tax cuts: the alternative was unthinkable

all cuts no revenue 'compromise' : the alternative was unthinkable.

I get it: stop thinking.

[DCBob]

27. reality sucks, doesnt it?

[woo me with science]

33. And the chocolate ration has been increased. nt

[still_one]

7. Not necessarily. I have to see what the deal is, however, with or without the deal the bush tax

cuts will expire

[Tennessee Gal]

11. Not so sure about that. nt

[edhopper]

13. They should have expired last year

But the GOP extorted Obama on Unemployment and he backed down. Which lead to the current extortion on the debt ceiling, where Obama has already agreed to their principles. See any pattern?

[still_one]

18. There is no question about that, and much of the problems we are having in this current situation

are because Obama caved in

[Skink]

31. How soon before they can use the unemployment thing again.

[Bandit]

16. I would not bet my life on that.

In fact If I had to bet my life on it I would side with the Bush* tax cuts remaining and even made permenent.. Obama has shown time and time again he will cave. Why would anyone expect any different when the tax cuts come into play again right at election time..

[still_one]

21. Then I will change that to the bush tax cuts "SHOULD" expire /nt

[Mass]

10. Agreed, but this has been obvious since the beginning.

We know the GOP does not negotiate, so why start a negotiation with an already compromised position. It was obvious it would lead there.

[cantbeserious]

17. Obama = Change = Republican Driven Change = How's That Change Thing Working For Everyone Now?

eom

[Poiuyt]

20. Let's face it -- The republicans are much better at controlling the debate

They pick out a few key points, and they hammer them home to the American public every week. From the politicians to the commentators, they stay consistent and on message, repeating it loudly and frequently. They are able to win this way.

Most Americans prefer a liberal agenda (as long as you don't describe it as being liberal or Democratic). But our leaders can't come up with a message that resonates with the public.

[paparush]

25. Yep. They find the lowest common denominator and then they hammer it relentlessly.

Doesn't seem to matter if it's reality/fact/truth based or not.

[Imajika]

30. If the economy were turning around, Obama would control the debate...

The problem is the economy STILL sucks. The stimulus was not big enough, and now it's too late to push through more.

We are going on 3 years of the Obama presidency and things are still awful. It's nearly impossible for Obama to control much of anything when the policies he argued would get this country moving are not working. A platform of "it could have been worse" is not a winning argument.

The Republicans are doing everything they can to keep the economy from improving, but our opportunity to really turn this country around was when we controlled the House, Senate and White House.

[Poiuyt]

42. The economy sucks because Obama has been following the republican agenda

Your absolutely right that the stimulus was not big enough. But I don't think Obama ever made a strong argument for what would work to get the economy turned around. Instead, he bought into the repub taking points about cutting spending and extending the bush tax cuts.

[MrTriumph]

43. & Obama uses the "bully pulpit" to further Republican talking points

News flash: Barry is not on our side.

[adhd_what_huh]

23. No....they lost again...just like the Ryan Budget

they wanted a spending fight where we refuse to cut. Instead we gave them a tax increase fight and for the first time ever the American people agree with us that the tax's must increase.

[edhopper]

26. They stopped listening to the American people

a long time ago.

[bluestate10]

35. To me it looks like democrats are working to maneuver republicans to

the election, where republicans will get slaughtered by a new crop of democrats running for office. The key is to not agree to changes that have elements of the Ryan proposals.

[adhd_what_huh]

i agree

[1776Forever]

28. I am really disgusted with anyone who DID NOT vote complaining about what happen - not saying the

poster did not vote - but others who cry about what happen here! Those who were too busy to vote or just were too stubborn to vote or for what ever reason they got what they didn't or did vote for! We all must wake up to the fact that we get the Government we vote in - As a majority! So VOTE next time and get the message out to everyone that you get what you allow others to give you if you don't vote!

Check where the US falls in % of turnout with other Democracies around the world:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout

[boston bean]

36. What happens when DEMS have the majority of all three branches?

[adhd_what_huh]

41. sweetness and light

[Bluenorthwest]

37. Oregon's turnout in the Mid Term was 71%

Far higher in the general. This turnout problem is regional.

[Edweird]

39. Your graph doesn't show 2008.

[bluestate10]

40. Many DU members were so angry with blue dogs and moderate voters

that they sat at home and allowed far right extremists to gain the upper hand at polls. Those people have only themselves to blame. And many of them are not wanting to weaken President Obama during the primary season next year. How insane is that? What do those type of people want? Republicans in control of all of government, enacting extreme right wing policies that are difficult to reverse? And after years of wing nut damage, those DU members will rush forward, salivating about a democratic or independent that offer nothing more than moderate polices that are short of progressives' dream policies.

[Dawgs]

44. Proof? I have yet see any, but it keeps getting repeating. Where is it? n/t.

[edhopper]

46. I fucking volunteered for Obama

I did it because I thought he would act like a Democrat, not a DINO.
I doubt i will work for him next time.
This is his doing, NOT the voters.

[RKP5637]

38. Obama is window dressing for the masses, the real money and power brokers are calling

all of the shots, and it ain't for "we the people." What we have in this country is a delusional democracy. The masses are still being prepared for peasantry to bring us down to the lowest common denominator of standard of living and wages, and under a massive surveillance control network for the profiteers. Cheap labor, very minimal benefits and adherence to the dictates of the authoritarians.