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The Obama Watch

Obama’s Pretend Leadership on the Debt

By on 7.12.11 @ 2:28PM

Barack Obama held a press conference yesterday in which he played a president. If only he would act like one.

President Obama held a press conference yesterday in which he played a president. If only he enjoyed being one as much as he enjoys playing one, the nation might be on a solid path to recovery.

Presidents lead. They are supposed to, anyway. It’s in the job description. This one, though, believes that talking — and only talking — is leading. And so he talks. He berates. He lectures. He scolds. Seldom does he stop talking and start doing.

The subject of yesterday’s press conference was the debt ceiling. The president assumed his Serious President Face, slid his eyelids to their lordly half-closed position, and chided the children of Congress on behalf of the American people.

“We keep on talking about this stuff and we have these high-minded pronouncements about how we’ve got to get control of the deficit and how we owe it to our children and our grandchildren. Well, let’s step up. Let’s do it. I’m prepared to do it. I’m prepared to take on significant heat from my party to get something done. And I expect the other side should be willing to do the same thing — if they mean what they say that this is important.”

He reiterated: “And so if, in fact, Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are sincere — and I believe they are — that they don’t want to see the U.S. government default, then they’re going to have to compromise just like Democrats are going to have to compromise; just like I have shown myself willing to compromise.”

The problem with pretending to be a leader is that after a while one develops a record, and the people can see for themselves whether one has led. Here is ABC News on President Obama’s handling of the debt ceiling on Feb. 12, 2010: “Behind closed doors and with no cameras present, President Obama signed into law Friday afternoon the bill raising the public debt limit from $12.394 trillion to $14.294 trillion.”

The very picture of leadership: The hero of the debt ceiling wars, cowering in his closet, afraid to let the public see him sign a law authorizing the borrowing of another $1.9 trillion. That $1.9 trillion is run through, without the president having done anything to change Washington’s spend-thrift ways, as he has so often said he would do.

Obama would have been content to continue spending, and raising the debt ceiling to accommodate that spending, indefinitely. But in large part because the American public realized that, he was given a Republican House to deal with. The House is doing its job: hindering the Obama agenda.

That has the president so frustrated that he is making even less sense than usual. Here is what he ruled out yesterday: “The things that I will not consider are a 30-day or a 60-day or a 90-day or a 180-day temporary stopgap resolution to this problem. This is the United States of America, and we don’t manage our affairs in three-month increments.”

So the two-month increase in the debt limit the Democratic Congress passed and Obama signed in December 2009 was un-American, according to the president who signed it.

President Obama has had 29 months to deal with the national debt. For the first 24 of those months, he had a Democratic Congress to work with, and he did nothing but enlarge the debt. In the last five, he has blamed Republicans for not being serious enough about the debt to sit down with him and reach a compromise on it. Amazingly, he said this only 11 days after he refused to meet with Senate Republicans to discuss the debt because, his spokesman said, that was “not a conversation worth having.”

Obama can spin all he wants, but the more he pretends to have led on the debt, the more obvious it is that he has not.

About the Author

Andrew Cline is editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader. His Twitter ID is @Drewhampshire.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (116) |

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 3:13PM

Maybe you will do better next year; maybe you will elect someone better.
But based on past experience; based upon going on 23 years of read my lips no new taxes, grounds for optimism are not in evidence. People are tired of hearing about Reagan. He was a good administrator, but that almost a generation ago-- even Nancy is growing tired of it. If Nancy Reagan keeps hearing about her husband too much, she will place a portrait of Hinckley on her wall.

Groad| 7.12.11 @ 3:56PM

(__!__)

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:47PM

"he refused to meet with Senate Republicans to discuss the debt because, his spokesman said, that was "not a conversation worth having."

Because he knows, Cline, that the GOP only cares about 2012, all your at least dozen or so serious candidates-- probably many more-- are sharpening their knives.

Sherman rides again!| 7.12.11 @ 6:04PM

" I am not the president, but I play one on TV."

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:09PM

I would have though many of you would be happy govt. checks might not be sent out in August- but that is a nonstarter.

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:27AM

Which is it Alan? Social Security is solvent or it is merely one more pot of money which a government BY the people and FOR the people sweeps into a pile and spends as it sees fit? I love the way your hero plays both Snidely Whiplash and Duddly Do-Right simultaneously! Let him eat his peas. Let him pull off his own bandaid. Let him keep to himself for the next 18 months and exit stage left. Smoke and mirrors is out of cash.

sablegsd| 7.15.11 @ 12:00AM

Why is it the first cut from the axe is always SS, medicare, etc? How about kicking the UN out and defunding it? How about bringing our troops home? How about getting the hell out of Libya? Stopping all foreign aid? Sealing the border? Stopping the anchor baby crap? Oh, oh, how about president worthless and every member of the federal govt. takes a pay cut and bennies slashed?

Skippy| 7.12.11 @ 6:11PM

First Tuesday in November 2012 will be The Night of the Long Knives.
Sharpen 'em up, eh?
Tonight's special is Fillet o' Bama.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:25PM

Well there's a candid man!

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:28PM

.. you will be so kind as to give him a painkiller before you slice him up?

Skippy| 7.12.11 @ 6:38PM

The same one he gave us.

john| 7.14.11 @ 1:45PM

Painkiller; 3 parts pineapple juice ,1 part coconut milk,2 shots Pussers rum, shake , top with nutmeg

RCV| 7.12.11 @ 6:26PM

If the sh*t hits the fan, and the debt limit isn't raised, and interest rates on home mortgages and business loans soar, we'll see who those knives will be skewering. That's why that coward McConnell is willing to give the President carte blanche on the debt ceiling. He knows that if he agrees to any revenue enhancements, the GOP right wing will skewer him, but if he punts on a raise on the debt ceiling, the American electorate will do him and the GOP in November. So rather than actually accomplish a deal with real deficit reduction, he'd rather try to save his sorry rear end.

Nick| 7.12.11 @ 7:10PM

RCV,

C'mon! "Revenue enhancements?

You should know by now that this Orwellian double-speak will not work here. They're called tax hikes, not revenue enhancements. Why do liberals always try to change the language during a debate?

O'Bama and the democrats are tax and spenders. Always have been, always will be.

The idea of a fiscally responsible democrat is a joke.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 7.12.11 @ 8:30PM

I don't bother with silly seemingly countless posts exhibiting a staggering intellectual dishonesty on religious and scientific and social and political issues on a post on economics that exhibits an astonishing ignorance on so many levels mindboggling to ponder even from this ridiculous clown vulgarity of a troll matters.

RCV| 7.13.11 @ 2:30AM

Zzzzzzzzzzz.........

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:29AM

Seriously? The government is doing so much borrowing that there is scarcely any lending dollars available to business and individuals. If you want to purchase a home my suggestion is that you take advantage of Dodd Frank so long as you fit their requirements ....

Steve A| 7.12.11 @ 3:21PM

It's so refreshing to see the defense of Obama relegated to: "Yeah, well your candidates are terrible also, except for Reagan." Too funny. This guy is top 5 all time worst Presidents. He may, possibly, eclipse Carter before its over.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:50PM

By saying "possibly", Steve, you are hedging, you remember Clinton was re-elected despite all your predictions.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 3:32PM

"It's so refreshing to see the defense of Obama relegated to: "Yeah, well your candidates are terrible also, except for Reagan." Too funny. This guy is top 5 all time worst Presidents. He may, possibly, eclipse Carter before its over."

But that doesn't say anything good about your people. Notice you wrote nothing at about GOP prospects?

Mike D.| 7.12.11 @ 3:59PM

This article isn't about Reagan, Republicans, or Republican candidates. Its about a person with the leadership skills of Moe Howard of the three stooges who currently occupies the White House.

DTCOFAZ| 7.12.11 @ 4:23PM

"But that doesn't say anything about YOUR PEOPLE..." WTH that you came from? Are we all American live in the same land here?
Using the enemy mentallity such as Your people vs. my people to the fellow American in your argument is so tasteless.
Your messiah has taught you well.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:35PM

Funny, the last piece today touts the benefits of intense competition-- even for children.

Poop or get off the pot.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:37PM

"This article isn't about Reagan"

No, but all day long I hear about Reagan, HE is YOUR messiah.

DTCOFAZ| 7.12.11 @ 4:51PM

Low level left wing trolls like you only have "poop" or "pot" come out from your mouth... can't come up with something better. Find some valid arguments to post, dude.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:12PM

Okay, then, why do you cry crocodile tears for govt checks? Why can you be partisan, but Obama cannot?

And all YOU can write is "liberal pinko commie faggot statist..."
That is what you are basically writing.

Bruce Berger| 7.13.11 @ 4:27PM

Alan,

You just reinforced Cline's point. The reason Obama shouldn't be partisan is that the country faces a very serious problem, one partially of his own doing. Instead of seriously leading the country to a solution he plays partisan politics.

Obama long ago decided he was not interested in being President of the whole country, but just the part of the country that agrees with him.

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:32AM

The high spot of his political career may have been the no red states, no blue states, just United States .... too bad we didn't fully realize that he was doing his best Dr Seuss at the time ....

Oldefarte| 7.12.11 @ 3:41PM

I'll tell you morons what America is tired of, and that is this unpatriotic, academic demogod, community organizing, socialist idiot disguised as a president for the last two years. Sure we can and will DO BETTER, if we elect Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Alfred E. Newman as president in November of next year. Do better? A five year old child with average common sense COULD DO BETTER, FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:44PM

but you've been saying such since January of 1989.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:14PM

... actually, the fall of '88-- I remember it clearly; what big hopes were built up at that time.
Now it is coming back to haunt us.

Oldefarte| 7.13.11 @ 10:38AM

You make absolutely no sense, and do not explain your point. '88', '89' WTF are you talking about fool? These domestic terrorists aka Democrats are running this country off of the cliff with their insanity of the last two years. and you're ratching back to yesteryears? I'll argue/debate your points if you have any logical ones, but make some simblance of sense!!!!!!!

Owen Kinnan| 7.14.11 @ 1:09AM

I would personally vote for Alfred E. Newman. He would do a better job than Barry.

Anthony| 7.12.11 @ 3:42PM

So, the Muslim Marxist took a page from the sociopath-in- chief's (Bill Clinton) playbook and pretends that he had nothing to do with creating this crisis and is above the partisan bickering.
"Can't we all just get along and eat our peas?"
If the Muslim Marxist has no vote, as his press fraud, aptly named Carney, informed his fellow whores in the LSM today, then why the hell is Obozo even in the discussion?
And now, according to Drudge, Obozo is threatening no Social Security checks, and no military pay.
What a fraud this man is!!!!!
Maybe Obozo can cut another deal with the Mexican drug cartel and get some of that $50M back from ATF's "Fast and Furious".
How about it Obozo, seniors instead of guns for Mexicans!!!!
Maybe the military will pay a visit to the White House and Congress, as the union thugs did in Wisconsin, and tell Obozo and Harry Reid, pay up or else.........
Default is only way to insure the fiscal sanity of America. Let the $175B brought in each month from taxes pay the debt and prioritize the rest of government spending. Namely, starve the bloated beast government!!!!!
Folks, the revolution is about to begin.....

Shamus| 7.12.11 @ 4:01PM

Obama needs to stuff his peas up his nose.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:42PM

You mean black-eyed peas because you don't like it that Obama is an uppity black.

Tony R| 7.12.11 @ 5:52PM

Brooks the racist.

Tony R| 7.12.11 @ 5:53PM

Make that racist troll.

Mike D.| 7.12.11 @ 6:06PM

Once again our resident left wing, attention whoring butt barnacle decends amongst us with his chain pulling commentary and observations.
Dude loves it here, where else can he get the attention he craves. Surely no where else. What is ironic is we are slowly turning him against the dark side of the force and the twit doesn't even know it. Damn, we are good here. Come in from the cold little on and learn from your elders.

Skippy| 7.12.11 @ 6:13PM

When I grow up I wanna be an uppity black too!

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:19PM

But putting aside all the 'commie pinko marxist liberal' epithets, most of you, save for libertarians, are not pleased your elders might lose benefits. Better for you to crucify the "Muslim" In-Chief.
You are, some of you, more than a few, getting a bit worried about Gramps and Granny, eh? things might... change.

Tony R| 7.12.11 @ 7:05PM

The benefits aren't a gift, Brooks. It is not un-conservative to expect a monthly social security check.
The SS was paid into by my parents and their employer for decades and decades, with the promise to return it in monthly stipends upon retirement.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 10:57PM

But you know increased lifespans were not anticipated in the '30s?

dw| 7.12.11 @ 11:51PM

Niether were the socialist in congress stealing the key to the social security lock box and plundering our money to pay for their massive spending programs.

Stupor Mundi| 7.14.11 @ 2:18PM

Not with Uncle Joe and Adolf around.

Oldefarte| 7.13.11 @ 10:39AM

Ah, cut the rasist crap, moron!!!!

Shamus| 7.14.11 @ 2:14PM

Visualize whirled peas.

Flit Andersen| 7.12.11 @ 6:35PM

"...How about it Obozo, seniors instead of guns for Mexicans!!!!"
I'm confused...how is The One going to use seniors to frighten America into passing more restrictions on our 2nd Amendment rights?

Anthony| 7.12.11 @ 9:33PM

Hmmm, Flit, How the heck did you come up with that deduction from my comment?
My comment was simply to demonstrate that with one hand, Obozo spends us into obvilion, with illegal spending programs, i.e the stimulus funding "Fast & Furious", while at the same time, he claims he might not be able to pay S.S. if the debt ceiling is not raised.
It had nothing to do with seniors frightening America into more 2nd Amendment restrictions.
It was Obozo's and Holder's Saul Alinsky inspired plot to arm Mexican drug lords and then blame the 2nd Amendment for the ease in which American guns found their way into Mexico.
When it comes to implimenting nafarious leftist schemes, Obozo is no affirmative action wonder, he's earned his stripes with the best of the left.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 10:59PM

"It was Obozo's and Holder's Saul Alinsky inspired plot to arm Mexican drug lords and then blame the 2nd Amendment for the ease in which American guns found their way into Mexico.
When it comes to implimenting nafarious leftist schemes, Obozo is no affirmative action wonder, he's earned his stripes with the best of the left."

This is conspiracy theory!

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:37AM

If that were the case:

1. There would be no lying about the program. No "I didn't find out until ...."

2. Holder would have come with all of the facts when summoned before Congress.

3. They would be touting its success or blaiming Bush.

4. See 3. above because they don't have any other tactics. I voted for Bush's opponents both times. Thank God I was in the stupid minority at the time. Kerry and Gore both lost to him. What do you think could possibly save 0bama?

Oldefarte| 7.13.11 @ 10:40AM

No, it's simply what's known as ACTING STUPIDLY by these inept, incompetent AH's, that's all!!!!!!!!

Owen Kinnan| 7.14.11 @ 1:11AM

Geez, Alan, You must have a lot of time on your hands. You have a lot of posts, most of them silly. Get some rest.

martin j smith| 7.12.11 @ 3:49PM

What Republicans need to do is this: Tell the American people that Obama's plan for our economy
will destroy our country. Its that simple. They must point out that Obama's threat to withhold Social Security and other entitlement checks shows he has no argument and no plan --he is a thug and Republicans must defend the voters. The people. This time Republicans must show
they have balls.

TrueBlue| 7.13.11 @ 10:52AM

Don't even have to tell them his plan will destroy our economy, just point out the fact that every time things got tough he resorted to threats to scare people into doing what he wanted... come to think of it, sounds like old Chicago mob tactics to me.

prestonsbrooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:20PM

you evil white folks. I'll cut off the SS you paid into, while my people will still have their free cell phones and food stamps! Mo-shell an' I will have a big ticket dinner with 40s for me an' fries fo her. Ah don' need congress or the courts. No mofo is as smart as I is.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:39PM

So that's it, Preston, what you don't is he's black.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 4:40PM

You don't like it that Obama is black.

Tony R| 7.12.11 @ 5:57PM

The guy is half white/half black. Not black. Why do you insist on calling him black? Oh, it's because you are a racist troll, Brooks.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:21PM

I am not the one who calls him Muslim!

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 6:22PM

But this is a specific question: do you guys hate Obama, or just dislike him? a candid answer, please.

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:40AM

I have nothing but contempt for him.

I hate his policies and what they have done to this nation. When he is gone, I will be able to put aside my remote as I have nearly broken the mute function. If he's speaking he is either not telling the truth or promoting the undermining of America. He and the missus were never proud until he was calling his primary opponent a whore married to a racist. I wonder how proud they are now.

chuck| 7.12.11 @ 8:22PM

So if I was a rascist, do I only half hated him, his black half, while loving his white half? And what about his kids? The baby-momma is all black, so does that make his kids 3/4 black, and 1/4 white, so should I hate 3/4 of them? Please help me out here Alan, I'm so confused!

Mike D.| 7.12.11 @ 6:23PM

I don't like that he's white, butt barnacle. If fact, I think he's actually a kind of brownish purple color which I don't like either. I'd prefer him to be more of a bronze type potato color tone myself, and if that were the case I could really back this guy and all his leftist Marxist positions. To sum it up, color means everything to me in my assessments. Now harry Reid, just the wrong color for a white dude, totally leftist. If the guy was just a bit more pinkish, I go run with this dudes politics.

Alan Brooks| 7.12.11 @ 11:01PM

You are conspiracy theorists, the counterparts to the 'controlled demolition' theorists of the last decade.

Oldefarte| 7.13.11 @ 10:43AM

Quit ACTING STUPIDLY and make a decent point besides racism, racism, racism. Besides we all don't dislike him because he's BLACK, but rather because he's a WHITE LIBERAL [like you]!!!!!!!!!!!

TrueBlue| 7.13.11 @ 10:54AM

It's been my experience that the most racist people are the ones who go straight for the race topic, instead of treating everyone the same and ignoring the gender/skin color. Oh wait, that's the entire Democrat party with their focus on this ethnic group, or that socially unaccepted group...

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.12.11 @ 4:49PM

Here is some leadership for you. (source Red State)

Mitch McConnell is right now talking about making a historic capitulation. So fearful of being blamed for a default, McConnell is proposing a compromise that lets Barack Obama raise the debt ceiling without making any spending cuts at all.
Consider sending McConnell a weasel as testament to his treachery. His address is 601 W. Broadway, Room 630, Louisville, KY 40202 and the phone number is (502) 582-6304.
McConnell’s idea is to make the debt ceiling automatic unless Congress, by a 2/3 vote blocks the increase. Oh yes, he put a salve on it by dressing it up in tough talk that, to quote the Wall Street Journal, “[a] ‘eal solution’ to U.S. fiscal problems isn’t possible as long as President Barack Obama remains in office.” So since no “real solution” is possible, McConnell proposes to go Pontius Pilate and wash his hands of spending, blaming Obama while doing nothing himself.
Here is how the plan would work.
In a nutshell, the President would get to raise the debt ceiling three times in the next year at several billion bucks a pop without making any spending cuts unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress disagree. In his press conference, McConnell says he would not give the President “unilateral authority to make spending cuts on his own,” but this plan would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling pretty much automatically

RCV| 7.12.11 @ 5:46PM

The GOP is willing to forego an agreement on historic cuts and getting the country back on the road to fiscal responsibility all because of political fear of being seen as weak. Pathetic.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 7.12.11 @ 6:35PM

I don't bother with silly obnoxious support of both the party and party leader that are responsible for unprecedented historic spending that has the country entirely removed from fiscal reality on determining responsibility by belonging to the party that cares about human beings at least AFTER they're born and other what is pathetic is continuous posts that cannot be distinguished from posts by Purpleguy and Jack London and DRed and Alan Brooks matters.

RCV| 7.12.11 @ 7:02PM

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

The Estimator| 7.12.11 @ 11:08PM

You screwed up California but that wasn't enough. Go back to sleep while the responsible fix your mess.

RCV| 7.13.11 @ 2:34AM

Don't see many responsible suggestions from the GOP on how to avoid the catastrophic consequences of a downgrade in US treasuries that would follow a failure to raise the debt ceiling. Just a lot of political cowardice from McConnell and his ilk.

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:43AM

What part of quit spending did you miss?

Drunken Sailor| 7.13.11 @ 10:27AM

The Republicans want to cut spending in trade for raising the debt ceiling. The democrats say they want to raise taxes and the debt ceiling in turn for a promise to cut spending. They think this is monopoly and want 2 properties in trade for their one.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 7.13.11 @ 10:37AM

I don't bother with silly McConnell forcing the idiot liar in chief to assume ownership of the unprecedented deficits the idiot liar in chief has created and the unprecedented debt the idiot liar in chief has created and any potential credit downgrade due to the unprecedented deficits and the unprecedented debt the idiot liar in chief has created as the idiot liar in chief attempts to permanently finance the spending the idiot liar in chief has increased by a third on typically posting pathetically and idiotically matters.

RCV| 7.13.11 @ 11:15AM

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 7.13.11 @ 5:46PM

I don't bother with silly if and when the U.S. credit gets downgraded will result exclusively from the overall size of the debt alone while having nothing whatsoever to do with where an artificial debt ceiling is established on not bothering to let my economic ignorance prevent posts exhibiting for every reader my staggering economic ignorance matters.

RCV| 7.14.11 @ 7:15PM

Zzzzzzzzzzz....

Bruce Berger| 7.13.11 @ 4:33PM

RCV,

Unless you have sources inside the WH you are in no position to call the cuts historic. The fact is that Obama has put forward no details about what he might entertain in spending cuts.

So please articulate those historic cuts for us so we are better informed.

Thanks.

martin j smith| 7.12.11 @ 4:54PM

I e-mailed McConnell and suggested he should be impeached or resign or whatever--he does not belong in the senate if he is serious about this rediculous proposal--I think he is burned out. He should step down.

Kingofthenet| 7.12.11 @ 4:56PM

Rome wasn't built in a day, neither was our National Debt, and NO WAY in spite of the GOP's delusions will it be fixed in one.

Naturalborn Texican| 7.12.11 @ 5:47PM

Obummer could be pink with purple polka dots all over and it wouldn't change the FACT that he is a royal screw up and a complete failure as ANY kind of a leader.

I am sick to death of his nose-in-the -air sanctimoniousness!!!
The sooner he is gone the better. Let him go back to his ACORN job.

Kingofthenet| 7.12.11 @ 5:54PM

Who is this Grover Norquist anyway and why does he wield so much power, there should be an congressional investigation into him.He is going to take the GOP into Suicide territory. There will be LOTS of GOP blood if they destroy the credit worthiness of the USA., not to mention Grandma is going to kick 'em in the nutsack if she doesn't get her Govt. Check!

Nick| 7.12.11 @ 7:14PM

Kook of the Net,

Who is Grover Norquist? Are you kidding me?

Why don't you spend the next couple of years studying politics. Then you will be able to speak intelligently on these issues.

The One Who Runs Like a Duck| 7.12.11 @ 7:38PM

It is time to eat your pee , Kingofthenet. Maybe RCV would like to join you. How did you like my "raise my taxes or Granny gets it" threat. They don't think I mean it. Apparently they don't remember what I did to my typical white person granny. She went right under the bus and she raised me. What do they think I will do to their grannies? Of course, what happens if they come up with all kinds of worthless programs that I funded when granny got cut off? Maybe they might blame me. I might still do it just like I closed gitmo and ended military tribunals. I am not kidding this time. Boehner wants to see my plan. I don't do plans. I do generalities and break promises later. Not to be repetitive but I am a Democrat, a progressive. I want high speed rail, the Chevy Volt, wind farms in valleys, solar power on cloudy days, the end of war, a visit from the tooth fairy (no, not Barney Frank, he would be the toothless fairy), to win the lottery, for Michelle to respect me, to beat Boehner's butt at golf, to finally meet Santa Claus, to go back in time and start on my high school basketball team, to forget all those ugly incidents with my gay nanny, to have a mother and father who loved me, it just goes on and on. It is like my gay nanny used to say, "get used to disappointment, duck boy." I am going to sneak out for some golf tomorrow at this critical time. Thanks for slut walking through the American Spectator site. I think that everybody knows that Emperor O has no clothes and his ridiculous minions don't either. At the end of the day at least you guys are very funny. Remember they are laughing at you and not with you. Lets send all our stupid people toIvy League schools, baby. Wait a minute, we already are.

beebop| 7.13.11 @ 5:46AM

There will be LOTS of GOP blood if they destroy the credit worthiness of the USA ...

Please.

How long has there been a Dem controlled Congress? The "destroy the credit worthiness" was on the top of their to do list.

C.K.Amos| 7.12.11 @ 7:02PM

Sorry, but it's no longer newsworthy that Barack H. Obama plays at being president.

What's troubling is that, apparently, so many still do not see that Emporer-in-His-and-the-Pimpstream-Media's-minds Obama lacks clothes or common sense or the other abilities any leader, much less the POTUS, must possess.

DaveS| 7.12.11 @ 10:26PM

True. He was playing under the title of 'Office of the President-Elect' immediately after the 2008 election. And the Dems acted as though he was Prez. That whole podium thing with the highly artistic seal frosted Americans. The charade was truly underway the following January 20, and he's been over his head since. Admit it, mst Americans - you bought the hopey changey stuff. All regret afterwards.

wodiej| 7.12.11 @ 8:21PM

AB must have hit his troll comments for the day.

Boehner should say to the public-ask Obama would he rather cut off SS pmts. to seniors than welfare checks and payments to ACORN? How about the money he gives to foreign countries, his paycheck and everyone in Congress?

Richard Baker| 7.12.11 @ 8:30PM

Speaking of leadership, the Kenyan just presented the Medal of Honor to SFC Leroy Petry. If the Kenyan had a tenth of the leadership of SFC Petry, maybe he'd re-think his so-called actions. Ranger Petry's presence at the ceremony only highlights the Kenyan's lack of leadership. During my years in the Infantry we'd have called the "President" a sham artist. And so it goes.

Bob| 7.12.11 @ 10:21PM

The senate minority leader mouthing off for days just raised the white flag. You need an article tomorrow titled "Here They Go Again, Republican Pretend Leadership on the Debt"

C.K. Amos| 7.14.11 @ 2:40AM

Please present any Democrat/progressive/liberal/leftist budget or other debt-related plan that the DPLLs have advanced--but especially from Obama.

The Estimator| 7.12.11 @ 11:02PM

We don't estimate white flags or imaginary Democratic budgets. The majority can accomplish what it will in the Senate. Nobody should hold their breath. Unfortunately that is the way it has been since 2006. You incompetents have ran the total legislature since 2006 and had the total government until January, 2011. You haven't done well and it will be taken away from you next year. You are unsustainable, a bad weed that needs to be ripped from the garden and burned. Your name is Greece, Spain or Portugal. That is always what happens when you are in charge. In the mean time if you take some big immeidate spending cuts, we can cut a deal. Or we can find out what happens on August 3 when you are forced to make big cuts with the inevitable temptation to try to play politics with old people and soldiers. A warning though, you will do this in the day light not in a back room and it will end badly for you. You need to go looking for your white flag. Never fear Nader will running again in 2012 and you can vote for someone who doesn't buckle under pressure.

POST American| 7.12.11 @ 11:20PM

The Bush Sr, Rockefeller front Clinton,
Bush Jr. and now Harvard man, former
Kissinger aide, and son of CIA-Globalist
linked Ann Dunham ---'TOTAL continuity
of agenda' is now completely and utterly
UNDENIABLE.

SO ---Keep talkin' 'Repubicans' and 'Democrats'.

Keep making us LAUGH!

--------------TOOOOOOO FUNNY.

REALLY

Kingofthenet| 7.12.11 @ 11:59PM

Good, NO DEAL than when(and it is a question of when) the USA defaults and NO one gets paid, and you throw the USA credit under the Bus, well we will see Rethugs...You are going DOWN!

The Estimator| 7.13.11 @ 12:13AM

There is no Democratic budget to estimate but we have you. You have been estimated to be of little use. Half the people are below average but you should be concerned because you are in the lowest 5 percentile and actually are dropping. You may be having a stroke.

Nick| 7.13.11 @ 12:47AM

King of the Net,

Yes, because people who can't write a coherent sentence will always change the minds of those with whom they disagree, correct?

By the way, where's that explanation of enthalpy? I'm still waiting.

Kingofthenet| 7.13.11 @ 12:57AM

STOP Stalking me ;)

Nick| 7.13.11 @ 1:21AM

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buford Gray| 7.13.11 @ 7:21AM

The slave trade originated with Blacks trading their own people to white merchants in the 17th Century.
http://slimberryfacts.com

CtoC| 7.13.11 @ 8:10AM

So Alan, in all of your debating, whining, lame accusations of racism (which only made you look the paranoid racist), defense of your messiah as you gulp the koolaid and vomit the lib lines - what are you promoting? I want to know this. I want to know specific points - for instance, to me as I listened to one of the entitled yesterday proudly tell me (as she was wearing new clothes and had a new iphone) how she wasn't paying her hospital bill, because she didn't have the money - to me that's what you are promoting - so if it's otherwise lets see it - post it - GIVE US SOMETHING other than the idiocy rhetoric. Give us something other than trying to start arguments and squabbling (although you are a complete failure at that and we should not waste our time responding to you), but here's your fair chance say something worth a shit. Give us a legitmate debate instead of one that is only representative of a 4 year old throwing a temper tantrum or take your dumbass back to acorn and let them know they failed here too.

CopyKatnj| 7.13.11 @ 10:03AM

All that this President does is to agitate, something he learned from his indoctrination years.

Saul Alinksy would be proud.

RULE 1: "Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have."
RULE 2: "Never go outside the expertise of your people."
RULE 4: "Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules."
RULE 7: "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag."
RULE 8: "Keep the pressure on. Never let up."
RULE 9: "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself."

CopyKatnj| 7.13.11 @ 10:20AM

Note to Senator McConnell, man up. Your Plan B is a bad idea. Do not give up your constitutional responsibility to manage the budget. This is the kind of nonsense that is destroying our country.

TrueBlue| 7.13.11 @ 11:00AM

Except they don't expect it to be fixed in a day, or even a year. The difference is the REAL conservatives (RINOs like McCain and cowards like McConnel do not rate here) want to actually do something to fix it in the first place. Stop blaming parties, they're all responsible. Focus on what each individual has done, or not done, to make things right.

In this case McConnell how shown how worthless he is, the people in his state better elect someone else next time.

John II| 7.13.11 @ 12:58PM

What is all this talk about "leadership," anyway?

FDR displayed considerable "leadership" through three consecutive terms in office, and we know now that all his "leadership" for the first two and a half terms accomplished was an unnecessary extension of the Depression. If the policies are stubbornly wrongheaded (or, in the Professor's case, deliberately destructive, since his smug ignorance of history and economics can surely be deemed culpable), the "leadership" thing is of no avail.

The Professor's shortage of "leadership" is a gap we should be grateful for.

And now back to "Grapes of Wrath" (1939: "Reds, Reds: Who ARE these Reds, anyway?") and "War of the Worlds" (the superior 1953 version: "We know now that we can't stop the Martian machines . . . so we'll have to stop the Martians!").

lonestarm3| 7.13.11 @ 1:14PM

If some fairy dust or other magic bullet forced the babble of unintentional truth, and an obvious deception wasn't programmed on the teleprompter the first intellectually honest statement from Mr. Obama might be:

" I'm not a real president, I just play one on TV"

C.K. Amos| 7.14.11 @ 2:42AM

It would also be his first morally honest statement.

POST American| 7.14.11 @ 2:57AM

"Understand, America's about to have the rug
pulled out from under them once and for all--"

WHO said that?

Peanut Machine | 10.9.11 @ 2:21AM

RP seldom mentions currency issues, the Fed, Mises, Rothbard, or the Constitution.

Dried Fruits | 10.19.11 @ 11:15PM

A locked phone is locked for commercial reasons of the vendor and service provider.

aluma wallet | 11.15.11 @ 9:13PM

Siri will support additional languages from next year, including Japanese, Chinese, South Korean, Spanish and Italian.

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