Political Theater! See Politicians Mock the Nation!

The political theater going on today is extraordinary!
What is Boehner even talking about? Obama asked for a compromise bill, not a tea party bill.
Mark his words: Mitch McConnell says the country will not default. "That is not going to happen."

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Extraordinary. Extraordinary!

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Nancy Pelosi: "I will not yield to you." She asks: Why with this one president, this time, would we put up barriers to raising the debt ceiling? Good question.

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Big Babies

Senate republicans threaten a filibuster. OMG. Just how awful does this all have to get?

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Obama Backs Reid's Debt Ceiling Plan

In Boehner's press conference minutes ago, he said Reid's plan is "full of gimmicks." I honestly didn't think republicans would push this far. It's hard to tell now if the debt ceiling will be raised without Obama pulling a rabbit out of his hat.

President Obama on Monday endorsed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's debt-ceiling plan while blasting Speaker John Boehner's effort.

"Sen. Reid’s plan is a reasonable approach that should receive the support of both parties, and we hope the House Republicans will agree to this plan so that America can avoid defaulting on our obligations for the first time in our history," White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. "The ball is in their court."
Reid's plan would cut $2.7 trillion in spending, including $1 trillion in savings from ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It would also raise the debt ceiling by $2.7 trillion, ensuring another hike would not be necessary in 2012. The Hill

Reid Says Abortion Holding up Budget

Obama canceled his trip to Indianapolis today to deal with this nonsense (the latest).
Boehner, who spoke for less than a minute this morning, blamed spending -- spending on what?
Reid already made his comments this morning. Republicans have a beef with Planned Parenthood and we're all in the middle of it.

Obama, Boehner, Reid Back at it Tonight

Update: No deal made. Obama says at stake is 800,000 federal workers, millions of people who depend on government services and the economy. He said they will try once again tomorrow.

Update: Negotiations moved to 8 pm ET.
Budget negotiations resume at 7 pm ET.

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Harry Reid Speaks on Budget Negotiations April 6

Harry Reid is highly annoying. Same for John Boehner. I'm sick to death of politicians. When I hear that our soldiers might not get paid because of the budget shenanigans, it makes me want to line these people up and explain to them that they're grownups and they need to start acting like it.


Watching Chuck Todd try and wrangle a rational response regarding the budget from "Obamacare" Michele Bachmann is entertaining but it's getting old.

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Obama Speaks On 2011 Budget

See John Boehner's remarks on negotiations here. Full video:

Reid Clinging to His Earmarks

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! That was the sound heard around the nation following Obama's State of the Union speech. Everyone found something to nitpick. Harry Reid is clinging to his earmarks:

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Harry Reid Poses With China's President

Love the reporter's question: "Sen. Reid what do you expect to accomplish with the man you call the dictator." Yes, Harry, what did you expect to accomplish by declining the State Dinner and calling China's Hu Jintao a dictator?

Democrats Not Supporting Earmark Ban

What's up with that? Obama supports a ban on earmarks but only Claire McCaskill and one other democrat is supporting an earmark ban? Bad move by the democrats. Bad move. I thought all the dems would be onboard with the earmark ban.

The dems should take note of how the republicans rallied around the issues of earmarks -- even McConnell flipped his stance to support the ban. It's clear that in the years ahead, the republicans are going to plow through the democrats. Here's Harry Reid:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., elected today by Democrats to lead them for another two years, said he would schedule floor time for a Senate-wide moratorium on earmarks but planned to vote against it.
"I believe, personally, we have a constitutional obligation, a responsibility, to do congressionally directed spending," he told reporters.
"I do not feel comfortable turning that over to the people downtown," he added, referring to the White House. SL today

Michelle Obama Campaigns for Reid in Las Vegas Nov. 1

First lady Michelle Obama will stump for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a last-minute push to turn out minority voters just weeks after her husband urged Nevadans to keep Democrats in office.

Obama will join Reid Monday at Canyon Springs High School in Las Vegas for a final get-out-the-vote rally before Election Day. RGJ

Obama's Speech in Las Vegas Video Oct. 22

Obama's Schedule Oct. 20

Live stream of the Portland rally here.

Obama will be in Los Angeles and Las Vegas Oct. 22 and at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on Oct. 23.

At 11 am eastern, Michelle Obama will present arts and humanities education awards. Live stream here.

Joe Biden is in Reno for Harry Reid.

9:30 AM	The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press
10:30 AM	The President meets with Secretary of State Clinton Oval Office Closed Press
11:10 AM	The President meets with his national security team for his monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan Situation Room | Show Details Closed Press
1:30 PM	The Vice President delivers remarks at a rally for Senator Harry Reid Local Event Time: 10:30 AM PDT Nevada, Reno Open Press
3:10 PM	The President departs the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base South Lawn Open Press
3:25 PM	The President departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Portland, Oregon Andrews Air Force Base Travel Pool Coverage
8:40 PM	The President arrives in Portland, Oregon Local Event Time: 5:30 PM PDT Portland Air National Guard Station Open Press
9:45 PM	The President delivers remarks at a rally Local Event Time: 6:45 PM PDT Oregon, Oregon Convention Center, Portland Open Press
11:45 PM	The President departs Portland, Oregon en route Seattle, Washington Portland Air National Guard Station Open Press

Sharron Angle Says She's Been Called Asian Sees Hispanic Children as Asian Too

I'm not sure if Sharron Angle is drunk or what she means when she says people have called her Asian. I Googled it and I came up with a NYT story on this video and the video. Most likely she's just very uncomfortable with people who aren't white.

Sharron Angle's Got DeMint Juice

Everyone is focused on how Sharon Angle is trashing republicans, but what about her use of the word "juice." Angle is talking like an old-time Vegas pit boss. In Las Vegas, "juice" has special meaning:

Republicans Stand in the Way of Dream Act and DADT

Republicans are on a roll, blocking everything from unemployment benefits to small business tax credits. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, targeted by Lady Gaga as possible supporters of repealing DADT, aligned with the republicans.

Republicans just successfully filibustered a defense authorization bill, killing an effort by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to attach the DREAM Act and a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to the bill. All Democrats voted to bring the bill to the floor, but they were unable to win support of any Republicans to bypass the filibuster. The final vote tally was 56 “yeas” and 43 “nays.” WI

Al Franken relates a USO tour story:

Obama Speaks in Missouri and Las Vegas July 8

Obama heads to Missouri and Las Vegas today. Here's his schedule:

He'll tour Smith Electric Vehicles at 1:10 pm eastern.

1:30 pm, Obama will speak on the economy.

3:05 pm, Obama will speak at a fundraiser for Senate candidate Robin Carnahan.

3:45 pm, Obama speaks at another Carnahan event.

5:25 pm, Obama heads to Las Vegas

9:15 pm, Obama will speak at a fundraiser for Harry Reid.

10:30 pm, Obama will attend a dinner for Reid.

Michelle Obama Speaks at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas

Michelle Obama spoke yesterday at Red Rock in Las Vegas. Here is an excerpt (transcript):

But more importantly and something that we focused on a lot, now that it’s summer time, is that we need to substantially increase the amount of physical activity that our kids are getting not just in school but outside of school, as well, and that's why I am very excited about the launch of this program, “Let’s Move Outside.” Very clever, right? “Let’s Move Outside” -- I love it. (Laughter.)

And it’s a collaborative effort with the Bureau of Land Management, with National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and others. And as you’ve heard, we just want to encourage kids to use the resources that are available to them. I mean, that's part of the point of this, is that activity doesn’t have to cost a thing. Read the whole speech.

Shelby Amendment Weakens Wall Street Regulations Bill

Update: Shelby's amendment is defeated 61-38, according to Politico.

The White House says Richard Shelby's new amendment to the financial reform bill would weaken consumer protection oversight.

A new amendment put forward by Senator Shelby on consumer financial protection would not just weaken the bill, it would weaken the status quo.

This new proposal keeps consumer protection oversight under banks' prudential supervisors, whose primary responsibility is safety and soundness of the bank, not consumer welfare. The record on this arrangement is unacceptable. WH

Harry Reid said the Senate will be considering more than 100 amendments, starting with Shelby's, over the next couple of days:

Senators have offered more than 130 amendments to the broad Wall Street reform bill.

Reid said the Senate would immediately consider an amendment offered by Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.), the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee, and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Reid said the chamber would then consider an amendment sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would require the Federal Reserve to submit to an audit by the Government Accountability Office.
The Hill

McConnell argues the democrats' Consumer Protection Bureau would be bad for small businesses:

The Shelby-McConnell amendment would establish a Division of Consumer Financial Protection within the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, replacing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that Democrats want to establish at the Federal Reserve.

During floor remarks, McConnell argued the Consumer Protection Bureau that Democrats favor at the Fed would ensnare a range of businesses in federal bureaucracy.

“We received a letter yesterday from groups representing hundreds of thousands of businesses — from florists to orthodontists to builders to car dealers — all concerned about the potential impact this new agency would have,” McConnell said. The Hill

The Senate has passed one amendment today. The amendment, which passed with flying colors, ensures that community banks pay a smaller share of FDIC insurance relative to big banks.
Update: Obama comes out strong against Shelby's amendment:

Nearly two years after the collapse on Wall Street that cost over 8 million jobs on Main Street, the American people deserve strong, tough reform that will help prevent another financial crisis. The bill before the Senate demands accountability from Wall Street and includes the strongest consumer protections ever.

Unfortunately, throughout this debate, there have been partisan attempts to obstruct progress and weaken reform. Today, the Senate is considering a Republican amendment that will gut consumer protections and is worse than the status quo. I will not allow amendments like this one written by Wall Street’s lobbyists to pass for reform. This amendment will significantly weaken consumer protection oversight, includes dangerous carve outs for payday lenders, debt collectors, and other financial services operations, and hurts the ability of community and local banks to compete by creating an unlevel playing field with their non-bank competitors.

As I have said throughout this process, I want to continue to work with Democrats and Republicans because protecting the American people should not be a partisan issue. But we must work together in good faith. Alternatives that gut consumer protections and do nothing to empower the American people by cracking down on unfair and predatory practices are unacceptable, and I urge the Senate to vote no on weakening consumer protections and instead stand with the American people.

Reid: Climate Legislation First But Immigration Reform This Year

The democrats just held a press conference urging republicans to vote to move the Wall Street reforms legislation to the floor, where amendments can be debated. I wish someone in the media would explain WHY the republicans are blocking debate. It doesn't make any sense.
Harry Reid says climate legislation will get done first because it's ready to go. BUT, immigration reform can also get done this year, he said. The immigration reform issue is another example of how the media pitted one against the other.
I'll post video if it comes available.