White House to Congress: Avoid the pain (via CNN Political Ticker) (via Reclaim America From The Lunatic Fringe!)

Washington (CNN) — Gene Sperling, the director of President Obama's National Economic Council, said Sunday the White House will accept a compromise that only contains mutually acceptable spending cuts, as part of the initial deficit reduction package. Sperling, who has been at the center of the ongoing negotiations between the White House and Congressional leaders, said the second phase of the plan would tackle more significant deficit redu … Read More

via Reclaim America From The Lunatic Fringe!

Senate leaders cite progress in talks on debt deal (via CNN Political Ticker)

Washington (CNN) — Democrats and Republicans are "very close" to reaching a $3 trillion deal that would avoid a possible government default in coming days, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. "We had a very good day yesterday," the Kentucky Republican said, adding that the two sides "made dramatic progress" in negotiations on a deal that would cut government spending and raise the federal debt ceiling. … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

White House to Congress: Avoid the pain (via CNN Political Ticker)

Washington (CNN) — Gene Sperling, the director of President Obama's National Economic Council, said Sunday the White House will accept a compromise that only contains mutually acceptable spending cuts, as part of the initial deficit reduction package. Sperling, who has been at the center of the ongoing negotiations between the White House and Congressional leaders, said the second phase of the plan would tackle more significant deficit reduction … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

ANALYSIS: Debt fight shows tea party's influence — so far (via CNN Political Ticker)

Washington (CNN) — As lawmakers this weekend try to reconcile the two dueling debt bills in the House and Senate, one of the strongest forces they have to reckon with is the influence of the tea party lawmakers. Their numbers are not overwhelming – of the 435 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, only 60 are members of the tea party caucus. Still, analysts say they have wielded outsized influence on the trajectory of the debt fight so far – … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

The tea party's big moment (via CNN Political Ticker)

(CNN) — Don't be fooled by the tiny turnout at the tea party rally on Capitol Hill Wednesday. The conservative movement doesn't much need rallies anymore. November 2010 changed all of that. Boasting powerful leaders inside the Senate and big numbers in the House of Representatives, the tea party just might show the world how it might govern come August 2, the nation's deadline for raising the debt ceiling. "We've got to stand strong. We can't le … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

TRENDING: Palin, Perry left off Ames straw poll ballot (via CNN Political Ticker)

(CNN)-Former governors Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman announced they wouldn’t compete at the Ames straw poll in Iowa, but the state GOP added them to the ballot anyway, along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry – who haven’t yet decided on a presidential bid – were left off. The Iowa GOP state central committee named nine candidates to the final straw poll ballot announced Saturday. … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

The Results Are In: It's That Prick Cantor (via Seniors for a Democratic Society)

From a Washington Post online poll (39,000+ voting). Which leader do you think is most at fault for the latest breakdown in debt talks? President Obama- 13% (3317 votes) House Speaker John Boehner- 39% (9572 votes) Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell- 2% (432 votes) House Republican leader Eric Cantor- 43% (10606 votes) Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid- 1% (175 votes) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi- 0% (108 votes) Other – leave your … Read More

via Seniors for a Democratic Society

Political Loudmouth (via Seniors for a Democratic Society)

While we're away on vacation, we've set up a few cartoon posts from our Facebook friends to magically appear… Political Loudmouth graphics (link on right) are available on their Facebook site, which also has a link for T-shirts. Here's a sample: … Read More

via Seniors for a Democratic Society

Brewer considers earlier primary in Arizona (via CNN Political Ticker)

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Thursday she's looking to move her state's presidential primary up to Jan. 31, ahead of the expected start of the primary season in February. "Arizona is at the forefront of advancing solutions to national issues such as illegal immigration and border security, Medicaid spending and the fiscal crisis," Brewer told reporters Thursday. "So it only makes sense that our state be positioned t … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker

BREAKING: Boehner explains decision to end debt talks (via CNN Political Ticker)

Washington (CNN) — House Speaker John Boehner accused the White House of "moving the goalposts" by requesting an additional $400 billion in revenue hikes, a move that he said prompted his decision to call off debt talks with President Barack Obama. The Ohio Republican said members of Congress now "will work together" — absent representatives from the White House — to reach a deal that involves spending cuts and raising the nation's debt ceilin … Read More

via CNN Political Ticker