Bob Woodward: Yes, the sequester was totally the White House's idea

[Dis]

The budget cuts (not really cuts, but smaller increases in budget) are a good idea. Which means Obama is responsible for saving the U.S. from financial ruin. That doesn't sit well with me. Only kidding, we are still heading for financial ruin. We need much more massive cuts than these.

[kentonio]

Fixed it for ya!

This would be why congress has a job approval of 15.6% against the Presidents 51% right?

[PLATO]

This would be why congress has a job approval of 15.6% against the Presidents 51% right?

Exactly. They are willing to make the hard choices and not just promise every electorally significant segment of the population a new government program. Glad you are finally understanding!

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

If they offer no compromise at all, that is not an overture to compromise. That is saying take it or leave it.

JM

Its an opening to a discussion. The fact the senate is unwilling to engage in that discussion is the intransigence. The way these things work is Senate works their own bill up and then it goes to reconciliation.

[kentonio]

Exactly. They are willing to make the hard choices and not just promise every electorally significant segment of the population a new government program. Glad you are finally understanding!

Ah I see, which of course is why even amongst Republicans this congress is the most despised in history? Because of all the 'hard choices' they're making for the good of the country?

Incidentally, can you name a few of these new government programs that Obama is apparently creating to buy off these electorally significant segments of the population?

[giblets]

This would be why congress has a job approval of 15.6% against the Presidents 51% right?

Republicans disapprove of congress because of the democratic senate and democrats disapprove of congress because of the Republican house. Democrats approve of Obama and Republicans disapprove. Given that most congresspeople have the support of a majority of their constituents I don't see how Obama has much leverage.

[kentonio]

Even amongst Republicans, the GOP leaders are only polling at around 47%. There's a reason why the GOP party approval is at an all time low.

[PLATO]

Ah I see, which of course is why even amongst Republicans this congress is the most despised in history? Because of all the 'hard choices' they're making for the good of the country?

No, that is a different reason. Many Republicans see some of the leadership as caving in to Obama on taxes. Different reason than why the general polling of Congress performance as a whole is bad. Many different reasons to loathe this Congress, but it all comes down to one thing. We have a $16 trillion debt and Republicans are trying to quit spending (very unpopular when your pet programs are on the block) and democrats want more taxes (very popular when you are taxing someone else). Until we can get to a balanced budget we need to do what most people do in that situation...quit spending...not try to extort a raise from the boss (particularly right after they gave you one).

Incidentally, can you name a few of these new government programs that Obama is apparently creating to buy off these electorally significant segments of the population?

Here is a link to Obama campaign promises. Some are actually quite good. In order to not start a threadjack debate on particular items, I leave it to you to find them.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/

[regexcellent]

It's easy to disapprove of a vague amorphous entity like "Congress." Most people approve of their reps and senators. Pay attention to the fact that they get routinely re-elected. And approval of the leadership isn't a huge deal either. We don't elect party leaders.

[DaShi]

Its an opening to a discussion. The fact the senate is unwilling to engage in that discussion is the intransigence. The way these things work is Senate works their own bill up and then it goes to reconciliation.

Up is down. Down is up.

[DaShi]

It's easy to disapprove of a vague amorphous entity like "Congress." Most people approve of their reps and senators. Pay attention to the fact that they get routinely re-elected. And approval of the leadership isn't a huge deal either. We don't elect party leaders.

If this was in any way logically coherent then Congress should never have a good approval rating.

[Dinner]

This would be why congress has a job approval of 15.6% against the Presidents 51% right?

The Democrats in Congress actually have a much higher approval rating than 15.6% as a group. It's the Republicans in Congress who, as a group, are polling in the single digits. Their numbers aren't in the toilet; their numbers had a big fat turd drop on them and then both their numbers and the turd got flushed down together. You know it is bad when both used car salesmen and "the tax man" poll higher than Republicans in Congress as a group.

[Tupac Shakur]

If they offer no compromise at all, that is not an overture to compromise. That is saying take it or leave it.

JM

You don't seem to understand how Congress is supposed to work. If the Senate doesn't like the bill the House passed, they can pass a version they do like and then work out a compromise bill in a conference committee. To their credit, the Senate appears to have stopped being intransigent on sequestration and is working on its own replacement bills.

[Tupac Shakur]

Up is down. Down is up.

See above.

[DaShi]

Duh