PAXALLES

GOP-White House Debt Ceiling Deal Alive? Update: Deal Done

Markets show relief, for now - Wall Street Journal

To the intransigent go the spoils - Financial TimesI

t's a deal: Obama, Congress will avert default

ABC News reports on a potential debt deal between the White House and the Republicans which has the following features:

Key features of the agreement: 

 

• Debt ceiling increase of up to $2.8 trillion 
• Spending cuts of roughly $1 trillion
• Vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment
• Special committee to recommend cuts of $1.8 trillion before Thanksgiving
• Automatic across-the-board cuts go into effect, including cuts to Defense and Medicare, if not approved by December

 

• No new tax revenue

 

Leaders to Gather in NYC for Solemn September 11 Tenth Anniversary

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama as well as Governors George Pataki, Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will participate in a solemn ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center.  

There will be no speeches, but poems and quotes read to avoid politicizing the event.  The names of the victims will be read.  

Members of the families of the victims will be allowed in to 1 World Trade Center to see their loved ones' names etched in the memorial still under construction.  The public will be allowed in with tickets in the following days.  

The museum is still under construction and is scheduled to open next year. Artifacts from the terrorist attacks are slowly being accumulated for the space, including a steel T-beam shaped like a cross that was discovered by a construction worker in the smoldering rubble. A national atheist group sued over the inclusion of the cross in the museum. It says all beliefs should be included, or none.

Bloomberg said on his radio show that the group had a right to sue, but the cross had a right to be there.

"This clearly influenced people," he said. "It gave them strength. In a museum you want to show t

 

Gmail Man

Gmail Man - the e-postal worker that delivers and knows all about your mail...

 

 

Is US Economy In Relapse?

Bloomberg News speculates that the US economy may be headed for a relapse, the dreaded double dip recession, thanks to slower than expected economic growth, high unemployment, the withdrawal of government stimulus which created false growth figures, less consumer spending, potential energy price hikes and congressional inaction on the debt ceiling crisis. 

Much of the weakness last quarter came from a pullback in consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy. Household purchases rose 0.1 percent, the smallest gain since the April-June quarter of 2009. The slump reflected a 4.4 percent plunge in purchases of durable goods like automobiles.

Higher expenses for food and energy may have curtailed spending on less essential items. The cost of a gallon of regular gasoline climbed in May to about $4 a gallon, the highest in almost three years, according to AAA, the nation’s biggest auto group.

The absence of faster job growth is also weighing on Americans. The unemployment rateclimbed to 9.2 percent in June while payrolls grew by 18,000, the fewest in nine months, Labor Department figures showed on July 8.

 

 

Grapes of Wrath, 21st Century Style

Many families in America's heartland are living in shelters, thanks to the stubborn US recession that has slowed GDP growth to almost a standstill.  Having gone through savings and sold off assets, people who once lived in booming suburbs now live in the same space once reserved for drug addicts, the mentally ill and the chronically poor.

Paul Mason on BBC's Newsnight has been comparing the plight of these people with the path followed by the Joad family in John Steinbeck's Grapes Of Wrath.

Set during the Great Depression, this poor family is forced from their Oklahoma home by drought and economic hardship, going to California in search of work and dignity.

But it appears that many modern American families are suffering in the same way.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2020265/Homeless-hell-Americas-Midwest-thousands-middle-class-families-forced-bunker-mattresses-economic-crisis-bites.html#ixzz1TZToF0ZR

 

Webbed Bliss: Computer Minister To Marry Couple

A computer will officiate at the Texas wedding of Miguel Hanson and Diana Wesley who will take their vows via a minister conceived and created by the web developer groom.  While they will have to sign off with a local justice of the peace, Reverend Bit will do his bit for the ceremony.  

The computer will greet the couple's 30 or so guests in a mechanical, robotic voice, give a little history about how they met and then go through the ceremony. The virtual minister, nicknamed 'Rev. Bit,' also will crack a joke or two.

 

 

Brian Baker, President and general counsel of Ending Spending with Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham hosted 

Brian Baker, President and general counsel of Ending Spending   Baker said agreed with Ingraham that conservatives have to know when to take a win and would pass the Boehner bill. Ingraham said to ax a general or captain during a battle is foolhardy and bad politics.  She said it is much harder than sniping from the sidelines.  Baker said the Tea Party got the GOP to its big victories in 2010.  Ingraham countered that by overplaying one's hand one can get weakened.  She noted that the GOP only controls one part of government.   Ingraham quoted George Will when he said changing government is like turning a battleship and that we can't wave our hands and make instant change.  Baker said it is harder to pass the Boehner bill because there are no earmarks.   Baker said the founder of Ameritrade got together to form Endless Spending and first targeted earmarks and won that battle earlier this year.  They have active ad campaigns.  He urges people to contact Congress and the White House if they are concerned about the economy.

Rep. Mike Pence with Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham hosted Representative Mike Pence.  

Pence said that the leadership is close to announcing a plan with no tax increases and a dollar for dollar match of cuts and spending.  He said efforts in the future will be tied to a balanced budget amendment being sent to the states.  He said a balanced budget amendment to the constitution hasn't been voted on in fifteen years.  

Ingraham said the vitriolic attacks by Tea Party purists is self-defeating and will ensure Democrats' gains.  

McCain-Palin Ticket Split on Debt Ceiling: Palin "Little Person" Hobbit?

With Sarah Palin desperately trying to find an opening for a potential presidential run while blatantly and coyly trying to preserve her income stream and brand, she and her former running mate, Senator John McCain have split on the debt ceiling crisis.  

McCain notably excoriated Tea Partiers with Tolkien imagery for not supporting the Boehner debt ceiling plan.  Meanwhile Palin has threatened primary challenges for any of those who don't toe the Tea Party purity test vis-a-vis the debt ceiling, whining about the "little people" with her tired grievances.  With most of the potential 2012 candidates laying low on the issue, Palin is trying to muster her diminishing influence to ward off a Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann particularly.  

Palin who has vowed to defeat President Obama may now in fact be helping to insure his re-election.  

  

 

Bill Kristol, Editor of The Weekly Standard with Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham hosted Bill Kristol, Editor of The Weekly Standard.

Kristol said that the Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell will cobble together an agreement that will go back to the House that will get them less than they would have gotten.  He said it is crazy to kneecap one's leader with control of one arm of government.  Ingraham said she can't see where it gets the Tea Party closer to their ultimate goal and says it is shooting itself in the foot.  He said that this will very short term help Perry, Palin or Bachmann, but will ultimately help a less conservative nominee.  Both Ingraham and Kristol commented on their conservative bonafides in response to charges they have been in Washingotn too long.

Ingraham questions now if Tea Party candidates will be able to govern and Kristol said conservatives will be weakened with the primary challenges which will help the Democrats.  This will result in no balanced budget, minimal spending cuts and debt ceiling raised.   

Colonel Alan West with Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham hosted Colonel Alan West.

West said that Tea Party members who want to mount a challenge against him for siding with Speaker Boehner said so be it.  He said that pressure needs to continue to be placed for spending cuts and wants to know what one is voting for.  Ingraham said one would be voting with the Democrats.  

West said that in a military operation it wouldn't be prudent to not support him or her.  He raised concern about support for the military.  Ingraham pledged her support for him in his re-election as he has stood tall as he has been attacked on the left and the right and promised her listeners would as well.  

Dawn of the Debt

 

 

As Rome Burns White House Rickrolling Blogger

The White House has time on its hands as the major action is taking place in the Congress on the debt ceiling.  Nowhere is that more apparent than on Twitter where White House chat operatives decided on rickrolling a blogger who complained about a boring WH presser.  He got linked to Rick Astley's 1987, “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

According to ABC's Jake Tapper:

During the White House briefing earlier today, David Wiggs of Franklin, TN, aka @wiggsd, tweeted:  “This WH correspondence (sic) briefing isn't nearly as entertaining as yesterday's. #TCOT #WHchat”

Oddly enough, the White House responded: “@wiggsd Sorry to hear that. Fiscal policy is important, but can be dry sometimes. Here's something more fun: tinyurl.com/y8ufsnp #WHChat.”

 

 

 

 

Raymond Arroyo, host of EWTN's 'The World Over' with Laura Ingraham (7/28/11)

Laura Ingraham hosted 

Raymond Arroyo, host of EWTN's 'The World Over'   Arroyo said a tribute to Vatican ambassador to the US Archbishop Pietro Sambi who died after lung surgery will get a tribute on his show.   Arroyo and Ingraham discussed the debt limit crisis.  Ingraham noted that both President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney will be on Martha's Vineyard on August 27th, a elite enclave.   Ingraham and Arroyo discussed offensive license plates and ornaments which has become a cultural phenomenon.  They also mocked bumper stickers with airy philosophical quotes and bragging.

Rep Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican with Laura Ingraham

Laura Ingraham hosted Rep Jason Chaffetz, Utah Republican.

Chaffetz said Speaker Boehner's plan doesn't go far enough.  Chaffetz noted he was a sponsor of cut, cap and balance.  He thinks the president should be pushed on a balanced budget amendment.  Ingraham challenged him on the path to achieve this over defeating the Boehner plan.  He questioned whether the Boehner plan itself would make it through both the House and Senate and get signed by the president.  Ingraham said that while she'd slash government now, she thinks that a battle may be won but the war lost, especially if there is a stock market crash.  Chaffetz said that in the next few days an analysis of where the votes are coming in may give direction on the issue.  Ingraham said that Minority Leader Pelosi is celebrating GOP chaos while Chaffetz said he was elected to solve the problem.  Both criticized Obama floating above the fray.  Ingraham feels the GOP will get the blame for any blowback if there isn't a debt ceiling deal while Chaffetz doesn't as he thinks there is a strong hand with cut, cap and balance.  He thinks the Senate should be forced to deal with the bill, even as it might go beyond the August 2nd default date.  Chaffetz said he doesn't want to go into default.  

Ingraham pointed out it is much more difficult to be a speaker with all its responsibilities versus being a junior representative.  Chaffetz said that he doesn't think cut, cap and balance would pass without changes, but it should be given a try.  Both Ingraham and Chaffetz agree that the issue should be kept front and center and that Obama should be forced to continually defend his position.  He said someone in the mainstream media should ask Obama if he wants a balanced budget amendment.