Does anyone really think that president Obama is still controlling the debate

[WCGreen]

and offering carrots to the GOP so he can get what he wants?

I think that the GOP has stuck themselves into a politically dangerous corner that Boehner and McConnell surely realize.

They know that the lunatics are in charge of the asylum known as the Conservative caucus and that these are not guys who have a political career orientation. They are, for the most part, small businessmen, bosses, really, who are use to getting their way by, it seems to me, a my way or the highway approach to personal contact with employees and customers.

28 are small business owners, 18 attorneys and 11 business executives. There are also 6 doctors and 5 farmers. All told, 68 of the 94 freshmen are use to getting their way most, if not, all of the time.

Only 3 were holding elected public office.

I am all in favor of a citizen legislators, but, if your background is in making decisions and not having too many people question your motives or decisions, well, that could be why the Freshman Class seems so obstinate.

Just a thought.

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Very interesting observation. k&r

[WCGreen]

2. I don't know for a fact, but I would bet these guys self funded a lot

of their campaigns.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. I'm looking more to the temperament you noted

as opposed to wealth. That is a keen observation that so many come from a Teh Decider role as opposed to a team background.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. No. nt

[eridani]

4. If Democrats had a consistent values-based message, that would not be a problem n/t

[WCGreen]

7. One thing I have learned is that all politics is local....

Each district has it's own idiosyncrasies.

[eridani]

9. True. However, a consistent full-throated defense of PUBLIC GOODS

--should be on the messaging menu everywhere. Never mind that any two Democrats discussing exactly what policies best serve the public good is like putting a couple of cats in the same bag.

[WCGreen]

11. The lock broke along time on the lock step part of our rank and file members...

I think Majority Leader Pelosi and Leader Reid look across the aisle wistfully.

[AlinPA]

5. By trying to satisfy his teabagger base with a default, I think Boehner is also a lunatic. nt

[stklurker]

8. controlling the debate

What drives me crazy here is the total VOID that is Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid... I mean they are completely AWOL... where are the Dem Congressional leaders??

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. I think you've nailed it...

Recommended.

[el_bryanto]

12. I think you are right; although a healthy dose of Ideology in there doesn't help

I mean if you think you are right and that's all there is to it, you don't have any motivation to compromise.

Bryant

[WCGreen]

13. That is definitely a problem....

[mmonk]

14. In a way. He wants to come off as a problem solver and have

a legislative victory that shows his budget cutting bonafides. It works on people. Just not us who don't see social spending as the problem.

[LWolf]

15. The only time he seems to control the debate

is when he's promoting the destruction of public education and the scapegoating of teachers.

[WCGreen]

16. Well I was referring specifically about the budget negotiations

but, coming from a long lin of educators, I too am bothered by the increase vitriol directed at the teaching profession.

[LWolf]

17. I have to say

that I'm a bit skeptical about whether or not he really isn't "controlling" the budget debate. I think he's going to end up with what he wants; he just doesn't want the same thing that too many people whose votes he need do, so he has to put on a show.

Either that, or he's a hell of a lot weaker than any of us suspected.

I wonder if his dream of a nation setting aside partisan differences and "coming together" to sing "We Are The World," or "We Are The Champions," and solve our problems was ever real, or an excuse for pandering to the right; it doesn't look like he's ready to leave it behind, anyway.