Debt Ceiling Clock Ticks Down as Talks Heat Up on Capitol Hill

Source: ABC News

On the Senate floor this morning, Democrats blasted Republican leaders, saying they're "more serious about politics than deficits." The proverbial fingers were pointed early this morning as Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called out Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for singlehandedly standing in the way of reform.

"The person standing in the way right now is Sen. McConnell," Schumer said on the Senate floor. "His 'my way or the highway' approach is what is standing in the way of getting an agreement."

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"You can't be serious about deficits and at the same time recklessly jeopardize our economic standing in the world in order to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest few," Schumer said today. "Right now in America, middle-class families are living paycheck to paycheck while Sen. McConnell and his colleagues are going to the mat to protect billions in tax breaks to oil companies. "

In the negotiations, Democrats are pushing Republicans to close tax breaks for major oil and gas companies, end tax loopholes for corporate jets and impose regular income tax rates on the carried interest earned by investment fund managers.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/debt-ceiling-clock-ticks/story?id=13951254

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The question is whether the public will hold Republicans accountable? Will they suffer an iota for throwing middle-class Americans under the bus, and threatening our economy with ruin, because they are holding out for tax breaks for the very rich?

The American public has been conditioned by our corporate media to Blame Democrats and Give Republicans a Free Pass. The Republicans apparently believe that they can't push the country into default with impunity, because no one will blame them or hold them accontable. Like Pavlov's dog, we have been conditioned to blame Democrats.

…that they can wreck the economy and make Obama take the fall for it.

It's remembered for: the first Lincoln penny being minted. The day Saddam invaded Kuwait, Morna Loy's birthday and a few other less notable things.

I had always wished something really cool would happen on my birthday, but since it's the 2nd and not the 1st, not much really neat happens.

The very last thing I want on my birthday this year is for the United States of American to default.

My birthday, from that point forward will forever be known for that.

That would really suck.

Yes, this is a completely selfish post. ;)