President digs heels in, refuses to negotiate debt ceiling - Polidicks

[quote](Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday rejected any negotiations with Republicans over raising the nation's borrowing limit, accusing his opponents of trying to extract a ransom for not ruining the U.S. economy in the latest fiscal fight. Calling a White House news conference to promote his position on the budget, Obama vowed not to trade cuts in government spending sought by Republicans in exchange for raising the borrowing limit. "What I will not do is to have that negotiation with a gun at the head of the American people," he said. With an agreement to prevent the "fiscal cliff" barely two weeks old, Washington has already begun skirmishing over a new fiscal issue: the debt ceiling, which fixes a limit on how much the government can borrow. The United States could default on its debt if Congress does not increase the borrowing limit. Obama has tangled repeatedly with Congress over budget and spending issues, and on Monday he said Republicans would bear the responsibility for the consequences of a default. "They can act responsibly, and pay America's bills or they can act irresponsibly, and put America through another economic crisis," he said. "But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy." Republicans want Obama to cut some government spending to rein in the deficit before they agree to raise the debt limit again. Obama must get "serious about spending and the debt limit is the perfect time for it," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said. "The American people do not support raising the debt ceiling without reducing government spending at the same time," said Republican John Boehner, the House of Representatives speaker. The last debt ceiling fight, in 2011, upset world financial markets. Obama cast the borrowing issue on Monday as one that will affect many Americans and sensitive industries. "If congressional Republicans refuse to pay America's bills on time, Social Security checks and veterans' benefits will be delayed. We might not be able to pay our troops, or honor our contracts with small business owners. Food inspectors, air traffic controllers, specialists who track down loose nuclear material wouldn't get their paychecks," he said. Obama reminded Republicans than he won the November election partly on his approach to fiscal issues. The debt limit is one of a trio of deadlines looming around the end of February, including automatic deep spending cuts that were temporarily put off in the fiscal cliff deal, and the end of a stopgap government funding measure. A number of Republicans have said they would be willing to allow a U.S. debt default or a government shutdown to force the Obama administration to accept deeper spending cuts than the White House would like. Obama's unexpected news conference could have been a pre-emptive strike aimed at influencing strategy sessions among Republican lawmakers scheduled for later this week. The Treasury Department warned on Monday that the United States will run out of ways to prevent a default in mid-February or early March if the $16.4 trillion ceiling on borrowing is not raised. NOT A "DEADBEAT NATION" Obama said he would agree to talk about steps to trim the U.S. budget deficit, but made clear he wants to keep that discussion separate from the debt ceiling increase. "The issue here is whether or not America pays its bills," he said. "We are not a deadbeat nation. And so there's a very simple solution to this: Congress authorizes us to pay our bills." He held to his position that deficit reduction should include measures to raise revenue and not come from spending cuts alone. Republicans have rejected that approach, saying the fiscal cliff deal, which raised taxes for the wealthy while maintaining low tax rates for most Americans, should have put to rest any more discussion over tax increases. Fiscal issues loomed large during the final news conference of Obama's first term, which came a week before an inauguration ceremony that will launch his next four years. Fights with Congress over taxes and spending have overshadowed much of his domestic agenda over most of the last two years, with the president facing legislative gridlock that shows little sign of abating. Obama raised the specter of a severe setback to the U.S. economy if congressional Republicans persist with the threat of a debt default. "It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy," he said. "Even entertaining the idea of this happening, of the United States of America not paying its bills, is irresponsible. It's absurd." (Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Jeff Mason and Steve Holland, Editing by Alistair Bell and Doina Chiacu)[/quote] [url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/14/us-usa-obama-debt-idUSBRE90D0UK20130114]Source[/url]

this whole thing is just silly

They're turning it against him now by making ridiculous demands and demanding that HE do something, not them. The average citizen won't even understand what any of it means.

You're supposed to cooperatively fix things, not cooperatively blame and demand ONE guy to fix it. That's just lazy. And crazy.

I can't wait until he folds like with everything else he's being doing with the Republicans and do what they want instead.

[QUOTE=megafat;39225959]I can't wait until he folds like with everything else he's being doing with the Republicans and do what they want instead.[/QUOTE] What choice does he really have? They've got too much money and campaigning power behind them. It's the Republican party and their corporate backers that are going to turn the USA into some sort of third-world wasteland, wait and see.

I'm getting real tired of this shit.

[QUOTE=archangel125;39225985]What choice does he really have? They've got too much money and campaigning power behind them. It's the Republican party and their corporate backers that are going to turn the USA into some sort of third-world wasteland, wait and see.[/QUOTE] Democrats spent just as much on their campaign as republicans.

[QUOTE=laserguided;39226140]Democrats spent just as much on their campaign as republicans.[/QUOTE] I've always wondered about the average age of democratic donors VS republican, their location and profession.

-snip no reason to post this, sorry-

[quote=reuters]Obama has tangled repeatedly with Congress over budget and spending issues, and on Monday he said Republicans would bear the responsibility for the consequences of a default.[/quote] Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] [IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/chlaughing.gif[/IMG] [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Reaction image reply" - Orkel))[/highlight]

[QUOTE=Van-man;39226363][IMG]http://filesmelt.com/dl/chlaughing.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE] LPM at its finest.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] non bullshit source please

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] He inherited a lot of GWB, and then had to deal with a war and the economy failing... I dont see any other president having to deal with that. Hell, we should be blaming GWB for this in the first place, hes the one who ruined our surplus that BC had

[QUOTE=areolop;39227095]He inherited a lot of GWB, and then had to deal with a war and the economy failing... I dont see any other president having to deal with that. Hell, we should be blaming GWB for this in the first place, hes the one who ruined our surplus that BC had[/QUOTE] I think people give Bill too much of Bush Sr.'s credit.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] yeah he's totally a worse leader than that guy who marched into the Middle East to [I]kill terror itself[/I], what a scumbag this guy is with this "the people who are responsible for blocking my economic policies are responsible for blocking my economic policies" bullshit!!

I can feel that my paycheck is in jeopardy. This is going to be one hell of a political fight, with federal employees caught in the middle.

republicans are so shit they really don't give a fuck about their own country

[QUOTE=SKEEA;39227174]I can feel that my paycheck is in jeopardy. This is going to be one hell of a political fight, with federal employees caught in the middle.[/QUOTE] wow you work in the army thats so cool i totally respect and worship you

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] Mitt Romney wants to scrap gay marriage, abortion and medicare He also wants the people with more money to pay less tax for some reason You're right, Obama's so bad

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;39227305]wow you work in the army thats so cool i totally respect and worship you[/QUOTE] Anyone whose paycheck is about to get light deserves to be worried, even if they've "advertised" their military status in the past.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] You're seriously saying this on facepunch, where everyone is convinced Obama is absolutely perfect in every way and can never do anything wrong at all ever?

[QUOTE=OogalaBoogal;39227305]wow you work in the army thats so cool i totally respect and worship you[/QUOTE] Notice I did not actively say that this time. I said all [U]federal employees[/U]. Every federal employee's paycheck is in danger because of these political fights. All of the branches of military service, DOD civilians, everyone. So yeah, at this point, because I was very open about my service in the past (which I have been actively trying to tone down), you see fit to put words in my mouth. You could have taken my post for what it was, and gone, "Gee, you know what, it is terrible that all the people that work for the federal government might not get paid, and thus unable to pay their bills or support their family that month. That is just awful." Nope, instead you try to insult me. Come on man.

[QUOTE=Strongbad;39227759]You're seriously saying this on facepunch, where everyone is convinced Obama is absolutely perfect in every way and can never do anything wrong at all ever?[/QUOTE] Who has ever said this? Find me a quote.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2012/may/04/chain-email/obama-has-added-more-national-debt-previous-43-pre/[/url] I'm not a fan of everything Obama does, but people need to stop spreading this bullshit, you sound like my mother.

[QUOTE=bohb;39226343]Still can't believe people voted for this idiot and still support his policies. Obama racked up more public debt [U]than all past 43 presidents [I]combined[/I].[/U] Yet he thinks he can scapegoat an entire party for the blame. Shame we have 3 more years under this scumbag.[/QUOTE] the president doesn't rack up debt. congress does. go back to civics 101 please

[QUOTE=King Tiger;39227828]Who has ever said this? Find me a quote.[/QUOTE] [quote]He inherited a lot of GWB, and then had to deal with a war and the economy failing... I dont see any other president having to deal with that. Hell, we should be blaming GWB for this in the first place, hes the one who ruined our surplus that BC had[/quote] [quote]Mitt Romney wants to scrap gay marriage, abortion and medicare He also wants the people with more money to pay less tax for some reason You're right, Obama's so bad[/quote]

two quotes that don't say at all what you said, but instead look at the problems of Obama's administration contextually? good job, champ

I never stated I viewed Obama like God I simply stated Mitt Romney's fault, I only mentioned Obama at the end, and that was just saying he was better than Romney Nonetheless, Obama's done a pretty good job so far