[dan on the right]

First of all, DeMint is a minority party Senator. Senate has not part in this dance. He can say what he wants, he has no responsibility here.

I thought Boehner’s plan was realistic, as much as I hated it.

Listen, we're going over the cliff. We have to be as reasonable as possible to avoid some of the blame (doubt if it will work, but we have to put best deal out there). While I like the doomsday option, I would do it differently.

I would simply allow a vote to raise marginal tax rates on the 2%, but change nothing else in the law. Estate taxes, AMT, deductions, etc. would all remain the same. Minimal pain on minimal amount of people.

Our Reps can vote “present” if they want, but send it to Senate. Let them pass it or ignore it - might help the blame game.

[oldbrowser]

Listen, we're going over the cliff. We have to be as reasonable as possible to avoid some of the blame (doubt if it will work, but we have to put best deal out there).

Agreed, this is all window dressing. Obama is taking us over the cliff regardless. If we agreed to his terms he would up the anti. Reid has already said any settlement must include the POTUS having authority to raise the debt limit as he pleases.
And the media will blame it all on the house republicans. So if you are going to get the blame anyway, I say lets shut the government down to essential services. Unions are always going on strike, let's have the congress go on strike. Do our timid career congressmen have the guts to throw themselves on the live grenade in Washington?

[DManA]

Obama is laughing at Boehner’s “realistic” plan - “magic beans and fairy dust”.