Look fellas, I suggest you spend more time learning about the underlying economics of the situation, and less time on the X & Os. (Um, that would be the false R & D dichotomy.)
Since the federal government has taken over the US economy, government growth = GDP growth, get it? Enact a debt ceiling, and you restrict the fed.gov's ability to expand.
Good thing, right? Yeah, for those willing to usher in the greatest Depression, along with a complete collapse of gov't at all levels. But what about those employed and fully invested in the gov't command & control structure? Think they're gonna vote to cut their own throats? Suuuuuure.
The ceiling WILL be raised, and will continue to be raised, in small increments if need be, simply to keep the Ponzi going. We're done, toast, finito - the only thing letting us stagger onward is the Fed's ability to print FRNs in exchange for worthless treasuries.
Once you understand that calculus, all the rest is just a kabuki farce.
We were told....if we don't pass TARP in the next 3 days we will find ourselves in the 16th century. Remember they had not even drafted the bill. Remember Nancy telling us we have to pass the bill to know what is in it.
Now they tell us we have to agree to a bill or the framework of a bill by the time the Asian markets open at 6 pm EST. We have to pass this bill to know what is in it. If we do not do this we will default. That is not true. We can service the debt. SS will be paid. Medicare will be paid. BUT, we must forge ahead without even knowing what is going to be in a bill.
Remember Obamacare - huge bill. Now we have the notion of a "Grand Bargain" - a huge bill - and sugarplums dancing in Obamas head so his name will be written in infamy.
We are being played like saps for these leftist endure. When will conservatives learn?