He hasn't shown any management skill for the past four years, what makes you think he'll start now? But, yes, I agree--he shouldn't be getting a salary, no golf trips, no free vacations for Michelle and the kiddies, absolutely nothing but room and board.

It's about time for our government to start trimming the number of federal employees. Government shouldn't be growing, it should be cutting back like companies in the private sector.

In the private sector when a company has to cut back, they do it--they tell each department what percentage, or how many people to cut, and it gets done. They don't stamp their foot like a petulant child and demand everyone go along with what they want.

You do realize I'm sure, that the president's salary is fixed- it isn't automatically raised annually (although the salary did go from 200,000 to 400,000 when W. took office). On the other hand, congress gives itself a raise every year. For instance, the Speaker of the House currently makes (I hesitate to say 'earns') $223,500, compared to $217,400 made in 2008. Hmmm. Now who pays for those salaries and salary increases? I just can't seem to remember.

Rick, the president cannot control what the congress or supreme court does. That's why it's called "separation of powers".

As I remember it, the president is supposed to manage the operations of the country within the parameters and limits set for him or her. There was to be a responsibility and accountability for executing the job. The Congress, Senate and Courts are the board of directors and auditors entrusted to maintain those limits and parameters. That presupposes a respect and honoring of those roles as well as inspiration to the citizens of the nation to work together. That is something we are not seeing in this president.

I "accidently" read that. Now why is that solution buried in the back pages and not discussed?

He didn't actually veto the bill, just stated that he WOULD veto the bill if it made it to his desk. He didn't have to worry though because Reid and the Democrats had his back - the bill never made it out of the Senate. They didn't want Obama to be forced to make any decisions now.

Sandra,
Thanks for that excellent summary of the state-of-the-art thinking for the Democrat party.

I'm curious. Is there anyone out there who voted for Democrats who disagrees with Sandra? Are any of you Democrats starting to get tired of this cycle?

1. Economic crisis
2. Demonize Republicans, Corporations, the rich, etc
3. Raise taxes and spend money
4. Go to step one

Will you ever reach a point where you say "Wait! We keep implementing Democrat policies, they never work, and we keep blaming Republicans. This makes no sense! Let's try something else."?

That would be a useful poll.

Sandra- Why can't there be a healthy debate about this? Maybe you can explain to all of us stupid ignorant people how calling Boehner "Boner" and Republicans "teabags" advances your ideas. Talk about embarrassing yourself. Blah Blah Blah.

Pudding, Boner is Boner because of his actions. He is bad at his job. I don't refer to Republicans as teabags, only teabags. All Republicans are not teabags, but all teabags are Republicans. And Gary, pretty sure my post was a list of facts, aside from the use of "Boner" and "teabags". How is it in any way a summary of Democratic thinking? I'm not even a Democrat. And yes, I am very tired of this cycle. Compromise is not a dirty word. At some point the teabags are going to realize this, though it may be the hard way.

If you have been paying attention, Boehner and the rest of the Rhinos have compromised too much, and before that they had no voice in any matter, with super minorities in both houses. What do we get? 23 million unemployed, 1%GDP, massive debt, credit downgrade and higher taxes. That's what compromise accomplishes.

Sweetie try to stay up, the closing loophole thing was a position against the raising taxes debate. Now that taxes have been raised, and the economy will tank as a result, closing loopholes remains a bad thing. All your guy wants to do is punish and rob folks who have money.

Sandra
Sequestration was Obama's idea...not Boehner's. republicans generally do not support defense cuts, so, if it had been their baby, I would think it would be structured differently. "Hack jobs" are never a good idea; even when negotiating teacher contracts. But you were in favor of those.

Terri, if could understand simple the simple English in my first post, I pointed out that they made the sequester so distasteful, particularly to extreme Republicans, also known as teabags, that supposedly they would never let it happen, because of the giant military cuts. And yes, I would take a hacksaw to the teacher's and other public sector unions if given the opportunity. They have been greedy and getting away with murder for years on the taxpayer dime. But of course, you are their shill, so why bother?

Weren't the tolls that we pay on the tollways in ILLAnnoy also not supposed to be permanent......?

You are totally correct Sandra...and your respondent's repugnantcan is showing! Boner even stated after the sequester was ratified that he got "98% of what he wanted" in the slash list.

The phrase 'low information voter' is a nice way of saying 'low intelligence voter.'

Sandra, you need to knock it off. Calling people bigots, referring to Speaker Boehner as Boner, calling Republicans "teabags," and all your other antics are childish. If you can't discuss without name-calling, maybe you shouldn't post at all. It's very immature and shows a lack of intelligence.

That's interesting considering there are not going to be any actual cuts in spending, only a slowing of the growth in spending. Why is Obama cutting salaries at all? Has anyone asked him?

Zuzu,
Why do you think salaries are being cut, even though spending is increasing?

Also typical of some liberals is verbal attacks against posters who do not agree with them. What is the reasoning behind labeling people as bigots and teabags? Is the patch allowing junior high and grade school students to post, or are these liberals the racists and bigots themselves?

You could just TOS Sandra's comments and let us get back on topic.

Hey AK, you might want to read the article, it is not about the debt ceiling. If you can't stay on topic, maybe YOU want to crawl back in your hole and be quiet, eh? And for the other people who can't seem to read, I did not call anyone on this board a racist, or a teabag. I referred to self designated "tea party" politicians as teabags. I called ONE person a bigot, and that was based solely on her own words in a previous thread. Apparently the Patch is ok with her making bigoted posts, but not others calling her out on them. So be it. And I am not "Just Sayin". Sorry, rightwingers, this is not your own personal vehicle to spew. There just might be more than one non rightwing extremist posting here. Now I am going to enjoy my weekend with my family and friends and forget about all you and your sad little lives. Ta.

I'm going to weigh in on this. Sandra your method of discussing issues with people needs some work. Calling conservatives teabags is rude. Calling a specific person a bigot each time that person posts on other articles just because of something that person posted previously is blatant harassment. People are willing to discuss issues with you but not when you are rude and call them names.

Hey Charles, what you and your mother do in the privacy of your home is your business. Please keep your creepy, sadistic fantasies to yourself. Good job raising the tone.

I believe she was referring to lines at customs.

Perhaps Napolitano meant customs, but she mentioned the TSA on the news.