Democrats will be emboldened by the weakness the GOP has shown so far. For me personally, I have little faith Boehner will put up a good fight that will give us meaningful cuts.

As for ‘complaining” about GOP leadership – this forum has given me a platform to reach a wide audience. I have been led to believe even some politicans read posts here.

I want them to know they are being watched and they WILL be held accountable.

Politces is called the art of the possible and getting NOTHING does no one any good. Shutting down the gov’t is not going to be in Dems.’ favor, but it won’t be good PR for Reps. either. Save for Paul Krugman, there is hardly a sensient person alive who doesn’t know we are in serious debt and the gov’t is in fiscal trouble.

The truth is, no matter what is cut from the 2011 budget the Dems. could never pass is a benefit, because it keeps the 2011 budget from raising all the baselines the 2010 budget raised. It doesn’t give us a 2008 budget, but it gives us much less of a budget than was intended for 2011. And as long as some of it is cut back, it won’t be increased in 2012.

Second, if we don’t focus on the jobs situation now and unemployment is anywhere near these levels in November next year, the millions of unemployed will undoubtedly be voting Democrat. Losing our one chance to regain power over more than a bare majority of 1/3 of the government will be the end of any chance at reform.

As far as gaining public support, I submit that all of the badmouthing of the leadership before anything has been done is counterproductive. A united GOP would be much more effective at winning the PR battle and forcing the Senate Dems (22 of who are up for election) to negotiate in seriousness.

Lastly, the whole thing at this point would be just a distraction if we did have a partial shutdown over a few billion dollars. Better to get this budget out of the way, focus on getting the economy moving via deregulation, opening up drilling and tax incentives to small business while Ryan works on the 2012 budget, which is where the real fight will be. If we do have a shutdown, better to do it right before the election and over meaningful budgetary change.

First, you can be assured the Dems will push through massive tax increases when they get control of Congress back. Second, the consequences of a near-worthless Dollar are huge. Oil prices will explode when measured in U.S. Dollars along with everything else we import. Interest rates will skyrocket as the Fed tries to tame inflation – and because China won’t take the risk of loaning us money without the reward of a high return.

Tell an American citizen (as Paul Ryan does) that debt is 90% of GDP, and they will say “huh?” Tell that same American they will be paying $8 for gas and it will scare the hell out of them.

As I see it, this battle isn’t about cutting $60B versus $30B – it’s a battle of winning public support. To do that, the GOP needs to be forceful in convincing the public of the extreme consequences they will face if spending is not contained.

If Boehner *feels* he has the public on his side, he will (in my opinion) be more aggressive and more courageous in insisting on REAL fiscal reform.

Yes the doom and gloom picture needs to be painted, but the Repubicans need to hamemer home the benefits of getting our fiscal house in order. How many people have experienced the personal hardhsip of too much debt? Can’t we frame this as not cutting benefits, but securing a future where we are no longer indebted to our creditors, that we as a country wil have more ownership over our own destiny.

Republicans are lost in the weeds of fiscal policy and not selling the need for economic freedom for economic growth and the welfare of this country.

Why can’t they get a big picture message about the budget rather than ditehring over details.

To me, this is more about principle than anything. It’s about Boehner keeping his promise. It’s about the GOP leadership taking a stand and not backing down every time Harry Reid growls. It’s about defunding Obamacare and Planned Parenthood.

The House vote to cut $61B was nothing more than a symbolic gesture – not a serious effort to cut spending.

The time for symbolism is over.

(I guess the 73 is the obama ‘original’ 41 in reduced request plus 32 new) That is 73 of the “100″ promised, according to the GOP.

The hard part is that the GOP says they can’t find any more cuts without the WH agreeing to some of the riders – like EPA or PP.

I wonder why they can’t just select some of the 200+ bil in over-lapping programs that the GAO just identified in that report?

We need some people with common sense. Political bureaucrats are hopeless it seems.

(I guess the 73 is the obama ‘original’ 41 in reduced request plus 32 new) That is 73 of the “100″ promised, according to the GOP.

The hard part is that the GOP says they can’t find any more cuts without the WH agreeing to some of the riders – like EPA or PP.

I wonder why they can’t just select some of the 200+ bil in over-lapping programs that the GAO just identified in that report?

We need some people with common sense. Political bureaucrats are hopeless it seems.