There was a cartoon that I used to watch with my grandson called Courage the Cowardly Dog. The cartoon was mildly amusing but one of the lead characters would always say, "Stupid dog." It was usually when the lead character didn't realize the dog was trying to save him from some peril. For some reason, I'm reminded of this by the stalemate in Congress. I feel like saying, "Stupid debate!" One side is arguing based on ideology. They have no intention of telling the American people that it doesn't matter what the numbers say, that they want the government to spend less. It doesn't matter that the government is spending less than we did five years ago or 10 years ago on Medicare or Medicaid - even Social Security. None of that matters. All they want is less spending and less government. If the government defaults, who cares? That is the attitude of the Republicans. When you hate government, it doesn't matter if the government defaults. From your standpoint that is still a good thing. The American people don't understand this particular debate. Even Republicans, mainstream Republicans, don't understand this particular stance. Republicans have couched their argument in the veil of "fiscal responsibility." This the only reason that some Americans will agree with them. Everybody wants fiscal responsibility. Everybody wants the government to spend their money in a thoughtful, prudent manner. Let's be clear. Thoughtful, prudent spending is not what Republicans are talking about. What Republicans really want is to dismantle government.

From TP:

RATINGS AGENCY SOURCE: BOEHNER PLAN WOULD LEAD TO DOWNGRADE OF U.S. DEBT, REID PLAN WOULD PRESERVE AAA RATING | Today on CNN, Erin Burnett reported that she spoke with an investor who talked directly with the credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s. According to the Standard & Poor’s source, John Boehner’s debt plan would probably still lead to a downgrade of U.S. debt by the ratings agencies, raising interest rates for all Americans. Harry Reid’s plan, however, would preserve America’s AAA credit rating. Watch it:

Finally, it is important to note that John Boehner does not even have the support of his own party. The speaker the house has spent an enormous amount of time trying to convince the American people that he has a reasonable approach but his own party doesn't believe him. Again, the Republican Party is not about reasonable approaches. Today's Republican Party is about dismantling government. Once we understand who was standing with the American people and who wants to dismantle government this whole debate comes in the focus- Stupid debate!

From WaPo:

The challenge facing any plan for reducing the debt was underscored when a new Republican proposal to raise the ceiling on federal borrowing was met Monday with misgivings by some conservatives and skepticism by many GOP freshmen. That called into question whether Boehner (R-Ohio) could even get his own caucus to back his approach.

As Boehner tried to rally support for his two-step plan to cut $3 trillion in spending, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) offered a strikingly similar proposal for increasing the debt limit before the Aug. 2 deadline. The two leaders, however, remained bitterly divided over Boehner’s demand to hold another vote next year to further expand the government’s borrowing authority.