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The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

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They won't lower or rid the filibuster. Why? As much as they'd like to get what they want, they know that when the other side has control, similar to what happened in 2005, they still want the filibuster available to them. This exact thing was discussed at that time as well, but with the roles reversed and obviously it being on talk radio instead of the lamestream media. The wallbanger and golfer talked about ridding the filibuster, but itch reminded them that in 1993, it was needed.

Think of this more strategically. I don't remember the last time the GOP had over 55 Senators. Even in the heyday of the Gingrich era that was their ceiling and it included some pretty liberal Yankee Republicans (Chafee, Jeffords, Snowe, Collins) to make up that majority. During Bush II's time I think they hit 53 maybe.

So, if you set it at 55, and then look out over the next 4 years, what chances are there that the Dems will be in the minority and be under 45 seats? Even if they lose all 6 seats at risk next time (WVA,LA,AR,AK,SD,NC) and don't get any back (Collins doesn't retire) they're still at 49 thus preserving filibuster power and then 2016 swings back to them anyway.

Tactically it makes sense. Gaining 56 Senate seats would be a historic achievment given the strong unpopularity of the Republican brand, plus the presence of a lot of Republican Senators in Dem states (NV, IL, NH, PA, WI, IA). Personally its a chance I'd take.
 
Re: The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

Producer of popular gun-related videos found fatally shot

Atlanta (CNN) -- Authorities in Georgia are investigating the apparent homicide of a Georgia man who produced popular gun-related YouTube videos.

Keith Ratliff was found shot in the head January 3 in his home-office in Carnesville, Georgia, about 80 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Ratliff was co-owner of FPS Industries, whose website says it "is proud to be world leaders in product development and testing for hard use firearms shooters."

Investigators from many agencies -- including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives -- are investigating, and the GBI said Friday that they are making progress in identifying the shooter.

Several guns were found at the scene, but none of them were used to shoot Ratliff, the GBI said in a news release.

Ratliff's YouTube channel had more than 530,000,000 views.

Gun rights group says Georgia home invasion proves their point

?? The proof that guns aren't the weapon of choice in crime? The proof that guns can protect against others with guns?
 
Re: The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

Producer of popular gun-related videos found fatally shot

?? The proof that guns aren't the weapon of choice in crime? The proof that guns can protect against others with guns?

The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
 
Re: The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Democratic senators urged President Barack Obama on Friday to be ready to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval in order to avert a damaging debt default.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his leadership team said Obama should use "any lawful steps" under his authority to "ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis."
They urged Obama to act on his own if Republicans insist on a debt limit extension that is coupled with "unbalanced or unreasonable" spending cuts.
Democrats are anticipating another possible deadlock over the debt limit in Congress and hope a unilateral move, or the threat of one, by Obama would avoid a replay of the 2011 fight that pushed the country to the brink of default.
Obama has vowed not to negotiate with Republicans on the debt ceiling.
Republican reaction to Reid's letter showed no willingness to back down from their demands that spending cuts be part of the debt limit debate.
"The Democrat leadership hiding under their desks and hoping the president will find a way around the law on the nation's maxed-out credit card is not only the height of irresponsibility, but also a guarantee that our national debt crisis will only get worse," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
Michael Steel, a spokesman for House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, said, "The American people will not tolerate an increase in the debt limit without spending cuts and reforms."
Some analysts and Democrats believe the 14th Amendment of the Constitution gives the president the authority to raise the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling unilaterally.
That provision states the validity of government debt shall not be questioned. But the White House has so far ruled it out. One Senate Democratic aide said other legal options were being explored.
The U.S. Treasury is shuffling funds around to continue paying government bills. Those accounting maneuvers are due to run their course around mid-February.
"We believe that you must make clear that you will never allow our nation's economy and reputation to be held hostage," said the letter, signed by Reid and the three other leading Senate Democrats.
Republicans have said they will only approve a debt ceiling increase if it is accompanied by spending cuts and changes to big government programs Social Security and Medicare.
The Democratic leaders agreed that the borrowing cap increase should be separate from a deficit reduction plan. They said any fiscal deal should include spending cuts as well as additional revenue from the wealthy and the elimination of certain tax breaks.
 
Re: The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

Congress already authorized an increase in the debt ceiling when they approved spending the money in the first place.
 
Re: The 2nd Term - Round 1 - Diving for Dollars

Spending cuts must be dirty words in DC
 
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