In Dueling Speechs Obama And Boehner Talk Past Each Other, Accomplish Little

Their mouths were moving, but nothing of substance was coming out.

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John Boehner And Harry Reid Release Competing, Mostly Incompatible, Debt Plans

John Boehner and Harry Reid introduced their debt plans. Now, where do we go from here?

The GOP’s Debt Ceiling Gamble

By choosing to go it alone on a debt ceiling plan, the GOP is taking a big risk.

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Debt Talks Break Down As Both Parties Go Separate Ways

The debt talks in Congress are moribund now, and both sides are working on their own versions of a plan, again.

Debt Ceiling Kabuki Theater Update

It hasn’t been a very productive weekend in Washington, D.C.

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Gang Of Six Resurrecting The “Grand Bargain”?

The Gang of Six is back together. And they have a plan.

Who Wins If There’s No Debt Deal?

The idea that the GOP can block a debt ceiling vote and benefit politically is, quite simply, absurd.

Mitch McConnell-Harry Reid Deal on Debt, Entitlements

A Mitch McConnell-Harry Reid brokered deal on the debt ceiling looks promising.

Responsible Governing v. Ideological Purity

What exactly is the GOP trying to accomplish in the debt ceiling negotiations?

Democrats Turning on Weiner

Never popular with his colleagues, Anthony Weiner may now be the least liked Member.

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Mitch McConnell: No Deal On Debt Ceiling Without Medicare Cuts

As Congress left town for the long weekend, the Senate Minority Leader threw a grenade into the budget negotiations.

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Rand Paul Delays Renewal Of PATRIOT Act

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul wants a full debate on the PATRIOT Act. What’s Congress so afraid of?

Obama Administration Lobbied Standard & Poor’s Not To Lower Debt Outlook

Standard & Poor’s didn’t believe the Obama Administration’s argument that Washington would be able to fix the deficit. There’s no reason they should have.

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Obama’s Solution To Deficit: Spending Cuts, Tax Increases, Few Specifics, But A Clear Roadmap For 2012

President Obama’s budget speech was light on specifics, but that’s because it was really the opening salvo of the 2012 campaign.

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Budget Deal Postmortem: Who Won?, Who Lost?, Does It Matter?

What, if anything, does the budget deal mean for the future?

The Return of Hypocrisy as Parliamentary Procedure

Games legislators play…

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Cynical Political Games, Military Pay, And Government Shutdowns

For the past day or so, America’s fighting men have been pawns in a cynical political game.

Make A Budget Deal, And Move On To The Bigger Fight

Rather than fighting over the remnants of the FY 2011 budget, the GOP should make a deal and get ready for the bigger, and more important, battle ahead.

Michele Bachmann Takes In More Donations Than Any Other Republican

Michele Bachmann raised more money in the First Quarter of 2011 than any other Republican. Which means that she’ll have to be taken seriously if she decides to run for President.

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Moderate Democrats Turning Against PPCACA’s Individual Mandate

Four Senators who just happen to be up for re-election next year are silently looking for alternatives to the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate.

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House Votes 245-189 To Repeal Affordable Care Act

In a move that surprises nobody, the House voted today to repeal last year’s health care reform law. Now it goes to the Senate where it will die.

More on the Politics of Civility

More on the strategery of civility.