In government shutdown battle, it's Obama vs. House Republicans vs. Tea Party
As the threat of a government shutdown looms over Capitol Hill, the budgetary battles persist between the Obama administration, House Republicans and the Tea Party. On Friday, the White House cautiously touted a drop in the unemployment rate to 8.8 percent this month.
CBS News political analyst John Dickerson discussed these budgetary issues and the political effect on President Obama on his weekly reporters roundtable. His guests: National Journal congressional correspondent Major Garrett, Washington Post national political correspondent Karen Tumulty and Time magazine senior correspondent Michael Crowley.
"Nothing is going to be more determinant on whether or not President Obama gets re-elected or not than how people feel about the economy," Tumulty said.
But the Obama administration and a Republican-controlled House of Representatives differ on how to approach economic problems, including how to fund the federal government. The current continuing resolution funding the government expires in one week.
"As this gets fought out, these job numbers help the administration say 'maybe we don't need to cut as much, maybe things have turned a corner,'" said Garrett, pointing out that job numbers bettered in January, February and now March.
"The phrase you're going to hear over and over again from the lips of Boehner and also a number of the presidential candidates is that Republicans right now control [just] one-half of one-third of the federal government," Tumulty said.
The Obama administration isn't the only opposition House Republicans face. The panel also noted the pressure on Speaker John Boehner from the Tea Party.
"They [the Tea Party] have very high expectations," said Crowley, who recently wrote about the Tea Party and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) for Time. "They just did not seem at all interested in the idea that compromise was inevitable."
Dickerson also discussed the on-going crisis and military efforts in Libya, 2012 politics and possible Republican presidential nominees on "Washington Unplugged" Friday. Watch the full webcast in the video above.
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Jessytell
Name one thing the repubs have done to improve the economy, other then to say no.
In case you have been asleep the whole time the DEMOS and Obama have had power the economy just got worse and or stayed the same. Within three months of the GOP taking the HOUSE the economy is getting better. Why well as Hewlett Packard CEO said they fell their will be a better business climate now and less GOV spending and regulations. Business hate Obama because he has made it clear he hates business.
And, by the way, the economy is getting better because of the efforts of President Obama and his administration since he inherited the Bush mess. All your Repugs have done is obstruct and grandstand...oh, but wait, they did give away billions to big oil. Gotta keep those generous campaign contributions coming, you know.
Why do the republicans not want to cut subsidies to big business? Why do the republicans only want to cut programs that help the middle class and poor? Why do the republicans want to cut education, social security, veterans benefits but won't touch defense spending?
Nice liberal lies but just that lies.
It is the GOP that is trying to cut Military spending.
It is the GOP trying to cut the useless and wasteful Department of education that serve no purpose at all.
It is the GOP is trying to save the middle class from the lunatic Obama.
It was the DEMOS that gave all the tax breaks to the corporations.
It is the Democrats that passed an unconstitutional health care bill that is making the health care industry richer than ever.
You might want to read a little before pasting your stupid talking points and liberal lies.
It was highly predicted that the Repugs would try to take credit for improved economic indicators but intelligent voters know that it's the result of all the efforts since President Obama inherited this mess from the Bush administration. All the GOP has done since last fall is grandstanding and political theater.
Here goes the tired "the national debt is a really, really big number" ruse again.
That is why America hates you and people like you. You are too stupid to know the problem is never tax more it is always SPEND LESS. You do not get to spend what you do not have and you can not ask for more when you are wasting 500 billion a year in gov spending. You are a disgrace and a fool. You can give all your money that you want to the GOV you have no right to ask for mine.
Let's layoff of the GOP congressional members who continue to obstruct the progress Obama has made towards ending the Bush recession.
We can use the savings to fund a bake sale to raise the money needed to pay for the Bush tax cut extension the GOP demanded at the expense of extending the unemployment benefits to those hit hardest by their failed policies.
In Wisconsin and Ohio the GOP has showed their real loyalties with the raping of collective bargining rights and no-bid contracts for selling public utilities to their big doners.
I see that many of the recalls in Wisconsin are nearing their signature requirements. Hopefully this starts a wave of recalls and forces these corporate puppets out of office.
Go Obama! Layoff the GOP and start the savings now!
Name one thing the repubs have done to improve the economy, other then to say no.
Republican Big Idea #2: Refuse to Raise Debt Ceiling to wreck the Recovery.
What to do for an Encore? Bring in the Tea Party!
#1 Bankrupt and ruin America.
#2 Lie his ass off and become the worlds greatest hypocrite.
#3 Violate the US constitution and pass unconstitutional laws.
#4 Be the most incompetent and failed president in American history.
5# Go on as many vacations as he can now because he knows he is a moron that will never get reelected.