Reply #22: My feelings on this are still very mixed..

[ObamaKerryDem]

On one hand, it solves the immediate problem (avoiding default). And, very, very importantly, it leaves alone SS and Medicaid and the beneficiary side of Medicare. And Pell Grants. And it cuts Defense Spending, giving at least another big thing for the wingnuts to cry about (even though they win, for not at least, regarding taxes..). This is all very good, especially since, as Barney Frank (very aptly, I think) put it, the GOP has engaged in a form of extortion in the thuggish way they went about this whole thing.

On the other hand, to have it touch Medicare at all, in any way, is a problem for us. Not only does it inherently complicate a campaign issue that was basically handed to us on a silver platter previously by the GOP, but it gives us a huge PR problem--or at least significant one--with a core element of our base. Even if it doesn't actually touch benefits, if enough people THINK it does..that is very, very troublesome. Plus, as others here have already pointed out, the door could be opened to actual cuts with this, which is also of course a thing to worry about. Not good. The committee thing also makes me nervous. We saw how well that worked with HCR..*cough, cough!*

But to see so many GOPers (most recently Mitt Romney..) come out hard against this shows me that there must be some plus side at least to it. But there are still too many "sticking points" for my taste. Plus the fact that I will believe this actually passing the House when I see it happen on TV. I still rather doubt that.

Still holding out at least some hope for that 14th amendment..

We are, unfortunately, really feeling the side effects of losing the House (and those seats in the Senate..). And it sucks. :(