"This deal trades peoples’ livelihoods for the votes of a few unappeasable right-wing radicals, and I will not support it."

I hope this includes actually voting against it. You have it in you, Rep, Grijalva!

More pompous bullsh*t! The Progressive Caucus falls in line whenever Nancy Pelosi tells them to. This from a woman who committed a crime called ‘obstruction of justice’ when she took impeachment off the table. Liberals and Progressives have no leaders. We have limp-wristed pansy-ass politicians that don’t even come close to the definition of a leader – Obummer top among them. The ONLY way that the Progressive Caucus is going to make any impact is to leave the Democratic Party en mass. You outnumber the hostage-taking Tea Baggers and would be able to exert greater influence on legislation than you do now. I’m getting pretty tired of hearing from Grijalva when all he does is complain. The Progressive Caucus put a reasonably good plan out there to address the debt issue but then asks the Democratic Party if they would pretty-please accept it. But in the name of unity he always appeases bumbling Nancy and spineless Harry. I’m really sick of it. Being a complainer doesn’t make you a leader Grijalva. Why are you any different than the impotent representatives already in Congress? Democrats are not progressive, so why are the Progressives Democrats?

That's rhetoric I can get behind - finally, a Democrat standing up for Democratic ideals, calling out this manufactured crisis for what it is. Obama has given in too much, and Grijalva gives us hope that he and some other old-style Democrats have had enough. How'd this guy get elected in Arizona?

I agree with Representative Grijalva but the problem off bought and paid for politicians in congress pushing the corporate agenda regadless of party label can ONLY be solved if the USA becomes a democracy. The early republic had about one rep per 30,000 people. Now it's one rep per over 600,000 people! Do the math. Only corporations have power in this present, US, dystopian version of a "representative" republic.

WE NEED A DEMOCRACY!
A Summary of Harry Braun’s 2012
Presidential Campaign Platform

1. Implement a Solar Hydrogen Economy with wartime-speed (i.e., by 2020) Many of the most serious energy, economic, environmental and foreign policy problems result from the continued use of oil, coal, natural gas and other fossil and nuclear fuels that are rapidly diminishing and highly polluting. It is important to note that in spite of the devastating Gulf oil spill and the Japanese nuclear meltdown,

2. Passage of an Article V Democracy Amendment
In order to end the "Robin Hood in Reverse policies that have been in place for the past 40 years, it is critical to eliminate a government run by lobbyists by enacting Article V of the U.S. Constitution in order to organize a Constitutional Convention in order to pass a Democracy amendment that will transform the USA from being a Republic, which in fact turns out to be is rule by a tiny few in secret, to a Democratic Republic, where the majority of voting citizens -- and not their elected representatives -- will have the power to approve all legislation and judicial decisions that affect the majority of citizens. Additional details on this Democracy amendment as well as other proposed amendments are outlined on this website.

3. Passage of an Article V Fair Accounting Act Amendment
According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), it is now critical to phase out all fossil fuels with wartime speed, and the only technically and economically practical path is to implement a Solar Hydrogen Economy with wartime-speed (i.e., by 2020). The Fair Accounting Act is the "trigger mechanism" for reindustrialization because it would empower the NAS to end the trillions of dollars in pollution subsidies that are used to make fossil and nuclear fuels appear to be less expensive than solar-sourced hydrogen. The Fair Accounting Act would also rapidly phase out the use of over 85,000 toxic chemicals that have contaminated every organ of every man, woman and child in less than one generation, which has resulted in the unnecessary trillions of dollars of health care costs and human suffering that have resulted the heart attacks, strokes, cancer and profound neurological disorders, including the epidemic levels of autism and dementia that is now occurring worldwide.

4. Dealing with the National Debt
In order to balance the federal budget and begin reducing the national debt, a Solar Hydrogen Economy needs to be implemented like a large-scale Hoover Dam, so over $2 trillion annually can be kept in the U.S. and used to pay for government services and debt. In addition, the reckless military adventures in countries such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the stationing of U.S. troops in over 100 countries must be ended so that major cuts can be made in the Defense Department, the CIA and NSA. U.S. Foreign Policy needs to be based on treating others as we would want to be treated, rather than serving the financial interests of multinational corporations whose only golden rule is "Those who have the gold make the rules." The “Robin Hood in Reverse” tax rates for the rich over the past 40 years should be reversed to the tax rates under the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, when the wealthiest Americans paid over 90% of their income in taxes, and the U.S. economy had record prosperity. Had the irresponsible wars and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans been avoided, most to the $14 trillion national debt would not exist.

5. Implementing a Universal Non-Profit Health Care System
To deal with the trillions of dollars of unfunded liabilities for health care, a universal health care system for all Americans needs to be established based on the non-profit military health care systems in the U.S. armed forces. Approximately 30% of health care costs go to unnecessary health insurance companies and another 30% are now spent on terminally ill patients torturing them in the last six months of their lives so the doctors and hospitals can maximize profits from unnecessary procedures. This is why it is critical NOT to have doctors and hospitals "operating" on a commission basis, which is a primary cause of increasing medical costs and unnecessary pain and suffering of millions of patients.

6. Implementing Fair Markets vs "Free" Unregulated Markets
The U.S. labor force cannot compete with workers abroad who are better educated and work for about 10% of what comparable jobs in the U.S. pay. Instead of lowering the American standard of living to that of Third world countries, which often use child and slave labor and have a complete disregard for the environment, U.S. trade policy should focus on bringing the Third world standard of living up to American and European standards by encouraging organized labor and enforcing minimum wage and environmental standards for products.

7. Providing Educational Excellence for Everyone
Details on this education proposal is posted on the "Papers" section of the PhoenixProjectFoundation.US website.

8. Ending the Drug Wars
Over $1 trillion has been spent on the Drug Wars that have turned brutal gang lords into billionaires. Drug abuse is a medical problem, it doesn't need to be a criminal problem.

Full details here:
https://p3amendments.us/Home_Page.html
HARRY BRAUN for PRESIDENT!

Perhaps I am naive, but this Congressman sounds like the real McCoy?

Manysummits

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Grijalva voted "yes" when the earlier Reid bill was voted on in he House. Check it. It was roll call number 682 on HR 2693. Because the Republicans were going to defeat the bill anyway Mr. Grijalva had what is called a "free vote". Yet he voted for Reid 1. So much for Grijalva. He is a liar.

Changing course http://www.harrybraunshow.com/ While there is Hopefully still time to make a difference Listen to Harry Braun each week on Home Improvement USA's FOCUS on the FUTURE Radio Program hosted by Dave Rusch by clicking on the link below. Harry discusses powering the home, appliances, vehicles, power plants and more by shifting from oil and other fossil and nuclear fuels to a Solar Hydrogen Economy where the hydrogen would be made from water with electricity that is generated from the wind and other solar technologies & resources. Broadcast Time: Sunday 2:20 EST/11:20 PST www.GCNLive.com

(Sorry, I tried everything to break this into paragaphs and couldn't do it. I'll send it out anyway.) If Obama truly supported the American people, which he doesn't, he would have invoked the 14th Amendment by now and simply announced that he did it "to protect the economy and the American people who have already been called upon to sacrifice far too much." Of course, we all know by now that Obama is hardly on the side of the American people on this or any other issue. Indeed, all fingers are pointing back to him as the one politician most responsible for putting the entire safety net on the chopping block in this manufactured crisis. He is hellbent on more and still more cuts to these vital social programs. If anyone thinks this latest "crisis resolution" will be the end of it, they haven't been paying attention to the sinister chicanery that has been unfolding in our nation's capital. The "Reid Bill" that the two parties are about to pass will call for a congressional committee to study and recommend subsequent cuts in federal programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Those with short term memories need to remember the recent "catfood commission," whose members were appointed by this same president. With very few exceptions, the members of this commission had lengthy track records that revealed they were strongly opposed--in some cases antagonistically opposed--to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. If the progressive caucus and others do not kill the Reid Bill that is emerging from the Congress, we should all expect that the new commission appointed by Obama will be even more antagonistic toward the social safety net. Furthermore, the way the new commission has been designed in the Reid Bill, it appears that it will be allowed to function and make recommendations behind several layers of secrecy (so much for more transparency in government, Mr. Obama.) By the time the American people learn what this commission has recommended, and how those recommendations are to be implemented, it will most likely be too late to do much of anything to protect the most defenseless Americans who need these programs just to survive. If you think the panic that has been reported among seniors, the poor and others over these past few days will go away with the passage of the Reid Bill, you are terribly mistaken. We are about to relive it several more times in the years ahead if the Reid Bill passes. The progressive caucus and others need to vote against a bill that asks for no tax increases for the wealthy, while establishing a mechanism that will inevitably lead to the gradual elimination of our vital social programs. With the millions of jobs that have been shipped overseas, 401ks that have been decimated, houses that have been taken away from the American people, these programs are more essential than ever before. They are the last hope for the people in our country who are struggling just to put food on their tables. Kill the Reid Bill! If Obama then fails to invoke the 14th Amendment to avoid economic chaos, he will deserve the ignominy that will most assuredly attach itself to his legacy.

I will never tire of repeating the obvious: The public has elected and re-elected the millionaires who own the country. Those millionaires are only voting for their own self interests. Why the surprise? Until the idiot public understands and appreciates that the boss will continue to vote for the economic interest of the ruling elite, nothing will change.

Repair the damage? Yeah, right. Trouble is the next tsunami is around the corner and all attention will be on that. And on, and on it goes. No repairs ever made, just new, accumulated damages.

Congressman Grijalva is persusive. The "deal" reflects the a centrist cave to the tea party. Not the change I voted for.

I'm tired of Democrats rolling over and playing dead every time Republicans make their threats. Why doesn't this party have any cojones and why are they so afraid of standing up to the Republicans? Why do they roll over and capitulate every single time? Is there NO ONE in Congress who isn't owned lock, stock and barrel by the corporatocracy? Truth to tell, I think our country is screwed and is rapidly heading for a crashing end after 230+ years. History has proven that most empires do not last because they eventually collapse under their own weight and that is precisely what is happening in America today. Our American empire is ending. One party has become a regime bent on imposing itself on this country and so far, they have, for the duration of my 54 years on this earth, been wildly successful at maintaining a permanent Republican majority. They've managed to convince us to keep voting against our own economic interest, they have managed to convince us to give up our safety net, our homes, our jobs and to become serfs so that the super rich can keep their yachts and multimillion dollar mansions on Collins Avenue in South Beach, Florida. (Been there, seen that!) They are taking away our education so they can keep us stupid enough to keep voting against our own interests. I'm so disillusioned anymore that I think that it is time for a viable third party to rise up and take back our country from the monied interests who don't want there to be a middle class. We can toss out our government when it ceases to serve our interests as it has for too long now, so, what are we waiting for? Get angry, people, you're being royally screwed. I'd like to see a million everyday Americans march on Washington and demand their country back as well as to demand jobs, jobs, jobs. No more game play, no more one upsmanship, no more being owned by the corporations. Last time I checked, this was government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE and FOR THE PEOPLE. I'm sure old Abe Lincoln is rolling in his grave over what his country has become, unfortunately.......

Congressman, I'll believe you and the rest of the progressive caucus the day you guys and girls turn in your decoder rings and bolt the Democratic party and join the United Steel Workers, The California Nurses Association and the Industrial Workers of the World to form a labor based political party. Until than, I hear you talking!

It's the People stupid ! Begezzus their dumb.

from chris floyd: "Behind all the flim-flammery of this manufactured "crisis", we are watching the creation of a new form of government -- or rather, the further mutation of the new form of government that the United States has been crawling toward for a long time. We called it a "neo-feudal oligarchy backed by a militarist police state" here the other day. No doubt there are many other ways you could describe this murderous, ravenous, lopsided monstrosity of a system. But the one thing you cannot call it is a "republic"."

Vote no on this bill congressman. Tell your caucus to vote no. Say it... "I will vote no"... say it. Don't say "I won't support it" that is not good enough. Say "I will vote no". Otherwise you are like all the other smoke blowers, and my anal sphincter is getting pretty dry.

Representative Grijalva's main concern seems to be about how all of this corrupt BS will "weaken the democratic party."

Hey, Rep. G, get a life!

Even if these so-called "progressive" democrats vote against their own leadership's desires, they are still frauds as long as they CHOOSE to stay within that corporate party.

When any one of them rejects the party, then, and ONLY then, will they be serious.

To think that you (we) can "Repair the damage" after the fact is to think that providing support to and excuses for robbers is okay as long as you plan to change their behavior in the future.

Stupid.

Notice he only said the bill was lopsided. He still believes in "shared" responsibility for the debt. "a final deal must strike a balance between cuts and revenue"

We will trade in the People to sustain the Military, so the Empire will continue. Their Empire is going to die a rather ugly death instead of being retired through recognition of the evil it is.

Ok Democrats. Not that it was a mystery, but you have made what you are willing to sacrifice (the American People), in order to keep that Wall Street money flowing so do NOT start whining about "having to vote to prevent worldwide economic collapse". Please prepare for your next shellacking (sp?) in 2012. Oh, and Progressive Caucus, please eliminate your caucus or remove Progressive from it's name if ONE of you vote for this, which will happen. By the way, the economic meltdown is ALREADY happening and the passage of this bill shall speed it up. Don't worry about the American people. We'll keep "sharing" sacrifices. IB

This so-called "deal" establishes two extremely dangerous precedents. It illegally turns the 4th article of the 14th amendment into a Christmas Tree of legislation. It also creates a Congressional Committee with unprecedented powers not enumerated in the constitution. Let's face it, the system of governance of our nation which was not all that great to begin with has become totally incoherently dangerous and the laughing stock of the civilized world. Fortunately there will not be a voice vote on this abomination so we will learn exactly how every congressperson voted. I recommend: do not yet make bets on congressman Grijalva.

This is what one of the NPR critters referred to as "grumbling" from some Democrats. If Rahm were still the Chief we would most likely hear something along these lines: Those f**king morons are holding the world hostage." I believe this sentiment will be Obama's chess play as he attempt to checkmate the "progressives." So it's the 14th Amendment or caving. Obama has said no 14th Amendment, and we know what a vicious bully he is when crossed on something he says no to. The narcissist Obama would see capitulating to the progressives as a defeat, and Obama does not broker defeat. In addition to all of the other comments that I've read, one can't just take Grijalva's statement, but also wonder what is going to happen with Conyers' call to march on Obama. In light of his very strong statement what is he going to do?

This deal is great for politicians on both sides of the isle. Debt ceiling will not need to be increased again until after the 2012 election and any so called cuts kick in after the 2012 election. This clearly helps the chances of Obama being reelected and that was his priority. The Tea Party looks good in their voter's eyes for now, and will be reelected also. They kept their jobs. Why do you expect more from them than they are capable of? I don't believe there will be any cuts in actual spending, just from a marked up projected baseline, and I will be quite surprised if our deficits don't continue to grow by a trillion plus a year for quite some time. The US credit will be downgraded and the people will be the real losers, especially those that went with ARMs for mortgages. But look on the bright side; Politicians on the left will convincingly say to their constituents, "things would have been much worse without us", and politicians on the right will convincingly say to their constituents, "things would have been much worse without us". The result being most of the constituents on both sides will continue to vote the same way. This was a huge win for the current political class!