[peakyesno]

In his press conference today, the President mentioned that 80% of Americans want a balanced deal that includes revenues as well as cuts. It appears he was referring to this recent Gallup poll.

For their part, the right-wing press and the Cantor faction of Congress expressed amazement at the prospect at any American would suggest that anything but cuts could even be spoken. I assume fainting may have been involved.

Well, America's a big country and yeah, a pretty large majority are comfortable with bringing more revenue into the picture to avoid spending cuts that would hurt the most vulnerable among us. That's something that a lot of Americans consider an important part of being an American. So to recap, a large majority of Republicans and up to 80% of Americans are looking for a deal cuts spending and that closes loopholes and potentially eliminates recent tax cuts for those who really don't need them while others are struggling just to cover groceries and rent.

Gallup: http://www.gallup.com/poll/148472/De...Tax-Hikes.aspx

Both Republicans and Democrats appear willing to raise the debt limit, provided the government outlines plans to significantly reduce federal deficits in the future. The parties generally agree on making deep spending cuts, but do not agree on whether tax increases should be included to help reach their target goals for deficit reduction. Many Republicans in Congress oppose any such tax increases; thus, the legislation may not pass if tax hikes are included.

Americans do not necessarily share this view, with 20% saying deficit reduction should come only through spending cuts. That percentage is a little higher, 26%, among those who identify as Republicans. Republicans do, however, tilt heavily in favor of reducing the deficit primarily if not exclusively with spending cuts (67%) as opposed to tax increases (3%). Fifty-one percent of independents share that preference. Democrats are most inclined to want equal amounts of spending cuts and tax increases (42%), though more favor a tilt toward spending cuts (33%) than tax increases (20%).

The question does not make clear what types of tax increases Americans might be willing to accept, or whether those saying deficit reduction should come "mostly" from spending cuts would prefer that the proportion of spending cuts be closer to 51% or 99%. The public has been willing to endorse higher taxes on wealthy Americans in recent months, in terms of allowing Bush-era income tax cuts to expire and as a means of keeping Social Security solvent.

[boltondd]

For what it's worth, the Tea Party folks are apoplectic. I'm not sure about fainting, but threats are definitely involved. If Mr. Cantor, et al, do not abide by their pledge to the "American people" and instead raise the debt ceiling, some Tea Party Patriots warn, "There will be dire consequences."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/...ing/index.html

Well. I suppose 80% of us don't count as "American people" to these folks.

Here's the problem for the Republicans: if you're going to hold a hostage, you'd better be prepared to shoot him. They were not. When Pres. Obama pulled out the really big guns -- $4 billion in revenue and spending cuts, that included putting the sacred cows of Social Security and Medicare on the table to reduce the debt and deficit, the Republicans quickly pulled out the white flag and handed it to Mitch McConnell.

Now, why would they do that? Social Security, Medicare, $4 trillion off the debt? That's a gift. Heck, even the majority of Republican voters would go for that. Ahh, it's Pres. Obama's plan. That little corner the Republicans painted themselves into just got a whole lot smaller. As for the Tea Party, Eric Cantor and Grover Norquist? The Republican old guard just screwed the pooch.

After all this political posturing and maneuvering, what will happen? My guess is we'll raise the debt ceiling along with some anemic spending cuts and that will be that. Pres. Obama will have won this battle, but in truth, the economy won't be that much better off.

[FrereeDoulley]

They left out at least one option in the poll. Can you guys figure out which option that would be?

[klnbgqr]

For what it's worth, the Tea Party folks are apoplectic. I'm not sure about fainting, but threats are definitely involved. If Mr. Cantor, et al, do not abide by their pledge to the "American people" and instead raise the debt ceiling, some Tea Party Patriots warn, "There will be dire consequences."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/...ing/index.html

Well. I suppose 80% of us don't count as "American people" to these folks.

Was it Palin in the last presidential election who suggested that only rural and small-town America were "real" America? This would seem to be the 20% in Tea Party America aligning with that thinking.

Protesting and governing are not the same thing. As the CNN story points out, GOP politicians are realizing that in a very unfortunate way. As legislators, the adults in the group are resolved to avoid a default on our debts. But the ideologues, the activists, the folks who believe their only role is to crash and burn everything they can touch, are determined to cause as much damage to the government as they can, even if it means pushing the country into economic catastrophe.

[saumemeva]

Polls aren't news, Richard. Polls like this one are biased to get a desired response. I'll ask again what answer wasn't provided as an option. An answer that would likely have produce very different results.