FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's pretty clear who is losing in the whole debt ceiling stalemate in Washington - the American people.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/07/28/art.boehner.jpg caption="House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) at a news conference earlier today."]
They have a right to expect much more from the people they voted into office. Losers include those whose lives could be affected if a deal isn't reached in the next few days and their checks aren't put in the mail. Oh, and let's not forget the country's reputation as a whole. That's taking a helluva beating. Even if a deal is passed at the last minute, the U.S. credit rating could still be downgraded, leaving investors around the world wondering if the United States is still a good place to invest.
The folks on Capitol Hill don't seem to be too concerned with losers. So who exactly is winning here?
The House is expected to vote on Speaker John Boehner's plan in the next hour. Boehner told reporters on Thursday the measure will pass. Tea party conservatives have been whining and stomping their feet for days saying the Boehner bill doesn't do enough. But some last minute wrangling could sway enough votes.
That has House Republicans feeling pretty good about themselves. House Minority Leader Eric Cantor told the Senate on Thursday to accept the Boehner bill or the cut, cap and balance bill previously passed in the House or suffer the consequences of default. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doesn't seem to care about that. He has already said that the Boehner measure will die when it reaches the Senate. And the clock keeps ticking.
Where is President Obama in all this? For the last several days he has had no public schedule and has remained behind closed doors inside the White House. So inquiring minds want to know.
Here’s my question to you: Who's winning the debt ceiling battle?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Rory:
Republicans are winning due to their theatrics. They have managed to use the debt ceiling as a partisan bargaining chip when it would be proactive to raise it first, then bargain later. Republicans blame Obama for the inaction, making it appear as if they are waiting on him! Treating him like a fellow congressman instead of President, they have made it seem like raising the debt ceiling is something only a Democrat would do. They have won the debt ceiling battle, but might ultimately lose the political war in 2012.
Kim:
Clearly, there's no winner here. What nerve to scream "cut spending" when the Republican Party was handed the baton, a balanced budget and surplus the day they proudly handed "W" the keys to the Oval Office. I wouldn't have dreamed it possible to drive this country into such a humiliating pit of greed and recession in that short a time.
Bob in Estero, Florida:
Winners in the debt ceiling battle big oil and fat cat CEOs. Big losers are the average middle class Americans.
Bill in Chicago:
Obama is winning. The Tea Party, with its all-or-nothing idealism, is the medicine that's far worse than the cure. They do deserve nearly total credit for causing sharper focus on runaway spending. But they must be thrown out in '12 if they don't back off a bit. We have so many other priorities that require our collective attention.
Paul:
Tough to find a winner here, but if I had to choose I'd say the Senate is coming out looking the best, as they have, as a whole, shown to be the most willing to work together while staying above the childish fray a little better than the other two participants.
David in Mississippi:
I only know who is losing, America. I love this country and understand the situation we are in. I make well, well below the $250,000 range for a tax increase but even if my taxes need to be raised to get us out of this mess then do it and be done with it. Raise all taxes and put them toward the debt only. Politicians, hands off!