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'Fully engaged' McConnell expresses optimism on debt deal
The Hill ^ | 07/30/11 | Molly K. Hooper

Posted on 07/30/2011 3:02:36 PM PDT by Qbert

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Saturday he and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) are fully engaged with the White House on a debt deal and expressed optimism an agreement will be reached. 

“I’ve spoken with the president and the vice president within the last hour and a half," McConnell said at a press conference with Boehner shortly after the House rejected Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) debt-ceiling plan. 

"We are now fully engaged with the one person … who can sign a bill into law,” McConnell told reporters. 

Fewer than three days before the Aug. 2 deadline for raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, McConnell insisted that the economic doomsday scenario would not happen. Faced with questions about whether soldiers would receive paychecks, McConnell said a deal would be made. 

“Our country is not going to default for the first time in our history – that is not going to happen – we now have a level of seriousness and the right people at the table that we needed and thought we had, as the Speaker indicated last week,” McConnell said.

McConnell added that he is “confident and optimistic that we can get an agreement in the very near future and resolve this crisis.”

McConnell spoke hours after House Republicans rejected Reid's plan and less than a day after Senate Democrats dispatched with Boehner's plan. 

The end game on the debt deal now appears to revolve around talks between McConnell, Reid and President Obama. 

Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) traveled to the White House for a meeting with Obama late Saturday afternoon. 

The tricky part for the congressional leaders remains finding a bill that can move through both chambers, including a House dominated by Tea Party freshman Republicans. 

McConnell said at his press briefing that he had talked with Obama and Vice President Biden on a way forward. Top ranking leaders in the House and Senate are "discussing ways to reach an agreement," McConnell said.

Boehner, who walked out on talks with the White House more than a week ago, agreed that a deal would come together soon.

He said “in spite of our differences, we are dealing with reasonable, responsible people who want this crisis to end as quickly as possible, and I’m confident that it will.”

Reid's proposal was defeated in a 173-246, with 11 Democrats joining House Republicans in voting down the measure.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: debtceiling; debtlimit; mcconnell; obama
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"The end game on the debt deal now appears to revolve around talks between McConnell, Reid and President Obama."

Recipe for disaster.

1 posted on 07/30/2011 3:02:43 PM PDT by Qbert
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To: Qbert

McConnell is filthy. He is as bad as Reid.

.


2 posted on 07/30/2011 3:04:27 PM PDT by bobk333
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To: Qbert

Still has to pass the House.

I’m still pushing my critter [Graves - Ga] to the 1 cent solution or whatever it’s called.

it cuts [yes, cuts - not pretend] 1% each year for the next 6 years or so and we’re balance.

baseline budgeting would say this bill cuts 8% - now - and 8% more in following years.


3 posted on 07/30/2011 3:05:50 PM PDT by Principled
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To: Qbert

The Turkey is infected with the DC disease,No cure but remove and replace,Kentucky ,man the voting booths and send the Gobbler packing.


4 posted on 07/30/2011 3:07:35 PM PDT by Cheetahcat ( November 4 2008 ,A date that will live in Infamy.)
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To: Qbert

These are the same negotiations they had at the White House a week ago. Both sides stood firm and the negotiations collapsed.

Except this time, Obama and Reid will stand firm and Boehner/McConnell will fold.

Cowards.

.


5 posted on 07/30/2011 3:09:27 PM PDT by bobk333
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To: Qbert

Fully engaged in their usual cheating, lying and stealing from the taxpayers.


6 posted on 07/30/2011 3:10:01 PM PDT by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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To: Qbert

Yeah. The Gobbler is engaged to Reid. The wedding will follow very soon. And the DC Class will throw them a big glorious reception.
We Tea Partiers get to pick up the trash afterwards.


7 posted on 07/30/2011 3:10:32 PM PDT by tennmountainman
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To: Principled

“Still has to pass the House.”

I’m gussing Obama will twist arms and make threats to get as many Dems on board as he can to save face. The question is, will enough Repubs offer their own heads for the chopping block yet again (after the Speaker’s dishonesty through all of this), too?


8 posted on 07/30/2011 3:11:41 PM PDT by Qbert ("The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry" - William F. Buckley, Jr.)
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To: Qbert

See what Reid said
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/mixed-messages-on-debt-talks-as-clock-ticks-towards-default.php
However, Senate Majority Reader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi were also engaged with the White House. They were summoned for urgent talks. When Reid returned to the Capitol he struck a downbeat note.

Reid “The question is, are we closer to an agreement, The answer is ‘no.’”


9 posted on 07/30/2011 3:12:42 PM PDT by Son House (The Economic Boom Heard Around The World => TEA Party 2012)
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To: Qbert

Of course he’s confident. Reid wrote the bill. Wellllll....the people behind the scenes who pull his strings anyway.

Kind of amused watching these bad actors pretend to be on opposite sides.


10 posted on 07/30/2011 3:13:38 PM PDT by Soul Seeker ( I was there when we had the numbers, but didnÂ’t have the principles.---Jim DeMint)
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To: Qbert

Obama doesn’t need to be engaged. He will sign whatever is put in front of him.

This is the stupid McConnell strategy all over again: give up completely, but try to blame as much of it as possible on Obama.

Fix the real problems, dork!

.


11 posted on 07/30/2011 3:13:38 PM PDT by bobk333
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To: Qbert
'Fully engaged' McConnell expresses optimism on debt deal

BOHICA!!!


12 posted on 07/30/2011 3:14:14 PM PDT by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLP, Procurers of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords (202) 456-1414)
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To: Qbert

“we now have ... the right people at the table”
`Republicrats’?

“a House dominated by Tea Party freshman Republicans”
Apparently *not* the right people at the table.


13 posted on 07/30/2011 3:14:53 PM PDT by tumblindice (Our founding fathers and their families: all armed conservatives)
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To: Qbert

If the House Republicans have any honor, they will vote down any “changed” bill, collectively.


14 posted on 07/30/2011 3:14:53 PM PDT by Son House (The Economic Boom Heard Around The World => TEA Party 2012)
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To: Principled

Does the deal meet the President’s goal of cutting the deficit in half in 5 years?


15 posted on 07/30/2011 3:15:54 PM PDT by Qout
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To: Son House
If the House Republicans have any honor...

You owe me a KB!

16 posted on 07/30/2011 3:16:36 PM PDT by Roccus (Obama & Holder LLP, Procurers of fine arms to the most discerning drug lords (202) 456-1414)
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To: Soul Seeker

“Kind of amused watching these bad actors pretend to be on opposite sides.”

Exactly.


17 posted on 07/30/2011 3:16:57 PM PDT by Qbert ("The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry" - William F. Buckley, Jr.)
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To: Principled
Yet nothing has passed the House. I am wondering if this is the strategy. As long as Boehner pretends to be engaged nothing passes and nothing passing is a good start. Boehner may get bashed for platitudes and bipartisanship, yet nothing has gotten passed the GOP in the House. Not a bad strategy. Like the song says "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."
18 posted on 07/30/2011 3:18:29 PM PDT by Perdogg (0bama got 0sama?? Really, was 0sama on the golf course?)
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To: Qbert

Twist arms?

What planet are u from? Democrats will be stampeding to vote for this bill. The real question u should be asking is why isn’t Bonehead
gonna “Table” this bill like Harry “Tabled” His. The answer...
This fix has been for a while. Where have u been?


19 posted on 07/30/2011 3:18:38 PM PDT by tennmountainman
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To: Qbert

McConnell is out to break one off in the tax payers, the man loves his pork.


20 posted on 07/30/2011 3:18:40 PM PDT by org.whodat (What does the Republican party stand for////??? absolutely nothing.)
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