New Rule -  The Boehner Rule: Never again will the debt ceiling be raised without a dollar for dollar cut in federal spending. Tweet - Grover Norquist     & 

Once Upon a Time in the West Link

This week, the United States nearly allowed itself to succumb to economic disaster. Increasingly, the divided country has more in common with a failed state than a democracy.  

Something has become routine in American political culture: hate. At the same time, reason has been replaced by delusion. The notion of tax cuts has taken on a cult-like status, and the limited role of the state a leading ideology. Society is not only divided socially and politically the nation is moving even farther away from the core of democracy. It is losing its ability to compromise.

The US is a country where the system of government has fallen firmly into the hands of the elite.  "The richest 1 percent of Americans claim one-quarter of the country's total income for themselves; they also possesses 40 percent of total wealth." The tragedy, of course, is that even in the third world, the trend is actually the opposite -- the income gap between the poor and rich has been reduced in such a way that they can soon claim their rightful place among the world's developed nations.

Europeans note with the clear awareness that they are profoundly different. They are dedicated to the practice of sharing the commonwealth with the nation's citizens. The have found renewed appreciation for their political culture and the vital functions of their state institutions that protect and enrich the lives of all.

Here's the result of negotiating with hostage-takers:

This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) confirmed that Republicans will hold the debt ceiling hostage in the future, saying, this debate “set the template for the future”.

MCCONNELL: It set the template for the future. In the future, Neil, no president—in the near future, maybe in the distant future—is going to be able to get the debt ceiling increased without a re-ignition of the same discussion of how do we cut spending and get America headed in the right direction. I expect the next president, whoever that is, is going to be asking us to raise the debt ceiling again in 2013, so we’ll be doing it all over. Video Link

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The 'Frey Effect' - Microwave Hearing

Astrology Analysis 

by

 Mark Andrew Holmes

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) would be a good candidate for the so-called Super Committee charged with making $1.5 trillion worth of cuts to the federal deficit. - Link

"I’m not making the decisions but one of my candidates would be Rob Portman, former head of OMB. A very sober, knowledgeable person, I think those are the kind of people that are going to be on this committee," told Neil Cavuto Tuesday on Fox News.

Prior to becoming a senator, Portman served as the head of the Office of Management and Budget in former President George W. Bush's administration.

The great thing about this is that Rob Portman wasn't just head of Bush's budget office; he also voted for both of Bush's tax cuts and for Bush's invasion of Iraq, so when he talks about fiscal nightmares, he knows exactly what he's talking about. After all, he created the one that we'e in.  - Jed Lewison

Washington is filled with idiots: Republicans who have embraced the role of economic terrorists, and Democrats who enable them. And as everyone knows, you don't  negotiate with terrorists.http://mitch-mcconnell.blogspot.com/

US 2011 solar return chart: Since July 9, transiting Uranus has been square the Midheaven of the July 4 birthday chart (3Cancer55), continuing through August 19, pointing to tension, rebellion, and fast-paced upsets within the government.  As of July 28, Uranus moved into orb of an opposition to the US solar return Ascendant (3Libra26), where it will build in strength through September 3. This suggests that the agitation felt in the government (Midheaven) during July will spread throughout the country (Ascendant) in August, as dramatic events unfurl in a cascade of rapid-fire transformation and upset. Star Light News

Click on Chart - Larger Image