Magox

The GOP's main problem has next to nothing to do with the fiscal hawks and almost everything to do with the rapidly changing demographics. If they don't become more inclusive, then the slide will continue.

No, the "the loophole thing" is a bargaining chip. You should know how it goes, Dem's usually push for higher taxes, R's for spending cuts, and since the "loophole thing" wasn't part of the fiscal cliff outcome, it naturally will be in the next round of negotiations. The R's have the upper hand in this argument for the reasons that I already outlined earlier. Obama's seen as very weak on the national debt, it is his achilles heal (that and the economy) and in order to try to salvage his legacy, he will have to come through with a meaningful deficit reduction bill. His problem is his base, they don't want to touch the entitlements, specifically S.S. But my guess is that he'll do it, and even though he is an ideologue, and he loves progressive causes, if there is anything he loves more, it's himself. Which means that he will do whatever he can do to build on his legacy, even if that comes at the expense of pissing off some of his base. And if you think that Conservatives aren't breathing fire after the ass whooping they just got from this last Cliff Deal where there were $600 B in tax increases, $50 B in stimulus and only $15 B in spending cuts, then you are delusional. The R's will hold tough on this next debt deal and they won't concede until they get the cuts they are happy with, and even the moderates will hold the line along with them, considering that they just gave Obama what he wanted in the Cliff deal. Funny enough, Politico's main piece of the day is titled Obama's Debt Problem.

Oh really? So when you say that he has a "compelling argument if he can communicate what the debt ceiling really is to people", I suppose you mean how the debt ceiling has been raised many times before, and that it shouldn't be used as a political ploy of some type. Yeah that makes sense, specially considering that Obama Was For Debating Debt Limit Before He Was Against It Yeah, I guess it's different when he did it. So yes, please give us your compelling argument on what the debt ceiling is really about.

But that would take away possibly his greatest strength and asset to the team, his knowledge of a defensive system that works. I'd say for that reason alone, that it would make it very difficult to make him the selection as the HC, unless you are willing to convert back to the 3-4. Which from my perspective wouldn't be the right choice.

But they're both black

What I said and what you said have nothing to do with each other.

Smith has shown steady improvement, and his numbers represent that progression. So he meets the threshold of "if you aren't green and growing you're ripe and rotting". Now you can make the case that Harbaugh is partially responsible for that, but bottom line, he's capable of putting up good numbers and from my perspective that counts for something. Another thing that I like about Smith is that he doesn't throw many picks and that would be a welcome addiriton to this team.

Over/Under When this thread will be locked

No it wouldn't.

Technically they couldn't, but there are things that Treasury can do to push it back a few months.

Because they need the Rs to increase the limit. This last debate was focused on "protecting the middle class and asking the wealthy to pay a little more", which of course poll tests really well, however that fight has already been won by the president and will quickly shift to the national debt, and most people agree that we need to reduce the deficit, and since Revenues was the primary driver of the last deal, the focus of debt ceiling deal will be primarily spending cuts. Which of course falls more into the Rs comfort zone.

Thank you for your meaningless contribution.

Yes they will, and I expect one of the nastiest contentious political battles take place in a very public manner. If Obama doesn't come away with a meaningful deficit reduction package his legacy as a president will be seen as an abject failure, unless somehow, miraculously his health care bill becomes a success, which I highly doubt.

"Starving the Beast" would actually have to entail a diet.

"Guarantee" is an awfully strong word

You're probably right, but that wouldn't make him an "idiot". There are some intriguing aspects to choosing the Bills, they do have a young, strong offensive line. An incredibly dynamic RB that could be a huge weapon in the passing game and a very solid WR, and on the Defensive side, a defensive line that on paper has the potential to be one of the best along with some very good pieces at DB. Also, we have no clue now how Russ Brandon will run this team, he may make an intriguing pitch that could entice a coach to come over here. After all, he is a salesman, probably much better than Nix ever was.

I'd be ecstatic with the selection of Chip Kelly, having said that, I don't believe he would come here and how would Quentin Groves have any idea of this being the outcome?

The irony in all this is that the reason why the "Fiscal Cliff" came about was the president's and congress failure to put together a meaningful deficit reduction package, the Fiscal Cliff was never intended to take effect because it would be too tough of a pill to swallow for both sides of the aisle, so what was originally intended to help reduce the deficit, now will be signed by the president and according to CBO projections will add $4 Trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years.

Some people don't deserve reasonable responses.

I don't quite see what sort of deal will get done. Boehner has already made it known that whatever proposal that he decides to attempt to push through will have to be to the right of the "Plan B". The "Plan B" was already too far to the right for Liberal members of congress, (even though they were for it before they were against it, odd how the media isn't picking up this story), and too far to the left for Conservative lawmakers, so I honestly don't see the path to move forward. My guess is that it will have to go throught he Senate first, some of the more moderate R's will have to be the one's who vote for it, McConnell will have to agree on not filibustering it and there will have to be enough R's to pass what most likely will be a left leaning deal.

From my perspective, this team has more talent than any time I can remember in the past 10 years and we are about to record our second worst record ( I believe) during that time span. Not only are we not improving, we're getting worse. The playcalling and clock management has been putrid and the fact that Gailey has a bizarre determination to not give Spiller the ball more often, metaphorically speaking is down right criminal. Yes, I'm sure he's given it his best and yes I believe he's a good man, but in order for change, it is in my opinion that our voices of disgust must be heard.

My Guess is Whaley will be the man.

No you dipshit, people just don't want to have their names and address along with a map pinpointing their home plastered all over the local newspaper.

Only in your mind does this make any sort of sense.