I agree that I don't want to have a bland one party where we don't bounce around ideas but the radical part is what I'm scared of. You can argue that our system and checks and balances could defend against this but I'm not so optimistic. What we are doing right now on the internet and cable TV worries me because it's a binary reaction to events - Obama does something, We like it, others hate it. There doesn't seem to be any possibility for debate in between. Of course I'm generalizing a bit but lately it doesn't seem I can have a conversation with people without them totally agreeing or totally disagreeing with me.

Sometimes I wonder what our system would be like with proportional representation, which would allow for more than one party. That way people wouldn't lump ideas all into the D or R camp. But we have what we have, and I for one do not agree that polarization is a good way to govern.

I guess that's a possibility. I spend most of my time online and since I live in Seattle, I don't get much from the other perspectives on the issue so I see the more militant responses from the right.

It still worries me though because I feel it's more pronounced than it was even during the election. Again though, there is probably some truth to your point about the media. I do think they just select the stories that get the ratings, which a good old fashion political spat does. However, I don't think that makes it OK. We really need to have more consensus in this country. Call me an optimist. heh

Very happy to see this happen through the legislative process.

I can't believe they are stooping this low and not denying this strategy.

However, I wonder if democrats have ever done similar things in the past. I think the video from the Daily Show last week showing Pelosi arguing against the GOP using the budget process to move through bills that were not subject to filibuster was interesting. In this she said it was bad then (not in power) and now it's fine (in power).

I don't think people should get their panties in a bunch on this. He doesn't have money to keep the operations going and his budget doesn't kick in until Congress finishes appropriations so he has to use the same process Bush did.

I don't think there is much else they can do here.

I wasn't a huge supporter of Hillary this time around and I probably was a bit harsh on her at times during the campaign, but the chance to meet Bill Clinton or honestly to hang around DC with Carville makes me want to donate.

I don't have a lot of cash these days and I did send her 20 bucks after Obama was nominated but I think this is a good idea. Obama used the same type of things (the dinner, backstage at the convention) to get donations, which I sent in. I'll probably be sucked into this too haha :p

It's a losing battle. Biden shouldn't give any reason for the former administration to attack him or Obama. Just stop talking about them and let it go. There will be many more instances of this and the new administration should just respond in very broad terms so that they don't open a door for exploitation - just like this example shows.

Borrow even more?

There is a limit to this type of spending and I think maybe tightening our belts is good for our society. In Washington state groups are already running ads to stop cuts to "vital" services and University of Washington is protesting hikes in tuition rates.

We need to really get back to a level economy and then hold down spending to a level that we can afford and structure a system that is more reliable under economic ups and downs. Spending like nuts during economic booms has to stop and scrambling to find ways out of economic busts cannot continually be borrowed out of.

We have a lot of issues here but if we keep borrowing to fix them, no one is going to be forced to make the hard decisions that must be made for long term economic viability. We don't have attention spans long enough for any fundamental changes we need.

Not even 100 days and this is all we hear day after day, after day.

Obama could sit on Amadinajad's face, fart on it, and the GOP would have some problem with it.

From my understanding, since the embargo was passed by Congress, Congress is the only authority to end it. This is why it has gone on for so long compared to other embargo/sanctions, etc.

What else can the president do in this situation? Anyone know? Can he lift American travel to Cuba?

By the way, I totally agree with this move and happy to see Obama move in this direction.

Even though it's unclassified, it's For Official Use Only. Those types of documents are classified that for a reason. It's not for public consumption.

No one, regardless of party, should be denied their representation in their government this long. The wait to declare a winner in this race is absurd.

Seriously. This is just sour grapes. I wonder if they've realized they are a political punchline now.