From a comment at Gawker, via John Cole at Balloon Juice:

David Brooks Boldly Acknowledges That His Political Party Is Insane

…So really, it’s a double hostage situation. The Democrats are offering the world to the GOP to keep them from blowing it all up, but the GOP can’t take the deal because if they do, the Tea Party will go fucking nuts and everyone that votes for it will face a primary challenge….

From the White House:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                          July 5, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON THE STATUS OF EFFORTS TO FIND A BALANCED APPROACH

TO DEFICIT REDUCTION

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

4:49 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Hello, everybody.  I just wanted to give you an update on the deficit negotiations that we’ve been having for the last several weeks, and I want to wish, again, everybody a Happy Fourth of July.

Over the July Fourth weekend, my team and I had a series of discussions with congressional leaders in both parties.  We’ve made progress, and I believe that greater progress is within sight, but I don’t want to fool anybody — we still have to work through some real differences.

Now, I’ve heard reports that there may be some in Congress who want to do just enough to make sure that America avoids defaulting on our debt in the short term, but then wants to kick the can down the road when it comes to solving the larger problem of our deficit.  I don’t share that view.  I don’t think the American people sent us here to avoid tough problems.  That’s, in fact, what drives them nuts about Washington, when both parties simply take the path of least resistance.  And I don’t want to do that here.

I believe that right now we’ve got a unique opportunity to do something big — to tackle our deficit in  a way that forces our government to live within its means, that puts our economy on a stronger footing for the future, and still allows us to invest in that future.

Most of us already agree that to truly solve our deficit problem, we need to find trillions in savings over the next decade, and significantly more in the decades that follow.  That’s what the bipartisan fiscal commission said, that’s the amount that I put forward in the framework I announced a few months ago, and that’s around the same amount that Republicans have put forward in their own plans.  And that’s the kind of substantial progress that we should be aiming for here.

To get there, I believe we need a balanced approach.  We need to take on spending in domestic programs, in defense programs, in entitlement programs, and we need to take on spending in the tax code — spending on certain tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest of Americans.  This will require both parties to get out of our comfort zones, and both parties to agree on real compromise.

I’m ready to do that.  I believe there are enough people in each party that are willing to do that.  What I know is that we need to come together over the next two weeks to reach a deal that reduces the deficit and upholds the full faith and credit of the United States government and the credit of the American people.

That’s why, even as we continue discussions today and tomorrow, I’ve asked leaders of both parties and both houses of Congress to come here to the White House on Thursday so we can build on the work that’s already been done and drive towards a final agreement.  It’s my hope that everybody is going to leave their ultimatums at the door, that we’ll all leave our political rhetoric at the door, and that we’re going to do what’s best for our economy and do what’s best for our people.

And I want to emphasize — I said this at my press conference — this should not come down to the last second.  I think it’s important for us to show the American people and their leaders that we can find common ground and solve our problems in a responsible way.  We know that it’s going to require tough decisions.  I think it’s better for us to take those tough decisions sooner rather than later.

That’s what the American people expect of us.  That’s what a healthy economy is going to require.  That’s the kind of progress that I expect to make.  So I promise I will keep you guys updated as time goes on.  All right?

Q    A couple of questions?

Q    Will you take any questions, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT:  I guarantee you, Jay is going to take a whole bunch of them.  (Laughter.)

                       END           4:54 P.M. EDT

[emphasis added]

“…I believe there are enough people in each party that are willing to do that…”

“…It’s my hope that everybody is going to leave their ultimatums at the door, that we’ll all leave our political rhetoric at the door, and that we’re going to do what’s best for our economy and do what’s best for our people…”

Charlie Brown, meet Lucy and the football.

John Cole continues:

….And anyone who still calls themselves a Republican is just an asshole. Really, you’ve had ample time to figure out your party is run by maniacs. If you’re still sticking around because the “Democrats are worse” or you think the party can turn it around or because you fancy yourself a small “c” conservative or you are a glibertarian or because you hate taxes or you think Dennis Kucinich is weird (he is), you’re just an asshole. And incredibly stupid.

You can’t negotiate with maniacs. They don’t ever compromise. Do you understand that Claire? Just asking.

Wingularity, the – the point at which the insanity from the far right and those controlling the Republican Party [continues] to grow exponentially until it reaches an unsustainable weight and collapses upon itself. This is also known as the Purity Spiral, wherein the density of wingnut increases compared to mainstream conservatives to the point of pure wingnut. As the ratio rises, this creates a phenomenon wherein no logic or sanity can penetrate or escape. When rightwing argument has become completely inaccessible to the uninitiated, it has reached the Wingularity…

Via our friends at Fired Up:

[It’s time for bold leadership

Brian Nieves, State Senate]

Our U.S. Constitution is small on purpose because the function of the federal government is supposed to be small.

[It’s time to stand up]

Federal government, Barack Hussein Obama, and your liberal ilk, leave us alone.

[Brian Nieves

Energy, Passion, Experience

Paid for by Nieves for Senate, Dave Bailey Treasurer]

Steve Martin is informing electoral strategery in Missouri?:

….I mentioned that, earlier in the show, a drug joke – and I hate to do that, because it creates a mess, and I’m not into drugs any more. I quit completely, and I hate people who are still into it. Well.. I do take one drug now – for fun – and, maybe you’ve heard of it, it’s a new thing, I don’t know if you have or not. It’s a new thing, it makes you small. [ indicates size with fingers ] About this big. And, you know, I’ll be home, sitting with my friends, and, uh.. we’ll be sitting around, and somebody will say, “Heeeyyy.. let’s get small!” So, you know, we get small, and uh.. the only bad thing is if some tall people come over. You’re walking around going, “Ah hahaha..!” Now, I know I shouldn’t get small when I’m driving.. but I was driving around the other day, and I said, “What the heck?” You know? So I’m driving like.. [ extends arms high in the air like he’s reaching up to a giant steering wheel ] And, uh.. a cop pulls me over. And he makes me get out, he looks at me and he says, “Heyyy.. are you small”? I said, “No-o-o! I’m not!” He said, “Well, I’m gonna have to measure you.” They have this little test they give you – they give you a balloon.. and if you can get inside of it, they know you’re small. Now, I’ve already talked it over with the cast – they’ve been working all week, it’s a tough thing to do, come out here live. Immediately after the show, we’re all gonna go out.. and get really small!….

Go figure.