President Obama: “I intend to do everything in my power right now to act on behalf of the American people with or without Congress. We can’t wait for Congress to do its job. So where they won’t act, I will.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) statement: “The current, so-called `debt crisis’ has been completely manufactured by House Republicans attempting to advance an extremist agenda. This should be a simple vote to allow the US Treasury to fund all of the programs and obligations of the entire federal government that are already in the law.”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi statement: “It is clear we must enter an era of austerity; to reduce the deficit through shared sacrifice.”
Thom Hartmann: “[If the debt ceiling is not raised, then we should] close all federal buildings named after Ronald Reagan whose policies brought us this disaster”
Chris Matthews: “There are times when he [Bill Clinton] sounds like Jesus in the Temple.”
