Do you think the Obama administration should consider a timetable for withdrawing more rapidly from Afghanistan?

Democrats (38 votes)

Yes             76%
No              21%
Don't know 
  (volunteered)  3%

Yes

"Americans don't support the war any longer: It's time to get out now."

"The administration needs to consider a strategy that makes the stated goals for withdrawal more plausible."

"But Obama won't listen."

"The longest war in U.S. history -- a deficit-funded war at $100 billion a year for troops alone -- is breaking our bank and putting us dangerously close to the Russians and British in the graveyard of empires. With each passing day, we are creating new security threats in Afghanistan, not countering them."

"We are Alexander the Great, the British Empire, the Soviet Union: A hopeless future, so let's cut to the chase."

"It should have been done yesterday."

"Already the longest war in American history, there is only a small window to combine military force with diplomacy for real improvements."

"With every new revelation, believe more strongly in a more rapid timetable."

"Absolutely, I can't imagine why the president is letting this war become his war. Besides, it is the right thing to do."

"We don't have a reliable partner to carry out our counterinsurgency strategy, and Pakistan still allows Taliban safe havens. This must be an Afghan-led effort to be successful."

"The sooner the better."

No

"Seems like anything less than a one-year timetable might as well be immediate withdrawal."

"The focus should be on how American support, including military support, can be deployed in the next year to leave Afghanistan in the strongest possible position to defend and govern itself."

Don't know

"Who knows: How do we repeatedly get ourselves into these situations?"

Do you think the Obama administration should consider a timetable for withdrawing more rapidly from Afghanistan?

Republicans (38 votes)

Yes              8%
No              89%
Don't know 
  (volunteered)  3%

No

"The White House needs to get its head out of the sand and start educating the public about why this fight is critical to our national security."

"Obama has tripled the number of troops in Afghanistan, fired two generals, and put America's most celebrated soldier in command. If he cuts and runs after all this, he will be a laughingstock at home and around the world."

"They should have never considered a timetable in the first place."

"Too many fail to remember that Afghanistan served as a safe haven from which to launch the September 11 attacks."

"Unless they are just giving up: Maybe that's how they read the public's mood."

"[Gen.] Petraeus deserves the chance to sort out the mess and revise rules of engagement."

"Timetables are, and will continue to be, a foolish way to manage a war."

"This administration has not been able to meet any of its timetables, so even if they would it would not be taken seriously."

"Military should determine conditions [for withdrawal]."

"Obama now owns the Afghan policy."

"Give Petraeus adequate time to evaluate conditions and make a recommendation; he's the best we have -- recognize it."

"But between the McChrystal affair and the e-mail leaks, they had better get their house in order quickly."

"Timelines and withdrawal dates tell our enemies to wait us out and our allies to hedge their bets."

"The most important issue in Afghanistan is security, not an arbitrary political timeline."

Doesn't matter

"They clearly don't have a plan. Shooting the messenger (McChrystal) didn't kill the message. We're floundering."

Q: Do you think the two parties will be able to compromise on extending the Bush tax cuts?

Democrats (38 votes)

Yes             21%
No              76%
Maybe 
  (volunteered)  3%

Yes

"I think this issue is too hot for both sides to ignore, especially the part that affects the middle class. Republicans can oppose it at their own peril."

"Unfortunately, too many Democrats will bend over backwards to look like Republicans, regardless of its impact on the economy."

"Greed will force the Republicans to finally break their boycott."

No

"Republicans don't know that word. Besides, Mom warned me not to make deals with the devil."

"They can't even compromise on the 9/11 Health Care Act."

"Sen. [Jon] Kyl's nonsensical rationalization for extending $600 billion in tax cuts without any offsets epitomizes where the Republican Party is on this issue."

"Why extend a bad thing?"

"No way, no how, no more Bush tax cuts for the wealthy."

"There is no incentive for Republicans to come to the table now that they have mapped their November strategy of refusing to compromise."

"Democrats need to rethink this issue. A temporary extension for all tax brackets is what the doctor ordered for this economy at this time."

"Why would the Bush tax cuts be any different than anything else around here? Republicans don't want to compromise on anything."

"Hard to imagine, although the default position -- complete expiration -- is unthinkable for either side."

"Too many rich Republicans."

"Not even McDonald's will let you use an expired coupon; why should we let the wealthiest Americans?"

Maybe

"If Republicans come to their senses and limit extensions to those earning less than $250,000 a year."

Q: Do you think the two parties will be able to compromise on extending the Bush tax cuts?

Republicans (38 votes)

Yes             37%
No              61%
On some 
  (volunteered)  3%

Yes

"Democrats won't be able to raise taxes as we slowly begin to recover from the recession."

"Democrats really don't have a choice. A high-profile tax increase by a party already struggling with a spending problem -- are they crazy?"

"It will help the economy and reduce the deficit by eliminating a major cost uncertainty out there. The question is whether the administration and the Democratic leadership will let that happen."

"There are too many political benefits for everyone involved."

"Weary, vulnerable Democrats will have no choice but to come to the middle on this."

"There is incentive on both sides to make this deal."

"Democrats will not want to increase taxes on millions of Americans. We are already seeing division in their ranks."

No

"Republicans have no incentive to compromise on taxes unless Democrats repeal health care and other costly programs. That is highly unlikely."

"The Democrats are determined to raises taxes, even on small businesses."

"Democrats won't take on capital gains and dividend taxes, or tax relief for Americans who make jobs in addition to Americans who take jobs."

"Just about the only thing that could save the Democrats' majority is the GOP agreeing to a tax increase."

"I would hope so, but confidence is not high."

"Think the D's will want to cherry pick a few and let the majority expire."

"Democrats are committed to taxing and spending more -- that's a nonstarter for Republicans."

"It will be called a 'compromise,' even though it won't be."

On some

"But a real fight is coming on others."

National Journal Insiders

Democratic Congressional Insiders Sens. Sherrod Brown, Ben Cardin, Thomas Carper, Christopher Dodd, Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Mikulski, Mark Pryor, Jon Tester, Tom Udall, Mark Warner; Reps. Jason Altmire, Robert Andrews, Michael Arcuri, Tammy Baldwin, Melissa Bean, Xavier Becerra, Howard Berman, Marion Berry, Rick Boucher, Lois Capps, Michael Capuano, Dennis Cardoza, Chris Carney, James Clyburn, Gerry Connolly , Jim Cooper, Joseph Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Artur Davis, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Chaka Fattah, Bob Filner, Phil Hare, Alcee Hastings, Rush Holt, Mike Honda, Steve Israel, Frank Kratovil, Jim Langevin, John Lewis, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Markey, Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern, Mike McMahon, Kendrick Meek, Jim Moran, David Price, Silvestre Reyes, Linda Sanchez, Jan Schakowsky, Mark Schauer, Allyson Schwartz, Jose Serrano, Adam Smith, Pete Stark, Bart Stupak, John Tanner, Ellen Tauscher, Bennie Thompson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Henry Waxman, and Peter Welch.

GOP Congressional Insiders Sens. Lamar Alexander, Jim Bunning, John Cornyn, Jim DeMint, John Ensign, Lindsey Graham, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Johnny Isakson, George LeMieux, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, Jeff Sessions, Olympia Snowe, John Thune, David Vitter; Reps. Michele Bachmann, Brian Bilbray, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Charles Boustany, Kevin Brady, John Campbell, Eric Cantor, John Carter, Michael Castle, Tom Cole, Mike Conaway, Charlie Dent, David Dreier, Jo Ann Emerson, Jeff Flake, Scott Garrett, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Doc Hastings, Pete Hoekstra, Darrell Issa, Peter King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Christopher Lee, Dan Lungren, Kenny Marchant, Kevin McCarthy, Patrick McHenry, John Mica, Candice Miller, Sue Myrick, Devin Nunes, Mike Pence, Tom Price, Adam Putnam, Dave Reichert, Mike Rogers of Michigan, Peter Roskam, Paul Ryan, Aaron Schock, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Adrian Smith, Pat Tiberi, Fred Upton, and Joe Wilson.