It just cuts randomly across the board, and, worse, doesn't even cut the things that actually create the debt problem, which is the entitlement programs. Unfortunately, when they embrace this, they are embracing a piece of legislation that makes no distinction between good government and bad government.

They need to be able to distinguish between the two.

I think they need to show the American people that we like some government programs. They're associated with cut - with government - controlling government spending. I personally think the likely loser in this is the Republicans. And that's sort of the asking price.Īnd so they feel they have got to show they can cut spending. They feel they gave up a big tax increase a couple of weeks ago, and they can't give up another. The Republicans still feel trapped, though. As Mark said, the polls show the Democrats will probably profit. There were a couple of phone calls yesterday, but that's about it, just phone calls.

And there's really very little being done on some of the - what really is the heart of the problem. I still have to say, though - and I have said this a lot - that when you look at some of the acts of gun violence, the people shot in Chicago, often it's handguns. So, there's - these are not huge things, probably not assault weapons ban, but a series of small things to make the friction of gun ownership more difficult. There's also more prosecutorial things that is being talked about and proposed, making it hard for felons to get guns, making - controlling some of the transfers, youthful offenders. There is a lot of talk insurance, liability insurance for gun owners. We're likely to have the magazine - or at least possible to have some magazine controls. And so, if you look at the stuff that's likely to get through the system, we're likely to have some background checks. But I do think the sides are trying to find some sort of progress that can be made. You know, obviously, it is a very polarizing issue. I would say, if one has realistic expectations for the political system, the news is reasonably good.

David brooks column about mark shields