‘Super committee’ gives up on U.S. debt; Americans roll their eyes

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The congressional ‘super committee’ tossed up its hands Monday on the problem of the nation’s debt crisis, with the co-chairs crying uncle: No deal, no way, before the bipartisan panel’s deadline, they said. And although political leanings obviously affect individual views, Americans as a whole seem fairly disgusted with the whole shebang.

In comments about the developments, some blamed Republicans:

‘The GOP only cares about the deficit when Democrats control the White House. Reagan never submitted a balanced budget in 8 years. George Bush never submitted a balanced budget in 4 years. George W. Bush never submitted a balanced budget in 8 years. Deficit spending that explodes the deficit is actually a core GOP strategy. It pays off their constituency when they’re in the White House, and it works as a weapon against Democrats and social programs when they’re not.

‘Think about it: if the deficit were eliminated, how could the GOP convince anyone that the government was to blame for the problems in society?’ --facingreality

Some blamed Democrats:

‘It has nothing to do with whether or not they are incumbants.[sic]

‘True conservatives want to drastically cut the size and cost of government.

‘Democrats do not.

‘It’s as simple as that. The sad part is that if the Democrats don’t wake up and start slashing, the joke is ultimately going to be on all of us and many generations to come.’ -- Daffodils

Some blamed the White House:

‘It’s official. We have a dysfunctional government. Keep up the good work Obama!’ -- Steven M.

And some just wanted to be done with it all:

‘It’s time to elect all new members to Congress. That’s change!’ -- Viewpoint 2011

As for committee members themselves, Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Republican from Texas, said in a statement:

‘Despite our inability to bridge the committee’s significant differences, we end this process united in our belief that the nation’s fiscal crisis must be addressed and that we cannot leave it for the next generation to solve.’

But even with congressional approval ratings at all-time lows and the further erosion of public opinion, ‘super committee’ members just couldn’t manage it themselves.

On Tuesday, Twitter users were essentially rolling their eyes. Comments, something of a barometer of national reaction, were dark as well as droll.

CNN’s Piers Morgan continued his pithy streak:

‘Congratulations to the #SuperCommittee - on being utterly useless.’

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg blamed the lack of action on Obama:

‘It’s the Chief Executive’s job to bring people together & provide leadership. I don’t see that happening.’

Other Twitter highlights included Anderson Cooper recalling that members of the super committee told America that ‘failure is not an option.’ And Linda Gossett, @GCGlobalExec, responding: ‘Oh Please. You haven’t figured out that Congress is psychotic, meaning not consistent w/words & actions. Doesn’t happen!’

Then there were these:

‘Why can’t Congress just declare the #supercommittee a vegetable?’ (ryanbeckwith -- Ryan Teague Beckwith of @RollCall).

‘#Supercommittee breaks up citing irreconcilable differences. Demi & Ashton would have had more luck solving our fiscal crisis.’ (MoRocca)

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-- Amy Hubbard

AND, THOUGH POLITICAL LEANINGS AFFECT THEIR VIEW, AMERICANS AS A WHOLE SEEM FAIRLY DISGUSTED WITH THE WHOLE SHEBANG.