Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

The President is waking up in Des Moines, Iowa today. He's doing another one of his backyard events to talk about the economy and take questions. Yesterday, over a crowd of over 26,000 greeted Obama in Madison.

From Iowa, Obama is flying to Richmond, VA, for another small event with "a local Richmond family at the Southampton Recreation Association." Then, he's going to talk to more families from the area. These small "family" events seem to be the new thing for Team Obama.

While the President is on the trail, members of Congress are trying to wrap up their work -- so they can all get out on the trail. There are reports that the Senate will finish today -- if it can pass the continuing resolution (known as the "CR"), which will fund the government until early December. The new fiscal year starts October 1st. Unclear if Senator DeMint, who runs the Senate these days, will let it happen. Once the CR passes the Senate, it will be sent to the House. The House is taking a vote on substance today: legislation that will pressure China over its currency.

Remember at the beginning of this Congress when we had such hopes because we had a Democratic President and huge majorities in the House and Senate? They were going to fulfill their campaign promises and we'd all be living in a better America. Yeah, not so much. If your bills haven't passed by now, they won't. And, don't expect anything in the next Congress. We'll hear a lot of rumblings about the lame duck, but, seriously, don't rely on that. On the LGBT agenda, we're going to fall short on most of the promises made. ENDA isn't happening. And, DADT repeal is supposedly on that lame duck agenda.

But, don't gripe, groan or whine.