My worst fear is that this cycle of each side taking extreme positions, refusing all attempts at compromise, and resorting to obstruction will continue into the next 3 or 4 administrations.

If so, we're in bad shape, JL.

I'm glad to at least see President Obama embrace the concept of the bully pulpit. Some of his goals I agree with, and some I disagree with, but at least he is staking a position. At least we haven't had any Senators attacking each other in an emulation of Preston Brooks' assault upon Charles Sumner. Jim.

It is sad that the president cannot present a budget that forms the basis for negotiation. This budget is as big a joke as last years. Sadder still, the senate has not produced a budget in the last few years. Where does this gamesmanship lead? It leads to last minute deals, and bad policies. NEW PARAGRAPH: For president Obama, this type of maneuvering only supports the narrative that he acts purely in his own political self interest. That was what drove his decisions on the Keystone Pipeline, on his decision against religious choice on birth control, and many, many other issues. Come this fall, the election will be about how he spent our way into insane deficits, how he commandeered us into accepting Obamacare, and how the recovery is the slowest recovery of the last 75 years. The budget fight will be a distant memory.

There's reason for hope - if Obama wins re-election, he will finally have enough leverage to force a bargain with Republicans, who will likely still control Congress (and will want to keep control of Congress in 2014). If the GOP candidate wins, the public will never allow the deep entitlement cuts required by a spending-side-only approach, so he will be forced to moderate. Either way, we'll get some form of a grand bargain on deficits.

McConnell and his McCawber like, smirky attitude while constantly throwing monkey wrenches into the machinery of governance give me the creeps.

President Obama has punted, once again. Just like as his years in the Illinois Senate, he has voted "present". This is the Obama solution to the problem of exploding entitlement costs in the next few years: Do Nothing. It is all in the budget he submitted. It is becoming a little tiring to see a president so fearful of his own future, that he would choose the "do nothing" option on one of the most urgent matters facing our country.