"... no one on the Democratic side of those potential talks has been approached by Republican leaders." So what else is new?

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COMMENTS: 
*  Republicans don't negotiate. They insult, degrade, and call people names and disrespect Democrats in every way possible. Then they have the nerve to make demands and claim if democrats don't agree with every one of their edicts plus not complain or try to add any amendments to avert the hurt to the public that the Republicans will shut the government down. What's more Republicans can't even negotiate and come up with a decent piece of legislation among themselves. They are hopeless.
*  That's because the Democrats have NEVER threatened to shut down the government, have never promised to shut down the government, and have never actually shut down the government. The Republican'ts (since January 2011) have promised - almost on a monthly basis - to shut down the government, threatened to shut down the government and have actually managed to shut down the government...to the tune of supplemental expenditures of $43 billion. That is why the blame ALWAYS falls upon the Republican'ts.
*  It's not just that they can't govern--but that they don't want to govern, they just like the power of saying no to anything that the government could do to help people outside of their corporate donors. Putting Republicans in charge of government is like putting Christian Scientists in charge of health care.
*  Were'nt the Republicans supposed to "show us they could govern" back in January? But now they're putting off starting until September? Aren't you tea party people glad you voted for these people? Aren't you pleased with their lack of results? Aren't you looking forward to them "showing they can govern" by shutting down the government when they start to do something finally this fall? What did they do for the past six months other than waste millions and millions of taxpayer dollars having another 20 or 30 show votes to repeal Obamacare that they knew from the start would go nowhere? What do you like best about your Republican party, the fact that they spend endless time and money getting nothing done, or the fact that when they do finally accomplish something it is just a special favor for some billionaire? What do you like about these guys? What's in it for you?
*  I would like to remind Democrats to never negotiate with domestic terrorists.
*   Republicans idea of "negotiating" is to demand completely extravagant, overboard, out of the question things, then threaten to shut down the government and default on our nation's debts if they don't get their way. They are not negotiating, they are hostage taking.
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Harry Reid Mocks GOP Understanding Of 'Negotiation'

Republicans say they're ready to talk in September -- just before government funding runs out.

By Michael McAuliff, August 4, 2015

Republicans will avoid shutting down the government in the fall by negotiating with Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday -- winning chuckles from Democrats who began seeking such talks in June.

The chortles came because Republicans have so far spurned Democratic invitations to negotiate. As recently as Friday, McConnell said Republicans would not begin talking about funding the government until Congress gets back from recess in September, when Congress will be in session for only a dozen days before money runs out at the end of the month.

With a reminder that McConnell pledged last fall that there would be no more government shutdowns, he was asked at his regular Capitol Hill news conference how he would avoid such a turn of events.

"Through negotiation," McConnell answered. "We have divided government. Different parties control the Congress than control the White House, and at some point, we'll negotiate the way forward."

Told of McConnell's response minutes later at his own press availability, Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) responded with a broad, "Ohhh, that's great."

But he said no one on the Democratic side of those potential talks has been approached by Republican leaders.

"I checked with the White House today -- not a word. I checked with myself today -- not a word," Reid added amid laughter from his fellow party leaders.

"I don't understand when this negotiation is going to start," he said. "We're ready. We've been ready, and we're going to continue beating the drum. Just because we're out during these next few weeks doing our work at home doesn't mean we can't negotiate. All of us, all this leadership team, the White House -- we're all ready to start negotiating any time they want."

That still appears likely to be delayed until Sept. 8 at the earliest, when Congress returns from its August recess and will also have to consider long-term highway spending, the debt limit, expiring tax provisions and the Iran nuclear deal.
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