In Cannon Falls, Minn., the president compared negotiating with House Republicans to negotiating with his wife.

"In my house," Obama noted, "if I said, `You know, Michelle, honey, we got to cut back, so we're going to have you stop shopping completely. You can't buy shoes; you can't buy dresses; but I'm keeping my golf clubs.' You know, that wouldn't go over so well."

In Decorah, he said: "Everybody cannot get 100 percent of what they want. Now, for those of you who are married, there is an analogy here. I basically let Michelle have 90 percent of what she wants. But, at a certain point, I have to draw the line and say, `Give me my little 10 percent.' "

Maybe Michelle should be the one negotiating with the Republicans.

The AP gives us a preview:

The president's plan is likely to contain tax cuts, jobs-boosting infrastructure ideas and steps that would specifically help the long-term unemployed. The official emphasized that all of Obama's proposals would be fresh ones, not a rehash of plans he has pitched for many weeks and still supports, including his "infrastructure bank" idea to finance construction jobs.

On a significant and related front, Obama will also present a specific plan to cut the suffocating long-term national debt and to pay for the cost of his new short-term economic ideas.

His debt proposal will be bigger than the $1.5 trillion package that a new "supercommittee" of Congress must come up with by late November.

The president will then spend his fall publicly pressing Congress to take action as the economic debate roars into its next phase. Both the economic ideas and the plan to pay for them will be part of Obama's speech, although the address will focus mainly on the jobs components.

And lest you're getting that deja vu/Groundhog Day feeling, take note that we're going to get "fresh" ideas! A bigger debt proposal!  Yay!

Why do I get the feeling that we're about to go full-kabuki here?  Listening and reading some of what he's been saying on his not-a-campaign-tour, I could get hammered if I took a drink every time he said "Congress," which leads me to believe that "publicly pressing Congress" is Obama-speak for "I'm not actually going to DO anything, but IT'S NOT MY FAULT!"  He's even been laying the groundwork for casting some of the blame on us: WE have to tell Congress what to do - as if the letters and faxes and e-mails and phone calls that have been pouring into these congressional offices were just "thinking of you" missives, right?  

3 rare Asian Fishing Cats born in Ohio Zoo.

The cat attracts fish by lightly tapping the water's surface with its paw, mimicking insect movements. Then, it dives into the water to catch the fish. It can also use its partially webbed paws to scoop fish, frogs, and other prey out of the water or swim underwater to prey on ducks and other aquatic birds. It is powerful enough to take large prey, such as calves and dogs."

Latino activists held a protest outside President Barack Obama's 2012 campaign headquarters on Tuesday to ask him to end a criminal deportation program they say is snaring large number of illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes.

This kind of action makes liberals look ridiculous and empowers right wing politicians. Asking the government to not deport those who have come here or stay here illegally is unfair to immigrants who followed the rules and waited their turn to enter the country legally, as well as those still waiting. The more we demand exceptions to the rules, the more mileage we give Republicans who paint us as naïve bleeding heart liberals.

By being compassionate to people who come here illegally, while not demanding socioeconomic change in their countries of origin, we function as tools to the very rich and help prop up the obscene income disparities that benefit the rich over those living in abject poverty. Worse, we undermine our own working class by flooding the market with millions of people who are willing to work for a pittance and not complain about employer workplace violations.

Here.

Nice even number, looks like each and everyone of us has donated a dollar to the people Uncle Sam is protecting us from.