This week's main event!

"I fear the floor fighting between the Republicans and Democrats will look more like Cain and Able than the statesmen (or women) they are."

We have waited a long time for this. The drama, the build up, everyone wondering how it is going to end. And there is a lot at stake for sure. You know what I am talking about, right? The debate on Monday night? Oh, that will be full of drama also. But the big show will happen on Tuesday when the "clown car", better known as the United States Congress, will try and pass legislation which will keep the government open past Friday night.

Right now it looks like passage of something, ANYTHING, might indeed be a bridge too far. Because the students did not get their homework done during the school year, an extension is being requested. Only in the world of the federal government, an extension is known as a CR (Continuing Resolution). And for most people, Continuing Resolutions are as popular as getting a root canal. 

Why is this taking so long, and why is this so hard? First off, there was the Planned Parenthood issue with Zika funding. Many did not want any of the $1.1B of Zika funding to be funneled through Planned Parenthood. It really did look like that was going to be a deal breaker for a while. But conservatives caved in and the Zika issue was cleared. But then there is Flint.

Just like in an omnibus bill, there is a tendency to load up a CR with goodies. Federal help for Flint is one of them. Also some more help for the flooding victims in Louisiana. On Tuesday, the battles and barters will begin deep in the wells of the House and Senate. Most everyone will be trying to cobble together SOMETHING which will keep the lights on until December 9th. PLUS (and this is a big one), something the President will sign. 

To be perfectly clear, conservatives HATE this process. It is not only a very sloppy way to do the people's business, but CR's often times open the door for a bloated omnibus bill once the CR has expired. The end result is an out of control budget process which leads to an out of control national debt. This is no way to run a railroad, nor a country.

The best thing to do this week is enjoy the debate tonight and then buckle up. The sausage factory will be working overtime from Tuesday until Friday night at 11:59 pm. I fear the floor fighting between the Republicans and Democrats will look more like Cain and Able than the statesmen (or women) they are.

Plug your noses folks - sometimes the sausage factory does not smell very good at times this this. In fact, it stinks.