Well, we didn’t get a robocall from the NRCC today, but we did receive a recorded message from Michelle Bachman who invited us to join a conference call that was taking place that very minute if we were available (although she must have known we weren’t actual conservatives because there was no confirmation number given…).

Anyway, please tell everyone you know in Boswell and Loebsack’s districts that it was NOT spending that caused the downgrade, it WAS the GOP shenanigans.  Don’t believe us, just ask S & P.

“In explaining their decision Standard & Poor’s cites both the decision by Republicans in Congress to turn the debt ceiling into a political football and the Republicans intransigence on tax increases.” – Think Progress

Oh, and for the righties who read  this blog  who may think that the lefty blog Think Progress is just a lefty liberal rag, you can find S & P’s full press release on the Wall Street Journal blog, MarketBeat:

“The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America’s governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy.” – blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat

But here’s what Politico is reporting today… more fun from the GOP.

NRCC BLAMES HOUSE DEMS FOR DOWNGRADE WITH ROBOCALLS TO 10 DISTRICTS – The National Republican Congressional Committee is going after 10…Democrats today…pinning the blame on Democrats for the S&P downgrade and for not wanting government to live within its means. From the script:

“Hello, I’m calling from the National Republican Congressional Committee with an important alert about your Congressman David Loebsack. David Loebsack continues to oppose a Balanced Budget Amendment that would force Washington to live within its means. Loebsack and his fellow Democrats’ addiction to big government spending has led to a downgrade of America’s credit rating and a dramatic loss in the global markets that could force you to pay more for everyday expenses. While David Loebsack keeps standing in the way of real fiscal reform, middle-class families in Iowa could now see a loss in retirement savings while mortgage rates, car payments and student loans could become even more expensive. Call Congressman David Loebsack at [sorry, you’ll have to get the number yourself] and tell him to stop his reckless borrowing spree.”

The NRCC’s target list: Jason Altmire (PA-04), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Jim Costa (CA-20), Jim Himes (CT-04), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23) and Tim Walz (MN-01).