As Senators left town on Thursday for the July 4th weekend, they left behind a Senate crippled by partisan battling over the budget and debt limit, with the days ticking away towards an August 2 deadline to avoid a financial default by the U.S. Government.
The atmosphere wasn't positive to begin with this week, and after President Obama's news conference on Wednesday and the GOP reaction to it yesterday, the well seemed more than poisoned in the halls of the Capitol.
With little in the way of negotiations this week and an aggressive news conference by President Obama on Wednesday, all of it flashed a gigantic green light to both parties to go on the attack yesterday, as lawmakers seized the opportunity to smash each other as much as possible.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid kicked off the Senate Smackdown by announcing that the Senate would cancel a scheduled break next week, as he vowed to keep the Senate working on a debt limit deal.
"There's still so much to do," Reid said on the floor, though he was vague about what exactly the Senate would be debating next week when it comes to the budget.
Republicans meanwhile, smelled a political rat, convinced that the vacation cancellation was all for show, and that there wouldn't be any votes next week on any budget related matter.
That pushed Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell to the floor, as he fired back by publicly inviting the President to show up for lunch to hear why Democratic plans won't fly in the Congress.
The White House responded icily to the suggestion that Mr. Obama hear from GOP Senators on their opposition to tax changes.
"We know what that position is," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
"That's not a conversation worth having."
Back on Capitol Hill, the Senate floor took on the feel of a boxing ring on Thursday, as both parties lobbed repeated verbal grenades at each other, eliciting repeated cries of surprise from my press gallery colleagues, as we watched the shootout from the sidelines.
"Absolutely disgraceful!" groused Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) about the President's statements at his news conference. "He should be ashamed."
"It's class warfare," complained Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who accused Mr. Obama of using language more consistent "from a leader of a Third World country, not the President of the United States."
"Where is the President?" asked Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) in a mocking voice on the Senate floor, as he answered his own question by noting Mr. Obama was in Philadelphia raising money on Thursday afternoon and evening.
Hardly anyone was soft pedaling their rhetoric on Thursday, as Democrats again tried to portray Republicans as a bunch of modern day Scrooges who want to shower tax breaks on the rich while taking benefits from the poor.
"The American people have had enough of the same old, same old," declared a red-faced Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), as he demanded that the GOP drop its opposition to possible tax increases in a final deal.
Other Democrats zeroed in on certain tax breaks, like one that allows owners of race horses to use accelerated depreciation on their equine investments, what Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) labeled the "Bluegrass Boondoggle," a direct slap in the face to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
"Now, there’s no doubt that closing this loophole alone isn’t going to solve our deficit problem," Merkley said on the Senate floor. "But it is a good place to start. Because otherwise we’re going to cut $126 million from Head Start or $126 million from Medicare for our seniors, or programs that help retrain laid-off workers."
Other targets again included the corporate jet depreciation tax provision and a new one on tax breaks for yacht owners noted by Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, which gives a tax break when owners spend 14 nights a year on their yacht.
"If only Gilligan and Skipper had taken a 14 day trip instead a three hour tour, they could have expensed the cost of the S.S. Minnow," said Schumer derisively.
The verbal slugfest went on all day, and will likely continue next week, as the Senate will be in session instead of on a holiday break.
My long time colleague David Rogers, who now writes for Politico, wrote yesterday that Congress "has the feel of some backstabbing Midwest city council."
That's a pretty accurate description.
When David and I chatted just outside the Senate chamber the other day, we shook our heads at the excessive rhetoric on both sides and the hardening positions of each party.
Hopefully no one brings a cane to the Senate floor next week.
