One day after downgrading Ireland’s credit rating to junk status – Moody’s Investors Service turned its sights on the United States. In an announcement released yesterday – Moody’s said the United States is in danger of losing its “AAA” credit rating – and has put our nation under review for a credit downgrade. A credit downgrade for the United States could be the first step toward other nations dropping the dollar as their reserve currency – pushing our nation toward collapse – just like what happened to the British Empire after World War 2 when global confidence in the pound was lost.

And with financial calamity around the corner – Republicans now have no argument whatsoever in stopping a debt-limit deal as a new poll by Gallup shows that 74% of REPUBLICANS agree that a good debt-limit deal includes both spending cuts and tax hikes – just like what President Obama has proposed. Yet – after more “testy” negotiations last night at the White House – Republicans still won’t play ball. And President Obama seems to be losing his patience with the Republican’s dangerous game – reportedly telling Congressional leaders on the Right – “I’ve reached my limit. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this.”

Not only will a default bring down the presidency – but it will also bring down the nation. And unfortunately, it appears Republicans are willing to accept that trade-off.

-Thom

(What credit rating would you give the US? Tell us here.)

The Daily Stack

Quote: "As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith." -- Thomas Paine.

Hour One: Should schools require students to challenge evolution? Thom challenges Casey Luskin of the Discovery Institute

Article: "New Study Shows Major Textbook Publisher Fails to Comply With Texas State Science Standards" by Discovery Institute.

Article: "Link to Discovery Institute report: Supplemental Analysis of Proposed Teaching Materials in Texas" by Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture.

Article: "Obama warns Cantor: 'Don't call my bluff'" by Russell Berman and Sam Youngman.

Article: "Obama Warns Cantor 'Don't Call My Bluff' As Debt Talks Stall" by Sam Stein.

Article: "Cantor derails another round of debt talks" by Joan McCarter.

Article: "Flying Spaghetti Monster".

Crazy alert: "Austrian Wins Right To Wear Pasta Strainer In Driver’s License" by Bobby Henderson.

Book: "Darwin on Love" by David Loye.

Article: "Gov. Dayton Agrees to Republican Budget to End Minnesota Shutdown" by Jeff Goldberg and Mike Durkin.

Article: "Minn. gov. willing to take GOP offer, end shutdown" by AP.

Article: "Minnesota Beer, Booze Sellers' Supplies Run Low Due To State Shutdown" by Frank James.

Article: "Constitution of the United States" Article 1, section 10. "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

Book: "Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became "People" - And How You Can Fight Back" by Thom Hartmann - new updated version out now!

Site: "Herbert W. Armstrong".

Book: "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by Harold S. Kushner.

Hour Two: Debt ceiling debate gets extreme Congressman Steve King, (R-IA, 5th district)

Article: "Amendment 16" "The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.".

Article: "King Introduces "PROMISES Act" to Prioritize Spending if Debt-Limit is Reached".

Article: "Southern Poverty Law Center labels Senator Rand Paul an ‘extremist’" by Eric W. Dolan.

Article: "Electoral Extremism: 23 Candidates on the Radical Right" by Robert Steinback.

Ohio's Gov. Kasich poo poo's overwhelming opposition Cliff Schecter, National progressive PR strategist, author

Book: "The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don't Trust Him and Why Independents Shouldn't" by Cliff Schecter.

Article: "Yes, I'll dare call it treason: The Republican Party no longer has its country's best interests at heart - and Americans suffer as a result." by Cliff Schecter.

Article: "John Kasich Dismisses Overwhelming Opposition To His Union-Busting Law As No Big Deal" by Travis Waldron.

Clip: "Paul Weyrich - "I don't want everybody to vote" (Goo Goo)".

Article: "Model Legislation" by ALEC.

Talk Radio News Segment: Victoria Jones, White House Correspondent

Article: "Despite rumors, no Camp David meeting on debt in the works" by Felicia Sonmez.

Article: "Minn. governor offers deal to end shutdown" by Kare 11.

Article: "Tempers flare at Elizabeth Warren hearing" by Seung Min Kim.

Article: "U-Turn: Murdochs to be questioned by UK parliament" by Jill Lawless.

Article: "Sarah Palin on debt ceiling: 'Reload,' don't 'retreat'" by James Oliphant.

Hour Three: Is America still a place where it's worth it to work hard to get ahead? Thom debates Ryan Streeter, Editor, Conservative Home USA

Article: "Beneath the jobs numbers and questionable economic recovery, there lies a more disquieting question: Is America still a place where it's worth it to work hard to get ahead?" by Ryan Streeter.

Article: "Sherman Antitrust Act".

Movie: "Wall Street" (1987).

Geeky Science alert: "Fats stimulate binge eating...Rat study suggests strategy for combating the munchies" by Rachel Ehrenberg.

MN Governor aves in to Republican demands Sam Lane, Reporter - Minnesota Independent.

Article: "Mark Dayton to concede to GOP on shutdown compromise" by Andy Birkey.

Article: "Evolution of the Eye" by Trevor D. Lamb .

Transcript: "The Third Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Debate", October 13, 1960.

Book: "The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth" by Thomas Jefferson.

Article: "Baron d'Holbach" - "All children are born Atheists; they have no idea of God."

Book: "Magical Child" by Joseph Chilton Pearce.

Book: "The Crack in the Cosmic Egg: New Constructs of Mind and Reality" by Joseph Chilton Pearce.

Article: "CHART: Without The Bush Tax Cuts, The Debt Would Be At Sustainable Levels" by Pat Garofalo.

Article: "Moody's cuts Ireland rating to junk status" by RTÉ.

Article: "Moody's Joins S&P In Issuing Debt Warning" by Kenneth R. Bazinet.

Article: "Obama: 'This May Bring My Presidency Down, but I Will Not Yield' on No Short-Term Extensions" by Jake Tapper and Ann Compton.

Article: "Support the Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers" by Liliana Segura.

Article: "QE3? More Stimulus Could Be Coming, Bernanke Says" by IBT.

Article: "House Dems Slam 'Racist,' 'Rovian' Voter ID Laws; Says DOJ Isn't Doing Enough (VIDEO)" by Ryan J. Reilly.

Article: "Chart: The Spike in State Abortion Restrictions" by Dino Grandoni.

Coming up Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program

Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) will be here with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...

Hour Two: Economic recovery Ravi Batra, Economist, Professor of Economics (SMU), author.

Plus, It's Anything Goes on Townhall Friday...you choose the topics and we'll talk...

The Thom Hartmann Program... your media support group for we the people.

Read an excerpt here, and buy the book!