minutes, we want to talk about a statement that president obama made over the weekend in seattle, and he says that the republican vision of government would fundamentally cripple america. we want to get your reaction to that statement. and for this segment, we're going to be talking only to republican callers. we have a segment last week with democrats, we want to balance things out. so, today, republicans only. your response to the statement by the president that the republican vision of government would fundamentally cripple america. here are the numbers if you want to get involved in the conversation. on the eastern and central time zones, call us at 202-737-0001. and in the mountain and pacific time zones, your number is 202-737-0002. if you've called us in the last 30 days, today would be the day to put down the phone and pick up the keyboard. you can reach us several ways electronically. send us an email. the address is journal@ c-span.org f. you're on twitter, follow us at cspanwj. and if you want to join in the conversation on our facebook page, that address is facebook.com/cspan. and here is the item. we've got it from the huffing postpost.com. the associated press writes, president barack obama charged sunday that the republican vision of government would "fundamentally cripple america" as he tried out his newly combative message on the liberal west coast. aiming to renew the ardor of democratic loyalists who have grown increasingly disincheant with him, the president mixed frontal attacks on republicans with words of encouragement intended to buck up the faithful as the 2012 campaign revs up. the president said at an intimate brunch fundraiser at the medina, washington, home of former microsoft executive john shirley, about 65 guests were paying $35,000 -- $35,800 per couple to listen to obama at the first of seven fundraisers he was holding from seattle to hollywood to san diego on sunday and monday. the three-day west coast swing, ending tuesday in denver, offered him the chance to try to reassure some of his most liberal and deep-pocketed supporters. so, republicans only this morning. we're going to be talking about the president's statement, the republican vision of government would fundamentally cripple america. and as we wait for the phones to heat up, we're going to check in this morning first with lori montgomery of "the washington post." she's an economic policy reporter. we want to talk to her about this afternoon's upcoming senate test vote regarding the continuing resolution and talk to us, if you would, about the strategies for the september 30 shoot deadline that's approaching at the end. week. lori montgomery, welcome to the program. guest: good morning. thanks for having me. host: you've got a headline this morning in "the post," in the politics and nation section, another face-off looms as congress returns. congress was supposed to be off this weekend, and they're back. why is that? >> well, they were supposed to have resolved these issues over agency spending in the big debt limit fight we had in july and august. this was part of the deal that passed and staved off economic disaster by raising the debt ceiling. and then it all seemed to start to unravel. and so we had been told, everyone expected that this debt ceiling deal would prevent this. we had already decided how much money we were going to spend in 2012. therefore, we were not going to shut the government down on september 30. but now they're having a fight over disaster relief, and this has thrown everything into chaos again. host: also in the article this morning, the democratic-led senate, which on friday blocked a g.o.p. house measure to fund the government through november 18, will vote late monday on its own version of the bill. the bill includes dollars for disaster relief without offsetting spending cuts elsewhere that the house republicans demand. so, sort of explain to us how this is working back and forth between the republicans in the senate, the reps in the house and the democrats on both sides as well. >> well, it seems to have become something of a political football, because initially there were several democrats in the house who said they were going to support the position of house republicans, which was to increase disaster relief in the c.r., the continuing resolution that they're voting on, but to offset it by cutting a loan program for advanced technology vehicles that has been very useful to democrats in michigan. in the auto industry. so, initially, you have this sort of sense of acquiescence by democrats that, all right, we don't normally offset emergency funding, but to get this through and to avoid another big fight, we're going to do it. but then democrats seemed to sense an opening. there was a newly combative attitude coming out of the white house thaw referred to earlier, and they decided to hold the line on their troops, and they voted against the c.r. in the house, sending the original, in the original vote it we want down to defeat. republicans rallied. they made cosmetic changed to get their people on board. and then the senate, which had been expected to sort of swallow whatever came over from the house, decide that had they would get their back up and that they would block, which they did. so now we're supposed to have a vote on the democrat i go version, which provides extra money in disaster relief without cutting the loan program or the other things that republicans threw in, but that's expected to fail as well. so over the weekend, what we've been told is there has been communication between the two sides and they are beginning to work on a resolution that would not offset the emergency funds. it would not cut spending elsewhere, but would somehow allow both sides to save face and get the extra money to fema before the funds run dry tomorrow. host: in an article that viewers and listeners can find on the website, washingtonpost.com, your honor the headline "partisanship flares again, forced passage of stop-gap funding bill," you mentioned that this afternoon's vote is a test vote. what is it exactly that they're testing? >> i think they're testing to see whether the two parties can hang together, particularly republicans, because of a number of people obviously from disaster-hit states who previously voted for a democratic bill, 10 republicans voted for a democratic bill that increased fema funding without offsetting the cost. so, this afternoon, what we're going to find out is whether those people will, in fact, vote against fema funding or not. host: lori montgomery, economic policy reporter for "the washington post." you can find her articles online at washingtonpost.com. thank you very much for being on the program this morning. guest: thanks for having me, robb. host: we're going to continue this segment with our topic for the first 45 minutes, president obama this weekend, in a speech in seattle, said republican vision of government would fundamentally cripple america. we want to find out what our republican listeners and viewers think about what the president had to say. our first call comes from detroit, michigan. harry, you're on the "washington journal." go ahead. caller: yes, thank you for c-span. unfortunately, i think the president is right. i'm continuing to search and search and trying to find out -- because i can't find anything positive that's coming from the republican party anymore. i'm disturbed. i live near detroit, and because the president stepped in and saved the auto industry here when we had people, especially the person running for president, his suggestion was that we should declare bankruptcy. what i saw what happened in california with herman king, something is wrong here, you know? i think there was some way the congress could get the whole country straightened out and get us back on the right track because it's nothing positive. i can't see one single thing positive. like i told my wife, we're going to switch parties. we're going to have to find something positive, because right now i can't find anything positive about the republican party. host: let's move on to somerville, south carolina, just up the road from charleston. phil, you're on the "washington journal." caller: good morning, robb. how are you? host: what do you think about the president's statement about the republican vision of government would cripple america? caller: well, you know, robb, when you get down to it, the vision of both parties is going to cripple america t. has been crippling america for years. our problem is just what you and the other caller were talking about, all the infighting and bickering and back and forth that goes on with politics, we need so badly to limit the terms on these idiots. so that you don't get this situation where the congress turns around and says, if they're going to do this, i'm not going to do that, and you don't have to worry so much about the $35,000 meals that people have to do to raise money in order to perpetuate their control over everybody's lives. host: you think that term limits would reduce the rancor between the parties? caller: absolutely. there's no doubt about it. what you've got right now are people who are entrenched politicians. they've been doing it all their lives. they have no idea on either side what it's like to get out here and work for a living. host: that's phil in somerville, south carolina. let's move on to fort collins, colorado. david, you're on the "washington journal." go ahead. caller: hey, what's up, robb? just got to say, i saw the -- what your segment of the titled, and the very first thing that popped in my mind is, i guarantee you hank from michigan is going to call you and is going to pretend to be a republican. this is really -- i don't know if one of the call screeners is his cousin or something, but this guy calls -- it's been a couple of weeks now, and i know it's the end. month, his meditation's probably running out. he's probably waiting for the welfare check, typical obama supporter. but he's called his wilson, he's called his fred. i'm waiting for him to call henrieta one of these days, i like obama, he's a strong man. he's called as -- host: david, you want to address the topic we're discussing? caller: no, that's a major topic for a c-span junkie. he even called one time as a saudi arabian immigrant. that's how screwed up he is. host: we're going to move on to cooksville, tennessee, cal on our line for republicans. go ahead. caller: good morning. happy days today. we're unhappy with what's going on obama. i don't blame him. his talk about he said that the vision for republicans like that is bad for america. well, let me tell you something, his spending, which he has been doing, is bad for america. when you're $14 trillion in debt and a possibility over the next 10e, 15 years or 20 or $30 trillion in debt, hey, that to me is total collapse of a government altogether, total collapse. can't have that. got to have some physical responsibility. that's why i like the republican party. host: more from the item we got from the huff huffingtonpost.com, being reported by the associated press, talking about a speeched president made in seattle yesterday. he said 2012 would be an especially tough election because people are discourage and had disillusioned with government, but he also said he was determined because so much is at stake. the republican alternative, obama said, is "an approach to government that will fundamental 8 cripple america in meeting the challenges of the 21st century, and that's not the kind of society i want to leave malia and sasha." back to the phones. dayton, ohio, bill, you're on the "washington journal," go ahead. caller: good morning. i am a republican. i just want to bring your attention to something someone has already brought to your attention is that fool that called in from detroit or wherever else there in michigan and makes up the name and doesn't respect the 30-day rule. host: ok. we've got that, and we're working on that. thanks for bringing that up. now, what do you have to say about the president's comment regarding the republican vision of government crippling america? caller: are you there? host: i'm still here. go ahead. caller: clearly the president is going to say and anything he can at this point to stay in office for re-election. what that he says doesn't seem to matter anymore as much to even his liberal followers. they're kind of tired of his talk as well. thank you very much. host: asheville, north carolina. william, you're on the "washington journal." caller: yes, i'm a republican. and i would like to say to obama's statement concerning the republicans would cripple america, he's already got it on life support, and i'd like to know what it's going to do to bring it out, because he's not trying. he wants to try to put them back in office. that's his biggest concern right now, and as far as he's concerned, i don't think he has his country's heart. the things that are necessary to keep the country running, he's out campaigning, wasting money to campaign, and i think it's time you leave washington. thank you, sir. host: is there anything the president can do in the next 18 months to change your opinion of him or are you pretty much -- you're pretty much in the republican camp, you're going to go with whatever the republican candidate is? william's gone. let's move on to edith. you're on the "washington journal." edith, you're in -- where are you? edith? caller: yes? i'm here. host: pronounce the name in south dakota for me, please. so tell me what you think about the president's statement regarding the republican vision of government. caller: he's a farce. we got to stop spending money. i hope he gets impeached, and i do not care for him at all. he has the wrong attitude for the united states. he's going to ruin us. host: we've got an op-ed this morning from the "new york daily news" by mike lupica with the headline, "he's waving goodbye to a second term," showing president obama arriving in seattle yesterday under gray skies, and he may see a lot more of them if the economy doesn't turn around. lupica writes, obama was dealt a bad hand. only the politically challenged would suggest otherwise much the problem is he has played even worse than his cards and turned an electoral college map that was a blue state dream for him against john mccain into a minefield, no matter who the republicans run against him. if he wants to believe it was just the economy that did this to him or the bug-eyed screamers from the right-wing media or even republicans in congress general you're flecting in front of the tea party, then maybe obama doesn't make it back to grant park in november of 2012. grant park is where he made his first acceptance speech after being elected president. caller: i just wanted to tell our democrat friends from michigan the president didn't save the auto industry, the taxpayers did against most of our will, and that was for his union that got him in there in the first place. you have to look at the state of the top democrats and where they're from. i don't know how democrats think we can go on spending and not cutting anything. according to my democrat neighbors, they just a couple of days ago got a range on free stamps. why are they getting a raise on food stamps when they already get too much? host: john in seattle, washington, what did you think about the president had to say? caller: thanks for taking my call, kind of nervous. well, the president said we've been -- we went from clinton to bush, obama now, and all three presidents have been doing a very good job of crippling america. bill clinton signed w.t.o. in seattle, and that's one of the reasons we have no jobs in this country. i'm a republican because i support ron paul, and a lot of democrats agree with what he's saying. so just take a look at that. i mean, it's going to cripple america. obama has done nothing but spend everything he puts his debt, patriot ads, the wars, spending bill, like obama did everything. the republicans should be very happy with him. host: what's it been like the last 24 hours with the president in town? caller: well, he's been here before. it's one of his favorites spots. host: we got another op-ed from the "new york times," pennies from many. host: back to the phones. quantico, virginia. tom, you're on the "washington journal." caller: hi, appreciate the chance to add some input. i want to tell you, there's a lot of marines doing the right thing because they believe in this country. they're there are valiant young men out there dying and living because of their belief in the country, and i'm just really tired with what's going on in washington where these guys are concerned about themselves. no one is going to face the music and do what's necessary. and as far as obama's comments, you know the old saying that defense is a good offense, i think that it's what's going on. i don't believe in what he's doing. i don't believe it's good for the country. that's about all i can say. type tom, what were you doing in helmand provesnins when you talk with the marines, the folks in the army, do they express any sort of opinion about how president obama is acting as commander in chief versus what kind of support they're getting from republican and democratic house and senate members up on capitol hill? caller: my impression is the marines i spoke to overall are conservative and not happy with obama. i can't speak for every marine out there. and i think my sentiments are reflective of a good portion of them. host: springfield, vermont,off, your response. caller: yeah, thanks for taking my call. i'm just curious about where this republican outcry was when george bush was saying that he was going to spend the surplus that we had back in the early part of the century to fund the afghanistan war. you know, nobody was saying nothing, saying that was a terrible idea. host: the national average is $3.51 a gallon, down from a high of $3.98 in early may. last week's plunge in oil prices could push the average to $3.25 per gallon by november, analysts say. host: mid loathian, illinois. vickie, you're on the "washington journal." go ahead. caller: yes, i just want to say, that i think more people should give obama a chance, because just like all the other presidents, right now he's trying to go into other countries and trying to help our people, and i know it seems like a lot of people don't see it, but it took us this long to get into debt and all this -- host: vickie, we're going to leave it there. republicans only this morning. cleveland, ohio, you're on the "washington journal." cleveland? caller: thank you for taking my call. a year ago, i switched to be a republican from democrat. and i'm just calling to realize the some of the g.o.p. we spend a lot of money on war. the money that we have to pay back has increased the deficit. as a republican, i will not vote for anyone to take us to war and will not pay for it. host: long valley, new jersey. anna, what did you think about what the president had to say? caller: i'm a lifetime republican. i just wanted to say that so many of your viewers, i would love to pretend that voting in a new president is going to resolve all our economic woes in this country, but that is not the case. it's what's causing the problem started way before obama was even elected. it's simply outsourcing. i'm a manufacturer, a small manufacturer here in the u.s., and all our corporations have moved out. the majority of them are in mexico, india, and china. and until that's resolved and we make it a more business-friendly place here in the u.s., we're not going to change anything, regardless of what party is in office. that is our biggest problem right now. we are not creating the jobs. they're being created by major american companies, but not here in the u.s.. abr