When the space shuttle Atlantis lands Thursday, the U.S. will be without a way to get into space for the first time since Dwight Eisenhower was president. And Americans are unhappy about that, according to a new IBD/TIPP Poll.

So what are Republicans, particularly those in the House, going to do? Debt ceiling deadlines are fast approaching. And many in the GOP leadership, particularly in the Senate, think the party's anti-tax resolve will dissolve if markets start to tumble, resulting in a deal far less appetizing than any discussed during the Biden talks. Certainly no hard spending caps or structural changes to

The taxpaying public knows that deep spending cuts — right now — are the only answer.

The IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism Index declined by 3.2 points, or 7.2%, in July posting 41.4 vs. 44.6 in June. The index is 3.9 points below its 12-month average of 45.3 and 3.0 points below its reading of 44.4 in December 2007 when the economy entered into the recession, and 9.0 points below its all-time average of 50.4.

In Monday's press conference, President Obama said he is willing to take "significant heat from my party" to get a budget deal with Republicans.

Fiscal Policy: In discussing the debt talks Monday, President Obama repeatedly stressed the need for "compromise." Funny, since it's his refusal to budge on his big-government vision that caused the talks to break down.

Americans are open to natural gas powered vehicles. In a recent TechnoMetrica survey, 70% of Americans said that they are familiar with natural gas as a motor fuel and nearly half of those who are aware would consider buying a vehicle which runs on natural gas.

Economy: When President Obama claimed he created 2.1 million private-sector jobs, the first transcript had the audience responding with "laughter." That's since been changed to "applause," but the joke's on us in any case.

Politics: The head of the Democratic National Committee says the administration has turned the economy around. So let us give discredit where discredit is due.