Who: Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. What: Told the Hill newspaper that Republicans were wasting time by arguing over how much to cut the budget, arguing that “this infighting is causing delays that will take these negotiations right up to the deadline and risk a government shutdown. And that seems to be exactly what many Republicans want.” Why it’s dim: With a $14 trillion looming deficit, Congress’ proposal to cut $100 billion from the federal government’s spending this fiscal year hardly tips the scales. Cure: Why wasn’t Schumer in such a rush to cut the budget when his party ran the House?