And the looming combination of tax increases and spending cuts looks easily large enough to push America back into recession.
It's only the first couple of weeks of 2015, but the year may as well be over: with the 2016 presidential and congressional elections looming, Republicans are pushing full steam ahead on economy and jobs in an attempt to improve their chances at capturing the White House next year.
That they should miss two glorious opportunities to take a potentially decisive advantage seemed merely to underline the certainty of their looming ordeal.
With elections looming on 22 September, few respondents expected a big change in policy to emanate from Berlin.
The entire clip was filmed on location in Gibson's home territory of Pennsylvania's coal region, featuring the towns of Centralia, Jim Thorpe, Mahanoy City, Mt Carmel, Nesquehoning, Shamokin and Shenandoah; little happens aside from the looming sense of foreboding, tempered slightly by closeups of the Sub Pop heartthrob shovelling chips into his mouth.
For a person to remain "voluntary" with the looming threat of detention should they try to leave, effectively incarcerates them – but without any of the rights (for appeal, legal aid etc) that the Mental Health Act provides.
A once-in-a-generation opportunity is looming in four months' time and the head coach has to get his training squad right on Wednesday.
With the deadline looming, the negotiators did not get much sleep last night.
The result was him kicking his 35-year hash habit, then emailing members of Madness saying he thinks he wants to quit, despite looming December tour.
And how are you feeling about your looming exams?
He warned of a looming massacre in Kobani and the possibility of Baghdad airport – thought not the city itself – falling to Isis.
