Since the beginning of the Republican Party’s seditious efforts to blackmail America over the debt ceiling I have maintained that Republicans will cave-in, because the first and worst hurt by the debt crisis will be the banksters. Yesterday, I suggested that Obama was bluffing, to hasten that cave-in, because he knew that, no matter what he put on the table, Republicans would not violate the holy dogma of Pope Grover Norquist I. I should have predicted it instead of suggesting it, because Republicans have embarked on a major spelunking expedition, in obedience to their owners on Wall Street.
Budget talks between President Barack Obama and his GOP rivals are at a frustrating standstill, leading a top Republican to launch a long-shot proposal to give Obama sweeping new powers to muscle through an increase in the government’s debt limit without the approval of a bitterly divided Congress.
Lawmakers return to the White House for another negotiating session Wednesday. A two-hour session Tuesday produced no progress after a day of poisonous exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.
Saying he didn’t see a path to an agreement so long as Democrats insist on revenue increases, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky offered a backup plan that would, in effect, guarantee Obama requests for new government borrowing authority unless Congress musters veto-proof majorities to deny him.
McConnell’s plan immediately ran into stiff opposition among tea party conservatives and seemed unlikely to pass the House, but neither the White House nor House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, dismissed it out of hand.
"I think everybody agrees there needs to be a backup plan if we can’t come to an agreement," Boehner said in a Fox News Channel interview Tuesday afternoon. "And frankly, I think Mitch has done good work."… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <AP/Google>
Lawrence O’Donnell has a great "I told you so" moment.
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Rachel Maddow explains how Obama is pulling this off and interviews Raul Grijalva.
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I think this will be a win. It appears that Obama will get to raise the debt limit without benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid, and that was exactly his intention.
35 Responses to “Welcome to Republican Cave”
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It does seem impossible to view this as anything other than the Republicans caving. McConnell’s plan would require Obama to go through a bunch of Kabuki with Congress before raising the ceiling, designed to pin the onus of doing so solely on him — but since the point would be to avoid benefits cuts which the public overwhelmingly opposes, it’s hard to see how that would hurt him much.
Meanwhile, at the thought of raising the ceiling, the teabaggers are raising the roof, talking about burning McConnell in effigy and so forth. By finally suggesting something that would actually be good for the country, the Republicans have hurt themselves with their own base much worse than they’ve hurt Obama. They undoubtedly knew the teabaggers would react that way. Obviously they have an even greater fear of (a) not raising the ceiling and being blamed for the subsequent global crash, and (b) the displeasure of those banksters.
Good, we need to see the faces of these idiots on the national news burning McConnell in effigy, with their names prominently displayed. This is a stupid, misinformed, dangerous cabal who won’t be in office long enough to get their official parking spots. I’m keeping my eye on Wisconsin, as a bell weather to the 2012 general election (Wisc. recall election is August 9th).
I would GLADLY burn McConnell, CANTOR, BACHMANN and Palin in effigy! That would be a fire well worth setting!
And don’t forget Boner, I mean Boehner. On second thought don’t bother with burning them in effigy. Just burn them and be done with it.
My point was actually that it’s the teabaggers talking about burning McConnell in effigy and so forth. They’re mad as hell and claiming Republicans in Congress have betrayed them.
So if McConnell thought that this scheme was going to hurt Obama in next year’s election, it seems to have backfired — the Republicans have turned their own base against them.
Someone had the exact same problem with the other Brownshirt. In their quest for power, they empowered lunatics.
Sounds like a new way to pollute fire.
Careful, Jack. Methane explodes. 😉
Nice summary.
While recognizing it ain’t a done-deal yet, it’s nice to see that Repubicans have screwed themselves more than they screwed our country.
I think we can all say Schadenfreude
Indeed it is, and deservedly so. Gesundheit!
Burning McConnell in effigy would be one of the best things to happen to this Congress, IMO. That way, I’d never have to see his ugly mug and turkey neck on TV ever again.
You will. He’s on my Filibuzzard graphic.
Thanks Infidel. That’s excellent analysis and I agree.
Gppd prediction, Tom. As usual, the GOP has proven itself to be all show and no go. They have proven repeatedly that they have NOTHING to offer the country except more misery for regular citizens. May they fade away into eternal damnation!
I’m with you on that although eternal damnation may not be long enough for these asshole. I’m going with infinity. 👿
Infinity is TOO SHORT! 😉
Thanks Jack. I knew that Republicans would never agree to a tax hike and that Wall Street would scream bloody murder. Now the question is about whether they can reign in their storm troopers.
I thought of you, TomCat, when I heard McConnell announce this yesterday. good prediction. They’re trying to save themselves from the voters. They can’t escape the crazy tea drinkers though.
Thanks Patty. That could be problematic.
Well, it aint a done deal yet. There are still substantial factions in the elite, operatives in both parties, who would like to use a default to take down Social Security, etc. — a bunch driven more by ideology than anything else. Stay tuned.
I know it isn’t Chris, but the Republicsns are licking their woulds, and the naysayers are frantic to misinterpret this.
I do hope this happens but I’ve said this many, many times with the Dems with only Lucy to pull the football away again and the Dems to fuck it up. We’ll see if they come through this time. 🙄
The circular firing squad is indeed the biggest threat.
I think I’ll hold my breath……….! 😈
Like this. 😯
Seems like some sense — but it aint over ’til it’s over– there are one helluva lot of crazies still loose
Too true, Phyllis.
Watching the GOP flailing around is like watching you know what in a toilet bowl about to be flushed.
You mean turds flail around?
After the cartoon in today’s open thread, I’m not touching this one. 😉
Once again Sarah Palin invokes the phrase “Now is not time to retreat, it’s time to reload.”.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” on Wednesday night, Sarah Palin sent a strong message to Republicans on the issue of raising the nation’s deficit limit.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/sarah-palin-debt-ceiling_n_897873.html
Sarah Palin is either very brave or very stupid. To even use that phrase again even though she said its not a call for violence after what happened in Arizona shows she does not care if it indeed leads to another nut using a gun against Democrats or even Republicans.
Who’s to say that another Jared Loughner psychopath or even a sociopath won’t attempt to kill dozens of people who believe the hateful racist, bigoted talk she is known to give to the American Taliban Extremist Christians.
Hell, even Sarah could have someone walk up to her and give her a Gabrielle Gifford. Wonder why she would even take the chance of that happening. Like I said she is either very brave or very stupid.
To quote a favorite person, that woman is an idiot.
You are the man! I think I left a comment not only doubting you, but also doubting the wisdom of “bluffing”. The game isn’t over yet -but you were correct, and Obama could play these cards right into a second term. Nice work my friend.
Thanks Jed. And i called the biggest pierce of this on your radio show on Saturday.
These are all words of beauty to my ears – TomCat and responders should be proud! Glad I got to read all of you – it warms the cockles of my heart which isn’t easy to do! How wonderful to feel optimistic again and to see him finally flushing the toilet filled with the republicrap! I thought the brown stuff wasn’t supposed to “”mellow”! Yep Tom – I think you’re spot on — good call!