On Wednesday, I published Republican blackmail fails. Boehner’s stop gap-spending measure had just failed. Democrats opposed it, because would have forced $1 billion in cuts to a loan guarantee program for fuel efficient hybrids. Those cuts welch on the deal they made when Democrats caved-in on the Republican economic terrorism over the debt ceiling. Teabaggers opposed it, because they wanted even more cuts, welching on the deal even further. This demonstrates that, when Republicans make agreements, their word is worthless. This is where we left off. Thursday, Boehner caved-in to the Teabaggers and added even more green energy cuts, also breaking their earlier promise, to the spending measure. This time the bill passed. Knowing that the bill would not get through the Senate, House Republicans delayed reporting the Bill to the Senate until after midnight, giving them time to skip town, and leave the Senate holding the bag. Republican blackmail is back. Yesterday, the Senate did reject it.
…In the Senate today, Dems stood firm in their opposition to funding disaster relief with offsets elsewhere, as Republicans want. Senate Democrats voted down a House GOP-authored measure to temporarily fund the government, intensifying the impasse over the disaster relief funds, even as FEMA is set to run out of money next week.
At a presser after the vote, Dem leaders vowed they would not blink. Asked if there were any offsets Dems would accept, Harry Reid said: “No.” That seems like a pretty high stakes gamble. As Eric Cantor put it: “I guess Harry Reid will have to bear the burden of denying disaster victims the money they need.”
But Senate Dems don’t appear worried about bearing the blame in this standoff — they continue to insist they won’t budge, and continue to demand that the House drop its insistence on offsetting the funds. Their argument: Disaster victims need help, period, and they should get it with no political strings attached.
Dems could revert to type and "cave” at any moment. But why the current firm line? It goes to the heart of the Dems’ new calculus after getting shellacked so badly — and giving up so many concessions — in the debt ceiling fight.
My read: Dems think the debt ceiling battle has successfully established them as the reasonable party that’s seeking true balance on fiscal issues, having agreed to so many GOP demands on the spending cut front. Dems also believe the debt ceiling fight established public perceptions of the GOP’s pursuit of endless spending cuts as being fundamentally ideological in nature, and not motivated by a desire to craft sensible policy. Dems also believe — or hope — this impression was solidified by the House GOP’s initial failure to pass a funding bill when conservatives decided it didn’t cut spending enough… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
Personally I think Greg Sargent’s read on this is on the mark. At this point, I’m not overly worried about a government shutdown. The public at large has become aware of Republican shenanigans during the crisis they manufactured in the debt ceiling debacle. I think Republicans will return early, as Keith Olbermann and Ryan Grimm explain on Countdown.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of exactly where we are and exactly how we got here. When people you know parrot Republican lies, usually not realizing that they are lies, you are equipped with an understanding of how to counter them.
13 Responses to “Baggers rule Boehner!”
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It is their game let them play it. If they want to shut the government down over addons and takeaways I say this fight is as good as any. The whole theory of picking the right fights with the right to do them the most damage isn’t what this about, but rather ending the petty gambling BOTH sides are doing with American lives.
Rick Snyder of MI is now going after food stamps for the poor after having gone after their rent money (successfully). He is basically going to means test them on food stamps by forcing them to list “assets.” Do clothes count as assets, even if they were bought used?
His theory is the stereotype that too many poor people are driving Escalades.
Rick Snyder is a perfect example og why the Republican Party must go out of existence.
A CNN Poll [PDF] two weeks ago prove that yet again, the republicans are outclassed by “We, the People” …
15. Do you think the federal government should spend money to help the victims of the recent hurricanes, floods and wildfires throughout the country ONLY IF the same amount of money is cut from other government programs, or do you think the government should spend money to help those people EVEN IF that amount of money is not cut from other government programs?
Sept. 9-11, 2011
Aid only if offsetting cuts 38%
Aid even if off settings cuts not made 59%
No opinion 3%
But Republicans only represent 2% of the people. That means 36% are bull shat. 🙁
Reposted this– good analysis-
Thanks, Phyllis.
Wouldn’t you know it? To celebrate the first anniversary of the repubicans’ “Pledge to America” they vote to BREAK their own “Pledge” … because here’s what they promised:
Thanks Nameless. Of course Republican pledges are a matter of convenience.
I didn’t know about the pledge so thanks for bringing it up. I am a Canuck and playing catch-up hockey in American politics. I think I’m winning with everybody’s help. Thanks
well I can pledge never to vote republican in my lifetime – not that there’s that much left! At the rate the country’s going it’ll probably be much shorter – let’s end fracking!! (had to throw that in there, since that’s how they’re planning to get rid of us liberal NY’ers – poison our water – it also gets rid of Philly and Delaware)! Good idea! NOT!!!!
How Republican of them
Whatever happened to “government of the people, by the people, for the people”? Between Republicans taking Americans hostage on the economic batlefield (education, jobs, infastructure etc ad nauseum) and trying to make it look like it is the Democrats that are the bad guys, I think the Republicans need a lesson is playing nice in the sand box administered by the people. I think a good firm kick in the keister out behind the outhouse in November 2012 is just the thing. Democrats are not blameless either. Everybody including the people need to remember “government OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people.”
Stand up America. Vote for positive change. Vote people first, not big monied interests.
Lynn, in RepubliSpeak, that’s government of the corporations, by the Republicans, for the rich.