A year ago, the Republican Party committed economic terrorism, holding our nation’s good faith and credit hostage for concessions to continue tax welfare for the very rich. As part of the settlement Republicans insisted on automatic sequestration, if the parties could not reach agreement on debt reduction. Since then Republicans have refused to negotiate in good faith with regard to the revenue side of the budget, apparently expecting Democrats to cave-in and agree to even more massive domestic cuts and to extend the top tier of the Bush Tax Cuts. Democrats are refusing to cave-in. Now Republicans are accusing Democrats of holding the economy hostage.
It’s only been a year since Congressional Republicans, bent on cutting spending, manufactured a financial crisis by threatening not to raise the debt ceiling. Now, apparently thinking the public has forgotten that debacle, they’re furious that Democrats have figured out a way to turn the tables.
Senator Patty Murray of Washington, a member of the Democratic leadership, said Monday that her party was prepared to let all the Bush-era tax cuts expire on Jan. 1 if Republicans refuse to raise taxes on the wealthy. The same holds true, she said, for the $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts that begin at the same time, which Republicans demanded in the debt crisis but now oppose after realizing that the cuts affect more than social welfare programs.
Republican leaders quickly voiced horror at these tactics. “Has it come to this?” said Speaker John Boehner, accusing Democrats of holding the economy hostage for the sake of high-end tax increases. Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, called it “an entirely avoidable high-stakes game of chicken with the single-minded goal of taking more money from those who earn it.”
Taking hostages has unfortunately become the default method of exercising power in Washington, after Republicans decided that conventional compromise with Democrats was unpalatable. But the Democrats’ proposal would have nowhere near the same outcome as the Republicans’ debt ceiling threat last year… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <NY Times>
I agree with everything the author said, except, I don’t consider Democratic tactics as hostage taking, although it does indeed turn the tables on Republicans. But before I get into that, Michael Eric Dyson and Col. Lawrence Wilkerson discussed the military side of this issue.
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When Bush and Cheney were in charge they had two wars in progress and six more planned. The other six did not happen because they made such a mess of Afghanistan and Iraq that the resources they had intended to use were tied up. A Republican in the White House guarantees more wars in the Republican quest for world domination. I’m all for a strong military, but we should be able to defend ourselves without outspending the rest of the world combined. We should direct our military resources to providing our troops with what they need for today’s conflicts and to caring for our veterans, not to excessive profits for war contractors for outdated cold-war weapons systems.
Overall, Democrats are not holding America hostage as Republicans accuse. They are simply refusing to cave-in to ongoing Republican hostage taking, as they very well should. Democrats may actually be growing big brass ones. If so, it’s about time.
12 Responses to “Refusing to Cave-in”
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Damm right it's about time the Dems find their balls- Giving in to Bullies only ensures more demands–It is time- past time really, to stand up ,Let the Repigs whine and cry- they do that very well–
It is so very clear what was expected , and even clearer the chagrin when their bluff is called-
That could be quoting me.
The Democrats should have refused to cave in when they had control of both the house and the senate. I hope they "hold the line" this time.
Edie, Dems never have controlled the Senate, because that takes 60 de facto votes. Then they had 60, two were Benedict Nelson and Joe LIEberscum. That's generously only 58.
Do you remember Gwen Verdon singing 'Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets' in Damn Yankees? Well that's what the Republican/Teabagger domestic terrorist legislators remind me of, but their legs aren't nearly so good looking! Rmoney like to use the expression 'sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'. Well I wish that the Republican/Teabaggers would remember that when the tables are turned on them.
When the Republican/Teabaggers decided to hold the country hostage last year, they should have done their homework better. It seems that they didn't count on the Democrats growing solid brass balls and now that has put them in this position — in the position to lose a lot of funding in the military-industrial complex. Based on this information, these cuts will take them to 2006 levels, so what is the problem? They were fighting 2 wars in 2006, now only one.
The Republican/Teabaggers made their bed, now let them lie in it!
What I lament are the cuts to the social programmes and the people that will be hurt there, and the rise in taxes for the middle class when the Bush tax cuts expire.
Perhaps the Republican/Teabaggers will learn their lesson and start to act like a legislative body that cares, but I'm not holding my breath.
Sure I remember. I played Benny Van Buren (the manager who sang (You Gotta Have Heart) in High School.
We need to keep rubbing their noses in it.
My computer went down in the middle of my comment so I had to reconstruct it. In doing so, I left something out.
Last August when the Republican/Teabaggers were holding the country hostage, they made a pact with the devil! Well the devil is back to collect. The devil is in the details!
This guy: 👿
Two Points:
[1] For ten years now, the Super-Rich – you know, those alleged "Job Creators" – have enjoyed their lowest tax rates in 35 years.
So then, WHERE ARE THE DAMN JOBS, you "Job Creators"?
[2] If Ronnie Raygun is such a saint to the repubicans, I propose we just adopt HIS tax rates – at least for the wealthy.
Problem solved!
1) China.
2) Shhhhh! 😉
They are going to have to pay the devil his due one of these days. They aren't going to like it at all.
Good point!