Posted on 07/12/2011 2:23:28 PM PDT by Qbert
Mitch McConnell is right now talking about making a historic capitulation. So fearful of being blamed for a default, McConnell is proposing a compromise that lets Barack Obama raise the debt ceiling without making any spending cuts at all.
Consider sending McConnell a weasel as testament to his treachery. His address is 601 W. Broadway, Room 630, Louisville, KY 40202 and the phone number is (502) 582-6304.
McConnell’s idea is to make the debt ceiling automatic unless Congress, by a 2/3 vote blocks the increase. Oh yes, he put a salve on it by dressing it up in tough talk that, to quote the Wall Street Journal, “[a] ‘eal solution’ to U.S. fiscal problems isn’t possible as long as President Barack Obama remains in office.” So since no “real solution” is possible, McConnell proposes to go Pontius Pilate and wash his hands of spending, blaming Obama while doing nothing himself.
Here is how the plan would work.
In a nutshell, the President would get to raise the debt ceiling three times in the next year at several billion bucks a pop without making any spending cuts unless two-thirds of both houses of Congress disagree. In his press conference, McConnell says he would not give the President “unilateral authority to make spending cuts on his own,” but this plan would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling pretty much automatically.As the Politico notes,
Senate Republicans are actively pursuing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval.In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority will be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.
Yes, instead of putting the burden on the White House, McConnell would make it damn near impossible to block a debt ceiling increase. We’ve seen this before. The House once had the Gephardt rule that required the debt ceiling vote be attached to a more popular measure so members of Congress could escape a tough vote.
Consequently, the debt ceiling has gone up to $14 trillion without Congress ever having to make a tough choice about debt.
And now Mitch McConnell wants to make it even easier by allowing Congress to go through a dog and pony show of feigned cuts that never get cut while allowing escalation of our national debt. So much for accusing Barack Obama of smoke and mirrors.
2014 cannot come soon enough to destroy the political future of this weasel.
———————————– Editor’s note: I decided to make the title less incendiary.
Consider the Associated Press’s headline right now: “GOP Leader McConnell proposes giving Obama new power for automatic debt limit increase”
Updated again: Changed to title to something less incendiary. I still encourage weasels be mailed.
UPDATE: Some of the most willfully ignorant and willfully naive McConnell supporters are coming out of the woodwork to say this is not *the* plan, but a contingency plan if *the* plan can’t be agreed to. So let’s get this straight: if Democrats won’t agree to make spending cuts, we’ll fall back to the contingency where they get to raise the debt ceiling without making spending cuts.
That’s not a contingency, that’s handing the Democrats a silver platter.
I don’t think they paid McConnell off...I think they found him out. They’ve probably got something on him. Boehner was going great guns on Obummer until the tabs started talking about Boehner liking to stop by the local pub every night after work, and a couple of women he was seeing...suddenly, all is quiet, no more mention of his drinking or womanizing, and he’s out golfing with Obummer.
Emails sent to Rubio and Mica
The Senate site is really bogged down we must be hitting McConnell hard.
“There is a HUGE stick with this carrot. HUGE.”
—There is a fundamental problem with this plan:
“Congress could override the president but only with a 2/3 vote, which in the current environment is not happening.”
http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/07/12/is-mcconnell-caving-or-being-cagey/
Point to the item on Senator McConnell’s page that bears the slightest resemblance to all this hysteria: http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases
I’m not buying any of this for a second. Sheesh.
It reminds me of when Tom DeLay said, “That’s it, we’ve cut to the bone everything that can be cut.” He was, of course, being sarcastic and slapping at his Republican colleagues, but some morons - - on our side! - - took what he said as his honest conclusion. Head-shakingly un-freaking-believeable.
Anyway, I think McConnell is playing a similar game here. Remember when the Senate voted 97 - 0 AGAINST the president’s budget a few months ago? And, going back 15 years or so, remember when the Republicans made the Senate vote on Hillarycare and it was defeated unanimously (or near-unanimously)? Well, I bet McConnell is daring the scumbag rats to vote FOR this latest wacky proposal of his.
(As a side note, if there is one thing that I sometimes find disappointing here at FR is the complete lack of strategic thinking on the part of many and the resulting frenzy of outraged idiocy. I know a lot of it is trolls, rat operatives, and other agent provocateurs, but some of it comes from long-time freepers who should know better. Calm the eff down.)
Come on Republican Party, call me for a donation. I dare your asses. Sorry, I’m folding like a cheap tent.
“No doubt Mitch has been bought and paid for.”
Or they’ve got something on him. It could be the payoff
he took on Obama care.
Way past time.
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. After battling with them for months, the GOP just gives up. Gives them more than the Dems asked for, and sandbagged future politicians who might want to really try to solve this problem.
“Is more, unchecked debt a bad thing, or not?”
If you don’t know that the answer to your question is YES, IT IS A BAD THING, you should not be allowed to vote being that you are totally stupid, or a communist shill.
It’s true. Just heard McConnell himself on the radio. He says we can’t let the whole world think we are not going to honor our debts.
Truth is, these Washington Repubs do NOT want to be the majority party. They prefer partying, golfing, getting along and just being in the minority. They also do not care what happens to us or this country.
You have to read the entire thing. This is by no means a slam dunk for obama OR the dems. This extracts huge punishment for a rise in the debt ceiling and a bold outing which falls squarely on obama if it isn’t fulfilled. This is time consuming for the admin and drags it out into the light of day. The won wants to be reelected. This is a lose, lose for him any way you slice it. READ the thing. Don’t take some “reporter’s” word for it.
They cannot out manuever, out-politic or out-diddle the democrats. Not without a fair and open media - they'll end up outfoxing themselves & have their asses handed to them. And of course they'll stand by their promises while the democrats lie and end up doing just the hell as they please, as always.
There is no more time for political games.
“As a side note, if there is one thing that I sometimes find disappointing here at FR is the complete lack of strategic thinking on the part of many and the resulting frenzy of outraged idiocy. I know a lot of it is trolls, rat operatives, and other agent provocateurs, but some of it comes from long-time freepers who should know better. Calm the eff down.”
—Yeah, allow the president to pile on even more debt- prevented only by an unlikely 2/ 3 Congressional override- while simultaneously not making any cuts- and jeopardizing our Aaa credit rating in the process. Brilliant strategy...
If this Happens ? The GOP is Toast, Period !
I would like to read the whole thing. Is it available anywhere?
“You have to read the entire thing. This is by no means a slam dunk for obama OR the dems. This extracts huge punishment for a rise in the debt ceiling and a bold outing which falls squarely on obama if it isn’t fulfilled. This is time consuming for the admin and drags it out into the light of day. The won wants to be reelected. This is a lose, lose for him any way you slice it. READ the thing. Don’t take some “reporter’s” word for it.”
—Drop the evasion, and address my concern.
The reports are all over the ball park, I don’t believe anything until I see it.
“They cannot out manuever, out-politic or out-diddle the democrats. Not without a fair and open media - they’ll end up outfoxing themselves & have their asses handed to them. And of course they’ll stand by their promises while the democrats lie and end up doing just the hell as they please, as always.”
Spot on.
The Senate site is really bogged down we must be hitting McConnell hard.
I’ve been trying to call McConnell’s office. Line is solid busy — but will keep redialing.
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