John Boehner: Keep Mitch McConnell's plan on table

POLITICO ^ | 7/14/11 | SEUNG MIN KIM

[Tex-Con-Man]

Speaker John Boehner on Thursday left the door open to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s last-ditch plan to raise the debt limit.

“I think it’s worth keeping on the table,” Boehner said.

McConnell’s plan would give President Barack Obama the power to raise the debt ceiling three times through 2012, unless Congress stops it with a two-thirds majority vote. Under that plan, Republicans could vote against raising the debt ceiling without risking default.

“What may look like something less of an optimal today, if we’re unable to get to an agreement, might look good a couple of weeks from now,” the Ohio Republican told reporters on Thursday.

When asked whether there are votes in the House for McConnell’s proposal, Boehner said: “I have no idea.”

...

Boehner, at that point, joined Cantor at the podium, putting his arm around his No. 2 as reporters laughed.

“Let me just say, we have been in this fight together,” Boehner said. “Any suggestion that the role that Eric has played in these meetings has been anything less than helpful is just wrong. We’re in the foxhole.”

[frogjerk]

I kind of understand the reason for this plan but it is utterly stupid to give up your rights to score political points.

There is a better way to do this. Just say no to raising the debt limit until deep, meaningful, and immediate cuts (no 10-12 year BS) to the budget are proposed and agreed upon.

[Thane_Banquo]

I kind of understand the reason for this plan but it is utterly stupid to give up your rights to score political points.

Granted, but I'm starting to think this plan was more of a threat to Obama ("we're going to stick this ALL on you if you don't play ball") than a policy McConnell really wanted.

[almcbean]

Do these people have a CLUE about the significance of the 2010 election, and the mood of the country?

If they cave, and the McConnell idea is a cave, a third party-Tea Party- becomes a distinct possibility.

[RexBeach]

Hmmm. Sounds like big John needs a burner out on the speaker’s balcony. Nice day for it.

[rokkitapps]

no way. Don’t raise the ceiling, Don’t default. Spend within our means.

[Daveinyork]

“There is a better way to do this. Just say no to raising the debt limit “

You should have stopped there

[LivingNet]

HERE COMES THE CAVE-IN!!!

[ConservativeDude]

I think that is right, seeing as Obama didn’t immediately and publicly say “YES!”

But to win the war here, McConnell needs to say: You had your chance. Offer revoked.

THEY SHOULD NOT LEAVE THIS ON THE TABLE. AT THIS POINT, IF THEY HAVE THE GUTS TO YANK IT, IT WILL HAVE SERVED A USEFUL PURPOSE, BUT THEY CAN’T LET IT DANGLE.

(in my opinion....)

[JPG]

Sure, BOehNER, that McConnell plan will just zip right through the House like crap through a goose.

[C210N]

The problem here is that Boehner is not a dyed in the wool conservative, and doesn’t deep-down understand concepts such as capitalism, federalism, constitutional republic, etc. But, I think he generally can go in the right direction, even if its a painful case-by-case basis, with the proper conservectomy or freepadural applied in advance so he doesn’t bump around in the dark.

[LaybackLenny]

Schizophrenia comes to mind.

[9YearLurker]

They’re deluded if they think the McConnell plan would win the GOP any points at all. It is a complete, 100% idiotic victory for Barry.

I just want the House to pass something reasonable—a ceiling increase good for 6 months or so and a couple hundred billion single-year cuts to go with it—then let the senate and Obama turn it down and take the heat.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Agreed. Everyone in D.C. seems far too willing to put games of political “gotcha” ahead of their responsibilities under the Constitution.

[FrankR]

Is that Constitutional?

Then again, Boehner could being seeing obama salivate over the idea and using obama's own tricks against him.

Draw him in and shut him down.

I still don't see how the House can "give" a power to the President.

[Jo Nuvark]

Trying to contact Boehner to encourage him
not to give in on the budget, but... his
website is terrible.

Ideas?

[Fantasywriter]

Boehner’s motto: Never let a good opportunity to cave go to waste...especially with the weekend coming on.

Let’s hope Cantor holds the line. This is our big chance to freak Obama out. He’s losing it, as any hardcore Malignant Narcissist will, when he doesn’t get his way fast enough. Goose him a few more times, Cantor, and watch him meltdown like a five-year-old having one helluva audacious temper tantrum.

[Truth29]

This is like little Barry's many offers to Iran. The only think that saves the US from itself is Ahmadinejad’s intransigence. The same thing here. The only thing that will save the GOP is Obama’s overweening arrogance that might prevent him from seizing victory.

[Thane_Banquo]

Problem with yanking it, as I see things, is then Obama thinks GOP is bluffing, and he keeps doing his spoiled brat beligerent thing. And on top of that, unfortunately we may end up with no choice but to kick the can down the road until Jan 21, 2013, if you catch my meaning. We may have to lose the battle in order to win the war.

[Publius]

It’s starting to look like a cop show. Boehner plays good cop, and Cantor plays bad cop.