The GOP's Reality Test Republicans who oppose Boehner's debt deal are playing into Obama's hands.

WSJ ^ | JULY 27, 2011

[woofie]

The debt-limit debate is heading toward a culmination, with President Obama reduced to pleading for the public to support a tax increase and Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid releasing competing plans that are the next-to-last realistic options. The question now is whether House Republicans are going to help Mr. Boehner achieve significant progress, or, in the name of the unachievable, hand Mr. Obama a victory.

Mr. Obama recognizes these stakes, threatening yesterday to veto the Boehner plan in a tactical move to block any Democratic support. The White House is afraid that it will pass the House and then become the only debt-ceiling vehicle if Mr. Reid can't get 60 votes for his own proposal in the Senate. This would short-circuit Mr. Obama's plan to blame the GOP for a U.S. credit downgrade, any market turmoil, a possible default, and the lousy economy too.

*** Under the two-phase Boehner plan, Congress would authorize $1 trillion in new debt in return for $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the next decade. Most of that will come from caps on domestic discretionary spending over 10 years—the Pentagon and homeland security are exempt—with automatic spending cuts if the caps are breached. While one Congress cannot bind another, the proposal would at least guarantee real reductions in fiscal years 2012 and 2013.

(redact)

If conservatives defeat the Boehner plan, they'll not only undermine their House majority. They'll go far to re-electing Mr. Obama and making the entitlement state that much harder to reform.

[woofie]

If conservatives defeat the Boehner plan, they'll not only undermine their House majority. They'll go far to re-electing Mr. Obama and making the entitlement state that much harder to reform.

So what if this writer is correct?

[Turtlepower]

Either way we are hosed....the Boehner plan only promises cuts way out in the future, which we know will never come to pass. Not matter which plan is eventually adopted, it won’t address the debt problem.

[SoConPubbie]

Sorry, But I for one, am sick and tired of sacrificing principle for strategy.

I wonder where would be if this was the standard practice in 1776?

[woofie]

If he is right you will have no strategy and no principal

[BrewingFrog]

Agreed.

This is a cave of monumental proportions. Giving up without a fight. Typical GOP behavior.

Paul Ryan coming out and defending this really diminishes him in my eyes.

[Ingtar]

1.2 trillion in cuts over a period already increasing by about 45 trillion is not enough.

[vbmoneyspender]

Of the 1.2 trillion in spending cuts, how much takes place in the first year of Boehner’s plan? I know the answer, just wondering if you do.

[Lost Highway]

So if they pass Boehner’s plan we get no cuts. If they pass the Dem plan we get no cuts. Hard to see why it’s such a big deal either way.

[woofie]

I think its down around 1 billion.....
You guy may be right ....but this makes me nervous as all I want is an end to Obomaville

[Breto]

BS. boner sandbagged the membership and us with the last one so we should let him sandbag us with this one. After all things got so much better after toe last one didn’t it. The author ia a closit leftist or a coward or both which would make him a RINO....

Compromise is what has got us to this point assuming that more compromise will fix it is pure lunacy.

[edpc]

This would short-circuit Mr. Obama's plan to blame the GOP for a U.S. credit downgrade, any market turmoil, a possible default, and the lousy economy too.

Now the WSJ is writing satire. Conservatives will get blamed NO MATTER WHAT does or doesn't get passed.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

This country is heading for a brick wall at warp 10.

When it hits and auctions start to fail because nobody else has the money to lend to the US govt and the death spiral finally happens because the tap is truly empty, we'll probably be blamed for it anyways.

I'd rather have a clear conscience be clear that my party and did everything possible to stop the Dems from destroying this lovely country.

Look. What's to understand? we spend 1.5 TRILLION++ every single year more than we take in. There is NO reason in the world that we can't spend WHAT we bring in. Someone is going to have to explain to me why 2+ trillion dollars isn't enough for the us govt. If they can't do with 2 trillion, then they ARE too big and need to be cut back, hugely.

And what's going to be cut? The lefty social programs? NPR? PBS? Dept Edu? Planned Parenthood? Welfare queens? $42 billion food stamps? Not a chance!! The Space Program. Roads. Bridges. The Military. Research and Development. Those things that make America strong.

I think that the Right wing is doing exactly as they should. Why can nobody learn? We're going to be blamed for everything wrong that happens by the lies Dem tells their bootlickers in the press, so let's just do what we think is right without all the white guilt, huh?

[Siena Dreaming]

Politally it's a big deal.

If Boehner's deal passes, Obama's support crumbles bigtime.

That sets us up for more momentum in the Ryan talks, not to mention far more hope that we take the Senate and WH in '12.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

So do I read you correctly? You’re content with raising the debt limit now in promise for some nebulous cuts in a year or so?

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Mr. Obama recognizes these stakes, threatening yesterday to veto the Boehner plan in a tactical move to block any Democratic support. The White House is afraid that it will pass the House and then become the only debt-ceiling vehicle if Mr. Reid can't get 60 votes for his own proposal in the Senate. This would short-circuit Mr. Obama’s plan to blame the GOP for a U.S. credit downgrade, any market turmoil, a possible default, and the lousy economy too. *** Under the two-phase Boehner plan, Congress would authorize $1 trillion in new debt in return for $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the next decade. Most of that will come from caps on domestic discretionary spending over 10 years—the Pentagon and homeland security are exempt—with automatic spending cuts if the caps are breached. While one Congress cannot bind another, the proposal would at least guarantee real reductions in fiscal years 2012 and 2013.
(redact) If conservatives defeat the Boehner plan, they'll not only undermine their House majority. They'll go far to re-electing Mr. Obama and making the entitlement state that much harder to reform.”

I dont know about Obama’s re-election given a debt limit train wreck, but how about Boehner goes to Pelosi this weekend offering a surrender for Democrat votes? , and then worst case maybe Pelosi comes back as Speaker in 2013?

While I am hesitant to support specific proposed plans that usually turn out to be dog-crap, House Republicans (including Boehner and tea party members ) need to understand that Democrats are playing this as a team, and playing it to win. And taking a stand just to take a stand and losing big will not look good in the history books.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” So what if this writer is correct? “

He isn’t. The Republicans are holding all the cards.

[ZULU]

We are playing a dangerous game of chess with an opponent with no scruples. I hope we make the right moves here.

[glennaro]

If Boehner's deal passes, Obama's support crumbles bigtime

So does TEA Party conservative support of Republicans who vote for the plan that raises debt without corresponding real cuts to entitlement spending ... a potential electoral disaster for Republicans in 2012.

[Siena Dreaming]

Don't think so.

A win on Boehner's side keeps the right gunning for far more cuts...as it should be, especially if the second half of Boehner's plan includes entitlements.

Meanwhile, it completely dispirits the left and their agenda. They not only got no increased spending or tax hikes...they will have seen Obama lose the entire debate which means none of their arguments move forward from here on.

[glennaro]

I understand your point, but Boehner's plan sounds a lot like the "although-we've-caved-a-bit-this-time-just-you-wait-we'll-really-get'em-next-time" Republican strategy we've lived with since the Democratic Socialists returned to power in 2008.