Posted on 07/29/2011 6:44:37 AM PDT by RummyChick
House Speaker John Boehner has a new excuse for the dissent within the ranks of the House Republican Caucus he is supposed to lead.
The caucus, Boehner says, has been infiltrated by a cabal that hopes to take the US economy hostage in order to force political concessions from President Obama and Congressional Democrats.
Appearing Wednesday on conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham’s,, Boehner acknowledged what every serious economic analyst has already said: that a failure to raise the debt ceiling before the August 2 deadline would be devastating to an already struggling US economy.
So “why,” Ingraham asked, were House Republicans resisting the deal that President Obama has offered—a deal that is ridiculously deferent to Republican demands for cuts to needed domestic programs and for tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy.
“Well,” Boehner said of the most belligerent members of his caucus, “first they want more. And my goodness, I want more too. And secondly, a lot of them believe that if we get passed August the second and we have enough chaos, we could force the Senate and the White House to accept a balanced budget amendment.”
Let’s be clear about what Boehner is saying: he has members of his caucus—perhaps sufficient in number to block resolution of the debt ceiling fight—who would be willing to force the United States to default on its debts. Why? Because they want to create so much economic chaos that the president and Congressional Democrats will sign on for a bad policy that could not otherwise advance.
That’s blackmail. But Boehner’s not concerned about the fact that his lawless colleagues would threaten the good faith and credit of the United States—not to mention the economic stability of their homeland—in order to score political points.
The Speaker’s only concern is that a wrong move might make it harder for him to maneuver politically.
“I don’t think that that strategy works,” Boehner explained to the radio host. “Because I think the closer we get to August the second, frankly, the less leverage we have vis à vis our colleagues in the Senate and the White House.”
That is sort of reassuring.
Boehner is not a responsible player. But at least he is enough of a hack to fear that his colleagues who have lost touch with economic reality might—if allowed to have their way—create chaos not just for the economy but force a crisis that Ingraham suggested could “be disastrous for the Republican Party.” John Nichols
Waking up this morning to hear that the vote didn’t happen, I hadn’t felt that good since the first Tarp vote went down to defeat.
This is an establshment bill, and they may pull it over the line to get it to the senate, but good luck passing it with the inevitable amendments that will come back.
Things aren’t so easy for the establshment anymore.
“If the budget can be raised 1.6 trillion in two years it can be cut by the same amount in the same period of time.
Someone tell me why it can’t.”
Exactly!!
I'd add Savage to your list and I do agree with what you said.
>>> The fact is RATS control the Senate and the presidency. Our people are not miracle workers.
The fact is that the republicans already have their balanced budget in the form of a debt ceiling.
Instead of trying to throw it away like a hot potato, they should be using it to unilaterally accomplish what we sent them there to do.
If the roles were reversed, what would the democrats do? (see Reid/Obama arguments in 2006)
OMG! Boehner IS using the dems talking points! They are in this TOGETHER!!! Hostage taking????
Wow! We are REALLY SCREWED!
So , ah, when is Boehner crossing the floor to join the Dem Party ?
I was screaming at the TV and wiping spit off my chin last night while watching her segment with Rep Steve King (one of the holdouts).
Whiney bit*h wouldn't let him talk, and kept crying about the would coming to an end. She's off my "favorites" list too.
Have any Texas governors come out supporting a specific debt ceiling plan—and affected the debate at a key moment?
Yeah. Pasted below. Rehashed, ambiguous crap!
She has not taken a specific position on what to vote for, how to defend against Obama+MSM. Hell, she couldn't even defend herself against that idiot Couric.
Sarah's totally voting PRESENT on this thing. Mama-grizzly protecting her future "ITYS" marketing viability is what.
Congressional Freshmen – For Such A Time As This by Sarah Palin on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 1:03pm
Out here in proverbial politico flyover country, we little folk are watching the debt ceiling debate with great interest and concern. Today I re-read the open letter I wrote to Republican Freshman Members of Congress in November 2010, just days after they were ushered into office in an historic landslide victory due in large part to the activism of commonsense patriots who are considered part of the Tea Party movement. I respectfully ask these GOP Freshman to re-read this letter and remember us “little people” who believed in them, donated to their campaigns, spent hours tirelessly volunteering for them, and trusted them with our votes. This new wave of public servants may recall that they were sent to D.C. for such a time as this.
The original letter is pasted below, with added emphasis to certain passages that I feel are especially relevant to the current discussion.
All my best to you, GOP Freshmen, from up here in the Last Frontier. Sincerely, Sarah Palin P.S. Everyone I talk to still believes in contested primaries.
No it isn’t. Thats a strategy. It’s dead as it is BUT He and Mcconnell are going to amend it , send it back to the House and it will pass. Boehner is already in on the deal.
And believe me..you are not going to like the final outcome of this debacle.
The only way to stop this is to keep that bill from getting out of the House.
Will we ever have principled leadership.
I just looked at the list of Republicans who, as of last night, were opposed to the bill, and I’m very disappointed to see that my own congressman, Doug Lamborn (R-CO), is not among them. What’s going on? I instructed him earlier this week to vote against it!
...Agreed, do nothing...
I guess fewer people understood what actually took place in November, 2010 than I previously thought...
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Self appointed “elites” always overestimate their own abilities and understanding, and underestimate the people they look down upon. Every time, every generation and continent.
I've told my Congressman (Graves), if he votes for Boehner for Speaker again, he's lost my vote. Lastly, If he says "my goodness..." one more effing time, I'm gonna hurl chunks! He says that lots.
I would rather see Obama hit the debt ceiling, and tell him: “Here’s the money you have. Use it wisely. You will be TOTALLY responsible for your decisions on what gets paid and what doesn’t.”
At least Laura hasn’t gone out of her way to actively embrace the homo crowd.
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True. I like her approach very much. It is one of concern and affection for the people and rejection of the vice. She is spot on perfect on that, and her interest in cultural issues - which are of primary importance - is almost unique.
She has been speaking on several different news shows, Fox Business for one, and she has stated repeatedly CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE. She has NOT ben silent,as you suggest. In fact, SHE is what stopped the vote last night. Even the damnable NYT grudgingly admitted it.
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