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
Is being called a hostage-taker better than being called a hobbit?
Yeah, they are probably cracking jokes about the stupidity of the sheeple.
Her northern East Coast and law school shows from time to time, as it does with Ann Coulter.
Bite me Boehner!
So what was actually said?
Nancy Pelosi would never air her dirty caucus linen in public.
Frodo lives!
Now THAT is a damn good point.
If Boner's plan is so all-fired wonderful, how come he can't pick off enough RATS to overcome the "infiltrators"?
Horsesht. Palin 'tweeted' a tiny little half-assed screed that said "we'll be watching."
She's not putting her hat in any plan, just like McCain/Palin had no idea what to do or say when the 2008 economic bum-rush stimulus happened.
She's playing it safe now too, just like Obama.
Not true.
People like you better get it together or the libs will divide us and win the day.
To quote that long time philanthropist, Bart Simpson....” I thought it was physically impossible, but this sucks and blows at the same time”.....boner, just go away, go far away, do not pass go, do not try to blow smoke up my a$$...he is a pathetic loser
I believe all the talking heads on “our side” have been given instructions from their corporate superiors to wit: “Okay, okay, all this nice-nice about the Tea Party Revolution has to stop. I mean these folks are SERIOUS!—and we can’t have that! Too much upheaval [to our ratings], too much of a threat [to our profits]. I mean, after all, enough is enough. Nobody likes a zealot...yada...yada...yada.”
I guess fewer people understood what actually took place in November, 2010 than I previously thought...
Didn't somebody, somewhere coin the term, useful idiots?
Where are you seeing that she’s gone to the other side? All Laura asked was why?
The story was written by John Nichols who blogs for www.thenation.com. It’s him who throws his BS in i.e.: 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.
Who you calling knee-jerker?
What’s the friggin sense of claiming thats all we can get when we’ve already been told we cant even get that?
Starring John Boehner as the Boner.
“That sounds like something I’d expect a Dhimmiecrat to say. We really don’t have a two-party system. What we have is one ruling political class that has different factions within it that are constantly trying to out jockey the others for more power and influence.”
Rival owners, same franchise, selling tickets and “insiders’ secret decoder rings” to the rubes.
It will NOT FORCE US TO DEFAULT ON OUR DEBT!
I don't believe that I dis’d anyone other than that if they see us as infiltrators.........they must fear the citizenry's push on the process.
Did I dis anyone????????
Some of you are overly sensitive this morning.
Maybe you should read and take my statement in context to the alleged statement itself?
This “article” is from the nation, fer gawd’s sake. Those are THEIR words, not Boehner’s. This is hard left spin city. ALL of it.
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