[La Enchiladita]

If Republicans were worth a crap they would ask Obama (on TV dramically) why he isnt using the $2.5 Trillion dollar surplus instead of borrowing the money for SS payments, or instead of cutting off the checks.

Here is the breaking Republican "response:" McConnell: Give Obama new powers on debt limit

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., offered a new plan to allow the president to demand up to $2.4 trillion in new borrowing authority by the summer of next year in three separate submissions. Those increases in the so-called debt limit would automatically take effect unless both the Republican House and the Democratic Senate enact legislation specifically disapproving it. Obama would be able to veto such legislation. The GOP plan would require that Obama submit spending cuts along with his borrowing requests. But unlike the increase in the debt limit, they wouldn't automatically take effect.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[sickoflibs]

Thank for the ping. I am skeptical that McConnell can do this without the House passing a bill to the Senate or vice versus in the nornal process, if that is really what it is saying. The link article doesnt explain it.

In an ideal world the money never would have been legislated at all and the cuts would be made during a budget deal, but the irony is that : shutting down the government, cutting programs, increasing national debt and increasing the debt limit are ALL unpopular. I can explain it, but it involves a clueless public.

[sickoflibs]

Here's the way things appear to be sizing up on this. I hope I am wrong. Republicans took a firm public stand on taxes. Obama made a phony public (not real) offer of trillions (whatever) of dollars of spending cuts including entitlements that he never planned on having to really agree to. Then he played the Clinton of sorts, playing Mr Reasonable and accusing Republicans of putting politics ahead of the country. Then today comes the threat of delayed SS checks, and Republicans refuse to ask Democrats why a program they claim is fully self funded requires a debt increase to get payments.

Now here's the part that is important in all that which I fear: as public pressure mounts (and I DONT see that yet), Republicans get weak kneed and agree to a debt increase with no spending cuts much like the 1995 disaster. Again, I hope I am wrong, but this is a bad sign:

McConnell: Give Obama new powers on debt limit

I posted over and over during the budget deal, it's winning that counts.