GOP leaders say the nation can't afford to default

Yahoo ^ | 7/13/11 | Andrew Taylor - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hope dimming for a broad debt-limit deal, Congress and the White House scrambled Wednesday to salvage deficit-reduction talks while top congressional Republicans said the nation cannot afford to default on its obligations — for economic reasons and their party's own good.

Ahead of a fourth negotiating session at the White House in as many days, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell defended his proposal to give President Barack Obama new powers to increase the nation's borrowing limit without GOP support.

"I refuse to help Barack Obama get re-elected by marching Republicans into a position where we have co-ownership of a bad economy," McConnell said on a radio talk show, contending that letting the nation go into financial default would give Obama reason to blame Republicans for the negative fallout.

House Speaker John Boehner added his own warning against default, even as he expressed frustration with the White House over its role in negotiations to trim long-term federal deficits.

[The Bronze Titan]

Why in the world is McConnell (a “Minority Leader”) taking the lead for the Republicans? He has NO POWER in the Senate to take on the responsibility of SOLVING this ‘OBAMA PROBLEM’ - that “power” (responsibility) falls on the Leader of the MAJORITY - REID!!!!

It is the HOUSE that originates the passing of legislation, not the Senate!

Why is this DUFUS out-front in PROPOSING capitulation??

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

So, as many of us warned earlier, the McConnell "plan" is giving Obama political cover, not exposing him! The press, who are all on Obama's side, are using McConnell's plan to attack the GOP, saying that even "good" Republicans can see that the GOP is on the path to default. McConnell, in his "cleverness" has simply given the press and Obama another tool to beat the GOP over the head with!

Shut up, McConnell, you moron! Stick to your guns, and make Obama stop SS checks in order to keep the EPA and the NEA open! Then hammer him about his choice to let seniors starve while bureaucrats get paid!!!

[saltus]

The GOP is here for well beyond our life-times. The question is, how to make it more responsive to real conservatives on every issue.

The problem is that Eric Cantor has his political ambitions to replace Boehner, and Mitchell’s group does not support either of them.

And Bachmann has no bridges left to burn.

[Christian Engineer Mass]

I also said I thought her NRO son Jonah wasn’t much good. I didn’t happen to know he was her son when I said that.

These authors just steal ideas off the Internet and run with them, “Liberal Fascism”, “Liberalism is a mental disorder” etc.

[reflecting]

“My congressmen went for a $50 million cut in funding to the arts and got a $20 million cut.

Personally, I think they need to be eliminated altogether. Good art will sell on the open market.”
No it won’t, no it doesn’t, I hate to mess up your fine tuned capitalist vision, but capitalism does not provide you with the best...it provides you with the most attractive to the masses...this may not mean you choose to support the arts through public funding...but do not deceive yourself, there are somethings, some very important things that will not survive raw capitalism.

[reflecting]

“My congressmen went for a $50 million cut in funding to the arts and got a $20 million cut.

Personally, I think they need to be eliminated altogether. Good art will sell on the open market.”
No it won’t, no it doesn’t, I hate to mess up your fine tuned capitalist vision, but capitalism does not provide you with the best...it provides you with the most attractive to the masses...this may not mean you choose to support the arts through public funding...but do not deceive yourself, there are somethings, some very important things that will not survive raw capitalism.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Okay, Toby. Let’s say you are right, and Boehner is caving. How does he do it? There is absolutely zero chance a bill with any tax increases will pass the House. There is absolutely zero chance a vote on raising the debt ceiling without significant cuts will pass the House. How does Boehner cave?

[tobyhill]

Here's how I consider a cave. Obama gets $2.5 trillion in debt increase and gives nothing in return.

Boehner hasn't completely caved yet but he needs to quit negotiating with Obama and get some House votes going and let the Senate Rats and Obama make their decision.

I hope you're right that Boehner doesn't cave but his track record tells me otherwise.

[Carbonsteel]

The Democrats are doing this deliberately and setting the GOP up to take the fall for it.

All they have to do now is take out what little media giving Republicans a fair shake and they will have control for the next 50 years.

All one has to do to know this is visit some of the left wing web sites. Even the center left sites blame the Republicans for everything and I mean EVERYTHING!

[Georgia Girl 2]

The GOP needs to put together their proposal, pass it through the House and let the Dems in the Senate take the blame for shooting it down. Its insane to keep negotiating with the Dems. They have no intention of giving up even a single dollar of the spending programs they jammed through before the Nov election.