the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto-proof resolution of disapproval.McConnell and his cohorts are well aware that Obama and the Democrats don't want to make any sort of serious cuts, and that the only reason cuts are even under consideration is because of the threat of the debt ceiling. The party of big government isn't about to cut government in any substantial way. But rather than forcing the president to make cuts, they'd rather just give up -- as long as they can do it in such away as to place the blame solely on Obama.
In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the debt crisis now. But by taking the disapproval route, Republicans can shift the onus more onto the White House and Democrats since a two-thirds majority would be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mitch McConnell: Typical Weasel Politician
The GOP establishment is not more much interested in tackling the nation's financial problems than Democrats, who are totally uninterested. This is particularly true in the Senate, where Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell and other GOP senators are considering a new plan to weasel out of any responsibility, purely in the interests of political expediency.
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McConnell, along with the rest of the GOP, is stuck. The only possible compromise they were going to get out of the debt deal is a mixture of new taxes and spending cuts. Obama offered them exactly this, and they turned it down, likey because of the potential backlash from the tea party. A budget with just cuts would die a quick death. So really, the only viable political solution is for the GOP to hand over the debt increase, but in such a way that makes them look good to their base, and Obama look good to his.
ReplyDeleteHonestly though, I don't think it's that big of a deal. Interest rates are low enough that we can afford to keep borrowing without much, if any, of a squeeze-out effect. A deal of this sort is far, far, preferable to a government shutdown or default, so really, McConnell is making the best of a bad situation.
"McConnell, along with the rest of the GOP, is stuck. The only possible compromise they were going to get out of the debt deal is a mixture of new taxes and spending cuts."
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily. If they continue to hold out they may be able to force the president's & Democrats hand to make cuts without taxes, in return for raising the debt ceiling.
"Obama offered them exactly this, and they turned it down, likey because of the potential backlash from the tea party."
They turned it down because of backlash from the vast majority of GOP voters who want government spending cut, and oppose new taxes. Republicans weren't voted in in 2010 to help Obama raises taxes.
"A budget with just cuts would die a quick death."
If that's really the case, that's an even stronger argument for no compromise.
"So really, the only viable political solution is for the GOP to hand over the debt increase, but in such a way that makes them look good to their base, and Obama look good to his"
That's not a viable political solution. The Republican base will be outraged across the board by this sort of cave-in. You have only to read the reaction all over the blogosphere on sites frequented by the GOP base.
"A deal of this sort is far, far, preferable to a government shutdown or default"
For someone who thinks more of the same is ok, yes. Those who want to see real cuts to government spending disagree.
Obama has boxed the Republicans into a corner. It'll be similar to when the government shut down under Clinton and the Republicans were blamed for it. Politically speaking, the Republicans have the choice of two evils: pissing off their base (increasing revenues) or possibly losing the seniors and independents (the Dems will blame the Repubs for that).
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't see the House agreeing to giving Obama a blank check until the next election.
ReplyDelete" It'll be similar to when the government shut down under Clinton and the Republicans were blamed for it. "
ReplyDeleteMaybe, but I'm not sure about that this time. They'll certainly be blamed by the press, but I'm not certain the public will buy it.
If social security checks stop arriving? If other government programs are forced to close? If the stock market panics and we enter another recession? You can be sure the republicans will be taking the blame, as they should. They've had numerous chances to compromise with the democrats and avoid a shutdown; if they refuse to to do, the blame rests entirely on them.
ReplyDelete"If that's really the case, that's an even stronger argument for no compromise. "
Since when? The republicans want a debt ceiling increase coupled with spending cuts. The Democrats want a clean raise. Neither side has the votes to get what they want, so they hold negotiations and reach a compromise. In this case, the compromise involves everyone getting something. The republicans and the democrats get a higher debt limit and the democrats agree to spending cuts in exchange for higher taxes. That is politics at its most basic form, and the republicans seem to be incapable of grasping it. As a result, they've left themselves with two choices; agree to a clean raise, or pitch the country into another recession. Either way, they have only themselves to blame.
I'm not yet sure if this is a good or a bad move by the GOP. I have to say, McConnell's move takes away the Obama talking point that Republicans are standing in the way.
ReplyDeleteSince they're so bad at playing the media game, that's an important victory.
"If social security checks stop arriving?"
ReplyDeleteI think the odds of that happening are extremely slim.
"If other government programs are forced to close?"
That would be a good thing, depending on the program.
"They've had numerous chances to compromise with the democrats and avoid a shutdown; if they refuse to to do, the blame rests entirely on them. "
Nonsense. There's no reason that tax hikes have to accompany spending cuts. Democrats could decide at any time that they are willing to make cuts without tax increases in return for raising the debt ceiling. The idea that we need tax hikes in order to have cuts is a purely arbitrary Democratic position. Saying the GOP will be solely to blame for a default is nothing more than Democratic propaganda.
"That is politics at its most basic form, and the republicans seem to be incapable of grasping it. "
They grasp it all too well, that's why many of them aren't going along with it this time. We'll never get significant cuts in government if we give the government more to spend. They know that rank-and-file GOP voters, including ones like me who are normally in favor of compromise solutions, will not be happy if they cave in to Democratic demands for higher taxes.
"McConnell's move takes away the Obama talking point that Republicans are standing in the way."
ReplyDeleteIt also gives more power to the president, and it comes off like a transparent gimmick to avoid responsibility.
"The idea that we need tax hikes in order to have cuts is a purely arbitrary Democratic position"
ReplyDeleteJust like the idea that we can't raise the debt ceiling without spending cuts is a purely arbitrary Republican position. Both are political positions held by various members of congress based on what they think is best for the country. Since neither party has the required votes to get their own way 100%, the two sides negotiate and reach a deal that involves what both parties getting something, but not everything. The republicans have just made the mistake of refusing to accept the results of said negotiations, and at this point have the choice of backtracking on their word, folding, or pitching the country back into a recession.
"
They grasp it all too well, that's why many of them aren't going along with it this time. We'll never get significant cuts in government if we give the government more to spend. They know that rank-and-file GOP voters, including ones like me who are normally in favor of compromise solutions, will not be happy if they cave in to Democratic demands for higher taxes. "
You seem to love this claim. In no way can the debt be solved through spending cuts alone; it's too large, and the tax burden is too low. Serious reforms to SS, Medicare, Medicaid, and the military will have to be part of balancing the long term budget, yes, but it cannot be done without new taxes.
As to the idea that the republicans would be giving into the dems, well, they kind of have to. They don't have the votes to push through a purely republican budget. Compromise is unavoidable.