Democrats and Republicans struck a deal last summer on spending levels for the upcoming year, clearing the way for a smooth budget process. House GOP leaders recently decided to ignore the agreement they accepted, make even deeper cuts, and tell Democrats they have to give in or there will be a government shutdown shortly before the election.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), in other words, has said he will no longer honor the agreement he helped strike. Last week, the White House said that's unacceptable -- President Obama is fully prepared to keep his word, but won't tolerate House Republicans breaking the hard-fought deal.
Today, reporters asked the Speaker about the administration's veto threat (thanks to James Carter for the clip).
For those who can't watch clips online, here's a transcript of the exchange:
Q: Last week the acting OMB director sent a letter to Congressional appropriators saying that basically the top line agreed to in the Budget Control Act, that the President would veto it if it's not met.
BOEHNER: Blah blah blah blah blah, alright, so?
Q: Is that an official response?
BOEHNER: Yes.
The Speaker is breaking his word, he's being called on it, and he doesn't care.
Incidentally, in the exact same press briefing, Boehner complained that Obama's efforts on student loan interest rates are beneath "the dignity" of the presidency.
No word yet on whether the Speaker believes "Blah blah blah blah blah" is beneath "the dignity" of his office.
Incidentally, House Republicans continue to push ahead with a spending plan that ignores the agreement they already accepted, and some of the sillier members of the Senate Republican caucus, including Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), agree with the House GOP's push.
If Republicans keep this up, the likelihood of a government shutdown shortly before the November elections grows.
Update: This post has been edited slightly to reflect the addition of the video.
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If there is a gawd! Please House R's (retards), shut down the government!!! I dare you to!
Does this mean someone in congress with a backbone is actually going to stand up for the people and proclaim "spending money we don't have is wrong?"
Thank you Gawd!
No it means that the r's are, as many of us knew, treacherous,treasonous weasels.
So you think a return to the government shutdown that occurred in '95 is productive??
That one cost more and created REAL hardship, confusion and other problems for everyone from moms trying to work to the military
- wrong way to make a point by RENEGING on promises.
Once more the Republican party seems bent on holding its breath till it turns blue and gets what it wants. Sorry guys you can pass out for all I care
Oh grow up
I am so totally OK with you paying for the interest on the national debt. Increasing IOU's from unfriendly countries. Printing useless money at unprecedented levels and getting the crud taxed out of each and everyone of you. (all are current ways the government is paying for deficit spending and it MUST be paid)
Leave me and the value of my hard earned money ALONE!
You belong to a society. You do not get to obfuscate your responsibility just because you are incapable of seeing anything beyond your own immediate needs and wants. You do not live in a vacuum. If you want that type of existence then by all means go buy an island and live there by yourself. Otherwise you have responsibilities to your society. Stop complaining about them and act like an adult.
Oh and by the way FDH- your money does not exist regardless of the government. the US government is what gives your capital value. If the US dollar changes in value (up or down) this affects every one of the dollars you own. Therefore the US debt situation is absolutely imperative to you if you actually value your money. This is because your income will completely disappear of the US government ceases to maintain it's treaties and market currency value.
Just saying you act like your in a position of neutrality when you talk about other people's maturity, but I can just as easily turn that same logic back on you. Think about this next time before you go out and attack people.
Somebody else drank the tea-tard, fiscal crisis kool-aid but forgot all about the (Bush) tax breaks and two war(s) costs! What a surprise!! That was my hard earned money too FDH..
Exactly Trollop!
There is a big difference between social responsibility, which I support, and fiscal irresponsibility, which I adamantly oppose. If the Bush administration, and the Congress under his watch (which allot of you wish to ignore was dominantly Democrat) wanted to reduce the revenues through tax cuts, they needed to counter it with spending cuts or increasing revenues elsewhere.
The fact that 40% of every dollar we are forced to "involuntarily donate" to the government goes to paying interest is appalling. Our tax dollars support the actions of the political elite that decided to bail out wall street, invest in bankrupt businesses (like Sylindra), save Chrysler and General Motors, fund lavish parties (like GSA), build bridges to nowhere, give billions to important science (like studying the mating rituals of shrimp), pay for campaign trips of our fearless leader (including Obama and all his predecessors), and on and on and on all without ever creating revenues to pay for it is absolutely irresponsible, and harmful to the security and well-being of our great nation.
This is not a Republican, Tea Party, Democrat, or Blue Dog thing. This is a problem of our politically motivated government that has only one thing on their minds, re-election, and we the people are on the hook for it.
It's time to STOP!
FDH
I have always treated you with politeness and respect. I expect you to do the same to me.
I apologize if I offended anyone, it is really not my intention. In fact, I thought quoting Mrs. Rivers was kinda funny.
I just get really riled up over the inability of our government (all parties) to steward our tax dollars as if it were their own, then come to us with their hand out in the name of social services, which is total bull. If they would just be more conscience of what they are doing, instead of buying votes, we wouldn't be in the situation we are.
Once again, my apologies
Apology accepted FDH. :-)
My birthday is in October and it sure would be a nice present to see the Dems grow a spine and stonewall the Repubs on this spending "issue".
Let them force a shut down. Please!
Agreed, it'd show all the people voting that when they don't show up for midterm elections, the GOP rules the Legislative Branch and we get nowhere!
Just go out and vote, people! There are enough of us in this country who think for ourselves, we just have to be willing to speak for ourselves!
Feeds into the Republica/Libertarian Grover Norquist view of having government fit in a bathtub...who cares if it shuts down? Isn't it time for criminal charges of sedition?
favedave, my birthday is the day after the November election and I just want to wake up that morning to a Republicant defeat!!!
Any public servant signing the Norquist pledge (or any pledge other than a pledge to their 'job') I think of them as traitors because they have signed an allegiance to other than their country.
Absolutely...Investigations should start now.
Yes, when will there be a completely and comprehensive investigation?
How is it not illegal to pledge loyalty/allegiance to a private citizen while serving in congress?
There is something so rotten within the republican caucus that the stench covers our nation from sea-to-shining-sea.
"If Republicans keep this up, the likelihood of a government shutdown shortly before the November elections grows."
Bring it on Bonehead!
That's. Just. Awesome.
Please tell me someone got this on video. Pleasepleaseplease.
To the Right Wing Mind (such as it is) having Video, Audio, signed Documents and depositions of all in attendance makes no difference.
The Rightie will clinch closed their eyes, put their fingers in their ears, and scream LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH ..... BLAH.
Of course the Right Wings Minions will laugh and say how they 'showed us" without realizing how the only thing they've showed us if the depths of stupid they'll go to to quiet someone.
Because the Righties don't care how they quiet what they don't want to hear, only THAT they quiet dissent, even when the method is so stupid there is nothing that can be said about it.
Forgot to say,
The Republican Politicos still have yet to become aware of 'tape', Video and Audio.
Even after NIXON, 40 years ago, they still don't get there is a thing called recording.
YAY! Video!
And Rob, I know Republicans don't care about being taped saying stupid things; confront them on it and, like the Ohio Orangeman here, they'll just double down. And the wingnutosphere will, as you said, har-dee-har-har right along, feeling triumphant as if they'd accomplished something.
But I do honestly believe that, as squishy and uninformed as much of the populace can be about who is to blame for what in our dysfunctional government, some things just stick out as the mark of...well, there's really no other way to say it...an a$$#0!&. And with one mighty "Blah blah blah," that's exactly what Boehner's has given us. Just. Awesome.
If I hadn't given up smoking, I'd want a cigarette right now...
Do the Republicans really live inside that impenetrable of a bubble?
Do you really have to ask?
Letting the republican shut down the gov't would be a gift to the dems. That's why it won't happen. They're not that stupid.
They may not be able to help themselves. Or alternatively, yes they may be that stupid.
Thanks to all those 2010 GOP voters for giving us this clown show. Hope y'all are proud.
Yes, they are that stupid.
"not stupid" Romney already told us that. Bohener was just drunk again.
Imagine a world without republicans.
it's easy if you try.
Not for me, anymore. Republicans have taught me just how awful the human being can be if it sets its mind to it.
I refer to that as heaven!
Two Points:
1. The most forward John of Orange can think is two days before yesterday so talking to him about October is akin to scolding your dog about something she did Tuesday.
2. The Republicans know they have a nominee for the Presidency who is unexciting, uninspiring and unlikely to stir the base into action. But a good old fashioned game of budgetary chicken against Obama's Muslim Communist Horde of Free-Spending Sluts and High Taxation Prostitutes (That is us , folks) just may do the trick.
Not only is Boner the weakest Speaker since Denny Hastert, and unable to control his party, but he also has Iago lurking behind the arras.
No wonder he is beginning to speak in tongues. . .
Au contraire, Day - Boehner makes even Hastert look really good. He is, therefore, the weakest Speaker since long before Hastert. Maybe ever.
And I'm sure he can drink Denny under the table.
The Republicans in the Senate are not stupid enough to force a government shutdown. They have told the House to abide by the spending agreement. That leaves Obama in the position of telling voters that a bipartisan majority of the Senate has passed the budget. If the Republicans in the House shut the government down just before the elections, the bad press is going to hurt the Republicans. Republican leaders are telling Boehner not to let the shutdown happen. Boehner should distance himself from this confrontation that the House will lose. If the shutdown is close to the elections, Boehner gets to tag Cantor for the election losses. And Republican leadership is going to go crazy if they lose the House and win the Senate.
I agree, Mike - the Senate GOP is not that stupid - but they really haven't had much success reining in the House GOP. And the House GOP does appear to be that stupid, or stubborn, which is basically the same thing.
Since both Houses have to agree for anything to get done, it doesn't really matter whether or not the Senate Republicans are on board with a government shutdown. When it comes to obstruction, it only takes one to tango.
The other week I said to one of the baggers who managed to get himself elected to our state legislature I hoped he was enjoying his two years in power. He looked at me with a mainly vacant expression and said, "What two years?"
I just smiled...
This really goes to the heart of "John Boehner is bad at his job". Please G-d, I promise to be a very good person if you will let the democrats grow a spine, & let the GOP force a government shut-down. :-) Please....
This is being done by the GOP to set up a last-minute shot before the November election as part of their "kitchen sink" strategy. Once Obama slays Romney in every debate, and is ahead in the mid-October polls, the GOP will need something to try to pin on Obama. They will allow the government to shut down, then try to blame Obama in an effort to draw voters away from him. Their hope is that enough Americans are stupid enough not to see that the shutdown happened because they themselves backed out of a deal they agreed to earlier.
If it develops this way, the media had damn well better report it completely and truthfully.
not a chance if you watch FOX!!!
Well, I implore voters to get out the vote, the folks that have money to donate, donate. I do not have money for doing that, but my email inbox is flooded with requests. These folks must be replaced and rebuked for their actions. It is obvious some people are listening to what they say and believe them.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, alright, so?… may we quote you? Yes.
But there are so many misinformed and flat out don't want a black man in the white house. Isn't that really why they hated our president "slow jamming the news"? I am not calling people stupid outright, but some folks love to hear that kind of stuff with no concept of what shutting down government means in reality. Rooting for bad economy so they can blame Democrats for what the Republicans do. It's like saying "I hope my house burns down, so I can blame the fire chief for bad response time".
If Bonehead is dumb enough to say this, he's dumb enough to let his wingnuts drive him into a shutdown.
The beauty of stupidity like that is that now when the shutdown is nigh, the DNC can run ads asking who would put the country through this again after last year and showing Bonehead up there going "blah blah blah blah."
"Didn't the Republicans give their word on a budget deal?" "Blah blah blah"
"Don't voters deserve grown-ups in their government? "Blah blah blah"
"Republican Speaker, why should Americans vote for Republicans?" "blah blah blah"
"America, you deserve better. Vote for Democrats this November."
well, at least he didn't say "fuddle duddle" like the guy who the montreal airport is named after.
When the President appears on Jimmy Fallon's show he's lowering "the status of the office." How about when the Speaker of the House answers a serious question about the budget with "Blah blah blah blah blah"?
Bingo!!!
Such a SLIME! Disgusting! Get them O U T of our Government! :-(
Obama 2012
Unfortunately, this is the official line of the GOP in the House, anything that comes out of the White House or from the Democrats until the election is over is going to be answered with "Blah, blah, blah." how childish.
As Captain Kirk once said, "No blah, blah, blah!"
Now if only Obama could find his inner Kirk.
"What the hell" - it's a desperate attitude. These useless republicans are seeing the writing on the wall. They know that no matter what they do from this point on, their childish tantrums and treasonous shenanigans of the last four years have tarred them thoroughly for the foreseeable future. It won't wash off easily, and even some of their less extreme members seem to finally understand that their "leaders" lack both integrity and political savvy. Time and time again they've made that abundantly clear, and they have even less to lose now than before. This does not bode well for the American people...but what else is news?
blah blah- boo hoo- wipe your eyes and grow up johnny b! this man needs severe hormone replacement therapy!!! i have more testosterone in my little piggy that went to the market~
I think Bonehead is using theatrics, stomping his feet and crying Hell No, isn't pulling the same kind of punch it use to. I do think the gop congress should be rebuked and replaced. I do think they are failing their jobs since day one. Where are those jobs bonehead! Yeah use the slush fund.. that is being used to pay for preventative care for who..women. Bonehead and his troop of tea totaling gops are truly the slime of slugs.
What ever happened to professionalism? Arizona governors shaking their fingers in the President's face, or senators from Iowa calling him stupid, and now an official, "blah, blah,etc?" At least back in the Reagan days when the GOP was spending our futures away and settling us up for the current economic wasteland, they were covering it up with a little dignity and decorum.
We all agree that "John Boener is bad at his job!" While we ponder a shut-down in the fall, I really think that the GOP-Tea Party is planning an October surprise to match their moral compass. There will be some kind of salacious, Clintonesque story that will come out in early October about President Obama [perhaps in a book by the Swift Boaters] that will galvanize the Evangelical Base into action. Their fear and hatred must be maxed-out on some sordid detail about the President, or his mother, so that it will get their panties in such a twist, they will be forced to come out for Romney in a BIG WAY!!
@FromDownHere: It means when it comes to welching on their agreements, the only thing that "true fiscal conservatives" have to say for themselves is, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah."
Nothing against the Welsh, but the question remains:
How can anyone trust Republicans, who vow an oath with more solemnity to Grover Norquist than to upholding their elected duties?