Associated Press
A year ago, immediately after the debt-ceiling fiasco was resolved, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered a chilling assessment of the crisis he helped create. "What we did learn is this -- it's a hostage that's worth ransoming," he said.
It's one of the more important comments McConnell has ever made. He and his allies had just threatened to crash the economy on purpose, which led to severe consequences, including our first modern downgrade. But the lesson the Republicans' Senate leader learned from the debacle is that he should do all of this all over again.
And with this in mind, this week's comments are not surprising. McConnell realizes he can't win the fight over taxes, so he'll simply hold the full faith and credit of the United States hostage again until President Obama pays a ransom Republicans find satisfactory.
The top Republican in the Senate acknowledged Tuesday that President Obama has the upper hand in the debate about income tax rates on high income Americans. And he became the highest ranking GOP official to assert that Republicans will have to wait until next year, when the debt limit needs to be raised, to effectively push for cuts to social programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
McConnell specifically said he sees an "opportunity ... when the debt ceiling issue arrives." He added, "We are going to insist that we have another discussion about the future of our country in connection with the request of us to raise the debt ceiling."
The Senate Republican leader is, to be sure, using the most diplomatic language possible, but there can be no doubt as to his underlying message: McConnell is threatening to hurt Americans on purpose.
If the political world treats this as somehow routine, we're making an important mistake.
Remember, Mitch McConnell has been in Congress for a quarter century and never "insisted that we have another discussion about the future of our country in connection with the request of us to raise the debt ceiling." He always treated these debt-limit increases as routine, procedural paperwork, which they were.
Indeed, even calling the debt ceiling a presidential "request" is absurd. As McConnell surely knows, the United States has obligations, one of which is to pay our bills. When the White House tells Congress it's not a "request," it's a reminder. Obama isn't saying, "Would you guys mind raising the debt ceiling for me?" He's saying, "The bill for the money we already spent is here and it's time to pay it."
But my fear is that McConnell will once again demand a ransom and the coverage will pretend that it's just another political squabble in Washington. As Greg Sargent explained:
McConnell and Boehner believe the threat of damage to the economy is a perfectly legitimate lever to use to get what the GOP wants.... This is not business as usual, in which each side is demanding concessions from the other. In this case, one side is asking for concessions in exchange for not hurting the whole country, and spinning any eventual agreement not to do that as a concession on their part. It's a remarkable maneuver, when you think about it.
Quite right. It's time to start thinking about the debt-ceiling fight less as a political fight and more as a national scandal. Between 1939 and 2010, Congress raised the debt limit 89 times, and in 89 instances, lawmakers resisted the urge to threaten the nation unless non-negotiable demands were met. No party, in other words, ever held the nation hostage until 2011.
McConnell and his party -- who were responsible for adding trillions of dollars to the debt they now pretend to find outrageous -- have created this nightmare scenario, on purpose. They've changed the rules of the game, on purpose. They're threatening to undermine the global economy, on purpose.
And if they keep getting rewarded for taking the nation hostage, we'll simply see a never-ending series of crisis indefinitely into the future. After all, as McConnell put it, Republicans see the health and stability of our economy as "a hostage that's worth ransoming."
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He is busy working on that 9% approval rating... Being a modern Republican literally requires you to be a complete hypocrite.
We here in Ky.,the smart ones have never voted for McTurtle Face and are ashamed that he and teapot rand paul are what we have to speak for us.There are a ton of Faux ites who love them but not the compassionate, educated,people with hearts.
Why is it unsurprising an unreconstructed Southern traitor would be attacking and trying to destroy the United States?
pap: Kentucky will elect Ashley Judd in 2 years...
I wish it were true Lebowsky, but I highly doubt it. In Kentucky, being a UK fan is a big deal, unfortunately. Being a liberal is, too, in a very negative way. Ashley Judd is both, but liberal is despised outside of the Louisville and Lexington areas. Being a UK fan, I'm afraid, isn't enough to make up for it. McConnell actually went to UK for law school (and UofL for undergraduate).
I can't remember the term that's used where President Obama can simply ignore the Debt Ceiling vote and push this through on his own.
Since he's not running again, what's the down side for him doing this?
The Democrats need to make a BIG DEAL out of this to the American public and they need to start doing it NOW.
--------------
Republican voters have certainly allowed the patients to run the asylum.
It's exercising the 14th Amendment, which basically says that the debts of the US must be paid. The President already has said that he doesn't see this as an option in the debt ceiling fight. We'll see if he sticks to that.
Hear! Hear! The Democrats need to make a BIG DEAL out of this to the American public and they need to start doing it NOW.
Every day all day . Every Operative , Every Program
This is a national scandal !The Republicans are trying to hurt the country by using the economy as a hostage .
Lather , Repeat
Or even better hire Luntz to give us a devastating one liner talking point
Dog - I believe that the description you are searching for is {Executive Order} !
These gop/tp are just completely disgusting , I still can't believe that they are getting paid by US for doing nothing but damage to the American people and America itself !
I thought it was called the "nuclear option" and Pres. Obama should use it! He should also make it clear when he does do it that he raises the limit high enough that he won't have to revisit this issue again in the next few years, so that the Repubs can't do this to the country again.
Personally? He gets impeached. It would be easy for the House to get a majority to pass the Bill of Impeachment given the House's lockstep Republican Party discipline.
The odds of getting 2/3 of the Senate to convict are, to say the least, slim.
However, there's also the problem that it would be a serious Constitutional crisis -- and only fools provoke those.
Alas, the House Republicans are doing exactly that in pushing for a situation where there is, literally, no way at all for the President to "faithfully administer the law." Tax law? Congress. Appropriations? Congress. Debt? Dictated by the previous two and by the debt ceiling. In the conditions about to apply, Obama will be in the situation famously faced by Lincoln: keep one law and violate the others, or violate one law and keep the rest.
Since he is not running again, the Republicans would attempt to get at President Obama by taking their spite out on the American people--starting with the poor, the sick, and the elderly. They have shown many times that they have no sympathy for anyone who won't line their pockets.
Obama has the global example that austerity isn't working. He knows the US stimulus did work and could work again just as things are sliding backward a bit, if given the chance.
The Repubicans have the global example that austerity isn't working. They know the US stimulus worked and could work again, if given the chance.
Thus, we have gridlock in our government.
NMC, is that original?
Because whoever thought of it, it's lovely.
I wrote it, and thanks.
When a party starts and thinks holding America hostage then there is something wrong with the party. This is the new terrorist party to the American economy. They don't worry they are rich and paid by Taxpayer dollars. Something is very wrong with this strategy
I'm thinking how do you recall and impeach members of Congress? They are traitors to US by doing this, they are also traitors to the "Oath of Office" that they take.
Once a Confederate traitor, always a Confederate traitor. Go read Alexander Stephens' "Cornerstone Speech" to see how they have never changed.
The voters who put/kept these Senators and Representatives in office need to make a decision...do they want to lose bigger and bigger chunks of their personal American dream or obstruct a president they don't like (hate) (told to hate)?
Listening to my local conservatives, it is the latter. But I don't blame them.
In my meager opinion, this mass brainwashing can be almost entirely laid at the foot of the Murdock/Ailes portraits hanging in the ornate corporate offices of News Corps. Fox News with their "interpretation" of events in Washington, parroted by loyal echo chambers, have blanketed the nation with such blatant pro-conservative propaganda that we now stand on the brink of political disaster.
There's too many people picking hate of a president over welfare of our nation. And he doesn't deserve it.
“I supported Mitt Romney, filibustered my own idea and want to crash the economy on purpose. I’m just filled with great ideas”
And, we are all going to send lots of money to Ashley Judd as soon as she really does decide to run against this jerk. Right?
No matter how bad Mitch is I can't support an entertainer in this position.
It doesn't matter what her ideas are, I would take a corrupted, lying, cheating, career politician over somebody that showed up in a film.
Reagan?
"I would take a corrupted, lying, cheating, career politician over somebody that showed up in a film."
All that shows is you have absolutely no understanding of what it takes to be an entreprenuer in the entertainment business, when you are your own product and the competition is relentless and fierce - just to get to practice your craft in any meaningful way.
To succeed at that requires building a multi-national business hinging solely on your ability to sustain your product.
Anyone who can do that successfully for decades without imploding is a VERY successful business person.
And you're so silly you'd ignore that in favor of a corrupt politician. Or is it because she's a pretty girl and therefore dismissable?
Then you need to do some research on Ashley Judd.
She does far less acting now than she does humanitarian work, which you can easily Google. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Kentucky, and graduated Harvard and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
And I don't think she is "corrupted, lying, or cheating" anybody.
He can even sing and do a dance number. Nobody is amused or entertained more than the Tea Party right now, they tried to replace all the Republicans with some kind of a prejudice society group of publicans. They have no idea what they have done to America. They have been banned on making any other major decisions. They need to lay their cards on the table and then fold. You gotta know when to walk away, know when to run. They need to start running away from real Americans. Try the exclusive Gentlemens' club, which has just turned off every real woman. It's creepy.
I say storm the Capitol, weapons and all and hang McConnell, and any other TEA BAGGER
Platinum trillion-dollar coins!
Has anyone thoroughly checked this out? Supposedly gold is regulated, but the Prez can instruct the Treasury to issue platinum coins at whatever denomination, amount, and frequency as he so directs.
Yeah but that would cause crazy pre WW2 German inflation. Not a good idea either in the long run.
The Secretary of the Treasury has the legal authority to sell gold from the reserves. I like this idea for two reasons:
Sell lots of gold
Is there is nothing else that can be done to the campaign funders to enable the responsible (sic) republicans to act properly on the behalf of the country? This may not problem since campaign funders can just buy the trillion dollar coin, lend it to the government and begin the dictatorship.
http://beforeitsnews.com/gold-and-precious-metals/2012/12/the-coin-analyst-trillion-dollar-platinum-coins-and-san-francisco-eagle-set-number-released-2459870.html
There is still gold in the our reserve?
About $275, although at current prices it may be several times that.
Not just the stupid party,, it's also the party of knee-jerk bigotry, pathological lying, avarice, war-mongering,,
...and hatred of their fellow human beings.
"But my fear is that McConnell will once again demand a ransom and the coverage will pretend that it's just another political squabble in Washington."
Your fears, Steve, will be realized.
There's as much chance of the political media establishment exposing McConnell's crass anti-American partisan hackdom as there was of them exposing Romney as the pathological serial liar he was.
Zero.
With the Beltway Press Corpse is America's native moron class.
I think we can over whelm the corporate msm with the truth this time , most of wall st and every sane voter will raise hell about this , I have a feeling the gop are finally going to cross a bridge of no return this time , and america is going to actually turn on these retard voters , and the absolutely worthless msm for the jokes they are
But the DC dems have to play it just right , and hopefully they/ we are all organized on this issue when it happens , just leave the gop morons and the msm standing alone with this made up BS , let them negotiate with themselves , and the msm will look as idiotic as the gop , then maybe more people will figure what is up, and what is down, with these fictional kkklowns
We can all be active in this , we just have to strike at the right time
McConnell is bluffing. The business community is absolutely opposed to another debt ceiling crisis because it will hurt American companies as well as the world economy. If Republicans try to use the debt ceiling as a hostage, the establishment Republicans are going to come under heavy pressure from business and campaign contributions to the party will drop significantly. That would put Republicans at a disadvantage in the 2014 elections, particularly in the House. I would expect some Republicans to join with Dems on the debt ceiling.
You don't negotiate with terrorists, right? These people have adopted the mantle of guerilla warriors, striking without warning (MI union legislation is just a shot across the bow to say they're not dead yet) and acting without regard for collateral damage. I agree with DogJudge in #2 above. Call them out on this at every opportunity.
So basically the GOP are a bunch of economic terrorists... What else is new?
I'm not in favor if Guantanemo Bay... but now I'm thinking there might be available cells for McConnell and Ryan and other terrorists and am much less opposed to Gitmo.
These crackpots are really shaking up my own value system.
Every appropriations bill that is passed by congress should have a provision that raises the debt ceiling by the amount that is appropriated, along with an amount to pay the interest on issuing the debt.
Hear, hear. If Obama had had the least clue that the Republicans would actually pull this stunt, he could have threatened to veto any bill that didn't and the Senate could have added it to every appropriation.
At which point the Republicans would have been in the position of explaining how their objections to doing so related to "fiscal responsibility."
So... our credit rating is worth the risk??? So... who cares about what world thinks of how WE get things done??? It doesn't matter to completely collapse the US as long as you do everything in your power to make that disaster happen???
How does this "man" sleep at night? How does this party think they are doing a great thing?
I am 48. I can remember a time where most of us stuck together on things. That we were proud to be a citizen of the United States of America! Anyone around for 1976??? We had school plays tooting our horns on how proud it was to be here and what we stood for. After the tragic events of 9/11/2001... we banded together for the greater good and agreed what needed to be done (even though some things went out of control).
Now... this group of terrorists makes me embarrassed. They don't care. They really do not.
I wish only the absolute WORST for all those acting this way. Karma get's you sooner or later. Your time is coming McConnell.
Vomit inducing trash from the RIGHT!
The collapse of the global economy is worth holding in front of the president. Someone said 'economic terrorists' referring to the Republicans, and this is a decent way to put it. It's literally "do what we want or the global economy gets it."
How these people aren't tried for treason is beyond me.
Katherine...
It's just awful that people stoop to the level they do. And, like I said... absolutely no moral responsibility for any tactics or terrorism they use. They should be tried.
What I don't understand is how people can keep voting these people back into office? I think the time has come for a full accounting of who has tried to damage our country and who has to go because of it. Plain and simple. When Dems run in 2014, they should run on that issue loud and clear and make sure its at the forefront of every political ad. Its the only way to make sure people know about it because the mainstream media sure doesn't tell anyone. If you don't see it on MSNBC, you don't see it at all.
Because there are people who do not understand what the debt limit is. There are people who do not understand how our government operates. They're stupid and willfully ignorant. Politicians understand this and so they're never held accountable for the outright lies they tell.
I had a debate yesterday with user RobDon on this subject and it was clear he has no clue what the debt limit is. People believe it's an authorization to spend more money when it's not. As long as it's framed this way, Republicans can play the electorate like violins. The M$M is too afraid to tell the truth and thus we have economic terrorists running the place.
And on that count, in my estimation, Bin Laden won.
You have those people , but then you have a lot of gop voters who actually do want our government to collapse , because THE CONSTITUTION is just to dam liberal for them
And imo , The idiot ROBDON voters would lov to see it happen just as much , they are just to chicken to admit it
It's time for the President to not only speak out against the debt ceiling fight but to use his power as POTUS to take away the republican new threat toy. It seems like public opinion does not matter to the repubs in congress as they continue to do whatever they like despite their low approval ratings. And the media needs to state just how much each taxpaying citizen is paying because of last year's republican induced debt ceiling debacle. Also the dems need to get in front of the cameras each day and rail about this like the repubs did with the President's push for affordable health care. Everyday the repubs were defaming it which led to a high disapproval rating by the time the vote came. Get on the horn dems!!!!
It's time for the President to not only speak out against the debt ceiling fight but to use his power as POTUS to take away the republican new threat toy.
Did you see his speech to the Business Roundtable? He made that point, and the way he said it was very much like my late father on dealing with a new child misbehavior: "this has to stop now." Those who know children know that the first time is crucial, because once they get away with something it becomes normal.
And from one father watching another, that's exactly what the President was saying: one way or another, that gambit is not going to work. Perhaps PBO has read Kipling, do you think?
I hate to think that both sides of the isle are so owned by wall street they will cave to influence and trade medicare and SSI for a small tax increase on the rich. But this is what it looks like at this time. The Dems are beginning to talk out of both sides of their mouth as the young guns mount up. Dems must stand with the voters to eviscerate the tea party and their antics. Since De Mint resigned, it seems that Rand Paul has become TP mouthpiece claiming that the President is "dead wrong" on his assertions for taxation. This rhetoric is threatening.
We have given the President our mandate. Dems better not cave on this once and for all. We as voters, are willing to tighten our belt one more notch and stand on principles of justice in the economy.
Call your senators today and get them to take a position on no cuts. The "wobbly" caucus is the majority right now, though I called both Boxer and Feinstein today and was told they are now going to issue statements in opposition to SS/Medicare/Medicaid cuts. Get yours to take a position too. There's a list of who needs calling over at TPM.
My Iowa reps are saying the same thing , but everyone has to get behind their reps , or voice their disapproval to your gop reps , the more they hear from people , the more pressure they are under when they try and screw the pooch
Their plan is to blame it on the black man in the white house! Fox news is affective in continuing the racism, the conservative agenda, that's reality. Edward R. Murrow said that TV was numbing the masses and he was right. So are all of the new electronic devises to occupy our attention. Journalism no longer looks for the truth, everything is opinion. Yes, I remember the 70's. The small town I grew up in went to hell in 1973 when manufacturing left the area. Speaking for myself, I wish I lived in a small town community, knowing my neighbors and the local business owners instead of strip mall after strip mall of the same corporations. The Republicans have so far been successful in their power grab in local, state, and federal gov'ts and they have been able to manage this under the gise of religious morality and Fox News. I have friends that post on FB from Glenn Beck and then to read the following comments are scary. My friends are nice people, but Glenn Beck! couldn't you pick better sources? It's sad that the best, informative yet funny news comes from Jon Stewart on the Daily Show when he points out Fox News' hipocrasy. I love him.
I also want to point out that in my 50+ years of life, I do not know one person who makes $250,000. a year. It might be that a revolution is in order. I also think that lack of discussion on gun control is that they are hoping that all of this Republican oppression will lead us to just start killing each other to get rid of the moochers. Think about all of the drug busts in NYC targeting black youths for small amounts of marijuana. The numbers are growing in our jails and the Republicans want to privitize our correctional facilities, hmmm who do you think will profit from that? Republicans!
I for one will be supporting Ashley Judd.
Im for it, and about 200thousand other people, Revolution, Kill those Reperbs and TEA PARTIERS
They never learn. This guy needs a case of whoop-ass!
Counterproposal from the White House:
When are we going to wise up and call a spade a spade. What Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are doing is quite simply committing an act of treason. Look it up!!!
TREASON, then lets hang the bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get a ROPE.
Finally someone has said what needs to be said. Yes they are committing treason. It's a punishable offense.
Why are they getting away with it?
This man is a DANGER to our nation! For the good of our country Mister McConnell must be forced to take a psychological evaluation. At the very least made to step down from office? The President should have this man called into his office to have a talking down to. McConnell here of late is becoming more mentally unstable than usual and he must be told this so we can move on to allow our Senate to function properly.
How much damage can a Senator willfully inflict on the nation before we get to charge him with treason?
Acting as an elected official? Infinite.
Seriously -- think of how that power would be used by the "wrong people." You don't want to go there.
People need to realize that the Debt Ceiling is paying our bills that have come due, NOT raising the debt ceiling for bills that will come due. If Republicans want to stop debt, then they must stop spending BEFORE the debt comes due. Now, while I certainly agree to cuts in wasteful programs or programs that work but also create waste; I do not believe in cutting funding to our own citizens who may need Federal assistance in one form or another. Another important thing: Social Security and Medicare are NOT part of the Budget process as they are self funded and have their own line items. One thing (the debt ceiling) has absolutely nothing to do with the other (Social Security and Medicare). I say use the 14th Amendment to circumvent Congress. That Amendment says, "the validity of the US Debt cannot be questioned"; in other words, not to pay it is unconstitutional. Therefore, if Congress insists on holding the debt ceiling hostage, President Obama should simply use the 14th Amendment and as he is sworn to uphold the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic, he should declare the ceiling raised unilaterally. President Clinton supports this position and for sure would have President Obama's back. The hell with Congress and their games...the time to act and be decisive is NOW. Use the 14th, and then have serious talks about our current and future debt as well as a reexamination of social programs. Those programs should not be held hostage for a short time and revamp them on the fly; careful thought and consideration MUST be used to prolong/save them.
We should agree to cut medicare and SS as soon as they finish paying back all the money they borrowed from it for their stupid wars. Until it is paid back, no cuts.
When are we going to start calling a spade a spade. Mitch McConnell and John Boehner are committing acts of treason against the citizens of the United States as well as the elected goverment of the United States.
These two don't care about the American Public. It's all for them and their rich friends.. There is only one way to get rid of this slim is to personally throw them out. Look what happened in Michigan, they locked the doors so the public couldn't get in. When they were in they should have started at the top floor opened the window and threw everything and everyone out. It's the people's house and they locked them out. If we the public don't wake up and clean house nothing will change. Voting doesn't get it anymore.
I am tired of all the games the should ALL BE FIRED ...
Like Join us to fight against this garbage
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Impeach-JOHN-Boehner-and-House-Republicans/469425329766971?ref=hl
We need to seriously "vet" the folks we elect for any office. And right now we need to clean out Congress and get some officials who have the county's well being in mind. This foolishness is going to cost us big bucks, and these obstructionists don't give a damn.
Seriously vetting potential congressional candidates, if we're gonna do it right, should go something like this:
All applicants applying for election to any office of public representation would be required to publicly disclose their medical and psychological history, educational records, military records, tax, investment holdings, criminal arrest records and employment history before their name could be placed on any ballot.
All applicants would be required to meet the same psychological stability and physical fitness requirements that nuclear missile silo launch crew personnel are required to meet before being allowed near missile launch control panels.
All applicants would be required to reveal all domestic and foreign donors.
All applicants would be screened for sexual predatory/pedophile preferences and traits.
All applicants would be screened for fanatical religious, racist or cult beliefs.
Upon being elected all public representatives would be required to;
All elected representatives would be banned from all communications with any lobbyists, con-men, known liars, thieves, perverts, religious fanatics, corporation CEO's, hookers and criminals, either directly or indirectly.
All elected representatives would be required to read in entirety... and pass a test on the content of each bill, with a grade of B+ or higher, before they can cast a vote for any legislation.
All elected representatives would be required to pass urine and breathalyzer tests before each vote they cast for any legislation and be subject to random substance abuse testing at all other times.
All elected representatives would be required to live in public housing while in Washington DC and public housing in their own districts when there, for the first year of their term.
All elected representatives would be required to take public transportation and pay for all travel needs, local, national and international.
All elected representatives would be required to pay for the most expensive and least effective health insurance plan with the highest co-payments available when they enter office.
All elected representatives would be paid based on meeting quarterly performance requirement goals.
All elected representatives would be exempt from obtaining any taxpayer supported pension plan while holding office...etc., etc., etc.
…Sort of sounds like what the rest of us have to go through when we apply for a job or what we have to endure to keep the jobs we have.