Associated Press
House Speaker John Boehner's "Plan B" p.r. stunt only makes sense if he can convince his caucus to play along. The problem, of course, is that many House Republicans don't feel like it.
While twisting arms yesterday, the Speaker pleaded with his colleagues -- the folks he ostensibly leads -- reminding them that his plan has been endorsed by conservative stalwarts such as FreedomWorks. This afternoon, FreedomWorks announced it has changed its mind, and is urging Republicans to vote against Boehner's plan.
Left with dwindling options, the Speaker keeps trying to make his "Plan B" more palatable by making it uglier.
[N]ow Plan B also tries to roll back Dodd-Frank bank regulation reforms and turn us back to Bush-era financial regulation policy. It also cuts food stamps, Medicaid spending, and some Affordable Care Act provisions. In other words, it's a whole conservative Christmas tree.
There's nothing wrong with that. If the point of the legislation is to outline a conservative alternative to Obama's position, they may as well stuff it with things conservatives like. But it's worth examining the ornaments. When John Boehner needs to add spending cuts to a deficit reduction bill to make his most conservative members happy, they don't want to re-index Social Security benefits. They don't want to monkey with the Medicare eligibility age. That's not the stuff that gets them jazzed up. Taking food out of the mouths of hungry children, by contrast, is something they're excited about. They're eager to reduce regulation on banks and cut back on poor people's health care. Cutting spending on the elderly is something they'll maybe consider as part of a deal with Obama. Cutting spending on the poor is their idea of Christmas.
Well said. We're not just learning how feckless John Boehner is as a House Speaker -- the weakest in modern times -- we're also getting a very good look at Republicans' true priorities. For all of their demands about entitlement reforms, when GOP leaders have to entice support from their conference, they try to gut aid to the poor. Period. Full stop.
Of course, if Boehner somehow passes this ridiculous bill, he'll try to deflect blame -- he raised taxes on millionaires and billionaires, he'll insist, but Democrats balked at his plan so it's their fault the process collapsed.
But "Plan B" isn't just about top marginal rates. It's been loaded up like an Ayn Rand Christmas tree, filled with right-wing ornaments, while giving most of the very rich a tax cut, and increasing taxes on lower and middle income households.
Is it any wonder Boehner is struggling so badly to get to 218?
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It’s as if the GOP has been obstructing for so long (solely in order to make the President look bad and to hell with the country) that they have no interest in learning how to actually govern. Boehner is about to pass a pointless bill protecting tax cuts for those who earn just under a Million--a bill the Tea Party hates, one Democrats won't
support and the President will veto--all to posture for the Tea Party. Everything Boehner does is to placate the crazies instead of to secure the
middle class.
The GOP leader who claims to believe that "Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem," has proposed a bill with no spending cuts. (only now he is casting about for cuts because he lacks the votes). But Grover Norquist has given his blessing so leaving the negotiating table when a deal was within reach, and again ignoring the will of the electorate, Boehner does his master's bidding with a bill that
is the worst of all worlds. Has there ever been such a political coward standing as Speaker of the House?
The GOP has lost its way and needs a time out in 2014. They have no idea how to govern and continue to wish failure for the President and the country. The party of the one percent; the party of assault weapons.
The party of death and taxes for the middle class.
Bonehead only pays attention to the Teapots that watch FOX. To them he is their leader. lol. GOP is a joke! Just take a look at a FOX viewer FB page. Filled with HATE. Anyone not agreeing with them they spew anger at them. They cannot see past their HATE and CONTEMPT for Obama winning the election. Its so very sad.
The problem with "Plan B" is that most Republicans remember it as the Morning After pill. They'll never support it.
You want to hear how nutty some of the Republicans are? Go to CSPAN - they are "debating" Plan B!
My favorite Boner story...a friend's 12 year old boy was attending a recent CA GOP candidate fund raiser in October (with his GOP parents) and was asked if he wanted to meet Boner. He said yes, and as with all 12 year boys, a little nervous and unsure, he walked up with is hands in his pockets. Boner's first words were, "listen young man, when you meet the Speaker of the House, take your hands out of your pockets." A little later, the same person asked if he enjoyed meeting the SOH and he simply said, "yes, but he's an a**hole." Pretty much sums it all up!
Laughed so hard I scared the cats! Thanks for that nugget.
Republicans - SNAP OUT OF IT! You lost the election and the majority of Americans said, let the Bush Tax Cuts expire on those making more than $250,000. Have these folks pay taxes at the Clinton rates for any income over the $250k threshold. This was discussed for a year and voted on by the American people. Over. Done. Shut up and move along. There is nothing to compromise here. THE PEOPLE ALREADY DECIDED.
Oh, I see, you are incapable of following the will of the people. Guess this means that I will have to keep informed and involved in order to get you guys out of office in 2014. Not a problem. I will wait you out. I am tough. I am resilient. I am a registered voter.
No one did without and the rich was taxed in such a way they did not bytch about it and Clinton left us with a surplus. Sound math works. We need to do that again.
It's high time we got rid of this do-nothing congress! Do we have to wait two years? If we were dissatisfied with a president we could impeach him.....so what can we do with the congress? If they worked in the public sector most would be fired by this time. Boehner is like the spoiled child who doesn't want to share his toys.......AT ANY COST!
Awwww - Boehner lost control of his people so he stopped the debated and vote on Plan B. The House adjourned and went home for Christmas!!
Why not? I suspect all this game playing was just to make it look like they were doing something, while it was just a play for time. They know the prez will give them all in about 10 days.
It's too late to talk about "plan B" and Boehner. They should have worn a condom and we wouldn't have this problem. That goes for Ryan and Co. too.
This story would be moire correctly titled "Guess What the GOP is Smoking; Pot"
@rachel is right...Bohner is lousy at his job!
There needs to be a name for these un-passable, completely fantastical, symbolic bills the GOP will write and pass (or not even pass) in this session of congress like this Plan B.
Let's come up with something.
This plan bills remind me of a parent who plays with their kid to shoot for the moon on their Christmas list.
Parent: "What do you want for Christmas?""
Kid: "I want a dinosaur and a working time machine and a winged horse and a house made of cotton candy and a swimming pool full of gumballs"
Parent: "And how about a Balloon that can travel to the moon and a mile high chocolate waterfall?"
Kid: "Great idea. Let's put that on the list too Mommy"
Either this is some master plan or the speaker has no control whatsoever of his caucus
See #34.1
As far as I see it, we have a group of treasonous T-Party subversives in our House of Reps. who will not be reasoned with, have no common sense, and whose loyalty is not to their country but to a group of crazed right wing ideologues who are engorged with Koch and T-party money.
This is some new form of fascism and it is a danger to our Democracy.
We have no choice now but going over the cliff. Not one of these obstructionist will ever, ever compromise. They were put there to destroy and they are determined to do that. We might as well bargain with the terminator.
Boehner is helpless against these terrorists. So is the country at the moment.
Merry Christmas, everybody. Good luck, Mr. President. You're gonna need it. I see no way out but the cliff.
The Republicans win if we go over the fiscal cliff. Their plan is to bankrupt America.
They had us in 2 wars that almost bankrupted us, leaving us trillions of $$ in debt. That didn't do it so they tried to ruin the financial markets and bursting the housing bubble leaving homes worth about 25% less. NOW Republicans are willing to let us go over the financial cliff to achieve there GOAL of BANKRUPTING AMERICA.....WE MUST HOLD THE TRAITORS ACCOUNTABLE!!!
I don't think the Republicans win in any case. Less damage to the country if we go over the cliff.
I think if congress lets us go over the hill they are committing treason. How can the tea party care so little about our country. It is our country not theirs.
Boehner's plan C is a case of scotch.
Oh, such bitter tears, India. Is he crying again. Bottles up...... ROTFFL.
What planet are these people from? Stop paying them and levy a penalty for every day they don't come up with an agreement.
Now that "Plan B" from John"Orange Glow" Boehner has FAILED ..
president Obama has the upper hand in these negotiations and can now wait until John Boehner CAPITULATES !...
And if president Obama goes over the "MAYAN APOCALYPTIC FISCAL CLIFF" he will have John Boehner by the balls... And will be able to negotiate a deal that will be on better DEMOCRATIC terms..
So Mr.president , do not be afraid to go over that cliff, Wall Street will preasure John Boehner to CAPITULATE and accept ANY deal if that happens.. and republicans in Congress will have no other choice but to go along and accept the deal on your terms...
Plan C - Hoping the Mayan's were right and the end of the world comes before they have to come up with a Plan D.
Perhaps there is another angle to Speaker John Boehner. He wants to make sure he is remembered as having stood up to the President - and he "ain't gonna let no Black man get the best of him!". Ever think how he really feels about President Obama in the WHITE HOUSE? It's an elephant sitting in a room that keeps shrinking, tightening a noose around the Speaker. No one has brought up the "R" card - but could it be lurking a few layers beneath just waiting to erupt? You can call it "disagreement" - "loyal opposition" - "variant points of view", but deep down is there anyone who dares call it what it really is? Time - and memoirs - will tell.