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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) freely admits, without a hint of shame or regret, that he intends to hold the debt ceiling hostage until Democrats accept deep cuts in social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare. Indeed, McConnell yesterday urged Democrats to act quickly, "rather than waiting until the last minute."
That's right, Mitch McConnell isn't just planning to hold the nation's economy hostage, he's already complaining about the speed with which Democrats will pay the ransom.
It's not just McConnell, of course. Every member of the congressional Republican leadership in both chambers is saying the same thing: President Obama may not want to negotiate over the debt ceiling, but as far as the GOP is concerned, the president doesn't have "any choice."
How many Republicans are standing up to say this is wrong and that their party shouldn't deliberately put the global economy at risk? So far, zero.
As the process picks up and the fight grows more intense, there's quite a bit to be afraid of, but one of the things I worry about at this stage is a false sense of routinization -- much of the political world has already started to look at debt-ceiling fights as routine, which is the exact opposite of reality. It's a manufactured crisis -- and a legitimate national scandal -- that was largely unthinkable before 2011, which the GOP hopes to normalize with the media's help.
Take this New York Times article, for example.
With the resolution of the year-end fiscal crisis just hours old, the next political confrontation is already taking shape as this city braces for a fight in February over raising the nation's borrowing limit. But it is a debate President Obama says he will have nothing more to do with. [...]
[I]t once again sets the stage for a nail-biting standoff that economists warn could lead to a damaging financial default and doubt from investors about the ability of the country to pay its obligations. [...]
Now, the president and Mr. Boehner are signaling a fresh round of take-it-or-leave it stands that are in sharp opposition: The president says increasing the borrowing limit is nonnegotiable, while Republicans say the House is all but certain to pass a bill that raises the debt limit only in exchange for significant cuts -- a challenge to Mr. Obama and the Democratic-controlled Senate.
At first blush, there's nothing especially wrong with this. It's true that Republicans are saying one thing, Democrats are saying something else, and if there's no progress, we're all in trouble.
But the NYT piece makes it seem as if this is normal. It's not.
Let me say this as plainly as I can: congressional Republicans are threatening to hurt Americans on purpose. They can rationalize the need for the threat, and perhaps even justify to themselves why the threat has merit, but that doesn't change the basic fact that GOP officials know the debt ceiling must be raised, they know failing to do so would trash the full faith and credit of the United States and likely cause catastrophic harm to the economy, they know lawmakers in both parties routinely raised the debt ceiling 89 times without precondition between 1939 and 2010, and yet, they're going through with this anyway.
There's nothing normal about this, and if the political establishment treats it as yet another partisan dispute, it will get this story wrong. In 2011, when Republicans created a brutal debt-ceiling, it not only damaged the country, it was the first time since the Civil War when an entire political party threatened, en masse, to do deliberate harm to the nation. And now, even after faring poorly in national elections, Republicans are poised to commit an act of political violence all over again.
What's more, as Greg Sargent keeps trying to explain to the political establishment, the entire argument has been twisted to the point at which raising the debt ceiling -- i.e., policymakers doing what they are required to do to prevent a default -- is somehow seen as Republicans making a concession, doing what they'd prefer not to do. That's insane, not only because Republicans have spent generations raising the debt ceiling without incident, but also because it's not a concession to do what's expected and required of you.
As Greg explained yesterday, "People need to stop pretending this is business as usual and start calling this out for what it is."
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What did Dubya teach us? Fool me once, shame on, shame on you. Fool me, the point is not to get fooled again.
How does Obama negotiate with Republicans after winning a landslide victory in the election? He gives up on Secretary Rice, nominates the GOP's favorite candidate, in hope that they can win back a Senate seat. Way to go, team! Not.
Then for the fiscal cliff Obama negotiates making almost all the Bush tax cuts permanent! Way to go, team! Christ, we suck at this.
Now Obama's plan is to just say "we're not negotiating on this". I think McConnell has just called Obama's bluff.
So since Obama sucks at this so much, let me lay this out. When you enter a negotiation, you should begin by asking for more than what you want.
Pretty neat, eh? That way you can negotiate down to get to something closer to what you were planning on getting anyway.
In that spirit, I've compiled a list of things progressives should be working for, but be willing to compromise on down the road.
1) Abortion should be mandatory for every registered Republican.
2) Income tax rates on people making over $400,000 a year should be 105%.
3) Every year, the richest man in America should be executed at the Super Bowl and his assets given to homeless people.
4) All firearms should be illegal for registered Republicans to own. They should be legal for Democrats, and mandatory for homeless people.
5) Anyone caught driving an SUV should be beaten to death with an empty oil barrel.
6) Anyone who raises a fuss about using compact fluorescent lightbulbs must be required to have a living spotted oil in their living room. Remember to feed the birdy!
7) All corporate executives on the Dow Jones Industrial Ave and the Fortune 500 are required to eat all their meals in homeless soup kitchens.
8) All churches will have their tax exempt status revoked unless they agree to marry homosexuals.
9) Anyone who still denies the existence of global warming should be forced to live in Arizona without any air conditioning.
10) The death penalty should be solely reserved for people convicted of white collar crimes and politicians.
11) Rick Santorum should be required to eat laxatives with every meal for the rest of his life, solely to make the wikipedia entry on "santorum" more interesting.
12) Every Church Sunday School must be required to teach evolution.
Anyone want to talk about the $650 billion in defense we're spending every year? Why does everyone emphasize "entitlement programs' over defense cuts? Who has balls enough to face the military industrial complex lobbyists?
Along as it dont cut va and other veterns programs but if your talking about cutting back on va benifits thats not acceptable at all.
We should start by closing and selling every golf course we own on every military base, both here and abroad.
Several people here have made reference to the Fourteenth Amendment. The provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment trump the debt ceiling restrictions, period. If it takes a Supreme Court decision to make this determination, so be it. Even Scalia would have a hard time arguing that Congress should be able to decide to not pay their bills.
But if Congress insists on continuing their stupidity on this issue, the President should start his budget cutting with Congressional salaries and benefits.
We will not be not paying the bills if we dont raise the debt ceilng. We will still be able to pay our current debts. Folks I think we are spending about 4 billion a day now.
Every time we get into one of these situations, which now appears will happen with frightening regularity,the Republicans negotiate a deal, and then walk away. Then, the next time, they get an even worse deal for themselves. When will they learn that they should make the deal ASAFP.
he will use the 14th Amendment and Congress will look like fools, as far as the tea party goes, there will be none left after midterms
We need to stop being bullied around and stand up for what we believe. We need to insist on stimulus spending to get people back to work. We also need to insist on action to better our medical system. And again we need to insist on ending ridiculus subsidies to strong industries. The situation is far to serious to remain inactive. I feel my Democrats need to take severe action by insuring the republicans that the debt ceiling will not be raised until they agree to work with us on this. I want to be more moderate but until we can have honest cooperative discussions we need to show some strength. Extreme Republicans are holding assault rifles with big clips threatening to blow their own heads off.
but first we need a WRITTEN PLAN.
@katrinanation initiated a PLAN that needs implementation. shall we not have a convention to GET THIS PARTY STARTED!?
Hey Ron Byers - you say you pay close attention and a budget hasn't been passed in years? Ever heard of the Budget Control Act of 2011? It's what created the cliff, Einstein.
The agenda of the GOP is to destroy the benefits programs. The problem for them is that when more of their senior constituents learn about this goal, the more they will revolt. It is one thing to talk abstractly about shrinking the Federal Government and another to promote the dismantling of the safety net that many seniors depend on. Mitch and his cohorts will only get so far before they will be stopped.
for the purpose to STEAL that which supports the lives of others. the real question then is,...
its economic treason against this country
When will the Dummycrat elected officials simply denounce this approach on national security grounds? The Taliban is simply endangering the political and military superiority of the country.
Physician Heal Thyself! Morning Joe idiots start off the business as usual coverage at 6a.m. & no one seems a bit excited about it until Ed comes on! It's a big YAWN at Msnbc. WHAT SAY YOU SLACKERS ALL DAY LONG AT MSNBC??