Senate GOP Mulls New Debt Strategy

[creeksneakers2]

Source: Politico

Trying to get out of the political box which they have helped to create, Senate Republicans are actively discussing a new plan under which the debt ceiling would grow in three increments over the remainder of this Congress unless lawmakers approve a veto proof resolution of disapproval.

In effect lawmakers would be surrendering the very power of approval that the GOP has used to force the 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 will be needed to stop any increase that President Barack Obama requests.




Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58801.html

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I'm having trouble figuring out what exactly the GOP is planning here.

[tridim]

1. They're planning to do what Obama has already said he will not sign.

Kicking the fucking can down the road.

But also note that this is from Politico, which is a 100% Republican mouthpiece. Take it with a cup of salt.

[elleng]

3. Right. POUND of salt!

[creeksneakers2]

6. MSNBC is reporting the same thing

[Bandit]

18. No what they are planning is to wipe their hands of it and then start

the blame game. Blaming the entire US Debt on Obama and the Democrats.. Won't work IMO but it is all they have and they know it..They know Obama has out foxed them so far so the ONLY thing they can do is let the Administration do the deed and get any blame that may come from it.. Never in the HISTORY of the USA has blame been placed for the USA to honor it's debts. While they may try to place blame it just won't fly.

[elleng]

2. Dunno. Crafting just what PrezO said yesterday he would NOT accept?

'We are the United States. We do not

[Volaris]

4. I think what they have in mind is...

"Oh SHIT did we let this President FUCK US with our own dick, BUT GOOD...we had better figure out a way to back off from our position of non-negotiation and FAST, and see if there is a way to put this back onto the shoulders of the House Dem Minority, and the Pres., (and maybe Reid in the Senate, if we can get it done)... but DAMN does that dick hurt back there, I don't know how TEH GAYS do it..."

I think THAT about sums it up for them, at the moment.

If Obama is running a rope-a-dope maneuver on them, the time is fast approaching for the unleashing of one great big, bully-pulpit Right Cross.

I get that the man wants to increase the level of civility in American politics, and I'm all for that, but, I think Electorally at least, there is a BIG difference to his base between letting Conservative Lawmakers fall all over themselves and Him knocking them down. The OUTCOME is the same, but the VISUAL is what counts here, I think.

I think the GOP House Majority (and Mitch over in the Senate) are about to be flat-out fucked on this one, personally...

[creeksneakers2]

5. I think you are right

Looks like some movement toward a cave. The GOP is hiding something big in all this, they don't have the votes to pass their own plan, even in the house. According to Fox and others ( I know Fox is unreliable but I think they have inside access here) there are 80 to 120 members of the house GOP who won't vote for a debt ceiling increase under any circumstances. I figure out of those who are left there must be some who will run away from voting for entitlement cuts. The GOP is looking for a way to shift it all back on Obama. Boehner challenged Obama today to release a plan.

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/07/11/debt-ceiling-sabermetrics

[earcandle]

7. Doesn't the 14th amendment indirectly state that we need to levy taxes to pay the bills in all cases

before any default could ever happen?  A default suggests that
our leaders are not levying taxes to pay our bills.  That is
the only way we have to pay our bills.  Levy the fucking
taxes.  Its your job!

[creeksneakers2]

17. No

The 14th only says the US can't repudiate debts. That would entail an official claim that we don't owe the money anymore. Nothing like that is being discussed.

[Volaris]

9. If the Pres. is smart, he will use THAT CHALLENGE to hit back and be MEAN about it,,,,

"OK John, here is MY plan, this is what (I, PERSONALLY) would like to see happen.....

and then issue the Democratic/Progressive plan that jacks up the tax rates on the top 10%, REQUIRES that the first debt that gets paid back is all the money that the (basically) GOP-controlled congress has pilfered from the SS Fund for the last 30 years, and ends industry subsidies flat out minus a great big fat tax break for renewable energy.

"THAT'S MY offer, John. What did YOU have? The ORIGINAL plan that you walked out of with Biden? Oh, OK then, we'll go with THAT one, if that's more palatable to you and yours.

Game Over.

[aaaaaa5a]

10. At this point... if that's true...

is John Beohner even still the legit Speaker of the House?

[Volaris]

15. I would think not....

Its Cantor's job to rile up votes on the Speakers behalf, and if Cantor has figured out that he is better served by getting those votes for what HE, being Cantor, wants done (short-sighted though that may be) Boehner is basically fucked, to say nothing of being put in the rather unflattering position of having to be the guy at the mic, and not having any actual power to get done what he SAYS he wants to get done.

But what does Cantor care? He's the guy with the big money bet on the possibility that the Govt. WILL default. HE will be fine. Greedy SOB.

If I were Boehner, and wanted at least a small bit of Spiritual or Karmic Justice in all of this, I would go find that mic, make a public statement to the effect that if the Tea Party wants America to have to choose between Granny and paying its bills, that's fine, you guys can officially deal with Cantor now, I'm resigning as Speaker as of tomorrow morning. I almost think at this point, he WANTS to do it, just to put that smarmy lil bastard in his place. If they DO cause a default, you WATCH how fast the fingers get pointed. MY bet would be that they will ALL get pointed at 'lil Eric at the kid's table.

But then, I might be projecting again lol.

[guruoo]

8. Better explanation here...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell proposed a "backup plan" on Tuesday that would allow a divided Congress to raise the debt ceiling with just the votes of Democrats.

The complicated legislative maneuver would avert an imminent default and let Republicans wash their hands of the politically toxic issue.

As outlined by McConnell, President Barack Obama would formally request an increase in the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, which Congress would reject through a "resolution of disapproval."

Obama would then veto that resolution and send it back to Congress. If Congress failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed to override a veto, the debt ceiling would effectively be lifted by the amount Obama had requested.
...

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE76B5Y920110712?irpc=932

[Iliyah]

12. And what if the

plan works and the ecomony starts to recovery at a faster pace and jobs creation becomes top notch? Then the gopers would take credit for it, b/c they figure they have a win win situation - NOT

The gopers are a bunch of self center greedy sobs

[Geoff R. Casavant]

13. That only works if "complicated" is a synonym for "not even barely logical."

According to Mitch, if the President vetoes a non-law, then it becomes a law? Has this guy never even seen Schoolhouse Rock?

[Volaris]

16. That sneaky bastard..... thinks he is smart enough actually pull this off?????

Rachel will put up the Schoolhouse Rock cartoon and rip him to shreds.

And so much for his pledge (FROM THIS MORNING!!!) about NOT settling all this while Obama is still in office...what a complete spineless reptile*.

Mitch McConnell...GOD how I hate that fucker.





*no disrespect was intended toward any ACTUAL reptiles, who play a very important role in the maintenance of a vibrant and balanced ecosystem...and have spines, as I understand it. =)

[BlueIdaho]

11. This is all about avoiding responsibility

And attaching blame. The President would have to be crazy to sign on to this deal. If he does, the republicans can spend the entire election cycle claiming they held fast to their TBagger principles while pointing their fingers at that mean old Democratic President.

Time to eat those peas boys and girls.

[brooklynite]

14. If Boehner can't get Cantor and the Tea Party brigade to be reasonable...

...how is McConnell going to?

[toddwv]

19. This is not going to go well for the Republicans.

They are passing the buck and failing to stop the increase of the debt limit. Their rabid right-wing voter base is going to howl and hopefully the Dems will press the advantage...for once.