The Worm Has Turned (Grover Norquist supports McConnell's proposal)

[ProSense]

The Worm Has Turned

David Kurtz

Grover Norquist -- Grover Norquist! -- has come out in favor of Mitch McConnell's proposal to go ahead and raise the debt limit and leave spending cuts up to Obama.

Here's the key quote: "Obama is playing politics. Republicans need to force him to do what the established press is not doing. He says he's got a serious proposal. Could we see it written down please?"

Now Republicans want Obama to come up with the cuts. Not enact them. They're reserving that power to the Congress. But he writes the list; he's on the hook for the proposal.

Remember just yesterday Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) was unwilling to cobble together a list of the $2 trillion in cuts needed to strike a deal with Obama. Not unable to come up with a list, but unwilling politically to be on the hook for the cuts that Republicans say are necessary to save the country from financial ruin. Too tough. Better politically to try to foist it off on Obama. Let him eat the Life cereal. He'll eat anything.

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[JuniperLea]

1. I wonder how it feels...

To be played like a fiddle!

Obama shoots, and scores... but... well, you know.

[greenbird]

2. I want to personally thank you.

For your clear thinking and posts on this issue. I've been lurking, and you've been speaking for me.

[mcar]

3. Agree 100%

And special thanks to ProSense for common sense.

[JuniperLea]

5. Thanks... and amen to that!

ProSense is my idol! The smarts, the wherewithal, the steady voice... I bow unworthy!

[JuniperLea]

4. What a nice thing to say!

Thank you for saying it, greenbird!

It's not easy... but I'm nothing if not tenacious!

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. Ditto!

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Obama should reject McConnell's proposal

Flat out. It's a shitty proposal.

[bornskeptic]

12. You're dead wrong. It's a great proposal for Democrats and for the country.

If the Republicans were smart they'd pass a $500 billion extension and dare Obama to veto it. But they can't do that because too many House Republicans refuse to be recorded as supporting any increase in the debt limit. Many here seem to see this as some clever diabolical scheme which would give the GOP a great victory, but actually it's a desperate attempt to get enough members of their own party to vote for increasing the debt ceiling without having to admit that they did it. Any political fallout from circuses they might instigate around the disapproval/approval votes will just make the GOP look even more irresponsible than their antics so far have done. I don't think we should be talking about raising taxes or cutting spending when unemployment is over 9% anyway. I'd prefer a clean bill raising the debt ceiling $2.5 trillion, but I don't think we can get that, and this is the next best thing.

[Hawkowl]

14. Disagree

Obama should now press his advantage full bore: Cuts to be named later, Bush tax cuts on the rich repealed, and lift the cap on Social Security.

THAT would be a proper victory. We have the corporate fascists in a corner. It is like they are threatening to play Russian Roulette and Obama just loaded a few more rounds and pointed the gun at their heads.

The rich and the coporations are the ones who are facing some serious pain with a default. They have a low pain tolerance and WILL cave. We on the other hand, have an extraordianry pain tolerance having been bitch slapped eight ways from Sunday since Ronald Reagan.

We are tough. They are not. Bring. It. On.

[blue neen]

7. Meanwhile, here on DU, Grover Norquist's friends are basically spamming the board.

It's very strange.

Thanks for the great post, BTW!

[JuniperLea]

8. Norquislings!!!

Wish I knew the person who commented on TPM who came up with the name! Brilliant!

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. They meet up at FDL & spread out like a cancer from there.

[Bobbie Jo]

13. You, ah, em... Can say that again.

I was going to use another commonly used phrase of agreement, but it seems it is now considered a "call out."

Anyway......

[krawhitham]

11. Do we trust a proposal from a man who says his only goal is to see Obama fail?