Debt Ceiling - How Obama Can Beat Republicans By Taking Their Advice - 3 Steps

[TomCADem]

Last edited Mon Jan 7, 2013, 12:31 AM - Edit history (1)

My take is that to start putting pressure on Republicans stop jerking the American people around with the debt ceiling, President Obama should give Republicans what they ask for. As they say, be careful what you ask for or demand.

Step One - As Boehner suggests, dare the House to actually propose and pass a debt ceiling bill that slashes middle class benefits, rather than trying to guess what will make Republicans happy. After all, didn't Boehner promise that he would no long negotiate with the President, and would now work "through regular order and let the House work its will." If Republicans want to slash popular social programs, let them propose it and see how the public reacts.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/275295-boehner-tells-gop-hes-done-with-one-on-one-obama-talks

Step Two - As Senator McConnell suggests, set an early February deadline for the House to raise the debt ceiling. If the House cannot meet this deadline on a relatively routine matter without trying to hold the debt ceiling hostage, then move on to step 3.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/275257-mcconnell-demands-quick-debt-ceiling-bill

Step Three - As Senators Cornyn and Toomey suggest, start a partial government shutdown if the House has not passed a clean debt ceiling increase by the early February deadline. Republicans like to minimize the threat of a debt default so that the public does not freak out by the outrageousness of their actions. Well, rather than simply default on everything, start a partial government shutdown sooner, rather than later, to buy additional time. The last government shut down ended up hurting the GOP under Gingrich, yet many House Republicans seem to have forgotten that the public hates these GOP caused shutdowns of the government. So, give the GOP what it demands, and start shutting down non-essential governmental services in early February.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2013/01/04/the-gop-is-already-threatneing-to-shutdown-the-government-to-win-spending-cuts/

[Angry Dragon]

1. Step Three: I guess the House would be shut down first ..... non-essential

[bluerum]

2. Might work....

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Steps 1 & 2 are good

I don't know if I would have President Obama be the one to initiate a government shutdown over the debt ceiling but certainly him starting to warn people about what could happen and what the Republicans say they expect to happen wouldn't be a bad idea. This whole situation has gotten insane. Let the Republicans make their own proposals and try to get the people on their side for a change. That's really how it's supposed to work anyhow. I'm tired of a small group of people (i.e. "gangs&quot sitting behind closed doors cutting all of these deals that everybody else is usually forced to accept to avert some new manufactured "crisis-of-the day". Laws are supposed to be proposed, debated, and voted on in the light of day. IMHO Republicans are basically trying to lure President Obama and the Dems into a trap by demanding that they negotiate with them and ultimately propose/agree to cuts they know are going to be unpopular with the base and the public at-large so that they can have some cover and/or have some political leverage going into the 2014 midterms.

[TomCADem]

6. Republicans Are The One Discussing A Partial Shutdown And...

...Arguably, one reading of the 14th Amendment is not that it gives the President the power to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling and borrow anew, but that he must honor and pay existing debt before all other debts. Thus, the President could very well be required to start prioritizing the obligations that must be met as the U.S. approaches default.

[high density]

4. Why is it OK that the Republicans can create crises on a bimonthly basis?

Is this how the next four years are going to go? Manufactured crisis after manufactured crisis?

[TomCADem]

5. The Media Gives Them A Free Pass On Threats Of Economic Terrorism

Look at Chris Cillizza who breezily describes Republicans game planning on how close to the edge of default should they push the U.S. If a Hacker were to infiltrate and damage trading networks, it would be an act of economic terrorism. Yet, when Republicans plan on creating economic chaos, political pundits praise it as tough political negotiation.

Even more to the point, when Harry Reid questions whether Romney paid taxes, it is a damn lie. But, when Republicans spout falsehoods about President Obama, it is effective PR. Worse, the media covers up for Republicans by simply saying that both parties are at fault.

[Sunlei]

7. We don't deal with republican terrorists.

[hrmjustin]

9. Most of us feel the federal government is a source of good in this nation.

Liberals are not against the federal government.

[jinx1]

10. Might work

Why wait so long, to get the most from this plan start shutting down non-essential governmental services now and let every one know it is because the Republican Plan is to do this anyway and so to make it count now is better than later. More savings and more pressure. Why let the Republicans wait to address this issue...force them to do it now or shut up. Then hopefully we can move on to get something else done or become less productive than the 112 Congress.