House rejects debt ceiling increase, 318-97

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: cnn

In a symbolic vote to send a message to budget negotiators, the House on Tuesday defeated a measure to raise the national debt ceiling without any accompanying deficit or spending reduction provisions.

The Republican-controlled House voted 318-97 on the legislation that would have raised the federal government's debt limit by approximately $2.4 trillion.

Under rules for the vote set by the GOP leadership, the measure needed at least two-thirds support to pass, ensuring it had no chance for approval.

The vote was scheduled by Republican leaders to show that any attempt to divorce an increase in the debt ceiling from spending reduction efforts -- a move initially favored by the Obama White House -- cannot win congressional approval.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/31/debt.ceiling.vote/index.html?on.cnn=1

[Zoeisright]

1. More empty, expensive repuke posturing.

Have they ever accomplished anything that actually, you know, improves lives?

[kimsarah]

20. Exactly

The GOP wastes our time on this type of shenanigans to divert our attention, so their wealthy puppet master financiers can commit major fraud and theft with nobody paying attention.

[The Croquist]

32. How does this differ from the Senate vote on the Paul Ryan budget?

That was just as political.

[DJ13]

2. Let the GOP force a default

It would be the end of their party.

(They wont let it get that far anyway as the same wealthy campaign donors that supports them are the biggest losers if it happens.)

[pezDispenser]

3. you can also short markets

not everyone comes out worse off when things tank. just saying.

[Iliyah]

4. Let the gopers default

wall street, and the major corporations including but not limited to Koch Brothers, US Chambers and Carrllllll Rove, Fake news, and the rest of the so called who claim to be so patriotic like some of the church facilites, ummmm, Pat Roberston, 700 Club, et al, will lose a hell of a lot of MONEY. Gold and Silver is unpredictable.

Hey asswipes, I will see you at the soup lines.

[pezDispenser]

6. I may have not explained my point very well.

If you believe that certain certain things are going to lose value, you can bet (short) those things. If it turns out you are correct, you make money. If you are in a position to influence a downturn in the economy, which way would you bet? It's been done before. http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/02/news/eisman_for_profits.fortune/index.htm">This isn't a story of Wienergate, so nobody will read me

[supernova]

26. That's how Soros makes his money

betting on the fall. But, he's honest and upfront about it.

[kimsarah]

21. That's right

They (the GOP) stand more to lose, although the Dems wish they were in that position. So any poker playing from now until Aug. 6 (I think that's the default date) is a big charade.

[cstanleytech]

5. To be honest we could do with some major trimming on spending.

My suggestion for the republicans is if they are being honest and mean this and arent saying this to pander to their base is show it by voting to cut their own salaries, staff and government provided healthcare and then trim the military spending to a more reasonable amount of say 200 billion per year total.
After that we can discuss what if anything else needs to be trimmed.

[pezDispenser]

8. I'm with you

but you do realize you are equating a 6% cut in total spending to what is probably a 0.00000001% cut in total spending, don't you?

[fascisthunter]

30. unfortuantely, money is all that matters to most of them if not all...

[littlewolf]

7. their were 82 Dems voting against the debt ceiling raise...nt

[loudsue]

17. That doesn't seem to be getting much mention, but it was interesting.

WTF?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. Hoyer told the D caucus to vote no, seeing it for the bs that it was.

He knew the reason for the vote was so that R's could run commercials against D's next fall.

The more interesting part is that 97 voted yes, knowing it's purpose and impossibility of passing. Good for them.

[savalez]

25. The "No's" by dems were protest votes because the

whole bill was designed by the RePukes to not pass. The Pubs all agreed to vote it down beforehand so it had no chance. They want to use the "yes" votes against the dems as soundbites for the next election, as in "So ad so voted to keep spending during a budget crises" or some bullshit like that. The whole thing is just typical Speaker Boner useless crazy drunk madness.

[alp227]

27. even John Conyers voted nay...

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2011/roll379.xml

My representative, Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), voted for the debt ceiling raise.

Among the Progressive caucus members it's a mixed bag...

Some Prog Caucus members who voted Yea:
- Keith Ellison (MN-5, HPC co-chair)
- Sam Farr (CA-17, yes this district includes Santa Cruz, a city that has a highway 17)
- Barney Frank (MA-4)
- Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL-2)
- Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18, vice chair)
- Dennis Kucinich (OH-10)
- Ed Markey (MA-7)
- Maxine Waters (CA-35)

PC members who voted Nay:
- Tammy Baldwin (WI-2, HPC co-chair)
- Karen Bass (CA-47, she used to be California Assembly speaker)
- Xavier Becerra (CA-31)
- Peter DeFazio (OR-4)
- John Lewis (GA-5)
- Charles Rangel (NY-15)

Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) and six other Dems voted Present.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi voted Nay, as did Democrat Whip Steny Hoyer and assistant Democratic leader James Clyburn.

Including Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), five Dems other than the injured Gabrielle Giffords didn't vote.

[savalez]

28. If they all voted "Yea" it still would not have passed. Get it?

It was an obvious RePuke trick vote.

more here: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/first-debt-limit-vote-today-as-gop-looks-to-divide-dems-on-deficit.php?ref=fpblg

[alp227]

29. that source says that the Democratic leadership wanted a clean bill

but the blue dogs voted nay for fear of campaign ads, and i guess some of the progressive like Conyers and Rangel knew that this was a trick vote/Republican strategy. But do you object to the Democrats wanting a simple debt limit bill?

[JJW]

9. How to cut the deficit

End stupid wars and medicare pays Canadian prices for medication.

[TomCADem]

10. The American People Voted For Them, Perhaps They Want Tax Cuts For The Rich ...

...at the expense of Medicare. Indeed, most people don't want an increase in the debt limit. The Republicans can win simply by saying that they are following the will of the people, because corporate media talking points are so easy to understand when they are being played and repeated 24/7.

The corporate media has conditioned the American people to give Republicans a free pass and blame Democrats. Until we start holding Republicans accountable, they will continue to actively work to undermine the welfare of their constituents.

[Iliyah]

11. Then let the default happen!

Hell I'm for it, hopefully my credit card debt will fall as well and disappear. Go for it now, please!

[TomCADem]

18. Sorry, But The Corporate Media Will Blame The Default On You, Remember The Talking Point...

...that the whole 2008 financial crisis was due to affordable housing loans? If we go into default, the corporate media will go into hyperdrive to show that it was not due to artificially low tax rates to the rich, but its because of irrespoonsible folks who borrow just like you. Worse, you may even start to believe this. Look at Tea Partiers who campaign against Medicare and Financial Reform. Think of the elderly screaming, get the government out of Medicare!

Do not underestimate the power of the corporate media to circle the media and give themselves and Republicans a free pass. If we default, it will be your fault and the Democrats fault. The Republicans who held us hostage based on the Medicare privitization plan will be hailed as heroes for sticking up for their principles as the American economy burns, and a Republican is elected as President in 2012 with the mandate to eradicate unions and do away with social security along with Medicare.

[quakerboy]

19. so its a lose lose

because we liberals will be blamed and reviled no matter what course of action we take. So why not stand strong.

[fascisthunter]

31. they already do blame us all.... especially those using social services to SURVIVE

this is an all out class war and it will come back to bite the upper class. But arrogance, power, greed motivates too many to do stupid shit, and they never seem to regard history as any warning of things to come.

[plumbob]

12. It's their default now.

Make them own it. It is theirs.

I'm past being threatened with it. Bring it on. Fuckers.

[mckara]

13. Default and the GOP will Cease to Exist!

[gtar100]

15. Oh, pray that this be true. If there is one silver lining, that would surely be it!

[lonestarnot]

16. I'd eat beans for 5 years if it would help that cause!

[gtar100]

14. The stupid juice was shared by the republicons once again.

This all part of that "drowning it in a bathtub" plan. I guess they prefer the pennies they'll get today and not worry about the punch in the nose they'll be getting tomorrow.

[no_hypocrisy]

22. No balls.

They sent out a press release that explained their vote was taken after the Markets had closed to avoid undue panic.

That says enough to me that it's just a game of Chicken to them.

[Javaman]

23. A whole lot of stupid.

I guess I will be celebrating my birthday by watching the US default on it's debt obligations.

happy fucking birthday to me...