The Atlantic - "Conservative Fantasies About Debt and Default"

[TomCADem]

I know some folks think that most of the Republicans are just blowing smoke, and they don't really believe their rhetoric. But, what if the freshman class, made of people worshipping at the feet of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh believed their own BS about the debt ceiling not being a big deal...

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/conservative-fantasies-about-debt-and-default/242282/

"Now, as summer 2011 reaches its steamy zenith," he writes, "it falls to the only group of Washington politicians still trying to actually fix the debt problem -- the House Republicans -- to deny those political nihilists (in both parties and in both branches) the realization of their truly abhorrent plans."

It's no wonder tea-party Republicans in the House feel unhelpful pressure from the grassroots. They're being presented with an upside down vision of the world, where the whole debt ceiling debate is an Ivy League conspiracy, compromising to solve it is both lamentable reality and foolish capitulation and the only sober-minded people in DC are the tea-party Republicans in the House.

Over the years, as I've critiqued the factually inaccurate, logically unsound rhetoric of people like Limbaugh and Levin, I've had many people in general agreement with my arguments say, "But why bother with those people? It's pointless. There's nothing to be done about it." Another common response: "Who cares what they say anyway?"

We're finding out.

Elections matter. The House Republicans took over in 2010, and on Monday, Americans will pay the price.

[housewolf]

1. Sigh.....

At time I flirt with the idea of letting them have their way so that they could face the consequences of their delusion... then reality hits me over the head and know that I don't want to face the potential of a downfall just to prove a point.

Nonetheless, I'd like to shake some sense into those members of the right and wish that 2012 wasn't so far away.

On another note: Sean Hannity: "I'm a registered conservative".... who does one "register as a conservative" with? There's no such thing as the "Conservative Party" that I know of. Libertarians, yes. Constitution Party, yes. But "Conservative Party"?????

[Zorro]

2. They hope to hasten Armageddon

It's why the dire warnings of financial calamity have no discernable effect.