Remember the debt ceiling and the sequestration?

[ProSense]

Remember when everyone was talking about the next hostage, the debt ceiling? Krugman was right: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022215606. Reposting:

Not With A Bang But With A Whimper



When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. I thought that by ruling out any way to bypass the debt limit, the White House was setting itself up, at least potentially, for an ignominious cave-in. But it appears that the strategy has worked, and it’s the Republicans giving up. I’m happy to concede that the president and team called this one right.

And it’s a big deal. Yes, the GOP could come back on the debt ceiling, but that seems unlikely. It could try to make a big deal of the sequester, but that’s a lot more like the fiscal cliff than it is like the debt ceiling: not good, but not potentially catastrophic, and therefore poor terrain for the “we’re crazier than you are” strategy. And while Republicans could shut down the government, my guess is that Democrats would actually be gleeful at that prospect: the PR would be overwhelmingly favorable for Obama, and again, not much risk of blowing up the world.

<...>

A good day for sanity, all around.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/not-with-a-bang-but-with-a-whimper/

Sequestration reclaims the national spotlight
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022771317

Why Republicans Suddenly Became Afraid Of Their Own Budget Shadow
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022690945

'The Excel Error Heard Round the World'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022686815

Senate Republicans Block Progress On Budget
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/senate-republicans-block-progress-on-budget

McConnell Objects To Initiating Budget Conference Negotiations
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10022810127

The sequestration issue didn't work out the way Republicans planned (Americans blame them and they're whining about specific cuts), they can't hold the debt ceiling hostage and their economic argument for austerity has been completely destroyed. It appears all that Republicans have left are bullshit accusations, Benghazirama and attempts to fan the flames of impeachment.

They have, for the time, successfully shifted focus from the damaging effects of the sequestration and passing a budget.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. I remember

I posted this on another thread yesterday -

They are trying to keep us in a perpetual fog of election mania so that we won't focus on the fact that House Republicans are worthless obstructionists do nothings.

Election Mania is a reference to how BenNothingThere is 'supposedly' about Clinton in 2016.

And you know what? Our media is going right along with it.

President Obama committed no impeachable offense and if I already was distrustful of the media -I am more so now.

[ProSense]

2. Exactly. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Here's another bump

Before the entire site goes chasing the latest shiny thing in front of their faces. Take a pick.

BenWhatIt?
IRS Profiling People?
President Obama's Toe Jam and how that's a left wing conspiracy. . . .

[ProSense]

4. The problem is that

"Before the entire site goes chasing the latest shiny thing in front of their faces. Take a pick. "

...they're all over the TV pushing the talking point, and with the help of the complicit media.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022836611
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022836680

If no one called them out, they'd own public perception. The real issues get pushed aside.


Here is Stiglitz on student loans: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022836242

[KamaAina]

5. Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi!

La, la, I can't hear you!

[ProSense]

6. The Republican Party is more interested in creating fake scandals than jobs. n/t