Democrats cool to Boehner's two-step debt-ceiling plan

[TomCADem]

Source: LA Times

House Speaker John A. Boehner said he was still trying to unveil a bipartisan debt-limit deal Sunday afternoon, but acknowledged he didn't have Democrats onboard with a two-step proposal he has offered.

“We’re not there yet,” the Republican said in a morning interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

* * *

That plan would require two debt-limit increase votes — one now, along with a package of spending cuts, and another perhaps next year, attached to a larger deficit-reduction proposal. The administration has sought a deal that would cover spending through 2012.

While Boehner called the two-phase, eleventh-hour plan the only “doable” option, Geithner called it “irresponsible.”


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-boehner-debt-plan-20110724,0,4067862.story?track=rss

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There you have it. Boehner puts a deal that is even worse than what was discussed with President Obama: (1) no commitment whatsover to new revenue; (2) a short term debt ceiling extension; and (3) an agreement to a Super Congress that would bypass procedural protections to cut entitlements.

My take is that Boehner is purposely offering a worse deal than what was discussed with the White House to force Pelosi and Reid to reject it, thus Republicans and the corporate media can blame the Democrats for the default, which will usher in a Republican sweep in 2012.

[emulatorloo]

1. I think you are correct. Additionally the "super congress" idea is proof that Boehner has no contro

of the Tea Bag House Crazies. This is their wimpy ass way to try to get around them. It is a dangerous and despicable idea, with incredibly damaging results in the long term.

[TomCADem]

4. Bloomberg - "Daley Says Obama Would Veto Plan If Doesn’t Extend Into 2013"

It seems like Republicans are now just trying to maneuver to blame the failure to raise the debt ceiling on Democrats. It is a sign of the times when Mitch McConnell's plan is the most reasonable thing on the table, but House Republicans won't approve it.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-24/daley-says-obama-would-veto-plan-if-doesn-t-extend-into-2013-1-.html

President Barack Obama would veto a deal to raise the debt ceiling if it doesn’t extend the limit through 2013, White House Chief of Staff William Daley said, warning that “markets around the world” would react negatively to a short-term measure.

“We’ve got to get past this debt ceiling vote” Daley said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. “It’s time to get some certainty.”

* * *

Daley said the U.S. is now getting into a situation where “markets around the world will question whether the political system can come together and compromise.”

He endorsed an approach under consideration by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow Obama to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval. “It would not be this sword being held over the American people’s heads once again,” he said.

[Liberalynn]

14. If the President stands by this statement and does indeed veto

the Boner plan, I will apologize profoundly for doubting the President and even donate to his campaign.

He should veto anything that is short term but also veto anything that includes "The Super Congress."

If by some chance the Dems in Congress go along with the Pukes and vote for the plan with the Super Congress, and the President dosen't veto it, I don't know what will happen to this country. I am angry and frightened for whatever good those emotions do. :scared:

[Kingofalldems]

2. Never trust a republican---incredibly sneaky and dishonest.

[anamandujano]

5. True but we have to assume the Dems involved know at least

as much of some of our posters here who have been citing the constitution. Someone with the power to get a mike in their faces and make news should start talking and inform the public.

These so-called negotiations are both unnecessary and crisis inducing the world over. The debt ceiling need be tied to nothing. I learned that in the last couple of days of reading here. Why don't our brain dead congress critters know it?

How about some of the Asian leaders call a presser for a start? How about some of the Hollywood crowd who threw their weight behind Obama?

[TomCADem]

7. This Morning On Morning News, Top Obama Administration Officials...

...are saying that the debt limit needs to be raised now, and that the short term debt limit extension is nothing more than a stunt that will create more uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Republicans get a free pass on their Grover Norquist Amendment, which they are still pushing as a solution.

[ananda]

3. LOL.

A "bipartisan" plan without Democrats.....

[CJCRANE]

6. A bipartisan plan agreed by the GOP...

and the Tea Party.

[hadrons]

8. I would hit Bonehead on his "increasing gov't" idea of a Super Congress

"Yeah right, let's increase our dysfunctional political process more" ... it may play with the baggers and causal political watchers

[grahamhgreen]

9. And my thought is Obama already agreed to it.

[TomCADem]

10. Blame Democrats, Give Repulicans A Free Pass - William Daley Says Obama Would Veto...

...A short term debt limit on the Sunday news unless there is a long term greement in place. There is no agreement. Pelosi and Reid are also insisting on a full debt limit increase, rather than a piecemeal increase.

Once again, the American people give Republicans a free pass.

[grahamhgreen]

11. They control the message because Obama always argues within their framing (ie -

Social Security dives the debt), and they own the media.

Obama is prepping the Dems for a big cave in on this, they are currently showing you a tough man, beaten down by the opposition who has no choice but to give away Social Security to reduce the deficit - when in fact Social Security HAS NOT ADDED ONE NICKEL TO THE DEBT.

The 11th dimensional chess is that he is playing is that he is merely a neo-con salesman whose job is to sell Dems on the radical-right agenda. IMHO.

I hope I am wrong, I would love to see him stand up for some Dem programs.

My thought is that the bargaining chip he has is to threaten to bring the troops home Monday to save money if they refuse to raise the debt limit. That would save a bundle - some current estimates put the war cost at 6 trillion.

[TomCADem]

13. Blame the Democrats, Give Republicans A Free Pass - President Obama Has Repeatedly...

...called for more spending on infrastructure this year. But he needs Congress to act on this. Also, if you recall, the White House did call on a clean increase in the debt limit. But, the Tea Party backstopped by the Corporate Media, beat the hell out of him for suggesting that. Poll after poll was run with people saying they were against raising the debt ceiling, and saying that we need to deal with the debt.

I once posted a series of recent President Obama speeches to rebut charges that President Obama did not frequently advocate the need to spend on infrastructure and to promote employment. They were deleted. For goodness sakes, the LA Times, which is owned by the conservative Tribune, runs a story talking about Republicans are winning by not allowing for a clean debt limit vote, and then Firedoglake, which is supposedly liberal, then links to this story as proof that, surprise, Republicans are winning.

The Fourth Estate has collapsed, which is now leading to the collapse of the current government as a working institution. The public remains woefully uninformed, because news is always presented through a false equivalency. Look at this story today, which presents the debate as a he said, she said, rather than an unprecedented willingness by Republicans to hold the economy hostage to achieve ideological goals:

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0724/US-now-faces-two-debt-ceiling-deadlines-Asian-financial-markets-and-possible-default

We can't escape the Blame Democrats, and Give Republicans a free pass narrative, or at least say they are equally to blame. The bottom line is that until the American people, including liberals, hold Republicans accountable, nothing will change.

If we continue to fool ourselves with false equivalency, then Republicans will get a free pass from liberals, and unabashed support from the right wing media.

Look at this thread. Republicans are engaging in dispicable acts holding our economy hostage. Yet, even on DU, liberals focus on blaming....surprise...Democrats.

If Republicans can't even be held accountable on liberal, progressive website, then they will continue to win.

[No Elephants]

19. For pity sake. The poster did not give Republicans a free pass.

[FarLeftFist]

12. "Super Congress" is so much nicer than "Bloodless Coup". n./t

[KewlKat]

15. The Shock Doctrine

Only a crisis actual or perceived produces real change. When that crisis occurs the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. The Shock doctrine as a strategy relies on us not knowing about it for it to work.

You can be sure that it will benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

Here the documentary on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHrEH5G90wo

[DallasNE]

16. Corporate Media Was Doing Their Part Today

Jumping all over the Democrats for not jumping at the crumbs the GOP was putting out.

[JDPriestly]

17. No to the idea of a Super-Congress.

I will not vote for any member of Congress who abdicates his responsibility to voters to vote yes or no on cutting Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.

I will not vote for any member of Congress who goes along with what I view as theft by the rich from the poor.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

18. Who are DINO's that have signed onto this, if Shuler(NC) is one, kick his ass out of the caucus,

he has become too big an embarrassment and clean the other fuckers out too. Take the gloves off it scorched earth time let's throw the shit into fan faster so Boner gets the full blow-back. This abomination only means Boner wants to play down and really dirty so fuck him and the silly teabag he rode in on. Obama still has the power of the presidency (I hope he hasn't bargained that away yet) so use it like a sly old fox not a chickenshit.