McConnell's "Capitulation" is a Farce...Read the FINE PRINT

[jtown1123]

The McConnell option is a not a solution Democrats should take. It'll make things worse than they are now and make Democrats look really really bad. Three times before the next election, Congress would have to vote to grant the president the power to make relatively small increases in the debt ceiling. Three times President Obama would have to submit deficit reduction programs. Three times the Republicans could take the spending cuts but not the tax increases that the president will propose, pass them in the House and possibly in the Senate (there are some frightened Democrats up for reelection and some very conservative ones who may well vote for the spending cuts), thereby forcing the president to veto the very spending cuts he has proposed, or maybe not, either way is bad. This is McConnell's ploy to take back the Senate for the GOP so it is politically lethal as well as economically risky for the Democrats.

Also Read Bob Reich's take: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/mitch-mcconnell-obama-debt-ceiling_b_897040.html

[enough]

1. Very good explanation of why Obama should reject it. (nt)

[no_hypocrisy]

2. McConnell's strategy is buying time for republicans to use as a weapon in 2012.

[Enrique]

3. politcally, possibly risky

but economically, if Obama used the power the right way, he could do the country a lot of good. Would he, I don't know.

[Hubert Flottz]

4. Mitch is a traitorous snake.

He needs to be thrown out of Washington...Yesterday.

[jtown1123]

6. Yep. He is being very sly.

[handmade34]

5. didn't like it from the

start... the McConnell 'option' is a very, very bad idea

[JustAnotherGen]

7. What gives me the twitch?

I posted in the Pres. forum yesterday a quote from Harry Reid basically saying it's may workable to have this come up a few more times.

I totally disagree. Just because he got 'his' in 2010 doesn't mean that those who are up for re-election should be thrown under the bus. He's obviously acting like a man with nothing to worry about . . .

[Liberalynn]

8. That was my understanding of it.

We still get the cuts i.e. to SS and Medicare, and all the other programs, with no tax loopholes closed, and would be foced to make even further cuts down the road, while shouldering all the blame for raising the defict ceiling?

Just how is that a win for our side again? :shrug:

[Enrique]

9. there don't have to be any cuts at all

Obama would have the power to raise the debt ceiling with no cuts whatsoever.

[Liberalynn]

11. I understand that on the future cuts they are not binding.

My concern is the present talk about changes to SS and Medicare.

Now admittedly I could be wrong on this, but I was watching Keith Olberman on July 12 and he had Sam Stein from Huffington Post on as a guest. I finally found the name, yeah!

Keith asked him if the McConnel deal would take the cuts to Medicare and SS off the table. Stein's response as I recall it, was the cuts to the Supply Side of Medicare would still go through but the age requirement would not be changed. On SS he said that potential changes to SS were still included, even though Nancy Peolosi was pushing against any such change. Stein said he thought she would loose on that though.

I will apologize in advance to Stein and everyone if I am recalling this wrong, but it was my understanding at any rate. Again admittedly I could be remembering wrong.

I can't find a video link to it online without downloading the whole program from a site I wasn't sure of or I'd watch it again and provide the link here. Apparently it got overlooked on You Tube clipping because that was the same night Olbermann was talking about being Blackmailed by Murdoch and that is where all the attention was focused.

This is the only reference I could find to the interview on line.

http://countdownlibrary.blogspot.com/2011_07_12_archive.html

[Enrique]

12. i don't think that's correct

It sounds to me like Stein was speculating what would happen. I don't think any cuts are written into the deal.

[Liberalynn]

13. I hope that is true

as it would be a great relief.

[Enrique]

18. not a relief yet

it appears Obama is still going after a deal, despite McConnell's offer.

[Liberalynn]

19. I know.

;(I just wish both sides would quit this crap and just raise the debt ceiling period. They can scream, yell and play games with each other on the defict for years to come just like they've always done, after its raised.

[jtown1123]

14. I trust Sam Stein

[Ganja Ninja]

10. It's a complete farce.

It tries to put all the responsibility for raising the debt limit on Obama and the Democrats even though most of the debt is the result of the GOP's tax breaks and wars. If the Dem's can't get the GOP to agree to tax increases then they need to let the shit hit the fan.

[jtown1123]

15. Yep. The sooner people realize this the better.

[uponit7771]

16. Yeap, BUT...he will NOT be able to get it past congressional baggers

[DearAbby]

17. THREE TIMES

the GOP will have to defend WHY THEY ARE SHIELDING WEALTHY PEOPLE, yet demanding Middleclass and poor sacrifice alone. Silver lining.

[Wounded Bear]

20. My first reaction, when I heard the proposal was:

"What a great way for the Repubs to allow the debt ceiling increase and blame it all on President Obama."

This is a classic attempt to get their cake and eat it, too.

No way this should have any legs at all.

Late add on edit: Is the idea even Constitutionally legal?