NY Times - "The Party That Can’t Say Yes" - Blames The Republicans! Finally!

[TomCADem]

It is about time that the major media drops the false equivalency and calls out Republicans for just trying to destroy the country's economy for political gain. The idea is that whether through ruinous cuts alone or default a depression in the economy will rally the American people to their cause. The Corporate Media pushes the narrative of blaming Democrats, but gives Republicans a free pass. But, at least some outlets are calling out Republicans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/opinion/23sat1.html

For days, the White House has infuriated its Democratic allies in Congress by offering House Republicans more and more in exchange for a deal to raise the debt ceiling and prevent default. But it was never enough, and, on Friday evening, it became clear that it may never be enough. Speaker John Boehner again walked away from the “grand bargain” he had been negotiating with President Obama, leaving the country teetering on the brink of another economic collapse.

Mr. Obama, in fact, had already gone much too far in trying to make his deal palatable to House Republicans, offering to cut spending even further than the deficit plan proposed this week by the bipartisan “Gang of Six,” which includes some of the Senate’s most conservative members. The White House was willing to cut $1 trillion in domestic and defense spending and another $650 billion from Medicare, Medicaid and even Social Security.

Much of that savings would have come from raising the eligibility age for Medicare benefits and reducing the cost-of-living increases that elderly people depend on when receiving their health and pension benefits. It could have caused significant damage to some of the nation’s most vulnerable people.

So, on the eve of economic calamity, the Republicans killed an overly generous deal largely over a paltry $400 billion in deductions. Mr. Obama was willing to take considerable heat from his liberal critics over the deal, and the Republicans were not willing to do a thing to anger their Tea Party base. As the president forcefully said, there is no evidence that House Republicans are capable of making those tough decisions. If last-ditch talks beginning Saturday fail, they will have to take responsibility if the unimaginable — a government default — happens in 10 days and the checks stop going out.

[OKNancy]

1. I'm wondering if Obama knew they wouldn't agree

no matter what he put out, so SS/Medicare was never really in jeopardy. If so, that is pretty good politics IMO.

[TomCADem]

2. It Seems Like He Understood There Was A High Chance, Particularly When Cantor...

...started trying to tie the repeal of Health Care Reform into the discussion as noted in this article:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4932208.

President Obama's people were worring that Boehner was once again losing support, particularly as Cantor started tried to loop in unrelated crap about repealing Health Care Reform.

[pacalo]

4. It's the only way to deal with these new-age Republicans (who own the media & get all the attention)

Notice how the Democratic leaders were angry before the meeting with Obama, then once the meeting was over, they came out like the cat who ate the canary?

If Obama were up front & center with what he planned to do, today's nasty breed of Republicans would rule the airwaves with their spin & lies. Obama wouldn't have a chance with those odds against him.

And I don't think Obama's finished with curbing the Republicans' unreasonable demands, either.

On tonight's Lawrence O'Donnell show, one reporter after another was in awe of the way Obama has come out smelling like a rose. He has clearly shown everyone that he is the responsible, mature leader while showing the Republicans to be exactly what we've seen them to be all along. The feeling about them is becoming mainstream. Obama did well.

[ejpoeta]

8. but apparently the republicans are now going out and saying that obama wanted to cut social security

and medicare. while that is not true.... the repubs were demanding that, the republicans are now using it to try to say, look, the dems want to cut your social security and medicare!!

[Volaris]

11. The strategy of "Carrot and Stick" is only a good one

if, at some point, you're really willing to hit the other guy over the head.

Every day I think The President gets closer and closer to that action, but I ALSO think he's not going to do it until the American People (most if not ALL of them, and that includes the Media) really and truly believe that the Cons'. have EARNED the public beating they're about to get. This may be, privately, a rope-a-dope strategy, but it's happening in a very PUBLIC arena, and I would wager the President wants The People cheering not just for the match we all have tickets to, but for HIS VICTORY in all this as well. If this assessment is correct, I'm o.k. with this being his strategy (it seems to be working thus far), but it means he better be a damn-good judge of the time left on the clock, 'cause if he's wrong, or has misjudged this by even a little bit, we're ALL fucked, no matter WHO we came to the fight to see....(but if it matters, I DID come to see him, and not the other guy =) ).

Peace,

[MadMaddie]

12. I think Boehner and Can tor and turtle man pretty much told

him to his face they would not participate in negotiations. The TeaParty views negotiations as losing. Well they are going to lose....only a matter of time now...and everyone knows who to blame

[saras]

3. A few other points the article also got right

Mr. Obama, in fact, had already gone much too far in trying to make his deal palatable to House Republicans...

...offering to cut spending even further than the deficit plan proposed this week by the bipartisan "Gang of Six,"...

...the bipartisan "Gang of Six," which includes some of the Senate’s most conservative members.

...another $650 billion from Medicare, Medicaid and even Social Security.

[cali]

5. I hate to break this to you, but the NYT has run editorial after editorial blaming

the repukes.

[pacalo]

6. It's the last written editorial that counts. This is a new day insofar as the media is viewing Obama

They are seeing Obama as quite the strategist. I'm getting this from what I've seen on MSNBC tonight.

[Control-Z]

7. I wonder what Ed

would have said had his show been aired last night. He seems to really dislike the president.

[MadMaddie]

13. Unfortunately Big Eddie is impatient

as are many others.

Just as DADT has been repealed....we will find out the details of what was really offered. We still only have speculation. Now that the Repugs have walked away once again the only thing for Boehner is to have a one line bill on the floor of the House to raise the debt ceiling.... the result from that is Americans will see it was a game the whole time.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. And their news articles have been clear about whose fault it is.

[WinkyDink]

10. That barn door? The NYT pushed the Horse of Financial Security out by printing Judith Miller.

And now we suffer.

The Illegal Invasions are at the core of our sickness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Ok that is a whiff of panic in our right wing leaning

press.

Folks the Rs are about to get the blame, regardless of what happens.