The Kabuki Play On Capitol Hill Comes Right Before The Deal

[marmar]

Published on Saturday, July 30, 2011 by CommonDreams.org
The Kabuki Play On Capitol Hill Comes Right Before The Deal

by Danny Schechter


Oh, the gnashing of the teeth, Oh, the flamboyant tactics. Oh, all the breaking news excitement on cable news as the debt ceiling countdown saga went down to the wire with an intense political confrontation of a kind we haven’t seen before …

Or maybe we had---in the TARP debate and so-called Obamacare vote, to cite but two moments of high political drama. Once again, all the key players knew the outcome but wanted to keep us guessing because it served everyone’s interests.

.....(snip).....

And, so, White House priorities shifted subtly to please the plutocrats and try to neutralize the Tea Party fanatics by co-opting their program the way Bill Clinton did in 1996, It was called “triangulation” then. Obama’s own supporters call it “betrayal" now; Obama’s pro-Wall Street economic team assured they wouldn’t give the men on The Street too much to worry about.

.....(snip).....

In the end, the media will salute both sides for putting country above party. The only deficit here is one of political morality and honesty. ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/30-1

[woo me with science]

1. Strong K&R. We are being played.

Shock doctrine-style.

[gateley]

2. I'm thinking this has more dire repercussions that not

passing TARP or Obama's health plan.

I don't think it's wise to be dismissive.

[xxqqqzme]

3. I totally agree. What follows after this

complicated charade is going to be ugly; disastrously ugly and heartlessly mean.

[Enrique]

5. maybe, but there's something that makes me doubt it

the fact that all the Democrats including Obama voted against raising the debt limit when Bush was president. If it was such a dire matter, why did they all play games with it and why did no one even comment on it let alone condemn it?

[gateley]

7. I may be wrong, but didn't they know it WOULD pass -- and that

their 'nay' vote was probably politically motivated?

I think it's general consensus that this has to be done, and previously they've never had this much trouble achieving it.

I've heard so many Congresspeople say they are honestly shocked that it's come to this point. One guy said he's never been so sad in his 20+ years in office. :(

[FarCenter]

6. To go on a cash flow basis would cut GDP by about 9%

According to an analysis on Fidelity Investments web site.

10% reduction in GDP is the definition of a depression. It is pretty clear that suddenly cutting GDP by 9% would cause a continued fall into a depression.

Actually spending on medical programs is the biggest problem over 10 years. Something really has to be done to reign in medical costs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Cue the "Thank God it Passed!" apologists when the musics over.

[Lorien]

9. And don't forget; "We'll fix it later!" nt

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. Obama should convene another White House meeting and this time invite the Press

He should invite Reid, Pelosi, Boner, and McConnell to the White House and lock them into a room telling them they won't come out without a deal. And this should all be TELEVISED for the American people. There have been so many accusations regarding closed-door meetings, that Obama changed the goalposts or didn't have goalposts, or walked out of meetings that this should be seen by the American people. It's too important not to have the American people as a witness to something that could alter this country for generations to come. The President's stated reason for inviting the press should be to put pressure on both sides to compromise. The Republicans could scarcely refuse to attend and let the country crash, as they would then own the bad economy in the public's eyes (which they already do) lock, stock, and barrel.

[formercia]

10. So, how many people have died because of this Street Theater?

Those who gave up because they thought the T(errorist) Party mongers were going to cut their Safety Net?

I would bet they are in the Hundreds if not Thousands.