The architect of today's brilliant dem move in the House was

[cali]

Steny Hoyer.

How Democrats Railroaded Republicans Into Almost Passing A Budget Too Conservative For Them
Brian Beutler | April 15, 2011, 3:56PM


When House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) heard Republicans were going to hold a vote on the extremely conservative Republican Study Committee budget, a lightbulb turned on in his head.

"I thought to myself the Republican leadership is probably thinking we're going to defeat it for them," Hoyer told me in a phone interview Friday. "I said to myself I'm not interested in seeing that happen. I want the Republicans to show what they believe. And if a majority of them believe that that's the kind of budget the American people need to know that."

The RSC is a very large bloc of conservative Republican House members. They introduced a 10-year plan for America that makes the already far-reaching House budget look fairly moderate. It was supposed to be a symbolic vote -- one that allowed conservative members to go on the record in support of slashing $9 trillion in spending knowing full well it would never be adopted as the official position of the House and the Republican Party. Hoyer figured them out.
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http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/how-democrats-railroaded-republicans-into-almost-passing-a-budget-too-conservative-for-them.php

[babylonsister]

1. I love it! The rethugs own this now. nt

[inna]

2. omd. i'm starting to appreciate your sig line.

[malaise]

3. It was brilliant and funny

There was a great thread here

[Historic NY]

4. High stakes politics isn't for the weak, very smart preceptive move.

[Larkspur]

5. I'm not a Hoyer fan, but if he trully did come up with this idea, then good for him

and it's about freaking time the Dem leaders use their brains for something other than filler in the cranium.

Now, the Dem leaders need to keep the momentum from this political stunt rolling forward to the 2012 election.

[No Elephants]

6. Good for Hoyer. I'd like to see everyone go on record more often,

especially in the Senate. Voters need and deserve info

[SoCalDem]

7. So close.. I wish they had timed it so it would have passed

too bad they had enough time to get a few rats to jump ship..

the senate would never have okayed it & Obama would have vetoed any conglomeration of it..

I wish they had set that tire on fire & made them wear it...