Debt ceiling: More Democrats threaten to vote against raising borrowing limit

[n2doc]

By Peter Wallsten, Published: April 28
A growing number of Democrats are threatening to defy the White House over the national debt, joining Republican calls for deficit cuts as a requirement for consenting to lift the country’s borrowing limit.

The tension is the latest illustration of how the tea-party-infused GOP is driving the debate in Washington over federal spending. And it shows how the debt issue is testing the Obama administration’s clout as Democrats, particularly those from politically competitive states, resist White House arguments against setting conditions on legislation to raise the debt ceiling.

The push-back has come in recent days from Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a freshman who is running for reelection next year. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) told constituents during the Easter recess that he would not vote to lift the debt limit without a “real and meaningful commitment to debt reduction.”

Even Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), generally a stalwart White House ally, is undecided on the issue and is “hopeful” that a debt-ceiling bill can be attached to a measure to cut the federal deficit, said her spokesman, Linden Zakula. Klobuchar is also up for reelection next year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/debt-ceiling-more-democrats-threaten-to-vote-against-raising-borrowing-limit/2011/04/28/AF5KvY8E_story.html

Go ahead MF'ers: If you cut SS or Medicare/medicaid to keep taxes low on the rich, you can kiss your political careers goodbye.

[aquart]

1. Tax the Rich or Take a Hike.

[Tippy]

2. I'll second that.....

[pscot]

9. +3

[fascisthunter]

3. So, They'd Rather Give Tax Breaks to the Rich While We all Suffer

ok... enough is enough... the only way this country is going to change is if we collectively do what Egyptians did. These rich corrupt fucks need to have their collective asses thrown into a trash can somewhere they belong.

[KamaAina]

4. If these regrettable DINOs are in fact serious about cutting the deficit,

they'll take a look at the $$$billions we're spending on our "Two and a Half Wars".

[vi5]

5. I've obviously become far too cyincal and negative...

Because while I believe these assholes are doing this for their own perceived political benefit, I also think this provides cover to the white house and their apologists to be able to spin this as "Well, nothing they could have done about it. Votes just weren't there, etc. etc."

[slipslidingaway]

10. knr nt

[kenny blankenship]

15. Harry Reid has already ordered his monument,

inscribed:
"We just don't have the votes. We tried. Oh how we tried, but we just don't have the votes."

[bullwinkle428]

6. Get ready for the money train to start flowing - straight to your primary challengers!

[gratuitous]

7. Failing to raise the debt limit will cost a LOT of money

Sure, not sending in your monthly mortgage payment looks like a good idea in the very short run: Hey, you have money in your pocket! But then comes the notification that the payment is still due, there are now late payment penalties, and the accrued interest continues to mount. In addition, there's the possibility of foreclosure. So, it's not a smart move.

Failing to raise the debt limit will cost a lot of money in higher interest rates to be paid on the debt, probable suits from people due contracted payments from the government, and other charges. It's stupid in the extreme: expensive and will cost us more in the long run. If the aim is to demonstrate a "real and meaningful commitment to debt reduction," it's about as far from that as you can get without actually playing with your own feces.

[Citizen Worker]

8. The problem is not debt, it's a lack of revenue, and the fix is quite simple. Rescind tax cuts for

corporations and the wealthy, close the tax loopholes that allow corporations to set up post office boxes in the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes, enact a transaction tax on derivatives, restore the estate tax to its prior rate, and remove the income cap on Social Security taxes. And leave the working class alone with our meager wages that haven't gone up since 1973.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Can the DNC not threaten to throw them out of the party?

I've asked this question many times before, but isn't blackmailing your leader (the President) grounds for expulsion?

It certainly would be in Canada.

[Better Believe It]

They are not members of the Democratic Party. It's not a membership based organization.

With membership dues, meetings, duties and obligations, etc.,

[Better Believe It]

They are not members of the Democratic Party. It's not a membership based organization.

With membership dues, meetings, duties and obligations, etc.,

[Better Believe It]

They are not members of the Democratic Party. It's not a membership based organization.

With membership dues, meetings, duties and obligations, etc.,

[Better Believe It]

17. They are not members of the Democratic Party. It's not a membership based organization.

With membership dues, meetings, duties and obligations, etc.,

[Better Believe It]

12. "you can kiss your political careers goodbye." They have no economic reason to fear that.

Because "losing" an election just speeds their entry into the "private sector" that will enable them enrich themselves.

It's all about the money.

Those who function as congressional political whores for Wall Street and big business are richly rewarded for their legislative work once they leave political office.

These corporate enablers would prefer winning re-election but it's no big fricken deal for them if they "lose" and are "forced" into the "private sector".

[999998th word]

13. Well put

[Hannah Bell]

14. yeah, that's why we need to vote for dems. so they can vote the pub platform.

[tblue37]

16. How very stupid of them. nt