Pototan
Pototan's JournalMy prediction on how the debt limit debate will play out
I believe the Democrats will support abolishing the debt limit permanently. They will not support a 2 or 3 year "suspension". Abolishing it will probably pass the House but will most likely be killed in the Senate.
The Democrats will vote to increase the debt ceiling, marginally (by a Trillion or so), but for a short period, like 1 year.
This will cause considerable consternation to the Republicans, pitting the House Republicans against each other and Trump against the Republicans in the Senate.
There is no need to shut down the government. Just give small increases in the debt ceiling, if we can't abolish the thing altogether.
The Democrats hold all the cards on this issue and they should play them wisely.
As a retired union officer...
...I'm having trouble sympathizing with the Teamsters during their strike against Amazon.
Between Jeff Bezos and Sean O'Brien, don't know who to root for. Let's see if Trump walks the picket line with the strikers. I'm guessing NOT.
If you could have dinner for 3 hours with anyone alive...
... to talk politics, who would you choose.
I would choose George Conway.
This past week gives us a road map...
...for how to handle the Trump era. Stand back and wait for them to come to us. The Trump and his MAGA cult don't have the votes to succeed on their own. They cannot unify their own party.
They can't raise the debt ceiling without the Dems. Trump can't get his tax bill through the House and Senate without Dems. SALT deduction must be included because of Blue State Republicans. He can't pass a budget and will have trouble funding his deportation plan.
What we need is patience and unity. Don't forget, his team is incompetent and too angry to act rationally.
700,000 Musk Vehicles Recalled
Tesla is recalling almost 700,000 vehicles because of an issue with the warning light on the tire pressure monitoring system.
According to a letter Thursday from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall includes certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles.
The issue is that the tire pressure monitoring system warning light on the vehicles may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. Driving with improperly inflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.
https://apnews.com/article/tesla-musk-recall-cybertruck-e78b0f3421c538a3f0bb4bba0bda0549
The Hill: Speaker Johnson has a Plan C. Expects vote this morning
Although this report has no details, I expect that there is a very slimmed down CR with no controversial additions and for a very limited duration.
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5050249-mike-johnson-house-republicans-plan-c-shutdown/
Who else is rooting for an unmanned Space X rocket failure?
Now, please don't get me wrong. I don't want any manned flight to fail. I certainly wouldn't want any human causalities.
But an unmanned Space X launch or two ending up in flames on the launching pad wouldn't make me sad at all. Not one little bit.
President Musk and Assistant President Trump
That's the ticket. That's how to refer to these two men. It fits the narrative and pisses off the Trumpers and the Republicans in Congress.
A proposal for the Democrats from me
The CR, which was torpedoed by Elon Musk and Donald Trump, is no longer viable. I know the Democrats wanted to get some of their priorities into the CR but that no longer seems feasible.
Trump is looking down the road to avoid a debt ceiling increase 7 or 8 months from now with the Republicans holding the Seante, the House and the Presidency. So, the Republican proposal is a clean CR with a preemptive increase of the Debt ceiling, well ahead of its deadline.
Nothing can be done without Democratic votes in both the House and the Senate (filibuster).
Here's my suggestion, which is mostly political messaging. The Democrat's should support a clean CR (which the Republicans suggest) without raising the Debt ceiling now, since it is not necessary.
This puts the whole responsibility on Trump and the Republicans. Can you imagine not funding the government because you are holding out for increasing the debt ceiling 8 months ahead of time. No way.
Put the ball back in their court.
It is just getting so disheartening
This Trump 2.0 is getting sickening. Many of the most well-known multi-billionaires are falling over themselves to kiss Trump's ass (I don't use the cleaned-up word, "ring". Mica and Joe, the LA Times, the Washington Post (Bezos) and now ABC,
What the fuck. George Stephanopoulos used the word "rape" to describe the finding in the civil case involving Trump and E. Jean Carrol. They had very little chance of losing that case. A sitting judge described Trump's actions as being considered rape in the true sense of the word. Trump digitally violated Carrol. By any measure, that is considered rape. Trump was found responsible. He is a highly. visible public figure. Arguably the most visible. The only reason to settle was because of fear. The admission gives the other side another talking point.
It just makes it hard for people like us, with marginable wealth at best, with limited platforms, to compete with those who control so much. I'm not saying anyone should just give up. What I am saying is that it is disheartening, and we are swimming against the current. It does seem that courage is lacking in any of these powerful places.
Profile Information
Name: LouisGender: Male
Hometown: Boston USA and Pototan Philippines
Home country: United States
Current location: Philippines
Member since: Tue Dec 20, 2022, 09:03 AM
Number of posts: 2,105