What’s more to say?
I’m not trying to be negative. I’m trying to be honest. The latest GOP “strategy” — which began with a surrender on the “fiscal cliff”, leading to massive tax increases, and has continued now with a “suspension” of the debt ceiling (that is, a de facto raising of the limit) — is completely feckless. Flaccid. Impotent.
And yet it’s being touted by the GOP cheerleaders and the Boehner-bangers in the “conservative” opinionsphere as some great and crafty move to force the hands of the Democrats, who could soon see a “cut” of $69 billion in discretionary spending if they don’t come up with a plan that balances the budget in 10 years. Which they’ll claim to have done by proposing enormous tax increases and cuts to military spending, etc.
Meanwhile, over the next 4 months, during this very cunning “suspension” voted on by the GOP House yesterday, we as a country will accrue an additional $400 billion or so in debt.
So. The GOP has very very cagily forced the Dems into accepting $400 billion in new spending in exchange for the subtraction of $69 billion down the road, should they not come up with a “balanced” plan to produce a budget that raises taxes on everyone — and will probably be the “in” for the formation of a VAT tax. Because we can’t cut entitlements, you see — why does the GOP hate autistic kids and grannies? — so what we’ll need for “balance” is more “revenue”.
The WSJ editorial board and Gingrich and Krauthammer, et al., cheer this on: so well played, Mr Boehner! You didn’t vote to increase the debt limit, you only suspended it — so no one can claim that you agreed to an increase, though in fact you have allowed that increase to happen. And you are insisting on a balanced budget in ten years, but without having to pin yourself or any future GOP administration to some sort of government spending cap on percentage of GDP, or any real “cuts” at all — so no one can accuse you of pushing for “austerity” measures, nor can they accuse you of not agreeing to a “balanced” approach!
Wily. Crafty. Winning.
Of course, if you’re a citizen and not a Beltway politician or pundit jockeying for political position, you’re getting fucked asswise any which way this is broken down. Your children and their are being shackled and yoked. And soon, the entire system will of economic necessity collapse entirely.
But then, shut up, Hobbit.
So I repeat: what’s more to say?
King Putt invoking “peace in our time”, now John Boehner as Neville Chamberlain waving a piece of paper.
And they wonder why the vast majority of Americans have no faith in their “leaders”?
i heart sequestration
mostly cause of it’s the only game in town anymore
[…] Jeff Goldstein comments: […]
So I repeat: what’s more to say?
Prince Rebus has a new website for your feedback!
If defense gets cut badly enough, the secessionists won’t have to worry about D.C. trying to stop them.
yes the defense cuts are a good way to let key individuals know the shit is gittin rail
There’s always enough money in the budget to quell a domestic uprising, no worries there.
There’s always enough money in the budget to quell a domestic uprising, no worries there.
Given that the domestic uprising is most likely to happen* because there isn’t enough money in the budget to pay off the voter cattle, I’m thinking “no worries” is hard to justify.
* OK, was most likely. That’s before I realized that the Proggies really are committed to shredding the 2nd.
There would be the money to quell rioting by the voter cattle, but not the will. Shooting people is much cheaper than giving them their EBT money, but the rioting would die down eventually, and those in power would likely remain in power.
They would have the will to quell an uprising of armed citizens, because armed citizens would be a threat to their continued power.
Conservatives no longer have any organized representation on Capitol Hill. Sign me up for the restored Republic of Texas.
A sobering comment from one corner:
“Now that it has been suspended, the debt ceiling may never be reinstated. All the Senate needs to do now come May 19 is again threaten default should the debt ceiling suspension not be indefinitely extended. Under those circumstances, House Republican leadership is likely to fold under even the slightest pressure.
…
“And it means, come May 19, the debt ceiling must be reinstated. Otherwise, House Republicans will have ceded their constitutional authority over fiscal matters to the executive, marking an end to representative government in any true sense.”
http://tinyurl.com/b6r5fcv
You’re not supposed to speak of the plan out loud you know.
Well, they already don’t bother voting on an actual budget, so why bother with a debt ceiling?
So I repeat: what’s more to say?
What difference does it make?