House Republican budget negotiators have abandoned plans to pursue a massive $4 trillion, 10-year deficit reduction package in the face of stiff GOP opposition to any plan that would increase taxes as part of the deal.
House Speaker John Boehner informed President Barack Obama Saturday that a smaller agreement of about $2 trillion was more realistic.
In the end, he couldn't get Republican votes for tax increases and is too fond of his gavel to go to the Democrats for them.
But he still has to get a deal done...somehow. And when he does, he will have squandered the Republican mantra on debt reduction by going for $2 trillion instead of $4.
We're not quite to checkmate yet. But you can see it coming.
UPDATE: I knew Steve Benen would be on this first thing this morning. And he didn't disappoint.
The conventional wisdom suggests Republicans, who falsely believe we’re in the midst of some sort of debt crisis, are desperate to slash the deficit and bring the budget closer to balance. The conventional wisdom is, and has been, entirely wrong — Republicans care about keeping taxes on the wealthy low. Every other priority is a distant second.
Obama was willing to go big, even at the risk of infuriating his own base. In the process, the GOP was presented with a test: when faced with a historic opportunity on an issue they claim to care about, are Republicans willing to accept some sensible, popular concessions in order to cut the debt by more than $4 trillion? Is the GOP ready to rise to the occasion?
Yesterday, Republican leaders replied, “No, we’re not.”
I'm going to wait and withhold judgement until I see the final deal.
ReplyDeleteBut I am noticing how some fauxgressives seem almost bummed about this and seem to be actively trying to downplay the fact that Boehner did not get what he wanted. It's almost like they want the president to fail.
You're right - waiting to see the final deal is important.
ReplyDeleteBut the positioning on these negotiations has been severely altered.
My big fear now would be whether or not Boehner can actually get a deal. The fact that he's still resisting doing it with Democratic votes is what troubles me now.
You are ridiculous, Obama and the dumbocrats will try sleight of hand the way they did with the 2011 budget, but real conservatives are ready this time. Personally, I say cut the spending right now to meet current revenues. That means no new taxes, and cut spending on every program from the military to welfare to government pensions until there is no more red ink. It is the only responsible thing to do!
ReplyDeleteWhy should you take away from me to give to those who refuse to work? I personally know 3 people who refuse to work because they are still getting unemployment after 2 years of not working. If you would be totally honest, you would admit that it does not take 2 years to find a job. It may not be exactly what you want, but at least you would be working and making your own way!
ReplyDeleteYou can't talk about lowering the deficit without raising revenue. Sorry, as much as you try, you just cant. The Democrats tried, but the Get Obama Party want to protect the rich and not address the deficit. They had the opportunity to lower it by 4 trillion and won't. Even Reagan raised taxes because that's what we needed.
ReplyDeleteAs for someone taking things away from you to give to those that don't work - what are you talking about? Who's taking away from you? What are they taking? Stop acting like a drama queen instead of talking specifics? Perhaps you need to talk to the people you "personally know" and ask them their situation instead of making assumptions against the author of this blog.
And the Get Obama Party were the ones who promised to repealllll ObamaCare, reduce the deficit and create jobs to get elected. They've done none. Talk about sleight of hand....
Anonymous
ReplyDeleteIf you want to post comments here - you're welcome to do that. I have no problem with conservatives speaking up here. As a matter of fact, I think dialogue across party lines can be a learning experience for us all.
But throwing around names and making ridiculous comments about taking anything away from you just won't cut it.
I'll leave your comments here this time because TrumpDog has done a good job of responding. But in the future, if you can't talk reasonably - don't bother.