The Republicans' debt-ceiling ransom note finally comes into focus

[babylonsister]

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/republicans-debt-ceiling-ransom-note-finally-comes-focus-n1279949


The Republicans' debt-ceiling ransom note finally comes into focus
The conventional wisdom is that Republicans, unlike their earlier debt-ceiling crises, haven't yet presented Democrats with a ransom note. That's not true.
Sept. 23, 2021, 1:05 PM EDT
By Steve Benen


snip//

Or put another way, Senate Republicans have prepared instructions on how to release the hostage: Democrats must jump through a series of procedural hoops, add a debt-ceiling increase to their Build Back Better legislation, and then pass the revised package through the budget reconciliation process, which the GOP cannot block with a filibuster.

Can Congress simply pass a clean debt-ceiling extension? Republicans say no. Can Congress add a debt-ceiling extension to the continuing resolution that would prevent a government shutdown? Republicans say no. What the GOP will tolerate — what the GOP will only tolerate — is having Democrats raise the debt ceiling by adding it to the not-yet-written multi-trillion-dollar reconciliation bill.

That's the ransom note. That's what Republicans are demanding in exchange for letting the hostage go.

And why, pray tell, are GOP leaders making this demand? In part because they hope it'll make the Democratic legislation harder to pass, and in part because they believe it'll make the popular bill easier to attack.

It's a political game that's as crass as it is dangerous, but it's the one congressional Republicans insist on playing anyway.

[Johnny2X2X]

1. Dems should call their bluff by raising it for the next 3-1/2 years

All the way through Biden's first term. Take it off the table for the GOP who want to harm the country to make Biden look bad.

[Klaralven]

3. Repeal it permanently

[Bluethroughu]

6. Yes!

End the filibuster and run the country without these traitors.

[jimfields33]

8. I don't know why Democratic Party cares

We have the majority. Screw them. We can pass everything. Let’s get it done.

[PSPS]

9. Not quite. President Manchin.

[doc03]

2. They put us through the same bullshit every year and

it seems to backfire on them. I guess it is all a dog and pony show for that Loser.

[in2herbs]

12. It needs to backfire with more power then cuz I just don't see that happening. That time under PBO

when they let it expire federal workers lost pay and citizens paid hefty $$$ for the interest on the default and our rating dropped --- yet the Rs did not suffer at the poles.

IMO the Ds need to do better marketing and promoting.

[doc03]

13. That's what have been saying about the

infrastructure plan, they have done a poor job of promoting it.

[Walleye]

4. All that matters now is the performance. Not the governing,the fiscal responsibility. Just the show

The whole Republican party is now a reality TV show. No script, they just make it up as they go along, whatever they think pleases their audience

[Tatertot]

5. You have it partially wrong

The ask for the ransom is to use the final reconciliation bill on the debt ceiling so that it can’t be used on the Build Back Better bill. This is a maneuver to out right kill that bill

[Hugin]

7. I disagree. It's not political...

That would imply they're trying to peel off votes.

Not while they're killing off their base and the CA recall clearly signaled after years and years of ugliness with the last five being in-our-face crap smearing on the walls of democracy. That their opposition has hardened to the point nobody is going to one day wake up and say, "Oh, the Democrats look bad. I'm going to vote for the other guy."

It's not going to happen in the numbers they need to become viable.

What the GrOPpers are displaying now is pure murderous spite and hatred. Befitting of their self-appointed hateful god-emperor.

It's the narcissistic serial abuser's stereotypical, "If I can't have her, nobody can." writ large for all the world to see.

[ffr]

10. GrOPpers are displaying now is pure murderous spite and hatred. +1

Nailed it.

[ripcord]

11. I don't see why anyone is surprised

We are going this route without the republicans, if we pass the full infrastructure bill we will have passed over $5 trillion dollars this year by reconciliation, of course they are going to make us take the responsibility funding it.