Leaderless Republicans rush headlong toward default

[Zorro]

“Unfortunately, Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility. This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in financial markets, and the federal deficit would soar. The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations.”

— President Ronald Reagan, Sept. 26, 1987

This is not Ronald Reagan’s Republican Party. Neither is it the party of the Republican Revolution of ’94, the tea-party-infused GOP of 2010, nor even the Republican Party that surrendered to Donald Trump in 2016.

No, this new version of the GOP is at once so radical and so lacking in responsible leadership that it is plunging headlong and unified toward forcing default on the full faith and credit of the United States. Congressional Republicans are inviting economic calamity.

Reagan presided over 18 increases in the debt ceiling during his presidency. George W. Bush’s treasury secretary, Paul O’Neill, compared those who opposed raising the limit to “terrorists.” Former Republican House speaker John Boehner called it “insanity” to hold the debt limit hostage — and those who did it “crazies.”

There have been squabbles over the debt limit for decades, including some near misses, but the United States has never defaulted on the debt its two parties have jointly accumulated. Though crazies threatened default, grown-ups in the GOP — Bob Dole, Boehner, an earlier incarnation of Mitch McConnell — pulled them back from the abyss.

Until now. The crazies are in charge. McConnell, the Senate GOP leader, says flatly that he won’t vote to increase the debt ceiling, and he isn’t even negotiating. “That’s their problem,” he says of the Democrats. And Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has threatened to filibuster any debt-ceiling increase, which means Democrats can’t avoid default unless 10 Republican senators agree.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/debt-limit-republicans-default-mcconnell-cruz/

[drray23]

1. there is a way which could also solve another issue.

put it in the reconciliation package . This can't be filibustered and might force the moderate democrats to vote for it together with the infrastructure package as was the plan originally.

[FBaggins]

4. That's what the republicans want

It doesn't have to be part of the $3.5T package - reconciliation bills that just increase the debt limit don't "count" the same way as spending/taxing legislation.

The problem is that you can't get rid of the cap or just suspend it. All you can do is increase the limit to a new specific amount. Which involves figuring out how much spending in excess of income you plan to have between now and the next time you hit the cap.

That just about has to be a huge number.

Republicans want to point at that number. Democrats would much prefer to suspend the limit for a year. Same effect, but no headline number.

[Slammer]

8. pick a ridiculous number

Change the rules to suspend the filibuster in the Senate.

Pick a ridiculous number to increase the debt ceiling to like 999 trillion dollars and fifty-two cents.

Point out in the discussion of the upcoming vote that the number is intentionally ridiculous and quote the Republicans about how ridiculous it is to bring our country repeatedly to the brink of financial disaster each year because of a completely useless rule...which no other country in the world has because it is so useless and ridiculous.

Then pass the debt ceiling bill which places it at 999 trillion dollars and fifty-two cents.

Then change the Senate rules back to replace the filibuster. (Even though there's other legislation out there which could benefit from the lack of a filibuster, make it clear that this isn't about "pushing Biden's agenda" but rather about fixing an antique and useless rule that hurts both parties and the country.)

The Republicans can't credibly argue that the Democrats are wanting to spend an additional 972 trillion dollars and fifty-two cents. And if they try, point out how dumb the Republicans are being about it, then ask the public if they think the national government ought to (several times a year like it's been doing for decades) come close to defaulting on paying the bills it already owes and not paying the wages of federal employees and military personnel.

Frame it as "do this or we can't pay our soldiers", which is absolutely true, and it'll take a lot of the steam out of the opposition.

Or if they want to embrace not paying our soldiers, we'll gladly accept that voting block in the next elections.

[Bob_in_VA]

2. There is another option

Simply ignore the whole debt ceiling kabuki dance and instruct the Treasury to continue paying the bills. The Constitution mandates that the government will always pay its bills so any law to the contrary is unconstitutional, QED.

Fourteenth Amendment, Section 4: The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.

Then begin a massive public awareness campaign against the Republicans accusing them of attempting to destroy the economy by refusing to raise the debt ceiling. Let's see how McTurtle likes wearing that shoe.

[seta1950]

3. There is no more republican party

There is the qanon white supremacy party

[Evolve Dammit]

6. It sure looks that way. It really does. The "moderates" will be tossed aside next cycle.

Remains to be seen what events will unfold when many are advocating violence.

[Skittles]

9. to be fair, they always were big on whites

the difference is now, the dog whistle has been discarded in favor of the bullhorn

[SWBTATTReg]

5. And why does Congress hold the purse strings for ...

Social Security, and hold it hostage to their whims every time that there is an argument between the branches of government?

Again, the republicans use this ruse as a club to hold sway over millions and millions of senior citizens, who have worked their entire lives paying into these systems, and now their earned Social Security dollars are being threatened w/ literally being held hostage?

Social Security should always, always be left alone, and never subject to the whims of such a fickle and irresponsible group of people as the republicans are proving themselves to be. Any changes to social security, etc. should be approved by a 2/3rd majority in Congress, voter approval, or something of a combination of thus, and implemented over time, since so many people have planned in preparation for their retirement, certain dollar amounts, thus, any changes to Social Security should be implemented over a gradual period of time, not immediately, in order to allow people to prepare.

If anything, another hostage should be tied to any changes to Social Security...link any dollars stripped from Social Security to a dollar for dollar match in Military Spending, thus if republicans try to pay for their deficit spending via cutting Social Security by $100 Billion dollars in year ABCD, then Military Spending should also be cut by $100 Billion dollars.

[hadEnuf]

7. If Trump and the GOP can't have the country then they will destroy it. It's that simple.

They are terrorists and enemies of America. It's also that simple.

[certainot]

10. not leaderless. the stinking corpse of limbaugh still haunts them! in 2011 limbaugh spent

6 weeks+ telling the dittohead teabag base that default couldn't possiblly happen, and if it did, it was no big deal, and it would be good for republican goals.

putin had been using limbaugh since at least 2008 and maybe this was another case where limbaugh was rebelling from the establishment GOP through some other mentors/feeders. he was already playing golf with friend and neighbor TFG

default would not be good for republican billionaires and big biz but it sure would be good for putin

media and dem leaders are committing malpractice by not investigating influence of rw radio by foreign interests