Oh Boy- Boehner Wants More, More, More

[n2doc]

— By Kevin Drum| Mon Apr. 11, 2011 10:07 AM PDT
From House Speaker John Boehner, staking out an early position on the upcoming fight to raise the nation's debt ceiling:

The president says I want you to send me a clean bill. Well guess what, Mr. President, not a chance you’re going to get a clean bill. There will not be an increase in the debt limit without something really, really big attached to it.

This is hardly a surprise. We've been talking for months about how there's going to be a big battle over the debt ceiling, and obviously big battles have to be fought over something. Boehner is just being a little more bellicose about this than usual.

So what's the "really, really big" thing that Boehner has in mind? Maybe I'm being obtuse, but I'm at a bit of a loss over this. I don't think Boehner can get away with demanding concessions on side issues like Planned Parenthood or EPA regs. He lost on that already, and his position won't be any better in a couple of months. As for straight budget issues, what's the point? The House is working on a budget right now and it will land on the president's desk soon enough. That's the place for a fight over FY2012 outlays.

more

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/04/quote-day-boehner-wants-more-more-more

Now that they have sized Obama and Reid up, they are going to go for the kill. Permanent tax cuts? Medicare vouchers? Social Security privatization?

[maxrandb]

1. Here's something "big" for you Boner

How about if the Dems refuse to vote for an increase in the Debt Ceiling unless it includes a provision to return the top tax rate to Pre-Reagan days!

Or at the least...Pre-Bush II Days?

[Tippy]

2. I ditto that

[Atman]

I refuse to "ditto" anything...but I do concur.

Ditto used to be a good word, but Republicans have ruined it.

[Andy823]

3. And also

Take away all the tax breaks and subsidies for the oil companies, and the corporate run farms!

[Angry Dragon]

4. Just like a bunch of kids fighting on the playground

These people have never grown up

[polichick]

5. Bullies will bully as long as they get away with it...

Either the prez doesn't get that, or he doesn't disagree with either the bullies or the bullying.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. And DU wants Obama to be able to negotiate with that? No way in hell

[chaska]

7. Obama will give you half of what you demand every time....

So they double their demands. They've got him figured out.

And only those who demand get anything. And Dems demand nothing.

[polichick]

8. True - same way little kids figure out which parent...

...is a major pushover by the time they're two years old.

[joeybee12]

9. Mom says no, so you ask Dad...nt

[Motown_Johnny]

10. then Boehner can just clip his ego to it and send it along

if you want something really really big attached to it, this "fits the bill"

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. HEY! Go ahead and let the fuckers create a WORLD WIDE ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE!

Then the entire WORLD will hate them as much as we do. :grr:

[badtoworse]

12. I can see a deal involving tax increases AND spending cuts.

I don't believe either side can get one without the other. I can see reductions in military spending, as well as reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. I believe any tax increases will be accross the board - say back to Clinton era levels or higher. Anyone who thinks there won't have to be concessions by both sides to get a deal is delusional

Unless we do things to convince the rating agencies that we are serious about getting our fiscal house in order, our debt will lose its AAA rating. The consequences of that would be very unpleasant as interest rates rise, our currency loses value against foreign currencies and virtually everything gets a lot more expensive. As usual, the poor and the middle class will be the ones hurt the most.

Not raising the ceiling is not an option. A defualt on our debt would be a far worse catastrophe than the financial crisis we've had the last 2 years. Again, the poor and middle class would be hurt the most.

Flame away, but we can't afford to continue spending at current levels. We need to spend less and raise additional revenue with everyone taking a hit. If we don't solve the problem, the debt markets will take care of it for us and that would be the worst possible outcome. Sorry, but that's reality as I see it.