“You people are getting as bad as the creeps on DU. You go crazy on shit spouted from the Washington Post or Politico, taking it as gospel and usually ending up with egg on your face. Did you happen to catch the floor speech from McConnel, shown here on FR? Doesn’t sound like a cave to me.”
Yeah, I tend to agree it’s more than meets they eye here. This “proposal” came out WAY too fast after Obama’s threat of Social Security withholding - which is the tactic the Republicans knew was going to be played. That’s exactly why the August 2nd date was constantly harped by the administration and eagerly regurgitated in the press: the checks are to arrive on the 3rd.
It’s a bad option that McConnell put forth. He also knows it has no chance of getting support from his own members in the Senate - Rubio, Paul, DeMint, Johnson, Toomey - none of them would support this. At this stage putting forth Democratic proposals knowing they won’t go anywhere is a way to run out the clock. It’ll make everyone chew on something for a while that won’t go anywhere.
I agree. Nicely put.
The Dems control the Senate. McConnell doesn't need many Reps to carry his plan forward. The House is where the battle will be fought. The House Dems will support the McConnell plan. It depends how much arm-twisting Boehner can do to get enough Reps to work with the Dems and get a bill passed. Don't forget that it was the Reps who helped Bill Clinton get NAFTA passed.
Obama's not going to stop any S.S. checks...it would be political suicide for the senior vote...he can't afford more voter losses, especially among seniors. I would have called his bluff....but this move by McCon. was quick...what are they doing we are not privy to?