Posted on 02/13/2014 3:47:45 AM PST by LD Jackson
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Is there any end to this debauchery?
By now, we all know President Obama has received a bill that raises the debt ceiling through the mid-term elections. After all, we can't have another fight like this when our politicians have better things to worry about. Such as winning another term. The House Republican leadership (I refuse to say House Republicans because some of them stayed the course and voted against this nonsense) capitulated earlier, voting to raise the debt ceiling and sending the bill to the Senate for approval. As seems to be the case much of the time, Senator Ted Cruz tried to stop the bill with a filibuster, but the Republican leadership in the Senate made sure that didn't pan out. They needed five Republicans to vote to shut down the filibuster. In the end, 12 Republicans voted to end the debate and advance the bill. Rather than rehash it all myself, here is how it went down.
The Hill - Sixty votes were needed to overcome a filibuster by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who complained that Congress was raising the debt ceiling without demanding any curbs on Washington’s spending.I guess we are supposed to be thankful to the Republicans who voted to end debate, but voted against passage of the final bill? Should we be glad we have them to stand in the gap in Washington? If they expect us to buy this nonsense, then they must believe we are more naive than I first believed. To prove my point, let me go back to what Senator Orrin Hatch had to say. He, along with several other Republicans who originally voted against advancing the bill, switched their votes at the last minute. His stated reason was to give political cover to Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn. Just out of curiosity, what is their real priority in Washington? Are they there to watch out for the interests of the people and the states, or did they win their seats in that esteemed body to provide political cover for their friends? That's a question I would love to hear the answer to.With the upper chamber’s Democrats and Independents all voting yes, Senate Republicans needed to muster five votes to overcome Cruz.
Yet during an hour of tense floor conversations, it appeared they might fail.
The vote started late, as Senate Republicans huddled behind closed doors. After meeting for roughly an hour in private, the conference still did not know whether it could conjure up the needed votes.
On the floor, the procedural vote ran on for another hour, with Republicans slow to offer support.
Cornyn and McConnell, who is the most vulnerable Senate Republican up for reelection in 2014, then voted to end the debate, making it clear the procedural motion would be approved.
After their dramatic votes, another group of Republicans met in a room off the Senate floor. They returned, and several switched their votes from no to yes.
Some members said they switched their votes to give cover to McConnell and Cornyn.
“I didn’t want this to come down to just be a criticized vote for just a few of our people. It just wasn’t right,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who fought off a primary challenger in 2012 and is serving his last term.
In the end, 12 Republicans voted to end debate in the 67-31 vote.
On final passage, the bill suspending the debt ceiling until March 15, 2015, was approved in a 55-43 vote, with every Republican voting no.
What does this debt ceiling increase do? It adds hundreds of billions of surplus spending to the already staggering debt of $17.2 trillion. It raises the debt ceiling until March of 2015, well past the mid-term elections. The Republicans who are soon to be embroiled in their elections to win another term can do so, without worrying about something as trivial as fighting with the liberal Democrats over raising the debt ceiling or out of control spending. All of this, with no strings attached. No spending cuts, no limits, no tax cuts, no sequester, nothing.
Makes me wonder why we even bother having these debates in the first place.
This is the standard mode of operation for our Senate (most all of them save for 2 or three, IMO) SHOW VOTES...designed to capitulate without firing a shot when it really counts (where they could kill off a bill), and then turning around and symbolically voting the opposite so they can go home and LIE to their constituents.
Nothing more than a bunch of duplicitous traitors, IMO. I'm done with GOP.
Good thing I’m taking my vacation this year. Sounds like I’ll have bigger things to worry about after this year.
Yes but if we re-elect these guys they will get really, really tough with these issues next time. At least that is what their fundraising letters tell me.
I have voted straight Republican ticket since 1976. Time to stop that foolishness and to stop sending any money to these clowns.
It raises the debt ceiling to what value?
Is it true that they "raised" it, without giving the ceiling a value?
That is, if so, a blank check for some number of months, to be spent as these clowns feel fit?
"We don't care. WE ARE EXEMPT, suckers".
It all makes sense when we realize there is but one party, the Uniparty, which is willing to destroy American society as long as they are personally enriched in the process.
Mitch McConnell is a quivering-chinned little weasel.
As much as I want this government reigned in, I don’t see how that’s possible at this time. President Obama simply refuses to compromise with the Republican-held house, the senate will block any attempt to impeach the president, and the only recourse is a government shutdown that tends to favor Democrats (with media help of course). If a shutdown ensues, we know President Obama will also use it to inflict the most pain possible.
So what’s the right course of action? I just don’t know. As much as I’d like to accuse the RINOs of being sellouts, that’s just one interpretation. Another interpretation is they don’t see any other way forward and fear another shutdown will hurt our chances in the next election.
Even worse, I don’t see the power balance changing even if we retake the senate. Harry Reid may be evil, but he plays politics to win. I think he saw the handwriting on the wall, so he eliminated the filibuster in order to push through Obama’s judicial nominations before it’s too late. That reduces a future senate’s leverage over a lame duck Obama administration.
Given President Obama’s continuing refusals to compromise, we are a faced with no good choices going forward. A shutdown by itself is not a political victory. Some will undoubtedly disagree, but a shutdown should be a means to a political end. It’s not good governance by itself, and if it can’t deliver results (an Obama capitulation or compromise) without hurting Republicans, then maybe it’s better to delay until American voters can weigh in again this November.
You have got it right
Absent the raw political power, there is no recourse at present
It’s an unpopular view around here, but I think we’re in a no win situation. I’m fine with a shutdown if it succeeds in forcing a compromise, but evidence suggests the Democrats actually WANT a shutdown. Why? They will use it to inflict the most pain possible while the media blames Republicans.
As much as I dislike the GOPe, delaying the debt ceiling struggle until after the next election is a reasonable position. Again, I don’t know if it’s the best choice, but it’s a reasonable choice given the situation. Nothing really changes until the next election, and we (conservatives) have to win big. That is the only way we have any hope of changing the political balance in DC, and even then, President Obama can still simply refuse to compromise.
Matt Bevin is the answer
Mitch and John need to be booted
The reason the shutdown fails is the lack of proper PR spin from the Republican side. Beginning with Gingrich during the Clinton years Republicans have talked about shutting down the government. The fact some Republicans brag about shutting down the government allows the press to blame them for shutting down the government when it is actually the Democrat Senate and President shutting the government down by failing to pass the budget originated in the House.
The proper way to play the budget game from a PR perspective is for the Republican House to vote a conservative budget that truly defunds a number of worthless, failed programs and pork. In addition it defunds Obamacare while funding essential services. Call it a “responsible budget”. Send the budget to the Senate with no comment other than “we have passed a responsible budget reflecting the wishes and priorities of the majority of the American people.” Every Republican should be parroting the same talking points when confronting the press.
Let Harry Reid and the Democrats vote down the budget. The Republicans should then state, “We have passed a responsible budget to fund essential services. We are sorry the Democrats wish to create a budget crisis. We think it would be tragic for the country if the Democrats shut down the government. The right thing for America is to pass this budget which will keep the government running, ensure social security and government worker checks are paid on time, and allow the government to perform the functions specified in the Constitution. We are also reasonable people and willing to have a debate on the Democrat spending priorities. Therefore we encourage the Democrats to propose specific legislation dealing with their priorities which we will be happy to bring to the floor of the House in a separate vote. Let us make it clear. If the Democrat Senate votes down the budget approved by the House, it is the Democrats who are shutting down the government. We have passed the legislation to fund the government”.
Then hang tough. If they hang tough and keep repeating the soundbites, the Senate will either have to pass the legislation or let the government shut down. Keep hanging tough. Keep saying in unison, “We passed a budget to fund the government. The Democrats are the ones refusing to pass a responsible budget. We don’t understand why they want to shut down the government and make government workers go home and keep Social Security checks from going out.” If the Republicans will hang tough for a couple of weeks, the Democrats will have no choice but to pass the budget as is. Their constituents will demand their checks. The Democrats will have to cave.”
The minute the first Republican beats on his chest and says “we are going to force a shutdown” the game is over and the PR game is lost. If the Republicans can stay on the same page and talk about the responsible budget and hoping the Democrats don’t choose to shut down the government they can win.
In today’s soundbite world, it is all about the PR spin. The Democrats stay united on message. The Republicans can’t come out with a coherent message, much less stay on message. Until they are able to use the language to their advantage, they will always lose the PR game.
The problem isn’t GOP PR spin. It’s that GOP PR spin isn’t able to break through the wall thrown up by the Dem’s fellow travellers in the MSM.
So the question is, what do we want to talk about between now and the election? The GOP shutting down the government,the GOP sending the government into default, or Obamacare?
With Obamacare being the ONLY issue that the Dems and MSM can’t effectively blame the GOP for.
You are dead on. We must take a defensive position, keep our powder dry and attack at a time and place of our own choosing. At present, there can be no political resolution.
I fought this battle on and off for much of yesterday. It can not be won because the opposition is devolved to irrational hatred.
I think that reality is known but the hatred of current helplessness prohibits rational analysis or thought.
“So the question is, what do we want to talk about between now and the election? The GOP shutting down the government,the GOP sending the government into default, or Obamacare?”
I’m okay with Obamacare being the message. But what is the GOP message? They nominated the architect of Obamacare (Romney) to be the presidential candidate in 2012. John McCain one day says it can’t be repealed and the next day calls for total repeal. Olympia Snow could have blocked its passage in committee but voted to let the bill out of committee so the entire Senate could vote on it (knowing it would pass). Ted Cruz tries to filibuster but has the rug pulled out from under him by other GOP Senators.
I have a feeling the GOP establishment is happy with Obamacare. The multinational corporations and Wall Street bankers they depend on for campaign contributions certainly want the government to assume the cost of employer funded healthcare. I perceive the fight to be more token resistance than a real effort. Certainly the message (to the extent there is a message) comes in spurts. We don’t hear the ongoing and relentless daily pounding we get from the Democrats when they are pushing an issue.
Those are all fair points.
The question for me is that if Ted Cruz is just one man, what happens when we have a Senate majority created by electing others like him (aka Tea Party Conservatives) ... ?
We’re screwed if the Dems keep the Senate. We might be screwed if the Republicans capture it. But there’s also a good chance that a GOP Senate with a bunch of Cruzes, or Pauls or Lee’s, coupled with an enlsrged and emboldend Tea Party caucus in the House, can start turning things around, or at least do things that can pave the way to a GOP President in 2017.
That’s a risk worth taking. I’d rather roll the dice and lose than not, and look back 5 or 10 or 20 years from now and really wish I had.
What you wrote makes sense except the Democrats will indeed refuse the Republican budget and shutdown the government. The media will (again) spin it as the far right Tea Party holding the government hostage if they don’t get their way. Republicans could certainly blame the Democrats, but they have no way to reach significant numbers of Americans with the media firmly in the hands of Democrat sycophants. President Obama will (again) shutdown those areas of government to maximize pain for political gain, and some Republicans will (again) demonize conservative Republicans for risking a government shutdown.
The debt limit was passed, but that doesn’t mean we have to surrender to the GOPe on everything else. Our best chance of true change is to change not only the numbers of Democrats and Republicans in DC but to also toss out quite a few incumbents of both parties.
You’re right that nothing will change if we keep reelecting the likes of McCain or nominating squishes like Romney for president. We won’t get them all, but we absolutely MUST replace at least some of them with staunch conservatives. The Republican Party is still the best means to accomplish that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.