Worst Response Ever

So... Two days ago John Beohner walked away from negotiations with the President over the debt ceiling.  Namely because he has no control over his caucus.  If Beohner were actually in control of his caucus he would have taken the 3 trillion in cuts for only 300 million in revenue, but it is clear he has no control.

President Obama really gave it to the Speaker in a speech the other day where he clearly laid out the fact that the Republicans refuse to give up anything in the debate of the debt ceiling.

SO John Beohner put those of us who care, probably just me, in bated breath when he said last night that he would have a response by tomorrow.  This was quite the surprise, because it shows that he did not have a plan, and had to work on the best response to gain the most in the upcoming election.

And what was Beohner's response, what glorious solution did he offer the President.  He offered him the only thing the President said was not on the table, a two part plan.

Beohner clearly was so upset by the President calling him out for playing politics with the country that he decided to use his power and authority to create a non-deal and try to force the President to back down.  This brinkmanship politics is absolute bull.  I cannot express how angry I am right now at the Speaker.  I understand that he wants to do what is best for his party and not for the country, I understand that his base is strewn about the spectrum on their response for this, but rather than accepting the fact that there is 1 week left until economic apocalypse he decides to start a fight with the president on national television.

Not only is the Speaker displaying his inability to work with the President or the Senate on a plan, but he is showing that the crazy side of his caucus has more control over him than any interest in preserving the country.  Statistically it is clear that their "no tax" stance is well outside of the mainstream as well as fiscally irresponsible.  Furthermore it is clear that the Republican party is currently swinging far to the right in both Congress and in the States.  However, the American public has not shifted in their views, so ultimately this plan of brinkmanship will blow up in the Republicans face, this plan is actually likely to ruin everyone's political careers and the US economy.

In reality what this looks like is a kid who got yelled at and took his toys away.  If the Speaker continues to act like a child then our country is doomed.  We dont have time anymore to play games.  The Democrats have gone out of their way to give the Republicans everything they have asked for, what the Speaker fails to realize is that he needs the Democrats just as much as they need him to pass a bill.  If they dont pass it then the President will probably just continue to spend money beyond the debt limit until the courts figure it out.  This will allow the President to look like the savior and the Republicans to appear to holding things up.

Beohner better get control of his caucus and fast the next week will be the most important of his carreer,  what happens will likely decide the 2012 election along with the future of the US economy for 10-20 years.  Think carefully Mr. Speaker before acting like a child.

Paying for elections with Americans

 

 

The Los Angeles Times  has looked to the accomplishments of the 112th congress, and it is not a long list—in fact, its hardly a list at all.  From January until then end of may only 16 bills have become laws.  For comparison the previous congress had passed 50 during that time, and 28 in 2007.  The majority of the bills passed this year have been extensions of previous bills and unfinished business.

Of course, if you are a Democrat, this is the Republicans fault and if you are a Republican, the Democrats.  Its perfect!  Both sides do not have to deal with any of the contentious issues or try to find common ground they can just blame the other side.  It’s the ultimate in political campaigning, you can say you struggled to pass a “fair and balanced” “common sense” solution, but “partisanship” and “politics” got in the way.  Both sides claim that they are “reaching across the aisle” but that the other side is ignoring them.

It is brilliant because both sides are looking to 2012 to pass the bills they want.  Why try and make compromise, when they can score political points and WIN BIG in November.  If the Democrats get back the House, they can pass the budgets they want, reinstate the tax cuts, and forever solidify Social Security, Medicare and Medicade.  IF however, the Republicans win in the Senate, then we can see further cuts, a Ryan Medicare/Medicade(or rather nothing at all), more tax breaks.  Both sides are not proposing anything new nothing has really changed, and because of that nothing is getting fixed.

Either way, we have 1.5 years until We The People will get anything from congress.  In the meantime, to accomplish what they want, both sides will drive us in the ocean.  While the GOP is given everything they have ever wanted to raise the debt ceiling, they back away and hold out for more for fear of looking like they are working with the Democrats.  While the Democrats scream blue murder over anymore cuts without, specifically ANY change to entitlements.

So, while the unemployment still sticks near 10% We The People must look for our own help.  While many states struggle to pay their unemployed, their medicare/medicade, and their education funds the only thing we can expect from Congress is abortion bills.

Now, up until this point I have struggled to be completely neutral as to who is responsible.  But I think it is pretty clear who is being ridiculous here.  The Republicans are refusing to pass a bill raising the debt ceiling to pay for programs that THEY HAVE CREATED.  They are refusing not because it would cause any problems or in any way hurt someone, but because they want to score political points and force Democrats to agree to things that they would never get otherwise.  They are willing to ignore evidence and dangers of passing legislation defunding planned parenthood or abortion, just to score points with their base. 

Meanwhile, the Senate has hardly moved on any legislation, this is likely due to the seeming impossibility of passing anything through the senate, which Republicans are now complaining about.  Furthermore, Obama seems paralyzed to act on issues for fear of taking anything off of the table.  Actually the actions of the President have been fairly mild in comparison to the horrible socialist, gunless, tyranny we were promised by many a Conservative.  Obama has stood away making only slight comments that hardly come near the attacks of the opposing side and standing firm on some issues.  In fact the president has recently put cuts to Medicare on the table.  Yet he is being accused of being partisan and unreasonable.

Ultimately it is clear who is being unreasonable, and it is clear who will lose.  Suffering Americans across the country will have to recognize that their government cares less about them and more about their votes.  So if you are a teacher who is being fired because your state cant afford its education, if you’re an AIDS patient who relies on ADAP and it has run out, a citizen who relies on public assistance, or a company looking for a grant, your out of luck.  Its okay, you may suffer, starve, you might even die…but at least the Republicans might gain some members in the Senate come 2012, so hopefully that gives you some comfort.