Republican doomsday plan: Cave on taxes, vote “present”
Republicans are seriously considering a Doomsday Plan if fiscal cliff talks collapse entirely. It’s quite simple: House Republicans would allow a vote on extending the Bush middle class tax cuts (the bill passed in August by the Senate) and offer the President nothing more: no extension of the debt ceiling, nothing on unemployment, nothing on closing loopholes. …
Two senior Republican elected officials tell me this doomsday plan is becoming the most likely scenario. A top GOP House leadership aide confirms the plan is under consideration, but says Speaker Boehner has made no decision on whether to pursue it.
Under one variation of this Doomsday Plan, House Republicans would allow a vote on extending only the middle class tax cuts and Republicans, to express disapproval at the failure to extend all tax cuts, would vote “present” on the bill, allowing it to pass entirely on Democratic votes.
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Epic fail.
xblade on December 3, 2012 at 3:58 PM
republicans (little r) have already caved, given up, surrendered….
they’re just waiting till christmas eve when no one’s looking to make it official
lm10001 on December 3, 2012 at 4:00 PM
I thought thats what Hot Air commentators wanted was for the Reps to vote present and let it burn
ChunkyLover on December 3, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Is it possible to vote “fabulous”?
Chuck Schick on December 3, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Damn all the eunuchs who ‘run’ the land, from the very top on down. All of you to Hades, pronto.
Schadenfreude on December 3, 2012 at 4:06 PM
We’re divided (what else is new?).
There’s a Let It Burn contingent, and there’s some that wants to try to keep fighting with what we have, and there are some that want to change the party to look more like Democrats.
Doomberg on December 3, 2012 at 4:09 PM
Yep. Let it burn.
John_Locke on December 3, 2012 at 4:09 PM
What’s the point of having control of the fracking House if you’re just going to pass Democrat legislation anyway?!?
Skywise on December 3, 2012 at 4:12 PM
If someone else has some plan that would allow R’s to avoid taking the blame for whatever disasters come from Obama’s policies, I’m more than willing to listen. But it seems like “present” or the Simpson-Bowles strategy are the only two viable scenarios where Rs get to walk away with Dems holding the bag. I fully support this strategy.
That’s my only concern; R’s don’t get blamed.
hisfrogness on December 3, 2012 at 4:16 PM
It’s sad but a little bit funny that they think this might prevent the public from blaming them.
blue13326 on December 3, 2012 at 4:16 PM
I’ll reserve judgement on this until I see what they try to accomplish. I can’t believe Obama thinks he should get another stimulus package.
Cindy Munford on December 3, 2012 at 4:17 PM
It’s not going to matter if the Mayans were right..
Chip on December 3, 2012 at 4:18 PM
Let the Clinton era taxes commence.
It will show the stupid middle/lower classes how much Obama hates you.
Schadenfreude on December 3, 2012 at 4:21 PM
I think the GOP should push Simpson-Bowles first, otherwise, let it burn. Elections have consequences and if Obama and the media want to insist raising taxes on the upper brackets will solve our deficit problems, then let them and the country who voted for this get what they want. Economic growth will falter, cost of living will go up, deficits will swell up even more, and perhaps then the American Public may turn off Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian for just a few moments and realize that entitlement reform must be taken seriously.
Daemonocracy on December 3, 2012 at 4:22 PM
A joke really.
WisRich on December 3, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Considering the majority want Obama’s policies, I would think the majority would be ecstatic. Why should anyone be pissed if the Repubs let the majority rule?
batter on December 3, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Obama needs to pay off those that got him elected, just like the first Porkulus.
visions on December 3, 2012 at 4:25 PM
I have a great idea, he should use the donations he apparently is still requesting from his campaign.
Cindy Munford on December 3, 2012 at 4:32 PM
If refusing to extend the debt ceiling would actually stop Obama from exceeding the debt ceiling, I’d be all for it. Higher taxes would be a small price to pay for an instantly zero-based budget. But we all know that wouldn’t happen. Either Boehner would cave on the debt ceiling a week later, or Obama would declare for himself the power to print money at will, and that would be the end of that.
joe_doufu on December 3, 2012 at 4:50 PM
I agree and your thoughts remind me that this strategy is only as good as the GOP’s ability to explain it, in very short sound-bite format, in a way that doesn’t get re-branded by the media.
hisfrogness on December 3, 2012 at 5:19 PM
They should force a situation in the house where they can vote for an extension of the “middleclass” tax break and then vote for an extension of the upper bracket breaks. That way it’s the Democrats voting against something. This voting present crap doesn’t make them look good at all.
Browncoatone on December 3, 2012 at 5:59 PM
hawkdriver on December 3, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Vote “fabulously present.”
Walk away.
Let it burn.
Buy Mayan calendar refills… or not.
Fallon on December 3, 2012 at 6:18 PM