How Congress has already failed on the fiscal cliff
Seen through that lens, what happens between now and when the clock strikes midnight tonight won’t really matter all that much. The die is cast. For the average person, Congress’s using every second — literally — of its allotted time (and maybe more than its allotted time) to find a deal will be chalked up as another in a series of failures by Washington.
And if the fallout for Congress is anything like what we saw in the wake of the debt-ceiling debacle, you can expect what has already been a dismal run in terms of the institution’s political popularity to get even worse.
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin (D) hit it on the head Sunday when he took to the Senate floor to lambaste his colleagues for their failure to act. “It is absolutely inexcusable that all of us find ourselves in this place at this time … with no plan and no apparent hope,” said Manchin.
No matter what happens in these final hours, Manchin’s sentiment seems certain to mirror the American public’s view of Congress and the fiscal cliff. Failure seems not to be an option but the only one.
Blowback
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Let’s kick the can again and blame the Republicans…
Let
It
Burn!!!
trs on December 31, 2012 at 2:42 PM
It’s all their doing! They’ve failed America on just about every front. Our system of governance has become a putrid joke. It does almost nothing but harm.
The issues don’t matter anymore. It’s all about messaging and marketing. They’re all too damn concerned about “winning” something that they are incapable of simply doing the right thing.
I’ve heard many say that Congress no longer represents “We the People.” I’d argue that it represents a great number of the “citizens” of the United States quite well; morally bankrupt, distracted by appearances, and incapable of meaningful forethought.
AScott on December 31, 2012 at 2:49 PM
I considered it failed when all the emphasis was on taxes, which it was from the beginning, and not spending and deficits. Spending and deficits have been the problem for over 60 years and until the emphasis becomes about spending and deficits, nothing will be “solved”.
And just to be clear, the WaPo is just as responsible for that as Congress is.
Dusty on December 31, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Well, Republicans in Congress failed the minute they began to negotiate with obama – they should have just told him to go to ‘commie hell’ – now, they look weaker and more idiotic than ever.
Pork-Chop on December 31, 2012 at 2:55 PM
1) You can’t win.
2) You can’t break even.
3) You can’t leave the game.
— The Laws of Thermodynamics, summarized.
The only winning move is not to play.
Let. It. Burn.
BigGator5 on December 31, 2012 at 2:56 PM
I haven’t been paying attention, obviously. The deal looks to be increased taxes and no cuts in spending.
This same solution we’ve tried for over 60 years is supposed to be the solution?
Dusty on December 31, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Term limits.
Did I mention term limits?
ButterflyDragon on December 31, 2012 at 4:29 PM