The debt-ceiling fight: Republicans should execute “Maneuver X”
Consider, then, “Maneuver X.” As modified to fit the current political environment, it would mean that Republicans remove all pressure. They should give Obama his debt limit increases without preconditions, and they shouldn’t allow any government shutdowns.
Meanwhile, Republicans should use their majority in the House to pass bills that actually do address the nation’s problems — its economic stagnation, rising energy and health care costs, mounting debt and so on. At the same time, they can keep blocking major new expansions of government.
This two-pronged strategy would allow Republicans to isolate Obama and establish themselves as the responsible ones. If he refuses to get serious about addressing the nation’s debt problem, it will be a lot harder to escape responsibility if he can’t point and say, “Hey, look over there, House Republicans want to blow stuff up.”
In the unlikely event that this forces Obama to get serious about tackling the national debt, great. But if he doesn’t, Obama’s legacy will be that of a president who came into office promising to make the “tough choices” necessary to solve our nation’s problems, then proceeded to duck them.
Blowback
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Does that involve the Emergency White Flag Deployment Unit?
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Ummm.. For some amusing reason, Philip Klein apparently thinks that the Republicans are going to win another election. The nation is too far gone for that.
Illinidiva on January 17, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Voters don’t care about that. They’re going to listen to the guy who says they can have more free stuff.
Enough of it. Shut it down and balance the budget.
El_Terrible on January 17, 2013 at 1:48 PM
Ceiling cat says, “I’m watching you politicians lie.”
Grumpy cat says, “No. Shut it down.”
The Rogue Tomato on January 17, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Does that involve the Emergency White Flag Deployment Unit?
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Brilliant !
Lucano on January 17, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Politics has become too much like pro sports. It is not about substance any more. It is all about showing off and “winning” in the short term, no matter what the rest of the season looks like.
Getting blown out? 4th quarter? 2mins left on the clock? Just made a first down!?! TIME TO DANCE MOFOS!
That is where we are as a nation.
Gatsu on January 17, 2013 at 1:54 PM
Well the house might show some guts but what are the odds the senate under dingy ding dong harry that he will allow the bill to come up for vote?
BTW, do not let bho have his way on raising the debt without getting something first! Afterall, who in their right mind would think bho will keep his word to deal later cutting?
L
letget on January 17, 2013 at 1:58 PM
And if that doesn’t work, they could go for the
Figure 4 Leg lock….
Not only are the elected officials in DC idiots, the Punditry is effing brilliant also…
ToddPA on January 17, 2013 at 1:58 PM
So the influence of football is destroying the nation? BAN FOOTBALL!
The Rogue Tomato on January 17, 2013 at 1:58 PM
LOL, thank you. My girlfriend might argue otherwise…XD
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Now I think we can all agree that there is a balanced approach to registering high capacity players and putting background checks for punt returns. I mean, who really NEEDS to run 100 yards? I think 40 is sufficient don’t you??
Gatsu on January 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM
“Maneuver X” might as well be “Maneuver Lose.”
Republicans tried “Maneuver X” on social policy in 2012, remaining silent on life and family issues in the hope that they could “slide under the radar.” Obama didn’t let the GOP get away with it, and by October, half the country’s women thought Romney was going to take women’s birth control away and legalize rape. So a lot of good that did us.
The same is true with budget policy. If we stop trying to force spending cuts, Obama won’t just sit idly by and rack up $1 trillion dollar deficits while we carp at him for “wasteful spending.” Instead, he’ll ramp up huge new government programs and then demand huge tax hikes, and we’ll have no leverage to use against him.
No, sorry. We have to fight. The key is to get a message that makes sense and resonates with people.
Outlander on January 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Isn’t it special that we have libtards and Rinos like Philip Klein to think up new ways for Republicans to give up, abandon their principles, and speed the country into bankruptcy and ruin!
Question: Who pays Philip Klein….and why?
landlines on January 17, 2013 at 2:01 PM
If it requires any sort of testicular fortitude, it’s not happening as long as Boehner is the “leader”.
thirteen28 on January 17, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Just don’t have the radio on or someone might think you’re dancing.
rogerb on January 17, 2013 at 2:09 PM
Someone please explain to me how maneuver X is different than what the GOP has done the last 2 years?
gwelf on January 17, 2013 at 2:11 PM
Then why not a two-pronged strategy that includes debt ceiling increases with some small and reasonable program cut or regulation repeal?
If you want to isolate Obama and the Dems as irresponsible and themselves as the responsible ones, then announce the House GOP will submit a debt ceiling bill for a vote that carries the government to the limit of the current Continuing Resolution but will not submit it until the President submits his budget for the next year, by law due February 4th. Until then, the House will submit bills daily to raise the debt ceiling, along with some program cut or regulation repeal, sufficiently to keep the government up and running for the following day.
Then they can raise the debt ceiling again commensurate with the Continuing Resolution completing the remainder of the fiscal year.
Why can’t the President get the budget to Congress on time? Is the government too big for Obama to manage? The House can send a cover letter, stating, “Here’s enough money to keep the government running tomorrow along with a slight reduction in what you have to manage in the hope that you’ll be able to do your other duties in a timely manner.”
Dusty on January 17, 2013 at 2:18 PM
No they won’t because when responsible people don’t apply for a new credit card to “pay their bills”. Raising the debt ceiling will prove, again, that the GOP is part of the problem, not the solution.
FloatingRock on January 17, 2013 at 2:25 PM
No way
They passed budget after budget and have gotten nowhere
cmsinaz on January 17, 2013 at 2:27 PM
LOL, thank you. My girlfriend might argue otherwise…XD
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 2:00 PM
Tell her to reassess . That was seriously funny !
Lucano on January 17, 2013 at 2:28 PM
True. I’ve thought that Leftists in particular treat politics as just a game, or at best just a way to boost their self-esteem in their insular little worlds. This goes double for those Lefties that have no kids (no stake in the future). It’s all just entertainment, in a sad sort of way. They’re “good guys” trying to stop the “bad guys.” Reality is optional.
A symptom of this approach is that the leading Leftist newscaster is literally a comedian.
visions on January 17, 2013 at 2:32 PM
Squishy establishment water carrying has an unlimited market in the DC area.
sauldalinsky on January 17, 2013 at 2:32 PM
And our kids can use that hard won moral superiority to then pay off the debt.
Truly an idiotic plan. Talk about taking the knee with time left on the clock.
You want to have the title of Responsible Party in the impartial eyes of future generations? Shut down the government until the budget is balanced, including sun setting the SSA.
TexasDan on January 17, 2013 at 3:52 PM