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Greg Sargent

Dems settle in for war of attrition against GOP on sequester

According to a senior Senate Dem leadership aide, Dem leaders have concluded that the GOP leadership is genuinely, irrevocably “entrenched” in their no-revenues posture. They believe the only hope for a long term compromise involving new revenues and entitlement cuts is to continue to try and pry loose Republicans who recognize that being the party of only spending cuts, and the economic damage they may cause over time, is a long term loser for the GOP.

“We do think the Republican leadership is completely entrenched,” this aide tells me. “If Boehner makes one false move, he loses his speakership. McConnell is paranoid about a primary challenge from the right.” However, this aide adds, other Senate Republicans “don’t want to be portrayed as the party of austerity. They know this isn’t a winning message long term.”

As Jonathan Chait details, there’s also the question of how long the GOP’s defense hawks will put up with sequester cuts, which are now likely to remain in effect for months. These lawmakers are already restive and signaling an appetite for compromise. Democrats will continue reaching out to these lawmakers — and others whose communities are being harmed by the sequester — in hopes of fomenting more dissent among them about the GOP leadership’s no-revenues-at-any-costs stance — and will continue telling them that a compromise on revenues is a reasonable way out.

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Won’t last long, with the crowd of flip-flopping jellyfish making up the GOP.

MelonCollie on March 7, 2013 at 2:42 PM

Obama bought some GOP senators hamachi tartar and lobster Thermidor last night, so I’m sure they’ll be open to compromise.

steebo77 on March 7, 2013 at 2:45 PM

Dem leaders have concluded that the GOP leadership is genuinely, irrevocably “entrenched” in their no-revenues posture.

For a decade libs cried about how the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy were the source of all problems… those tax cuts are gone and we’re still nose high in deficits.

El_Terrible on March 7, 2013 at 2:53 PM

Obama will buy off the harlots, one at a time.

See Ayotte, McCain, Ms. Graham and a few more. Paul Ryan is next.

Schadenfreude on March 7, 2013 at 2:58 PM

According to a senior Senate Dem Rep leadership aide, Dem Rep leaders have concluded that the GOP DEM leadership is genuinely, irrevocably “entrenched” in their no-revenuescuts posture.

Cuts both ways Rats.

antipc on March 7, 2013 at 3:01 PM

there’s also the question of how long the GOP’s defense hawks will put up with sequester cuts, which are now likely to remain in effect for months.

They have no choice.

The US military does not protect the US anymore… if it did it would be on the border. It exists to promote a world order that serves elite(AKA capital and cultural liberal/marxist) interests.

ninjapirate on March 7, 2013 at 3:03 PM

For a decade libs cried about how the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy were the source of all problems… those tax cuts are gone and we’re still nose high in deficits.

El_Terrible on March 7, 2013 at 2:53 PM

No surprise when you consider that ur-oughtaabebanned elitist is the perfect picture of liberal economic views, and there are hundreds of thousands of people just like him if not worse.

No facts, no original thoughts, NOTHING except laughable canned talking points. No mental capacity for even the simplest mathematics for even the simplest economics.

MelonCollie on March 7, 2013 at 3:05 PM

I love how the Leftist Sargent calls it “war”. He even quotes another Dem using the word “entrenched”.

Del Dolemonte on March 7, 2013 at 3:10 PM

Dem leaders have concluded that the GOP leadership is genuinely, irrevocably “entrenched” in their no-revenues posture…compromise involving new revenues and entitlement cuts is to continue to try and [sic] pry loose Republicans who recognize that being the party of only spending cuts…

Didn’t Republicans just vote to raise taxes about 2 months ago?

forest on March 7, 2013 at 3:18 PM

Oh, and don’t think we haven’t noticed you got your $600 billion tax increase and exacting a pound of flesh from the rich without cutting an effing dime yet. The sequester was only a decrease in future spending. We’ve still got to write the annual stimulus out of the budget and another $600 billion in actual cuts to get to that balanced approach you’re always harping on.

antipc on March 7, 2013 at 3:20 PM

The GOP is the stupid party. History has shown that reducing the size of government leads to prosperity. Barone has an article out today about it. Its time the Republicans start citing these examples on all sorts of media. We can win, if we don’t cave!

Iblis on March 7, 2013 at 3:23 PM

The sequester exposed the left as Goebbels never could.

Rand Paul shoved the sequester off the front pages. It must infuriate the Lilliputian in Chief.

Schadenfreude on March 7, 2013 at 3:30 PM

McConnell is paranoid about a primary challenge from the right.

Why isn’t McConnell pronounced a “BAD CANDIDATE” in accordance with Tokyo Rove’s criteria.

National polls show this man is the LEAST POPULAR SENATOR IN THE SENATE.

Kentucky polls show that only 17 percent of Kentuckians are really committed to voting for him.

Looks like a great opportunity to get new blood in there in the style of Rand Paul – especially since it appears the Dims are going to run a lunatic for that seat.

HondaV65 on March 7, 2013 at 3:50 PM

However, this aide adds, other Senate Republicans “don’t want to be portrayed as the party of austerity. They know this isn’t a winning message long term.”

“At lest that’s what we’d like to think.” he (should have) added.

FineasFinn on March 7, 2013 at 4:32 PM

Enlightened thoughts from some O’bama Low IQ voters in the WaPo Comments:

Taxes are very low historically, so quit your whining. Just pay the same rate as I do and I’d be happy. Why should the middle class supplement the wealthy “job creators.” Give me a few extra bucks and I’ll hire some help, too.

And check out this back-and-forth between an Evil Rich Rethuglican and a Low-IQ O’bama Voter:

Should you take $20 million from me, I have to fire people from my employ to pay for the funds you wish to distribute to the needy. And when you return to me for more tax revenue, I will be out of business and providing NOTHING.

Low-IQ O Voter responds:

Putting guys like you out of business is sufficient pleasure for me.

And another chimes in:

Its the same old whining from people with lots of money. He has $20 million and he thinks he’ll go broke if he pays the same tax rate as me. If your business can’t survive while paying reasonable tax rates, then you deserve to go broke.

Here’s a scary one:

We need to start making plans for how we want America to work and what we want it to look like when the last dregs of reactionary resistance are defeated.

The Dems and the President have proposed increased spending to generate jobs. It is the Repubs that have no regard for the unemployed.

(Brilliant satire!)

the American people have taken back their government from the wealthy elites that have been running it for 30 years, and we are going to do whatever is necessary to impose our will on them again.

The Repubs will go to any lengths to see that their corporate overlords take every penny the economy generates. They have no regard for the general public.

Occupy Wall Street brought fully into consciousness all that is wrong with our civilization, from our our dysfunctional economic system to our schools.

Has anybody considered the possibility that with no elections ahead of him Obama is actually trying to figure out the best path for the nation and not the Dems or the R’s. Perhaps he really doesn’t view this as a political war to be won but as a nation that needs to be governed.

Now we can all gripe about some of his choices but considering the sleezy ignorance from the teahadists both he and Boehner must deal with there was bound to be some teahadist manure rub off on him.

(From a Democrat Voter who can’t spell!)

It Burns!

Del Dolemonte on March 7, 2013 at 4:49 PM