This is what happens to the Speaker of the House when he capitulates to the Obama machine, out of rank fear. The New York Times rushes a story to press blaming his caucus for everything but the Boston bombing..
The vote – 221-201 – relied primarily on Democrats to carry the legislation, the first debt ceiling increase since 2009 that was not attached to other measures.
Only 28 Republicans voted yes. But it effectively ended a three-year, Tea Party-fueled era when a series of budget showdowns raised the threat of debt defaults and government shutdowns, rattled economic confidence and brought serious scrutiny from an international community questioning Washington’s ability to govern.
Gee, the Times could have also written it this way: "it ended an Obama-Reid fueled era of unprecedented intransigence regards negotiating on anything to do with the debt ceiling, despite a rich history of past Congresses doing just that". But bias is job one in the Fit to Print newsroom.
Hey, it's clear to see why Boehner punted--nothing really to gain from drawing a red line on this with the media in Obama's hip pocket and Jack Lew threatening to turn the dollar into Pesos or whatever his latest threat was. Johnny Boy also recently punted on the immigration debate, which was a bone thrown to the Tea Party, so he probably figured he'd better not push it and can always pull this clean debt ceiling card out whenever Obama starts pestering him over saying no on something else. Probably by Friday.
But today's vote, although strategically correct, should be a lesson to the Speaker. Aside from the fact it will only serve as fodder to those Democrats (and some Republicans) interested in protecting the Plutocracy from any rogue grassroots movements like the TP by exploiting the GOP divide, it also shows how fast the Democrats and media (sorry for the redundancy) will turn on the GOP when they do something the way the Democrats have demanded. That's why many people are enjoying this Rand Paul push-back on the silly-ass "war on women", and it was refreshing to see Prebius defend it.
It's not easy to find this video, but here it is... the House Speaker dryly recommending O-care be 'scrapped':
Boehner's a better politician than people think. He refused to throw the Tea Party under the bus during the shutdown showdown, setting himself up now to appear as the consistent and principled leader.
By the way, compare and contrast a Boehner press conference with Obama's ridiculous 51 minute filibuster in which he took all of 5 questions. By the time Obama reaches the second reporter Boehner would already be standing on the third tee. And the press would have had the same amount of questions.
CNN is breaking news of a possible deal for the payroll tax cut by referring to the House as "recalcitrant". Hmm. Wasn't the House begging for someone to negotiate with over this deal? Wasn't the House saying two months was putting a burden on the pencil necks? Weren't they asking Obama to bring his dog up for a talk and asking Reid to invite his members to leave the bar early and come back to town to join a House-Senate conference? Begging them to do business the way Congress has always done it? And isn't the deal now better than it was a few hours ago?
No, Boehner isn't the best Speaker ever and the House played their game. But to suggest they and only they were players is to wax silly. Only a person who just flew in from Neptune would be surprised by any of this back-and-forth because divided Congresses always fight like children, and we've got a fairly juvenile leader leading the playroom. After the deal passes they'll all engage in a circular finger-pointing contest, with the media off to the side all pointing at Boehner with the exception of "Faux News", who will be pointing to Obama or at Bo the Dog's possible AF One trip back from Hawaii for prop duty. In two months they'll all play musical chairs again without anyone leaving their chairs.
MORE 12/22/11
The general consensus seems to be that Boehner just committed the biggest boo-boo in political history. At least at the WaPo:
The agreement represented a remarkable capitulation on the part of House Republicans, who had two days earlier rejected such a deal with Democrats as the kind of half-measure that their new majority was elected to thwart.
And it amounts to a Christmas gift for President Obama, who attempted to paint his Republican opponents as willing to raise taxes for millions of Americans. Such an image could have cost the party politically just as it is gearing up to try to take back the White House and Senate in 2012.
That's the brutal truth, whether it's the truth or not. The WaPo bashes Boehner by admitting that Obama was prepared to go to the mat to save a 2 month tax cut when in reality he's spent his entire presidency trying to raise taxes on a certain class of people he thinks have made enough money already, who will NOT be getting an increase to pay for this tax cut. It was so crucial he was willing to use democrat operatives disguised as people, pizza, and even his own dog to get it done! What did the American people win again?
The Dems now get two months to smear the Keystone pipeline so Obama can deny it, or alternatively Obama gets two more months of campaign contributions from both evil capitalists and nutty environmental wackos trying to affect policy before he approves it, or maybe uses a magic trick to delay it again. Meanwhile the payroll tax cut can be framed not as gutting Social Security, but as the only moral way to fund it, which will require more taxes from rich people who've made enough already.
Why McConnell felt the need to take Reid's deal then embarrass Boehner is the real mystery here. Scuttlebutt says he was afraid of losing seats or somesuch, but it sounds more like a pissing match or a backdoor way to bring down the hated Tea Party. Or maybe it just all came down to a bunch of congressfolks and a president who were willing to go to any length to save their 3 week vacation.
Wow, has there ever been such a display of Alinsky-ite Chicago machine politics on a national level as is being seen now?
BLITZER: So what you're saying is the president did present a plan to the speaker, John Boehner.
DALEY: Yes.
BLITZER: But - but he didn't...
DALEY: Right.
BLITZER: - make it public.
DALEY: No, because there's... both the speaker and - and the president had agreed and - that these sort of negotiations do not happen in public.
After luring Boehner into a private discussion over something Obama knew would never pass the House (tax increases have to originate there and the Tea Party was never going to agree to them) he's now using that 'secret' negotiation against Boehner by taking it public. It's all about reducing him and dividing the GOP caucus. It has been from the start. Obama has no desire to stop spending.
Unless Boehner is a lot more clever than it appears, Obama will soon be spiking the football all over the endzone and blaming the poor economy on the Tea Party going forward. Yes, Two can play that game,, but the key is whether anyone besides right wing radio and TV listeners will listen. Here's hoping Boehner is a lot more clever than he appears.
PASSING THE BALL 7/29/11
The House passes another bill, this time with a provision for sending a balanced budget amendment to the states. Here's Boehner's cheerleader speech before the vote (ht Verumserum), including http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifboos from the port siders when he vehemently defended 'sticking his neck out a mile' in dealing with Obama (to raucus applause from the right side).
The passion is good, but it's also a symptom of dealing with the robotic Spock-like Obama for so long. The left will surely call Boehner dangerous now, which fits in with the overall theme of "#compromise", itself targeted at the moderates they need on their side next year. As to the bill, it's DOA in the Senate and there are RINOs involved. Who knows anymore.
That speech last night was one of the most drippingly pitiful examples of partisan demagoguery and left wing hackery ever witnessed from a modern president. Doing it with a straight face was a testament to BS'ers the world over. But it just may box Boehner and the GOP into a corner and win Obama reelection if the cards aren't played right:
Carney said today, "We have a divided government. We have a two-party system. No party controls every branch of government. Compromise is the only option."
That's true, but of course his definition of compromise involves giving in to Obama's rigid demand for tax increases (even though Obama said it's unwise to raise taxes during a recession), promises of massive distant cuts (that can be overturned in future budgets--imagine Pelosi grinning and holding that huge gavel again), and Boehner's likely demise as Speaker if he agrees (after a Tea Party revolution casts him off for heresy).
It's a tough spot--one Boehner had no choice but to place himself in after the O sucker punched him with a last minute dealbreaking tax increase in their previous almost deal. Speaker John walked out (stormed?) and decided he would only play with the adults in Congress, which caused last night.
But the GOP dare not dismiss the hackery. Obama's working off a time tested formula. He knows the washed and unwashed masses who don't know a debt ceiling from a hole in the wall will side with him when he starts really scaring them--after all, this is the president of the United States talking--and money is involved. The Tea Party is still a minority.
What to do? Boehner can continue to ignore Hopey and work with Dopey in the Senate, hoping Barick's political capital has run dry as advertised and planning things around an eventual O'cave-in later this week. But desperate men do desperate things, and O is probably being counseled that this is his Newt Gingrich winner take all moment for 2012. That's probably why he reeled Biden back in and opened up a massive can of boilerplate. Never let a crisis go to waste.
If Boehner agrees to a relatively clean bill on the last day he will get blamed by both the TP'ers and Dems, getting stuck with any perceived damage to the markets and our credit rating, which will be ginned up by the White House propaganda factory and parroted by the baby bird media. The damage will not only be to him personally, but to the entire GOP.
Boehner could of course cave now and allow the massive tax increase but everyone knows the outcome there, so it's not worth discussing.
Or....Boehner can start saying, "ok sir, you're right, we're dysfunctional--including you--so if you want compromise we've got a compromise ready that basically does nothing but extend the limit for 9 months, just like previous extensions". Problem is, this would technically favor Obama since he didn't want any major debt decreases in the first place, but he couldn't very well admit that after fashioning himself as Captain Deficit, so that might lock him up. Then again, the baby bird media is there.
It might be the only way, though. Boehner would need to make repeated statements alluding to the fact the government is so divided that it's useless taking the chance of busting the debt limit over a rigid demand for tax increases--that it's something the people will need to decide in decision 2012, and therefore the only responsible and adult thing to do is pass an extension just like the preceding versions. He can then point out how Obama called his own no vote on extending the limit in 2006 a 'mistake'.
The Tea Party might be mad they didn't get a huge deal but not as mad as with other outcomes. Further counterattacks from Obama demanding a tax increase would start to look pettier by the day and also illustrate his singular goal from this affair--tax increases.
Then again, that scenario kinda leaves the impression that the entire thing is an elaborate kabuki dance. Which it is, really. But at least very little actual damage would be done.
MORE 7/26/11
Some of the baby birds are jumping out of the nest. And doing their jobs. It's promising to see a reporter actually interrupt one of the press lackeys instead of allowing endless scolding filibusters even if it is Ed Henry, one of the few who would push back in the press room when he was with CNN, now with Fox News.
CATASTROPHIC 7/27/11
Some recent history from Timmy Geithner...
Amazingly we didn't melt down in March, although he avoided it by writing IOUs to the government pension program. Is there another magic accounting trick available this time?
Notice what the baby bird reporterette said at the end: "now we've got a date on the calendar to hopefully provide some push forward". That's part of the arsenal at Obama's disposal. Nothing turns off the mass public like financial numbers, although EVERYBODY cares about their own finances. When they hear threats and warnings that might hit home, they take notice. Obama is now exploiting this fear perhaps as no Democrat has ever done before, and certainly as no modern president has done before.
Again, as postulated above, my position is not a cave. It calls for Boehner to craft a short term clean deal raising the limit for no more than 9 months, coupled with a blizzard of statements reiterating that divided government will not allow a big deal until we sort things out in 2012. This avoids the radical label--hey, just trying to avoid catastrophe--and if Reid won't take it up or if he does, and Obama won't sign it then let the default begin, which will be entirely on him.
Obama on Tuesday, talking to White House CBS scribe Scott Pelley:
"I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August 3rd if we haven't resolved this issue. Because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it,"
Carney expressed confidence on behalf of the White House that "we will get an agreement" - and that concerns about Social Security checks would be null.
"Our position, the president's position, has always been that we will not get to that point because Congress will do the right thing," he said.
Panetta must be relieved to have the gaffe pressure off him. Wonder if the White House saw this hearing?
Anyway, as the mainstream press reported this evening, the whole is getting stressful for the O and he reportedly stormed out of today's meeting, or walked out, or strolled out whistling (depending on the anonymous source used), threatening Cantor he would "take it to the people". Isn't that what his Social Security threat was all about? And hey, what happened to Boehner?
The One also reportedly dropped Reagan's name in the process, bringing to mind the Reykjavik talks where Reagan walked out on Gorbachev and the Soviets. Who knows, maybe Obama thinks of the GOP as the evil empire. Or worse--he came to his negotiating table with an attitude and a lot of pre-conditions, something he promised he would never do when meeting with America's real enemies.
Speaking of the White House press corpse, apparently some of their gut instincts are finally coming to the surface. Obama has been getting away with murder for years in just every one of his pressers because the reporters have been prevented from shouting questions. Dealing with this type of interview prevents the respondent (him) from taking one question and filibustering for five minutes to eat up clock. He also allegedly has a computer screen in the podium where clarifications can be beamed, which is harder to deal with when the pace is fast.
The hand-picked structured format also discourages follow up questions, which are often more important than the initial question because they address the answer. Obama is very skilled in maneuvering around in this format and frankly, it's not his fault, it's the press' fault for tolerating it. They could 'take it to the people' if they really wanted to, making America more free, but of course that might risk being kicked out of the pool or having their book access restricted. So they don't. Besides, most still agree with him.
But when pressed on exactly what that higher power would say about America's money problems, he replied "I don't know what Jesus or Moses or anyone would say. But, the issues are so morally clear...we are our brothers keepers."
Rangel summed up his argument by saying, "You know all of this is biblical... If you read your bibles and you read the spiritual scriptures you will see that clearly that Jesus would have something to say about this debate."
Hmm. Does he also want Jesus to weigh in on gay marriage? Abortion? Sexual sin? Ethics? Sloth? Debt and taxes? How about the separation of church and state?
This shameless tactic is pretty low even for the party of shameless tactics (Charlie's not the only one to do it), especially considering the number of liberals who daily try to dismiss most of the moral absolutes coming from the very same source. But hey, they didn't get known as the party of ends justify means for nothing.
Does he realize this stuff won't fly anymore? Only sycophants and media members will be dazzled by such a hypocritical zinger, everyone else will see it for what it was--just more BS from a congressman designed to paper over a serious issue. He knows Boehner has the upper hand right now after getting Obama to admit he'd be willing--using Charlie's logic--to throw his 'brothers' under the bus in return for higher taxes (which Charlie probably wouldn't pay).
Meanwhile Boehner doesn't have to do anything but position and hold. The president can either deal with the smaller package he sanctioned Biden to negotiate or play a game of chicken with himself by challenging his own self-imposed deadline and risk what Geithner has called a catastrophe. Then again, he could reset the Biden deal and demand the smaller package contain tax increases but that would be very weak, not to mention 'messing with Joe'. Joe would not like that. Unless that's how they are planning to replace him with Cuomo!
Well, surely they'll think of some new spin to deflect all of this, perhaps consisting of the words 'bullseye', 'targeted', 'crosshairs', 'racist', 'shotgun' or some other inflammatory rhetoric only considered inflammatory when used by Sarah Palin. Plenty of time.
PEAS IN A POD 7/11/11
Obama counters quickly by dismissing the Biden deal (saving Joe) in favor of a bullying posture using Mother Superior terminology. Have to admit I didn't see "eat our peas" coming, but it's completely in character for the floating president as he hovers above the debate, scolding the little people down in green valley to hurry up and get this over with so he can get back to the course.
SHORT TERM 7/11/11
Obama actually had the nerve to stand there and declare that America doesn't do short term fixes? Really? Has he counted the number of Continuing Resolutions we are up to now without a real budget (that Pelosi was afraid to bring to a vote for fear the Blue Dogs would get tarred by Tea Partiers)?
These pressers are not real pressers, they are setups for Obama to deliver talking points. Did anyone ask him why he voted against a debt limit increase in 2006 when Bush was asking for one?
It's time for Obama and Boehner to hit the links in their own private golf showdown on US Open weekend. Call it the US Closed--it's almost almost as secretive as the Bilderberger event or a Cheney getaway. The only course eliminated so far is Congressional Country Club.
The NY Times isn't very curious but provides a breakdown of the players for us, including this word of caution:
Mr. Boehner is friends with the golf legend Jack Nicklaus. He has also played with Tiger Woods in a pro-am tournament two years ago at the Congressional Country Club outside Washington.
Scared yet, Mr. President? Don’t be. You’ve got Biden.
Yes, we are told the mighty don't mess with Joe has a handicap index of 6.3. Nobody ever talks about his golf but he must get out there often carrying that kind of number, especially after starting the game around 50. Of course he IS the Vice President and probably has plenty of time on his hands with Recovery Summer currently on hold. Meanwhile Kasich is said to be a "wild card", meaning the Times didn't bother digging very deep because they don't really care.
The big question is whether Obama will practice scorecard transparency. The Moonie Times tells us not to expect an after-action report and they may be right--if team GOP wins--but there's not a soul alive on planet Earth who doesn't think the scorecards will be front and center of every news outlet if team OB manages to keep it in-bounds and slays the evil deficit monsters. There will be glowing hole to hole coverage and some may even use the word gutsy. Maybe a bigger question is whether team GOP will publish the cards if they exact a thumpin', since it would likely be spun by the same journalists as bad form or even racist. Guess we'll see.
As to real golf, Roy McAvoy, er Rory McIlroy is apparently playing his own Open this year. He's only 22 years old and 11 under par with a 6 shot lead over the nearest contender and 9 shots on everyone else in the most difficult tournament in the world. Impressive, but he doesn't quite have the same flair as the Golden Boy back at Pebble Beach in the late 90s. He does however bear a slight resemblance to a famous person...
Although as far as we know he's not from Kansas, or Seattle, or Honolulu, or Kenya, just Northern Ireland. Wait, Obama claims roots in Ireland!
MORE 6/17/11
Looks like there should be some good hole to hole chatter out there tomorrow. Or how about this--the event gets canceled after 12 holes with team GOP up by a million due to the announcement that Gadaffi has been killed or captured. It would be just like Obama to do that to invited guests.
