Is McConnell caving or being cagey? (Update: Caving)
Earlier today Sen. Mitch McConnell declared that no debt ceiling deal is possible as long as Barack Obama is president. Now, McConnell is floating a proposal that’s not a deal exactly. It’s also not likely, at least at this point, to go very far. McConnell’s legislation would essentially allow the president to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling by a relatively small amount (meaning, actually a huge amount) in exchange for budget cuts, and doesn’t include any tax hikes or “revenue raisers” that the Democrats want. Congress could override the president but only with a 2/3 vote, which in the current environment is not happening. That means the cuts part is unlikely to kick in, even while the president gets to kick up the debt ceiling three times. Guy Benson explains it well at the second link; Red State’s Erick Erickson reacts here, comparing McConnell to Pontius Pilate. The problem with such a reaction is that it’s fairly typical of him, to the point that one never knows if the alarm he’s sounding is a real alarm signalling actual crisis or the proverbial cry of “Wolf!” JournoList alum Dave Weigel suggests the McConnell plan, which is a back-up plan, is a punt. Punts certainly aren’t Plan A, so he may have that right. PJ alum Jennifer Rubin broke the story and weighs in here. Her take:
What does this do? It shifts the onus to the president to put up the cuts he wants. Moreover, it puts the Senate Democrats in a tough bind. Do they vote against this if there is no grand bargain, filibustering a mechanism that would avoid default? Having failed to present their own budget, Senate Democrats are now on the spot. As for that White House meeting today, I imagine the White House will be none to pleased. Put up or shut up, they are being told.
And Allahpundit sorts the tea leaves here. Heritage doesn’t like it. I’m not sold that the cuts mechanism will work as designed, given the 2/3 mandate to override the president’s actions. I’m willing to be persuaded, but my gut reaction is that this is a bad move on McConnell’s part. But I also think it’s unlikely to pass. Too many on both sides will end up having too many legitimate and fuzzy problems with it. And in the end, it’s going to result in a raised debt ceiling.
I think Michele Bachmann may have the best answer to this yet: Sure, I’ll vote to raise the debt ceiling if we repeal ObamaCare as part of the deal. ObamaCare remains unpopular and is actually feeding the debt problem, so her answer isn’t a gimmick. It would actually help, both by avoiding default and by getting rid of heinous legislation that’s making the debt problem worse. But that’s even less likely than McConnell’s gambit. Which gets us back to McConnell saying that no real deal is possible as long as Obama occupies the Oval Office.
Bonus: Bill O’Reilly is a total tool in that clip with Bachmann.
Update: Well, JournoList founder Ezra Klein loooves McConnell’s proposal. So, it’s a terrible idea. Scrap it.
I happened to catch O’R interview with Bachmann and agree with your tool analysis. At some point, O’R will smugly claim he is “playing down middle” or some such. He is angling for his next White House interview with Obama.
McConnell konws that no substantial deal on lowering the deficit will be accomplished. What will occur with the debt ceiling limit vote is future spending obligations being “cut” instead of real spending cuts for this fiscal year. So, knowing that, why not put the pressure on Barack Obama and Senate Dems? Yes, it is in a way caving, but again, the debt limit WILL be raised, and whatever cuts there are will target future spending, not current spending.
And guess what? There are five countries in Europe right now that may go belly up at any months time; Greece may be about to go through a “selective” default. If a default occurs in Europe that drops the financial markets, even for a few months, Obama will look like a fool who is risking the same situation in the US. No matter what, the GOP will use Obama’s irresponsibility on fiscal matters against him in 2012; what better way to prove his ineptitude and willingness to sell out the younger generations for the votes of their parents and grand-parents than to force Obama into spending cuts that he will not make?
Combine this strategy with a massive education campaign during the election to raise awareness on the dangers of the national debt (Ross Perot circa 92?) and you could probably raise the total number of Americans who view this issue (currently 10%) as their primary voting issue by election time by enough of a margin to make a difference in the election.
Although maybe I’m just overthinking this; I’m pretty board tonight.
What is appalling regarding the runaway debt appears to be a game for these DC clowns. Rather than debating – on C-Span – about the best solution for Americas future is being used to play a ballgame. Back-and-forth, whoever is the better ball player is the winner.
To consider either’s party a solution is to lol.
I never thought I see the day, that there’s no integrity at all by either side to do what they have sworn to do under the constitution, to take care of the peoples business.
Rather, decisions are being made on the basis of re-election, or staying in power, not what is the right and proper way to legislate. Democrats want to use Mediscare to clubber republicans among other things during elections, republicans want to use crumbs of cuts to convince the public that they are serious cutting the deficit
Boehner suckered the GOP in December; it looks that McConnell attempting to sucker us by giving Obama ‘free’ reign in raising the debt limit.
In the meantime, unemployment continues to rise, inflation ticking upwards, gas prices going up, our liberties being decimated piece by piece; our enemies plotting and planning; the current crop in the admin trying the very best to incorporate our enemies into our own house, open borders cuasing mayhem-killing more and more people; Holder, Obama, State and Homeland security arming our enemies – in short, the rule of law no longer applies, and we are sinking into a banana republic.
I’d say, the next election really needs housecleaning-all of them; they should be on probation for 6 months to observe what they do-rather then their words-because words are no longer trustworthy, period, and that includes both sides.