The 2005-6 “we’ll privatize your Social Security” version of the Republican Party was considerably less radical that the one we’re dealing with now, but they were radical enough. I watched how the 2006 midterms developed very closely, and it was clear that the GOP was going to get slaughtered if they didn’t pivot and allow some daylight between themselves and the inept post-Katrina Bush administration. They never made the slightest move to save themselves and they went down to the slaughter. I figured that they’d surely moderate their ways for 2008. But they didn’t change a thing. After losing two straight elections in spectacular fashion, I kind of half-expected them do some soul-searching, but they went Full Metal Teabagger instead. So, I’ve pretty much given up on the idea that the Republicans are capable of dialing back the crazy when it suits them politically. The debt ceiling fiasco is further proof that they can’t. And, so, I understand fully why the whole progressive world seems firmly convinced that there will be no compromise on the SuperCommittee. They could be right. I wouldn’t want to bet against them. But, it could be structured in a way that the Dems care less about the triggers than the Republicans. Sen. Portman could be the key player if there is going to actually be a bill with shared sacrifice that can win a majority in both Houses. The world is basically going off-kilter because of persistent debt, slow growth, and paralyzed leadership caused by congressional Republicans in Washington. They’re taking a lot of blame for what’s happening in the stock market. They’re getting hammered for the credit rating downgrade.
Never underestimate the GOP’s ability to screw things up, but they might just do the right thing just this once. Maybe.
And Portman created this mess. He knows that. Here’s to hoping that he’ll be ready to do some atonement.
Upton and Camp are moderate (moreso the former) enough that they’re gettable in a “grand compromise” scenario. Toomey was a great pick. He’s beloved by the Tea Party, but he won’t cause any trouble like, say, Rand Paul would.
Also, Michele Bachmann is continuing her line about Obama pushing seniors off of Medicare and into the exchanges:
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/10/292620/bachmann-obamacare-endsmedicare/
Don’t be surprised if that starts taking off.
And Portman created this mess. He knows that. Here’s to hoping that he’ll be ready to do some atonement.
Be serious!! He’s kneeled before Grover just like the other GOP members of the SuperCongress. His pledge to Grover is more important than doing anything right.
Yes. When politicians are responsible for a mess, they don’t atone, instead they shift the blame.
Probably. But who’s more powerful in DC? Grover or the Joint Chiefs of Staff?
Um, lemme see, after the whole debt-ceiling-burn-the-shithouse-down before-we’ll-agree-to-raise-taxes-because-we-pledged-to-Grover?
Grover. Definitely.
Maybe. But I’d be very surprised if that’s true.
That’s the $1,000,000 question right now. We’ll find that out by the end of this year.
Yep, Portman will be the GOP to walk out.
Oh come on, Booman.
Max Baucus is going to sell us out to the highest bidder. He’s such a Republican sleazebag in Democrat’s clothing.
We’re fucked with him on the cat food commission.
Actually, I should say it only becomes the “Catfood Commission” with him on it.
Get ready for some serious HURT.
Alan Simpson seems more scared of Baucus than John Kerry, actually.
Actually, his only “sin” was holding up the ACA law in his committee too long.
On the debt deal however, he was solidly with Pelosi and every statement from him was supporting revenue increases as opposed to cuts. I don’t think we have anything to worry about from Baucus in particular, even though he is the rallying cry for the “SELL OUT” portions of the blogosphere.
Better Baucus than Conrad, but it’s a shame either of them are on the committee. He’s definitely our weak link.
It’s possible Kerry is worse. Baucus at least represents a state where most of his supporters are not super-rich.
And Baucus never spends any time there anymore. I don’t think he even has a home there, but uses the address of some family farm or something that he has absolutely nothing to do with. He never visits Montana unless there’s a pre-planned political event. He is totally a creature of the Washington Bribe-osphere.
bribe-o-sphere, very nice.
IT was only held up because he had it written on K Street without any oversight of his office. They ran a little long waiting for all of the interested companies getting their piece of the bill written in. The bill he presented was written entirely by the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. Entirely. Thankfully we were able to fix alot of it but that’s where it was molded.
There is good reason to label Baucus a sell out. You do know why he’s changed the last 6 months? It’s because, even 4 years out, polls indicate he’d get crushed in a Democratic primary! And I mean crushed!! And yes, I said primary.
Oh please, like they won’t just let the trigger get pulled and then bipartisanly add that defense spending back in after the fact. Like any trigger could really cut the defense budget if the pentagon isn’t ready yet to be cut. In continuing war time, I might add. Have we learned nothing?