Grover Norquist has them by the short and curlies, and he’s not concerned about recent talk of tax increases from the Super Committee:
In an interview, Norquist said the Republican members of the panel had made a political point by “showing a little ankle” on new revenue — proving that Democrats would not accept major entitlement reform even coupled higher taxes.
But he acknowledged he found the Republican proposal “problematic” and that if Democrats had said yes to the deal, he would have then pushed the panel to rethink the tax offer.
And he offered a stark warning to committee chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.) not to offer further taxes.
“I would say that Mr. Hensarling might want to call George Herbert Walker Bush and see how his second term went,” Norquist said in an interview. Bush lost reelection in 1992 after breaking a promise not to raise taxes.
Even if Republican supercommittee members do sign off on a deal to raise taxes, Norquist said he was confident Republican House members would withhold their support.
“Three guys suffering Stockholm syndrome because they’ve spent too much time caucusing with Democrats are not going to get Republican to break the pledges they’ve made to their constituents” not to raise taxes, Norquist said.
So, now the Democrats are the hostage takers?
Discuss.
If the so-called Super Committee fails, where are the cuts coming from, besides defense? I have no doubt Congress would repeal the defense cuts. I don’t know about the other stuff.
I should add: I have no doubt they’d override the President’s veto re: the defense cuts. It’s the other stuff I worry about.
Jared Bernstein says no deal (so called “failure”) is better than deal.Which is kind of what I’ve thought was the idea all along.
http://jaredbernsteinblog.com/re-supercommittee-no-deal-is/
Leo Soderman wrote a few months ago:
“Democrats are upset that the deal does not include increasing revenues. But that’s not accurate. In fact, it virtually guarantees a revenue increase by the end of 2012. And Boehner knows it.”
He also writes: “An interesting battle will start next year. It will begin to pit the military industrial complex against the bankers and million/billionaires. If the rich guys want to keep their tax cuts, 50% of it will come from military spending – contractors. That’s a big lobby to fight against. It will be fascinating to see how the spin starts to work there, as Republicans find their corporate benefactors are suddenly pitted against each other, and the American people get to see where the loyalties really lie.”
Somebody tell me where he’s wrong.
http://www.editedforclarity.com/2011/08/01/debt-ceiling-deal-the-devil-is-in-the-details/
very interesting!
He’s just posted a new one.
http://www.editedforclarity.com/2011/11/16/the-super-dooper-uber-committee-is-looking-for-ways-out/
I say it’s time that the Democrats make Grover part of the 2012 strategy. it’s time to make ads explaining that the GOP will commit treason against America, because of fealty to this muthafucka.
You mean Jack Abramoff’s close associate, right?
It’s time to Occupy Grover.
Completely agree. Time to put the Occupy attention on individuals like Grover who are completely undermining this country for their own narrow interests.
Hey, here’s a good way to keep Grover occupied …
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43970713/Obama_Actually_Won_the_Debt_Ceiling_Fight
Few people are more deserving of a drone strike than dear old Grover.
He’s just the bag man for the Koch Brothers, Pete Peterson and others like them.