As debt debate grinds on, conservatives pursue 2 symbolic votes

[TomCADem]

Source: Kansas City Star

Congress plans two largely symbolic but politically significant votes starting Tuesday on proposals that conservative groups vow will be remembered during the 2012 elections: a plan to slash federal spending and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

But the real action continues to be behind the scenes, where the White House and congressional leaders are frantically trying to work out a deal that will raise the federal debt limit while cutting future federal budget deficits. Until a deal is done, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday, the Senate will stay at work seven days a week.

"The Senate will stay in session every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, from now until Congress passes legislation that prevents the United States from defaulting on our obligations," he said.

Meanwhile, the coming two votes are significant for a couple reasons - one political, one tactical. Supporters will feel a strong political wind at their backs: A well-funded network of conservative groups is spotlighting the votes as defining ones.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/18/3021301/as-debt-debate-grinds-on-conservatives.html

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The nation is close to default, and the GOP is still screwing around with B.S. votes. Also, they propose to cut $5 trillion in unspecified spending? Ladies and Gentlemen, the only way you get there on spending cuts alone is if you dismatle Medicare and Social Security. I am not talking a mere benefit cut. I am talking cuts that could make Ryan blush.

Of course, the corporate media will give Republicans a Free Pass, and Blame Democrats for their opposition to this radical plan even as Republicans refuse to compromise on tax increases in return for a realistic plan to cut the deficit.

The fact of the matter is that Republicans like the debt and the deficit because it justifies their existence. The last thing they want is a serious plan that cuts the deficit, because then they cannot justify their crusade to kill government and the services it provides.

[Drale]

1. Um doesn't an amendment have to go through

all the state houses before it reaches congress?

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. After. They would have to ratify it

This is nothing more than kabuki theater for campaign ads.

[creeksneakers2]

3. They don't have the votes to cut SS or Medicare

They've been bluffing all along about that. They'll cut spending on general government programs with a broad cut that covers everything, but specifies nothing. If they go back to the Ryan plan at some point, they'll slash Medicaid. It doesn't look like they are planning to do anything specific about that now. Its harder to push when something might actually happen and they might be blamed for the consequences. For now, they'll just cook up a number for the sum of federal spending and say that's what the total should be.

They don't have the votes to raise the debt ceiling either. There can't be many there that really care about what happens to the country, as can be seen by wasting all this time we don't have on a stunt.

I wish Obama would call their bluff and demand specifics and votes for the specifics. They whole GOP effort since day one of this was to find a way to blame somebody else and get themselves out of a jam between their base and the rest of the country.

[AndyTiedye]

4. The Trouble With Calling Their Bluff…

…is that they are not bluffing.


Default would do in SS and Medicare too. Where do you think their funds are invested?

[creeksneakers2]

7. Even if the GOP created a monster

there would still be the Senate and the veto to stop it.

[TomCADem]

6. With an Amendment, Then Medicare and Social Security Could Be Rendered Unconstitutional

If you have Medicare and Social Security with automatic escalators, but you have a Constitutional Amendment that constitutional limits spending to no more than 18 percent of GDP and limits taxes to those passed with a 2/3 vote, then arguably Medicare and Social Security COLA could be attacked on constitutional grounds.

That is why the Amendment is such a panacea for Republicans. They may not have to vote. They could just challange the constitutionality of any law that automatically requires such spending to increase.

As for President Obama calling their bluff, he just threatened to veto their their proposed Amendment because it will require severe cuts in Medicare and Social Security. But, I bet you can't find any news articles specifically mentioning this? Corporate media censorship. Here is the text of the official veto threat.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/18/995842/-White-House-threatens-veto-of-Republican-plan-linking-balanced-budget-amendment-to-debt-limit

[creeksneakers2]

9. Exactly!

Somebody else would have to vote to cut SS and Medicare, or the courts would have to stop it, and the GOP would be off the hook for now.

[cstanleytech]

8. They (the gop) needs to grow a pair and tell their base

that they tried their best but they wont.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Why does "Attention Whores" come to mind

The 2012 GOP "Political Drama Queens" Calender

(non swim suit edition)

[tanyev]

10. Weren't they obsessed with a balanced budget amendment during the Clinton years too?

But I don't recall them being the least bit concerned during the Bush years. Odd how that happens.