Democrats: Revoke the Bush Tax Cuts or We’ll Shut Down the Government
How’s that for turning the tables? Or maybe the Democrats could demand: “De-fund the Pentagon and the Drug Enforcement Agency or We Won’t Raise the Debt Limit.” “Democrats are willing to keep the government running, just as soon as the PATRIOT Act is eliminated.”
Two can play this game. The House won’t always be controlled by Republicans.
If the shoe was on the other foot, would we still be getting all these “neutral” headlines about “Both parties are blaming each other” and “Lots of finger pointing from both sides.”
President Obama is absolutely right to refuse ANY negotiations “with a gun held to the head of the American people,” as he described it. As soon as the GOP teahadists un-strap the bombs from their chests, we’ll talk.
And it’s imperative that the Democrats not agree to any of the Republicans’ piecemeal overtures, no matter how tempting or politically appealing. “If you’ll sign this one little agreement, a disabled homeless veteran can take his grandson, who has cancer, to Yosemite National Park for one last visit. Pleeeeease?!?!?!?!?”
NO.
As soon as the Democrats agree to one single heart-wrenching exception to the government shutdown, the floodgates will be open. It’ll be the end of the day-to-day legislative process as we know it. There’ll be absolutely zero incentive to write out complex bills with big words, pore over details, bicker over the wording, reach across the aisle, make tentative agreements, etc. Why bother with all of that boring drivel when it’s so much easier to just govern by extortion? Blackmail?
Can’t achieve your agenda through the legislative process? No problem. Just wait ‘til the federal government is about to run out of money, or we need to raise the debt limit, or we need emergency disaster relief after a hurricane. Ready? Write down the exact details of your wettest wetdream, strap on the explosives, and spew out your demands.
“De-Fund the Homeland Security Department!” “Eliminate the minimum wage and suspend all workplace safety regulations!” “Eliminate ALL funding for the Environmental Protection Agency!”
Or America gets it.
Labels: GOP blackmail, GOP extortion, Government shutdown
posted by Tom Harper @ 11:18 AM
5 Comments:
Also too, they set the house on fire then complain when the fire department comes because dammit, you did not compromise with us so you don't get to have your home saved. Notice the dems did not do any of this when that horrible Medicare drug program was signed into law. Idiots just don't understand the country has moved on from them. Even PPP is saying there is a good chance dems will take back the house next year.
Well if you want a wish list we could do go after the Bush Medicare Plan
Erik
Jess: I saw an article just this morning saying the same thing, that the Dems just might take back the House. Maybe, just maybe, those gerrymandered GOP districts won't be enough to keep the teahadists in power.
Erik: The Bush Medicare big pharm giveaway, the CAFTA treaty, the Hastert Rule, enforcement of all abortion and birth control laws...
It's true... even though it can be argued that our system is dysfunctional, I think we can count on it not being functional at all for the rest of our nation's history should the president capitulate at this point. This is a crucial time, we're at a crossroads, etc.
I see success as a two-part plan... First we need to get through the shutdown and the raising of the debt ceiling without capitulating, and then we need to gain a majority in the House in 2014 while keeping the Senate. If we can do those things, then the last two years of Obama's presidency will be anything but "lame duck". Things that are already in place could be strengthened and solidified, new things could be started. And with the other guys in such pathetic disarray, I doubt they'll have much luck winning the White House or gaining back the Senate or the House in 2016.
Things will have to align just right, but if they do, we could be looking at another 6 years of Dems leading the nation, and maybe 10 if we're fortunate.
Snave: It's crucial that we end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling without any "negotiations" with the teahadists. After the vulture capitalists and their useful idiots in the Tea Party have finally understood that blackmail and extortion won't work, hopefully they'll stop using these tactics.
I hope this helps the Democrats during the next few elections, but you never know.
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