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The Fool(s) On The Hill — Why Now?
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The Fool(s) On The Hill

by Bryan

So, because 59 Senators, including some Republicans, thought that Boehner’s bill was a non-starter, the House rejected the Senate bill, after requiring that it receive a two-thirds majority to pass.

Boehner is claiming that he ‘stuck his neck out’ to get a bill passed, but doesn’t explain exactly what he was risking. He might not get to be Speaker again? Is that the dire fate he risked? Democrats don’t compromise? Democrats didn’t walk out on the talks.

Mr. Boehner asks where is the President’s plan? According to the US Constitution, Article I, Section 7, Paragraph 1: “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives …” It’s your job as Speaker of House to make the plans. Why don’t you do your job?

The only reason for not having a vote on a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling is the desire by many to create a crisis and use the crisis to pass unpopular legislation. This is pretty much an example of extortion – “Do what I tell you or the economy gets it!”

Update: Steve Bates in comments isn’t the only one to see the similarity: On YouTube GOP Debt Ceiling Negotiation.

Update 2: For those who think the Federal budget is just like a family’s budget, here’s what Suze Orman, a guru of personal finance, thinks about the process: Congress’ mishandling of debt ceiling and deficit is surreal. Her solution is: JOBS!

5 comments

1 Steve Bates { 07.30.11 at 5:12 pm }

This is pretty much an example of extortion – “Do what I tell you or the economy gets it!”

Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles comes to mind…

2 Bryan { 07.30.11 at 5:53 pm }

Yes, that is an even more accurate analogy.

Update: someone posted it to YouTube.

3 Kryten42 { 07.31.11 at 1:15 am }

Yes. I’ve said before (several times over the years in fact) that what the gang of perverts does is simply blackmail and extortion. Unfortunately, I don’t see you getting a Gov that would have the balls (or the inclination even) to do the right thing and have them all arrested, or at the very least, criminally investigated. *shrug*

Agree with you there Steve also. A good analogy! *sigh*

4 Steve Bates { 07.31.11 at 2:56 pm }

Here’s the most important thing Orman says in that column:

Here’s what is so truly absurd: We wouldn’t have a deficit crisis, if we had more people working. The revenue that would come from halving our unemployment rate would reduce our long-term debt to manageable levels.

Seems to me that’s the sort of policy debate Congress should be having right about now: What’s the best way to get more Americans working? When was the last time you heard a peep out of Washington about that?

When indeed! If Obama ever had any credentials as a Democrat (and I’m not one to defend him on that score), he has given them up by not pushing for higher employment. All roads to financial health lead through employment, even if plenty of GOPers refuse to admit it. You can’t run around Mr. Keynes!

5 Bryan { 07.31.11 at 4:44 pm }

After a decade of tax cuts we still don’t have any jobs, so why do we keep hearing it. The reality is that tax cuts don’t create jobs.

We need to spend to create jobs, and the only entity available to do any spending is the Federal government. Local governments have to cut their spending, business and the wealthy refuse to spend, so the Federal government is the only entity left, and they are cutting.

We are cutting a path to financial ruin.