So there aren’t even 30 Republicans in the House willing to keep the United States government from defaulting on its debts. How did we get here?
The crazies are feeling their oats.
Will President Obama just let then walk the plank on the political calculation that the fall out will destroy them? Or will they blink at the end I don't think that the president will blink. It would be the end of presidential power and upset the balance of powers.
The Washington Post — The Plum LineAll this suggests that every force involved is propelling Republicans not just toward forcing a crisis, but forcing an actual default. At some point, they might realize that “Republicans are holding a gun to the head of the American economy and they’ll fire unless we let them slash Social Security and Medicare” isn’t exactly a winning political message to send. But who knows how much damage will be done before they realize that?This is an opportunity that Democrats can't afford to miss. Everyone at the WH must be laughing hysterically. Especially after already declaring that the president will not use either the 14th Amendment or the platinum coin gambit that the right could howl over.
The risk that America will default on its debts is now higher than ever
Paul Waldman
That's exactly what I said, Matt. This is a gift to Democrats politically if there is an economic price to pay that can be hung on the necks of the GOP crazies. They will try to blame Obama for not caving, but that will only convince the choir who are already convinced.
ReplyDeleteWhat's happening is that TPTB are starting to shift toward the Democratic Party, which is moderate Republican, and abandoning the GOP as the party of crazy. Clinton's strategy of triangulation (actually Dick Morris's) is working as the GOP moves to the extreme right and the Dems occupy the center.
The GOP has managed to alienate minorities, including women, the middle class, seniors, and now the big donors who are not Libertarian.
Look at what happened to Sears when the CEO started operating the company iaw the principles of economic liberalism.
Sears Is Failing Right Before the Eyes of Investors and Customers
This will be the fate of the US under these maroons.
I assume Tom meant that are laughing hysterically in the White House.
ReplyDeleteOK, I changed it to read:
ReplyDeleteThis is an opportunity that Democrats can't afford to miss. Everyone at the WH must be laughing hysterically.
Oh ok sorry now I see...
ReplyDeleteHey Tom, did some southern travel this weekend a bit down into Dixie...
Yuuuuuuuuuge Stars & Bars (20' min!) on a 100' pole flying over I-95 between Fredericksburg and Richmond near the Stonewall Jackson memorial site...
"This is a gift to Democrats politically if there is an economic price to pay that can be hung on the necks of the GOP crazies."
ReplyDeleteNot really a gift to the populance of the US or the rest of the world though is it!
Also, Tom what % of vote will the Democrats need to win back the gerrymandered house.
The US crazies are going to take down the US and the ROW if they get into power and enact their program. That will be the end of US hegemony unless there is war, which is likely. They won' be able to take responsibility and will blame others.
ReplyDeleteThe Dems probably can't win back the House until there is a shift in demographics that can't be overcome by either gerrymandering, vote-rigging or voter suppression. This is Custer's last stand writ large.
The logic is inexorable and the process is in motion and accelerating.
Of course, the crazies in Congress aren't the only crazies.
ReplyDeleteThe Tipping Point: Has the U.S.-China Relationship Passed the Point of No Return?
China has drawn a red line territorially, and the US is threatening to cross it. Add this to the TPP, which is aimed strategically at China.
War clouds are gathering not only in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Things will only kick off in eastern Europe and the China Sea through a series of monumentally stupid blunders and machismo, which isn't unlikely given the amount of blundering and JFK machismo on offer.
ReplyDeleteThe Middle East is the one to watch out for. Iran's probably safe for now. But it may not be long before the House of Saud gets overthrown, and that would almost certainly draw the US in to a war with no end, the neoconservative chickenhawks and liberal imperialists wet dream to end all wet dreams.
Tom, FYI, there are a shitload of Democrat crazies too. More than enough to balance out the GOP crazies. And both sets of crazies are in diametric opposite to each other.
ReplyDeleteThe trillion question is where will swing voters gravitate too--the left or right crazies? My money is on the right, especially if it's Trump/Carson on the ticket.
there are a shitload of Democrat crazies too
ReplyDeleteThis is a Democratic administration running foreign policy. Not as crazy as McCain & Co, but pretty crazy nevertheless. And it was the Clinton administration that went to war in the former Yugoslavia in violation of the UN Charter. Of course, the US interpreted the charter broadly enough to justify intervention, just as the US interpreted the law broadly enough to justify torture.
The US has been a rogue state under both parties.
Tom, if there is a war they ARE going to end US hegemony a 100% sure, I can tell you that. It's going to happen either way.
ReplyDeleteThe current US strategy seems to be based on managed chaos. Boots on the ground are needed to win a war, and the US public is not willing to go there yet. So the nest best thing is to deny your opponent control, and the chosen strategy seems to be managed chaos.
ReplyDeleteThe Pentagon knows the price of winning a land war in Asia. Way too high even if the US could do it. So the next best thing is to create chaos so no one else can do anything effectively as an opposition.
Of course, the question is whether chaos can be managed.
Here it comes.
ReplyDeleteReuters - U.S. Navy to send destroyer within 12 miles of Chinese islandsrReuters - U.S. Navy to send destroyer within 12 miles of Chinese islands
Looks like Obama has made the decision to risk war with China.
And the US is now complaining that the Russian navy is too close to undersea Internet cables — that are in international waters.
ReplyDeleteThe hypocrisy in all this is simply astounding.
"current US strategy seems to be based on managed chaos. "
ReplyDeleteUS foreign policy - Why so serious?
I guess blowing up hospitals is sometimes for the greater good :b
ReplyDelete