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Opinions/Editorials Title: Inside The Democrats' Post-Election Strategy For Congress WASHINGTON -- With the enemy at the gates, and facing heavy casualties, Democrats in Congress are preparing to do what any beleaguered army does: head for the hills and leave booby-traps behind. The bigger the margin Republicans pile up next Tuesday, the less likely it is that the Democrats will be able to -- or want to -- do much when Congress reconvenes for a lame-duck session on Nov. 15. Rather, leadership aides tell me, they will want to do the minimum, pushing the toughest decisions on taxes, spending and debt forward to a newer, presumably more Republican, 112th Congress, which will convene for the first time on Jan. 3, 2011. Come January, the new Tea Party-infused GOP then would have to quickly confront the real-world consequences of its tax-cutting, budget-cutting, debt-reducing, anti-government rhetoric. "Some of our liberals are arguing that we have to do what we can in the lame-duck if it's going to be our last chance, but that is unrealistic if the numbers next week are bad," a top Democratic aide told me. "If we lose big, we'll punt. We'll have to." Which means? ADVERTISEMENT For one, it means that lame-duck Democrats will pass another short "continuing resolution" to cover funding of all government programs. (The current one expires on Dec. 3.) If that happens, President Obama will not get the priorities and new programs he wanted, and Republicans will get the chance to undo them. But the GOP will have to quickly make good on their pledge to cut $100 billion in spending -- a number they have bragged about even while avoiding discussing painful, controversial specifics. Most House Democrats, under siege though they are, are against extending the Bush-era income tax cuts to families who make more than $250,000. They will try to hold that line, but if they can't, they will fight for a short-term extension for that top bracket. Again, the idea is to make the GOP, in the new Congress, focus on that one group's needs. Democrats will try to vote more money for unemployment benefits. Winning that vote -- even in the lame duck -- won't be easy. Democrats will do their best, but, again, that may mean a short-term measure. Republicans would have to return to the matter in January. The most powerful IED on the road ahead is timed to explode some time this spring. Last February, Congress raised the ceiling on the national debt from $12.4 trillion to $14.2 trillion. Since then, the debt has risen to $13.7 trillion -- which means Congress will have to raise it yet again within a few months. A failure to approve one would, technically, bar the government from borrowing more money. In other words, we would not have the cash to pay our bills. And yet Tea Party candidates and their fellow travelers in the GOP have vowed to oppose further increases in the legal debt ceiling. Are they going to stick to that idea when faced with the reality of default? Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest #1. To: jwpegler, skip intro, fred mertz, brian s, lucysmom, meguro, badeye (#0) The most powerful IED on the road ahead is timed to explode some time this spring. Last February, Congress raised the ceiling on the national debt from $12.4 trillion to $14.2 trillion. Since then, the debt has risen to $13.7 trillion -- which means Congress will have to raise it yet again within a few months. As JW was saying, we'll find out very quickly whether or not the GOP is serious about implementing the spending cuts it has promised.
#2. To: go65 (#0) The bigger the margin Republicans pile up next Tuesday, the less likely it is that the Democrats will be able to -- or want to -- do much when Congress reconvenes for a lame-duck session on Nov. 15. -----------------------------------------------------------
#3. To: go65 (#1) The most powerful IED Telling that the DNC and Huffpo use our enemies weapons as metaphors to discuss politics. You guys really hate the US. -----------------------------------------------------------
#4. To: WhiteSands (#3) Telling that the DNC and Huffpo use our enemies weapons as metaphors to discuss politics. whitey, you've become an annoying distraction, off to filter-land you go.
#5. To: go65 (#4) whitey, you've become an annoying distraction, off to filter-land you go. You're going to miss 50% of the posts on this site now.
#6. To: Skip Intro (#5) You're going to miss 50% of the posts on this site now. still a vast improvement in signal to noise ratio. :-)
#7. To: go65 (#6) still a vast improvement in signal to noise ratio. :-) It's not like any of those posts actually say anything, is it?
#8. To: Skip Intro (#7) It's not like any of those posts actually say anything, is it? Nope.
#9. To: go65, all (#4) whitey, you've become an annoying distraction, off to filter-land you go. For at least a few hours you will hide. You have to. Digital book burning is what Liberals are known for. You have to hide beacuse If I ask for a source of your statements you can not answer. Example:
http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=14475&Disp=24#C24 -----------------------------------------------------------
#10. To: Skip Intro (#7) (Edited) Unless a post offers racism, it's not a post to Skip Intro. -----------------------------------------------------------
#11. To: go65 (#4) whitey, you've become an annoying distraction, off to filter-land you go. Here's why go65 has to hide: go65 can't dispute that his economic plans are at odds with Obama's and Pellosi's call for deficit reduction. And
Can you provide any links to articles stating the GOP has stopped this?
Thank you. -----------------------------------------------------------
#12. To: Skip Intro, go65 (#5) (Edited) You're going to miss 50% of the posts on this site now. 13% Today [ 45 post of 343 ] And I posted a lot. This is why you need other peoples money to make it. You're not very smart. -----------------------------------------------------------
#13. To: WhiteSands (#12) Your not very smart. smirk (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #14. To: Wood_Chopper (#13) Thank you! -----------------------------------------------------------
#15. To: WhiteSands (#14) Thank you! Your welcome. (And they say I don't have a sense of humor.) (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #16. To: Wood_Chopper (#15) Don't worry, Tony Randall is no longer here. -----------------------------------------------------------
#17. To: WhiteSands (#16) Don't worry, Tony Randall is no longer here. That's odd (couple). (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #18. To: Wood_Chopper (#17) (Edited) So will the TP push the GOP to the right? Or will the GOP drift back to McCainville again? -----------------------------------------------------------
#19. To: WhiteSands (#18) So will the TP push the GOP to the right? The pubbies will go right when they have no power to get anything done, and back to McCainville when they do have the power to "get something done". Let me ask you this: Do you think people who hold ENORMOUS POWER will divest themselves of it because people made a mark (electronically or else wise) on a piece of paper? (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #20. To: WhiteSands (#19) Let me ask you this: Do you think people who hold ENORMOUS POWER will divest themselves of it because people made a mark (electronically or else wise) on a piece of paper? Or to put it another way: Will John Boehner (R-Ohio) be speaker of the house when the pubs take the house? (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #21. To: Wood_Chopper (#20) (Edited) Do you mean Soros wil still run our nation? Or perhaps whoever Soros answers too? I am not a CTer. -----------------------------------------------------------
#22. To: WhiteSands (#21) Do you mean Soros wil still run our nation? No. I mean EXACTLY what I said. Will John Boehner (R-Ohio) be speaker of the house when the pubs take the house? (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #23. To: WhiteSands (#21) Or perhaps whoever Soros answers too? "Answers to". You're welcome. (Frosh)Can ya tell me where the library's at? (Snooty upperclassman)My good man, here at HARRRRRRRRRRRVARD, we never end our sentences with a preposition. (Frosh) Sorry. Can ya tell me where the library's at, asshole? (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #24. To: WhiteSands (#23) (Edited) Or perhaps whoever Soros answers too? And by the way, it would be "whomever" (objective case), not "whoever". Kinda like this: "Or perhaps to whomever George Soros answers?" Or there abouts. (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #25. To: WhiteSands (#19) Do you think people who hold ENORMOUS POWER will divest themselves of it because people made a mark (electronically or else wise) on a piece of paper? (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #26. To: WhiteSands, go65 (#12) You're not very smart. Of course not. Intellectual laziness is the hallmark of the liberal (i.e. socialist) mental disease. Getting tired of the bozoed calcon following me around on the 'net, wanting to discuss "tossing salad." Sorry, you sick rump-ranger. NOT interested. #27. To: Wood_Chopper (#24) Kinda like this: Do you mean? Kind of like this: Tony Randall is gone. -----------------------------------------------------------
#28. To: Wood_Chopper (#24) And by the way, it would be "whomever" (objective case), not "whoever". To determine whether to use whoever or whomever, here is the rule: him + he = whoever him + him = whomever -----------------------------------------------------------
#29. To: Wood_Chopper (#25) Do you think people who hold ENORMOUS POWER will divest themselves of it because people made a mark (electronically or else wise) on a piece of paper? Should be Do you think people who hold ENORMOUS POWER will divest themselves of it because people made a mark (electronically or other wise) on a piece of paper? -----------------------------------------------------------
#30. To: Wood_Chopper (#22) (Edited) Will John Boehner (R-Ohio) be speaker of the house when the pubs take the house? Yes. I think the Republicans will elect him as the house speaker. Don't you? -----------------------------------------------------------
#31. To: go65 (#1) As JW was saying, we'll find out very quickly whether or not the GOP is serious about implementing the spending cuts it has promised. Actually, what 'we' will find out is if Owe-bama is willing to continue his political kamikazi dive into oblivion and utter failure. Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit. #32. To: Badeye (#31) Actually, what 'we' will find out is if Owe-bama is willing to continue his political kamikazi dive into oblivion and utter failure. Nope, Obama will be powerless do to anything unless it comes to his desk. He can't raise the debt limit on his own.
#33. To: go65 (#32) Nope, Obama will be powerless do to anything unless it comes to his desk. He can't raise the debt limit on his own. Powerless when he has veto stamp? Ah...no. Seriously, I don't think he can 'pivot' politically ala Clinton in 95. We're gonna find out though. Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit. #34. To: Badeye (#33) Powerless when he has veto stamp? Ah...no. he can't raise the debt ceiling without a bill coming to his desk.
#35. To: go65 (#34) (chuckle) Who's suggesting raising the debt ceiling? Who's suggesting the GOP will be in the 'back seat' for that matter? Why is Owe-bama cancelling his usual Saturday routine, and rushing to DELAWARE TOMORROW? Four more days... Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit. #36. To: WhiteSands (#30) Yes. I certainly do. Nothing of any importance is going to change. (sneakypete)DID Palin say or write these things or not? (Mad Dog's reply) I don't know or F ing care. Pete, MD doesn't know or care what Palin says or writes, he'll support her no matter what. #37. To: go65 (#34) (Edited) he can't raise the debt ceiling without a bill coming to his desk. His as well as Pelosi's economic plan is to reduce deficits. You oppose the Democrats economic plan. -----------------------------------------------------------
#38. To: Badeye (#35) (chuckle) Who's suggesting raising the debt ceiling? The reality is that the government runs out of cash somewhere around March 9th of next year. At that point the GOP will need to decide whether or not to raise the debt ceiling, or starve the beast by cutting $1.2 trillion in spending. What do you think they will do?
#39. To: go65 (#38) I hope they choose to 'starve the beast'...because if they don't, the 'beast' will consume us all, no matter where you are on the political spectrum. And that is my honest opinion. They've made the deficit the single biggest threat to our survival in the four years of Pelosi/Reid and now Owe-bama. And Bush failed here as well to be clear. Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit. Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
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