Do you think the repugs are bluffing on the debt ceiling?

[Locut0s]

Do you think they are willing to go over the edge or do you think they will cave at the last second? As everyone now knows the repugs have said they will now demand concessions on the debt ceiling too.

32 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I think they are bluffing. They will cave at the 11th hour.
	6 (19%)
	I think they are willing to take us over the cliff.
	25 (78%)
	It\\\'s too hard to tell right now.
	1 (3%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Wounded Bear]

1. I really want to believe that there is some semblance of sanity in play....

but I voted "Yes" they will take over the cliff, or at least they're willing to.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. Depends on which Rethuglicans we're talking about.

But I voted for "over the cliff" anyway.

[Bjorn Against]

3. I think some are totally willing to take us over the cliff, others are strongly opposed

The big question is whether the ones who are strongly opposed have the courage to stand up to their own party.

[NoOneMan]

4. I think they are playing a role

And the overall ending act will include some safe compromise--that starves some vulnerable people--to avoid the hypothetical scary. Its not a bluff if you are reading your lines cooperatively.

So 4th option. They wont take the US over a cliff. They won't back down at the last moment. They are scaring everyone into accepting the last minute compromise that both parties will sign off on

[liberal_at_heart]

5. We the people are such a laughing stock to all of the politicians republican and democrat alike.

They get to laugh all the way to the multi-millionaire bank while we get austerity.

[magical thyme]

17. now the thought of that makes me want to vomit

I suppose it's entirely possible, but I certainly hope not.

[Thinkingabout]

6. The repubs will have to listen to their strongest leader, I think they are not capable of thinking

On their own. Right now their leader is Wannabe Dictator Cruz.

[Agnosticsherbet]

7. I think the Tea Party Caucus wants collapse the federal government

and are using this crises to do it.

They will take us over the cliff unless Boehner finds some courage.

Shit, we are doomed.

[magical thyme]

18. I have to agree with that

My eldest sister is an abusive bully and, sadly, a teabagger.

During the 2 recent years that I spoke with her, she would periodically call me up and start ranting about how they were going to take over the government, usually during really critical times. The last time we spoke she actually threatened me, that if I "continue to believe that, you will lose everything and you will never have a nice life." I wasn't sure if she meant gawd would strike me dead (she turned rabid catholic after she got married) or that the teaparty would take over and take everything.

They are completely psycho. I had to shut her out of my life again. You can't talk to them about anything because everything is about the teaparty and how they're going to run (really, ruin) verything.

[Lil Missy]

8. I think they will cave before we go over the cliff, and

I kinda hope they wait until the last minute because the longer this goes on the more damage they do to the Republican brand. This is already a losing issue for them and so is the debt ceiling fight - I predict they will wait and cave when the debt ceiling is due so they only have to cave once instead of twice.

[Uncle Joe]

9. I believe they're bluffing, if they're not it will be their doom.

Thanks for the thread, Locut0.

[treestar]

11. This ^^^^^

There's a point where it would hurt them, too.

[Turbineguy]

10. ....

http://www.theetfbully.com/2013/10/one-mans-opinion-is-it-likely-the-us-will-default-on-its-obligations/?preview=true

[xfundy]

12. Shock Doctrine.

This film, linked to earlier today on DU, explains a hell of a lot:

[blkmusclmachine]

15. That's been their Playbook since 9/11.

Operation: Northwoods

[SoCalDem]

13. They are eagerly anticipating pulling the self detruct lever

[blkmusclmachine]

14. Just a reminder of the Teabagger/GOPee mindset:

LET HIM DIE!
LET HIM DIE!
LET HIM DIE!

[DevonRex]

16. They're bluffing. They know now that Obama won't blink.

Everybody knows that now. If they aren't bluffing they'll be blamed. They know that, too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Sixty of them are not bluffing

this is a religion, and they have a chance to serve it.

[RainDog]

20. Yes. This is ideological extremism

That is, really, comparable to other right wing coup attempts in other nations - the religious fervor combined with hatred of the people of the nation that choose modernity over feudalism.

[AlinPA]

22. There are more than 60. It's all but about 17 of them in the House.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I am talking of the hardest of the hard core

There are still some moderates, and even some that get it. But the hard core, I swear, it is a religion They want to both punish us moochers and make this a Christian nation.

[AlinPA]

24. It could grow into a facism with the right leader-Cruz is not the one; he comes aross with ugliness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. We already have a form of fascism in place, inverted totalitarianism

[AlinPA]

29. or "controlled Democracy" with the media and corporations in control of an apathetic people.

[doc03]

21. No but I think Wall Street will sit them down and

read the riot act to them soon.

[chill_wind]

38. I agree.

Although not the same scenario, I think they will send in their arm twisters, much like they were able ala the Bankster bailouts.

[gopiscrap]

26. I think that as long as they don't get way in things,

they'll fuck us all!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

27. That guy Costa from the National Review,

who Chris Hayes has on his show very frequently, says his sources are telling him Boehner has already made it clear he has no intention of defaulting. He's working on giving himself some sort of fig leaf to keep his right in line. The "centrists" that form the core of his support will back him.
In other words, he's letting the Tea Partiers blow off steam, but in the end, given an appropriate covering to his obvious nakedness, he'll do the right thing.
Something unforeseen could force things to happen in a different way, but as of now I think this is the most likely outcome. Boehner's stupid but he's also vain (how do you think he got to be orange, after all?); he is not letting his name go down as the one who caused the US to default.

[rurallib]

28. I can't think of a one who cares enough about America

to stop it from being ruined

[el_bryanto]

30. I think Boehner is bluffing, and I think a good percentage of less crazy repubs are

But I don't think they are the driving force - I think that at the end of the day the crazys are running the show.

Bryant

[MyshkinCommaPrince]

31. Some of them are bluffing.

Some of them are bluffing. Others want to go over the cliff. It's the same division in their party that they're tried to dance around for ages. I don't think we can count on the Republican party to be able to work out these problems. Even if they back down now, there's a chance that some equally dire situation will develop in the future, caused by the same divisions in their party. In the end I think they're ready to take us over the edge on this. We need to anticipate that they will, even if we hope they won't.

Maybe the sane crazy-rich types will step in and save everyone from the insane crazy-rich types. Didn't Nader write a book about that scenario?

[TeamPooka]

32. No bluff. they are a treasonous nest of vipers

[Xyzse]

33. I'd love to say it is a bluff

But I do not underestimate the power of stupid.
I think they will run out of time and run us over any way with their indecision.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. bluffing requires a conscious strategy. Moreso, it requires one to be conscious, period.

I think the GOP right now is acting sort of like a fungus, or some kind of sea cucumber or jellyfish. It moves and responds to stimuli, and shit, but it definitely doesn't think about what it's doing.

[ecstatic]

35. How can they claim to not want their "grandkids" to be in debt

but yet they're willing to go into default? How exactly does that help their grandkids?! It's like they've completely missed the point of what fiscal responsibility entails. Teabaggers are the dumbest people on Earth, certainly not fit for public office!!

[texanwitch]

36. They are so stupid.

They have no common sense.

[Walter-White]

37. If the US Defaults the GOP is over.

If the US falls of the cliff the GOP will lose badly in 2014 and beyond. Their Pride and their Ego will be their downfall. If the GOP fails badly and Dems have super majority then Obama can finally set out to do what he wanted. Change that we call could believe in.

[Locut0s]

39. Depends on how things are spun if you ask me...

If the US goes over the cliff I know the rethugs will try to spin it as Obama's fault. And I'm too cynical to think that the media won't jump on that band wagon. Look at the job they did swift boating Kerry. Still even if the GOP is over as a result let's hope it's not also a semi fatal blow to the US economy, not sure much can be done if the global economy truly goes down the shiter.

BTW isn't this Obama's last term? You speak as if he could be elected again

[AngryOldDem]

41. All this already is Obama's fault. Just ask Boehner, et.al.

That meme's been spinning like a top since last Tuesday.

And we have no idea how things could play out if the debt ceiling goes...as Lew said, this is totally uncharted territory. I think a few in the GOP get it, but unfortunately, they can't buck the Tea Party crazies, who know about as much about economics as my cat.

People in Congress need to grow a pair and tell the Tea Party to fuck off before they do real, long-lasting damage to a lot of people -- namely, their constituents.

[B Calm]

42. They preach Personal Responsibility, but won't admit they shut down the government.

[AngryOldDem]

44. And then they yell at the people who are enforcing the shutdown...

Did you see the video of the Teabagger representative telling off the park service ranger at the WWII monument?

And the Teabagger who says SHE needs HER paycheck?

Hypocrites.

[B Calm]

45. I saw that video! Hilarious, the hypocrisy of these ass clowns!

[AngryOldDem]

40. I do think they're serious because they see it as making some kind of "statement."

Fact is, though, they have NO clue as to what they're messing with. They're playing with some serious fire here.

[Recursion]

43. Bluffing or not bluffing implies a plan

I think they're just kind of flailing at this point.

[B Calm]

46. They think by destroying the economy it will make Obama look bad,

so yes they are crazy enough to do it!

[Adrahil]

47. These guys have totally lost their minds....

... they will absolutely do it.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

48. Other...

They know Obama will invoke the "Constitutional Option" and make their threats moot.