GOP leaders get their just deserts: How the debt limit fight blew up in their faces

[DonViejo]

Republicans praised Mitch McConnell for taking one for the team -- but he brought this on himself

BRIAN BEUTLER

Nobody expected Senate Republicans would kill a House-passed bill to unconditionally extend the debt limit through 2014 and, as predicted, it overcame a filibuster Wednesday evening with weeks to spare before the deadline.

But for a brief moment, Senate Republicans were overcome by a collective action problem. As a group, they surely didn’t want to vote the debt limit increase down and own the ensuing market panic. But as individuals, none of them wanted their names associated with its passage.

Paul Kane @pkcapitol
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Thune: "I'm guessing not" on getting 60 votes.
2:09 PM - 12 Feb 2014

For what seemed like an eternity (but was actually only about 30 minutes) the bill wobbled in limbo on the Senate floor with 58 votes — 55 from Dems, three from Republicans — two shy of the 60 required to break a filibuster and no GOP volunteers forthcoming.

It was at this point that Republican operatives across Washington began cursing Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for having made a big show of erecting the 60-vote hurdle in the first place. Without a filibuster, Democrats could’ve carried it by themselves. With a filibuster, at least five Republicans had to walk the plank. And they weren’t going to do that without cover from GOP leaders, the two highest ranking of which are both in cycle this year.

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http://www.salon.com/2014/02/13/gop_leaders_get_their_just_desserts_how_the_debt_limit_fight_blew_up_in_their_faces/

[BlueStreak]

1. Interesting, but I think it is too short-sighted

The article makes it sound as if there is some change of heart in the GOP. Nothing of the kind is happening. They simply calculated: a) they weren't going to get much by taking hostages, and b) that could cost them dearly in the elections that are now only 7 mohtns away.

They still believe in taking hostages. But their plan is to do it next year after they have retained control on the House and taken control of the Senate.

The Dems in the House should have voted "Present" to force the GOP to own this.