The Tea Party’s last stand?

[babylonsister]

The Tea Party’s last stand?

Posted by Greg Sargent on January 14, 2013 at 3:35 pm


So the big story of the day is that House Tea Partyers are vowing up and down that they may be willing to allow the country to default on its obligations to prove to Obama how serious they are about cutting spending.

Today, at his presser, Obama reiterated that there will be no negotiating over the debt ceiling — no concessions will be granted in exchange for the debt ceiling hike, period, full stop. And he explicitly said that “Congressional Republicans” will bear responsibility when Social Security checks, veterans benefits, and paychecks to food inspectors and air traffic controllers stop going out, and if and when the markets go haywire.

This signals a tough line ahead. Though the key question will be whether it holds, current indications are that it will. Jonathan Chait is encouraged, and sees a day of reckoning of sorts looming for the Tea Party:

Many of us have questioned whether Obama will actually follow through on his stated intention. In these games of chicken, he always seems ready to swerve at the last moment. What’s different here is that Obama seems so determined and explicit not to pay a ransom that he is leaving himself no room to backslide. If he pays the ransom, he’ll leave himself humiliated and exposed in a way he never has.

So the two years Obama and Boehner have spent trying to deflect, delay, and placate the mania of the tea party seem to have finally come to an end point.

What we’re seeing here is the latest sign that House Tea Partyers are simply not going to be playing any constructive or meaningful role over how to move the country forward and place it on a sounder economic and fiscal footing. Indeed, the Tea Party Express released a statement in response to Obama’s presser that is stunningly out of touch with reality:

Polls are showing convincingly that Americans want real spending reform that includes thoughtful budget cuts and pro-growth policies. [...] We would be happy to trade spending cuts with debt ceiling increases if the President were prepared to seriously address the excessive spending he has always promoted.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/01/14/the-tea-partys-last-stand/

[southernyankeebelle]

1. I called my congressman's office today and told them to stop playing these games and

better raise the ceiling. I also told him that the whole TN delegations look like a bunch of out of touch fools.

[Laurian]

2. Could you call the Georgia delegation and give them

the same message? I just can't make myself beat my head against that brick wall. You're a good citizen southernyankeebelle.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. I know I am hitting the same wall but I just can't take it and it builds up inside. I am

respectfull when I call but I still tell it like it is. These baggers have their heads up their ass and they need to come out and smell the roses. They think all their citizens agree with them. Heck I even told him to tell that sorry woman Blackburn to leave Planned Parenthood alone. I know that when we complain it represents at least 2,000 people. I call you can do it. It will get it off your chest even though it may not solve anything.

[samsingh]

4. tea party is heading towards a cliff and wants to take the country with them

let them go alone

mint the trillion dollar coin