What if the Dems started asking for concessions?

[DanTex]

As long as Republicans insist that funding the government requires some kind of "negotiation", why don't the Dems put some requests of their own on the table?

What if Harry Reid said he wouldn't raise the debt ceiling or fund the government unless, say, ACA were expanded to include a public option? Plus a financial transactions tax. And universal background checks on gun purchases. We could negotiate from there.

The Democrats are just as capable of destroying the country as the Republicans are. Why do they get to ask for concessions and not us?

[NightWatcher]

1. "please pull your head out of your ass and obey the law" isn't a concession

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I think in this case

They get to ask for concessions because Obamacare is the law of the land and well . . . we are in the bird dog seat.

I honestly do not think a government shut down is going to reflect poorly on the Left (the entire left) at all. Personally - knowing that our elderly aren't going to be eating cat food next week . . . Knowing that -

I'm aok with this. I'm thoroughly enjoying the stubborness being displayed by the full spectrum of Democratic representation right now (with the except of two members of the House).

ACA is non negotiable. .. and if they (the Right) insist on going down this foolish path - well then they are fools.

[HereSince1628]

3. It's sort of a carrot and stick thing...

If you want to club them into submission, then rather than sweetening the deal to bring them over, you are forced to beat the shit out of them.

Considering the volume of crap that would have to be beaten out, I am not sure the Dems have the capacity for that.

[LonePirate]

4. I say add a Medicare for All clause to a repeal of the medical device tax and dare Repubs to vote No

[Blue Meany]

5. It must be really tempting for some of them...

But this is how this is how you make this normal behavior in the culture of Congress. Right now it can be cast as radical and unprecedented and reckless. Part of me would love to have the Senate send it back with an amendment putting a 90% tax on all income over $500,000 until such time as Obamacare is funded and fully implemented. That would at least show the public whose interest they are really pandering to (of course, this would probably never pass the Senate). But the damage done to the ability of the government to govern would be immense if the Dems started doing this too.