Cantor opposes Senate deal

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

After a two-hour meeting in which House Republicans debated the “fiscal cliff” deal passed by the Senate, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) emerged and told reporters that he opposes the Senate’s deal, likely killing chances for a fast House passage of the bill without changes.

Members said no decisions have been made about how to proceed. They were told leaders would discuss the input of rank-and-file members and gather the group again later Tuesday to discuss a plan to move forward.

They said Cantor and House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) mostly listened to members, who expressed grave doubts about the deal because it would raise taxes without cutting spending.

Cantor spokesman Brendan Buck said in a statement: “The Speaker and Leader laid out options to the members and listened to feedback. The lack of spending cuts in the Senate bill was a universal concern amongst members in today’s meeting. Conversations with members will continue throughout the afternoon on the path forward.”


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/01/cantor-opposes-senate-deal/

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Cantor makes his move for the Speakership! Notice that Boehner hasn't announced whether he will bring the bill to a vote, which means that Cantor is already undercutting Boehner.

Boehner = Weakest Speaker in History. He definitely is no Sam Wayburn.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Theater. If it actually results in no deal, I will be surprised.

[pampango]

29. Could be. Politicians often make statements to support or oppose policies simply as a negotiating

tactic. Obama does this as well as anyone. At times he makes statements of support or opposition to particular policies that are intended as a negotiating tactic rather than a statement of his real goals and beliefs.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Yep, Cantor is making his move

What a scumbag. (And it's Sam Rayburn.)

[mckara]

10. Unless It's Elmer Fudd Speaking...

That wascally wabbit!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. He's got a knife ready for Boehner's back.

[TomCADem]

13. More Word That Cantor and Ryan Are About To Oust Boehner

We knew it was going to happen. The contenders for the Speaker position are now making their move. Of course, they are doing this at the expense of the American public.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/01/us-fiscal-cliff_n_2393102.html

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) told the National Review's Robert Costa that there are "real divisions" between Boehner and Cantor, and that Cantor was vociferous in his opposition, with the upcoming leadership elections hanging over the meeting. He said that conservatives were heartened to see Cantor take on Boehner in front of the entire conference.

[FarCenter]

22. Ryan is not in the current leadership

Running for VP probably did not do his prospects any good.

Kevin McCarthy, Jeb Hensarling, and Tom Price are Whip, Conference Chairman, and Policy Committee Chairman respectively. If Cantor deposes Boehner, they move up or be deposed themselves, depending on allegiences.

[bemildred]

3. Priceless. nt

[lunatica]

4. Of course he does.

He's totally predictable.

[PoliticAverse]

5. So how much cutting in the Defense budget did the unhappy members want to see ? n/t

[harun]

6. Kabuki Theatre

[TomCADem]

9. Well, Kudos To Boehner For Volunteering To Look Like An Idiot?

If this is Kabuki theater, then they should give Boehner a medal for volunteering to look like a complete idiot. The Plan B fiasco was a particularly humiliating bit of theater.

My take is that suggesting that this is all Kabuki theater, and that Republicans are scripting all these moves, gives them way too much credit. Worse, it elevates Boehner into some selfless master mind who is willing to trash his historical standing for the sake of his RW principles.

[harun]

33. The theater has to do with debt, spending and a slow economy.

This theater is to distract from what really needs to be done. Having the debate about 250,000 vs. 450,000 means the rich already win and the middle class loses.

More Disaster Capitalism. Remember raising the debt ceiling has been around for years, only now is it used for this "fiscal cliff" media show.

B*sh used various "emergencies" to get Congress to do things as is Obama. Problem is neither of them are getting Congress to do anything for the people. Everything they do is for Corporate profits. Not the betterment of the citizens.

[TomCADem]

34. I Just Never Though Of Boehner As A Selfless Sort...

...who is purposely making himself look like an idiot in charge of an insane asylum in order to distract from what really needs to be done. It makes me see Boehner in an entirely new light. Rather than looking like a fool with Plan B and then having Cantor force him to almost renege on his promise to bring the Senate Bill to a vote, Boehner is actually a selfless practitioner of Disaster Capitalism who is sacrificing his personal reputation and historical standing in order to keep the American people distracted,

I totally disagree with what Boehner stands for, but your comments suggest a measure of self-sacrifice on Boehner's part that I did not think he was capable of.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. .

[judesedit]

8. Let's go over the cliff, people. Tax rates will go back to Clinton era rates for those over $250,000

bringing in more revenue faster. Ours will go up a little also, but it's worth it. The wealthy get all of the perks in this country. Let them pay. We pay for expensive true entitlements for these Congress people. Healthcare, retirement, travel, dinners, gym are at our expense. We get shafted. Social security is a benefit we paid into our whole lives. It is NOT an entitlement. I say JUMP!

[jeff47]

17. Well, if that was all that changed, you'd have a good idea.

But taxes also go up on we people making much less than $250k. And the loss of several tax credits will be devastating to the working poor - we've been using tax credits over the last couple decades to cover for not raising the minimum wage.

So to slightly inconvenience those making over $250k, you are hurting the middle class and shafting the poor. Good plan.

[NickB79]

32. You're forgetting about everyone on extended unemployment

Without a deal, millions of Americans who are surviving on unemployment checks will see them cut. IMMEDIATELY.

It would devastate the poor and middle class in this country.

The rich can survive with Clinton-era tax rates. The poor can't survive without food or shelter that unemployment checks provide.

[Panasonic]

12. Fine. Let's watch the Republicans crumble away

when angry constitutents declare Republicans biggest assholes in the history of America, and vote them out for good, in 2014.

And lawsuits should be flying against states who have hopelessly gerrymandered to favor Republicans for the next three elections.

[DonCoquixote]

27. I wouldlove to believe you

But when peoplelose their unemplyment benefits, they will NOT blame the GOP, they will blame Obama, and liberals. Yes, the GOP was learned that they can take the poor hostage, because many of those poor are the same idiots that vote republican.

[colbertforpresident]

14. Spending cuts are needed, too!

Cut defense spending along with salaries and benefits of our elected leaders!

[red dog 1]

15. Cantor said he "could not support the legislation in it's current form"...

...which means the GOP House will amend the bill and send it back to the Senate, which means, no bill before the new Congress convenes, which means, fiscal cliff.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/house-takes-on-fiscal-cliff.html

[TomCADem]

18. Which, of Course, Undercuts McConnell

Now, McConnell has to try to defend a House Bill over a Senate Bill that almost had unanimous passage and that he had personally crafted, because House Republicans are saying that he was not conservative enough.

[Volaris]

28. didn't there used to be a saying about being a US Senator...

something about the "enemy" NOT being a member of the opposing Party, but in fact being the House of Representatives? lol, well, McConnell I guess is figuring that out tonight. Next thing you know, he will be on board with Fillibuster Reform hahaha.

[gadjitfreek]

16. This little worm...

...I've detested this piece of refuse from the moment he got some serious power...now he's going for the jugular. As he bleeds Boehner dry he will have no problem doing the same to the rest of the country. This smarmy, mealy-mouthed scum-sucker...every time I see him speak black clouds of unspeakable gratuitous hatred coalesce inside my head. He is everything that is wrong about this country.

[mimi85]

23. Totally agree

he literally makes my skin crawl just to look at him.

[graywarrior]

25. He's a Dementor

He sucks the joy out of life and I wish him nothing but the most tragic.

[QED]

30. My thoughts exactly.

Smarmy is the best word to describe Cantor.

[Skittles]

36. CORRECT

[buzzroller]

19. Who gains leverage

if the House kills this bill?
Cantor must think he does personally. But the Democrats may gain leverage in the overall fiscal cliff/debt limit/ sequester war. I don't know, but the spectacle may allow many members of the public to get to know the Republicans enough to never vote for them again.

[high density]

20. Let's cut some defense spending

All the GOP wants to cut is Social Security and Medicare, so no I don't see how that's going to work. We can just go off the cliff, get spending cuts and tax increases all at once.

[DallasNE]

21. This Is The 2nd Time Cantor Has Been The First To Speak

So I concur that Cantor is the defacto Speaker right now. But then I have been predicting that Boehner would not still be in Congress for the 2014 elections.

[Judi Lynn]

24. Conservative House GOPers lining up to oppose fiscal cliff deal

Conservative House GOPers lining up to oppose fiscal cliff deal
By Jonathan Terbush
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 17:49 EST

Conservative members of the House of Representatives signaled Tuesday that they would oppose the last-ditch fiscal cliff deal the Senate passed in the morning’s wee hours by an 89-8 vote.

During a closed-door caucus mere hours after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced that he would not support the bill. As the number two Republican in the House, his opposition presented a clear sign that the deal, if it does end up going through, will not do so smoothly.

Other Republicans, though they remained vague on how they’d vote since negotiations are ongoing, joined Cantor in expressing displeasure with the deal. Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) joked to reporters that Republican Senators, “must have been drunk,” when they voted for the bill.

Generally, Republicans opposition to the deal comes from the fact that it does not contain any net spending cuts, something they had maintained was a necessity in any fiscal cliff deal. Party members were reportedly considering whether to bring the bill to an immediate vote or to first amend it by adding some spending cuts.

More:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/01/conservative-house-gopers-lining-up-to-oppose-fiscal-cliff-deal/

[Kennah]

26. Hit the gas, Thelma. Let's make this motherfucker fly!

[elleng]

31. Surprise Surprise

http://www.powellforva.com/

[Turbineguy]

35. Cantor smells Boehner's seat.

He can oust Boehner and fuck America at the same time. A win-win!