What Is The Future For Republicans?

Once again, The Onion nails it.

Members of the U.S. Congress reported Wednesday they were continuing to carefully debate the issue of whether or not they should allow the country to descend into a roiling economic meltdown of historically dire proportions. “It is a question that, I think, is worthy of serious consideration: Should we take steps to avoid a crippling, decades-long depression that would lead to disastrous consequences on a worldwide scale? Or should we not do that?” asked House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), adding that arguments could be made for both sides, and that the debate over ensuring America’s financial solvency versus allowing the nation to default on its debt—which would torpedo stock markets, cause mortgage and interests rates to skyrocket, and decimate the value of the U.S. dollar—is “certainly a conversation worth having.”

I really have no idea what’s going to happen with the debt ceiling. I figure they will work something out (14th amendment remedy) to prevent a catastrophic self-inflicted debt default. Republicans probably thought they could win this fight because they’ve won a lot of others by screaming about debt and deficit. They rely on the media to do its one side says this the other side says that reporting and figure the guy in charge will take the hit. (Hey, it worked in 2010). There is increasing evidence that the debt ceiling fake crisis may be the straw breaking the camel’s back.

How did the GOP get to this point?

A Senate Republican leadership aide emails with subject line “Gang of Six”: “Background guidance: The President killed any chance of its success by 1) Embracing it. 2) Hailing the fact that it increases taxes. 3) Saying it mirrors his own plan.”

What’s the ideology here? If Obama likes it, I’m against it?

The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner. They can’t say yes. Every time they’ve tried to come down off the cliff (the McConnell plan, the Gang of Six plan) the Tea Party pushes them right back onto it. Even Republicans are tired of Congressional Republicans. A new poll says that 77% of voters don’t think Republicans are compromising enough. That includes 58% of Republican voters. Even rich Republican backers are begging Cantor to take a deal, according to Politico.

A few wealthy donors have called Cantor to tell him they wouldn’t mind if their taxes are raised. During two closed meetings this week — one with vote-counting lawmakers, and another with the entire conference — Cantor told colleagues that some well-heeled givers have told them they’re willing to pay more taxes.

The hardline GOP is increasingly out-of-step with the country, independents, their donors and their own voters. I suppose Grover Norquist is happy, though. I’m not sure what happens now. There’s some very powerful groups that are hoping for default. The Club for Growth is passing around a letter in opposition to the McConnell plan and supposedly have signatures from 80 House Republicans in opposition.

It appears we’ll have at least another weekend of this drama. I don’t need to remind you that it’s completely unecessary. There doesn’t need to be any kind of budget deal to pass an increase the debt ceiling. Just a simple vote.