Debt Ceiling

10 posts

Impeachment for Default? Louie Gohmert Is Half Right and Completely Wrong

On Sunday, Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX) spoke with a reporter for The Young Turks. The reporter asked “Would you allow us to default on our debt?” and Gohmert replied “No, that would be an impeachable offense by the President.”

Gohmert is half right. Unfortunately for him, it’s not the half he thinks is right. Continue reading

Monday Morning Headlines

Those riots in London are still being milked for front page stuff today, according to the BBC. What were they even rioting about? Okay, it seems as though the police have killed someone and a protest over said death got out of hand, that’s why. But I also  think that rioting has become sort of mainstream, it’s kind of just acceptable to riot sometimes now. Everyone’s doing it! It’s an internet sensation like planking except it has horrendously destructive and violent consequences in real life, which is pretty uncool so if you’re going to go crazy and burn something let it be the sweet Mary Jane brothers and sisters, amen. Gather round and get your headlines inside.  Continue reading

US Debt Ceiling Crisis Averted

Despite my most pessimistic, and consequently most trustworthy, instincts telling me that we were going to default, here we are. The House and Senate have both approved legislation that will raise the nation’s debt ceiling and sent it to the President to sign, which he is expected to do.

Let’s look at the deal that has passed Congress, and what’s next. Continue reading

Start Stretching: The Debt Ceiling Crisis Continues

Well, I was hoping we wouldn’t get this far, but here we are.

For those of you that recall my last article on the debt ceiling crisis, I said that my last article would be titled either “Tango Down: US Debt Ceiling Crisis Averted” or “Grab Your Ankles: US Defaults on National Debt”.

Based on my title, I’m sure you can figure out which way I’m leaning on this one.

Since my last article, we’ve watched negotiations between the Vice President and Congress collapse, the President and Congress collapse, and Congress and Congress collapse. What makes that last part worse is that it’s not like it’s failed once. No, it’s worse than that. The House can’t agree with the Senate. House Republicans can’t agree with Senate Republicans. Democrats can’t agree with Republicans. And the House Republicans can’t agree with each other. Continue reading

Boehner’s Debt Ceiling Plan Would Be Worst Thing Evar

I know this ain’t Ezra Klein’s blog, but let’s wonk out for a moment.

Boehner’s debt ceiling plan really, really sucks. According to the president of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Mr. Sobbing Spray Tan’s debt ceiling deal “could well produce the greatest increase in poverty and hardship produced by any law in modern U.S. history.”

In short, the Boehner plan would force policymakers to choose among cutting the incomes and health benefits of ordinary retirees, repealing the guts of health reform and leaving an estimated 34 million more Americans uninsured, and savaging the safety net for the poor. It would do so even as it shielded all tax breaks, including the many lucrative tax breaks for the wealthiest and most powerful individuals and corporations.

Get the deets here.

Tuesday Morning Headlines

I am wearing pads of cottons over my baby blues, so damaged are my eyes from watching John Boehner in High Definition last night. That was my fault. I should not turned to a HD channel. I just didn’t think of it, you know? One minute I was chillin’ on the couch, playing with my new Droid3, the next minute this spectacular glow filled the living room, eclipsing the glow from my Yankee candles, exploding forward, washing over me, filling my brain like the juice of a radioactive orange. I shall heal. Worry you not about me. Continue reading

The Debt Ceiling Crisis from a Conservative Perspective

Photo Courtesy of Star Tribune

I believe in limited government, more power to the states and more responsibility to the individual.  I’m not a heartless conservative who believes that all federal social programs are ridiculous and unnecessary.  We need that safety net, but I may argue that it is woefully inefficient and could use some tightening up.

I read a December 2009 USA article that really illustrates, to me, that our federal government is growing too large. It makes me concerned that our federal government is bloated and full of waste. Continue reading

Hostage Crisis: An Update on the US Debt Ceiling Debate

By popular demand, I’m writing another article on the Debt Ceiling Crisis currently facing the United States as we head into the last few critical weeks before default. Please note the change in title from “Hostage Situation” to “Hostage Crisis”. My next entry, depending on the outcome of current negotiations, be “Tango Down: US Debt Ceiling Crisis Averted” or “Grab Your Ankles: US Defaults on National Debt”.

For those that didn’t read my previous article, here’s a quick summary of the situation. Continue reading

Republicans Will Now Pretend to Talk About Revenues

If you’re like me, you may have seen a headline in your news feed Wednesday evening that read something like “Republicans Agree to Revenue Increases.”

Of course, because I’m an optimist, or, maybe, a dummy, I assumed that to mean that the GOP had finally come to their senses and realized that a large majority of Americans support modest tax increases as part of the package to cut the deficit. Again, though, if you’re like me, and thought this might be the case, you’re clearly a sucker.

Continue reading