Election 2014

While I would not agree politically with this assesment, one gets the feeling that if this fiscal cliff or debt ceiling authorization fail, (two seperate issues and votes), that the Republicans are going to get the blame. As I said, I do not think the Republicans are at fault entirely in this, because both sides are paid to govern and govern in a competent manner. The fact that the fiscal cliff even exists is an outrage. If there was something equivilant in our jobs, yours or mine, we would be fired on the spot.

I believe the reason the public would blame the Republicans is the pathetic leadership in Congress. Mitch McConnell is a terrible leader, as he in fact is an establisment career politician and for large government. He opposed the election of Rand Paul. In 2014, which this thread addresses, McConnell has a stiff challange already in the primary, and if he squeaks that out, he has a tight race with whichever Democrat wins their primary. This is the first election his seat is in question.

I actually feel for the other Republican leader, the Speaker. He is the focus of the fiscal cliff. He has to deal with the Tea Party types, the President, and the RINOs. His is a tough job, but feel he is a sincere that wants what is best for our country. It is kind of like being in middle management on a lesser scale, the workers complaining on your one side, and upper management demanding this or that on the other.

 

Disagree with you on this one, SN. I have always said and continue to say, that Speaker Boehner is a RINO. Watch and see how he gives in on the "fiscal cliff" issue. He has always caved, the sequestering was a result of him caving to Obama. He has made threats to the more Conservatives and just yesterday (I think it was, or maybe earlier in the week), removed 2 Conservatives from committees.

Obama continues to win on every point because of Boehner's and McConnell's lack of leadership.

Boehner seems to forget that the House controls the purse. That is a HUGE leverage, but he fails to use that leverage. All it would take is to "defund" much of obama's agenda (including obamacare) and the obama agenda would fold like a house of cards. But failed leadership in the House continues to fund all of the Democratic agenda. It is a sad state, but reportedly there are "rumors" and "murmurs" among some Conservative House Members about removing the Speakership from Boehner. Whether they follow through or not remains to be seen.

As far as the 2014 elections, Dems will win again because by then (if we survive until then as a nation), more people will be on food stamps and unemployment lines and the Dems will continue to blame Republicans which the recipients of tax dollars will buy into to keep their status quo.

 

I do not believe Boehner is a RINO. His problem is, I believe, that he gets little or no support from the Republicans in the Senate, particularly McConnell. I believe there have been a few instances where McConnell has shafted Boehner and the House.

Boehmer is really in a tough position. He not only has the democrats to battle but also the majority of the press in the country. All this must be tempered by his concern for the well being of the country and the Republican Party.

 

Just a few points:

1. If the government goes over the "fiscal cliff," the Democrats will propose a tax cut for 98% of income tax payers. What Republican would dare vote against that. That's what you call over the proverbial barrel.
2. Attempts to use the purse strings to cut off the President's agenda would be a major disaster for the GOP, resulting in a filibuster-proof senate, and a large Democratic house majority. The President just won re-election under circumstances that indicate the other party's ineptness. If you want to guarantee a filibuster proof senate, and a large Democratic house majority, mess with the agenda by the purse strings. Oh, and by the way, the house Republican majority isn't large enough to get the two thirds vote they would need to cut off budget funding, especially not to bills they've already passed.
3. The number of people on food stamps and who are unemployed is declining, not growing. Throwing out extremist phrases like "if the country survives another two years" is part of the reason why the Republicans lost the election.
4. The proposal that is on the table now from the Democrats is keeping current tax rates in place for 100% of the people up to $250,000. That means if you make $2 million, you still get the lower tax for the first $250,000. Spending cuts would be twice the revenue generation. As long as the Republican leadership appears bent on preserving tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, they will lose on this issue. The best way for the Republicans to begin to pull themselves together and recover is to let this go. The plan generates more than 1.5 trillion dollars which must all go to debt relief. Turn off Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck and listen to the one realistic voice among the extremist right wing media, Ann Coulter.
5. The Democrats are already laying the groundwork to use the President's re-election contacts and network in the Congressional election in 2014, something they didn't do in 2010. Unless there are major changes in GOP policy and position, the Democrats will walk away with a filibuster proof Senate, and a twenty seat majority in the house in 2014.