Biff_Poindexter
Diamond Member
As the U.S. Hurtles Toward a Debt Crisis, What Does McConnell Want? (Published 2021)
Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, has a long record of tying debt ceiling increases to policy demands. But this time, he has made none.
www.nytimes.com
"Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, said “40 or 45” Republicans would be willing to agree to allow a debt ceiling increase to come to a vote, as long as they did not have to cast a public ballot. The problem, he said, was the other five." Mr. McConnell has said the government must not be allowed to stop paying its debts; he has also said he will not let any Republicans vote to raise the debt limit, while moving to block Democrats from doing so themselves.
Senator Angus King of Maine, a moderate independent, sounded despondent. “There’s no bargaining. They’re just stamping their feet and saying no.” He added, “It’s a qualitatively new level of irresponsibility.” Senator Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii, said: “I have learned over many years that we cannot negotiate over things like whether or not to destroy the economy,” Mr. Schatz said, adding, “American politics has gone crazy because one party has gone crazy.”
Even tho the debt ceiling is a meaningless Senate rule put in place to appease isolationists who didn't want to get involved in WW1; it has been used as a political football by MAINLY republicans for decades.....and even tho Republicans are voting against paying for spending they already previously voted for -- the fact that so many in their base has no idea what the debt ceiling really is makes this a brilliant move by Mitch McConnell..Not only is the GOP willing to not vote to raise the debt ceiling, not only is the GOP demanding that the Democrats raise it by themselves -- even when the Democrats attempt to raise the debt on their own; the GOP filibusters to block them from doing it....brilliant!
And for Roy Blunt to admit that the majority of Republicans will vote to raise the debt ceiling; the fact that they will only do it if it is by secret ballot only further solidifies the cowardice and pathetic lunacy of GOP governing. This is why all they have left to offer their base is trolling and manufacturing goofy fake outrage.