House Republican, Scott Garrett explains what his colleagues need to get if they’re not going to force a credit default. “They may try to throw the kitchen sink at the debt limit, but I don’t think our conference will be amenable for settling for a collection of things after we’ve fought so hard. If it doesn’t have a full delay or defund of Obamacare, I know I and many others will not be able to support whatever the leadership proposes. If it’s just a repeal of the medical-device tax, or chained CPI, that won’t be enough.” (emphasis added)
Something big is required because they’ve “fought so hard.”
Scared yet?
I’m a little bit out of my territory here. But I wanted to address one point that comes up repeatedly as sane people consider the prospect of the United States government defaulting on its debt obligations. Is there no escape hatch? No in extremis lever the President can pull to protect the country and the whole global economy from such cataclysmic damage?
Answer: no. Explanation: after the jump.
You’ve seen Charlie Dent and Pete King out railing against the shutdown, blaming it on Republicans, calling for a no-strings-attached bill to reopen the federal government. Surely, they’re willing to sign the discharge petition that could force Speaker Boehner’s hand, right? Well, no.
On the other hand, Sen. Kirk says he’s willing to vote with Democrats to block a filibuster of a similar bill in the Senate.
Jonathan Krohn, who many of you probably remember from his past life as CPAC wunderkind, is now working as a freelance foreign correspondent in Cairo. Here’s his first hand, on-the-ground account of running battles between Muslim Brotherhood and anti-coup activists and government forces yesterday in Cairo. Special to TPM.
So what’s happening? Are we headed to default? Are we just in a round of Kabuki theater where real default isn’t a realistic possibility?
Here’s my take on what’s happening and where we are.
John Boehner’s press secretary, Michael Steel, just sent out a link to this Bloomberg article predicting catastrophic fallout from a US debt default with this message attached: “Folks – This really, really sounds like something Washington Democrats ought to talk to somebody about avoiding. Maybe that’s just me. – steel”
To truly understand the role of the press in enabling the current crisis, you really need to see this exchange …
because Dem base is demanding that govt stay open and Treasury not default? @rickklein
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 7, 2013
Here’s the full story.
TPM Reader AC has a disturbing, thought-provoking suggestion, one based on personal experience …
In a week full of super-heated and violent rhetoric, with talk of metaphorical guns being held to the collective head of the body politic, civil wars and the like, the actions of the House of Representatives have been deemed suicidal with some frequency. Representative Devin Nunes of California likened some of his colleagues to “lemmings with suicide vests.” Charles Krauthammer and The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza have both used the term “suicide caucus” to describe the GOP’s nihilists. White House advisor Dan Pfeiffer likened them to “people with a bomb strapped to their chest.” And so on.
Fresh off killing immigration reform, the RNC announces it’s hired a “Hispanic engagement staff” to improve the party’s outreach to Hispanic voters.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) concedes problems with 2012 voter purge, says next one will be better.