The idea that we’re going to get some sort of ‘grand bargain’ negotiation completed or frankly even started in the next eight weeks sounds basically ridiculous. And as important as ridiculous, simply unnecessary. In the short to medium term, the country’s fiscal gap is shrinking and despite House Republicans adding to the debt load by marginally increasing the costs of borrowing by the Defundo stunt, things are moving in the right direction. But given where we are, both politically and economically, the starting point for any grand bargain discussions needs to be a one for one formula between cuts and new revenue. And that means net new revenue. The earlier discussions were on the basis of zany 10:1 ratios and even then Republican leaders couldn’t actually get their caucuses to agree to any new revenue at all.
A big, sprawling criminal investigation into various aspects of Wisconsin politics yet no one can talk about it. Here’s what’s going on.
Howard Dean: ‘You Gotta Blame’ The GOP For Some Of Obamacare’s Glitches.
Last year Orrin Hatch had to go into full Tea Party-palooza mode to hold on to his seat after his colleague was ousted and replaced by arch-Tea Partier Mike Lee. But now that Lee is hurting at home after becoming Ted Cruz’s self-appointed deputy Defundo monkey, Hatch is singing a different tune.
Boehner and Cantor, through spokespersons, say they can’t recall any member of their caucus telling the President they “I cannot even stand to look at you.”
We find out this morning from Mother Jones that the Tea Party challenger to Sen. Thad Cochran (Pretty Damned Conservative-MS) attended a pro-Confederate, pro-Secessionist event recently. For the Mississippi GOP this isn’t as unusual as it might sound. What got my attention though is that he’s being supported by the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Club for Growth. The former of course is the spawn of now-Heritage Foundation sachem and former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. The picture comes very into focus. Calhounite, neo-Confederate, revanchist.