Sorry for the short diary, but this remark from Grover Norquist illustrates that this unelected individual has been ceded far too much power by the republicans over budget discussions.
Following the president's press conference, in which he discussed the republicans' failure to accept a plan to raise the debt ceiling, CNN went to one of their favorite conservatives, Grover Norquist.
Grover Norquist criticized the president for not starting this process sooner, saying he could have started working in earnest on this problem 7 months ago.
He then added that the president knew any deal to raise the debt ceiling could not include additional revenues through tax increases and had to have enough spending cuts to balance the amount by which the bill would increase the debt ceiling.
"That's been the rule from the beginning, and he's known that..." said Norquist.
And that is a direct quote.
It is not enough that Norquist demands that republicans sign his "no tax increase pledge" with a threat of retaliation should they refuse or break the pledge.
Now, Norquist explains to CNN how he is the one who sets the rules for these discussions and implies that the president knows this. How dare the president consider any plan that doesn't abide by Norquist's rules?
Since when did the Constitution appoint this unelected leader of a partisan "think" tank (not like real thinking goes on there) as the president's overseer?
Grover Norquist may rule the republicans with their craven consent, but he does not rule the president, and I hope a deal emerges that rubs that fact in his weaselly face. (No offense to weasels, who are actually somewhat cute, which cannot be said about Norquist.)