By now everyone should understand that the GOP fury over Obamacare is a head fake, and their real goal is more budget cuts. Everyone and their brothers, including the Repugs in the house and senate, knows that it is next to impossible to defund Obamacare.
Form todays Washington Post Wonkblog
Democrats believe Boehner is going to come to them in a few weeks and say that as much as he agrees the debt ceiling simply has to be raised there's no way he can raise it without concessions given the promises he's made in public and to his members.
below the fold:
Remember in 2011 when the Rebugs were demanding a balanced budget deal? At the last minute, to avoid a default, they dropped the balanced budget and got "98% of what they wanted" when the Dems had nothing to negotiate with and caved like a house of straw. This is almost an exact replay of 2011. The players are the same, the Dems are making the same mistake, and the only thing that is different is that this time the Repugs are making a fuss over Obamacare instead of a balanced budget Amendment.
Where is the Dem counter offer?! Once again, all the Dems are negotiating with is "don't defund Obamacare". When the Repugs come back and give the Dems exactly what they're asking for, and then demand more deficit reduction, which the public foolishly supports, it will be the Dems who will get the blame for going over the cliff. Remember, the public hasn't seen any negative effects from the 2011 GOP sequester victory.
Instead of demanding a jobs creating infrastructure program, or a tax increase on the rich to reduce the deficit, or an increase in the minimum wage... the Dems have nothing to bargain with when the Repugs pull the bait and switch.
Millions of people are getting hurt by the GOP sequester victory. Many government employees are being hurt directly, and the drag on the economy is hurting many others indirectly. Long term economic growth from investments in science, healthcare, education... is being crushed by these insane cuts while additional cuts will empower the Oligarchs even more.
Hit the phones! Call your Senators and House members and tell them to get something on the table so they can fight the GOP bait and switch plan. We're tired of losing economic fight after economic fight and watching our economy deteriorate as the Dems cave again to hostage takers because they're the worst negotiators on the planet.
We are having this fight today, because the Dems appeased the hostage takers in 2011. Let's not fall into this trap again, let your representatives know that we won't watch the great society be torn apart piece by piece.