Democrats haven't finished caving to Republicans on the deficit busting tax cut bill, but Mitch McConnell has already brought out his next hostage, bound and blindfolded with a gun to its head. According to Talking Points Memo They're going to shut down the government before Christmas unless the ransom is paid. See how it works after the fold.
As it now stands, the government runs out of money Dec.18. The omnibus spending bill, which would fund the government for another year, was presented yesterday by Sen. Daniel Inouye. Republicans are rejecting it because it contains earmarks even though many of the earmarks were requested by Republicans. They are also balking at a continuing resolution that would fund the government at its current levels through next year. They want a short term fix so that they can pass the Draconian budget of their choice early next year.
The Teabag Republicans are on a roll and they know it. As long as the know Democrats will fold "for the sake of the hostages", they will continue to play this game. Is there any chance our side will grow a collective spine and stand up to these schoolyard bullies? I would like to think so, but my hope is waning. Stop me if you've heard this one before:
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who led the GOP's anti-earmark crusade, will use the rules of Senate procedure to force the 2000-page omnibus to be read allowed on the Senate floor -- a tactic which could eat up enough time to force the Democrats' hand.
Some Republican appropriators and others are expected to support the legislation. But vulnerable, and anti-earmark, Democrats are expected to defect, and it's unclear whether the legislation -- which was once expected to pass handily -- can muster the 60 votes it will need to overcome a filibuster