What to make of an allegedly Democratic president who rejects a Mitch McConnell offer of a clean debt ceiling bill (with attendant posturing)? Who instead is determined to pursue deep cuts in social security and other assistance to the elderly, the poor and the needy? Who rushes to embrace some vague effort by a handful of Senators which also promises unspecified deep cuts (while looking to insert themselves for publicity and attention)?
Those watching the inside baseball game rightfully know that counting to 60 is what matters. McConnell isn’t really a Minority Leader anyway. But did Obama even try to work with McConnell to find the few Republican votes to make it work? No. Instead, Obama reverted back to *his* preferred position, which is deep cuts, including the social safety net.
We get little satisfaction observing the Boy King’s most ardent Kool Aiders and apologists in shock. Apparently the Minneapolis NN 11 or whatever it’s branded these days featured some distraught kidz. Some netroots (Netroots? netRoots? – can’t keep up with them) blogs are positively effusive that Obama’s actions are “concerning” (when did that become acceptable grammar?) .
We in turn could say we told you so. Long time. Since 2007. And just did. Doesn’t change the Accommodationist Hell he’s foisted on us all.
The Senate group’s [new] plan, modeled on the recommendations last year of a bipartisan fiscal commission established by Mr. Obama, calls for both deep spending cuts and new revenues through an overhaul of the income-tax code.
But while its sponsorship by staunch conservatives as well as liberals suggested enough flexibility within both parties to get a deal eventually, it would be all but impossible to turn it into detailed legislation — at the moment it is a four-page outline — and pass it in less than two weeks.
Of course, the Boy King’s own actions caused him to grasp at 4 pages of talking points fluttering in the wind. Obama, more than the Movement (Grover, insert whomever here), created this manufactured political crisis. This was inevitable when he granted the Movement’s extension of the extravagant Bush tax cuts earlier this year. Without exacting *anything* meaningful in return.