"Republicans can't even explain..." embeds a false premise - 'Republicans' are not monolithic; they are leaderless and divided. That suggests a possible dynamic behind the 'headless chicken' display we've seen during the debt ceiling drama.
Hypothetically, imagine three Rep factions, each with a specific spending cut plan. If Faction A introduces their plan it will be attacked by all Democrats and 2/3 of the 'Cut Spending' Reps. NOT a clear path to victory!
Each faction faces the same 'Don't Go First" problem. So each faction has an incentive to play dumb (not at all a stretch) and approach the "What's Your Plan" debate with the belief that as the deadline approaches the other sides will be more inclined to see reason and compromise.
Well. I only suggest a model based on rational behavior because the alternative - these really ARE headless chickens at work - suggests just about anything and everything is possible. Hard to turn that into predictions.
Oh, premium bonds - GREAT idea. Legal as hell and boring as dirt, so it lacks the "Expose The Fraud! Burn It All Down!" appeal that *some* of the Mint The Coin crowd seem to savor.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
Hello, fellow "Something Went Wrong" sufferer. I posted the same comment five times before giving up. Found out all five showed up, despite the "Something Went Wrong" message.
Deleted four of them. "Something went wrong" with each delete, but they're gone...
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
I would appreciate it if you didn't use the word _cuck_, as in "cuck move". I recognize other people use it, but it's crude and I wish you wouldn't join in.
Isn’t it way more politically feasible for republicans to try to cut a bunch of administrative stuff like the epa, education, energy (remember rick Perry’s 5 departments?) why the focus on entitlements?
The Chicago model is interesting. I'm glad people are looking at options, the Executive is justified constitutionally and otherwise doing whatever is needed to keep the country solvent.
Both the coin and high coupon bonds have the advantage of being legal as a matter of the plain text of the law (citing the 14th amendment as basis to exceed the debt limit is another option, it requires breaking one law to honor others).
The coin is simple to explain, what is the advantage of high coupon bonds?
I am going to give Matt Gaetz and That Crazy Woman From Georgia more diabolical credit than they likely deserve: I think they are aiming for default.
It would be their Hail Mary shot. The economy seems to be improving under Biden, American society re-normalizing, the world rallying behind the Western order. A stable, prosperous, just, boring planet Earth has no place for the likes of them.
An economic calamity, on the other hand, one happening during a Democrat president, caused by them or not, gives them hope of advancement amid chaos. Chaos is a ladder, as Littlefinger would say; you only need climb.
Keep in mind, of course, like all villain Hail Mary plans, it is a stupid plan that likely will not work. A default caused by a crazy, fractious Republican House will likely be blamed on said Republican House. It would also likely end the Republican party as we know it, no matter how ruthless Trump is or cunningly conniving DeSantis is.
But that doesn't mean a couple of stupid, vain politicians elected by stupid, vain local (gerrymandered) majorities don't want to try it. We'll see if they're able to carry all before them in a few months.
"Republicans are in a state of internal chaos that seems to be preventing them from engaging constructively on the debt ceiling issue"
You saved the real meat for last.
I think this is the reason that this time is different - "Republicans" as a group are simply unable to agree on anything, McCarthy is weak in terms of leadership ability and his tenuous hold on his position, and the majority is slim enough that a handful of Republicans can throw sand in the works.
Why? Simpson-Bowles was the "moderate" approach yet 3-4 Republican Congressmen including Paul Ryan refused to vote for it. Do you really think this time will be different. I'm sorry but this is really a delusional approach that will just waste time. Republicans want no new taxes (or even lower taxes) and don't want to pay for anything --- full stop. Commissions won't change that calculus.
"Republicans can't even explain..." embeds a false premise - 'Republicans' are not monolithic; they are leaderless and divided. That suggests a possible dynamic behind the 'headless chicken' display we've seen during the debt ceiling drama.
Hypothetically, imagine three Rep factions, each with a specific spending cut plan. If Faction A introduces their plan it will be attacked by all Democrats and 2/3 of the 'Cut Spending' Reps. NOT a clear path to victory!
Each faction faces the same 'Don't Go First" problem. So each faction has an incentive to play dumb (not at all a stretch) and approach the "What's Your Plan" debate with the belief that as the deadline approaches the other sides will be more inclined to see reason and compromise.
Well. I only suggest a model based on rational behavior because the alternative - these really ARE headless chickens at work - suggests just about anything and everything is possible. Hard to turn that into predictions.
Oh, premium bonds - GREAT idea. Legal as hell and boring as dirt, so it lacks the "Expose The Fraud! Burn It All Down!" appeal that *some* of the Mint The Coin crowd seem to savor.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
Hello, fellow "Something Went Wrong" sufferer. I posted the same comment five times before giving up. Found out all five showed up, despite the "Something Went Wrong" message.
Deleted four of them. "Something went wrong" with each delete, but they're gone...
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
It’s remarkable that Republicans can’t identify a few things to cut and use them to negotiate for at least a small win. In the vast federal budget there is nothing meaningful to cut? Do they no longer distribute talking points? The ineptitude is astonishing.
They have apparently lost Paul Ryan’s phone number. Sure his Medicaid cuts may be a bad idea but something tells me that guy has a long lists of potential cuts on the ready.
I would appreciate it if you didn't use the word _cuck_, as in "cuck move". I recognize other people use it, but it's crude and I wish you wouldn't join in.
Isn’t it way more politically feasible for republicans to try to cut a bunch of administrative stuff like the epa, education, energy (remember rick Perry’s 5 departments?) why the focus on entitlements?
Are those departments just not enough money?
The Chicago model is interesting. I'm glad people are looking at options, the Executive is justified constitutionally and otherwise doing whatever is needed to keep the country solvent.
Both the coin and high coupon bonds have the advantage of being legal as a matter of the plain text of the law (citing the 14th amendment as basis to exceed the debt limit is another option, it requires breaking one law to honor others).
The coin is simple to explain, what is the advantage of high coupon bonds?
I am going to give Matt Gaetz and That Crazy Woman From Georgia more diabolical credit than they likely deserve: I think they are aiming for default.
It would be their Hail Mary shot. The economy seems to be improving under Biden, American society re-normalizing, the world rallying behind the Western order. A stable, prosperous, just, boring planet Earth has no place for the likes of them.
An economic calamity, on the other hand, one happening during a Democrat president, caused by them or not, gives them hope of advancement amid chaos. Chaos is a ladder, as Littlefinger would say; you only need climb.
Keep in mind, of course, like all villain Hail Mary plans, it is a stupid plan that likely will not work. A default caused by a crazy, fractious Republican House will likely be blamed on said Republican House. It would also likely end the Republican party as we know it, no matter how ruthless Trump is or cunningly conniving DeSantis is.
But that doesn't mean a couple of stupid, vain politicians elected by stupid, vain local (gerrymandered) majorities don't want to try it. We'll see if they're able to carry all before them in a few months.
I am in favor of some kind of VAT to add to our fiscal wheelhouse.
I can see no world in which that is politically possible.
Ugh...ugly flashbacks looking at that mathematical fraud Paul Ryan.
"Republicans are in a state of internal chaos that seems to be preventing them from engaging constructively on the debt ceiling issue"
You saved the real meat for last.
I think this is the reason that this time is different - "Republicans" as a group are simply unable to agree on anything, McCarthy is weak in terms of leadership ability and his tenuous hold on his position, and the majority is slim enough that a handful of Republicans can throw sand in the works.
Why? Simpson-Bowles was the "moderate" approach yet 3-4 Republican Congressmen including Paul Ryan refused to vote for it. Do you really think this time will be different. I'm sorry but this is really a delusional approach that will just waste time. Republicans want no new taxes (or even lower taxes) and don't want to pay for anything --- full stop. Commissions won't change that calculus.