One would think there would be some limit to the Republican strategy of "no." If Obama decided to endorse a bipartisan proposed plan that does the one thing every single American could agree we should do, it would be reducing the deficit, right?
Wrong.
Republicans are opposing a plan to put together a commission of 18 Democrats and Republicans to evaluate different ways to reduce the deficit. The panel would have until December 1 - after the midterm elections - to produce a plan that would then be voted on by Congress.
The Republicans are even opposing this knowing that Nancy Pelosi and Max Baucus are strongly opposing this because it strips some of their influence.
You've got a plan to find a way to reduce government spending, a plan to see that it's passed through Congress, a way to oppose the enemy of all those on the right - Nancy Pelosi - and they're still against it. A plan offered by Kent Conrad (D) and Judd Gregg (R) as a way to get both Republicans and Democrats to work together in good faith to reduce the deficit. Why do they oppose this? Obama is for it, of course. (It's also quite obvious "good faith" isn't in any of their character, either).
They'll say that it's because this is just an underhanded Democrat scheme to raise taxes, even though they'll have representatives on the panel. As of now, however, they're threatening that they won't even talk about deficit reduction with the President. They will refuse to sit on the panel.
Republican Judd Gregg, however, disagrees with those in his party that are trying to block this commission, saying, "Everybody has an excuse for why they don't want to do what has to be done, in the end, are you going to govern or aren't you." They have a real shot of getting this done if they'd stop playing politics for a few hours a week.
It's proof that, yet again, the Republicans don't stand for smaller government. They don't stand for less spending. They stand for nothing other than pandering to a constituency who follows in lock-step with their party, despite it's many internal contradictions. Those folks will hate the deficit reduction plan, too, because they always do as they're told.
@Truthseeker- I see the spending freeze proposal. As I see it, Obama's supporting a freeze on increasing spending for the next three years. McCain/Palin's idea was to freeze all non-military spending.
Truthseeker - Obama has cut taxes for 95% of Americans and where has he supported a spending freeze?
These are just sitting down and talking about ideas, and it's dishonest to try to imply Obama has committed to anything other than opening a dialogue at this time. part of the problem is that Republicans are trying to SCARE you and you are letting them. It's what's wrong with the whole system.
Kel, your last paragraph says it all.
Wait just a minute... Obama promised not to raise taxes on 95% of Americans. What happend to that? Just another broken promise I guess... surprise surprise surprise.
Obama shot down a spending freeze when Palin suggested it during the campaign... now he is for it? Interesting.
So the GOP won't raise taxes, but campaign against Medicare cuts. Hmmmm. And I didn't hear too many Republicans supporting a war tax to cover the trillions dollars we blew in Iraq or the billions we are still spending in Afghanistan. So where does the money come from, except by borrowing it from the Chinese?
Republican Judd Gregg gets it, at least as much as is humanly possible for a Republican. He understands, I think, that we are inevitably facing higher taxes and substantial cuts in entitlement programs. The Commission will no doubt recommend both and I predict its recommendation will go down in flames, opposed by both Democrats and Republicans who simply cannot bring themselves to be honest with the American public.
And they will now openly be bought and paid for by Corporate America and their greedy CEO buddies who'd sooner screw everyone in their companies than miss out on a penny of their end-of-year bonuses.
The American Dream ...
This one I just gotta see!