|
Boehner is playing politics. The republicans said their number one goal is to make Obama a one term president.When asked if that was still their main goal the other Mitch McConnell said it was. So far being the party of No has worked for them so they are riding it out. Boehner wants a short term debt ceiling lift so that we can have this debate again in 2012 during the election so they can paint Obama as the pro-tax raises guy.
There was a great article about how Boehner is playing with fire. If things backfire on them it could cost the republicans badly in 2012.
The republicans have no real interest in lowering spending. They never do. They always spend just as much if not more than the democrats. Here is the reality:
Ronald Reagan raised the debt ceiling 17 times
George Bush raised the debt ceiling 5 times
Bill Clinton raised the debt ceiling 4 times
George W Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times
This means out of the last 33 raises of the debt ceiling 29 of them have been by republicans. If they wanted to cut spending they have had plenty of chances and clearly have not.
On that note the democrats haven't shown any interest in cutting spending either, but at least in their defense they don't run on a platform of spending cuts.
|