What is the current GOP goal in terms of striking a debt ceiling by August 2nd?

After watching democrats literally surrender their beliefs they stand on to reach a comprimise, and the GOP still un-willing to reach an agreement, I am beginning to think an agreement was never intended upon from the beginning from the GOP. Thoughts?

SypherAL said:

After watching democrats literally surrender their beliefs they stand on to reach a comprimise, and the GOP still un-willing to reach an agreement, I am beginning to think an agreement was never intended upon from the beginning from the GOP. Thoughts?

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I think Obama and the media have done a really good job of convincing the libs that republicans haven't compromised. They didn't touch Medicaid in most of their plans, they agreed to increased revenues through taxes and revising loopholes, the house even voted to end some subsidies earlier in the summer, but the senate refused to vote on it (or voted it down, can't remember). Practically, any spending plan we create must decrease spending significantly.

We can increase revenue all day, but right now we're borrowing almost half of what we spend, and raising taxes won't fix that by themselves.

The dems hadn't drafted a single plan until Harry Reid presented something to Obama (and rumor has it, Obama said no to it because it didn't include tax increases). The plan Obama and Boehner were working on Friday? That plan was given the big ol' ax by Harry Reid, which is why Obama added the extra tax revenue and why Boehner walked away. Now they're proposing their own plan with no tax increases? Weird, isn't it?

Now, if we want to discuss holding the country hostage...I agree that the republicans are using the debt ceiling as leverage and, in that sense, people who call them out are correct. But let's be honest here...would we be having a discussion about spending cuts and fixing our overspending/debt problems if somebody hadn't taken advantage of the debt ceiling needs?? And if the democrats had been the ones who stepped up and used the debt ceiling in such a manner would we be having a discussion about how evil they are for putting the country in this situation? Or would you be screaming at the republicans for sitting around and refusing to put forth any plans of their own?

I fully realize neither party gives half a crap about the rest of the country, and I know that the intentions of both parties in this debate are less than pure. But curbing our borrowing rate by decreasing spending is a good thing and I'll cheer for every member of the house and senate as well as the President when they present a deal that makes legitimate cuts. I really don't care which party gets the credit for this, because it's good for the country either way.

Didnt the republicans even admit that their plan is to paint Obama as a failure? Hell, "our goal is to make Obama a one term president"....

I don't think they really HAVE a plan. There are various factions within the GOP, who generally fall into one of two groups:

Spending Cuts, WITHOUT Tax Increases
They Dont Want A Deal, They are OK With A Default

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The grown-ups in the room (e.g. Boehner, McConnell) generally want to do the right thing and raise the debt ceiling, but they're trying to use it to get as much leverage as possible on the policy side. I think they're more worried about tax increases than they are about tax loopholes; that's why the GOP establishment now seems to view any attempt to reduce tax expenditures as a "tax hike" unless it's made revenue-neutral by cutting the marginal rates (as if deficit reduction wasn't the whole point of having that discussion now).

I think that many of the others (Cantor, Ryan, most of the Tea Party) literally do not care if we default on our debt. Some of them have said that it wouldn't be that bad, and I don't think there are any circumstances where they'd vote to raise the debt ceiling. I'd like to point out that the House's "cut, cap, and balance" bill did NOT attempt to raise the debt ceiling.

Once again the GOP are making asses of themselves. Im starting to feel they really DONT give a crap about anything except THEIR power.

It's all about the election at this point, on both sides. It's the biggest reason Obama wants a long term deal now -- he doesn't want to have to be doing this when he should be out campaigning.

The Republicans want to be able to run against Obama's "failed leadership," and the bonus to the short term raise is exactly as I said above -- force Obama to stay in Washington instead of campaigning next year.

rocket88 said:

It's all about the election at this point, on both sides. It's the biggest reason Obama wants a long term deal now -- he doesn't want to have to be doing this when he should be out campaigning.

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It is about the election, but that doesn't mean it's strictly political. It's very pragmatic to recognize that no one is going to be in more of a mood to compromise as the election draws closer. If we have to have this debate again next spring, the grandstanding will be even worse than it is now and we'll be more likely to default.

The republican goal is the same now as it has been for years, to make Obama look bad. It all starts and stops there.

Their goal is to take as m uch as they can from the working class and give it to the rich

The Repubs are willing to sacrifice what remains of the economy to make Obama look bad for re-election. They fight elimination of the Bush tax cuts which did not produce one net new job in Bush's entire 8 years of laying the groundwork for the "Great Bush Depression" that will continue for the next ten years or more. The morons claim that it is stifling the very people that create the jobs. Well, the "Great Bush Depression" speaks to that clearly. On the other hand, Obama hasn't created any initiatives that will create new jobs, industries or invention. A circlejerk centered in the central septic of DC. Ain't we lucky?

DaveFagan said:

The Repubs are willing to sacrifice what remains of the economy to make Obama look bad for re-election. They fight elimination of the Bush tax cuts which did not produce one net new job in Bush's entire 8 years of laying the groundwork for the "Great Bush Depression" that will continue for the next ten years or more. The morons claim that it is stifling the very people that create the jobs. Well, the "Great Bush Depression" speaks to that clearly. On the other hand, Obama hasn't created any initiatives that will create new jobs, industries or invention. A circlejerk centered in the central septic of DC. Ain't we lucky?

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Dont forget to add to enhance the wealth of the rich and corps at the expense of the working class

I agree obama is not doing a whole lot for the job sector, but im sure thats really tough to do when ewpublican, I mean tea party... Excuse me, controlled houses only goal is to paint you as a failure. The president deserves better then that, but I guess america deserves what they voted for, a extreme conservative group whos sole purpode is to destroy all aspects of government. The GOP cant even agree with themselves, let alone actually govern, and put impossible ideology aside. The republican party will destroy itself and its public appeal this next few days, and obama will envoke the 14th ammendment and save the day. Obama is very smart, I feel this may have been his goal from day 1.