mens hairstyles 2011: John Boehner

Today's Debt Ceiling Votes --Some Unanswered Questions

Like most political junkies, I have spent most of this week closely following the debt ceiling debate. With the help with some contacts on the hill I gained a good insight into what happened and why it happened. Despite all the knowledge gained there are still so many questions remaining. Here are just a few, and if anyone has the answers please contact me via email or as a comment and let me know.

Why is the GOP accused of not wanting to negotiate because it insists on no taxes in the debt ceiling plan, but the President is given a free pass for holding on to his demand that there should be taxes?

Why all the hatred against the Tea Party? Bill O' Reilly, when you are done filming the gig on Rizzoli & Isles please answer this question, why are you busting the chops of tea party supported members of congress for keeping their campaign promises? I always thought that keeping campaign promises was a good thing.

Why are the TV talking heads, the POTUS, and the Democratic politicians claiming that we will default should there be no deal by August 2? That is a lie. The US will still be paying its interest after that date, therefore there will be no default.

If this is such a serious issue (and it is) why isn't anyone complaining that the President is planning to spend August 3rd in Illinois raising cash for his re-election campaign?

Why do the Democrats get away with saying that the House was wasting is time passing the Boehner plan because it wouldn't pass in the Senate, but no one says the Senate is wasting its time passing the Reid plan which will never pass the house?

Why is the President allowed to make a speech about bi-partisanship this morning, then go back home and urge his twitter followers to spam the GOP members of congress?

To my friends in the tea party, why the circular firing squad? There is nothing wrong with urging congressional Republicans to stand their ground, but calling for the ouster of John Boehner the other day was probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Well until today when one tea party group Tea Party Founding Fathers said they are going to challenge Allen West. Allen West? What are you guys freaking crazy? He is the essence of an honorable public servant, and may one day be President of the United States. Lets all have some decaff and realize we are all on the same side and we are all working to get the same result.

I will continue to think about these questions, please think about it also.

Boehner Bill Passed, Moody's Says No Change and Boehner's Emotional Speech

Thankfully, the Boehner bill passed (as expected) but by a relatively close margin 218-210 and 7 abstentions .

Most of the debate was the normal political hoo-ha, but Boehner's speech was emotional and hard hitting.

Boehner said in part:

“I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the President of the United States. I stuck my neck out a mile. I put revenues on the table,” Mr. Boehner said, his voice rising.

"I've offered ideas, I've negotiated," Boehner said in closing debate on his bill. "Not one time, not one time did the administration ever put any plan on the table. All they would do is criticize what I put out there.

"I stuck my neck out a mile to try to get an agreement with the President of the United States," Boehner continued to grumbling among Democrats. "Hey, I put revenues on the table i order to try to come to an agreement in order to avert us being where we are. But a lot of people in this town can never say yes."

Boehner closed his remarks by thundering: "This House has acted. And it is time for the administration and time for our colleagues across the aisle… put something on the table! Tell us where you are!" (if you cannot see video below click here)

Good News, Moody's the major ratings service least likely to downgrade US debt announced:

Moody’s Investors Service said today it expects the U.S. will get to keep its Aaa credit rating, “albeit with a shift to a negative outlook,” provided Congress and the White House can work out a deal to avoid missing payments to U.S. bondholders.

Moody’s launched a review of the U.S. credit rating on July 13, as the fight over how to raise the current $14.3 trillion federal borrowing limit was starting to heat up. Moody’s review will finish when the debt limit is extended “for more than a short period of time,” the company said. That line gives some ammunition to Democrats and President Barack Obama, who have said any debt deal should lift the borrowing cap through the end of 2012.

Moody’s also offered a definition of “default” – which could be of some comfort to conservative lawmakers who have said that action on the debt ceiling isn’t strictly necessary by the Treasury’s Aug. 2 deadline.

“What would Moody’s consider a default? We do not consider delayed payments for obligations other than debt service to be a default.” In other words, President Barack Obama could make good on his warnings that Social Security checks wouldn’t go out, and that wouldn’t constitute a “default.”

It would have been much better if that announcement came from Standard and Poor's which is the credit rating service most likely to downgrade US debt.

Bottom Line: Senator Reid, your dice

The Balanced Budget Amendment Text in Boehner 2.0

Having just gotten off the phone with some house staffers I can confirm the following:

A balanced budget amendment has been added to the Boehner bill. After this morning's caucus meeting, GOP leadership is confident that the bill now has enough support to pass.

The details of the BBA provision are:

In order for the second debt ceiling rise to happen in 6 months a BBA must be passed by both Houses and sent to the states.

The original house version of the BBA which requires a 2/3 majority for a balanced budget to be waived in time of crisis is not part of the language.

Now there is no reason to object to the bill, it is a short term so the cuts are not as big as we would like to see, but as promised the cuts cover the amount the debt ceiling is raised, plus it sets a spending cap and requires a BBA.

For those who say that the inclusion of a BBA is an indication that the GOP is unwilling to compromise...Horse Poop! The Democrats originally complained they didn't have enough time to consider a BBA, this bill gives them six months to have a nice discussion.

Another complaint of the Democrats was the 2/3rds majority needed for the balanced budget to be waived. Here is another compromise. This provision leaves it open to be negotiated between the two houses.

The choice is clear, pass Boehner plan and the conservative wing of the party will most likely win the battle and gain an advantageous position to win the war (2012 Election) giving us a the opportunity to exorcise Obamacare, and make the necessary changes needed to save our country. Reject the Boehner plan, we may very well lose the battle and the war.

The vote is will happen early this afternoon. I urge you to call your Rep and ask for the passage of the Boehner plan.

Full Text of the Amendment to the Boehner Bill below as posted by the House Rules Committee.

AMENDMENT TO S. 627

AS MODIFIED BY THE AMENDMENTS IN HOUSE

REPORT 112-184

In section 301, in the matter proposed to be inserted as section 3101A(a)(2)(A) of title 31, United States Code, strike ‘‘is greater than $1,600,000,000,000’’ and insert ‘‘is greater than $1,600,000,000,000 and the Archivist of the United States has submitted to the States for their ratification a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States pursuant to a joint resolution entitled ‘Joint resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States’ ’’.

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