No, Speaker Boehner. Some things have no pricetag

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From Politico:

—————–

“President Barack Obama made a demand of House Speaker John Boehner near the end of their first White House meeting on the fiscal cliff: Raise the debt limit before year’s end.

Boehner responded: ‘There is a price for everything.’”

—————–

There is a price for everything. How lovely.

I’ll tell you what the price OUGHT to be: $223,500. That’s how much Boehner is paid each year by the taxpayers of this country to do his job. And as Boehner knows as well as anyone, a basic part of that job is ensuring that the government does not default on its debt.

Let’s be clear: Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize so much as a penny more in spending. It merely allows the Treasury to borrow the money to pay the bills that previous Congresses and presidents have already incurred. If Boehner can’t or won’t handle that basic responsibility, he needs to resign.

This is really amazing if you think about it. In the 18 times that the debt ceiling had to be raised under Ronald Reagan, did it ever once cross Speaker Tip O’Neill’s mind to tell the president that, well, “There is a price for everything”?

On one of the seven occasions in which the debt ceiling had to be raised under President Eisenhower, did Speaker Sam Rayburn ever sidle up and say “Ike, you know, there is a price for everything”?

No. It was unthinkable. Rayburn, O’Neill and other speakers were horse-traders at heart, but they were also patriots who understood that some things just aren’t negotiable commodities, and the full faith and credit of the United States is one of them. Even Newt Gingrich balked at playing that card. And why?

Because in effect, Boehner and his fellow House Republicans are threatening to do great damage to this country if their “price” is not paid. They’re trying to shake down the president of the United States, using the welfare of the country as their hostage.

“Splendid little country you have here. It would be a tragedy if anything were to happen to it.”

It’s no better than a husband trying to win an argument with his wife by threatening to do harm to one of their kids. “Leverage,” Boehner calls it. It’s despicable, and Obama ought to call his bluff.

– Jay Bookman

572 comments Add your comment

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:13 pm

Hey, Orange12 – Not a GD dime!

stands for decibels

November 27th, 2012
9:14 pm

Rachel Maddow, I think, has it right about why the GOP is acting so batcrap crazy about Susan Rice; I’m just surprised I’d never thought of it before, myself.

(for those not watching–she says it’s purely about GOPers wanting Kerry to be SoS, simply so they can re-run the Senate race in MA.)

Doggone/GA

November 27th, 2012
9:14 pm

“Doggone, maybe you out to read beyond the headline”

I did. It did not support your contention.

Keep Up the Good Fight!

November 27th, 2012
9:15 pm

Liberals….absolutely giddy over the prospect of tax increases.

Why yes…its nice to see some fiscal sanity at least be truly considered instead of the failed conservative tax policies which have been proven wrong….as for who is taxed, you are full of it. Many Dems will bear the brunt of taxes but are willing to do so because they know that it is wrong to tax those who can least afford it. But that is another one of those idiot conservative tax mantras.

Why don’t you come back when you can handle intelligent tax discussion instead of your failed nonsense.

TaxPayer

November 27th, 2012
9:17 pm

Republicans have not been sincere with their talk of not saddling their children and grandchildren with their debt given their incessant whining every time someone suggests that they start paying down their debt.

RB from Gwinnett

November 27th, 2012
9:18 pm

“The leeches put more money into the pockets of job creators”

Wouldn’t 51% of those be liberals more than happy to feed the pig another 4% of the income from the business they didn’t build?? Tell us all again why they aren’t hiring being compassionate liberals and all.

F. Sinkwich

November 27th, 2012
9:18 pm

bf:

“RIP OFF USA 2012″

Lib ilk mantra.

I rest my case.

Paul

November 27th, 2012
9:19 pm

Pleasant evening, all -

DebbieDoRight - "Math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better" is essentially "mathturbation".

November 27th, 2012
9:20 pm

This is “sort of” the ideal of the Gingerbread House. Our roof will be smaller, of course, and inside the house there will be 4 rooms, (two faux bedrooms, and a faux kitchen and living room).

http://www.eugeneopera.com/Opera_sets/HanselGretel_Sets/images/H&G_WitchHouse_Exterior.jpg

Doggone/GA

November 27th, 2012
9:20 pm

“leeches”

“Maggots and Leeches: Old Medicine is New”
http://www.livescience.com/203-maggots-leeches-medicine.html

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

November 27th, 2012
9:21 pm

“Every year, 24/7 Wall St. conducts an extensive survey of all fifty states in America. Based on a review of data on financial health, standard of living and government services by state we determine how well each state is managed. For the first time, North Dakota is the best run. California is the worst run for the second year in a row.”

………….. Georgia is 34th and Illinois is 48th.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-150415625.html (article)

http://247wallst.com/2012/11/27/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-a-survey-of-all-50/ (full list)

DebbieDoRight - "Math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better" is essentially "mathturbation".

November 27th, 2012
9:21 pm

Stands: Rachel Maddow, I think, has it right about why the GOP is acting so batcrap crazy about Susan Rice; I’m just surprised I’d never thought of it before, myself.

Yeah — I’m watching her now. And, although it’s just her rendition of “conspiracy theory”; she IS making a lot of sense with her scenario!

Orange12

November 27th, 2012
9:23 pm

USA,

Correct!

DebbieDoRight - "Math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better" is essentially "mathturbation".

November 27th, 2012
9:24 pm

Why don’t you come back when you can handle intelligent tax discussion instead of your failed nonsense.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:24 pm

Doggone – thanks for clarifying my complete waste of time debating with you – leeches & maggots – I rest my case. Merry Christmas!

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

November 27th, 2012
9:25 pm

VIENNA (AP) — “Iranian scientists have run computer simulations for a nuclear weapon that would produce more than triple the explosive force of the World War II bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, according to a diagram obtained by The Associated Press.”

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-exclusive-graph-suggests-iran-working-bomb-161109665.html

P.S.

“NEVER AGAIN !”

Jm

November 27th, 2012
9:25 pm

Good job boehner

He’s just stating a fact

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:25 pm

RB from Gwinnett
51% of job creators are liberals who are not hiring? I was
unaware of that. I know entrepeneurs like gates and buffett
are liberal with the profits from the companies they didn’t
build most especially in countries outside the US. tell me more.

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:28 pm

F. and USA
o.k. cases rested. jury finds for your opponent.

Doggone/GA

November 27th, 2012
9:29 pm

“Doggone – thanks for clarifying my complete waste of time debating with you – leeches & maggots – I rest my case. Merry Christmas!”

But you haven’t debated me. You made statements you can’t back up, and then declared victory when I pointed that out. Sorry bud, you didn’t win. You just displayed your own ignorance and inabllity to back up your talking points.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:30 pm

barking frog – Buffett never “built” a company, he buys / invests in companies. Gates, created a concept that others marketed / built. No disrespect to either gentlemen, just clarification.

Jm

November 27th, 2012
9:31 pm

Durbin says no entitlement reform

Crazy

Democrats are going to drive us over the cliff

bman

November 27th, 2012
9:32 pm

oh I like the new view on mobile. But I didn’t see where/how to add a comment

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:33 pm

USA Patriot
Glad you agree with our President “you didn’t build that” gates and buffett..

DebbieDoRight - "Math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better" is essentially "mathturbation".

November 27th, 2012
9:35 pm

TP: Parents, Please don’t let your Republican play with math. They will make up big numbers and hurt themselves with them.

Ohhh that sounds like a country western song!!

Like Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys!

Here’s my take:

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to do republicans math…
Don’t let ‘em pick calculators or know what a Pythagorean theorem means;
They’ll only hurt their little bitty brains…..

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:35 pm

Oh come on Doggone, Chin Cha? Who the heck claimed “victory”? I just enjoy the verbal barbs. As for “your own ignorance and inabllity to back up your talking points.” – SI – Again, Merry Christmas!

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:35 pm

USA
BTW Berkshire Hathaway the company that buffett didn’t build
sells per share for a bundle.

Mick

November 27th, 2012
9:37 pm

jm

That’s right, social security has nothing to do with the fiscal curb…

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:38 pm

Barking, no sh*t! Look at the history and you’ll see he (and his company) invest in companies on the up swing. Tell you what, forget the Powerball, I’ll take 100 shares of BH stock and be more happy!

Jm

November 27th, 2012
9:39 pm

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:39 pm

Mick
SS is most dangerous to the Repubs as it is solvent and successful.

Jm

November 27th, 2012
9:40 pm

Buffett

Best tax dodger around

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:44 pm

Jm
when you live in a glass house you should not throw rocks. We
are manipulating the hell out of our currency.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:48 pm

JM – Ditto!

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
9:53 pm

Berkshire Hathaway – damn, down $406 today – only $132K per share! Guess his secretary is still working her “middle class” job at WalMart wages! Maybe she has a little nest egg from Mr. Buffet????

RB from Gwinnett

November 27th, 2012
9:55 pm

Seriously libs. Is even a single dam one of you willing to pony up a few grand of your own money to support ” our” spending habit? Anybody???

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
9:55 pm

USA.
I read somewhere that she does own stock in bh.

the red herring

November 27th, 2012
9:57 pm

the comments on this column are a joke. obama has added app. 6 trillion in debt (he blames it on bush)—he will add another 4 to 6 trillion in his next 4 years. it is the spending that needs to be cut not the taxes to be raised. that said i would go along with any republican/independent voting for a $1 tax increase for every $3 cut in spending provided the spending cuts came before or at the same time as the tax increase. otherwise let obama drive his car off the fiscal cliff—that’s where he’s been headed for the last 4 years.

Doggone/GA

November 27th, 2012
9:59 pm

“the comments on this column are a joke”

And we thank you for your contribution.

getalife

November 27th, 2012
9:59 pm

cons,

You lost.

Hush.

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:00 pm

Obama can increase revenues by doing nothing.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:01 pm

Barking – yep, probably only has about 1,000 shares. Do the math. But, man, Buffet talks a good talk, his poor secretary paying higher rate of taxes on her SALARY, not her INVESTMENT (or gifts)!

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:03 pm

USA
Yep. Got the President’s ear.

Mick

November 27th, 2012
10:04 pm

rb

Sure, everybody that makes under 250k, taxes go up 1% and over 250k 4% for one year. Next year everybody under 250k goes to 2% and everybody over 250k goes to 4.5 %. How’s that? Everybody has some skin in the game. That revenue solely for deficit reduction – no new spending…

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:06 pm

get – Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Now, come on, if us “cons” weren’t here it would just be an “echo chamber”.

GO DAWGS!

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:07 pm

getalife…not by much. We are the only thing between you and the abyss.
Sad how Obama plays ‘chicken politics’ and Jay yawns but gets his panties in a wad when Boehner returns the favor. Funny stuff :-)

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:08 pm

How about nobody’s taxes go up, unemployment gets
extended and we kick the can down the road to 2014.
Probably what will happen.

Dr Who

November 27th, 2012
10:09 pm

Liberal Pariah

You you been? Didn’t think you would sulk this long.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:13 pm

Why would I sulk? This is too much fun for me. I am one of those producers that Obama hates and I do have to step away to produce :-)
Thanks for caring though :-)

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:13 pm

We are the only thing between you and the abyss
————————————————-
That would put you closer to the edge than getalife, he may
push you in.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:14 pm

What say we take the tax rate to Clinton era standards AND revert to Clinton era spending levels? Can I get a Democratic amen? Didn’t think so.

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:15 pm

USA,

Go Dawgs.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:16 pm

barking… if it weren’t for get and his worship of all things Obama and his hatred of conservatives, I don’t know if reading this blog would be worth it.

RB from Gwinnett

November 27th, 2012
10:16 pm

Mick, “Sure, everybody that makes under 250k, taxes go up 1% and over 250k 4% for one year. Next year everybody under 250k goes to 2% and everybody over 250k goes to 4.5 %. How’s that? Everybody has some skin in the game. That revenue solely for deficit reduction – no new spending…”

How much in $$$$$ are YOU willing to send in?

Oscar

November 27th, 2012
10:16 pm

we kick the can down the road to 2014.

______

How long is that can going to last. It should be worn out and pretty dented by now. Who is in charge of rotating out the can when it can’t be kicked down the road any more.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:16 pm

I cannot believe I have found common ground with get…GO DAWGS INDEED!!!

Dr Who

November 27th, 2012
10:17 pm

Liberal

Were you not talking a big game about Romney right before the election?

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:18 pm

” if it weren’t for get and his worship of all things Obama and his hatred of conservatives, I don’t know if reading this blog would be worth it.”

And it is free.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:18 pm

Sean Hannity says that 10% pay 70% of the taxes and then he asks how is that unfair?….that should be enough chum to keep ‘em hyperventilating awhile :-)

Dr Who

November 27th, 2012
10:19 pm

Sean Hanitty said Romney would win the election

just saying

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:19 pm

Berkshire Hathaway – damn, down $406 today – only $132K per share! Guess his secretary is still working her “middle class” job at WalMart wages! Maybe she has a little nest egg from Mr. Buffet????

That was BRK A

BRK B is trading at $88.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:19 pm

Not really a big Romney fan. More of a ABO kind of guy. I was hoping that America was smart enough to see what a loser Obama is but only slightly less than half was that smart.

Liberal Pariah

November 27th, 2012
10:20 pm

I knew get would understand the concept of free…:-)

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:20 pm

Oscar
Hopefully, by the time the can is plumb wore out, we won’t need it anymore.

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:21 pm

You cons are moochers.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:22 pm

Okay, Kam, and your point is???

Georgia

November 27th, 2012
10:22 pm

Taxes. Debt. Healthcare. That’s the only framework the GOP has left. What they have right is Benghazi. Classified nation building is never pretty. If the GOP was willing to name their Plames, then they just might be loose cannon enough to uncoil cia conspiracies against Al Queda. All this thrashing around. The president is leading the war on terror, and he doesn’t need to be dodging friendly fire here.

Dr Who

November 27th, 2012
10:23 pm

Liberal Pariah

Nice deflection. You talk a big game because you willfully allowed yourself to be brainwashed by Hanitty and the like. They fooled you again. Just like 2008.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:23 pm

Get – where does the “moochers” come from? Not a hit, just asking.

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:25 pm

Okay, Kam, and your point is???

You

.

.

are

.

.

only

.

.

telling

.

part

.

.

of

.

.

the

.

.

story

Mick

November 27th, 2012
10:26 pm

rb

Geez..you do the math, 1% more in federal tax this year, 2% next year. I f the economy is booming get it back to clinton levels…

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:26 pm

USA,

This blog is free so you are mooching off the AJC.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:28 pm

Wow, Kam, you know how to hit space bars and the ….! That’s really good! Now, what’s the difference between BH-A & BH-B stocks? Other than the $? AND, what relevance does that have?

Mick

November 27th, 2012
10:29 pm

rb

For me it would be an extra $17 a week or about an extra $800 a year…

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:29 pm

AND, what relevance does that have?

WHO broke your google?

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:29 pm

The gop are terrorist sympathizers in Libya and creating regulation with the fiscal cliff to strangle our economy.

It is time to disband the gop.

They are acting like an enemy not Americans.

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:30 pm

getalife
i’m not mooching. i’ve ordered two discover cards
and a case of crown royal. ads are working.
i’m going to live like the government.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:31 pm

get – thought it was an open forum?

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:33 pm

frog,

Me too.

The AJC gets revenue off those ads so we are not moochers like the cons.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:34 pm

Kam, Kam, Kam! Go take your med’s and relax. I’ll ask again, ready, 1, 2, 3, what relevance does that have?

barking frog

November 27th, 2012
10:35 pm

getalife
there you go.

bman.

November 27th, 2012
10:36 pm

getalife .. .. does Mister Bookman get a little cut from the ads? He should

RB from Gwinnett

November 27th, 2012
10:36 pm

Mick, “Geez..you do the math, 1% more in federal tax this year, 2% next year. I f the economy is booming get it back to clinton levels…”

Why all the noise about getting tax rates to Clinton levels and no talk about getting spending to Clinton levels?

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:37 pm

I’ll ask again, ready, 1, 2, 3, what relevance does that have?

I see that I’ll have to do even the most rudimentary task for you.

Let me google that for you.

Georgia

November 27th, 2012
10:38 pm

The point is that our cover story to the world was what the CIA wanted al Queda to think. Should Rice had said, “the code to the nuke is 68356. There I told the truth.”………. BOOM insert mushroom cloud here. Rice squared. Unreal.

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:40 pm

bman,

Cox pays well but not sure if they get a cut of ad revenue.

RB from Gwinnett

November 27th, 2012
10:42 pm

“For me it would be an extra $17 a week or about an extra $800 a year…”

Can we count on you to send that $800 in this year or do you not care enough?

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:43 pm

Oh, Kam! That sucked! Really? Chin Cha? Typical lib, can’t respond with intelligence, just play games. Go to be now, have a good sleep, and, Merry Christmas!

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:44 pm

Woops, typo! Kam, go to BED now

getalife

November 27th, 2012
10:46 pm

Kam,

That link is perfect for our lazy cons.

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:47 pm

Kam, go to BED now

You seem to be laboring under the misapprehension that I somehow answer to you, sport.

Perhaps you should disabuse yourself of that notion.

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
10:50 pm

Kam – right back atcha! Go disabuse yourself……D’oh, that sounds nasty!

Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes

November 27th, 2012
10:50 pm

getalife

You can lead a horse to water….

Elections Have Consequences

November 27th, 2012
10:54 pm

Ludicrous, Jay. Really. Last I checked, Boehner wasn’t President, but expecting any demonstration of leadership from the one who is..well, we can hope, can’t we?

bman.

November 27th, 2012
10:55 pm

Thank goodness December is only a few days away. November has been horrible. 1st Obama wins. Then the twinkie factory shuts down. J.R. Ewing passes away.

If you need to feel better about recent events, I highly suggest watching or even listening to this…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKwRW0l-Qk

USA Patriot

November 27th, 2012
11:03 pm

Okay! One final thought, full moon, high tides, different thoughts, and good conversation! Y’all have a good night! GA DAWGS!

JKL2

November 27th, 2012
11:15 pm

kamchak- WHO broke your google?

just say you got nothin’ sport.

Feel free to add sopme smiley faces because we all know that lends to your credibility.

JKL2

November 27th, 2012
11:22 pm

kamchak

Can I get a Rush Limbaugh and Drudge report while you’re at it? You seem to know everything going on in the conservative world.

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

November 27th, 2012
11:24 pm

0311/8541/5811/1811/1801

November 27th, 2012
11:25 pm

USA Patriot:

When Kammie calls you “sport” that means you got to him big time !