A Republican caucus fleeing its House speaker?
U.S. Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ranger, announced this afternoon that he couldn’t support House Speaker John Boehner’s deficit-reduction/debt-ceiling plan.
From the press release:
“While I’m supportive of the Speaker’s fierce resistance to job-destroying tax increases, the debt reduction elements within this proposal have already been tried in the past and failed to stop our government from amassing the $14 trillion debt we have today. Most concerning is the failure to demand the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment.
“Merely promising another vote will not get the job done. Any spending cuts or caps enacted today will eventually disappear without a constitutional requirement for a balanced budget.”
Graves is hardly alone. From the Wall Street Journal:
The leader of a large group of House conservatives said Tuesday he was “confident” there weren’t enough GOP lawmakers to pass a plan by Republican House Speaker John Boehner to increase the debt ceiling and reduce the deficit.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio), who said the Boehner plan didn’t cut spending enough, heads a group that includes 178 of the 240 Republican House lawmakers.
The spectacle of a House speaker unable to rally members of his own caucus doesn’t happen every day – regardless of who’s in charge. In a chat this afternoon, Buddy Darden, an Atlanta attorney and former Democratic congressman, made this point:
“The responsibility of being the ruling party, or the party in charge, is that you’re responsible for a positive outcome. This, in my mind, is unprecedented – that the speaker can’t get a majority of his own caucus to step up. There are enough Democratic votes if he can get a majority of his own caucus to pass it.
“But personally, it looks to me like [House Majority Leader Eric] Cantor is undermining the speaker….The speaker has apparently lost control of his caucus – which I’ve never seen.”
“I was there with three speakers – with Tip [O’Neill], Jim Wright and Tom Foley, the weakest of whom was Tom Foley. But still, there was a certain recognition that when the time came, you did what you had to do. Some of us, at different times, didn’t always go along with the caucus. But we realized that there were certain times – when it came to the speaker, when it came to the rules, when it came to the overall operation of the body – that you had to step up.”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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184 comments Add your comment
yuzeyurbrane
July 26th, 2011
6:49 pm
I hope the American people have finally realized that the goal of the Teaparty is the destabilization of what they consider an illegitimate regime. The tactics they use are reminiscent of CIA financed coups in third world countries. Only here the financing comes from the Koch bros. and their ilk. A firm response to these radical anarchists is called for. If the Obama admin. has the cohones to do what is needed, the great majority of the American people will firmly support them.
Just Wait
July 26th, 2011
6:49 pm
I don’t care what color the President is. I do care that both parties are hell bent on destroying this country by playing to their party instead of the people.
RGB
July 26th, 2011
6:50 pm
ARS,
You can swoon over the benefits of economic systems that have failed everywhere they’ve been tried. You can debate the fine points of communism vs. socialism vs. Marxism–but I won’t.
But for people other than you who are patriotic and want the republic to last a little longer, I offer a link from Lt. General Jerry Boykin (ret), former Green Beret.
He enumerated examples of a Marxist insurgency occurring in this country which include:
1. Nationalization of major sectors of the economy.
2. Redistribution of Wealth – Obama’s head of Medicare/Medicaid said ObamaCare’s purpose is redistribution of wealth.
3. Discredit the opposition – Obama’s DHS reports the greatest threat to the U.S. is Christians, pro-life citizens, Second Amendment supporters, and returning military veterans. No mention of Muslim extremists.
4. Censorship – under the guise of hate crimes legislation.
5. Restrictions on Gun Ownership – Obama agrees with the U.N.’s restrictions on private gun ownership and wants to lend his agreement and signature to these restrictions. Further, “Fast and Furious” will prove to be an illegal exercise designed to restrict our Second Amendment rights.
6. Implementation of a National Civil Security Force – Obama’s health care legislation calls for an armed force equal in size to the U.S. military (similar to the Brown Shirts).
I could go on and I’m sure you retired at a rank higher than General Boykin and that your service record is even more distinguished than his (cough). Marxists cannot be convinced that what they are doing is wrong, but others may appreciate his perspective.
http://www.morningstartv.com/oak-initiative/marxism-america
Listen to General Boykin and decide for yourselves.
GaBlue
July 26th, 2011
6:51 pm
Where is Dave Ramsey when we need him? He’ll tell you, when your household has a debt problem, you need to cut spending AND increase your income/revenue. Take a second job. Sell something nice that you probably shouldn’t have purchased in the first place. It’s a TWO-pronged approach, dagnabbit. Mr. Ramsey also advises the family to eat more beans. Beans are cheap! You don’t need steaks and restaurant food every night. Eat more beans!
Here’s what Mr. Ramsey WON’T tell you: let the most vulnerable members of the family (Grandma & the kids) make sacrifices, give up their things and eat beans while Mom & Dad dine on ribeyes and salmon every night, washing it down with good wine, and driving their freaking Escalades to work every day. HELLO?
Anyone who gives a good gosh darn about this country will be willing to PITCH IN, not pitch fits about tax breaks for corporate lear jets that only last five years instead of seven. WTF is the matter with people who WANT their own country to fail just because we have a President that they didn’t personally vote for.. this time? Jimminy H. Christmas on a peppermint stick, y’all.
The Centrist
July 26th, 2011
6:51 pm
Anybody that thinks voting on a balanced budget amendment is being fiscally responsible have a serious cranium issues. These are the same folks who refused to even discuss PayGO, but willingly gave Bush a bunch of blank checks, the credit cards and mortgaged the House.
Another Retired Soldier
July 26th, 2011
6:54 pm
RGB, you are hilarious. So Obama personally dipped $100,000 out of my investment accounts. I did not realize that. But I do recall alot of economic turmoil and the stock market and real estate tanking in late 2007 and 2008 before Obama took office. And duh, we already knew that the gap between the wealthy and the middle and working classes (disproportionately minorities) has greatly widened over the last 25 years. That is not Obama’s doing. You are just another clown ensuring that folks making millions of dollars a year continue to pay historically tiny tax rates while the deficit grows to the detriment of the country. Those fatcats (and you ain’t one of them) are laughing at you until they wet their pants.
td
July 26th, 2011
6:58 pm
Vince D
July 26th, 2011
5:30 pm
You seem to forget that these same companies that give the US also say that if we do not deal with the deficit in a SUBSTANCIAL way then we will loose our rating. So giving Obama more money to spend without cuts is going to be just as bad as not raising the debt ceiling.
Alabama Communist
July 26th, 2011
7:01 pm
More Breaking News On The Speaker Troopers leaving him!!!!!!………….The Speaker Spokensperson said today that the Speaker was in a anger mangement Group Therapy group and would issue a statement later today, after 678 Boxes of Crying Towels are deliver to him…
Another Retired Soldier
July 26th, 2011
7:07 pm
Thank you, GaBlue. Well said.
Martin Williams
July 26th, 2011
7:07 pm
I love my conutry, United States Of America. When these GOP idiots talk about cut spending, NONE of them talk about bringing the troops home from Iraq/Affganistan/or even close some of the hundreds and hundreds of military bases we support all over the world. Damn America, it is time we wake up ans smell the RAT. Some of these idiots lease 30-50 thousand dollar vechicles for congressional use, now that is a good way of cut spending per GOP.
The Centrist
July 26th, 2011
7:09 pm
RCB, we don’t have a clue as to what Gen. Jerry “one of the brilliant geniuses behind Abu Ghraib, and also played a major role in the horrendous disaster at the Branch Davidian” Boykin’s adds to the debt limit debate. Besides calling Obama a Marxist is a put-down. Everyone knows that marxism is only the start of the economic evolution that builds up to socialism and then to communism, which most conservatives say we have already reached in less than two years. SMH.
Ekim
July 26th, 2011
7:14 pm
That’s rich, RGB. It’d be funny if it was.
Wake Up Georgia!
July 26th, 2011
7:15 pm
The squeaky wheel seems to get all the grease, especially when it is a rich big wheel. The Tea Party is and was a fringe group of the Republican Party that got the attention of the main stream media with its 100 people here, 50 people there, rallies in 2009. Give them credit, even though a minority, they took over the GOP and the folks at CNN and elsewhere while the Democrats became complacent and didn’t go to the polls in 2010. Now we are all paying the very, very heavy price. These folks may mean well in their own minds, but they are destroying a country. As long as there is more than one person in this country, there has to be compromise. These particular right wingers are really giving my favorite drink, iced tea, a very bad name.
I Know You Are But What Am I?
July 26th, 2011
7:22 pm
The problem is that the Republicans want things done NOW when it took decades for us to get into this mess. Where were the calls for a balanced budget amendment from 1994-2006, when the GOP held the Congress? Where were the obstructionist tactics when Bush spent us into poverty and Cheney declared deficits don’t matter?
You can’t fix this overnight. Incrementally, for certain. This manic approach is going to absolutely destroy us.
A hit dog barks
July 26th, 2011
7:24 pm
From all those who are barking so loudly about people calling YOU racist for your patheticity toward Obama. The shoe fits! Wear it !!!
Ralph
July 26th, 2011
7:25 pm
I never thought I would miss Bill Clinton.
thenextchoice
July 26th, 2011
7:28 pm
It is sufficiently evident that our political system has failed; blame both democrats and republicans.
They can both stuff it; I have joined Americans Elect.
http://www.americanselect.org/
Sam I Am
July 26th, 2011
7:28 pm
No racist folks in the south, not now , not ever.
GaBlue
July 26th, 2011
7:32 pm
Check out the PolitiFact link on the right about Tom Price. Dr. Price is certainly hoping you won’t!
F. Sinkwich
July 26th, 2011
7:36 pm
thenextchoice, please get out of your parent’s basement and get a job.
Oh, that’s right, because of Hopey/Changey you can’t.
F. Sinkwich
July 26th, 2011
7:36 pm
Ralph, me either.
Native Atlantan
July 26th, 2011
7:37 pm
Oh boy…..I guess most of you do not have mortgages, rental agreements or car payment so you really only spend what you earn. I call tilt ….
John Konop
July 26th, 2011
7:42 pm
It is Time
Both deals proposed by the GOP HOUSE and Reid avoids the tough choices we as country need to make ASAP. Both plans avoid the real spending cut issues with entitlements and military that is the key to balancing the budget.
As far as taxes we can not afford to tax at a federal 14% rate when we know 18% of GDP has been proven to be the ideal rate. And for anyone not to support fixing loopholes and subsides to fix this problem is irrational. I remember when conservatives use to be against picking winners and losers with the tax code.
I realize bending cost curve on healthcare will be tough on many. Yet we cannot keep taking 1 dollar and keep spending 3 dollars on Medicare. We cannot avoid dealing with tough issues like end of life cost, higher co-pays, less elective coverage if at all, negotiated drug prices……….
I realize many will be hurt by rising the age on social security eligibility based on life expectancy. But this tough call must be made. And I do think a national sales tax to replace FICA would soften the blow and create more jobs.
While I know this deal is not perfect, I do think the gang of 6 compromises is a great first step and all of you no matter what side, should reach out to your congressman. This is the only plan that attempts to deal with the above key issues. And if we do not get a real plan and only band aides proposed by the GOP HOUSE and Reid we will all pay for this mistake. Interest rate increases will have major affects on the economy from consumer spending, jobs, housing………
It is time to act like adults and stop playing politics. Please call and do not be fooled by the politics.
thenextchoice
July 26th, 2011
7:45 pm
fsinks, if your reading expertise goes beyond comic books, and
if you feel like learning something, try reading through the link provided.
Four Republican Senators Reject Boehner Plan – New York Times (blog) | Conservatives for America
July 26th, 2011
7:47 pm
[...] Morning HeraldBoehner Debt Plan Besieged By Fellow Republicans, DemocratsNPR (blog)USA Today -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -Washington Post (blog)all 13,260 news [...]
Andrew D
July 26th, 2011
7:47 pm
The speaker and his party are wrong, dead wrong. 1st let’s not forget how we got into this mess. We have been fighting a couple of wars for a long time, and war isn’t cheap. 2rd. more and more americans are depending on social security, medicare, and other programs for help. The rich are getting richer on the backs of the middle class and especially the poor. But my biggest problem with the current speaker was when he refused to take the call or call back the president. If you don’t respect the man respect the office. 2012 is just around the corner.
Frederick Douglass
July 26th, 2011
7:55 pm
Anyone here ever pour salt on a snail as a kid? Remember how the snail writhed in agony, and turned yellow, we said it turned to butter. Well that’s how I imagine racists react when they’re outted for being, well, racist. Obama’s not perfect, hell who is, but there’s more than a little anvil tying on the man’s feet, as he tries to swim.
John Konop
July 26th, 2011
7:56 pm
Andrew,
……The speaker and his party are wrong, dead wrong. 1st let’s not forget how we got into this mess……
While you make a valid point about the war, both sides have their hands all over this mess, from derivative issue, poorly negotiated trade deals which gutted the middle class that decrease manufacturing jobs by over 300%, gutless irresponsible behavior on dealing with entitlements, avoiding dealing with bending the cost curve on healthcare……..
RD
July 26th, 2011
7:56 pm
Graves and his ilk will destroy the USA if given the chance. That chance is coming. Wake up America!
Ghost Rider
July 26th, 2011
7:57 pm
Martin Williams:
Your President can order the troops home tonight. Your argument would be with him, not the GOP or Democrats.
TheAntiMe
July 26th, 2011
8:00 pm
All through American history, crisis has been averted by the two political parties reaching a necessary compromise. What is happening in Washington now is easily reflected when reading these political message boards. In many cases, supporters of each party can see their party’s view and have no tolerance to even consider anyone else’s point of view. Even to the point of calling anyone who disagrees with them names, which really, does not enhance their own point of view in the least.
It’s time for these politicians to put their own personal agenda’s aside and do what’s right for the American people and, obviously, that would be to come up with a compromise to avert this very nasty situation that is almost surely going to cause all of the people who they were elected to represent additional unnecessary financial pain when most are already in a world of hurt as it is.
Whose fault is that, someone will surely ask? It is the fault of both parties as we didn’t get into this situation overnight and so it is up to both parties to find a compromise and stop catering to their own selfish whims.
John Doe
July 26th, 2011
8:13 pm
Every time I open AJC.com. Another animal has killed,raped,molested. People stand up for a child molester? When are we going to stop this?
WillieRae
July 26th, 2011
8:23 pm
Of course Jim ignored the fact that Obama had a deal this pastmweekend but couldnt keep the farthest left on board. it seems that “Insider” has become “Onesider”
redneckbluedog
July 26th, 2011
8:26 pm
I heard on the internet that Brainer was going to start a new, moderate caucus called the Red Dogs…..He doesn’t want to, but Cantor has flanked him on the right……He’s going to get enough votes, along with Pelosi, Hoyer, and the Democrats to pass something in the House…..Hell, I may come back to the fold if he does that…ONE RULE…NO CRAZIES ALLOWED..!!!!
Scott
July 26th, 2011
8:33 pm
“Elections Have Consequences”…yes they do. The consequences of voting for the Tea Party will be… 1. much higher debt because when we default interest on the debt will cost trillions (with a T) more. 2. anyone who doesn’t make a whole lot of money will be screwed because mortgage rates will go up as well as car loans. 3. The TP has no plan to reign in costs of medical care…just kill medicare/medicaid… that enough for you…if your are too stupid to see whats happening with your own 2 eyes without the talking points…there is no hope. This is the “Shock Doctrine” being played out right in front of us
blue_moon
July 26th, 2011
8:46 pm
There’s nothing in the Constitution that prohibits recalling members of Congress? Let’s do it!
TheAntiMe
July 26th, 2011
9:09 pm
There’s nothing in the Constitution that prohibits recalling members of Congress? Let’s do it!
Actually, blue_moon, your suggestion is a whole heck of a lot nicer than some of the things that I have been thinking that I would like see done to them.
double
July 26th, 2011
9:39 pm
BBB- SP all because of mismanagement and stubbornness.
td
July 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
See the problem is we all think our own Representative is right and doing what we want it is the other politician that needs to be kicked out of office. I think my conservative Rep is doing the right thing but think Scott, Lewis and Johnson are all totally wrong and should be removed from office. I am sure there are many on this blog that will totally disagree with my thoughts.
The real problem we have is not the Congress or really the President but instead we (the people) are a country that is 35% left, 35% right and 30% that just does not give a damn.
ObamaIsWrong
July 26th, 2011
9:59 pm
I have been contacting every congressman I can urging them to reject both boehner’s and reid’s plans. Moodys and S&P both have indicated they will reduce our rating unless we get $4 trillion in cuts over 10 years. Neither plan comes close to that, so why pass something that will be ineffective? cutting $4 trillion should be a starting point, not an end goal. We must phase out all entitlements and $4 trillion is only a start. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. I’m resigned to having our credit rating reduced and our interest costs rising. until we can replace obama in 2012 we don’t have a chance to start to get our debt under control. I have also realized over the past few weeks that the tea party must separate from the republican party. Republicans who aren’t tea party affiliated are all just moderates who can’t be depended on to be tough and do what is right for this country. I cannot support any candidate who believes that the country’s revenues are not enough already. We need to cap our spending and balance our budget. My checkbook is balanced to the penny each month, why can’t the country do the same?
tell the truth
July 26th, 2011
10:14 pm
Sam I Am No racist folks in the south ? Now or ever? You are a complete moron evidently. I was born in middle Georgia over 70 years ago. Grew up amongst em . And folks like you give high credence to the knowledge that racism is alive and well in the south especially in the Republican party.
tell the truth
July 26th, 2011
10:21 pm
ObamaIsWrong Your tax cut and crapola will never passs the senate pal. Deal with it. The wealthiest in America are not paying their fair sharee- haven’t for over 12 years. And they are not making any sacrifices in the proposals that are being made. The Republicans are so obviously in the pockets of big business and could not care less about the poor and working men and women in this country. You and your tea party criminals don;t deserve to lead this country. The only thing you did during the Bush 8 years was lead us into two wars- one illegal; pander to the rich(again) bring us the financail crisis and take this country to the abyss that we now find ourselves looking into. We need to create jobs for the unemployed in this country and you want to cut spending so that there is literally no chance of creating those jobs. The wealthy don’t care one lick for the American working families. And you know it. You people are the biggest hypoctites in the world.
td
July 26th, 2011
10:41 pm
I have never understood why my liberal friends think 39% is “fairer” than 35%? Someone please explain this concept to me. When 48% of the country is paying 0% it is hard to understand why so many people think it is critical that the top 1% has to pay 39% of their income to the Federal government.
rooster
July 26th, 2011
11:11 pm
Looks like the original RetiredSoldier runs the two words in his handle together, while the new one inserts a space. Someone else posted under my handle, quite by accident I’m sure, by capitalizing the R. Remember, the slightest alteration of an existing handle creates an entirely new one.
Rethuglicans
July 26th, 2011
11:55 pm
td
July 26th, 2011
10:41 pm
I have never understood why my liberal friends think 39% is “fairer” than 35%? Someone please explain this concept to me. When 48% of the country is paying 0% it is hard to understand why so many people think it is critical that the top 1% has to pay 39% of their income to the Federal government.
You are a fool to think the top 1% in this country pay 39%. The average tax rate for the top 1% was ONLY 16.6% What I wouldn’t do to pay 16.6% tax rates!?!?!?!?!
And just to further disprove you, here is a link to that lamestream media liberal rag WSJ….
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/02/17/a-look-at-the-tax-returns-of-the-top-400-taxpayers/
captguitarman
July 26th, 2011
11:57 pm
So it hangs no on a balance budget amendment to the Constitution? The Pubs are self-destructing. Such a thing is not posssible without control of the presidency and at least one House, if not both. And even if one is ever passed — even if the Pubs have the Presidency and both Houses (now, far, far less likely than such a thing would have been just a few short months ago), it would still be full of so many emergency provisions and loopholes that it would be a meaningless piece of legislative Swiss cheese. Too bad about this, but the Pubs did paint themselves into a corner, and now with the Tea Party, the Pubs own version of the Peroistas who split of for Ross Perot and once handed Bill Clinton the presidency, I guess we will get to watch that happen again in 2012. And where are the Peroistas today? The same place the Tea Party will a short few years from now. No elected President, House, or Senate is going to impose a balanced budget amendment on this country, I don’t care how conservative or far right it is. Why? It is not in the best interest of the politicians who run this country, and it never will be. What a stupid and totally impossible and unlikely thing to use to court fiscal disaster. And I mean the disaster that will also befall the Pubs if the economy implodes over this, because they will shoulder most of the blame. It may not be right or fair, but it is reality. And all the gains of 2010 will evaporate over night. Rally behind Boehner you morons, or accept the consequences – consequences that will, under Dems back in control, with a Dem president re-elected, continue to erode this nation.
Teddy Roosevelt
July 27th, 2011
12:28 am
Scott, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
S
July 27th, 2011
1:18 am
The republican/Tea Party has forgotten why they were sent to Washington, TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. Not their own Ideology, NOT the corporations, and especially NOT their self serving selves. 2012 is right around the corner your days of being in office are numbered. The people of this country who you are NOT serving now, will make sure you will NOT have a second chance to put this country in jeopardy. 464 days and counting till the election, we will NOT forget your names.
Rethuglicans
July 27th, 2011
1:26 am
Teddy Roosevelt
July 27th, 2011
12:28 am
Instead of countering Scotts points, you call names. Grow up and stay off the blogs until you have something to add to the discussion.
Buckhead Boy
July 27th, 2011
3:04 am
Seems to me that the feared “Marxist insurgency” isn’t succeeding, and our oligarchy will last a bit longer.