The Fiscal Cliff Talks Might Be John Boehner's Last Stand as Speaker

[applegrove]

The Fiscal Cliff Talks Might Be John Boehner's Last Stand as Speaker

by Connor Simpson at the Atlantic Wire

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/12/fiscal-cliff-talks-might-be-john-boehners-last-stand-speaker/59740/

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If John Boehner fails to get a fiscal cliff deal done, a responsibility he's now put entirely on his own back, then he might have trouble on January 3rd when he's expected to be re-elected as Speaker of the House. A conservative group is angling to throw a monkey wrench in that process.

So, the fiscal cliff talks marched forward Thursday with little to no major progress made, depending on who you ask, towards getting a deal done. But the only people you could potentially blame for that are the President and Speaker Boehner, because they're the only two people in the room now. The New York Times' Jonathan Weisman and Peter Baker report the two have decided to exclude everyone else from the negotiating process. Boehner and Obama hold morning meetings with the appropriate subordinates every morning, filling them in on the latest details. While it complicates the lines of communication from the chiefs to the lieutenants, there is a very good reason for the decision. "But it also minimizes the number of people who need to say yes to an initial agreement," Weisman and Baker write.

For Boehner, the talks could have a significant say in his future on Capitol Hill, especially if he fails to get a deal. The Nation Journal's Billy House reports conservative group American Majority are trying to muster enough Republican support to block Boehner's nomination. Because of Jesse Jackson Jr.'s resignation, and some funny math bending, they only need to find 17 Republicans willing to vote "present" instead of the in the affirmative for Boehner and he'll be blocked. (This is assuming all of the Democrats vote for their nominee, Nancy Pelosi.) The scary part is there does seem to be some dissent growing within the Republican ranks, according to House's sources. American Majority are looking at a list of 100 Republicans they think might be into the idea. Again, they only need 17 Republicans to break rank. Boehner best get these negotiations moving, lest he be the one thrown over the cliff.

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[DefenseLawyer]

1. He'll be ousted if he DOESN'T make a deal?

I think it's more likely he'll be ousted if he DOES make a deal. The no compromise, we-make-our-own-reality crowd will forever brand him, at best, an appeaser and at worst a traitor if he gives any ground to the President.

[DonRedwood]

3. I think he's gonna be under fierce attack no matter what.

He really can't win can he? They are so split that no one person can bridge that gap. Either the middle gives up and goes with the right or the right attacks the moderate republicans. None of them can win. It is like a two headed monster and one head is constantly biting the other head.

[DJ13]

4. The party is afraid of falling off the cliff as it mandates cuts to defense

They're afraid it wont be possible to get that level of funding back in negotiations early next year.

Defense is probably the one sector that ranks as high as the top 1% for the GOP.

This is also why many smart Democratic strategists think that going over the mythical cliff would give the WH more leverage.

[randr]

2. He has made his own bed

[coalition_unwilling]

7. More like he has "sowed the wind and shall

reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8-7).

I like going all Biblical on those MoFos, hoisting them on their own petard, as it were.

[Panasonic]

5. He has to sacrifice more in defense and oil/gas industry

End the loopholes and cut at least $500 billion immediately from the defense.

In other words - it's time to end Department of Defense as we know it.

1) We do not need to be the world police. There are groups to do exactly that (NATO comes to mind)

2) We do not need to spend more on weaponry or transport for weapons. They are waste of money and time. My recommendation is to spend enough to upgrade the jets and assign 20 of each to each states. 50 states x 20 jets = 1,000 jets. More than adequate. The remaining money that they will get will continue to support the logistics so nobody's out of a job./

3) Since oil and gas industries continue to report record profits quarter after quarter, it's time to end all subsidies to oil and gas industry - if they want to frack, then they can frack in limited areas - where we are not subjected to toxic waste, earthquakes and other crap that comes from fracking - but not on our taxpayer's dime. They can use the profits to do whatever the fuck they like - except they will have to find a way to suck the water from the oceans - they will be banned from taking any more freshwater, because they will no longer have the rights to obtain freshwater - it all goes to farming and ranching. Any corporations or entities attempting to illegally steal water for fracking will be punished - by federal courts - sentenced to DEATH by drinking their own toxic water.

4) Raise the marginal tax to the 1% by 75% after the usual marginal rates of standard earnings of 120,000 for individuals or 250,000 for families - all the taxpayer money will go to domestic issues - such as infrastructure, healthcare, jobs, and education. No CEOs may earn more than 50:1 ratio (current ratio found was 450:1) to the nearest top pay of the non-management. And tie the bonuses to worker productivity and morale. The workers also gets a piece of the bonuses because they work so damn hard and they want to earn something.

Any questions?

[Kennah]

6. In the words of Yoda, "A bitch karma is."

[LeftInTX]

8. Since the speaker will be a republican, I wonder if dems will vote for Boehner anyway

I would hate to see a Tea Partier, Newt Gingrich type, get that position.

I don't trust Eric Cantor or Paul Ryan.