Paul caught on hot mic: 'We're gonna win this, I think'

[ProSense]

Paul caught on hot mic: 'We're gonna win this, I think'

By Steve Benen

There's always something special about hot-mic incidents. Most political figures, by the time they've risen to a certain level of prominence, tend to be guarded, scripted, and careful to stay on-message. When there's a live microphone picking up their unvarnished comments, it offers the rest of us a peek behind the curtain.

Mitt Romney's "47 percent" remarks immediately come to mind...And now Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have joined the club.

For those who can't watch clips online, here's the transcript:

Paul: "Do you have a second?"

McConnell: "I'm all wired up here, um."

Paul: "I just did CNN and I just go over and over again, 'We're willing to compromise. 'We're willing to negotiate.' I think, I don't think (Democrats) poll tested 'we won't negotiate.' I think it's awful for them to say that over and over again."

McConnell: "Yeah, I do too and I, and I just came back from that two-hour meeting with them and that was, and that was basically the same view privately as it was publically."

Paul: "I think if we keep saying, 'We wanted to defund it. We fought for that and now we're willing to compromise on this', I think they can't, we're gonna, I think, well I know we don't want to be here, but we're gonna win this, I think."

Hmm.

Let's unpack this a bit.

First, to hear Paul tell it, this fight ultimately boils down to talking points. If Republicans stick to the phrases Paul likes, maybe they'll "win this." Whether those talking points are coherent or accurate apparently doesn't much matter...probably more amusing, is McConnell complaining that Democrats are saying in private what they're saying in public....Republicans may be so caught up in their own nonsense that they've lost sight of the basics, but when it comes to their government shutdown, there's nothing left to "negotiate" -- both sides already agree on identical spending levels. The government's closed, not because Democrats are stubborn, but because Republicans insist on trying to gut the Affordable Care Act.

McConnell and Paul may not understand this, but when they say they're "willing to compromise," they're referring to an inherently ridiculous posture -- they want to take away health care benefits from millions of Americans, but they'll settle for taking health care benefits from fewer Americans.

See how reasonable they are?

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/10/03/20805052-paul-caught-on-hot-mic-were-gonna-win-this-i-think

[louis-t]

1. Delusional, as usual.

[zipplewrath]

2. We do have to be careful

The GOP is attempting to plan a language/optics/sematics game, and the American people tend to be sympathetic to those kinds of tactics. We would do well to say something more along the lines of "We'd be glad to discuss improvements to the ACA, just as soon as we get the government up and running again.".

[Jim Warren]

3. True enough about language

The pugs have already scored early getting the ACA to be known as "obamacare".

[Quantess]

7. but if ACA turns out to be positive and popular

they will regret calling it obamacare.

[lame54]

17. Not if but when

[ProSense]

5. Screw Republicans.

""We'd be glad to discuss improvements to the ACA, just as soon as we get the government up and running again."

The President said exactly what needed to be said: Reopen the Governement, and then we'll talk.

[tanyev]

4. Yeah, and how's President Romney working out for you?

[Siwsan]

6. Nice of him to supply his future opponent with a nice sound bite for a campaign ad

The man is a twerp. And so is what ever that creature is that lives on his head.

[mattclearing]

8. Meanwhile in realityville, millions of Americans are signing up for affordable healthcare.

I don't think they realize the extent of the hole they are digging, or just how absolutely wrong they are.

You kind of just have to sit back and marvel as the Republicans commit mass ritual political suicide.

[joshcryer]

9. Obama got a loud ovation today for it

Rand is wrong

[Bosso 63]

10. Counter offer : We are willing to replace "Obama care",

with the "Affordable care act".
Thats the deal.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

13. Perfect!!!

[lpbk2713]

11. Desperately in need of attention from mental health professionals.

Could he be any more delusional?

[Cha]

12. Depressing shit.

[gopiscrap]

14. what a fucking douchebag

[ProSense]

15. Report: Closed-Door GOP Meeting With Cruz Turned Into 'Lynch Mob'

Report: Closed-Door GOP Meeting With Cruz Turned Into 'Lynch Mob'

More details are emerging about Wednesday's closed-door meeting where Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) evidently received an earful from his Republican colleagues, with one senator describing what transpired as a "lynch mob."

A report published Friday by The New York Times shed more light on the private lunch, indicating that Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Dan Coats (R-IN) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) blasted Cruz for leading the charge to block funding for the Affordable Care Act, a quixotic effort that led to the government shutdown.

According to the Times report, Ayotte demanded that Cruz renounce attacks directed at Republicans by an unnamed "conservative group." Politico reported earlier this week it was attacks levied by the Senate Conservatives Fund, the organization founded by former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), that rankled Cruz's GOP colleagues.

According to the Times, Cruz did not disavow the attacks nor did he offer a strategy for the defunding effort, prompting Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to join the criticism of the freshman senator.

<...>

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/report-closed-door-gop-meeting-with-cruz-turned-into-lynch-mob

Assholes reduced to infighting.

Ted Cruz Warns That Shutdown Could Lead To A Terrorist Attack Against U.S.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023767928

Poll Indicates GOP Has Been Deeply Damaged By Shutdown Fight
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023758198

[B Calm]

16. It's all a fucking game with these bozo's!