Signs Indicate That Obama’s Debt Ceiling Gamble May Be Paying Off

[applegrove]

Signs Indicate That Obama’s Debt Ceiling Gamble May Be Paying Off

by JACKIE CALMES at the NY Times

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/us/signs-indicate-that-obamas-debt-ceiling-gamble-may-be-paying-off.html

"SNIP.................................


But scorched by the July 2011 fight that hurt the economy and his political standing (though not so badly as the Republicans’), Mr. Obama was determined to undo the precedent he had set by making concessions — in that case, more than $2 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years, including the across-the-board reductions known as sequestration — so that Congress would ensure that the government paid its bills.

The year began with an early test of the president’s approach, and, for a time, it was vindicated. With Mr. Obama having been re-elected and Republicans chastened by November losses, Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio announced a less confrontational course, with support from the most conservative lawmakers, at a party retreat in Williamsburg, Va.

Instead of demanding one dollar in spending cuts for every dollar increase in the debt ceiling, as before, Republicans set two new conditions for agreeing to suspend the borrowing limit at the time: Senate Democrats had to pass an annual budget for the first time in four years, which they subsequently did, and House Republicans had to pass one that proposed a balanced budget in 10 years, instead of three decades as their recent budgets had. There were no demands on Mr. Obama.

Conservatives came to oppose the so-called Williamsburg Accord, and by summer they were demanding repeal of “Obamacare” in return for raising the ceiling. Mr. Boehner had revived his dollar-for-dollar demand in August, but by September he had been pressed into the conservatives’ cause against the health care law.




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[flamingdem]

1. Excellent strategy

We are so very lucky to have him as our leader.

[Cha]

3. The President's pretty good at this

non-negotiating thing.

[upi402]

2. It's the Republicans who are gambling like sailors on shore leave

Wait until the morning afta...

[Cha]

4. Thanks for the article, applegrove.. it's

been harrowing for so many.. I just hope it's over tomorrow as being reported by some. But, I don't believe it until it happens.