The real reason Obama pushed House Democrats so hard to pass the CRomnibus

[Triana]

For all the Sturm und Drang of the bill's passage last night, there's a simple reason House Democrats ultimately provided the votes to pass the CRomnibus, and always were going to provide the votes to pass the CRomnibus: they didn't have a better alternative. If the CRomnibus collapsed, what came next would have been worse for Democrats.

. . .

The CRomnibus funds the government — with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security — through fiscal year 2015. But Republicans had a Plan B. If the CRomnibus hadn't passed, they would pass a three-month stopgap spending bill. Then the next Congress could worry about how to fund the government through the rest of the year. It was actually a pretty reasonable Plan B — which is why it scared Democrats. If there was going to be a shutdown over this, it was going to be up to Democrats to cause it, and it was going to be Democrats who took the blame for it.

The key dynamic of the CRomnibus fight is in the two words "next Congress". The next Congress is a lot more Republican than this one. Whatever deal Democrats could get in this Congress, with Harry Reid in charge of the Senate, was going to be better than the deal they could get in the next Congress, with Mitch McConnell in charge of the Senate and more Republicans in the House.

But precisely because Democrats knew that, and Republicans knew they knew that, Democrats couldn't get a very good deal in this Congress, either. Republicans could walk away from the table more easily than Democrats.

THE REST:

http://www.vox.com/2014/12/12/7381393/cromnibus-pelosi-warren

[Skittles]

1. nothing to see here folks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/12/12/democrats-who-voted-for-the-spending-bill-have-received-twice-as-much-money-from-the-finance-industry-as-the-no-voters/

[arcane1]

2. One dollar one vote indeed!

[JoePhilly]

3. Look, the only way to have our progressive Utopia, is to kick out the DINOs ...

... and let the GOP destroy the country.

Then the people will rise up!!!!

And Obama just delayed that ... the bastard!!!!

[Skittles]

4. has "progressive Utopia" replaced "pony" as the latest meme?

[JoePhilly]

6. Not at all.

I just want to understand what the plan is now that we kicked the DINOs out.

That was an important step for us to move forward. Its been accomplished.

So what's next??

[Skittles]

9. Democrats need to start acting like Democrats

they need to start giving people a real reason to vote - too many of us who ARE motivated are holding our noses to vote

[JoePhilly]

13. That's a nice platitude.

Where are these great progressive candidates who are going to replace those evil DINOS?

While you sit holding your nose ... the GOP is taking over.

We can either work to stop that ... or wait for candidates who inspire us to get off our asses.

[Skittles]

20. LOL

You really don't get it - not at ALL

[JaneyVee]

25. Instead of holding your nose, RUN!

DU will support your candidacy.

[aspirant]

21. Accomplished?

What do you call the 57 turncoats in the house?

Let's wait for the senate vote and see how many more Dinos remain

Now with Steve Israel gone from the DCCC, maybe we can get proper funding for progressive primary candidates and start starving the Blue Dogs.

[Rex]

7. LOL!

Sad ain't it? They don't even try anymore.

[Skittles]

10. they have been embarrassing DU for some time

now they're flat-out making fools of themselves

[Rex]

17. Totally, their made up fantasies about purges and lists have all collapsed around them.

Their uber attempt at minimizing the Third Way and that Obama said 'we tortured folks' is almost too painful to watch. Of course their only plan is to run republic...oh sorry, conservative democrats.

You would think people after so many years of carrying water for the BFEE and/or the Third Way would develop some kind of shame...yet here we are watching them defend a bill that allows the rich to buy a politician for a small fee. That will gut a huge number of social programs.

I guess we will have to feel shame for them.

[JoePhilly]

14. What's the plan moving forward?

Not platitudes ... a plan.

[calimary]

16. That was what ralph nader said.

He ran, and became a spoiler back during Selection 2000, and said it was going to take everything really going down into Hell for there to be change. Well - 14-some-odd year later, and we're STILL WAITING for it to get bad enough. I thought conditions fit that definition awhile ago.

I wonder where the mobs with torches and pitchforks are. I think we need 'em. Maybe some Wall Streeters need to be dragged naked into the public square and let the mob deal with them, before anything is changed. Maybe it really does have to be that bad? With the apathy in America, while everybody deliberately forgets and would rather go watch the next Hunger Games movie, I find myself doubting that critical mass in this case will ever be reached.

[Jamaal510]

19. "Selection 2000"

[liberal_at_heart]

5. win win for Republicans. Lose lose for the American people. We certainly didn't win anything

with this bill. What are we going to do when 2008 happens all over again? Also win win for Democrats who get lobbying money from banks. My Representative voted no on this bill because she doesn't take lobbying money from banks, and I am certainly glad she voted no. When the CEO of a bank can make call directly to representatives and pressure them into voting for them we no longer have a democracy. We have an oligarchy.

[Rex]

8. Well some here will do what they did then, blame the Left.

Why anyone would listen to them on a liberal forum, is a mystery to me.

[JoePhilly]

11. I suggest ...

1) Take some 401k gains off the table while the DOW is high. Keep them in cash, or money market until after the 2016 election.

2) If you can, refinance your home into a low rate 30 year fixed mortgage. This could reduce your payments and puts cash in hand. Save the difference, do not spend it.

3) Work hard to ensure a Dem wins in 2016, and use that election as an opportunity to replace RW whack jobs where we can.

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. Hold on to your hat....it gets worse....

Republican Winter is coming...

[GeorgeGist]

12. How convenient.

[liberal_at_heart]

15. exactly. I'm tired of the excuses. I want someone who will fight, not someone who will say well

this is better than what we would have gotten three months from now. Considering there is a divide among Democrats who voted for it and who didn't based on who is receiving lobbying checks from banks I would say there is a little more going on here than trying to get a better deal than what we would have gotten three months from now. Convenient excuse, and one that is not working on me.

[Recursion]

22. Ah, yes, "fighting" would have made things better

This is not a "contest of wills". There aren't "tougher" politicians who have magic levers they can pull.

[aspirant]

23. Remember Boehner said

" I got 98% of what I wanted" and the repubs only held the house.

It doesn't matter if its 3 months or 12 months, the repubs will use the same strategy of last minute govt shutdown.

The key is when will Obama bring out his veto pen?
1) Wall Street stuff= no veto
2) ACA=veto
3) safety nets=? (dependent on people pressure)
4) trade deals=no veto
5) austerity cuts=? (dependent on people pressure)

Please complete the list.

[Wellstone ruled]

18. Just had a conversation with my TeaBillie siblings

earlier today. They were totally unaware of what was or what is in this Continuing Resolution,pension changes Brother and Brother in Law both get whacked. There Annuities are losing value as a result of high yield bonds(derivatives)losing value. What do you expect when you get your info from Fake Noise,but hey,it's that F----n(racial slur)guy in their White House. So had it with there backassward comments,slam goes the phone,done.

[Triana]

24. Ignorant relatives - I have a few too.

Sorry.

No excuse for their ignorance either. It's fully willful.

[99Forever]

27. I have a much simpler explanation.

We are being lied to.

Occum's Razor.

[ucrdem]

28. Yep. Looks like immigration is already on the ropes:

Now it's the Senate Republicans' turn, specifically Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah. The two lawmakers demanded a vote Friday night on a proposal to cut funds from the bill that could be used to implement President Barack Obama's new immigration policy, ending any chance the measure could clear the Senate and be sent to the White House with a minimum of fuss.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/senate-debates-11t-bill-vote-slips-week-27575032

But Liz got her name in the news so it was worth it.