It seems to me that Republicans hold the keys in their hands for 2012, with the debt ceiling issue.

[GOPBasher]

Don't the Republicans have the 2012 elections in their hands already? They can simply refuse to increase the debt ceiling. Defaulting on the debt will send us into another great depression, and the president in power always gets blamed. Alternatively, they can refuse to raise the debt ceiling unless Obama agrees to significant cuts in the entitlements, which means, 1) regardless of 2012, they won the issues already, and 2) they'll win the election on 2012 anyway, because Obama will take the blame for cuts in the entitlements. I don't see the GOP doing the honorable thing here. I can see them intentionally sabotaging the economy for political gain. Or again, they also can simply force Obama's hand on entitlements and win the issue regardless of the results of the election. Can someone calm me down?

[Enrique]

1. Wall Street doesn't want us to default on the debt

so, we won't default on the debt.

[GOPBasher]

2. You know, I hadn't thought of that. As much as I hate Wall Street's influence

on American politics, they may by accident have a good influence this time (for their own selfish purposes).

[awoke_in_2003]

4. they want programs like social security...

eliminated- they want that money for themselves. Why do you think talk like this is going on?:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1276577

Yeah, it has the same chance of being temporary as pig do of flying. And even if it really was temporary, the damage will have been done.

[GOPBasher]

5. I'm not sure what you're getting at. I don't think we're disagreeing on anything.

Are you saying that Wall Street wants to eliminate entitlement programs like SS, Medicare and Medicaid? If that's what you're saying, I know, and I agree. What I was talking about in my post is that by accident, they may have a good influence right at this moment, only on the issue of the debt ceiling. We seriously CANNOT default on the debt ceiling. If we think the economy is bad now, it doesn't hold a candle to what our economy would be if we defaulted on the debt. And it seems like Wall Street knows this, and I'm hoping their influence on the GOP prevents them from refusing to raise the debt ceiling. I understand that Wall Street only cares about this because of its own selfish interests, but I'm still glad that it's the case. I just want to prevent a default on the debt, and I also want to prevent serious cuts to entitlement programs.

[JoePhilly]

3. The GOP's plan since Obama took office was to prevent any type of recovery

The problem they have is that their corporate masters don't want them to default. The want the GOP to raise the debt ceiling.

Its the Tea Party maniacs who want to, under no circumstances, raise it.

In this case, the Dems will vote to raise it. And the fact that the GOP blocks it would be very apparent. Their NO votes would kill them.

Oh, and I don't think any of the blueDog dems wants to place themselves in the NO column on this vote either.

[Marsala]

6. Even the ignorant public will blame the GOP if they force a default

How would they justify it? "We forced a default, to prevent the debt from growing too large and forcing a default"?

[Avant Guardian]

7. The Democrats have to take a 'Wont deal with terrorists and blackmailers' position

Then put the ball in the republicans court and let them pretend they are going to do it (which they wont) and they will get all of the blame. Watch the markets start to tank when we start getting a few weeks away from it. Their little game will backfire. If they are stupid enough to collapse it, let them. It will be the end of the republican party and capitalism as we know it. Good fucking riddance.