Think Progress: The Bargaining Blunders that Lead to the Debt Ceiling 'Crisis':

[amborin]

The Context For a Debt Ceiling Deal Is A Long Series Of Democratic Bargaining Blunders

".....it’s worth recalling the longer-run context of this which is a series of bargaining blunders.
Back last December when Democrats had a much stronger hand in Congress, they reached a deal with the
GOP over tax cut extension and some additional stimulus. Since those measures all increased the deficit
, many of us thought at the time that including an increase in the debt ceiling would be a smart idea.
For one thing, if Congress wills an increase in debt, it ought to also will an increase in the government’s
borrowing authority. For another thing, such an increase would minimize the GOP’s ability to launch a new round of hostage-taking.

It didn’t happen. Obama said he trusted John Boehner. Harry Reid said he didn’t want the debt limit
to be raised by the 111th Congress because he wanted to force the incoming 112th Congress to take
ownership over it. The results of these decisions have been a disaster.

What’s more, not only was the disaster predictable but even once it was visibly on the horizon the White House bungled it.
There was a brief opportunity for the President to dig in his heels and simply refuse to compromise.
Then the debate rapidly would have become “can John Boehner round up the votes in his caucus necessary
to avoid a default.” Instead, the White House conceded the unprecedented point that even though Boehner
and Obama agreed about the desirability of raising the debt ceiling that the White House should make
concessions to the Speaker in order to obtain it. Consequently, you get what we have here this week.

snip

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/06/21/249860/the-context-for-a-debt-ceiling-deal/

[villager]

1. And many here wonder why the disappointment in White House "leadership" is so palpable

n/t

[TheWraith]

2. Right, because made-up opinions on the internet is just the same as fact. nt

[villager]

3. Funny, you've been mistaking your made-up opinions on the internet as "fact" for years. nt

[ljm2002]

5. "made-up opinions on the internet"?????

What, exactly, are you talking about?

Are there opinions that are not made-up? Is the internet (sic) not a viable source of news and opinion?

Are you saying that Matt Yglesias is an unreliable source of opinion, based on this piece appearing at ThinkProgress.com, an internet (sic) site?

Howsabout coming up with a substantive criticism rather than trying to dismiss the article as a "made-up opinion on the internet"?

Geesh.

[DJ13]

4. Oh come on, its not easy engineering enough blunders to get the GOP

to do the dirty work (and take the blame) for gutting the safety nets non DLC Democrats took pride in for nearly 70 years.

That takes real skill on the part of the WH.