Anyone here wikkid smaht? Please help me understand how Boehner "blinked"

[MannyGoldstein]

The Republicans said they wouldn't raise taxes. Obama offered to inflict even more-savage spending cuts against working Americans and the poor in exchange for raising taxes. The Republicans said no, because that would be raising taxes. So now we'll only have the smaller, but still-awful, economy-destroying cuts that elected Democrats and Republicans alike can easily embrace.

What's the part that I'm missing here?

Come election time, Republicans will be able to claim to their insane base that they held to their avowed goal, and that putting more Republicans in office will enable the same savage attack on the 99% without any sacrifice from the 1%.

[OHdem10]

1. IMo, No one blinked. Boehner pulled out because he knew

he could not go with anything that looked liked a tax
increase.

[GoCubsGo]

4. That's the "blink"

He was offered everything his party wanted in return for tax hikes for the wealthy. He turned it down. If that isn't a "blink", I don't know what is.

[JHB]

11. So how will that "blink" be used?

Will tthe president take that "blink" and bludgeon them with it, hammer them for their ideology-over-the-public-good? Forcefully. In no uncertain terms. Every. Single. Day.

Attack the Republicans for their Socviet-grade adherence to Party Line. Spell out the consequences for every state, every congressional district, and take the fight there? "If the debt ceiling is not raised, your community will lose these funds and have those paychecks held up thanks the Republicans constantly moving the goalposts to prevent the business of the nation from being done."

Crack their bloc voting, get individuals sweating over the consequences for them as individuals, and the radicals running their show will find their leverage evaporating.

But the need for this stratgey was apparent even before Obama took office, and was made crystal-clear by what happened with health care. Where is it?

[N7Shepard]

23. If he has any guts

It will be used so that the republicans look like fools because they didn't allow spending cuts in exchange for taxes on the wealthy. Then the govt will shut down and they will lose like Newt did against Clinton.

[SusanaMontana41]

61. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Edweird]

30. No it's not. That's 'the door'. 'Blinking' is giving up your position. For an example of that see:

Obama.

[GoCubsGo]

54. How did he "give up his position"?

Boehner is the one who took his ball and went home. He's the one who said he's going to settle on working toward the more moderate agreement, not Obama.

[hlthe2b]

56. What the other poster is saying is to use the saying "he blinked"

implies he gave up on his position and capitulated to that offered. He did not... He pouted and walked out.


You aren't the only one using that phrase in a way that isn't consistent... that is what has a lot of us going, what?

[hlthe2b]

55. You're kidding? If he had capitulated, THAT would be a "blink"

I agree with the OP.... DUers making this claim about Boehner makes NO sense, whatsoever....




:wtf:

[XanaDUer]

7. Boenus interruptus

nt.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Obama offered them everything they wanted on a Silver platter in exchanged for...

tax increases. Rather than enact small tax increasess and get everything they wanted, they refused.

It proves that Republicans, even to get all the goodies they want, will not increase one cent in taxes. (Most economist have said that the deficit can not be reduced by cuts alone.) It proves that they do not give a flying fucking flagrant fig about the deficit. That is the blink.

Me, I still can not get over that the President abandoned the poor, the elderly, and the disabled in a game of chicken. They could have said yes.

***changed cuts to increases***

[Schema Thing]

8. how the fuck do you know what Obama "offered"?

[Ozymanithrax]

15. Since Congress has been up in arms about it...

And the news has been reporting about it...
And the Senate has stood up and said they will not allow cuts to Medicare and Social Security...
Since Bernie Sanders has said he will filibuster and has talked about it....
Since Pelosi found it necessary to say that Democrats in the House would not be party to such a bill...

Something about Medicare and Social Security was offered. It is in the news everywhere. I've read the explanations that this was (a) a trial balloon; (b) unnamed source ; (c) A Republican plot, but all the associated panic and ink letting indicate that something big and real was offered.

Wake up and smell the coffee. He made an offer involving Social Security and Medicare and a 4 trillion dollar cut to the deficit, (a Republicans Wet Dream involving Palin, diapers, and rockets red glare) but tied taxes to it with a string. Even if we don't know the exact details, a substantive offer was made. There was simply too much panic in Washington and too much ink spilled by pundits for nothing to have happened.

I know it is easier to think that Obama is a combination Jesus Christ/Superman/and Incredible Hulk whose "Got This" but there is enough evidence to show that he was willing to sell out the elderly, disabled, and poor in a game of chicken. Praise to high heaven his balls of steel to staring those vile evil devils incarnate in the eyes and kicking their smelly asses if you must. But don't pretend that nothing was offered with that 4 trillion dollar cut in the deficit. Republicans could not enact a 1 cent increase in tax because they don't really care about the deficit, the economy, or the American people. They blinked.

It is one of those cold political master strokes, that required he commit to selling out the poor, elderly, and disabled if Republicans actually meant a word they said.

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. True, we can't claim to know all the details, bet this part is certain.

It came directly from the White House as reported in The Hill":
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/170553-white-house-says-boehner-balked-over-taxes-not-entitlements

White House says Boehner balked over taxes, not entitlements
By Sam Youngman
07/09/11

...The White House official also disputed the charge that President Obama was not willing to give ground on entitlement programs, saying that is "not true."

"(Boehner) couldn't do revenues from wealthiest Americans, he walked away over that," the official said. "They are telling people we couldn't do entitlements, not true."

[Ozymanithrax]

21. This must put the nail in the coffin in the argument that Obama offered them nothing...

The White House admits it put entitlements on the table. It was tax cuts for the rich that kiboshed the deal.

Well, at least Republicans are loyal to their one ideal and to their most important constituency. The sacrifice of the wealth having to forgo a single tin of Caviar is probably too much for them to bear.

[Schema Thing]

28. maybe they walked away because it was something that was in effect nothing

maybe the totality of it strengthened rather than weakened SS. Raising the income cap would do that.


who the fuck knows.

[Ozymanithrax]

37. The white admitted entitlements were on the table.

Try reading their own words. Now, if you want to call the White House liars for admitting they put entitlements on the table, it is your choice.

[Ozymanithrax]

33. The white house admitted that entitlements were on the table...

They admit it. Since Obama runs the White House, Obama put medicare and Social Security on the table. Are you going to call the White House liars when they admit they put entitlement programs on the Table or Boehner a liar when he says the didn't? When did anyone here think Repubians are "truth tellers?"

Obama used entitlement programs (read Social Security and Medicare) on the table for a 4.5 Trillion dollar deal. Republicans balked at raising 1 cent in taxes from the rich.

[kenny blankenship]

38. Even when it comes right out of White House mouths, cheerleaders deny it.

You'll never win.

[smokey nj]

44. Never underestimate the power of spirit fingers.

[Palmer Eldritch]

24. He doesn't. Simple as that.

But attacking Obama is not near as fun without ammo.

[Schema Thing]

29. exactly.

[Ozymanithrax]

36. The White House admitted entitlements were offered.

White House says Boehner balked over taxes, not entitlements
The White House official also disputed the charge that President Obama was not willing to give ground on entitlement programs, saying that is "not true."

" couldn't do revenues from wealthiest Americans, he walked away over that," the official said. "They are telling people we couldn't do entitlements, not true."

The White admits they put entitlements on the table. Are you saying that the White House is lying to you? If so, wouldn't knowing that the President is telling his people to lie to you and say he put entitlements ont he table is a little odd.

Of course, if you believe that Republicans are paragons of virtue that can not tell a lie...

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[Ozymanithrax]

35. The White House admitted entitlements were offered.

White House says Boehner balked over taxes, not entitlements
The White House official also disputed the charge that President Obama was not willing to give ground on entitlement programs, saying that is "not true."

" couldn't do revenues from wealthiest Americans, he walked away over that," the official said. "They are telling people we couldn't do entitlements, not true."

The White admits they put entitlements on the table. Are you saying that the White House is lying to you? If so, wouldn't knowing that the President is telling his people to lie to you and say he put entitlements ont he table is a little odd.

Of course, if you believe that Republicans are paragons of virtue that can not tell a lie...

[MannyGoldstein]

16. So it's more of a a bigger cudgel for Obama, than a blink

Come election time, Obama can tell the electorate that he even offered to put millions more into poverty if the Republicans raised taxes, but the Republicans refused.

OK.

[Ozymanithrax]

17. I suspect he will craft his message differently...

and say he tried to cut the deficit by 4 trillion dollars and save the economy and Republicans circled the wagon to protect the rich.

We are saying the same thing, just crafting a message for a different demographic.

Republicans will say, Obama tried to pass the largest taxes in history, and we held our ground and still cut the deficit.

It is called "Humpty's Dictum" and comes from this quote.

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.'

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Well said (written?)

Thanks

[polmaven]

47. Suspected???

n/t

[rufus dog]

45. Please provide detail to back up your claim

Not fucking hyperbole, detail. What did Obama offer to put million more into poverty?

[polmaven]

48. Oh, detail, detail....

We don't need no f***ing "details"!

[MannyGoldstein]

52. Here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-08/talk-of-u-s-social-security-cuts-meets-bipartisan-opposition-in-congress.html

Changing to chained-CPI for COLA would slash payments by 10% over the next 30 years - and the current COLA formula is already understating inflation (hence no COLA increases the past 2 years).

That by itself will throw millions of seniors into poverty.

[Ozymanithrax]

59. The White House admits that they put cuts to Social Security and medicare on the table...

They have admited it. (http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/170553-white-house-says-boehner-balked-over-taxes-not-entitlements)

As to why, they didn't explain that. Links to the statements by the white House are found in several places in this thread.

[rufus dog]

60. Putting Social Security and Medicare on the table = Millions dying in the streets?

I fail to see that bridge between the OP and your link.

[polmaven]

46. And you know exactly

what PRESIDENT Obama "offered" how? Were you in the room?

[TheKentuckian]

3. Can't help with that one, the idea is off the charts in creativity.

I think teleportation is quite a bit easier to wrap my brain around.

[seabeyond]

5. over 80% of the nation want tax increase on wealthy and get taxes from corps. over 80% of the

nation want tax increase ont he wealthy.

this clearly puts repugs out there for the rich..... again. the repugs are having a tough time with this and it is a strong enforcement of the catering to rich. and even the repugs are stick of this stance.

[xphile]

6. That was already obvious. And we already know that the Republicans are not

bargaining in good faith. This changes what exactly? We still have the President trying to compromise with people who refuse to do so. He's been doing that since he was inaugurated. So what has this gotten us exactly?

[seabeyond]

10. you wont find me in the threads trying to read tea leaves.... the question was asking for an

answer of the now. i gave it. and it does matter. it may not matter to you, but i sit in a very very red area. and it does matter.

but your question is asking me to make a judgment without information we would need for that judgment and i dont play that game.

[xphile]

13. Then your answer wasn't sufficient. Because holding out for everything you want with none

of what you don't isn't "blinking" by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not seeing the blink.

[seabeyond]

14. i guess if you ignore the fact that the strong majority of repugs want a tax increase on rich

then you wont see it.

[xphile]

19. A strong majority of Republicans don't want any tax increases on rich people.

And they're willing to crash the economy to get it. The only person who is doing any compromising here is Obama. Who's blinking again?

[salin]

49. Not to mention the red meat they've thrown to the TeaParty about everything is about the debt

They can't work on jobs - first priority is to pay down the debt... on and on - the implication they have been pushing is that lowering the debt will = improving the economy (bs we know).

Making it naked that the debt really isn't the issue - but saving the uber wealthy from more taxes is the issue - it is the blink.

[gratuitous]

9. He got everything he demanded, then walked away

So, see, in 12th level Vulcan chess, that's, uh, you know, like "blinking." It's going to take a few moves, and probably about three or four years, but you'll see just how badly Boehner stepped in it. You'll see! Another brilliant move by our flawless president. Rejoice!

[Palmer Eldritch]

25. He didn't get anything, and he walked away. A default is his alone.

Does it upset you when Obama does well?

[gratuitous]

57. Yeah, Boehner's probably forgotten all about those agreed spending cuts

And there's just no WAY he'd try to capitalize on a conditional agreement, or pretend like he's made some kind of honorable agreement and welched on it. 'Cause that would be, like, totally bogus.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. I'm with you. I guess I'm only sorta smart. n/t

[Palmer Eldritch]

22. Nobody can make you comprehend.

Especially when you don't want to.

[Edweird]

26. Using 'the door' is NOT 'blinking'. Anyone that says otherwise is either an idiot or a liar.

Boner held his position - which is the opposite of 'blinking'.

[spanone]

31. this idiot and liar thinks boner not only blinked but shit his pants

he can't control the crowd of crazies he's in charge of

[Edweird]

34. He held his position and walked when he didn't get what he wanted. That's the OPPOSITE of 'blinking'

Obama gives in and adopts the RW position. That's the very definition of 'blinking'. Think what you want, I don't care, but if you try to redefine words to suit your position I will call you on it.

[kenny blankenship]

41. It's always best to declare victory no matter what happens. They learned from K. Rove how it's done.

[flamingdem]

27. Boehner blinked by showing so clearly the butt he licks nt

[BlueIdaho]

32. Republican internal politics, Boner is an empty suit

He proved no matter what he tells the President, he can't deliver House Republican votes.

[johnaries]

42. Well, first of all, your conclusions are all wrong. But, addressing

the "blinked" metaphor, it's basically a poker reference. Boehner et. al. were bluffing, and Obama called their bluff.

As for the outcome, we all know how Republicans can "spin" things. But even Conservative pundits are critizing Republicans for their actions. No matter how much they spin, this will not bode well for them.

[phleshdef]

43. I think the President might have forced them back into the Biden deal that Cantor walked out on.

Thats the deal Biden was negotiating, so its obviously along the line of what the White House actually wants.

I think the President took a gamble by whipping out a 4 trillion dollar-long wang and dared Boehner to show his. Boehner decided he better keep it his pants. So back to the Biden deal before Cantor's little hissy fit, right where the Whitehouse wanted them.

[Gin]

50. not sure if boner blinked..sounds like a plan.....just hope the president doesn't give

them what they want just to get the increase...in that case...it would be obama blinked.

[Arkana]

53. Boehner blinked because he gave in to the fringe of his party

and pulled out of the talks.

Dude sucks as a Speaker--he has no control over his own caucus.

[kentuck]

58. What's amazing to me...

is that so many people think they are "wikked smaht"? :-)