The Republicans Should Take More Hostages

[markpkessinger]

The Republicans Should Take More Hostages

By: Jon Walker Monday August 1, 2011 8:25 am

This recent debt ceiling deal proves the best way for the Republican Party to get what they want from the Democrats and President Obama is to take metaphorical hostages. At this point for the GOP to try negotiating for new laws through the traditional legislative process would be beyond stupid given how effective the tactic of disaster legislating has proven to be, time and time again. The Republican Party should simply refuse to ever deal with Obama unless they have a pending crisis to hold hostage.

This should be easy for the Republican Party because they have several looming issues they can exploit to advance their ends. In September, the country will face a government shutdown unless there is a budget or continuing resolution. That will be at least one hostage situation. Most likely, though, there will be least two or three different bills required to keep the government funded through the 2012 election. Each time, the Republicans will be able to extract major concessions.

In addition, if the debt ceiling deal passes, triggers in the deal will create other artificial crises. While the triggers are meant to scare both parties into reaching an agreement, does anyone doubt that the GOP is much better at playing chicken than Obama? The GOP can easily turn this into another hostage event.

< . . . >

Tragically, this will be our future as long as Obama is president. We will lurch from crisis to crisis. Each time, the GOP will use a threat to harm the economy in order to to extract massive concessions from Obama. Each time Obama will say how he had to give in but promises to really fight next time.

Read full article at: http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2011/08/01/the-republicans-should-take-more-hostages/

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. "metaphorical"?

How many lives will be lost because we are cutting the social net so that corps and billionaires can keep their tax cuts?

[KittysRfuzzy]

2. Sadly true

And their visciousness and ruthlessness will increase too

[QC]

3. Don't worry--they will.

We will get to see this recent drama re-enacted over and over and over and over.