Debt Ceiling Now Permanent Part of Political Arsenal

[spanone]

yep....



If there was any doubt that Washington’s acrimonious debt fight created a new political reality, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky dashed it on Tuesday.

The very real threat of forcing the nation into a first-ever financial default — along with the potential for economic calamity — will forever be a powerful tool used by lawmakers and presidents alike, the Senate’s top Republican predicted.

“Never again will any president, from either party, be allowed to raise the debt ceiling without being held accountable for it by the American people and without having to engage in the kind of debate we’ve just come through,” Mr. McConnell said moments before the Senate vote on the deal he worked out to raise the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion.

President Obama had argued repeatedly during the last several weeks that holding up a debt ceiling increase amid partisan political bickering was the equivalent of a hostage-taking, with the global economy at stake.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/can-the-debt-ceiling-genie-be-put-back-in-the-bottle/?hp

[scheming daemons]

1. Not it isn't. At some point, an Administration will invoke the 14th and then the courts will decide

[katnapped]

4. *Only* if it's Republican

That's off limits to the Democrats!

[kenny blankenship]

2. This is the HUGE victory for the fascist right, apart from any specifics of *this* year's deal.

This tool will work ONLY for them - to cut government. It will never be used to for example, create a program ensuring access to quality prenatal care and nutrition for indigent women. They finally have the tool they lacked to undermine our accomplishments as a party. They tried to push privatization of Social Security and Medicare and got rebuffed every time. This time they got help from a -well, for some people at least- highly unexpected quarter!

Oh he's historic all right. Epic, even. Right out of the Iliad.

[KittyWampus]

3. Keep filling the cesspool. The more you spew, the easier it is to ignore your ranting.

[kenny blankenship]

5. Your ignorance is a bottomless pit I wouldn't dream I could fill

A man has got to know his limitations, after all. As for ignoring me, I would pay you to do so. But since you find it so easy to ignore me, we'll be saying goodbye to one another at no charge. No hard feelings now. Just put me on ignore.