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McConnell's Losing Plan

By Joseph Lawler on 7.13.11 @ 12:59PM

After a day's reflection, Mitch McConnell's back-up plan for raising the debt ceiling in case negotiations fail appears worse than it did before.

Essentially, McConnell's plan would allow for a clean debt limit increase, devised in a such a way that President Obama would take all the blame. In that sense, it would achieve a (small) political victory for the Republicans, while avoiding a default on the debt.

The problem is that it seems clear that there are a number of compromise deals still available that would be far preferable to no deal at all. As Quin writes, "After all of the success in getting Obama to not just commit rhetorically to well over a trillion dollars in cuts, but to actually put on the table some specific entitlement savings (reportedly), it would be far worse to forfeit any spending cuts than it would be to allow a few minor tax loopholes to be closed."

True, Obama's reported offer wasn't quite within the range of what's acceptable. As Keith Hennessy argues, it was to the left of of the Simpson-Bowles proposal that failed. But, crucially, it was an early-stage offer. Despite the apocalyptic scenarios spelled out by various Democrats, there is still plenty of time for the negotiations to continue. If Obama's initial offer was to the left of Simpson-Bowles, it was entirely possible that the final compromise deal could be to the right of Simpson-Bowles. And if, as Quin spells out, it consisted of significant spending cuts, including real entitlement reforms, that would be a far better outcome than authorizing $2 trillion more in debt with no plan to cut spending.

Getting there, however, would require hard bargaining by Republicans. As recently as Friday, GOP leadership was united for significant spending cuts and against tax hikes -- a very strong hand to play.

McConnell's ploy, however, undermines that negotiating strategy. If the deal the GOP is pushing is too much for Obama, he could simply aim for the contingency option under McConnell's plan. In fact, just by introducing this plan, McConnell has demonstrated the weakness of the Republican position, and made it less likely that Republicans will find a favorable deal with Obama.

View all comments (16) | Leave a comment

Too Many Tims| 7.13.11 @ 1:43PM

You can always count on a GOP Senator.

Oldefarte| 7.13.11 @ 1:44PM

On reading further on this issue, I'm in support of McConnel's backup plan [even though I prefer Newt's plan more of the Republicans kicking the can into the Senate and forcing Democrats to come out of their closet by being solely responsible for raising the debt limit]. The critical point everyone should realize is that of this El Chosen One's hardball Chicago Way tactics being employed here. He doesn't give a rat's patoot about this country and is the one throwing grandma over the cliff by threatening SS etc non-payments [and I hope all seniors GET IT]. This just demonstrates the radical-extremist nature of this so-called president [and McConnell was right to declare that noting is accompolishable with him as president]. Once again, everyone here should understand the point of this guy's radical nature, in that he's willing to destroy this country from the resultant financial upheaval of a fiscal crisis by not aggreeing to cutting needed governmental expenses!!!!!!!

Kingofthenet| 7.13.11 @ 1:44PM

"I refuse to help Barack Obama get reelected by marching Republicans into a position where we have co-ownership of a bad economy," McConnell said.

Wow, that's some Patriotic Republican Leadership right there...

Nick| 7.13.11 @ 1:56PM

McConnell's play here is an absolute negative. Coulds the issue at hand: THIS IS A SPENDING PROBLEM, NOT A REVENUE PROBLEM. Not once have I heard the Republicans take the position of what Obama has 'taken off the table' for spending cuts. NOT ONCE! I only hear the tired old media about what the Republicans have 'taken off the table'. Makes it LOOK LIKE they are the intransigent Party. Republicans need to get their message straight, consistent and clear. That is one thing you have to give the Markists, they are very consistent in that regard, to the detriment of your civil society.

Ran| 7.13.11 @ 1:57PM

McConnell's plan gives a pyro a bucket of gasoline - three, in fact - in exchange for a promise that he'll put away his matches... simply for the opportunity to "prove" later that the pyro is dangerous? To "put the blame" on the pyro if things blow up?

It's not the stupidity of the plan, it's the assumption about the base's incredulity that's offensive. Time for McConnell to gracefully exit.

Siegfried X| 7.13.11 @ 2:00PM

Which Party is McConnell working for?

Siegfried X| 7.13.11 @ 2:01PM

Did he officially become a member of the Democratic Party?

Harry Reid praised him today.

JP| 7.13.11 @ 2:04PM

NRO's Kevin Williamson proposed a very reasonable solution that would not only allow us to service current debt, but would keep the Treasury with enough cash to meet future obligations. There are dozens of economists who have reasonable solutions. But, this issue really isn't about our finances or our economy. This issue must be seen in light of the President's re-election bid. He will not negotiate in good faith for the simple reason he does not intend to. His party owns 2/3rds of the federal government, and the media. This issue is about painting the GOP in the worst possible light and re-branding the President as a sensible Moderate.

Seen from the perspective, McConnell's plan takes on a different light.

Dixie Pixie| 7.13.11 @ 2:08PM

The McConnell Plan would allow the President to raise the debt ceiling at will and is much as he desires.
The plan would then require Congress to muster a 2/3 majority in both Houses and survive a Presidential veto to make any cuts in spending and still not halt any increase in borrowing!

All of this to pin the “Blame” of overspending on the President.
As if there is someone left in the USA who did not know Obama is a wildly irresponsible spendthrift.

This is not a political capitulation, but a formal transfer of Congress's Constitutional monetary authority to the President.
Is Mitch McConnell that blind or stupid not to see that under his plan, the President is given Congress's “Power of the Purse”, thus rendering Congress financially irrelevant.

The only explanation that I can see for the McConnell Plan is that Mitch McConnell is simply tired of all this financial bickering and wants it permanently gone by allowing everyone in the Federal Government to spend whatever they like whenever they like.

The McConnell Plan is a lawyer wrapped total Republican collapse of Congressional financial responsibility.

BD57| 7.13.11 @ 2:17PM

Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question:

What if McConnell really does believe nothing can be accomplished with this President?

That's about the only scenario where McConnell's proposal "works."

All American American| 7.13.11 @ 2:18PM

This is no plan. Passing the blame to Obama? Yeah how's that gonna work out when he has 99.99999% of the press in his back pocket?

We're looking for leadership, Senator. This most definitely isn't.

e cowan| 7.13.11 @ 2:37PM

Leave it to the RINOs - like McConnell - to figure out a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Kingofthenet| 7.13.11 @ 2:46PM

President Obama needs to make the point that he is not requesting modest tax increases on the wealthy to pay for future expenditures so much as to pay for past ones, many of which were imposed by Republicans.

Floyd Looney| 7.13.11 @ 4:05PM

The plan does not put all of the blame on the president but also on the idiotic Republicans who said we can't trust Obama on the debt ceiling and turn around and want to give Obama the power to unilaterally raise it. Fools.

Conservatives should not be supporting these RINO idiots.

Rosetta Stone | 7.14.11 @ 5:53AM

wa wa wa...

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