The American Spectator

Sean| 7.29.11 @ 1:08AM

Oh no the liberal media will talk bad about us we can't have that. Let's raise the debt ceiling over a trillion dollars for a few billions in potential savings. Now that makes fiscal sense. Give me a break. The Conservatives that want more are the heroes and those like Quin are the ones who got us into this mess.

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 1:26AM

"By handing Obama a crisis on a silver platter, with the conservatives now in the position of being the ones who caused it..."

I had suspicions you were never a conservative. You have just proved that. I am sure you will be right there heaping up the lies and throwing the blame with Reid and the other progressives. Once a beltway sycophant, always one. You and the rest of the old guard handed him a victory when you offered half a dozen bills, failed to control the media image and the message, smeared the Tea Party, negotiated with yourselves like morons, allowed the dems to offer not a single bill of their own, and opened your dirty laundry and infighting in public on a silver platter to the opposition. You took not a single bit of responsibility for any of this fiasco nor admitted to a single criticism from anyone. You bought EVERY single claim, scare tactic, and version of reality the democrats presented and are still echoing them. You WANT to fail. You did nothing new and nothing more then you have done a dozen times before in the last 40 years. You have the public on your side and you can not even manage the fallout and put the blame where it belongs. Helpless. Whining. Pathetic. Backstabbing. You do not even have the spine to see this through and marshall the movement. Your boy shouts at us, get your asses in line, like we are dumb animals and does not bother to explain and convince the skeptics of your superior claims and aims. The conservatives passed cut, cap, and balance. Boehners plan was dead and killed by the Dems before it was even formulated. How dare you try to blame conservatives and the Tea Party. You will not even recognize this fact.

Paul McGrath| 7.29.11 @ 1:38AM

Mr. Templar,

Civility is often a very good tactic to use when you are trying to get people to agree with you, especially when most of them pretty much agree with you to begin with.

Also, breaking up your commentary into paragraphs might encourage people to read your thing in the first place.

Paul

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 1:50AM

Yeah, you might want to try and relate that message about civility to Quin and the rest blatantly insulting conservatives with lies and falsehoods about their alleged responsibility for the collaspe of the nation. Yeah, that is what we really need now as Rome burns and the hordes are at the gate. Civility. The country is facing a real and potential collaspe and you want me to be civil. If you can not get past paragraph style then we really have a problem.

Quin| 7.29.11 @ 8:32AM

No lies. And no blame from me. I said conservatives will be blamed, meaning by both the media AND, all importantly, swing voters/independents, etc. Meanwhile, the accusation that I am "establishment" is risible. Just freaking nuts.

rightasrain| 7.29.11 @ 8:56AM

Instead of meekly accepting the blame, why can't we get out there and message, message, message? Is there no one who can beat Chuck Schumer to the cameras?

Kyle| 7.29.11 @ 9:45AM

I didn't realize Alinsky was so powerful. We won WWII, Cold War, Revolutionary War, but now we're doomed because we are doing something that some commie author thinks in a winner for the commies?

Derek Leaberry| 7.29.11 @ 10:33AM

Be honest. The Boehner Bill does not cut spending as normal people cut spending. It cuts the INCREASES planned in minor percentages.

I would be on board if I thought Boehner and McConnell could be trusted. However, I trust them as much as I did Bob Dole, Howard Baker, James Baker, Dick Darman, Michael Deaver, David Gergen and all the other sell-outs of 1982 and 1990. But I know that once the deal is accomplished, no spending will ever be cut and appropriators like McConnell and Grassley will spend just as the Democrats do.

I would only vote for the Boehner Bill if both Boehner and McConnell announced at a press conference that it was a terrible plan but the best possible at the moment; that they would change the spending process to one that didn't have automatic spending rises if a Republican was elected president in 2013; and that they would slash and burn whole agencies and departments and generally crucify the federal discretionary budget if a Republican president was in office in 2013. However, neither will because both are part of the problem.

In the end, budgetary implosion and economic depression would be best happening with Barack Obama or Andrew Cuomo in the office of president.

Spike| 7.29.11 @ 11:52AM

Quin,

When we (and by we, I mean you) take up the blame Conservatives mantra from the MSM, we enable their objectives. Until Conservatives, and (alleged) Conservative authors make their case for why they are doing what they're doing, we are doomed.

Do the right thing every day. Don't apologize.

RWinks| 7.29.11 @ 3:31PM

Quin, How can you say no blame from you. The whole article was blaming Conservatives for standing on principle.

Just as I hold no grudge against you or any who might have voted for the Boehner plan because we all have the same goal, it would be nice if those who are now heaping revulsion on fellow conservatives would grant us the same forbearance. We expect blame and thinly disguised disdain from the Democrat media. It is unexpected from Dr. K and some of the people at the WSJ and NRO.

Our disagreement is in strategy. The Boehner plan in whatever form would go to the Senate and be amended to whatever Reid wants....probably spending INCREASES and additional borrowing authority. It will come back to the House and either be voted down with the GOP getting the "blame" or be passed with Democrat votes.

We aren't cutting spending so a debt downgrade is inevitable. Not raising the debt limit will not cause a downgrade. If anything, raising the limit is more likely to bring it about. The MSM will blame the GOP. If the people who write for NRO can't understand what causes the downgrade, how can we explain it to the average voter?

If the people of this nation are too stupid to turn out this bunch of transparently insane gangsters, all is lost anyway. Only pass good bills, speak the truth loudly and repeatedly and let the chips fall where they may.

All American American| 7.29.11 @ 8:56AM

AMEN Brother!!!!!

Justin D| 7.29.11 @ 9:30AM

Amen Brother Simon Templar! It is not to late to keep pushing plans that really work like cut, cap, and balance or even Connie Mack's plan. Boehner plan was bad because it does nothing to address the real problem and adds close to 10 trillion dollars to our debt over the next decade. That is unacceptable. Conservatives have offered real plans that will save our country that have already passed the house. Why not put pressure on getting just 4 Democrate senators to shift? Please don't tell me it can't be done either that is just bull. WHERE IS OBAMA'S PLAN? How does he not take any part of the blame? All Obama has done is give speeches and has no plan except threaten veto. Obama and the Democrate senate are the losers I just wish the house speaker would not join them.

Ryan| 7.29.11 @ 9:35AM

Is being a pragmatist so awful? That's the position that Quin is more or less proposing. We CAN'T win this fight right now, and have to take the best we can get because of the issues with the Senate and President. We do this now, and maintain vigilance through 2012 where the real change can only happen.

Spike| 7.29.11 @ 11:58AM

Ryan,

Here's how this plays out.

We sign Boehner. It goes to Senate and gets merged with the Reid Bill. The dollar savings become half actual cuts, and half phantom.

The "net" savings is 1-1.5 Trillion over 10 years, with 2,5 Trillion increase.

Obama goes to the American people and, rather than applaude "the compromise", admonishes Republicans for abandoning his $4 Trillion "grand plan." Of course, you and I know that the grand plan, was vapor, but the American people will ask, why we didn't meet the Presidents spending cuts targets.

Hope this helps.

Denise | 7.29.11 @ 9:53AM

Love it, Simon! I have been thinking along these same lines every time I listen to the pundits proclaim that the Republicans will get blamed for doing the job that the Americans voters elected them to do, although not as eloquently as you, but with as much passion! The 25 hold outs did not vote for the policies that got us here, and they now are being assailed on both fronts. As Steny Hoyer said today "Proof is in the Pudding" The Pudding -elected officials on both sides of the isle for at least the last couple of decades have protected their greed, their friends and their incompetence, rather than live up to their duties to the American people --- to protect, defend and preserve the US Constitution and American Citizens. The Proof – if and when the United States of America becomes an enslaved nation rather than remain a free nation because of the insurmountable debt generated by her elected officials.

Paul McGrath| 7.29.11 @ 1:26AM

This morning I was in favor of the deal and now I don't know what to think. All of the people I trust disagree with each other. I will say that I don't care that much about the provision that requires that the Senate vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment. This maybe can wait.

But, perhaps I'm wrong. I'm going to bed. I may have another brandy or two, but I'm going to bed. Sooner or later.

All a yez, a bunch of bastids.

RJ| 7.29.11 @ 1:41AM

This is a defeatist attitude from which no benefit can come. No matter what the GOP or conservatives do, the propagandist media will work to frame them in a negative light. What is needed is for conservatives to take the action that they believe is best for the country and work on communicating their actions to the public. This is what Ronald Reagan did. The press tried to smear him, but they couldn't lay a glove on him because he was able to clearly and convincingly explain his actions.

Boehner, Canter and others simply do not believe in limited government. They therefore cannot explain it. It is time for leadership, not politics. If our values are true and clearly communicated, they will eventually be adopted by the public.

Ryan| 7.29.11 @ 9:36AM

Do we have the votes?

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 1:42AM

Oh, stop with this absolute BULLSHIT about historic reductions in spending. We are not idiots. Try the truth once in a while. It would have been better if you just met with the tea party freshmen and told the the hard truth as you saw it...that is... you would need to capitulate and give the dems essentially what they want because you are so scared and do not want to risk being politically cornered and blamed and you would think it wiser to put the ownus for the collaspe that WILL happen no matter what is passed on the jackass in the whitehouse. Did I get it right? You miss one fact. If you can not manage the blame game now what in the hell makes you think you will when boehners plan was accepted and passed and the shit still hits the fan when the business community and rating agencies realize their was no real significant reductions in spending and the debt is 20 trillion? Ya think the media is not going to blame Republicans no matter what is passed and what happens?

Nick| 7.29.11 @ 2:32AM

"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"
- Chicken Little, Head of the RINO GOP

Give me a break, Mr. Hillyer. Explain to me how this is not Boehner's fault for not having a better PR strategy, not defending conservative ideas, and not being a better negotiator?

Boehner starts out with what he wants, lets democrats whittle it down to what they want, and then tries to lie to us about all the cuts we got! He negotiates like Ralph Kramden, and we all remember how many times Ralph got what he wanted, don't we?

But, no, keep telling us how it is all the T.E.A. Party's fault, Quin.

Oh, and tell me why any so-called CONSERVATIVE would support a liberal plan that creates a committee that only needs SEVEN VOTES TO RAISE TAXES?

beebop| 7.29.11 @ 5:19AM

I have to confess that I can no longer watch this. I have changed my viewing in the evening from FOX to anything that deals with home maintenance or reruns of NCIS. I have absolutely no confidence in the leadership of the Democrat party from the dead fish head on down. They misrepresent polls and twist facts to support their bully position. It is like being bullied -- something I didn't experience as a child -- and I am wondering where anyone ever EVER believed that obama would "unite" us. I personally can't wait for Rick Perry to announce and for obama to be vanquished to his next next next great thing. Hopefully it is in Portugal or Spain.

Timothy L. Pennell| 7.29.11 @ 6:39AM

1st of all, if the Republicans would OPEN THEIR MOUTHS, and remind everyone WHO got us in to this situation - OBAMA - we wouldn't be having these PR problems. If BOEHNOR would stop "Negotiating" with himself, and DEMAND a PLAN from the other side, we wouldn't be talking about this. If the Republicans, in the Senate, had refused to do ANYTHING, until the Democrats did THEIR JOB, and passed a Budget, that is almost 3 YEARS late, little Quin Hillyer wouldn't be all pissey this morning.
GO BACK to square one. Pass your Cap, Cut, and Balance, send it to the Senate, and go home and have dinner. You'll have DONE YOUR JOB. (unlike Harry Reid's Senate) If ANYONE complains, you just tell them: WE DID OUR JOB. In fact, we;re the ONLY ones who've done our job.
You got a problem?
Go talk to the OTHER GUYS.
The guys with NO PLAN.
Boehnor: 1-202-225-6205
Cantor: 1-202-225-2815
Ryan: 1-202-225-3031
And, please, do NOT be polite.
Quin. Are you still touching yourself?

Ringleader| 7.29.11 @ 9:09AM

Right On.

crash| 7.29.11 @ 9:34AM

Exactly. It is time to stop coming up with plans. Demand something from Obama and the Dems. And start letting everyone know that this is the Dems fault-800+ days without a budget, a budget plan from Obama that was so bad, his own party did not pass it...

have you considered| 7.29.11 @ 7:18AM

And herein lies the rub:
""It would have been a victory in the form of the single-largest domestic discretionary savings from current baselines""

The Current Baselines? Is the current baseline from Obama's budget, the lousy 2011CR (you know, the one that cut a whopping 300Mil); or what?

In the Pledge for America, They Promised to pass a budget back to 2008 spending.

From the Pledge:
""With common-sense exceptions for
seniors, veterans, and our troops, we will
roll back government spending to pre-
stimulus, pre-bailout levels, saving us at
least $100 billion in the first year alone and
putting us on a path to balance the budget
and pay down the debt. We will also
establish strict budget caps to limit federal
spending from this point forward.""

They passed Ryan's budget, but they did not fulfill their Pledge.

Ringleader| 7.29.11 @ 9:12AM

Right on. Keep up the fight.

Ryan| 7.29.11 @ 9:37AM

Not all Republicans signed it. The Tea Party didn't have the votes, the Senate, nor the Presidency.

Clint| 7.29.11 @ 7:20AM

"Rep. Ron Paul has blasted top House Republicans for a lack of leadership, and called on supporters to pressure top GOP officials not to “cut a backroom deal with President Obama.”

In an email sent Thursday evening to supporters of his presidential bid, Paul urged backers to “help [Republican leaders] make up their mind.”

“The Republican congressional leadership is susceptible to our pressure — good old-fashioned grassroots pressure,” Paul wrote. “That’s why I need your help to demand Republican leaders show some backbone and loudly say ‘No!’ to any business as usual, status quo-empowering compromises to raise the debt ceiling.”

The GOP Capitulators Forgot To Tell You That:

" In a series of phone calls, administration officials have told bankers that the administration will not allow a default to happen even if the debt cap isn't raised by the August 2 date "

The Tea Party Rebellion Digs In On This Hill.

Stand & Fight.

Sandy| 7.29.11 @ 7:37AM

Boehner was wrong to come up with so many different plans. He should have had an open session with all of the House Republicans weeks ago, and come up with something that they could all agree with, and that could reasonable pass with the Democrats, and then stuck with it. He should never played golf with obama, or agreed to have secret meetings with him.

Please don't blame the Republicans or the conservatives, as a group though. Blame the libertarians who wanted what they wanted or nothing, just as Obama wants what he wants, or nothing.

Now Obama will do what he planned to do all along, and even hinted at it. He will use the 14th amendment and raise the ceiling on his own. And there won't even be an impeachment threat to stop him. When Obama does that, he will be the big loser, not the Republicans or conservatives who at least gave it some efforts.

Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 8:16AM

More Sandy RINO-CINO Capitulator Bogus Bullcrap.

We Tea Party Patriots Have Addressed The 14th Amendment Issue, Regarding The Debt Issue.

The Constitution Makes Clear That Congress Has The Authority, Not The President, To Borrow Money And Only Congress Can Increase The Statutory Debt Ceiling.

The Tea Party Rebellion Fights On This Hill.

Stand & Fight.

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.29.11 @ 7:50AM

News Flash Quinn, just because you and your capitulating, establishment, beltway, RINO class clowns got knocked on your butt by the only group to actually represent the electorate of 2010 does not mean Alinsky won. What I suggest you do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off a bit, and get on board with the only group who has proven their mettle. In order to eventually win, you have to fight; you want to lie down, fine; but realize this, the battle is going to rage back and forth till 2012 and you are going to get stepped on a lot.

Ryan| 7.29.11 @ 9:38AM

Where are the votes?

TheVotes| 7.29.11 @ 10:42AM

Yes. Where are the votes to RAISE the debt ceiling? If the ceiling isn't raised, then debt service and essential spending will proceed out of incoming revenue. The lack of votes will require the government to actually cut spending on non-essential programs.

So where are the votes to allow even more government spending? 60% of the population does NOT want the debt limit raised. Where are the votes to override what the people want?

Compromise has already occured in even offering plans that allow a debt limit increase. Seems votes are not available (from the Senate or Obama) to even allow the debt limit increase offerred. Where are the votes for the increase being offered today?

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 12:32PM

Where are the votes for Boehner? It's been declared "dead on arrival" in the Senate already. Apply your own logic, Bunky.

Mich| 7.29.11 @ 7:59AM

While those of us actively engaged in the ongoing debates understand that many more cuts need to be made, and the current plan isn't much, there are a lot more that don't even know who their representative is. It is those people that choose the politicians. Palin is reminding representatives that they may be primaried. That is true, they may. That is not the problem. They also have to win the general. That is the bind. If Democrats get a political win on this, tea partiers just shot themselves in the foot. Sometimes you have to be patient and have a game plan that is four quarters long.

The current blow up has been building for two years. There hasn't been a budget by Dems, but most of the public hasn't been as informed. Democrats did not win a majority by sticking to their liberal dreams, but by planting Blue Dogs in Congress.

I think we want to move the ball down the field, not score a touchdown. The way it is looking we are being sacked, and the political recovery will be worse. The debt ceiling will be raised, that is just a fact. We can be part of it, or shut out.

The tea party is helping to commit political suicide.

Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 8:33AM

Do Your Homework RINO-CINO Capitulators.

"Major ratings firms -- namely Standard & Poor's and Moody's -- have said even if the country raises the debt ceiling and doesn't default, there's a strong likelihood that the triple-A bond rating will be cut to double-A unless a budget can be crafted that results in $4 trillion in savings, the result of the massive debt load the country has accumulated in recent years. The nation's outstanding debt is more than $14 trillion."

The Tea Party Fights On This Hill.

Stand & Fight.

JP| 7.29.11 @ 9:24AM

The Teaparty is about to destroy itself and the GOP.

Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 10:54AM

More Shuck & Jive Trash Talk From ObamaBoy JP.

Michael L. Hauschild| 7.29.11 @ 8:39AM

The Tea PARTIERS just shot themselves in the foot? Au contraire, the Tea PARTIERS did exactly what they had promised their constituents, this is a concept referred to as “honesty.” I find these events somewhat refreshing in two ways; trusting those you have sent to Washington is a rewarding experience, and second knocking the capitulating clown’s phalluses in the dirt evokes great joy in my heart.

rightasrain| 7.29.11 @ 8:12AM

This is Boehner's fiasco for all the reasons stated above. If the best the entrenched establishment Republicans can come up with is reducing the deficit from $24 trillion to $23 trillion by 2023, I'll vote for Obama next year and get in line with my hand out for all the "free" democrat goodies while America still exists.

JimH| 7.29.11 @ 8:50AM

I don’t know if this includes any recently elected Republicans, but sometimes I get a sense that some who call themselves conservatives are looking forward to the apocalypse and are not above trying to help it along.

Anonymous| 7.29.11 @ 8:56AM

wrong wrong wrong wrong...the Tea Party has completely changed the political environment. That is the beauty of the Tea Party. They have made things like the the Alinsky Rules obsolete. The Repubs that didnt want to vote for Boehner's bill yesterday get that. The ones that wanted it passed don't get it. Do you really think all those voters that voted for Repubs last November are going to all of a sudden change their vote because of this debt thing after what we saw in the 2006 and 2008 elections? No they voted Repub because the Tea Party movement convinced them Democrats are bad for America.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 8:57AM

The difference between RINOs and conservatives is that RINOs will bankrupt the country in order to avoid being blamed for necessary entitlement cuts. Tell David Frum we said hello, Quin.

Leonard Ogle| 7.29.11 @ 9:01AM

I don't care who thinks Obama is winning. As long as the 25 hold out, continue to hold out they are causing the idiot in chief sweat and worry. That means more than just giving him what he wants.

As long as the Tea Party participants hold out for a balanced buget and the idiot in Chief turns it down, it will finally be the nail in his coffin as he loses due to his over reaching one more time.

Like the rest of us who are applauding the Tea Party representatives who continue to do the right thing for the right reasons and the Dems can go straight to hell.

Burt| 7.29.11 @ 9:13AM

Boy, what a childish hissy fit the DC Beltway experts at AS are having today.
Why do these self proclaimed AS DC experts believe and panic over these Push polls cooked up by Dem party front group like Cnn, Cook,Gallup, Pew, CBS, NBC, ABC , Leftico ( aka Politico) .... The GOP are losing independent ( panic !!) which is the usual lies peddled by these Hard left Soros controlled media/polling front groups .
Sadly the GOP have two dedicated K street front men pretending to be conservatives when all they like to do is spend our money and keep their former Aides happy on K Street. By the way, Johnny B has the largest number of former staffers working on K street.
K street tool like Bonehead and Johnny must be removed now and some real GOP people with Media PR smarts be put in charge ( Rubio and West)

JP| 7.29.11 @ 9:23AM

Actually, you've missed the entire point of this debt ceiling drama. The GOP is being set-up, and the Gang of 25 is the means. Wait until after 2 August. The media assault will be something to behold. Every elderly patient suffering terminal illness, every disabled vet, and aspiring grad student will be showcased with the intent to show the world how utterly heartless the GOP is. It will take 2 weeks or less of this to get the Gang of 25 to fold to Obama's wishes. And that my friend, is how Obama will get his $2 trillion slush fund and ride to re-election.

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 10:32AM

The fight back with our own message and take the truth to the public with our own barrage or 'Assault.' Tell them the truth. Start with informing them that Obamacare has cut 500 billion from medicare and the program is slated for destruction in their obamacare bill.

C Bowen| 7.29.11 @ 10:14AM

West was pro-sell out.

rightasrain| 7.29.11 @ 11:03AM

I guess the Marines ain't what they used to be if Debbie Wasserman Schultz has you running scared.

C Bowen| 7.29.11 @ 3:09PM

West was $5,000 for abuse to a detainee, and showed no shame, pretended to forget, and retired, rather then fight a court marshal and clear his honor.

I am not shocked to discover he is a sell-out, but some need to face the truth.

Derek Leaberry| 7.29.11 @ 9:15AM

Let us understand the Boehner Plan. $ 1.1 trillion in cuts over 10 years and the last eight are not guaranteed. $ 110 billion a year but the last eight years are not guaranteed. And this on a 7 % "baseline" apparently automatic increase. So the Boehner cuts are cuts of an increase. Such a victory is tantamount to the Baltimore Orioles claiming victory over the New York Yankees because they lose a game by four runs instead of the usual five runs. Some win.

Boehner, Cantor and McCarthy should do the decent thing and pull a Ramsey MacDonald. Run the House in coalition with Nancy Pelosi and her Democrats with the fifty or so moderate Republicans like Dave Camp, Jerry Lewis and the other soft Wonder Breads.

JP| 7.29.11 @ 9:17AM

Simon, here are the simple facts. The GOP can block legislation, but little else. Nearly 80 million Americans depend on Uncle Sam either for part of or all of thier monthly income (disabled vets, disabled civilians, retirees, food stamp recipients, college and grad students, the unemployed, grant recipients, EIC recipients, Medicare and Medicaid patients, federal employees, federal contractors and businesses, as well as rent seekers, and assorted public interest groups). Do you really think that when the President announces to these people that the checks may not be in the mail this month or next, the GOP can actually win? When it comes between pristine conservative fiscal values and someones money, I'll take the money every time. Just wait until 3 August. Bachman will get flooded with angry phone calles from thousands of desperate voters who fear that nothing will be coming in. And just think when when anrgy disabled Iraqi vets in her district get on TV to radiate thier righteous anger. Not even Ron Paul will be immuned. It matters not if it is all a lie. What matters is preceptions. And then comes Obama with his money bags to save the day.

The Gang of 25 House Conservatives are setting themselves up to be steamrolled.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 10:16AM

All revenue bills must originate in the House. No Senate bills go to Obama except thru the House.

If we're not going to do anything with the power we already have, and if avoiding blame is the chief concern, just give the House back to the Democrats and solve both problems.

Why should we elect more Republicans given it will only provide leadership a wider margin to ignore conservatives and appease liberals?

We need new party leadership. We may need a new party.

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 10:50AM

Then change the perceptions. Your argument makes perfect sense if you accept the notion that we are completely helpless, impotent, and unable to influence the American public or educate them to the facts and reality of the impending crisis of national bankruptsy and economic collaspe DUE to insane overspending and borrowing by the DEMOCRATS. If this is the case then I really suggest we just pack it in, leave DC, and go home. I am not joking. What is the point? Pristine conservative fiscal values? Is that what we are proposing? What of the millions of voters and those citizens who pay the bills? What of the majority of voters who are screaming STOP this insane spending by all polls and poll estimates? There will be no default and those people will be paid. The House does not write those checks and the president has the responsibility and power to see they are written. He is the one who is threatening not to write them. We seem to be unable to communicate even this to the Public in this war of words and debate. That is the rub, you will take the money each time. That is the problem. Then why are we bothering? I suggest then we do what John Galt did? Again, not being a smart ass or joking. This would be the only logical and sensible course.

JP| 7.29.11 @ 12:16PM

Simon,
It's not just perceptions. And in this case, we're talking about real money. Face it, the GOP is a minority party. Yes, it runs the House. But constitutionally, all it can do is block bills. And Reid and Obama have no intentions of compromising -they hold the better hand. Like I said, no one gives a hoot about fiscal this, and balanced that when they're not getting thier $900 check or $700 food stamps credit. The President holds the trump card on this. Boehner knows better than anyone that his "plan" is a sham. He's just trying to make the best of an impossible situation. The GOP can do nothing until the re-take the Senate and the WH.

If Boehner fails and the Senate comes up with a "bi-partisan solution (all Reid needs is 5 GOP Senators), I can guarentee you that it will contain $2.5 trillion in new spending authorization. And there will be enough GOP cross-over voters in the House to pass it.

What do you prefer? Boehner's Plan or Reids?

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 2:30PM

You still do not get it. Take either plan, it does not matter? It is not about supporting the Boehner plan or not. You can not seem to let go of this bone. Passing his plan means nothing, Pass it. You got my blessing. Yes, it is about perceptions as you say. That is exactly my point. Boehner and the gang have completely mismanaged this debate and the PERCEPTIONS. They are not winning politically or practically. They are destroying and smearing thier own base and joining the opposition to make conservatives and the Tea Party the fall guy no matter what happens..Boehner bill or not. Like the corrupt pieces of shit they are they are running with total fear and have bought every single delusion, scare tactic, and democratic version of reality that has been vomited up. So, in order to preemptively protect thier careers they are turning on the very base and distancing themselves. This IS what we have a problem with, not the Boehner bill. The complete incompetence in how this was handled from the beginning has been stunning. You still have not addressed the blame game and the media onslaught. This will happen no matter what is passed. You do not seem to get this. I do not see the old guard remotely able to deal with it or having even the will to do so.

simon templar| 7.29.11 @ 2:38PM

In fact, they and Boehner are helping this President by the sheer mishandling and incompetence and lack of control of the message and the media image as well as the negotiating strategy. With your logic, we should just send a note to Reid and idiot-in-chief telling them to write the bill and send it over and we will sign whatever they like. Hell raise the debt cieling by 100 trillion trillion and tell them you are willing to give them a blank check ammendment to the constitution and be done with it.

Clint.| 7.29.11 @ 10:52AM

You're An Argument Against Yourself, ObamaBoy JP.

"JP| 7.12.11 @ 4:02PM

There are a number of things that the President could do to ensure that retirees and servicement get paid -all without Congressional approval.

1)He could furlough non-essiential federal employees (without pay) for a month

2)He could tap into unspent TARP funds (as far as I know this $150-300 billion slush fund is still available -and thanks to Paulson and Bush, it is beyond Congressional oversight).

3)There is still unspent Stimulus money in Treasury (not much, but more than taxpayers realize).

Other things like reduction in force (RIF), sale of government assets, re-allocation of funds from one branch to another (thus closing some branches) requires congressional approval, and no Dem ever closes down a federal programs other than the military."

JP| 7.29.11 @ 12:00PM

Good grief, do you really thing the President would do that instead of demogogue the GOP? The President's intentions all along was to create a crisis. And he will do all he can to scare the daylights out of all who depend on Uncle Sam for money. Yes, the President can do all what you said. But he isn't obligated to do any of them. And with the MSM and Ruling Class he will instead go for broke, and make the GOP into a modern day Scrooge. Congress is powerless in preventing the Treasury from prioritzing who gets what.

CadenzaMom| 7.29.11 @ 9:18AM

“Never give in, never give in, never; never; never; never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense” ~Winston Churchill

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 10:17AM

"Success is going from failure to failure with undiminished enthusiasm." Winston Churchill

Varptr| 7.29.11 @ 12:45PM

How WWII was won. This is how most science and government proceeds. When asked about bloody operation "Market Garden", Eisenhower confirmed he would do it again in an instant. Costing tens of thousands of men, and generally accepted as an allied defeat, it bled the German war machine dry, destroying almost half of all their armored equipment, trapping huge resources without reinforcement, and draining most remaining air power.

Last Monday was a similar turning point for the United States. Via Boehner's efforts Obama was forced to make it clear he could not compromise, Obama then chose to lie, and caught in the lie he had to go on TV to explain about the non-existent "Plan", another lie. Obama then tried to cheat by releasing false reports, and ultimately, Obama made a fatal error, he chose not to produce a plan ... at all. Boehner then chose to turn attention to a truculent Senate, exposing them as well. Boehner's extensive failures and compromises have clearly painted the Democrats with the Cloward Piven, Alinsky strategy and set the stage for the largest Democrat defeat in the history of the United States, not at the polls, but in the streets. Because you can't squeeze blood from a rock or socialism from a bankrupt government! For even the locusts die when the grass is gone! And yelling at the grass for not being "giving enough" is perhaps the funniest Democrat effort of all! destroying the stems and roots because they suck nutrients from the blades.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 2:20PM

What happened to the troops on the ground in Market Garden? You'll recall Montgomery came out just fine; the troops and the Dutch Resistance not so much.

Conservatives are the troops and the Dutch Resistance.

Ringleader| 7.29.11 @ 9:20AM

Let me get this straight Quin, it's the hold to their principles conservatives fault that wont pass a piece of crap Boehner bill that has already been announced DOA by senate democrats if it passes and pre-announced to vetoed by Obama. So te real question is why is Boehner pushing so hard for this zombee bill? Why won't they just tell the public the truth? Because they are all in bed together, two side of the same coin. Progressives have been in power far too long and it's time we take it back and send them back to where they belong. In prison for steel from children yet to be born.

Ringleader| 7.29.11 @ 9:22AM

Steel = stealing.

Ringleader| 7.29.11 @ 9:22AM

Steel = stealing.

danielasohn| 7.29.11 @ 10:17AM

You are advocating punting, not winning the game. We are behind and there is no time left for America to run down the clock. We sent representatives there to stop this over spending. We didn't send them to be as weak kneed as you.

danielasohn| 7.29.11 @ 10:17AM

You are advocating punting, not winning the game. We are behind and there is no time left for America to run down the clock. We sent representatives there to stop this over spending. We didn't send them to be as weak kneed as you.

Real American| 7.29.11 @ 10:26AM

F the Media! F the Democrats! it's their damn fault. Its their damn spending. not ours.

post*tenebras*lux| 7.29.11 @ 10:51AM

Mr. Hilyer, you left out what the "media" do all the time, what do the people know! My advice to you is .......................go visit Les Miles, coach of the LSU football team and get some "balls"!

Vince Kasten| 7.29.11 @ 11:13AM

The circular firing squad continues - if all of the self-flagellating rinos and conservative intelligentsia would spend their energy publicly fixing the blame where it *belongs* rather than on arguing tactics out in public we would have moved the ball twice as far *and* would be getting credit for being the adults in the room.

Reid and Pelosi have 100% of their people lined up behind a completely untenable position, but as a group they seem reasonable because of the solidarity. This constant sniping in public creates the perception of disarray and undermines both the principled members of our team *and* the principles they stand for. Please please please can all these "helpful" conservatives just SHUT UP ALREADY??

9th ID| 7.29.11 @ 11:21AM

Exactly, if the RINO establishment hadn't attacked it own and the November mandate we wouldn't here. Boehner and McConnell are feckless crybabies...

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 11:23AM

They're not conservatives; they're RINOs who would bankrupt the country in order to avoid the spectacle of the unwashed conservative masses in the driver's seat of the country club GOP.

9th ID| 7.29.11 @ 11:19AM

Quin Hillyer channels his inner John McCain -- again. Quin moved to flyover country, but still lives inside the Beltway. The fact of the matter is that Cut, Cap & Balance is the only plan that addresses the problem at hand, has passed a vote, and is bipartisan. Quin is not a Hobbit, just another Troll in Mordor...

9th ID| 7.29.11 @ 11:23AM

As Rush stated, it looks like the GOP is handing the Dems a 2012 win by creating a 3rd party movement. If the GOP can replace the Whigs, then we can replace the GOP...

CMORE| 7.29.11 @ 11:53AM

Mr Quinn
Why are you not focusing on why the Senate has not passed a budget in over two years,now as as conservative I am not disagreeing with cuts in spending and the percieved division is not division at all it is just most conservatives disagree with how much should be cut.
You are falling for the Alinsky tricks that Obama and the Dens are using,why didn't Obama scream for a budget last year! Remember the CR from a few months ago that was a sandbag from Pelosi and Reid to give Obama cover for not insisting for one.
Obama for the past two and a half years has had an open ended budget and has caused this crisis, do sir when you start to bag on conservatives take a look in the mirror and ask yourself what did I do on the past to help call and keep this from happening, ther is a little rule I try to live by in life "Principles before personality " and IMO you have allows your personality to override your principles and that is what they count on the most,what are the three basic tennants of conservatism limited but strong government, accountability, and abservance of INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY. keep those basic foundations and the socialists lose everytime.

trent1280| 7.29.11 @ 1:03PM

Mr Obama has not won the public debate on his own merits. The Republicans have lost it on theirs.

The internal chaos within the Republican/Tea Party ranks has resulted in Weepin' John Boehner's inability even to bring his own bill to the floor. Had he done so, it would have lost -- defeated by his own insurgents.

The Republican/Tea Party suffers a Grand Canyon of divide between the Wall Street elite, who demand government bailouts whenever their bungling and criminality require it, and the Main Street folks who wonder why the bailouts only apply to banks "too big to fail".

Until the Republican/Tea Party decides which side it is on, the Democrats will continue to lead the public opinion.

It is always best to study the playbook of the opposition. Saul Alinsky argued that, when in a position of no power, "you have to make the other guy play by his own rules". He was making that case during the Civil Rights era.

It is as applicable today when the Dems deal with a party that doesn't know its own name. Mr Obama, one must concede, has cleverly given them all the rope they need... is this the best we can do?

Oldefarte| 7.29.11 @ 3:22PM

Quin is exactly correct in his arguments, but hopefully his conclusion will not come true [though the odds are great that it will]. As a lifelong Republican voter [and also an ardent admirer of this tea party movement, until now], I am simply fed up with the stupidity exhibited here from these asinine comments from these supposidly tea party members/supporters/block-heads. Same are simply DUMB-AS-A-STUMP hardheadiness [and a refusal to see the whole/entire picture of this situation]. As fellow conservatives, we all want substantial budget/debt cuts/reductions and relief from this historical defecit/debt spending from mostly Democrats [though Republicans are minorily guilty as well, though solely concerning military/intelligence buildups, as opposed to Democrats' much larger welfare expendatures]. I'll repeat, WE CONSERVATIVES ALL WANT SUBSTANTIAL SPENDING CUTS, but these morons here slandering Quin, myself and anyone who disagrees with their obstinate political positions either ignore or are too stupid to understand the total circumstances involved. If the credit rating agencies downgrade the governmental notes/paper decreasing their credit worthyiness, the WHOLE GD US ECONOMY [AND EACH INDIVIDUAL STATES'] has a good probability of crashing to depression levels and beyond. Our governmental bonds will become suspect to the rest of their world [and our dollars are the reserves of most countries economy], the Chinese/Japanese etc who hold the majority of our debt could decide to sell same and put their money elsewhere [spiking/quadripling interest rates, wiping out residential/commercial real estate values completely, credit card interest rates would skyrocket and cards would be immediately cancelled by banks, major banks and the stock markets could collapse,etc]. In general, IT AIN'T JUST THE SPENDING CEILING/GOVERNMENTAL SPENDING THAT'S AT STAKE HERE, DUMMIES! As he said, the Democrats may have already won this battle thanks to the pig-headed TP'ers, and if so THEY/TP will/should be blamed for the financial carnage that results, since the Republicans tried with two seperate plans and failed due to [1] the Democrats and [2] the Tea Party. I hope all of you idiots here are overjoyed with yourselves when this devastation starts [the GD stock market dropped 200 points yesterday, and a 5000+ point drop will be nothing once this stalemate envelopes financially]. This defecit/debt crisis did not happen over night and has been evolving for decades, and will not be solved overnight also [but will take years to substantilly cut spending]. As you TP'ers rightfully said, the 2010 congressional turnaround was solely due to yur political efforts, but you're absolutely incorrect in your MY-WAY-OR-THE-HIGHWAY approach concerning this spending battle and a compromise [the Boehner plan or the CCB plan] is needed now. Your wanting it all right now is what your obvious leader previously referred to as ACTING STUIPIDLY. Oh and also, tea partiers, read the following article concerning the Democrats' attitude about your TP movement and think about who your friends really are[and who your enemies are as well]:

"....The Democratic National Committee today unveiled a new initiative to brand the Republican Party as synonymous with the Tea Party movement.A DNC document laid out what it says are the plans of the "Republican Tea Party," among them repealing the health care bill, privatizing Social Security, ending Medicare in its current form, extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and abolishing the Departments of Education and Energy. They call the ten-point platform the "Republican Tea Party Contract on America."(Most Republicans do support repealing health care and extending the Bush tax cuts, though the other positions here have far more limited support within the party.) DNC Chair Tim Kaine pushed the initiative at a press conference today, saying "the Republican Party agenda has become the tea party agenda, and vice versa." Democrats hope that by linking the Tea Party to the OP they will convince moderate voters who might have considered voting Republican that the party is too extreme.
Republican National Committee spokesperson Katie Wright responded to the DNC effort with a statement saying Democrats have an "arrogant agenda" and arguing that their "strategy for this summer appears be attacking voters as opposed to listening to them."The Democratic initiative is designed to help blunt expected GOP gains in the November midterm elections. The name of their document, the "Republican Tea Party Contract on America," is meant to evoke memories of Republicans' 1994 "Contract With America" that helped the GOP win control of Congress. Republicans are planning a new version of that document before the November elections. Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann recently started a Tea Party Caucus in the House, which attracted 28 Republicans. Some members of the GOP appear to be wary of being linked too closely to the movement, though they hope to harness Tea Party enthusiasm in the midterms.
A DNC official told Politico that "We are going to use this from now until the election as a pre-emptive strike against GOP's August rebranding effort, and as a response to the new contract we expect them to come out with this fall...."

All American American| 7.29.11 @ 3:47PM

So you admired the Tea Party until they, you know, stuck to their principles instead of caving like so many RINOs. Hmmm. Says more about you than any Tea Party member, I reckon.

9th ID| 7.30.11 @ 11:00AM

Oldefarte is just an establishment troll and worships the likes of the Beltway Boys; Quin, Rove, and Krauthammer. I would rather call the Dems' bluff now an risk a "technical default" and temporary upsets in the markets than keep spending like drunken sailors and have a TOTAL crash within a year. Just as the ratings agencies have stated, there will be a downgrade if REAL cuts are not enacted. These RINOs give new meaning to fecklessness. The new season on RINOs, that we started in 2010, will begin anew in 2012 and there will be no bag limit...

All American American| 7.29.11 @ 3:50PM

"Ohhhh no if we don't cave the big scary democrats are gonna call us Tea Party Republicans! Oh heavens to betsy I just wee-weed myself!!!"

Funny thing is, if more RINOs acted like Tea Party members they'd have the support of the majority of the American people.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 4:04PM

They don't care about the support of the American people----they want David Gregory to love them.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 4:03PM

Quin must pay you by the word.

rightasrain| 7.29.11 @ 4:16PM

If the credit rating agencies downgrade our paper, which they should have done years ago if they weren't corrupt and complicit, it will be because of our staggering levels of debt--not the fight over the debt ceiling. The tea party contingent is the only group insisting on fiscal sanity. It is completely untrue that we want everything all at once or have a "my way or the highway" attitude. We fully understand that change must be incremental. But you really must be inhaling your old farts for quite some time to find a bill that adds $10-$20 trillion to the debt acceptable.

Kirath| 7.29.11 @ 4:39PM

Well I'm the opposite of you, old fart. I'm a newly minted Republican thanks to people finally rising up and finally fighting against the moronic thinking and hiding under the bed when challenged that's gotten the country in this position in the first place. Either pedal to the metal spending like Obama democrats, or half open faucet spending like Bush and the last Republican Congress. Death by self-beheading or death by a million paper cuts it's still the same result in the end. No thanks, I'd like to see a country still around when I'm an old fart like you, and for my future children.

Teflon93| 7.29.11 @ 5:05PM

Welcome to the fight, Kirath!

randyinrocklin| 7.29.11 @ 4:38PM

I stand with the courageous 25 republicans that voted against Boehner. They did the RIGHT thing inlike the rest of the squishes.They didn't care about the next election, they did what the voters sent them to DC to do what We The People want, not what the politicians want. So lay off the true conservatives Quinn...getting tired of your Weekly Standard talking points...go back to Right Online where you came form.

Brad miller| 7.30.11 @ 10:58AM

As one who holds a political science degree (wasted money I know) I do understand the voter bell curve and the two-party system. Most voters lay in the middle of that bell curve and both parties remain centrist with variations leaning left or right.
What the left has been successful in doing is moving the middle of the bell curve's ideology leftward. They have done so by usurping power from the states, gaining control of the schools and universities, and diminishing the role of religion in society.
By the usurpation of power they were able to buy voters and addict them to govt money.
By controlling the education system they were able to mold the minds of youth to think their way and accept the usurpation of power. They were able to lurch mainstream middle America to the left shifting the bell curve leftward.
By diminishing the church's role in society they created a population that instead of clinging to their god (lower case to express the general term not proper name), guns and neighbors, they now cling to govt for salvation (obama's collective salvation), protection, and assistance.
The combination of these factors a has splintered communities, destroyed interpersonal discourse on matters and gave the govt the opportunity to squash our rights as we all sit helplessly by watching it burn.
All that said to support the notion that we need the GOP to change this course. The GOP needs to lurch rightward and push back against the creeping leftward slide. How you ask?
The GOP needs to put forward honest drastic restorative policies that wrest power away from the leftists and return those powers to the states. The single most effective restorative action is a repeal of the 17th Amendment, and amend the 16th to place a floor rate of 5% or less and a ceiling rate of 10% or less. Then require the states to pay the annual deficit/debt accumulated in that fiscal year based on the states' proportion of the nation's population according to the census.
What will this restorative act accomplish? A lot! Senators will again be employed by the state govts. Because the very low income tax rates will not be able to pay for all the unconstitutional spending, the senators will have to present their boss a bill for the deficit and give an account to their boss for every penny spent that they approved. Even though a senator may serve 6 years the state can still fire them and replace them. Senators will no longer be free to spend without their state's approval.
The next reform I suggest is for Congress to remove jurisdiction from the SCOTUS on matters of religious expression and various other social issues. Congress is allowed to grant jurisdiction and take it away from the SCOTUS. This gives the issues back to the states where they belong.
With these two restorative measures in place the liberals are powerless to buy votes, usurp power, and destroy the fibers that bind us together as a nation.
Thanks for reading this.

Brad Miller| 7.30.11 @ 11:41AM

I forgot to explain how the leftward shift of the bell curve affects the GOP.
In a two-party system both parties chase the middle ground where 60% of the voters are. A shift in the bell curve right or left causes both parties to shift with them to appeal to the most voters (50%+1). The wings of the bell curve will vote for them regardless so the politicians are free to shift with the voters in the middle.
The left was successful in shifting the bell curve to the left in 1900, 1913, 1930, and 1965 and thus the GOP was dragged leftward to accommodate the new middle. Today the left (because they controlled the education system that trains the media) is successful in maintaining the illusion of the leftward shift in the bell curve. This illusion in turn keeps the GOP establishment facing left. This is why the GOP struggles with internal strife all the time. The difference in the two parties is that the left wing has moved the Dems closer to the wing and convinced the middle left to accept it. While the GOP saw the middle left accept the wing and thought it was a major shift in the middle to the left. The GOP then shifted away from it's wing and convinced the wing to accept the middle left.
Now the right wing has had enough and you see conservative movements begin to rise (John Birch Society, Christian Coalition, the TEA parties etc).
The GOP still thinks the majority of voters are in the middle left to left wing so they resist their base voters to the right.
Thanks for reading this

Oldefarte| 7.30.11 @ 12:44PM

How many tea party patriots does it take to change a lightbulb? Ten million and five: One to go to Wal-Mart and buy a lightbulb (and a gun because he’s going to the store anyway), one to scoff at global climate change, one to draw a rally poster making fun of Al Gore, one to complain about the socialist conspiracy to bring light to all Americans, one to change the bulb, and 10 million to sit in the dark even though the light is on.

“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “A communist-fascist dictator.” “That’s impossible — communism and fascism are at opposite ends of the philosophical spectrum.” “You’re supposed to say ‘a communist-fascist dictator who.’” “Fine. A communist-fascist dictator who?” “Oh, never mind. You’ve ruined the joke. I’ll go next door to the tea party patriot’s house.”

What do Fox News and pâté have in common? They’re both popular with crackers.

Did you hear about the new e-Beck from Amazon? When you click “download” it whines about socialism for an hour and then breaks into tears.

What’s the difference between Cinemax After Dark and a tea bag convention? One’s a show about people who are agitated over stimulus packages and the other is a group of people with their mouths full of balls.

Why did the tea party patriot miss the anti-tax meeting? She was too busy driving on taxpayer-funded roads, sending her kids to public school, living in a safe neighborhood, drinking clean water, breathing clean air, enjoying public parks, using public lands, buying safe products, eating inspected food, and enjoying countless other services funded by tax dollars, but this isn’t shaping up like much of a punch line, so let’s say she ate so many bologna and cheese Hot Pockets that she was too fat to fit into the public library meeting room.

Why did the tea party militia fail to stop the spread of socialism? Because they forgot to write “Ready, Aim, Fire!” on the palms of their hands.

Why couldn’t the tea party patriot afford to go to the NRA rally? Because he spent all his money buying unlicensed guns at the flea market.

What’s the difference between Tiger Woods and a tea party patriot? One’s a half-black linksman with ass on his mind and the other’s a half-assed thinksman with blacks on his mind.

A liberal, a conservative and a tea party patriot appear on “Good Morning America.” George Stuffenenvelopes asks them how they’d solve the economic crisis. The liberal says, “We should tax the rich and provide health care for all.” The conservative says, “We should cut taxes on the rich and run up huge deficits on endless wars.” The tea party patriot says, “We should neither tax nor borrow nor spend. We should drill, baby, drill before the Nazi death panelists take away our freedom and destroy the nation. Abortion! Terrorism! Ditto! Git-R-Done! Obamanation! Freedom! Pit bull! Dale Earnhardt!” Noticing that the conservative has been violently twisting the tea party patriot’s nipples, George Snuffleuppegus says, “What’s going on?” The conservative says, “Oh, sorry about that. I was just tuning my AM radio.”

Mankind finally destroys the planet, and Sarah Palin, John Yarmuth and Barack Obama all arrive at the pearly gates at the same time. When Palin steps forward, St. Peter says, “I’m sorry, ma’am. This will probably come as a shock to you: No Christians are allowed in heaven.” Yarmuth steps forward and says, “What about me? I’m not a Christian.” St. Peter says, “Sorry, sir, no Americans are allowed either. The Lord has ruled that absolutely no Christians and no Americans are allowed into the kingdom of heaven.” And Barack Obama goes, “SWEET!”

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and a tea party patriot walk into a bar. The bartender says, “I’m surprised to see you guys together!” The tea party patriot says, “Why are you surprised? All of my beliefs are based on the principles of the Founding Fathers!” Jefferson says, “Indeed, I wrote, ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal’ while schtupping my slaves.” Washington says, “I too was a slaveholder. And as ‘father of our country,’ I led the military against my own citizens in the Whiskey Rebellion because they refused to pay taxes.” And Franklin says, “Yeah, I pretended to be a Puritan, yet rarely attended church and fathered an illegitimate son.” The bartender says, “So what you have in common is that you’re all hypocrites?” “No,” says Franklin. “What we have in common is that we’re all living in the 18th century.”

jgo| 7.31.11 @ 4:49PM

The conservatives haven't caused a crisis. The radical leftists did, by refusing to even consider the House bill.