Jacobson Is Right: Forget About The "Big Deal"

Some on the right have been fantasizing about a "Big Deal" with Obama. Can we hope for modest entitlement reform in exchange for a little compromise on tax increases? William Jacobson says no. I agree:

We just have to last another 18 months and win the presidential election, and then our long national nightmare will come to an end. Until then, we’re just trying to limit the damage.

Until he put forth his “plan,” Mitch McConnell was on the right track.

You can’t make a “big deal” with this President and this Senate. The best you can do is limit the damage done by the (Nancy)-Harry-Barack tag team.

McConnell’s plan wasn’t damage control; to the contrary, it made Republicans participants in the continuing damage.

There is a way out, spending constraints short of an overhaul of entitlements and no tax increases. At the end of the day, Obama will have to take it.

And if he doesn’t, the damage is on him.

Obama is ideologically incapable of making a deal that's good for America. (If you think that's an overstatement, examine his record.)

A big deal with Obama will do big damage. A smaller deal will do less.

In addressing the looming debt limit, the GOP should make the smallest possible deal ― just to get us all across the November 2012 finish line. After that, there may be hope for real progress.

GOP Leader Losing Crucial Conservative Support

If Republicans want to offer a clear alternative to the reckless shenanigans of the socialist democrat party, and more importantly, if Republicans want to play a role in pulling this country from the brink of financial ruin, they're on the wrong track.

The reliably conservative GOP loyalists at RedState are nearly fed up:

Just the other day I said the answer is “no” to the question “should the House GOP replace John Boehner.” The more we’ve found out about that budget deal, the more I think I might be wrong. Maybe we need Speaker Bachmann instead...

At a time when Republican leaders are trying to look “grown up” and “reasonable” in the eyes of the Washington Press Corps, Michele Bachmann is fighting the left.

Michele Bachmann is willing to pick a fight to replace Obamacare when John Boehner and Eric Cantor are willing to roll over. Bachmann is willing to pick a fight on the debt ceiling when the leadership is, even now, negotiating an increase in the debt ceiling while yet again selling out conservatives...

Yes, the Republican Party is screwing conservatives to the wall and giving the Tea Party the shaft. But much more tragically, they're selling out Americans who are too young to vote yet.

If today's Republican officeholders don't get their act together pronto, their future will not be bright. The Tea Party giveth, and the Tea Party taketh away. Remember Charlie Crist? Bob Bennett? Trey Grayson? Stinky Scozzafava?

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Obama/Boehner Deal "Saves" Only $1 Per American

UPDATE: NEW HEADLINE... Republicans Looking to Increase Federal Budget Deficit by $3.3 Billion

The U.S. national debt is well over $14,000,000,000,000. The madcap officeholders in Washington have responded the problem with a new budget deal that cuts this fiscal year’s deficit by just $352 MILLION. That's MILLION with an "M", not BILLION with a "B".

Unfortunately, this is not a joke. Even the leftists at the Washington Post are aghast:

A new budget estimate released Wednesday shows that the spending bill negotiated between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner would produce less than 1 percent of the $38 billion in promised savings by the end of this budget year.

The Congressional Budget Office estimate shows that compared with current spending rates the spending bill due for a House vote Thursday would cut federal outlays from non-war accounts by just $352 million through Sept. 30...

$352 million dollars is about $1.14 per American.

Let me remind the folks at the Washington Post that Boehner originally promised $100 BILLION in cuts to out-of-control federal spending. Even that would have been a very modest down payment on our superastronomical debt. But now were down to 0.35% of the original promise (with cuts that amount to 0.0025% of the national debt).

Update: “total federal outlays will still rise by approximately $177 billion.” Yes, that says “rise” not “decrease.”

Update II: NRO: Strike One For John Boehner

Update III: My apologies. I was terribly wrong. Obama-Boehner Budget Adds $3.3 Billion to Deficit Rather than Saving $38 Billion

Update IV: Boehner losing Erickson

Memeorandum thread

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When Social Media Backfire: Ask Dems

Nancy Pelosi asked her tweeps to participate in a twitter town hall meeting on Thursday to discuss the GOP budget. Hilarious hijinks ensued:

We have over two dozen Members of Congress answering questions on Twitter RIGHT NOW! Join us by asking via #askdems ~ RepMikeHonda

[pregnant pause]

[sound of keyboards clicking]

Where's my f*cking ObamaCare waiver? #AskDems ~ vodkapundit

[snickering and snorting across the fruited plain]

If you could destroy just one private sector industry with cap and trade, what would it be and why? #AskDems ~ EstablishmentDC

Have you lost weight? Your caucus looks so much smaller! #AskDems ~ vodkapundit

Nancy Pelosi: Do you still believe unemployment is the engine of the economy, or would that be bailouts? Or both? #puzzled #askdems ~ runedart

When you say everyone with pre-existing conditions is covered under Obamacare, does this include Michael Moore? #AskDems ~ EstablishmentDC

#AskDems Why is obama upping my gas prices? ~ SCMcDonnell

If you could flee-bag to any state, which one would it be? #AskDems ~ EstablishmentDC

Are there any upcoming bills we need to pass so we can see what's in them? #AskDems ~

vodkapundit

#AskDems Have you found out EVERYTHING in ObamaCare yet? ~ JRios68

I own a Prius but the windmill add-on destabilizes it during high winds. What do you recommend I do? #AskDems ~ EstablishmentDC

#AskDems How would you feel today if Scott Walker strutted through protesters with a giant gavel and proclaimed "We Won"? ~ hleecarr

Why are you suddenly silent about the "tone" in politics? Why are you silent about the WI unions? #AskDems ~ JewelsJungle

Is it a coincidence that the national debt, federal spending, and unemployment all climbed to record highs at the same time? #AskDems ~ ErickaAndersen

Now That You've Been Caught Double Counting, When Will You Admit Obamacare Will Bankrupt America? Or Is That The Plan? #AskDems ~ Papatul

#AskDems - Politely asking the right to stop flooding us with your conspiracy theory questions. ~ konquererz

…you passed Obamacare, Nancy Pelosi. Why do unions need to worry about medical benefits? #AskDems ~ presjpolk

#AskDems Why don't you push for the DOJ to have the Obamacare suits fast tracked to the Supreme Court. Uncertainty is hurting economy ~ ConservativeInd

Math question for #AskDems: Are the $500B "savings" in ObamaCare going to save Medicare or fund the health care law? #DoubleCounting ~ RepShimkus

When the government is running over a $1.5 Trillion deficit, why do you think $4.7 billion is a serious effort at deficit reduction? #AskDems ~ Rschrim

#AskDems You said 10 years ago it wasn't worth drilling for new oil because it would take 10 years to get it. Did you all fail math? ~ jim_riley

#AskDems Gas prices have increased 67% over the last two years, why are we not using our own resources to create jobs and bring prices down? ~ stacy_mott

Why didn't you pass a budget last year? #AskDems ~ SamValley

How did last month's $223 billion in new debt help the economy? #AskDems ~ vodkapundit

Where are the jobs? #AskDems ~ SusanAnneHiller

When Americans are tightening their belts at home, isn't it time for the federal gov't to do the same? #AskDems ~ DarrellIssa

[awkward silence]

Thanks everyone for participating in today's #AskDems Twitter Town Hall! ~ HouseDemocrats

ADDENDUM:

Dems ask Dems...

#AskDems Will Congress punish companies that refuse to hire those who are unemployed? This is immoral as well as thwarting recovery. ~ NealRauhauser

#AskDems PLease stand up to the Republicans Insane CUTS say NO as in NO CUTS ~ garak99

#AskDems Why do third world countries have better health care than the United States? ~ martian_mandi

Majority of Americans want to keep funding PBS, NPR, public schools & tax increases on top 5% earners.Will u do this? #AskDems ~ cyn3matic

We should take care of @DarrellIssa in 2012 for his insolence here today in #AskDems. Want to help? ~ NealRauhauser

#AskDems Why is it when we to help the bottom 90% of the population, it's 'Class Warfare' but when we help the top 2%, it's 'Free Market'? ~ VelouriasWorld

1950s tax rate on the rich was over 90%. Can we get it back to 50% at least? #AskDems ~ drst

We are losing our intellectual footing in the world. Do you have a plan to defend increased science funding? #AskDems ~ x63x77

#AskDems Why did Prez cave on cuts for wealthy by 70 billion? Sure, coincidence that GOP is cutting services by 70 billion a few months l8r. ~ TroJoe

#AskDems How will democrats explain away their failure to pass #dreamact FYI blaming on republicans will not work #accountablity ~ DreamAct

House Dems Respond:

Darrell Issa, perhaps removing the tax cuts for the rich should be the type of tightening we should do. #AskDems ~ RepJimMcDermott

#AskDems Need to start by cutting giveaways to big oil ask we are gouged at pump ~ PaulTonko

Dems agree we must cut spending but not investments that #create jobs in 14% of budget. We must look @ entire budget #AskDems ~ WhipHoyer

Poor people aren't organized & don't give to political campaigns. That's why I support public financing of campaigns #AskDems ~ RepJimMcDermott

#AskDems

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