Saturday, January 19, 2013


I'm not sure why so many people are doing the happy dance in response to Eric Cantor's offer of a three-month extension of the debt ceiling in return for a full budget agreement on the part of the Senate. Hell, even the usually dour Paul Krugman is pleased.

We're told that this will really take the debt ceiling off he table for much longer than three months, because a couple of other deadlines are coming up in the next three months, and surely the resolution of those problems will deal with this one as well. Jonathan Cohn:
Oh, so we just have to come up with a way around the sequester that's satisfactory to both Democrats and Republicans by March 1, and mollify Republicans so they don't shut the government down after March 27. A mere formality!

As Cohn says,
To be sure, Republicans are still determined to fight for their priorities -- namely, massive spending cuts and, where possible, new tax breaks for the rich. They might even shut down the government if they don't get their way. The expiration of the Continuing Resolution offers an opportunity for that.

So the terrorist tactic that would rattle the markets -- a default threat -- seems to be off the table. The terrorist tactic that specifically targets ordinary people -- holding massive spending cuts and entitlement reforms in one hand, and a government shutdown in the other, and saying, "Choose one" -- is very much on the table.

So we're still hostages. The fat cats have been released. Forgive me if I'm not dancing.


Victor said...

I'm actually surprised.

Our Congresscritters and Senators seem to supplement their government income with inside tips from Wall Street - or, at least inside knowledge of how their policies may affect the markets, and so profit from from them.

So, I'm surprised they didn't 'bet the under' on the market going down in flames, if they monkey with the coutries credit rating by not raising the debt ceiling.

Oh, wait - I get it!

They can 'bet the over' now, with the market going up, and then make even greater profits by 'betting the under' later!

Yeah, nothing corrupt about our Congress and Wall Street!

cat48L said...

Chuck Schumer on MTP says he can't wait to do a budget that the GOP is requesting & this sounds more orderly to him. He said Dems want more Revenue because we were shorted by the gop in the last deal; so they'll raise Revenue, undo the Sequester, and remove the Caps that the Budget Control Act put on Discretionary Spending b/c it's 2013 & they can be removed in FY 2013. heh'

Meanwhile, I'm sure Ryan is still mutilating "entitlements" & block granting to the states anything he can find!

Gird your loins! Who knows what might happen now?