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One can only dream of a Republican Party led by grown-ups. Instead, we have this.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) challenged President Obama on Thursday to meet with Senate Republicans to hear firsthand about the political reality of passing tax increases through Congress.
A day after Obama challenged Republicans to give up special tax breaks for corporate jets and major oil companies, McConnell issued a challenge of his own on the Senate floor.
“I’d like to invite the president to come to the Capitol today to meet with Senate Republicans. Any time this afternoon if he’s available, to come on up to the Capitol,” McConnell said. “That way he can hear directly from Senate Republicans … why what he’s proposing will not pass.”
McConnell says once Obama learns from GOP lawmakers that ending special tax breaks for oil companies and wealthy families has no chance of passing the Senate, “we can start talking about — maybe, finally — start talking about what’s actually possible.”
Let me summarize the message McConnell announced this morning: “If the president has some free time in a few hours, he should stop by and listen to us tell him we want to lower the deficit, but only in ways we see fit.”
Soon after, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters the president need not hear Republicans “restate their maximalist position,” adding, “We know that position. That’s not a conversation worth having.”
Of course not. Everyone knows what everyone thinks and everyone’s position at this point. Obama doesn’t need to listen to Republicans demand 100% of what they want, anymore than McConnell needs to listen to Democrats tell him he can’t get 100% of what he wants.
This entire process made a right turn at farcical quite a while ago. Mitch McConnell isn’t just threatening to crash the economy, he’s also threatening to make mockery of the institution he claims to serve and turn the American political process into a reality-show circus.
Not to be outdone, NRSC Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) said President Obama has “diminished” his office by urging lawmakers to do their duty. If anyone explain what on earth Cornyn was blabbering about, I’m all ears.
And then there’s Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, who told Fox News this morning that the president goes golfing too much.
These aren’t random House backbenchers — McConnell, Cornyn, and Thune are three of the top four highest-ranking Republican members of the Senate. And they all appear to be rambling incoherently.
I was about to type that there are no adults left in the Republicans’ room, but that’s not entirely true. There are still a couple left, but they’re stuck in primary fights, so they have to go along with the madness to save their careers.
It’s a pathetic display.
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T2 on June 30, 2011 3:53 PM:
McConnell's outburst allows him to be a Guest on a Sunday Talk Show and say "we tried to negotiate with the President but he refused to ever talk to us". The other Guest's will then mutter approval under their breath.
j on June 30, 2011 3:55 PM:
Just watching Martin Bashir, he was saying Mitt Romney is really hitting Obama on jobs and saying that he can do better than the president. My question is - Why is it that no TV pundits ever explore Mitt Romneys history of job creation, or ever talk about it?
Steve M. on June 30, 2011 3:56 PM:
...anymore than McConnell needs to listen to Democrats tell him he can’t get 100% of what he wants.
Well, he certainly doesn't need to hear that, because he probably will get 100% of what he wants.
max on June 30, 2011 4:01 PM:
"And then there�s Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, who told Fox News this morning that the president goes golfing too much."
To paraphrase former MSNBC hack Mark Halperin, Thune is a dick. Regarding the President's golf, when was the last time we heard about Bush taking over 400 days for vacations to clear brush on his ranch.
Ken on June 30, 2011 4:02 PM:
I think that McConnell is acting like a d^ck.
Trollop on June 30, 2011 4:04 PM:
Why are they not in jail? They're obviously insane so when you don't have any mental health care in the United States you put the crazies in jail!
c u n d gulag on June 30, 2011 4:05 PM:
When asked about this, I think Obama should have said, "I'd like to quote your Vice President's response to Senator Leahy, but I'm a gentleman."
Anonymous on June 30, 2011 4:17 PM:
"..McConnell isn’t just threatening to crash the economy, he’s also threatening to make mockery of the institution he claims to serve and turn the American political process into a reality-show circus".
Threatening? Where the hell have you been?
Mark my words, Benen. You're too politically saavy to maintain this "honorable opposition" charade over a long haul. One of these days you'll look back on these insights of yours and cringe.
navamske on June 30, 2011 4:29 PM:
Oh please. Dumbya took so much time off that when he had friends over, he showed them slides of work.
Buffalo Harold on June 30, 2011 4:36 PM:
McConnell, Thune, Cornyn -- all of them -- present proof every single moment of every single day that today's Republican Party is the largest schmuck magnet of all time!
Stephen Stralka on June 30, 2011 5:00 PM:
Actually, I wouldn't mind hearing some Republicans explaining why exactly they will never ever ever agree to any revenue increases of any kind whatsoever. I mean, beyond that it would be a terrible and catastrophic thing to do that would destroy our economy and our whole way of life. We already know that isn't true.
June on June 30, 2011 5:06 PM:
@T2 called it.
Sam Simple on June 30, 2011 5:44 PM:
Don't people get it that these conservative vermin are out to destroy Obama personally and that they will do anything, and that means destroying the U.S. economy, to destroy Obama? This isn't about debt, taxes, balancing the budget or anything else - it is about destroying a black Democratic president. The depth of their hatred is truly unfathomable.
exlibra on June 30, 2011 6:16 PM:
McConnell's "invitation" was not only insincere but disingenuous. Obama is not some ornamental housewife with nothing better to do than to drop by the Senate on a moment's notice; he has a very tight schedule. For today, his afternoon schedule featured a working lunch with Biden and then a trip to PA. Which, I'm sure, McConnell knew, or else he would not have risked offering himself and his Radical Right Regressives for another spot of gentle schooling.
Now, according to the Oracle at Craptcha, "otherwife exesses". True. But the key word here is "other". It's the RRRs who are being excessive.
Homer on June 30, 2011 6:58 PM:
Unfortunately, I heard on NPR (I believe it was on Fresh Air) that Obama had turned down McConnell's invitation. It was told as an example of how partisan the debt ceiling debate has gotten. There was no mention of the same-day-timing
bdop4 on June 30, 2011 8:54 PM:
I think he should accept, but require it to be nationally televised. I'de love to see him deliver a smackdown similar to the pile driver he delivered to the republican house members.
Fucking take them all on and hammer 'em good.
Ten Bears on June 30, 2011 10:35 PM:
When I heard this early this morning the first thought that popped into mind was typical school-yard bullshit: "Yo! Motha Fucka, come say that to my face."
This half-injun is pretty pleased that Obama was such a dick to the white dogs yesterday. Because all of you white dogs are acting like children.
exlibra on June 30, 2011 11:15 PM:
It now appears that Obama *will* show up on the Senate floor -- on Wednesday, July 6. Presumably, to congratulate all and (very) sundry on achieving a compromise and lifting the debt ceiling a couple of inches once again.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/reid-actually-obama-will-meet-with-senators-on-debt-limit-wednesday.php
And if the Senate hasn't reached an agreement by then? According to the Craptcha Oracle, Obama will pull an imperfect imitation of a Yenta rant on them all (porlyent Number)
Andrew on July 01, 2011 4:43 AM:
Time to give up on the negotiations - get the debt limit declared unconstitutional and give the Republicans nothing.
As things stand, we're screwed either way - we have a default that brings the entire global economy to its knees, or we have the lesser but still crushing cuts currently proposed. Get your best constitutional scholars on it Dems - it might be the only way to save the country
max on July 01, 2011 8:29 AM:
Mitch McConnell: "Let me summarize the message McConnell announced this morning: “If the president has some free time in a few hours, he should stop by and listen to us tell him we want to lower the deficit, but only in ways we see fit.”
But, the President is not supposed to "lecture" them, i.e., actually negotiate.
Bob Currie on July 01, 2011 9:49 AM:
What these so-called gentlemen are really saying is "how dare you uppity n#@*#r tell your white masters what to do". The Republican Party has become nothing more than a present day KKK.