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At about 5:23 p.m. eastern, the House Republican leadership sent out this notice:
Members are advised that the House GOP Leadership has postponed the votes on the motion to recommit and final passage of S. 627 - Speaker Boehner’s Short Term Default Act (amending the Faster FOIA Act of 2011). Following general debate on S. 627, the House will consider the eight bills listed for consideration under suspension of the Rules.
To translate this into English, Speaker Boehner’s budget proposal doesn’t have the votes. In the hopes of twisting a few arms, the House proceeded to take up a few measures related to — I kid you not — naming post offices. (Yes, five days before an economic catastrophe of Republicans’ making, they’re reduced to naming post offices on the House floor.)
Nearly two hours later, GOP leaders have said they still expect to hold a vote “tonight,” though that’s a time frame that could conceivably go into the morning. Democratic leaders also anticipate a vote this evening, and have told members not to leave Capitol Hill.
By most accounts, Boehner is a vote or two shy of what he needs to pass a bill … which everyone knows will then be promptly killed by the Senate. The Speaker’s argument to his caucus is that passage of his budget plan will give him greater leverage in the final round of talks, after this bill dies, but as it turns out, that’s not much of a rallying cry for a right-wing caucus that doesn’t like Boehner’s bill much anyway.
At this point, it’s also worth noting that Boehner’s hold on the Speaker’s gavel is weakening, and failure tonight, if there’s a vote, would be a stunning rebuke of his leadership by dozens of members of his own caucus.
Harry Reid’s communications director, meanwhile, explained about an hour ago, “The Senate stands ready to defeat the Boehner plan whenever House Republicans can get their act together.”
When that might be, no one knows.
Update: Just as an aside, in “the good ol’ days,” right about now, the GOP leadership would simply start buying off stubborn members with some pork projects. (“Bite the bullet on this one and your district gets a nice, shiny new bridge.”) The party’s anti-earmark philosophy won’t allow this option anymore.
Second Update: At about 7:45 p.m., Harry Reid announced that the Senate would be in recess, at least until 9 p.m. A reliable source tells me several pizza boxes were delivered to the Republican Whip’s office, which suggests the GOP leadership doesn’t expect an imminent vote, either.
Third Update: At about 8:10 p.m., Eric Cantor’s spokesperson said the vote will occur “before tomorrow.”
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hornblower on July 28, 2011 7:26 PM:
The Weimar Republic thought they could control the Nazis. Look where that led. The teabaggers prove the adage that you should never argue with crazy people.
hells littlest angel on July 28, 2011 7:28 PM:
It would take astonishing gall and stupidity for the Republican leadership to hand out pork to bribe members to vote for a deficit-reduction bill. I expect they'll start handing it out momentarily.
Lacywood on July 28, 2011 7:30 PM:
Let's see....The Grover Norquist Post Office, the Ayn Rand Post Office, the No New Taxes Post Office, the Screw the Democrats Post Office, and, of course, the Party Over Country Post Office.
Bobfr on July 28, 2011 7:34 PM:
There's lame, and then there's 'Boehner logic' - so vastly lame as to be inexplicable, other worldly madness.
How he thinks he has any leverage remaining when the only thing he can hope is that he isn't doubly blamed for bringing the Nation to the brink of catastrophe, is astonishing in it's total denial of reality.
If this turd he's dropped on the Nation actually gets sent to the Senate, it'll be flushed in record time.
If, when the Senate returns to the House an amended CCB that contains the Reid Plan, Boehner fails to bring enough Republican votes to pass it - no strings attached because the D's won't accept any - then he's not only finished as Speaker, he'd might as well resign because of the hell his life in the House and in Ohio will become.
The Nation will then witness President Obama do, decisively, just what he did in the case of having OBL killed on Pakistani soil - he'll invoke the 14th Amendment and rescue the Nation.
I have zero doubt that he will do just that.
He won't act preemptively, because that is not his style. It's not about macho with this President, it's about results. And, he's proven he's got all the spine it takes to know when and how to act.
Yes.We.Can. ... DO.More.Together!
zandru on July 28, 2011 7:34 PM:
"The party's anti-earmark philosophy won't allow this option anymore."
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!! Hoist by their own tea bag, b'Gawd!
In these trying times, there's nothing like a little schadenfreud.
ShadeTail on July 28, 2011 7:37 PM:
What Boehner should do is put out another clean bill and actually ram it through this time. There should be enough GOPers who still answer to the big business plutocrats to join with the Democratic caucus to pass a clean bill, and it would likely sail through the Senate and the White House.
It's not like it would really cost Boehner anything. The teabaggers are going to take away his gavel pretty soon either way. He might as well earn that by kicking his caucus in the ass first.
Ron Byers on July 28, 2011 7:39 PM:
Bobfr
I think you are right. He will invoke the 14th Amendment, but at what cost to our democracy? I mean raising the Debt Ceiling is the job of the Congress. If they fail, they fail big time. Who will trust Congress to do their duty in the future.
Fuck the tea party prancers. They are bunch of idiots.
neil b on July 28, 2011 7:42 PM:
To see just how deranged many Republicans are, see this really scary and sickening quote/paraphras​e from Boehner awhile earlier:
‘A Lot’ Of Republicans Want To Force Default, Create ‘Enough Chaos’ To Pass Balanced Budget Amendment.
blog​runner.com/snap​shot/D/2/8/boeh​ner_a_lot_of_re​publicans_want_​to_force_defaul​t_create_enough​_chaos_to_pass_​balanced_budget​_amendment.
We face "chaos" indeed and the thought that some legislators (all R) would let our nation default - never before less than AAA credit rating - to make a point and hog all they want, is outrageous to any sane person. Share this all over, every place and way you can.
BO_Hank on July 28, 2011 7:45 PM:
I am so sick of these Republicans. This whole political party is stupid with a capital letter 'S'.
Matt on July 28, 2011 7:51 PM:
Just as an aside, in “the good ol’ days,” right about now, the GOP leadership would simply start buying off stubborn members with some pork projects. (“Bite the bullet on this one and your district gets a nice, shiny new bridge.”) The party’s anti-earmark philosophy won’t allow this option anymore.
Oh, I think if they wanted to be bribed on this or any other issue they'd find a way to call those "earmarks" whatever it is when you actually want something for your district but don't want it called an earmark.
If earmarks aren't happening by whatever name, I suspect it's because this particular subset of Republicans don't want to do anything for their district, under any circumstances, especially if they can make the government look stupid and weak at the same time.
ComradeAnon on July 28, 2011 7:56 PM:
Are they gonna get ol' Tom Delay in there to get things done? He can stop the clock and threaten a bunch. That'll get it passed.
dr. bloor on July 28, 2011 7:56 PM:
The party’s anti-earmark philosophy won’t allow this option anymore.
An offer of child support payments to some of the members would certainly test that theory, wouldn't it?
Anonymous on July 28, 2011 8:07 PM:
@ Ron Byers, Bobfr:
What if Boehner CAN'T whip enough GOOPs into line even to get his doomed-to-fail bill passed in the House, and this farce continues on Friday, and then Saturday, and then Sunday? And somwehere along the line Boehner resigns or is deposed as Speaker and Cantor takes over--with still no prospect of a House bill that the Senate can then reject and/or Obama can veto? Or if Cantor, as Speaker, then lets the vote go through and it is defeated?
Isn't that the setup for Obama finally to intervene with the 14th? Congress, he'll say, has simply failed to function and the hour of doom is approaching.
If Obama DOESN'T act decisively under that scenario, then I give up on him.
bigtuna on July 28, 2011 8:09 PM:
Is this just a pathetic peformance of a House "leader" ??
Last week, he could have taken the deal, netted much larger budget cuts, and needed 30-50 repub votes [IF Nancy P went along - a big big if]. THis would risk his losing the leader job, and helped the country avoid a huge embarrasment.
Today, "his" plan nets much lower budget cuts, may not even pass the house, won't pass the senate; has fewer cuts then a plan promoted by a democrat; makes the nation look stupid, and he risks losing his job.
Quite the bargain, Boner.
Anonymous on July 28, 2011 8:19 PM:
It is striking that the House leadership is using this sort of tactic, not to pass a bill that could become law (such as occurred for the vote on Medicare Part D), but to pass a bill that has no chance to become law.
What a waste of their own resources.
This tactic should be used when it really matters. This vote does not, except to set the stage for the next stage of "negotiations". If leadership in the House is not willing to allow a vote on a bill that would attract Democratic support, they will not pass ANYTHING that can end this standoff. That means default.
I am furious we are not talking about how to deal with unemployment. These bills can only make things worse.
Jon on July 28, 2011 8:25 PM:
If I were a Tea Party member, the knowledge that the Senate is just going to vote it down anyway would make my clear choice to vote against Boehner's bill. Why would I piss off my constituency for a bill that won't pass anyway, when I could please them enormously voting against a bill that won't pass anyway? No Brainer.
About the only viable threat I can see that Boehner can make is to put up a clean bill or Reid's bill, and whip 30 votes for it, immediately if his caucus rejects the GOP bill. But that's not much of a threat.
Looks like Boehner's only question now is, *how* do I want to lose the speaker's gavel?
neil b on July 28, 2011 8:42 PM:
To save the nation from default and prevent Democrats from being blamed, shouldn't the Senate take Boehner's Bill if it passes and try to reconcile some sort of output? They can't just do it all on their own, can they (per COTUS etc.) and Reid can't expect something he really likes from the House, so what is *he* really trying to accomplish in the reality-based community?
Fine minds make find distinctions.
dr. bloor on July 28, 2011 8:45 PM:
If leadership in the House is not willing to allow a vote on a bill that would attract Democratic support, they will not pass ANYTHING that can end this standoff. That means default.
No, it just means they need to get a bill that the Dems and a handful of relatively saner Republicans will support.
If this goes on much longer, Agent Orange's number is going to start moving in the wrong direction. No one wants to be the 217th Tea Party defector who betrays his (head trauma crazy) principles and casts a vote that helps Boehner keep his job, particularly when they know it's DOA in the Senate.
Jack Lindahl on July 28, 2011 8:46 PM:
Republicans acting like Democrats! Go figure. Now if we can get the Democrats to act like Republicans - especially in the Senate - some positive things might get done.
Bobfr on July 28, 2011 8:46 PM:
Jon - "Looks like Boehner's only question now is, *how* do I want to lose the speaker's gavel?"
He already knows the answer - 'no matter what I do, I'm toast.'
Ron Byers on July 28, 2011 8:50 PM:
neil b
I take it you listen to Rush Limbaugh. That was his idea earlier today.
neil b on July 28, 2011 9:09 PM:
Ron, I neither like, nor listen to Rush very often. I've heard, that he wants his tea-potted crew in the House to vote *against* Boehner's bill, which would do just the opposite of sending something, something, to the Senate. I guess you don't listen to him quite enough ...
My question is a perfectly good one, what should Reid do if he wants to avoid a default? Do you have a real answer, this time?
neil b on July 28, 2011 9:12 PM:
BTW Ron your comments are usually well done and I didn't mean to sound snippy (which reminds me, did Gore really say to Bush "you don't have to get snippy about it" - it sounds so legendish), but we need an idea of what Reid and crew really should do, the hour is getting late.
T2 on July 28, 2011 9:15 PM:
here is the story: the problem Boner is having with his caucus means only one thing- the Senate has absolutely the reason to table/vote down this House bill.
The Reason is obvious: six months down the line, if Boner's bill were to pass, the TeaBags would demand the end of Medicare, Obamacare and Social Security in return for the next extension of the Debt Ceiling.
This is a hoax inside a joke inside a preposterous misuse of the governing body of our country. The Senate will kill this, yet the spectacle of an out of control Republican Party is now Center Stage.
JoeW on July 28, 2011 9:29 PM:
If there was any doubt that the GOP is simply unwilling to compromise, this should remove it. They refuse to even compromise with each other.
T2 on July 28, 2011 9:53 PM:
if there is a way out for Boner, it will be to make it more TeaBag friendly, not less. If the bill mutates, look for an even more terrible bill........but no matter....it is DEAD in the Senate. Sure glad the Dems are in charge there.
N.Wells on July 28, 2011 10:59 PM:
I suspect Boehner will be ultimately able to coerce enough R's to pass an even worse version of his bill, three or four Senate Dems + Lieberman will jump on board, a bunch of R senators + Lieberman will start grandstanding and causing additional grief on general principle and for reasons of ego, and the press will start blaming Senate Dems for being unable to compromise. At that point, Obama will start arm-twisting on behalf of Boehner's bill,at which he will succeed, because he understands the hideousness of allowing a default. I really hope I'm wrong.
Jon on July 29, 2011 1:11 AM:
I hate to say it, but what's going on right now is precisely how dictatorships get started. Congress has already abdicated war powers to the President. It has abdicated most complicated policy issues to the courts. It's just about to abdicate control of the purse strings to the President. A Congress this ideological and incapable of practical compromise will inevitably lead to Presidential rule, exactly the opposite of what the Tea Party wants. Obama is going to have to ride across the Rubicon, take the 14th Amendment route, and good-by Democracy.
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