Conservatives abandon Boehner, denounce Republican deficit plan
 

The Hill: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/17...e-boehner-plan


The chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee wasted little time announcing his opposition to the House GOP leadership's two-step plan to raise the debt ceiling.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who stood — visibly uncomfortable — next to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) during Monday's announcement of the plan, released a statement saying he would vote "no" on the measure.

“While I thank the Speaker for fighting for Republican principles, I cannot support the plan that was presented to House Republicans this afternoon," Jordan said.

Conservative lawmakers Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) also came out against Boehner's plan.

Jordan argued that his leadership team should stand behind a measure that the House approved on a party-line vote last week — the "cut, cap and balance" bill that failed in the Senate.

“The credit rating agencies have been clear that no matter what happens with the debt limit, the U.S. will lose its AAA credit rating unless we produce a credible plan to reduce the debt by trillions of dollars. Cut, Cap, and Balance is the only plan on the table that meets this standard. Only a Balanced Budget Amendment will actually solve our debt problems," Jordan stated.

Prior to this Congress (no idea what number they're up to now), I would have thought it impossible to make Boehner look like the voice of reason.

Voice of reason? When everyone but the Republicans in Congress says the solution starts with raising taxes and he says the answer is "not complicated" but still fights to dampen the effect of taxes on the rich, I hardly call that the voice of reason. The lesser of all evils perhaps...

Dave, I only said he looks like the voice of reason in comparison to the rest of the lunatic fringe.....er, Congressional GOP.

Comedy of errors, that's what this is...I swear, if somebody had written this as fiction five years ago it would never have been believed...

Five years ago? I would have believed it. The GOP made partisanship and an unwillingness to compromise strong pillars of their party during the Bush presidency. Even after they lost control of Congress, I don't think they ever really accepted how unpopular they were, and they still twistedly thought they were the victims. That thought is bolstered now by the Tea Party, but I think they are in for a big shock if they think the Flea Baggers are their salvation. How many Tea Party favorites lost? How many of them that weren't previously established will remain in the next set of elections? On the governor level, not many, and it's already costing the Republicans controls of states (i.e. Wisconsin, with Ohio, Indiana and Florida seem set to fall).

I'd say let them learn their lesson the hard way, but the country can't afford it in this instance.