Tuesday: Someone needs a dopeslap

So, James Clyburn has correctly identified the problem behind the resistance to solving the impending budget crisis.  The Republicans have taken a “no new taxes” pledge, like they always do, and have decided that closing tax loopholes for the wealthy and multinational business community is equivalent to new taxes.

Congress and the White House could reach a budget deal if only Republicans would relent on their pledges to not raise taxes, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Tuesday on MSNBC.

Speaking on “Morning Joe,” the third-ranking House Democrat said talk of the GOP being open to closing some tax loopholes may be a non-starter among Republicans who have signed no-tax pledges.

“If you consider closing loopholes raising taxes, that keeps us from having a good conversation about where to go from here,” Clyburn said. “And that’s the problem.”

Ok, great, now we’re getting somewhere.  The bastards are never going to budge from their “starve the beast” theology.  Their whole goal in life is to make sure that they NEVER have to pay for some slacker working dude, no matter how hard that person works.  “Who the F%^& do these working people think they are anyway?  Pensions, health care, social security, where does it stop?  Oh, sure, they deferred their compensation for their future retirements but that’s because they’re suckers.  It’s not our fault they were stupid enough to think we were really going to give it to them.  They’re LOSERS in life.  If they can’t figure out how to eat what they kill, is that OUR fault?”

It’s a good thing that Clyburn is on the case.  I’m sure he will protect the interests of the working class (that’s anyone who doesn’t live on their interests).  By golly, he’s going to hold firm.  He’s not going to yield an inch.

If lawmakers don’t raise the debt ceiling before the Aug 2. deadline, the federal government will default on its obligations. Should that happen or even come close to happening, creditors have warned, the nation’s credit rating could plummet.

Clyburn said Congress may resort to a short-term deal to avoid default “if we can’t get a longer term deal.”

Noooooooo!

No short term deals.  That’s just what they want.  You need to hold the line, throw down the gauntlet, take no prisoners.  You need to say there must be shared sacrifice or there will be no deal and then, get them to vote on their share of the sacrifice *first*.

Can we get some new players here?  Is there no one here who knows how to play this game?

Jeez.