Last night President Obama (for the Democrats) and House Speaker John Boehner (for the Republicans) gave back-to-back, nationally televised addresses on the stalemate in negotiations to raise the government’s debt ceiling to avoid default as well as the economic Armageddon that would trigger. But anyone hoping to hear anything that would indicate a resolution to this looming crisis is at hand would have been sorely disappointed.
In fact all each of them did was spout off to a prime-time audience the same talking points they’ve been proselytizing during daily dueling press conferences for months.
I finally weighed in on this farce just yesterday. I urge you to read that commentary in full – not least because it is more informative and insightful than the addresses Obama and Boehner delivered last night.
But here, in part, is how I framed the problem:
Republicans … consider the notion of any compromise with Democrats, which is inherent and absolutely necessary in a democracy, tantamount to treason.
(Washington’s political food fight over debt ceiling, The iPINIONS Journal, July 25, 2011)
Decrying the “3-ring-circus” in which he has been ring master, here, in part, is how Obama framed it:
The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn’t vote for a dysfunctional government… They’re fed up with a town where compromise has become a dirty word… If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message.
(Associated Press, July 25, 2011)
Here, in part, is how Boehner framed it:
The president has often said we need a ‘balanced’ approach, which in Washington means we spend more, you pay more… The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today. That is just not going to happen.
(Associated Press, July 25, 2011)
You can be forgiven for thinking that Democrat is Democrat, and Republican is Republican, and never the twain shall meet. And no less a person than Speaker Boehner himself indicated this was the case when he flatly rejected any prospect of Republicans compromising in their dealings with Democrats in a December 2010 interview on 60 Minutes.
But l reiterate my informed belief that, even though they will probably do nothing to fix the structural problems that give rise to recurring budget deficits and an ever-escalating national debt, these kabuki-dancing, game-of-chicken-playing politicians will find a way to raise the debt ceiling and avoid default.
Related commentaries:
Washington’s political food fight…