The Bellman has your snark right here: July 2011

7/20/11

Running on the foot-in-mouth platform

Putting the extra D and G to work, Judd Gregg says:

"My gut tells me that we'll need a weekend of drama — maybe a weekend of the government not paying its bills — politicians need drama to make something happen. As soon as social security checks don't go out, the politics will change. I suspect it'll take artificial drama to get closure past the house."

A missing social security check won't feel very "artificial"to a lot of people, Senator.

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 88

Spartanburg beard

7/19/11

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 87

That's my beard

"I see the Reid-McConnell bill as the only practical way forward."

But GOP aides say the leaders are already looking past those votes to a potential deal with Democrats to raise the debt limit before an Aug. 2 deadline and spare Republican lawmakers from a political backlash.
"McConnell is going to let cut, cap, and balance have its vote and then immediately move to plan B," said a GOP aide in reference to the fallback debt plan McConnell is negotiating with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).
Another Republican aide said McConnell’s contingency plan "has become plan A."

| The Hill via MoJo |

via

But can Plan A pass the house? When it debuted last week, the plan was described by all as an epic cave, and described by Democrats as a repudiation of the Club for Growth tax policies. Many words were written.

But can it pass the House? I've seen zero analysis of this. Won't the Tea Party Caucus block it, just like every other proposed compromise?

7/18/11

Bearded Men Singing from the Heart, Part 86

Panayiotou beard

Stay classy, Heritage Foundation.

The Heritage Foundation pushes back on the idea that poverty in America is really that bad. For example, of the 30 million Americans living below the poverty line, did you know that 99.6 percent have a refrigerator?

It's astounding to me that we're going to hold it against poor people if they shell out 50 bucks, once a year, for a used video game system. Some conservatives won't be happy until the poor are reduced to 1930's level of poverty.

7/13/11

Debt talks continue?

"That's when Obama got visibly angry, telling Cantor that he could reach major savings if Republicans would agree to revenue increases, according to the GOP aide. He then upped the stakes by telling the group that he isn't afraid to veto a bill Congress produces and take the message and defend it to the American people.

Obama also let it be known that he had enough, noting that if U.S. defaults, it would amount to a tax increase on every American.

"I have reached the point where I say enough," Obama told the leaders, according to the account. "Would Ronald Reagan be sitting here? I've reached my limit. This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this."

Both sides are scheduled to return to the White House Thursday. On the table are: talks on cuts in discretionary vs. mandatory spending; enforcement mechanisms to ensure the spending cuts continue beyond the first year; and whether to extend a payroll-tax break for workers and create another for employers aimed at spurring job growth and the economy."

via tpm