COMMENTARY | At the end of Monday, the debate over exactly what a debt ceiling increase deal should consist of began to resemble a dance-off in the school cafeteria. Prior to the weekend, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced that any type of tax increase was entirely off the table, including allowing Bush-era tax-cuts for the wealthy to expire. After a weekend of political ping-pong in the media over the collapse of the "Grand Bargain," - catchy handle and all - politicians barreled into Monday with tough talk that went far toward establishing who will not do what.
"It's not going to get easier, it's going to get harder. So we might as well do it now; pull off the Band-aid, eat our peas."
-- President Obama, White House news conference
President Obama's comments were meant to add emphasis to his position of not signing a short-term solution that allows the debt ceiling to be raised. Unfortunately, outside of a broadcast of his surrounding comments, the analogies sound a bit silly, though the "eat our peas" statement made more than a few pea farmers happy, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"I want to do what I think in the right - the best interest of the country, but it takes two to tango and they're not there yet."
-- House Speaker Boehner, press conference
While the president relied on analogies relating to tough, painful decisions Monday, Boehner sought a dance partner. Boehner's press conference occurred shortly before he attended a meeting with the president and other congressional leaders concerning the debt limit, reports ABC News. His fancy footwork was more about setting the stage for his talking points during the meeting than outlining new considerations.
" -- the American people will not accept -- and the House cannot pass -- a bill that raises taxes on job creators."
During the same press conference, Boehner demonstrated that he would not be a very giving dance partner. His lackluster presentation of a tired defense for the Bush-era tax cuts - that wealthy people create jobs as a direct result of the cuts - doesn't ring true for many middle-class and low-income Americans facing potential Medicare and Social Security cuts.
"Excuse us for trying to lead."
-- Boehner, White House debt limit meeting
Is a conversation over when an adult resorts to third-grade level sarcasm? Apparently. According to a White House aide, a discussion between President Obama and the speaker ventured into new territory after Boehner's witty retort to the president's mention of a recent house vote including a revamp of Medicare, reports the Huffington Post.
"I mean, if the basic proposition is it's my way or the highway, then we're probably not going to get something done..."
--President Obama, White House news conference
Instead of relying on a cliche such as "my way or the highway," the president should have been more direct and stated exactly what this attitude would cost the American people in simple, concise terms instead of the generics used later in the speech. All of America's leaders should realize there is no "my way," and there are no tangos for two. There is the way of the American people, a decided "our," and a record-breaking flash-dance mob of citizens who believe that commonsense dictates both spending cuts and the end of lucrative tax-credits that reduce revenue.
"We, unfortunately, remain far apart because every time we get close the Republicans move the goal posts further to the right, further and further to the far right,"
--Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) on CNN's "American Morning" broadcast
Israel managed to succinctly describe his views on the current debt ceiling deals floating around Washington.
"I will not sign a 30-day or a 60-day or a 90-day extension. That is just not an acceptable approach."
-- President Obama, White House news conference
Continuous extensions keep the American public and the average investor in a state of economic terror. The poor management that led to the 2008 financial crisis still rears its ugly head when a new economic crisis must be continually faced because a real debt solution cannot be reached. The words "not" and "acceptable" summed up the entire situation.
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