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Subscribe to RSSCongresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) spoke to Chuck Todd on MSNBC’s "The Daily Rundown" this morning. She uttered a word we haven't heard much from Republicans lately: compromise.
Emerson co-chairs the Tuesday Group, a group of about 45 center-right House Republicans who could emerge as an important bloc of votes in getting a debt-ceiling deal passed in the House.
When discussing public anger over the inability of Congress to get results, Emerson said, "Ultimately, because the government’s divided and we don't have a parliamentary system, we do have to compromise."
She followed up saying, "That's a bad word, I know!"
So perhaps there is a glimmer of hope that House Republicans are willing to move toward the middle to pass a bill.
That would be an encouraging sign for a bill passing, given that Emerson also said she does not expect Speaker Boehner to increase the cuts in his existing proposal, despite the Congressional Budget Office scoring Boehner’s latest bill as having less than his goal of $1 trillion.
In a departure from Republican talking points, Emerson also pointed out that the very state of play in the talks indicated a big win for Republicans.
"When people stop to think of how far we've moved the discussion from raising taxes to only lifting the debt limit to being able to cut spending at the same rate," she said. "They have to consider it as being quite successful."
But how pervasive is the attitude that the shift in the discussion itself is a win for Republicans? Perhaps more so for veterans like Emerson than for many of the House freshmen swept in by the Tea Party tidal wave last November.
"You know for a lot of our new members who haven't ever been in a legislative branch before, it's hard for people to sometimes understand that we're only one-half of one-third of the government," Emerson said. "So just because Republicans control the House doesn't mean anything in the big picture, I suppose other than being very successful in getting the Democratic Senate and the White House to start talking about spending reductions as opposed to just raising the debt ceiling."
As for the prospects of an actual compromise in the near future, she said she is “cautiously optimistic.”
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I'm not holding my breath. She's one republican and they need 216 more who aren't afraid to "compromise".
My man Larry O' is schooling Andrea Mitchell on how DC really works!
There is NO journalist out there with a sounder understanding of the game of politics is played!
Glimmer of hope?
Those are just the tears in your eyes.
They'll compromise.
The Republicans have always been very good at party unity. I highly doubt the party will allow the country to default. If they did, it would hurt them politically to such an extent that they would start worrying more about general elections than primaries. I think they realize that.
There's been a group of us on FR who have been saying that unless both parties move to the center and negate the effect of the fringe there would never be a compromise. I still believe that.
Also heard a talking head say that Boehner never used the word compromise once in his rebuttal to Obama. Obama used it more that a couple times.
Before the radicalization of the GOP, that's the old GOP, this nonsense is a done deal, let's move on. With 51 TP votes, that calculus has changed and Boehner cannot unify his caucus.
Stalemate.
What we are seeing is what was predicted before the 2010 elections, and then discussed further after the votes were counted:
The politics of disaffection, played by the Tea Party wing of the GOP.
Like the radical Home Rule Irish of the late 1800's and early 1900's, who invented this approach to legislative participation, the Tea Party wing is essentially saying that it will delay, block, obstruct and cause chaos unless it gets its way. It is a form of political terrorism, really, using what tools a modest minority faction, completely disaffected with conditions, has available to do battle with a much larger and ultimately more powerful majority. The Irish, by the way, managed to entirely snarl the British Parliament for some length of time, too.
Of course, this is an orchestrated action with the backing of shadowy figures such as Grover Norquist. And that backing delivers immense money to campaign chests, lobbyists, and third-party campaign spending that provides far greater clout than the Home Rule Irish had in their day. And the Tea Party agenda is approaching its end game after being launched in 1981 - under other "flags of convenience," or group names, but still pursuing the same long-cherished (and corrupt) goals of the conservative movement.
Anyone who seriously believes this is about the debt ceiling is delusional. It's about ideology, and the rich pickings available to banks, Wall Street, and those who front for them. What the disaffected members of the Tea Party faction really don't understand is who is actually pulling strings, and why.
That's the whole point you idiot. The Tea Party caucus is a minority within a minority, and you should be glad to get something if anything of what you want.
But no, the GOP/TP is so proud they've gotten everything they want--though Reid's gift still isn't good enough for the crazies--and completely ignore the underhanded ways in which you achieved that. Not with statesmanship, or making your case to the American people, or anything civil. Rather it's been achieved with non-stop hostage taking, basically terrorism, and the douche-bags are proud of this!
You can't negotiate with hostages, or using the president's analogy of parenting, if you say you will veto something and don't, you will lose complete control as the parent. If you draw a line in the sand, you better be prepared to stand by it. Otherwise we will be at the mercy of the Teabagger terrorists forever. End it now!
If they don't compromise ...the republican party will be ended in 2012 ...the business's must pay their fair share ..86% of the American people are demanding it !
"the republican party will be ended in 2012"....Really? Weren't you Einsteins predicting this back in 2006? You remember, don't you? Back when Pelosi began her breif reign as Screecher Of The House? "The republicans are now a regional, fringe party." That was a good one. One of my faves. It was quoted repeatedly by many of the dummies on here this very day. They were predictably wrong. That's what you get when you are nothing more than a cutter and paster of "Think Progress" and a fanatical follower of the jug-eared pinhead.
Hey Damage 123, if you don't think the right wing "Tea Party" republicans have hurt the overall image of the Republican party you must have your head stuck in the sand. Common sense says that both parties must move more toward the middle (where about 55% of Americans are) or you'll never have any effective legislation passed. The biggest error in your thinking is that American's believe the Tea Party's Libertarian doctrine. You are absolutely wrong if you don't think the moderates from both sides won't control the upcoming elections. I think the far left and the far right and especially the Tea Parry extremists are going to suffer major defeats in the very near future. Let's see who's right.
The Republican party may not be ended, but it will be seriously harmed. It will be many, many years before they can recover.
Damage -
You can always visit my 'Vine home page and read the several articles I wrote on just this very problem of not only legislative gridlock, but how the Tea Party would cause these very problems.
Lots of us saw this coming and sounded warnings.
And the Tea Party is unlikely to get an increase over their current 22% voter support in 2012. Republicans in general are also at increasing risk.
I wonder what part of "What the people want" that they don't understand? They will only have themselves to blame if everything fall apart.
MSNBC -- what a joke - on today's morning joe. they said if the debt ceiling doesn't get passed it will be like 1979. 1979?? - Jeez, I though Obama inherited the worst economy since the great depression....
How do you compromise with an incompetent president who doesn't know his ass from first base? This man is trying to hold the American people hostage to his tax and spend philosophy, and he actually has a good foothold at this attempt at highway robbery. And to the guy above who says that the Republican party will end in 2012, he must have borrowed his weed from Barack Obama. The far left is high on narcotics of all types, the most prevalent being greed, avarice, and raw power. The only thing I hope will disappear in 2012 is Barack Hussein Obama. Even sooner would be better.
Just Another Republican_Tea Bagger lie.
Let’s remember, this debt problem and jobs problem was created by W. Bush and President Obama has been trying to get us back on track.
2012 can’t come fast enough. We will throw these Tea Bagger Terrorist out.
mikeljhn:
Lotta excrement in your post. The largest cut proposed was by the President - four-trillion-dollars. Turned down by Republicans. Tax and spend? Four Republicans - the top guys - Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, and Kyl have all been in the Congress since 2001 when this drunken orgy of spending really got going. They really seemed to like it. Spend, spend, spend.
Budgets? You have forgotten the excellent budget presented by Boehner - 13 pages and not a single dollar item delineated. Blank, bub. Now he proposes a new cut, and the CBO says John sort of missed the figures.....AGAIN. Oh yeah, there's a guy who knows his ass from first base.
Holding people hostage? Go check your civics or your Constitution, or do you use a different Constitution than the one I use? The House originates spending bills - you know, one of those budget things. That's how it works. Of course, the Senate could take the lead on raising the debt ceiling. But hey, that's just what the Constitution says.
Maybe you'll know some of this stuff when you get to high school.
An excellent example of how the Republican machine can poison a mind.
Obama and the Dems have not put forth an itemized budget, or any budget for that matter, since this failed incompetent president took office. And Obama has poisoned the minds of his voter base, those who pay no taxes whatsoever and those who are on the federal, state, and local government dole. Which category are you chumps in?
How is it a compromise when there are no revenues in the deal? This is a republican plan. I am so frustrated I could cry. If this goes through, quite frankly, it doesn't matter who we elect, Washington will just keep screwing the average American; so why should we bother to vote.
I agree Sueb1.
However, we have to keep up the pressure. The House didn't pass anything except the Garbage Bill that died in the Senate and I hope this new bill they say are working on is better. If not that bill will fail in the Senate.
Jul 27, 12:47 PM EDT
AP Reporting
Reid: House GOP debt plan doomed in Senate
The plan hasn't even been sent to his chamber yet and he says "NO"...
So I guess compromise is just for the Republicans to do... Right ?
It takes two adults to compromise and harry don't seem quite old enough!!
I agree Sueb1, a compromise would be 50% spending cuts and 50% revenue increases, it is amazing the Republicans can say the Dem's won't compromise when they gave them everything they wanted, and then some, it also shows you how immoral and deceptive the Republicans are, and what's sad it works for them.
W bush, I'm starting to agree with those who say the way for President Obama to get revenues is to say he's against them. If he said he was against health care reform, we'd have a single payer system by now.
Maxx, Reid is the worst senate majority leader ever...but he can read and he knows what the Boehner plan is and he doesn't want to have to do this all over again in 6 months...do you?
Sue
We found out the other day what this "crisis" is really all about when the President changed the agreement with Speaker Boehner... Not to have the debit issue in an election year. I like the two tier approach. The President gets the money to run the country and later and another 1.2 Trillion. I think the committee to find savings could use Bowles-Simpson plan as a base to start from.
I know that might pass as common sense... well wishful thinking!!
If it wasn't for Politics, chest beating, posturing, etc this thing would be done by now... Damn shame!!
It is possible that the Presidents message Monday night to call your elected officials may have given the message to these supposed "Republican and Tea Party adults" to quit playing games with our future, get their heads out of a place the sun dont shine and get to work. Playing politics is one thing, but risking the country's economic health to make yourself look better for the next election is way beyond the norm.
"Deficits Don't Matter!" Dick Cheney. Where is the Dick when we need him to speak to the Republicans?
I grew up in a democratic household. My father was an attorney and supported people like george mcgovern, morris udal, ed burke, paul tsongas. The liberals liberals. In my early twenties I actually voted for Ted kennedy a couple times. As I grew older I left the party and became a registered independant. Over the past decade I have voted straight republican as the party mirrored my ideals.
For about 6 months I have been visiting this site and reading what people have to say. Over the past 3 months I commented and posted. But I think I'm pretty much done with the commenting as I find that the vast majority of progressives to be hopelessly lost. There is no reasoning with them. There warped view of what this nation should become will our ruination.
Why do they want us to become greece? Can't they see the results?
My story is the opposite of yours. I grew up republican and have had a long conversion to the democrats. I even lived in Massachusetts --couldn't vote for Romney, actually came to vote for Kennedy in his last run. I think the same thing about republicans, there's no reasoning with them. Their warped view of what this nation should become will be our ruination. But I don't for one minute doubt your patriotism or your passion for this country and our future. Most republicans won't give the same respect to our president or the other side.
Amen, Sueb1.
Rob in Ma,
We aren't trying to reach Greece in debt. We have surpassed them in debt. We owe $45,000 per person in national debt. Greece owes $44,000 per person in national debt. What do we have to show for it? Absolutely nothing. What does Greece have to show for it? Universal healthcare, retirement at 53 with 80% of your wages, new infrastructure like bridges and roads, a great public transortation system, and they pick up garbage daily. Again for more debt I'd like to ask anyone to tell me what we have to show for our debt? Anyone? Anyone? A great comedy routine by John Stewart is attached to make you laugh about this. It's much better than crying over it!
http://www.wealthwire.com/news/economy/1342
I seem to remember that back in 1991-1992 EVERYONE was deploring the budget deficit as a "burden on our grandchildren". Then Clinton became president, the economy turned around, and under Clinton/Gore's leadership, we had a budget surplus. The Republicans seem to forget that another way to decrease the deficit, other than raising taxes or cutting spending, is to increase revenue by increasing the employment rate.
And historically (before my time) the US ended WWII with a huge budget deficit, and lots of potentially unemployed returning vets. What did Congress do? Borrow still more to help rebuild Germany (!) and fund the GI Bill -so that while the vets were waiting for defense plants to get retooled for the peacetime economy, they could get retrained for higher-end jobs.
The best thing that could be done right now would be to fund education so we could close the gap in high-tech skilled employees, and invest in a green economy. Oh but wait - that would increase the deficit!!
"You know for a lot of our new members who haven't ever been in a legislative branch before, it's hard for people to sometimes understand that we're only one-half of one-third of the government," Emerson said.
Here's a Thought! How bout we fix that and have No Government since you so-called Leaders can't fix our Countries Problems!
I think this circus has gone on long enough" The president needs to involk the 14 th amendment and
put a stop to all this hoopla. The country should be the # 1 priority above all political games.
If he cant stand up now and put a stop to this crap,why do we elect a president if he has no power to
prevent such nonsense in Washington?
I can hear them singing it in the halls of the Capital to the late Whinehouse's popular tune:
They try to start me compromising...and I say...no...no...no!
There is a handfull of House Republicans making a mockery out of american politics and the president
can put a stop to it'
Bohner in acting like he is president'
Don, what we are seeing is the FIRST time Speaker Boehner has decided to govern; we are also seeing how incompetent he and the the House leadership are. They are forgetting that in a democracy, a little bit of EVERYBODY'S desires are included in GOOD legislation; not just a small faction.
On a serious note, I think what's being lost here is that in the minds of the House republicans, they've already compromised by agreeing to the debt limit raise in the first place. But that's BS, because most agreed that the debt limit had to be raised...period. Being on the same page on an issue as the other side is not compromise...its being in agreement. The real compromise is when you do something you dont' want to get something you do want.
I agree with your post and amend it a little:
On a serious note, I think what's being lost here is the minds of the House republicans...
We have to keep laughing or we're gonna cry.
You read these post and you can see why the Government is in stalemate, we are all so divided to the left and right there is no middle. Divided we fall and we stepped off that cliff already. Just waiting for the thud now.
But there is a middle. Democrats give on cuts-Republicans give on revenues......one side doesn't understand the C word. Maybe the house republicans should look up 'compromise' in the dictionary.
Democrats don't understand the $ word
and let's stop calling it "revenue" and call it raising taxes.
This whole argument is nonsense anyway (played up like a symphony from a lapdog media) they already have a deal done and ready to go at the eleventh hour that will accomplish nothing and screw the middle class as always
Seems that some on this site want to play the blame game. Everything HAS to be the fault of the Democrats. That does not come close to passing the laugh test. I admit that the Democrats have spent money that the country did not have to spend, but, I also remember that during the Bush presidency we went into two wars, one unneeded (Iraq) with NO funding in the budget. EVER. For either war. Bush pushed through a prescription drug bill that is very costly, lost, literally billions of dollars, in cash, in Iraq, screwed the Iraqi and Afghanistan wounded veterans, because, as one Bush spokesperson stated "We just did not expect this many wounded", and do not forget the big bailout that did not seem to work quite like it was supposed to, much of this debt ceiling that has to be raised is because of the massive spending done by and under Bush and the Republicans.
See, here's the deal, until one can actually accept blame for their own party's misguided ways, one cannot lay blame entirely on the other party. It took BOTH parties to get us into thisw financial mess, just blaming the other party continually while holding your party up as a conservative party is not only getting old, it is dishonest.