Staff Reports
In a stunning display of arrogance and disregard for the American people, Democrats have once again failed to negotiate in good faith on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. Led by President Biden, they have stubbornly refused to engage with House Republicans, assuming that their lack of cohesion would prevent them from passing any meaningful legislation. But they were wrong. The GOP came together and passed a reasonable bill that would modestly restrict federal spending while raising the debt limit for about a year. The Democrats are still struggling to adjust to this new reality, offering incoherent messaging that ignores the facts.
— AppPatriotgirl 🇺🇸 (@jsmith4966) May 22, 2023
Despite months of refusing to negotiate, President Biden has finally relented and agreed to talks, only to leave the country and leave his party without direction. As discussions continue, the two sides remain stuck in an impasse, with Democrats clinging to their non-viable strategy of blaming Republicans for their own failures. However, the reality is that the GOP has taken action to prevent default with legislation that is popular with the majority of Americans.
Still—still!—hasn’t adjusted his rhetoric to accommodate the fact that the House has passed a bill that does that. https://t.co/MUKSFGDRqF
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 19, 2023
Narrator: the guy who ran as a bipartisan dealmaker with 50 years of experience but hid in the basement from a simple debt ceiling negotiation (as about 65% of the country supported spending cuts and the other party passed a bill to deliver them) would ABSOLUTELY get the blame. https://t.co/hpk6UOn0qw
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 21, 2023
On Democrats' vanishing position of "no negotiations" on the debt ceiling
– Regret they didn't try through reconciliation
– Handwringing over Biden entering negotiations w McCarthy
– Hair-splitting over whether they are even negotiatingw @sarahnferris https://t.co/xw03i20TxS
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) May 20, 2023
He can’t do it. It doesn’t matter what the topic is. Someone comes in with a ridiculous theory, be it on student loans or evictions or vaccine mandates or the debt limit, and, after a couple of weeks, he endorses the lie. This is who he is. https://t.co/5dWYDIaKVU
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 21, 2023
All he had to say, as in the other areas, was “that isn’t an option because it’s not legal.” He can’t do it. As it was when Trump did the same thing, it is irrelevant whether he follows through; the damage to the law is already done.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 21, 2023
"As a share of GDP, federal tax collections are at a multi-decade high of about 19.6 percent…"
It's not a revenue problem. It's a spending problem. Also, the US national debt has *doubled* since the last big debt limit battle in 2011. pic.twitter.com/icEQwE1lgM
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) May 21, 2023
But everyone still talks about economic policy like there's a lot of room for their pet projects, while in Washington, actual politicians charged with delivering those projects resort to pay-fors that are either impractical fantasies (tax unrealized capital gains!) or [crickets]
— Megan McArdle (@asymmetricinfo) May 18, 2023
The U.S. stands on the precipice of financial calamity, testing whether President Biden’s theory of governance can continue to work
He has prioritized deal-making throughout the debt ceiling talks. But with GOP obstinate, Biden is changing tactics https://t.co/TyVNJZ7jX4
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) May 22, 2023
Democrats have resorted to outright lying about the GOP bill, claiming it cuts veteran’s benefits, when in fact, it does not. Polling in battleground districts shows that 77% of voters favor reclaiming unspent COVID funds, 62% support enhanced welfare work requirements, and 53% support reducing discretionary spending to pre-pandemic levels – all components of the GOP-passed alternative.
Washington spends far too much money, but Democrats seem determined to barrel ahead with higher spending, regardless of the math. Their stance is simply full speed ahead on higher spending, forever, and Biden’s team has been dishonestly presenting their approach to the issue. Biden’s approval ratings are already strikingly poor, and any combination of a default or recession could be politically fatal.
Ultimately, the buck stops with President Biden on this issue. He must realize that he cannot allow a default to occur on his watch. McCarthy has a strong hand to play, as the House-passed plan remains the only bill in town. Failing to negotiate in good faith on this issue is yet another example of the Democrats’ disregard for the American people and their unwillingness to do what is necessary to keep our country financially sound. It’s time for them to get their act together and start working for the American people, not against them.
