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GOP Willing To Screw Entire Universe For Rich People
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 23, 2011
Modified Jul 23, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jul 23, 2011
Modified Jul 23, 2011
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Are you a veteran, receiving Social Security, a government contractor, or of one of the recipients of the 70 million checks the federal government mails out every month? Your payments may be drastically affected (along with the American economy) next month if the debt-ceiling limit isn't raised in 10 days.
Yesterday, bleating Tea Party pawn and House majority leader John Boehner walked away from last-minute negotiations with President Obama because he was unable to agree to closing tax loopholes for the wealthy amounting to $1.2 trillion dollars. In a statement [pdf], Boehner said, "In the end, we couldn't connect. Not because of different personalities, but because of different visions for our country." Presumably the GOP's "vision" of the country only includes its wealthiest citizens.
President Obama, who agreed to a staggering amount of concessions in hopes of cutting a deal and preventing the shock of the US's default to the global economy, pointedly noted in a press conference, "One of the questions that the Republican Party is going to have to ask itself is can they say yes to anything?" Of course, Barry, they say "yes" to corporations and wealthy donors all the time.
The President called for Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Mitch McConnell to meet him in his office today because, "We have run out of time…they are going to have to explain to me how it is that we are going to avoid default," but all that produced was more posturing. A recent poll showed that 80% of people were angry or dissatisfied with Washington in general, and 63% of voters noted that they were going to look for "someone else" other than their current representative. That's if we're not all burning tires for warmth and overhunting the dwindling squirrel population in a post-apocalyptic hellscape instead of electing representatives in 2012, solely because GE shouldn't have to pay any taxes.
Tagged
crisis
debt-ceiling crisis
debt ceiling limit
debt limit negotiations
Democrats
gop
harry reid
john boehner
nancy pelosi
president obama
republicans
washington
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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