As predicted by The TerryReport, the tea pot Republicans in the House caved. It came more swiftly than imagined, in part because there was nothing to be gained by letting the matter fester over, of all times, Christmas and New Years. The Republicans have made such a big show over the last year of opposing all tax increases**, but then they put themselves in the position of favoring one on the middle class and ordinary workers and, at the same time, allowing extended unemployment benefits to lapse and, on top of that, cutting Medicare payments to doctors. How in the world could they have imagined they would come out on top on these issues? Had they left town without taking action, they probably would have ensured that the Republicans would lose the House in 2012’s elections. They almost reached that goal.

Not passing these measures would have been an excellent way to put the brakes on the long, slow recovery of the American economy. By some estimates, it would take more than 500 billion dollars out of circulation. Maybe that was the point: what better way to defeat Obama than to ensure that the economy is not going up, but heading down.

This was mainly a dispute between Republicans and with other Republicans. A deal was struck by the House leadership with the Senate Republicans and Democrats to pass a two month extension. When it got over to the House, the tea potters said no deal, even though a large percentage of Republicans, especially those more experienced in politics, were quite ready to vote for it. This is yet another example of how House Speaker John Boehner doesn’t so much lead the House Republicans as he does pray that they don’t take his head off. Once again we learn that no deal is truly done until the new members of Congress get to rip it apart.

Doug Terry, 12.23.11

**Most Republicans in Congress have defined any measure that brings in more revenue as a tax increase, even those allowing a tax to automatically return to previous levels.

RICK PERRY IS ON A LONG BUS TOUR OF IOWA, TRYING TO SALVAGE HIS CAMPAIGN. At right is from the Washington Post coverage of Perry’s last stand.

“Newt, as you know, views himself as the leader of a vast, national interplanetary movement.” Then Congressman Vin Webber, talking about his friend in a 1992 interview as quoted by the WashPost

HOW OLD IS TOO OLD TO BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

IT APPEARS VOTERS IN IOWA ARE TRIED OF HEARING NEWT TALK ABOUT HIS GREATNESS

WHAT IS THE MEANING, and the full  story, of America’s involvement in Iraq, now that troops have left? We deserve a full accounting, no holds barred.

From the LA Times on Boehner’s collapsing leadership profile:

“...in a matter of days filled with either miscommunication, missteps or  both, Boehner appeared to lose his touch during the last big fight of  the year.

As efforts were underway to reach a bipartisan deal to extend the payroll tax break through 2012, Boehner stepped aside to let Senate negotiators try their hand at talks. As the two-month interim took shape, Boehner did not publicly embrace it, nor did he shoot it down.  Only after his troops rejected it on a rowdy conference call did he deny he had given the green light to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

The House tanked the same deal it would later accept with minor modifications.”

TerryReport note: The LA Times story does not convey the actual facts clearly enough. When the deal was announced, Boehner appeared to be up to his eyeballs in it, supporting it and taking it to the House.. Only when the tea potters in the House turned against it did he go running for cover.

“He’s very comfortable moving among Texans. His feel for that is pitch perfect,” said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern  Methodist University in Texas. “But he’s not in Texas. He’s unsure, he’s nervous, he’s scared and he’s losing. In the end, he’ll come back to his place in Texas but he’ll never have that swagger again.”

YOUR CELL PHONE OR YOUR LIFE! NTSB SAYS BAN THEM, OUTRIGHT, PERIOD

BIKE TRAILS IN THE DC AREA

 CLICK HERE to go to The TerryReport 2011 archives

The TerryReport: Home page