Tag Archives: Federal Debt Ceiling

Delusional Cynical Politics

Posted on October 11, 2013 by billmanzi

It has been a busy time , and harder to do blog posts. But with the federal government shutdown and the threat of default, it is time to return. More than enough has been written about the logjam that has … Continue reading →

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Deal of the Century!

Posted on August 2, 2011 by billmanzi

And so the debt ceiling crisis comes to an end, with both sides screaming bloody murder and claiming that all sorts of nastiness will flow from this agreement. Seems to me like much ado about nothing. Conservatives are crowing that … Continue reading →

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What is the Agenda?

Posted on July 31, 2011 by billmanzi

Through most of the raise the debt ceiling debate I have been relentlessly critical of Republicans. They deserve harsh criticism for their conduct and false policy prescriptions. Their willful ignorance of real numbers, their false description of the potential outcomes … Continue reading →

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Why Didn't We Think of That

Posted on July 28, 2011 by billmanzi

After all this debate about raising the debt ceiling, with all the potential for financial calamity, with all the political posturing and slings and arrows, it appears that we have all missed the boat. Rep. Paul Broun, House Republican, yesterday … Continue reading →

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Fools on Parade

Posted on July 27, 2011 by billmanzi

The Republican House, acting like the Gang that couldn’t shoot straight, has produced a partisan bill to raise the debt ceiling, only to see the CBO score it as not cutting what it originally said, seeing House Republicans abandon their … Continue reading →

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The Washington Two Step

Posted on July 25, 2011 by billmanzi

The Speaker (and his House Republican caucus) has unveiled his plan to raise the debt ceiling, which appears to be a two step process, with a trillion in authorization given now in return for about $1.2 trillion in discretionary spending … Continue reading →

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The $400 Billion Question, Or Hastert's Revenge

Posted on July 23, 2011 by billmanzi

So the “large deal” debt talks have once again broken off in acrimony, with each side pointing fingers, leaving the United States perilously close to a sovereign debt default. So what happened? Republicans, led by Speaker Boehner, are accusing the … Continue reading →

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Fleeing the Pamplona Bulls

Posted on July 17, 2011 by billmanzi

With real progress on the debt ceiling issue just not happening, and with time running out all sides appear to be focused on the McConnell plan as the escape hatch that will allow the U.S. Government to avoid default. The … Continue reading →

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The McConnell Plan

Posted on July 13, 2011 by billmanzi

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, recognizing that debt limit negotiations are going nowhere, has come up with “Plan B”, presenting a plan that effectively punts on the debt ceiling issue, giving the President de facto authority to raise the debt … Continue reading →

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The "Big Budget Deal" Collapses

Posted on July 10, 2011 by billmanzi

Later today President Obama will meet with Congressional leaders to take another run at getting Congress to raise the debt ceiling before August 2. While there appears to have been some movement towards what has been described as a “large … Continue reading →

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