Re debt ceiling, Dems hold firm and McConnell blinks, and blinks again.

[MoonRiver]

Is there something in the Turtle's eye?

[FBaggins]

1. How did he "blink"?

He successfully took the issue off the table for next month's VA election and made it so that Schumer can't claim that there isn't enough time to use reconciliation to raise the ceiling.

What did he give up? And how did Dems "hold firm" when what they wanted was a pause that takes them past the midterms?

[Demsrule86]

3. We were in serious danger that the debt ceiling would be breached...McConnell said as much.

And he backed down. And we didn't waste reconciliation and there wasn't enough time...so it was a scary situation...I doubt McConnell will push it in December less than a year from midterms.

[FBaggins]

7. I'm afraid you're dreaming

If he didn't want to push it before the midterms, he wouldn't have extended it for mere weeks.

His entire goal is to get Democrats to name the dollar amount by which the debt ceiling is increased. This move doesn't make that any more likely and takes the issue off the table for next month's election.

[Demsrule86]

8. This way he doesn't cave all the way now and will do so before

Christmas. Oh, I expect he will threaten but will cave in the end.

[EarlG]

4. They always do this, it's theater

In December McConnell will do the same thing again -- act like he's going to let the US default, and then cave.

For all the dangerous, unprecedented crap that McConnell has pulled (SCOTUS picks, for example) allowing the US to default is something that he can never do. The consequences for his corporate paymasters would be far too grave. Big American Business does not want to see the economy devastated just so a bunch of GOP deplorables in Washington can pat themselves on the back for "owning the libs."

[Demsrule86]

9. Thank you EarlG. I completely agree!!!

[MoonRiver]

13. This!

[Sogo]

18. Oh, I don't know....

....reminds me of that saying about "never say never...."

[PortTack]

6. This is SOP for the gqp. They have done this dozens of times. It's nothing new

[AZSkiffyGeek]

10. He said he wasn't going to budge and he budged

That's blinking despite how some seem to want to cast it as some multi-dimensional pwning of the Dems.

[FBaggins]

14. By that measure, Schumer blinked too

Did he get what he insisted be passed?

This is silly spin. All they did was extend the argument.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

15. Any excuse to complain...

[FBaggins]

17. Schumer also insisted on a pause rather than a specific dollar increase

Yet the final deal appears to be a $480 billion increase

[MyOwnPeace]

2. Forget 'blinking'..............

I hope the F**ker goes blind!

[empedocles]

5. These are complicated decisions, including some of the theatrics.

I understand the need for a simple label, like 'blink' in this case. I doubt if 'blink' is accurate, or informative.

[MoonRiver]

12. Nope, not complicated...simple

We either pay out debts or default.

[empedocles]

16. I was referring to the political negotiation process.

Not as simple as 'McConnell blinked'

[yonder]

11. Is that blinking with the clear, reptilian eye membranes?

Or with the eyelids as most other humans do?