Remember the debt ceiling and the sequestration? [View all]

[ProSense]

Remember when everyone was talking about the next hostage, the debt ceiling? Krugman was right: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022215606. Reposting:

Not With A Bang But With A Whimper



When you’re wrong, you’re wrong. I thought that by ruling out any way to bypass the debt limit, the White House was setting itself up, at least potentially, for an ignominious cave-in. But it appears that the strategy has worked, and it’s the Republicans giving up. I’m happy to concede that the president and team called this one right.

And it’s a big deal. Yes, the GOP could come back on the debt ceiling, but that seems unlikely. It could try to make a big deal of the sequester, but that’s a lot more like the fiscal cliff than it is like the debt ceiling: not good, but not potentially catastrophic, and therefore poor terrain for the “we’re crazier than you are” strategy. And while Republicans could shut down the government, my guess is that Democrats would actually be gleeful at that prospect: the PR would be overwhelmingly favorable for Obama, and again, not much risk of blowing up the world.

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A good day for sanity, all around.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/not-with-a-bang-but-with-a-whimper/

Sequestration reclaims the national spotlight
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022771317

Why Republicans Suddenly Became Afraid Of Their Own Budget Shadow
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022690945

'The Excel Error Heard Round the World'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022686815

Senate Republicans Block Progress On Budget
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/senate-republicans-block-progress-on-budget

McConnell Objects To Initiating Budget Conference Negotiations
http://sync.democraticunderground.com/10022810127

The sequestration issue didn't work out the way Republicans planned (Americans blame them and they're whining about specific cuts), they can't hold the debt ceiling hostage and their economic argument for austerity has been completely destroyed. It appears all that Republicans have left are bullshit accusations, Benghazirama and attempts to fan the flames of impeachment.

They have, for the time, successfully shifted focus from the damaging effects of the sequestration and passing a budget.