Nation Faces Debt Crisis Ceiling as Speaker Boehner's Plan Goes Bust

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As the debt ceiling talks stall, I am reminded of the "Rolling Stone" article I wrote on Speaker John Boehner back in January.[If you haven't read what is essentially a synopsis of an article in "Rolling Stone" by Matt Taibbi, see link above]. It would be a good idea to read it, in light of the unprecedented crisis Speaker of the House John Boehner and the GOP have thrust upon our nation with the failure to pass an extension of the debt ceiling, (something done 18 times for Reagan and 7 times for Clinton.) Bush the Younger, who got us the wars that sapped the surplus left over when Clinton left office, also had the debt ceiling raised several times, whether the leadership was Republican or Democratic.

But our first president of African-American ancestry cannot catch a break from the Tea Party tribe recently installed in the hallowed halls of Congress. I saw the potential for impasse up close and personal in 2008 at the Ron Paul Rally for America in Minneapolis' Target Center. I remember saying then, "If the Republicans can harness all this energy and enthusiasm and youth, they have a shot at revitalizing their party," which, let's face it, was looking pretty old and white and homogeneous across town in St. Paul at the RNC that nominated McCain and Palin. That harnessing, unfortunately, has led us to the brink of financial ruin, as the group that emerged is the Tea Party.

Here's a quote from today's (July 28^th) Chicago "Tribune" regarding Speaker Boehner and the current impasse: "He is the party," said Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R, Ohio), a longtime ally. "If he's diminished, the party is diminished." [Given the way the Republicans in Congress have been acting, all I can say to that is a resounding, "Good!"]

A few more quotes from a different Chicago "Tribune" article by Lisa Mascaro and Kathleen Hennessey of the "Tribune's" Washington bureau. (And make no mistake about it: the "Tribune" is pro-Republican most of the time and praised Boehner's bone-headed 2-step tax proposal, which would put "we, the people" through this mess all over again in 6 months' time -- a bad idea in and of itself.)

Page12, July 28, Chicago Tribune's "Nation & World" section, "Boehner Steers A Rocky Path:" "Earlier this week, the plan was relegated to life support when an analysis showed it would not cut as much as advertised, threatening to take Boehner down with it amid warnings of dire economic consequences for failing to act. In a quickly changing atmosphere, though, little is certain."

The "Tribune" also said, on the same page, "If the GOP majority ends up falling in line, Boehner will emerge as a cool political operative who found a way to steer his caucus and its unruly freshman class to momentary unity. If the bill fails, Boehner will have proved the conventional wisdom: Neither he, nor possibly anyone else on his team can control the rambunctious tea party-aligned GOP ranks that are redefining what it means to be a conservative in this country."

Later in the article (and at great length in the original January piece I wrote for Associated Content), the comment was made: "Boehner's hold over these newcomers is fragile."

Let's face it: NOBODY has control over the Tea Party loose cannon element in Congress. And the nation is pretty sick of it. Quoting folks who live near the Beltway, Faye Fiore of the "Tribune" papers in yet another article ("Debate Fuels Public Disgust") quoted 66-year-old Warren Cohen of Fairfax saying, "Lunacy" and announcing his willingness to pay more taxes on his $250,000 income. That comment was made "as the country barreled toward a financial cliff." And, noted Fiore, "They've (citizens interviewed) had it up to here with politicians who listen to the fringes of their parties, then expound about what 'Americans want.'"

I just signed a petition authorizing President Obama to invoke the 14^th Amendment and, if necessary, raise this debt ceiling on his own recognizance. He has tried to "lead from behind," as the pundits put it, being reasonable with a group of intractable Congressmen who act like two-year-olds and putting up with a lot more ridiculous behavior from the Tea Party crowd than any informed, intelligent, dedicated public servant (and Harvard grad) should have to put up with. This former Senator is at the mercy in the case of my own district (17^th Congressional, Illinois) with a guy (Bobby Schilling) with a 2-year degree from Black Hawk Junior College and not much else on his resume, other than owning a pizza parlor, being firmly in the pocket of big contributors in this area (John Deere), and having once served his union. He and the man he defeated (Phil Hare) were both staunch Catholic graduates of Alleman High School in Rock Island, although only Bobby Schilling has 10 kids. (Hare had 2). Only Hare had 27 years' experience as Lane Evans' right-hand man until Lane Evans had to retire with Parkinson's disease. Schilling's inexperience on so many levels shows in oh so many ways. Schilling is among 5 first-term GOP House members from Illinois. He was endorsed by the Tea Party when he ran and you can bet your endangered Social Security dollars that he is going to have a real fight on his hands during the next run for office, given his performance to date.

When will these people grow up? Or, as Faye Fiore said it so eloquently, "They (the citizens) want this debt game over. It's getting old: rich lawmakers playing chicken with the lives of people who can't afford it."