The US Debt Ceiling and the Republican Lack of Guts

The US debt ceiling plan, which was going to be the crowning glory of the Republicans when they succeeded to tie it to serious budget cuts, has gotten away from them.

Already, President Obama has gotten words about tax concessions from them, even before the real negotiations start between congressional leaders and the White House.

It will all be downhill from here for the GOP. Obama will cajole and control the airwaves. He will promise reductions and later renege. He will take credit for whatever bastardized combination of increased debt ceiling and comic book budget cuts the negotiators can put together.

We can all write the script. It will be his smiling face that tells the world that he saved it and America from disaster.

If the GOP, and the Boehner-McConnell GOP leadership team, had any guts, here is what they would do.

1. Pass a simple, to-the-point bill raising the debt ceiling. They can do it in the House of Representatives which they control. And, if Boehner can’t get the votes he needs, find somebody who can.

2. Lay the House bill gently on the desk of the Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, suggesting that the ball is now in his and the White House’s court.

3. Forget about the debt ceiling until the Senate’s version appears on Boehner’s desk - because it will. The Democrats will not take responsibility, finally, for messing up America’s debt profile worldwide. Since they don't really care one little bit about budget cuts, they'll pass the House bill and the President will sign it.

4. Get to work in the House - fast and with common sense and a little compassion for the unemployed, the poor and the elderly, as well as small business - to draft a comprehensive tax reform package. When it has passed the House, lay it gently on Harry Reid’s desk and wait for an answer.

5. Then get out on the stumps, sell the tax reform package, and tell America the truth - that it is the GOP that is prudent, compassionate, timely, and on their side. And that the debt ceiling has nothing to do with tax reform. It is a time bomb that the GOP inflicted on itself. It is tax reform that counts, stupid.

That’s not too hard is it? Even for politicians.