The Plum Line: debt ceiling


Posted at 03:18 PM ET, 05/17/2013

The ultimate in manufactured crises
By Greg Sargent
Both sides have already agreed that the debt limit must be raised -- yet we're supposed to pretend it gives one side leverage, anyway.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:18 PM ET, 05/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 02:44 PM ET, 05/08/2013

Chaos governing
By Greg Sargent
Republicans refuse to enter into fiscal negotiations unless they can wield the threat of crashing the economy to get their way.

By Greg Sargent  |  02:44 PM ET, 05/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 04:39 PM ET, 04/29/2013

GOP's debt limit threat goes off the rails
By Jonathan Bernstein
In case you needed more evidence that the GOP has become a "post policy party," note the Republicans' latest exercise in extortion.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:39 PM ET, 04/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 03:14 PM ET, 03/21/2013

GOP strategist: Republicans should not create debt ceiling "crisis"
By Greg Sargent
Amid all this talk of a GOP "makeover," few Republicans are asking whether it might be a good idea to stop provoking governing crises.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:14 PM ET, 03/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 03:10 PM ET, 03/05/2013

Are we heading for another debt ceiling fight?
By Greg Sargent
Asked if House Republicans will make new demands in exchange for a debt ceiling hike next month, a House GOP aide says: "Stay tuned."

By Greg Sargent  |  03:10 PM ET, 03/05/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 04:18 PM ET, 01/23/2013

Latest GOP budget scheme would slash federal government to ribbons
By Greg Sargent
If the GOP really thinks it can wipe away deficits in 10 years, that could require downsizing government by as much as one third.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:18 PM ET, 01/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 02:07 PM ET, 01/23/2013

GOP exchanges debt limit fantasy for budget fantasy
By Greg Sargent
Republicans release the debt limit hostage, but are now wedded to the political fantasy that they will wipe away the deficit in 10 years with only spending cuts.

By Greg Sargent  |  02:07 PM ET, 01/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 11:47 AM ET, 01/23/2013

Nancy Pelosi to Dems: Hold out for clean debt limit hike
By Greg Sargent
If John Boehner can't pass his temporary debt limit increase, that could increase Dem leverage for a clean debt ceiling hike.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:47 AM ET, 01/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 05:45 PM ET, 01/22/2013

Keep letting Boehner twist in the wind
By Greg Sargent
House Dems should lay low and force Boehner to find the votes for his latest maneuver himself.

By Greg Sargent  |  05:45 PM ET, 01/22/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 01/18/2013

Dems to GOP: Thanks, but the debt ceiling is still your problem
By Greg Sargent
Democrats respond to the House GOP's debt ceiling offer by letting John Boehner continue to twist in the wind.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:00 PM ET, 01/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 01/18/2013

GOP takes off the suicide bomb vest
By Greg Sargent
By agreeing to a three month debt limit extension, the House GOP leadership has effectively taken the threat of default off the table -- total surrender.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:45 PM ET, 01/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Republicans

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 01/17/2013

An easy way out for the GOP: Accept the inevitable
By Greg Sargent
The problem with the GOP's debt ceiling hostage strategy isn't in the execution. The problem is the strategy itself.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:22 PM ET, 01/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Republicans

Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 01/15/2013

Another GOP Senator recognizes the inevitable
By Greg Sargent
Susan Collins joins Lisa Murkowski in coming out and saying the debt ceiling must be raised.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:23 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 01/15/2013

Debt ceiling endgame comes into view
By Greg Sargent
Senate Dems may be able to force the House to deal with the debt limit.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:39 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2013

Maybe the 'blister' of GOP opposition really will get popped
By Jonathan Bernstein
The history of Newt Gingrich's losses against Bill Clinton suggests a decisive Obama victory in the debt fight really could matter over the long term.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:39 PM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Tea Party

Posted at 03:35 PM ET, 01/14/2013

The Tea Party's last stand?
By Greg Sargent
Obama is behaving like someone who is determined to break the Tea Party once and for all.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:35 PM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Tea Party

Posted at 01:26 PM ET, 01/14/2013

Dems hold a trump card in debt limit showdown
By Greg Sargent
If Dems move to pass a clean debt limit hike, Republicans may be harder pressed to oppose it than you might think.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:26 PM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Debt limit, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 01/14/2013

The Morning Plum: The debt ceiling is the GOP's problem. Lather, rinse, repeat.
By Greg Sargent
Again: If Republicans want to threaten to destroy the economy to get their way, it's their problem.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:10 AM ET, 01/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, guns guns guns, Morning Plum, platinum coin

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 01/11/2013

Top Senate Dems to White House: If you unilaterally raise debt ceiling, we've got your back
By Greg Sargent
In a letter to the White House, top Senate Dems tell Obama that they will support whatever unilateral move it decides to make to raise the debt ceiling.

By Greg Sargent  |  02:55 PM ET, 01/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 01/11/2013

Business leaders to GOP: No more debt limit hostage taking!
By Greg Sargent
The GOP's threat of leverage takes yet another hit.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:45 PM ET, 01/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, Republicans, us chamber of commerce

Posted at 09:21 AM ET, 01/11/2013

The Morning Plum: The NRA's Big Lies
By Greg Sargent
The organization's Second Amendment alarmism, extreme views on sensible gun regulation, and outright dishonesty render it less and less credible.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:21 AM ET, 01/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, gun control, Morning Plum, nra, platinum coin

Posted at 11:47 AM ET, 01/10/2013

Karl Rove accidentally unmasks the GOP's debt ceiling ruse
By Greg Sargent
The GOP strategist admits that Republicans will never allow default -- which means the debt ceiling doesn't give them leverage, after all.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:47 AM ET, 01/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, karl rove, Republicans

Posted at 09:17 AM ET, 01/10/2013

The Morning Plum: Will any Republicans support sensible gun law reforms?
By Greg Sargent
Perhaps some moderate Republicans can be induced to resist the increasing southernization of the GOP.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:17 AM ET, 01/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, gun control, Morning Plum, platinum coin

Posted at 04:30 PM ET, 01/09/2013

Did White House really leave "platinum coin" option open? Doubtful.
By Greg Sargent
All Jay Carney did today was refuse to take a position on whether such an option is even legal or viable.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:30 PM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, platinum coin

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 01/09/2013

Business leaders: Failure to raise debt ceiling will drive markets "haywire"
By Greg Sargent
The pressure to raise the debt ceiling is about to get a good deal more intense.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:00 PM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  business community, debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 01/09/2013

The Morning Plum: Clever GOP spin on debt ceiling
By Greg Sargent
Republicans are painstakingly defining the debt ceiling hike as a concession they will be making to Obama, rather than as something that must be done to protect the country from financial disaster. And news orgs are playing along.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:15 AM ET, 01/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, platinum coin

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 01/08/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:26 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, platinum coin

Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 01/08/2013

GOP disarray over debt ceiling
By Greg Sargent
More signs that Republicans don't have the leverage in the debt ceiling fight they claim.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:45 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, john boehner, Mitch McConnell, Republicans

Posted at 09:26 AM ET, 01/08/2013

The Morning Plum: Job one for the White House -- isolate the NRA
By Greg Sargent
The White House and Democrats appear to be fully engaged for the fight to come. They will have to be.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:26 AM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Morning Plum, nra

Posted at 05:20 PM ET, 01/07/2013

Debt ceiling hostage taking is far more absurd -- and destructive -- than "mint the coin" is
By Greg Sargent
The "mint the coin" campaign is greeted with derision, even as the GOP's threat to blow up the economy is greeted with yawns.

By Greg Sargent  |  05:20 PM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, platinum coin

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 01/07/2013

Republicans getting weak-kneed about debt ceiling fight
By Greg Sargent
Still more signs emerge that the debt ceiling doesn't give Republicans the leverage they've claimed.

By Greg Sargent  |  12:10 PM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, john boehner, Mitch McConnell

Posted at 09:25 AM ET, 01/07/2013

The Morning Plum: No, we are not 'finished' with the tax debate
By Greg Sargent
Republicans will have to agree to more in revenues, whether they like it or not.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:25 AM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling platinum coin, fiscal cliff, Morning Plum

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  07:00 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff debt ceiling, Happy Hour Roundup

Posted at 05:51 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Ignore bogus polling on debt limit
By Jonathan Bernstein
Despite what internal polls say, the GOP would lose a political battle over the debt ceiling.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:51 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 04:19 PM ET, 01/04/2013

Washington's 'Blazing Saddles' moment
By Greg Sargent
The debt ceiling mess is deeply unhinged, even by Washington standards.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:19 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 01:56 PM ET, 01/04/2013

A veteran hostage negotiator's advice on handling the GOP
By Greg Sargent
Obama needs to be willing to use a trump card to resolve the situation without the GOP's help -- and make the GOP understand it's not in control of the situation.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:56 PM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans

Posted at 11:50 AM ET, 01/04/2013

The debt ceiling isn't Obama's problem. It's the GOP's problem.
By Greg Sargent
What if Republicans don't have the leverage in the debt ceiling fight they think they have?

By Greg Sargent  |  11:50 AM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 09:17 AM ET, 01/04/2013

The Morning Plum: What does 'not negotiating' look like?
By Greg Sargent
Obama and Dems vow not to negotiate with the GOP over the debt limit, but it's not clear they have any choice.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:17 AM ET, 01/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, immigration reform, Morning Plum

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 01/03/2013

The Morning Plum: Media shouldn't get rolled by GOP debt ceiling spin
By Greg Sargent
News accounts are portraying the looming debt limit standoff as a standard Washington negotiation. It isn't.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:10 AM ET, 01/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, filibuster reform, fiscal cliff, Immigration, Morning Plum

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 01/02/2013

Happy Hour Roundup
By Greg Sargent
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  06:30 PM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, Happy Hour Roundup, john boehner

Posted at 09:13 AM ET, 12/17/2012

The Morning Plum: Is 'God, guns, and gays' losing its peril for Democrats?
By Greg Sargent
Demographic shifts mean that Dems no longer need rural white conservatives -- and no longer need to fear the cultural issues they care so much about.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:13 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, gun control, john boehner, Morning Plum, Newton

Posted at 11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012

Looks like we're stuck with GOP game playing on debt limit
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans are unlikely to relinquish whatever leverage the threat of default gives them, so it looks like we're headed for another showdown.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans, Senate

Posted at 04:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012

On debt ceiling, GOP is defining extortion down
By Greg Sargent
Republicans plan to wage another debt limit battle -- confirming again that they believe it's legitimate to threaten damage to the U.S. economy to get what they want.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:57 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff

Posted at 01:01 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Business leaders siding with Obama on debt ceiling?
By Greg Sargent
Business leaders don't want another rerun of the 2011 debt limit debacle.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:01 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, debt ceiling, House of Representatives, Mitch McConnell

Posted at 03:34 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Pelosi: Dems must say No to raising Medicare eligibility age
By Greg Sargent
Liberals fear the White House and Dems will agree to raise the Medicare eligibility age. But Nancy Pelosi says No.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:34 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, House of Representatives, Medicare, Nancy Pelosi