Senate Republicans say will block Reid debt bill

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) arrives at a news conference on the Republican Filibuster of Reid's debt plan on Capitol Hill in Washington July 29, 2011. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) arrives at a news conference on the Republican Filibuster of Reid's debt plan on Capitol Hill in Washington July 29, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Yuri Gripas

WASHINGTON | Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:03pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly all Republicans in the Senate signed a letter saying they will not vote for a Democratic plan to raise the debt limit in a sign that the measure does not have the support it needs to advance in Congress.

Forty-three of the chamber's 47 Republicans signed the letter, released on Saturday.

Democrats need at least seven Republican votes to clear a procedural vote in the 100-seat chamber. That vote is scheduled for 1 a.m. EDT on Sunday.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

(This story was corrected to specify that most, not all, Republicans signed letter)
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Comments (2)
showmerancher wrote:
So which side should compromise their principles to make a “deal” on raising the debt, when the proposed “deal” does not solve the problem, it does not even meet the requirements to avoid having the credit of the U.S. degraded, does not provide enforcement mechanisms, and essentially “kicks the can down the road”? Republicans? Democrats? Both? The answer is neither. Anyone who compromises their own principles for something that does not resolve the problem has not a lick of integrity.

Here’s a unique idea. First design a bill that fully resolves the problem… then insure that it is fully enforceable for the time it is expected to take, and for contingencies that will most certainly occur. Make sure it fully resolves issues with the financial community in terms of the country’s credit rating. Now you at least have something worth working towards, including compromise on a “tit-for-tat” basis, as long as the integrity of the the solution is not disturbed or diminished. For instance, we’ll give you this elimination of a corporate tax break for that spending cut.

But the fact is that we will never get to the point of such a grown-up solution as long as Obama is President. His strong-arm partisanship displayed in his despotic rants (“Elections have consequences… I won… Republicans can come along but they have to ride in back…” etc.) and intimidation of Social Security recipients and even his own military have bred so much fear, loathing and contempt throughout the country that he is totally ineffective as a leader.

He speaks of FDR or Reagan… but when either of those men addressed the American people it was in an attempt to inspire trust and confidence in the face of adversity, and that with determination and in remaining rational we could overcome any obstacle. Every time Obama speaks the situation worsens, his poll ratings drop, and he hurts Democrat’s hopes for 2012.

If we are not going to destroy this country entirely, Obama must step down. Yes, I know that leaves Joe Biden. But even he is more rational than Obama (I hope), and we must stop the damage that is being done to this nation. The Obama administration has damaged this country in more ways and far more extensively than any enemy, either foreign or domestic has in our history; and that damage will ripple through the country and indeed the world for decades to come.

1. Define the full extent of the problem(s) and all potential contingencies.
2. Define the goals that must be achieved in the total solution.
3. Define performance based objectives that meet and resolve each of the problems/reach all of the goals
4. Define the detailed steps that will be used to satisfy the goals, and the milestones by which their success will be measured.
5. DO IT!

Jul 30, 2011 2:18pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Aberystwyth wrote:
I have followed President Obama closely since before his election, and have never heard him come close to “ranting.” He is known (and sometimes criticized by those on the far left) for his lack of ferocity. Approval of an increase in the debt ceiling is typically a clean up or down vote–a routine procedure. The fact that this year it has become a circus is not due to him. He has been willing to concede a great deal more than some of us are happy with in his meetings with the Republicans in the House, where I assure you, he was the “grown-up” in the room. The meeting where Eric Cantor described him “storming out of the room was video-taped and played on several news broadcasts. The “storming” consisted of him advising Mr. Cantor that he (Mr. Cantor) should not try to call his bluff. His tone of voice was completely normal. Then he said that the meeting was over and they would continue tomorrow. The fact that you are trying to paint President Obama as irrational is preposterous.

Jul 30, 2011 3:23pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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