On today’s X-Date, the seeds for what is now a negotiation over how much of the budget to cut were sown during Obama’s ‘grand bargain’ phase.
We’re in a live hostage negotiation over what level of austerity will satisfy the hostage-takers. ... And the reason why Democrats are dutifully playing the compromiser role dates back to the last hostage-taking, which Democrats also (enthusiastically) accepted.
https://prospect.org/economy/2023-05-10-twelve-years-most-responsible-guy-debt-ceiling/
I really want to emphasize that Democrats actively set up this situation when they passed appropriations bills last Congress without also passing borrowing authorization at the time, setting the stage for this showdown.
Even at the time this was obviously going to be the result if they went that direction, and they did. I wish there was more accountability for them, but meh, most were reelected.
Things won't change so long as we keep reelecting the same sort of people.
@volkris @AliceMarshall this way they get two bites at the apple -- pass the things they want, then hold the country hostage for extra stuff.
Just mint the coin already