“Poll: More say 'blame the GOP' if debt ceiling deal isn't reached
(CNN) – As Vice President Joe Biden continues to hold discussions around Capitol Hill on the budget, deficit and debt ceiling, a survey released Monday says more Americans would blame his opposing party if a deal isn't reached.
According to a new Pew/Washington Post poll, 42 percent of Americans say Republicans in Congress would be to blame if the debt limit is not raised and the federal government isn't able to borrow more money to fund its operations.
One-third say the Obama administration, including Biden, would be to blame.
One-third say the Obama administration, including Biden, would be to blame.
Those who identify with Democrats or Republicans blame the opposite side of the aisle. Almost sixty percent of Republicans say the Obama administration would be responsible if both sides can't agree and 72 percent of Democrats say the fault would be on Republicans.
Independents find themselves in the middle - split over the issue of who is responsible for the failure of a debt ceiling deal. Since 36 percent say Republicans would be to blame and 34 percent place blame on the Democrats' shoulders, the two-point margin falls within the poll's sampling error and independents of either opinion are statistically tied. Seventeen percent say both sides would share responsibility.
The Pew Research Center/Washington Post poll was conducted via telephone from June 16-19 among 1,003 adults. It has a sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points.
“The Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.
The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no.
The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.
The members of this movement have no sense of moral decency....”
“But the most provocative part of Brooks' outburst isn't his outrage at Tea Party nuttiness, it's his conclusion that a debt default will put Democrats back in control of the House and ensure Obama's reelection.
“If the debt ceiling talks fail, independents voters will see that Democrats were willing to compromise but Republicans were not. If responsible Republicans don't take control, independents will conclude that Republican fanaticism caused this default. They will conclude that Republicans are not fit to govern. And they will be right..."
Cassi Creek:
If one looks at the politicians who are flying GOP and teavangelist banners, who have decided that economic collapse is preferable to political compromise, it is safe to assume that no matter how deeply they cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, their retirement and medical benefits will not be on the negotiating table.
“Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation.”
To be fair, we should consider the following:
“Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.
“The amount of a congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.
“According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.”
Congressional retirees often have lobbyist positions arranged before they retire. They often make sizeable profit on the political speech circuit. They may find offices and income at politically compatible think tanks. Many of them were practicing attorneys or held other professional positions prior to running for office and can return to those same types of income production if they lose their bid at re-election.
If the country rolls tits up and another depression is formally acknowledged, rather than hiding it under a “recession” label; the politicians who allowed it to happen to please their party money sources will never see a house in foreclosure, never miss a meal, and never have to worry about health care and medicine expenses. They are protected from the grim reality that they are determined to inflict upon the working poor and once middle class.
We can’t alter their retirement benefits. We can vote them out of office and delay their pensions. It is high time we do so. I encourage all of us to vote the GOP/teavangelists out of office.
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