Good for the Democrats: 'Debt ceiling: More Democrats threaten to vote against raising borrowing limit'

The Washington Post:

A growing number of Democrats are threatening to defy the White House over the national debt, joining Republican calls for deficit cuts as a requirement for consenting to lift the country’s borrowing limit.

The push-back has come in recent days from Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a freshman who is running for reelection next year. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) told constituents during the Easter recess that he would not vote to lift the debt limit without a “real and meaningful commitment to debt reduction.”

Even Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), generally a stalwart White House ally, is undecided on the issue .... Klobuchar is also up for reelection next year.

Months ago it seemed unthinkable that Congress might refuse to raise the borrowing limit. ...

“As catastrophic as it would be to fail to raise our debt ceiling, it’s even more irresponsible to not take this opportunity to own up to our unsustainable spending path,” Sen. Mark Udall (Colo.), another Democrat challenging the White House, said in a statement his office released this week. “If we don’t take action to reduce our deficit spending, Congress will be facing this same debt ceiling vote in the near term -– still with no end to our deficits in sight.”

Now let's see how these Democrats would cut spending to begin reducing the debt. No smoke and mirrors. They need to show some courage, competence and complete fiscal honesty. Anything less is national sabotage.

Frank Warner

Comments

[Neo]

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. ... It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government's reckless fiscal policies."

This was the guy that many Americans thought they had voted for President in 2008

[Kevin]

Good on these guys. It pains me to cheer for a Democrat, but they deserve it for this.

CRAP! I lost the page on your blog where I get to rage against nature! I waited too long to add a new one :(. Does anyone remember where it is?

[CJW]

Barack Obama: “Not Spending Money Is Mortgaging America’s Future”

More deep thinking from the liar-in-chief.

[Kevin]

Off topic - I strongly dislike hippies.

[jj mollo]

Political posturing occurs on both sides of the aisle. The fact is, we have to raise the debt ceiling. Challenging the debt ceiling is a bargaining technique called brinksmanship. Exciting, but dangerously foolish.

Personally, I think the Democrats should all abstain and call the bluff.