Here We Go Again: GOP Sen. Toomey Wants to Shut Down the Government Over Debt Ceiling

Hating the President more than they love the US
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So, has the GOP learned anything from the incredibly negative publicity over the “fiscal cliff” debacle? Are you kidding? Of course not: Sen. Toomey: GOP Should Risk Shutdown to Force Spending Cuts in Debt-Limit Fight.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on Wednesday called for Republicans to be ready to shut down the government to gain spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation’s debt-limit.

“We Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown,” he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

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66 comments
1 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:33:26am

Unwilling to even let the ink dry on the last agreement before opening his pants and pleasuring himself to the next possibility of tearing down the federal government in which he ostensibly serves.

2 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:34:31am

re: #1 erik_t

Unwilling to even let the ink dry on the last agreement before opening his pants and pleasuring himself to the next possibility of tearing down the federal government in which he ostensibly serves.

Republicans in government are like priests in strip clubs.

3 Kronocide  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:35:00am

This is why we can't have nice things.

4 Cinnabar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:35:25am

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over, expecting that it will turn out differently next time.

5 Kragar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:36:18am

I propose shutting down Republicans over their obstructionism. Give them a chance to start talking, and if they start this shit, unplug their mikes, turn off the cameras, start blasting air horns to drown them out, etc.

6 allegro  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:36:41am

If only that "partial shutdown" began with stopping the paychecks of Congress members, Senators, and their well-paid support staffs and offices while continuing the promised payments to SS recipients, the armed forces, etc.

I could go for that

7 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:37:13am

The know nothing/do nothing Congress is prepared to engage in more of the same in the new term. Outstanding.

Push the nation to the brink of another fiscal crisis and harm the nation's credit. Increase borrowing costs for all levels of government (which saps their ability to operate down the road because more funds have to be allocated to covering debt payments).

This is a recipe for disaster and the GOP thinks extortion is the only way to reduce the size of government even though we're talking about entitlements that no one wants to reduce (especially as the GOP gains much of its voters from the Senior Citizen set - so a cut to SS and Medicare/Medicaid would adversely affect their very constituency the purport to serve). They'd rather crack the safety net than admit that policies of cutting taxes didn't yield greater economic growth.

8 Lidane  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:38:02am

Because that strategy worked out so well for the GOP the last time. I'm sure President Dole would agree.

///

9 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:38:32am

re: #6 allegro

If only that "partial shutdown" began with stopping the paychecks of Congress members, Senators, and their well-paid support staffs and offices while continuing the promised payments to SS recipients, the armed forces, etc.

I could go for that

Unfortunately, the vast, vast majority of Congress is far too wealthy to give a shit about a month-long stoppage of pay, and I frankly doubt they care very much about the staffers that serve them.

10 Gus  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:39:36am

Toomey voted yes on the Senate "fiscal cliff" bill.

11 makeitstop  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:40:22am

Go for it, Toomey. Play your cards right and maybe we'll be lucky enough to witness the complete destruction of the Republican party this year.

12 bratwurst  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:40:27am

My favorite part is when this brainiac blames a dysfunctional SENATE for everything...as if a Tea Party Caucus there would sort matters out.

13 Kragar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:42:08am
14 Interesting Times  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:44:48am
15 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:46:17am

re: #13 Kragar

Guess Fischer's never driven on an interstate highway, taken a flight anywhere in the US, or lived in a state where a natural disaster has occurred.

Oh wait. He's done all of the above. Moocher. Hypocrite. Mo-ron. Derpitude.

16 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:46:58am

re: #13 Kragar

@BryanJFischer Chris Christie illustrates our fundamental problem: even Republicans demand Washington do something for them.

They are actually factually against the idea of government on a philosophical level. I know this, but I keep needing reminders because it is just so utterly foreign to me.

Honest to God, he should move to Somalia. That is what he demands, without any exaggeration.

17 nines09  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:47:01am

“We Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown." Translation= "Fuck you people."

18 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:47:05am

EVIL RACIST DERP OF THE DAY

19 Kragar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:47:16am
20 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:47:46am

Also, what does any of this shit have to do with families? Why does the head of a purported 'American Family Association' rail against disaster relief?

He could not be more hypocritical if he tried.

21 jaunte  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:49:11am

Say what you will about the tenets of supply-side economics, dude — at least it’s an ethos.

The House GOP as the nihilists in The Big Lebowski...

22 Kragar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:50:22am

re: #20 erik_t

Also, what does any of this shit have to do with families? Why does the head of a purported 'American Family Association' rail against disaster relief?

He could not be more hypocritical if he tried.

Because if they were God fearing real Christians, God would have generated a mystic forcefield protecting them from all harm. The fact they were hit by a disaster proves they are unworthy.
/

23 makeitstop  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:50:52am

Anybody got a link for the Christie presser? Almost that time...

24 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:51:26am

re: #10 Gus

Toomey voted yes on the Senate "fiscal cliff" bill.

Because voting 'no' would have resulted in a worse outcome than voting yes. Toomey was elected in 2010, and won't have to face the voter again till 2016, so he could afford to vote for it.

But "We Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown" is not evidence of a desire to shut the government down. What Sen. Toomey is saying is that a temporary, partial shutdown is preferable to continued runaway spending.

What to avoid a shutdown, Dems? Propose some cuts, at least half not in defense. Because the government is overspending and its spending does need to be cut.

25 Ian G.  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:51:49am

re: #13 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Peter King, one of the few GOPers left in Congress from NY, went ballistic last night after the Sandy relief bill was torpedoed by his own party. Maybe he'll switch parties, or at least become a gadfly who votes against GOP interests from time to time just to stick his thumb in Boehner's eye.

26 Kragar  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:52:07am
27 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:53:03am

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

You're so full of shit it's flowing out of your ears. Where was this need to curb spending when it was to blow up people in the Middle East?

28 dragonath  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:53:08am

re: #18 Vicious Babushka

EVIL RACIST DERP OF THE DAY

[Embedded content]

Back in the 1850s, the Know-Nothing "American" Party believed that Catholics were flooding the polls with non-citizens.

In 2013, Republicans need voter ID laws to stop Obama's New Moozlamic Caliphate.

29 Ian G.  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:54:04am

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

Because voting 'no' would have resulted in a worse outcome than voting yes. Toomey was elected in 2010, and won't have to face the voter again till 2016, so he could afford to vote for it.

But "We Republicans need to be willing to tolerate a temporary, partial government shutdown" is not evidence of a desire to shut the government down. What Sen. Toomey is saying is that a temporary, partial shutdown is preferable to continued runaway spending.

What to avoid a shutdown, Dems? Propose some cuts, at least half not in defense. Because the government is overspending and its spending does need to be cut.

Please explain how government spending is "runaway". Please identify areas of spending that are out of control and are not related to automatic social support systems that came into play due to the gigantic economic implosion of 2008.

One is the military, whose budget is twice what it was in 2001.

30 jaunte  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:54:07am

re: #23 makeitstop

Anybody got a link for the Christie presser? Almost that time...

[Link: www.mediaite.com...]

31 Bulworth  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:55:21am
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on Wednesday called for Republicans to be ready to shut down the government to gain spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation’s debt-limit.

They haven't actually begun implementing the cuts from sequestration, including cuts to defense, stemming from their last attempt to shoot the hostage over raising the debt limit. Maybe they should do that before agitating for more cuts.

32 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:56:16am

re: #31 Bulworth

They haven't actually begun implementing the cuts from sequestration, including cuts to defense, stemming from their last attempt to shoot the hostage over raising the debt limit. Maybe they should do that before agitating for more cuts.

Killing government before attempting to stem notionally excessive spending is putting the horse before the cart for a member of the modern GOP.

33 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:56:45am

re: #27 erik_t

You're so full of shit it's flowing out of your ears. Where was this need to curb spending when it was to blow up people in the Middle East?

I wasn't thinking about that problem at that time. That was a mistake.

34 Destro  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:57:03am

Obama should declare that he will order the Treasury to issue bonds to cover the debt Congress voted for as required by the US Constitution then tell the House Republicans to pound sand and dare them to impeach him for defending the constitution.

35 Gus  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:58:41am

Meet the latest wingnut outrage: the autopen.

36 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:58:49am

re: #33 Dark_Falcon

I wasn't thinking about that problem at that time. That was a mistake.

Funny how you started thinking about that problem exactly as a Democrat entered the White House, and supported a candidate without the slightest fucking grasp of any sort of sound fiscal policy.

Someone fetch me my fainting couch.

37 Gus  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:59:16am

2 PM!

38 erik_t  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:59:26am

re: #35 Gus

Meet the latest wingnut outrage: the autopen.

Sure didn't read about that as an elementary schooler decades ago.

/^inf

39 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 10:59:36am

grabs popcorn and sits down to watch Christie

40 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:00:01am

re: #39 Four More Tears

grabs popcorn and sits down to watch Christie

[Link: livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com...]

41 A Mom Anon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:00:03am

You could cut the waste and fraud in defense along with cutting that budget by at least a quarter and the United States would STILL be spending more on military and defense than the rest of the world combined. COMBINED. Defense cuts should NEVER be off the table until the cost overruns and other bullshit spending from that sector is under control.

Then get back to me about cutting "welfare" for the 4 million people who get that kind of assistance. Or Education of any of the other beneficial things we get for our tax dollars.

42 jaunte  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:01:18am

Christie's on now.

43 Bubblehead II  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:01:20am

And so it begins.

44 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:01:22am

Oh yeah. This is good.

45 Renaissance_Man  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:01:23am

re: #36 erik_t

Funny how you started thinking about that problem exactly as a Democrat entered the White House, and supported a candidate without the slightest fucking grasp of any sort of sound fiscal policy.

Someone fetch me my fainting couch.

DF has already stated point blank that to him, the substance of any issue does not matter, only the political affiliation of the person stating it.

46 CuriousLurker  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:02:19am

Uh-oh, here we go. I had a feeling Christie was gonna bust a gasket over Congress ignoring Sandy relief. Let's see what he does. He doesn't look happy...

47 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:02:57am

re: #45 Renaissance_Man

DF has already stated point blank that to him, the substance of any issue does not matter, only the political affiliation of the person stating it.

That isn't really true.

48 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:03:10am

re: #46 CuriousLurker

Uh-oh, here we go. I had a feeling Christie was gonna bust a gasket over Congress ignoring Sandy relief. Let's see what he does. He doesn't look happy...

Oh! Snap!

49 Gus  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:03:11am

BOOM!

50 jaunte  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:03:22am

"66 days, and the wait continues."

51 CuriousLurker  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:03:39am

Oh SHIT, he just blamed it all on the House majority & Boehner.

52 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:04:09am

What right-wing racism? (Warning: I did not want to embed that Tweet here because, UGH. Click at your own risk.)

53 Four More Tears  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:04:10am

re: #51 CuriousLurker

Oh SHIT, he just blamed it all on the House majority & Boehner.

And I loved every second of it.

54 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:04:24am

re: #31 Bulworth

That's just it.

The GOP wants to rejigger the sequestration cuts because they hit across the board except SS and Medicare. Everything else gets whacked with 10% cut, regardless of the program or importance.

Mind you that this was done so as to force Congress into making even more substantial cuts. It was the supposed Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of Congress should they not reach a decision.

Well, Congress punted. They decided the sequestration was preferable to coming up with a compromise.

Now, they realize that the sequestration is going to happen unless they act (or punt it down the line again). The cuts they claim to want aren't really what they want. If they really sought to cut spending, it would gut their own constituency. They're hoping to get a pivot and lay blame for the austerity on the Administration and Democrats, rather than on their own actions/inaction to balance budgets in years gone by.

55 CuriousLurker  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:04:26am

I can hear the heads exploding from here.

56 dragonath  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:04:30am

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

What to avoid a shutdown, Dems? Propose some cuts, at least half not in defense. Because the government is overspending and its spending does need to be cut.

This is so disingenuous. An unfunded mandate such as Medicare Part D would have never passed a Democratic house.

Your deference to the GOP's fallacious tax argument is giving religious and fiscal nuts like Toomey respect they do not deserve.

57 A Mom Anon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:05:28am

re: #35 Gus

I'm convinced a whole lotta mommies out there dropped their children on their heads during childhood. Repeatedly. That one little twitter thread right there is an astonishingly great arguement for teaching civics in high school again. Required for graduation. That's some weapons grade willful stupidity right there.

58 Joanne  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:08:55am

re: #22 Kragar

Because if they were God fearing real Christians, God would have generated a mystic forcefield protecting them from all harm. The fact they were hit by a disaster proves they are unworthy.
/

People like Bryan Fischer are proof positive to me that there is no god. No god would allow a mere human speaking so hubristicaly (sic) in his name.

59 Joanne  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:12:40am

re: #29 Ian G.

Please explain how government spending is "runaway". Please identify areas of spending that are out of control and are not related to automatic social support systems that came into play due to the gigantic economic implosion of 2008.

One is the military, whose budget is twice what it was in 2001.

Military is sacrosanct. It doesn't add to the deficit nor does it add to gubmint spending. It's the invisible calories of eating six slices of chocolate lava cake. It just doesn't exist.

60 Joanne  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:14:47am

re: #35 Gus

Meet the latest wingnut outrage: the autopen.

Old outrage, new implementation.

61 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:15:32am

re: #49 Gus

BOOM!

Wat just went on down on the field, John?

62 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:24:36am

Obama should not negotiate with terrorists.

63 Skip Intro  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:35:12am

re: #13 Kragar

Chris Christie illustrates our fundamental problem: even Republicans demand Washington do something for them.

Bryan Fischer also illustrates our fundamental problem. Our insane used to be be in asylums; now they have radio programs.

64 Skip Intro  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 11:36:33am

re: #59 Joanne

Military is sacrosanct. It doesn't add to the deficit nor does it add to gubmint spending. It's the invisible calories of eating six slices of chocolate lava cake. It just doesn't exist.

Quite right, and wars are cost free because they pay for themselves. I learned that at the knee of Dick Cheney.

65 HappyWarrior  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 12:43:17pm

Toomey will be lucky to have a job in 2016. He clearly benefited from the wave of idiots that were elected in 2012. Maybe he'll go join Jim DeMint and the two can cry together at the Heritage Foundation.

66 labman57  Wed, Jan 2, 2013 6:14:56pm

Hmmm. Let's examine the fiscal conservatives' logic with respect to the debt ceiling:

The main objective of the intransigent Republican members of Congress is -- allegedly -- to curb wasteful government spending. So to meet that objective, they are threatening a repeat of last year's debt ceiling blockade which resulted in the U.S. being unable to pay its bills for the first time ever, thereby causing the nation's credit rating to take a major hit, which in turn led to higher interest rates for government borrowing, and finally, billions of dollars wasted as a result.

Great idea.


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