The 2011 Nightmare Before Christmas

In what can only be described as a “nightmare before Christmas,” Speaker of the House John Boehner conceded to Senate Democrats over the expiring payroll tax cut.

Friday, after the bill passes, Captain Humility will sign the bill and board Air Force One with Bo, the family dog (undoubtedly flown back to Washington at taxpayer expense for a showdown photo-op) to join the First Family in Hawaii.

All the back-biting over the past week or so means that the payroll tax cut which is worth an astonishing $40 on the average paycheck will continue through February 2012.  Jobless benefits will also continue and the “doc fix” which prevents a proposed 27.4% pay cut for physicians serving Medicare patients will not take effect on January 1, 2012.

Democrats are pissing their pants with glee over having won the battle, but a two-month band-aid will only create more uncertainty for families and businesses that create jobs and shackle economic growth.

During his news conference, when asked if House Republicans “caved”, Boehner said, “Sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing.  It may not have politically been the smartest thing in the world, but I’m gonna tell you what, our members waged a good fight.”

This was no good fight.  They decided to play politics with the XL Keystone Pipeline as a strategy to win favor with Americans.   Their calculus was flawed and now they’ve damaged the Republican brand.  How badly?  Only time will tell.

So enjoy your forty bucks.

 

Incidentally, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not passed a budget in 1,346 days; something they are required by law to do each and every April 15^th.  Throw Them All Out.


Linked by The Other McCain.  Thanks so much.