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Jay Berman's avatar

Likely Moscow drone strike had Ukraine origins, but maybe not direct government fingerprints. Feels like a measured attack to show Putin it can be accomplished. Measured to gain no real action from Moscow or Washington. Just my gut take.

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

Congressional term limits and a balanced budget would stop this recurring political show. There is at least one idea out there to encourage term limits without a Constitutional amendment. It involves cutting congressional pay to $1/year after the desired number of terms. Congress could pass a law requiring a balanced budget with provisions for defined emergencies.

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SGman's avatar

The "fun" thing about this whole debt ceiling drama is that the GOP is getting things they could have gotten through regular appropriations: they're not getting anything special.

If the Crazy Default Caucus (forthwith known as the CDC) wants to vacate Kevin McCarthy's speakership, then I'll get the popcorn maker out - 'cause who are they going to replace him with?

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

That just shifts the battle to another legislative process.

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SGman's avatar

The GOP has the majority in the House: they could have just passed those particular items in regular appropriations for the next fiscal year. Then there'd have been negotiations with the Senate and President.

This wasn't a battle: it was just dumb use of the debt ceiling (and global economy). Now that's off the table until after the election.

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Curtis Stinespring's avatar

Call it what you like, but as I said, another legislative process where the Republicans have less leverage. Probably leading to another series of continuing resolutions.

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SGman's avatar

Agree to disagree on whether they had more or less leverage when using the debt limit, especially as again: these were normal appropriations items that they didn't need any leverage to get - or at the least a government shutdown threat would have been sufficient (and blame in that instance would have rightly been assigned to the Democrats).

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