The Budget Deal's Biggest Winner
In Friday’s budget deal, Boehner amassed enough credibility with his own caucus that he can now confront the larger fiscal challenges ahead. Conventional wisdom saw House Speaker John Boehner as all tan and no substance. As usual, conventional wisdom got it wrong. In Friday’s budget deal, …A GOP Game Plan for the Next Budget Fight
Republicans were wise to secure a deal and avert a shutdown. But will they remember what they learned in the coming budget battle? Friday night, the GOP reached a budget deal with Senate Majority Leader Reid and the White House. I’m pleasantly surprised Republicans actually took my advice “to …Congress Gets Ready for the Next Budget Battle
Congress may have averted a shutdown, but their handling of budget negotiations left bond markets with more questions than answers. The 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week coverage of the fiscally trivial work of the past 3 months is over. The Continuing Resolution for Appropriations for FY11, …A Great Week for the GOP
Is conservatism recovering its balance? Here are three positive signs from this past week. Is conservatism recovering its balance? Three positive signs in this past week. 1) The Republican caucus accepted a deal to avert a government shutdown. The deal is a huge victory for governance Republica…The Big Budget Cut the GOP Forgot
Republicans deserve a pat on the back for tackling the easiest-to-cut part of the federal budget. But one area where they could make serious cuts was overlooked. When it comes to the first and easiest-to-cut part of the federal budget, Republicans deserve at least a small pat on the back. They …The Good and Bad News in the Budget Deal
Dealmakers in both parties may have prevailed over the confrontationalists in this budget battle, but the most important and difficult decisions still await. Obviously this is no way to run a railroad. Still - the train did not crash. The deal to avert a government shutdown is a story of good …The Prowl: Shutdown? Why Not Have Sex?
Here are my suggestions for what non-essential federal employees should have done with their spare time had the government shut down. Are you one of the 800,000 federal employees deemed non-essential and furloughed? What will you do with your unpaid extended leave? You can't go to any of the …Budget Fight May Freak Out Markets
Global financial institutions are keeping a close eye on Washington. And even if there is a budget deal, the damage may already be done. Whether the federal government “closes down” for this weekend remains unknown at this time. But for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that Congress …Bachmann Throws in the Towel
Did Bachmann just tweet the Tea Party's white flag? I think this Bachmann tweet is the Tea Party's white flag. I am ready for a big fight that will change the arc of history. The current fight in Washington is not that fight Looks like: no shutdown. TweetCan the GOP Avoid the Shutdown "Trap"?
Here's a question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? Question every Republican should ask: If the shutdown is an Obama trap, why not ... refrain from stepping into it? TweetBudget Battle: Boehner Keeps Freshmen in Line
Freshmen Republicans are resisting pressure from their base, and for the most part appear to be siding with party leadership in the budget negotiations. Freshmen Republicans are resisting pressure from their base, and for the most part appear to have been siding with party leadership over the …Reading Romney’s Mind
As Republicans edge closer to a shutdown and Democrats get ready to run against the Ryan budget, what's going through Romney's head? This has been my best week in politics since John McCain lost to Barack Obama. I face two huge problems: getting nominated and getting elected. To get …How the Dems Will Spin a Shutdown
My father, a dyed-in-wool leftist who is visiting Washington this weekend, has a pretty good take on what the Left will say if a shutdown takes place. My father, a dyed-in-wool leftist who, is coming to visit my wife, my son Andrew, and me this weekend included a PS on the email he just sent to me …Didn't the GOP Learn from the Last Shutdown?
From the experience of 1995-1996, you'd think there was one thing Republicans would know: don't shut down the government. As the GOP and President Obama go eyeball to eyeball over a government shutdown, I keep thinking of a story from one of Louisa May Alcott's novels, the story of the children …GOP Wants Deal, Tea Party Wants Shutdown
At a Capitol Hill rally, Republicans urged Sen. Reid to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government. But at another rally, conservatives cheered for a shutdown. Freshman Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) at the press conference. House Republicans held the latest in a series of …
Why Obama Will Win the Shutdown
Is there's another government shutdown, there's one thing you can count on: the White House will win the public relations battle. Howard Dean is liberal, and perhaps even a tad crazy. Stupid, though, he is not. Former Gov. Dean joined several other prominent Democrats Tuesday at the “National …Is the GOP Backbench Rebelling?
Fifty-four Republicans defected on the latest continuing resolution. Fifty-four Republican defections on the latest Continuing Resolution.Newt's Old Allies Warn Against Shutdown
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to defend the 1995 government shutdown. But many of his closest allies from that era see the episode as a mistake. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich is expected to announce a run for president soon, but if he is to continue to defend the government shutdown that …Biden to Lead Budget Talks
Biden to Head Budget Talks Politico reports: With a stopgap measure in place, Senate Democrats said Wednesday that they will forestall any spending debate on the floor in favor of what they hope will be immediate budget negotiations between themselves, Republicans and a …