The whole World is watching U.S.
As I look back on the sequence of political events, strictly from a strategic point of view, an argument can be made this in fighting began with the 2010 Mid Term Elections. The Republican Party picked up a substantial amount of House seats in both the State and Federal levels of government. Additionally, they narrowed the gap in the U.S. Senate while winning numerous gubernatorial races. The Republicans touted this conquest hyping the catch phrase “the American people have spoken.” They mistakenly coupled the electorate message of divided Government with the Republican Party’s agenda of sweeping Spending Cuts.
In the twenty-four hour news cycle in which we live, Republican casting came up with an image the public would identify with. The illustration they chose publicized a trio we have come to refer to as ‘The Young Guns.’ This is the face the party decided the public to identify their agenda with. Their mission to propose a budget plan strictly intended to reign in out of control federal government spending became inherently clear. Debt reduction became the issue front and center, fore without a realistic outlook toward the future; the nation would indubitably die a slow death. As they pushed their message of a responsible Deficit and Debt reduction agenda among the media, they postured and prepared to make the big leap. On April 5, 2011, Chairman of the HouseBudget Commitee, released the GOP's " Path To Prosperity" Plan. The key talking point was unmistakably clear;
"Our budget cuts $6.2 Trillion in spending from the president's budget over the next 10 years and puts the nation on track to pay off our national debt."
Indeed, a monumentally ambitious program to set the country on a reputable and sustainable trajectory geared toward the financial security of future generations. The potential hitch in the plan was it embraced the perilous third rail of politics; Entitlements. On the projected chopping block was an arrangement to reform Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The rationale following the third rail allusion became a more than a theory, it became a reality. It’s identified as such; due the fact the third rail is where all the power is located. The Paul Ryan Budget Plan clutched it firmly using both hands. The power can be converted from public opinion straight to the voting booth, and Democrats weren’t about to pass up this gift and unsurprisingly seized the moment.
On April 15, 2011, the House of Representatives passed the Ryan Budget Plan along a party line vote. The Senate vote came up significantly short, thereby preventing the proposal to reach the desk of the President of the United States. The Democrats went on the offensive, using the Ryan Budget Plan to portray it as an attack on the poor and middle class. Indeed, the plan called for lowering the tax rate for the top income earner bracket from 35% to 25% thereby opening yet another door for a point of attack. This brought on the next series of debate between the Democrats and Republican political parties; The Republicans adamantly claimed raising taxes on the Job Creators would kill jobs. The Democrats argument was firmly entrenched that no evidence existed to support their claim. Additionally, the Democrats portrayed the Republicans as placing the burden upon those whom could least afford it, the poor and the elderly.
Eventually this led to Debt Commissions and Debt committees to negotiate compromise in a futile attempt to find common ground with respect toward a solution of the nation’s Debt and Deficit Crisis. Eric Cantor became the next of the Young Guns to be in front and center, advocating a position of unyieldingly Spending Cuts without any concession addressing Revenue generation. Meanwhile, Paul Ryan faded into obscurity, presumably because public opinion sided against his budget proposal. In fact, he no longer is a supporting cast member standing behind Speaker Boehner in press conferences. The ‘Young Guns’ have one less round in the chamber of a gun being held to the heads of the country.
So after all that’s said and done, arguably absolutely nothing constructive, this exercise in futility has been a downright waste of time. The principle focus once again has been deterred. Job creation has acquiesced to discussion of raising the Debt Ceiling. President Obama initially requested a clean Debt Ceiling bill, and after months of haggling, may be compelled to appease Republicans, in order to divert a downgrade in the nation’s credit rating.
Nothing short of a daytime soap opera, the strategies of the parties seem to be playing out in a campaign for the 2012 elections. The president is presenting a perception of ‘bending over backwards’ for the good of the country to Republican demands. The Republican Party caucus in trying to gather enough support from their Tea Party base to arrive at a deal. Standing in the way is the extreme wing of their base, the Tea Party, whom will have no part of raising the Debt Ceiling and is willing to face the consequences of the prospect of default. So far, neither side has blinked, bringing the political fight down to the wire as we await reaction from the financial markets to force a break in the stalemate.
Which party will benefit from their posturing along the way? To their credit, whether right or wrong each are sticking to their guns. With much drama yet to unfold, the eyes of the world shall be upon us. Fore their financial security, as well as ours, hangs in the balance. Will the Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States be Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann or possibly Rick Perry? Will the Democratic ticket remain the same with Vice President Biden as the number two man or will the Democrats look ahead to the 2016 election? If so, a ticket change of V.P. is feasible with Hillary Clinton or Andrew Cuomo. In any regard it is shaping up to be quite the performance by both sides.
