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July 12, 2011

Who's Gonna Blink?


Obumbles has played the nuclear option by threatening to withhold Social Security payments until Congress authorizes an increase to the US debt ceiling.

From ABC News:
The White House warned today that millions of Americans might not receive federal benefits checks if both sides can’t reach a deal to raise the nation’s debt limit by Aug. 2.

"We cannot guarantee – if there were a default – that any specific bill would be paid,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said, seeking to leverage public pressure on negotiators from both sides who are headed back to the White House this afternoon.

President Obama also raised the specter of short-changing recipients of federal benefits, telling CBS’s Scott Pelly in an interview that "there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.”

More than 80 million Americans who receive benefits payments from the government each month could be at risk, the Treasury Department said. Most of those checks cover Social Security recipients, veterans and civil service retirees.

On Aug. 3, the Treasury is scheduled to make a $23 billion payout of Social Security benefits, a spokeswoman said. Obama suggested today that payout could be at risk.
This is a ploy to put great pressure on Republicans, forcing them to acquiesce to liberal demands to raise the debt ceiling by another $2.5 trillion. I also wonder if this includes payments made to the States for other entitlement giveaways. Many welfare programs are funded through an arrangement whereby the feds pay 50% and the State and County each ponies up 25% of the bill. This could really push some struggling States over the edge. In my County the local dollars thrown at entitlement programs is the biggest portion of the budget.

Nothing good will come of this. I fear the Republicans will fold.

6 comments:

Kid said...

There's no question the repubs are gonna cave and toss up a bunch of phoney fuzzy math to try to hide behind.

Doom said...

I am certain of it. What worries me is getting replacements for both the Democrats AND the Republicans who fail, for the next election. Or... this will simply kill enthusiasm... hope... for a majority of people who no longer have hope in the system.

Anonymous said...

The Republicans are about to cave. I'm finally ready for a third party... a third party with guns.

Hogdayafternoon said...

Well he may be known as the `Onlooker in Chief`, but he can certainly wade in to his own without hesitation.

Woodsterman (Odie) said...

The vacuum in Washington takes in $200,000,000,000.00 per month without flexing a muscle. If you do the math (Oh let me do that for you) that adds up to 2,400,000,000,000.00 (that's with a "T") a year. Raising the debt ceiling is needed my ass. The Libs and the MSM are at there old games again. Republicans in Washington, hold firm, were watching you!

christian soldier said...

comment I left at Gateway P-it rather fits here Re"bho ant eh Rs-
my comment at Gateway pundit:
#49 July 13, 2011 at 6:49 pm
C-CS commented:

PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE B_ _ L-S_ _ T!!!!

alinsky -R for R-

Rs – if you give in– you are OUT!
C-CS