The Politics of the Debt Ceiling: Dems Plan to Force the GOP's Hand

The controversial vote to raise the debt ceiling is close at hand. We will soon see just how serious the GOP is when it comes to cutting federal spending. It's really in their hands now they have control of the House of Representatives. Since the Republicans took over the House, there has been some backpedaling on their promises to cut spending, so expect the GOP to vote to increase the debt ceiling while laying the rhetoric on in hopes of not upsetting the Tea Parties they will soon sell out.

In fact, National Review seems already convinced raising the debt ceiling is a done deal as even Rand Paul seems to be softening on his stance to control government spending, which is one of the saddest things I have had to report to you.

Republican opposition to raising the debt ceiling has really evaporated over the past week or so, even among firebrand freshman members like Rep. Allen West (R., Fla.). Sens. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.), Mike Lee (R., Utah), and Rand Paul (R., Ky.) have all joined the “raise the ceiling, but extract concessions” camp, as have prominent fiscal hawks like Mike Pence (R., Ind.) and Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.), both of whom voted against the lame-duck tax compromise. Meanwhile, Reps. Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) and Ron Paul (R., Texas) have become quite lonely in their efforts to avoid raising the debt ceiling under any circumstances.

Give some kudos to Bachmann and Paul. I know my fed up Congressman will vote however he is told to vote, so the writing is on the wall there. He was never really fed up anyway.

The Democrats who listened to Republicans whine just two years ago about the tragedy that is the national debt appear to be the party who will whine this year. Oh the political theater by both of these deceptive parties!

Poster boy for irresponsible government spending Barney Frank gave away the Democrats strategy shortly after the new session began.

“It is up to the majority to get this bill through; they can’t duck the responsibility,” Frank (D-Mass.) told The Hill on Friday.

So in the end, the Republicans will approve more federal debt. Rather than strip the budget early and force big government to live within its means, they will pad the existence of big government all in the fear that if we don't raise the debt, it will mean financial chaos. Of course, if they continue to spend, it's going to mean financial chaos too as the just the interest alone on the national debt is becoming a ball and chain that is enslaving all Americans.