Jonathan Karl reports that House Republicans now appear ready to put into effect what they are calling a “Doomsday Plan" — the passing of an extension of the Bush tax cuts on incomes under $250,000 a year. How, you might ask, does the Doomsday Plan differ from just going along with what President Obama has been asking? Well, first, they’re not labeling it a capitulation, they’re labeling it a Doomsday Plan, which sounds more badass than Capitulation Plan. ...Jonathan Chait, Daily Intel
Chait goes on to report that the Republicans -- who seem more dangerously bitter every day -- are out to make as much trouble as possible. However...
The evolving Republican position appears to be a response to the recognition that the party doesn’t have any leverage to fight Obama over the Bush tax cuts and doesn’t seem to know what it wants to do on spending.
Interestingly, Republicans also appear preoccupied with avoiding the atmosphere of surrender. ...Chait, Daily Intel
In more normal circumstances, the best plan would seem to be to make sure the Republicans get something -- something ego-boosting -- out of the deal. But maybe not. Maybe the Republican beast is so sick and dangerous that allowing the present radical group to destroy itself makes the most sense.
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In that respect, there's the story of Dick Armey who has jumped the sinking ship. The man sounds thoroughly disgusted.
Dick Armey has resigned with a vengeance as chairman of the Tea Party organizing group FreedomWorks, demanding that the nonprofit immediately remove his name, signature, and image from all its web properties and promotional materials, and pay him up through the end of the month. ...Daily Intel
He did give Mother Jones a hint. This wasn't about ideology or tactics.
Asked if they were ideological or tactical, he replies, "They were matters of principle. It's how you do business as opposed to what you do...." ...Mother Jones
Thing is, Freedom Works is one of the dirtiest threats we have to free and fair elections. Maybe Dick Armey finally -- finally! -- realized that. Not the brightest bulb in the room, but a man of, if not principle, then a ripe sense of self-preservation.
