Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Boehner's Market Signals? Did August 2nd Just Become Tomorrow?

Unbelievable.  The scripting of this high stakes drama between House Speaker John Boehner balancing the White House on one side and the never compromise, never surrender Tea Party on the other keeps getting better and better.

Reports have emerged that House Speaker Boehner told his caucus that their team needs to "provide a positive signal on a plan to avert a U.S. default by tomorrow." 

That's right, by the time markets in Asia open tomorrow.  That's right, Sunday in DC is pretty much Monday in Asia -- and the roller coaster of financial shocks could start if Boehner doesn't get his act together.

Instead of August 2nd being the debt default deadline, Boehner's tactics and now his statement to his own troops have created market expectations that will either be met -- or be disappointed, possibly creating a real sell-off in American treasuries.

Perhaps he should have thought about that before he stormed off.  In John Boehner's verbal duel with Obama yesterday, he said that he had taken the same oath of office as the President and had the same responsibilities as the President.  But the powder keg he is flirting with -- and I believe it is all misguided theater designed to keep the GOP on the evening, morning and mid-day news -- could blow up because his management of his own caucus seems amateurish and weak.

If Boehner was worried at any point about sending "positive market signals", he might have started a lot sooner than this weekend.

Given that I could be wrong about this being well-orchestrated kabuki and that it all really could blow up, Boehner would demonstrate he had some political statecraft if he leaves the fuse with Eric Cantor when the economy goes off the rails.

Origin
Source: Huffington 

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