Is This A Joke?

The question is rhetorical.

Raw Replay: House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) told NBC’s Matt Lauer Tuesday that tax hikes were “off the table” in negotiations with Democrats over raising the debt ceiling.

In a speech to Wall Street Monday, the Speaker insisted on trillions in spending cuts in exchange for raising the nation’s borrowing limit.

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Look, we can argue whether spending cuts to crucial programs during the slow recovery of such a disastrous recession is a good idea or not, but don't try to pull the wool over our eyes with this "we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem" talking point mumbo jumbo. When corporations can get away with paying practically no taxes because of loopholes and the richest 1% of the country pays less in taxes on percentage than the entire middle class, then yes, there's a fucking revenue problem. So fix it.

"I'm a regular guy with a big job." You sure are, Johnny. And exposing your lack of leadership by not standing up to the Tea Party freshmen who are out for your head, shows you're way in over your head.

ADDING... While the Speaker claimed Republicans are addressing the debt...

FACT CHECK

Ryan Admitted Plan Added $8 Trillion to Debt . According to an initial analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), they found that by the end of the 10 year budget window, public debt would actually be higher. CBO projected under current law the debt would balloon to 67 percent of GDP by 2022; “under Ryan’s plan, the CBO expects it to rise to 70 percent.” Ryan had to reassure conservatives “disappointed that his plan still adds $8 trillion in debt while failing to balance the budget for at least two decades.” [Congressional Budget Office, 4/5/11; The Atlantic, 4/6/11; The Hill, 4/5/11]

EDITORIAL: GOP Budget isn’t a “Serious Answer” to the Deficit Problem. “The deficit is a serious problem, but the Ryan plan is not a serious answer.” [New York Times Editorial, 4/6/11]

House Republicans Voted to End Medicare.  The Wall Street Journal wrote, “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]