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Digby writes, in The GOP Wish List, that Democrats are practically begging Republicans to make demands using the country's urgent need for a debt ceiling increase as a hostage,

And why not? As long as the Democrats are pretending that they have to do whatever the Republicans want even though they have already agreed to raise the debt limit, I can't see why they shouldn't throw in the kitchen sink. This "deal" could conceivably include absolutely anything.

We are a democracy, and we have open and transparent budget procedures that let everyone weigh in. It goes against democracy to allow a group to take the country hostage and demand changes in our budget and programs. Don't let them get away with it. It is the Constitutional responsibility of members of Congress to follow the budget procedures. The only reason Republicans are doing this is that Democrats ignored this responsibility in the past and allows hostage-taking to succeed, bypassing the open, transparent budget procedures demanded by democracy and our Constitution.

Last week, in A Clean Debt Limit Bill Is The Only Acceptable Path, I made the hostage-taking point,

The official US Government policy on hostage-taking is, “to deny hostage takers the benefits of ransom, prisoner releases, policy changes, or other acts of concession.”

The reason for this policy is that if you give in you are only encouraging more of the same.

They gave in on extending tax cuts for the rich.

They gave in on cuts to avert a government shutdown.

Now: more of the same. Except worse.

Demand a clean debt ceiling bill. Do not allow any conditions, spending cuts, amendments, anything. Just a clean bill that raises the debt ceiling. The public is behind you on this. It is the right thing to do for the country, and for democracy. And, Negotiation 101 For Dems: The Right Policies Are The Right Politics

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