Ignore the Hype

This has been a week of hype.  We have public official in Los Angeles telling us the world was going to end because they were closing a freeway for 53 hours.  And we've had public officials in Washington telling us the world will end if we don't raise the debt ceiling.

The Carmageddon prediction was completely off the mark.  Instead of 30 mile back-ups, cannibalism and bestiality breaking out all over the Southland as society broke down, we had the best traffic conditions we've had in decades.  There was cannibalism and bestiality in West Hollywood, but that's just a typical Saturday night.

And the closed freeway is set to open 18 hours earlier than scheduled.  So much drama for so few problems.

This morning I heard some talking head tell us that every aspect of American life would go straight down the toilet if the debt ceiling isn't increased and more taxes imposed.  The GOP "must compromise" or we're all doomed.

Baloney.

This is one of those situations in which the GOP can win by simply doing nothing.  Force Obama's hand.  Force him to offer a plan of dramatic spending cuts and no tax hikes in exchange for a marginal increase in the debt ceiling.  He has to do it if he want to be president in 2013.

Ignore Mitch McConnell's plan that would give Obama everything he wants with no penalty.  Ignore the talking heads and media people that are only looking out for the best interests of the Democrat party.  Stick to principles and the "no new taxes" promise made to the voters who swept the GOP into power in Washington and in state offices all over the country.

Ignore the hype.