Dear John (& Mitch, et al)

Dear John (and Mitch and Eric and Rob and Pat),

i.e. Messrs. Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Portman and Tiberi,
 

OK.  One more time, guys . . .

The debt ceiling is not new spending.  It’s merely standard approval to pay for previously incurred debt, otherwise known as paying our bills.

It does not increase the deficit, nor does it have anything to do with future spending.

It has absolutely nothing to do with Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

The debt ceiling is a stand-alone issue, and there is no acceptable rationale for trying to link it to anything else. 

So it’s certainly not the “perfect time” for your obstructionist nonsense.  You tried that before, and you looked like fools – you damaged our national credit rating, slowed down our economic recovery, then wound up approving the debt ceiling anyway.  Your childish “hold my breath ‘til I turn blue” tactic cost you public opinion, Congressional seats, and the White House.

And now your brilliant idea is to do it again?  You want to look even more foolish?  Inflict even more harm to the economy?

Grow up, guys!  OK the debt ceiling now as the routine matter which it is, and later we’ll talk about other issues, one at a time, and in due course.
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[Emailed to the websites of the above-named luminaries]