Kyl played a destructive role on deficit panel

[stevedeshazer]

Jon Kyl is different from you and me. In the days following Hurricane Katrina, the nation was reeling over the death and destruction in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. But Kyl, now the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, saw opportunity: According to a voice-mail recording left at the time by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Kyl and Sessions were hoping to find a business owner killed in the storm so they could use that in their campaign to repeal the estate tax. It was vintage Kyl: cold and ruthless.

So when the Arizonan was named as one of six Republicans on the debt supercommittee, Democrats feared the worst - and they got what they feared. It exaggerates little to say that Kyl thwarted agreement almost singlehandedly. While some Republicans on the panel - notably Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton - were, with House Speaker John Boehner's blessing, prepared to strike a deal, Kyl rallied resistance with his usual table-pounding tirades.

<snip>

The sabotage began on the very first day the supercommittee met. While other members from both parties spoke optimistically about the need to put everything on the table, Kyl gave a gloomy opening statement. "I think a dose of realism is called for here," he said. That same day, he went to a luncheon organized by conservative think tanks and threatened to walk ("I'm off the committee") if there were further defense cuts.


When Democrats floated their proposal combining tax increases and spending cuts, Kyl rejected it out of hand, citing Republicans' pledge to activist Grover Norquist not to raise taxes. Kyl's constant invocation of the Norquist pledge provoked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to snap at Kyl during a private meeting: "What is this, high school?"


Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/kyl-played-a-destructive-role-on-deficit-panel/article_188e500a-3da0-5d6e-8992-a7f4495d6339.html#ixzz1f9jFDbXa

Lots more @ link.

Boy am I glad this jackass will be gone soon, but I'm sure he'll get his big payday as a lobbyist.

[villager]

1. Kyl plays a destructive role in life

I'm at a loss to come up with anything positive he's ever done for the body politic. I'm the folks he's bagman for love him, though...

[CBHagman]

2. This bit leapt out at me.

And this is top leadership in the Senate GOP:

http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/kyl-played-a-destructive-role-on-deficit-panel/article_188e500a-3da0-5d6e-8992-a7f4495d6339.html#ixzz1f9jFDbXa

Kyl had demonstrated his distaste for negotiation before. In June, he joined House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., in walking out of budget talks with Vice President Biden. He had also displayed his disdain for fellow Republicans who were willing to negotiate. During the health-care debate, when Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was negotiating with Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, Kyl went on TV and said Grassley "has been given no authority to negotiate anything." Amid hints that GOP leaders might punish Grassley by denying him the top Republican slot on the Judiciary Committee, Grassley reportedly told colleagues: "Maybe I should just go home and ride my tractor."

I really hope there is a triple decker karma sandwich waiting for Jon Kyl...

[stevedeshazer]

4. I would have posted that passage, too.

Didn't wanna break the four-paragraph rule.

But this shows that Kyl is a major, major asshole.

[CBHagman]

8. Won't get any argument from me...

...about your description of Kyl.

As for posting the paragraph, glad to be of service. :hi:

[spanone]

3. he's a vile critter

[gratuitous]

5. To answer Reid's question: Yes, this is high school

Now why, you might wonder, was Sen. Kyl allowed to scuttle the work of the entire committee? Because none of the other Republicans had the fortitude to stand up to him. Or . . . they were content to let Kyl do their dirty work, and let him be the bad guy ushering in another 13 months of misery for the country.

Mission accomplished, Republicans.

[UTUSN]

6. K&R #10 for, wouldn't it be nice if some media let the cameras roll

and let everybody be seen as they are instead of hosting them on the yak shows with all kinds of "respect"?!1

[stevedeshazer]

7. The pundits have always treated this jerk with kid gloves.

Instead, he gets on "Meat The Press" with David Gregory, serving up big fat softballs.

You're right, man.

[gkhouston]

9. Wasn't that why he got the position on the panel in the first place? n/t