West Wing predicted Debt Ceiling debate

The political news cycle this week has been the debt ceiling crisis looming over the American public as congress tries to come up with a bill to raise the credit limit.

A few years ago of course, NBC's West Wing already aired what we are witnessing today.

The debt ceiling is always raised whether a Republican or Democrat is in the White House -- because no legislator wants the government to default. As this clip from the West Wing shows, the bill is essentially one sentence raising the credit limit. This time however, the Tea Party faction of the GOP wants to inject a constitutional amendment in the bill (among other demands) -- which has compromised the GOP's ability to find common ground with the Democrats and the White House. A constitutional amendment btw requires a 2/3 majority vote in both houses - a poison pill if there ever was one.

Can we just not let the government default and debate all those other issues some other time? According to Wikipedia:

The debt ceiling has been raised 74 times since March 1962, including 18 times under Ronald Reagan, eight times under Bill Clinton, seven times under George W. Bush and three times to date under Barack Obama.

So what's so special about now? Obviously, the 2012 Elections. The Tea Party even wants to revisit the debate early next year so they can use it as political ammo for the elections. I think congress will pass the bill on Monday. But until then, a lot of unnecessary political theater drama over the weekend.

West Wing becomes reality, who knew?

Watch the video here:

Via Gothamist