I do not envy the task at hand for Republican leaders. With the media firmly in the liberals’ pockets, the Republican leaders are in a tough spot as, whatever happens, the economy will not improve instantaneously and the liberal media will be all-too-happy to paint a dipping economy as the result of tactics by stubborn Republicans that were only looking out for the rich.

On the other hand, if Republicans cave on tax increases, not only will it send the wrong message to the already-marginalized conservative base, but it will signal a passivity to Democrats and a tacit admission that tax-and-spend insanity has no real consequences (for now). Of course, when the next crisis arises, the rhetoric would begin all over again and this process could only repeat itself until Republicans learn their lesson or, more terrifyingly, if the crisis causes an economic collapse from the weight of decades of unsustainable policy.

So, as I said, I do not envy the task at hand. However, we elected them to do a job, and taxpayers deserve to have our interests well-represented.

Republicans were recently offered a deal where Democrats sought a $1.6 trillion tax increase, a $50 billion stimulus and executive authority to raise the national debt any time he sees fit in exchange for the promise of $400 billion in spending cuts to come at an unspecified time later.

I’m actually surprised they didn’t throw in some nice beachfront property in Nebraska to sweeten the deal.

That’s what we’re dealing with. Democrats haven’t come to negotiate, they’ve come to play games and run out the clock.

Republicans countered that offer with a more-reasonable plan that sought a $2.2 trillion reduction in the deficit over ten years with $800 billion coming from tax reforms such as closing deduction loopholes, and the rest to be comprised of much-needed spending cuts. The Democrats rejected it outright. Again, Democrats haven’t come to negotiate.

While this task ahead is certainly an arduous one, the Republicans simply cannot back down to enable further fiscal recklessness. This is a formal call for Republican leaders to hear their conservative constituency; we cannot afford to back down.