John Boehner, hostage taker. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst In the series of debt limit fights we've had since 2011, Republicans' explanation for why they make demands in exchange for raising the limit has been that the debt is out of control, so debt limit increases must be combined with policies to control the debt.

In 2011, John Boehner laid out the "Boehner rule": that there should be $1 in spending cuts for every $1 in debt limit increase. This rule was arbitrary, in that the spending cuts were measured over a 10-year budget window, but it was still a rule that tied added borrowing to fiscal austerity. And Boehner got his demands met in the Budget Control Act, which led to sequestration.

In January 2013, House Republicans agreed to another debt limit increase in exchange for a requirement that the Senate must pass a budget resolution. This was a cave by Republicans—the budget resolution didn't have to become law or even be reconciled with a House budget—but at least it tied the debt limit issue to the federal budget.

Now, Republicans are out with a list of demands for raising the debt ceiling, many of which have little or no connection to the federal debt. According to a report from National Review, they include:

A one-year delay of Obamacare.

Blocking Net Neutrality regulations.

Approving the Keystone Pipeline.

Blocking the EPA from regulating ash waste from coal-fired power plants.

Subjecting funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to annual Congressional appropriation.