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Subscribe to RSSMaking yet another statement in the ongoing -- and constantly evolving -- debt debate, President Obama today once again called for compromise, noting that Democrats and Republicans aren't that far apart in their negotiations.
"There are plenty of ways out of this mess, but we are almost out of time."
Speaking from the White House, Obama said any final solution must be bipartisan, and have support from both parties -- "not just one faction." He listed two approaches that achieve this: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's debt plan (which would cut more than $2 trillion in spending and raise the debt limit, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's plan (which would essentially give Obama the power of raising the debt ceiling).
"There are a lot of crises in the world that we can't always predict or avoid," he said, referring to natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes. "This isn't one of those crises."
Obama also said that he'd support some "enforcement mechanism" that triggers a second round of cuts and deficit reduction through entitlement and tax reform. What this trigger would be is currently one of the final sticking points between Democrats and Republicans.
But he repeated that House Speaker John Boehner's legislation -- which is being revised to get the GOP votes to pass it through the House -- "has no chance of becoming law," given the Senate opposition to it.
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This is what I heard them saying and I felt so disappointed.
"We Republicans love spending on wars whether necessary or unnecessary.
We would rather spend billions of dollars on unnecessary war than spend any amount on the American people.
Spending on war is NOT spending and we are ready to spend billions of dollars on war.
The only spending that we Republicans hate and are asking the Democrats to stop is spending on the American people who include Seniors, Students, Laid off workers and the present needy children; (we are not that concerned about today's children the way we are with the future children and grand children).
We cannot raise the debt ceiling because it will make the economy grow and that will be bad for us if we want to win the 2012 election. If we do not raise it, the American people will suffer and when that happens, we will win 2012 election.
We must also make sure we do not complete our famous the sentence. We must always leave it at 'stop spending'. If we make a mistake of completing it as 'stop spending on the American people', our hidden agenda may be exposed and we will look bad before the people.
We are lucky that the Democrats have never pushed us to complete our famous incomplete sentence."
Another Obama speech, another speech full of nothing. What ever happened to these grandiose speeches Obama was famous for, when tv commentators would swoon by saying "I have a tingle up my leg", and liberal women would faint with emotion? And just where are those Roman Columns behind Obama when he speaks?
Now Obama's great words of wisdom are "Call your Congressman, because I don't have a clue".
I guess Obama is a victim of "Changing Conditions".
Yea that was a classic poor leadership approach. "Call your congressman and tell them to raise someone elses taxes"....
He also misstated, AGAIN, the cause of the downgrade threat.
It's the spending, stupid.
Needless to say, that went unnoticed here.
Holy hell! I agree with you for once...
So tell me, do you think Cantor will be a better leader then Boehner?
Cause Boehner's been... well... the most ineffective Speaker in about 100 years!
PS: Good to see the RNC was on top of things this morning & getting the 'talking points' out on time for a change! ;o)
John Boehner lost control last night. The President regained control. I would have hoped that today he would have said this is what I want, I will veto anything else. That's the power position he is in now.
But no…back to the bipartisan thing...if he's referring to McConnell-Reid, then I get it.
What I don't get is his willingness to suck $2.7 trillion out of an economy that had a 1.3% growth rate and a dismal job report. Why not demand revenue increases when you are in a position of power?
He's back to endorsing a GOP type bill, the Reid Plan, which didn't even pass muster by the GOP caucus and has zero chance of passing the House.
Obama just needs to stop politicing this issue. Many Presidents sign short term debt increase bills. But, They are leaders not afraid of facing an issue. Obama just wants to avoid making another real decsion like the plague. Instead of a veto Obama should just be allowed to vote "present" like he did as a Jr. Senator and not be responsible for this issue. Let the adults handle the budget and debt. VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Last time I checked we still live in a democracy - please old wise ones tell us what's wrong with contacting your representatives & making your position known?
Is there something your afraid of OR are you once again trying to disenfranchise those you don't agree with?
Then you wonder why tea baggers are referred to as fascists!
You sheep can now continue grazing... lol
"Time is running out ........"
"I've got a big birthday party, birthday concerts, birthday dinners ..... sheez ...... do people not understand how much my guest are paying ..... and on top of everything else ........I AM HAVING TO CANCEL FUNDRAISERS!"
To have control, you need to have a plan. Obama has no plan, so what exactly is he controlling?
With the latest GDP numbers, the tax increases Obama and the Democrats want are possibly the worst idea ever.
Ira-
The speaker never HAD control to lose, he (like almost everyone else in this debacle) miscalculated, first on his initial proposal then on his "buddy" Eric Cantor telling him that he had the votes.
The far right loon tunes are out in force today. Thank you, Mr. President for being the voice of reason, and for showing us how wrong these loon tunes are.
Well, in my case, nobody cares what I think...at least that's what Smiff told me this morning. Maybe that applies to other people, too?
I agree SAM...the Republicans have no problem spending on war, but they can't stand the thought of spending money on Veterans, the elderly, or needy children. I mean LORD Forbid we actually pay our dues to the Veterans and elderly who built this country up so we could watch our gov't bicker like a bunch of children. That would be terrible. And if that isn't enough, let's just help the rich people get richer by lowering their taxes and allowing them to have tax breaks. Here's the world they are proposing...the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and die!
JS1:
You keep saying he has no plan. The $4 trillion balanced Grand Plan that he was negotiating with Boehner was what? There was also the $2.5 trillion fall back plan...mid size cuts...that was being negotiated with Boehner. What was that? Both fell apart cause the GOP said no new revenues.
Tax increases...the payroll tax holiday is a tax cut. You're talking about corporate jets and hedge fund mangers? For real? Corporate jets are all about the method of depreciation and the hedge fund mangers should be paying 35% on their INCOME and not 15% as a capital gain. It's closing the carried interest loophole that should have been closed a long time ago.
What other tax increases, cause I don't recall any others.
You are ate up JS1. If you don't learn to cope a little better you are going to give yourself a bleeding ulcer. The republicans in the house and the silly candidates running for the nomination are insuring that Obama will be president for six more years so get used to it or you will be needing some Obamacare. The tea party will be dead as a doornail next election anybody who even mentions the tea party as a candidate will have voters running from them after this display of what to expect from them if elected. They will have trouble getting their own grandmother to vote for them. You know they wasted their chance to do some real good, they lost any credibility they had on fiscal issues, politically they have reduced themselves to pouting children and if you don't believe me just ask the Speaker of the House. Grover and you may be proud of them but the vast majority of America is frightened and ashamed of the republican house.
Why can't the Congress take these issues seriously? One reason is a lack of presidential leadership. Throughout the debt ceiling debate, President Barack Obama has attempted to portray himself as taking America’s spending crisis head on while calling for “shared sacrifices” to return the country to a course of fiscal sanity. Yet the President has replaced leadership with spectatorship. While the House passes bill after bill on the budget, the President can only carp, while the Senate can only bluster and stew.
Leadership requires speaking plainly and directly to the American people. Instead, the President prefers code to disguise his intentions. To the President, the phrase “shared sacrifices” means tax increases, and his end goal is to keep up his big spending ways. After all, he sees government spending as the best way to create his vision of society in the long term and the best way to spur economic growth in the short run—even though his hundreds and billions of dollars in stimulus spending have left the economy stuck in the mud. Unemployment remains at 9.2 percent, and economic growth is stagnating. The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that U.S. GDP rose at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.3 percent in the second quarter (lower than economists’ expectations), and first-quarter growth was revised down sharply to a 0.4 percent gain from 1.9 percent.
The President’s strategy is no surprise. Heritage called Obama out on his fiscal policies at the start of his Administration, noting he was pursuing a “glut the beast” strategy: Pump spending up as high as possible, trigger a crisis, and use the crisis to force through higher taxes. Obama has, at least, played true to form.
Sacrifices, though, aren’t the only things he would like to share. With the nation’s focus now squarely set on massive deficits, the President has attempted to shift the blame for the country’s woes away from his policies—namely, to prior Administrations. The President repeatedly claims that “neither party is blameless for the decisions that led to this problem” and often points to the George W. Bush Administration as the root cause of the crisis.
That’s simply not true. One simple number explains it well: the budget deficit figure in 2007, the last Bush year prior to the recession. The tax cuts were in full effect, both wars were raging, and the recession had not yet struck, yet the budget deficit in 2007 was $160 billion, or about a tenth of Obama’s deficit this year. Without a doubt, deficits during the Bush Administration were too high, especially in the early years, and more should have been done to restrain spending. But those deficits were puny compared to what Obama and his congressional allies have inflicted.
Obama’s budget would set America on a dangerous fiscal course that leads to massive deficits well into the future—hitting $1.2 trillion in 2012 and, after dipping slightly, rising back to $1.2 trillion again by 2021. (You can see an illustration of where those deficits are headed here.) Even after the massive tax hikes included in Obama’s budget, federal deficits total $9.5 trillion. Under the President’s budget, the national debt would more than double in just 10 years, pushing America over a fiscal cliff.
The problem, in short, is too much spending—not a shortage of taxes. And the biggest driver of that spending is entitlements (though Obama’s stimulus certainly didn’t help). Terrifyingly, those entitlements (which include Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid) will consume all tax revenues by 2049 if taxes remain at their historical norms, as this chart shows. And even under the President’s budget for 2012, entitlements consume 58 percent of spending.
Disastrous entitlement spending has fallen by the wayside in the debt limit debate. President Obama speaks grandly of America coming together to solve this collective problem, but he ignores the real long-term problem, all while economic growth slows and unemployment remains high in the Obama economy. As the White House and Congress continue to focus on a fix to the debt ceiling crisis, they ought to take a look in the mirror and see the real cause of America’s fiscal mess.
Thank you Mr. President!
hey no joe,
How clueless, how big of an obvious disaster do you have to be, to be threatened by S&P and Moody's - the guys that can see this .......... but didn't see Fannie and Freddie.
The guy cannot put a budget down, is warned, doesn't come up with a plan, is threatened as the world laughs at him .... and he still doesn't get it.
How can we not be downgraded with this guy in charge?
None of it ever made it to paper. And as Speaker Boehner said, dealing with the White House was like dealing with a bowl of jello. Things he thought were agreed on one day changed the next. Talk is cheap, Obama was never able to commit.
OUCH. I take it that the speech didn't go so well.
And now back to my fairytale land ... once upon a mattress.
I wonder if the President ever wishes he had embraced Bowles-Simpson last December, Ira.
No one would be asking where his plan is, would they?
By the way, Ira...
You had terrible economic news this morning...godawful gdp numbers, the University of Michigan consumer confidence number drops to levels not seen since early '09, plus the ongoing debt ceiling stalemate.
And the market simply shrugs.
Amazing.
Of course, other than gold...where are they going to go to make a buck?
Ira-
The president created a commission, but didn't try to spend a penny of political capital to promote it. He authorized his VP to put together a bi-partisan group of senators including maverick republican (and MB "man crush) Tom Coburn, said he supported their proposal, but abandoned them too. Now we speak of a short-term nickel and dime "budgetectomy" that is all cut and it's a "compromise"
The president has either painted himself into this corner, or through miscalculation, or allowed his opponents to do so. He still has a chance to seize the moment, because he is the president, but that looks less and less likely as this circus has proceeded...
Evocating marshall power would backfire. The 14th Amendment is clear.
JoAnnaSmith1..
Oh...now I get it...it didn't make it to paper...that's the definition of a plan...got it.
So you can't negotiate, agree on points and then formalize the agreement? Not an option?
Seems like that's how eery negotiation in the world works.
Bowl of Jello? The TP dissed their caucus leader and the Speaker of the House and embarassed him nationally and you want to talk about a bowl of jeool?
Obama was never able to commit? The GOP was never able to commit...did you notice the GOP could not agree on their own bill and could not bring it to the floor.
Wouldn't it just suck to find out that everyone in Washington wants this country to default so it can reset? We hear a lot of talk, see a lot of fighting and hear a lot of rethoric. Maybe they are all doing it on purpose. Most of you that know me, should realize I am not a conspiracy kind of person... but I'm starting to suspect something here. It's more than just simple disagreement. Something is at play here that isn't being revealed and my gut is singing and that doesn't normally happen. Do you feel it too?
Everyone wants to blame someone else. It's Bush's fault, it's Obama's fault, it's the Democrat's fault, it's the Republican's fault. It's always easy to blame the other guy when there is so much uncertainty.
Am I alone in my thinking?
But Simpson-Bowles called for tax increases so I guess that wouldn't fly with the disciples of Norquist, now, would it?
Boehner's plan was scored.
Anybody ever able to score Obama's jello?
You're misrepresenting what Bowles-Simpson does, Da Noid.
It overhauls the tax code and actually lowers tax rates while eliminating special-interest giveaways and looholes. It raises revenue in large part by stimulating economic growth.
The only direct "tax increase" proposed by the debt commission that I'm aware of is an increase in the federal gasoline tax, intended to replace current federal transportation spending.
And I'm with Senator Coburn...I could care less what Grover Norquist thinks.
Mixed and Dangerfield..
Do you not think the President thought that the debt ceiling raise would be a housekeeping procedure. It has been under the Gephardt Rule all but once in 1995.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Does he wish he had done things differently...I'll bet he has a list of things he would love to have a do over on. Learning curves suck.
The commissions reports still exist and either one or the other or a combination of both will end up being "The Plan".
He keeps painting himself into a corner...and I know I'm going to get killed for this...he is an awful negotiator. He gave away the store on HCR, reauthorizing the Bush Tax cuts and now on debt reform.
He still has a chance to seize the momentum if he comes out today and says this is what I want and will accept and everything else gets my veto.
Let him set the terms cause the American people, by now, have to realize that the GOP has no plan and neither do the Democrats.
The ball is in Mr. Obama's court.
Don't you wonder why they don't think like that all the time?
Of course, being "job creators" by definition, they could also try the old-fashioned way -- create some ACTUAL jobs, make some REAL products, and generate some NEW demand.
But why bother, really, when you can accomplish the same thing sitting beachside, sipping a strawberry daiquiri, and using your iPad?
"Watch it wiggle, see it jiggle" ... you mean like that?
Of course, you do. ;-)
Just who makes the products you use everyday, AM?
I'm not talking about MY products, Bag Boy ... I already have a job and make my own little world of demand. I do what I can to stimulate the economy. I'm talking about the lack of demand generally that was reported in the news and you were all talking about earlier this morning.
I'm talking about the NEW demand that will be required to create jobs.
You don't create demand by sitting on a computer moving money around. You CAN, on the other hand, make money, which is why so many people do it.
But that doesn't provide jobs, does it? And without jobs, the economy goes nowhere.
Witness today's numbers. Stock market stays healthy. Job market not so much.
Do any of you read the Wall Street Journal? Did you see yesterday's edition talking about the explosive growth in entitlement and welfare spending whether in be medicare, medicaid, social security etc. According to the article, the government spends $20,000 per person currently on some sort of government subsidy to all of us including the earned income credit, social security, medicare, food stamps etc and this doesnt include Obamacare or the value of welfare subsidies like the mortgage interest deduction etc put in the tax code. There was another article debunking the idea that Buffet pays less in tax than his secretary in that he pays almost 50% in tax because he is the owner of corporations who pay 35% in tax and he doesnt take a salary so his dividends and capital gains are taxed an additional 15% on the same income. It also debunks Navy's constant use of rich paying 18% tax rate all using the governments own 2008 tax information off the Irs.gov web site.
The constant statements on this board that republicans are putting grandma out on the soup line is just crazy and that the rich dont pay any tax is nuts. Stop using the extremes to make arguments which is the reason the tea party people are wrong in the current deficit deal negotiations because they are as bad as Fiesty, Navy and all your progressives by taking extreme positions. Is this board devoid of fiscal conservatives or independents who dont argue the extremes? By the way, can anyone show me the data that the rich get richer because of the tax code or is it because of education, achievement, behaviorial choices, merit, performance, perserverance, willing to risk opening up a small business and working 14 hour days 7 days a week, avoiding union jobs that eliminate upward mobility, merit pay, performance adjustments etc for the security of a job. Why do you guys want to punish success? It used to be the american dream and held in high esteem to be successful and most of you seem to look your noses down on people who succeed.
After this show of poor leadership this country is for sure ripe to replace the president. Alot of memebr of Congress arent looking very good again either. Maybe Democracy really does work. Term limits just maybe a mute issue in 2012.....
Obama: 'We are almost out of time'
Thank You Capt.Obvious! But still... no answers... no leadership!
Mr. Buffett said that he was taxed at 17.7 per cent on
the $46 million he made last year while his secretary paid 30%.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/tax/article1996735.ece
So Kirk, where is your link?
Denny, It's a 17% tax on dividends (After the business you own stock in pays thier corporate taxes) In essence investors are taxed twice on thier money. I think it would be fair to do away with one of the other of those taxes. I know I'm tired of getting hit twice by Uncle Sam on the same money.....
[And as Speaker Boehner said, dealing with the White House was like dealing with a bowl of jello]
Actually, Boehner misspoke...what he REALLY said was:
"Dealing with the White House causes me to do many more Jello shots than I can handle at the moment...and where did I put my Midol?"
One wonders since Buffett is so willing to pay more in taxes why he took all those exemptions in the first place. I mean he could have simply paid his corporate tax with any deductions right? These rich guys do not want to pay more in taxes - they want everyone else to pay more - they fully intend to not be affected.
Same as all those Unions - support the Obama medical plan then get exemptions. Geez when Bush did this he was accused of the good ole boys. So Obama is what exactly?
WQ, what are you talking about. The companies Buffet owned did pay taxes at 35% and when they paid him dividends on the remaining 65% after tax cash the company made, he paid another 15% tax on that. So the same income was taxed twice. Buffet is already paying a much bigger share of taxes and he doesnt want you to pay more to subsidize him does he? Your barking up the wrong tree.
Dennis, I dont know how to link to yesterdays article in the WSJ because i read it on paper and its a subscription service. But look it up July 28th edition and by the way check out how many billions and trillions the growth of entitlement spending has gone up. This straw man of republicans putting people on the street is just not going to fly.
Kirk,
Is this the one?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903999904576466541882356616.html?KEYWORDS=buffett
Most Liberals could tell you how much thier "tax refunds" were the last 5 years. But couldnt tell you how much they actually paid in taxes out of last weeks pay-check.... If you really want tax reform eliminate pay-roll tax deduction and have everyone write a tax check on April 15 and then make April 16th Election day...... VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Could you really be that dense! You're probably paid to make these comments anyway. I say dump the Tea Party in 2012! What other issue will they be willing to blackmail the country on next year. That's what you need to be thinking.
...given the American people's opposition to it. Teabaggers -- you cannot amend the constitution in any time frame that would end entitlements and make tax breaks for the rich permanent. The lowest realistic spending would be around 22% of GDP, not 16 or even 18%. Please leave and move to La La Land where you can live happily ever after with 16% spending and no revenues -- and don't let the door hit ya in the arse on your way out.
TP, The constitutional amendment was for the US to always have a balanced budget. I think the La La Land your refering to is where you just keep cutting down trees to print more money to dole out to liberals who think it's worth something. VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Hey Mike-1234567
He is the President of the United States not the dictator of the Republican Party. He alone cannot do anything that is not approved by the Congress or Senate; which is responsible for bringing any bills or proposals to the President of the United States for passage....please, do not say anything about Libya which is not an issue in this conversation. But since you mentioned it; why not help people who are seeking democracy, no matter who you may think they are? I thought that was why we went into Iraq the first time.
I hope it doesn't get to the point when the president has to use the 14th admendment to increase the deficit limit, because I believe the Republicans will call our president a dictator for saving our country from financial doom and give them a reason to use rhetoric to plunge us into civil destruction.
It is more than unfortunate that Americans do not understand what is really going on. I am so dissappointed in the people who are not hard working, sacrifice giving people. They are selfish and greedy, and do not deserve the priviledge of calling themselves Americans.
I think we were downgraded the moment Obama was elected to an office he should never be in.
Why didn't Ol' Harry Reid revise the last bill that was sent to the Senate last week?? For one week he did nothing. Is Harry trying to run out the clock??
What amazes me is that so many middle class Americans don't get that the Tea Party wants them gone so that they can make an aristocracy out of our democracy. All one has to do is look at countries where this is a reality to see where they want to take us. Saudi Arabia is a great example. There are essentially two classes: the Haves and the Have Nots. They also have an approved state religion. Women and children are second class citizens. The poor are invisible. Read "The Handmaiden's Tale" by Anna Quindlan if you want to see our future under the rules of the Tea Party.
And those of you who actually believe that the President has the power to legislate, please take a knowledge pill. You will feel better then.
On the bright side - at least we've established John Boehner is an EPIC FAIL when it comes to a leader!
I have to laugh when I hear these tea baggers claiming to have principles...
Teapublican's continue to fiddle while American's suffer...
Now Feisty---Boehner got 8 post offices renamed--that's leadership!
I agree Feisty, and the Teapublican Party has shown itself to be certifiably insane. I think most Americans. at this point, just want President Obama to raise the ceiling without Congress.
Obama have anything to say about his 1.3% GDP numbers? How about the previous quarters GDP being revised down to 0.4% GDP?
I'm sure Barry is counting his blessings that this debt ceiling fiasco takes the heat off for those failures of his. Might be time Barry sent Joey Biden out in front the cameras. Joe has more credibility, and acts much more mature.
Once again President Obama is the only adult in the room. The GOP/TP keeps saying how they are the only ones who compromised and they are the only ones showing leadership. Actually the truth is that they are still not compromising and play "Obstructionist" and the only leadership they are displaying is how to run away.
Boehner just made a bad bill worse and they call that leadership?
The GOP/TP is totally lost and has nothing to offer except total chaos and heartache for all Americans.
Now that is leadership - Not - It is a dictatorship.
It's a shame this country doesnt have a better President in this critical economy. Next time let's elect someone with Leadership expereince. VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2012!
Now wait a sec SF - if I'm not mistaken he's also gotten 14 bills through the house since Jan 1st! lol
*snark*
Meanwhile, back on planet earth, is it me or are the usual RWNJ's full of more Obama hate then usual today?
I notice they're tossing out the kitchen sink hoping to create a distraction from the EPIC failure at leadership from their OWN side... lol
Adults take responsibility for their actions. Obama just makes excuses and blames others. Obama has proven himself to be nothing but a child.
How about the AINOS start doing their job instead of trying to stop President Obama from doing his.
The GOP/TP has done not one thing to move this country forward in the last 2+ years. Not one job bill, nothing to stimulate the economy or improves education.
Instead we get the uterus police, rename some buildings, disenfranchise millions of voters, bust up some unions, etc. great job GOP
You guys promised in 2010 that jobs would be your priority. You lied and the people do not like it. You lied about the Debt Ceiling crisis to use it as an excuse to try and gut the government.
Your whole party is a despicable lie on the American People and we know it.
President Obama in 2012 and we get the House back and more GOP/TP folks will lose State Seats. just watch what happens in August in WI. This will lay the ground work for every other State in the union.
As written earlier elsewhere on a 'Vine blog, the low GDP numbers are not a consequence of President Obama's policies and programs - they directly reflect the havoc wrought so far this year at both state and federal levels by Tea Party fanatics. And further, they foreshadow the kind of results that would accompany any Tea Party-driven measures in Congress - slide downward toward a new recession, higher unemployment, more homelessness, more mortgage foreclosures - everything that followed on after the epic failure of their 30-year experiment with a bankrupt ideology.
Consider: States have slashed spending, fired many thousands of employees, cut social service programs, strangled Medicaid, shut down offices, privatized public education, eliminated regulations, and more. The FAA has laid off 4,000 workers because the Tea Party faction in D.C. wants to kill that agency, too.
The result? The GDP numbers tell the tale.
On another site I saw spokes-model Sarah Palin urges the Representatives to vote against Boehner's bill. She doesn't think it would be a crisis if the debt ceiling wasn't raised and the U.S. defaulted.
What a perfect spokeswoman for the Tea Party ideology. An overwrought, under educated, failed governor of a politician.
You have missed the point...again.
The difference between an adult and a child is the child does what he/she WANTS to do while the adult does what he/she NEEDS to do.
Raise Revenue, cut defense spending and spend to get our infrastructure re-built.
No supporter of President Obama should criticize the leadership abilities of others...
President Obama is the standard by which failed leadership is measured.
Well, it looks like Obama NEEDS to do nothing, because that's what he's doing.
And call your Congressman Noid. Tell him/her to raise taxes, but not on you.
But, Smiffy, remember? Nobody cares what I think, right?
Mixed Bag,
What have you ever lead? Seems like you should be the least of all to criticize anyone for anything. And beyond the shadow of a doubt, Obama has the support of his party - regardless of how they feel about his policies. Can't say the same for old Agent Orange can you?
Job1 said,
spend to get our infrastructure re-built.
I'm pretty sure that's what the "stimulus" was for, right? "shovel ready jobs" ring a bell ?
Oh wait... that was to sure up the infrastructure of the union pension plans... oops my bad!!!
Thanks for the laugh!!
I'll agree with that... I know I certainly don't! :-)
Fiesty, Navy still waiting for your comment on Soros? John A, John B? Come on guys step up to the plate.
Sorry UAW but honestly you are starting to sound as if you have some kind of political Touret's Syndrome.
US Navy Disabled Veteran - Retired
The statement should be NavyBoy, why hasn't Obama done what other Presidents have done in times of crisis - gotten involved, and worked through the problem? Kennedy did good things through the missle crisis while Jimmy Carter talked for what, 400 days during the takeover of an American entity in a foreign country. Does he want to be like Kennedy, or just another Carter?
Neither has the administration and they had over 2 years to formulate a strategy for aid business in this. Old Crap NavyBoy. Did not Barry O campaign with one of his planks a jobs for everyone statement? Or was that just a campaign speech for votes? Ever notice, he does alot of that.
come on NavyBoy, you can do better than this. Again, old crap from you for a number of posts this past few weeks.
Navy, please get the fact correct. The House presented a plan that Harry Reid tabled in the Senate, and Barry O stated he would veto. So, the GOP attempts to pass another plan in the House that doesn't go far enough for the Republicans. And the Dems say they won't pass that one either. But Harry Reid also sends a watered down plan that has the increases in spending Barry O demands.
So NavyBoy, what is the Obama plan? Where is his leadership? Now the news guys say Obama agreed to $2T in cuts. Where and why are they not specific? Can you provide them during your next cut and paste session? I would enjoy reading them to see what cuts are meaningful and what cuts are creative.
Well, you and your Fan Club may believe it, but a number of others don't. It probably would rock your world to lose control of government. But, many have had enough with these professional politicians who provide obediance to party first, people second. It is time to vote the ruling class from office, having instead people who identify with and know to whom they report and why.
And I will agree NavyBoy, it is time for the leadership of both parties, as well as Barry O to be removed via the election process. People are plucked, and change will again happen during this election. Say good bye to many professionals. Will you cry when this happens, for your life may change?
And what makes you believe in nonsense like this? Is the liberal newsmedia outlets already banding together to formulate public opinion rather than report the news? The country is aware of this lack of civility with this group too. I do hope you are incorrect in your assumptions.
I honestly don't care what your party affiliation is Navy, but this country cannot sustain its self with the reckless policies of this administration, the excessive spending from the Progressives, the stupidity of the leadership of both parties, and the lack of reporting from the media.
As the old song states: 'the times they are a changing'. Thank you for it Barry O.
@Feisty Redhead Roselle: Yes, renamed those Post Offices. Way to go big fella!
Ironic that after almost 3 years of three years of backstabbing and second guessing the President, and vilifying Nancy Pelosi, it is the Republicans in Congress who have no idea how to do their own jobs.
What a joke.
And just what is the Democrats plan?
Barry certainly is. Now do what Barry tells you to do and go call your Congressman.
Ironic, yes... surprising? NO!
Many of us saw it coming and expected it.
Hopefully, after 2012 we will have a Democrat back in as Speaker.
Say hello to Madame Pelosi! ;o)
JAS1,
Who gave you the authority to tell anyone what to do? Oh that's right you're a GOPer. My bad. Proceed.
A pox on both their houses.
The president wants us to "keep those cards and letters coming in"
"I can't deal with these people....you talk to them!" is not what I want to hear right now...
We KNOW that time is running out, what are you going to do to make sure it doesn't?
Carney (and isn't that an apropos moniker? It's like we're at the circus maximus) Said yesterday in his interview with Jake Tapper, that there is no Plan B...if there ever really was a plan A.
Oh and being reduced to All cuts and no new revenues is NOT a "compromise" its a COLLAPSE so admit it!
And be sure to use the US Post Office, they could use the work because they're going under too.
Then lets do nothing. Lets see how that works out.
JAS1,
How does it feel to be considered completely irrelevant by most on this board?
Bryan -- JAS1 is one of the bright shining folks here. Many seem to get their cues from moveon and parrot.
JoannaSmith, I hope you get paid well by the tea party because your inane comments and snide remarks add nothing to this debate. President Obama has always listened to all sides on all issues, that is what rational people do. Keep espousing your negativity and watch your investments fade away if the debt limit isn't raised. What I heard the President say was that our elected representatives need to listen to their constituents. He said If you want a balanced package , let your congressman/woman know. I've wacthed for almost three years as he's tried to reason and compromise with these folks. I'm just grateful he isn't rash and thinks things through rationally. Congress writes and enacts laws. He's been doing his job and trying to do theirs for the last three years.They chose to add the debt ceiling to this debate and created this mess out of whole cloth after passing like bills 74 times in the past. Try listening sometimes . i'm sure you'd learn a lot. He doesn't want to dictate to congress. He simply wants them to do their job.
OBAMA: We're almost out of time
Yes, November 2012 will be here before we realize it
I am glad to see that you support the president for re-election. Go team Obama.
Democratic leaders?
That's a serious indictment if true, but is it?...
Joe Scarborough: "I have got to clear this up. Mika heard two days ago on Capitol Hill Democrats all saying the same thing. And that is, this president has been invisible, he is not a leader. They said this all behind closed doors. Democratic leaders, Democratic rank-and-file. In fact, 40, 50 of the most powerful Democrats on the Hill. I will just stop right there. The complaints were all the same. The president has vanished. He has left us here alone again like he did with health care. Where is he? Now, they didn't call him a loser, but they sure as hell didn't call him a leader."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/29/scarborough_dems_say_privately_obama_is_invisible_not_a_leader.html
Obama is doing what he has always done with issues like this. (It's how he handled the health-care reform bill.) He's backed away from it and let Congress handle it. He's hardly "invisible" -- he's been on TV almost daily lately -- but, no, he's not wrangling anyone in the legislature.
Probably for a couple of reasons. (1) It's not his job, it's the job of Congress to put bills together and send them to him. (2) He's confrontation-averse and doesn't like heat in his arguments. (3) As a Constitutional lawyer or professor, he's probably more sensitive to the separation of powers than a stronger, more aggressive president would be -- like LBJ or GWB. (4) His executive powers are limited to a veto or, possibly in this case, a resort to the Fourth Amendment's clause that includes, among the president's other responsibilities, the duty to see that the government's debts are honored. He probably won't use it.
I don't take at face value Joe Scarborough's statement that "Mika heard two days ago on Capitol Hill Democrats all saying the same thing." Do you? When is the last time you hear ALL the disputatious Democrats saying the same thing? Will Rogers: "I belong to no organized political party. I am a democrat."
Of course we can expect many Dems to complain about the absence of Obama in the arena. They wouldn't have had to complain about Lyndon B. Johnson, who had controlled the Senate for some years. Johnson would have been twisting arms, making threatening phone calls, calling in debts, promising bribes. Ditto for George W. Bush's tactics.
Obama's style is very different. He doesn't have much pull in Congress. He's willing to compromise all over the place, expecting reasonable responses in return. And his presentation is cool, ironic, and distanced. He may fail because he's not much of a performance artist. You know, "no drama Obama"?
It's obvious that you are a student of history and have been paying attention to the current debacle...so considering...
"no drama Obama"?
That IS ironic.
The dramatic performance has been in the Congress.
That perception is telling in the face of the title of this thread, and the machinations of the past two months.
Joe Scarborough is a scumbag who is probably on the wrong network. He even thought that he would be asked to run for president(lol).If you haven't heard, Congress has been tied up for three years. It would help if Congress had passed the debt ceiling before the wing nuts got the majority in Congress. I'd much rather follow Obama anyday than Boehner or Cantor. Nancy did a much better job despite sell-outs from her own party; who by the way were defeated by the baggers. This is what happens when you try to leave decency out of the equation. You get soulless automatons who will subvert the best interest of the people they are elected to serve. If Scarborough had overheard anything of the sort, don't you think he'd be squealing those names out for all the world to see?
As long as politicians keep the people's attention on the made-up debt ceiling situation, the people will not be paying attention to real Obama problems (still up to his a-s-s in Afghanistan, Iraq, and his own war in Libya), the debt, and whatever taxpayer money it is he has Hillary giving away around the world.
The crisis is not the debt ceiling, the problem is the debt. Why do you continue trying to dupe the people?
VI you really need to be better informed. He's winding down both wars after he bagged BL. If you had to shovel as much kaka as Obama has to do to try to correct Gw's mess, I'd dare say you'd be lost. He on the other hand has done a remarkable job. If MCCain had won, we'd probably be in Iran by now. Name one in the field of hopefuls that could do a better job.
Peggy Noonan, one of this country's most astute columnists has it absolutely right in her piece today
OBAMA IS A "LOSER!"
Oh, God, not Peggy Noonan! SHE's AWFUL.
I had a bit of respect for Peggy Noonan even though I know she's a conservative writer. Up until when she made those comments. I now consider her no different from Palin, Bachmann, Coulter etc. You can call the man a lot of things -- loser is just not one of them, and it's totally unwarranted, even as an insult. Lest we forget, the President is trying to help pay for bills left by President Bush II (the decider); 2 unpaid wars, unpaid Medicare prescription drug bill and trillions in tax cuts to the wealthy. Peggy you're the loser here!
Make voting compulsory for every citizen!!
Thank W. Bush for the debt.
[OBAMA IS A "LOSER!"]
WAH!
Well, since he is President of the United States of America:
What does that make the Republicans???????
Isn't it unpatriotic to call a war heor like Sen. McCain a "loser's loser"... YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!
Noonan is a hack that will say anything to be noticed. Her name-calling is personal and has nothing to do with what Obama has done. Keep personal opinions out of the news. That's what tweets and blogs are for.She and George Will have outlived their usefulness to anyone but themselves. I still remember Will especially regurgitating everything Reagan said.
Getting an agreement worked out with people who don't like you and don't trust you isn't quite as easy as buying votes with promises of more government handouts. Some opposition members just can't be bought with promises of more socialist programs. Try something new. Try honesty, try something that is good for the country, not what is best for Obama-ites' re-election campaign.
In the United States it is always better to be politically correct than to be simply correct.
Sir, you are a moron or willfully blind!
Once again JoAnnaSmith1 proves she's nothing but a whore for lies...and Rob in ma 3189632 is her pimp!
Amen, Pat!
Did you get in on the lottery in NY last weekend?
Steve and Jerome are friends of mine:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/gay-marriage-traveling-from-missouri-to-staten-island-for-big-day/#more-332005
(I knew your day would come! It's not perfect; but it's happening! Warm hugs from KC)
paul ryan sure took a lot of political heat for his budget - but he was man enough to put something down on paper. the speaker? same thing he has a plan written in legislative language.
when will someone emerge from the gutless, cowardly democrat party with an actual plan that is vote ready?
As soon as you grow up and realize what compromise means? Possibly. Just saying - stop being douchey and maybe we write something down for you.
Ryan's plan was self-serving and a device to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. He wants to send elderly people to private insurers so they can be soaked for their retirement money. How many of you remember how it was for oldsters before Medicare? It wasn't pretty. As it is folks on fixed incomes sometimes have to decide between food and their medication. Do you really want to do that when you're 70?
Let's not forget to emphasize the COLOSSAL failure of Eric Cantor and House Whip Mc-something to get their people in line.
Ignore the 'distract-at-all-costs' posts--to borrow a NASA phrase: Boehner screwed the pooch.
Name calling -- "socialist", "whore," "pimp" -- is a logical fallacy. It has nothing to do with the issue at hand.
Boehner blew it bigtime!
Boehner is all show, no go.
Fancy -- substitute barry for boehner and you are spot on!!!
The Republicans, under the leadership of John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Somebody-named-Mac, utterly and completely failed to get THEIR OWN BILL through the House that they control.
Now that's a new standard in assessing blame for the inability to govern.
I think the damage the Republicans have done will stay with voters through the 2012 elections. We may see both houses of Congress and the White House once again controlled by Democrats.
Let us sincerely hope so. these new Reps had the chance to really contribute to the well-being of the country. A few ultra liberals may be mad at the Prez right now, but i don't think they'll stay home in 2012. look what happened the last time.
Imagine what independent voters are thinking after Boehner and Cantor's failed pony show in the House last night.
Get your as*es in line indeed.
Where is the leadership Mr President?????????????????
Aww....just "call your congressmen".
He probably failed at community organizing too...too bad the media didn't bother to check. They coulda save us from this disaster.
Rob,
What has the GOP leadership done besides alienate themselve from the electorate? Personally i think the president is getting on the right side of the issue - the PEOPLE'S side.
Stop being a douche and call your congressman. Stop being a part of the problem and become a part of the solution.
Bryan - ma stands for massachusetts - the only person worth calling in my state is senator brown. frank and the rest of the congressmen from my state are the ones responsible for the mess we are in.
As for being part of the solution I'm very active in donating to the RNC. The only true solution is to take the senate and the presidency back -- 2012 can't come soon enough!
If you think novemeber was a shellacking wholly smokes it's going to be a blood bath.
And the democrats i'm sure will be able to appropriate just enough to clean up the blood lost by the republicans. Don't you worry about that.
Obama 2012. Sanity 2012.
I see that you are just like your leadership in congress. You think name-calling solves problems . That's why we're in the shape we're in.
This is for Rob.
For those who do not understand the process. 1st it is the responsiblity of the house and senate to raise the debt limit not the president no matter who that is. They can ask to have the debt limit raised but as you have all seen it is the house and senate that must pass a bill. Not the President. 2nd raising the debt limit has nothing to do with the budget going forward. Raising the debt limit only takes care of what you have spent in the past or what has already been planned to spend. So we have two separate issues, the debt limit and a new budget to lower future spending. So why not raise the debt limit to pay for what we have already purchased and get that out of the way. Then start working on future spending to reduce the future debt, there is nothing we can do about past spending except pay the damm bill. Stop crying about the past and start working on the future. Yes we need to reduce spending and yes we need to increase revenue. The last part of the process is the involvement of us in daily government process. If we abdicate that ability then we are all doomed. So by all means be involved and call your representatives they are their to speak for us, but if we do not tell them what we want then they will run to the money in their pockets and not ours. Stop bitching about the problem and become part of the solution. Unless you just like to bitch, then by all means continue to do nothing.
TTs: I could cry because you really know of what you speak. There are a number of tea bag plants on the vine today that are hatin' , but secretly are praying that our President wins in 2012.
Obama on the right side - the people side? Are you paying attention at all?
How can he be on the people's side? Spend more money with no budget and no restraints and then tax those damn rich people. That is it - that is on the people's side?
Obama is on his side and nobody elses.
the sands of time are slowly drifting by grain by grain and still no direction , only time and a lobbist will know what next shall come off this.
Obama: 'We are almost out of time'
When was the last time we all heard that statement from the leader, and how long did it take to sign that emergency legislation the first time, the second time we heard it?
Can we actually believe him, or is this just another 'Chicken Little, the sky is falling' statement?
Question: would we have this impass if the SS fund wasn't raided by the government of Lyndon Johnson, and subsiquent governments since? How does this fund theft differ from fraud the government prosecuits today?
"Last time I checked we still live in a democracy - please old wise ones tell us what's wrong with contacting your representatives & making your position known? "
Yes, Feisty, it would be nice if your congressperson gave a hoot, or perhaps nicer yet if he understood the issues. My Teahadist representative, Paul Gosar, thinks it just GRAND that he conceeded to vote for the Boener Bill. I hastened to tell him that the compromise the American people are thinking of is a compromise with democrats, not with people of his own party.
I will be working to do everything I can to campaign against him and his infinite ignorance come election time.
I.m volunteering for the second time also.
I'm also FIRED UP & READY to GO!
The campaign has already contacted me about canvassing up in WI again!
YES WE CAN & YES WE WILL!
[I will be working to do everything I can to campaign against him and his infinite ignorance come election time.]
Yeah, until DWTS comes on....
Why do we continue to play the class warfare card, because the media demands that we do? I will agree that the middle class has paid the brunt of taxes for some time. Go through previous administrations and you will see this to be true. Why has this been the case? Very simple, we have allowed all previous legislators and administrations to do this in our behalf.
Current tax codes allow deductions for many areas, and all citizens have the option to select them, depending on what they earn and how they earn their income. Who wrote these laws, the legislators. For some time, a number of people have taken advantage of what is available under the law, and some even are innovative in their reading of the tax laws. Why even Charlie Rangle, the committee chair, or former chairman of the Tax Committee couldn't even understand, or choose to understand the laws in his oversight.
Now if you want the law to change, and have EVERYONE pay their fair share, talk to your legislators. You and I can complain all we want to, but those in the Congress are the only ones that can change law.
Why aren't you also complaining about the fraud committed throughout the years with the theft of the Social Security fund, originally stolen by Lydon Johnson, and also raided by every other administration since? Would the SS Fund be where it is today if the GOVERNMENT didn't agree to steal these dollars? Do they have the fund to immediately repay the fund if the note was called?
Nope andrae, it's time to replace those professional politicians and replace them with new blood who understands just whom they work for.
Let's face it, this current crisis is nothing more than an political game, with the taxpayers the losers, no matter what plan is passed.
Sad to say, those are new-bloods gumming up the works now. They do not understand cooperation or for that matter "the greater good".
No Dreeves, they do understand. The current Spending Party, along with the old guard politicians who aren't spending their money are the issue.
So, tell me, what is wrong with having a balanced budget? The majority of Americans have to live within their means, why is government divorced from this process?
Read the Gang of 6 proposal. Look at waste that is in the system, and can be removed from the system without any disruption of services. My, remove the waste and you may see your tax rate improve.
Please don't continue to listen to the media who is attempting to formulate policy.