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Subscribe to RSSA Republican source close to the negotiations tells NBC News that both sides are "very close" to agreement on a two-step debt-ceiling deal.
It is essentially the original Boehner plan -- without the balanced-budget amendment and with modified triggers, what amounts to an escape hatch if a joint committee can't get the cuts needed. The plan would get enough in cuts, roughly $1 trillion, to last about six or seven months.
At the same time, a joint congressional committee would be established that would be tasked with getting enough in cuts to raise the debt ceiling again and get past the 2012 election - in the range of $1.4 trillion to $1.8 trillion.
The source said the White House's concern was that if a joint committee couldn't find something, the White House wanted a way to access the second tranche. The original Boehner plan did not include a way without the joint committee finding something.
Here are the options if a committee can't find something:
1. A balanced-budget amendment sent to states, which is "not going to happen," the source said. (NBC's Mike Viqueira reports there would be a separate vote on a balanced-budget amendment);
2. Across the board cuts that include Medicare and Defense, but NOT Social Security. The goal is that just the threat of this should provide "total motivation" for a committee to find a solution.
The whole thing then triggers the McConnell disapproval process, in which a two-thirds majority would be needed to disapprove of the president's spending proposals.
The original Boehner plan didn't have the votes to pass the House in the first try this past week. But this should pass, because it should get the support of many Democrats. Democrats aggressively whipped against the original Boehner proposal.
A House GOP Leadership aide says, "Discussions are moving in the right direction, but serious issues remain. And no agreement will be final until Members have a chance to weigh in."
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Oops, I remember the Boehner Plan as Requiring to send to the States, a Constitutional Amendment on a BBA!
Was'nt that what the House just sentup to the Senate, Domenico?
Correct me if i'm wrong!
You are correct. That would be interesting in an election year. . . .Not sure how that would work out. A lot would depend on the state of the economy and other unforeseen events.
I would like to ADD that My Mom's Retired Military monthly Deposit has already been deposited into her Account as of this morning.
I hope this reassures those who expect these benefits!
Today, from the AP's David Espo:
"Congress would also have to vote on a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget, a top-flight GOP goal. Unlike a bill approved Friday by the Republican-run House, none of the debt limit increase would be tied to congressional approval of that limit."
Can you comment on this, Mr. Montanaro?
We've goten to the point that the Right is writing revisionist history even before it supposedly occurs. The Stimulus was nearly 40% tax breaks and the actual stimulus dollars were not sufficient in terms of jump starting the Bush devastated economy. Obama had at least the honesty and moral conviction of putting the two unfunded wars back on the books, WHAT... no one was going to notice that the wars had not been added to the ledger by the former Administration. Supply Side economics and the Bush tax cuts according to the CBO account for nearly over half of our deficit! The rich pay less taxes as a percentage of income then a secretary, single parent and a mother of two with an upside down mortgage working two jobs put food on the table! The super rich on the other hand pay no taxes and get corporate welfare! Why have a Republican President when the Democrat now in office will let the economic terrorist, extortionist and thugs we now call the Tea Party have their way and destroy the poor, seniors, working Americans and the Middle Class. A weak President and the Tea Party have become this Countries perfect storm!!!!!!!!!
Looks like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner finally were able to explain the situation to Obama in the simplest terms possible so Obama could understand them. Mitch and John are experts at negotiation, they know how to get a deal done. Obama? His expertise lies with giving incoherent and generalized speeches, mostly to try and blame others for his problems.
In the end, when this agreement gets finalized, the expected will have happened 1) Obama will have gotten rolled - Obama filibustered his way out his negotiations to the point Boehner threw him out and looked not to Reid, but McConnell to get a deal done 2) Reid was totally cut out the deal - While Reid was wasting his time trying to pass his bill in the Senate, McConnell was at the White House telling Obama what he was going to sign. Harry was extremely po-ed when he caught wind of the fact that Obama was making a deal behind his back and that he (Reid) no longer matters. 3) Obama cracked under the pressure, he lost his cool and his focus, he totally froze up at the moment of truth. We knew Obama was a poor leader, an lousy executive, and a slow thinker, and these facts were proven out in the last few weeks. When his moment came to grab victory, Obama instead gave a speech telling people to call their congressmen. Wrong answer Barry.
Congratulations to Mitch and John. Two true leaders.
The Republican reps/senators lie... and lie and lie.. they do it on TV every freaking day. is this a surprise to anyone.... I see some democrats from below critizing the president as a turn coat and being a centrist republican or what ever....this is what I felt about that issue. We have to stick together as dems and be the bigger pupil. We can not become them to heal this nation.
See democrats acting like this is exactly what brought he tea party into power.
Give alternative solutions rather than lambasting the president. Our political system is rigged and the republicans are taking advantage of it, they'll rather shut down the government than let the government do anything right - since it's in Obama's name. Their plan is to make everything a crisis and hold a proverbial gun to the head of USA. And now you guys are mad at the president??? Shame shame shame. You know nothing about politics. The democrats can not become the tea party's antagonist to win the game. We can not become like them because they play politics better than we do. THIS IS NOT A GAME!!! It's the future of America. In December, remember how the tea party held America hostage in order to get a tax break for the rich? The deal they rejected was not even for those just earning $250k or higher, they rejected a deal for tax increases those earning $1000,000 and up. Can you imagine that? Where's your outrage then? take it out on the very person who's trying to protect your right, while at the same time work with the Teapublicans/Tealibans.
If the American people can not see the republican party for what their extremist views are... then they deserve what they get...and if you democrats would rather Obama fail because he does not cater to your specific views.... you deserve what you get - THE TEA PARTY IN POWER!!!! You'll see how fast they push you and grandma off the cliff.
This is not about a BALANCED BUDGET! This is about RAISING the DEBT CEILING ONLY!
The Presidents NEVER GET BLANK CHECKS...CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS HELD THE PURSE STRINGS.
That is why all Presidents ASKS CONGRESS for MONEY!
Balancing a budget should not be included in Mitch McConnell's Plan!
When Republican President Herbert Hoover realised the depression was at hand it was too late to fix his ideologue ideas that created the Great Depression.
He tried by increasing the across the board tax increases for the top earners from 24% to 63%. Corporations went from 12% to 15% in increases. Still it did not bring in enough revenue to ward off the depression because it was too late, and he had not asked for a DEBT CEILING INCREASE to go along with the Tax increase.
The "TOP EARNERS" today are not being taxed at all, nor are the Corporations.
Yet the TEA-TARDS/GOPers are whining about increasing the taxes of the Wealthy and Big Business.
This new T-Party of not only "NO" but "NO NOTHINGS" will be the demise of America. They are trying to lead America over the precipice, because we are already near the "POINT OF NO RETURN.
To know this History of how the GD started and to think that Obama is capitulating to the right makes me sick!
I would have voted for McCain /Palin if, I wanted real idiots in the White House. To think that Obama maybe allowing the Republican View to dominate ( HIS ADMINISTRATION), means he can forget about my vote in 2012.
WB: The Presidents NEVER GET BLANK CHECKS...CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS HELD THE PURSE STRINGS.
Can you point us to the congressional legislation that allowed Obama to buyout GM and Chrysler? A specific bill number for the House and Senate will suffice.
Many thanks.
tunde - better get your lawyers workin on these lies, should be quite a gold mine, then again, compromise does depend on changing ones stance on some issues.
Here's a lie for you to work on Tunde. The top 10% earners in fact pay about 55% of the federal taxes.
american-2051576, your sarcasm doesn't hinge me... but hey, I hope your learn the truth before the tea party leads u off the cliff.
JoAnnaSmith1
Yet that same top 10% own more than 90% of the country's assets. By that shouldn't they be paying 90% of taxes then? I don't propose this not do I think it's logical... I'm just going by your reasoning...
It's "essentially the original Boehner plan -- without the balanced-budget amendment...," as I wrote. There would be a separate vote on a BBA, my colleague Mike Viqueira reported from the White House.
JAS1 they pay the top 55% of the income tax that is only one tax please get your facts straight. I have to read your BS everyday at least make it factually correct.
A Balanced Budget Ammendment seems so out of touch with reality. It could takes years to get ratification. Even if the states rushed it through, it seems too far away to be of any help to this crisis. Also, does anybody really want to tie the country's hands like that? It would have to have some kind of workaround in case of a real emergency. And if Congress is so irresponsible now, they'll surely find a way to exploit that workaround in the future.
tunde - thanks for acknowledging my sarcasm. How is your stance any different in scope than what you say the rights is?
BTW - I have never attended a tea party function to date, but I have attended some iowa democratic caucuses in the past. If I visit my brother-in-law in PA would that count?
robiscool - so which tax is it? If you want jas to be factual shouldn't you be as well? Perhaps you both mistakenly failed to name the specific tax or the date from which it was derived.
Thanks Mr. Montanaro, for the clarification.
There would be a vote on a balanced budget amendment...something that, as David Gregory pointed out this morning, is favored by more that 70% of the American public.
Went online yesterday to view my bank accounts, and learned my VA disability check was deposited. My wife also received her VA disability deposit, as well as my brother the Battalion Commander receiving his military paycheck.
In checking with the parents, they received their SS deposit.
So, what disruption of services is Barry O talking about? Perhaps his next campaign slogan should be Festina Lente! Taken from the Latin: hurry slowly.
OK Libbies, who is the liar, Barry; the Three Stooges of the Senate: Harry, Durbin and Chuckie (Fanny and Freddy are solvent) Schumer; or the Republicans?
So now you change the subject. You're just like Obama, you just can't stay focused.
But please, lets see you Libs try to throw out the income tax for an asset tax. It sure would be funny to watch. Or, wait, you losers would probably want both an asset AND an income tax! It's all the governments money according to you folks.
And this TA:
is still a lie.
Your making my point for me robis. And if you have other facts of your own to present, please do. Or at least stop your whining.
What kind of sociopathic personality does it take to say we need to take from the poor to give to the rich? What kind of a-hole says we need to demonize the weak in order to give more power to those who contol everything?
The conservatives in this country are the of living embodiment of all the evil villains in every bedtime story. But, if you call them on it, they suddenly play the victim.
Nobody and I mean nobody puts the 'V'' in victim quite the way they do! ;o)
JoAnnaSmith1,
How in the world did I change the subject? do you even read before you post, or you are simply here to bash Obama and call us on the left losers?... when I said that reps/senators lie on TV...I didn't take it to mean you since you are neither... but do you lie? I'll leave to you to decide... I'm not here to judge you, lady.
I simply responded to you assertion that top 10% pay 55% of taxes.... was it a change of subject... i think not, except if comprehension is not ones best subject. Good luck JS1.... and have a good Sunday; I'm really not out there to get you or spot gotcha moments in your thoughts.... just trying to educate you... I'll be more than welcome if you can prove to me that your thoughts on issues are legit... and if not, I'll call you out on it.
Well Red, you sure whine when people call you on your half truths about taxes. The poor pay sales tax, property tax, taxes on utilities etc. And guess what? That constitutes 100% of their income. While the top earner sonly spend a very small percent of their earned income and invest the rest, which generates even more income. And investment income is taxed lower than regular income. That's assuming they did anything to earn it in the first place. A good portion of those top earners are trust fund babies. And where does that investment income come from? The middle and the poor who are mortgaged to their ears.
But you hide your wicked selfishness in indignant self righteousness and cloak your hatred of the principle that all people are created equal in the flag. EVIL!
@JoAnnaSmith1... Obama could not buy out any thing without Congressional approval. Here is why.......did I answer you QUESTION?
Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Umm Scott - I think you have me confused with someone else...
No one is more of a bleeding heart liberal than ME! ;o)
PS: Keep posting - your comments are SPOT ON!
Sorry, that should have been addressed to JS1. I got confused with the thread.
Again, please provide the House and Senate bill numbers that approved Obama's purchase of GM and Chrysler. When did Congress approve Obama's purchase of those two companies?
Looking forward to your response.
Proof please.
hunky - Looks like you and your relatives are pretty dependent on that "social safety net" that you're trying to dismantle.
Do you realize you're sawing off your own limb?
Again, please provide the House and Senate bill numbers that approved Obama's purchase of GM and Chrysler. When did Congress approve Obama's purchase of those two companies
Public Law 110-343. If you want the House and Senate Resolutions, you're going to have to go to the Congressional Record and look it up for yourself.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-trust-fund-baby.htm
JoAnnaSmith:
"Born on Third Base," a new study by the Boston-based United for a Fair Economy, shows that a majority of the Forbes 400 inherited their way onto the list, inherited already substantial and profitable companies, or received key start-up capital from a family member.
@JoAnnaSmith1
You obviously know it and are itching to share so please enlighten us!
Give us the HB# for The Senate and the House's approval of the Auto Manufacturers Stimulus....looking forward to your info!
To those of you complaining about who is paying "their fair share" and which group is being screwed this is an interesting read. I know you liberals will not buy it because it goes against the information you use to further your agenda but those of you that like to get some ideas on what questions to ask and what to research it would be a good place to start:
http://www.american.com/archive/2007/november-december-magazine-contents/guess-who-really-pays-the-taxes
Again, please provide the House and Senate bill numbers that approved Obama's purchase of GM and Chrysler. When did Congress approve Obama's purchase of those two companies
It's obvious you two can't back it up, because the House and Senate bills for the government to purchase GM and Chrysler do not exist. Next time be a little more careful before you spew lies you can't back up.
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) is an extremely influential, pro-business, conservative think tank founded in 1943 by Lewis H. Brown. It promotes the advancement of free enterprise capitalism[1], and succeeds in placing its people in influential governmental positions. It is the center base for many neo-conservatives.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Enterprise_Institute
The law that gave Obama the authority to invest in the Auto industry is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Stimulus_Act_of_2008 . Passed under G.W. Bush.
http://useconomy.about.com/od/criticalssues/a/auto_bailout.htm
Here's a great chart showing how the distribution of income in America has changed since 1979:
% Change Per Person Since 1979
There is more money in the American economy today than there was in 2007. (See Corporate profits have recovered, but job market still depressed) The question is, where is it going? Not to workers any more.
Corporate tax revenues are down to 9% of all federal revenue, their lowest percentage in American history. 60% of American corporations don't pay any taxes at all.
And the top personal income tax rate is at its lowest level since the 1931.
But payroll taxes are now up to 40% of federal revenue.
U.S. Federal Tax Receipts - Fiscal Year 2010
And top personal income tax rates haven't nearly kept pace:
Associated Press
April 17, 2011
These people don't pay payroll taxes, either, which is why working people's withholdings now make up 40% of all federal revenues.
Fix it, and then we'll talk about how much we need to take from the bottom 50%.
This is the proto type for newly formed "Super Congress".....of America.
The Enabling Act Of 1933....our new Government!
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/enabling.htm
The American economy is being stolen by American corporations.
While they've amassed $1.9 TRILLION in cash, we've been working to provide 60% of them with FREE roads, FREE schools, FREE firefighters, FREE police, FREE military protection, FREE everything (since they don't pay ANY taxes). And to add insult to injury, we're contributing our hard-earned tax money to give them a TAX REFUND:
Forbes - What the Top U.S. Companies Pay in Taxes
How many working Americans did it take to make that refund for Exxon?
What Does Keynesian Economics Mean?
An economic theory stating that active government intervention in the marketplace and monetary policy is the best method of ensuring economic growth and stability.
Investopedia explains Keynesian Economics
A supporter of Keynesian economics believes it is the government's job to smooth out the bumps in business cycles. Intervention would come in the form of government spending and tax breaks in order to stimulate the economy, and government spending cuts and tax hikes in good times, in order to curb inflation.
A very sensible approach to our Economy.
Wow JoAnnaSmith1, looks like you got your hat handed to you again!
Scott - you said "a good portion of the top earners are trust fund babies"...
Top earners are not the Forbes 400. Most of these folks pay more taxes in a month than you or I pay in a lifetime. Regardless, when you are a billionaire you likely do not earn wages or salary, and if you do, you pay taxes on that income. Most I would venture are already earning from investment income, which as you say is at a lower rate, as it has already been taxed as income in most cases.
Regardless - if these folks inherited this wealth, that means the base of their wealth was earned income back when tax rates were much higher. Why on earth is it anyone's business what people do with their own money? Why do you care about someone else's success so much?
And why is a government that has been mismanaged for decades constantly overspending?
The nation got to nearly a zero at the end of Clinton's second term. The surpluses never actually existed, but they were projected.
We can argue all day about what happened next, but bottom line is that our government, Democrats and Republicans, voted to go to war, we experienced Katrina, and we found ourselves right back to spending more than we take in.
Then the recession happened at the same time our dear government decided to double down on our debt, so under Democrat rule, Congress overspent at a higher rate in 2007-2010 than any other time in recent history. A lot of citizens found this irresponsible. Much of the money actually spent on these bailouts was either hidden ($16 trillion to banks "off the books") or were to temporarily save government jobs and union jobs while the rest of us were told to be patient and pound sand.
So here we are, the Presidents great ideas flopped miserably. We are not "out of the ditch" and the arrogance of Obama brought out conservatives who now are insisting on being more responsible.
I would bet that few of us want grandma harmed, nor do we want to hurt children.
What we do want is the lies to stop, the gamesmanship, the constant cuts that are no more than a decrease in the increase of spending. We want grown ups to make the tough choices.
And maybe at some point we raise taxes. But here is what the grown ups know. Democrats make deals that they don't keep. Spending cuts have been part of many deals, and these cuts never seem to actually happen - just look at the budgets for the past 30+ years.
And when we talk about money, they want trillions now, but only want to cut billions. They always "project" cuts over 10-12 years but want all the spending to happen now. And this is why we are in the predicament that we are in.
My hope is to end all of this with one simple action - print $20 trillion, pay off all of the government debt, rebate back half of the $5 trillion to states, and the other half to taxpayers.
Stand back and watch the world scream bloody murder, while our economy grows like crazy.
Inflation will likely moderate simply because there are so many out of work that would be put back to work that we would see much more stability that many might guess. A Forbes columnist wrote about this and after I read his thoughts and actually considered the idea, it made sense. No debt, the world can pound sand, because honestly, who else are they going to sell their $1500 Mac computers to?
JoAnnaSmith1,
RE: your post #1.8
The legislation which allowed for the LOANS to the auto industry was "TARP" (troubled assets relief program). Below are some sites you may find useful and convenient. This program was passed with OVERWHELMING bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress in October of 2008. President George W. Bush signed the legislation on October 3, 2008.
The formal name of the Act is: 'Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008'.
Public Law 110-343
Most economist are in agreement that this TARP program and the loans authorized by this Act of Congress saved somewhere between 1 million and 2 million jobs. And possibly saved the economy and several large financial institutions of the United States from failure.
http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/bailouttracker/#TARP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubled_Asset_Relief_Program
For those who have eyes to see, ears to hear and the heart to understand. I am often confused on the philosopy of the republican concept.
The republicans believe in embracing the rightwing conservative christianity beliefs, which they do not hesitate to sound the bugle of the name of Jesus Christ in which the second greatest commandment is to love thy brother as thyself. Which includes Feed the poor, care for the elderly and to perform your behavior based on love, compassion and mercy, but yet their behavior seems to embrace performance based on the letter of the constitution, which denies performance base on the heart that includes the christian principle, but instead highlights and embraces money and power. How can one govern by the letter of the constitution, which embraces (money and power) and at the same time embrace (love, mercy and compassion), which cancels each other out? (you can not serve god and mammon, you will love the one and despise the other or you will hate one and embrace the other). Which brings me to my second concern, which is how can the rightwing conservative christians embrace the republican party fully understanding this scripture and concept and truly call themselves christians?
Should this not be the argument? If this is a question about principles on one hand money should not be an issue concerning the wealthy paying more to care for those who are less fortunate and suffering; but on the other hand, if this is about governing according to a foundation not based on the heart but by the letter of the law only, then I clearly understand why money and power takes priority and is embraced more than the other, but they should eliminate the title of being christians, because fire and water do not mix.
Inquiring mind
We had a balanced budget and the Republicans thought that it meant that they could kick some wealth back to themselves and their close supporters, and run the deficit sky high again. just so that their bankster buddies could make a bunch more money in interest too. And now the Republicans want a balanced budget? We had a balanced budget and you Republicans thought that it was bad for your business.
Then Bush, Cheney, and Rove conspire to start a war on false pretenses, just so that they could make their closest defense contractor friends really rich too. But then they don't have the moral fortitude to report their war spending within the budget. Only after President Obama took office is it revealed that the Bush Jr contribution to our national debt was more than double what was falsely reported for eight years. Did you know that GW's average intergovernmental borrowing averaged $289 Billion per year for his eight years in office, to Obama's record of less than $90 Billion average per year? What did anyone think was going to happen eight years later once the lie was discovered?
Imagine a major corporation intentionally overstating its profits by double for eight years? Would you blame the collapse of the company's value on the new guy who inherits the mess? How about we seize some of the GW Bush core team's assets to help offset the money that they stole from all of us, like was done to Bernie Madoff to attempt to offset his Ponzi scheme? The value of Madoff's scheme was $50 Billion, whereas the Bush team under-reported their deficit by $2 Trillion+!!! I wonder how much that ranch in Crawford is worth, or Cheney's private hunting preserve? What would you call fraud to the tune of $2 Trillion for personal gain? I would call it a felony, with multiple counts.
I am just one vote, but my vote counts. All I can say is Mr. President, you just lost my vote. I voted you in to further Democratic beliefs, not to cave into the same old tired Republican speak. You should have done what the majority of americans wanted and increase taxes on the wealthy and cut thier tax breaks. Thank you for dumping the debt on the backs of the dwindling middle and every increasing lower class. Thank you for making the rich richer, you make a great Republican.
What else do you expect the president to do with the economic gun to his head? You got terrorists in the House, hostage-takers in the TEA party, and ransom demanded from the radicals.
Right-wing, government hating, non-patriot, money-mongering, fascist pigs have hijacked our government.
However, we are fortunately able to oust these low life, grandma cliff launching scum out of office in 2012. Then, these tyranical corporate parasites can be irraticated.
Whew! I feel better now!
I expect him to stick to his guns and not think about re-election. We voted him in to do a Temp job to start with. I expect him to do the right thing. If that means defaulting on our debt to get the Republicans to do what is right then so be it. I did not vote him in to be a panzy and cave in every time there is pressure from the right wing wacko's. It's not about re - election, its about doing the right thing. He just lost one vote because he was too worried about votes to do the right thing.
SLD,
The Republican philosophy is simple. Allow people, organizations, and churches to do the right thing and take care of the needy. The federal government really has no business doing much more than defending the union, yet that is always the first thing they want to cut. The give-away programs invented by government are one of the most potent drugs ever created. People start on them, want more, and soon will do anything to get them, even to the point of electing someone with no experience because he is the best shot at getting more. Republicans are not against helping anyone, but should it be the federal government's job? Republicans say no. When the government says that they need to steal more money from the rich to pay for programs that they should not be involved in concerns me. I would not begrudge anyone their Social Security that worked all of their life, paid in, and finally gets to retire, however, many people on disability should not get anything. It is not my fault that you have smoked enough stuff that now you can't breathe and as a result can't work. I did not force them to smoke so why should I, or my government, be burdened with the bill. It was a decision that they made and bad decisions kill people every day. That is not hard hearted or non-Christian, that my friend is the reality of the situation. So what we are saying is that if you made good decisions all your life and did what was right and were successful we want to take your money and reward it to this stupid person who has made bad decisions. If you make bad decisions and are not a good Christian you go to hell. Why should life be any different? If you make bad decisions and are not a good person why should anyone except your immediate family or friends have to take care of you? I could understand calling Republicans a lot of things but saying that what they believe in is a contradiction to Christianity is a pretty good stretch. Hope this helps.
That's a shame.
However, perhaps you are looking at it differently than me. The president is doing exactly as you ask and is doing the right thing for the nation.
Letting this nation plunge into chaos is the wrong thing to do.
Wrong think for his re election plans yes. Being President should not be about getting re elected. Being President is having the buck stop with him. He either stands for something or he doesn't. Right now, he stands for caving into the Republicans. He didn't get the tax increases on the rich, he did give allot of cuts in medicare, Medicaid, and so on. I thought this man had a backbone. Turns out he will sell his own constituents for a re election.
Churches should provide social programs? While the Federal government helps corporations walk all over the rights of anyone nearby, just like back in the 1920s or earlier? I thought that went out with Herbert Hoover??? Actually, I strongly feel that we need the Federal government dictating to the States what a minimum standard of living should be, so that our States can't compete to see which one can get away with providing the least amount of help myself, just like I believe in strong Federal environmental protection laws that all of our corporations are subject to also. There is absolutely no sense trying to see which company get get away with polluting the environment the most either. Any Republican that doesn't like it can move to China for all I care too.
How do you propose to provide social programs in heavily-depressed areas where even churches can't afford to stay in business? How about a forced migration to places where there are more churches still open? If I was king I would sentence a whole lot of your Republicans to having to live for a month in inner-city public housing in Chicago, Cleveland, or Detroit without a car and with only $100 in food stamps in your wallet, just so that you can get a taste of your own medicine.
This plan seems to have merit as it will meet 2 of the goals I set for myself in a past post:
It will avoid having to go through this whole mess during an election year
Triggers seem to be reasonable (no party will want to touch SS)
Now all we need to see is how bipartisan this committee will be.
Bah, the TEA party will keep on killing everything. The president will have to force his hand and play the 14th amendment wild card on this one.
Know why? Because the TEA party don't care. Everyone can die as far as they are concerned. The only difference between terrorists and TEA party is the bullets they use.
Lets just get it over with so We the People can figure out how bad we've been screwed and what we're going to do about it.
Amen IR!
I'm tired of the manufacted 'drama' & judging from the polls so are the majority of Americans!
Bottom line is, it's Main Street America who's going to get BENT OVER AGAIN!
And all the 'window dressing' in the world ain't gonna change that FACT!
Feisty- you are correct. We SAVED Wall Street... now MAIN STREET is getting screwed again. Gnop pay back their masters. Obama should invoke the 14th. As a PROUD LIBERAL WOMAN, I feel the DEMS are choking. Vote out ANY member of Congress selling out the PEOPLE!!!
Disgusting.
It's not the Dems in congress selling us out. I worked my azz off to get Obama elected, now it is HE who is selling us out. He should have told the Tea smokers to take a hike. They are not a majority, they are not even a strong minority but he shriveled when it came to dealing with them. I want to see Hilary step down and run. We need a primary to get this guy off of his azz.
Hannah! If we do as you say, the halls of the capitol would be silent.
Amused
you have said everything that needs to be said. Obamas true face is that of a middle conservative. He is a coward and he is gonna sell us out for sure. We need to primary this guy if he does not hold his ground.
He really had no choice, as the only grownup in the room he had to avoid a catastrophe. The tea party would have "shut er down" Obama did the right thing, somebody had to save us from the loonies.
Let this be a lesson Amused: If you had checked with me I could have told told you long ago this man is a fake and knows nothing about government.
"He should have told the Tea smokers to take a hike."
and that gets a bill through the House, how?
I have a 3 yr old Brundo and you dont just give him his way because he is crying. Obama is selling us down the road. I have been his fan from day one and this is what i get. The REpubs get to run the show because they have on piece of one branch of Govt. Mr Obama if you know right from wrong you will VETO any short term deal and anything with radical change to Medicare and SS.
You are right that he was the only grownup in the room. Everyone else is in some other room actually working on getting a deal done. They had to send Obama to another room, basically give him a "Time Out", so the people that actually have to write the legislation and get it passed could actually get around all the false promises and flip flopping.
See democrats acting like this is exactly what brought he tea party into power.
Give alternative solutions rather than lambasting the president. Our political system is rigged and the republicans are taking advantage of it, they'll rather shut down the government than let the government do anything right - since it's in Obama's name. Their plan is to make everything a crisis and hold a proverbial gun to the head of USA. And now you guys are mad at the president??? Shame shame shame. You know nothing about politics. The democrats can not become the tea party's antagonist to win the game. We can not become like them because they play politics better than we do. THIS IS NOT A GAME!!! It's the future of America. In December, remember how the tea party held America hostage in order to get a tax break for the rich? The deal they rejected was not even for those just earning $250k or higher, they rejected a deal for tax increases those earning $1000,000 and up. Can you imagine that? Where's your outrage then? take it out on the very person who's trying to protect your right, while at the same time work with the Teapublicans/Tealibans.
If the American people can not see the republican party for what their extremist views are... then they deserve what they get...and if you democrats would rather Obama fail because he does not cater to your specific views.... you deserve what you get - THE TEA PARTY IN POWER!!!! You'll see how fast they push you and grandma off the cliff.
Independant Redneck VA,
It's already been figured out long ago;
Reagan (GOP) national budgetary deficit in 1988......$550 billion
Bush1 (GOP) national budgetary deficit in 1992........$385 billion
Clinton (DEM) national budgetary deficit in 2000.......$33 billion
after line item veto of Newt's provisions 15-34 in HR 2014 on 8-11-97 effectively halting Coporate tax
cuts eliminating greater deficits.
Bush2 (GOP) national budgetary deficit in 2008........$6.2 trillion with a "T" after borrowing revenue to
pay Iraq war, 2001 Coporate tax cuts, eliminating revenue for plan D within Medicare creating Pharmeceutical debt raising Pharmeceutical share holder value within Stock market.
We know which Party has spent the most and created our debt........
robiscool - you got my support for taking out obama as candidate at the national convention.
THANK you Tony, the truth of the matter is that when republicans are out of power their tune is always balance the budget, or some other fiscal conservative song and dance, but when they get control they spend like there is no tomorrow.
.
Tony perhaps you should include all the "truth" like mentioning how the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could have never been started without Democrats in the House and Senate voting of them. At the same time if the Democrats were truly opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan they could have stopped them because the Republicans never had a filibuster proof majority during Bush's 8 Years.
You might also mention the "truth" that Bush received Congressional approval for the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan unlike our current President who got us involved in the civil war in Libya without congressional approval.
You might also mention the "truth" that the House and Senate were both controlled by the Democrats form 2006 to 2010 and its Congress that writes the Appropriations Bills not the President Therefore those 8 years of the dept that you like to lay on Bush is actually four years of Democrat spending since they are the ones that wrote the appropriations for those four years (technically since they never passed a budget for 2009, 2010, and 2011(Reps passed one for last half of 2011) it was all un-budgeted spending.
Maybe what needs to happen to get the Feds Fiscal house in order is take away Congress's ability to pass "continuing resolutions" so they are forced to pass budgets and bills on time.
Tunde your theories would be fine, but they assume a largely thinking populous. I'm not sure that is actually the case any longer. People are peeved at seeing banks and large companies bailed out. They are peeved at seeing companies like GE and Exxon pay no taxes. They are peeved at seeing 50% of our population paying no taxes because they cry poor. When people are peeved they do not think. They buy into demagoguery and Republicans are experts at saying one thing and doing something entirely different. It will take strong leadership to move us in the right direction. Debt reduction done without scorch and burn, rebuilding infrastructure so we can put people to work without throwing us back into the black hole of extreme debt. Obama in the past month has shown that he cannot lead. To lead you have to have earned respect and he came in and mouthed off, showed his ego, and sunk his party. He did nothing to earn anyone's respect, he thought he got that by default for winning an election. Surprise! That didn't happen. It IS time for a primary. The ego has to go.
Looks like the GOP ticket for 2012 will be Obama and Mcconnell, not necessarily in that order.
Oh that's OK ED, you can keep the President. He's making his own bed, you know how to finish the sentence.
The dagger to the heart will be the 2/3 vote to stop a president from spending. Once we slip on that slope, the nation is finished.
Obama can veto it. Puts the ball in his court. Will be interesting to see how he punts it. He seems incapable of dealing with this type of problem. What a huge disapointment.
So ... here we are again ... cut, cut, cut ... where are the revenues? We don't touch the loopholes for the big corporations, don't go near the tax cuts that the super-rich enjoy --- just cut from the taxpayers that bailed out the big corporations and Wall Street barons.
"SHARED SACRAFICE" "BALANCED APPROACH"
Sounds to me like the Republicans are getting EXACTLY what they wanted --- and President Obama has "caved", once again.
This is REALLY getting OLD !!!
How did the slogan go? Was it "HOPE and CHANGE" ... or was it "HOPE for CHANGE" ???
Wasn't it "Dope for Change", "Chains you can Believe in.", "Yes we crap".
Very funny, David. Do you actually have something substantive to say, or do you want to keep heckling from the peanut gallery?
Obama should just invoke Section 4 of the 14th Amendment and tell the Tea Party to shove it where the sun don't shine. Why Congress gets the power to authorize the same spending twice (once in the actual appropriation and again when it's time to pay the bill) is beyond me.
whats the matter with some light hearted humor on a sunday morning?
That's what's passing as humor with the Tealiban these days?
About as funny as a heart attack...
Since I'm not a Tea Partier I wouldn't know what passes as humor with Tea partiers. I do find your use of "Tealiban" hilarious though. While I make humorous attempts at "campaign slogans" you attack "people".
What I don't find hilarious is looking at the National dept clock and seeing that every citizen in the United States is in dept for $46,675.00 and a dept per taxpayer of $130,154.00. Since I am raising children I consider it a crime for my children to have to shoulder the burden of this nations spending problem when they haven't even become adults yet. What does it say about a society that leaves its problems for there children to deal with because they are incapable of dealing with the problems they created.
Talk to the Republicans. They're the ones who crowed that deficits don't matter. They're the ones who raised the debt ceiling without so much as a "by your leave" during the Bush Administration. They're the ones holding the gun to the head of our children and demanding everything under the sun or we'll crash the economy.
So talk to them. Don't talk to me. Because right now you are nothing but a shameless huckster throwing your children up as a shield for your own perfidy.
Does anybody understand why the Government would not cut EVERY pay check they sent out every month (including all federal employees) by an equal percentage to make a sufficient cuts required to put the debt in a downward trajectory?! I heard that would be only around 7%.
What do you have against federal employees? Failed the civil service test, eh?
Hope for Change in 2012.
Ah yeah Hope and Change and the revolving door!Poooooooolease!You actually believe this excuse for a government is going to be any different.Keep wishing Baby!
Kick the can. Kick the can. What a bunch of bought out cowards. Everyone should be clear at this point that both demos and reps are bought by corporations. They could care less about the people. Where's the flat tax? Where's the term limits? Where is the American people getting a vote on what they claim is a US default?
There is no can to kick. Our debt crisis is the "crisis" that Republicans are moronic enough to think that, in a recession or recovery phase, you reduce debt. Debt is a TOOL that SHOULD be used by governments. The issue is that, once a government-investment-driven recovery is underway, the Rethuglican first reaction to new revenue is "lower taxes" instead of "pay debt."
yep - and the government-investment- driven recovery plan in 2009 worked so well. It probably would have worked better if obama and company just gave each household an equal share of that $800 billion plus investment to spend as they wished.
You have a point in the lowering taxes before paying down debt scenario. You seem to have forgotten the democrat scenario of what programs can we create to spend our new found $$$ on, rather than pay down debt is just as, if not more so, inane.
so where do you suggest we get this money to keep spending???? are you going to tax the rich for the 2.4 trillion? good luck with that....the rich will move, heck they probably already have a house outside the US.
Get ready for a Tea Party rout. The worthless US congress has to go.
Boehner and associates' dangerously irresponsible actions are HURTING USA and the world -- by many many trillions. Just look- retirement savings are down, home prices are down, unemployment and foreclosures are high. Boehner's actions will make them a lot worse. Their plans have elements of President Hoover who caused the great depression. Here is what other Presidents have done:
The US Debt Ceiling Raises Of The Past 40 Years: Reagan -18 times - 199% increase, H.W Bush -9 times - 48% increase, Clinton -4 times -44% increase, Dubya Bush -7 times - 90% increase, Obama -3 times - 26% increase.
If your numbers are right why does obama want a debt ceiling to go past the 2012 elections? Seems that it would be to his advantage to show his concern for the economy is more than just political.
After the Republican circus last week the GOP is finally ready to seriousily negotiate. I think they read the polls and see how the GOP is shouldering the bulk of the blame for this self inflicted crisis. Amazing how the whole process floundered until the President got back into the game. He tried to let Congress do their job and all we got was show votes, the GOP negotiating with the GOP etc.
Jim: You are kidding right? The democrats are the ones running backwards. Debt as a tool. Yeah some really sane statements on this vine. Mr. Mortgage holder I can't pay my mortgage so could you lend me another 100k till I may someday be able to. That is true insanity.
To Wilberta Berry: Google "congress gives stimulus it's blessing". On February 9 2009, The House voted246-183 for stimulus. Senate voted60-38 to send the bill to President Obama for signature. Look up the bill number(HR-1) by googling "stimulrs bill number.
So easy a Tea Party person can do it!
Part of the deal should be the resignation of Obama and his whole administration.
wow, and just last week he was The One......but i could show him the door if you like.
Cuts in Medicare will only bring cuts in Social Security. The costs of the cuts will be passed on to those on S.S. So the statement there will be no cuts in S.S. is an out and out lie~
If the Dems and Obama cave into the Repukes and get nothing in return we the people are beyond screwed, Look forward to the USA as the 3rd world country.
Dear Mister President,
Do not allow the rightwing snakeoil salesmen, minions and shisters to distract from the obvious answer.
Use your tools; invoke the 14th amendment and solve this issue without throwing away 75 years of progressive gains and caving to these rightwing nutbags who have less than 10% support from anyone in this nation. Even republicans don't want social security or medicare/medicaid cuts!!! Don't allow yourself to be lied to by the DC powerbrokers, listen to "We the People", the citizen of the USA that elected you to stand uup to these idiots once and for all... do not succumb to thier deceit and misinformation sir.
We have your back Mister President, do not let us down!!!
I believe President Obama is showing that he is willing to give this plan a chance. If he sees that this plan is going into the wrong direction, he will use the Escape Hatch to kill it....I bet that he has already appointed a committee to come up with a plan to balance the budget as well as cuts ( which will include getting rid of the loop holes that the rich has gotten away with ) that will pay our debt..If this plan fails, say good bye to Boehner and the Tea Party as well as every Republican that wanted this plan to pass...I think that this committee will be working on that plan before the ink is dryed. Obama is a smart man and will get rid of his road blocks so to speak.
Jo D-1657798
You had some very nice comments about the President. I also respect him in the capascity of president. The truth is he never did have a plan. The Democrats had no plan. They had to take the Republican plan, alter it slightly and put their label on it. The democrats are very angry with the President for caving in. He has no choice but to sign this plan that cuts a lot of government spending. The democrats are livid but it is their own fault. Maybe it was the democrat leaders who set Obama up for this budget failiur. They only have themselves to blame. The Tea Party can’t do anything even though the media has done a good job of vilifying them. It was the democrats who did Obama in.
Boehner plan
= Reid pan
= biz as usual: some smoke and mirrors and keep on printing money
= we absolutely cannot govern because none or the rich nor the poor wants to do away with their free goodies.
= no responsibility anywhere
= the whole american system is broke because the americans are morally broke
Gringos, your time has come!
Let's see. We're about 14t in debt. With no BBA we'll be about 28t this time next year. Ya think?
Biden, Reid, Nasty Nancy, McConnel, Boehner, Cantor. Can't expect much.
I don't believe this - the President and the Democratic leadership are offering the Republicans a plan that has no tax increases, no cuts to defense spending, and puts Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block, and they still want more.
They're getting 95% of what they want! In any sane negotiation if you're getting almost everything you desire, you take the deal.
maybe you should read about the bill before making a fool of yourself
defense is being cut
medicare and SS are not
Not to worry. Obama was just waiting to see how long it would be before he had to cave in and sell out to the Republicans like he has ever since he's been in office.
I would like to ask Mr. Montenaro something about this trigger. So, in exchange for the debt ceiling hike we get $1 T in cuts that won't happen until at least 2014 (please correct me on this if I am wrong). If the "trigger" happens, the proposed cuts to defense and Medicare could not be enacted unless the Congress approves it by a 2/3 majority? If that is the case, what exactly has been cut for the next year and a half? Anything? This sounds more like kicking the can down the road, not real cuts. As you know, anything that is "cut" now can be reinstated later. That's what has been happening with the NEA for years.
In any event, Social Security remains untouched, period. Right or wrong?
That's the bone the neither side was going to let pass:
A balanced budget amendment. Its all smoke and mirrors and false hope for doing something right for the citizens of this country and that is control the spending.
All of them should be fired.