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Subscribe to RSSCovering his deficit-reduction speech from yesterday, the New York Times says that Obama “entered a new, more combative phase of his presidency, one likely to last until next year’s election as he battles for a second term… Mr. Obama did not just propose but insisted that any long-term debt-reduction plan must not shave future Medicare benefits without also raising taxes on the wealthiest taxpayers and corporations. He uncharacteristically backed up that stand with a veto threat, setting up a politically charged choice for anti-tax Republicans — protect the most affluent or compromise to attack deficits.”
Among centrist Democrats, Politico finds tepid enthusiasm for Obama’s deficit-reduction plan -- but not outright rejection.
The Wall Street Journal: “Republican leaders said that Mr. Obama's inclusion of $1.5 trillion in tax increases in his deficit-reduction plan was a bad idea both politically and economically. ‘Veto threats, a massive tax hike, phantom savings and punting on entitlement reform is not a recipe for economic or job growth, or even meaningful deficit reduction,’ said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.).”
Bloomberg News adds, “President Barack Obama set aside his stance as compromiser-in-chief to champion the populist cause of ‘fairness’ for the middle class in the struggle over how to bring down the nation’s budget deficit.”
The New York Daily News’ headline on Obama: “Enough mister-nice-President!”
Ross Baker, political scientist at Rutgers, told NPR: “At some point he was going to have to put away the olive branch and unsheathe the sword. I guess this is it.”
The Boston Globe’s editorial page lends Obama support: “Republican intransigence has all but obliged Obama to confront what’s really going on: The fundamentals of the economy have changed in ways that further enrich millionaires, and the tax system should respond accordingly.”
The Washington Post says that Obama's call yesterday to tax the rich is a replay of an old Washington debate. “Democrats remember when Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bill Clinton won their fights to make the wealthy pay more. Republicans remember when Ronald Reagan won his battle, seeking economic recovery by having the wealthy pay less.”
“After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving openly in its ranks,” the AP says. “Repeal of a 1993 law that allowed gays to serve only so long as they kept their sexual orientation private took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT.”
The Washington Post adds, “Enlistees who tell military recruiters, or troops discharged under the ban who are eager to reenlist, will be eligible to join up if they are qualified. And the Defense Department says it will have zero tolerance for anti-gay behavior, as it does for religious, racial and gender discrimination.”
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We'll see how long this Long sought "Steel Spine" last.
I'll say this again:
If you don't Stand for Something, You'll Fall for Anything!
You Betcha!
IS GOP TRYING TO REDUCE THE TOP RATE TO ZERO?
"Once the top marginal tax rate is reduced to ZERO, who or what will the GOP blame for any economic slowdown? If you think that question is absurd, one has to look no further than just about every single 2012 Republican candidate or “future candidate.” Tim Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota has proposed a reduction in corporate taxes all the way down to 25%, and also followed that up with a capital gains tax of ZERO. Michele Bachmann, the tea party hopeful has proposed 9% corporate tax in her “perfect world.”
The GOP has been proposing lowering the top marginal tax rate for a generation, all on a premise that by allowing the wealthy to keep their money, they will invest it and create jobs. That theory has been discussed at length and I would hate to beat a dead horse, so let’s take the GOP and the conservatives at their word. Back in 1980s the Republicans, headed by Ronald Reagan began cutting the top marginal tax bracket. In 1982-1986 the top marginal tax rate was 50%. In 1987 the tax rate dropped to 38.5%, so for the majority (7 out of 8 years) of Reagan’s terms the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans was well above the top tax rates of today. In fact the wealthy only kept HALF or less of their money under most of Reagan’s presidency, yet that was enough to stimulate the economy according to many conservatives who credit the tax rates for the economic expansion of the 1980s."
http://www.politicususa.com/en/reagan-tax-rates
The President's campaign nose is despicable. He will throw the Counbtry under the bus for the next 14 months in a last ditch effort to hornswaggle himself into a second term.
In an interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd on August 5, 2009, when asked how raising taxes on anyone helps the economy, President Obama said: “The last thing you want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession because that would suck up… take more demand out of the economy and put businesses in a further hole.”
Whereas the president is more concerned with the ends and not the means, Teapublicans continue to be uncompromising as their 'means' because the 'ends' is to defeat the president even if the American people are thrown under the bus. The American people have seen Teapublicans slap away the olive branch enough times now--and it's been multiple times--to support the president in getting tough.
The Teapublicans keep asking for numbers, and assurance of where the money goes, which was never sincere. But nonetheless it has all been presented to them, all along, in various forms from Jan Schakowsky tax plan, to the American Jobs Act, to the president's Deficit Reduction Plan. There it it is, all the numbers and the hows and wheres and whys, and all the Teapublicans can do is complain that it's too lengthy.
So far independent economic analysts support the jobs plan, estimating that it will increase the GDP by 1.3 to 2 percent, that it will decrease unemployment by a point and maybe more, and it will provide the average family $1,500 in tax cuts to create more consumption (demand). The deficit reduction plan is also supported by historic data in which higher tax rates or more importantly a larger tax base that is fairer actually results in a stronger economy, not the other way around.
In preparation for the Do Nothing Republicans in congress and their predictable obstructionism and "my way or the highway" take and not give tactics, the president has preempted them by drawing lines in the sand, naming names, and taking it to the American people, to the Teapublican's own back yards across the nation. And the majority of Americans stand behind the president in this quest, as all the polls show.
You'll note the conservatives in this thread (or elsewhere) do not address these FACTS, but instead try to throw so much sh!t at the wall in hopes something will stick. Enough!
Finally, time to get in the fight. As I stated yesterday, yes indeed, this is class warfare - has been for years but now that the middle working class has decided to fight back it is considered class warfare - I think it was class warfare way back when ronnie decided that we should let billionairs off the hook and george sr and jr agreed with him - so yes it is a war and I'm quite ready for the battle. Quite happy to have the President on our side. The only problem I have with President Obama - he is entirely too nice to republicans, teabaggers, and multi millionairs. I would have cut them off at the knees the first week in office.We the working class (those of us who actually get up and go to a real job and make less than $100,000 per year) are fully behind you Mr. President, take a line from Tom Petty "Don't back down!" Also, since so many of those defense contractors made trillions off me how about we let them pay for the war in Iraq? I'll gladly pay for the one in Afghanistan (where we should have been all along) and even for intervention in Liberia -yep, ole ronnie and both george's should have gotten Kadaffi for his terrorist attack on the plane and night club which killed our brave men and women in uniform but they missed the boat on that one and all 3 forever lost my support and respect and let the wealthy pay for their dirtly little war that did nothing good for me or my family. And to those who are so upset over Mosques and Muslims, well you really should have a hard hate on for those three, we never had much trouble with Muslims and there were very few in this country and even fewer Mosques until george sr & jr and dickie ran the show.
WIRELESS: Obama invested in Falcone-funded Co....
Obama I=Bush II
Well said, Union.
It's time for huge sit in on the National Mall, with the focus on passing the American Jobs Act, and publicly calling out the GOP for their job killing obstruction.
I'm re-posting a comment I made at another thread, as it's subject might be more appropriate here:
Obama has tried for months to convince critics on the left that entitlement programs such as Medicare had to be cut in order to save the programs, but he seems to have yielded under pressure from his political base.
In his new $1.5 trillion deficit-cutting plan, unveiled Monday at the White House, Obama backed away from the changes he had been talking about for months.
“With an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program,” he said. “And if we don’t gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won’t be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it.”
But after that speech, several Democratic groups and lawmakers sent letters, held news conferences and even staged protests, including one Monday in front of the White House by activists challenging the idea of any cuts in Medicaid benefits.
The president seems to have heard the objections. In his Rose Garden speech Monday, he proposed only half as much in savings as he did in debt talks this summer, offering $320 billion in changes instead of $650 billion, and he took a very different tone:
“We will reform Medicare and Medicaid, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment that this country has kept for generations,” he said.
This is known as sticking one’s head in the sand and hoping the problem goes away. Pretty much his strategy since being in office. The man obviously cannot make the hard choices or stand up to his political base when needed. So much for a transformational government. Same old Chicago politics as I see it.
He has no backbone, none whatsoever!
This works ok as a Chicago neighborhood organizer, not so good as POTUS!
It is not appropiate here either mark, do you know how this stuff works, you stand up for the people you represent, you don't stand against them, you fight for them. Don't be foolish enough to spew that he is spinless crap, when republicans have signed pledges to Grover, they will not collect taxes but spend as freely as they wish just as long as it is in their district, when will Republicans show some spine and stand up to their base which is 2% of the population. Most of the nation can't wait to see some "Chicago Style Politics" laid at the republicans doorstep, and to see republicans show a little spine and stand up for average Americans instead of the top 2%.
Forrest, I've mentioned it before and will again..... I voted for Obama in 2008, because of the promise of 'hope and change' and also because of my anger against the previous administration.
After 2.5+ years of many disappointments I realized that Obama was not any different that the rest... as a matter of fact he was often worse that the average politician.... rhetoric and platitudes, follow the prevailing winds of public opinion, act like a republican near election time, revert to left post election (2010). He isn't who I thought he was, plain and simple! And now I'm more worried about the future than I was 3 years ago!
It is time for everyone to pull all their money out of the stock market and watch you lazy Union ass wither and die. Lets cause the great crash and watch you babies cry then
He accomplished what he could with republican senate and house leaders who vowed from the day he was elected they would do everything in their power to see him fail. Can you believe it! Did you ever think you would see the day when elected representatives of the US government in Congress would publicly and proudly state they want to see the POTUS fail. That they would try to work against him in every way they could, I can't, and I will never forgive their sorry asses, because who fails if the POTUS does, the whole country does, America does. You talk about dividing people you talk about no ability to lead, we probably have poor bastards rotting in Gitmo for less than Republican house leaders openly stated they planned to do, from the moment the man was elected. What have republicans done to try and solve any problems, what solutions have they offered, you mention SS and medicare, they offered one solution get rid of it, they are weak and stupid, they have not the backbone or the intelligences to solve problems and they openly admit they are not even interested in trying. You know what you do if you have an employee that performs like that, you fire their sorry ass. I'm a union man, and I got to tell you if I had two guys in a crew that operated like Boehner, and McConnell, and the owner said he was going to fire them because they never pull their weight, and whats worse is that they are a drag on the rest of the crew. Do you know what I would say, I would say let me have one last chance to try and set them straight and get some production out of them, and if that doesn't work, I will personally hand them their pink slips on Friday for you, because I agree they are here to do a job and when they don't do it not only are they getting over on you boss, but more importantly they are screwing every other guy that comes here and wants to do a good job and help make you and themselves make a decent living. I have done it, I stand up for my crew, but I also will kick their ass if they don't do the job they are paid to do and do it well. When will republicans take the responsibility of kicking the ass of their own slackers, and thereby standing up for the republicans that work hard for their pay. Until then I don't think people should throw the "spineless" remarks at the democrat's side, you got to put your own ducks in a row first, if you expect the other guy to take you seriously.
Forrest
What he accomplished with his DEMOCRATIC HOUSE and SENATE was enough to screw this country for generations to come.
Let me guess... You conservative were at the Tea Party meeting with Andrew Breitbart who says "We outnumber them [liberals] in this country, and we have the guns." Don't listen to this paranoid schizophrenic. Just because a minority has used machinations to move politics further to the right, doesn't mean the American people are moving with it. In fact, most surveys show the majority of the nation is more liberal than the politics.
If you insist that this is class warfare, we say it's been a middle class massacre, but bring it on either way because it's time to shut down the right-wing propaganda machine.
BTW Richard, there have been sit-ins at the capitol, and protests on Wall Street, but the so-called "liberal media" hasn't covered it. Hmm...
I have lots of guns TP, everybody has lots of guns in America, if somebody does not have a gun don't worry their neighbor has ten or twelve guns , we all got plenty of guns in the US. As matter of fact you can now bring them more places than you can your cigarettes, pretty soon you will have to have a carry license for cigarettes but not your gun.
They had it coming.
Republicans won the majority in the House in 2010, and in many state legislatures across the land and what did they do with their new power? Protected the rich, harassed the President, threatened to default on our loans, and attacked teachers. 2012 will be payback time. You bet.
Well said!
LIBS VOW PRIMARY CHALLENGE AGAINST OBAMA...
CHICAGO TRIB: Why he should withdraw from race...
The Republicans are starting to run around as if their hair is on fire screaming " Protect Our Wealth". It looks like the Tea Party is going to go along with them.
Obama's proposal of $1.5 trillion in tax increases and reforms and $1 trillion in savings from ceasing the costly wars in Iraq and Afganistan are a good way to decrease the deficits. Combining this with sensible spending cuts, that is what I call a balanced approach.
It will not pass and is all for show. However, at least he is learning how to negotiate and to threaten the veto. Too bad it took so long and his ideas won't be accepted as anything but a start to the campaign season.
That said, even I can support his proposals.
Union Baby - "I'll stand my ground and I won't back down" Actually the Johnny Cash cover of Petty's song is way better than the original.
Sounds like the American Jobs Act should be called the American Tax Act....how, again, is raising taxes going to create jobs?
dc-1780052
"Sounds like the American Jobs Act should be called the American Tax Act....how, again, is raising taxes going to create jobs"
keep asking and you shall find. Just like the poor and middle class have been asking how come tax cut to the mega rich and corp created nothing. 14 million americans are in the wilderness asking same question.....join them. Just make sure you pay your fair tax. One thing I can assure is bush tax cuts created a mega wealth shift in history of mankind.
Obviously the gwbush tax cut hasn't created any job surge in the past 10 years, and obviously Clinton's tax increase back in his terms had stimulated a historical job surge and economic growth. Now, aren't these facts clear enough that stopping the tax cut for the rich and the corporations will much more likely create jobs than keep cutting taxes for them?
in contrast to the GOP/TP's claim, economic growth is much more dynamic than giving the rich and big corporations more money - the so-called job creators as the GOP/TP call them. The real drivers of the economy are ordinary people - the 98% of the population who make up the bulk of the consumer market. Ordinary people don't buy properties and vacation homes overseas. They spend money in their very own country. On the contrary, multi-millionaires and billionaires spend loads of money investing overseas in all sorts of ways in order to evade tax and to live a ultra luxurious life style. They are actually moving money out of this country. By taxing these filthy rich people, they will be more stimulated to make up for the money they lose on higher taxes. And what's better than investing money in business to make more money? As a result, higher tax on rich people and big corporation stimulates them to make more investments locally, thus creating more jobs. And if they still invest overseas instead of locally, they should be taxed much higher so that the government can use the tax money to create jobs locally for them.
The very sad thing is, while all these crazy loonie GOP/TP nuts keep crying out loud "they love this country", yet they don't give a damn about what's really happening to this country except that they can sweep as much money as they can to themselves; yet they don't care about fixing any infrastructure in the very country that they make their enormous wealth from; yet they applaud to the notion that they should let people without health insurance to die quickly. They got the balls to call themselves patriots! what the hell have they done for this country except making themselves rich while they sent hundreds of thousands of american soldiers overseas to fight some senseless and unnecessary wars to protect them? and meanwhile, big corporations like Haliburton was leeching the lifeblood out of this country on the expenses of lives of american soldiers. If there's really a God, he will strike the GOP/TP politicians with the strongest lightning bolt when these vampires speak in public.
It could be done, if the taxes were applied as a stick and hiring applied as a carrot.
I just don't think Obama is cunning or ruthless enough to begin burying his political donators, since a lot of them would definitely be getting smacked in the a** with that stick.
You know you really should read the article debunking the notion that the rich pay less than a secretary...it's published even here on this liberal website... It's really too bad that Obama has to engage in a class warfare rhetoric.
JK. Really why shouldn't he finally engage in it. The Republicans have been practicing it for ten years. JK help fight to bring the jobs back into America. Lets really get real on the taxes. Tax import a hugh amount and then refuse to buy the stuff. "Betya" it would get attention big time.
Where are all the democrats touting the American Jobs Act?????????
Looks like Obama has given up on his own party or is it the other way around?
Time for the FAILED president to notch up the blame game.
What a complete LOSER!
Rob in ma-3189632
Wrong as always.
The losers are those protecting the mega rich from paying their fair share of taxes.
The losers are those who for long has claimed that given to the rich and corp. creates jobs (where are the jobs).
Losers are those who failed to understand that it's DEMAND that drive job creation. A situation where all and not just the rich has money to spend.
Losers are who keep doing the same thing without achieving any result but head bent in continue on that path ruin. That's a race to the bottom.
Losers are the Legislators, Governors who signed oath with Grover Norquist hence tying their hands in serving our country. Oath of allegiance should be to uphold our constitution while serving the people of this great nation and not to anybody or institution.
Losers are those asking everthing should be their or no other way (ask me if they've got any idea of what to do). GOP/TP, stop obstructionism and start governing.
Pen, you my friend are an idiot. Who do you think owns companies, the poor?
JFK2112
I didn't mean to ruffle your rich feathers. Just asking you pay your fair share. You don't need to tell the whole world your a stupid tax glutton, take all and give non at all. America is about equal opportunity and fairness. Just pay your fair share.
46% pay ZERO income tax.....pay your fair share!
[46% pay ZERO income tax]
Bob, you conveniently left out the reason why those 46% don't pay any income taxes...so how about you cut out the cherry-picking crap and post the reason why...
...you can do that, right?
I think 46% don't pay taxes because of the Bush Tax cuts......when the libs let them expire guess what....that 46% goes down quite a bit.
Looks like you might have to pay your fair share next year there Mickey!
OK I wanna play. Just what, exactly is my "Fair Share?"
40%
50%
90%
I really wanna know.
Raab...
[I think 46% don't pay taxes because of the Bush Tax cuts...]
So you think 46% of Americans pay no income tax because of the Shrub-era tax cuts?
BZZZZZZZZT! Sorry Raab...wrong guess...would you like to go for Double Jeopardy where scores can really change?
Raab...do us all a favor...don't think anymore...I can hear the gears grinding from here...
...now go do your homework...
Fight Mr. president, fight like hell, what other choice did they leave you. Take the olive branch and tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine. You have been more than reasonable, they are harming people, lots of people, you can't just provide lib service when people are being harmed, at a certain point you have the duty to kick somebody in the shins, and punch them in the nose, politically speaking of course.
Milli Vanilli has no spine. What a huge fraud along with his Jobs Act, and Deficit Plan...what was that, 1.5T over 10 years...we will increase the deficit 10 fold in 10 years. Way to kick the can down the road empty suit!
I agree stop kicking the can down the road and start kicking republican asses, well said JFK.
Republicans over played the scorched earth thing, not that they have no valid points about debt and taxes, but they are seen as throwing the baby out with the bathwater. They stuck to their guns with subsidies for oil companies,no taxes for corporations, pledges to some goofball, low taxes for the wealthy but then they said we are flat broke so we have to get rid of SS, medicare, we have to dismantle collective bargaining rights people have had for 70 years, they slashed government jobs, portrayed the very people that worked for them (taught their kids for Christ's sake) as lazy, greedy louts, on the government teat, and they layed them off in droves. Yeah people are good and pissed they should be, they are ready for a fight, and they should be, I sure as hell am.
Now is the time for progressives to hit up their waffling weak-kneed Democrats in Congress with the challenge to support this agenda or face our wrath at the next election. It's shameful they won't get behind the President 100%. Republicans are much better at discipline.
I predict incumbents on both sides will have their heads handed to them if they don't all put their asses in gear and do something for average Americans in the next 13 months.
Yes! Please, progressives, hassle the vulnerable 23 US Dem Senators up for re election in 2012....the more they stay Left, the more are going to lose.
A flip to a GOP Senate in 2012 is a given.....we may even go for 60 seats!
It's about time someone grows a backbone in Washington
Well it will be interesting to see if the President changes from a complete wuss to Mr. Tough Guy. I will beleive when I see it
I admit it is tough being black and not getting the angry black guy image but if you want to get things done (get it done). Somebody is going to say negative things anyway.
"No More Mr Nice Guy"?
OK, then. Obama is "Mr. Abysmal Failure of a President" Guy.
Why is it that the American people have to wait and see any longer than they already have for those in Washington to be responsive to the wishes of the electorate. Stimulus translates to favoritism. Jobs promised have not been created and more have been lost. Blaming everyone else in sight, finger pointing have been the order of the day........nobody has to do anything except blame the other side. I am not hearing anything sensible to resolve the problems. At this point, I don't care where the problem started, just move forward to correct it. Who cares if these people are nice guys or not.....this isn't an ice cream social (notice, I refrained from mentioning Tea Party and getting a whole lot of people latching onto that one phrase as if it were the root of all evil-it represents a whole lot of hard working people who are tired of being penalized for being hard working-people who are most generous to charities with their time and resources, but don't enjoy being told that they have to give everything that they worked for to somebody who did no work at all)