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The first session of the 112th Congress is ending essentially where it began: in a political stalemate.
Earlier this year, it took the Republican-controlled House, the Democratic-controlled Senate, and the Obama White House until the last minute to avert a government shutdown, which would have furloughed much of the federal workforce.
In the summer, those three bodies battled over raising the debt ceiling. And while they eventually raised it -- again at the last second -- the process led Standard & Poor's to downgrade the United States' credit rating.
And now they're now engaged in a political food fight over extending the payroll tax cut, which expires on Dec. 31.
This constant brinksmanship -- over people's employment, the U.S. credit rating, and Americans' tax cuts -- isn't endearing itself to the public.
According to the most recent NBC/WSJ poll, 42% called this Congress' performance "one of the worst" ever, the highest percentage on this question that dates back to 1990. Another 33% called the Congress "below average." So that's three-quarters of the public giving the Congress unsatisfactory grade.
What's more, 69% said they disapproved of the job that Republicans in Congress are doing, while 62% disapprove of the job Democrats are doing.
And asked what the public considers most disappointing about the current Congress, 28% cited partisan disagreement and not getting anything done; 17% said the GOP leadership is unwilling to compromise with Democrats; and 13% agreed that not enough is being done to fix the economy.
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That pipeline will employ about 23000 Americans. Most for over 5 years. 750 for administration and maintenance permanently. And it doesn't require a 3/4 TRILLION dollar "stimulus" to get it. Just Obama's signature. That's all,..... just a signature, and 23000 families will be able to pay their bills for five years.
C'mon Obama, where's that "laser focus" on jobs??
joseph
You failed to mention the problems with the pipeline. I'm sure you didn't know about them, because they are not talked about on flux news.
TransCanada has a dismal record of cutting corners, ignoring the law, and spilling oil. The company’s Keystone 1 pipeline spilled more than 12 times in its first year of operation, including a 21,000-gallon spill in North Dakota in May 2011 that shot a 60-foot geyser of oil into the air. Last year, the U.S. EPA determined that sections of the Keystone 1 pipeline were constructed using inferior steel and defective welds.
That means we have an irresponsible company asking for permission to build a kind of pipeline that is already far riskier than normal. Unrefined tar sands crude is both thicker and more toxic than conventional crude oil. Sand in the mixture scours the inside of a pipe, and highly reactive chemicals in the crude corrode the steel. Making things even worse, the heavy, gooey tar sands has to be pumped at far higher temperatures and pressures than conventional oil.
Republican's need to remember the old saying ( watch what you wish for you might just get it ). They want deficit reduction, come January 1 2013 they will get $6.2 trillion worth of cuts. $1 trillion dollars they agreed on just to raise the debt. ceiling. The $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts the super committee couldn't agree on ($600 billion in defense cuts and $600 billion in non-discretionary spending cuts ) and the $4 trillion in Bush tax cuts that expire on that same day. That all totals to $6.2 trillion and President Obama doesn't have to do anything but sit back and watch them go in effect. Obama played the Republican's like a real pro and they didn't even see it coming.
Don't be such a bunch of idiots. Would you rather have this tax break for 2 months or for a YEAR or LONGER?
The dems just want to revisit this in 2 months so they can play more games to get zero-bama re-elected. It's right in front of your eyes if you bother to look.
I have more respect for congress that they are standing up to these socialist pukes like obama,reid and piglosi! No matter how msdnc and the other fake news outlets try to spin this I can see through their constant lies as others will also and in 2012, these status puke democrats will have their commie puke socialist butts voted out in mass!
Dream on Thunder. John Boehner already has his people on 24 hour notice to get back to Washington. This deal is going to pass before Dec. 31. This can be debated in terms of policy but on the political side John Boehner has made every Republican in the nation look like a fool.
The actions of their members in both the House and Senate along with fielding the biggest collection of clowns, crazies and morons as presidential candidates, The Republican Party have insured a second term for President Obama. The House may flip also. With the economy in the shape it's in, the 2012 election should be a Republican sweep yet they have manged to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Charlie,,And every one of these"clowns,crazies and morons" have had more experience then hussain obama has in every point of leadership! Except for community organizeing thing I guess!
I just love the photo opp Bonehead and his committee did sitting at a table "waiting" for the Senate to show up to negotiate. He is the worst Majority Leader of all time. And to think he is 3rd in line to be President right now! These Republicans are doing more harm to their cause than anyone else in their party has ever done before. The public just isn't buying in to them anymore. I have many friends that are staunch Republicans and for them to be as disgusted as they are is telling me they are completely fed up with these current Republicans in Congress! And then to top if off with the worst group of potential presidential nominees, -------- well, I think the hole they are digging is just getting bigger and deeper!
Congress may be ill and have dysfunctional flu. A good prescription would be to give each a slingshot, a bag of marbles and confine them to a large room. They should get better and have everything worked out within a couple of days.
face it we have been told that Obama and the dems are more of a enemy than alqueda, the nazi's or the soviet union ever were and have done more damage than any of the above. Like rush himself says all the time you can not compromise with these people ever. The tea party is doing a great job of shutting these socialist communist down and have huge approval ratings and harry and his crowd that have the bad ratings
Doesn't anyone remember the 2010 mid-term elections? The majority of voters got what they voted for. They voted for the tea party, for laying off teachers, police, and fire fighters. The majority of voters voted for gridlock, against unions, against the middle class and against the working poor. The majority of voters voted to not increase taxes on high income earners and to raise taxes on the working poor. The majority of voters voted for higher sales taxes, higher pension costs or none at all and against health care for all Americans. Yes, the majority of voters should be happy with congress for giving them what they wanted. Also, the non voters have no room to complain simply because they didn't vote. Now the minority voters (like me) should be upset and we are with all of the above because we voted against what we got. We voted for Democrats and the voter majority voted for republinos and got what they deserve. Now they are unhappy with what they voted for. Go figure!
You are absolutely right. There shouldn't be a surprise here at all. I think it is called "buyers remorse." Wasn't there a children's story about a KIng that was never happy with what he got?
It's the spending stupid! Bottom line, period. Simplify it, personalize it. What happens to YOU and your family when you live above your means, spend more than you earn? In the end you lose everything.
You can't spend yourself out of debt, can't print more worthless money to cover your tracks. Sooner or later the grim reaper of debt cannot be denied.
All other issues, problems are moot. Either grow some balls, put your big boy pants on, deal with reality...or suffer an unimaginable fate.
the beev
How was the bush tax cuts paid for? Where did they cut the 4 trillion dollar cost of those tax cuts? Last year when they extended to bush tax cuts, what did they cut to pay for that extension?
Anyone who votes to re-elect an incumbent of either party deserves what he gets. Run the rascals out of office beginning with the Pelossi "the odious"
House dems came to debate, but Orange Man and his teabaggie sock monkeys pulled the plug on C-SPAN & left the chamber. So much for the process. These people are not Americans; they are a bomb-throwing teabagger rabble.
By this time next year there will be a new Congress with fewer teabaggers and more sane people waiting to get to work.
The crazy deranged Republican party of No is letting their hatred of Obama destroy America. These power mad Republican politicians should be arrested and jailed.
jailed for what ?
...you want a dictatorship.
then you will have to kill me and 150 million other americans.
good luck with that.
John
Since both parties agree in principle on the extension, why did Mr. Obama wait to ask for Mr. Boehner's assistance to pass the Senate bill through the House?
Why didn't he go to his right-hand man Mr. Reid and ask for the House bill to be expidited through the Senate?
MJ
Because the house added the pipeline to the bill, wants to do away with EPA regulations that will allow the pipeline to destroy the environment. And make the medicare co-payments higher.
Remember that 80% of the republicans in the senate voted for this bill.
The repugs in the house are just afraid that they won't get their christmas bonus from the koch brothers.
another good reason why a cap should be put on how long a person should serve in congress! term limits!
If the Senate was willing to extend the payroll tax reduction for 2 months, why not agree to extent it for a year? I heard that the 2 month extention will cause payroll accounting headaches and will be difficult if not impossible to navigate. Besides, the Congress will be back in the same fix that it's currently in, in 2 months. I wish most of the posters here would look into this issue a little bit more before placing blame on any one party...this issue goes a lot deeper. Of course, the media is up to its usual mischief in promoting outright inaccuracies. Bottom line...continue to question so-called authority.
Briefly...Obama/Democrats wanted to extend payroll tax cuts and pay for them through additional taxes on those making over a million/year. Republicans, in the House, said "no." But, we can "pay for them" by eliminating certain EPA regulations, OKing the Keystone pipeline, etc. They passed a bill in the House, which did all of this and extended the payroll tax holiday, as requested by Obama, for one year, and sent it to the Senate.
Obama said basically (along with Senate Democrats), I still want the payroll tax holiday extended, but if the other stuff is included, I'll veto the bill."
Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats agreed that while both sides wanted to extend the payroll tax cut, they could not agree on the rest of the bill, and agreed to pass the payroll tax cut part only, for two months, to allow time for additional negotiation on the other stuff...namely the pipeline. They passed this bill by 89-10 (1 either abstaining or simply not voting), sent it back to the House for a vote and adjourned for the holidays...thinking the payroll tax would be extended and the rest worked out after the holiday break.
House Republican leadership refused to allow the Senate bill to be voted on and instead demanded that the original House bill (already passed by the House), along with the new Senate bill, be sent to a "Conference Committee," to work out the differences between the two bills. Since Reid and McConnell had already "compromised" and put off discussion of the two Party's differences until after the holiday break, and most of the Senate had already left town, the Reid answer to the House was "No. Pass the two month extension and we'll discuss the rest of the extension and the other stuff, once we get back."
So...why is the WSJ and other conservative commenators now coming down on House Republicans?
The principal reason is that the House Republicans seem to be willing to kill the pay roll tax extension unless they also get the EPA roll-back, the pipeline, and something else I can't recall at the moment.
Why does that put them in a bad light? Because, a year ago, when the Bush income tax cuts were extended, they were willing then to kill ALL of the Bush tax cuts, including those for the middle class, unless the cuts were extended for the upper two brackets as well. Now, it appears, they are willing again to kill a middle class tax cut (the payroll tax is basically a middle class tax, for social security), unless they get the other things they want (pipeline, relaxation of EPA rules, etc.).
In other words, Democrats will now argue that Republicans are perfectly willing to scrap middle class tax cuts, unless they get other things they want, but will always protect tax cuts for the wealthy and/or oppose tax increases on the wealthy, regardless of the circumstances.
Wow! Did I say "briefly?"
As a relatively recent arrival to the wonderful world of posting and pillorying, I've observed a tendency for progressives to wish others of all stripes happiness over the next few days (FOX ALERT: Christmas was not mentioned! Except in the FOX ALERT!) while some of the more regressive folks seem more conservative in giving out tidings of comfort and joy. One of my particular frames of references is cartoons, and I find myself thinking back to Ren and Stimpy, especially the "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" song. Even when the Happy Helmet is on, Ren resists joy. When he succeeds in breaking the helmet, he returns to his own version of joy, fulminating against the joy of others.
Yes, Stimpy is silly, but given a choice between him and Ren as role models, the fat and red cat is mine. To borrow a bit from the UMWA song, which side am I on? This is probably the best answer: Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy to all and to all without means testing.
I see where Mitch McConnel just asked the House to please pass the 2 month bill. So is it still the man old dems that are causing all of the problems?? If so, why would a Republican be asking his own house to please pass the 2 month bill. Hmmmm.
House passed a 12 month extension.........Harry and the Senate passed a 2 month extension.
The President wants a 12 month extension........untill a job creating rider(Keystone Pipeline) was added to the extension.
American people want a 12 month extension and jobs........
Now......who is playing kick the can political games?????
Just an observation, but it appears to me, that the democrats, not the republicans, are the ones, who have offered larger spending cuts, and tax cuts for the American people.
Appears is the operative word. Given the Senate bill offers to extend the Payroll Tax Holiday(Social Security); that is a tax-cut which reduces revenue. The same bill raises taxes through new Freddie and Fannie mortgages.
So although it appears to be a tax-cut, the passage of the Senate bill is not, because taxes are being raised elsewhere. Also, keep in mind that the Payroll Tax Holiday is a temporary cut, while, the tax increase on mortgages does NOT have any tie-in to the Payroll cut. In other words, the cut could end, but taxes wouldn't.
That is common tactic. :-(
And another way to penalize those who are responsible homeowners and doing well. Make them pay more...class equality BS
I am willing to forgo the whopping $80.00/month just to expose Reid's true motivation for this joke of legislation. Fees normally paid by the developer will now be placed on the back of the purchaser and mortgage holder.
You have to give the Democrats credit though. They understand the depth of the public's stupidity. That is why they pass worthless legislation which only supports their lobbyists while convincing the people it is in their interest.
I agree, the Democrats do play on the public stupidity.
Now you expect the DEMS to have an education !!!
It passed in the Senate by an 89-10 vote.
I understand this is really starting to effect obama's short game.
Screw both parties I will be voting Independent. Enough of this 2 class fiasco of vote me in do nothing while I am there but bash each other and accomplish nothing.
Obama is a loser so is Congress and the Senate they are are.
they all are is what I meant..
Now Jerry, there is not suppose to be any truths published on here. You probably need to find another web site.
There are Obama leg -humpers on this vine, who would defend Obama no matter what he said, or did.
The stupider that Obama becomes, the sillier his defenders look.
Their days in power are numbered though, and they will say and do anything to retain that power. It is going to get really comical soon.
Joseph E. Parent,
You are absolutely correct President Obama's days are numbered! The number is an exact number and it expires on January 20, 2017. The closely approximated number of days are: 1600. A nice round number which you will just love I'm sure! As far as comical gets, it couldn't be any more comical than NOW, watching the current crop of Republican Presidential Candidate Clowns and their six ring act along with the ringmasters the Tea Party and, of course Don Trump! Say, by the way, what the hell is that thing living on 'The Donald's' head?
Obam is doomed, Americans will see thru his BS and his self centered evil crap...OBAM IS THE WORST PRES EVER!!! He should be impeached now on mental illness thinking he is in the top 4 of all us POTUS!!!!! INSANE
Loved the leg-humper line........yep Obama is down to using deflection and distraction tactics with his press corp........sign of desperation for sure. That.....and the fact it works well on simple minds.
SOMEONE please explain to me....house passes a year long bill as the POTUS wants, sends it to Senate, and the a$$hole Reid makes it DOA...wont even VOTE on IT!!! Then sends his bill back, a 2 month BS POS bill, which is against everything Obama wanted, and the REP House says no way, WHY is the GOP HOUSE getting lamb basted for trying to give a 1yr break, Obama is a PMS B**TH...he wants a year, house gives it to him, then the Senate trashes it down, WHY didnt he blast Reid and the Seante?!?!?! The a two month POS crap bill comes back , as the coward Ried slips it under the door and goes on vacay...???
ANY AMerican that buys into this BS from Obama and Reid, throw Piglosi in for full measure, should buy a bullet, rent a gun, and capo themselves...
ITS IS APPALLING the discord the POTUS is sewing, personal desire and attacks verses uniting the NATION!!! shameful...but then again, Obama is out to destroy America!!!
time2change, strange that you keep calling Reid out on this bill. It seems to me that the majority of Republican senators also signed off on it. But yet this is a Reid thing. Hmmm. Strange. And did you by chance see what was in the 1 year bill that the house passed?/ If not you might want to read it. All it had in it were a bunch of perks for the rich.
AS REID and Obama say to Speaker, you should at least have put it to a vote...WHY didnt Reid, AND why isnt Obama chastizing him for not doing so...THE SENATE SHOULD HAVE PUT IT TO A VOTE...you want to blast the House without holding Reid and the BS senate accountable. You cant point the finger and blst the house for the same things the Seante did....
As noted above, that in addition to the one year extension of the payroll tax holiday, the House bill had the pipeline OK, some EPA cutbacks, and something else, I don't recall at the moment. Obama had already said that he would veto the bill if it contained those things.
Reid, McConnell, and Obama agreed on the Senate temporary two month extension of the payroll tax holiday, leaving a further extension and the other items from the House bill, to be discussed after the holidays.
Not sure about the added federal mortgage fee...but since the Senate bill passed by 89-10, it must have had considerable Republican support.