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Subscribe to RSSFrom the beginning of the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, aides from both sides have said that November would be for saber rattling and December would be when a deal is put together between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner with Majority Leader Harry Reid’s blessing.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a press conference on Thursday attacked President Obama and the White House for not taking firm action in avoiding the so-called "fiscal cliff."
Well, consider comments from Boehner and Reid today to be the November saber rattling reporters were warned about.
In his weekly press conference Boehner called out Obama and the Democrats.
"The president has warned us about the dangers of going over the fiscal cliff, but his actions have not matched his public statements,” said Boehner, who acknowledged speaking with the president Wednesday night and called it “very nice” but “direct.” “Members of his own party seem quite comfortable sending the economy over the fiscal cliff."
Boehner said that no “substantive process had been made over the last two weeks” and that he was “disappointed” with the current state of the fiscal cliff negotiations. He also chided Democrats for not offering, he says, serious spending cuts in exchange for his promise of some increased revenue.
Republican leaders say they've put revenues on the table, but are waiting on President Barack Obama to give, and offer something up on ballooning federal retirement programs like Medicare. Fortune Magazine's Carol Loomis discusses.
Speaking later in the day, Reid took this blunt shot at Boehner: “I don’t understand his brain.”
Reid called for Republicans to make “a serious offer” and indicated that Democrats would not act until they heard Republican demands on cuts to entitlements.
Along with raising tax rates, entitlements are also a major sticking point in the negotiations. Neither side wants to be the first to put their fingerprints on any specific entitlement cuts due to the risk of a major public backlash from seniors.
Asked by NBC News what specific cuts to entitlements the GOP would like to see, Boehner pointed to previous budgets passed by the House GOP and rejected by Democrats, but he declined to be precise in what he wanted out of these negotiations.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio gestures as he speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, after private talks with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the fiscal cliff negotiations.
“It's been very clear over the last year and half,” Boehner contended. “I've spoken to the president about many of them. If you look at our budget, where we outline very specific proposals that we passed in last year's budget and the budget before, we know what the menu is; we don't know what the White House is willing to do to get serious about our debt crisis."
Boehner dismissed an assertion that the talks had broken down, but his tone was far from optimistic. Wall Street is hoping to see a deal reached, is paying close attention, and both sides are acutely aware of that.
In what could be another potential headache for the White House, Boehner did not back down on his 2011 position regarding raising the nation’s debt limit, saying, “Any increase in the debt limit must be accompanied by spending cuts."
White House Spokesman Jay Carney said he was “surprised” by Boehner’s debt limit comments.
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if we wanted the GOP cuts, we would have elected Romney..we didnt..get over it Boehner...dont cost us another hit on our credit rating like you morons did last year..
Anyone have the feeling this deal is already done and just going through the final motions now?
When is Xmas vacation, the 14th?
The 15th it will be announced when everyone is gone till next year?
Oh, nothing will have changed,(all stays the same) but put off until the next year.
Kicked the can down the road once more.
The guy, and his party, who have worked overtime to stifle economic progress so they could be in control is disappointed with lack of progress?
What a dip.
the drunk is not a dip he is a worthless rep.from ohio,question here is why they ever elected this clown.treason is the key word here,for all of the againsters of our country.GOP aka thieves
Does anyone really believe that Boehner and the party of Hell No that has just spent the last four years sabotaging the economy is worried that if no deal is reached it will hurt the economy? Hasn't the party of Hell No already proved beyond all doubt that they couldn't care less about America's economy?
The party of Hell No is only worried about themselves, the top 2%, and the war profiteers.
ADD YOU VOICE NOW TO LET THE REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTIONISTS IN CONGRESS KNOW WE'RE DONE WITH THEIR GOOFEY GAMES & DELAYS!!! IT'S TIME THEY WORK WITH PRESDIENT OBAMA AND PASS THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AS THE PEOPLE WANT!!
Add Your Voice Here ->: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
Entitlements, lets see Congress put their Retirement funds, their Salaries, on the table since they have not been earning it in the last three years. Your Retirement is an entitlement. You do not deserve it, put these on table as well.
you just hit the bullseye.
Boner is a traitor and a terrorist who is holding our taxes hostage for the super rich 2%.
Do the Republicans really think they can reform entitlements, the tax code, and the federal budget in one fell swoop?? Are they completely nuts? If so, it reasonably follows that everything they propose is a crock of $hit!
How can anyone take Obama and Reid seriously? They talk talk talk about needing to get this done and yet they refuse to say what they are willing to do in order to reach a compromise! Compromise means that each side gives a little to reach a consensus. Obama and Reid need to grow a pair, man up, and actually do something instead of just blowing hot air.
Why should Obama compromise with the party of Hell No that has done nothing but sabotage the economy for the last four years?
Ditto to the Republican BSers who won't even discuss giving up any personal wealth. You've heard of the Norquist pledge, Right ?
Damn Robber, just stick guns in their faces and take their stuff! Oh wait, you're a lazy bum and don't have the initiative to actually do anything... so you'll have the IRS go with their guns and steal it for you.... the Deadbeat Liberal WAY
stan,you will never give up on the gop,i can see that but i have a question?are you a rich man or a stone conservative,or a bible thumper?just asking.
This is the most useless, ineffective, idiotic Congress in history. Fire the lot!
dupe deleted
It's "supply side" economics verses "demand side" economics.
Supply Side: Give money to the wealthy so they can create jobs. (What we've been doing since Reagan. AKA "VooDoo economics")
Demand Side: Put money in the middle class's pockets. Create demand and even if the wealthy claim they don't have enough money to make the jobs, SOMEONE will! (We ought to try this, for once.)
The Republicans can posture all they want but when it comes right down to it, the party of the 1%ers has 100's of billions more that they'll loose in taxes if they don't compromise. It's not the middle class that will suffer unless several hundred $$$ lost is upsetting, it's the millions lost by each 1%er, including Romney, that they are worried about. We already know that the 1%ers aren't creating jobs so that threat is fictional BS by the Right Wingers. The bottom line: if the wealthy don't offer to conceed higher tax rates at 42% as part of a compromise budget solution then I hope they enjoy the 45% alternative. Let's see how stupid the 1%ers really are !!!!!!
What an appropriate handle for a Progressive Parasite like yourself!
Oh Boy ! A Tea Farty in the house !!!
WHILE YOU WERE OUT SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY AND LISTENING TO THE FLATULENT REPULI-DUMBS STINK UP THE ROOM WITH LIES AND BS ABOUT AMBASSADOR RICE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC CALLED TO LET YOU KNOW WE STILL NEED HELP!!
LET THE REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTIONISTS IN CONGRESS KNOW WE'RE DONE WITH THEIR
GAMES!!! AND IT'S TIME TO PASS A TAX CUT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS! ADD YOU VOICE NOW!!!
Add Your Voice Here ->: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
They renewed the Obama (not Bush, since it's been in effect all of Obozo's tenure) tax cut in Aug.. as usual, Harry the Barrier over in the Senate wouldn't allow debate on it...
Repubs don't do reason and logic, but if they did it would be simple.
On the top rate, have it renew in 2 years. Now you have an election year issue, we want to lower taxes for the top 2 percent (but use the phrase everybody). If the economy does hiccup, you can slam Obama that the tax increase did it. (people will forget the economy tanked when they lowered the top rate in 2002) In 2 years, if there is a Repub surge you are in the driver seat. Also acting reasonable now is the right play.
I personally am way more concerned about the capital gains rate. The 3% above 250K is not significant- essentially unnoticeable. But the Capital gains is the trick the ultra rich use to redefine their income as not really income. This will be a fun game of chicken but Repubs overplayed their hand.
Obviously you've forgotten that the debt ceiling is about to be crashed into again... tell me, what's Oblunder going to do if the House won't up the limit on his Santa Claus Credit Card???
Fed Up has puked up again !!!!!!!!!!!! Smell the rot !!!!!!!!!!!!
The Party of Hell NO is disappointed by the lack of progress with reaching a deal? Are you kidding me? This is a joke, right?
Does anyone care anymore what these republicans want?
Blah blah blah. Going over the cliff is exactly what the republicans want. They know it will solve many of our problems, it may hurt, it may take time to recover from, but it represents what needs to be done.
The part that is good for Republicans? They can allow taxes to go up without voting to approve it, and not violate their pledge with Grover. But, they have to blame the Democrats for not working with them, so it looks like they don't want to go over the cliff, so Grover won't attack them for raising taxes.
Democrats? They get to increase revenue, which is much needed for America at this time, and then force the Republicans to vote against the middle-class tax cuts when they try to reinstate them, all while blaming the Republicans for allowing large cuts to programs.
Even Grover might win since after the cliff he can get a new bunch of conservatives to agree to no new taxes based on the after-the-cliff rates.
maybe grover is more than the american people see,he could be a double agent against this country,using american money to bribe pols.into wrecking this country with the chinamen and the ruskys waiting in the wings,far fetched?one bullet theory was also far-fetched.
TELL BOEHNER AND THE LYING REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTIONISTS IN CONGRESS TO STOP THE DELAYING, DISTRACTING, AND GAMES AND PASS THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS NOW!!!
Add Your Voice Here ->: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
Boehner should just say... here are your tax increases for anybody making over a million bucks... now where are your $Trillion in entitlement cuts?
Or better yet, just say, "we ain't raising the debt limit another penny"... Oblunder can just figure out how to live on a $2.3 Trillion a year budget... if he decides that $500M green boondoggles, Public Union payoffs, and bloating the Federal Govt some more are more important than paying SS, Medicare, Medicaid and military salaries... so be it. The good new is.. if he somehow managed to actually grow the economy, he'll have more to spend... ha ha ha ha ha ha (now THATs funny)
Go for it! See what happens in 2014!
What's really funny is the Republicans being kicked down the road until next year when the lame duck Congress will be more agressive since they will all be paying considerable more in taxes until they do push through a compromise solution. Now THAT's funny !!!! The rich tying a noose around their own necks !
People like this guy who is head of the house of repersatives should grow up and do something fr the people from the state he is from and get of his butt and do something for the middle class not his Rich buddies..And speical intrest groups... is this not a government of the people, by the people and for the people any more.. I guess we vote these AH's into office and they forget about the people who put them in office and the men and women who fight their wars to give them the freedom to hold these offices!!!!!
Our country isn't free,
It’s run by corporate greed,
Of this we see.
Land where the lawyers lie,
Land where the Congress hides,
And all us others pay the price,
Let’s fix this thing!
If the Republicans insist on cuts to benefits, then they need to come out and state the amount and what benefits those cuts will impact. Otherwise, they'll blame the Democrats for cutting benefits. Played that game, won't play it again. If we go over the artificial cliff, it's because the Republicans can't do their job.
I dare you republicans to put in writing the cuts you are demanding... That way we can use it against you in 2014.
HAHAH RIGHT FED UP YOU JACKAZZ! REPUBLI-DUMBS SHOULD HAVE PRATCIED SAYING THOSE CLEVER LINES OF YOURS WITH BUSH YOU GOOFEY BUTT WIPE!
ADD YOU VOICE NOW TO LET THE REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTIONISTS IN CONGRESS KNOW WE'RE DONE WITH THEIR GOOFEY GAMES & DELAYS!!! IT'S TIME THEY WORK WITH PRESDIENT OBAMA AND PASS THE MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS AS THE PEOPLE WANT!!
Add Your Voice Here ->: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
I love the democraps on here who think raising taxes on the top 2% is going to raise a lot of money. It isn't! But hey let's just forget that & let me remind you that even if Republicians vote to allow a tax hike on the top 2%, taxes on everyone still go up on 1 Jan. You idiots forgot about the payroll tax. That expires on 31 Dec 2012 also, but I don't here you whinners bitching about that.
Dave Another thing democrats do not understand. The top 2% are the producers, they will do one of 2 things. Raise the cost of the product they sell or cut jobs.
And the sheep follow Obama. No matter what Obama tells them, they eat it up. The tax issue will do nothing to fix the problems we have, but the democrat sheep thinks it is a fix all.
stop talking about jobs kid,my generation circa 1946-53 had the last of manufacturing/steel producing UNION jobs that FED a family,put kids thru COLLEGE with the help of the G.I. bill the pigs that we voted into office put their di%ks in our pockets and other places,can't put it in writing,they will delete me,you kids better wake up or move to canada where you might get a job or get on an oil rig in the gulf,i noticed somebody got paid off to take that one off the posting,amazing what money will do to keep good news off the net,wake up,its going down tubes faster than a new sewage system.