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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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So I follow this stuff pretty closely. The news showed a video of Obama in 2010 saying entitlements are driving the deficit. Then we have Speaker Boehner saying we are willing to put revenues on the table. Now Revenue is Revenue, even though it may be in the form of tax reform. Then we have that little toad Reed saying "Well....you know we already gave up a billion in cuts so we should get credit for that." This guy is going to blow it for you Democrats yet. The number 2 guy in the Senate (Durbin) believes in cuts. We are so close to a deal. Reed and Pelosi are past it. Lock them in a closet somewhere and get the deal done.
What, blow it? The dems are not in a panic of reaching any deal. Only the republicans are in a panic. The heck with any deal with the party of Hell NO. There is no reason to negotiate with these republicans who think they can hold the middle class hostage again. Tax cuts can be extended retroactively.
OICY
Are you saying that the Democrats want a second recession?
Wont happen. That's just scare tactics from FOX News and Rush Limbaugh trying to scare the dems into caving to republican demands.
then let's bring it one OICY. let the low income see a 50% tax hike and the middle class a 25% tax hike.
Let the poor and middle class see the child tax credit cut in half and the marriage penalty reinstated.
By all means let's see what happens when the Democrats vote against a bill that continues those rates and credits because they want extra revenue that pays 3 days worth of the interest on the debt.
Those low income taxes can be reversed retroactively. No need for the working class to panic.
NOPE- The House needs to stand firm- either keep all existing rates, lower them further or let all tax cuts expire and let Obama and the Dems explain why they vetoed a bill that would have kept taxes low for the poor and middle class.
More of the same from Boehner. All republicans whine when they can't get their way. There will be a deal one or the other because after Jan. 1st the Bush tax cuts expire and America will want every republicans ass if they let it happen to protect the 2%.
it will be the fault of Obama and the other marxists in the Senate
Nope, the dems want it their way, increase taxes on the “rich”, those evil rich people, the ones that work hours and hours to make themselves a success in life.The ones that go into debt to attend college and spend hours studying and researching ways to make themselves successful. So the idiot democrats can give the people’s money away to buy votes………….I’m truly sorry, but this entire progressive attitude makes me sick
Like Paris Hilton and the Kardashians???
Read my previous posts. I'm "rich" but I "spend" my excess on creating jobs, I pay people. I don't hoard my money. If hiding moneys in offshore accounts, which would make ME (not the U.S.A.) more money is your idea of "good business" I call you out as an idiot!
As Fox News touts itself as "fair and balanced", so John Boehner touts himself as an "adult".
Fox News is the antithesis of "fair and balanced", just like John Boehner is the antithesis of an "adult".
I will offer you a $1000 cash bet. Take a group of ten people and have them watch Alex Wagner, Martin Bashir, Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow, Ed Shutz, and Al Sharpton. Then have them watch Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and any oher three shows. Then have them vote on who is non-biased and fair. Easy money for me.
Only the totally blind would disagree with your point, Chris.
FOX News is the media wing of the GOP. Any lie the GOP wants to tell... FOX News is on the job.
Example please. The lie for NBC, CBS and ABC is NOT asking questions about Benghazi and giving the administration a free pass on it.
Conservatives have a long history of turning violent when they do not get their way but this time they cannot take the country into a Civil War so they will settle for punishing the 98% of Americans they consider inferior.
There is no way to isolate the 98% if we are to seriously address the deficit. EVERYONE is going to pay more and get less.
I call BS. Boehner's whole intent is to create "lack of substantive progress." What is with this "disappointed" stuff?
Show of hands... All of you dems who want Obama to cave into republican demands, raise your hand... None... Great.
All of you republicans who are in a panic because holding the middle class hostage again isn't working raise your hands... All of you... Good!
Obama will cave....you watch...he wants a legacy, there is no reelection to worry about. He will throw you Dems under the bus if he needs to.
Oh, I love it when the Repubs make predictions! LMAO
'Bonehead Boehner" is such a faker, and he has been working on his acting skills. He has no intent of ever compromising with the President, and he strongly believes that 'compromise' is a swear word. "Bonehead Boehner" is still loyal to the "Goofy Grover Tax Pledge," and he has no intention of ever breaking it. Now his pledge to the American People is expendible. His pledge to the US Constitution is also expendible. How much does "Bonehead Boehner" know about the GOP/Tea Begger "Caucus Conspiracy" of 2009?? How much is "Crazy Cantor" manipulating policies behind the scenes? Does "Bonehead Boehner" know that his "Buddy" little "Crazy Cantor" was a major 'conspirator' on Janruary 20, 2009? Why is the GOP/Tea Begger "Caucus Conspiracy" being buried??
If the go over the Fiscal Cliff it is because Boehner is driving. A majority of Americans are tired of this "religious" fervor that has converted compromise into the deadliest of all sin. Boehner may be the most "evil" of all in that he is spouting his drivel our of fear of losing his job to the Tea Party. He knows it is Republican political suicide. Ask Richard Lugar. Boehner feels he has no choice. He doesn't need to believe what he is saying but he must say it. So much for having a chapter in the Profiles in Courage sequel.
See 214.1
It's pretty simple, boner boy. You lost and you have no leverage. Your choices are to raise taxes on everyone making over $250,000 a year. Or raise taxes on everyone. If you choose the later, things will not work out well for you.
You are as bad as the entire DEM party. Revenue is just one part and the smaller part of the issue. What have you to say about spending cuts?
He is still Speaker. How did he lose?
This is the new reality.
Only need spending cuts for the military. Slash the military budget to 1/4 it's present bloated size or no compromise on tax cuts for the super rich.
The #1 job of the Federal Government by the Constitution is National Defense - not welfare!
We only need to defend America... Not everyone. Slash the bloated military's budget to 1/10 it's size or no deal on tax cuts for the super rich.
Defending the U.S.A. is great, so long as we are well fed and not impoverished.
What have you done to create a job, just one, that's all it takes!
From the constitution "to provide for the defense and general welfare".
When a country like Iran could hold us hostage with the threat of a nuclear weapon, providing for the defense and general welfare of the U.S. gets a whole lot more complicated and expensive.
So buy a plane ticket to Iran, and kick their ass!
Iran isn't holdign any of us hostage. Their missles can at best hit a few hundred miles. Nevermind the Reagan lie, and I assume you may not be old enough to know...
Iran (or Persia if I may) is a quite tolerant society, it's just their right wing war mongering religious zealots that create the problems. Sound familiar?
Fear motivates more than peace. Sucks to be fearful!
Roadkill
It is "provide for the common defense and PROMOTE the general Welfare"
At least get your quote right.
Thinking - I worry about my children and grandchildren and the people of Israel TODAY!
THINK - A missle is just one way to deliver a nuclear device. Reconsider your name.
It sucks more to be naive!
slodon - I was just trashing another conserva-nut, who stated that the word "welfare" was not is the Constitution. Teabaggers are so dense.
How about "trashing" me a bit to see if you know what you are talking about? I agree that the word "welfare" does appear twice in the Constitution, but its meaning was probably not totally aligned with how we use it today. What is your point?
Why can't the DEMS make their own entitlement recommendations? This is not a one-sided issue.
Dems don't want to cut any of it. They should tell republicans to take entitlement reform off the table or it's a non-starter.
Do you know that if Medicare were accounted for by the Federal Government like corporations are required to account for their benefit programs that it is under funded by $31 TRILLION in today's dollars. Take projected revenue and expense for the next 75yrs and it would take $31 TRILLION - twice our national debt to fund it.
And you think entitlements should come off the table? You my friend, are part of the problem!
Don't worry about FOX News and Rush Limbaugh prediction the demise of the US Economy if Obama don't cave into republican demands. It's just scare tactics. Wont happen. America will be fine if no deal is reached.
Agree , Let the Hunger Games begin!......
And your contribution to the talks Mr. Boehner is..?????? What exactly? More blame game. One might ask what is it you have accomplished since you became speaker? I don't seem to recall anything major...did I miss it?
One might ask what is it you have accomplished since you became speaker?
Yes Yes --Look At the 100s Of Jobs Bills We Killed On My Watch -- See!
They've named a few court houses and post offices!
All of them after Ronald Reagan of course.
Boehner has a much heavier tan now and his tongue slips a lot more when he speaks.
Henry Ford anyone? Pay people enough to buy the product they make?
Business owners who bloat and gloat are not being patriots, they are being gluttons! (an unforgivable sin)
Got a few bucks? Hire someone, locally, now!
Boehner looks like he may be back on his medication since he no longer starts crying whenever he tries to speak. It does not seem to have helped his judgment though.
Boehner is the stooge mouthpiece of the 2%. Bought and owned by the billionaires, Boehner and his Republican airheads will let all Americans suffer another full scale recession, rather than let the richest 2% be taxed at an appropriate rate. Let's go over the cliff.
It's the ONLY way. Lets jump and lets take the republicans with us.
Where do the republicans find some of these people? Now I learn of Rep. Gohmert Republican in Texas. He has strong support on a trans-Alaskan pipeline as a means for Caribou to have more sex. He states President Obama and Hillary Clinton have ties with Muslim Brotherhood that worship the Quran. He's a Southern Bapist totally against abortions. Akins is a minor to this Gohmert. When these type republican politicians popped up, I thought it was comical. Now I only see it as being sad we allow people like this in a political office.
So you found another typical republicans. The house is full of these republicans who think this party line.
OICY you wanted to know my cuts
no problem- I'm a libertarian not a Republican
Instead of expanding socialism and totalitarianism in this country, let's try the Constitution and expanding liberty. We need representation in Congress and the White House that is committed to following the Constitution.
It should be the priority of good govt to repeal the 16th amendment and end corporate and individual income taxes, and the Estate Tax. They violate the principles of liberty our nation was founded upon
We need to abolish the Depts of Education, Energy, Health & Human Services, Labor, OSHA, EPA, Transportation, phase out SS & Medicare, abolish the Federal Minimum Wage, abolish the FCC, FDA, FTC, NLRB, return student loan programs back to private lenders, end all Food Stamp programs, Federal welfare, Federal unemployment insurance payments, Obamacare, and a host of other unconstitutional programs. These are all unconstitutional programs that promote a socialist totalitarian state. We need to get rid of the Federal Reserve and take back control of our monetary system.
Taking some of the steps above would reduce our deficit to near zero and reduce the debt by trillions
We need to institute a national sales tax like the Fair Tax proposal, and renegotiate all of our Trade Agreements and associations allowing for a renewed system of tariffs.
We need to remove ourselves from the UN and ask them to relocate to another country
We need to sell off some of the 245 million acres of Federal Lands. There are 10's of millions of acres of Federal lands that lie dormant and are not used for anything (I'm not referring to National Parks or Forests). In some states like Nevada, the US Govt is the largest landowner. Use that money to pay down our debt. Selling off this land would provide cash to the govt for debt reduction and would result in massive economic growth.
The Federal Govt needs to stop meddling into issues of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Those are issues to be determined by the States
We can reduce defense spending by approx 10-15% through technological advancements and greater use of drones and special forces. This should also include removing the stupid ban on assassinations. While we have closed a number of bases in Europe, we could probably close the remaining bases in Germany without affecting national security.
Libertarians believe in religious freedom.... Not an abolishment of Islam. Libertarians believe in equal rights for homosexuals... Not mandated pray the gay away classes. Libertarians believe in legalized heroine.
You sir are as much a libertarian as I am a tea party member.
I've never called for the abolishment of Islam.
I believe in equal rights for all Americans. I don't believe in redefining what every major religion considers the term marriage. I want the govt completely removed from the institution of marriage. If states want to issue civil contracts between individuals they are free to do so. But don't change a religious term to do so. Let all such contracts be called civil unions no matter homosexual or heterosexual or whatever combination. That is a libertarian way.
I'm against all federal drug laws as I stated in the previous post
Mr. Boehner, you are very nice person and you have always been very productive person. Current US Congress is useless and like as useless as "Screen Door on Submarines". You are not fit to enjpy this hostile and unproductive environment. Please resign and go back to Ohio to enjoy the family and friends. Mr. Boehner believes that two most aspects of life is Health and Family. Please resign and enjoy your life.
go drink all the booze in the bar and expire
Then do something about it, Boehner.
As long as we look to legislation to cure poverty or to abolish special privilege we are going to see poverty spread and special privilege grow.
My Life and Work by Henry Ford
Well it looks like the head serpent will cause his nest of serpents to give us all a tax increase. F*ck Boehner! He is just the head scumbag! I say to Obama: don't be Neville Chamberlin! Be Winston Churchill. If that nest of serpents will not agree to raise taxes on the rich, let's go over the cliff. We can fix it all in 2014 when the Republicans will finally be swept onto the ash heap of history where they and their filthy ideology belong!
Obama is closer to Stalin then Churchill. At least Churchill believe in personal liberty and small government
read my post 154.2
I'm past disappointed by Boehner. I'm disgusted with the GOP. I was a Republican for over 35 years, now an Independent and left because of GWBush and TEAParty. 2012 elections brought out the religous zealots as well. I say skip any talks and jump the fiscal cliff. We've done it before and the world did not end. Let the Bush Tax cuts die, get rid of Norquist, and TEAParty who has ruined the GOP.
well Debbie I left the Republican party 42 years ago because of the leftist Nixon.
I'll return to the Republicans if they ever become a conservative party and seek to repeal the 16th amendment and really reduce the size of the Federal Govt.
And what spending would you cut/
Get real people. Pay attention. Raising the taxes a little bit on the upper 2% of wage earners does not cut it. It's the other 98% that has to pay as well. Remember the 60's and the bumper sticker on VW buses..."A$$, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free." We need to incorporate that same idea. Nobody rides for free and that means the people who do not pay any taxes as well as those who under pay. "Nobody rides for free." Make that your theme and we will get through this. This is a not a free ride for anyone. Buck up folks. Time to pay the piper.