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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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Tell Boehner that the common man is tired of republican blackmail. Negotiations are over see you next year! When your rich folks loose their shirts to the country going over the fiscal cliff then again when the credit rating is dropped again you'll understand you lost!
I get more from my employees by paying them well, and not being greedy. They know that I drive a 10 year old Jeep. Some have asked why I don't buy a brand new car... I answer, because, I don't need one, but you need heathcare.
I'm not greedy, I'm a patriot. I care about my country and my neighbors.
What say you?
well sir,you truly are a dinosaur,now i know there are many companies out there who treat their employee's like gold,just as i take it you do,thank god for people like you,in 40 years of union construction i met the good,the bad,and the ugly,but i made a good living because i got up and went to work,i might add when it was available,all in all thank you for being a patriot,hopes the slugs in washington read what you are posting.
Okay you! Is it your desire to make a girl cry?! :D I hope, and I think there are, more like you who know where their bread is buttered and it is one's employees. I also think your employees are very lucky to work for you. Thank you for being a good and decent American who cares as much about his/her employees as he does his/her country.
Well, John, that's Just TOO DAMNED BAD! Obama has the people behind him. You've been too busy worshipping at the altar of the moneyed and corporate elite while giving Joe America the finger. Well, Joe America is giving it right back!
What is really despicable is that if the last 3 GOP presidents had NOT signed TWENTY deficit riddled budgets AND saddled Obama with a $1.3T deficit even BEFORE he took office, we wouldnt HAVE a debt crisis!
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo4.htm
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm
At a time of crisis, with the country’s entire financial system near collapse, with the economy collapsing, with the stock market collapsing, with unemployment skyrocketing, with people losing their jobs and retirement money, the GOP announced that THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY was to assure that Pres. Obama was a 1 term president---- even BEFORE he was sworn in!!!
You people abandoned your duty to the American people for the sake of sabotaging a new president taking office in the midst of the greatest crisis since 1929.--- for the sake of political gain! I don’t know if that fit’s the legal definition of treason, but it sure smells like it and is at the very least, un-American and unpatriotic. Never before have I seen a political party abandon it’s country in time of crisis! NEVER!
So, now, the day of reckoning is here! The people will be placed FIRST- BEFORE your sick ideology that would sacrafice the country for you perverted political goals. Millions have suffered because of the Republican Party. And it didnt have to happen! So, please,enough of being disappointed. Try being a patriot for once!
Everyone knows that both parties don't want to be the first to expose their hand in being specific about budget propoosals but the fact remains that the responsibility for spending issues falls straight on the shoulrds of the House. It's one of the primary responsibilites assigned to this body. Time for Boehner and his stonewalling buddies to fess up with specifics and do it now, not on December 31st!
What House republicans don't tell their followers is that in September 2011 Obama put out his plan that calls for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes deep cuts to entitlement programs. They'd rather their minions believe that the President is not forthcoming wherein the truth is that they're the ones that need to take the first step.
IT'S NOT A CLIFF! IT'S A SLOPE! This isn't a Wile E. Coyote moment. Once folks get this into their heads, the solution gets easy. Do nothing until January 1st. That gives the GOP cover, so they can say they fought for lower taxes, but were unable to prevent the increase. It gives the Dems the ability to come to the table on January 2nd with a tax cut for people earning less than [insert threshold here]. The Repubs can't vote no to a tax cut, so it goes through. They then negotiate changes to spending in conjunction with the debt ceiling.
After two years of "OBSTRUCTIONISM" and hold jobless Americans hostage by blocking and not acting on President OBAMA's jobs bills, apparantly now they decided to continue this behavior and mindset toward 98% of American taxpayers, keeping them hostage to an economic uncertainty, and possible recession.
What don't they unerstand? The wind is at President Obama's back. The majority of Americans support his proposal, and more importantly the law is set to take effect Jan. 2 automatically giving him the tax rates and new revenue he's asking for now, without him having to do anything. He can sit back, and say well, you had your chance to negotiate, now I'm going to get want I'm asking for automatically. The republicans will get the wrath and anger of the 98% of the taxpayers they have done this to.
in the long wrong, the majority of Americans that voted for him, will be saying WTF??
plsthink90,
Three words for you: Learn to lose.
I have no problem with losing, really never thought Romney would win. I will be having a good life regardless of what happens. A lot of people, not so much. All politicians are owned, they do nothing for the good of the Country. I take care of my own affairs, could really careless about DC.
If I remember correctly, last time, Boehner got 95% of what he wanted. This time, we the people have spoken, and would like Obama to get 95% of what he wants.
Putting our whole economy at risk so that the top 2% of income earners can continue to get a free ride is simply stupid. They should pay at least the same percentage of what the rest of us pay.
If Boehner would stop thinking he is President, and compromise, maybe something would get done. He has refused to cooperate on anything since Obama was elected the FIRST time.
The anti-democracy buffoonery making up the republicon party STILL wants the American people to kowtow to their every destructive whim.
The trashing of America MUST stop now and the rebuilding begun.
That means TAX THE RICH NOW !!!
John Boehner - Public Enemy 1A
Feisty thinks she's a history maker now. Sorry old girl you're just a PR grunt spewing the party line and insulting, with rather extreme prejudice, anyone who doesn't tow the line happily beside you. This incredibly biased NBC article even states you silly Democrats refused to put any cuts on the table. Now it's up to the Dem goon squad, which includes Feisty, to convince you its all the GOP's fault. If the internet existed back in World War II I'm certain there would've been and army of Feisty Redheads from Berlin spewing their boss' propaganda.
Joe Done,
As I've said to others who think as you do: Learn to lose.
From the man who is causing the lack of progress himself! Unbelievable. This country wants the RICH to pay more. Yes, Even you will have to fork over more in taxes, Mr Boehner. Listen to US. THe GOP is going down the tubes fast.
Lets jump off the fiscal cliff. We can sort it all out later, everything based on it's own merit. If the democrats want to give tax cuts to 98% of the people and 97% of small businesses retroactively... Lets the dems explain why this is a good idea and let the republicans explain to America why this is a bad idea. If the republicans want to slash the tax rate to the top two percent let them explain to America why they want this and let the dems tell America why it's a bad idea. As far as the massive spending cuts about to take place... Same thing. Let them happen and lets sort it out afterwards piece by peace. If the republicans want to triple military spending, let them take their case to the American people. If the republicans want to block the dems from shoring up medicare and social security, let them take their case to the American people.
And with any luck the republicans will still be fighting for tax cuts for the super rich and tax increases for the working class when the 2014 election is approaching.
There is NO downside for the dems to go over the cliff. There is no reason to make any deal with the party of Hell No.
the GOP has turned out to be a political terrorist group holding the middle class and to poor hostage.
They are lucky Obama is Pres. and not me. no more paid lunches or insurance for both houses and their families and that would be the very beginning, no subsidised rents or vehicle's. anyone found putting their money in another land will be banned from the USA for life, like I said this would be only the beginning.
Capitalism is fine but not the greedy who would destroy a wonderful country and not care who they hurt , I would be coming for them and their would be no place to hide in the who world. it would be like hunting the Nazi criminals
you should run for office on that platform,people would listen,go for it.
I couldn't pass the vetting, they are looking for Angel's, believe me no angel here
Again, review Obama's 10-year Review released, as required by law, last July. By Obama's own "budget", he projects an increase in the national debt of $8.5 trillion for those 10 years to a total debt of roughly $22.5 trillion in 2022. This administration has absolutely no intention of cutting spending (outside of the nasty defense perps and those non-green energy scoundrels). Already two of the fastest growing and least controlled welfare programs are off the table for any cuts (even over-the-cliff reductions): medicaid and food stamps. It is obvious that the small amount of revenue that ending the Bush tax cuts and increasing the rate on the top 2% would bring in is an almost insignificant amount of revenue in relation to the yearly deficits of roughly $1 trillion. And "the cliff" would require a whopping $1.6 trillion in cuts over 10 years. Wow. And, over those same ten years, by Obama's own 10-year review, he projects an increase of $8.5 trillion... (Note that his Review assumes the tax increases he is seeking - this makes his deficit projection even less than he knows it will actually be). Democrat or Republican doesn't make any difference here. This administration is on course to bankrupt this country - this drivel over a couple hundred billion a year in "revenue increases" is dwarfed by the yearly $1 trillion deficits he himself has projected.
ME
You may not know this, but it is the House that puts forth a budget. Then the Senate offers suggestions and votes on the budget. All moneys come from the House. So your notion that this administration is responsible for the deficits is ridiculous.
Apparently, he did not learn from the last election that we voters want the hard compromises to be made! Just grandstanding does not cut it with the voters. He knows that most of them will forget over the next 4 years, so he is just showing the tea party how he is trying to do what they want.
How about doing what the voters want? Even better, how about workiing together to solve the countries pressing issues rather than the party of "NO" as usual. Even Republicians are getting sick of it.
Why they already feeding half the country now thats to lazy to work. What if all the rich left this country..what would you do then? The poor businesses can't work or hire because of obamacare ...we in a mess aren't we? Think I would be a little nicer to the rich.lol or you could loose your free cell phone.
You have no clue. Look at the actual data. Taking out those who are retired and those who CAN't work, you end up with about 1% grifters.
Someday, and I hope it's soon, you'll grow a brain and stop listening to just the RWNJ talking points (and therefore stop repeating them) and start doing some actual research.
Ahhhhh really now im glad someone knows it all thinking citizen ..lololol or thinks he does. Did the truth upset you ????
Joe, where do you get that silly stuff?
You couldn't be more wrong and whoMever told you that is a liar, period.
Also, I don't "feed" people. I hire them. I pay them enough to feed themselves. I encourage them to do better, and they do.
My employee turnover isn't due to "this job sucks" or "I'm too lazy"
My turnover is due to people having made enough to start their own business.
Take a look at Wal-Mart, and their turnover. I have lifelong employees, what do they have, they create the "needy" I create the job makers of the future!
That's not to say that I never fire people, but when I do, I don't fight their unemployment claims. Also, I don't hire people who are likely to fail, but it does happen.
This a simple fight. Almost mature societies have it. The wealthy people do not want to pay more taxes and the poor people can't. The people that run this country have let us down by fighting two wars and lowering taxes at the same time and topping it off by deregulating the financial markets. When I say the people who run the country I mean representatives and people with money and power. I don't see how it gets any better with the same people arguing over how to fix the mess they created. One thing that has surprised me is the emotions in this tax debate. Many people seem to feel they are contributing more than their fair share. We have had generations of citizens in the past that made the ultimate sacrifice and never questioned whether it was fair or not. I guess you get what you pay for.
Boehner "I Done Want To Get In To The Details" -- No -- John This The Same Crap We Heard From Your
Candidates Romney & Ryan -- The Grand Plan "Without Any Details"! You Don't Have Any Details To Go With --
Just Keep Shooting From The Hip -- Right John -- Same Old -- Same Old!
Well John -- In 2014 The Democrates Are Going To Invade Republican Districts Like Mongolian Hordes And You
Folks Will End Up Being A Vastly Diminished Minority -- To The Point Of Extinction!
Just Think Of The Ego Busting Humiliation Of Losing Your Memberships To The -- Money - Power - Greed - Club
Just Like The Romney & Ryan Boys Did -- Now Just Like Dust In The Wind!
seems like these idiots are desperately trying to get their approval rating to zero. I think they'll succeed.
Republican=Lapdogs for the Wealthy, Right Wing Nut Jobs and Racist, oh yes, low information voters!
The Debt isn’t
about spending, hasn’t anyone learned yet how Republicans work? they know the
Country can no longer barrow money to give more Tax Breaks to the Rich and Big
Corporations, but just like everything else they blame the tax payers. the
Recession, the Financial collapse of the Housing Market and the unemployment
it's the Unions and the American peoples fault, Bull @!$%#!.
If I'm spending more than I make... I don't think to myself "Gee, maybe if I don't eat 6 days a week"... I think... Time to get a second job so I can eat steak every day. But then again... I'm not a republican.
Yeah... well... Bo
ehner and his cronies on the GOP side need to step up to the plate!Republicans are the enemy of the working middle class!!
Enough said.
Why of, why, oh why do people - anyone really, other than the 1% and their bought-and-paid-for politicians - support preserving tax cuts of the wealthy? I know many of these so-called job creators and their not hiring, they are living - and spending - lavishly.
Can anyone tell me why we spent about 800 Billion more in 2012 that we did in 2008 with about 55 Billion in less revenue?
Because Bush 43 tanked the economy.
That doesn't explain the 800 Billion in spending.
The party of Hell No wants a deal... Ask yourself why they are not being the party of Hell No on this issue? Listen to Boehner crying "We need a deal, we need a deal, we need a deal.
No we don't! The republicans need a deal to protect the Super Rich and War Profiteers. America will do just fine without one.
OICY
What do you propose to cut other then the DoD?