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Subscribe to RSSRepublicans should not be surprised at the fiscal proposal they received from the White House last night, White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest said, as President Barack Obama has been highlighting the same position on the campaign trail for the past year.
NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro discuss a week that was largely a repeat of past weeks where the conversation continued to swirl around Susan Rice, the Fiscal Cliff and the post-mortem of the 2012 election.
“I was surprised that they were surprised,” Earnest told reporters traveling on Air Force One for the president’s trip to Hatfield, Pa., where he’ll talk about his tax and budget priorities.
Recommended: Obama proposal sends a message to Republicans
Thursday night, Republicans called the White House’s proposal, submitted by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, “a complete break from reality,” citing the White House’s starting line of $1.6 trillion in additional revenue, which they say is twice as much as what was on the table in 2011.
Earnest said figure reflects the goals of higher taxes on the wealthy that the president articulated on the campaign trail.
“The marker that was presented in the context of the balanced approach deficit reduction the president advocated in the campaign was $1.6 trillion in tax revenue,” he said.
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The Struggle Several thousand years ago a very progressive woman decided she was going to tame wheat so that she could better provide for her family. Her conservative man said leave wheat alone wheat only grows where it wants to bu that one decision has made the difference in civilization and so the struggle goes with conservatives never able to support progress.
Robin Hood tax on Wallstreet transactions, Close loopholes, bring the SS cap up to $250,000. Raise taxes on the wealthy and this country would fly.
I agree completely, but it would hurt with the addition of a transaction tax on my trading.
Just for S&G's let's say you are correct. Our federal deficit is running about $1.5 trillion per year. What tax rate would those over $250k have to pay to even balance the budget?
Moose, I think that comes out to 140%, but the rich won't notice.....'cause they're rich! Before we can begin to enjoy the coming recovery, all Republicans need to step-aside. Give the people what they want! Q: What do we want? A: Free stuff!
Jeff S appears to be a flaming liberal to the extreme left thinking Bush destroyed the economy when this president has done nothing but lie to the American people from the very beginning ~ I will balance the budget ~ he cannot even pass a budget even when the Democrats controlled both houses ~ I will be transparent ~ he should have said we will hide everything we can from the American people and then just keep saying I don't know who did that or said that?! ~ it is clear the lazy people in this country want to continue the path to destruction and then blame everyone but themselves ~ the time is coming and I hope this whole country goes bankrupt and you lazy no good liberals have to try and work for a living
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, LOL
Fedup - you are going with the republican BS from about a year ago. There are lots of web sites that cater to the right wing crazies where you can get current BS.
Obviously none of you geniuses are familiar with negotiating. I hope you don't negotiate your own contracts because you are probably getting screwed. You ask for more than you want, so you have points to negotiate on. The republicans will do the same, hopefully they will be ready to deal this time.
I am in hope that this country will always progress. George Washington
Gotta bite the bullet sometime and no one in Washington I can see is serious about getting it done. The country is bankrupt. The fiscal cliff appears to be the only chance to partially reduce the deficit. Projected to reduce the deficit in half by the CBO. Only $500 more billion to go and then we can start working on paying off the 16 trillion in debt. why the american public keeps reelecting the same people over and over I dont know. Time in Congress Bohner 22yrs , Pelosi 25 yrs, Mcconnell 28 yrs, Reid 26 yrs and look what their great work has resulted in. The country is 16 trillion in debt! How they feel they have any case to keep running for office amazes me and the fact their constituents keep voting them back amazes me even more. This can be said for most of the people in Congress too not just the Fab Four. When he was talking to the chair Clint Eastwood said one thing correctly. If you are not getting the job done you gotta be let go. Two years till the next chance to throw some of them out. Hope the public starts to wake up.
Brobama will never support cuts to entitlement programs which are draining the Treasury. Support of these programs buys votes for the Democrats. Any good Democrat will prostitute him/her self in any manner that gains votes.
Bring back the money hiding overseas and let them play fair, and we will not have a deficit.
15 out of the top 20 WELFARE States are RED. Best clean up your own mess. Ya Think?
tryreality-1568930
Is that becuase those states are "poorer" or the indebted blue states have a higher cost of living?
Undoubtedly a combination of both. Changing as some of the wealthy are seeking less expensive places to be taxed.
Which entitlements exactly are draining the Treasury? Oh, those prepaid ones! Yep 2.6 owed to the entitlements that's quite a drain going the wrong way!
Be especially aware of the few greedy individuals that would clip the wings of the American Eagle in order to feather their own nest FDR
Massive spending REQUIRES tax increases, and we have had MASSIVE spending increases since 2001 in the military with the military budget being nearly doubled since then, 2 separate wars that have added more than $2 trillion dollars to the deficit themselves, plus other very expensive aspects of the war on terror. This alone MANDATES a comparative increase in taxes to pay for this so our beloved country will not collapse, and the increase in taxes must especially include those who can most afford it most and have benefited the most of our capitalistic government.
We have never before in the history of this country undertaken such wars without the required tax increases to pay for such endeavors, and war was the first reason federal income taxes were first started in this country.
Obama and Dems have this right. Ryan, Boehner, and the repubs have it ALL WRONG!
So the net increase of $50-60 billion and .85% cuts are going to make it all good?
The only massive tax increase is Obamacare. The proposed tax on the wealthy pays for the extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday and for the first year a mini-stimulus. After that we can apply the $50 or so billion towards the minimum interest payment on our debt.
I actually hope we do go over the cliff. A lot of tit suckers on this site will be standing in the unemployment line when we do, thanks to Barry and his "destroy America" campaign. Enjoy your future poverty, thanks to your vote for Barry.
I won't be, I can afford for my taxes to go up. I guess you can't loser!! So I hope we go over the cliff to, so t-party nut job republicans will get the blame for it in 2014..
Jason.......it doesn't matter who gets the blame..........Greece and Spain coming to America soon! Better learn how to fish and hunt.
Jason...congratulations on being in a position that your taxes can go up.....
Since a majority of Americans cannot afford that I have a suggestion....
Put your money where your mouth is and send in your extra dollars you can part with to the US government to help offset the debt....No change to the tax code needed....Just your decision...
Here is the address to help you out:
Please post back here a copy of your receipt showing you are willing to back up your claim.
Otherwise...get your hands off other people's money!
Parnoid a bit much I see, keep listening to all your right wing doom and gloomers out there. Good luck with that...
The Punjab: No, we will be starting up new businesses, hiring people and paying a decent wage, etc. You know, all the things we have always been doing. Working not whining! Tired of those wailing sounds!
I don't see the receipt....we are waiting......
Hey Sandy...........good for you, take a risk, start it up and be successful. Been there, done that, sold busniesses now its time to fish and play golf. Odds of success with start ups (until Barry was elected) was about 8%. Now, I'd bet there not nearly that good. Work hard and good luck. You'll need both.
Shepherd, are you that stupid. You rather let the top 2% keep their money and you pay more. You can't have it both ways knucklehead. Either they taxes go up or ALL of our taxes go up.
Choose shepherd..
BTW shepherd, who has they hand on your money. Can you be specific please. I doubt I would even get a response. nutjob
Boy these Right wing nuts are really stupid. They repeating the same thing over an over again today. Talkin about Obama plan is less than 1%. These rejects can't do simple math, matter of fact I don't believe these fools even read the plan. Just repeating what they heard some other Right wing nut job said today.
1.6 trillion in new tax revenue, 400 billion more entitlement reform, 500 billion defense cuts (If we go over the cliff), closing certain loopholes and deductions BILLIONS MORE.. Thus far we looking at over 2.5 trillion in Saving an this is just the Start. So again nut jobs, how is that .85%
Sarcasm is their only defense. They have no facts.
Jason.........simple in math you say! 2.5 trillion in savings against 10 trillion in additional spending in the next 10 years = 8.5 trillion plus $ 16.3 trillion now = 24.8 trillion in 10 years. You are not just math simple...........YOU ARE F......G MATH STUPID!
Yes $1.6 trillion in tax revenue over 10 years, our annual deficit is $1.6 trillion. How does this plan make sense at all?
The $1.6T in new revenue is over 10 years, or $160B a year. The proposed extension of the Payroll Tax Holiday is a loss of $100-110B a year. So we're netting $50-60B a year.
The proposed spending cut of $400 billion is also over 10 years against a projected expenditure of $46,949 billion over those same 10 years. http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/tables.pdf
Divide $400 by 46,949 and you get...
Jason,
Those numbers are over 10 years. If we use an average of $750billion each year for the deficit then it will still increase by $5 trillion in those ten years. That is math and not a plan to cut the deficit.
Are you guys nuts, Yes I know its over 10 yrs.
Punjab, source please. What source says the debt will be 24.8 trillion 10 yrs from now. The CBO sure as hell has not predicted that. If you wanna make up your own numbers, take that sh!t to fox news..
MJ, you repeating the same stupid stuff as early. You just don't get it. You didn't even read the whole plan, cherry picking pieces of the plan just to fit into your right wing hatred is what i called "Whinning". So what is the republican PLAN again MJ. Lets see you cherry picked theirs.
BTW, right wingers, Whats the republicans PLAN to cut spending? Don't worry I'll wait...
Punjab, hey dumbass, I'm still waiting on that source that says our national debt will be 24.8 trillion in 10 yrs. Needs to be a creditable source too. Preferrably CBO report will do. I'm still waiting wing nut..
Hey Jason.........Barry couldn't get a single vote in the House or Senate for this "trillion dollar deficits" and his own budgets show trillion dollar plus deficits for the next 4 years. More money will go to entitlement and social programs over the next 4 years.........do you actually think yearly deficits will go down......and God forbid........maybe.......pay down some debt. You'd have to be the moron you are to believe we won't continue trillion dollar deficits for the next 10 years.
Punjab, did you not hear me. Source Please. I'm don't wanna hear you rant on an on about what you think the debt will be.
Show me the source that says 24.8 trillion
Matter of fact, don't worry bout it. I know you can't show me the source because your ass just made it up. You guys are funny, you think if you come on a blog an post some fictional numbers it must be true.
First off Obama won't be president 10 yrs from now. So how in the hell can you predict trillions $ deficits, when you don't know who is going to be president 5, 8 or even 10 yrs from now, how the economy is going to be, etc..
Punjab, I know how u know this, you can see into the future. Can you read palms too. Nut job..
Personally,.. I'm surprised that the WH is surprised that that the teapublicans are surprised..
All in all,.. highly surprising...
Hey K.........I thought the grand bargain would be higher taxes in exchange for entitlement reform. What happened to entitlement reform. I agree, why should anyone be surprised that Barry lied!
I'll give you "reform"...
Take the cap off payroll contributions to SS and medicare...
Then extend the "payroll" taxes to investment income.... Yeah,... even income from Swiss and Cayman Is. accounts...
How's that for "reform"???? LOL!!!
I'm surprised that Mr. Geitner could keep a straight face until he deliver the message.
Hey K.........."reform" is spelled ......."balanced budget". You try living and spending 50% more than you make and see how long you last.
LOL!!!
Ahhh... The "balanced budget" mantra parroted by the teapublican right, every time a Dem. is in the WH.
Where were you when georgey was handing out massive tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, and starting unfunded wars???
And we both know where you were,.. you were cheer leading....
Next...
Hey K.............I could give a good rats ass which party is blowing a hole in the bank. Both party whores have screwed the pooch! Wake up and see reality............you can solve most any problem as long as you are financially stable. When you are a broke dick nation..........you can't solve anything. See Greece; See Spain; and coming soon to America.
K1200RS...Don't forget your "vaunted" Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, voted for both wars...
Oops! Forgot that did you?
At the end of the day, you cannot disagree that any person, business or government cannot spend more than they take in for very long before they become insolvent and disappear.
Is that what you want?
If so, then you are part of the problem, not part of the solution....
Voted based on GOP Lies.
Is that all you've got...just calling everyone who disagrees with you a liar?
Go back and look at the facts.....
Iraq had WMD's. They used them on Iran and their own people.
Every intelligence agency in the world assessed Iraq as re-building their WMD stockpile.
They transferred several tons of "yellow-cake" uranium out of Iraq during the war. Where was their peaceful nuclear reactor?
I am sorry you have forgotten history. May I suggest you review it, it contains some fantastic information!
Amazing what a 16 month propaganda campaign full of lies, and distortions can accomplish..
We've been through this,.. repeatedly...
We know who led us to war,.. and we know they lied to do it..
Next...
They already took it of Medicare to pay for Obamacare.
The sad thing is NEITHER side understands how to write a real budget. When you know you have $2,000,000,000,000.00 to spend, that is all there is to spend. Period. Between the Democrats, Republicans and all stripes in between, they keep trying to spend $4,000,000,000,000.00 when there is only $2,000,000,000,000.00 to spend.
A group that knew how to budget would start at $2,000,000,000,000.00 then start subtracting priorities until they get to zero. The you stop until next year with a new pot on money. Kind of like a voter has to do. So let's see, priorities MIGHT be:
1 Interest on the accumalted debt
2 Social Security
3 Medicare
4 Defense
5 Transportation
etc, etc, etc
The actual order of funding these? Congress' job. I'm simply trying to make a point. The assinine notion that you can base line budget and it isn't real money has to go. It IS real money. SOMEONE earned it before it was collected by and for the government.
Sounds good to me. Looks like we can cover 1 thru 3 and most of 4. After that we got no more money to spend. Should we fire all non defense federal employees?
SS is self funded. And even households take on long term debt in the form of houses, college loans or cars.....and they don't have a military to maintain, disasters to handle, and world crises to avert. Trick is managing that budget. If you run short, increase revenue and cut expenses, and eventually try to make it back to some balance. Doing nothing is no solution.
Social security does nothing to add to the deficit. More false facts
Not true. There is the 2% 'temporary' reduction in worker's contributions.
Not true. There is the $110B that is being repaid by the 'trust fund' from past 'surpluses'
Unfortunately, the trust fund doesn't exist, because the money was spent between 1983 and 2008 as soon as workers paid it. The only question is whether you want to acknowledge that your money has been spent in lieu of higher taxes over your working years or if you want to demand that your grandchildren pay substantially higher taxes in order to make good on the promises that your government promised you 30 years ago.
Forbes news story 11/27/12 clip on the true impact of Social Security, Medicare and Federal Pension Obligations. (Google "Social Security Unfunded Obligations")
Another snippet from an article on Social Security:
So guess what that means.....it will hit the budget and the deficit and the debt......
$$$ clifff.... here we come.... Yay!!!! Gonna short the market. tis time to fix the debt in a draconian way.
George W said (we have such a surplus here we have to find ways to use it ) Good job.
Yep, And Cheney said "Deficits Don't Matter". Defend that Righties
Problem is they always create the deficit and keep it hush until the dems get into office and then they screem Oh the deficit
There never was a surplus, Clinton never created a surplus, he created a "projected" surplus, in other words they "projected" that his policies would create a surplus. Never since the late 60's has the federal debt ever decreased, so how can one have a surplus and still have to borrow more money? I am not standing up for GW, he is no different than Obama or Clinton. We have been taken over by corporate interests, and Obama is just as much a puppet as GW, Clinton, daddy Bush, or any before them. We have corporations getting tax breaks to outsource jobs, millions of illegals being allowed to work here driving down wages in this country, all at the behest of corporations who pay more to lobbyists than they pay in taxes. Then when the crap hits the fan the government comes running to the working man to get more money to bail out private companies or banks. This notion that if we just take a little more from this person or that person is ludicrous, our spending is 25% of GDP, there is no legitimate amount of taxation that can cover that kind of spending, it simply is not possible.
Guess you overlooked the spending cuts part
And here are some studio shots of us looking shocked.
President Obama is SCHOOLING these FOOLS and you Righties can't handle it. It's going to be ANOTHER LOOOOOOOOOONG 4 years, ENJOY
tryreality....based on what I see it is you who will need to be schooled to survive in the post-Greece like future Obama and the Democrats have us on.....
Just for the sake of it, would you choose in your own life to spend 50% more than you earn each year?
Would you?
If you say yes, then you are part of the problem, not the solution.....
OK, you will get your tax increase for the wealthy, which is reasonable and it looks like it will happen. Then what are you going to complain about once it is done and you realize that it only deals with about 3% of the deficit and that our President doesn't want to do anything about spending because it will make people not like him?
What do you do then?
We will fix EVERYTHING(if the GOP cooperate)(not holding My breath), first things first.
Hey Rob - have any interest in looking at the spending cuts that Obama has proposed? I'll bet there are some kids in your neighborhood who can show you have to use the Internet search engines.
Rob, Great point
Sadly what you say may just happen, and may be the only way for all the idiots that re-elected Obama for all his promises of more Freebies to finally pull the heads out of their asses? Also end Collective Bargaining for the Unions that are destroying us
I wish we had a real leader in the White House. Obama is a failure at negotiating so he goes back to what he does best - CAMPAIGNING. If he really cared about the American people, he would have started negotiating a long time ago. Instead he thinks he can campaign his way into making everyone believe Republicans are bad and Democrats are good. I don't think he has the political capital he thinks he does. Getting just over 50% of the vote is no mandate.
A deficit is equivalent to taxes that have not been paid and Obama would not get even close to affecting it even if he could tax the bad rich people at 100%. My money is on Obama letting everyone start paying more in the belief that everyone will believe it is the Republican's fault. Mr My Way or the Highway might just get surprised some day when the American people get fed up with his campaigning an realize he has limited leadership abilities.
Good Luck Mr Blame and Shame 'cause I think you are going to need it! nbc and cnn cannot save you from everything.
The President has a Mandate given by the Majority, NEXT
Cher - where have you been for the past 4 years?
tryr - your are just a fool, a leader should govern for all of the people not just his minions
jims - I've been right here. Maybe you could enlighten me about how Obama has tried to work with the Congress - NOT
Tryreality........If Barry has a "MANDATE GIVEN BY THE MAJORITY", he shouldn't be concerned about the House of Representatives votes. I guess those votes should be in Barry's bag too!
98% are his Minions? LOL
The TEAGAGGER House will be GONE 2014
Punjab, I'm still waiting on that source that says the debt will be 24.8 trillion 10yrs from now.
Come on nut job, back up your claim with some FACTS...
Hey Jason..........I responded above. Tell me, oh wise one, what do you think the total federal debt and yearly federal deficit will be in 2022? What will Barry and all the whores in congress do to change direction of our spending in the next 10 years?
Source: Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Additional debt 2012-2020 = $7.59 Trillion in deficits adding to debt
$16.3 + $7.59 = $23.89 Trillion by 2020
Hey Jason.............What you think??
What i think, I think shepherd just Lied and type whatever he wanted to. CBO
LINK..
I was just looking at the CBO reports and found none of this garbage shepherd just posted.
Nice try, but like I said. you idiots just can't make this stuff up.
Still waiting on that CBO Link that says 24 trillion...
Don't worry I have already looked at several CBO reports today..
The reason why I am lauging so hard because the CBO has not even scored and broken down the president proposal yet. But i guess ya'll didn't know that. Bunch of dumb ass..
Next time use another source other than right wing "Breitbart.com"..
Let's go off the cliff I want to see what's down there. One thing for sure it can't be worse than it is right now. Then you can always look at it this way, we wanted to try something new, we are testing to see if the laws of gravity works on our Federal Government. After all this is the Government that has us in the red for $16 Trillion Dollars. That means we have to collect and spend $16 Trillion Dollars on bills before we can say we are actually making a difference. Obama and the Democrats new spending adding to these talks sure didn't help much.
Wait until January 1 comes around and these new taxes for Obama-Care start to hit your wallets and purses, you haven't seen anything yet. New Obama regulations starting to hurt businesses will also be coming around soon too and still we have no idea what the premiums will be for businesses or the average American Family. With all of that said they voted for Obama to play games for another 4 years. Disgusting.
Smokie, what are you smoking?
When you hear about the new spending from the right wing crazies, you know they have no contact with reality.
sandy-2984954===Now that you asked I smoke Marlboro cigarettes, thanks for asking!! My smoking has noting to do with my ideas. I don't think the so-called financial cliff is as bad as they say it would be. If it was Obama would be in the White House or meeting the people in Congress at the Capitol Building. If all of this was that so damn important Obama would be on the campaign trail again. Someone needs to kick him in the butt and remind him that they election is over.
Like many others I don't think by just taxing the rich that this would make a helluva lot of difference in the financial problems of this country. We need to pay off $16 Trillion Dollars before we say we are accomplishing anything on that front. If you or me wrote checks out our own accounts like the government does we would be in jail.
JimS12345===Jim, my dear boy we are in debt to the tune of $16 Trillion Dollars baby. Maybe you forgot that your boy in the White House has been running a deficit spending total of over $1 Trillion Dollars a year that is reality. Included with the talks with Congress Obama has new spending in the package. I thought we were trying to reduce the debt and the deficiet? My boy you need to look at the relity of things. The taxes you haven't paid yet are already spent. The taxes you will pay for the rest of your life is already spent. So just who is not looking at the reality of the finances of this country?
We'll go over the cliff, because both Odumbo and the repubs want to make it happen. Odumbo likely believes that it will cement the public's opinion about the repubs. He's probably right. The repubs want it to happen because they cannot and should not give in to the blackmail. Of course, the ones who are really going to suffer are those who need the help the most. It won't seriously impact those who are already being screwed by the government - those who make the money and pay the taxes. they'll just wait it out.
You're in for a BIG SURPRISE, Ready?
Paul: You forgot that Boehner claimed this cliff was 98% of what the Republicans wanted. Why did they change their mind now and want to call it a fiscal cliff? I think they are trying to use deflection, blame someone else and try to look like the good guys. The voters have their number and wait until 2014!
Republicans are in a tough position. The make a deal and get punished by their big money donors. They don't make a deal and get punished by voters. Since the donors are now and the voters are 2 years away, I don't think they will make a deal.
Charles Krauthammer at Fox calls the deal Obama has offered insulting. This is the guy who said that Obama knew what the weather would be for the democratic convention months before. I guess it's OK to be close to brain dead to work at Fox. It might even be a requirement.
"Focused on American Jobs"??????
Orange johnny should realize by now, AFTER, the election results,.. that collectively, Americans are not quite THAT stupid....
You know I get off and on these sites during the day because I have the extra time and ability to do so. What about the rest of you that seem to be here day and night? Do you people have jobs? Maybe you are doing your jobs? Just a thought!!!
The deficit I keep hearing Republicans talking about is a direct result of George Bushes policies so if they cant even take responsibility for the damage theyve done what chance do we have that they even want the country to do well? Theyd rather see the country fail than a black man suceed where they failed. Simple as that. PERIOD
Over four years into it, and it's still Bush's fault. Pathetic.
Oh, and still with the racism, huh? Get over your race dude. Noone gives a damn what color you or Odumbass are.
The truth is the truth. You cant fix that sort of damage in 4 yrs. Fact
The deficit explosion happened because of Bushes reckless actions.
Truth hurts I know
500 years from now this country will still be fighting the enemies that Bush created for this country. The Arabs do not forgive or forget. It has been over 1500 years since the crusades and Bush revived all the ancient hatred and anger.
The truth is that Obama increased the deficit all by himself, adding $4,000,000,000,000 in NEW DEBT. Bush didn't do that. If Obama could pass a health care bill that no one on the planet wants, he could have done something for the economy. He didn't want to. He wants the country in chaos so he can push yet more big-government laws down your throat.
I have nephews and neices who are just now finding out what they're in for. It's funny as hell seeing that dear-in-the-headlights look when they say "huh?" I feel bad for them since their futures as government drones is almost assured now that Odumbass has four more years to change the basic structure of this country.
The Arabs were our enemies in World War 2, Prog. They were Hitler's allies. And so what if they don't forget? With that attitude, you let a bully beat you senseless because he could come back and do it again some day.
Paul - Well said
Funny to see them finally get it especially the 20 somehting that are facing huge medical premium hikes under obamacare! LOL FOOLS ! suckered into voting Obama by their Liberal (Leaches) College professors!
Relations were relative peaceful until Daddy Bush started the 1st war with Iraq.
Anyone not Islamic (aka infidels) are technically Arabs enemies....
Religious wars have been fought for thousands of years...
The last time I checked Bush was not alive thousands of years ago....
He wasn't in power when they bombed the Marines in Beirut....
Stop blaming others and take some responsibility! Obama certainly takes none......No leads either....