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Subscribe to RSSThe New York Times’ Baker: “Mr. Obama, scarred by failed negotiations in his first term and emboldened by a clear if close election to a second, has emerged as a different kind of negotiator in the past week or two, sticking to the liberal line and frustrating Republicans on the other side of the bargaining table. … Until Republicans offer their own new plan, Mr. Obama will not alter his. In effect, he is trying to leverage what he claims as an election mandate to force Republicans to take ownership of the difficult choices ahead. His approach is born of painful experience. In his first four years in office, Mr. Obama has repeatedly offered what he considered compromises on stimulus spending, health care and deficit reduction to Republicans, who either rejected them as inadequate or pocketed them and insisted on more.”
The AP: “The White House says Republicans should come clean about how much they're willing to raise tax rates on the rich. Republicans counter that President Obama's latest plan is a joke that avoids tough decisions on the nation's biggest entitlement programs, including Medicare.”
Obama golfed yesterday with Bill Clitnon and Terry McAuliffe. Here’s a picture.
On the agenda today, the Bulgarian Prime Minister Borisov (pronounced baw-REES-awf) will be at the White House discussing NATO and Afghanistan. Later, Obama speaks at a nuclear proliferation symposium started by ex-Sens. Lugar and Nunn.
“It survived a historic Supreme Court fight and a bruising presidential election. Next up for President Obama’s groundbreaking law to expand health insurance coverage: winning over a skeptical and, in much of the country, downright hostile public,” The Boston Globe reports. “Health care advocates say lessons — and inspiration — can be drawn from the Massachusetts experience, where a multipronged publicity blitz helped the state achieve near-universal coverage more quickly than lawmakers anticipated when they passed the 2006 law.”
About 800,000 are expected for Obama’s second inauguration, down from the record 1.8 million that showed up four years ago.
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Hey Republicans - the ball is in your court it's time to make a counter proposal. That's how negotiations work - one side makes an offer and the other counters. This continues until a compromise is worked out or until everyone gives up and goes home. Giving up without ever even making an offer is the sign of a sure loser - is that what the Republicans are trying to say? They know they are losers so they're not even going to try.
Prior to McConnell and Boehner, Congress understood their roll was to write laws and present them to the President.
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can override the veto.
Boehner and McConnell want to be paid by taxpayers, but they are the typical freeloader Congressional Republicans who don't understand the roll of Congress.
The Republicans in the House have ,over the last four years presented several budget proposals, several Appropiations bills and hundreds of other bills, to Harry Reid and the Senate. Harry has chosen to use the pocket veto on all these proposals so it clearly accomplishes nothing to submit anything to Harry!
It seems , Debbie, that it's Harry Reid that doesn't understand the roll of Congress!
I really think they are in total chaos... They still do not realize that there was an election an they lost. They really do not have a "Plan B", other then to make Obama a one term president. They never saw this coming...
Where is the Prez. Conniesez? Is he still out campaining or at the WH providing leadership in discussions with Congress?
The Obama Cliff is coming, and he's out and about, going on a lengthy vacation in Hawaii, and the Congress is due to go on holiday recess soon.
It's all going the Obama way: Blame the GOP; raise the taxes on all; remove funding from Medicare to migrate those people to ObamaCare; while weakening the military.
And the Alphabet news outlets are out cheering on the Barry! And since when has the Barry been anything other than nice? Just look at his negative campaign full of lies.
Yep, it sure is! He outsmarted you GOPers again! ;)
Right again! Obama has never been anything other than nice!
(You're not a closet liberal, are you?)
Nice try at revising history. The fact is, the Republicans own the Fiscal Cliff. Everyone knows it. Sure sounded like a good strategy at the time, didn't it? Now that it has jumped up and bite them in the backside, they want to call it the "Obama Cliff" now? Guess what. Nobody's buying it. You funny!
someotherguy - GOP are masters at revising history: just look at the way they revised the history (and thereby the current) forms of government assistance (unemployemtn/food stamps) and get their lock-step idiot parrots to follow suit. NEVERMIND that these very same constituents (who are ON the gov assistance in large numbers in red states) keep voting it down..... That would be rather funny if it weren't so bleeding SAD.
Dear Liberals
A viable plan to avoid the fiscal cliff was submitted to Senate and President Obama for inputs and changes. The President not only dismissed it outright, but also added $50 Billion in spending on top of the tax increase for the top 2%.
President Obama has no motivation to solve the problems associated with the fiscal cliff. If he did, then he would have force the idiots in the House and the Senate to sit down and develop a budget every year for the last three years.
Stop the Bleeding and cut spending before you decide to raise taxes.
If I ran my home budget in the same way the morons in Washington DC run the country, I would already be bankrupt.
Before you tell me it is not the same, it is the same just on a much larger scale.
Tell the morons in Washington to build a balanced budget and make the hard choices.
Increase rates on the upper 2%
Go after cuts in spending of course...but not cuts to programs needed by the middle class and the poor....Go after the 'entitlements' of the 2%ers.....go after all those subsidies given out to Big Oil, the military industrial complex, the Drug industry, the energy consortium, the farming conglomerates, and all the rest of those corporate welfare programs.
Then start reversing all those deregulation policies that ruined our fair free market
STOP THE WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS and REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS.....the PATH TO A STRONG ECONOMY IS A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS
Cut welfare, foodstamps. and unemployment. All of these programs are temporary help, not a profrssion for the rest of your life, Obama uses all of the above to buy votes. What entitles some drop out s--- to have kids year after year and expect others to pay for them?? These are the people that voted for him.
Tired, coming from a member of "the party" who doesn't want any form of birth control or abortion, that's kind of a funny thing to say. A woman should not want any sex (unless a guy wants her to) and if she does, it's all her fault and she should raise the kid without food, education or medicine, until he/she is 18 and can join the army that we as world leaders need so bad or whatever use that can be thought up for them.
Would your food taste a little better if you knew that more people were going hungry without food stamps? Your bed a little warmer knowing that some people are shivering in the cold?
Obama didn't have to BUY votes. The "Mitt and Ryan" plans and ideals were so horrible and even more so for their lack of any details, that any thinking person rejected them outright.
OH, and Merry Christmas, oh christan and compassionate one.
Once again, one need look at the definition of compromise, "to bind by mutual agreement; to adjust or settle by mutual concessions." (Merrian-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). The White House's insistence that this past election emboldened it to force GOP leaders to adhere to his policy does not match his campaign promise, nor the definition of the word. Speaking of election results and voice of America - let's count heads in DC - total all the elected officials, White House and both houses, and the clear majority is GOP, not DEM. So why then, cannot to true voice of America, the one with the largest contingency on the hill not get the opportunity to be heard, to be met with "mutual concessions? Obama continues down the path of "my way or the highway" with ever increasing, unabated spending is what lead to a doubled federal deficit in the first place.
Republicans, for months, years, even decades, have argued that tax increases are bad for the economy, families, business, and everything else they think of at the moment.
Now, republicans face an end to the Bush era tax cuts for everyone on December 31. The tax cuts will end just as surely as does 2012. Democrats have proposed legislation that would reduce taxes on everyone making less than $250k. Republicans say NO.
How is that consistent with their anti-tax mantra? It is not, of course.
Democrats have deftly "outed" republicans on their tax policy. Really, republicans could not care less about the taxes paid by those earning less than $250k. Their primary concern is with those making more. They are, day by day, making that increasingly clear.
Republicans have "shot their wad". Except for the "suicide vest" of the debt ceiling, republicans are out of ammo. Their best option is the white flag so they can live to fight another day.
Fight? Why,there are no morals to this new Administration;I care not about "another day", but what my nephews would face in the financial crap hole Obama set up.
They are the "Future", if anyone would give a darn.Our Pres. certainly wouldn't and doesn't at All.
Ian
The Dems proposal calls for the end of the tax cuts on those making $250k or more a year, but apparently the spending cuts dont kick in for sometime down the road.
Instead of complaining about it, the R's need to put forth a plan of their own. I have been saying this for the past few weeks. Personally, one of the things that should be included in the Repulican plan is to rework the tax code to exempt small businesses from the personal income tax, and put together a plan for them to follow. I know it is a lot more complicated than that, especially when the current tax code is in excess of 78,000 pages (and growing), but I think you get the point.
Rosie.....
The craphole you speak of is not the fault of this administration, but it has been habitually been passed along from Administration to Administration for just about as long as I can remember, and to be honest, there hasnt been one Administration that has really done anything of substance to address many of the problems that have cause this situation to begin with.
Small businesses who have opted for Subschapter S status did so in order to have their business income treated as personal income. You suggest that these businesses be exempted from the personal income tax, but in fact subchapter S businesses have asked for personal income tax status. Their option is to become 'C' corporations and be treated as such for tax purposes.
Political guy, Clinton presented Bush with a nation at peace, people working, and a balanced budget. A boom. He and Al Gore cut both the size and impact of government on our every day lives. George W. took that and destroyed every part of it. When Obama took over he was presented with a 1.3 trillion dollar budget deficit, a nation in two unpaid for wars and an economy headed for the dump. To make matters worse the republicans when elected on jobs, jobs, jobs didn't do theirs and as a matter of fact hurt this country and its economy. You are wrong in your statement that this countries mess is passed on from administration to administration.
You are right about fixing the tax code. It should read like this, " this is what your income is, this is the tax you owe, or you have over paid and this is your refund. That is really the only thing needed. Include all income, if you find a dime you are obligated under the law to report it. No to off shore tax shelters, no to hiding income.
Politicoguy
I am a small businessman and I do not see why I should be exempted from paying personal income tax. My workers pay personal income tax and it is only fair that I pay it too.
I get tax breaks for all the equipment I buy (up to $75000 per year that very year) and everything else I spend on my business is deducted from my business income as well. Then, my net business income is taxed.
Business loves to make arguments about how they would invest more if they weren't taxed as much. The truth is they reduce their income with these investments. In other words, the higher the tax rate, the more they save on taxes when they invest in their business.
shaak
You miss the point. I never said you shouldnt pay taxes, your business and its profits should be taxed like normal corporations. As a small business, or subchapter S, if you leave profits in the business in order to develop a fund to expand, these profits are taxes as regular income for the shareholders of such businesses
This is part of what I was referring to.
For those that purchase large sums of equipment, yes yo do get certain write offs, as my company does, but if you provide health insurance for your employees (which I do), the medical insurance paid by the company for the shareholder / employees is passed onto them as income which they pay taxes on.
In 2010 I distinctly remember that it was Obama who extended the tax cuts! That therefore makes them Obama's tax cuts no longer Bushes! Republicans do care for the tax cuts to the middle class but they also understand it's equally important that the other tax cuts be maintained as well!
Back before the Liberals of the Democrat Party were murdered by the Progressives, even they understood the proper way to stimulate a weak economy! " A tax cut means higher family incomes and higher business profits and a balanced Federal budget. Prosperity is the real way to finally balance our budget" John Kennedy
Does anyone understand how/why today's article titled, "First Thoughts: Far apart", suddenly became unavailable and was replaced by a page stating "This article has been removed by the Newsvine community" ?
John
You need to take a look at the entire picture.
The economy was NOT booming when Bush took office, and in fact the beginnings of recession had just started to materialize right before the election. You do recall that the NASDAQ lost over 55% of its value in the last year that Clinton was in office. In a 12 month period it went from 5,100 to 1,400, taking many of the dot.com and tech companies that formed in the 16 month period prior to the collapse right down with them.
As I have stated several times before, the deficit spending as more to do with actual spending and less to do with tax rates. The tax revenues are mainly generated by a vibrant and fully participating workforce, which is why under these same tax rates we see today, the federal government had their highest levels of tax revenues generated in FY 2007 and FY 2008.
Now that participation levels in the workforce are at the lowest levels in over 30 years, revenues are suffering
I have stated this on several other threads. Yes Obama took office facing a very difficult situation, but instead of working to correct the path, he has continued down the same road, and has added as much to the national debt in 4 years as Bush did in 8. Is that truly the correct direction? No. This goes to my point that it is something that administrations have been doing for longer than I care to remember. Also, lets remember that the Democrats had control of the House and Senate until January of 2011 so they were steering the ship for the first two years of Obamas run.
Lastly, I agree that we do need a more simplistic tax code. Perhaps a flat tax with no deductions and some sort of federal consumption tax, so that those that buy or consume more pay more? Just a quick thought, but the simpler the better. On top of that, reduce the FICA tax, but at the same time get rid of the cap on which you pay into the fund. This gives many working people a small tax break (along with businesses) but then requests those that make a very good living to prop up the system a little more for those that depend on it.
politicoguy........you said:
This country WAS booming when Bush took office. We were undergoing a market correction. But, the underlying economy was more sound than at any time in recent history.
What about these facts (concerning the Clinton administrations)?
1. Average economic growth of 4.0% per year.
2. Creation of more than 22.5 million jobs.
3. Increased family income for ALL Americans.
4. Overall unemployment dropped to the lowest level in more than 30 years.
5. Inflation dropped to its lowest rate since the Kennedy Administration.
6. The home ownership rate reached 67.7% near the end of the Clinton administration.
7. The poverty rate also declined from 15.1% in 1993 to 11.8% in 1999.
8. The surplus in fiscal year 2000 was $237 billion.
9. Clinton worked with the Republican-led Congress to enact welfare reform.
This information is easily available to anyone interested. Apparently you are not, since you pointed to the rare negative (NASDAQ) which can be explained for those interested in arcane market dynamics.
No doubt, it is important to some folks to find fault with democrat success. But, to argue that the Clinton years were not successful, particularly from an economic perspective, is not even specious. it is flatly false.
Regarding a "flat tax" or "consumption tax" (aka national sales tax): Consider a small business seeking to acquire equipment to begin enterprise. Do the math with (even) current income tax and your proposed substitutions. Such a start-up would be faced with taxes despite not turning a profit (under your plan). Furthermore, they would be taxed on their initial investments which would deter small business start-ups. But, perhaps those in alliance with BIG business would be pleased with deterring others from entering competition with established (big) business.
Ted, you are correct that Obama supported extension of the Republican tax cuts - because that was the only way the Republicans would support extension of unemployment benefits that were needed for the millions of laid off workers! Some have called it blackmail.
Bruce -848280 Laid off due to his own failed stimulus policies lol. Funny how its black mails when Republicans want something back but when Dems do it it is sound negotiations lol
Yes Obama has learned, and this time around if the Repubs hold us hostage everyone in this country will back him because it is more apparent every day who the republicans allegiance is too....definitely not the American people. But still....it appears they are too stupid to realize that we arent as stupid as they think we are....well at least 53% of us.
The level of doublethink and willful denial that's at work amongst Republican voters is nothing short of mind-boggling. Now the latest line from the Faithful is, "President Obama is refusing to negotiate!"- this, after elected officials from their own party refused again and again to work with this President, or to support any measure he advanced to create jobs and get the economy back on track. Even those proposals that originated in their own party, they refused to support or even discuss- and now they're accusing the President of being "difficult" and "not bargaining in good faith".
An honest person can only stand slack- jawed at the depth and durability of the self- deception that one must apply in order to support that party. It's not enough, apparently, to be greedy, heartless, ignorant, unpatriotic, xenophobic, and just plain dumber than a sack of hammers- apparently one must also, like the Red Queen, be prepared to "believe six impossible things before breakfast."
Way to go, R's. The Party of Denial, Deception and Destruction marches on its merry way down the well- trodden road to historical irrelevance and eventual oblivion.
I watched Grover Norquist on MTP Sunday reiterate: the most important priority is protecting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Oddly, enough, I didn't find him as hateful as I usually do. He's just doing his job: lobbying for his wealthy clients, after all, just like Trumka lobbies for labor. Keeping the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest is this lobbyist's highest priority.
Then there was Maria Bartemelo, channeling corporate America, saying: no, the most important priority is stability in the economy. Basically, she was saying: "Compromise, already!"
So, the question is, whom do the Republicans represent? I think, if the Republublicans allow us to go over the cliff, it will be clear, Republicans no longer represent the interests of big business (they never represnted what was best for labor.) Republicans simply represent wealthy sociopaths.
Maria is right. We need some sort of stability in Washington before the economy will truly start to recover. The economy hates turmoil above all else.
Fox
Well in a way he is "refusing" to negotiate, because a negotiation calls for one side to make a proposal, the other side to make a counter, and then the hash it out to see what they can come up with.
Obama not negotiating is because while he has a plan on the table, the Republicans have not put up a counter plan, so in effect there can be no real negotiations.
While I am a registered (R), I want to see them put a comprehensive plan up to counter what the President has proposed, and not just speak in generalities in their soundbites on the TV shows.
A clear reading of Article I, Sections 7 & 8 of the Constitution states that it is the House of Representatives that has the obligation to initiate revenue bills and to 'have the power to pay the debts' - spending bills.
Essentially, it is the duty of the Executive Branch to execute the will of the Congress.
Given that, it is interesting that the Speaker of the House always seems to be waiting for the President to do the work of the House of Representatives.
The House has presented(by constitutional mandate) several budget proposals, 7 appropiations bills (again by Constitutional mandate) and hundreds of other bills on various topics. Harry Reid has decided to use the Pocket Veto method of dealing with them ( An Extra- Constitutional action)! The failure of any Congressional plan lies directly in the lap of Harry Reid!
Not the Speaker of the House, nor even the President himself can force Reid to take any action!
Tedcrawford - could it be that Harry Reid has decided to do the will of the people? Gasp! you mean the actual will of the working/middle class people? If he is pocketing boners bill's then that is probably the reason why - you see, the working/middle class is no longer concerned about the hardship of the upper 1 or 2% paying more in taxes, we know they lied and did not create jobs with the gift we allowed them to have, so by all means, let Harry pocket everything that comes from boner unless it is tied directly to an immediate tax increase (a rather large one please) for those making over $250,000 per year!
Union Baby
Only problem is that he did this with the second proposals to come of the Democratically controlled House in 2010 as well.
There goes your one sided argument. Whoops. Swings both ways. The only constant between today and then..... Harry Reid.
Or maybe McConnell is telling Reid that if these bills are brought to the Senate floor for a vote, the R's will filibuster them and Reid doesn't have sixty votes for cloture. Remember that McConnell and the rest of the Republican brain trust agreed on the day Obama was inaugurated that they would not do anything that could help and everything they could to make Obama a one term President - even if what they did was harmful to the nation. True patriots.
The Republicans should put up a detailed plan, and make it public so everyone can see what their ideas truly are.
What is wrong with that?
Because they don't have a plan other than extending the Bush tax cuts. Romney has campained for 8 years and he still never came up with a detailed plan. The republicans are still in shock that they lost the election. Winning the election WAS their plan.
vernabc
Romney had the foundations for one that could have been successful if you play around with the numbers slightly. The most important idea from the Romney idea is to reduce the deductions as your level of income increases. I am sure it would take countless hours to plug in all the data with the various options to see what the outcomes would be, but there are several thinktanks out there that do just that.
I dont see why someone needs to be able to write off the mortgage interest on their second, third, fourth home, etc (even though the deductions are limited, they should still be removed).
If someone is making $10,000,000 a year, deductions are going to make little or no difference to how they spend money, compared to someone making $80,000 a year with a mortgage.
I say, do a complete and thorough autopsy on the plan, crunch the numbers and see how it could really work. If at the end of the day it doesn't and adjustments need to be made, then at least a full analysis has been done.
politocoguy - nothing should be wrong with that, however, boner knows there is an election less than 2 years away and if he pushes tax breaks for the upper 1 - 2% he is gonna lose a lot of seats in the house, if he does not push tax breaks for the upper wealthy then none of his republican collegues are gonna have any lobby money for their campaign. And that is exactly what is wrong - ball is in bonners court (yes I know I spell it wrong - that is on purpose because he does not even qualify to be a bonehead!).
Politico Guy:
If more Republicans were as willing to be reasonable as you're sounding, and were prepared to put country before Party, I'm betting that we would never have come to this pass in the first place.
Seriously, I just don't see that much of Republicans saying, "Let's all get this sorted out and start working together for a strong economy". As a matter of fact, since Jan. 20th, 2009, I haven't seen that at all.
You and Talk to the Hand should get together and try to talk some sense to the more extreme ideologues in your party. I am reminded of what Ben Franklin once said, in a rather different context:
"We must all hang together, or we shall all hand separately."
Peace!
Put an end to the Obama tax breaks. They are HIS tax breaks now! Bush has been gone for almost four years. He raves on about everyone to pay their fair share, let them. Put an end to deductions allowing people to get a refund of more than they paid in. Stop aliens from claiming a dozen dependents in Mexico that don't even live with them. REVISE THE FOOD STAMP program to make ut only used as originally intendedn . Not for bingo halls in Wash. state, lotto tickets in Calif, or lap dances at a strip joint in N.Y. or N.J.
Let see the Demo plan as well. Nobody has a plan just 20 second sound bites.. Lets us compare both of the plans. The Demo's are the ones with zero ideas, there president didn't have a plan except to raise taxes on the rich,,, for the great divider of the people....
So the Democult and their alphabet media can demogogue anything the Repubs say? Just forget it and let OBarney wear thin and wear out on His own.
The President should not budge an inch, it is time for republicans to put some actual numbers on the table, if and when they do then he should call McConnell laugh out loud, then call Boehner and claim he is flabergasted at an offer that is not serious. The automatic triggers is something the republicans signed off on, if they don't pony up big time, just let it happen.
I'm afraid that if nothing happens, the automatic cuts and tax (dare I say) increase would hurt the economy, and make President Obama look bad, period. I urge everyone to email their congressman to get some kind of legislation to keep both of these from happening.
I don't mind that our defense budget would get slashed, however by just letting these cuts happen, the economic confidence could stagger, and put us right back into a recession.
Republicans, do your jobs! We shouldn't have to scream to get you to work, should we?
Odd that you believe that the President, who does not have a vote on anything, would look bad if taxes increase and draconian budget cuts occur due to the actions or inactions of Congress, which does have the authority and the duty to vote.
I do realize that Bruce, I'm just saying that Presidents are remembered, not congressmen. In 4 years if the economy is in the tank, it will be President Obama taking the blame, much like Bush taking the blame for what happened in 2008, 2009.
I'm an independant- moderate that leans Dem. I used to be Republican, but I don't know that party anymore, they left the party, not me!
I take your point, Lil, but Republicans in Congress will be easy targets in the 2014 elections when people see their paychecks reduced due to Republicans refusing to follow Obama's proposal 'to hold the middle class harmless'.
In 1948 Truman, who was an enormous underdog to Dewey, won due to his consistent attack on the 'do nothing Congress'. I'm a firm believer that history repeats itself.
Bush taking the blame for tanking the economy and blowing the biggest holes in the budget in history was accurately placed. Who in their right mind would push for lower taxes while engaging in a two front war?
Lil Michele, the president has not and will not take the blame, republicans have well documented their stance towards this president by publicly stating their Waterloo strategy right from the start, not to mention their signed pledges to Norquist which amounts to the smoking gun they can never deny. They can't have it both ways claiming that taxes harm the economy but then allowing taxes to go up on 98% of the country to protect 2% of the country, who already pay half the rate I do. They say spending hurts the economy but are deathly against any cuts in military spending. They thought the automatic triggers were a good idea, now they claim it would be a disaster, the nation is sick and tired of their double talk, it's time to stand pat and force them to bargain in good faith, or live with the deal they made for themselves if they don't.
Forrest - How are you today, hope everything is going well for you and your family. All we are getting is political talk from both sides. IMO the Democrats are playing "class warfare", pitting those with less against those with more. Obama keeps mentioning paying their "fair share". But he doesn't define what is a "fair share".
We must rewrite the tax codes, do away with most, if not all, deductions. Cut all loop holes, subsidies, and tax credits. Basically completely write a new simplified tax code that everyone can understand. That could be done in 6 months to a year, in the mean time extend the Bush/Obama tax cuts during that time, reduce all spending across the board by at least 10 to 15%. BTW, why do the Democrats keep calling them the Bush tax cuts, since it was the Democrats that made them temporary (10 yrs) and Bush agreed? Wasn't it Obama who signed the extension to the tax cuts, he could have let them expire two years ago? Please, don't say it was to save unemployment benefits, as Congress could have passed a new law to cover the unemployment benefit extensions, and they would have.
SFCRET, It's true that congress COULD have passed a separate unemployment ext., but they wouldn't have, you know. Congress could have done a lot of things the last four years, but they didn't. They could be doing something NOW, but they don't seem too interested, do they? Toooo much postering and gnashing of teeth.
8% approval rating. I wonder why.
The President will end up moving towards the middle in the end, as will the Republicans, but until the Republicans put together a specific plan of what they are looking for, you are correct, the President should just stand pat
I am sorry, the Republican's have submitted two viable plans and President Obama rejected them out of hand. President Obama does not want to solve the fiscal cliff issue, he wants to let it happen so he can blame the Republican's for his inept management of the Government for the last four years and for the next four.
If he was serious about sound management of the Government, he would have been demanding a balanced budget for the last three years instead of kicking the can down the road.
Presidents can propose but it is Congress that disposes. The real issue is elections. Congress, and specifically the Republican majority in the House, wants to ignore its Constitutional obligation to decide revenue and spending matters and put the onus on the President.
When it comes time for re-election, Republicans want to be able to say, "The devil made me do it".
Bruce
One major flaw with your argument here. What do you say when the Democrats and Nancy Pelosi were in charge of the House for the first two years of Obamas term?
My response is that during Pelosi's reign, McConnell implemented his scorched earth strategy of fillibustering anything and everything Democrats proposed, and he is continuing that strategy today.
Who is Bill Clitnon? A freudian back to the Lewinsky days?
“We're nowhere, period. We're nowhere,” House Speaker John Boehner said.
"He's a real Nowhere Man, sitting in his Nowhere Land, making all his Nowhere Plans for Nobody." Lennon-McCartney
A Beatles referrence... Awesome!!!
A little translation of this issue for Dems...Fiscal Cliff is the VERY BEST deal Dems could ever negotiate with Boehner's 112th Congress (which history will tag as the worst ever), it will make real headway in deficit reduction, get more cuts to the military than R's would EVER EVER agree to, and in the end R's know they have no choice to pass Bush cuts for 98% of Americans or face losing their jobs in Mid-terms. Cuts to Medicare will target waste, not benefits. Love watching those R's squirm, wonderful after watching them drive the US into the ditch last 2 years. NO leg to stand on, ALL bluster, anyone who criticizes the Fiscal Cliff deal is watching Fox. Obama a world class chess player, so hang in there!
Cat, I could not agree more. Obama may be a good chess player, but apparently, according to those who should know, he's not too bad a poker, either.
For most Americans, much of this discussion is esoteric. But when there is an increase in federal withholding next month, Americans will know it and feel it. And they will want to know why. Obama will not have to say or do anything other than point to Capital Hill.
Two Years Ago Obama Presented His Plan -- Guess Who Left All the Marbles On The Table And Walked Away -- If You Guessed The GOP You Got It Right! Staying Consistent And Earning Their Title As The "Do Nothing Congress" By Voting No - No - No On Virtually All Critical Bills & Issues!
Compromise Is The Heart Of Deal Making -- And Always Will Be The Heart Of Deal Making -- Not Stone Walling Or Signing Pledges With The Likes Of Grover Norquist -- These Self Imposed Positions Are Moves Away From Compromise!
Many Members In Congress Have Lost Sight Of And Have Moved Away From The Fact That They Are Employees Of All Americans And Are Paid By All Americans To Represent All Americans -- Regardless Of How You Got Into Office Or Who May Have Voted You Or Not And That As A Member Of Congress You Have Pledged To -- Represent All Americans And America As A Whole.
65% Of Americans Want To Move Forward With Obama's Economic Agenda -- What Is The GOP's Problem Here -- Will It Take Another Election To Finally Put A Halt To The GOP's Failure To Honor Your Pledge To America And What The Vast Majority Of Americans "65%" Want!
The GOP Is Still Spinning From Their Election Lose And The Thinning Of Their Numbers In Congress -- Use Compromise The Heart Of Deal Making -- And Get Us Moving Forward Or Wait, See And Walk Away Again -- Sorry -- But We Need Your Plans -- Details -- Specifics Now -- Put Your Marbles On The Table Now Or Wait For 2014 When Your Marbles May Count For A Lot Less Or Maybe Not At All!
Personal Agendas + Norquist Pledges = Fewer GOPs In Congress & Moves The GOP Further Out Of Reach Of The Office Of President!
Our Political Civil War Needs Rational Compromise If We Are To Move Forward!
No More -- Do Nothing Congress!
Where are you getting 65% from. The election was 53 to 47.
According to Pew Research, 58% of Americans support holding tax rates at their current levels for those making less than $250,000 per year and increasing tax rates for those who more than that amount.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/08/27/160115779/pew-poll-most-americans-believe-rich-pay-too-little-in-taxes
of course they want to increase taxes on the rich as it doesn't affect them YET !! The rich are a finite resource to tap. I can hear the squealing now when the "rich" designation drops to those who make 50k because we all know that it will take alot more than taking everything that the "rich" have to make it fair for those who don't work.
Obamas first real comprehensive jobs plan was presented to Congress after the midterm elections and he saw that people in this country were truly pissed off with how the powers that be handled the entire Obamacare situation.
If it were truly his priority, why was it that the Jobs Act was presented to Congress in September of 2011, a full 30 months after he took office?
It's because Stinky (BO) is a fraud.
Thanks for stopping by.
Boehner cannot Soften his tone? Eric Cantor is nipping at his heels for the Speakership. NEANDERTHALS in the House, would turn on him in a minute’s notice if he does not tow their ZEALOTRY on NOT WORKING with the President on ANYTHING and hope the Public blames the President.
All the House has done in 2 Years is NOT PASS A JOBS BILL, Repeal Obamacare 30+ times, Continue to PUT MORE BIG GOVERNMENT on Women's Bodies, and Take Time Off to Continue to lie to their Constituents that it is all about JOBS!
According to Paul Ryan they also got a MANDATE BY GERRYMANDERING their Districts. The President Winning was just an URBAN THING per Ryan. The People and Wall Street will have to kick these Neanderthals to the Curb.
Wall Street understands that Raising Taxes is NO big deal, But the 1% think they still have the upper hand over the People with the House. Wall Street does UNDERSTAND IS Economic Chaos on Businesses all over the World ESPECIALLY THE GOP/TEA’s PLAN TO USE THE DEBT CEILING as LEVERAGE against Tax Hikes.
I wonder if low information voters who VOTE Republicans against their own Interest like to SEE RIOTING in this Country on a Daily basis, LIKE EUROPE by their family, neighbors, friends on Government STUPIDITY and a PLEDGE to a ZEALOT, Grover Nordquist, who is UNELECTED? The GOP/TEA House is willing to USE THE DEBT CEILING to further ERODE THE FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNIED STATES OF AMERICA AGAIN.
I will use Boehner's Famous words "This is what the American People want us to do!"
This OBSTRUCTION by the GOP/TEA is downright "Un-American.”
TalkingPoints
Good point. Why was the jobs bill presented to Congress just over a year ago (Presented in September of 2011). You dont think there was any political motivation behind that?
If it were truly the priority of this administration, why did it take 30 months to bring this bill to congress?
The administration could have focused on the jobs bill first since that seemed to be the most pressing issue of the day, and since they held both houses of Congress, it would have passed easily.
Instead, Obamacare is the primary objective and the jobs bill waits for almost 3 years. Interesting choice.
Ask Harry Reid why he wont bring many of the items that the House has sent him to his floor for a vote?
Ian
You cannot simply explain away the consequences of the collapse of the dot.com and tech sectors which cost the businesses involved over $3 trillion in real market value.
Where do you think the jobs went, and what do you think the fallout of that kind of loss in the capital markets causes?
The real boom ended before Bush took office, and the effects of the collapse did not start to fully materialize until just around the time he was going to take office.
This is simlar to what happened when Obama took office, as the current conditions were compounded by the sub-prime mortgage mess that hit in the summer of 2008. The effect of this was a loss of $4 trillion dollars at a time when the market and economy could ill afford to take such a hit.
It didn't help that Bush pushed for tax cuts while engaging in a two-front unfunded war and capped off by his Part D drug Medicare benefit, also unfunded and a windfall for Big Pharma.
Bottom line the Repubs are protecting the rich 2% with Norquest who happens to be a powerful lobbyist spearheading their compaign. They are owned by lobbyists. It is easy to figure out that the pledge that Redubs signed was authored by members of the 2% that contributes to their campaigns. Remember only about 9% of their contributions come from individuals where 40% of contributions for Democrats come from individuals.
Lobbyists authors a lot of bills that are sent to congress for passage. Most congressmen do not know the details but only understand the purpose of the bills. That purpose is to push special interest agendas i.e., NRA.
Remember their number one goal on day ONE of Obama's first term was to make this his only term. Their reasons ran the gambit from him being a Democrat, yes his race (not hard to figure out right Mitch and Lindsey), to pushing a smoke screen that would allow them to run from the Bush administration bad policys. What Republicans did in fact was sacrificed America. Now they are having to come to their reckoning on what they did. Hardball - it is completely understood from the President's standpoint.
Please don't forget the Bush tax breaks were designed to be temporary. The can has been kicked down the road already once. At the time the President told everyone including Congress this one not happen again. He is only keeping his word.
Then let ALL the tax breaks expire. You can't cherry pick winners and losers
You're right about kicking the can down the road. If you can remember, the Dems owned the government for the first 2 years. A budget? What's that? The GOP doesn't want more spending/borrowing, because, this may seem strange to some people, you have to pay it back! Raising the taxes on the 2% will keep the government running for 6 days. Gives you a nice warm feeling running down, up, your leg, picking on the dirty, nasty, greedy, rich, doesn't it? Where's the rest of the money coming from? Of course Obama wants to protect the Middle Class - they'll be paying the bills (tax increase) and blaming the GOP.
One major mistake Romney made during his campaign: he promised that he would create millions of jobs. 51% of the Country said, "no way!"
So President Stinky (BO) is holding a gun to the heads fo the "middle-class". He threatens to shoot the middle-class unless the Republicans agree to his demands, or it will be THEIR fault when Stinks pulls the trigger! He sounds like an f'ing terrorist!! He should be told that we don't deal with terrorists. When everybody's taxes go up in 4 weeks, it will be Stinky's doing, nobody elses. The Obama tax hikes are coming for EVERYBODY!!! It's all part of Stinky's plan. He just didn't let his supporters know, that's all. He's like a child or wife abuser. He's a little man with little ideas, and basically just a creep.
Wow, there is someone on here with a brain. He want's all the Bush tax cuts to expire so he can spend, spend, spend. Spend us right into Socilaism, the declare himself a Dictator and intro Communism to the USA. And hi high placed political supporters knew. The ones that didn't are the idiots that voted for him.
Wow, here are two people with half a brain. Spelling, punctuation and reason do, indeed, increase credibility.
Insulting names say more about you than the person you're commenting on. You think Obama is holding a gun to the head of the middle class? Perhaps you should take a look at what congressional Republicans are doing. In order to prevent the very rich from paying exactly what they were paying 10 years ago, they're screwing over the middle class. Both sides have asked for silly things. It would be nice if both sides would grow up and realize that compromise requires painful sacrifices... Just like the sacrifices so many Americans have had to make over the last six years.
No more Mr. Nice Guy? LMAO! Shouldn't it be much more of Mr. Lazy Guy who won't hammer out deals because it's his way or the highway?
Or do they mean the nice guy who disrespected GOP members during the Obamacare "neogtiations" that Mr. Smart Guy devolved to "we have the House, the Senate, and this legislation will go through as written". Though no one seemed to know what the hell was in it.
President Obama is an elitist dullard when it comes to common sense. Anybody want to bet me he throws out his shoes when he breaks a shoelace to buy a new pair of shoes?
The lefties are such a bright bunch! Operncenter.org investigated campaign donation patterns for profs of several NE Universities. SURPRISE! 96% of profs donated to Obama!
Which means they only teach that which furthers their lefty tripe and indoctrinates dopey students into blindly following the lefty, dreamy, utopian fantasy of the perfect garden for all! Yeah!
I'll take that bet. Stakes?
You realize, of course, that you, along with university professors, and the general public, are the prime reasons that the President was reelected? You don't. Dopey students? Jeez.
Where is LHO ?
It seems as though Obama wants to go the route of Jimmy Carter - all about "caring" and "doing what's right," helping the weakest; without being fiscally responsible. I believe that Carter is a "good man," and that he truly cares about others. But, he just didn't seem to understand the importance of a "free economy." If I recall correctly, his "pro-big gov't policies" led us into a terrible recession that had the unusual nickname of "stagflation," where the economy lowered, but prices still went up. I recall a SNL skit involving Dan Akroyd playing JC, saying, "Wouldn't you want to wear a $40,000 sweater?... I know I would..." or something like that. I think that relying on tax grabs to improve the economy is a mistake. We nned to lower taxes and provide economic incentives.
The Fiscal Cliff is coming.
This draconian austerity measure may be a jolt to the system that the Country needs to address the huge debt, deficit and enormous borrowing from China to build expensive weaponry to scare China.
The Republicans and tea Party members in Congress do not really care. They will do anything to disrupt the economy as long as President Obama is in the White House. A form of economic terrorism from our own elected officials.
For the sake of future good governance of this Country, time to break the eggs, hopefully the omelett will be delicious. If not, God save us.
Hopefully Obama has learned that consensus building requires willing participants. The New GOP is not a willing participant. It's their way or the highway. Democracy to them is a fire fight ... and you have to fight fire with fire. Reid obviously grasps this, finally. His handshake deal with Dirtbag McConnell on filibusters got the Senate NOWHERE. Reid tied the collegial way, now it's time for the brass knuckles. Nuclear option ... whatever. Obama should follow suit.
I can't wait till you who have voted for this traitor a second time realise that you got screwed even worse than the ones that didn't vote for his BS. just wait repubs will stick to their integrity (by the way which obozo has none) and say no to higher taxes JUST ON THE 2% WHO ACTUALLY DO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, IN FACT THEY PAY MOST OF IT. cause obozo will use this to tell all of you dumbo voters that the repubs are the blame for your taxes going higher!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA now look who is crying in their kool-aid. YOU ALL WHO VOTED FOR "FORWARD" well I say if this is what you wanted then I say give it to you......cause you know what the 2% have already hiden their money again (OBOZO) cayman islands....no doubt. so, they will not pay anymore than they already have.....hohohohohahahahahaha. all i want to do is be around long enough to see just one of you idiots tell your grand children what horrific mess you gave them to live with.......may God Have Mercy on all your SOULS!!!!! IDIOTS
Mona3250
Whoever you call traitor ( and you are not, calling the democratically elected POTUS a traitor) is miles better than any alternative that your party proposed.
Listen, the fear mongering that got Bush reelected no longer works. We are a people who believe in our country and the ability of the democratic process to produce good results. Go hide in your cave, you can come out in January 2017. Hillary will be the elected POTUS then. If you do not like that then as well, you can crawl back into your cave for another 8 years.
Reason in action. I especially enjoyed the "hohohohohhahaha" inspiration of inteligencia. Anger management anyone? Why, you say?
Obama has never cooperated (period).
He shoved unwanted legislation down America's throat and told Republicans to 'get in the back of the bus.'
When American overwhelmingly voted in a Republican Congress to curb this White House they honored their constituency and the American people by doing just that.
Somebody needs to kill that sonofabitch.
"Fiscal Cliff" my a$$, the appropriate terminology should be and is Government Fiscal Failure. Call it what it is instead of coming up with it's the cliff's fault. Inept and incompetent politicians always coming up with the politically divisive terms pitting one party against the other when it's both parties at fault.
Let it happen and call Obama cards, see who gets the heat and watch "Mr. Nice Guy" go bonkers. It'll be interesting to watch both parties acting like village idiots with head slapping, nose pulling and eye poking while pointing blame every which way.