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Subscribe to RSSPer the Sunday-show rhetoric, both sides remain far apart in budget negotiations… But remember: The real negotiations haven’t even started yet… Democrats and Republicans now find themselves in completely opposite places from 2011… Pelosi threatens to introduce already passed Senate-bill that extends Bush tax cuts for only household income below $250,000… Obama holds bilateral with Bulgaria PM at 2:55 pm ET… Wasserman Schultz to remain DNC chair… Checking in on Mitt Romney… And the latest VA GOV developments.
As the White House and Republican leaders enter the final months of negotiations over the fiscal cliff, both sides remain very far apart. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
*** Far apart: Less than a month before the Bush-era tax cuts are set to expire and significant spending reductions are supposed to go into effect, the Obama White House and congressional Republicans remain far apart in their negotiations. “We're nowhere, period. We're nowhere,” House Speaker John Boehner said on FOX yesterday. He also blasted the budget offer that the White House gave to Republicans on Thursday, which included $1.6 trillion in increased taxes and revenues, $400 to $600 billion in spending cuts, and the essential end of Congress’ control over the debt limit. “I was flabbergasted… I've just never seen anything like it. You know, we've got seven weeks between Election Day and the end of the year. And three of those weeks have been wasted with this nonsense.”
Larry Downing / Reuters
President Barack Obama hosts a bipartisan meeting with Congressional leaders in the Roosevelt Room of White House to discuss the economy, in this file photo from Nov. 16, 2012.
*** Boehner vs. Geithner on the Sunday shows: Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was adamant that the Bush tax cuts for income above $250,000 would have to expire. “The only thing standing in the way of [a deal] would be a refusal by Republicans to accept that rates have to go up on the wealthiest Americans,” he said on “Meet the Press.” And he added that if Republicans want entitlement changes, they’ll have to propose them. “What we can't do is try to figure out what they need. They have to tell us. And then, we have to take a look at it, and see if we think it makes sense for the American people.” But as bad as things sounded on the shows yesterday, let’s not panic yet. This isn’t all-hands-on-deck time. After all, President Obama was out golfing with Bill Clinton and speaking at the Kennedy Center yesterday. As we’ve told you before, the real negotiations probably won’t start until mid-December.
*** 2011 vs. 2012: Role reversal: What is striking, however, is that Democrats and Republicans now find themselves in COMPLETELY OPPOSITE places than they were in 2011. A year ago, Republicans were the ones – after their victory in the midterms – who had the political winds at their back and felt like they had the mandate. Now it’s the Democrats. In 2011, Republicans were the ones with more detailed plans about spending cuts (think the Ryan plan). Now it’s the White House with a more detailed plan. And back then, Republicans had the leverage with the debt ceiling. But now Democrats are the ones with the leverage, because of the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. As the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent writes, “[I]f we do nothing, Democrats will get their way. All the tax cuts will expire, and Dems can come back and push a new tax cut just for the middle class -- a circumstance that will only increase the Dems' leverage further.”
*** Pelosi threatens to introduce already-passed Senate bill: And given that leverage, don’t overlook this gambit: House Minority Leader says that Democrats might try to schedule a vote, via a discharge petition, on the already-passed Senate legislation that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts only for household income below $250,000, CNN writes. “‘If Speaker Boehner refuses to schedule this widely-supported bill for a vote, Democrats will introduce a discharge petition to automatically bring to the floor the Senate-passed middle class tax cuts,’ Pelosi said in a statement. Under a ‘discharge petition,’ a bill can be brought to the floor without going through a committee or without approval of House leadership. The bill would need an absolute majority - 218 votes - to pass.”
*** Obama’s day: At 2:55 pm ET, President Obama hosts a bilateral with Bulgaria PM Boyko Borissov. And then about an hour later, at 4:00 pm, he delivers remarks at the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction symposium at the National Defense University.
*** Wasserman Schultz to remain as DNC chair: NBC has confirmed from two Democratic officials that President Obama will ask the Democratic National Committee to ratify Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) to remain as DNC chair when the party next meets in January. Politico first reported the news this morning.
*** Checking in on Romney: Over the weekend, the Washington Post ran a piece checking in on Mitt Romney a little less than a month after his presidential loss. “Four weeks after losing a presidential election he was convinced he would win, Romney’s rapid retreat into seclusion has been marked by repressed emotions, second-guessing and, perhaps for the first time in the overachiever’s adult life, sustained boredom, according to interviews with more than a dozen of Romney’s closest friends and advisers.” More: “Unlike the last two unsuccessful nominees, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Romney had no job waiting for him. His public platform fell out from under him on election night.”
*** The latest VA GOV developments: On Sunday, President Obama golfed with Bill Clinton -- but also with Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D) and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. But could McAuliffe get a primary challenge from former Rep. Tom Perriello. As the Washington Post reported on Friday, “Former congressman Tom Perriello, currently at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, has quietly approached prominent Democrats in recent weeks to let them know that he is at least considering a run, according to party operatives in Virginia. Perriello himself has not responded to several requests from The Washington Post for comment.” With Cuccinelli as the all but assured GOP nominee, the penalty for a primary on the Democratic side would SEEM to be less.
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In reality it doesn't matter which "party" comes out the "winner" in this mess.
Whether it's the Democrats or Republicans, the losers will be the American people. The PEOPLE are the pawns the losers that were elected are using as chips in their games.
Personally, I'd prefer to see all the rates go up AND cut the spending. That's the only solution that might leave this country for my and your grandchildren.
GET RID OF WORTHLESS "BONER"! He IS the problem and a drain on all tax payers.....US! He is nothing more than a "ROMNEY EXTENSION", if ya know what I mean. GET RID OF THE PROBLEM PEOPLE!!
John Boehner summed it up best, and his statement is applicable and appropriate to both parties: " We're nowhere, period. We're nowhere." What a description of the present politcal scene; it would be funny except for the fact that the American people are the ones left holding the proverbial bag.
This was Obama's plan all along--to tax everyone, not just the rich. Make outrageous proposals to the Republicans, giving them the blame. Obama gets all the $$$ laughing his head off at the dummies that voted for him. Get ready for high taxes, massive layoffs, 28hr work weeks to avoid Obamacare, and drastically increased prices on everything as the rich pass their increases on to us. The layoffs have already started along with increases in food prices.
Most people don't want to believe in this scenario george, but it IS the truth and beginning to happen.
Obama is more than willing to drive the country over the cliff. Republicans should stop wasting time and with the exception of SS and medicare defund all government programs.
Did anyone really think these people could compromise. They did not do it before why would they do it now. They do not care what the American people said in the elections. All they care about is making sure their big donors get what they want one way or another.
Wages have gone down, therefore tax revenue went down. Question, do you pay the same price for a loaf of bread, or gallon milk, even a gallon of gas as you did two years ago. HOw do you expect the government to pay the same price on anything.
Again, the Republicans want to take money from SS, when it never conributed to the deficit to begin with. I do not hear them saying they will cut their salaries, or contribute more to their benefits.
We need reform to our tax codes, foreign policy regarding financial help to other countries and definitely rein in the lobbyist and special interest groups.
Laura
You are an idiot to say republicans want to take money from Social Security. It was Democrats that VOTED to RAID Social Security in the first place, and have NEVER PAID a CENT BACK. Then the Democrats always looking to TAX SOMEONE for something also VOTED TO TAX SOCIALSECURITY PAYMENTS.
You nuts that say republicans are UNCARING are morons. I am not a Republican eithe, and did not like Bush but you ideological demonuts are far worse than republicans about spending and being "uncaring".
It was also the Dems who stole $716 Billion from Medicare, on the pretext of waste, fraud, and abuse; so they use it to pay for Obamacare.
The only thing that will change the mess this country is in when all more educated people vote in each state.That will take many years when the young see the mess they are left with. If it still is named America. Education is key
So long as education is dominated by idealist leftists, the brain washing will go on. Obama is a perfect example of that.
And he had a mentor in Frank Marshall Davis who taught him all about communism...and who most likely his real father.
All of you seem tobe forgetting that we are all in this messedup gig together. The economic situation we find ourselves in belongs soly to the current addministration. The reality is this the mony is there in the privat sector to right the economy. And why is that the answer is this the companys and people who have that kind of money are good sound business people, they are Democrat, Republican & Indapendant. They all have one thing in common they know that this President dose not have a clue as to what he's doing. If he did the money would have started to move basicly the Democrats agree with the Republicans on this point.
The only thing, or should I say person that is holding the American public up is Obamanation himself. This Bastard is doing everything to bring down these United States, and he could care less about it. He and those jerks up on the hill will get their pay whether the United States goes "over the cliff" or not.....What should he care about.
Why should the republicans offer a counter offer when this pathetic president and his democratic senate can not even pass a budget for four years. I think its time for him to lead don't you? This guy is the biggest joke of a president that this country has ever had. He plays his games at the American peoples expense. Obama is pathetic!
President Obama needs to be better aligned with his party. He seems to have moved to far to the left. Even the number 2 man in the Democratic Senate (Dick Durbin) says we need entitlement reform and other cuts in spending. Not surprising that Obama's budget proposals got zero votes and I do mean zero votes in the House, even from his own party. Glad the GOP is not going to go along with his utopic vision of America where the Government takes care of all needs without regard to how we pay for it all.
I am sick to death of hearing the phrase "entitlements". I'm sixty-eight and you damn right I'm entitled to what I paid for.
A country that spends more than the next seventeen nations combined and maintains more than 1000 overseas military bases has no need to cut its citizens healthcare and retirement benefits. When the Repubs cut the ridiculous so-called defense spending to sane levels, get back to me. Until then, single up and suck out!
You're not entitled to anything.
I'm certain Boehner could be bribed to retire. Lifetime golf membership with a truckload of scotch and Pall Malls should do it.
Conservitive party for who? the american peaple ,or the rich!!!, we need a two term limit on politicians,and we need to get rid of republicans who only care for the rich and not the peaple .
Name one. And tell us all how you know. Please.
and we need to rid ourselves of the entitlement politicians whose focus is on redistribution of existing wealth over capitalistic policies designed to create wealth.
Name who you are talking about, and why. Please. BTW. The top 20 richest people in Congress is dominated by Democrats.
Seems like all Obama does is play golf, basketball, or take lavish vacations. No wonder nothing gets done in D.C.
1.6 trillion added to the already 16 trillion national debt. Even your great grandchildren won't put a dent in this debt if they can find a job..lol
Record 49 million americans on food stamps, food prices rising, taxes going up, and we give other countries billions of dollars while Obama is thinking about cuting social security. We older people on SS worked all our lives and paid into SS while Congress robbed it.
let's say inflation were to raise its ugly head to a tune of 10% (not unreasonable) - do the math.
We're doomed.
What gutless b--tards these Dems are!! Geitner says "if Republicans want entitlement changes, they’ll have to propose them". WTF. Everyone knows except the far left idiots that entitlement changes have to be done because they are currently unsustainable NO MATTER WHAT THE NEW TAX RATES ARE!! Chuck Todd admited this morning that the Dems want the repubs to "own the entitlement reforms" What a astounding lack of leadership by this adminsistration. PATHETIC!
Quite the contrary, JJD. Republicans are demanding entitlement reform, not Obama. A leading Republican Senator (Lindsay Graham) says he will only consider revenue increase if 'entitlement reform' is on the table. So let the GOP put it there. Obama and Democrats should not have to be mind readers ~ to see if it can 'guess' what would be acceptable to congressional Republicans. If the same amount of energy spent on public disparagement of the Obama proposals were focused on hammering out their own proposals, the GOP could have their plan on the table by Wednesday night. Romney tried to run a campaign in 'stealth mode' but that will not work for the GOP in this matter. Its bid, check, or fold time ~ and Boehner knows that.
Your refering to political gamesmenship. I'm commenting on leadership or the lack thereof in the WH. The congress passed entitlement reform last year and the WH had Reid do a pocket veto by not bringing it to a vote in the senate. Do you remember that? at that point they should of come back with a counter of their own on spending,but they didn't. They just used it as a political football to get Obama reelected.
At this point they should be colaborating on something together, but the Dems want no part of it... PATHETIC
What a sham on the American public! Of course sometime just before the time line ends a "compromise" will be agreed on giving both sides a little but not 100% of what they want. The definition of rich will be raised to ( let's guess) $500K meaning those that live in the more expensive cities will continue to see the Bush era tax breaks, the 2% will be "expected " to pay more, small almost meaningless entitlements cuts will be accepted by the Republicans and the train continues on its runaway pace towards the demise of this once great economy.
We've all been and are continuing to be deceived by both sides, but the sheep will be fed and the rich will divest.
First...the republicans were left with control of congress for a reason..people still don't trust Obamas' economic policies..but second.,..I saw Boehner on t.v. Sunday and he kept saying that the president knows what the republicans want and that there are about a dozen ideas they've sent to the president...but he would not tell us what the ideas are...I'm pissed...they said he asked to come on Chris Wallaces' show to talk about his dealings with the president...but he wouldn't say exactly how he would increase jobs and keep us from going off the "cliff"...I'm a lifelong conservative and I think it's time for Boehner to step down.
If people didn't trust Obama policies, they sure as Hell would not have re-elected him, mcbeef. Its not as though voters were without choices, Obama is absolutely correct ~ strategically, tactically, and politically ~ to require Republicans to publicly come forward with their proposals. They should not be a secret and there is no plausible reason for keeping them under wraps. Dems and Obama are quite correct to wait for the GOP's specific proposals. If they don't produce them then the consequences accrue to Republicans.
Liberals, have allways had this problem the only way they know to when is to lie, steal and cheat. My Grandfather told me along time ago that about every 25 or 30 years the American People lose the mind and elect a liberal President. Jimmy Carter was in office at the time. And sure enough here we are but never before have they done so much damage.
Hope everyone likes base jumping because that is where we are going. Repeated, non-leader members of both parties (like Colorado Senator Udall (D)) have said the solution is to get together, put everything, including all sacred cows, on the table and work to the benefit of the country. However, the leaders in both parties refuse to put everything on the table and simply keep making proposals that they know are unacceptable to the other side. Then they degenerate to threats. If both sides came to the table without pre-conditions (like the Pres insisting on tax rate hikes on the wealthy and the Speaker insisting on raising revernue through closing loopholes) they might find that they could get at least some of what they wanted. Instead with all the pre-conditions and posturing, neither side is going to get anything and both sides will blame the other for base jumping without a parachute. See you at the bottom of the cliff, unless the Mayan crazies are correct, of course.
Did anyone else try and click the headline that said "North Korea claims discovery of Unicorn Lair" only to find a broken link.....and really curious about that headline?
I love it the makers are fighting with the middle class, while the takers are still taking...you can't run a household budget, a business, or a government like this...welcome to prime minister obama and the united states of greece!
Let's make this real simple, we should to stop any and all future obstruction change the law so that Reoublicans in the house and Senate serve at the will of the president (if he is a democrat) and only democrats serve by election. Anyone too stupid to vote for a democrat is too stupid to deserve representation anyway. I am so tired od the republicans thinking they are human.
Anyone stupid enough to vote the straight party ticket (either Rep or Dem) does not deserve to vote. Both parties are so beholden to their extremes that the current deadlock in Congress may become permanent.
DieHardCentrist
this is not a dictatorship. The Congress doesn't serve at the will of the president. They are elected by their constituents to represent their views. That is EXACTLY what the House Republicans are doing.
We conservative are opposed to the Stalinist view of govt held by Obama and the Democrats
and Larry if the people are so stupid they vote republican? we need a check and balance against those morons. That's all I am saying. Relax Conservatives are not even human.....
Neil I vote for the best person for the job, it's not my fault that they all run on the democratic side..... If a good republican existed I may vote fo them. And as far as centrists go, the only thing in the middle of the road is yellow stripes and dead armadilo's......
there are some confused tea nuts trolling about. The claim that the middle class was better off under W simply doesn't hold up. In 2008, after your God was in office 8 years, you lost at least half of your net worth- if you were lucky. Rich, poor, middle- we all lost. Now your God is in Exile, painting Dog pictures.
4 years later, you are better off. If you lost your job, you are working again. If you are a senior, you still have SS, Medicare and Medicaid. If you lost your house, you are probably looking at buying again. If you are white trash, you still get your food stamps and unemployment because a Mexican (hired by a repub) took your job. If you have health insurance, you get to keep it and the cost has leveled off. You have the lowest tax rates in 60 years. If you are white trash, you will get health insurance although you will have to pay for it (no more free ER) If you are a farmer, you still get all your crop supports and subsidies. If you don't believe in global warming, then you get to boast that we are now producing more domestic energy than we ever had and gas is cheaper than it was under W ($5 a gallon)
You can still teach your kids that evolution is a lie, still own more guns than you could ever use and defend yourself from the criminals that are also allowed to own all the guns they want. You can still feel the patriot act is keeping you safe and enjoy a fruitless war for 2 more years. So, bottom line, you are better off than you were 4 years ago by any measure. Go on the Fox site an whine about how bad things are.
Paliban your quote from a post a couple weeks ago: "What does a southern evangelical do when he gets his daughter pregnant? Why, it's a gift from God!" ...Now you're a man of the cloth and you write this kind of garbage. Shame on you. You should leave or be kicked out of your church. You're a bigot, Paliban, that shouldn't be given the time of day!
Seems like all Obama does is play golf, basketball, or take lavish vacations. No wonder nothing gets done in D.C.
1.6 trillion added to the already 16 trillion national debt. Even your great grandchildren won't put a dent in this debt if they can find a job..lol
Record 49 million americans on food stamps, food prices rising, taxes going up, and we give other countries billions of dollars while Obama is thinking about cuting social security. We older people on SS worked all our lives and paid into SS while Congress robbed it.
"All about the political wind"...how disgusting!!! When will we be able to say..."It's all about the American people." Wake up America! You have lost your country...take it back....vote every incumbent out of office. And don't read the BS from this website...the press is just as much to blame. The press has one interest...their own egos and bottom line. They were given special status because a democracy depends on an active and informed citizenry. The press from Rush Limbaugh to Chris Mathews just pander to the interests of the Repubs and Dems...and where does it say in the Constitution either one of those parties should govern. Our system is seriously broken and I fear our children or grandchildren will solve the problem with a gun rather than a ballot...because the ballot is rigged and people want a government subservient to them not the other way around.