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As Republicans and the White House continue to jostle over the "fiscal cliff," the public remains pessimistic about a solution and is largely prepared to blame the GOP if no agreement is reached.
A new poll from the Pew Research Center and the Washington Post shows that only four in 10 adults believe that the two sides will hammer out an agreement to dodge the fiscal cliff by its Jan. 1 deadline, while nearly half (49 percent) believe no deal will get done in time.
The $2.2 trillion proposal floated by House Speaker John Boehner was shot down by the White House, which said Republicans' rejection of tax hikes for the wealthy and sweeping cuts to popular social programs are unacceptable. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
What's more -- in a trend surely being eyed by the Obama administration -- the public still appears ready to place blame for the impasse on congressional Republicans over the White House by a nearly 2-1 margin.
With a divide similar to public perceptions earlier in November, 53 percent of those surveyed said they would point the finger at the GOP for the failure of the negotiations, while just 27 percent say the president would be at fault.
The fiscal cliff counter-offer issued by House Republicans has one thing in common with last week's White House proposal – neither was designed to win any bipartisan support. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
While Democrats surveyed are far more optimistic than Republicans about an agreement (by 55 to 22 percent), all partisan groups appear uncertain about exactly what the consequences of the cliff's automatic spending cuts and tax increases could be. Only about a third of adults overall say they understand the effects of the fiscal cliff "very well," but over 60 percent say those effects will have a "major effect" on the US economy. But not as many respondents think that a tumble over the cliff will dramatically affect their own lives, with 43 percent saying the cuts and taxes would have a "major effect" on their personal finances and 35 percent labeling the consequences "minor" in their own lives.
Yuri Gripas / Reuters
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) speaks during a GOP news conference on the "fiscal cliff", on Capitol Hill in Washington, November 28, 2012.
The survey was conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2 among 1,003 adults. It has a 3.7 percent margin of error among its overall sample of adults.
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Anyone who believes that Obama wants to fix our economy just does not understand who he his and what he invisions. You can't transform a country into something else if everything is good...he HAS to make things bad enough for people to be willing to accept the changes he wants to make without appearing to hurt the country.
So even if you agree with his goal you have to admit that he going to make things harder for everyone because his "ends justify the means" mantality.
How would you know?
Just google "Obama's czars" and learn who they are and then listen to Dinesh D'Souza's audio book "The roots of Obama's rage" and will start to understand who he his and his actions will start to make sense to you.
Then the public is wrong, and so are you snakey. The Democrat congress and Barack Obama OWN this economic mess. Communists are SO last century, and a demonstrable failure. You extremist communists want to control every move people make, and it doesn't take all that long for people to get tired of it.
Don't like our constitution comrade? Move.
The public is 100% right. While both parties have got us where we are today, seems to me the GOP had the real AGENDA to bring Communism to the shores of America. The GOP focused on redistribution of wealth from the lower/middle class to the rich and corporations. This resulted in what.. the top 5% having an INCREASE in their wealth by 675% in the last 30 years, while the middle class had a 41% gain.
oh and let's not forget the GOP red agenda by telling us.. who we can marry, what our religion should be, what our family relationships should be, and telling women what they can and cannot do with their bodies.
Glad OBAMA/Dems are stopping the GOP red menace
@it'sabouttime: I didn't know the GOP was so powerful that it has been able to implement laws that have resulted in the redistribution of wealth from lower/middle class to the rich and corporations across the globe. How could that be happening in all those socialist nations as well? How could that be happening in all those other countries with higher taxes than the US? Don't be so myopic in your views. The past 30 years have seen some of the most inbalanced free trade agreements that resulted in driving down wages across the US. Middle class wages have been flat relative to inflation. Both parties voted for those free trade agreements.
I agree that everyone should be allowed to marry anyone they want (within the state stipulations of age requirements etc.) The federal government should have no role in determining any rules regarding marriage. In fact, tax laws based on marital status should be ruled unconstitutional since this is a protected characteristic. The federal government should not tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies (but, tax dollars shouldn't be used to facilitate those decisions as well).
The GOP should do as Obama had done, vote PRESENT and let the libs have all the tax increases, more spending, and increasing the debt as they have more than doubled it since 2007 when they took control over the house and senate. Let the libs prove their way works.
Let the libs stop being disengenuous and actually own this economy for once.
drew- then PLEASE stop with record breaking filibusters and allow the dems and libs to lead. Just get the hell outta the way is what we have been pleding with for over two years.
Quit being the Obstructionist Party
I agree, let the libs spend and tax at will.
I agree, let the libs spend and tax at will.
drew50- glad we agree now go and write your congressmen to that affect. Please remember the real drivers of the deficits were two republicans- bush the younger and reagan.
Thank you Drew. Finally a sensible teabagger who knows when he has been defeated. Sent a tweet to Boehner and tell him to stand down.
john and steve- what are the two of you drinking and or smoking?
why woud a communist want to give the banks free money to enable them to "re balance" their books instead of nationalizing them as a good commie or socialist would do.
Cant see the forest from the trees
Just think about it...if you sorround yourself with wall street people that helped crush our economy as well as all the anti-american czars he is appointing, it makes a perfect team of people that will make our lives miserable enough to accept his radical changes...please just look into his czars and Dinesh D'Souza's book "The roots of Obama's rage" and you will start to understand the truth that we are not being told.
Just think about it...if you sorround yourself with wall street people that helped crush our economy as well as all the anti american czars he is appointing, it makes a perfect team of people that will make our lives miserable enough to accept his radical changes.
John- if I quoted you mein kemph by hitler as documentation on the correctness of national socialism you would laugh at me. D'nish is an ideologically driven individual given little credence.
why again would a commie/socialist like Obama not nationalize the banks in 2009 when many were telling him to do so, yet he gave free govt money to the banks to re start capital, kind of fundamental to capitalism- NO????????
GIGO- garbage in garbage out. need to double check your source material as it is leading you astray
Dem, No bank and no business wanted to be nationalized! Obama only bailed out and took stock in GM because of the unions. But the government still ownes a large chunk of GM!
Socalism has never benifited anybody but the poor, The middle class upper middle class and the "rich" pay and the job creators eather scale down and do it themselves or go to another country that wants there money and skill to create jobs. Obama will only run them off!
Shawn- the banks were not asking to be nationalized but a number of economists were recommending that to be the best method to restart the banks. Other countries that faced what we were facing nationalized the banks to get them over the hump.
You obviously do not understand what you are talking about. The very fact he chose NOT to nationalize is against socialist or communist beliefs. So which side of the argument do you guys want??????? He is a socialist per you(secretly and only your side see's it so clearly) yet goes against socialist/communist doctrine has no merit to you. Obviously facts dont matter its all about ideology to you.
How come we never complain about we the people contribute $ .70 cents in taxes, fees, grants etc. and users pay $ .30 cents for every dollar it takes to run our local mass transit systems? Even Portland's so-called cadillac mass transit system charges its users about $ .28 cents on a dollar to use their system and businesses, local taxpayers and even the federal government chips in the rest of the money it takes to keep their mass transit system running. When are we going to put a stop to all the handouts? When are the users of mass transit going to be forced to pay what it really costs?
notsosmart- when the users and profiteers of the internet pay for the govt's cost in developing, or when the auto injdustry repays the govt for developing a road system to boost the sales of their cars,when pharma industry pays for the R&D supplied no cost thru out public universities, how many other illustrations would you like?
how about some true examples? Roads are paid but federal taxes and gasoline use taxes. So the takers pay very little but get full advantage! The internet was mostly paid for by private companies. Pharmacy give grants to PHD to do there thesis work and then PAYS the universities for there findings.
Please educate yourself to the most very basic parts of our society and stop promoting BS and lies to promote Obama!
The only way we will get back on track is the TRUTH!! Stop promoting your "team obama" and let the TRUTH lead the way.
By the way Obama and the progressive socalist party have lied to you Do not let them keep using you!!!
Shawn- you mean the govt first collected the money then built the roads??????? The govt takes all the risks. You mean the universities are funded by business?????????? the internet was a defense invention- all costs covered by uncle sam and Given free to you and I. How about airports- did commerce grow then fund the airports?
Your just wrong again and again.
better get your flu shot- wasnt that dna research funded by the NHS a wonderful thing Pharma gave us???????
If the media did their job and told the general public everything that they should be aware of Obama would be impeached so fast it would make your head spin.
Just google "Obama's czars" and listen to Dinesh D'Souza's audio book "The roots of Obama's rage" and you will start to understand what is really happening and you won't be surprised by Obama's actions.
He can no longer surprise me because I actually understand WHO his is, and it is confirmed everytime he takes his various actions.
Blowing smoke again? Have you been praying to Rand Paul's Aqua Buddha (know as a bong). Why would any sensible person believe one word of your crap?
Why would we want to listen to a clearly right wing written book about President Obama? Its very clear that its 100% biased and truly doesn't have MUCH factual information in it at all.
John812 ... Your tin-foil hat need re-adjusting..
You don't understand, I used to like Obama, but I love my country more...if you dismiss what I have said and not google it or read the book now that I have told you about these things than the only one you will be able to blame when these truths become apparent, is yourself.
I just want to you all to know who and what you are supporting.
Time to place the House of Representatives under armed guard in their chamber until they get it thru their numb skulls that they work for the American people and not for Norquist! Each time the Repub house balks on a tax deal we also ought to jack the rate on the rich another 5% as penalty for wasting the nation's time!
I would rather have a couple of Navy Seals bitch slap Obama, Pelosi and Reid each time they whine to "tax the rich".
You mean the rich who are currently enjoying the lowest tax burden in American history? After they took everyone's house, sent jobs overseas, people had to cash in their retirements only to be bent over again and told to "get a job you low-life" entitlement addict. The rich enjoy all the benefits of this country yet will not lift a finger to save it. I think you fair-weather patriots all ought to take a good hard look in the mirror.
We really need to dive off of that fiscal cliff, gives the libs all they wanted; tax increases, gutting the military, hell, if the libs were truly caring and serious about all of this, they would have done it instead of Obamacare. But for this libs, it is all about retaining power and screw America.
Drew - You threw in the towel a couple of comments ago. Stand down and shut up.
1. Its tax increases for those over 250K. It's not a tax increase on everyone else.. YET
2. President Obama has NO plans to gut the military. Please by all means, show us where this was something President Obama endorsed. I don't know about you, but we don't go out BUYING 2 BILLION dollar bombers when our roads and bridges are crumbiling at home.
3. What is the GOP plan to lower health care costs.. oh wait, nothing.. and vouchers.. please.
For democrats, its all about restoring the American dream for all Americans..
Not arguing with you, go for it, prove me wrong.
Drew- lets get some facts straight before you dive off the cliff and break you neck after hitting bottom within two feet of the cliff.
The military cuts were not a dem idea- it was agreed to make the penalties too onerous for both sides that we would be forced to compromise. So massive domestic cuts coupled with massive military cuts were a COMPROMISE to get the debt ceiling done.
So if you would like a frank discussion lets get the facts straight.
Fair enough?
PS- we as a country pay more for our medical care and get a less effective outcome. That was the main driver of Obamacare- if you dont reign in medical costs we will never reign in the deficit. Most of Obamacare is designed to improve cost-benefit results. just fyi
Are you people out of your minds??? Stop the spending now! Illegals should not be getting benefits for one-how many billion would that save? Raise retirement 2 years-it won't kill us. Give certainty to business owners and job creators Mr. Obama. Look item by item at waste in the Federal and State systems and incorporate departments that are duplicates-and yes there are many, I work for the state and see it. We can't spend what we don't have period. Stop giving billions to your campaign donors for more green energy companies that go bankrupt-at this point we aren't going to be able to compete with China in those industries. GM bailed out unions and screwed everyone else, and didn't address the structural changes that needed to be done. Stop listening to those with their hands out who can work, but play the system having illigitimate child one after another and causing generational welfare. I could go on, but even starting there will have a huge impact on our debt. Stop blaming Repubs-especially conservative Republicans. Obama only won because he promised his multitudes goodies; and you'll call me a bigot, but those people are the ones with their hands out constantly. If the Truth is now bigotry-so be it. Now get to work before your 20 day Hawiian vaca Mr. President!
Your a classic teabagger. Full of hate. No workable solutions. Blame only the liberals when it was clearly the republicans that destroyed our economy in 2008. Give up on science and technology. No wonder you lost badly this past election cycle.
The public realizes who is responsible for the fiscal cliff and every poll confirms it. If the GOP Congress refuses to compromise with the president they will be held accountable. No "war on Christmas" or "Benghazi" etc distractions will hide the fact that the Republicans raised taxes on all Americans to protect the top 2%.
Well put. It drives the teabaggers crazy.
sharky- remember the clinton/gingrich battle over the govt shutdown and when newt realized the public held him accountable he backed off.
Same will happen here also
Its evident Obama has no regard to what it means to work together and is playing the game "i'm the president" and do deal unless I say so... Let's go over the cliff.. then he can try and blame everyone all day long, but these next 4 years are all on him.. a new recession, higher unemployment... and he can sit back and try and point it out that others caused the fiasco... But its on him.. Obama Care, screwing small businesses, and the list goes on & on... How in the world did this country get sold on him for another 4 years.. probably time to check his birth certificate again
afs- didnt he campaign on the pledge that top earners would have a higher RATE and wasnt he elected by over a 4% majority? Dont you know every poll shows the public desires tax FAIRNESS.
So why should Obama cave into Republican demands again???????????????
yes demtothebone he did..and the party cheated it's way in to finish the job. Every poll show nothing but more of your propaganda news. You folks have been in bed with the big 'O' since day one-the truth rarely gets out on mainstream media. If he does implement the budget of tax and spend-so be it. That only gives you about 9 days of 'rich people' money in taxes and you'll be back to the trough for more. I can survive-but you 'everybody is a winner' kids..we'll be loao at you until you no longer exist. Darwin showed you it's survival of the fittest...you choose to change his message into evolution.
CAZ- OMG. yep your right. We forgot that in america the land of freedom voting is only for white property owning males just like in the original constitution.
So sorry- please go back to governing and telling the world all about american exceptionalism. We wont cheat anymore and wont really believe that in america all men are created equal as it says in the declaration and what we were taught the revolution was all about.
Need you ask AFS - look who voted him in. It certainly was not the educated libs or republicans.
AFS: Kool-ade's ready; today's flavor is sour grapes.
Anybody notice how nobody was in such dire circumstances 4 years ago at the beginning of the recession? The reason people don't have money is because they don't have jobs. The reason they don't have jobs is because of the increased regulations facing buisness (Dodd-Frank = tight credit, Obamacare creating triple-digit increases in health insurance premiums, EPA regulations driving up energy costs). Without all this, there'd be more jobs which would drive up wages and tax revenue without increasing tax rates. Then we wouldn't be stuck in the worst economic recovery in the last 100 years. If you haven't figured it out, we are in the 1930's right now because we're making the same mistakes of relying on government. Unemployment was 15-20% for Roosevelt's first 2 terms.
You need to understand that Obama growing government increases government spending and curtails economic activity in the private sector which reduces government revenue. Maybe you haven't noticed but every dollar spent by the public sector was first earned by someone in the private sector. This includes the dollars borrowed to spend since the private sector will have to pay the debts too. If you cut the spending and stop being such control freaks with these regulations (labor department trying to virtually eliminate farm kids working on farms, EPA wanting to regulate mud puddles and dusty roads) we'll see economic activity in the private sector and tax revenue will increase. If you question this, you don't know anything about economics or history. You're probably sitting around questioning the sum of 2+2 and you probably voted for Obama and are apart of the mess he created. After 4 years, it's all his. Gotta man up and accept responsibility.
Randy- the economy is depressed because there is a lower DEMAND for products and has nothing to do with lack of manufacturing due to these onerous regulations.
If there was demand then product would be produced. If the cost factors are HIGHER as you claim then our CORE inflation should be reflecting this but in fact our CORE INFLATION is at all times low.
Do you understand what you are writing about becomes the next question
more jobs which would drive up wages
How does a bigger supply of labor drive wages up? Seems counter-intuitive. That's why unions hate scabs, they drive wages down.
and unions suck the life from taxpayers-I was forced AFSCME until my Governor S. Walker set me free from another system that rewards mediocraty. More labor means more spending as more have money (gotta eat and clothe yourself)---dah!
Caz- yep its all the unions fault. business is our friend, why look how evenly ceo pay is versus the worker. Why it has only grown to where now execs earn 400 times what their average worker gets. And the great thing is the rate of seperation is growing.
isnt supply side top down growth wonderful?????????
Why do the GOP succumb to Grover, he looks like a wimp?
They see him as a god.
I found this line interesting. just 27 percent say the president would be at fault.
The exact same 27% that supported Bush the last few years when it was evident his presidency was a complete failure.
Okay, let me get this straight. The majority of Congressional districts either re-elected or elected Republicans. Yet the vast majority of Americans, well in excess of the percentage of the electorate that voted for President Obama, is prepared to throw the Republican House under the bus for failing to reach an agreement. Clearly people do not understand who they are voting for and what they are effectively voting upon when they vote every other November. There is a complete disconnect between what the people are voting for and what they think they are getting.
What you overlook is that while the republican's got more reps elected the democrats won more total votes in the house elections. The republicans are in a minority in this country, plain and simple.
jmfry- couple of observations- first Congress has always sucked but my Congressmen is OK has been the standard for decades and gerrymandering only insulates the incumbants even more.
we only have one national election and referndum on the President.
The American people are with you Mr. President.
Stand strong. Do not waiver.
I have never been a big fan of BooHoo Boehner, but I am pleased that he got the message during the election results last month. I wonder why some of his party did not. It obvious, from the voters rejection of the far right agenda, that tax increases for the wealthy have to be on the table. The Republicans gave a valiant effort to keep the wealthy, wealthy, but the American voters said, enough is enough. The working middle class should not be the only ones to shoulder the burden of a failed economy. Without placing blame on Bush or Obama, it is what it is. The country needs the revenue, and the taxpayers (ALL of us) must contribute more. If the only stumbling block is tax increases to the richest 1%, its a no brainer.. If they want to keep thier jobs.
Boehner understands that. good for you, BooHoo!
Damn right. They're the party that totally effed the economy, now they want to make DEMANDS and issue ULTIMATUMS? Bunch of fri**in arrogant losers.
I am just amazed how the Republicans could still stand on this issue of not raising taxes on the wealthy even though 60% of Americans are in favor of it as well as majority of the wealthy! It was the Republicans and their unwillingness to control or more regulate the wealthy that lead to this financial problem in the first place - a fact that voters didn't forget either! The crisis was in fact partly and precisely because the wealthy, corporations, and those who moved jobs and money overseas avoided paying taxes. Closing "some" loopholes is not enough, especially since they only affect "some" of those making more than a million a year.
As for hurting job creators; what massive amount of jobs have these people created? There was and is NO guarantee that reducing taxes for the wealthy would create jobs anyway. It hasn't worked so far. As for business being afraid to create jobs because of uncertainty, these people have made money hand over foot since Obama has been president. The last quarter was another record one!
The Republicans need to fish or cut bait, get their @!$%# together or take their troubles elsewhere! This country need to get moving - NOW! The election is over, Obama is still there, so deal with it!
75% Think Obama care is costing more and giving less!! Why is the truth only told when it is convenient!
shawn- what poll is that you are quoting- is it from the drudge report or beck U???????????
If you want to understand the truth about the big picture you can't just listen to those that you agree with. You will never learn anything if you only reinforce your existing beliefs so even if you don't like what you find out, you should be aware of who he has appointed to positions of power and understand how he grew up and the people that he grew up around.
If you don't know these things than you can't know what you're talking about, so please learn about these things so that you can know what you are talking about.
What do they mean the public would blame the GOP - It is their fault - so why not blame them? They put us in this damn mess and they - for some reason - want to make it worse. Appears to me the rich scum bags want to take over the world - they do not care what happens to the rest of us - just as long as their money pockets are full - they will be happy.
Unfortunately will have 8 years of Obama's anti-american czars and wall street people messing with our standard of living.
I don't care if he taxes the rich a little more but I'm poor and we are the ones that will be hurt the most by his policies. Any of you that don't believe that will find out soon enough.
I supported the re-election of the President, with his commitment to compromise on some issues with Congress. I know he was elected by the majority of voters on the firm commitment of raising taxes on the wealthiest 1%, and expect him to hold firm there. BUT, there are many cuts that need to be made, and he better hold true to his commitment to bend a little on those terms with the Republicans. But right NOW, its time for the Republicans in Congress, to bend, and stop with the tax cuts for the wealthy. The voters gave them that message. Its time to do what they were hired to do, the peoples work! get this thing done!
Repugs do not answer to the American people, they answer to Grover, first, last and always! Seems to me that is a violation of their Oaths of office. Wonder why no one has been prosecuted!
Oh...I am so scared for my party...really shaking....I wouldn't trust an MSNBC article or any poll associated with it. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if it was ghost written by those nit wits like Maddow, Matthews, and Shultz. The GOP will control the House for the next four years. We will bargain in good faith only for a balanced proposal on revenue and spending. Nothing less, nothing more.
The President needs to not back down from the GOP crackpots, whatever happens will set the tone for the next four years.