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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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It is amazing the Power of the Liberal Media.
" The People will blame the GOP..." DUH! Obama has successfully avoided any responsibility for the past four years for the same reason! In the last Election they decided, for whatever reason, that they want Socialism rather than, putting forth the necessary effort to regain our Republic!
Difficult to accept and a bitter disappointment to those of us who grew up before the Progressives murdered the Liberals and hy-jacked the Democrat Party!
Perhaps H.L.Mencken explained it best; " The one permenant emotion of the inferior man is fear of the unknown, the complex, the inexplicable. What he wants most is safety! Most people want security in this world not Liberty" !
That, Clearly explains it, I just thought more of the American Citizen! One thing is very certain, this latest and arguably greatest experiment in Self Government in a Free Society has run it's course!
Oh I know, many believe "we are too big and important to fail", really? It's certain that the Citizens of Ancient Greece and Rome believed that same thing, even as their Societies collapsed around them!
Half the public will blame the Democrats , let's be honest here.
Nope...only 47%
I see signs being made. I see a huge protest on DC. The signs read "SUPPORT US VOTERS OR GROVER NORQUIST!!" The American voters will rise in bad times.
The only public that will blame the GOP are the uninformed public because those of us with common sense understand that taxing the rich pays for 8 days, fine tax'em, what is the left going to do on day 9?
John812
It is true and nobody can dispute that..
You have to start somewhere and this is the beginning. The tax on the 2% raises to 39% that tax rate -- 4% higher then what it is now. Get a grip John 812, your side lost and the dems won and that is just the way it goes. Bohner, Cantor and McConnell have more to lose this time around. Lets go over the cliff and see the chance for their re-election in two years, sooner or later the brainless will wake up and send them packing.
Letting the tax rate expire on the top bracket will save $42 Billion in the first year, increasing every year for a total of $950 Billion in deficit reduction over 10 years.
http://www.offthechartsblog.org/cbo-ending-high-income-tax-cuts-would-save-almost-1-trillion/
Many seemingly fail to understand the issue here. It no longer matters what the American voters or the American Congress decides! The last chance for America to have a major roll in the economic future of the World was nov. 6! From this point on the economy of the World will be decided by the IMF! Within 12 to 18 months they will have finalized their Concept for SDR's.
The Currencies and their individule proportions will be decided and appropiate funds submited to the IMF and SDR's will begin to replace the US Dollar as the Petro Currency! Once that is done SDR's will also quickly Replace the US Dollar as the Primary Currency in the National Reserve Banks! That will blow the wheels clean off Obama's economic ClowncarAnd we can definately turn out the lights!
Interesting....The senate is controlled by the Dems, the executive office is controlled by the Dems. Obama has yet to pass ONE budget, the super committee was Obama idea which failed on BOTH sides, Timmy G. cant explain how the "Cut," in spending is really not a cut since its money never meant to be spent from savings from the war, yet if they dont reach a deal before 1-1-2013 its the GOP fault.
The president wanted the job and got it. He wanted to be re-elected and got it. Now as the leader of the country he needs to lead and NOT play a political stunt that will effect those that cant afford it for cheap political points that mean nothing but to pundits and cheerleaders.
I take it you stand with the 1%.
Yes, I stand with the 1% like Big Bird but that don't mean I don't stand with the rest of the country too, stop dividing us please.
I am afraid it is the 1% that do the dividing by padding themselves with gigantic tax breaks under Bush 43 and allowing most of the wealth to run to the top. Don't you see that?? Are you blind?? Every statistic shows the wealthy are getting more and more wealthy every year due primarily to the US tax code.
So, Americans would hold the Republicans more to blame if fiscal cliff talks fail, and by a whopping 53% to 27% margin? I couldn't agree more. My question is: why didn't you vote these clowns out of office when you had the chance? Every seat in the House was up for re-election in November. You missed a golden opportunity!
Because of gerrymandering. That is the answer. The Rep. Statehouse made districts that would not fail for election of Reps so we are stuck with these idiots again.
We only need to get rid of about 15 of them in 2014 to retake the House.
Let's pray to the merciful God in heaven that we careen off the fiscal cliff and explode at the bottom. Americans will be burning effigies of Republican lawmakers...and will burn them at the polls in future elections. Forever more years!!!
When you have a business that is struggling you don't take from your money generators (taxpayers) you trim the fat. Force those who are milking the payroll to fest up and work or get out (entitlement). You slash expenses that are not required for continued growth (lobbyist and usless research and study's) Cutback on donations (foriegn aid). You find creative ways to generate more outside cash (buy up and securel oil, gas and mineral reserves under a company owned by the taxpayers). Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexice know how this works.
Agh, what am I doing here. These people cant think further than their own personal bank accounts.
OMG -- most of the fat is gone ding-dong. The bloated end of the budget is the defense area and the right just can't bring it upon their selves to make the cuts.
I like your ideas. The idea of charging all of the oil and mining companies gigantic royalties for pumping oil and mining coal but why won't that happen? Oh yes, because big oil and big coal own the republican party. Not monthly do they get these sweetheart leases for virtually free but we pay them subsidies to cover their exploration expenses.
The GOP dumb fux never learn. Just keep listening the Dumb Fux News!!!!!!!!!
J-860182
Perhaps you should invest in Lexus Nexus or similar. Fox has more libs and conservatives as guest on to offer their opinion then the other two cable news channel's combined. The opinion shows are for sure slant right just as MSNBC opinion shows slant left. Yet Fox still offers more diverse opinions from the left yet MSNBC has the least fromthe right.
Kamo you can not be serious. How big is that bubble you live in?
Kamo,
You are 100% correct. Watch all three cable news channels. CNN will have a few conservatives on, FOX will have a conservative and a liberal to voice different opinions and MSNBC has nothing but Liberals, not democrats Liberals. The people on here that like to chastise FOX have never watched it because it doesn't fit their narrative!
Believing a Washington Post poll is about as gullible as believing a FOX News poll. The results will always be skewed....
GROW A BRAIN SHEEPLE! The blame, and more importantly, the PRICE of our failed economy will fall on We The People who have to work and pay for the recovery. We The People didn't elect competent statesmen to represent our best interests in Government. DNC and GOP are to blame for this mess...they are all inept!
Gee and I guess you were one of the followers that really thought the Mitt was going to win?
Republicans probably think that this poll is "skewed" too. If they want to risk going over the "fiscal cliff" (such a stupid meme) fine. Let's see what the Republicans do when the CEOs of GE, Boeing, Haliburton, and every other major defense contractor starts calling them complaining about lost profits.
The Military Industrial Complex... it's the only DC interest group that can trump the 1% in Republican politics.
Thats what GOP get for trying to push their version of sharia law.
Republican Reformist Party!! Run by the RICH, For the Rich, By the Rich!!!
Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor.
Thomas Jefferson
Quote: President John Adams
Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. The jaws of power and Greed are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing. There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free 'government' ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
Rome failed too after he became a society of taker's then providers...
All those that believe takers and not providers is more important should look to CA. and the mess this state is in.
KAMO, still blaming those who have the least in our society and the most vulnerable, eh fella??? That's the way of the Right, blame the victims and make excuses for the rich, well connected and influential. Welfare is just fin with you as long as it's for rich people. Providing health care (like EVERY other advanced nation does) for all our citizens in heresy in your dark, twisted, far Right world. How sad.
Workers in this country are expendable. We needed sharecroppers, then we mechanized and we didn't need them, so they moved north to the cities. We needed lots of farmers and farmhands, then we didn't with industrial farming. We needed lots of semi-skilled line workers, then we automated industries or shipped jobs overseas. Yes, we have high-tech sector jobs, but fewer of them and they require more training and education. We have lots of lower paying service jobs and some decent paying health care jobs. But research shows that the opportunity to move upwards in class in this country is low compared to other major developed nations. So, as industries develop they displace lots of people. That means more people need government help to survive, and maybe get the training that will allow them to compete for the jobs out there. Which all goes to say that I give a major razz-berry to the Republican party to continue to characterize 47% of Americans as lazy takers. Business takes what it wants and leaves broken communities and peoples behind, and then complains when the government asks for revenue to clean up the mess and re-build communities. That's the major crock and it's coming out once again when Boehner says he won't budge on taxing the wealthy. Who needs more evidence to see that the Republicans today are nothing but the party of the elite?
Ozzie Boy-2719086
Apples and Oranges. There should ALWAYS be help for those in need. The problem is very simple, when you spend more than you have, have to borrow from Jack to pay for Jane at some point somebody has to pay for it and when there is not enough coming in to cover that expense then how do expect it to continue. It cant. The very services we need for the folks will have to come to a end because NEITHER party wants to deal with reality.
Yes, the GOP WILL be blamed and should be! The party of no ideas or faux ideas should be voted out in 2014. They have no intention of doing what's right for the country and the majority of people.
I would hardly call increasing Soc. Sec. age a viable idea. Would you want 70 year olds building your bridges or being firemen? Not to mention if I were that 70 yr old - would I be able to do that work?
Then increasing the medicare premiums for for the wealtiest - makes it sooooo much easier for the middle-lower class folks to pay theirs! (sarcasm)
What a crock! Give us something REAL GOP.
Boehner will cave. He has nobody behind him except Eric Cantor who wants nothing more than Boehner's job. If the GOP does not concede to the Obama's demands the GOP will get Slaughtered in 2014. The American people had their say on November 6th and the polls just confirm what we all know. NO MORE GOP POLICIES!
He won't cave. I think he is trying to put the best orange face forward -- but once he is in his caucus the teabaggers won't let him.
then the teabaggers will pay the consequences.
America can not stand more Republican Obstructionism !!
Republican or Democrat we are going down together!!
So wake-up people!!
Mr. ProBusiness, It wasn't Pres. Obama who asked for an increase in the budget for defense spending or more tanks that we don't need? The defense dept. didn't ask for the increase the Republicans did, and then turned around and accused the President of being weak on the defense of the country. And we can't help but bring up the Bush-Cheney years when our debt is comprised of the TWO UNFUNDED WARS WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR! It's an "inconvenient truth" to leave the cost of the wars out of the budget and now the costs are there. Some business sense on behalf of the Republicans!
JD, Notice how the Right hates "Big Government" unless it's when they're bringing home the bacon to their district? Ever notice how so many military bases are in the South? That is hardly an accident and these are the very people who bitch the most about government. Can you say HYPOCRISY???
Like all the GOP congressman who cursed the Stimulus and then went begging to the Feds for millions for their pet projects at home and of course taking all the credit for them.
Maybe because it is the GOP's fault!
It's all true because we read about it on the Internet.
We all know that the Tea Party faction of the GOP is the "no compromise under any circumstances" crowd. Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-SC) comments today underscore that. So, heck yes, the Republican party will be blamed, because it's the logical place to place the blame.
America has more billionaires than the world combined.
So how come so many of them whine about taxes after this great nation provided them with the platform with which to make their billions from??? Paying taxes is patriotic in case you didn't know.
Of course MSNBC would blame the GOP, they are so blindingly liberal (key word is BLIND), they would never blame Obama!!!!!
TOM, which begs the question, what the hell are you doing on here if it's so biased???
The poll that is being reported on is from the Pew Research Center. Non-partisan, well respected and historically very accurate.
You can knock Fox news because you only get one side of the stroy there but those of you that don't watch fox news at all are also getting only one side of the story so you only show your ignorance by attacking Fox and discouraging the public from getting the whole picture.
You're effing well right I can blame fake news and I do. It is not a news source but rather a 24/7 propaganda mouthpiece for the GOP. Run by none other than Roger Ailes, former hit man for Dick Nixon and a real sweetheart.
Geez oh whiz. I watch CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN and FOX and for my money FOX is out the door, out to lunch, out of this world and extremely crazy.
It just came out that Roger Ailes had approached David Petraeus with a proposition. If Obama offered him anything less than joint chief, Ailes would quit Fox and run his Republican presidential campaign. Fox News is Ailes, and it's a tightly controlled propaganda machine. It doesn't just reflect a conservative viewpoint, it is the extension of Roger Aile's and Rupert Murdoch's agenda for the ultra-right domination of American politics. I'd rather listen to Charles Krauthammer crank on for hours than spend time watching Fox. Fox is a total aberration.