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Subscribe to RSSThe New York Times: “At House Speaker John A. Boehner’s request, Senate leaders and Representative Nancy Pelosi have been excluded from talks to avert a fiscal crisis, leaving it to Mr. Boehner and President Obama alone to find a deal, Congressional aides say. All sides, even the parties excluded, say clearing the negotiating room improves the chance of success. It adds complexity as the two negotiators consult separately with the leaders not in the room. But it also minimizes the number of people who need to say yes to an initial agreement.”
“On Thursday, with the House out of session, White House congressional liaison Rob Nabors trekked to Capitol Hill and delivered a firm message: We aren’t moving,” Politico writes. “In a meeting with leadership staff, Nabors reiterated the administration’s hard line that tax rates on top earners must go up, according to Republican sources with knowledge of the meeting.”
“Vice President Biden gets involved in the anti-fiscal cliff campaign on Friday, meeting with people who would see tax hikes if Congress and the White House are unable to reach a debt reduction deal,” USA Today writes. “The White House says Biden ‘will have lunch with a group of middle class Americans,’ and‘make the case for preserving tax cuts for 98% of Americans and 97% of small businesses.’”
Obama’s approval in a new AP-GFK poll is 57%.
Obama’s headed to Michigan Monday on fiscal cliff. Meanwhile, eight were arrested after protests shut down the Michigan state capitol over right-to-work laws were passed. The White House reiterated its opposition to those.
“Republicans slammed right-to-work legislation through the Michigan House and Senate Thursday, drawing raucous protests from throngs of stunned union supporters, whose outnumbered Democratic allies were powerless to stop it,” the Chicago Tribune writes.
The New York Times: “A state police official said pepper spray was used on one of eight protesters arrested inside the Capitol after state troopers were rushed trying to prevent the demonstration from spilling into the Senate chambers, where lawmakers were meeting.”
“When President Obama first warned Syria’s leader, President Bashar al-Assad, that even making moves toward using chemical weapons would cross a ‘red line’ that might force the United States to drop its reluctance to intervene in the country’s civil war, Mr. Obama took an expansive view of where he drew that boundary,” the New York Times writes.
“The US State Department expressed concern Thursday over the influence of fundamentalist groups in Syria, including the Al-Nusra Front, which is said to have ties to Al-Qaeda,” AFP writes. “As opposition fighters in Syria struggle to topple the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters that groups like Al-Nusra are increasingly ‘a matter of concern’ to Washington.”
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I think it makes sense for the two leaders to be one on one and discuss ways to avert the fiscal cliff. What I don't understand is why Boner is considered one of those leaders. Many on the right will not follow his lead and he will still have a tough time selling any tax raise for the wealthy as part of any deal. I think going over the cliff would be a good thing. After a few adjustments we would finally have enough revenue to run this country properly. Obama needs to hear this though, don't go messing with the so called entitlements, those are paid for and not part of the fiscal calamity the Right has created with its supply side economics.
Hey John in Battle Creek.
Your so-called entitlements are most certainly part of the deficit problem. The problem is they are NOT bought and paid for...at least not for very long. SS can only remain solvent until 2022 at which time it must reduce benefits by 25%. That's only ten years from now John! Medicare is even closer to insolvency. I won't even talk about Medicaid which has exploded and has no tax of its own. On top of that the Fed's have borrowed from the SS trust fund and it's full of IOU's, not actual cash. As for revenue, the US has NEVER collected more than 20.5% of GDP in taxes, no matter what the tax rates are, even when the top rate was 91%. Most years, it averages 18-19% of GDP. Our spending is now 25% of GDP. That's our deficit problem. Oh, incidentally, despite your attack on supply side economics, income to the IRS remained steady through the Reagan and Bush years (and Clinton for that matter) at about 18% of GDP despite mucking around with the tax rates. Income as a % of GDP has remained fairly constant no matter who has been president or what their tax rates are. Since we've never collected (even in one good year) more than 20.5% of GDP in taxes, we absolutely must spend no more than 20% of GDP or we will continue the downward spiral. Moral of the story: Tax rates should not be the argument. Income should be the argument. Tax rates are sometimes irrelevant. What matters is how much money we actually collect from our tax code. Unless, of course, you're the president and taxes are all about fairness and punishment.
Steve turn the radio off and get some real news. The first time I heard that S.S. wasn't going to be there for me was in 1965, guess what. I am retired and drawing S.S., the truth is S.S. only needs a few tweaks to make it solivent way past us boomers. For one thing drop the salary cap, then a means test. There is a certain point that people do not need it. Medicare can be fixed with a simple step. Fold everyone into it. This brings younger more health people into the program and as with any insurance the larger the pool the more solid the insurance. You stinking right wonders have wanted to end Social Security since it was implemented in 1935, and you really hate medicare. You are not credible, nor are you honest. You are just another in a long list of deluded people who think there should be no government programs and you are irresponsible to think taxes are not a part of living in any country you could live in. So, run along and twiddle you twitches, your not getting anything here buster. LEAVE MY F-ING S.S. ALONE. Tax those that can afford it most and pay for it.
One more thing. Paying taxes is not a punishment it is a privilege, the more you make the more you should want to pay. The more you pay means the more you make and keep.
How cute. Boner refuses to take phone calls from Obama, refuses to attend dinners at the White House, stamps his little feet and walks out of meetings and NOW he wants a one on one meeting with the president? Boner, you are toast and the sooner we are rid of you the better it will be for the country.
John, I agree with you on Obama needing to go over the cliff for the funds to pay for progressive entitlements and Obama promises that got him elected. How else can he continue to pay? The 2% money will be gone in about an week, and it's nothing more than a symbolic move to make his left-leaning base feel warm and fuzzy.
Who gets to pay when the 2% money is gone - the next tax group?
Or will Obama try to borrow more from China or just go about printing more dollars?
Where do you think the money is going to go sillygirl? The money isn't just going to up and disappear! It will just be in the hands of more than an elite few, where it can really get the economy going again, rather than wasting away under the pillows of the 2%.
President Obama ignored Senate Leader Reed and Pelosi last year and met with Boehner he wasn't serious we went over the cliff anyway. What's that saying, Fool me once ...Mr. President? Don't CAVE! Mr. President you have the full support of We The People, we were there for you on Nov 6, now the question once again in 2012 is will you really be there for us? You failed We The People in 2012 and continued giving the Rich $1 Trillion in tax cuts, thats over $10 Trillion in tax cuts since the Bush Tax Cuts were implemented. Those so called Job Creators who failed to create jobs. Earnings for that same top 2% in the last 40 years is up 75% and Earnings for the other 98% is down $900 per household.
Mr. President this time can we really trust you? We are praying that we can, don't let the 98% down again and once again continue to let the GOP hold 98% of our country Hostage! That's no way to run a country and so many families are struggling, and they voted for you Mr. President.
Yesterday REP Chris VanHallen on MSNBC said the American People are "Owed" $2-Trillion Dollars in Social Security. So why would Social Security be a party of the Debt talks other than how the Congress after spending $2-Trillion Dollars of our Social Security Money that we paid in, will be discussing how to pay back the American people. However, Congress's Republicans cure is to change the Social Security Age to 67 and Medicare. So it's our fault Congress spent our Social Security Money and we must take a hit? After bailing out Banks, giving the Rich $10+Trillion dollars in Tax Cuts, 2 wars and unpaid Drug Benefit? Get Serious!
Perhaps the 2008 401K idea supported by several progressives, is on the table again. Obama needs to find all the funding he can to pay for his give-aways.
Imagine, your 401K is assumed by gov. with a small amount given to you each month when you retire. But it is a fair thing since not all participate in 401K programs.
But it's a progressive idea, so will it be a part of the government robbery program for wealth distribution?
Hey sillygirl, I would rather give it to the government for protection, rather than to let the Wall St. Fat Cats take it again.
dave,
you may be giving it to the government, but it won't be for your protection. He has to fund those Obama phones now, doesn't he?
Fat Cats on Wall Street are helping your 401K grow!