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Subscribe to RSS“President Obama and House Speaker John A. Boehner were struggling late Tuesday to prevent negotiations from breaking down after they traded dueling proposals for averting the year-end ‘fiscal cliff’ that made no progress toward an agreement,” the Washington Post writes. “Obama telephoned Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday, hours after receiving the speaker’s latest proposal for a deal on taxes and spending. The offer was virtually identical to the document Obama summarily rejected just one week ago, according to Republican aides. Obama’s chief negotiator, Rob Nabors, later rushed to the Capitol to meet with Boehner’s top aides.”
Obama told ABC: "I'm pretty confident that Republicans would not hold middle class taxes hostage to trying to protect tax cuts for high-income individuals. I don't think they'll do that… I remain optimistic. I'd like to see a big package. But the most important thing we can do is make sure that middle class taxes do not go up on Jan. 1." He added, “The outlines, the framework of what a deal should look like are pretty straightforward."
More: "If the Republicans can move on that [taxes] then we are prepared to do some tough things on the spending side. Taxes are going to go up one way or another. And I think the key is that taxes go up on high-end individuals." He also left on the table the possibility of changes to Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans say they’re waiting for Obama to outline specific spending cuts. The White House says its waiting for Republicans to submit a deal that includes raising tax rates on the wealthiest.
Voters are split, 47%/46% on how Obama’s handling the fiscal cliff negotiations in a new Washington Post/ABC poll, but voters overwhelmingly disapprove of how Speaker John Boehner’s handling them -- 24% approve/54% disapprove.
Bloomberg: “President Barack Obama won the public argument over taxes so decisively that almost half of Republicans now say he has an election mandate to raise rates on the rich. Majorities of about 2-to-1 also read the election results as an endorsement of Obama’s pledge to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits, according to a Bloomberg National Poll of 1,000 adults conducted Dec. 7-10.”
Obama’s job approval is 53% in the poll, his highest since December 2009.
How much confusion is out there? Just look at these two headlines:
AP: “Fiscal cliff talks appear to be stalled.”
The Hill: “Both sides edging toward deal in deficit-reduction negotiations.”
Joe Biden pens an op-ed in the Kansas City Star on the need to extend the tax cuts for 98%.
Treasury is selling its shares of AIG bringing the government’s profit on the financial bailout to $22.7 billion.
Here’s the Obama administration’s PSA on housing.
Jimmy Carter thinks pot legalization is “OK.”
Obama’s special envoy to Sudan is stepping down.
The inaccurate quote on the MLK memorial will be removed.
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So if we do go off of the cliff, I don't understand what is the big deal? We had these tax rates during Clinton's time and not only did they produce a balanced budget but there was a lot of prosperity around these parts. I think everyone knows that there needs to be cuts to spending. So what is the deal here.
John in Battle Creek,
take away $2000 from each struggling family and you will witness companies suffering; if a family has a choice between paying bills and buying extra non-essential items, guess which one they will do...
The big deal is that the consumer spending is down, take away extra money, and the consumer spending will go down even more...
Wait, wait, wait, didn't the Prez. NOT want to pass the tax credit thingy last year, and now it is an important item to protect?
Another year of kicking the can down the road. Nothing more than political drama, with each side being provided a win-win. Really, $1.6B in spending reductions over 10 years is only $160B a year while taxes increase for unspecified spending programs. The professional politicians sneeze more than $160B annually.
It's all a joke at the taxpayer expense.
And another thing, you libs and the $2000 figure. That is the AVERAGE family. Those truly struggling who are on the bottom end of that "averaging" will more than likely not be affected NEAR as much as you think and are probably part of the 47% who pay nothing and some of those get back more than they actually pay in. It will be a reduction in what they get back NOT an increase in what they pay.
My guess is not shut off their cell phones, internet, cable, or cut down on eating out.
But wait, trickle down doesn't work according to you libs. Cutting taxes or keeping them low has nothing to do with the economy.
TO: 1funnygirl who wrote:
Well doesn't it make you sleep well at night, knowing that YOUR Republican politicians are doing everything in their power to protect those that pay little or no taxes, because when you support Republican "policies" those "policies" only do ONE thing: Protect the richest Americans from paying taxes.
The more I hear the goofyness that comes from the likes of 1stupidgirl, and Talk To The Wall, the more I hope we do go over the fiscal cliff, because some folks are such knuckleheads, there's nothing anyone can say that can make these wackos understand.
Here's what I understand. I don't give a flying flip if we do go over the imaginary cliff you libs are using as a scare tactic. If my taxes go up, what the hell business is it of yours. I don't have to agree with you because I personally don't see it as any kind of threat. You libs use it to promote your "evil rich must pay more" agenda.
I hope they do come to an agreement but not one that is so lopsided that once again we see promised cuts that never ever have materialized every time they are promised.
They continue to make this a big deal when all the messiah needs to do is let it go over the cliff and then propose tax cuts for the ones he deems important to his agenda. Automatic cuts would still be in effect and he could pick and choose. But nooooooo. He has to have it his way or the highway in an imaginary battle he HAS to win to prove to his minions that he is truly the messiah in charge. Narcissist Maximus.
Oh you mean the Republicans ARE supporting the 47%. Got it.
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Talk to my hand stupid, one of the dumbest post I have ever seen. "You libs use it to promote your "evil rich must pay more" agenda"
Why don't you dig a hole, climb in and pull the dirt in over you. We are being robbed by the stinking rich and their representatives, the G.O. P/ and all you got to say it is the libs fault. Well, take a bite of this. Stinking conservatives, are the problem, they put us in this mess and have voted for four years to keep us in it.
Here is a reminder...
Congress writes the laws, not the President.
Congress can override any Presidential veto.
Congress can impeach a President if he does not uphold the laws Congress passes.
Bottom line, the President has very little power in this.
It's 100% on Congress. Since Speaker Boehner refuses to negotiate with Congressional Democrats, it's Boehner who should resign. Boehner is the one who doesn't understand the way our government works.
It's 100% on Congress
if that's the case, we're screwed.
TO: Amy B. Portland, ME:
Debbie-525743 is 100% correct.
Get serious. It's not about government branch it's about political party. Who are you trying to convince? Yourself.
The most chilling part of this whole thing is how the Republicans don't even to pretend to care how they are perceived by the public.
The polls show 70% of the American people want to see compromise, and the Republicans say they are prepared to see the economy hurt, in order to protect tax cuts for the rich.
It's as if we don't live in a democracy anymore, where politicians have to worry about losing votes. Is it because lawmakers expect to move into more lucrative jobs with private industry, if they fail to be re-elected?
TO: Amy B. Portland, ME who wrote:
Yep. I used to worry about that, until I learned that Republican stubborness is putting Republicans out of office, and, in Mitt Romeny's case, their stubborness is keeping them OUT of office.
I think John Boehner did the best he could to get rid of as many Teagaggers as he could. Some he tossed out of Republican Committees, and the Big Nut he got rid of by having someone outside of Washington offer him a higher paying job somewhere in Westhell.
Amy, the media will chastize the Republicans for anything. Time to really say "no" and all go over the cliff together.
Now won't that satisfy the Progressive "fairness"issue?
Let's all help the Obama legacy!
TO: 1funnygirl who wrote:
One thing about Republicans is, they always like to try to drag everybody down with them!
In fact, everything Republicans do, they like to try to force EVERYBODY to do those exact same things, all while they pretend to protect our "freedoms". When are the American People going to be "free" from Republicans trying to shove their way of life down everybody else's throat?
funnygirl, we said "Hell no" at the polls last November, and if THAT didn't speak to you, just keep on watching (cause you're obviously no good at listening).
TO: 1funnygirl who wrote:
Probably because Republicans are so wrongheaded it's no longer "funny".
Just curious! How is extending the BUSH tax cuts furthering the OBAMA agenda? Wouldn't it be to Obama's advantage to allow them to expire completely? BUSH after all is the villain in all this .... Is he not?
Obama's agenda of transforming America into a bunch of wealth starved peasants that the Washington Elite can "look over and care for" is steamrolling right along in my opinion.
OBAMA AGENDA
Obama has the same agenda as the Republican and this is to blame and put on a cross the weakest
citizens possible to pay for the arrogance of politicians . For years , these clowns have shown the kind of disrespect for Am Citizens that would not be revolted by the founders of this country . A simple tea tax by the King of England started a revolution or was a major factor in the Revolution . The fact is the tax was a trick by English King in that it was a pass on tax not being paid by the people . It was in fact a wholesale tax to be paid by the wholesalers . These were the business people who know after one of these taxes would could dozen more . It wasn't the amount of the tax , but the known pattern of taxation as a trick so to try to fool the public , but instead these wholesalers market would be controlled by the King . So we had a revolution because the King attacked the strong wholesalers not the weak people . A mistake by an arrogant King of England in 1776 . Well we the public has sent a Republican House to the Congress to stop the Arrogant Democratic spending . The Republican Presidential candidate would have won if he hadn't injected his positions on what women should do with their bodies which is the business of religion not government . This too is a form of arrogance . It goes on and on . I have told you this past year that Obama is killing people , and this included me . How , in rejecting medical claims for true chronic medical services by his HHS person . I gave you a web site to prove this .- medicareadvocacy.org . All you had to do is read the litigation's cases . Most of you didn't do this . You see Obama did shed medicare spending by 150 billion by slowly killing with chronic conditions and having the these people claims rejected . To wit , medicare pts . , who maybe had to quit a job , because they had a chronic condition , are now being told to take pills instead of getting pain treatments . The Obama murderer has embarked on killing seniors and the disabled by harmful pills to save money . He is a murderer . You don't know about this . Yeah , well the German people today claim their families did not know that Jews and others were being slaughter by the Nazi . What you should at least know is your attempts to restrict government spending and the insanity of a Evilers you elect by putting one party against the other , doesn't work . Obama , doesn't want assault weapons because the idea is protect themselves . The reason why guns are were guns were allowed of all types is that the country began in honor . Duels were fought when one turd when there was a challenge of honor or disrespect . Men did not depend of a popularity of a court case they settle things by a duel . If this was the case today , I call this pig Obama out . He is a murder and should die just as he is causing the death of seniors he should get what is coming to him . This Democracy is pure bull, you and I have a choice between to different brands of manure .
Those of you who put your faith in Christ , I salute you for you know that there is a G-d and you call the real G-d the Holly Spirity which is the most correct of your names for him . As to being a Father , He is a Father by only the saying of Him in what you call the old testament which I call the Bible .
I wish all people of Good intentions and actions well this Your Christmas and I welcome your celebration of the values of my G-d . Blessed is the one G-d whose name is the Name . Hashem mean it in Hebrew . The actual name is different is in Prayer and not allowed to be used in none prayer situations .
Respectfully yours and Peace Justice Love and Fear of G-d by all People , now .