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Subscribe to RSSFarewell to the 112th Congress, regardless of what happens today… But are Biden and McConnell close to a deal?... Why we are still possibly headed off the cliff… Why that would be a missed opportunity for both sides… The blame game… Obama lays out second-term agenda on “Meet the Press”… Hillary Clinton in the hospital… And Happy New Year.
*** Farewell to the 112th Congress: With just hours to go before reaching the midnight deadline of the so-called fiscal cliff, are we on the cusp of a last-minute deal? Or will things, once again, fall apart? Regardless of what happens today, the 112th Congress is going to wind up as the least popular and least productive Congress (in terms of legislation becoming law) in the modern era. For starters, Congress’ approval rating the last time the NBC/WSJ poll measured it (in August 2012) was just 12%, and a whopping 82% disapproved of Congress -- the highest percentage in the history of our NBC/WSJ poll. In addition, just 219 bills have been passed into law -- the lowest number since Congress began tracking this number in the 1940s. (And many of these bills were naming courthouses or post offices.) The previous low was 333 in the 104th Congress (1995-1996). Throughout its history, of course, Congress has always been a dysfunctional place; in fact, the Founding Fathers ensured it that way (with the federal government’s checks and balances). But this particular Congress, which comes to an end on Jan. 3, has been uniquely dysfunctional. Just consider: the current fiscal-cliff debate, the debt-ceiling standoff of 2011 that resulted in an S&P credit downgrade, the Super Committee’s failure, the near government shutdown in the spring of 2011, the defeat of the U.N. Disabilities treaty, etc. With the debt ceiling, the fiscal cliff, and the near government shutdown, it’s hard not to conclude that Congress has been an active player in the sluggishness of the U.S. economy.
*** But are we close to a deal? All that said, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Vice President Biden are very close to a deal. According to a source with knowledge of the negotiations, Biden is offering McConnell raising tax rates on income above $400,000-plus and an up-or-down vote on the estate tax in return for unemployment insurance and having the sequester offset by some of the increased revenues. (Folks, this is VERY similar to deal that President Obama offered House Speaker John Boehner, but from which Boehner walked away.) From what we understand, McConnell wants a deal -- he wants to get this tax issue off the table. So they are close. The question is whether Boehner would bring such a deal to the floor and whether it could pass in time. But if a Biden-McConnell deal gets 70 or more votes in the Senate, Boehner might not have no choice but to bring the legislation to the House floor.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Vice President Joe Biden looks on during a White House event in which President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State, Dec. 21, 2012.
Related: Deficit reduction becomes key sticking point on fiscal cliff
*** Why we are possibly headed off the cliff: So it’s possible Congress could still come to some kind of agreement, but it's always been a likely outcome that we're headed to go off the so-called fiscal cliff. The reason: It's become the easiest -- and safest -- path for both sides; NBC's Mike Viqueira has called it the "inertia scenario." For Democrats, going over the cliff ensures the elimination of the Bush tax cuts, and it gets them the tax revenue they've been demanding without having to give up a thing. What's more, Democrats probably hold the upper hand if we go off the cliff, given all the polling suggesting that the American public would blame Republicans more than Democrats. For Republicans, having the Bush tax cuts expire means they don't have to vote to raise taxes and thus break any tax pledge. Instead, beginning in the New Year, they get to vote to lower them for the middle class (the income threshold TBD).
*** Why that would be missed opportunities for both sides: But if we go over the cliff -- the combination of tax increases and spending cuts set to commence after today -- it will be a missed opportunity for both sides, too. For President Obama, it will be evidence that the GOP "fever" that he said would break after his re-election hasn't come close to ending yet. In addition, it would signal that the second-term agenda he's pursuing (immigration, energy) probably isn't going anywhere. For Republicans, going over the cliff means that they're giving up revenue without getting anything in return like spending cuts and entitlement reform, both of which Obama was willing to offer. Republicans believe that they'll be able to extract those things in a future showdown of the debt ceiling, but we're unsure that the White House or, more importantly, the business community is willing to play that game in 2013.
*** What happens if we go over the cliff: But here’s an important reminder if we go over the fiscal cliff: The financial/economic world won’t come to an end, at least in the short run. While some things will take place immediately, others (including rising tax rates and government cuts) will be spread out over the year, and Congress has the ability to fix them retroactively. As the New York Times wrote last week, “Some hits — like a two percentage point increase in payroll taxes and the end of unemployment benefits for more than two million jobless Americans — would be felt right away. But other effects, like tens of billions in automatic spending cuts, to include both military and other programs, would be spread out between now and the end of the 2013 fiscal year in September. These could quickly be reversed if a compromise is found. Similarly, the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts on Jan. 1 would not have a major impact on consumers if Congress quickly agreed to extend them for all but the wealthiest Americans in early 2013, as is widely expected. Other probable changes, like a jump in taxes on capital gains and dividends, would most likely be felt over a broader period rather than as an immediate blow to the economy.” Yet one thing is for certain if we go over the cliff: The financial markets won’t like it.
*** The blame game: In his interview on “Meet the Press,” President Obama said congressional Republicans would get the blame if the country goes over the fiscal cliff. “Congress has not been able to get this stuff done. Not because Democrats in Congress don't want to go ahead and cooperate, but because I think it's been very hard for Speaker Boehner and Republican Leader McConnell to accept the fact that taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up a little bit, as part of an overall deficit reduction package.” When NBC’s David Gregory asked Obama if he would deserve any blame, the president replied, “I negotiated with Speaker Boehner in good faith and moved more than halfway in order to achieve a grand bargain. I offered over a trillion dollars in additional spending cuts so that we would have $2 of spending cuts for every $1 of increased revenue. I think anybody objectively who's looked at this would say that we have put forward not only a sensible deal but one that has the support of the majority of the American people, including close to half of Republicans.”
*** Obama’s second-term agenda -- immigration, stabilizing the economy, energy: Also on “Meet,” Obama laid out his second-term agenda. “I've said that fixing our broken immigration system is a top priority. I will introduce legislation in the first year to get that done… The second thing that we've got to do is to stabilize the economy and make sure it's growing. Part of that is deficit reduction. Part of it is also making sure that we're investing, for example, in rebuilding our infrastructure, which is broken… Number three. We've got a huge opportunity around energy. We are producing more energy and America can become an energy exporter. How do we do that in a way that also deals with some of the environmental challenges that we have at the same time? So that's going to be a third thing.” But what Obama DID NOT bring up on his own -- guns. Indeed, he didn’t sound like a guy ready to go after guns, unless the public is clearly behind it. “Ultimately, the way this is going to happen is because the American people say, ‘That's right. We are willing to make different choices for the country and we support those in Congress who are willing to take those actions.’”
*** Hillary Clinton checks into hospital: Beyond the fiscal cliff, the other big news is the health of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. As NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported on “TODAY” this morning, Clinton is now in a hospital in New York. Her spokesman released this statement last night: “In the course of a follow-up exam today, Secretary Clinton's doctors discovered a blood clot had formed, stemming from the concussion she sustained several weeks ago. She is being treated with anti-coagulants and is at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital so that they can monitor the medication over the next 48 hours. Her doctors will continue to assess her condition, including other issues associated with her concussion. They will determine if any further action is required.” Bottom line: This clearly is more serious than we originally thought.
*** Happy New Year! Finally, to all of our readers – have a safe and happy New Year. And thanks for reading us throughout 2012. Your morning First Read note will return on Thursday, Jan. 3.
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Leave a Comment:
They've worn themselves out posturing for the media.
The economic downturn was caused by past dem/lib policies...you f***in idiots need to read your history. Bill Clinton deserves some of this blame you stupid trolls.
Who you callin a troll. You along with your other repukes take the nod of worst Congress in the history of USA. And were the trolls. Please. You can go back under your bridge now. Weve heard enough from you.
obama is so pleased with himself because he is clooney's bed partner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All of you liberal Democrats who want to increase taxes on "the rich" need to realize the following:
1. Those impacted by this tax are the people who hire and fire workers as well as those who purchase a lot of goods and services.
2. Since your parents and grandparents may have retirement plans/pensions with stocks that provide dividends as a high percentage of their fixed income, have you talked to them about how dividends tax rates are going to triple from 15% to almost 55% when you count the Obamacare tax on dividends as well.
3. You may also want to talk to them about the increase in capital gains tax, especially those whose parents are invested in vehicles that provide their retirement from the gains...
Since most are on a fixed income, are you planning how you will be able to take care of them?
Finally, for those of you who work for a small business, have you asked the owner how these taxes, Obamacare and over 6000 new regulations that will hit business will impact their ability to survive and pay your salary?
You may want to before you throw your support toward tax increases on the "rich"......
Your job may depend on it........
Your first paragraph is right on the mark. You elitist only care about your own wealth and ability to buy consumer goods for you and your fam. You could give two sh-ts about anyone but yourselves. That is why you are no good for this country. Unfortunately, you are already here. Please - as your girlfriend Mitt would say - Self-Deport. The first thing you cry out is you won't hire anyone. Fine. Your profits will suffer along with the rest of us. I love to see repukes suffer. It makes me feel good.
Steve the dem....may I assume by your post that you are either unemployed, living off government assistance or both?
If not, and you are employed, may I suggest you sit down with your employer and have an open-minded discussion on how the tax increases, healthcare increases, regulatory cost increase and cost of goods and transportation are going to impact the viability of that business and most importantly, how it may impact your job, wages and benefits...
I have numerous conservative friends in small businesses that have foregone their own salary for 2-3 months in order to make payroll for their workers.
You do realize that when somone purchases goods and services, someone else benefits in the form of a job? Don't you?
So when someone with wealth purchases a boat, it may be a $500,000 boat versus my purchasing a $500 johnboat....
That $500,000 purchase generates a lot more jobs, a higher amount of taxes paid and does a lot more to fuel the economy than my $500 johnboat purchase.
Am I envious, absolutely not.....I am trying to better myself so I can reach that level of success, take care of my family and give back to society.
By your post, you have made the decision to always be a "taker".
While that is your decision, it is also my decision to disagree with you and constantly look for ways to ensure any taxes or donations of my hard earned money go to someone who takes personal responsibility and is willing to learn how to stand on their own two feet.....
The 112th Congress is, truly, the worst in my lifetime and since they started counting (in my lifetime). Hopefully 2013 will bring us a much more productive Congress. The obstructionists, if they continue to obstruct the will of the people, will be out after 2014 election.
It has been fun reading and responding to posts here on this blog. I wish everyone a safe, prosperous and very happy 2013, even the rwnj trolls who post here. They are fun to read and to put in their place, or see someone else put them in their place as they are proven wrong again and again and again.
We can all pray that President GHW Bush and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton get well.
A government of the people, by the people, for the people - is not what Republicans want!
Here is what the Right Wing strives for: The United States run by an Aristocracy: "control of affairs by the hands of a minority who have risen to a higher plain of fortune and instruction" and removal of voting and other democratic rights from the majority. This "American Aristocracy" complains that there has been a "degradation of suffrage (the right to vote) to lower and lower strata of intelligence". If you can understand this, you can understand why Republicans hate democracy and majority rule. That is why they are digging their heels in and insisting that they (the minority) should rule our country. However, Republicans omit that wealthy high-rollers playing "Casino Economics" ruined our economy - some of whom received bailout money.
The Republican Right Wing continues to spend a great deal of time convincing their own voting block and supporters - who they could not care less about except for their vote - to continue their support. These "supporters" are continually being duped and purposely confused and purposely riled by the Right Wing toward hate for those whom the "American Aristocracy" despises – which is pretty much 98% of this countries citizenry. In other words, "conservatives" end up voting against their own financial security and other interests.
This too, is why the Republican-Tea Party Right Wing is willing to put our very prosperity, domestic security and national security at risk for political gain. They are destroying America, economically, socially and democratically so they can "control the affairs" of the United States via creating a Third-World workforce with no money, hence, no political power. Your standard-of-living is being purposely destroyed by the Republican elite and others – so they can hold sway over all power, property and wealth in America. Put another way, under the Republican "plan", you will NEVER be able to prosper; you will always be under their control and manipulation - I am sure you can figure out the rest of this Republican "plan" for yourself…
repukes think they are better than the rest of us. We all bleed red until it's all gone and your dead. a repuke thinks all others are not smart enough to know what's best. They make me sick. F--kin elitist.
Will4203...I find it utterly appalling that liberal Democrats have to resort to posting lies to support their position....
It is sad that you have not taken the time to do your own research, talk to Republicans, conservatives, liberatarians etc. to understand that their positions and desires are 180 degrees the opposite of what you just posted.
If you can't provide factual sources to back up your claims (doubtful you have any credible ones) then please refrain from lying on this discussion board...
It demeans your cause....
Nor is it just what Democrats want! Neither side has the competence to negotiate a win-win solution...so we the people that elected these idiots are the ones paying the price...
We have to restructure Congress with term limits and accountability/performance filters. Otherwise we will keep going down this cliff over and over again with these nitwit leaders.
Shepherd, The only "cause" Republicans are involved in - is their own, not the peoples'. That Republican-Tea Party mission is what really "demeans the cause". But imagine that, a Republican-Tea Party type calling a Democrat a "liar". One thing is very clear: Republicans, Tea Party types and their supporters are congenital pathological liars. And it is safe to say that the Republican-Tea Party Cartel and its right wing base are purposely obstructing and sabotaging our economy so they can attack entitlements and the Democrats in general. This is a dangerous game you play. You caused many of our problems and now are trying to exact a price for your own incompetence and corruption. Well, the "price" may end up being one you don't want to pay: The cost of the backlash that is headed your way as you read this text...
Will4203....still no facts to back up your claims.....
And let me see now....
Wasn't it the Democrats who said Benghazi was a "mob out of control and upset due to a You Tube video"...
Hmmmmm.
Shepherd. Was it not that all the unclassified talking points put this into their dociea(sic)? And, are you gonna ride this to the end. Was it not your Defense Sec, State Sec, and VP who said WMD are easily found in Iraq. Give me a break. Are you that stupid? You will just ride off in the sunset on the Bengazi outpost? Changes will be made but I don't see us doing a pre-emptive strike because of it. Get a clue.
steve the dem....you do realize that every intelligence agency in the world agreed?
You do realize that Democrats in Congress voted to go to war?
You do realize that they did find several tons of "yellow cake" uranium that got shipped to Canada? (Did Saddam have a nuclear reactor? No)
You do realize Iraq had already used chemical weapons on Iranians, Kurds and their own people?
You do realize that the White House knew that Benghazi was terrorist attack within one hour and watched it in "real time" via sattelite and drone.
But then again, when would facts get in the way of your ideological rantings?
Gee, I sat in those countries for many months. And, I'm just a dummy from the midwest. A kid at the time. I realized Saddam didn't have WMDs. How can a young man from the midwest know what all your so-called experts didn't. About the same as the intelligence from Libya. The USA is good at tracking down bad folks. However, we're not so great at knowing what's what anywhere. We're as reactionary as and law enforcement department in this country. Reactionary. Not pre-emptive. Get a clue. I'm a little dummy from the midwest. Spent just months on their lands. Somehow I knew they didn't have WMDs. Can you explain that away? I'd like to hear.
An eternal shame Dems voted for it. And believe me HC still is very suspect in my mind. She was out on the forefront on that one. Just showed how much she can be trusted. I still haven't heard a meaculpa from her. That still bothers me to this day. We lost a lot of young men and women over that one. And you sit here and say "well the world believed it too". Then the blood is on your hands too. So I have a hard time listening to you. Simply, because you sound pretty stupid.
Shepard - Here is one fact: It is safe to say that you are a right wing buffoon and the only "facts" you recognize are the ones in you imagination or the ones that only fit your right wing agenda. Republican failures, corruption and fraud dwarf the so-called Benghazi failure. It is interesting how the biggest crooks, liars and scam artists are trying to fabricate something to bring down Obama's administration. It's way past time to put the Republican-Tea Party out of business - permanently! Are they helping the economy recover? HELL NO! Are they helping to solve any problem? HELL NO! Let's march on Washington now with a million revolutionaries and kick these Republican traitor asses out of DC! The Republican-Tea Party-Right Wing cartel is not fit to call itself American! Send the "HELL NO!" party to GIT-MO!
Gotta love this train of thought. "Someone believed it, so it must not be a lie."
Kind of sad to see this one sided blaming of Republicians for "the state" Congress is in. How many bills did the House of Representatives pass, that went no where in the Senate because Democrats would NOT allow them be be voted on or even debated. I'd say around 30+. How many budgets have the democrats passed in the last 5 years. Let me give you the answer! ZERO. President obama cannot even get a single democrat in the Senate to vote for his budget during any year. At least House Republicians passed a budget every year this Congress was in session. The first 2 years of this administration even a democratic controlled House refused to do it's CONSTITUTIONAL duty & pass a budget.
Republicians are caving in on a tax increase, but I have yet to see 1 democrat agree to or spell out ANY spending cuts. You've operated on a deficit every year in power of over 1.2 trillion dollars, yet you CANNOT come up with 1 single spending cut!
Please don't just blame Republicians; democraps are just as guilty if not more!
Very good points Dave.
Balanced budgets are another repuke led idea. F U and your balanced budget. Dems are not constrained to budgets. And answer this. When your big corps get out of budget and fail where do they go? Crying to the bankruptcy courts to sheild their sorry as--es from creditors. Your hypocracy is evident. So get off your high-horse. Balanced budgets are a sham used by idiot repukes.
Steve. With your 'ignorance is bliss' mentality, you must be in debt to your eyeballs and filed for personal bankruptcy several times...You must not be a Bill Clinton fan either b/c he had a nearly balanced budget. If you know anything about history...nations will ALWAYS collapse under the weight of their massive debts if not addressed and managed properly. Are Democrats ready for another world war? Because not paying our debts could cause exactly that.
Steve the dem....you have now confirmed that you are unemployed.
In business when a company that is well managed and paying attention to their bottomline, when revenues drop below budgeted levels, each department is asked to either set aside x% of their budget and not spend it until revenues return or they cut costs to return dollars to the P/L in order to continue to be a viable business.
Are their companies that get into trouble, absolutely. Sh*t happens. Sometimes self-inflicted. And that is exactly what bankruptcy courts are designed to help manage through in order to save the company and emerge stronger to prevent everyone from losing their jobs.
I find it sad that we have such a misinformed/uninformed public out there today. That is what is hurting the country.....
Wrong on both counts. Not in debt and no bankruptcies. Sorry. Plus, if someone wants to go to war, they better not step foot on our land. All Americans are never ready for war. But, if it comes to it-so be it. These colors don't run. That's the problem. Repukes love to start wars, but, they don't want to actually put their sorry as-es on the front line. Repukes love to cry bankruptcy. I don't understand why you'd have a problem with default. Repukes cry default everytime they don't get the profit they seek. Repukes don't care about paying their debts. We've seen that on an unending cycle through time. Overindulgence and then ask the gov to bail them out. I don't listen to elitist. Which I suspect you think you are.
TruthHurts....steve the dem is likely on full government support and sitting at home all day.
Either that or he/she is a well paid troll supported by Soros and Obama (both use the "elitist" term freely)
Either way, he/she only lives to stir up chaos...
Bad for the country either way....
Steve. I am far from elitist...but rather a staunch fiscal and social conservative. Two of my best friends serve in Special Forces. As a conservative I live within my means and conservatives simply want our government to do the same. I hold Bush, the GOP Betrayer, responsible for opening the can of worms with his deficit spending during his last term. Bush's policies were anything but conservative. However, Bush's spending pales in comparison to the spending levels Obama and the Dems have taken our country to. Whether the debt is to pay for long Republican wars or massive Democrat unmerited social welfare programs, the level of debt our nation is taking on is wrong and immoral on so many levels. My 7 month son already owes the government $45,000....nuf said.
Republicians don't care about paying their debits. hmm, how interesting to come from someone so ill-informed as you. Why is it that the National Debit climbed 2 trillion dollars when Clinton was in office, even if he did balance a yearly budget a few times. Plus just to show you how stupid you are, Republicians were in total control of Congress during those years Clinton had a balanced budget.
As far as your comment about Republicians not putting their butts on the front line in wars, I'm a REPUBLICIAN & I served from 1980-2000, so lets see what happened during those years: Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm 1, Somalia, Bosnia War, Desert Storm 2. So please don't tell me REPUBLICIANS don't put their butts on the front lines! I did! You sound like the kind of person we Republicians would use for target practice!
I am an idealogue as you say. Fiscally, that is. Socially Moderate. I do love to argue with repukes. If you call that chaos, I'll own it. And bad for the country--well I've already fought for my country. For that POS--t prez that's in the hospital now. Don't wish him any Get Well Soons. I work hard as an insurance salesman and I've had much success helping others that are not my family. Something repuke elitist know nothing about. And, and wait for it. I've graduated College with honors. Is that hard for a repuke to comprehend? I'm smart and still not willing to listen to repuke ideas unless they help us as a republic. Haven't seen many of those ideas floating around lately. Only thing I hear is elitist looking out for other elitist. Say goodnight Gracie. Any other position you'd like to speculate about me?
Dave in your point below, why would you say that this person is the kind you Republicans would use for target practice? Why would anyone who served his country for as many years as you , then say he would shoot another fellow American, one's who you alledgedly put your life on the line for. You sound more like a Hank Williams/Ted Nugent/Charlie Daniels right wing NRA bastard. You sure the hell don't sound like an American Veteran of foreign wars. I have a friend who is Post Commander at the V.F.W and if he heard you say that ,he'd kick your ass out of the hall. I didn't serve as long as you and if your service was honorable [and 20 years makes me believe it was] then why would you make such an idiotic statement?
Because the idiot I was responding too deserved no better of a comment!
And before you go bad mouthing me, why not go back & re-read steve the dems" comments about his ill will to Bush 41!
Republicans wear the name "do-little" Congress like a badge of honor. This is exactly how they want to govern, at least when they don't own the executive branch.
The have 2 modes of leadership and vision.
- When they have the presidency they have no problems spending and borrowing like drunken sailors. They like to rules with an iron fist and to jibe the system as much as possible for future gains. Mostly entirely by unethical means if not down right illegal.
- When they don't have the presidency they magically become intense conservative watchdogs in an attempt to stop or slow down anything that comes from the opposition at whatever the cost to the country, and to bring the pace of government to its knees as if to say to the ignorant; "You see, government is paralyzed therefore it's no good." All in the pretext of eroding extremely important regulations that try and keep the big money and powerful on a skewed playing field with it's competitors.
As much as the right-wing rhetoric screams for "let the market place decide" in one hand, they attempt at all costs to subvert the very market place with the other by their actions. Make no mistake about it. You get by all the buzzwords like "government in our lives", and "taking away my guns", and "abortion is bad" it really comes down to 1 thing.
Money. Follow the money and you find the heart and soul of who they are and who they represent.
I would go so far to say they are a hostile entity intent on bringing the federal government down for purposes of leaving the sheep(poor and middle class) to the wolves(top 1%). Almost like a mob family who has successfully convinced everyone they are legitimate.
Holding this country back hundreds and in time thousands of years of advancement.
When your credit cards are maxxed out and your income doesn't even pay for the interest on your debt, would you be doing very much that involved spending more money? If you are smart, you would look for ways to cut your debt or find a new job that paid a lot more.
Repukes don't follow those tenets. They cry cut service to the less fortunate. And if that fails. Let's just go to bankruptcy court. They'll let us off.
Never said anything about "spending", however big solutions require a change in many directions, spending money is one of them.
It's well known that a knee-jerk reaction to reduced spending when we were in the middle of a major recession is counter-productive. Going into deficit is not uncommon in any recession. But this wasn't any old recession was it? Coming to power while hundreds of thousands of jobs are being drained every month didn't quite help, did it? Tax breaks while you're not funding 2 wars didn't quite help either, did it? Taking at the time was a remarkable accomplishment in federal surpluses and squandering them through these unfunded wars, large tax breaks for the rich and reckless spending by a republican administration and mostly a republican rubber stamp Congress didn't help either.
Fig - Bush was a moron, not a true conservative, when it came to spending, even during a recession he made some dumb decisions that a Democrat would have done anyway. Those wars should have been won and done in 3-4 years max. Why do you think staunch conservatives formed the Tea Party to hold their own GOP party accountable????? That said, however, what Obama has done with our budget makes Bush's actions look like child's play. That's why he has no budget now, becasue if the truth were told...he'd likely be impeached!The fact that this GOP lead congress has "done nothing" is a testament to the fact that they know they were wrong in the past and will do all they can to block this government from more budget mistakes. What do ship captains do when their ship is moving and taking on water? They call for an ALL STOP to assess the situation! Obama is all about Forward!, screw the fact we are taking on water and sinking as a nation....
Dear fignugent. As a former drunken sailor, I find it insulting to equate that with Republicans.:) At least drunken sailors have a good time and get back to the ship when it's time to deploy.
The Tea Party to hold the GOP accountable? That's funny. The Tea Party has their own agenda. That agenda is right-wing christian dominated power structure with all the crazy rules and insane alternate reality. Their motto is "I want my America back". Yes, they want their pre 1960's white dominated leave it to beaver America back. The Tea Party was made to give a place for the white racist elements to congeal around. The idea that we have a N~~~~ president drives them insane.
Reading your responses just reinforces my original comments. When in control they spend like drunken sailors, when not the scream from the mountain tops to be the bastion of fiscal reason. Even in that mode they wouldn't know sound economic policy built on the foundation of addressing the welfare of the nation if it slapped them on the side of the head. Repubs know what they want. They are driven by money on one end and by lunatics on the other(tea baggers).
Both sides of the aisle only care about being re-elected. This Congress will be looked back upon as a joke. I can only hope it's not the beginning of a long joke.
Finally someone said what I thought, that the Congress is mainly the cause of a sluggish economy, I knew that last year, that they have an 82percent disapproval rating does not suprise me , they are all a bunch of ultra rich jerks, who cannot stand the fact that Mr. Obama is in the white house, they had so wanted to put Romney in, and we would be really hurting now, because there would be no one in the white house to champion the rights of the ;middleclass and the elderly. Fire them all I say, lets get some one in who can compromise, instead of a bunch of puppets, on the string of the ultra ultra rich mogles who stand in the wings, and direct their people to do as they say. Well soon I hope that they will be kicked out of congress and that we can get something done in the early part of the next month.
sheelf....I am assuming you are including the Democrats in this...
Especially when 7 out of the top 10 richest in Congress are Democrats...
I am also assuming you mean Harry Reid too.
Since Harry is the one that has not brought one House jobs and/or budget bill to a vote in the Senate nor has passed a budget in 4 years. Which by the way is required under the law....
Just let us know....
Most of the congressmen & women fall into that category of 1 %. Why would they want to vote themselves a tax raise when all they understand is "gimme' more pay raise". doesn't matter if they are Republicraps or Democrats.
Do little my a$$, IT'S DO NOTHING CONGRESS, with Mr Boozeman John Bonehead as the Captain who has run the S.S.Republitanic aground.
Shoot at me Dave65. I will congratulate you on your service to this country. But, I have not gone to the point of war. However, as a fellow soldier I would not be adverse to it. The CW was an major, major bad thing that happened here. To go there has to be very serious a disagreement. But, I'll go there. And, I won't use you for target practice. Just elimination.
Steve - Sadly, as divided a country socially and economically as we are today, it would not surprise me to see a CW in my lifetime. As for all who honorably serve in the military, if I recall the stats a couple years back, over 75% leaned Republican. All my military friends are conservative Republicans.
Actually, I have always wondered why most of our military forces have been mostly comprised by people with a conservative mindset, rather than liberal one. Any one care to take a stab at it?
God Truth I pray not. Because it was so long ago, history tells us we don't learn from past experience. But, I've been through war and it IS HELL on earth. It happens I know. But, it is something everyone should really try to avoid at all costs.
My stab at is soldiers want to do what their asked to do. They are tasked with confrontation and war. It's what we sign up for. Everyone has a job. When you go to work you want to do your job. A soldiers job is to kill as many people as quickly as possible. It's their job. And as we've seen American soldiers do it well. A liberal mindset thinks of the cost of war. And a liberal mindset thinks of the destruction of the fabric of life. Live and let live. Conservative mindset is do your job. Military speaking, as I've described above, is do what your paid for. Go to war. That's it on it's most basic level.
doubt someone with a pee brain like yourc could eliminate me! You have ill-will towards Bush 41, I as a Republician have no ill-will towards Clinton, althought I thought he was a idiot who couldn't keep his pants zipped up. If Iwas was still in today, I'd have NO PROBLEM taking orders from obama, even if I think he is a idiot as C-in-C; you on the other hand I believe would have a hard time taking any orders from a Republician President!
And to sum it up really simply for you steve the dem: I have no problem blaming Republicians for the current mess we are in. It's just that I ALSO BELIEVE that democrats are just as much to blame. Why is it that President Bush served 8 years in office; ran two wars & still only added 4 trillion to the National Debit, while obama has been around less than 4 years & he's already added almost 6 trillion? Why is it that when as a US Senator obama could say that raising the National Debit ceiling was and I quote "A UN-PATRIOTIC thing to do", yet he just asked for free unfetted reign to add more to the National Debit, with no checks or balances from Congress?
Why is it that Republicians can seem to pass a budget in the House, yet democratic Senators cannot seem to do that in the Senate? Cannot even get a single "Yes" vote on a obama budget either!
Why is it that Harry Reid sits on 30+ House passed bills & refuses to allow them to be debated or voted on in the Senate, yet he wants to force the House to pass his bills?
Why is it that when democrats controlled both Houses of Congress they passed 2 bills that no one read & the Speaker had the gaul to say "We need to pass this bill to know what's in the bill"? Now come to find out there are quite a few new taxes in the health care bill that Democrats want to STOP from taking affect.
You are a typical blogging democrat: Blame Republicians, but are never quite able to look in that mirror at yourself, because you might not like what you see. A person just as equally at blame for the mess this country is in!
Good article. Good comparison of the pros/cons and a good explanation of the players and their motives. Keep it up!
First Read, and Last Read
What if we are already at the bottom of the cliff? What if what we are seeing is all the collapsed debris of a failed economy? All of that ruined junk of things that don't or cannot or never worked, are heaped in a roadside distraction, and we just keep driving by on foreign energy, hoping that the grass, weeds, bushes and trees will cover up the resting waste dump that passes for an economy? Two things there have no meaning, one is the idea of a Cliff, if we are at the bottom of the cliff there is no point in looking down remembering that is all we have done for years is look down, the other is that the word economy has lost its meaning. The word economy has become a nothing a sort of word that is not there, white ink on white paper, or as if a word spoken aloud makes no sound, a coin dropped is not heard. If we want to stay at the bottom of the Cliff, we need to avoid to ever looking up again being blinded by the light. At least light has not lost its meaning, but with eyes and ears disabled we will not know what it is for.
It is fairly easy to see why the wealthy and the powerful don't see the problem, they live high in the bright clouds, wafting effortless about mountains of obstacles. Then the wealthy are bored with their parlor games, and notice that the source of their wealth is not producing more wealth then they pay a little bit of attention. They imagine that government is taking it away, and so insist that the easy way to have more, is to give the government less, and when that is not working to insist that the government get nothing, and when even that is not working to further insist that the government go into debt and give the wealthy it due. After all it is easy thinking that if the wealthy already own most everything then most everything else should be there to make them feel better. Of course there is the problem of being in the bright clouds, seeing other bright clouds, and unable to know were the boundary between enough, more and too much.
Now when we look up, we see only clouds, the wealthy from the top see only sunlight reflection back into the sky where it is lovely but does no work. Down at the cliff bottom, there is cloudy light that can barely light the way but not enough grow a crop. The matter gets worst when those clouds on high fail to make rain, and the bottom of the cliff are parched and dry unable to grow crops.
Yes it is a power struggle; to kill a government can require a concerted effort to evaporate the economy, to make enterprise unprofitable, to pay out as little in wages as is possible, cut taxes again and again, making government the insolvent. As long as that government has the ability to spend anyway as all governments can, the government can be made weaker and weaker. If all the elections are rigged and politicians are bought off the wealthy can set their sight on the governed operations, the Congress can interfere with good government operations by making nonsense requests and calling it oversight. Government is said to be better off privatized, for example the Pentagon can obtain high advisors from a privately funded groups at no expense to the Pentagon to reduce the defense department's ineptness. It is not for nothing that we are fighting wars to keep the wealthy in splendor, but it keeps everything else under blindingly bright white clouds.
The hired tools of the wealthy will continue for many days and nights to claim with straight face, and clever word salads that they alone will save us at cliffs bottom. We just have to duck what is being thrown down from the outhouse.
Trivia: What do Republicans call it when their team gets 3 points and the other team gets 50? A huge victory.
Q: How many righties can dance on the head of a pin?
The sad part about these "loser" Congresses is that they will continue as long as the voters keep thinking it's everyone else's Representatives that are failing... but not their own. It's the old blame game. It's always someone else's fault. Only when we all have the courage to VOTE OUT OUR OWN Representatives... and keep doing so until the wheels actually start moving in Washington... will things show any sign of improvement. Elections aren't popularity contests folks. They are for us to hire people to represent us on a national scale. If you don't want decent and honest representation then keep doing what you are doing... voting back in your same loser Congressman. Let's lay the blame where it belongs... on ourselves.
The truth is the U.S. Government functions just like Americans. 79% of adult Americans have debt. Like mortgages, car loans, student loans, credit card debt. The truth is our government IS representative of the people that elected them. In addition, why do you think so many businesses were hit hard by the banking collapse. It was because those businesses kept functioning with debt.
Relax everyone. I just heard that that worthless Mormom pedophile Jeffers or whatever has announced the end of the world tonight. Apparently, Kolob is going to hit us [instead of Xenu, which missed]. With luck, it'll hit the Capitol Building.
And it could not come soon enough. Sadly many Republicans gamed their way back into their seats through gerrymandering but even then they lost many Tea Party races including Allen West, a Tea Party Poster boy whose political career in the House was cut to a short 2 years.
Even so the gridlock will continue. I base this on what the GOP has taken away from their destruction during the election: "not Conservative enough". If that is what they took away then they are destined to the trash bin of history in 2014 and 2016 if they move even further to the Right; which I am pretty sure they will.
2014 will be the year the gridlock is taken care of or is left in place. The seeds for either have been setup by this election. Republicans will probably continue on their crusade to make it harder to vote and it is up to Democrats to break the off-Election trend of non-participation so that Republicans do not gain seats like they did in 2010.
If they do follow the off season trend then the gridlock will continue. The only way to stop the gridlock is to vote out the Tea Party and any of their sympathizers and anyone who cannot control them from Congress. Boehner, Ryan, Cantor, McConnell, and the Tea Party itself and replace them with Moderates like Snowe who will work with Democrats.
Obstinacy is not an old Republican trait. Regan and Regan-era Republicans compromised a lot with Democrats to get the job done. Today's Republicans could not broker a deal to get out of a wet box to save their lives because they have let their extremist ideology control them instead of the other way around. Much of the GOP party platform this year would have been too extreme for Regan to get behind. He would not have compromised on his personal integrity to fall into line behind something he did not agree with like Romney did.
Romney was forced to become a hardline Conservative in the Primary and while it made the Tea Party wet it turned off everyone else. When Romney tried to then woo back those he alienated during the Primary all anyone saw was a liar or a snake willing to change his skin to fit the situation. This was only exacerbated during the second and third debates.
If Romney had stayed his Moderate self throughout the entire election and if the GOP was not so stupid as to not elect a Moderate in this fictional world I am referencing, he would have had a much better shot. Ideally the perfect GOP candidate was Huntsman. He would have probably beaten Obama by a small amount, but if not he would not have lost as badly as Romney did.
You guys had a good chance to win the election and you blew it by forcing your Primary candidates to become something they were not and by letting the Tea Party control your party when they are a minority sect of your party. Learn the lessons of this election and apply them before the next one. If you do not the GOP will become completely extremist because all the Moderates will have left and either become Independent or formed their own party in opposition.
Should be bye bye for the DO NOTHING HARRY REID......but the moochers in Nevada...just want more vouchers....to be paid for by the HARD WORKING TAXPAYERS.
REID is the problem along with Obama, Pelosi and the rest of the MULTI MILLIONAIRES....who'd rather spread the poor working class wealth...than SPREAD THEIR OWN WEALTH......THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
Quit spewing your right-wing nutjob BS dear...and pick up some milk on the way home!
YOU kiss Obama's A$$....and while you are at it...YOU CAN KISS MINE TOO!! DIPSH$T
Is that an offer sweetums? I love it when you talk dirty...
Do Nothing Congress..
That includes both the Republican controlled House and the Democrat controlled Senate. Harry Reid is just as much at fault as John Boehner. I'm happy to say that the only incumbents I voted for last month were two local school board members. I'm unhappy to say that the incumbents I voted against were all re-elected.
Happy New Year! Most of you people are gonna get exactly what you voted for.
Please feel free to return to your liberal circle jerk..
Do-nothing-112th - Buh-bye! Good riddance!
Happy New Year and may next year entail DOING SOMTHING you bunch of overpaid good-for-nothings led by the worst bunch of Repubs ever.
hey sheeple, get your diabetic asp out of that Hoveround and get some sun...........
your gonna get hosed no mater what......
the Bell will toll
Does that have any meaning at all?