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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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Good morning America!! How is life in the worst country in the world? Yes, you heard me, the WORST. Makes about as much sense as calling it the best. America will never be able to move forward until she gets off her high horse, stop blubbering about how "great" she is, and take a look at other countries who are doing better that she is in this down economy and maybe, just maybe start accepting that other countries may have something to teach her once in awhile.
Well, we are not the worst country in the world - far from it. But you are right that we need to stop all our chest thumping. The greatest threat to this country today is hubris. The idea that any thought or program that originates in another country is fundamentally flawed solely because an American didn't think of it is beyond dumb.
Senator Bob Corker (R) is in the gerrymandered senatorial district I live in that stretches from Chattanooga to 200 miles north of Nashville. He was just the interviewee on a MSNBC news show and I don't have a clue what he was saying. Today is D-Day and he acts like it doesn't matter and is changing the subject, I think, to the Deficit battle the Republicans will make us endure for the next 30 days. Like Tom Brokaw said the other morning, you can't vote these people out because the republicans have "tricked" the districts. We are in trouble with people like Corker.
Senators are elected on a statewide basis, there are no gerrymandered senate districts.
Markinbecker I had a brain aneurysm and wasn't thinking. I had just listened to him talk and was so baffled by what he was saying. Your right but I did vote against him in Nov 2012.
Even if the senate passes something it won't get through the congress without defections. If that occurs Boehner will lose his seat which would be a blessing. Also the people who defected will not be re-elected in 2014. They will be fought hard in the primaries. Also republicans will still control the house in 2014 because democrats just can't handle being in control of congress after obamacare.
Everyone you could look at it this way, would you prefer to be reading boring news where you wouldn't want to hear and/or read the end of the story or would you prefer a little action in the news with a threat or some sort of fight?
The Republicans and Tea-Partyers favorite movie of all time is "Titanic" where the ships directors locked the 3rd class steerage passengers in the bottom of the ship when it was sinking denying them a even shot at saving their lives because they considered them to be lower class worthless scumbags.
Things never change with elitists and Republicans folks !! They trully believe they are better and more deserving than the rest of us.
Deserving of what G? Keeping more of our money that we have earned?
Go get your Obamaphone.
Deserving of a better life. The meaning was clear to me when I read it. You are ignorant, TLT.
Imagine how borning it would it be if everyone did get along? There would be no purpose.
I would take boring and effective .....but that's just me ....or is it ?
PValdes
giggle
Lets also wish Hillary Clinton a speedy recovery, the people in our country need you.
Yes a speedy recovery so she can testify to Congress about the Murder of 4 Americans and the order to stand down instead of helping rescue them!
At this point, I am fine with the current Congress not reaching a deal and taking us over the "cliff." In a few days there will be a new Congress and maybe they can act like adults and accomplish something worth doing. All the "deals" currently being reported sound worse than the alternative anyway.
This Congress has been an embarrassment to this country and it needs to just end.
Maybe the 13 will come in lucky for the 113th Congress :)
And welcome in a fresh new do little congress.
Maybe - but just for a few days I want to be a "glass half full" kinda gal.
Chris they do have a reputation ya know :)
Anita - if you go out and celebrate New Years tonight I doubt your will have a glass half full - it will be empty along with the bottle your pouring out of.
And 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…
There can be no hope for economic recovery so long as the greedy liberals will draw the line in the sand at "Don't cut my benefits!"
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...
@Watermoon - Greedy has nothing to do with it. NO ONE wants their benefits cut, regardless of party affiliation, liberals, or conservatives!
What ever they do we'll have to live with so we may as sit back and enjoy the show.
Anyone notice that it took four unknown and unemployed idiots to write this little piece of swell "journalism" for NBC? Since it is all just slanted opinion, what really happens is four loser obama and NBC ants get together in their moms basement throwing around childish ways to write an opinion piece. But there is the creative part. NBC requests articles for today that appear to be non biased, but at the same time rip the hell out of the GOP, so the little kids in between mom bringing them down another load of hot pockets has to come up with thing to type like "both parties need.... but those awful terrible republicans want everyone in hell... but both parties need....". Its all comedy at this point following NBC propaganda and this lying, cheating, cover up administration and president.
You can probably look at it in this way also that our government is just keeping us entertained?
Batten down the hatches, we will have to rebuild this country after 8 years of Obozo. We know NOTHING he has proposed will improve the economy. It will continue to get worse and worse as more companies and wealth creators leave. After the sheep figure out that everybody can't be on the government tit and their checks stop coming they will turn on Obozo and the Dimocraps.
The Idiots of this country have started a downhill slide that will have to hit dead bottom before we can repair it.
"Batten down the hatches, we will have to rebuild this country after 8 years of Obozo"
But nothing was required after (8) years of the biggest brainless dip-s-hit this country has ever had or ever will have for a President who nearly destroyed us economically.... George W. Bush
Where is your proof that Obozo has any brains? I made out just fine with W. in office but there are about 25 million Americans that haven't done very well with the Kenyan genious in there. Ha ha,
We Await.
Actually it was only the last two years of Bush when the Libs started stonewalling him as a lame duck so they could win the election that legislation was sent up that pushed the economy downward. In 2009 the CBO and GAO began looking deeper into it and found that much of the stalled economy was due to the acts of both the house and senate and this president after 2008... all were democratic.... and they are still stonewalling for fear of having to make a tough decision at any point... tossed in with a socialistic president.
I didn't support the Bush tax cuts when they were enacted - even before we went into two unfunded wars. The economy was in slow down (cyclical) but was not on its way to a major recession much less a depression. What we were on the way to was continued balanced budgets and probably deficit reduction. Republicans didn't give a damn about deficit reduction in 2001. They didn't give a damn about the deficit until a Democrat was elected President. My belief is that those who have benefited the most and have the most should contribute more to support the nation that has supported their success, but I am okay with letting all the tax cuts expire as they were supposed to to begin with.
For all the people who believe that teachers' salaries should be based on student achievement (and to a large extent I agree) I would propose the same for our legislators - in which case this bunch owes us our money back.
At the end of your post when you said "For all the people who believe that teachers' salaries should be based on student achievement (and to a large extent I agree)" (Anita-2036926, 2012), nothing would change for the lower income students, they would never be learning new material or material that's up to date. Think of it this way, would you want airline pilots being paid for what they know about flying?
That's a great name. I know it sure is accurate and it'll go down in the history books.
No mention of the do nothing libs of the democratic senate ......Who if they do not get their way sit on their hands like children ....
The Pelosi congress did a lot, they bankrupted the country, and stole our tax dollars. The Tea Party is doing what I want them to do, stop the spending, and hold up the Obama machine from socializing or marxinizing this country! LIke the old timers use to say, not property, nor money, or your welfare is safe, when congress is in session. To bad if you progressives do not like the HOUSE, they are protecting the rest of us from your soccer-mom mentality.
What has Hariless done? nothing, no budgets, no actions, no options, no nothing, do nothing.
And yet when the country went into the toilet after they took over both houses of Congress in 2006 everyone blamed George Bush - he was the president after all. Now after four years of failed policies that has made a bad situation worse when Obama has just one house controlled by the opposition party - they blame that opposition? This crisis was seen coming months ago and our president did nothing. Now he is raising taxes while continuing to spend. This was supposed to be about deficit reduction and he is goiing to use the tax influx to iincrease spending - nut cut a deficit. He lies to us and we kiss his butt!
The 113th will be the 112th revisited. With very few exceptions the players are all the same, especially those in power (Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, McConnell, Reid, Pelosi, etc.)
Blame the voters. 90%+ of incumbents seeking re-election won. I'd love to have an 11% approval rating in my job and get rewarded with a new 2 year or 6 year contract.
You need to get this congress rating thing figured out...so here's a little help for you...the low approval rating is from all the people of the US for the collective body named congress...however the individual members are not elected by all the people of the US...it would mean nothing if the approval rating was 0.5%...
Rating congress is like rating the entitlement oriented mentally deficient under achieving obese children in America by the public which would be about on par with congress...yet despite low approval someone keeps on allowing these people to live in their basement and feeding them...
And 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…
Replace your "right wing Republicans" with Left wing wacko Dimocraps.
Profound: MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE
Let 's look at what we have learned from this election:
Twenty-one of 22 incumbent senators were re-elected, and 353 of 373 incumbent members of the House were re-elected.
The American people have re-elected 94 percent of the incumbents who were running for re-election to an institution that has an approval rating of about 9 percent.
This indicates, as an electorate, we are a nation of idiots. We're now stuck with the useless, dysfunctional government that we deserve....
Republicans claiming to be Christians have convinced themselves that Jesus was only joking when he said....
"What you have done for my least...you have done for me"
And you know what else ??? There were no qualifications in the bible to his spoken words.
Did he say that it was okay for lazy slug liberals to steal from the productive? ALl these greedy people care about is "Don't cut my benefits". Country be damned but don't cut my welfare or ask me to take a job!
You are a trully clueless individual.
I have only one question for you.
How long do you think you are going to live?
Watermoon, as one of those "lazy slug liberals", I've PAID for MY benefits in the form of payroll taxes. The same taxes coming out of YOUR paycheck that you will be entitled to receive the benefit of, unless you are stupid enough to vote against your own financial self interest.
See, this is the problem with many in the GOP - they think those receiving benefits are lazy slackers, the old "welfare moms". The reason the number of people on food stamps has increased? Under or unemployed working families. That this Congress would consider ending unemployment benefits is inexcusable.
Try some empirical, rather than anecdotal, evidence the next time.
Pigotry...13 posts in one morning...do you have a job or is this it?
I have a question for all you azz kissing liberals. Why won't your hero, Harry the Fairy release any bills for an up or down vote? If they are that bad, they will be voted down. Don't ever say anything about republican leadership when you have reid and the pig, losi that is running the show. All 4 of them should have been gone long ago. Pigotry and Feisty work the back alleys at night so they have plenty of time to post their drivel all day.
all of those GOTP bills were nothing more than Far Right Wing ideology. They were a waste of time and money to bring to the floor, to vote on and to print them on paper. It was the Tea's way to act like they were doing something although they were only doing it for their party and their 2% buddies, NOT for America.
If it were for America we would have better unemployment numbers, infrastructure and jobs bills, our credit rating would still be A+++, we would have a debt ceiling that covers more than one year at a time, we would be working toward balancing the budget. Remember Clinton years, you rights don't like to admit it but more millionaires and jobs were created during Clinton's term that in any in my lifetime.
Instead it was GOTP slash medicaid, medicare, social security, everything America is all about. I have worked 44 years paying to Social Security and Medicare, it is not an entitlement it is a garauntee and social security is only in trouble because Congress has been using our money to fund their pork.
one more election cycle and in the mid terms we should be able to clean the rest of the tea, do nothing, ideologues out of OUR House!