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Subscribe to RSSThe Hill calls the fight over the sequester a “game of political chicken.” More: “Obama will hit the road again next week for campaign-style events at which he will argue Republicans are to blame for hurting the economy and national security if the cuts go through… Republicans, for their part, are equally confident it is Obama who will get the blame once the sequester is implemented on March 1. They agree the cuts will be harmful but find fault with Obama for signing the sequester into law and for having the idea in the first place.”
Roll Call calls Obama’s speech yesterday a “continuation of the White House strategy since winning tax rate hikes on the wealthy alongside permanent middle- class tax relief during the fiscal cliff deal.”
The Hill: “Continuing to hunt for a political advantage in the fight over the looming sequester, President Obama on Wednesday will conduct interviews with eight local television stations in an attempt to intensify pressure on congressional Republicans.”
USA Today calls it “lights, camera, sequester.”
“Budget cuts by the Army and Navy scheduled to take effect March 1 will force more than $26 billion in wage and spending reductions and prompt furloughs or layoffs for more than 450,000 people nationwide, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.” More: “Hardest hit states by the Army cuts include Alabama, Texas, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Among the least affected: Delaware, Wyoming, Montana and Rhode Island.”
Another USA Today piece on the consequences of the sequester: “Looming across-the-board federal spending cuts threaten to weaken the national criminal background check system for gun purchases, federal officials warn, even as lawmakers work to draft compromise legislation to expand and improve the background check system.”
Obama talked to John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Marco Rubio yesterday, three of the four GOP senators working on immigration. The Hill called it “an effort to smooth the waters.”
Beth Reinhard: “Such public declarations largely amount to political posturing. Obama’s liberal base expects a quicker path to citizenship for illegal immigrants than what Rubio has outlined. Rubio risks his credibility with conservatives if he appears to be in cahoots with the president. With Rubio’s political identity hinging on his status as a leading Republican foil to the president -- exemplified by his delivery of the party’s official rebuttal to the State of the Union speech last month -- it’s hard to imagine these rivals coming together. But while some immigration reform advocates worry that ill will could doom a deal, they also point to the high stakes for both sides in courting the fast-growing Hispanic community that sealed Obama’s second term. In other words: Obama and Rubio may never be friends, but they could be frenemies.”
Vice President Biden in a Facebook chat with Parents magazine said people should buy shotguns and not assault weapons. “If you want to protect yourself, get a double-barrel shotgun,” Biden said, per Roll Call. He told his wife: “If there’s ever a problem here, just walk out on the balcony, here, walk out, put that double barrel shotgun and just fire two blasts outside the house. … I promise you, whoever’s coming in is not going to — you don’t need an [assault rifle]. It’s harder to aim, it’s harder to use, and, in fact, you don’t need 30 rounds to protect yourself. Buy a shotgun, buy a shotgun.”
“A call over the weekend ended a week of speculation that Russia had been snubbing the new secretary of State,” The Hill writes. “Russia's foreign minister finally returned Secretary of State John Kerry's phone call from last Monday over the weekend, the State Department said. Kerry had been trying to reach Sergei Lavrov ever since North Korea tested a nuclear device last Monday evening. The two finally connected over the weekend, ending a week of speculation that Russia had been snubbing the new secretary of State.”
Tiger Woods called it “pretty cool” golfing with Obama.
The Hill says the Pentagon is investigating the SEAL who shot bin Laden to see if any classified information was mentioned during his interview with a reporter.
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It's true, Obama wants the sequester to happen. Hence the hold up on the Senate vote on the 2 bills passed by the HoR, Harry Reid was told not to move on them by Pres Obama.
It really doesn't matter, the sequester will not make much of a difference once it comes to fruition. Chump change compared to the spending that is going to happen the next few years.
Just surprised (not) that the usual libs are not commenting on this one. Of course he wants it to happen. The country is sliding a bit and Unemployment is expected to rise slightly over the next month or so. This gives the perfect scenario for the Dem/lib/liv/progressives to point the "finger of blame" on the nasty old GOP for the downturn. Actually quite smart as they continue to blame the GOP and the sheep will follow the leader (term used loosely) although he bought into it and signed.
Yeah, a ghost town in the threads that blame the left.... they can't take it! sure can dish it out though, can't they?
45 billion out of a 3.6 trillion dollar "budget". The GAO has identified and sent to our Partier-in-Chief 125 billion dollars worth per year of waste and repition that the executive branch controls and Obama could cut today.
He's nothing more than an ideologue hack without a clue and a threat to our nation because he is such a fool.
Horse pucky, conservatives are and always have been the problem not the cure. People like Lil and hand both have the intelligence found in a loaf of bread if they think laying off 10% or the work force will not cause repercussions in the 14 elections. People will remember that Boner and the tea bags in congress are the problem. Everybody wants spending cuts unless it effects them directly, then they say cut the other guy. Cutting defense spending in itself in republican held districts like VA. will cost seats in congress for the republicans.
horse pucky? How old are you Johntho? 90?
and btw, HoR have submitted 2 bills to avoid the sequester, how many have the Senate produced?
Can't wait to hear a response from Cruzie, Cornyn and the TeaPeople Reps, all from Texas!
I'm sure they will lie to their districts about the cuts........
Texas would look like a scene from "Grapes of Wrath" without all the defense spending......
Lil Michelle, try & keep up, the Newest version of the HOR, has'nt Passed anything YET!
Thats what you are'nt getting, because there is NO New Sequester Bill that has been sent to the Senate. It's kinda hard to Pass Bills, when you Work(cough, cough), 2 Days, then take 10 Days OFF, such as the Current HOR has Done so far this Year.
You Betcha!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
That Occupy SoggyBottom is such a cute phrase.... love it Rick!
Yes, Michelle, horse pucky. It is a nice way of saying what comes out of the south end of a north bound horse.
The Republicans still don't seem to get the message that people voted down their cockamamie ideas in November and will do it again in 14 unless they reform.
President Obama wants a balanced approach to fixing the deficit. He has repeatedly said that we need sensible spending cuts but we also need sensible revenue increases. The Republicans, despite what non-partisan economists have said, seem to only want to cut spending and not raise revenue.
We started two very expensive wars without a means of paying for them other than put them on the American Taxpayer Credit card. Well, the bill is due for payment. We didn't sell bonds as with past wars, we didn't raise taxes, as in past wars, no, we acted like there were no wars at all. The military-industrial complex got richer and richer and richer (see Dick Cheney and no bid contracts for his buddies) while Dubya took a surplus and turned it into a deficit in less than a year. Like it or not it happened and now we pay the price.
Once we get the deficit under control (Dick Cheney said deficits don't matter), we can look at ways of keeping costs down, reducing or eliminating PORK for Congressional districts, have a lean mean, cost effective military second to none, and take care of those who are less able to take care of themselves such as seniors, extremely poor people and we can help veterans returning from those unnecessary wars by thanking them not just with words but programs to help them get back into civilian life with a job and further appreciation of their service with discounts on things, medical help, mental health assistance, whatever they need.
Finally if one occupies a soggy bottom long enough wouldn't that cause problems in the nether areas? (sorry couldn't resist)
You reside in lala know-nothing land baldie.
I'm done trying to enlighten you leftist know-nothings.
It's easier to mock you. Even if I bothered to inform you it would matter not, you would still worship Obama as your lord and savior.
Obama wants the sequester because it will help to hollow out the military. He doesn't give two bong hits about what else is cut.
Cannot believe that so many people cannot remember our POTUS pushing the through. In fact he was demanding sequestration to be passed. It is bad enought the POTUS does not remember iniatiating this bill( but he cannot remember anything that he says for 10 seconds) but neither can his constituentts. Do u only believe what he says at that very minute? Everyone thinks that he lies, but he cannot remember what he has said n obviously people r not paying much attention b/c they do not remember either.
No need to comment Talk. It's more fun to just sit back and watch you tea people make fools of yourselves.
wow am I reading an MSNBC article?
Interesting that Speaker Boehner sent out an e-mail for sequester before President Obama ever suggested it.
It's time the Speaker and Republicans admit that they want to destroy the American economy and the American Dream.
Is that the lie Obama is pushing now or did you invent that yourself?
Debbie .... according to Fact check .org....This Idea originated in the White House . The director of then Office of Management and Budget, Jacob Lew, and White House Legislative Affairs Director Rob Nabors brought the idea of Sequestration to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid before it was proposed to Congress.
That means the White House and the President own this one....End of debate!
Debbie for your own good, please stop doing drugs, there no good for you!
Peace!
Debbie for your own good, please stop doing drugs, there no good for you!
Peace!
Simple Theory wrote:
45 billion out of a 3.6 trillion dollar "budget". The GAO has identified and sent to our Partier-in-Chief 125 billion dollars worth per year of waste and repition {sic} that the executive branch controls and Obama could cut today.
Obama wants the sequester because it will help to hollow out the military.
So which is it? Hate Obama because "his" cuts are such a microscopic part of the defense budget, or hate Obama because he is destroying our military? Or hate Obama just because?
Please...continue to enlighten us "leftist know-nothings."
Thank you!
"President Armageddon," per the Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323495104578314301609669998.html?