Lame Duck Obama Invites Gridlock

[Taco John]

This is an awesome story. It's basically about how Obama plans to hard line the Republicans, and in essence invite gridlock for his second term. Cant blame him. He's a lame duck before his term begins. He has to at least show his base that he "tried" to make "progress." But for those of us who enjoy seeing Washington paralyzed, we might be in a golden age.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...e-with-myself/

[Shaid]

Obama holds all the cards. Do nothing and the Bush tax cuts expire and then just pass a tax cut on the lower income folks.

[patteeu]

He gets to claim he was swinging for the fence with his base and he gets a boogieman (the Republicans in the House who hopefully refuse to roll over) to blame for the next four years of bad economy.

I don't know who Peter Suderman is, but I thought his tweet about Obama's ridiculous "proposal" was funny:

Republicans hear Obama's opening bid, counter with: Eliminate the federal government, except for defense.

[BigRedChief]

We just had an election. In every campaign stop he said I will return the tax rates for income above $250K to the rates under Clinton. The majority of Americans voted for him knowing that is what he wants to do. Now he is saying I'm going to do it........ yet you are surprised?

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We just had an election. In every campaign stop he said I will return the tax rates for income above $250K to the rates under Clinton. The majority of Americans voted for him knowing that is what he wants to do. Now he is saying I'm going to do it........ yet you are surprised?

This isn't just about taxes. The proposal presented by Tim Geithner included increased taxes of $1.6 trillion, NEW SPENDING on pet democrat projects, minor unspecified upfront spending cuts, and a promise to talk about spending cuts in the future with no guarantees.

He absolutely refuses to make a serious proposal with specific, real spending cuts. He challenges Republicans to set their mark with specifcs, apparently thinking that Republicans won't remember the last time they took him up on such an offer (with the Ryan budget) and got nothing but demagoguery in return.

The guy is not a leader and our country will suffer for it. But at least no one has to worry about whether Sandra Fluke will get her post-coitus birth control.

[Shaid]

Originally Posted by patteeu

This isn't just about taxes. The proposal presented by Tim Geithner included increased taxes of $1.6 trillion, NEW SPENDING on pet democrat projects, minor unspecified upfront spending cuts, and a promise to talk about spending cuts in the future with no guarantees.

He absolutely refuses to make a serious proposal with specific, real spending cuts. He challenges Republicans to set their mark with specifcs, apparently thinking that Republicans won't remember the last time they took him up on such an offer (with the Ryan budget) and got nothing but demagoguery in return.

The guy is not a leader and our country will suffer for it. But at least no one has to worry about whether Sandra Fluke will get her post-coitus birth control.

Apparently you are forgetting Obama made the "grand compromise" before and the repubs wouldn't budge. They should have taken the deal then instead of kicking the can. Now they have no choice on the tax increases so the only thing to really compromise on is where are the cuts going to happen? I expect some small cuts in Social Security on the areas that have no impact on end people, like some of the payouts to drug companies. The dems will ask for some military cuts. The only discussion on the table is spending cuts and they'll have to meet in the middle there and that might not happen until after the new year.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Shaid

Apparently you are forgetting Obama made the "grand compromise" before and the repubs wouldn't budge. They should have taken the deal then instead of kicking the can. Now they have no choice on the tax increases so the only thing to really compromise on is where are the cuts going to happen? I expect some small cuts in Social Security on the areas that have no impact on end people, like some of the payouts to drug companies. The dems will ask for some military cuts. The only discussion on the table is spending cuts and they'll have to meet in the middle there and that might not happen until after the new year.

Obama made no grand compromise.

[Shaid]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Obama made no grand compromise.

2 for 1 ratio on spending cuts to revenue increases. He showed the most movement from either party with that offer. Apparently it's all Obama's fault now because he hasn't offered anything but he has the leverage so he's going to wait for the repubs to offer something. That'll be the starting point. That's just the reality.

[Taco John]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We just had an election. In every campaign stop he said I will return the tax rates for income above $250K to the rates under Clinton. The majority of Americans voted for him knowing that is what he wants to do. Now he is saying I'm going to do it........ yet you are surprised?

The majority of Americans didn't vote.

And no, I"m not surprised by any of this. I expected Obama to be a lame duck. I just didn't think his strategy would play into it so harshly.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Taco John

The majority of Americans didn't vote.

And no, I"m not surprised by any of this. I expected Obama to be a lame duck. I just didn't think his strategy would play into it so harshly.

What tipped you off? The two-term limit? Can't get one past you.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Taco John

The majority of Americans didn't vote.

They had a chance to vote, to voice their opinion. Those who decided to get off their couch voted. The majority of those said raise the taxers on the rich. It's a done deal.

[SNR]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We just had an election. In every campaign stop he said I will return the tax rates for income above $250K to the rates under Clinton. The majority of Americans voted for him knowing that is what he wants to do. Now he is saying I'm going to do it........ yet you are surprised?

We really could have used you in Wisconsin during the winter of 2011.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

We just had an election. In every campaign stop he said I will return the tax rates for income above $250K to the rates under Clinton. The majority of Americans voted for him knowing that is what he wants to do. Now he is saying I'm going to do it........ yet you are surprised?

No he isn't. He's lying using verbal sleight of hand, knowing the rabble rousing ignorant and gullible masses won't check specifics.
You fall for it every time too.

His long-delayed budget proposal is chock full of tax hikes. Many of them are camouflaged as "fees" or "rules" changes. He also chains the Consumer Price Index in a way that moves many individuals into a higher tax brackets. Wouldn't you be glad to be considered rich enough to be taxed more under this?

Middle-class taxpayers, will lose tax credits and deductions they counted on. That's a tax hike. Also, Obamacare has many more new taxes within it as well.
Unions want out of it now too.

[patteeu]

[ChiTown]

Is anyone actually surprised by any of this?