Obama holds upper hand in budget confrontation
The reputations of pollsters Rasmussen and Gallup took a deserved beating in the 2012 election, but if nothing else they are still valuable when judged relative to themselves. Rasmussen, for example, now reports that President Obama’s job approval rating among likely voters is at 55 percent, his highest level in a Rasmussen poll since June 2009.
Gallup reports similar numbers:
That would seem to suggest that Republican denials notwithstanding, President Obama comes into negotiations on the so-called fiscal cliff with a considerable amount of leverage. Newly released numbers from a Washington Post/Pew Center poll confirm that assessment:
Given that reality, it’ll be interesting to see the outcome of today’s secret ballot among House Republicans, who will be asked to elect a new chairman of the House Republican Conference. As we reported Monday, House Speaker John Boehner has thrown his support behind Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who qualifies as a moderate, if only within the very narrowly conservative House GOP caucus. If elected, she would also become the only woman in the House GOP leadership, which currently has no women holding any of the 21 House committee chairmanships.
However, those on the more conservative end of the very conservative GOP caucus are rallying behind Georgia’s own Tom Price. That includes House Budget chair Paul Ryan, fresh off his experience on the losing end of the presidential race.
A Price victory would constitute a pretty serious setback for Boehner and would indicate that when the time comes, the speaker would not be able to deliver GOP votes for the budget compromise that will be needed. It would also suggest that House Republicans have not yet learned the necessary lessons of the 2012 election, including the dangers of extremism and the wisdom of outreach to female voters.
If so, they are courting yet another reminder.
– Jay Bookman
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642 comments Add your comment
curious
November 14th, 2012
10:56 am
In the Military, you’re liable to lose your security clearance if you’re in big time debt. You are vulnerable to bad guys willing to help with the problem in exchange for information.
With the apparent financial situation with the Kelly woman, I would question the judgment of Petraeus and Allen being associated with her.
Recon 0311 2533
November 14th, 2012
10:56 am
I think that some of you card carrying left wingers on here still believe in Santa Clause. Rich folks in America are soon to become an endangered species if they’re not already.
mm
November 14th, 2012
10:56 am
JHM,
“Are you down with means-testing for benefits, too?”
If you expand the SS tax, you can probably lower the SS tax rate. And means testing should be at an appropriate level.
TaxPayer
November 14th, 2012
10:56 am
To be poopy heads or not to be poopy heads, that is the question of the day.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
10:57 am
Scout – “The future does not look good for the country and guess what happens as that inconvenient truth continues to unfold.”
you’re right … the future looks GREAT for the country now that it’s no longer being held ransom by the religious nutty-nut-nuts who think that gay marriage causes hurricanes.
TaxPayer
November 14th, 2012
10:57 am
The Santa Clause confirmed that it’s the fine print that will get you every time.
TBone
November 14th, 2012
10:57 am
“Obama’s plan has been working. And there is no reason to change it. His plan has been and still is to deal with the deficit by raising taxes and cutting spending.”
The budget deficit increased $120 billion in October so what part of his plan is working?
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
10:58 am
we the people have a prez that the majority did not want
Hello? Is this thing on?
Where in the Wide, Wide World of Sports do you get your information???
the next four years will be pathetic.
For you or the republic?
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
10:58 am
Doom — “As much hell as I give Joe mama and vice versa his ideas the previous page are good and would work provided the 2 parties could come to terms on cuts. R s are going to have to give in on defense spending, D s on govt programs that are duplicative or that do not work, and we’re going to have to have means testing on ss for the very wealthy.”
Folks, you see me and Doom beating up on each other in here at least once or twice a week — so if we can agree on something like this, then maybe it’s got a hope in heck of actually being worthwhile.
mm
November 14th, 2012
10:58 am
“Rich folks in America are soon to become an endangered species if they’re not already.”
Yeah, that extra 4% is going to bankrupt these folks. NOT.
josef
November 14th, 2012
10:58 am
He ne ha
“josef is the ‘keeper of the stories (language)’”
Sorta like hair dresser and interior decorator…goes with the Two Spirit territory!
KILLERJ
“…nice to know we the people have a prez that the majority did not want…”
So, where’s the news in that. It happens every four years.
southpaw
November 14th, 2012
10:58 am
JHM
You’ve definitely improved on my improvements. An interstitial year is a better idea than forcing an agency to cut back all at once. I can’t help but wonder how many agencies have increased their budgets MORE than 30%–even if measured in constant dollars, not current dollars.
We probably don’t want to return to Kennedy-era tax rates. I, at least, tend to oppose 90% tax rates just on general principles. They tend to cause more people to be in the same boat as James Ross. Who, you ask, is James Ross? Read his story below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/business/at-102-his-tax-rate-takes-the-cake-common-sense.html?pagewanted=all
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
10:59 am
Rich folks in America are soon to become an endangered species…
Although ALL available information proves otherwise.
Sheesh…
Lynnie Gal
November 14th, 2012
10:59 am
Ditto Jam Vet.
It is obvious by their behavior that Republicans can not learn–they have to be defeated and marginalized because change is impossible for people whose heads are made of brick. Even after the drubbing they took last Tuesday from women, Ohio Republicans have renewed their attacks on Planned Parenthood and are attempting to pass a “heartbeat” bill to criminalize abortion. Once again, they’ll never learn. They have to be outnumbered and ousted from government and forced to crawl back under their rocks of hatred.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 14th, 2012
11:01 am
Looks like the same old whines from FTroop, absent any reality.
TaxPayer
November 14th, 2012
11:01 am
A glimpse at the highlight of today’s GOP House agenda,
“All those opposed to Tom Price as Chairman please signify with a hearty “I OBJECT!”"
Recon 0311 2533
November 14th, 2012
11:02 am
“but their is still a ton of fight left in us liberals, independents, moderates and greens.”
I think there’s a greater ton of bull shyte in liberals and what do you call them “greens”. The perfect union your talking about is getting more imperfect each day. Better lay off blogging for awhile and broaden you scope.
John Konop
November 14th, 2012
11:02 am
Joe H M,
…My sense is that the healthcare cost issue will never be solved unless and until we run and manage healthcare like a public utility in this country..
In all due respect, nothing fixes the problem private or public unless we look at real cuts. Both sides would rather debate ideology over lifting up the hood and making tough calls. I am pragmatist, who deals in reality not macro ideology.
The BS on both sides of this issue blows my mind. I heard Debbie Wasserman Schultz claim we need no fixes to Medicare/ Medicaid only waste and abuse reforms will fix it. Anyone who can do math and understand the problem knows that is BS. Also on the right they claim that bulk buying of drugs would not save money is BS. Let’s cut the ideological BS and have a real conversation on how to fix the budget.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:02 am
“Rich folks in America are soon to become an endangered species…”
hyperbole, thy name is Recon.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 14th, 2012
11:04 am
Better lay off blogging for awhile and broaden you [sic] scope.
Del is dispensing advice but not taking it himself.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 14th, 2012
11:05 am
FL governor drops opposition to Obamacare.
LOL
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:05 am
“FL governor drops opposition to Obamacare.”
I’m shocked! shocked, I tell you!!
Recon 0311 2533
November 14th, 2012
11:05 am
Well the stuck on stupid crowd will always remain in that condition. Enjoy it while you can libs. I’m out
AmericaShrugged
November 14th, 2012
11:06 am
There’s no mandate and no significant leverage or upper hand. The feeble economy and tepid recovery have the upper hand and almost anything done to reduce the deficit potentially hurts the recovery. Want to cut extended unemployment leaving 2 million Amerians without their life support check starting January 1?
Cutting spending threatens the economy as does increasing taxes. So the Congress will do as little as possible in spending cuts and tax increases and will avoid the cliff by kicking the can down the road once again.
josef
November 14th, 2012
11:07 am
Wa-do Del
“I’m out”
Well, not yet, but you are evolving…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 14th, 2012
11:07 am
“stuck on stupid crowd” — Jindal’s GOP?
alex
November 14th, 2012
11:07 am
Add to this, Doom and Joe ,an older age at which ss is collected and medicare starts. We live Too long, Too well to start collecting our ss and Medicare at such a young age…
@Konop, not sure what you mean by public utility, Ga. power has a monopoly . correct..?
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:08 am
mm — “If you expand the SS tax, you can probably lower the SS tax rate.”
Excellent idea. That would get business’ support, I bet!
“And means testing should be at an appropriate level.”
How about vanishing benefits? Retirees with an AGI up to, let’s say $40K, can receive full SS benefits and Medicare. And then benefits fade out on a schedule like this:
AGI $40K – $70K get 75% SS bennies and full Medicare with subsidized premium
AGI $70K – $100K get 50% SS and full Medicare with subsidized premium
AGI $100K – $130K get 25% SS and pay 1/3 of full Medicare cost (unsubsidized premium)
AGI $130K – $160K receive no SS benefits and pay 2/3 of full Medicare cost
AGI >$160K receive no SS benefits and pay full, unsubsidized Medicare premium
Fair? Unfair? Reasonable? Unreasonable?
We can quibble over the specific numbers, but does this look like a good start?
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:08 am
Del, sucks to be you, I guess!
zeke
November 14th, 2012
11:08 am
Totally the fault of Obama and the liberal democrats! They can’t do a single thing positive to spur the economy and the future of the country! All they can do is tax, tax, tax, and, spend, spend, spend! They can take 100% of the income in taxes and not put a dent in the deficit or the debt! It can ONLY BE AFFECTED BY REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING!
Thomas Heyward Jr
November 14th, 2012
11:08 am
Keep in mind ……………you pro-state/slavery apologists……Obama won with 62.6 million votes. He got 30.2 percent of eligible voters’ possible votes.Less than 15% of the population. What he should do is immediately resign. He has failed even to get any reasonable fraction of his countrymen behind his presidency. Romney, of course, did slightly worse.
.
But……………..there’s always this…………………………………………………….
.
CDS Iran Israel
Update: Israel CDS 145/155, +6 bps
“In a move that is certain to aggravate the already frayed relations between Israel and the Palestine, not to mention send Brent spiking, moments ago the IAF, in a precision airstrike, assassinated Ahmed Jaabari, the head of Hamas’ armed wing – a position that is equivalent to Chief of Staff – together with his son, who were travelling in a car at the moment of the strike. And, as expected, the furious Hamas response has already been logged and promises much more death and escalation in the near term.”
.
Let us all pony up mo money to the MIC.
Erwin's cat
November 14th, 2012
11:10 am
JHM and Doomy – Folks, you see me and Doom beating up on each other in here at least once or twice a week — so if we can agree on something like this, then maybe it’s got a hope in heck of actually being worthwhile.
count me in as well
CJ
November 14th, 2012
11:10 am
Mick you are correct President Obama is the SMARTEST presidents ever in the White House. Bush was so DUMB, his money bought his way through school because he certainly did not earn his degree. Is his still an alcoholic? Oh, no…way a minute…I think his daughters are.
stands for decibels
November 14th, 2012
11:11 am
Fair? Unfair? Reasonable? Unreasonable?
I hate means-testing this stuff. I want upper-middle incomers to have a full stake in this. And if you run the numbers you’ll see you’ll get diddly squat in terms of actual savings.
So, dreadful idea.
(we talked about this yesterday, I said essentially the same thing. I think I’ll need to get an elevator speech prepared, because reasonable people keep bringing it up.)
curious
November 14th, 2012
11:12 am
About 60 years ago, playing football in the backyard, the rich kid with the football would take it and go home if he didn’t get his way.
Maybe some of these “rich” folks need to take their football and go home.
The rest of us will figure out a way to keep playing.
Thulsa Doom
November 14th, 2012
11:12 am
Joe mama,
No doubt. If you and I can agree on something then there is hope for us all. Politicians though? Now that’s a whole different story. Hopefully my pessimism in them all is misplaced. Hopefully…
John Konop
November 14th, 2012
11:13 am
Alex,
….. @Konop, not sure what you mean by public utility, Ga. power has a monopoly . correct..?…..
That was not me that was from Joe H M. I agree I am not a big fan of privet/public ventures, as the father of the free market system pointed out years ago (Adam Smith) they are ripe for abuse.
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:13 am
They have to be outnumbered and ousted from government and forced to crawl back under their rocks of hatred.
I completely agree, Lynnie.
The last thirty plus years have proven irrefutably that tying to reason or negotiate or compromise with this horrifically hijacked and dysfunctional GOP “leadership” is damn nigh impossible.
Intransigent, intolerant to a deadly fault, willfully ignorant and damn near totally inept.
And those with their demented 11th Commandment and Purity Tests are apparently going to have to learn the hard way…
barking frog
November 14th, 2012
11:13 am
The President always has the upper hand unless Congress has a veto proof coalition.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:14 am
Southpaw — “You’ve definitely improved on my improvements. An interstitial year is a better idea than forcing an agency to cut back all at once. I can’t help but wonder how many agencies have increased their budgets MORE than 30%–even if measured in constant dollars, not current dollars.”
I recalled the experience of my father, who is a professor of Agriculture and who specializes in research. His department was required to cut 15% in a single year, and some of his fellow Ag profs were hit terribly hard; most had to give up their work-study lab and research assistants. Fortunately, my dad brings in a lot of research money from outside the university, so he was largely unaffected, but he had quite a few of those fired work-study students come beg him for work in his lab.
“We probably don’t want to return to Kennedy-era tax rates. I, at least, tend to oppose 90% tax rates just on general principles.”
Fair enough. What would be a better top rate, in your opinion? Or do you prefer something like a surtax that kicks in at a certain income level?
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:15 am
Well, not yet, but you are evolving…
Huge LOL.
Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals. ~Mark Twain
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think.
November 14th, 2012
11:15 am
“The future does not look good for the country…”
Maybe not fot the radical right wing, but for the rest of us…lookin’ good!
If Jesus really had been a Republican…
http://cheezburger.com/6752278272
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:15 am
alex — “Add to this, Doom and Joe ,an older age at which ss is collected and medicare starts. We live Too long, Too well to start collecting our ss and Medicare at such a young age…”
Hmm. How about start collecting reduced bennies at 66, and full bennies available at 70?
Regnad Kcin
November 14th, 2012
11:16 am
“…nice to know we the people have a prez that the majority did not want…”
The maxim of the law is “silence gices consent – the correct interpretation is, those that did not vote against Obama, supported him…
southpaw
November 14th, 2012
11:16 am
St. Simons @10:43
“We (you) continue to place human, conscience-based characteristics on sociopaths.” Are you kidding? No, I suppose you’re not.
“These people will not conform to the paradigm of what they SHOULD do,” Should, according to whose calculation? Liberals have one idea of what we should do; conservatives have another. Can I get a “Well, your idea is wrong” from the Department of Hubris? That idea is irony at work, which leads to the next point.
“they’re missing that ‘chip’. Its the same area of the brain that senses Irony & hypocrisy.” Irony on your part, I’ll guess.
“You continue to assume they will do what we as liberals THINK they should do.” Your implication that we won’t may be right. What do you liberals think we should do? If you think we should help our fellow man, a lot of us are willing to do that. On the other hand, if you think we should empower the government to do it in our stead, then you’re right; we most likely won’t do what you think we should–because we have figured out that we shouldn’t. Last call for “Well, you figured wrong,” once again from the Department of Hubris.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:17 am
J. Konop — “In all due respect, nothing fixes the problem private or public unless we look at real cuts. Both sides would rather debate ideology over lifting up the hood and making tough calls. I am pragmatist, who deals in reality not macro ideology.”
I’m listening. Lay it on me.
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:18 am
alex — “@Konop, not sure what you mean by public utility, Ga. power has a monopoly . correct..?”
That’s a personal notion on my part that I think J. Konop was quoting. I think that healthcare needs to be managed and treated like a public utility.
Rightwing Troll
November 14th, 2012
11:21 am
At least wingnuts have been correct on two points over the last 4 years…
There was a silent majority out there waiting until election day to make thier voices heard.
It was a landslide.
alex
November 14th, 2012
11:22 am
The invisible hand……
@ joe, sounds reasonable, something has to be done in our aging population, also end of life care HAS to be contained !
GasMan
November 14th, 2012
11:22 am
The problem to working out a deal is one of time and trust. The two sides don’t trust each other and frankly, don’t trust themselves to stick to a deal because every deal is going to hurt somebody and they are going to scream like a stuck pig.
You can’t do a deal where one side gets their stuff upfront (higher taxes) and the other side gets their stuff (spending cuts) later because we all know that the spending cuts will be lobbied out of existence. With that in mind, you have to put all the details in one bill and vote it up or down. That will take more time than we have right now. The politicians put themselves in this position and it is a tough one.
John Konop
November 14th, 2012
11:23 am
Alex,
……… @John Konop, I see a lot of medicare and medicaid waste in the system..As for the primary care issue, do YOU want to see a M.D. or an PA/NP, easy to say IF a simple problem, but that 1-5% of time (estimate) when the problem is difficult will the FAR less trained recognize what they do NOT know…. as for dial a doc: could be part of the answer, From my perspective, a lot of people would be willing to accept a algorythm based care, realizing that there is potentially cheaper product and less capable ( hey, go to Walmart and buy the Walmart tent, see how long it lasts, go to REI…)
You will see a lot of interists go to concirage which will drop even more people into the system looking for healthcare………
The problem with America is both sides want to promise a 100% solution without any way of paying for it. The truth is in Europe and Canada they ration healthcare and they have a longer life expectancy. The real issue is not private or public, the biggest issue is the moment we start talking about cuts, both sides talk about killing grandma, death panels……. I have news the cuts are coming and they longer we wait the harder the medicine.
Rightwing Troll
November 14th, 2012
11:23 am
I can’t help but notice we have a whole bunch of newly minted “independents” around here… still spouting the same wingnut lies, however…
Joe Hussein Mama
November 14th, 2012
11:23 am
SfD — “I hate means-testing this stuff. I want upper-middle incomers to have a full stake in this. And if you run the numbers you’ll see you’ll get diddly squat in terms of actual savings. So, dreadful idea.”
I feel compelled to point out that SS is an *insurance* program, not a savings plan. So I think your criticism might be misplaced, but I’m willing to hear you out.
I don’t think Doom sells life insurance policies, but he’ll tell you — unless you buy an ROP life policy or some sort of whole-life or universal product, you’re not getting any money back if you outlive the policy term. That’s analogous to not getting anything back from SS if you’re too well-off in retirement.
I *do* think Doom will tell you that if you never get sick, you’re not getting your money back from one of his health policies, though.
“(we talked about this yesterday, I said essentially the same thing. I think I’ll need to get an elevator speech prepared, because reasonable people keep bringing it up.)”
When you think you have it, please test it on me. We can use each other to sharpen up our arguments and tune up our finer points.
Peadawg
November 14th, 2012
11:23 am
Looks like Skeletor is still the house minority leader….
http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/129013781780750239.jpg
Looney Bin
November 14th, 2012
11:25 am
What is it with the Right and their obsession with Democratic campaign slogans? I’m already seeing people make silly jokes about ‘forward’, after having to hear about ‘hope and change’ for four years….
Thulsa Doom
November 14th, 2012
11:25 am
The reduced bennnies idea on ss starting at 66 and topping to full benefits at 70 is a worthy idea. But there is really not that much tweaking necessary. I don’t know if u guys are talking about starting at 20% at 65 and then hitting at 100% at 70 or what. Seems to me that starting at 50% at 65 and then working up to 100% by 70 is all that is necessary. Contrary to all the dire predictions on SS the needed tweaks are minor.
SBinf
November 14th, 2012
11:25 am
“Obama just has to make things look ok for four more years, then the next President, likely a Republican, will end up having to deal with the problems that result, and of course the media will blame it on the GOP instead of on Obama. Everything good is because of Obama, everything bad is someone else’s fault.”
If the GOP couldn’t win in this climate, 2016 will be even more hostile for them.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
November 14th, 2012
11:26 am
Pea, well other than the juvenile name calling, I agree. Pelosi is staying. Boehner may have to start crying again.
We’re going to see a lot more whining on the right about this. 
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:26 am
I wonder if the waffle House CEO was a big Newt supporter.
Philandering scumbags of a feather, and all…
JohnnyReb
November 14th, 2012
11:30 am
“It would also suggest that House Republicans have not yet learned the necessary lessons of the 2012 election, including the dangers of extremism and the wisdom of outreach to female voters.”
And what lessons would that be, Jay? You write as if Obama was elected by a landslide, which he was not.
We continue to be a house divided. The lesson for Obama and the Left was, voters kept control of the purse strings with Republicans.
For me, I hope the House does not cave to Obama. Revenues can be increased without raising tax rates. Plus, I’m sick and tired of all the whinning from the Left about rich people. If the Left wants more they should get off their ass and work for it the way I do.
deegee
November 14th, 2012
11:33 am
In Europe and Canada people exercise and don’t eat to excess. Our obesity rate is directly proportional to the rise in health care spending. If we really want to lower the cost of healthcare, maybe we should start charging by the pound for health insurance. After you exceed your target BMI you would start paying a premium. Wellness programs are good incentives because they lower your healthcare premium. Those that don’t participate because of their obesity need an incentive.
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:34 am
You write as if Obama was elected by a landslide, which he was not.
62 – 38 is getting REAL close to landslide territory.
And the slow dismantling of the Middle Class in this country, that you love so much, Reb?
We’ll see if it takes a big hit or not, in the next four years.
I predict not.
Occupy that…
Long live the Plutocracy!
moonbat betty
November 14th, 2012
11:35 am
lol, JamVet: “Where in the Wide, Wide World of Sports”
That made me think of this:
“And the agony of da’ feet”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2AZH4FeGsc
getalife
November 14th, 2012
11:35 am
Don’t change your leaders cons.
Stay the course.
gm
November 14th, 2012
11:39 am
To the south, you elected Romney as your confederate President, with any luck General Lee might be available in 2016, since you are the only idiots going back in time in the world.
Paul cry baby Ryan saying the President won because the urban vote, oh really Mr. Golden boy, I guess Iowa, Main, Vt, and your home town are urban, you lost because young people dont listen to scums like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity Neal B. the day of the angry white conservative bigots are over.
alex
November 14th, 2012
11:40 am
@ John Konop and if Americans will accept a 3 tier plan (see Austria) and ACCEPT longer waits for various procedures ,then so be it. Talking to people suggests that rationing is fine for EVERYONE ELSE….Me, personally I will be like many europeans and canadians and opt to pay extra for outside care, because I can and THAT is the part that FREE MARKET can pay.(and frankly, I see what a lot of volume primary care docs do… NO, not for ME).
Many Years ago, before a person was put on Dialysis on the goverments dime, there were panels that met to determine if this was bene ficial to the Patient, so a return to this would be nothing new….
Erwin's cat
November 14th, 2012
11:40 am
I wonder if the waffle House CEO was a big Newt supporter.
or Clinton, Edwards, or even Wiener…neither party has a monopoly on “philandering scumbags”
JohnnyReb
November 14th, 2012
11:40 am
JamVet – I grew up on a cotton mill village. So don’t throw the middle class crap to me. The problem with the Left is, they are lazy and preach laziness. If you want something, go for it, work for it. Don’t turn the government to extort it from people who do work.
As to the Obama near landslide – look at the electoral college map. Does that look like a landslide? No, it’s a country divided and those who voted for Obama must want it that way because the Right is not going to cave and be like the Left.
John Konop
November 14th, 2012
11:40 am
Joe H M,
…… According to a recent survey, 51% of workers over the age of 55 have less than $50,000 saved for retirement. And 39% in that same age group have less than $25,000 in retirement savings. Those are frightening numbers if you consider that those people are very close to the typical age of retirement………
http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/average-retirement-savings-how-does-your-savings-stack-up/
The problem with your SS plan is it will not yield nearly enough money. The truth is our saving rate as a country is terrible. We need to increase revenues, especially with baby boomer generations killing ratios. That is why we need to change the formula for funding this via less workers and more retires. And that is why I proposed a VAT or national sales tax ie to widen the amount of people contributing.
moonbat betty
November 14th, 2012
11:41 am
“or Clinton, Edwards, or even Wiener…neither party has a monopoly on “philandering scumbags””
Hey, it’s OK if they do it, they don’t believe in Family Values…
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:42 am
That’s the one, betty!
I purloined it from…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0VNHe5fq30
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:43 am
“And what lessons would that be, Jay? You write as if Obama was elected by a landslide, which he was not.”
according to the republicans, he was.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/2012-election-landslide.jpg
moonbat betty
November 14th, 2012
11:44 am
Good stuff, Jam.
AmericaShrugged
November 14th, 2012
11:44 am
Increasing the benefit age for SS and Medicare is probably the easiest, most palatable fix. Since the SS system was created as mandatory retirement savings rather than a straight tax means testing or other methods for denying benefits to those you have paid in the most is patently unfair.
getalife
November 14th, 2012
11:45 am
Two landslides means hush puppy.
Ben Shockley
November 14th, 2012
11:45 am
“Obama holds upper hand in budget confrontation”
Yeah right. That’s why the American voters sent a Republican majority back to the House of Representatives.
Brought to you by he same people who think a 50% – 48% popular vote victory is a “clear mandate.”
Liberals are so funny.
moonbat betty
November 14th, 2012
11:46 am
What is a land slide?
“the downward falling or sliding of a mass of feces, detritus, or rock on or from a steep slope”
getalife
November 14th, 2012
11:47 am
cons still think they are relevant.
Too funny.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:48 am
“As to the Obama near landslide – look at the electoral college map. Does that look like a landslide?”
yes. the red states – when you look at their population – are actually more like a sickly pink
http://skepticalavenger.tumblr.com/post/35641055184/chris-howard-america-really-looks-like-this-i
Regnad Kcin
November 14th, 2012
11:49 am
JReb, 62% – 38% is not a landslide? How many EVs would Obama have to get before you would characterize it such?
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:50 am
“Yeah right. That’s why the American voters sent a Republican majority back to the House of Representatives.”
brought to you by the 2011 redistricting and “gerrymandering r us”
gm
November 14th, 2012
11:50 am
Amazing when Bush and the paid judges gave him the election in 2000, the first thing came out his mouth was I have leverage now, you did not hear the left talking about leaving the union.
You never heard a word from these hypocrites and bigots on the right when Bush spent all their money building up Iraq, and Dick C. taking their money using for his private contracts, these hypocrites never said a word, and they wonder why their party is a joke around the world.
SBinf
November 14th, 2012
11:50 am
“And what lessons would that be, Jay? You write as if Obama was elected by a landslide, which he was not.”
I love this talking point….now that Romney lost (instead of winning in a landslide as the GOP assumed), the GOP says that the country is divided and Obama didn’t win in a landslide, as though that means something. Let me spoil the secret….120+ electoral vote difference is a landslide.
Funny though, I don’t remember anyone on the Right lamenting Bush’s lack of a mandate when he was elected the first time after losing the popular vote, and winning in 2004 when the swing of one state would have meant sure defeat for him.
josef
November 14th, 2012
11:50 am
gm
“To the south, you elected Romney as your confederate President, with any luck General Lee might be available in 2016, since you are the only idiots going back in time in the world.”
You’re such a silly twit.
DUNWOODY GRANNY
And how to win back the White Southerners? There’s your card…
Ben Shockley
November 14th, 2012
11:51 am
59 million to 57 million is a landslide in lib minds. Brought to you by the same people who think the top 10% of taxpayers “aren’t paying their fair share” when they pay 71% of the taxes.
Libs are so funny.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:51 am
“the first thing came out his mouth was I have leverage now”
actually, what he said was that he had political capital now, and he was going to spend it.
and then he grabbed the third rail with both hands and tried to privatize SS
Ben Shockley
November 14th, 2012
11:51 am
“cons still think they are relevant”
Try getting anything through the House and get back to us on that.
appleseed
November 14th, 2012
11:53 am
My RGR stock down today.Guess our guns are safe now.
Ben Shockley
November 14th, 2012
11:53 am
“cons still think they are relevant”
You don’t live in Georgia do you?
St Simons
November 14th, 2012
11:54 am
yes, perfect strategery, cons, listen to Rush on the goofballs today.
Do exactly what he says (like I even needed to say that heheh)
don’t change a thang.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:54 am
“Try getting anything through the House and get back to us on that.”
yeah. because the “party of no” has REALLY worked out well for you.
Redcoat
November 14th, 2012
11:54 am
Conservatives will continue to try, but to no avail. The left has control, they have the message most Americans find beneficial and less demanding on them. Even as things continue to worsen, conservatism will skillfully be blamed and it will be believed.
When it’s evident that only the left leadership and corporations seem not to be suffering as the majority of people through the economic down turn, but actually becoming wealthier through the policies they implement, hopefully people will see the wisdom in conservatism. But I’m afraid it will be to late.
JamVet
November 14th, 2012
11:55 am
Reb, lemme guess. You worked 23 hours a day and walked uphill both ways.
But please DO continue with your Limbaugh parroting about how the people who disagree with you are all lazy and stupid.
Given last week’s staggeringly good results, it is paying huge dividends for you and the Uncle Sam haters.
As to the Obama near landslide – look at the electoral college map. Does that look like a landslide?
Yes, of course it does!
A 335 to 202 landslide.
(It’s called mathematics.)
I predicted you fake conservatives were going to get stomped last week and you did.
Get used to more of the same coming up…
Because you spewing the exact same wholesale lies about good, decent, hard working, taxpaying American citizens is going to produce the same disastrous results for you…
Onward! To the 1950s!
SBinf
November 14th, 2012
11:55 am
“59 million to 57 million is a landslide in lib minds. Brought to you by the same people who think the top 10% of taxpayers “aren’t paying their fair share” when they pay 71% of the taxes.
Libs are so funny.”
Obama won in a landslide last time, both electorally and in the popular vote, and the idiots out there didn’t treat him any differently. So the argument is a complete red herring. It doesn’t matter how Obama won, folks on the Right would deny any sort of mandate. Remember the birthers?
Mick
November 14th, 2012
11:55 am
The house is the next target in 2014, we’ll get back to you on that…say goodbye to allen west on the way out…
eagle1
November 14th, 2012
11:57 am
Layoffs, layoffs, and more layoffs! Get ready folks, it’s coming! The economy is quickly going down the toilet with Oblamer!
Thulsa Doom
November 14th, 2012
11:57 am
Josef,
What are you doing here today? Shouldn’t you be out influencing and inculcating young minds? Or at the least edumucating them.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
November 14th, 2012
11:58 am
“The economy is quickly going down the toilet with Oblamer!”
awwww … diddums … you guys crawled out of the bottom of the post-election scotch bottle and now you’re back to WATB mode.
welcome back.
Common Sense isn't very Common
November 14th, 2012
12:00 pm
josef@11:07 am
Is Del’s Indian name
छोटे मूत मूत है जो छोटी लड़की की तरह रोता
Redcoat
November 14th, 2012
12:02 pm
Business can no longer afford to pay for the benefits everyone has come to take for granted. So now, to survive or secure their place in their market, they are turning it over to the government where employees will be footing completely their own healthcare and those that don’t work also. A huge shift of the burden will take place to taxpayers that do not have the means to take advantage of “loopholes”. The middle class will disappear or be “redefined ” by the government, possibly forced to join unions. adding another layer of “bosses”. The corral gate is open and the cattle are being led inside.