In cultures around the world, the arrival of a new year means more than the mere changing of the calendar. It is a time of cleansing and renewal, an opportunity to set past disappointments aside and to look ahead with optimism.
But let’s be honest: These are not the easiest of times in which to set aside fear in favor of optimism.
The financial meltdown of four or five years ago lingers like a hangover from a holiday party that went on much too long. The economy continues its slow recovery; Georgia’s unemployment rate last month was 8.5 percent, down a full percentage point from a year earlier and down almost two full percentage points from 2010. But it is sign of diminished expectations when a statewide jobless rate of 8.5 percent is considered evidence of progress.
And as too many of our fellow Americans know, those cold, impersonal numbers hide deep personal pain, loss and frustration. The American dream and its inherent promise that hard work will be rewarded no longer seem plausible for many, particularly the young. Only the foolish would try to deny that profound, unsettling changes are under way, and for one of the few times in our nation’s history, parents have cause to wonder whether their children and grandchildren will live in a world of reduced opportunity.
On the other hand, anger and disappointment can become self-fulfilling prophecies if indulged too long, and a backward-looking fixation on what used to be will blind you to what can be. That is as true for nations as it is for individuals. Previous generations of Americans faced times much more challenging than these and overcame them, and there is no reason to believe that we are not their legitimate and equally capable heirs.
At the moment, though, such context seems in short supply. In a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, just 40 percent of Americans describe themselves as hopeful about the course of world events in the coming year, while 56 percent described themselves as fearful. Unfortunately, a good part of that dismal showing can be explained as the aftermath of a deeply divisive, hard-fought election campaign that both political parties treated as a life-and-death struggle.
According to the Post poll, just 18 percent of Republicans report that they are hopeful about the course of world events in 2013, compared to 38 percent of independents and 61 percent of Democrats; 72 percent of Republicans describe themselves as fearful about what the next year will bring.
In the political world, such numbers have a way of compounding themselves. As Ronald Reagan knew better than anyone, and as the Democrats learned from Reagan the hard way, a party animated by the belief that this is a country in decline will find it difficult to rally others to its cause, creating a spiral that is hard to reverse.
It’s also important to remember that people of all political persuasions tend to exaggerate the importance of government and who runs it. Except in times of war, and at moments of economic crisis such as that of 2008-2009, government actually plays a relatively small role in the course of human events. At times we like to believe otherwise; we like to believe that acting through government, we exert direct control our own fate, but most of the that time, that simply isn’t true.
Faith in ourselves, each other and our country — or the lack of it — is far more important.
– Jay Bookman
1,425 comments Add your comment
Joe Hussein Mama
January 1st, 2013
5:56 pm
Okay, I’m out. Everyone enjoy your foo-baw, beer n’ snax this evening.
Rightwing Troll
January 1st, 2013
6:01 pm
“We will have four more years with the worst President in American History! Gos Save America from this radical!”
OMG!!! Is Bush coming back on Jan 20th??!??!!!…
TBS
January 1st, 2013
6:03 pm
You pricked a fact…. Yes
There are bs fans from all schools. Been to every S.E.C school to watch games except for MSU. Came across good and bad fans each time.
The same thing you say about UGA can be said for every team if you look hard enough. But when one wants to overlook something they will to meet a narrative that fits their perception….
But keep hating if that’s what you do
No biggie, I will sleep well tonight
TBS
January 1st, 2013
6:05 pm
Corbin
Good points but Obama despite all his fault and bs has the Repubs on the run…
Their constituency that blogs here can tout all the talking points they are fed, but Obama has them in disarray..
Jackie
January 1st, 2013
6:09 pm
@Debbie
Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones.
Rightwing Troll
January 1st, 2013
6:14 pm
Over the cliff we go… I don’t mind 200.00 a month in more taxes. No sweat.
Thanks to Bush and the house republicans for raising taxes on everybody.
Brosephus™
January 1st, 2013
6:21 pm
Rightwing Troll
I said we should have embraced the cliff at this time last year. It’s just another cog in the wheel of jackassery that comes from our legislators.
While all this focus is on DC, I hope Georgians remember they are in for a fee increase here too with the new tag/title 6.5% fee. The Mrs. and I have been discussing that one.
Rightwing Troll
January 1st, 2013
6:28 pm
Not to mention the new taxes levied on interwebs purchases by our state level GOP tax-n-spenders…
Brosephus™
January 1st, 2013
6:36 pm
Forgot about that one. Just imagine the surprise awaiting car buyers now. They will have that one time fee of 6.5% that will likely get rolled into the overall purchase price. Instead of a diminishing ad valorem fee, that extra 6.5% will be accompanied by the corresponding interest with the financing. The state can rightfully claim they’re only charging the one time fee, but the buyer will pay much more than that unless they pay with cash.
getalife
January 1st, 2013
6:37 pm
The gop are now the dems.
What happened cons?
St Simons - he-ne-ha Bootakook 2014
January 1st, 2013
6:53 pm
The con house has voted to raise taxes on the middle class, stated
specifically because there were not enough cuts to poor and
middle class programs, and to keep from raising taxes on the rich.
There it is, and everyone knows it, and no amount of lipstick
can cover that pig. Enjoy 2014, cons. I sure will.
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 1st, 2013
6:57 pm
Thought this was interesting – got the Sports Blogs abuzz:
Report: PA to file suit against NCAA over Penn State sanctions
Posted by Ben Kercheval on January 1, 2013, 1:33 PM EST
AP
2013 will not be a year for turning corners in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky Scandal and Penn State.
Sports Illustrated‘s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday morning that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is planning to file a lawsuit against the NCAA to challenge the sanctions levied against Penn State over the summer in the wake of the Freeh Report. According to Thamel, Penn State is not involved in preparing the suit. An announcement could come as early as Wednesday, but no one from the Commonwealth, PSU or the NCAA has commented on the matter.
Governor Tom Corbett (pictured) was Attorney General for Pennsylvania when his office began the investigation into allegations that Sandusky, a longtime Penn State assistant football coach, had sexually abused young boys. His role in the greater scope of the scandal has come under scrutiny as well, specifically for approving a $3 million grant for the Second Mile, Sandusky’s charity which he used as an avenue to meet his victims.
The news comes one day after Philadelphia Inquirer reported that there was a strong disagreement between Pennsylvania lawmakers and the NCAA over how Penn State’s $60 million fine, which was part of NCAA President Mark Emmert’s sanctions, should be spent.
“If you spend all of that money in Pennsylvania, it will have a much stronger impact,” said State Sen. Jake Corman (R., Centre) “Spread it out nationally, and you’re spreading resources so thin that you’re watering down what impact you can have.”
Last week, Corman announced plans to introduce a bill that would require the NCAA to spend all of the endowment money within Pennsylvania’s borders and threatened to sue to bar the association from doling out money ………….
http://espn.go.com/ncf/conversations/_/id/8800479/pennsylvania-gov-tom-corbett-sue-ncaa-penn-state-sanctions
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 1st, 2013
6:59 pm
TBS – Chill. I’m not hating on DemDawgs. If DemDawgs are playing anyone EXCEPT another SEC team, then I am on their side.
I support all SEC teams.
However…….I LOVE to razz DemDawgs fans! I can’t help it………its a weakness
barking frog
January 1st, 2013
7:07 pm
Debbie Do
Report: PA to file suit against NCAA over Penn State sanctions
……………………………………………………………………….
Well the fair thing to do would be to give the money to Penn State
since they could do so much more good to eliminate abuse in
that area rather than spread it across all of Pennsylvania………
RF
January 1st, 2013
7:13 pm
“There it is, and everyone knows it, and no amount of lipstick
can cover that pig. Enjoy 2014, cons. I sure will.”
As my dad says, and he is a staunch Republican, but not an idiot, “you can’t argue with a Republican anymore. He’s so busy arguing with himself that you can’t get a word in edgewise.” The man wistfully talks about the Reagan years as if they were the Golden Age for this country, but even he can’t stand the current trend to say NO to everything, no matter what the people actually want or need. Sad that they’re defying their own constituents these days.
TM
January 1st, 2013
7:27 pm
The cons will vote to reinstate Clinton taxes which all of you were in favor of enjoy
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
7:30 pm
Ummm, TM, no vote needed. The Bush Tax cuts expired last night, by law.
They BOTH suck
January 1st, 2013
7:37 pm
DDR
It’s all good. I’m going to pull for the DAWGS always. Good or bad and yes we have our a holes
TM
January 1st, 2013
7:38 pm
I am still trying to figure why we need to increase the tax rates and still have the ATM it seems that its a double screw
TM
January 1st, 2013
7:39 pm
I meant AMT
Jackie
January 1st, 2013
7:39 pm
If you think things are chaotic now, the upcoming “additional fiscal cliffs” are really going to cause major heartburn for the Repubs and the word’s economy.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/12/31/news/economy/more-fiscal-cliffs/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Oscar
January 1st, 2013
7:51 pm
Spending cuts will not wreck the world’s economy. No need to panic.
Oscar
January 1st, 2013
7:54 pm
Bush tax cuts have noyyet expired, Still a few more hours for the house to act.
They BOTH suck
January 1st, 2013
7:56 pm
Jam
If you check in, great game. Husker QB is one of those guys who probably wont play in the NFL, but any team would love to have him. Great tenacity and will.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
8:01 pm
Oscar, everything I see says they expired 12.31.2012. But of course Congress can pass a bill to change the rates with an effective date of 1.1.2013.
stands for decibels
January 1st, 2013
8:03 pm
So pogo, do you realize that if we’re to take your post @ 3.54pm yesterday, you are doomed to never feeling positive about this country for the rest of your life?
You do understand that we are NOT going to pay down our debt to one third of its current total, yes?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
8:10 pm
When Paul Ryan votes tonight, he will close his eyes and pretend that he is breaking a tie in the Senate.
Heh, heh, heh.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
8:14 pm
Obama and the Democrats are laughing at the deal they just made…the Republicans got nothing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2013
I am a Republican…but the Republicans may be the worst negotiators in history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2013
Well many were almost suckered into believing Trump would run and that his “investigators” in Hawaii were finding all sorts of “things” about Obama’s birth certificate.
They BOTH suck
January 1st, 2013
8:17 pm
Keep
Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that Obama had won and there wasn’t even a deal
Corbin Sharpe. I think, therefore I am...I think
January 1st, 2013
8:22 pm
Both,
I thought that Nebraska QB looked like he was old enough to be in the 7th grade, not college….But you are right about tenacity…He even slapped a Georgia LB…but that could have just been dumb…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
8:23 pm
TBS, I saw that. As well as his comments that he, McCain and others would destroy the credit rating of this country some more unless they got their way on the debt and spending cuts. Of course, Crotchety McCain got his nose more out of joint because Obama called them out on their childishness.
They BOTH suck
January 1st, 2013
8:26 pm
Keep
Surely not saying Obama and the Dems are doing everything right and for the folks but they are whipping Repub @$$ on the politcal front
It is that simple. Just wish they all would do more to get things done in a more meaningful way
getalife
January 1st, 2013
8:33 pm
drudgey is attacking the gop on the deal.
The gop house will vote tonight and pass it with the dems.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
8:37 pm
TBS, I don’t agree with everything myself but I am not fully cognizant of all the nuances and interworkings. Obama appears to have good strategy advisors and is very shrewd himself, picking his battles carefully and working to build public opinion. I wish greater progress was being made but given the counter forces, I think he is making all deliberate speed as he can.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
8:46 pm
The 2013 schism in the GOP house is going to make Lord Of The Flies look like The Giving Tree.
Heh, heh, heh.
Real Scootter
January 1st, 2013
9:00 pm
Dang y’all,I don’t understand what is going on.I thought we needed more taxes and spending cuts to fix things.I don’t think I will ever figure this stuff out. Whew!
Real Scootter
January 1st, 2013
9:02 pm
Oh,let me guess,it’s the repubs fault. Right?
td
January 1st, 2013
9:03 pm
Guns are good for the goose but NOT for the gander.
A Clarkstown police report issued on December 28, 2012, confirmed that The Journal News has hired armed security guards from New City-based RGA Investigations and that they are manning the newspaper’s Rockland County headquarters at 1 Crosfield Ave., West Nyack, through at least tomorrow, Wednesday, January 2, 2013.
According to police reports on public record, Journal News Rockland Editor Caryn A. McBride was alarmed by the volume of “negative correspondence,” namely an avalanche of phone calls and emails to the Journal News office, following the newspaper’s publishing of a map of all pistol permit holders in Rockland and Westchester.
http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2013/01/01/the-journal-news-is-armed-and-dangerous/
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:24 pm
Over the cliff is a win/win for those in control!
They will be the ones to get all credit for pulling us out…
Never let a good crisis go to waste. Politics 1101.
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:26 pm
If Bush was in office would we single out congress for any wrong doings in Washington?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
9:30 pm
Over the cliff is a win/win for those in control!
And who would “those” be?
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:32 pm
I can’t believe our president is playing politics with such an issue.
Real Scootter
January 1st, 2013
9:33 pm
And who would “those” be?
I was wondering that myself Kam. Rich people maybe?
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:35 pm
“Those” are the democrats creating this hysteria for political gain.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 1st, 2013
9:37 pm
Win an election and seek what you told the voters you would ask for and that is “playing politics”
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:39 pm
Winning an election means becoming responsible…. Of something, right,?
getalife
January 1st, 2013
9:42 pm
aser,
bush blew out the deficit.
Was you cheering him on.
Time to pay for his failures.
Eat your peas and take your medicine.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
9:44 pm
“Those” are the democrats creating this hysteria for political gain.
There’s your sign.
F. Sinkwich
January 1st, 2013
9:46 pm
Florida State is only 4 points ahead of some directional school I’ve never heard of in 2Q.
ACC sux.
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
9:48 pm
That’s your argument? What a joke.
Your stance is weak.
Jackie
January 1st, 2013
10:03 pm
What was the Clemson v. Florida score?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
10:05 pm
What was the Clemson v. Florida score?
Basketball?
Jackie
January 1st, 2013
10:08 pm
Sorry, Clemson v. LSU?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 1st, 2013
10:12 pm
Clemson — 25
LSU ——– 24
Final play of the game decided the score.
Sorry, Brother getalife.
getalife
January 1st, 2013
10:28 pm
Aser706
January 1st, 2013
10:52 pm
Ha
getalife
January 1st, 2013
11:05 pm
House passed the bill so the President will sign and its done.
Next up, debt debacle II.
Oscar
January 1st, 2013
11:16 pm
There are 85 sensible republicians in the house. Fewer than I thtought there would be. But tonight that was enough.
Question is, what were the rest of them thinking. Or were they thinking at all?
DebbieDoRight - A Do Right Woman
January 2nd, 2013
12:02 am
Cliff Dwelling:
The bill would also prevent an expiration of extended unemployment benefits for an estimated two million jobless, block a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients, stop a $900 pay increase for lawmakers from taking effect in March and head off a threatened spike in milk prices.
It would stop $24 billion in across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect over the next two months, although only about half of that total would be offset with savings elsewhere in the budget.
Aser706
January 2nd, 2013
12:32 am
Oscar:
You have no clue as to what was vote on….
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
5:58 am
I didn’t see this from Towncrier earlier, but he asked me:
Just curious…do you suppose we are able to accumulate an infinite amount of debt without extremely dire consequences and, if not, what amount of debt for you constitutes the “tipping point”?
Simple answer: I don’t know. then again, I don’t know what is meant by “infinite amount of debt.” It’d be more reasonable to state that as some kind of percentage of GDP; perhaps if we were to double that percentage so that ours was identical to that of Japan’s and then we encountered some actual consequences (as opposed to imagined ones) then we’d know we’d gone too far.
But that’s merely theoretical. what isn’t theoretical are the problems of unemployment and infrastructure that we need to address right now, and which we could, if we’d stop fretting about imagined problems.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
6:08 am
I thought Atrios (and other DFH bloggers, I guess) were probably exaggerating when they said that the victims of Superstorm Sandy would get nothing from this Congress. turns out they were right.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/02/congress-scraps-vote-superstorm-sandy-aid
/drive-by
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
7:09 am
I see we had two Georgia Republicans that voted for giving the 99 percent a tax cut.
Brosephus™
January 2nd, 2013
7:26 am
I see we had two Georgia Republicans that voted for giving the 99 percent a tax cut.
That’s nothing, we had an entire Georgia Republican Party that voted for increasing taxes on Georgia citizens…..
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/259244/3/Georgias-internet-shoppers-now-have-to-pay-sales-tax
Fred ™
January 2nd, 2013
7:32 am
Should I make biscuits for breakfast? I mean homemade buttermilk biscuits, not some store bought canned, or bisquik biscuits. I think I have some sausage left…………. or maybe gravy? A fatboy’s last hurrah? I mean I could go GET biscuits and gravy somewhere but that’s nuttin’ compared to my homemade ones……….
Fred ™
January 2nd, 2013
7:33 am
And grits. gotta have grits. only yankees and josef don’t like grits lol. Well and my buddy trey, he doesn’t like grits either.
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
7:55 am
Bro,
Those Georgia Republicans are really fightin’ for the little guy, aren’t they.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:01 am
Those Georgia Republicans are really fightin’ for the little guy, aren’t they.
no, they’re not, but I do agree with ending the practice of nudge, nudge/wink, winking away the sales taxes owed for online purchases. It’s hardly fair to brick and mortar establishments to have to play on a tilted field like that.
I just think that those who pass such laws should be honest about them, and given that this went into effect back in October and I’m only now even aware of it, I’m thinking this is one of those things local lawmakers would just as soon we forgot ever happened.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:03 am
c’mon, Jay, it’s 8.03, time for blogging.
Fred ™
January 2nd, 2013
8:12 am
Damn stands, I was hoping for a teat shot…………
Brosephus™
January 2nd, 2013
8:13 am
TaxPayer
Yes they are, and they are winning like Charlie Sheen!!!
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
8:13 am
Georgia Republicans did need some way to help offset the cost of those tax breaks for Georgia job creators such as Caterpillar so why not tax on-line sales along with so many other underhanded tax hikes on the 99% in order to give more to the one percent. It’s the Republican way.
Fred ™
January 2nd, 2013
8:15 am
Now HERE is a nice teat dB:
http://tinyurl.com/bg8v9qu
Brosephus™
January 2nd, 2013
8:21 am
dB @ 8:01
Wait until you purchase your next car if you think that one snuck by you. The new 6.5% tag fee, in addition to the 7% sales tax will be a one-time fee to do away with the birthday tag tax. The big difference is that the 6.5% will likely be rolled into the financing for the car, unlike the old tag tax. That means the 6.5% fee will be subject to whatever interest rate the car is financed at. By 2015, that 6.5% goes to 7%. I think it’s capped at $2000 though, so when you buy a car worth more than about $28,500, you get an automatic tax cut on your tag costs.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:22 am
Fred, I’ll not allow myself to be cowed into milking this udderly silly pun-run you’ve started.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:23 am
I think it’s capped at $2000 though, so when you buy a car worth more than about $28,500
“That which you did for the most among us, you did for me.”
Paul
January 2nd, 2013
8:30 am
Fred
Go for it. I gotta do the pepper sauce on the gravy, though. And do the grits, too. Then resolve to watch “My Cousin Vinny” again.
Brosephus™
January 2nd, 2013
8:32 am
dB
Soon as I said it was capped, I can’t find the exact amount. The original legislation was $1500, but I don’t know what the final legislation looked like as it was part of the Deal budget/tax plan last year.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:34 am
Bros @ 8.21, I was wondering–why would this peak at around the upper 20s?
and then I thought–hmm, what’s the median car-purchase price? I didn’t get that, but I did get the *average*, here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/
…figures.
stands for decibels
January 2nd, 2013
8:35 am
and by “peak,” I actually meant “get capped,” or something like that, @ 8.34.
Paul
January 2nd, 2013
8:41 am
Stands
I’d be interested to find out if that ‘average’ price of a new car sale included lease sales (really, long-term rental) vs actually buying a car. Including leases probably drives the average up as people can qualify to lease cars they’d have a difficult time buying.
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
8:53 am
Whatever became of that Republican argument that taxation on things like internet purchases and cars would lead to reduced sales and thus an increase in unemployment due to a negative impact on business profits. Oh. Wait. Never mind. That argument only applied to things like yachts and private jets. My bad.
fair and balanced
January 2nd, 2013
8:54 am
Great New Years – hearing that Paul Ryan voted for the Joe Biden compromise -Priceless.
Peadawg
January 2nd, 2013
8:59 am
It seems like a lot of people are happy just b/c a deal was done and aren’t actually looking at the deal itself. The deal is pretty bad w/ the lack of spending cuts. So much for a balanced approach…
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
9:02 am
Investors appear a little giddy this morning based on futures.
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
9:03 am
So much negativity about passing tax cuts for the 99%.
barking frog
January 2nd, 2013
9:03 am
And the Prez punks the entire Republican Party !!!
B
O
O
M
and flies off to his birthplace…
Joe Hussein Mama
January 2nd, 2013
9:04 am
Lot of chatter among TV talking heads about this today:
Report: Boehner Told Harry Reid ‘Go F**k Yourself’
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/report-boehner-told-harry-reid-go-f-k?ref=fpb
UNCLE SAMANTHA
January 2nd, 2013
9:05 am
unfortunately unemployment is projected to rise to 10% in the Metro Atlanta area according to experts for 2013
it appears that not passing the T-SPLOST WILL do damage to employment
Paul
January 2nd, 2013
9:05 am
Peadawg
First, the obligatory ‘where would you recommend cutting?’ question.
Second: so revenue increases outpace spending cuts. Doesn’t that mean that the amount required to be borrowed (as Congress has/will approve the spending increases in the next budget(s) will be lower, therefore reducing the growth of the debt?
Peadawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:05 am
“So much negativity about passing tax cuts for the 99%.”
May be just a nitpick…but since when is “keeping the tax rates the same” = “tax cuts”?
DannyX
January 2nd, 2013
9:06 am
“Great New Years – hearing that Paul Ryan voted for the Joe Biden compromise -Priceless.”
Yep, the campaign for 2016 has already begun. Starting very early this time, it’s getting ridiculous.
Peadawg
January 2nd, 2013
9:07 am
“therefore reducing the growth of the debt?”
So the debt will still grow, just a wittle slower. Awesome.
This was a band-aid on a 6-inch gash that needs stitches.
Paul
January 2nd, 2013
9:07 am
Joe Hussein Mama
Poor Spkr Boehner must really be feeling frustrated. If he was reduced to expressing himself in such a way, one would think he’d at least have the presence of mind to direct it where it’s appropriate – his own Republicans in the House.
barking frog
January 2nd, 2013
9:07 am
JHM
Report: Boehner Told Harry Reid ‘Go F**k Yourself’Report: Boehner Told Harry Reid ‘Go F**k Yourself’
…………………………………………………………………….
Reid should have told him that he couldn’t because he was too
busy f’ing all the Repubs….
Paul
January 2nd, 2013
9:08 am
Peadawg
Then back to the first question: what should be done now to have the immediate reduction you seek?
TaxPayer
January 2nd, 2013
9:08 am
May be just a nitpick…but since when is “keeping the tax rates the same” = “tax cuts”?
Ever since the vote for extending the Bush tax cuts for the 99% got pushed out ’til after 12:00AM on Jan. 1, 2013.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 2nd, 2013
9:09 am
Apparently Boehner told Reid to go f himself.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/fiscal-cliff-negotiations-john-boehner-harry-reid_n_2394725.html
Joe Hussein Mama
January 2nd, 2013
9:10 am
Paul — “Poor Spkr Boehner must really be feeling frustrated. If he was reduced to expressing himself in such a way, one would think he’d at least have the presence of mind to direct it where it’s appropriate – his own Republicans in the House.”
When we heard about it, my wife mused that perhaps Boehner said it to Reid because (maybe?) Boehner perceives his position to be damaged among the members of his party. Remember, Boehner has to stand for re-election to the Speakership, and he could easily be challenged by a Republican on the wingnut side of the party.
Making him look weak and ineffective like this right before he has to stand for election again could certainly get under his skin if he’s got concerns about it.
fair and balanced
January 2nd, 2013
9:11 am
Great New Years – having the House Republicans stomp and beat their chests all day yesterday after spending the morning naming post offices and then at the eleventh approve Joe Biden’s compromise with no spending cuts or amendments- Priceless.