Obama’s idea of compromise: All take, no give
I admit that I haven’t been paying too much attention to the certified vote totals from each state in the presidential election, but how did I miss the news that President Obama won 100 percent of the votes in every single state (not just select Philadelphia precincts)?
That’s the only explanation I can conjure for his reported “offer” on the fiscal cliff, via the New York Times:
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner presented the House speaker, John A. Boehner, a detailed proposal on Thursday to avert the year-end fiscal crisis with $1.6 trillion in tax increases over 10 years, $50 billion in immediate stimulus spending, home mortgage refinancing and a permanent end to Congressional control over statutory borrowing limits.
The proposal, loaded with Democratic priorities and short on detailed spending cuts, met strong Republican resistance. In exchange for locking in the $1.6 trillion in added revenues, President Obama embraced the goal of finding $400 billion in savings from Medicare and other social programs to be worked out next year, with no guarantees.
He did propose some upfront cuts in programs like farm price supports, but did not specify an amount or any details. And senior Republican aides familiar with the offer said those initial spending cuts might be outweighed by spending increases, including at least $50 billion in infrastructure spending, mortgage relief, an extension of unemployment insurance and a deferral of automatic cuts to physician reimbursements under Medicare.
I can just hear Geithner making the offer now: “That’s none for you, a trillion for us; none for you, fifty billion for us; none for you, infinity for us.”
Even assuming the Medicare cuts were to transpire — and the key phrase about that in the Times’ story is “with no guarantees,” which is short-hand for “Democrats are always happy to agree to cuts they have no intention of making” — we are talking $4 in tax increases for, at most, $1 in spending cuts. That’s well past the opposite of the ratio, widely discussed since last year’s debt-ceiling negotiations, of $2.50-$3 in spending cuts for every $1 in tax increases.
If that’s what the American people wanted, we would be calling Nancy Pelosi “Madam Speaker” again. But we’re not. Instead, we have Speaker John Boehner, who has offered to raise revenues by capping deductions in exchange for concrete entitlement reform, and a number of Republican House members and senators who are sticking their necks out to talk about reneging on their no-tax-hikes pledge.
Note to Saxby Chambliss: As long as this is the way the president is talking, there’s really no sense in talking about compromise for the good of the country.
What would be a GOP equivalent to this kind of unserious nonsense? Reason’s Peter Suderman took a pretty good stab at it on Twitter:
Republicans hear Obama’s opening bid, counter with: Eliminate the federal government, except for defense.
Folks, no matter how much you earn, it might be time to sit down and figure out what your household finances are going to look like with Clinton-era tax rates. Because Obama is giving every indication he would rather go over the fiscal cliff than move in anything like the GOP’s direction.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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451 comments Add your comment
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
Linda
It was higher in 2000 so what is your point?
You speaking to yourself or is there a blogger named “stupid”?
And again was it higher then the previous 8 yrs? NOPE
If it was just the tax cuts than why didn’t the percentage go up?
Is that the best you have when you are unable to rationally debate an issue?
Typical pout and whine for you. No surprises.
Next
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
Steve@4:53, The election is over. Everyone knows it except Obama, who is still out on the campaign trail. The Republicans only lost the presidential election, not the House & not the states. The problem now is that all of us are on the verge of loosing our country. The Democrats won the battle & now we are all loosing the war.
Since you can not attack any of the true comments that I have made, all of which I can prove, you feel the need to attack me personally. I am not intimidated. It’s you who looks petty & small.
Don’t wink at me. You are looking for love in all the wrong places.
There should be a song written about you.
Oh, there is already a song about Steve?
getalife
November 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
Our President is doing exactly what he campaigned on.
He won so he gets what he wants.
Get out of the way of free commerce gop.
Progressive Humanist
November 30th, 2012
5:17 pm
Americans voted for Obama and for a tax increase. We won. Taxes are going up, one way or another. Republicans better pick their poison. If the middle class gets a tax hike it will be the Republicans’ fault because the Democrats aren’t pushing for that and everyone knows it.
getalife
November 30th, 2012
5:18 pm
The President told you he would take this fight to the American people and he is.
If you want to lose the house to give him a rubber stamp congress, keep playing your losing game.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:19 pm
“It’s you who looks petty & small.”
This from the blogger who calls others “stupid”
hahaha
Progressive Humanist
November 30th, 2012
5:19 pm
Linda- Learn the difference between “losing” and “loosing”. Your side is going to continue to do one of those two for a long time.
Dusty
November 30th, 2012
5:21 pm
MarkV
Did I contribute to the economy on my shopping trip, you asked??.Saved the sinking ship?..DON’T EVEN MENTION IT!!
I was happily shopping for birthday presents and a bit of Christmas .and pleased as punch with my purchases. So out I go to the parking lot and !!!!!! My car would not start. I dragged out the “jumpers” from the trunk and looked pitiful. A kindly man clipped them to my still still car and soon it was going vrum vrum.(Security new showed.)
.
At the lovely Goodyear store, they informed me of their big best bargain never fail go for years in rain or shine battery and it was only $!17. Whoopee! Not.
A pox on the economy! I may give everyone a nice ride with my new BATTERY for Christmas. I may not get any presents next year but the credit card company loves me!!
Buzz Belle
November 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
Linda @4:14 – Here you go:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/06/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-failed-pass-budget/
The ruling states:
In his speech, Romney faulted Obama for failing to pass a budget. He was correct that the two times Congress voted on the president’s budget requests, both times they were voted down. But the job of passing a budget resolution is not the president’s. That responsibility falls to Congress, and even then the president doesn’t sign it. As Ellis, our expert, put it: “The president has no role in passing a budget. The president can cajole Congress about passing a budget and advocate for positions and funding levels, but in the end, Congress approves the budget resolution for their own purposes.” That’s the difference between this and other claims we’ve rated which blamed Congress for inaction on the budget.
If you need, I will link you to the blank budget Sessions placed for vote – or you can google it yourself. Wine and music is awaiting me.
Kyle – I figured you were a UGA kind of guy. Good luck to you in the game tomorrow! I will need more than luck to get through mine.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
“The Republicans only lost the presidential election, ”
Guess you missed the 8 seats in the House and 3 seats in the Senate. Oh well, Fox will let you know about them before the mid terms
getalife
November 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
It is a ignorant move to ignore the majority of the American people.
I guess the gop want to lose the next election.
Madmax
November 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
get – Stop the silly one side is responsible for our woes stuff. Both sides blew it and it’s time to stop and make them do it again. Raising taxes is a drop in the bucket and until there is serious movement about reducing the deficit (and this president ahas not been serious about it yet), I don’t want to give them a dime more. The bottom line is they need to address this deficit if they want to get support. This latest offering by Obama was a joke. You guys crucified Romney for lack of details but you let Obama say anything and you all slaver like dogs. Hold both sides accountable and maybe they will actually start doing something. By the way, taking a 3 week vacation while this crisis is going on is sort of like letting the ambassador die while you go raise funds for the campaign.
Dekalb comments
November 30th, 2012
5:23 pm
Kyle, you have the nerve to complain the President is now standing firm to what he campaigned on?
Give me a break. The Republics have been the party of No, No, No for 4 years. The economy has progressed, albeit slowly, with no support from your side. The President accomplished the ACA and other initiatives only through good politics.
As GWB said, I won the election, I now have political capital. Where were you when he said that? Were you complaining about his boldness? I doubt it.
The President won a substantial electoral college majority and won 51 to 47 % over Romney. The Democrats picked up seats in the Senate and the House.
So yes, this is the time when “elections have consequences” comes to play. Don’t whine over the fact the Republics lost. Time is passing and we need to get on with governing this nation, with or without Republic support.
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
Steve@4:59, What lifestyle changes? Dump their parents & kids? Move out of CA or NY? Close their business?
The point is that income does not always reflect wealth, & taxes are not based on wealth. (Hint: the US took in $2.3 T in ‘11 & spend $3.6 T. We are broke.)
Why can’t the fed. govt. take your advice & make some lifestyle changes?
md
November 30th, 2012
5:30 pm
“Americans voted for Obama and for a tax increase.”
Wrong, they voted for a tax increase on others…..BIG difference.
The new America…..let’s all take a tax cut and then vote for others to give theirs back.
The difference between the 2 ideologies?
Take the NY cop that gave the homeless guy a new pair of boots…..those on the right would pay for them with their own money while those on the left would vote for the cop to pay for them with his money…….no different than what Obama is proposing now.
MarkV
November 30th, 2012
5:32 pm
Dusty @ 5:21 pm
Dusty,
Sorry for your trouble, but in the end you indeed have done your share to boost the economy, even if not the way you intended!
CC
November 30th, 2012
5:39 pm
“Who does Obama think he is a “real” President? Don’t pay any attention to him.”
No, he thinks he’s been coronated as the King of America, answerable to no one.
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:40 pm
Black@5:16, James Carville coined in phase in ‘92, “It’s the economy, stupid.” Perhaps you missed it.
I’ll say what I’ve already said again. The economic recession was NOT caused by the Bush tax cuts, which actually resulted in the highest revenues in the history of the country & lowered the unemployment rates.
@5:19, Liar.
@5:22, Still kept the House.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
Linda
And when you can post where I said Bush was the cause, post it for us all to see.
Thanks
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:44 pm
Buzz@5:22, From your site: “The process starts with the president submitting his budget request to Congress early in the year. That voluminous document is partly a presidential wish list, but it also gives Congress a framework.”
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:47 pm
Linda
Was this you @ 5:06?
_____________________________________
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
It’s the spending, stupid.
_________________________________
Do you make a habit out of lying or is that just your blog persona?
Bookman has FNM: Friday Night Music
Linda has Friday Night Meltdowns
hahahahaha
CC
November 30th, 2012
5:48 pm
You leftists still can’t seem to grasp one single fact: the U.S. does not have a revenue problems nearly so much as it has a SPENDING problem.. Obama and the rest of the idiot democrats act exactly like an unruly teenager who has swiped Pop’s credit card and is determined to bankrupt Pop as he buys and buys for his friends.
saywhat?
November 30th, 2012
5:48 pm
You Republicans have whined and cried for four years that Obama failed to provide any “leadership” (although we also know that you were repeating what the right wing echo chamber TOLD you to whine and cry about). You were wrong, because your sheep herders were wrong. Obama LED this nation out of the deepest recession since the great depression through the policies he called for. He LED in the takedown of Osama Bin Laden. He LED by reversing countless Bush era boneheaded policies. He LED the response to hurricane Sandy.
Now he is leading again to finish the job of getting America’s economic house in order, and you losers whine and cry some more, and call it “campaigning”. Why? Because again, its what the sheep herders of the right wing echo chamber told you to do. This president has been a competent leader, despite the fact that some people are too blinded by ideology to see the truth (i.e. the same people who “knew” Romney was going to win).The Presidents job is to lead, not spoonfeed reality to people too stupid to see it on their own.
Hows this for a compromise? Do what the President asks, and the Republican party may still be relevant for more than just the next two years. The American people have spoken. They said “Obama”.
Linda
November 30th, 2012
5:49 pm
Black@5:42, I didn’t. I was commenting to someone else & you butted in.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:50 pm
CC
Yet you vote for Ryan whose own numbers showed the debt going up to 23T……
oooooooppppppsssssssssss
But don’t let those facts get in your way of your typical bs
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:50 pm
Linda
You do not own the blog. People comment all the time. Nothing new. Grow up and join the world of adults
CC
November 30th, 2012
5:52 pm
“Obama LED this nation out of the deepest recession since the great depression through the policies he called for. He LED in the takedown of Osama Bin Laden. He LED by reversing countless Bush era boneheaded policies. He LED the response to hurricane Sandy.”
Yeah, right, and he LED in refusing the help to the four Americans killed in Benghazi, and then he LED the lying about the entire incident.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
5:54 pm
CC
Is still in full post election meltdown
WOW
Linda
November 30th, 2012
6:00 pm
Black@5:47, “It’s the economy, stupid” is Carville’s coined phase that has been repeated in the political circle for 20 years. The Republicans have repeated that it’s the spending, stupid, for 4 years.
Sorry you missed it on the children’s news network show.
If I was naming someone Stupid, I would at least capitalize Stupid.
Sorry if I got under your skin today. You’ll get over it by tomorrow.
MarkV
November 30th, 2012
6:02 pm
I doubt that what we see is CC’s “post-election meltdown.” Lying appears to be his standard MO.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:03 pm
Linda
Quit melting. You have been melting down going on a month
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:05 pm
Mark V
Man, at least a melt down usually stops after a period of time. The other thing, especially if it is chronic, is usually how that person is on a regular basis.
Even Linda playing her semantics games is in the same boat.
Probably a combination of both.
Linda
November 30th, 2012
6:06 pm
saywhat@5:48, Obama has not created one, single net job in 4 years.
He LED the response to Sandy? He said he would stop the rise of the oceans. Sandy was just another broken campaign promise. The Sandy victims will never vote for another Democrat.
The American people also said a Republican House.
md
November 30th, 2012
6:07 pm
“and a permanent end to Congressional control over statutory borrowing limits.”
I don’t care which “side” one is on, that phrase should concern just about everybody. If it doesn’t, I suspect one isn’t paying attention to what it actually means.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:08 pm
Yes they did with 8 less members………
And 3 less in the Senate, but if that gives you solace and helps stop the meltdown…… good for you
CC
November 30th, 2012
6:08 pm
“I doubt that what we see is CC’s “post-election meltdown.” Lying appears to be his standard MO.”
Is that all you have? If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay under the porch MarkV. You’re a big dog on Bookie-man’s blog ONLY.
Most folks here see you for what you are . . .
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 30th, 2012
6:11 pm
Looking over the comments today, the liberals are the ones who are erroneously stating that the GOP never tried to compromise on earlier budget issues (and Bob Woodward pretty much destroys THAT contention in his recent book – but I guess you only believe Woodward when he’s taking on a Republican), and the liberals are, by and large, the ones screaming for no compromise with the current GOP.
Liberals = no class uninformed liars.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:13 pm
“Liberals = no class uninformed liars.”
Another meltdown……. coming up
And since when are you a “liberal”.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 30th, 2012
6:16 pm
Hi, Black Label / Oh Well / Sunny / (insert your own sock puppet here)
Do you have anything to add besides rehashing the election results, or are you going to post something of substance sometime soon?
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:21 pm
The 6:16
From a name calling little Foxbot
hahaahahaha
md
November 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
Any guesses as to who said this:
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”
Maybe saywhat should take a stab at it after his leadership post…..
CC
November 30th, 2012
6:23 pm
“Another meltdown……. coming up”
Somewhere some publication has a segment entitled “Increase Your Vocabulary”. One day, not so very long ago, the new word for the day was “meltdown”. Black Label fixated on the word and added it to his vocabulary. He has used it incessantly since November 7th. In fact, you might say that he has worn that word out and should retire it.
Much as Obama can’t quit campaigning, Black Label can’t quit celebrating.
CC
November 30th, 2012
6:25 pm
md:
I know! I know! I know who said it, and it wasn’t the Puddy Tat!
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 30th, 2012
6:25 pm
Isn’t it amazing, CC, that the only people erroneously complaining about conservatives still harping on the election are the very people still actually harping on the election . . . . ?
Buzz Belle
November 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
Linda – you stated Obama couldn’t even get his budget passed. That is a statement the republicans like to try to use to make Obama look like he can’t get things done. It is a typical ploy used by those on the right but Obama and the democrats did not fall for the game. The American people are sick of those games, of those talking points, of a party whose only mantra the last four years was to make Obama a one term president. It didn’t work so either help become part of the solution or consider yourself part of the problem. Now, I am really leaving this time because my wonderful husband is picking me up to take me out for my favorite dinner. I am sure I will see you on this blog again, although I don’t usually post on Kyle’s blog. I’m a Bookman kind of girl.
Enjoy the night all and may your team win, whoever it is!
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
md
Wann guess who said
“Elections have consequences”
“I plan to use the political capital that I earned from winning the election”
“Deficits don’t matter”
CC
November 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
I’m voting “present”.
Black Label
November 30th, 2012
6:28 pm
“My top priority is to make Obama a one term President”
CC
November 30th, 2012
6:29 pm
Tinerius:
It truly is, Tiberius. Sort of like someone who can’t seem to take “Yes” for an answer.
md
November 30th, 2012
6:33 pm
“I plan to use the political capital that I earned from winning the election”
He won the last election too, so whats your point? He didn’t get it done and according to himself that is a failure of leadership…….but I’m guessing his words apply to everyone but himself……