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DirkGently

(12,151 posts)
71. Translation: "Give in to Republican hostage taking." Not a win. Not even close.
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 01:58 PM
Jan 2013
Obama characteristically chose the risk-averse path, so we’ll never know for sure. But there’s good reason to think this was his chance to break the fever without risking a meltdown, because Republicans were in a similar position once before and lost badly. Just over a year ago, House Republicans tried to block the extension of the payroll tax holiday, awkwardly opposing a middle-class tax cut. The condemnation, including from fellow Republicans, was so severe that they quickly folded. Given the scope of the tax increase in the fiscal cliff, that reaction would have been amplified severalfold.

Instead, Obama relented, thereby setting up a triple-threat showdown that dwarfs the cliff. Two months from now, the debt limit, the expiration of the continuing resolution, and the automatic spending cuts known as “sequestration” all kick in at once.

Obama has chosen to keep navigating the same minefield as before in pursuit of a comprehensive deal. It’s a different strategy than was employed by the last Democratic president to strike a big budget deal. In 1995, Bill Clinton stared down Newt Gingrich and let the government shut down. Two years later, the fever having broken, the two signed an accord that ultimately balanced the budget.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/editorial/2013/01/03/obama-inexplicable-budget-flinch/G3IlpIS5sWmDcNVlXkZlDI/story.html

you know what the haters are going to say (grin) loyalkydem Jan 2013 #1
the "he caved" people really need to tune in CatWoman Jan 2013 #2
Yes, but they may not want to! elleng Jan 2013 #3
video here CatWoman Jan 2013 #43
600 billion in revenue naviman Jan 2013 #4
He didn't 'promise' anything. JaneyVee Jan 2013 #6
Boehner was offering 800 billion naviman Jan 2013 #9
No I'm just saying Obama never actually promised it, semantics matter. JaneyVee Jan 2013 #13
But he did promise increasing taxes over 250k naviman Jan 2013 #14
I believe they do: JaneyVee Jan 2013 #16
The point is in todays dollars 250 = 390k with inflation in todays dollars uponit7771 Jan 2013 #24
Makes sense but naviman Jan 2013 #27
And how do you suppose he would have been able to get the House to extend long term unemployment? SunSeeker Jan 2013 #50
perhaps you need to tune in CatWoman Jan 2013 #25
Of course Schumer wanted to go beyond naviman Jan 2013 #28
what PROMISE???? CatWoman Jan 2013 #29
The promise to not extend the Bush tax cuts on incomes over 250k? naviman Jan 2013 #32
I don't recall the president promising ANYTHING along those lines. CatWoman Jan 2013 #34
None, because there wouldn't have been a vote at $250,000. LuvLoogie Jan 2013 #44
.... CatWoman Jan 2013 #45
Who do you represent? n/t malaise Jan 2013 #62
+100. nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #64
Meh, who cares. He got what he could get and it was still a lot better than I ever hoped to see... phleshdef Jan 2013 #40
Purist dreck. cliffordu Jan 2013 #55
Hate to be picky but so many people don't seem to know the difference between deficit and debt Bandit Jan 2013 #65
Seriously? ProSense Jan 2013 #17
Remember the sequester and the debt ceiling naviman Jan 2013 #19
Now you're switching the subject? OK. Here's ProSense Jan 2013 #20
I did not change the subject naviman Jan 2013 #26
yes you did. CatWoman Jan 2013 #35
I know exactly what's going to happen in 2 months bhikkhu Jan 2013 #47
The 'pukes' governance and mantra are holistically despicable and putrid in their entirety indepat Jan 2013 #66
What did Boner specifically promise rufus dog Jan 2013 #23
lol..."what Obama promised" is so 2yrs ago...progressives know crazy congress exist uponit7771 Jan 2013 #7
Lawrence is very optimistic... that Pres Obama will carve out revenue from tax loopholes... nenagh Jan 2013 #8
But will he cut the corporate tax rate? naviman Jan 2013 #12
Can't wait until Elizabeth Warren is on the job... nenagh Jan 2013 #15
Negotiations.... Solindsey Jan 2013 #57
yes please tune in, it's like ODonnell opened the curtain on Obama's political cunning GOP look like uponit7771 Jan 2013 #5
Good gosh almighty Jack Sprat Jan 2013 #10
He had a great opening tonight on his show. avebury Jan 2013 #11
keep spinning...... bowens43 Jan 2013 #18
Biggest income tax increase in 20 years = not good at it?! ...ok uponit7771 Jan 2013 #22
The Obama-Hater strikes again! Don't you get a little tired of being so petty all the time? nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #46
Good one OldDem! nt caledesi Jan 2013 #52
Lawrence will shill politically time to time. DirkGently Jan 2013 #21
L O'D doesn't shill just because you don't like what he has to say. Cha Jan 2013 #30
No one but shills is calling this a big Dem win. DirkGently Jan 2013 #68
Obviously you don't like it.. still doesn't make them "shills". Cha Jan 2013 #72
I suppose you aren't happy with O'Donnell because he's not Whisp Jan 2013 #38
He's a party insider with a partisan agenda. Real commentators are DirkGently Jan 2013 #69
Not hardly.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #48
Exactly what makes him a partisan shill. He's D.C. establishment all the way. DirkGently Jan 2013 #70
Fine, if $400,000 is a middle-class income then iemitsu Jan 2013 #31
I always believed the 250 was a negotiating number only Whisp Jan 2013 #33
you listening, Naviman???? CatWoman Jan 2013 #36
Or instead of negotiating a number he could have naviman Jan 2013 #39
Gone over the cliff and leave 2 million Americans without Unemployment Insurance. nenagh Jan 2013 #41
Riiiiggghhhhttt! Screw over a couple of million folks who could no longer get their unemployment.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #49
wasn't that held hostage the last time too? Skittles Jan 2013 #61
Translation: "Give in to Republican hostage taking." Not a win. Not even close. DirkGently Jan 2013 #71
+1! uponit7771 Jan 2013 #37
O'donnell was brilliant tonight. Its the best show on MSNBC. aaaaaa5a Jan 2013 #42
Reality check... Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #51
Here's a reality check ProSense Jan 2013 #53
thanks for your Fact Based "reality check" ProSense. nm Cha Jan 2013 #59
Democrats won on NO spending cuts and raising taxes on those who should be paying more... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #63
The World is the winner having Barack Obama as President in their hour of need. graham4anything Jan 2013 #54
Funny as I guessed that inflation would bring the amounts in mzmolly Jan 2013 #56
Well, $400k people and above... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #58
a super rich guy like LarryO does not think $200,000 is rich hfojvt Jan 2013 #60
It's still "rich" by any sane since, the disgusting thing is 250k is top 3%!!! uponit7771 Jan 2013 #67
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