Obama Won't Play That Way, Fiscal Cliff Edition

[Playinghardball]

The Atlantic: Goodbye, conciliator. Hello, Mr. Tough Love.

…. While Republicans are bemoaning the president’s intransigence in hewing fast to a position he ran and won on in 2012, they might do well to look to their own behavior in setting up this month’s epic power struggle with him – and why he feels he’s now in a strong enough position to stand firm on behalf of his agenda.

…. “The president’s idea of a negotiation is, roll over and do what I ask,” Speaker John Boehner complained earlier this month. But Obama just solidly won reelection after a very nasty race. Why would he forgo pushing hard for his agenda right out of the gate, right after it was reaffirmed by the public?

The bottom line: The odds we go over the cliff are high if the GOP doesn’t come around. Fortunately, it sounds like Republicans are starting to get the message.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/obama-wont-play-that-way-fiscal-cliff-edition/265943/

[grahamhgreen]

1. Calling the R's fiscal bluff will be the best deal we are going to get. 37%=FAIL

"The fiscal cliff deal comes clearer: a 37% top tax rate and a higher Medicare eligibility age"

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/07/the-fiscal-cliff-deal-comes-clearer-a-37-top-tax-rate-and-a-higher-medicare-eligibility-age/


FAIL

[BeyondGeography]

2. I much prefer the cliff to splitting the difference on the top rate

and saving a measly $15 billion/year by pushing Medicare eligibility to 67.

[julian09]

3. Hope he doesn't cave on return to the 39.6% Clinton era tax rate

because what he doesn't get in revenue from tax hike on rich; he will have to make up in cuts to entitlements.
We have been saying for years, that was the best for economy and trickle down didn't work. Giving more than half tax increase back is
not what he campaigned on. He doesn't have the balls to use 14th amendment to raise debt ceiling, so best to go over cliff, unless he can get debt ceiling detached from budget.

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. "He doesn't have the balls"....?

How despicable.

[arely staircase]

5. then tax rates go back to pre-bush for everyone

then we can propose middle/working class tax cuts and dare the gop to be against them.

[julian09]

6. They already have one already passed in senate, but Boehner won't bring it up for House vote.