I respect President Clinton but I have trouble with his comments about how he hates deficits but yet

[EV_Ares]

says this tax deal is the best deal we can get. Yeah, maybe so but do we have to do this deal at all if that is the case. Yes, I understand what is coming in January but so be it. Nothing we can do about the election, but we can at least work and get the message out to the American people so the republicans have to take responsibility for their actions, let them take responsibility for adding 900 billion or whatever to the national debt they have been screaming about if they want the tax cut for the rich so bad. Let them pass the bill and add another huge debt increase and the people see the hypocrisphy and where they talk out one side of their mouths and then the other. Just like now they are trying to figure out how to get their earmarks back after campaigning against them so hard.

I say we stand up and stand firm for what we believe is right. We can't keep on blinking, caving in to where it is laughable anymore.

[bigtree]

1. he's the champ on deficit reduction

. . . he has some credibility on that.

[EV_Ares]

2. Yeah, no doubt about it but that tax cut for the rich is really going to be a big

increase in the deficit he hates so much.

[emulatorloo]

5. The whole package costs 860 Billion. The top 2% tax cut part costs 81.5 Billion

There's a breakdown here:

$860 billion tax-cut deal: Cost breakdown
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/07/news/economy/tax_cut_deal_obama/

On the tax cut part

<SNIP>

Bush tax cuts: $544.3 billion. The package would extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone for two years.

The bulk of that cost -- $463 billion -- is for the extension of cuts for families making less than $250,000, including two years of relief for 2010 and 2011 for the middle class from the Alternative Minimum Tax.

The rest -- $81.5 billion -- is attributable to the extension of cuts that apply to the highest income families.

[Angry Dragon]

11. Don't forget the rich also get the tax cut for under $250,000

[emulatorloo]

17. True n/t

[gateley]

19. And how much does that add to the deficit? Why do I keep hearing $900 Billion?

[emulatorloo]

6. DU Dupe Post thingy n/t

[Demoiselle]

3. He does have credibility...but HE successfully dealt with a deficit...

by RAISING taxes! I admire and respect the Big Dog, but I can't support this one. I did love listening to him explain things though.

[bigtree]

7. mostly raised taxes on the upper-incomes

[Demoiselle]

20. Yes, and Marjorie Margolis Medsvinsky (sp.?) lost her seat in Congress

because she supported the tax rise. So did others. It was gutsy and not all that popular.

[EV_Ares]

21. I am exactly like you on this, enjoy listening to him but can't agree with

him on this because I know where he is coming from & it still doesn't make this right.

[EFerrari]

4. He's the champ of continuing reaganomics under the fig leaf

of deficit reduction. Wealth keeps transferring upward and social safety nets keep being eroded.

That's nothing to write home about.

[bigtree]

8. I wrote home often while raising my family in the 8 Clinton years

. . . about my job, my raises, and my upward mobility and opportunities. It wasn't reaganomics at all. I suffered through reaganomics.

[EFerrari]

9. You're still suffering through reaganomics. n/t

[bigtree]

13. well, I don't agree at all with that

. . . no more than I believe Bush/Quayle was responsible for the surplus economy that elevated my income and helped me raise my family.

[EFerrari]

16. Then, with respect bigtree, you need to review your tax breaks

and your ftas to figure out how we got here.

[AndrewP]

12. Yes, he does

[RC]

10. Let's put things in perspective.

How much did the Bu$h tax cuts cost us in the 10 years since they took effect in 2001 and 2003? Why isn't this number, whatever it is, part of the so-called debate?

[Angry Dragon]

14. They cost a lot of jobs

they cost this country any edge they had with the world

[BlueCheese]

15. I'm disappointed that Clinton signed on.

Clearly, however, there is no way on Earth that Clinton could say, "Hey, this tax deal? It stinks. Obama shoulda done better."

Interesting that the White House brought him in at all, though.

[BuelahWitch]

18. Funny, in 2003 he stood on a stage at Tom Harkin's steak fry

in Iowa and said these tax cuts were a bad thing. Clinton said he got a tax cut he didn't need. Too bad Bill thinks his wife's cabinet job is more important than what's good for the country.