You make it sound like both parties are at fault. Sorry only one right-wing batcrap crazy party here and they should be the first off the cliff with a rope.
Darsan is so correct! The media always says “Both sides” are the problem and confuse people. was happens is that to the GOP they refuse to work with president Obama At All. That make it impossible to get any thing done.
While there is strong argument on both sides, depending on one’s governmental priorities, for who is most at fault in these debates, the fact is, that over the last three decades, both parties have worked hard to create the atmosphere of gridlock, distrust, disrespect, and pure self destructive stubbornness with which we now cope.Many of the tools the Republicans use, like the filibuster rule that makes it so a bill has to have 60 supporters to avoid a filibuster, were introduced initially by Dems, but used most efficiently by Repubs. The one thing the parties have done best is to divide the American people to a degree not seen since the Civil War. Regular readers of the comments have seen the most partisan of our commentators proclaim the need for radical action, even revolution, if “their side” doesn’t get their way.George Washington said political parties would divide and weaken our nation, and we see that happening daily. As the New Year begins, resolve to not let the self interested power brokers in government to divide our nation. Resolve to stand beside those with whom you disagree and demand legislators find common ground to move us ahead over the long term. Resolve to find people of many view points and respectfully look for ways to put open minds and open hearts into positions of leadership.With hope for the New Year,& Wishes that each of you have the best year ever,C.
The Democrats may have won a small battle, the Republicans are winning the war. This deal to avoid the cliff is laughable in its inadequacy. Less than 2% paying about 4% more is not going to make even a dent in the revenue shortfall, and the deficit will continue to climb. And there will be more ammunition to resist raising the debt ceiling in two months time..Governments need revenue to pay legally contracted financial obligations. Denying them that capacity is like expecting households to pay ever increasing utility bills with ever shrinking income. It leads only to financial ruin..The Republican strategy must be to “kill the beast through starving the beast.” Defeat Obama and the Democrats by ruining the country. Then take over the White House and Congress with promises to fix the problems. And what is the first thing they will do? They will raise revenue, spend money and probably start a war “to keep us safe.” Of course anyone disagreeing with them will be accused of being un-American and unpatriotic.
" I mean if the rest of the bill is okay or merely tolerable but the republicans (since Boehner will do nothing without his party as the majority, Dems be damned) insert a “poison pill” then the President has the obligation to speak up."**I don’t mean to take your thoughts out of context, but it makes a most significant point about the failure of leadership on the part of all concerned. Transparency and political rhetoric be damned, the only time these problems get resolved is when the principals sit down face to face and hammer this stuff out until it is finished to the benefit of the American people. Obama failed here on two points: first he didn’t lead this effort and take control of the process. Secondly he constantly passed the process down to the Senate and House to process and (IMO) he should have been the one driving that wagon. Leaders of the House, Senate etc. just showed themselves as buffoons in the eyes of the world. If you think our political cartoons are caustic, the rest of the world paints us like carnival shills, especially after raising their salaries for their great leadership efforts…
Ah yes, the deal that will save the country.$620 Billion in tax increases with a “promised” spending reduction of $15 Billion, 41:1 increase in taxes versus spending reductions. Well now, that’s a bargain! Those numbers are from the CBO by the way, so rant all you want to , it’s a fact.But here are a few others for you on the left that love the whole tax meme, this bill, ironically called the “American Taxpayer Relief Act," does nothing to reduce the deficit, NOTHING!You may notice that I used the word promised above, these are the same types of promises made when Reagan and Bush raised taxes in 1982 and 1990. Unfortunately the promised reduction never happened and in fact the spending increased following the Bush tax hike. Again, CBO numbers tax lovers, fact not fiction.When is it enough? Gypsy8’s comment, “Governments need revenue to pay legally contracted financial obligations. Denying them that capacity is like expecting households to pay ever increasing utility bills with ever shrinking income. It leads only to financial ruin.” is interesting in what it shows, the lack of understanding fiscal responsibility and an understanding of how most people deal with revenue shortfalls.When families and people experience a shortfall in income, they reduce spending, when there isn’t enough money to begin with, they don’t take on more debt.It’s time for the government to stop the ever increasing spending, pass actual spending cuts, not play games. Reduce spending, cut the budget until the income from taxes matches what we are obligated to pay for as well as pay off the deficit. That’s what every other person in this country would have to do if they were in this type of situation, reduce spending, come up with a plan to get out of debt and pay off the incurred debt. You only have to look at countries like Greece that did not behave with fiscal responsibility, kept going to the “tax” solution until there was no more taxes to be had.So, stick your head in the sand, keep demonizing those that have worked hard and made the effort to improve, make them pay for the ever increasing irresponsible actions of our government leaders. It’s just insanity, we keep doing the same things and expecting different results.
Simply put; House GOP are taking the country off a 100 foot high bridge, with a 110 foot long bungee cord. Then sitting in the corner, sucking their thumbs saying, I don’t want to play if I can’t have all my toys, AND YOURS!
Please show where I called for an extension of the “Bush tax cuts.” You can’t because I haven’t, tool.Oh, and what exactly did Obama do? Nothing in reference to the mentioned “Relief Act,” but I noticed you failed to counter any of the information proffered, so was it good for you?
Bungee jumping Political Style. Could we start a Country somewhere for people who believe in personal responsibility and paying their bills. Maybe just across some close border. Maybe we could call it Canada.
Darsan54 Premium Member over 11 years ago
You make it sound like both parties are at fault. Sorry only one right-wing batcrap crazy party here and they should be the first off the cliff with a rope.
pam Miner over 11 years ago
Darsan is so correct! The media always says “Both sides” are the problem and confuse people. was happens is that to the GOP they refuse to work with president Obama At All. That make it impossible to get any thing done.
7500edg over 11 years ago
I like the look on the elephants face
Mihir Asher over 11 years ago
Well, at least they are smiling …
Besides, jumping off that cliff isn’t so bad…
After all, for one shining moment, it feels like you are flying!
chazandru over 11 years ago
While there is strong argument on both sides, depending on one’s governmental priorities, for who is most at fault in these debates, the fact is, that over the last three decades, both parties have worked hard to create the atmosphere of gridlock, distrust, disrespect, and pure self destructive stubbornness with which we now cope.Many of the tools the Republicans use, like the filibuster rule that makes it so a bill has to have 60 supporters to avoid a filibuster, were introduced initially by Dems, but used most efficiently by Repubs. The one thing the parties have done best is to divide the American people to a degree not seen since the Civil War. Regular readers of the comments have seen the most partisan of our commentators proclaim the need for radical action, even revolution, if “their side” doesn’t get their way.George Washington said political parties would divide and weaken our nation, and we see that happening daily. As the New Year begins, resolve to not let the self interested power brokers in government to divide our nation. Resolve to stand beside those with whom you disagree and demand legislators find common ground to move us ahead over the long term. Resolve to find people of many view points and respectfully look for ways to put open minds and open hearts into positions of leadership.With hope for the New Year,& Wishes that each of you have the best year ever,C.
cjr53 over 11 years ago
Is that not the President’s right and duty to either sign or veto a bill?.You make it sound like he is doing something he shouldn’t be doing.
Gypsy8 over 11 years ago
The Democrats may have won a small battle, the Republicans are winning the war. This deal to avoid the cliff is laughable in its inadequacy. Less than 2% paying about 4% more is not going to make even a dent in the revenue shortfall, and the deficit will continue to climb. And there will be more ammunition to resist raising the debt ceiling in two months time..Governments need revenue to pay legally contracted financial obligations. Denying them that capacity is like expecting households to pay ever increasing utility bills with ever shrinking income. It leads only to financial ruin..The Republican strategy must be to “kill the beast through starving the beast.” Defeat Obama and the Democrats by ruining the country. Then take over the White House and Congress with promises to fix the problems. And what is the first thing they will do? They will raise revenue, spend money and probably start a war “to keep us safe.” Of course anyone disagreeing with them will be accused of being un-American and unpatriotic.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
" I mean if the rest of the bill is okay or merely tolerable but the republicans (since Boehner will do nothing without his party as the majority, Dems be damned) insert a “poison pill” then the President has the obligation to speak up."**I don’t mean to take your thoughts out of context, but it makes a most significant point about the failure of leadership on the part of all concerned. Transparency and political rhetoric be damned, the only time these problems get resolved is when the principals sit down face to face and hammer this stuff out until it is finished to the benefit of the American people. Obama failed here on two points: first he didn’t lead this effort and take control of the process. Secondly he constantly passed the process down to the Senate and House to process and (IMO) he should have been the one driving that wagon. Leaders of the House, Senate etc. just showed themselves as buffoons in the eyes of the world. If you think our political cartoons are caustic, the rest of the world paints us like carnival shills, especially after raising their salaries for their great leadership efforts…
cjr53 over 11 years ago
Yes indeed.--President Obama won the election. zitty will just have to get over it.
dpbriley over 11 years ago
Ah yes, the deal that will save the country.$620 Billion in tax increases with a “promised” spending reduction of $15 Billion, 41:1 increase in taxes versus spending reductions. Well now, that’s a bargain! Those numbers are from the CBO by the way, so rant all you want to , it’s a fact.But here are a few others for you on the left that love the whole tax meme, this bill, ironically called the “American Taxpayer Relief Act," does nothing to reduce the deficit, NOTHING!You may notice that I used the word promised above, these are the same types of promises made when Reagan and Bush raised taxes in 1982 and 1990. Unfortunately the promised reduction never happened and in fact the spending increased following the Bush tax hike. Again, CBO numbers tax lovers, fact not fiction.When is it enough? Gypsy8’s comment, “Governments need revenue to pay legally contracted financial obligations. Denying them that capacity is like expecting households to pay ever increasing utility bills with ever shrinking income. It leads only to financial ruin.” is interesting in what it shows, the lack of understanding fiscal responsibility and an understanding of how most people deal with revenue shortfalls.When families and people experience a shortfall in income, they reduce spending, when there isn’t enough money to begin with, they don’t take on more debt.It’s time for the government to stop the ever increasing spending, pass actual spending cuts, not play games. Reduce spending, cut the budget until the income from taxes matches what we are obligated to pay for as well as pay off the deficit. That’s what every other person in this country would have to do if they were in this type of situation, reduce spending, come up with a plan to get out of debt and pay off the incurred debt. You only have to look at countries like Greece that did not behave with fiscal responsibility, kept going to the “tax” solution until there was no more taxes to be had.So, stick your head in the sand, keep demonizing those that have worked hard and made the effort to improve, make them pay for the ever increasing irresponsible actions of our government leaders. It’s just insanity, we keep doing the same things and expecting different results.
rockngolfer over 11 years ago
Huffpost reports that Donald Trump is unhappy with the deal, so it can’t be all bad.
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
Simply put; House GOP are taking the country off a 100 foot high bridge, with a 110 foot long bungee cord. Then sitting in the corner, sucking their thumbs saying, I don’t want to play if I can’t have all my toys, AND YOURS!
dpbriley over 11 years ago
Please show where I called for an extension of the “Bush tax cuts.” You can’t because I haven’t, tool.Oh, and what exactly did Obama do? Nothing in reference to the mentioned “Relief Act,” but I noticed you failed to counter any of the information proffered, so was it good for you?
josefw over 11 years ago
The “Copy & Paste” terrorist strikes again!
paytonb over 11 years ago
You act as though the Dems don’t do the exact same thing. Once again another shining example of just what C. Downs was talking about.
pirate227 over 11 years ago
Maybe it will be easier to make a deal when teabaggers like Allen West are gone. Buh-bye!
wcssharpe over 11 years ago
Bungee jumping Political Style. Could we start a Country somewhere for people who believe in personal responsibility and paying their bills. Maybe just across some close border. Maybe we could call it Canada.