Obama Caves

[deleted15807]

Apparently after winning one house of Congress the Republicans now run the country and control the agenda. The well-heeled get two years of tax breaks and the poor got one year of unemployment benefits. If you are going to bend over at least get something for it.

Tax-cut deal reached between Obama, Republicans


With Obama AWOL and the democrats in Congress in full retreat is all lost?

Still the Best Congress Money Can Buy

 

[TomCat84]

This country (and most around the world) is corrupt to its very core. That's why I really couldn't care less about wikileaks. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

 

[B_nyvin]

Some kind of deal had to be reached otherwise ALL the tax cuts would've expired and by default everyone would be paying more. It would've been pretty hectic on the job market and families with 2 working parents.

Basically the Republicans pushed the white house into a corner and gave them no choice. Not the best outcome, but I would say (even being a liberal) it is for the best to let the tax cuts continue.

Although cutting social security tax is laughable.....While we increase the deficit with more spending let's LOWER taxes.

Fixing the economy =

Lower taxes, increase spending

Brilliant

 

[deleted15807]

This country (and most around the world) is corrupt to its very core. That's why I really couldn't care less about wikileaks. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I really want to join George Carlin:

George Carlin Doesn't vote

'The public sucks. Fuck hope.'

 

[maxcok]

I've officially had it with the Great Conciliator. The emporer has no balls.

I really want to join George Carlin

Are you sure about that? He's dead, you know. :wink:

 

[deleted15807]

I've officially had it with the Great Conciliator. The emporer has no balls.



Are you sure about that? He's dead, you know. :wink:

I meaning 'why bother anymore?' You vote Republican you get policies for the CEO's of the world. You vote Democrat and you get wimps who don't even have the cajones to call them out. Ahh but now it's political strategy...

The move is based on a political calculation, drawn from his party's midterm defeat, that places a premium on winning back independent voters.

​

Obama's tax cut extension part of strategy to show bipartisanship


​

Is he trying to do a Clinton and march to the right now? These are dangerous times to continue down a road we know is a cliff at the end. Clinton had a good economy and no war. Now we have neither.

 

[maxcok]

Is he trying to do a Clinton and march to the right now?

I don't know if you've noticed, but he's been drifting that way pretty much his whole term.


You realize of course there's nothing to guarantee the tax cuts will expire in two years, anymore than they're expiring this year like they were scheduled to. And in 2012 'tax and spend' will be THE campaign issue, which the Dems won't be able to define any better than they did Healthcare. I give up.

 

[D_Davy_Downspout]

Some kind of deal had to be reached otherwise ALL the tax cuts would've expired and by default everyone would be paying more. It would've been pretty hectic on the job market and families with 2 working parents.

Basically the Republicans pushed the white house into a corner and gave them no choice. Not the best outcome, but I would say (even being a liberal) it is for the best to let the tax cuts continue.

Although cutting social security tax is laughable.....While we increase the deficit with more spending let's LOWER taxes.

Fixing the economy =

Lower taxes, increase spending

Brilliant

No, don't blame this on the Republicans.

The Democrats could have held a vote, even before the November elections, on this and chose not to.

Don't blame the Democrats, blame conservatives. It's not my fault we have 2 conservative parties in the US.

 

[maxcok]

The move is based on a political calculation, drawn from his party's midterm defeat, that places a premium on winning back independent voters.

​

Obama's tax cut extension part of strategy to show bipartisanship
​

Are he and/or his advisers so lost in the Washington bubble they honestly think the clueless electorate even notices that he's "taking the high road" by compromising all the time? Are they actually so naive to think this will curry them any favor with Republicans, in or out of government, or even with Independents for that matter? Not to mention, this all adds to the deficit, which plays right to the Republicans in the 2012 election.

Fuck this "post-partisan" nonsense. The people want and they understand a strong leader who takes a firm position and sticks to it. They don't respond to a weak conciliator, and they don't trust a waffler. Why should they? First and foremost, they need to be educated on policy from the Oval Office by the one representative who's supposed to work on behalf of, and speak directly to, all the people. Hell, they supported Bozo Bush on all sorts of shit legislation and unconstitutional acts, just because his administration took a strong stand and sold it.

It would have been so easy to get the public behind ending the tax cuts for the wealthy during a severe recession on the heels of near total financial collapse - where the moneyed interests made out like bandits. Literally. Hell, the public's already behind it - just like they were behind universal healthcare - before Obama let the crazies steal the megaphone and spin the propaganda. Just like they were behind major financial regulatory overhaul. ALL OF IT COMPROMISED BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN A SENATE FLOOR DEBATE! It would have been so easy to force the Republican into an honest-to-god-on-the-floor filibuster debate over ending tax cuts to the wealthy and extending benefits to the unemployed - and broadcast it live on CSPAN at fucking Christmas time! Now who do you think would win that one? Can anybody say "Bah humbug?" How's that for a soundbite?

Jesus, It's really not that hard to figure out an effective strategy. I just don't get it. This compromise, like all the other compromises, was completely unnecessary. It doesn't make him look post-partisan, it makes him look like a conciliatory beauracrat, a weakling and a fool. With each compromise he looks weaker and more foolish, and the Republicans gain more power and greater influence. It makes the Republicans look like they're dictating the whole agenda and leading him around by the balls, WHICH THEY ARE!!! Yes, I said it!

I remembered saying this awhile back too:

Kinda like whenever "post-partisan" Obama offers congressional Republicans an olive branch.
As soon as his back is turned, they shove it up his ass.

And they'll do it again and again. I'm starting to wonder if he likes it.

I'm really starting to wonder if he isn't in bed with the enemy.

End of rant. For now . . .

 

[798686]

I was hoping this would be about some cool, new geological discovery.

 

[dandelion]

things ARE a bit rocky

 

[B_VinylBoy]

Damn... just damn. Still trying to compromise with those who don't have any real incentive to do such a thing. It looks very noble on the surface, but underneath it hurts. One set of balls to be delivered to our White House, that's all I ask. Perhaps they can borrow a set from Nancy Pelsoi?

 

[798686]

things ARE a bit rocky

:tongue:

 

[D_Martin van Burden]

Are he and/or his advisers so lost in the Washington bubble they honestly think the clueless electorate even notices that he's "taking the high road" by compromising all the time? Are they actually so naive to think this will curry them any favor with Republicans, in or out of government, or even with Independents for that matter? Not to mention, this all adds to the deficit, which plays right to the Republicans in the 2012 election.

Fuck this "post-partisan" nonsense. The people want and they understand a strong leader who takes a firm position and sticks to it. They don't respond to a weak conciliator, and they don't trust a waffler. Why should they? First and foremost, they need to be educated on policy from the Oval Office by the one representative who's supposed to work on behalf of, and speak directly to, all the people. Hell, they supported Bozo Bush on all sorts of shit legislation and unconstitutional acts, just because his administration took a strong stand and sold it.

It would have been so easy to get the public behind ending the tax cuts for the wealthy during a severe recession on the heels of near total financial collapse - where the moneyed interests made out like bandits. Literally. Hell, the public's already behind it - just like they were behind universal healthcare - before Obama let the crazies steal the megaphone and spin the propaganda. Just like they were behind major financial regulatory overhaul. ALL OF IT COMPROMISED BEFORE THERE WAS EVEN A SENATE FLOOR DEBATE! It would have been so easy to force the Republican into an honest-to-god-on-the-floor filibuster debate over ending tax cuts to the wealthy and extending benefits to the unemployed - and broadcast it live on CSPAN at fucking Christmas time! Now who do you think would win that one? Can anybody say "Bah humbug?" How's that for a soundbite?

Jesus, It's really not that hard to figure out an effective strategy. I just don't get it. This compromise, like all the other compromises, was completely unnecessary. It doesn't make him look post-partisan, it makes him look like a conciliatory beauracrat, a weakling and a fool. With each compromise he looks weaker and more foolish, and the Republicans gain more power and greater influence. It makes the Republicans look like they're dictating the whole agenda and leading him around by the balls, WHICH THEY ARE!!! Yes, I said it!

I remembered saying this awhile back too: And they'll do it again and again. I'm starting to wonder if he likes it.

I'm really starting to wonder if he isn't in bed with the enemy.

End of rant. For now . . .

Q-fucking-F-T, max. For the record, I enjoy being labeled "sanctimonious" in the day-after-rant speech. Seems like anytime we want the President to do something that he promised on the campaign trail, it's the Left that's the problem. Like you said, Obama needs to wise up and recognize what conciliation has got him with 59 Democratic Senators and control of the House. Now cut away the blue slice of the pie and tell me if that strategy is going to work. Stuck. on. Stupid, I tell you!

I would've called their bluff. I would've put CNN and CSPAN and MSNBC and ABC and MTV and everyone else with cameras in the Senate that very night. Keep the coffee flowing and broadcast each and every vote. Make it clear that a vote for NOT extending tax cuts for the middle class equals a person whose name needs to be burned into your retinas. A "no" vote is someone who is bought and paid for that doesn't represent "we the people."

 

[TomCat84]

Q-fucking-F-T, max. For the record, I enjoy being labeled "sanctimonious" in the day-after-rant speech. Seems like anytime we want the President to do something that he promised on the campaign trail, it's the Left that's the problem. Like you said, Obama needs to wise up and recognize what conciliation has got him with 59 Democratic Senators and control of the House. Now cut away the blue slice of the pie and tell me if that strategy is going to work. Stuck. on. Stupid, I tell you!

I would've called their bluff. I would've put CNN and CSPAN and MSNBC and ABC and MTV and everyone else with cameras in the Senate that very night. Keep the coffee flowing and broadcast each and every vote. Make it clear that a vote for NOT extending tax cuts for the middle class equals a person whose name needs to be burned into your retinas. A "no" vote is someone who is bought and paid for that doesn't represent "we the people."

I sure hope Bernie Sanders fillibusters this deal. I want him to take the floor and make a 20+ hour speech, ala Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Hell, I'll even send him my Mom's recipes if he needs something to read. They will probably invoke cloture after he gives up the floor, but damnit, I want the Progressives/Liberals/Socialists to make a fucking point.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

Apparently after winning one house of Congress the Republicans now run the country and control the agenda. The well-heeled get two years of tax breaks and the poor got one year of unemployment benefits. If you are going to bend over at least get something for it.

Tax-cut deal reached between Obama, Republicans


With Obama AWOL and the democrats in Congress in full retreat is all lost?

Still the Best Congress Money Can Buy

Thankfully, it looks like this cowardly bullshit deal is already DOA in both houses of Congress.

 

[b.c.]

Looks like we're all in agreement on this, Max. Complete sellout. Republicans get their victory, damn the deficit (notice how all of a sudden they couldn't care less) while Obama loses even more support among what once was his constituency. They come out smelling like roses, Obama like the "bad guy" nonetheless.

A fuckin' shame, eh?

 

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

Jesus, It's really not that hard to figure out an effective strategy. I just don't get it. This compromise, like all the other compromises, was completely unnecessary. It doesn't make him look post-partisan, it makes him look like a conciliatory beauracrat, a weakling and a fool. With each compromise he looks weaker and more foolish, and the Republicans gain more power and greater influence. It makes the Republicans look like they're dictating the whole agenda and leading him around by the balls, WHICH THEY ARE!!!

QFT.
If Obama had to reach the White House, a better fit would have been Press Secretary to the President.
But he would've had to stiffen his spine a bit even for that.

 

[TomCat84]

I voted for the guy because I thought that yeah, he would be more bipartisan and compromising, but that he would be a skillfull head crasher- he would break some balls when he needed to. He has not had ONE issue yet where he's drawn a line in the sand. Not on the public option, not on tax cuts, not on Afghanistan, not on Iraq. One can only hope that he finds his veto pen if need be.

 

[TomCat84]

I seriously hope Bernie Sanders fillibusters this motherfucker