Republicans Would Rather Laugh Than Bargain...But once the laughter dies down

[ProSense]

Republicans Would Rather Laugh Than Bargain

By DAVID FIRESTONE

Republicans reportedly laughed when they saw the Obama administration’s initial offer in the fiscal negotiations yesterday. The idea that President Obama might actually want to enact his campaign promises – tax hikes on the rich, modest Medicare cuts, investments in infrastructure – is apparently considered a joke to the party that has shown virtually no flexibility in the last four years.

But some of that laughter may contain nervousness, because there is more going on here than just a pathway to splitting the difference. The White House made clear yesterday that it is approaching these talks from a position of responsibility, and that it actually takes seriously the notion of old-fashioned bargaining. That’s something Republicans have refused to do — and now they realize they’ve been called out.

It was never responsible for Republicans to spend years adamantly declaring total opposition to higher taxes as a back-door way of starving government. That’s precisely the intransigence that created the fiscal cliff in the first place...It was never responsible to spend years on talk shows demanding “cuts in entitlements,” while running a presidential campaign that attacked Mr. Obama for cutting Medicare. The president has put $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and other social insurance programs on the table. The Republicans, out of political fear, have proposed exactly nothing.

<...>

That was considered particularly uproarious in the offices of House and Senate Republican leaders. But once the laughter dies down, they will have to come to the table with a responsible offer of their own, rather than simply declaring a stalemate, as Speaker John Boehner did today, because he didn’t like the president’s opening bid. If they continue to refuse to do so, the public won’t find it very funny.

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/republicans-would-rather-laugh-than-bargain/

Data Visualizations

Josh Marshall

There’s no way to understand the jousting and positioning over the ‘fiscal cliff’ without understanding the following facts: Both President Obama and congressional Republicans are moving right along to the edge of the cliff. Both say they’re ready to go over the edge. Only President Obama is gliding along in a hot air balloon and John Boehner and co. are on foot. So the repercussions over going over the edge are quite different. And both sides know it.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/11/data_visualizations.php

Keep laughing, losers, but know that most Americans are laughing at you, not with you.

Pic Of The Moment: As Fiscal Cliff Deadline Approaches, Obama's Position Strengthens
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101783228

[geckosfeet]

1. And I just emailed my congressman vociing my support for the proposal.

[ProSense]

4. Do you mean the President's

proposal?

Obama offers GOP an ambitious, progressive debt-reduction plan
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021905787

[geckosfeet]

8. Yes. The very same....

READ: The White House's fiscal cliff proposal

Phase One

• Immediate increase in both top marginal rates, as well as capital gains and dividends: +$960 Billion


• Additional taxes: +$600 Billion


• 2009-level estate tax


• AMT and business tax extenders: -$236 Billion


• Payroll tax extension or alternative policy: -$110B


• Bonus depreciation extension

Spending/Extras

• $50 billion stimulus package in FY13


• Mass refi mortgage proposal


• Deferral of sequester


• Savings from non-entitlement mandatory programs


• Extension of unemployment insurance: $30 billion


• Medicare SGR Patch: $25 Billion


• Increase in the debt limit to avoid requiring Congress to vote to increase

Stage Two

• Tax reform consistent with $1.6 trillion tax increase


• Entitlement policies from President’s FY13 budget that could total $400 billion in savings

Comment from White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage:

"Right now, the only thing preventing us from reaching a deal that averts the fiscal cliff and avoids a tax hike on 98 percent of Americans is the refusal of Congressional Republicans to ask the very wealthiest individuals to pay higher tax rates. The President has already signed into law over $1 trillion in spending cuts and we remain willing to do tough things to compromise, and it's time for Republicans in Washington to join the chorus of other voices—from the business community to middle class Americans across the country—who support a balanced approach that asks more from the wealthiest Americans."

READ: The White House's fiscal cliff proposal

[babylonsister]

2. LOVE the hot air balloon analogy!

[ProSense]

3. It's like

Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote

Boehner's Acme footwear delivery should arrive just in time.

[CTyankee]

15. "footwear"? Yeah, like thos rockets on roller skates Wile ordered...

Boehner will go shooting over the cliff just like Wile any minute now...

[ProSense]

17. LOL! n/t

[AllyCat]

6. Perfect. And I think it applies to say the middle class is in that hot air balloon

and the rich are in their limos. I think we need to continue to frame this in our discussions with people we know...this ain't gonna hurt us much, but the rich are bumming and that is why they are fighting this so much.

[ProSense]

5. Oh my: Gergen to Obama: Please Don't Humiliate Republicans

Gergen to Obama: Please Don't Humiliate Republicans
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/30/1166166/-Gergen-to-Obama-Please-Don-t-Humiliate-Republicans

Dear David, I don't often say this, but STFU and stop humiliating yourself.

[babylonsister]

7. That needs its own thread so we can laugh at Gergen!

[ProSense]

9. Republicans are pathetic, and

it's even more evident when a GOP shill starts pleading on their behalf.

[babylonsister]

10. Wild times, eh, Pro?

I am SO happy you are back; I still have friends in NY who are dealing, but it's not good, re: Sandy.

I for one love you, am glad you're here, and am glad President Obama is kicking ass!!! You and me, we knew/know, this man is going to rock and roll! Yay for us all!

[ProSense]

11. Thanks.

Yeah, it's a slow hard road back for many. I can't complain.

I've been giddy since the election. Woo hoo!

Let's keep it going.

[Cha]

12. I'd like to get in on this, too, babylonsistah.. Grateful, that ProSense is

Back.. And, know that President Obama always has our backs and we have his.


President Obama looks at a toy K’nex roller coaster made at the Rodon Group, a manufacturer of toys in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, November 30

http://theobamadiary.com/

This is so yesterday but I couldn't resist..



And, ProSense..thank you for setting up your OP with such Fun Facts.

[babylonsister]

13. Cha, you are SO IN on this! My friend,

you don't even know how much I love you. I LOVE that you kick my threads, and I LOVE that you have loved President Barack Hussein Obama as long as I have!!

And I really love that you did what you said you'd do: move to Hawaii.

I think you are a wonderful person, and thank you for all the times you've supported me. Now it's my turn.. From my heart...

[Cha]

14. I Love You Back!

I just noticed in that 'toon that Pres Obama has an empty beer mug and mitt has a straw in milk carton.

Random Pic of PBO and Sasha in Hawai'i in one of those Family Vacays at Christmas. Maybe that first year since Sasha looks so much younger.



http://theobamadiary.com/

Mahalos to you, babylonsistah, for all those Awesome OPs I love to kick!

[ProSense]

16. Thanks, and I love those.