Angry liberals seek silver lining in debt deal

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

Dispirited liberals fumed Monday over the deal to raise the debt ceiling that would cut deeply across the government, include no new tax revenue from wealthy Americans and would not provide any additional stimulus for a lagging economy.

Most of all, they lamented President Obama’s failure to anticipate and overcome the leverage exerted by House Republicans who threatened to force a national default.

“It’s a surrender to Republican extortion,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who voted against the deal. “It’s one thing to say we want this, we don’t want that as part of negotiations. It’s another to say we will destroy the country and the economy if you don’t do what we want.”

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) said he, too, was voting no because of the “dangerous precedent” by Republican demands. But most offensive, he said, were the cuts unmatched by any new revenue. “My constituents are suffering; they’ve lost their jobs and their homes, and now to cut the very programs that could have provided them with support while the rich are given a pass — it’s ridiculous.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/angry-liberals-seek-silver-lining-in-debt-deal/2011/08/01/gIQAqM5MoI_singlePage.html

[cstanleytech]

1. I find it a tad odd that some people expect the government to do more stimulus

when its already done plenty.
The main problem now imo is companies and I mean the big corporations who are reporting large profits and giving executives bonuses and pay raises are sitting on their profits and not increasing wages for the average worker nor are they doing additional hiring.
Until that changes all the stimulus in the world wont make things truly better.

[EFerrari]

7. CEPR put out an analysis of the stimulus over the weekend.

They conclude that it had helped but as predicted by a lot of people, had not been big enough. To your point, it didn't help that the Feds put no strings on the bailout. That has led to all kinds of problems.

[cstanleytech]

9. I'm not saying it didnt help I am just saying basically that

I dont believe anymore would "now".
Imo the governments done its part and we (the average person) have done ours but now its time for the corporations to stepup to the plate and do theirs.

[EFerrari]

10. Sure but that willl not happen. No one has the political will

to make those vultures do anything.

[peace frog]

14. What the hell did we elect them to do?

Pick their noses while *those vultures* do their fiendish work utterly unopposed?

Hell, if our elected "leaders" lack *the political will* to do their fucking jobs, then we'll just have to relieve them of those jobs, won't we.

[glinda]

12. While they make gains they cut positions and outsource. Corporations in America are a blight upon

the economy.

[pam4water]

16. The stimulus was a tiny drop in the bucket and at least a 1/3 of it was non-productive tax cut and

another 1/3 or was aid to states that delayed lay-offs to about now. You need a significant percentage of GDP to make and difference with stimulus.

[Steerpike]

17. well my advice to you is

Don't hold your breath

[jeff47]

19. There's no demand. If they expand, who would they sell to?

Businesses will not expand until demand rises. It makes no sense to spend the money on building a new factory that will be idle.

Government is the only major player who can create demand when it doesn't make economic sense. That's why we need government stimulus. Spending the money increases demand, which allows businesses to expand, and you get back to a "normal" economy. When that happens, government should pay off the money it borrowed for stimulus.

The problem with the "stimulus" bill was it was about 1/6th of the necessary stimulus.

[Lifelong Protester]

2. so which group of democratic lawmakers is going to band together

as tightly as the teabaggers and fight for OUR ideals? Which group? I want to support that group.
I keep wondering how the heck the minority of the minority of 1/2 of 1/3 of the government can hold us hostage, but that NEVER occurs when Democrats are in that marginal group?

What is it? Are we too nice? Want too much for the other folks to see us as reasonable? What is it?

[Fearless]

4. +1

[roomfullofmirrors]

6. is it that we would never dream of opposing a debt ceiling increase?

[glinda]

13. We are too nice. That is ok. We need to be strong vocally though and smart.

[msongs]

3. sorry there Mr. Cummings Obama's got his so you and your constituents can "chill the F*** out" nt

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dragonfli]

8. in silver found in the lining will be mined by the super congress and served up to the wealthy

This is inevitable.

[TalkingDog]

11. Ha! You made me laugh with seething bitterness.

Well played.

[peace frog]

15. +1

[lonestarnot]

18. ridiculous? motherfucking heinous! They're god damned terrorist motherfuckers.