Obama challenges Congress in $4tn budget gamble (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

President Barack Obama is playing double and quits. He has offered to double his package of cuts. From $2 trillion (£1.25 trillion) to $4 trillion.

His apparent offer to cut pensions (Social Security) and healthcare for the elderly (Medicare) will horrify many of his own supporters.

If the Republicans quit, refuse to do a deal in the face of what looks like the president being so willing to compromise that he is damaging his reputation with his own party, they will look like ideological hotheads.

Just to make sure they are put on the spot the president has laced his package with tax increases, which he knows are anathema to most Republicans.
***
This may not work. The public may decide the Republicans are the ones being reasonable, that the president's proposed cuts are not big enough or even that the debt ceiling shouldn't be raised anyhow.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14070997




Or it may not work because there is nothing the Repubs want more than to look like ideological hotheads. They are genuinely proud of their barbarity.

[leeroysphitz]

1. You're right. The republican base is showing almost no signs of crazy fatique...

[Doctor_J]

2. Upside down world

The president completely caves, and Big Media calls it a "bold move".

The offer is 85% taken from the neediest, 15% taken from the most piggish, and yet the cuts are "not big enough"

Meanwhile, while this side show plays out, MI, WI, ME, PA, and NJ are being turned into concentration camps, and the president acts as though he's never heard of them

This country is finished, folks.

[emulatorloo]

3. The article is from the BBC. Which "Big US Media" is making similar claims?

None of them, they are way to busy cheerleading the Republicans.

[bemildred]

6. It does not say "Big US Media". nt

[emulatorloo]

7. I understand that. But I am wanting to know what Big US Media Doctor_J is talking about

This is what Doctor_J wrote.

'The president completely caves, and Big Media calls it a "bold move".'

I have not seen the argument made in the BBC article made by any other "Big Media"

Instead I see a giant megaphone for Republican Talking points and anti-democratic spin. I was curious about where he is seeing this in BIG MEDIA, because I am not seeing that.

[bemildred]

8. Good, show me where what he said is "Republican Talking points" then.

Show me some Republicans saying: "The president completely caves, and Big Media calls it a 'bold move'", or any of the other things Doctor_J said, with links please.

I hate bad punctuation as much as anyone, so I can agree that the use of quotes in "Bold Move" is incorrect.

[Fearless]

4. +1

[Fearless]

5. Where are these cuts coming from exactly? Defense? Ha!

How about from the life blood of a generation of Americans.