First it was health care reform without a public option, now you are proposing a 2 year extension on the tax cuts. Why can't you be more like Lyndon Johnson and bully legislation through? Why can't you be more effective than George W. Bush was at getting things passed? You are turning out to be a wimp, either watering down or giving in. I look back sadly on the 2008 Presidential election and think about what a tough President Hillary Clinton would have been.
You have compromised me right out of my vote next term, President Obama. The only way you can get my vote back, is if Sarah Palin is the candidate for the Republicans.
The sorry-ass Democrats deserve to lose, they can't even make their base happy.
Jim Morin captured Obama this morning with his political cartoon:
22 comments:
I agree with you. Compromisers (like Crist) go to the slaughter ever time.
He stands for nothing now. Does he think that people will vote for him because he sold the US and the budget to get some people covered under unemployment? If he were smart (and he is not), he would have fought for the people needing their benefits extended and lost in a straight vote for extending unemployment benefits in Congress and then could pillory the Republicans who voted against it in the next election.
This is, I'm sorry, such Monday-morning quarterbacking. Let's recap Obama's successes:
• He avoided a second Great Depression. The bank and auto bailouts, however noxious, worked and soon may be turning a hearty profit to the government.
• Health insurance reform is making an impact and, with careful oversight, could begin to curtail runaway healthcare costs while covering 30 million additional Americans, a historic achievement. Sure a public option would have been great, but the votes were not there and maybe in the future we can got it.
• The excesses of Wall Street and our financial systems, the true culprit of our current anemic economy, has been re-regulated with consumer protections.
• Two new Supreme Court Justices are in place.
• America is no longer despised abroad the way it was under Bush/Cheney and torture has been ended;
• On the economy, it’s undeniable that the current employment outlook is bleak - but not desperate if you look at the long run. A slow, but steady, recovery will continue in fits and starts.
• The President’s bi-partisan debt commission will chart a path towards dealing with the national deficits and debt.
And against this, what do the tea-party Republicans have to offer? Arguably, little more than vitriolic anger that the President is a Muslim, fascist, socialist, illegal immigrant (born in Kenya) or whatever other fictitious conspiracy theories FOX news is propagating. Tea Partiers seek to slash immediate and long-term spending, but offer no specifics on what consequential programs are to be cut. They offer nothing substantive to propose on ending our addiction to carbon energy or how to reform our immigration laws to humanely deal with millions of poor, undocumented immigrants. Indeed a party of “No”.
Even, Obama's extending Bush tax cuts can be seen as a Progressive "win" in so far as a win was possible (He got much more in return than credited for. See http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/12/how_the_white_house_cut_the_de.html?hpid=topnews) .
There's more to rejoice about than dispair.
Steve,
Then what?
People who are job hunting would not have any income. You can imagine what that would do to the real folks. Do you think that they are not working because 988 dollars a month is going to keep their family in a home and fed?
I am a dem and I am happy that he compromised. I think that we have to start somewhere to get to the middle where we can have political parties working together for this country.
I am TIRED of partisan politics. I would love to see some movement to the middle for all the parties and some team work. Politics is all ego and I am sick of it.
I'm sure the alternatives will be much better...
The people are more to blame. No patience fools waiting on the next 10 second sound bite to update them on how they should feel.
Genius you are so wrong. Our president did what he must to keep thousands of people from starving. It is the republicans who forced him to allow the very rich to keep a little more of their money in order to save all the rest of us money we really needed and have money for thousands of our people who would have gone hungry just to show what a strong guy he is. I am proud of him. He knew what he had to do for the little people and if you complain then complain about all the republicans who forced his action.
Mensa and I are on the same page. Yay!
I have moaned and groaned about Obama on and off for 2 years, however, he did the right thing and yes, the Republicans forced him into a situation so the crazy Dems would beat on him. Why can't the Dems (and move on.org?) ever understand that they are being manipulated? Just like the tea party people were during the last election. The pubs are masters at it and it seems the general population are suckers for their BS.
You forget one thing -- You shouldn't be able to force him. The Democrats never FORCE the Republicans to do anything it always seems to go the other way.
They held him hostage and he caved just like the Morin cartoon suggests. He should have held firm and changed the dialogue so the real culprits got blamed -- the Republicans. Instead he let them control the dialogue and the situation.
The wealthy tax cuts had to go, now the Republicans are going to be all over the Democrats for the deficit and rightly so. The Democrats cut off their face to get a toe.
Genius, for someone who bemoans politics being played, you sure sound willing to allow it to continue.You can't have it both ways.
The question should be whether the prez moved the ball forward. If the answer is no, it should not be based on whether he left republicans in the dust or not.
The Republicans are A-holes and unfortunately Dems have to appease them to get a lot of things done.
Here's an article stating it'll help Obama's reelection chances.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2010/1208/Obama-reelection-prospects-brighter-with-deal-to-renew-tax-cuts
Just do the math (from Ezra Klein) and then determine if Obama got rolled:
"Of [the deal's] estimated $900 billion-plus cost over two years, roughly $120 billion covers the high-end tax cuts and the estate tax cut, $450 billion covers Mr. Obama’s wish list and $360 billion covers the tax cut extensions both parties favored."
Truth is both the jack Asaes and Dumf F---ing Elephants did exactly the opposie of what they where supposed to do under the circumstances.
Though I'm no fan of tax increases the elephants should have given that away in exchange for saying enoughs enough on unemployment benefits.
What the compromise they actually agreed on does is expand the deficit and disinsentivize folks to find a job.
Have any of you really sat back and looked at why our economy is where it is, in a non partisan way?
He is not an experienced card player. Experienced card players get their cards, bluff, talk mess, psych out the opposition, use distractions, have signals with their partners, play their cards skillfully, cheat if they can get away with it, and sometimes win, or otherwise do better than they would have with the hand they were dealt. Everyone in Washington is top dog from their areas because they beat out all the other little dogs in their community to get there. None are thin-skinned, afraid of a fight, timid, or avoid drama. They are accustomed to manipulating things to get what they want, creating crises, using drama, creating pressure, intimidating others, breaking arms and elbows. He has a bunch of levers to pull to get what he wants. Both parties expect big dog to fight, not wimp out cause it looks rough. Obama may not have dog in him. If that is the case, both sides will eat him alive.
Ha, ha, ha, ha. A parvenu; an arriviste; in way, WAY over his head.
I don't agree with CATO very often, but he is correct on this one. Obama pushes for things people don't want (bailouts, immigration amnesty, etc.) and caves on things people do want (e.g., a tax system in which the rich pay their fair share).
What? I agree with Cato too!
...disinsentivize folks to find a job...
I am unemployed. I want to work, I want to work at a job that allows me to keep my car to get me there and keep us housed and fed.
I can't do that with a 10.00 per hour job.
I have been doing the resume thing, the job app thing and unemployment reporting thing.
My benefit check doesn't even cover the rent. I don't think this check is doing anything but reminding me that I have another month of not covering my bills and worrying about my children.
It is almost impossible to get into a shelter program. You can't work part time and get your benefits. And I pay taxes on that check. So I do have a dog in this fight as well CATO, unless of course, you want to feed, house and cloth us until I can find a job that will cover life expenses.
The rich need tax cuts just like every one else because they have to be able to make payments on their mansions and cars and jewelry. If they can't afford those things then they will lay people off from the businesses that they own and more people will be jobless. It makes perfect sense. Tax cuts help them help those not as fortunate.
Yes, Hillary would have been better, but we Floridians were denied that vote. So what, you should have voted for McCain? I don't think so. I am disheartened, though. I sit here trying to figure out how to pay for Christmas and the bills and cover my huge deductible on my medical bills and then get slapped in the face by the very man that told us he would put an end to the tyranny of the Republicans. The very day Obama announced this "compromise", I opened my computer and applied for unemployment to help get me through the end of the year. I realized that since there is going to be an attack on our social security, something that my husband and I were counting on as part of our retirement package, I better get as much of my money back from the government as I can now before its too late. And, along those lines, what is my motive now for not doing everything in my power to keep my money rather than turn it over in the forms of taxes to the government?
We own a specialized construction company in Miami, yet, everyday we see people unqualified and uninsured doing our type of work. This has not only caused us great hardship financially, but it devalues the price of the work. Yet, there is little that a contractor can do about this situation. What is our motivation for keeping everything on the up and up while the rich take advantage of this economy and get the work done for cheaper? What is our motivation to pay all the payroll taxes, workman's comp., licensing, bookkeeping, etc. etc. while we see our savings dwindle and people not paying these fees walking away with the work? Call an inspector? You get punished because the inspector announces who made the call. Meanwhile, unneeded stadiums and tunnels get built while I try to figure out how to pay my next property tax bill.
We are indeed in a war on the middle class and the middle class is losing. Thanks Obama. Sell out! It feels like I kept hearing that my boyfriend was cheating on me, but I didn't believe it until I caught him in the act. Hope those 'Pubs keep you warm at night, because its going to take me awhile to get over this one.
tom
This flip-flop is akin to Ronald Reagan entering office and announcing unilateral disarmament with the Soviets.
Taxing someone's income is a form of slavery & taxing an estate that already paid taxes on the income accumulated to create the estate is immoral.
I don't make near $250K, but I don't believe that income should be treated any different than mine, especially if they have the ability to invest that money and put it to work in the economy.
I am delighted to see the public waking up to this issue and realizing that politicians are trying to divide by creating class envy.
^^^ What a Maroon!
This is the debate that we should have been in leading up to the election - not by just jabbering about it - but by forcing votes.
The 'Pubs whine that businesses won't "create jobs" because there's "uncertainty" about how much they'll be paying in taxes come January 1. That's a load of elephant crap, but it could have easily been dealt with by repeatedly forcing votes on taxes.
Bills extending the tax rates for everyone under $250k could have been voted on in both chambers months ago. When those were stalled by a filibuster in the Senate (a real one, not just the permanent "threat" of one), they could have moved next on $500,000 and then Schumer's bill to make it for everyone under $1 million. When they stalled that too, make it $1.25 million, etc until you drive home the point.
If they'd done that instead of doing nothing but trying to be Republican Lite, the house would not be as lopsided as it is. Exit polls everywhere showed that deficits didn't mean crap to voters - jobs, the economy, and taxes were way ahead in the voters minds.
No, instead, they wait until they LOSE, and then try to negotiate. Democrats always negotiate from a position of weakness - even when they're in a position of strength.
Friggin' infuriating.
I'm confused, as always.
Doesn't a tax-cut (extension) on income up to $250k (for households) benefit EVERYONE who makes any taxable income? Those who make more than $250k will benefit the most, since they will pay less taxes on the first $250k of their income. Is there something I'm missing? Does the country not know about marginal tax-rates?
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