Some Big Budget Announcement Tomorrow
I can’t imagine what making “the case to congressional leaders that we must reject the politics of least resistance…” means.
Statement from White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer on Budget Negotiations
“The President believes that solving our fiscal problems is an economic imperative. But in order to do that, we cannot ask the middle-class and seniors to bear all the burden of higher costs and budget cuts. We need a balanced approach that asks the very wealthiest and special interests to pay their fair share as well, and we believe the American people agree.
“Both parties have made real progress thus far, and to back off now will not only fail to solve our fiscal challenge, it will confirm the cynicism people have about politics in Washington. The President believes that now is the moment to rise above that cynicism and show the American people that we can still do big things. And so tomorrow, he will make the case to congressional leaders that we must reject the politics of least resistance and take on this critical challenge.”
I’m assuming “the path of least resistance” is no tax raises from the Republican side.
Do you hear the howling of the loons?
Nice link UI. Boehner is on the anvil. Obama needs to apply the hammer.
If the debt ceiling isn’t raised and tens of millions of lower and middle class Americans suffer harshly as a result, then the future economic priorities of the USA might have to be initiated in the streets. That could present a dangerous situation, but such grassroots action might be the only realistic hope for change.
The media is saying Boehner is “folding.” But I’m just not seeing it yet. I guess I need to drink some more coffee and read some more details.
Let me get this straight:
1. Republicans opening position: To increase the debt ceiling, they demand massive spending cuts, and no tax increases. Eventually they are both kicking around a $2 trillion number.
2. Obama counters with $4 trillion including tax increases. Boehner “folds,” setting the negotiations back to… Boehner’s original position.
How is getting your original demand a defeat in any way?
If the media is saying Boehner is “folding” I say , let them go ahead and say it.
Boehner is in an incredibly bad position “The Incredible Shrinking Speaker”
Boehner and the GOP lost on optics. The politics looks like this: Obama was willing to anger his own base by making concessions on SS and Medicare to get what Republicans have been saying is their top priority – deficit reduction. The GOP walked away because tax cuts for the rich are their top priority and now that’s been made clear to even the biggest media hacks. Obama has won this round.
The next round is the smaller deal. We have no idea what’s in it but Democrats still insist on tax increases (even if it’s mostly in the GOP direction). Boehner has already walked away from this one. Now Boehner will be under increasing pressure from the money boys to make a deal. Boehner is in the squeeze right now. We will have to wait to see how this plays out but the clock is ticking.
The money boys are calling Obama too. Some of them even work for him.
Of course Obama’s hearing from the big money boys, but he’s not the one holding up a deal. He’s not the one trapped in a vice like Boehner is.
“It Sucks To Be John Boehner” HA!
Boehner is only between a rock and a hard place, if Obama continues to be the hard place. Obama has a track record of helping Republicans out of traps.
I think the optics are only visible through insider-ey glasses. Heck, I can’t even figure it out right now, and I’m trying. Most people will continue to believe what they already want to believe about Democrats and Republicans.
The Economist says:
Shame on Them
I think the GOP’s only option is to stick to their guns and not compromise one iota on revenue increases. The only support they have on the matter is the wealthy and the tea partiers. They don’t have the support of independents or even mainstream Republicans as polls have shown. Since the wealthy is their only real constituency, they can’t back down on the matter and they won’t be able to lose the political pretexts that the deceived, the tea partiers, provide them.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner just told CBS NEWS Bob Scheiffer that if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling by August 2nd, Social Security payments will not be made.
Any questions?
Geithner reaffirmed Bob Scheiffer’s question: “Isn’t this really the last week Congress has to come to agreement about renewing the debt ceiling before Aug. 2nd?”
Geithner said “Yes.”
Not a word about cutting defense spending. Not a word about cutting U.S. government-sponsored corporate subsidies.
Time for a REAL change folks