All Hail President Norquist
All you political junkies are very familiar with Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform. He’s one of the mist powerful men in the country, mainly because he makes Republicans sign a ridiculous pledge to never raise taxes under any circumstance. 95% of Congressional Republicans have sworn their allegiance to Grover Norquist above that of the country. That’s why this was big news yesterday:
In other words, according to Mr. Norquist’s interpretation of the Americans for Tax Reform pledge, lawmakers have the technical leeway to bring in as much as $4 trillion in new tax revenue — the cost of extending President George W. Bush’s tax cuts for another decade — without being accused of breaking their promise. “Not continuing a tax cut is not technically a tax increase,” Mr. Norquist told us. So it doesn’t violate the pledge? “We wouldn’t hold it that way,” he said.
So now Republicans have permission to let the Bush tax cuts expire (they don’t have the power to stop this anyway). At first Norquist denied he said this but the WaPo had audio. ATR released a statement that they opposed letting the cuts expire. Interestingly, the statement didn’t dispute that letting them expire is not breaking the pledge.
I think it’s ridiculous and depressing that this unelected extremist is about to cause our country to go into default. But here we are, in 2011 – a post-factual world where a party gains by tanking the economy.
Tags: Grover Norquist
I think President Norquist was just kidding..
Obama is still the Best Democrat in America, until further notice:
If only he had stopped there. But he adds:
He could easily give away the title by botching “tax reform.”
To be to the right of Boehner and MCConnell, Obama is going to have to champion “the flat tax.”
I was just musing how Obama is pushing Republicans to the right. It is hard work being to the right of Obama these days.
The press helps too. I think Republicans were empowered when they called Obama a traitorous non-citizen socialist and didn’t suffer any negative repercussions.
To push back against those attacks would not have been moderate and bipartisan. He would not seem to be the bent over, pants down, adult in the room.
Today’s Obama editorial in USA Today really takes the gloves off though.
Both parties are exactly the same. Ronald Reagan was awesome…. Ya dah, ya dah Ya dah…
Way to “take it to the people” BHO !!
My takeaway from the editorial is that he is still holding out for revenue, while every other Dem is ready to roll over. Obama’s insistence on revenue is the only thing keeping this from being a done deal on Republican terms. That is why I call Obama the Best Democrat In America.
In a way Norquist is doing Democrats a huge favor. As long as Obama insists on some revenue too, Obama can safely offer huge spending cuts with no chance they will be accepted. Norquist is giving Obama the cover he needs to be the “grownup,” which is winning over the Villager pundits and independents.
That is why I found the editorial so hopeful. As long as Obama continues to hold out for revenue, there is still the chance for the balanced deal that will shatter the GOP. But the moment Obama caves on revenue, the momentum shifts back to Republicans.
Closing loopholes now, plus expiration of tax cuts on the rich in 2012, will nearly rebalance taxes back to the levels needed for economic recovery.
The risk is that “tax reform” will lower the top brackets and make the 2012 expiration moot.
It is really hard for me to explain eleven-dimensional chess while you are being so negative. He’s just getting ready for THE REVEAL.
For the moment I am taking him at his word. The President is calling for the rich to pay more taxes. I have to give him credit for that. It is rare among Dems nowadays.
And believe it or not this is actually in response to your 10:40 comment.
Given Obama’s previous statements on the relative importance of spending cuts (FOR THE ECONOMY) vs. revenue – I don’t know how you can read so much into that editorial.
If the best Democrat in America is so devoted to thoroughly discredited trickle down economics, then I don’t see his desire for “balance” is anything more than trying to placate some Dem Senators.
President Obama – take this deal NOW!!! Before they change their minds!
Heads we win, tails they lose.
More trickle down from this morning’s town hall:
…more tax cuts and investments in infrastructure!! Brilliant!
Puck, You got it backwards. it is a win/win for the R’s
If they don’t increase taxes, they get rid of the individual mandate.
They want both things and get both things.
Nope. If they don’t do “tax reform” then taxes reset to Clinton levels in 2012.
And if the individual mandate goes then there will be pressure for a public option.
The bad thing about Obama’s tax reform is it will probably make the 2012 expiration moot.
One man’s “tax reform” is another man’s “we’re screwed.”
Obama is deliberately conflating tax reform with revenue.
Until proven otherwise, when Obama says “tax reform” I have to think he means the Gang Of Six proposal to reduce the top rate to 29%, which will somehow produce more revenue.
Is it too soon to call it voodoo economics?
duh. if you make rich people pay less taxes, they will feel compelled to just give it to the masses. Im running out of desperate excuses to continue supporting Obama.
I keep having to go back to .. even though i understand he cant accomplish a progressive agenda with the terrorists…. i mean Teahadis …..wiling to destroy the country in order to make him look bad, i dont even see him fight.
I have a question for the most ardent supporters. The folks who fight tooth and nail in support of Obama and who’s loyalty hasn’t wavered. Before this shit really hits the fan, what rationalization are you ready to use for not if, but WHEN he capitulates to the terrorists and forced the senate to pass a bill that is all cuts and no revenue increases? What do you do if he asks us to give up every position… even though we have a majority of the government, in order to appease vicious traitors who will never honor any “deal”?
Only my sicken fear of a GOP controlled government and what that would mean for the SCOTUS will keep me from sitting out the next election. That’s it.
The answer will probably be that we failed to clap hard enough for Obama, and that we are just sore because we didn’t get single payer.
My feeling about Obama now is that he was just not up to the job and (perhaps out of panic) took lots of really bad DC villager advice about owning “the middle” in the next election.
…and not as smart as I once thought, because how could anyone with a brain buy into the wholly discredited trickle down bullshit that he keeps promoting.
My feeling about Obama now is that he was just not up to the job and (perhaps out of panic) took lots of really bad DC villager advice about owning “the middle” in the next election.
he took advice alright and it may have been from the village idiots. But, their advice came from Wall St.
you do realize the DOW is knocking on 13,000 right? something Bush couldn’t come close to doing….
there is no equity in equities.
says the billionaire wiping his ass with a 100’s
If I was a billioniare I’d be taking my French passport and a stack of Euros out of my Zurich safe deposit box right now.
strike that off your bucket list too mon frair
Turn on your TV. Obama’s taking it to Boehner right now.
Boehner walked away from the talks again.
And he’s telling the press not to make this a both sides do it story!
Thanks for this heads up UI.
“Can the Republicans say yes to anything?”
Very good rant at the end.
He masterfully stole St. Reagan, BTW. He also slammed radio hosts, columnists and pledges.
Do you think that Boehner is someplace crying? Adding to that layer of rust he wears?
If I see that press conference posted someplace I’ll post it up here.
Boehner has a pres conference right now.
Boehner said he has the same responsibilities as the President of the United States. No, he doesn’t.
“It’s hard to understand why Speaker Boehner would walk away from this kind of deal,” Obama said. He asked about the Republicans: “Can they say yes to anything?”
The Republicans promised President Norquist to not raise ANY revenue, and I guess that promise includeds calling EVERYTHING a tax increase.
Once again I think Obama has the upper hand, but I doubt that he will use it.
“A few minutes ago, the President stated he would raise the debt ceiling ON HIS OWN with authority granted from (possibly) the Senate -”
Is that true? It is from a top kos diary.
Yes he did, referring to the McConnell plan.
Well I didn’t see OHB’s presser, but this comment from TPM speaks to me:
“yeah, I was pretty impressed with his press conf. So I let him out of the dog house. but he’s still on probation. “
He did note that he would sign a clean debt limit bill “if that was the best they could do”.