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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis is no way to govern.
After dealing with the contrived crisis known as the fiscal cliff for nearly two months, we've just been set up for continuing and ongoing governance by contrived crisis.
First, the little air that has now gotten into the room is being sucked right back out by Debt Crisis II(let's not forget it was Debt Crisis I that gave us the Fiscal Cliff). Worse than that, with sequestration just two months down the road, look for Fiscal Cliff II to suck up all the air once we're done with Debt Crisis II.
This is insane, this governing by contrived crisis. It allows no room for anything else to get done. Worse, it open the door for horrible policy, policy that wouldn't normally see the light of day. Furthermore, it dissipates the immense store of political capital that Obama would otherwise have.
Agreeing to set up crisis after crisis, we get it, Obama is bipartisan. In fact he is so bipartisan he is willing to sell out liberals, Democrats, and the country in order to please the most radical among us. He is willing to break promise after promise, nice to see that those making 250,000-450,000 are not going to see their taxes rise. Funny, doesn't the president make 400,000 annually?
This is not a good deal, it simply gives the 'Pugs another chance to chip away, month after month, at the programs they don't like. So, they didn't take up the Obama offer of a chained CPI for SS, don't worry, the 'Pugs are getting at least two more cracks at it in the coming two months.
Nor does this form of governance lend stability and confidence in our government. The American public gets all knotted up by the much hyped fiscal cliff, now they we get to panic about the debt ceiling, or the Fiscal Cliff II.
Meanwhile, nothing else gets done. While our country is reeling from the effects of global climate change, needs to deal with the problem of rampant guns, needs to help the economy further revive, needs to deal with a whole host of issues, all they're going to focus on is the crisis of the month. That is no way to govern.
Obama had the chance to put a stop to this insanity, by simply calling their bluff and going off the fiscal cliff. Despite the hype, there would have been very downside to going over the cliff(or as Robert Reich and others have stated, the fiscal slope). But sadly, that didn't happen. Calling the 'Pugs bluff on the Debt Ceiling II is going to be tougher, but frankly it needs to be done. Otherwise, we're going to spend the next four years like we've spend the last four years, bouncing from contrived crisis to contrived crisis, and getting bad government and bad policy every single time.
This is no victory, just a perpetuation of the bad governance that we've had to deal with for four years now. It is time that Obama stopped dealing with those who don't want to deal with him. It is time he fought back, called their bluff, and backed the bullies down. If he doesn't, they just going to continue to beat him up, and take our lunch money.
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Ohio Joe
(21,896 posts)The stupid hurts so bad sometimes.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Do it once and they will back down, it will take the fight right out of them, and they will stop throwing up these contrived crisis situations. The fiscal cliff would have been the perfect opportunity to call their bluff, we should have just gone right on over.
But noooooooo, we backed down again, and it only emboldens the 'Pugs. Worse than that, we used the bad deal on the fiscal cliff to set up the contrived crisis Fiscal Cliff II for only two months down the road.
That's a stupid, foolish way to govern.
DonCoquixote
(13,939 posts)Sorry, but we cannot assume that. If these folks had any common sense, it would have kicked in a while ago, but no, they know that the sheldon addisons of the world are going to keep shoveling money to them no matter what, because they are doign exactly what they want. it will take a 2014 and 2016 loos before the billionaires l;earn that money does not buy everything.
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)But after the long fall it's just a tiny 'pffhhh'
bowens43
(16,064 posts)Obama had all the cards this time. No one was held hostage. All he had to do was do nothing.
Obama bent over backwards to give the cons what they wanted. The OP is right on the money.
We have been sold out yet again.
BeyondGeography
(40,790 posts)His book sales put him way north of that. So there goes that aspect of your "argument." You really thought he was trying to save himself a few bucks?
MadHound
(34,179 posts)The pay for the president is 400,000 annually, and he lives pretty large. Don't you think that he, and others who make that kind of money, need to start paying their fair share?
BeyondGeography
(40,790 posts)So his taxes are going up:
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/04/13/11184004-obama-tax-return-shows-2011-earnings-of-789674?lite
And he has continually lobbied for higher rates for himself. Anyone who has paid attention knows that.
eilen
(4,955 posts)
Lasher
(29,352 posts)BeyondGeography
(40,790 posts)
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)gain. Care to back that accusation up with facts, or are you going to edit?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/president_obama_complete_return_2011.pdf
HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)And see no reason to celebrate until all of the contrived crises are dealt with.
I heard that "shared sacrifice" remark.
Tell you one thing - Obama signing that order to raise salaries has pissed off a lot of the GOPers I know.
They feel he should not have signed it.
I think he should have put it off for a while.
No point in trying to explain it - and from what I have seen, this is just top-level jobs, not rank and file?
Explanations are off the table - they are just mad.
Pirate Smile
(27,617 posts)NoMoreWarNow
(1,259 posts)when will we ever be rid of these assholes????
Pirate Smile
(27,617 posts)Swede Atlanta
(3,596 posts)First of all the House has yet to vote on this "deal" and, after a night of boozing it up, I suspect many of the most rabid members of the Teabagger thuggery may be more than happy to "tempt" the tiger by refusing to vote yes. I hope not but it would not surprise me at all.
Second, those of us that are wage earners (not getting our income from capital gains, etc.) will have an additional 2% taken out of each paycheck. Granted this was a temporary reduction in order to spur consumption but it nevertheless will result in less income in the pockets of the majority of consumers.
I haven't seen any analysis but I seriously doubt the additional revenue, had the threshold be set at $250K versus $400K, would have really made much of a difference.
The real problem we have is this is just the beginning of the hostage taking. The next fights will come over spending cuts with the GOP fully intending to gut SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, etc. as much as possible in order to save the investment the financial services and arms dealers have made in buying Congress.
I fully expect Obama will once again accommodate them and we will see real benefits to the social safety net and real investment in education and infrastructure fall with little to no reductions for the military-industrial complex.
Then the debt ceiling will hit. The GOP likes to tell the American people they won't agree to raising the debt ceiling unless spending is cut (never any discussion about raising revenues) despite the fact the debt ceiling has nothing to do with FUTURE spending but is needed to borrow to fund PAST spending. If they want to hold the line on spending then do it with respect to FUTURE spending but don't raise the cost of borrowing for the country by playing games with the debt ceiling.
I am not optimistic. I think many in the GOP, egged on by the tea baggers, see demographics changing and do understand their party is in free fall. Given that I don't think they much care if they take the country down with them. They are that full of hate and loathing for this country and its people. The only things they care about are their own personal finances and the well-being of their corporate suitors.
graham4anything
(11,464 posts)Dawgs
(14,755 posts)We all lose.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,311 posts)
WashingtonConsensus
(29 posts)1. Man, this is just lurching from crisis to crisis
2. This is just lurching from contrived crisis to contrived crisis.
3. Oh...
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Nursing our economy back to life is still the Presidents main job. If we fall back into recession nothing much else will matter.
IMO, this was best deal he could get with the makeup of the current congress... and I think it was a rather good deal.. even Bernie Sanders approved it.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Playing chicken period is no way to govern, yet here we are, stuck in this cycle of having to go through another game of government chicken, time after time.
Time to stand up, stop playing chicken. The only way to do that is to call the 'Pugs bluff. This was the perfect opportunity to do so, yet instead, they made up another contrived crisis.
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Given the circumstnaces the only option was kicking the can down the road once again. I think the next round of negotiations might actually go better even though they have the debt limit to hang over us. The new congress will be more favorable to us and fewer tp extremists for Boener to deal with.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Go over the damn fiscal cliff and show the 'Pugs that Obama and the Dems aren't playing these games anymore. Seriously, how many times, how many of these contrived crisises does it take for you to realize that we the people are being screwed.
Each deal that is made, each "crisis" that is averted by some last minute "deal" means that the American people are losing out just a little bit more. Creeping austerity is what we're seeing, and it is being implemented in a manner that can only be described as repeated Shock Doctrine. "OMG, some crisis, some deadline is looming, and if we go past the deadline we'll all die, so in order to not go over that deadline, here, eat this pile of shit." How many piles of shit are you willing to eat before you say enough?
BrainMann1
(460 posts)We all now the GOP would have let this country go to hell rather than say they would to a black man. We still don't get get. It took the Vice Prez to help get this done, you see that don't you. Now the kicker this election really showed America what the GOP is all about and it's not change. Don't blame Obama he showed us all that he would put this country first rather than run it in the ground like the GOP would. Vote them out in the next elections and stop complaining.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Republicans. You'll be making good use of the Trash thread and IGNORE options.
RBInMaine
(13,570 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)are accusing the President of, or edit your post. You have accused this President of an impeachable offense, and frankly, unless you can prove it, you need to retract it.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/president_obama_complete_return_2011.pdf
lunatica
(53,410 posts)sigh...
I don't put people on ignore literally, but I'm not going to bother reading you threads again.
Botany
(76,202 posts)The President did make the republicans become obstructionist assholes.
They did that on their own and in his judgement going over the cliff would
have hurt millions of Americans and the economy too.
Besides from what little I understand he and Biden got just about everything
they wanted in this deal.
bowens43
(16,064 posts)Less then a third of the revenues and basically nothing else.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)"This is not a good deal, it simply gives the 'Pugs another chance to chip away, month after month, at the programs they don't like. So, they didn't take up the Obama offer of a chained CPI for SS, don't worry, the 'Pugs are getting at least two more cracks at it in the coming two months."
...think you even know what's in the deal. Sometimes just reciting the same tired opposition doesn't work.
On second thought: This bill includes no spending cuts.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022109603
Krugman's Perspective on the Deal
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022109580
mother earth
(6,002 posts)KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)So do you advocate we have one party rule or revise the Constitution to make the Executive responsible for all matters financial? So let's say "President Obama called their bluff" last night, we'd have several million people without unemployment benefits, taxes raised on everyone (not to mention the "bracket creep many low and middle income people have endured over the past decade) and deep budget cuts would have taken place on many programs that would have hurt the most vulnerable among us. Fine...that doesn't begin to address the problem of the looming debt ceiling and the strong possibility the government will shut down and the government will temporarily default on its debts.
Unfortunately as long as the rushpublicans control the House, they need to sign off on any budget deal. Don't blame President Obama...blame the "founding fathers" who gave the power of the purse to the Congress. Want to play the games you'd like? Really stick it to the rushpublicans? Then that'll require electing at least 30 Democrats (of course make sure they pass the "Progressive/Liberal purity tests"
that will flip the House and find another 10 or so "purity approved" Democrats for the Senate.
Yep...this is no victory...and it won't be as long as there are two sides that have extremes that refuse to talk or work with one another...
mgardener
(2,274 posts)If I performed my job, they way the republicans have, lying, whining and just plain went home for the holidays, I would have been fired.
If any of us worked like they do, we would would be out of a job, no workers comp either.
They work less hours then we do, do less work and get great health benefits.
Who else do you know who gets to vote for their own raises?
BumRushDaShow
(165,035 posts)Hello? We went over the "cliff". And we're still over the cliff.
There is no law that is in effect at the moment. Not until the House passes (unamended) the bill that the Senate voted on 2 hours after the Bush cuts expired (sending us over the cliff) and the President signs it. If the House refuses to vote on it or amends it to the point where the Senate rejects it when it comes back to them to vote on again, then we will still be "over the cliff". AND if no action happens on it by Thursday when the next Congress is sworn in, then it's all moot and they would have to start all over.
I.e., I hope that we don't get into the same technical misinformation that we went through with the ACA where the dumbass media made it appear as if various versions of the Senate "bill" was THE final law and that was it, with no need to reconcile versions between the Senate and House nor any need for any other actions, etc. 
dotymed
(5,610 posts)Rational thinking flies out the window when you dis their fearless leader...Of course, I voted Obama, the lesser of two evils. We have to change our electoral process or keep getting raped. I guess it's my turn now...
99Forever
(14,524 posts)^^^^^^^^^^^That^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unfortunately, this is very hope that it will happen. It's just not the Third Way.
obamamyprez
(33 posts)is shockingly effective.
LibertyBell7
(22 posts)First — yes. Absolutely. This is no way to govern. More on this later.
Second, the cost to going over the cliff: Roughly 2 million unemployed would have had their relief checks cut off starting today. Though estimates I've seen vary quite a bit, and it wouldn't have pulled the drain plug all at once, that's something in the ballpark of $70,000,000 that would not be funneled into grocery stores and/or to utilities in one month. And people would have grown hungry or cold in that time.
That's a cost.
Back to the governance problem:
In shorthand, I call all Rethugs and Blue Dog DINOs Corporazis, and they are economic terrorists intent on destroying democracy. They are waging war against our methods of governance and, until we who are not Corporazis recognize their intent (waging war), we cannot prevail. You have to name a thing before you can gain control over it.
From a past voice, we hear this perspective:
“We can either have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.”
–Louis Brandeis
U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1856-1941)
Military leaders tell us, "You don't negotiate with terrorists." And until these Corporazis are labeled by their tactics — including that they are systematically pulling apart our democratic republic (everything from making congress and the courts into dysfunctional messes on the federal level to voter suppression in the states) — we will be unable to staunch the bleeding wounds they are inflicting and turn the tide.
It's time to choose the red or the blue pill, to choose to wake up in the Matrix of their making and fight back, or continue to slumber until they have completed creating America, Inc., where corporate rights trump those of We The People every time.
bowens43
(16,064 posts)We got another shitty temporary (except for the wealthy who make between 250,000-and 400,000, they got a permanent tax break) deal because Obama once again caved in to the cons. All he had do was do nothing. He then would have been in a very strong bargaining position. Now he has nothing and in two months the cons are going to destroy him in negotiations.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)you apparently have no problem with. You must hate the President intensely to come up with some of the crap that slap on this forum wall.
Someone posted this on GD a couple of days ago and I copied it to use, but you may want to take a good look before you lob more shitballs in the room:
House Bills passed:
46 Bills on Abortion
113 Bills on Religion
73 Bills on Family Relationships
36 Bills on Marriage
72 Bills on Firearms
604 Bills on Taxation
437 Bills on Govt Investigations
Bills attempted and failed to be passed even by the GOP:
33 attempts to Defund Obamacare.....Failed
15 attempts to Cut Funding for Planned Parenthood......Failed
3 Attempts to Cut Funding for VA Hospitals.......Failed.
GOP blocked bills:
Blocked bill to aid Small Business
Blocked Unemployment extension
Blocked Bank Reform Bills
Blocked Campaign Finance Reform and open Contributions Law
Blocked MULTIPLE Jobs Bills
Blocked Infrastructure Bill
Blocked Ending Tax Breaks for companies that Outsource Jobs
Blocked Wall Street Reform
Blocked Energy Legislation
Blocked Mine Safety Bill
Blocked Oil Spill Liability Cap increase
Blocked Bill to lower Oil Company Tax Breaks
Blocked Bill to impose charging American Oil Companies on Oil achieved in the Gulf
Number of TRUE Jobs Bills even allowed to come to a vote in the House....NONE.
Cirque du So-What
(29,414 posts)In a blind attempt to smear the current Democratic administration by any & all means necessary, the OP is oblivious to the elephant in the room, which is the true source of governmental failure.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)We have a problem, and it's not a small one.
TDale313
(7,822 posts)
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)I can hardly give him credit for saving us from his own doing. Now, back to using chained CPI as a bargaining chip...
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Many of the Baggers represent very red districts where they have more to fear from an even more extremist primary challenger than from the rest of the American people. Thus they have no incentive to NOT do this shit.
MuseRider
(35,086 posts)I just wrote a long post but it was mostly ranting opinion, none of which anyone wants or needs to hear. In essence it was my little rant and opinion that agreed with you so there, all I need say is that I think you are correct and I agree. Done, that was easier for me and most definitely easier on all of you.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)how about a little pleasing over on this side for a change?
Skittles
(169,192 posts)Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)indepat
(20,899 posts)in both bad faith and contrary to the best interests of the country, especially when those acting in bad faith are, in reality, conscious-less terrorists also lacking basic humanity and decency. 