General Discussion

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)

89. Here is what I would do.

Fri Dec 21, 2012, 09:47 AM

Dec 2012

Since the American people do not want SS and Medicare cut, and they clearly want the wealthy to pay higher taxes, I would make a very aggressive proposal, inclu lowering the Medicare age to 55, dropping the tax cuts for the wealthy, raising the capital gains rate to 30%, raising the SS cap, and cutting defense spending. When the Republicans had apoplexy and started crying, I would take it to the American people and make it crystal clear who was who. That's the position to start negotiating from. I would also tell Simmons and Bowles to go f themselves.

I dont understand what you mean by, "offer something the opposition negotiator isn't that interested in BUT HIS BASE FEARS?" Are you referring to offering to cut SS benefits?

No Democrat should offer to cut SS benefits.

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I think Obama has slowly been playing chess 8 steps ahead. Checkmate is very close. [View all] DonRedwood Dec 2012 OP

Everybody mocked him for playing 15 dimensional chess in repealing DADT bluestateguy Dec 2012 #1

I know! I was getting sort of mad and then.... DonRedwood Dec 2012 #8

As much as that phrase has been one of mocking, Obama's a pretty good chess player. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #23

"despair trolling". What a perfect description... SidDithers Dec 2012 #25

I ditto that! "Despair trolling". Tarheel_Dem Dec 2012 #39

Well, things are pretty dicey for some of us so "despair" is a highly marketable commodity even with patrice Dec 2012 #43

If the Democrats don't not just stop the attempted dismantling of our social safety nets, but, also Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #58

Indeed. Mocking despair is quintessentially corporatist and Third Way. woo me with science Dec 2012 #61

Pardon me, if I have difficulty trusting people who don't care about facts & engage in zero-sum patrice Dec 2012 #67

There are some things that could happen in health care if we stick together. I'm also hoping to see patrice Dec 2012 #62

If we lose unions, we're sunk. If they can survive, they can help with most of what I Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #74

Not everyone you meet is union friendly. They are in a very dicey position, with the downward patrice Dec 2012 #76

Unions gave people some good reasons to criticize them, and they've been demonized by focusing on Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #80

I completely agree. Really hoping to see unions get real creative on the issues, some of them patrice Dec 2012 #83

"co -operative, worker owned, profit sharing, business models." THIS to me is about the most Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #85

Glad to meet you Dark n Stormy Knight! & Very glad that we agree about this point! Good Knight! nt patrice Dec 2012 #86

Someone who can be proven to have stolen can be fired, union or not. merrily Dec 2012 #104

Good point. I always correct people who say "teacher's can't get fired," because, yes, they can. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #115

They have done a good job of making people hate the unions DonRedwood Dec 2012 #90

Blah. I live on SS and a small Veteran's pension. cliffordu Dec 2012 #72

I don't doubt that the president is very intelligent. I doubt that he rejects right wing Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #73

OK: Name ONE thing he's actually DONE to make your statement true: cliffordu Dec 2012 #75

He started with that no-strings TARP. Good enough for you? amandabeech Dec 2012 #81

Clearly the center has been dragged so far to the right, resulting in all sorts of bad policy, Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #84

SORRY BUT WHAT YOU JUST WROTE IS GIBBERISH cliffordu Dec 2012 #87

Gibberish?! I don't think that word means what you think it means. My point was clear. If you can't Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #117

Also, interesting you had no response to amandabeech at post #81, but decided to rudely SHOUT Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #118

selling your message and having FAUX lie constantly about your made up message are two different thi DonRedwood Dec 2012 #94

I don't expect him to correct every RW lie, I just don't want him being another voice in their Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2012 #116

Well, he wasn't a choice now, was he? That's like wishing George Washington was in charge in Afghan DonRedwood Dec 2012 #92

sort of like a pied piper....but he is leading all the rats of the cliff DonRedwood Dec 2012 #91

Check the home page. Morphed to rageful epitaphs. freshwest Dec 2012 #64

Lots of anger at the president DonRedwood Dec 2012 #93

I don't think that is the case. I think some people do not always bother to say they don't merrily Dec 2012 #105

Not how I remember it. merrily Dec 2012 #102

My recollection was correct: I just googled. Lieberman supported repeal. So did Susan Collins. merrily Dec 2012 #103

This is great theater. Obama has a rope. He just keeps feeding them what they ask for. Gregorian Dec 2012 #2

as they shutter congress and skulk out of town....tax cuts for the rich, gone. military spending-cut DonRedwood Dec 2012 #12

As I sit here watching Les Miserables, I feel such a glow; a thrill. Gregorian Dec 2012 #14

no glee...merely a battle victory before we start the next battle. DonRedwood Dec 2012 #34

No, they won't go away. Fireworks next year. freshwest Dec 2012 #65

i think i saw you in that thread....i just posted in it 'bout an hour ago BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #48

You're strong enough to say so, Blanche. Many aren't. But expect I hell from the new speaker. freshwest Dec 2012 #66

thanks fresh....yeah, I'm so sick of the common practice of refusing to admit one's weaker actions BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #109

I confess to being carried away at many times in my life, and it took decades to know the big pic. freshwest Dec 2012 #111

There's so much going on, even Rachel Maddow is wondering what happens next. Gregorian Dec 2012 #96

I'm glad to be in good company! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #110

Yes, sir ree Bob...nt. Stuart G Dec 2012 #3

Quite right. elleng Dec 2012 #4

Obama smarter & more aware than most cyberspirit Dec 2012 #5

Welcome to DU!! DonRedwood Dec 2012 #52

Thank you and welcome. freshwest Dec 2012 #68

And there is no surer bet than Republican ineptitude. Barack_America Dec 2012 #6

What is the brilliance of negotiating the shitty deal you already had? TheKentuckian Dec 2012 #59

Good post jaysunb Dec 2012 #7

yep. He's good at this stuff deafskeptic Dec 2012 #9

lol...yes. Welcome to Du! DonRedwood Dec 2012 #53

However, there are some hard realities.. humbled_opinion Dec 2012 #10

To be honest I wish we would split into three parties...or four DonRedwood Dec 2012 #54

Your Honesty is clearly humbled_opinion Dec 2012 #60

This is why I am prepared to give POTUS some latitude. iandhr Dec 2012 #11

Obama's famous "rope-a-dope." lindysalsagal Dec 2012 #13

Yes, it is a good post.. I like how your mind works..thanks, DonRedwood for the Cha Dec 2012 #15

God I hope you are right.. Riverman100 Dec 2012 #16

I'm hoping you get all that AND a big welcome to DU as well!! DonRedwood Dec 2012 #55

I believe he really wanted this deal. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #17

+1 DJ13 Dec 2012 #26

can you please explain why you think why Obama has spent his whole life to become president dionysus Dec 2012 #36

Not his whole life DJ13 Dec 2012 #47

Intellectual dishonesty. No one here has said Pres Obama is an evil man. No one has said he is rhett o rick Dec 2012 #56

I see those kinds of accusations frequently. People calling him a liar & enjoying it! NO ONE WANTS patrice Dec 2012 #78

Here is what I would do. rhett o rick Dec 2012 #89

All good stuff, except that when you're talking about Medicare, it is a mischaracterization to patrice Dec 2012 #97

And, btw, I think anti-Labor is the motive behind Everything = CPI, Anarchists hate Unions patrice Dec 2012 #99

+1 forestpath Dec 2012 #30

So do I HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #71

Yep, he actually offered to cut SS benefits, Doctor_J Dec 2012 #113

He's not a bad politician or a fool. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #114

Afraid you're right Slayer Doctor_J Dec 2012 #119

I'm with you. But as before, CakeGrrl Dec 2012 #18

People either don't understand how this stuff works or they do & they intend somekind of effect upon patrice Dec 2012 #46

Thanks Don sheshe2 Dec 2012 #19

"Please continue, Mr. Speaker" NT Tribalceltic Dec 2012 #20

He's one tough, smart, cool cat and he knows exactly what he's doing ailsagirl Dec 2012 #21

God! I hope you're right! I really do!!!! LongTomH Dec 2012 #22

K&R. byronius Dec 2012 #24

Yes, he is great at chess, but DonCoquixote Dec 2012 #27

If he is 8 steps ahead then a checkmate would entail making up the epic loss in 2010 Exultant Democracy Dec 2012 #28

I had a hunch that the handwringing Ilsa Dec 2012 #29

I hope so, I really really do! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2012 #31

He's playing chess: they're playing checkers. n/t MrModerate Dec 2012 #32

He's playing chess and littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #44

K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Dec 2012 #33

Chess game has always been a metaphor . . . caseymoz Dec 2012 #35

That's an important point & it explains why all of this is so intensely enervating. You can't really patrice Dec 2012 #49

I've felt this all along; they've had a plan and it's brilliant SaveAmerica Dec 2012 #37

I hope you'r right, We were sure pissed at him here last night. reverend_tim Dec 2012 #38

I think he's out thinking me. Lone_Star_Dem Dec 2012 #40

We STILL need to absolutely KICK ASS in 2014. I'm hoping with some younger new candidates!!! patrice Dec 2012 #41

Y'all certainly are volatile about the President BainsBane Dec 2012 #42

He has certainly facilitated the auto destruction of the republican party flamingdem Dec 2012 #45

I know this about President Obama and me - dmr Dec 2012 #50

Did you fear the ACA would include single payer or a public option? If so, he did prove merrily Dec 2012 #106

I've had a feeling something is up Skittles Dec 2012 #51

damn do i hope you are right! veganlush Dec 2012 #57

I'll believe it when I see it. Fearless Dec 2012 #63

I so hope you are right about this... HoosierRadical Dec 2012 #69

just as I figured hfojvt Dec 2012 #70

Not everyone is declaring victory. Pragmatists face what is going on. Some of us are just glad patrice Dec 2012 #77

I hope that you are right. PotatoChip Dec 2012 #79

Rec #87 lamp_shade Dec 2012 #82

Yup. I have been saying this all along. As has Al Sharpton, on MSNBC. graham4anything Dec 2012 #88

K & R Scurrilous Dec 2012 #95

Obama plays chess Bucky Dec 2012 #98

I really hope so. I really hope SS isn't cut. nt ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #100

"Don't ask don't tell" was not gone suddenly. merrily Dec 2012 #101

good luck with that bowens43 Dec 2012 #107

K&R closeupready Dec 2012 #108

Sorry. SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT ADD ONE NICKEL TO THE DEFICIT. Why grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #112