Obama's "Grand Bargain" Delusion

[limpyhobbler]

29. They have an "8 weeks" theme going on...

http://www.aflcio.org/Get-Involved/Protect-Our-Future

Letting the Bush tax cuts expire on Dec 31 could be a good option.

Or, Obama and Boehner might try for a deal in the next 8 weeks.

Obama has made a public comment that the sequestration 'will not happen'. The deadline for that is Jan 2. So it seems they are trying to come up with a deal before Jan 2, 2013. (Is that the correct date?)

Also

Both sides have acknowledged the need to avoid the fiscal cliff — the tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect starting in January if Congress does not act and that will total nearly $700 billion next year alone...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/10/opinion/the-fiscal-cliff-opener.html

Pretty clearly if it's $700 billion in spending cuts next year alone that could have an effect on the economy, so there is some pressure to avoid it by coming up with a deal.

So I think the AFL-CIO and others are not necessarily wrong to focus on right now as the time to express our views to the Congress and the President.

There is also a good chance the President and Congress come up with a temporary deal and punt it down the field a few months.

I don't think anybody knows what is going to happen.

If people want their programs protected this is as good a time as any to speak out about it.

Clearly the President views cutting these programs as negotiable.