Our financial system is crumbling this week.

[Socnorb11]

I thought he did as well he could do today without coming off badly, though I agree he doesn't communicate well.

I didn't see him today. I was just talking in general terms.

[vinsanity]

Exactly. When it comes down to priorities for Repubs, no increased taxes trumps deficit reduction all day long, even when the Dems concede entitlement cuts.

For sure.

Obama just isn't effective at delivering this message with authority. Which is disappointing, because delivery was one thing that I considered a real strength for him when I voted for him.

Thirded.

When the tax cuts were up last December and the republicans refused to pass Unemployment extension unless everyone got a tax cut more people were crying 'Obama Tax Hikes' than 'GOP Protects Millionaires'. No one heard about the proposal to create a new bracket of $1M plus and raise taxes there only. If I'm Obama I'd been talking 24/7 about how the GOP is holding Unemployment and tax cuts for the bottom 98% hostage so they didn't have to pay an extra 3% on income over $250k.

Same now. How is he not pounding the GOP with 'You asked for 83% in cuts and no more than 15% in new taxes and you're rejecting my proposal cause it's 83:17'? If I'm Obama I make them come center. 70:20, 60:30. Then I'm gonna send everyone in my cabinet out to say "We gave them everything they asked for, but bumped their 'allowable' tax increases 2 points. They want the middle class and working class to pay for the corporate and wealthy tax benefits. Trumpet it loud from the roof tops. Tell everyone their benefits are being cut and their taxes will go up so that millionaires get a few grand more this year.

It's unprecedented how the GOP is holding the Debt Ceiling Hostage over the Budget. My (extremely basic) understanding is while the two are linked (if we run a surplus debt doesn't go up right?) they are not the same thing. Obama could give the GOP everything it wants, we could pass a balanced budget for next year...but we still have to raise the debt ceiling. We've already bought [expletive], we're just on a payment plan. Cause deficits don't matter...right Cheney?

[Jocephus]

i want barry to put his big black american (confirmed) balls on teh table and make the right kiss 'em. i can only hope he does that in a 2nd term.

[Socnorb11]

Exactly. When it comes down to priorities for Repubs, no increased taxes trumps deficit reduction all day long, even when the Dems concede entitlement cuts.

For sure.

Obama just isn't effective at delivering this message with authority. Which is disappointing, because delivery was one thing that I considered a real strength for him when I voted for him.

Thirded.

When the tax cuts were up last December and the republicans refused to pass Unemployment extension unless everyone got a tax cut more people were crying 'Obama Tax Hikes' than 'GOP Protects Millionaires'. No one heard about the proposal to create a new bracket of $1M plus and raise taxes there only. If I'm Obama I'd been talking 24/7 about how the GOP is holding Unemployment and tax cuts for the bottom 98% hostage so they didn't have to pay an extra 3% on income over $250k.

Same now. How is he not pounding the GOP with 'You asked for 83% in cuts and no more than 15% in new taxes and you're rejecting my proposal cause it's 83:17'? If I'm Obama I make them come center. 70:20, 60:30. Then I'm gonna send everyone in my cabinet out to say "We gave them everything they asked for, but bumped their 'allowable' tax increases 2 points. They want the middle class and working class to pay for the corporate and wealthy tax benefits. Trumpet it loud from the roof tops. Tell everyone their benefits are being cut and their taxes will go up so that millionaires get a few grand more this year.

I absolutely agree that the message isn't being trumpeted enough, but the GOP response is "tax increases for the rich is going to cause unemployment to skyrocket", which is bunk. The collapse of the economy started under Bush, with tax breaks to the rich in full force.

[vinsanity]

I absolutely agree that the message isn't being trumpeted enough, but the GOP response is "tax increases for the rich is going to cause unemployment to skyrocket", which is bunk. The collapse of the economy started under Bush, with tax breaks to the rich in full force.

Not that logic and reason work with these people but taxes were at a 25 year high under Clinton...one of the most prosperous periods in history.

If tax cuts for the rich create jobs, where have they been for the last 10 [expletive] years?

[Jocephus]

http://conceptualmath.org/philo/taxgrowth.htm

[Leroy]

Who's the second grader that put together that crap?

[longhornbaseball]

This is frightening.

[SHOW]

[docellis]

This is frightening.

[SHOW]

Will you explain that?

[docellis]

What if each nation redistributed their wealth - equally. Would the US be better off or worse?