Obama’s second-term agenda will be shadowed by budget woes

The Washington Post ^ | 8 Dec 12 | Peter Wallsten and Zachary A. Goldfarb

[SkyPilot]

Even if President Obama succeeds in getting Republicans to agree to tax hikes on the wealthy as part of a “fiscal cliff” deal, the country’s grim budget realities will still cast a long shadow — limiting his ambitions as he begins plotting a second-term agenda.

Any agreement is likely to result in less than the $1.6 trillion in new taxes over the next decade that Obama requested in his initial offer to House Republicans, and White House aides are signaling to allies that any new money from taxes would be used almost entirely for deficit reduction — not for ambitious, new spending programs or government expansions.

Where Obama entered office four years ago planning to seize a moment of economic crisis as an opportunity for transformational policies such as the $800 billion stimulus and his health care overhaul, he begins his second four years with few, if any, similarly expansive or costly prospects.

Instead, any new spending programs will, by necessity, be small and narrow in scope: repairs to roads and bridges, airport renovations and other infrastructure upgrades, for example, or modest grants to help blighted city neighborhoods.

Allies expect Obama to harness the combined political capital of his reelection and the outcome of the tax fight for an aggressive push to legalize millions of illegal immigrants in what could be a signature domestic achievement.

But beyond that, the second-term agenda remains shrouded in uncertainty, with questions about whether he would pursue other politically charged issues such as climate change or voting rights.

How high Obama can aim will depend at least in part on the details of whatever deal he manages to strike in the coming weeks with House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio).

Democrats say breaking GOP orthodoxy on taxes would be a game-changing moment...

[SkyPilot]

The Republicans are negotiating from weakness. They agreed to Sequestration, and the terrible idea of a "Super Committee" chaired by Sen Murry and Kerry (yeah...that was going work). Now, the nation is stuck with tax brutal tax hikes while the Pentagon (which is 17% of the budget) takes 50% of the Sequestration cuts while entitlements are not only protected by expanded exponentially.

The only "good" news out of all of this there may be some restraint on Bath House Barry's rapid march to Communism in Amerika - however, the horrible economic collapse we may experience may even accelerate us to the gallows of tyranny.

Pelosi will go down in history as the most spend thrift, irresponsible Speaker of the House in American history. At one point during August 2011 when Congress was not even in session, she was holding votes to "give" $40,000,000,000 away to localities and teachers unions so they would not cut jobs or salaries. It passed, and Bath House Barry gleefully signed it. That "give away" was in a single afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

There are things that have be dealt with now if our nation will survive:

1. Entitlements

2. Entitlements

3. Entitlements

The Federal Government has become a giant ATM machine to most Americans - 70% of all the money spent is now in direct transfer payments in the form of entitlements (and yes, that includes your Social Security and Medicare) as well as Medicaid, Unemployment checks, Food Stamps, AFDC, and all the other programs.

Now, the Democrats (fresh from their stolen election) are emboldened - and want more unemployment checks, forgiveness of student loans, and let's not even discuss what ObamaCare will do to us.

Our nation MUST pray to God for mercy and grace. It is the only hope we have.

[no-to-illegals]

SkyPilot, my prayer is you will not be offended by what am going to type, FRiend. Wish there was a prayer that would work but see none other than may God’s Will Be Done. Our nation had a Great Run. May America rise from the ashes Lord! In Jesus Name ... Amen ... Amen.

[Teacher317]

Obama’s second-term agenda will be shadowed by budget woes

OF HIS OWN MAKING

(convenient how the MSM leaves out that salient point.)

[unixfox]

His second term won’t be overshadowed by ANYTHING!

He doesn’t care! Get it?

[DuncanWaring]

From the perspective of The Won, the only budget woe will be how to spend us into oblivion without making it look like he’s intentionally spending us into oblivion.

[hal ogen]

nobama has wasted more money than ALL prior Presidents. Cry me a river that this might impede his style. What a feckless miscreant.

[SkyPilot]

Not offended at all! His name is the only name by which we lift up your prayer. Jesus, have mercy on our nation, and upon us.

[palmer]

The Republicans are negotiating from weakness. They agreed to Sequestration, and the terrible idea of a "Super Committee" chaired by Sen Murry and Kerry (yeah...that was going work). Now, the nation is stuck with tax brutal tax hikes while the Pentagon (which is 17% of the budget) takes 50% of the Sequestration cuts while entitlements are not only protected by expanded exponentially.

A good point but the D senate is much more beholden to the defense industry than the R house.

The only "good" news out of all of this there may be some restraint on Bath House Barry's rapid march to Communism in Amerika - however, the horrible economic collapse we may experience may even accelerate us to the gallows of tyranny.

False dichotomy. Other alternatives are possible like a split of the R party and rise of a fiscal conservative party. Initially that will benefit D, but could save America in the long run.

[SkyPilot]

Yes, it is of his own making.

If you read mainstream media Democrats on the payroll of the Kremlin, you get stories like this one from ABC News, calling for even more spending on giveaway programs:

Worse, unless Congress drops the obstructionist approach, this second cliff is going to be hit soon, and the fallout will be epic. Five years ago, with the economy in a freefall, Congress passed a tax provision known as the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. Enacted as the housing market imploded, with millions of families suddenly on the verge of losing their homes to foreclosure, the law exempted homeowners from paying a tax on certain forms of debt relief. It allowed millions of Americans to keep their homes, and avoid economic ruin. Now, at a critical juncture in our economic recovery, that exemption is about to expire. The timing is atrocious; the stakes are incredibly high. But while the argument for extending it is a no-brainer, there's no telling when --- or even whether --- Congress will see how urgent this is and take appropriate action.

You want that nice house but don't want to pay the full mortgage? No problem - here's a few Billion! What? You have a Trillion in Student Loan debt? No problem! Here's a Trillion!

God help us all.

[SkyPilot]

False dichotomy. Other alternatives are possible like a split of the R party and rise of a fiscal conservative party. Initially that will benefit D, but could save America in the long run.

Not a chance. Taking our minority in the Senate and making it a smaller minority helps about as much as opening up a screen door in a canoe.

I empathize with you ideologically, but politically it is suicide.

Politics is all about numbers. Even the Socialist Nazis (when they were running for office in Germany in the 1920's and 1930's) understood this. It wasn't until they won more seats in the Reichstag that they flexed more muscle. Communists did the same thing in countries before they took absolute power. Right now, the Republicans (weak as they are) is the ONLY check on Obama becoming an absolute Dictator in the nation. That isn't hyperbole, it is fact. Via Judas Roberts, we have lost the courts. We don't have the FBI, Justice Dept, or CIA. The DoD is kept on a very short leash by the White House and Panetta. We don't have the Senate.

All we have is the House. To split that in two will wipe us out politically.

[palmer]

All we have is the House. To split that in two will wipe us out politically.

Yes, but rapidly. No pain no gain. Leaving the R as is will wipe us out slowly.

[Leep]

This is with out a doubt the strangest time in the history of western civilization.
The model that allowed us to excel in less than two centuries, like not other before us,is being rejected for the world model which is the one that opressed/suppressed 2/3 of the globe..?

[tumblindice]

Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Holy Jesus! What is that? What the f*** is that? WHAT IS THAT, PRIVATE OBAMA?" Private Obama: "Sir, that's a pile of multi-million dollar checks made out to foreign countries, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Multi-million dollar checks made out to foreign countries?" Private Obama: "Sir, yes, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "How did they get here?" Private Obama: "Sir, I took the money from the treasury, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Do we have that money in the treasury, Private Obama?" Private Obama: "Sir, no, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: (Examining a check) "This one here is for a billion dollars, so the .. Egyptians can buy a submarine. Are you planning on raising taxes on your fellow recruits, Private Obama?" Private Obama: "Sir, YES, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "And why, Private Obama?" Private Obama: "Sir, because we have too much money, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Because we're broke, Private Obama!" Private Obama: "Sir, yes, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Then why did you try to sneak multi-million dollar checks made out to foreign countries in your footlocker, Private Obama?" Private Obama: "Sir, because I'm a Marxist who hates my country, sir!" Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Because you're a Marxist ... [turns and addresses rest of platoon] Didn't your parents give you enough love when you were growing up, Private Obama?" Private Obama: "Sir, no sir." Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Private Obama has dishonored himself and dishonored the platoon. I have tried to help him. But I have failed. I have failed because YOU have not helped me. YOU people have not given Private Obama the proper motivation! So, from now on, whenever Private Obama f***s up, I will not punish him! I will punish all of YOU! And the way I see it ladies, you owe me for over 16 trillion jelly donuts! NOW GET ON YOUR FACES!" [half the recruits get in front-leaning-rest position, Hartman turns to Obama] Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "Open your mouth!" [shoves jelly doughnut into Obama's mouth] Gunnery Sergeant Hartman: "They're payin' for it; YOU eat it! Ready! Pay your taxes!"

[Hoodat]

Obama’s second-term agenda will be shadowed by budget woes

No, it won't. As long as the GOP House continues to raise the debt ceiling, there will be no budget woes. Obama is perfectly content to run up $1.5 trillion deficits to perpetuity since the money does not have to be borrowed from existing sources. Instead, the FED invents new money which they then give to the government to spend.

The only way to stop this, and I mean the ONLY way, is for the GOP House to refuse to raise the debt ceiling. Unfortunately, with John Boehner as Speaker, I don't see that ever happening.

[TADSLOS]

LOL! Excellent.

[GreenHornet]

Obama’s second-term agenda will be shadowed by budget woes

So what. The Republicans will get the blame.

[SkyPilot]

Leaving the R as is will wipe us out slowly.

Sadly, you have a point there.

[SkyPilot]

Very good!

It almost seemed like the speech God would give America (without the cursing of course).

[Tzimisce]

I guess we shouldn’t have signed a suicide pact with a bunch of guys who have a death wish....

[GeronL]

bump