Posted on 12/28/2012 5:14:01 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Cliff Deal Hinges on Senators White House Meeting Ends With Expressions of Cautious Optimism From Both Sides on Negotiations By JANET HOOK and CAROL E. LEE
WASHINGTON—The job of averting year-end tax increases and spending cuts landed squarely on the Senate, whose leaders said Friday they would launch a last-ditch weekend effort to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.
President Barack Obama met with all four congressional leaders in an hourlong meeting in the Oval Office to review an increasingly narrow range of options.
He later said he was "modestly optimistic" a deal could be reached, echoing comments from the top Democrat and Republican in the Senate.
"We had a good meeting down at the White House and we are engaged in discussions…in the hopes that we can come forward as early as Sunday" with a plan, said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.). "We'll be working hard to try to see if we can get there in the next 24 hours," he said, adding he was "hopeful and optimistic."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) agreed the meeting was "constructive." In a warning that seemed aimed at lawmakers in both parties, he said, "whatever we come up with is going to be imperfect."
Mr. Obama said Messrs. McConnell and Reid have the weekend to reach and pass a deal.
In a move meant to pressure Republicans, Mr. Obama asked Mr. Reid and House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) to bring up a bill to extend income-tax rates for income under $250,000 and unemployment-insurance benefits if Senate leaders can't reach an agreement. "The hour for immediate action is here, it is now," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
A fatal mistake by Boner. If the House never passes a bill, the Senate has no chance to amend it, as they surely will. As soon as that happens and the amended bill is sent back to the House, watch the RINOs and the rest of the do nothing republicans cave.
The KEY to this process of caving under cover, is the initial House passage of a bill. Game, set, match again. Republicans continue their historic losing streak.
Good for Boehner for going home and staying there
Pelosi looked like a drunk, dazed when she walked out the WH yesterday, I swear she is suffering from dementia
Yet the economy of the US rests in the hands of her and Harry Reid and the petulant emotional-age 14-yr old potus
Looks like the facedown comes on Sunday night
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/27/16194242-boehner-calls-house-back-to-washington-on-sunday?lite
what a goat rope. this is our great nation?
Boehner was trying but getting no cooperation from Reed OR Zero. I think he did the right thing, demonstrating that his caucus wasn’t going to rubberstamp the Dems wishlist. Then heading home.
I am sensing a capitulation from the left on this issue in the last few days...I think Zero knows that if we hit the cliff the economy will suffer on his watch and no blaming it on Bush this time.
I think Zero blinked...
I just think a headline in the Wall St Journal that says “Cliff Deal Hinges on Senators” is both truthful, and great news for the Speaker. The Senate should have been the battleground all along.
Because the Senate RATs can take any House initiated appropriations bill and strip out all the language, maybe change the title, and make it say whatever they want.
Of course the House can then either approve it (recede and concur) or restore the original bill (insist)
The rot at the top of America is appalling and disgusting. ALL of them should be put in prison for a long, long time for what they are doing to America.
WRONG!
The RAT label, guarantees either a social democrat or a national socialist, never a Constitutional conservative.
The GOP rep might just be a redneck (TEApublican)
There are more than 50 "third parties"
You do some research.
Sorry- regardless of label, govt gets bigger, more intrusive and the country becomes more socialist. Good luck in the republican plantation, where you are a vote to be earned by saying certain things-a curiosity to be made fun of.
Well, I guess you might as well just kill yourself then.
Sorry, I’m off your plantation and free. Life’s great as a free man. Despair is for plantation conservatives to struggle with.
There are lots and lots and LOTS of 3rd party's, but hardly anyone will ever vote for them because they are smart enough to want their vote to actually matter. This isn't new either, it goes right back to the beginning when the founders, intentionally or not, effectively created a 2 party framework.
By creating a winner take all system with no chance of coalition government, there is simply no room for competitive 3rd party's. Even in parliamentary systems 3rd party's often struggle to remain relevant. In our system they are squeezed out from the get go.
The ‘lesser of two evils’ BS still doesn’t fly for the more open minded around here. Say howdy to the GOPe plantation bosses for me; but they sure as shit ain’t doing anyone any favors these days.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We hear this every election cycle and the result is the same. Plenty of 3rd party's exist, and all fail. The only thing a 3rd party can do is occasionally play spoiler in contests where the 2 real competitive party's are extremely close.
General elections in a 2 party system are not an affirmative endorsement of any candidate or party, they are simply a choice between the only 2 options that can win.
No you're not, you are just taking the easy way out. Anyone can drop out of the political system and contribute nothing. You are just taking the lazy, selfish approach.
We have a 2 party system and have from the beginning. We can all wail and moan about it, but it is what it is. Perhaps the founders made a mistake, I would personally prefer the ability to form coalition governments so I could belong to a real, conservative party - but that isn't the system we have. Once in hundreds of years a major party imploded, but was simply immediately replaced by another which became the 2nd leg of our two party system. You can shake your fist, shout and cry, waste your vote on 3rd party's that won't amount to anything, write in people you like, etc, and the only thing you accomplish is deny a vote to the more right of center of the 2 main party candidates (meaning you make it easier for the Democrat to win).
“The R version differs only on how fast it wants to travel to the same destination.”
I’d rather hit the ground at 4mph than 100mph.
Absolutely, I’m taking the self interested approach. Total pursuit of freedom. No apologies or regrets.
I chewed through my leash and I’m no longer on your plantation, nor voting like a moderate. Instead, I vote for conservatives and pursue freedom. Nothing about your name-calling or commands to get back to my place on your plantation resonates. Next you’ll be calling me an Uncle Tom! Good luck in your slavery.
I see your “two party system” is working for you soo very well...
Oh, we’re getting ready to crash and burn, thanks to both parties.
Your choice of 4 vs 100 is an illusion.
I’m ready to crash and reset.
Getting mad at me won't help you. The founders created this winner take all, 2 party system with no chance of coalition government. If I could change the system I probably would, but I don't have the power to whip up a constitutional convention and demand some new form of electoral system.
Dropping out of the system and letting others do the hard work isn't impressing anyone. There are those that do it every election cycle and they've never achieved a thing. Heck even Ron Paul and his loopy followers figured out 3rd party's have no chance to succeed here, which is why they are back in the GOP tent. Good grief, even the wacky LaRouchies know this and run as Democrats because of it.
Constitution? We don't need no stinkin Constitution /s
People still aren't buying what you are selling.
GOP=Whigs=dodo bird or passenger pigeon.
/johnny
You’re just making stuff up.
What “parties” did the Founders envision?
Seems I recall our first President being very concerned about factionalism and taking steps to crush it.
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