Democratic aide: Fiscal 'cliff' deal reached

AP ^ | December 31, 2012 9:03 PM EST | By DAVID ESPO

[bd476]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic aide says the White House and congressional Republicans have reached an agreement to avert the so-called fiscal cliff.

The measure would extend Bush-era tax cuts for family incomes below $450,000 and briefly avert across-the-board spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon and domestic agencies this week.

[Democrat_media]

call GOP Congressmen , tell them not to vote for this nor any deal , go over the news media’s stupid cliff(which is not a cliff):

Congress switchboard number: (202) 224-3121.

[bd476]

I wonder why the Democrats are leaking it now through an anonymous spokesman rather than officially announcing it.

[VictoryGal]

...and like good little sheep, the GOPe will fall for it.

I’m calling my congresspeople but my hopes are not high.

[John W]

Probably because it’s a lie.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

DOA.

Let Ubama drive us over the imaginary "fiscal cliff."

Let him own it.

[Arm_Bears]

If true, and the Republicans have shafted those with incomes above $450,000.00, they are dead as a party.

[Theoria]

Cuts?

[tennmountainman]

You might want to think about calling RATs too.
Because that is who will carry this bill over the finish line.
Yep. Rinos and Rats.

[bd476]

That’s a good idea, except if the deal is already done.
They might be leaking this now to increase the pressure.

[ClearCase_guy]

briefly avert across-the-board spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon and domestic agencies this week.

So, now they will hit the week after next?

[tet68]

Cause that’s how they officially announce everything.

[bmwcyle]

Phony cliff, phony deal.

[tet68]

Then too the President probably already has his
jammies on and is ready for bed.

[gusopol3]

It’s the liberal Dems that are upset with the deal and holding it up. The Obama cheerleaders on CNN don’t know what to make of a Commie Senator from Oregon who’d rather go over the cliff than accept this deal.

[TSgt]

I’m not in that income arena however I know doctors who are and who will cut back on services and hours to avoid getting tax raped.

[AppyPappy]

Me: We don’t make over $450k, do we?
Wife: No but the man I passed up to marry you makes that much.
Me: (stares at her across the room)

[RKBA Democrat]

“Yep. Rinos and Rats.”

Is there a difference?

[Democrat_media]

“If true, and the Republicans have shafted those with incomes above $450,000.00, they are dead as a party.”

That was the media’s plan.

Since the election the news media has been blasting this “fiscal cliff” BS all over in a massive propaganda campaign. It’s all to get Republicans to agree to raise taxes. THEN the media/democrats can tell conservative voters “see Republicans raised taxes” so then conservatives give up on GOP and then the Democrats take the House and then pass Amnesty , gun control etc.

this “fiscal cliff” is all a media fabrication , a plan to destroy the GOP ( oppossition to democrats).

The media/democrats did this to Bush 1 “read my lips no new taxes”.

[AppyPappy]

Most of the Dr’s I know make less than $300k taxable income because they shelter income.

[bd476]

Of course but there’s always hope that they’ll change ... in the next century... or two. ;)

[Democrat_media]

The Vote in Congress hasn’t happened yet though. That’s what matters. the deal means nothing.

[bd476]

At this point it’s difficult to figure out what their plan is. New Year’s Eve when most are getting ready to enjoy a night of celebration and not watching the news... sounds like the Democratic aide got his marching orders from BHO with the blanks filled in while people are watching football tomorrow.

[God luvs America]

a deal was reached with the congressional Republicans and the ayatollah?? i thought congress was adjourned until tomorrow at 1PM?

[Red Steel]

Cuts?

Right, spending cuts?

[bd476]

ROFLOL! Thanks AppyPappy for my first big laugh of the day.
I seriously needed it. :)

[Cementjungle]

So, this “deal” won’t even pay for the added year of unemployment payments they’re tossing in there... and we’re hitting the debt limit today.... how the heck are we paying for this wonderful “deal”?

[tennmountainman]

None. They are apart of what I like to call The DC Party
or The Federal Party...the party of big spending and no REAL cuts.
Can’t wait to see the Rinos that form a coalition with the Rats to pass
this in the House.
I am certain u won’t hear the GOP leadership threatening committee
assignments or chairmanships to these Rinos who vote for this sham.
Instead, they will strong arm many conservatives.
What a farce.

[SERKIT]

Those evil bosses of small businesses will pay more.
This will trigger more jobs lost.
A double-dip recession is in the wings.
This 'victory' will set the stage for a fight on debt limits, which Barry will also win.
This will allow Barry, Gibbs, and Axeldouche to put the final coffin nails in the Republican Party.

Next up: Conversion of the country to full-blown, central-management Marxism.

[bd476]

I hear ya.

[tennmountainman]

Get real. Bonehead will provide some Rino’s.
Pelosi will provide the rest.
Done deal.
It should be called the Rino/Rat Bill.

[bd476]

Good question but I doubt they have an answer...

...that we're going to like

[Kennard]

The deal:

(1) Dems get permanent higher taxes, but only over $450k, a higher threshold than they wanted; and

(2) expense reductions get put off until the debt ceiling negotiation in two or three months.

So the Reps preserve their leverage, on expenses, but hand over a partial win to the Dems now on taxes.

The problem with this is that the Dems can demagogue this all Winter, backed by the media, weakening the Reps prior to the debt ceiling battle.

It is probably better to go back to the Clinton rates and suffer two years until a new Congress might be able to override Obama. That would take courage, sacrifice and a different Speaker to take the battle to the Dems.

This will come down to whether the Tea Party caucus can stymie this deal or whether the House Dems and Rino Reps can form an unholy alliance to pass the deal. If the latter occurs, then look forward to a Speaker Pelosi in 2014.

[Yaelle]

I used to say that the best way to make millions is to have been dumped by me.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Was watching Fox Business Network and a GOP “Aide” has said “This deal is done” Oh goodie..higher taxes AND no spending cuts..just what Obama wanted..the GOP once again bends over and kisses Obama’s smelly behind

[tennmountainman]

So, this “deal” won’t even pay for the added year of unemployment payments they’re tossing in there... and we’re hitting the debt limit today.... how the heck are we paying for this wonderful “deal”?

We will continue to borrow 46 cents out of every dollar we spend.

[rdl6989]

The cliff is pushed back two months.

[Happy Rain]

Gonna have to pass without the House TEA Party caucus.

That means the RINOs and Dems will own it if it passes and at the least, the RINOs will pay for it in the 2014 primaries.

[tennmountainman]

An unholy alliance between Rats and Rinos.

[Democrat_media]

the Republicans in the House aren’t even there to do your deal, Tokyo rose, they are home right now

[fatnotlazy]

Calling my congressman is a waste of time. He told me that Obamacare was going to be wonderful...even though he like the others didn't read the bill before it was passed.

I'm sure if his party's leaders tell him to, he will vote for this deal. He doesn't wipe his butt without instruction from his party leadership.

[Ciexyz]

Does it include a cost of living increase for Social Security recipients and federal and postal retirees, configured the same way as before, meaning no monkeying with the formula so as to deliberately decrease the COLA - please provide details when known.

[tennmountainman]

So why did u post a Capital Telephone number to call GOP Congresscritters
If they are all home. What was that about?

[SkyPilot]

and briefly avert across-the-board spending cuts set to strike the Pentagon

Great. So now, we get to go through all of this AGAIN in a very short time.

Thanks GOP! What a great political party!

Now that the GOP has given Bath House Barry (who clearly demonstrated what a street punk he really is today) and the Democrats 85% of what they wanted (higher taxes, $200 Billion for the perpetually "unemployed", tuition tax credits for Obama's perpetual "students", etc - the GOP is left with very little leverage. The debt ceiling debate will be more of the same, and they will cave, because they have proven 100% incapable of reforming what is really breaking the back of this nation - ENTITLEMENTS.

67% of the Federal dollars spent direct payments in the form of Entitlements. And it is getting worse by the day.

It looks like in just days or weeks we will now have to endure Sequestration, because it cannot be stopped.

The DoD will have to cut Operations and Maintenance much, much more than the 9.4%. They cannot touch troop strength (Obama will cut that soon and pay no political price for it anyway), so they will cut O&M, probably by 25% or greater. That will devastate the military.

And it won't stop there.

10 Devastating Sequestration Cuts That People Are Afraid Will Happen Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/10-devastating-sequestration-cuts-that-people-are-afraid-will-happen-2012-12?op=1#ixzz2GgfCoA9H

"The military is already contending with a $487 billion cut over the next ten years as a result of existing budget cuts. Since the existing funds for the war and military pay are exempt, the remainder of military funding will take a harder hit as well. The sequestration would lead to an additional $55 billion cut from the military over nine years, and some analysts think this could national defense to the bone. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, says that the cuts will leave the armed forces “hollowed-out”.

Every military contract may need to be completely renegotiated

Small, local contractors could be forced out of business

The entire defense industry could be thrown into chaos

Massive rises in unemployment in a number of states

"Several states have an abnormally high proportion of employees who work for the government. As a result of sequestration, there will be firings, furloughs and hiring freezes in many agencies, depending on how each individual agency may decide to implement different cuts. Here are the five states that may be hit the hardest as a result of their high levels of federal government employment:

Maryland
Virginia
Washington
California
Arizona

And here is the best part! The cost of delaying the Sequester for the next 2 years is less than the cost of extending "unemployment" benefits to the layabouts, but the Sequester is going to take place but the "benefits" to the lazy 99ers is already agreed to! Isn't that great!!!

We don't need enemies with "friends" like this.

[God luvs America]

where’s Rand Paul on this??

[soycd]

>Then too the President probably already has his jammies on and is ready for bed.

I’d bet real money that after the wookie’s kids go to bed he will be tooling around with one of his buddies while the wookie gets all sweaty with some serious Shaft.

[Democrat_media]

you can still call tomorrow, or tonight and leave a message.

the House is not even there ,they adjourned , so they haven't agreed to any deal

[xkaydet65]

I’d say let Obama own it, but there is no way the media would allow that. The GOP and conservatives will be pilloried if they allow the country to go over. That’s just reality.

[jeltz25]

so, just to be clear, this deal has no impact on raising the debt ceiling, and that will be whole nother separate issue in a couple months?