Posted on 11/29/2012 9:25:46 AM PST by SkyPilot
Listen to top Democrats and Republicans talk on camera, and it sounds like they could not be further apart on a year-end tax-and-spending deal — a down payment on a $4 trillion grand bargain.
But behind the scenes, top officials who have been involved in the talks for many months say the contours of a deal — including the size of tax hikes and spending cuts it will most likely contain — are starting to take shape.
Cut through the fog, and here’s what to expect: Taxes will go up just shy of $1.2 trillion — the middle ground of what President Barack Obama wants and what Republicans say they could stomach. Entitlement programs, mainly Medicare, will be cut by no less than $400 billion — and perhaps a lot more, to get Republicans to swallow those tax hikes. There will be at least $1.2 trillion in spending cuts and “war savings.” And any final deal will come not by a group effort but in a private deal between two men: Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). The two men had a 30-minute phone conversation Wednesday night — but the private lines of communications remain very much open.
No doubt, there will be lots of huffing and puffing before any deal can be had. And, no doubt, Obama and Congress could easily botch any or all three of the white-knuckle moments soon to hit this town: the automatic spending cuts and expiration of the Bush tax cuts, both of which kick in at the end of this year, and the federal debt limit that hits early next.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Besides the tax part of the 'fiscal cliff' equation (massive tax increases) that is almost here, the sequestration cuts to DoD, hospitals, and other parts of the economy will eliminate about 1.5 million real jobs almost overnight. The economy will sink even lower than it is, and sink fast. It may sink no matter what Obama and Boehner do.
However, even though the Democrats are arrogant as hell right now, thinking that no laws of economics, gravity, morality, or God apply to them - the Debt Ceiling is going to expire even sooner than Geitner thought. With tricks and lies, DC can probably keep the smoke and mirrors show in place until mid-Feb, early March at the latest. Then.....we are back to square one. Obama will threaten Social Security recipents of not getting their direct deposit checks....just like he did last time. THEN, and only then, will millions of Americans wake up. I believe a Faustian bargain will be reached before that, but let's face facts: our entire government is more dysfunctional than a Lindsey Lohan rehab skit.
The one glaring part of this article to me is the picture of Boehner. I am sorry, but he is hung over or drunk. Period. Look at him.
There are no spending cuts under this deal. Promised cuts “down the road” will never materialize and wouldn’t even skim the top off the rate of growth. The tax hikes will be immediate of course.
This is just insane.
Deny Obama his Participation Trophy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2963936/posts
Hey, why not just put off the entitlement reform for 1,000 years? By "reform" - the Democrats will (on paper) agree to screwing more successful Americans out of Medicare for now. Forget talks of reigning in EBT, unemployment checks, welfare either. Won't happen. The "takers" of society win again.
Military veterans will get screwed though - TRICARE is going to take a huge hit.
Social security reform looks to be off the table, for now. But even if it was included in the "deal", any reform will be kicked down the road (10, 20 years), which means it is all a lie anyway.
Everyone has an opinion on the grand bargain. But only two matter: Obama’s and Boehner’s. Any deal will ultimately be hammered out between the two men, whose on-again, off-again relationship is stronger than most people realize. Bluster aside, both know they have a heavy incentive to cut a deal, and quick. Boehner knows the president isn’t bluffing on letting the Bush tax cuts lapse to get his way on raising rates on the rich. Obama knows the last thing he wants at the start of a second term is an economic funk caused by Washington dysfunction, even if Republicans get more of the blame.
Bath house Barry and the Drunk Crier. Great leadership.
From the article (which really has some incredible details given by someone with "deep backgroud" on the negotiations), it appears Paul Ryan is balking at this farce. But, Ryan is already neutered because Cantor will make the deal with or without him.
Bath house Barry does not want his January Corination marred by a budget fiasco. He wants rose petals thrown into the cold winter sky, as they raise the golden crown on his head. Moochelle and her fat Momma in Law want to race off to Hawaii, but they won't care if the economy tanks,, hundreds of thousands lost their jobs, or taxes go through the roof in early January - - just as long as the executive jet leaves Andrew Air Force Base for Hickham Air Force Base and there is plenty of free food on board.
Obama sure likes touching people. I find that behavior very creepy. I wonder if he likes touching little boys?
His right hand was shaking so bad he had to hold it down with his other hand.
Maybe POLITICO isn’t just a Dem shill machine,
maybe it’s a medical device to help conservatives with low blood pressures.
Nah, it’s just a Dem shill machine.
Private deal, huh. Sounds like the same kind of rubber-stamping that Boehner rammed down the Republican Caucus’ throat in December 2011, while most of the members were away.
IMNSVHO, the FBI file on this creep is enought to hold him hostage to anything ...anything ... the Marxist Mombasa MF wants.
*Quite the ladies man, too! Charmingly corrupt and oh-so-social butterfly.
"BURRRRRP!!"
“(Boehner looks hungover in picture)”
He hasn’t stopped drinking yet.
I didn’t read the article, but it looks like the Kenyan is telling a lie, something that cry baby is going to do, and the cry baby is saying (hands closed) I’m stuck. I’ll do what he says.
Body language is huge.
Are these supposed to be quotes from some article?
If so, please provide the SOURCE.
What's your point?
I thought maybe he was holding it down so it didn’t slap the ONE, but then I remembered it was Beener’s hand. He looks like he is about to bust out laughing. Maybe BS had just called him his good friend.
That picture infuriates me. Boehner is a grinning a-hole traitor.
See, Koolaid guuuuuuuuuuuud!
The sickest, most dangerous POS in power in Washington..ever.
Resist, refuse, obstruct, like the freedom fighters in wars past. See how creative you can be. This MUST be our motto.
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