Posted on 12/12/2012 3:51:06 PM PST by drewh
Despite what looked like recent signs of progress on a deal to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff," House Speaker John Boehner signaled today that Republicans and Democrats remain as far apart as ever in the negotiating process -- and is warning his fellow lawmakers that they might have to work through the Christmas holidays.
In a meeting with the House Republican Conference this morning, Boehner told members not to make plans for Christmas, CBS News has learned, and members leaving the meeting said there were no indications from Boehner's remarks that any real progress has been made between the two chief negotiators involved in the process: Boehner and President Obama.
Meanwhile, new information out of the White House suggests that Boehner continues to seek a permanent extension of all the Bush-era tax rates, even while the Obama administration insists that it will not accept such a deal.
According to two senior White House officials, the telephone conversation between Mr. Obama and Boehner was very tense, as Boehner continued to ask for a permanent extension of all the Bush income tax rates. According to the officials, Mr. Obama dismissed that position as unacceptable and said he would put forth no counter-proposal until Boehner and House Republicans relented to increase income tax rates on households earning more than $250,000. The next 48 hours, according to the officials, will be critical to the negotiations: If Republicans agree to higher income tax rates, other issues can be discussed -- including entitlement reforms. But they say they will not entertain any such consideration until Boehner has conceded the point on higher rates.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
He thinks that’s leadership.
Of course a deal involves compromise. The question is how much.
If the WH agreed to substantial entitlement reforms, for example, (and that's a big IF) would we really insist on zero tax hikes (whether through closing loopholes or higher rates)? Why would we think we would ever get such a thing if their side was willing to touch one of their holy grails?
Boner has already compromised by offering up $800 billion in increased taxes and Obama has not offered any spending cuts and also upped his tax increase to $1.6 trillion. What compromises have Obama made?
No way most of these guys are going to work over Christmas -they’d sign the entire country over before that happens.
House to Boehner: “Don’t make any after Christmas plans.”
All sorts of people work Christmas, nurses, firemen, doctors, police.
So they work the holiday. They should!
SO WHAT!
But my question is...would people be willing to allow a tax rate hike, for example, if the WH raised the Medicare eligibility age to 67 and other real entitlement reform?
Why would we think we would ever get such a thing if their side was willing to touch one of their holy grails?
And what makes you think their side would EVER touch one
of their holy grails?
Oh they’ll talk about it happening “later” maybe “next year”
“eventually” but it WILL NEVER HAPPEN!
if the republicans cave and agree to pass a tax rate increase and...
if three years from now the deficits are still huge (hint, they will be) and the democrats want to raise the top marginal rate to 44%
what are the republicans going to say ? no, we are philosophically opposed to tax increases?
if they willingly concede on this they have lost the tax issue for a generation
Boner should have also said that:
“If the president really cares about America falling off the financial cliff he will delay his Hawaiian Christmas vacation until after the budget passed.
As the president he sets the country’s priorities, if partying in Hawaii is more important to him than America’s financial ruin, he can make that known simply by leaving Washington at this critical moment.
We trust that he will stick around here where his sage leadership and guidance are essential to avoid pushing grandma over a cliff...”
Few things enrage liberal government bureaucrats more than telling them they have to cancel their vacations for work. Obama will be out of control hysterical if he’s not allowed to go to Hawaii with Reggie.
Go HOME, Republicans! Let the gridlock begin! Obama/Boehner are neither holders of ‘divine right’, so do as We The People expect of you!! If Boehner wants to play ball with ‘the boy-king’, let him do it all by himself, in the cavernous silence of an empty chamber!
I have seen this one before. The GOP always backs down a lot quicker when their Christmas vacation is at stake.
Precisely.
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