Posted on 12/23/2012 3:12:38 PM PST by Libloather
Sen. Barrasso: Obama sees a political victory in going over the cliff
By Alicia M. Cohn - 12/23/12 09:32 AM ET
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said Sunday he thinks President Obama wants to dive over the so-called "fiscal cliff."
"I believe the president is eager to go over the cliff for political purposes," Barrasso told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "He senses a political victory at the bottom of the cliff."
The senator also said he believes the nation will go over the cliff, with the deadline just nine days away.
Barrasso said he thinks Obama is eager to blame Republicans if Congress cannot reach a deal by the end of the year. Polls have indicated that Americans would blame Republicans more than Democrats if talks fail.
Barrasso also pointed to a report in the Wall Street Journal late last week that said during negotiations, Obama threatened Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) that he would use the presidential bully pulpit to heap blame on the GOP during his "State of the Union" speech next year.
With just nine days until current tax rates expire and automatic, across-the-board spending cuts kick in, Obama left Washington after urging congressional leaders to consider a scaled-back plan to extend some of the tax rates and delay the spending cuts. His plan would extend tax rates for those making less than $250,000 a year and allow them to rise for everyone else.
Barrasso expressed doubt on Sunday that Obama's plan, however, could pass the Senate, and on the same program, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) expressed his own reluctance over the Obama plan.
"It may come to that but we can do better and we should do better," said Conrad.
Boehner, before shutting down House business the week before Christmas, offered his own bill to extend some of the tax rates, in lieu of a broader deal. His plan, which would have extended rates for taxpayers making less than a million, was summarily rejected by the White House and could not win enough Republicans in the House to guarantee passage.
Conrad scoffed at Boehner's plan, which he said "had no prospect of succeeding."
But he suggested that Congress should "split the difference" between Obama's last offer and Boehner's last deficit proposal in order to reach a deal. He also rejected the suggestion that Obama wants to go over the "cliff."
Conrad and Barrasso also split over whether Obama needs to show more leadership in negotiations.
Boehner said last week that the House has done its job and Republicans offered all the concessions they can, but now it is up to the president and Senate Democrats to come up with a deal that achieves broad agreement.
"There are 535 of us here that can provide leadership," Conrad argued, referring to the members of Congress.
Big ears senses a political victory? What does the great economist Big eared barry sense will happen to the economy?
You have to remember Zero’s constituency is anti-Americans the world over.
It will break Americas economic back. That is his intent. Thus, his victory./ The destruction of the US of A.
We have been stealthed, and the video Agenda: Grinding America Down explains it all, connects the dots, dots the I’s and crosses the t’s.
Curtis Bowers did a excellent job! We just have to get it out there!
What's not to love?
However, I think even Obama's underlings are now realizing that it was all fun and games to see weeping Boehner squirm.........however, they know the cliff will put us in a real economic tailspin.
Don't listen to the media clueless who spout that the cliff is not real. They have been reading Barney Frank's blog too much. The cliff is real. About 2 million jobs may be lost, and the world's confidence in the US Dollar (what little is left), may be shattered.
Smart man, Barrasso—he’s exactly correct and all Republicans need to be shouting this from the roof tops.
I’d suggest that the GOPe practice saying “YOU LIE!”, as a group, in preparation for being the Greek Chorus at the SOTU.
I can’t believe that he has come right out and admitted that he is going to blame EVERYTHING on the Republicans during his big State of the Union Show and Extravagana! He should have a “gangham style” sign language “expert” in the bottom righthand corner of the picture. His Obamanids would love that.
What's his position on the XL pipeline? Does he represent the will of the peeps of ND?
By wiping out America, he is wiping out western man and their economies as America is the hub. Other nations will be affected too.
It really show that the pen is mightier than the sword.
Folks- we’ve been stealthed and he has the support of the unknowing majority “useful fools”.
It is pay back time for the stupid ba_terds that voted for
Zero... I say go over the cliff all taxes will go up the economy will stop growing if it is and everyone will be paying their fair share!!!! Automatic cuts will go into effect!!!
Anything that gets him closer to overwhelming the system.
Don’t think so. Remember, the economic situation ALWAYS is the fault of the president.
Going over the cliff is Zero’s dream. Clinton era tax rates and gut the military. Why would he try to stop it?
The question we all need to be asking the GOP is why did they agree to this disaster last year anyway.
Republicans should not be forced - pushed over it. They should happily jump and dare the Obamanation of Desolation to follow them.
Submit a budget with SURPLUS to the Senate to reach that start with a 50% pay cut for all Federal employees. Eliminate all non Constitutionally mandated government departments.
Take a stand, draw a line in the sand.
Embrace the cliff
Ah debt: too much is never enough!
After all, taxing and spending solves everything, just listen to the media.
I do think “going over the cliff” puts the Dems in a good position: they offer tax cuts for just the lower income rates and the media beats up the Reps until enough RINOs go along. Leaving the higher taxes on higher earners. Just the opposite of what should be done.
Bingo.
As for the state of the disunion show, the GOP should boycott. Otherwise, there will be a camera on the face of every pubbie to record their disgust, much like the way clapping was timed for Stalin at Communist Party Congresses.
I reject your concern about the cliff. First thing we’ll see is a drop in unemployment when the 99 weekers are dumped off unemployment insurance. Also government spending will drop. I say the cliff is good.
0bama is a student of the ‘Cloward/Piven’ strategy of collapsing our economy for reset as a National Socialist state. Anyone who doesn’t see him doing just that is blind. No limits to the debt is 0bama’s goal. Irreversible debt requires collapse.
0bama’s raising taxes on the wealthy generates enough revenue to run our gov’t for what, 8 lousy days? So then, why is 0bama so hot about raising taxes? To further burden the private sector (business owners) towards KILLING IT FOR GOOD. Hence, my FReep name.
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