Krauthammer: Fiscal-Cliff Bill Represents ‘Rout’ for Democrats (Video at link)

NewsMax ^

[tsowellfan]

Democrats came out on top big-time in the fiscal-cliff bill approved by the House Tuesday, says conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer.

Congress agreed to increase taxes on individuals with annual income of $400,000 in exchange for little in the way of spending cuts.

“It’s a complete rout by the Democrats,” Krauthammer told Fox News. “Tonight is one of the low points that Republicans have had...

[Political Junkie Too]

The democrats voted with boner yesterday. They’ll vote for him for speaker if the votes are needed.

It doesn't work that way. The vote for Speaker is not a plurality vote. Boehner must get at least 218 votes to keep the Speakership. Democrats don't have that many votes.

All it will take is for 14 Republicans to vote "present" for Boehner to not reach 218.

If that happens, Boehner can strong-arm some more and take another vote, or he can step aside and let someone else come forward.

-PJ

[Go Gordon]

This budget deal with the Democrats is the beginning of the end for our Republic.

Not yet. We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Using the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip, the Republicans need to get substantial spending cuts starting this year. Absent achieving substantial ACTUAL cuts, not just promises to make cuts in the future, then you are correct - it will cause the party to lose a huge chunk of its support.

There were some positives that came out of the Bill they negotiated. Permanent tax breaks for 99% of wage earners; reasonable capital gains tax rates - also made permanent; etc.

[Darth Reardon]

Yeah, it seems everyone is overlooking the ‘permanent’ part. I think that’s a pretty big deal.

[Tublecane]

He should have spent the time he wasted going after Palin on Obama, and he and the rest are eternally guilty of letting the “historical” (i.e. half black) thing distract them and failing to adequately inform the public of Obama’s inexperience and leftism. But he wasn’t a cheerleaders. And his being inside the beltway is all the more reason to listen to him on how far Pubs bent over.

[peyton randolph]

Part of the pseudo-conservative candlight dinner love fest with Obama.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obamas-dinner-with-conser_n_157701.html

Here’s his “Cool Barry” column. Get out the kneepads.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100203043.html

Here’s another gem from 2010.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/255486/new-comeback-kid-charles-krauthammer#

[colorado tanker]

Obama took himself hostage and the Republicans caved.

[TADSLOS]

lol. True. Then went back to vacay in choomland...

[GOPsterinMA]

The GOP:

Kool-Aid tastes just great
I wish I had some lovely
Kool-Aid; I can’t wait

[sickoflibs]

Glad this nonsense is finally over, it was dragged out way too long

See #140 here

[BfloGuy]

Those don't cut it. They don't support what you claimed.

The fact that he attended the famous dinner says nothing more than that he accepted an invitation. As a pundit, why shouldn't he accept?

From the second link:

It worked for two reasons: Democrats believe that nonsense, and he was new. But now he needs more than Democrats. And novelty fades.

The piece was a critique of McCain's campaign. He thought Obama's campaign was well-run and that Obama did what he needed to do. No admiration of his policies at all.

The last link is the same theme. He said that Obama had made himself relevant again and explained why.

Krauthammer's observations [time after time after time] -- i.e., Obama has good political skills, but bad policies -- aren't in the least bit controversial and do not describe a fan of Obama. Simply someone who is capable of recognizing Obama's strengths despite his dislike of his policies. Your criticism of Krauthammer is inaccurate.

[BfloGuy]

Another name for that is “giving the devil his due” and isn’t as much a compliment as a recognition of fact.

Precisely. I think Obama is an under-educated, narcissistic, pseudo-Marxist. I suspect Krauthammer would largely agree. But he also just got the Republicans to raise taxes for the first time in two decades.

Grudging admiration for that fact does not make one a fan-boy.

[peyton randolph]

You’re entitled to your opinion. In my view, there’s little distinguishing Peggy Noonan and Krauthammer. They both bought the “Barack the Magic Negro” hype in 2008 and have been trying to back peddle ever since without offending the Manhattan and Georgetown cocktail circuits.