Posted on 12/21/2012 3:26:59 PM PST by jazusamo
President Obama urged congressional leaders to consider a scaled-back plan to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" in a holiday plea for a debt-deal compromise.
The president said that legislators should pass legislation on points where there was consensus — including extending Bush-era tax cuts for all but the top 2 percent of taxpayers, extending unemployment insurance and laying "the groundwork" for future deficit reduction.
"That's an achievable goal that can get done in 10 days," Obama said.
The plan, as described by the president, would leave unresolved issues like the looming defense sequester and the debt ceiling. The president said he was still open to a larger deficit deal, but underscored that he would need Republican support to reach a deal.
"We're only going to be able to do it together," Obama said. "We're going to have to find some common ground."
Hinting at the possibility that he would be leaving Washington until after the Christmas holiday, the president also said he hoped legislators would use the break to "cool off."
"As we leave town for a few days to be with our families, it will give us some perspective," Obama said, joking that lawmakers should "drink some egg nog, [and] have some Christmas cookies."
Before the press conference, the president met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the White House and spoke with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) by telephone.
Earlier Friday, Reid blasted Republican leaders for moving forward on "Plan B."
“We knew the so-called Plan B was no plan at all,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “It’s too bad Speaker Boehner wasted a week on this futile political stunt.”
During a Capitol Hill press conference earlier on Friday, Boehner insisted he was not abandoning negotiations.
"Listen, I'm interested in solving the major problems that face our country," Boehner said. "And that means House leaders, Senate leaders and the president are going to continue to have to work together to address those concerns."
But Boehner said he did not know how negotiators would bridge a gap on an eventual debt deal, saying that significant differences remained.
"How we get there, God only knows," Boehner said. "But, all I [know] is that [House Majority Leader] Eric [Cantor (R-Va.] and I, and our team here are committed to working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, both sides of the Capitol, and the White House, to address this."
The Speaker and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plan to stay in Washington over the weekend, although Congress will be out of session until after the Christmas holiday. Reid plans to travel to Hawaii for the funeral of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), but will return to Washington on Monday.
He's a liar.
Where is the common ground between someone who wants to destroy the USA and those who is trying to save the USA?
“There is NO common ground with tyranny.”
My thoughts exactly.
You keep letting the tools of tyranny be put in place, sooner or later someone WILL use them to full effect against us.
FUBO!
I’m rather proud of them actually, Bonior thought
he could abuse them and still control the vote.
Not a good idea.
“Someone please explain this non-vote so, I can understand the strategy.”
OK.
The intent was to show Reid and Obama that Boehner could hold on to the votes of the RINOs in the House.
Reid and Obama intend to have their plan passed by the Dems and RINOs in the House. Like they did last year.
It will be interesting to see if they can succeed.
All the fuss about the ‘revolt’ against boehner is beside the point.
It's a shame the House of Representatives has so little power, what with only being in charge of taxing, spending, and approriations, etc. The Republicans look like a pack of sniveling cowards who only want to bow before an African communist who got re-elected thanks mainly to a growing moocher class.
The Republicans will end up giving the African communist and his Democrat party even more tax dollars to offer up to the bums, deadbeats, and parasites who comprise the party's base in exchange for their votes.
We are witnessing a slow, excrucitaing suicide by the GOP.
From what Mark Levin said tonight, the phone calls are having their good effect.
Absolutely...On this and most other things.
The so-called "common ground" must be the total annihilation of the republican party platform and the potential long enduring vision of Boehner kneeling in agreement with the democrat agenda. Here's what democrats want (with comments):
. voluntary sacrifice or denial of oneself (or republican party principles), as for an ideal (democrat) or another person (Obama).
Dear Obama:Piss off,
hope you have a bright orange flotation device.(s/
Let me get this straight: While Boehner did not get a majority of GOP’s to vote for Plan B, he at least demonstrated (to Reid and Obama) that he could bring many RHINO’s on board if called upon to do. So, when Reid and Obama come up with a solution (so called) next week, Boehner can promise them both that he can get at least gt some GOP congressmen to come along with the House Dems to pass what will essentially be a Democrat plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.
Is this what you are saying? It’s unclear.
All I know for certain is that the out-of-control government spending has finally cught up to us....and somehow the ones who screamed the loudest over the years about this inevitability are somehow now being blamed for it....
We have nothing in common. Screw you.
Of course, It’s a free trip.
No, sorry.
Boehner meant to show that the RINOs would support his “plan b” and NOT vote for whatever Reid and Obama come up with.
Last year Boehner did as you described.
Hopefully this year he realizes it will destroy the Party if he does it again.
1) Negotiating with a pathological liar is not just “SILLY” its stupid..
2) Two pathological liars “dickering” is humorous.. a cartoon..
3) A roomful of pathological liars “discussing” is pathetic.. even tragic..
re: Walking away is the intelligent choice..
Let it go over the fiscal cliff. Sooner or later we are going to have to pay back what we have spent. We are going on 2 years with reduced SS deductions which require that money be made up in the future. The spending cuts, including Defense, can be handled within the departments easily by just reducing the nonsense spending. In fact, a balanced budget should be required and any extra taxes realized should be not spent but applied to the debt.
Good post of O on stage. He does this every day.
The game is the stage and his words and delivery to fool voters, as he gets on TV every day, are brilliant.
Obama is masterful at playing this chess game,
His goal is to totally annihilate congressional Republicans so his last two years 2015 to 2016 he can finish his mission with a filibuster proof Dem congress.
Republicans appear to have no idea what is going wrong. So they will lose and this country will never recover from what he accomplishes.
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