Posted on 12/21/2011 10:46:14 AM PST by Qbert
Once again, Congress is playing high-stakes poker with a precarious economy and the lives of struggling Americans who live paycheck to paycheck - that is, if they're lucky enough to have a job.
[Snip]
In a mean-minded, take-it-or-leave-it ultimatum to the "people's House," Senate Majority leader Harry Reid made it clear he didn't care what the House did with the bill - the Senate was finished for the year.
That's not the way Congress usually has operated over its 222 years, especially on must-pass legislation that may affect the lives of 160 million working Americans.
In such cases, the Senate remains in session until the House has acted on the bill, presumably rewriting its terms and provisions. Then each chamber appoints members to a conference committee to iron out their differences and craft a compromise that can pass both houses.
[Snip]
He wants a political issue, and he made that clear when he thumbed his nose at the House this week, telling its members either to pass the two-month extension or be seen as raising taxes on millions of Americans at Christmastime.
"I will not reopen negotiations until the House follows through and passes this agreement," Mr. Reid flatly declared.
In other words, if the House doesn't approve the Senate measure, it can forget about any compromise on a bill to fully extend the tax holiday throughout the 2012 election year.
And Democrats say Republicans are obstructionists.
[Snip]
Meantime, what has President Obama been doing during all of this confusion and combat on Capitol Hill? The man who was elected to lead the country has been, in the words of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, "a bystander" in the White House.
(Excerpt) Read more at p.washingtontimes.com ...
This “Tax Cut” would be like me lowering my contribution to my 401k and expecting the same return.
I just wish we could get on with the criminal trails and begin the hangings.
BFD on who is blamed for this nonsense. The overwhelming majority of Americans are blissfully unaware of what is going on in D.C.
In 6 months nobody, outside of those obsessed with politics (likely less than %1 of the population IMO), will even remember this “issue”. I have no doubt many more “critical issues” will arise between now and the election that will render this easily forgettable.
"BFD on who is blamed for this nonsense. The overwhelming majority of Americans are blissfully unaware of what is going on in D.C. In 6 months nobody, outside of those obsessed with politics (likely less than %1 of the population IMO), will even remember this issue. I have no doubt many more critical issues will arise between now and the election that will render this easily forgettable.
You're exactly right. Remember when Charles Krauthammer, David Frum and the rest all said that Obama had easily sealed his re-election two years ago this time? Or when all the pundits were chattering away about how OBL's death was going to clinch it for him? Or...
A few months later he was down to 38%. He's an aloof disaster, and if we pick a good candidate who can really take it to him, I like our chances.
Reid has been running rings around the GOP for years now and Boehner and McConnell demonstrate their stupidity on a daily basis.
LLS
They are aligned with the rats and they hate us... that is the truth.
LLS
I have two words for the GOP "leadership": Sharron Angle.
See tag line.
So Nevada, how’s that hopey changey thing working for you now?
I think that something is what the Obama's state compliant undistinguished media (Obama's SCUM) used to talk about but not now.
Stop borrowing from Social Security says this old USA Today article.
Ok, we'll borrow the SS money indirectly from SS! says Obama's Rat Party (formerly the traditional, patriotic Democratic Party). We won't say anything about it, says Obama's SCUM.
For the near term the money that workers get to keep will come from other sources such as new/higher taxes, fees, and borrowing elsewhere.
Shortly the SS shortage will be noted and a cry will be raised to replace it lest millions of elderly die. At that time FICA and other taxes will be raised to replace the money.
There is no tax cut. Period. The spending of SS money will continue unabated.
bump for later reference.
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