"Fiscal cliff" talks turn sour, Obama threatens veto

reuters ^ | 12/19/2012 | Matt Spetalnick and Mark Felsenthal

[tobyhill]

Talks to avoid a fiscal crisis appeared to stall on Wednesday as President Barack Obama accused Republicans of digging in their heels due to a personal grudge against him, while a top Republican called the president "irrational."

As the clock ticks toward a year-end deadline, Obama and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, are trying to reach a deal to avert harsh tax hikes and spending cuts that could trigger a recession.

Obama said he was puzzled over what was holding up the talks and told Republicans to stop worrying about scoring "a point against the president" or forcing him into concessions "just for the heck of it." "It is very hard for them to say yes to me," he told a news conference in the White House. "At some point, you know, they've got to take me out of it."

The rise in tensions threatens to unravel significant progress made over the last week in the so-called fiscal cliff talks.

Boehner and Obama have each offered substantial concessions that have made a deal look within reach. Obama has agreed to cuts in benefits for seniors, while Boehner has conceded to Obama's demand that taxes rise for the richest Americans.

[tobyhill]

Obama is threatening tax hikes for the middle-class.

[kabar]

Boehner and Obama have each offered substantial concessions that have made a deal look within reach. Obama has agreed to cuts in benefits for seniors,

More Reuters BS. Obama has no offered substantial concessions nor has he agreed to cuts in benefits for seniors.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Petulant child.

[SERKIT]

Mr. Soetoro may need some education on the Constitution and Politics 101. If a law passes both houses and gets to his desk, it means that both political parties and both houses are in favor of the law. If he vetoes something that would be viewed as bicameral and bipartisan, he will look the fool, and may actually see a veto over-ride.

[Hardraade]

The president irrational??

Gee. Who knew. And now they’ve deleted “Lunatic” from fedlaw.

[DBrow]

This is hilarious! Boehner et al come up with a plan that is just what Obama asks for, then Obama moves the goalposts, and says the pubbies are not cooperating!

And MSM reports it as though that’s what all Americans think, too!

Didn’t Boehner accept Pelosi’s plan (that she got from Obama) only to have it rejected by Obama?

The pubbies must say, tell us exactly what you want, or they’ll continue to be caught in this remove the football, change the goalposts game.

[lonestar]

Let it happen! Let him deal with it!

[Eleutheria5]

Go ahead. Make my day.

[hattend]

Boehner should just adjourn for the year...wait for the new Congress.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

The “Stupid Party” should of walked away, by now! Boy, are they stupid!

[CityCenter]

How can he veto something that won’t ever make it to his desk?

[tobyhill]

It seems Boehner is tired of playing Lucy and the Football.

[Hoodat]

Veto of what? Nothing has been passed yet.

[skeeter]

I've heard plenty of direct quotes and quips from Obama and the democrats over this, but virtually nothing directly from the republicans, just paraphrases & characterizations.

The f'n MSM is directing this charade, as always. They need to be taken out of it somehow. The GOP had better learn something about stagecraft.

[tobyhill]

I kind of like what Boehner is doing, tell Obama take it leave it but the ball is in his court.

[expat2]

I think he has agreed to reduce the cost-of-living adjustments in SS. That is a cut, tho it shouldn’t be called a ‘benefit’.

[Don Corleone]

It seems Boehner is tired of playing Lucy and the Football.

Now he's going to play Thelma and Louise.

[Jim Robinson]

Obama is an idiot, but that’s nothing new.

[expat2]

Anyone with some knowledge of negotiating knows that your ‘opponent’ needs to name his opening position up front (tho it may be an extreme position, it’s still an upper limit established.

[kabar]

Source, please.