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I don’t think anyone knows exactly how much pork. Just that the pig is very fat. “Earmarkers feast on pork one last time before diet” from no less a conservative site as CNBC: http://www.cnbc.com/id/40662874
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I hate pork as much as the next conservative because it’s so undemocratic: it’s partronage, it looks like bribes, and it rewards incompetent incumbents.

That said...earmarks are a very small fraction of total spending.

We need to tackle ALL spending: all social programs, all discretionary spending.

We don’t have a choice.

How can you calculate a cost over 10 years of a 1 year extension of the Unemployment Insurance and Payroll Tax deduction.

...and why calculate a ten-year cost of maintaining existing tax rates, when you’re only extending them for TWO years?!?!
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Check out the CBO link: http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12020/sa4753.pdf

Some of the provisions of the bill affect the budget even 10 years from now.

That’s how the CBO does estimates. Some of the effect of the bill is > 2 years.

Yea... well.. MOST of what the CBO says and does is CRAP.

10 years means NOTHING for this bill... No One should be talking about that way. It’s a 2 year deal, with slight lingering effects.

Basically, this deal results in an addition of $916 Billion to official deficit figures over the next three years. Of that amount, 63% of it is directly attributable to NOT raising income taxes and actually lowering payroll taxes...

I say... that’s a pretty good deal, let’s TAKE IT.

There is NO GUARANTEE that Obama will not come back next year, say NO to any new Republican plan... and then allow taxes to go WAY UP on all of us. Besides... it’s TIME, NOW... to KNOW what the tax rates will be. We don’t have any more time to bargain.

Pass the deal... let’s move on... next year, OUR GUYS can get started trying to CUT SPENDING!
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You’re right. It’s probably more likely that Dems in the Senate might feel emboldened to oppose House GOP, and 86 ANY tax bill. That means we all get stuck with higher taxes.

For what? According to the article 84% are tax cut extensions or tax credit extensions. Seems like a good deal.

5 Extending unemployment insurance costs $56 billion over 10 years, or $5.6 billion/year.

I am so confused about unemployment insurance. Can somebody explain it to me?

I thought business owners paid a premium to the states to provide a max 26-week unemployment insurance policy to employees. Isn’t this a state program? And, if this part of the compensation is run like a true insurance program, presumably there was a pot of money accruing to be paid out on a rainy day. So, if a state is really hurting, employment-wise, what prevents a state from adding a temporary, beyond-26-week, supplemental policy, and structuring the cost appropriately? Why did this become a federal matter and is it being paid for with insurance premiums from employers ... or is it welfare, not insurance at all? And if it is essentially welfare, is there any reason not to make this a loan program rather than a welfare program, so that, in the end, it is at least cost neutral?
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I believe it’s paid some by the state, some by Federal.

ALL of the numbers are nothing but LIES because NOTHING is being done PERMANENTLY. There are no income tax cuts and the extension of current rates is only for TWO YEARS, the unemployment bill is only temporary, the SS tax cut is for only ONE YEAR. And they ARE NOT extending the estate tax!
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Yes, keeping the tax rates and unemployment insurance is for 2 years. CBO estimates for 10 because some of the provisions affect the budget for longer.

http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12020/sa4753.pdf

yes... How can you calculate a cost over 10 years of a 1 year extension of the Unemployment Insurance and Payroll Tax deduction..

This kind of math doesn’t make sense to me..
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That’s how the CBO does estimates. Some of the effect of the bill is > 2 years.

Here’s the original source:

http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12020/sa4753.pdf

It says right here in the article:

“3 $721 billion out of $857 billion, or 84% of the bill, are keeping the tax cuts. Is this really “spending” to keep our own $? “

Clearly they aren’t cuts, they are just preserving the existing rates. I think the article makes that clear.

Democrats have been repudiated at the polls for arrogance in going against the will of Americans by passing healthcare and other bills which majority of Americans opposed.

69% of the American public supports the tax deal and you want Republicans coming into office to display the same arrogance by ignoring the will of the American people.

Bad idea.
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Good point.

ssugas1231: “8 In terms of percentages: 84% of the cost of the bill is extending tax cuts or tax credits...” This is a classic liberal argument - how much it’s going to cost the country if we DON’T raise taxes! Hogwash. What about calculating the costs to the American people of raising taxes in the middle of a near depression - more jobs lost so more unemployment insurance needed, more government programs like welfare and Obamacare, etc...? In addition, you’re assuming those tax revenues will just keep flowing in the midst of this ongoing downturn; that’s just a bad assumption. And you remember what they say about assumptions, right...? I’m not a fan of the bill as the Democrats have laden it with pork spending and other add-ons, but please...give us a break re: the costs of NOT raising our taxes!
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How much pork is in the bill, in terms of $.

The article is from a conservative site, and I’m a conservative. It’s just calculating the % of how the bill is made up, and most of it (84%) is preserving the current tax cuts/credits.

#3 is not a cost. Where is the added spending they have included for “green” initiatives? Truth is, no one knows what is in it now.
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Not sure, but I think that’s #7(?)

Unfortunately for Obama, He is not going to do well in the history books. The left chose color over character, and they were very unwise to choose Geffin’s star.
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Agreed. He was slick but had no substance. He’ll end up damaging Democrats for a long time, and probably the time until another Black President as well.

He has no convictions, he’s an empty vessel (wessel if you’re Chekhov): http://www.libradex.com/viewArticle.aspx?id=122

Pipe dream.
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I’m not so sure. He loves power, but he hates working and he hates the pressure when people don’t fall in line with him.

If he’s not getting the attention he wants, he might want to just bail.

I think Clinton had no problem talking Obama into doing that press conference. Clinton: (After their meeting): “Hey, I know....let’s give a five minute statement to the press about all of your great ideas concerning this compromise. Don’t worry, I’ll just come in there and stand next to you. Maybe make a short statement defending your plan after you lay out the argument. That’s all (bites lip). You make the hard work of being President look easy (Clinton laugh).”

I do not disagree with your scenario. What is not clear to me is when and why BamBam called on old Bill to come and advise him at the White House.... Once the invite was given I can see old Bill doing exactly what he did.
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It seems like Obama is perfectly willing to have someone else act as President (in this case, Clinton).

off hours blog pimp...
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And BTW BTW, EVERY blog is a “blogpimp”. Every news site on the web is a “blogpimp”.

You think people create a blog and then don’t tell anyone about it? Even the large blogs like redstate or hotair or ace of spades started with a couple of people (or one person) “blog pimping”.

Right?

He’s to narcissistic to resign..

I’m not so sure, he could resign stating he’s done more in two years then any other President has done in four years and see’s no need to complete a 4 year term.
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Could be. He KNOWS nothing will get done the next 2 years, he might just decide to cut his losses.

What Obama has done is travel (a lot), throw parties (a lot), play golf (a lot)
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Nah, he won’t resign— he and the Mrs have (a lot) more of the above to do.
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He has to attend Cabinet meetings, talk with Congress, meeting with world leaders...you know, governing stuff.

He must tire of that.

off hours blog pimp...
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BTW, this isn’t my blog, but isn’t this the Blogging section? Exactly what kinds of posts are supposed to be here except blog posts?

off hours blog pimp...
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Do I get a big hat with a feather?

You’re probably right. It’s good to be the King!

I can’t wait to find out how it was that old Bill Clinton got called in to give the ‘tax compromise’ press conference... Old Bill does not talk on the cheap... and it had to really unnerve BamBamKennedy to take a back seat to old Bill.
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I think in the video Bill said that Obama called him and had him fly out. And Bill turning away from a chance to be back in the show? Not a chance?

“Mr. De Mille, I’m ready for my close up.”