Fool you twice, America?
"White House says ‘significant deal’ on debt limit still possible" by Jim Kuhhenn, Associated Press / June 28, 2011
WASHINGTON — So far the financial markets remain unrattled by the impasse, and some say it might take a massive market upheaval to move Congress to pass an increase in the debt ceiling.
Well, you see what really matters -- and I expect the stock market will be manipulated if need be.
That’s what it took in 2008 for Congress to approve the financial bailout known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Politically, raising the debt ceiling is considered a more difficult vote than the bank bailout plan.
Failure to raise the ceiling “would do serious damage,’’ said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics whose views are frequently cited by the Obama administration.
“It will unhinge the already very fragile collective psyche.’’
Zandi said a deficit reduction plan that includes some tax increases would be “more credible and more appropriate from an economic perspective.’’
But he said that if Republicans are being asked to give up their deep-seated opposition to tax increases, then Obama needs to abandon a major campaign promise, such as his demand that the wealthy give up tax cuts that were passed while George W. Bush was president....
He already has.
See: Obama to Keep Bush Tax Cuts
So he'll do what now, make 'em permanent?
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"Obama tells Republicans higher taxes are necessary; GOP retorts spending can be cut further" by Mark Landler, New York Times / June 30, 2011
WASHINGTON — President Obama pressured Republicans yesterday to accept higher taxes as part of any plan to pare down the federal deficit, telling lawmakers that they “need to do their job’’ and strike a deal before the United States risks defaulting on its debt.
Why?
So more wars can be funded?
So the Fed can keep printing money to buy back all the fraudulent mortgage-backed securities? So Israel can keep receiving billions of dollars?
So the empire can be tossing around billions in every far-flung corner of the world?
Declaring that an agreement is not possible without painful steps on both sides, Obama said his party had accepted the need for substantial spending cuts in programs it had long championed, and that Republicans must agree to end tax breaks for oil and gas companies, hedge funds, and other corporate interests.
Which is fine; however, WHERE WERE DEMOCRATS when they had a MAJORITY in BOTH HOUSES and an (alleged) FILIBUSTER-PROOF Senate?
Why is it ALL WE GOT from them was a CRAPPY CORPORATE HEATH TAX in addition to MORE WAR and SPYING?
Aren't you TIRED of the GAME?
In a 67-minute news conference, Obama cast the budget battle as a tug of war between the interests of the rich and those of the middle class, the elderly, and children....
And those last three are pulling one side all alone.
This political bulls*** coming from Obomber is really the most sickening slop yet -- all so this country can go further into debt.
At the same time, Obama, under assault from Republicans on the campaign trail for an unemployment rate that remains above 9 percent, asked voters to understand that the economic recovery would take time but said that Washington, even in its current financial straits, could still do more to help.
I've been told by same government and mouthpiece media we have been in recovery for over two years. WTF?
And whining and crying about budgets when the wars have already cost $4 trillion and counting with no end in sight (I no longer believe or buy winding down withdrawal talk from a war-promoting, agenda-pushing media, sorry).
He expressed support for extending a reduction in payroll taxes for an extra year, providing loans for road and bridge-building and approving trade pacts that could help spur exports....
Chump change tax cuts when they are handing out millions to banks and corporations, and rather than a loan make it a grant. It's OUR F***ING MONEY anyway!
And the TRADE PACTS are what has LED to THIS PROBLEM!
The president’s combative remarks on the budget commanded most of the attention, signaling that he had fully entered the fray. On Monday, he took over stalled talks led by Vice President Joe Biden. So far, the president’s involvement seems mainly to have dramatized the gulf between the White House and the Republicans on fiscal priorities.
By all accounts, the round of negotiations steered by Biden made significant progress in identifying spending cuts, such as the Pentagon budget, and revenue-generating items, such as increased pension contributions by federal workers. But with an Aug. 2 deadline looming for the expiration of the government’s borrowing authority, the partisan maneuvering on both sides has increased....
Obama is taking aim at tax policies that benefit the rich as a way to pressure Republicans. Asserting that chief executives and hedge fund managers are paying the lowest tax rates since the 1950s, the president, casting the issue in populist terms, said they could afford to pay more....
Where you been for three f***ing years?
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"Debt talks to steal Senate’s recess; Lawmakers make deal a priority, but no concessions yet" by Alan Fram, Associated Press / July 1, 2011
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has warned that if the government’s $14.3 trillion borrowing limit is not raised by Aug. 2, the nation will face its first default ever, potentially throwing world financial markets into turmoil, raising interest rates, and threatening the economic recovery.
Many congressional Republicans indicate they’re unconvinced that such scenarios would occur.
Oh, they will; bankers that control the economy will see to it just like the last time.
One Democratic official familiar with the debt talks said the real deadline for reaching a bipartisan agreement on the debt and deficit reduction is mid-July, in order to give congressional leaders time to win votes and put final details of a deal into shape. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to reveal details of private negotiations.
Increasing the current borrowing limit by about $2.4 trillion would carry the government until the end of 2012 - thereby avoiding another congressional vote on the issue until after the next presidential and congressional elections. Republicans have insisted on coupling any extension with at least an equal amount of budget savings.
Obama has said that in bipartisan talks, negotiators have found more than $1 trillion in potential spending cuts over the coming decade, including reductions favored by both sides.
The Democratic official said yesterday that of those cuts, roughly $200 billion would come mainly from savings from Medicaid and Medicare, the federal health insurance programs for the poor and elderly.
The White House is also proposing about $400 billion in higher tax revenues....
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Maybe million-dollar Michelle can help:
"Michelle Obama hits Hub to raise funds; Expected to net more than $1.2m for the DNC" by Glen Johnson, Globe Staff / July 1, 2011
First lady Michelle Obama visited Boston and Vermont yesterday, as she and President Obama made a final dash for cash before the close of a fund-raising quarter that will provide the first relative measure of the strength of the 2012 White House contenders....
The first lady’s stops yesterday were expected to raise more than $1.2 million for the Democratic National Committee, whose primary focus now is ensuring the president’s reelection....
I guess they have given up on getting control of Congress.
Michelle Obama’s visit to the Chestnut Hill home of philanthropists Elaine and Gerald Schuster, the fifth such stop on a fund-raising tour that started in May, provided her with the opportunity to to make her financial pitch in very frank and personal terms.
This the same guy who said he was going to change the culture of Washington?
Oh, right, what is one more broken promise?
She told an audience of about 120, which included Governor Deval Patrick but was mostly women, about her transformation as a political wife, as well as the toll the presidency takes on her husband each day.
“I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and determination in his voice. ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through.’ He told me that last night. ‘Michelle, it is not right. We’ve got to fix this. We have to do more,’ ’’ she said.
Yet as her husband did a day earlier during a news conference, Obama urged patience as the administration works to help the country emerge from a recession.
I'm sorry, but I AM OUT of F***ING PATIENCE on SO MANY ISSUES!!!
And FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD by YOUR GOVERNMENT and its MOUTHPIECE MEDIA the recession has been over for more than two years so WTF?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Barack always reminds me that we are playing a long game,’’ she said. “He reminds me, as I said to you, too, that change is slow. He reminds me that change doesn’t happen all at once, but that if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, doing what we know is right, then eventually we will get there.’’
Unless there is some sort of "catastrophic and catalyzing event" – like a new Pearl Harbor."
And honestly, I AM SICK of the EXCUSES as to WHY WE ALWAYS HAVE to WAIT for WHAT WE WANT in our "democracy" when BANKS, WALL STREET, and the WAR DEPARTMENT get checks cut within a week!
Similarly, Obama echoed her husband as she evoked the image of their two young daughters, Malia and Sasha, in trying to stir Democratic supporters.
“The truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be OK,’’ she said. “My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives. And that’s probably true for many of your kids as well.’’
Yeah, elitism has its privileges -- for now.
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Besides the governor, those in the audience included Diane Patrick, Attorney General Martha Coakley, and former Boston television anchor Liz Walker.
After leaving Boston, Obama flew to Burlington, Vt., for an event recognizing the military and the family sacrifices endured by the armed forces, and two fund-raisers....
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She sure looks like she is enjoying the spotlight.
Yeah, why shouldn't war be fun?
Also see: The White House is Hell
Michelle Obama Lost in Africa
Globe finally tracked her down.
