It appears that he's making the first significant compromise - he's willing to increase taxes on those making $1 million and up in exchange for some movement from Obama on entitlements (although I'm not sure specifically what he is asking for there).

My guess is Obama will say no way to the $1 million income total but maybe he's willing to increase his earnings level up from $250,000 a year? I doubt he'd go all the way up to $500,000 but he should at least consider going to $300,000 or maybe even $400,000.

Hopefully this is a start to some actual meaningful talks.

My second guess is Obama will have much more of a public backing on this than any gun control legislation he may try to put forward. While the Newtown massacres were tragic, I still believe the fiscal situation needs to be addressed first before he proposes any legislation whatsoever on gun control.

Obama has some of my "support" on raising some taxes. He will not gain any traction from me on any weapons bans for law abiding citizens.

Primary Boehner. No surrender, no retreat.

Obama wants to go over the cliff. He will make sure it happens.

(12-16-2012 01:07 PM)Ninerfan1 Wrote:  Obama wants to go over the cliff. He will make sure it happens.

I actually read a Washingon Post article on that last week saying that for political reasons Obama can let us go off the cliff, blame republicans, and then tax the crap out of anything that walks and the public will go along with him.

So if Republican leadership felt that way, why wouldn't Boehner say okay we'll agree to tax hikes for folks earning $250K and above and won't ask for any concessions in return?

(12-16-2012 01:12 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 01:07 PM)Ninerfan1 Wrote:  Obama wants to go over the cliff. He will make sure it happens.

I actually read a Washingon Post article on that last week saying that for political reasons Obama can let us go off the cliff, blame republicans, and then tax the crap out of anything that walks and the public will go along with him.

He believes he and democrats are insulated from blame if we go over the cliff. He will let us go over the cliff, then come back and propose tax cuts for those under 200/250k, which Republicans can't oppose.

Unless he gets 100% what he wants, which is a tax increase that amounts to about a month of spending, no entitlement cuts at all and more deficit spending for "stimulus" we're going over the cliff.

(12-16-2012 01:21 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  So if Republican leadership felt that way, why wouldn't Boehner say okay we'll agree to tax hikes for folks earning $250K and above and won't ask for any concessions in return?

Are you seriously asking why Republicans won't cave and give him everything he wants?

Ok, the Republicans caved on taxes. That will erase about 4% of the deficit. Now the Democrats need to make cuts in entitlements to cover the other 96%.

(12-16-2012 01:31 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Ok, the Republicans caved on taxes. That will erase about 4% of the deficit. Now the Democrats need to make cuts in entitlements to cover the other 96%.

This is the mentality I have taken. I will give a bit on taxes, but they need to give UP on spending.

(12-16-2012 02:06 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  

(12-16-2012 01:31 PM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Ok, the Republicans caved on taxes. That will erase about 4% of the deficit. Now the Democrats need to make cuts in entitlements to cover the other 96%.

This is the mentality I have taken. I will give a bit on taxes, but they need to give UP on spending.

We could spend less on the military if foreign countries paid us back for the protection we provide to them. Is NATO really necessary? Troops in Japan and S Korea? I also think Iran owes us a nice chunk of change.

Republicans have screwed the pooch about as badly as possible on this one. They should have passed Bowles-Simpson on day one in 2011, seized the high ground, and forced Reid and Obama to deal with tax rate reductions for everyone, and real spending cuts, as proposed by Obama's own appointed commission. Boehner cannot lead because he is afraid of his own shadow.

The Republican House should pass a bill keeping the lower taxes for everyone making say - under $500K and send it on.

Let Harry sit on it or Obama veto it........that way the Democrats are choosing to "raise taxes on everyone".

President Obama and Speaker Boehner met for the third time in eight days yesterday, and this time it was the President who apparently came down on some of his demands.

Supposedly he upped the tax increase income level to $400,000 (from 250K) and said he might still consider going up a bit more. The President also would settle for a two-year increase in America's borrowing authority instead of a permanent one. And he agreed to apply a less generous measure of inflation to government calculation, which would result in lower benefits in the Social Security pension scheme over time.

Boehner's spokesman basically said it wasn't enough but it was a good start. They're making progress at least.