Boehner is dealing with not only his republicans but also tea party congressmen that were sent there specifically to prevent tax hikes and limit govt spending. Im sure most of them understand the principle of compromise, and some would probably support a bill that included a small tax hike, but to do that without spending cuts is just stupid. Boehner is in a very difficult position with the party right now and I don't think any of us would like to be in his shoes. I'm fed up with the whole process, but place no more blame of Boehner than I do on the president of senate. Boehner and the republicans have passed severals bills in the past year to address this, and Reid simply won't bring them up in the senate. If there's no discussion, how can a compromise ever be reached?

(12-21-2012 09:37 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  Boehner is dealing with not only his republicans but also tea party congressmen that were sent there specifically to prevent tax hikes and limit govt spending. Im sure most of them understand the principle of compromise, and some would probably support a bill that included a small tax hike, but to do that without spending cuts is just stupid. Boehner is in a very difficult position with the party right now and I don't think any of us would like to be in his shoes. I'm fed up with the whole process, but place no more blame of Boehner than I do on the president of senate. Boehner and the republicans have passed severals bills in the past year to address this, and Reid simply won't bring them up in the senate. If there's no discussion, how can a compromise ever be reached?

Sounds like a Faux News editorial.

(12-21-2012 08:56 AM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 07:50 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  Boehner is simply a very weak leader. Which is particularly disappointing because we have never needed a strong opposition more.

Republicans should have passed Bowles-Simpson out of the House on day one of 2011, and forced Obama and Reid to deal with it.

Yep. Simpson/Bowles or Rivlin/Domenici. Those bills are already put together. The only way this is going to work is for Obama/Boehner to come up with a deal that will get democrats and enough republicans to pass. It will be Boehner's last act as speaker but he is on his way out anyway. Might as well get a deal done and get this over.

Would be happy with either one. Domenici-Rivlin (and I reverse the order of names on both from you, because I do it in the order they signed the reports, no big deal either way, I think we both know what we're talking about) has more taxes, but the more taxes are in the form of a consumption tax, and we're not going to solve this without a consumption tax. Run the numbers, the money isn't there, it just isn't. Outside of the consumption tax, they're both pretty much the same, different details but same basic concepts. They have to be. There's no other way.

We have two blueprints, either of which would go a long way to solve the problem, and we have two sides arguing over which proposal that won't solve the problem we should be doing. Anybody else think that's nucking futs?

Frankly, if we go past the deadline to stop the automatic triggers to kick in then we have a few weeks in Jan. to keep it from getting to the worse point. It might be the best deal since this lame-duck congress has the real threat to stopping the autos from kicking in and ruining the progress we have had in the economy, and with the flea party extremist like Joe Walsh, Allen West, and their ilk being reduced in the house then we might see the Speaker get the movement he needs. I personally am not happy with the President's plan because it is going to make it more painful for seniors, and others, but if that is what it takes to keep it from getting even more of a problem for these groups, and gets people like Romney to start putting in more than 9 to 14 percent while middle class pays a much higher percentage, and keeps a very large sum of tax revenue out of our national coffers, that we need to meet our obligations, then pass it. It is sad that people with so much income feels they have earned the right to pay less taxes because they have been so successful. I know some have indeed given back and are willing to pay more to provide for the common good, but the ones who don't feel that way are the ones who are going to make it harder for the middle class to survive.

(12-22-2012 10:29 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  Frankly, if we go past the deadline to stop the automatic triggers to kick in then we have a few weeks in Jan. to keep it from getting to the worse point. It might be the best deal since this lame-duck congress has the real threat to stopping the autos from kicking in and ruining the progress we have had in the economy, and with the flea party extremist like Joe Walsh, Allen West, and their ilk being reduced in the house then we might see the Speaker get the movement he needs. I personally am not happy with the President's plan because it is going to make it more painful for seniors, and others, but if that is what it takes to keep it from getting even more of a problem for these groups, and gets people like Romney to start putting in more than 9 to 14 percent while middle class pays a much higher percentage, and keeps a very large sum of tax revenue out of our national coffers, that we need to meet our obligations, then pass it. It is sad that people with so much income feels they have earned the right to pay less taxes because they have been so successful. I know some have indeed given back and are willing to pay more to provide for the common good, but the ones who don't feel that way are the ones who are going to make it harder for the middle class to survive.

Although there still may be an end of year (EOY) compromise, I really do not know but it may be better to go over what they call the fiscal cliff.

The temporary bush tax cuts expire and then decision can be made on taxes in general (although still will need some long term overall). Then we can have the Obama middle class tax cuts.

Spending cuts kick in and decisions can be made on what to fund.

All of the programs need to be gutted and restarted, but I have doubts that will happen.

If changes are made early in the year, the tax impact will be negated for the middle class.

Bottom line is the debt ceiling, like it or not, we still have to pay our debts.