There's been quite a bit of economic news this week, and nearly all of it is quite good. Today, for example, we saw very encouraging news on consumer spending, personal income, orders of durable goods, and national jobless rates. The news comes on the heels of revised GDP data, which was also heartening.
In each case, the numbers aren't just good, they're better than nearly anyone expected. Neil Irwin makes the case today that the U.S. economy "is plugging along better than you thought."
Essentially, the evidence is turning against two of the biggest reasons to worry about the economy -- that incomes weren't rising enough and that business investment was drying up. The biggest dark clouds on the horizon aren't looking so dark anymore. Together, the reports were enough to push Macroeconomic Advisers' estimate of fourth quarter gross domestic product growth up four-tenths of a percentage point, to 1.4%.
The personal income number is perhaps the single best piece of news in the day's reports.... Some of the details are even better. Because prices fell amid cheaper gasoline, inflation-adjusted incomes rose even more, a up 0.8 percent. And the rise in incomes was driven in large part by an increase in wages and salaries -- which is to say, more money in the pockets of workers, not just a rise in investment income.
Irwin added that the combined evidence is "a nice Christmas gift for anyone hoping to see a better year in 2013."
That's true, and it's good news. State economies are looking better, housing is picking up steam, the consumer market is looking better, and even national GDP is grounds for optimism.
All congressional Republicans have to do is not needlessly create a recession. Oh wait.
Just as the recovery starts to look even stronger, it's tragic to realize how likely it is that GOP policymakers will set the nation backwards, with a crisis they created and chose not to resolve.
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To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "America's economy is the worst- except for all the others."
"...it's tragic to realize how likely it is that GOP policymakers will set the nation backwards, with a crisis they created and chose not to resolve." - Steve
Steve, I would hope our MSM would figure out what really happened and start reporting it that way. I get sick of hearing about the 'Fiscal Cliff' as if it was created from nothing or the lie that both sides are responsible.
This self-inflicted gunshot wound is the creation of the GOP and its manufactured "Debt Ceiling Crisis." (DCC) No sane person or anyone with any credibility can say that the DCC was created by anyone but Republicans. Look it up.
Everytime the MSM reports on this, they should call it the "Republican-Created Fiscal Cliff" (RCFC) And when Republicans won't agree to reasonable solutions to their crisis which causes America to go into a Double Dip Recession next year, we should call it the Republican-Induced Double Dip Recession (RIDDR).
There's nothing partisan about those statements. They are proven facts. I don't want to hear another excuse from a Republican or more accurately, any more silence, from our MSM, about who is responsible for this fiasco.
Republicans are threatening to do damage to America's credit rating AGAIN. They will continue this lunacy/nonsense until people like our MSM start doing their job and holding them accountable for their reckless behavior.
Hey TEA PARTY 'PATRIOTS,' it the last time Republicans did damage to America it cost us about 19 Billion Dollars. That's an expensive and painful political trick, Dip$hits!!
Gee, Republican T-party members, how can we ever thank you enough for the latest self induced economic crisis? Especially since we've just begun to recover.
We do not have to look abroad for enemies, do we? They are here, holding our government hostage!
And your dirty little secret is: We can't even get you out.
Yet.
What did the Democrats do to avoid the "self induced economic crisis"? All along the Obama and the Democrats have bemoaning the need for higher taxes on the "millionaires and billionaires", yet when they were given the opportunity to do just that, not a single one could grow a backbone and support what they had been asking for.
just saying...
Maybe another Republican-created recession is the sacrifice we will have to make to wise up the American people and get rid of this horrid party forever. Except too many voters only listen to Faux and Hateradio, so it's still going to be a hard slog.
Jim...can you actually answer the question?
just saying..
Stormfront, your questions are bull@!$%#.
Try again.
Just saying...
And those poor and middle class fplks will know that the republikkkans are to blame. And they will do the same thing that they did on Nov. 8th: Oooohhh no biatches: I am going to make SURE that repub doesn't win. Which is why your guy lost. And '13 will be the year that the repubs become extinct.
Yep. '13 will be a fun year indeed. And '14 will be even more fun.
And the crying that is being done here, on this thread, is coming from you KKKlif and other trolls that are so butt sore that your guy lost. You idiots are reduced to bitching and moaning on this site, are ignorant right wing trolls who have been wrong on every single issue. And yet you continue to be wrong and show everyone just how full of @!$%# that you are.
Your guy lost. And I love to see you idiot trolls twist in the wind.
just saying...
Yes, republikkkans are quite funny........LOL
So far, neither Donna or JIm can answer the questions. Can any other Liberal out on this blog avoid answering the questions and resort to old tricks of name calling?
just saying...
Stormfront,
Your questions are incorrect and are factually wrong. Can any conservatard on this blog actually ask a valid question that is not bull@!$%#, not a lie, or a right wing talking point?
just saying....
Donna:
Please explain to me how the question..."what did the Democrats do to avoid the "self induced economic crisis"?...is factually incorrect. A question can not be correct or incorrect...it is a question. A statement can be correct or incorrect.
I realize that it is a lot easier for you to hurl insults and call names than to actually do some research to answer a question, but you should at least try so that you do not appear to be any more ignorant than you already do.
just saying...
stormfront:
Please explain why you don't know the answer to such an idiotic right wing lie. And a question can be intellectually disingenuous.
And I am not "hurling insults" I am calling you and trolls like you out on your bull@!$%# posts.
And you can post your "but you should at least try so that you do not appear to be any more ignorant than you already do" bull@!$%# statement but the fact remains: your question is ignorant and is nothing but a right wing debunked talking point.
Do the research yourself, troll. And you will find the answer to your @!$%#ed up question. This site even gives you the answer to your @!$%#ed up question. But you won't read to educate yourself, because it doesn't feed into your idiot right wing talking points.
just saying...
It is only "name calling" if it isn't the truth, which it absolutely is.
And I am sure that you are one of those welfare recipients with a mean case of projection.
Depends: are you an inbred redneck trailer park trash troll?
Answer that question and you have your answer.
And KKKlift is playing the right wing ignorant troll who is a bigot card.
Conservatards like him have been doing that for centuries, and it hasn't worked yet.
Notice how much of a redneck trollie he is who intentionally tries to race bait and when given a dose of his own medicine tries to project his own behavior on others.
I love it!!!!!
Never mind storm capt re reg and cliff, they live in the basement holding tight to their delusions of being great businessmen and Wall street wizards, but as you can see by their posts they watch Fox business news as well as repeat what Glen Beck tells them. Glen has them convinced those lead coin slugs dipped in gold is worth a small fortune but the only fortune of those coins goes into Glens pocket, they paid more for the coins then the gold they are dipped in is worth.
Now we have the three stooges (Whom, Donna and Jim)and none of them can answer a simple question...What is it that they are afraid of? The more they avoid it, the more it looks like they don't know what the answer is...or maybe there isnt an answer.
just saying...
Now we have the three stooges (Whom,stormfront,kkklift, and laughingidiot)and none of them can answer their own simple question...What is it that they are afraid of? The more they avoid it, the more it looks like they actually know that theirs is a stupid right wing debunked talking point....and they all ready know what the answer is... which is not in their favor....or maybe they are too stupid to find out the answer on their own.
just saying...
I'm not afraid of anything I am not a republican nor libertarian. Now if you had been on this blog long you would notice I think the Fox news watchers and Glen Beck worshipers are about the dumbest people who ever crawled out of the sewers. Why some of them are so dumb they put flush handles on their out house. Oh and storm and cliff are re regs of banned posters from the past. Trying to talk to them is like trying to teach your pet rock to jump thru a hoop.
Hey whom,
I do not consider you as one of the stupid trolls on this thread. I meant whom: kkklift, stormfront, and laughingidot.
These are very low quality trolls who are bitter that robme lost and post very ignorant and simple minded right wing talking points.
And stormfront and kkkliff will be banned again sooner or later. And in the meantime it is just great to see just how bitter and how really stupid they are.
Let me take a dissenting viewpoint. What this news really means is that Democrats should sit back and let us go over the cliff.
Politically, there is no downside to it: all polling shows the public will blame Republicans if it happens.
Pragmatically, one of two things is true. One, the economy is not strong enough for the contraction it would cause and, in a new Congress with more D's in both chambers, a weakened Boehner, a panicked business class, and polling favoring Obama, we get a better deal than we'd get now and Obama would look like the hero for reducing taxes and saving the economy. Or, two, the economy is strong enough to take it -- which looks increasingly likely - and we turn to deficit reduction where we would eventually have to go anyway. But mark my word that the automatic sequester is the only time and only way we will ever get dollar-for-dollar defense reductions with domestic reductions, and it is hard to argue that anyone really suffered under Clinton tax rates -- which we blame the Republicans for putting on the 98%.
Going over is a pure win-win. The only argument was whether good government Democrats would be irresponsible to put the country through it; the new news shows that perhaps it isn't irresponsible at all. Do it.
Sorry, but you have to look beyond politics. The Republicans had the winning hand with the debt ceiling, but the damage it did to the economy hurt real people. Their extremism cost them millions of votes this last election. If the Dems now do nothing, tens of millions of real people will suffer in real ways. If they sit back and do nothing, they will be held accountable every bit as much as the Republicans will.
It isn't just politics: most people agree that taxes need to go up and spending needs to come down. The only question is timing, and the mix. I happen to think the cliff results in a very reasonable, responsible mix: the economy has never been better than under Clinton-era rates, and automatic sequester is the only way defense will ever pay its fair share -- without which non-defense spending will have to be cut even more. All that has changed is that the new economic news suggests the timing can be now as opposed to a worse deal later.
To say "millions will suffer" is to say we are saddled with the mistaken Bush tax rates forever because the public has built them into its collective and individual financial expectations. If that is the case, I have to say I don't have much sympathy. The public was given an unneeded, unwanted, and unaffordable gift. It shouldn't hurt to give it back.
I'm ready to go over the cliff. It seems to be the best solution. Wait till the GOP is asked, after January to cut taxes for those making under $250,00 a year. Are they going to say no to Cutting taxes? If they do, all hell will really break loose and their true agenda will be seen quite clearly.
(That would be taking care of their rich donors and throwing the rest of us under the bus). THAT agenda.
VVS, let me also reiterate my underlying premise: any suffering would be very short lived. If going over ends up being a bad thing, it will be fixed very quickly -- and on better terms for those very same people than if it were fixed in advance.
What happened last night makes me doubt that there can be a quick resolution that deals with all the areas people will be hurt in with these Republicans in the majority. Huelskamp still doesn't realize that taxes go up more if they did nothing, and there were still people talking about the cliff like it's an explosion of the debt that needs major cuts. I've lost all faith in the GOP. Period.
So, in other words....leaving everything the way it is will continue to allow the economy to grow. The lower tax rates do spur the economy....
just saying...
So in other words....letting the bush tax cuts expire will be a good thing and help cut down the deficit...and your right wing talking points are ignorant...
just saying....
While many of us can absorb going "over the cliff", many cannot. A friend of mine posted on FB today how badly increased taxes would affect her and begged congress to get something done. And of course that is the case for so many people in this country. Even people who aren't in desperate circumstances will have less money to spend and to donate to those in need. Great "representatives" are these Republicans. :-P
Hannah, Right, we will be clearly in their (self induced) DEBT for a long time to come. Merry Christmas to all.
Just to think how well off we would be if Mitch McConnell had actually worked for the nation instead of "Making Obama A One-Term President
Is My Single Most Important Political Goal"!
He's the first turtle I've seen with its head up its ass!
If the Democrat plan is to come back after the first of the year and offer a tax plan that goes back to the Bush Tax rates for 98% of the country and higher tax plans for the high income wage earners, why couldnt they agree to the Plan B now and still make their change after the first of the year, thus avoiding the "fiscal cliff"?
just asking...
If the republican plan is to keep the bush cut tax rates for the wealthy and pay for it off of the backs of the middle class and the poor, why is that a good thing and why are you defending it?
Why can't you see that the republicans are wrong and is only looking like pure fools in this?
just asking...
Another profoundly ignorant statement by a profoundly ignorant troll.
OK...which country would you prefer to become?
And again, your ignorant statement shows that your education is that of someone who has a GED.
Funny for 4 years President Obama and the Democrats kept attacking the Bush Tax cuts because they were increasing the National Debt, causing the Deficits to rise and the only beneficiaries were the Rich!!!
Now President Obama and the democrats want to maintain 98% of the Bush Tax cuts
Was President Obama and the Democrats F.O.S. for the last 4 years or are they F.O.S. now
LOL!!!!!! nolaughingmatter sure is funny! And F.O.S. too! LOL!!!!
Notice that some children in the room chose NOT to dispute my post, but instead have attempted weakly as usual unsuccessfully to try to use childish insults instead!!
But what do you expect they are either Democrats Liberals or both!!
Donna makes fun of your posts, which is a form of dispute.
You do have more than a little bit of right wing talking points, dude.
Seems like the trolls are crawling all over this thread like roaches....
But what do you expect from people who are so angry that Romney lost and the GOP is in such a mess of their own making?
They got to let that anger and frustration out on this site.
Keep venting, dude.
Not really, KKKlift. I find it quite amusing that you have a GED and that you are ignorant and that your guy lost.
And again: are you an ignorant inbred redneck troll? Answer that question and you have the answer to the one you asked me.
David,
Why don't you try to dispute the post I originally made on 7.6 if you feel that they are just talking points
Funny last time I checked 60 Million Americans voted against President Obama in this last election
Dude,
Are you really that stupid that you can't find out the answer for yourself? I mean really: the answer is all over this site.
And 61,173,739 people voted for obama, so once again, you seem to be on another right wing talking point jag.
And last time I checked, this country runs on majority rule, so it seems as if you as a sore loser have to live with that fact.
You are right David, the country runs on majority rule. And right now, the majority of the congressional districts in the US are represented by Republicans...and the HOR is what determines the financial matters of the country.
just saying...
Like so many have said POOR LOSERS who's in the White House is the winner and your guy picked by a few old rednecked billionaires is pumping his own gas and looks a total wreck. He was so sure it was HIS TURN! Ha ha ha! Sorry you didn't get the Antichrist in the Oval office!
Sure I'm right storm dude. The country runs on majority rule. A majority of American citizens voted against a republican candidate and for a democrat. And right now the majority of the US senate is democratic. And the HOR is not the only arm of legislative power.
just saying...
Our founding forefathers established our government with checks and balances . The president was reelected and the control of the HOR stayed with the Republicans....check and balance...Without funding approval from the HOR, no programs.
just saying..
Actually the House lost several seats in the Nov 8th election cycle. And because of their actions, the republicans in the house are responsible for getting Obama re-elected and for gaining several seats in the Senate and House. And the Senate retains the power to amend or reject the House's funding proposals.
just saying....
You are correct, Donna.
And I would add this: the current House GOP is in a shambles and the Plan B debacle only shows that the GOP party is extreme and extremely divided and is contributing to its further demise in 2014.
So those checks and balances that storm dude speaks of are ultimately in the hands of the American voter who spoke loudly on Nov. 8th, which is something that storm dude is pissed off about.
just saying...
Donna...regardless of whether they lost "several seats" in the last election, which party holds the majority in the House?
just saying...
btw...they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...thank you for flattering me...
just saying...
Stormfront...regardless of your denial, the House did lose several seats and the Senate majority is Democratic.
Obama is a Democrat that got re-elected.
Just saying....
btw... if you think that you are being flattered then you are more stupid than I thought.
just saying.
Donna...where did I deny that the republicans lose several seats in the last election? However, you seem to deny that the Republicans still have the majority.
On the other hand, you continue to avoid the original question...its okay, we understand You are a Democrat and its hard for you to answer a straight forward question.
just saying...
stormfront... your whole rant on this thread is a huge denial: a huge denial of the facts and of reality.
And republicans do not "have the majority:" the democrats control the senate and there is a democrat for a president.
just saying....
Focus here Donna...put down your crack pipe and focus...the conversation has been about which party has majority control of the HOR...the answer is REPUBLICANS. the only person that has been ranting is you.
just saying...
Storm dude seems to be in denial, Donna. He is off topic and out of his mind. And he will keep going back and forth with the "GOP controls the house" meme as if it means something, in an attempt o soothe his wounded ego that his guy lost and there is nothing he can do about it.
So the "I know you are, what am I" back and forth that he is doing is quite useless and only shows him to have the mentality of a hamster running on his exercise wheel.
just saying....
Focus here stormfront...put down your meth pipe and focus...the conversation is actually about the the recovery and possible recession that the GOP seems hell bent on letting happen.
Your asinine assumptions that somehow the GOP still has all the power and holds all the cards is nothing but an off topic rant, because nothing cold be further from the truth and be more off topic.
And your mean case of projection about rants is really funny. Hypocrite heal thyself.
just saying....
Glad to know that you admitted that, bigot. Which explains why you are a stupid conservatard who is supports the GOP that has become a fringe party and is actively working to stay that way.
Of course you don't. Because you are so ignorant and bigoted that you don't see that your checks from the government and the free government programs that you use is a form of welfare that you accuse others of being on.
You ASSume that poor people or people of color are on welfare. Which is hardly surprising, considering that you admit that you are an ignorant inbred redneck who is part of the KKK.
And KKKliff is a name that suits you perfectly.
Well done, Donna!
This dude is the perfect example of the GOP: an uneducated angry white male who is racist, sexist and homophobic.
The good news is that people like him are in the minority, and people of color and women are what now decides who wins elections.
Which makes him even more angry.
Know that people like him are fun to see on this site because you can just tell how mad they are that romney lost.
Dude,
Again with the false equivalencies. Which really shows just how ignorant you are, dude.
You do not like African-Americans, and Hispanics, that much is clear from your posts.
And your hate for black people coupled with another post shows that you are angry that your black boyfriend dumped you.
just sayin....
OMG David!!!
LOL!!!!!!!!
EXCELLENT!!!!
:p
He now has a BIG empty space...tween his cheeks!
But, but, things can't get better. What about the fear-porn of Hateradio?
Oh, I see, the GOP will create a self-fulfilling disaster. By refusing to govern they will wreck the economy so Rush can whine about the bad economy Obama created by being President these last twelve years. This whole business is to keep Rush Limbaugh in a job.
Funny for 4 years President Obama and the Democrats kept attacking the Bush Tax cuts because they were increasing the National Debt, causing the Deficits to rise and the only beneficiaries were the Rich!!!
Now President Obama and the democrats want to maintain 98% of the Bush Tax cuts
Was President Obama and the Democrats F.O.S. for the last 4 years or are they F.O.S. now
And President Obama won on that very issue,, care for a tissue?
Cliff Dude, you gotta get out of your mom's basement and stop watching fox news.
I wouldn't admit that about your mother if I were you, dude.
Which leads me to my next point: your post shows that you really are racist, and know a bit too much about pants being down around your knees.
It is okay to be gay, dude. Stop self hating and appreciate that you like black guys.
just sayin....
ROFL!!!!
Great response, David!!!
LOL!!!!!
Perfect answer. Which again, shows you to be the perfect racist angry white dude!
Which is exactly why YOU PEOPLE are in the minority, why YOU PEOPLE lost the election, and why YOU PEOPLE will continue to lose elections. There are just not enough of YOU PEOPLE to successfully elect YOUR PEOPLE's candidates by yourselves.
Hey remember they didn't pick Woolard the billionaire did. And lost all their money they invested too BAD! The Tea Party also couldn't stand Robme at first but with the help from a little hateful propaganda they snapped into line (weak minds at work) they got what they paid for a bunch of nothing!
Good way to kill a nice recovery. Thanks GOP! I guess they figure if they crash the economy they than can impeach the President if they can stir up enough dissent against him. Poor losers and we all will lose because of their childish nature and no balls to stand up to the Tee Potty in congress.
The NRA blames movies video games everything but guns for the gun problem. Hell I bet they would defend cap guns!
I think we are about to find out. One way or the other, there are going to be changes in 2013. We have two weeks until January 1, 2013. Either we go over the cliff or we resolve the problem. If we go over the cliff, taxes will rise to the Clinton taxes, defense budget will be cut in half and domestic spending will be cut in half. We will have a new Congress and Senate and they will have to figure it out. Or, the Tea Party will come to its senses and agree to tax increases. Either way we will be all right.
exactly. jb tried to negotiate tough and the tea party made him look foolish. did anyone else like the big smile on cantor's face as he left last night. thats when u know the guy has a real problem. this kind of thing is making me feel like boehner is a decent guy dealing with terrible coworkers.
Yet another right wing lie from KKKliff.
And you can't sound any more like an inbred redneck cracker with your "preznit" comment.
just sayin...
Well, dude, your posts certainly show you to be an inbred redneck cracker.
just sayin...
LOL David!
:p
Yes you are, dude.
Which is why your posts prove that you are an inbred redneck cracker.
just sayin.....
the majority voted for 90s tax rates for the top earners and some reduction in spending. these are the parameters for the negotiations. the tea party members of the house just refuse to believe it. they will get blame.
Meanwhile, the president has reduced the deficit, passed health care reform which will reduce the cost of medicare, and the economy is growing. And he did this alone - without the help of half of the government. If Mr. Boehner could act like a grown up, instead of a 10 year old, he would want to work with President Obama. But nooooo...
If we go into another recession because of this, many of us will remember. Just like McConnell's "one term president" remark, which guaranteed many votes for Obama, this will stand as the next one. What a waste of everyone's time. Boehner's awful, but this really means the whole GOP House is a mess. Where are people like Jindal, who sounded reasonable for a couple of minutes? It's even more frustrating because Obama had the whole country behind him, but the GOP would have none of that. Think of what we could accomplish if both houses of government worked together.
I think the biggest scam is calling this a fiscal "cliff" to begin with. Since when was raising taxes on the rich from 35% to 39.6% amounted to a cliff? Since when did cutting our bloated defense budget amount to a cliff?
Hell, the world average of taxing the rich is around 50%. How about we try raising top marginal income taxes to 45%. Would that be fiscal armageddon?
Whine cliff whine, the goberment is coming after your make believe wealth, don't worry cliff you paid 100% more for those gold plated lead slugs Glen beck sold you so your fortune is made up in your own mind and the goberment can't tax make believe wealth so you won't be getting cut off from aid anytime soon.
Several conservative House Republican members are contemplating a plan to unseat Speaker John Boehner from his position on January 3, Breitbart News has exclusively learned. Staffers have compiled a detailed action plan that, if executed, could make this a reality.
The Republicans, both conservatives and more establishment members alike, are emboldened after the failure of Boehner’s fiscal cliff “Plan B” on Thursday evening. Dissatisfaction with Boehner is growing in the House Republican conference, but until now there hasn’t been a clear path forward.
Those members and staffers requested anonymity from Breitbart News at this time to prevent retaliation from Boehner similar to what happened to those four members who were purged from their powerful committee assignments a few weeks ago. Their expressed concern is that if Boehner knew who they were, his adverse reaction toward them would be much more brutal than losing committee assignments, such as a primary challenge in 2014 by a leadership-sponsored candidate.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/12/21/House-Republican-members-circulate-plan-to-oust-Speaker
I'm surprised that it took this long for something like this to leak out. I've been saying that Boehner needed to keep a close eye on Cantor (the lean and hungry one) for some time. I would not be suprised to hear that Paul Ryan is also a possible replacement.
John Boehner has a decision to make real soon. Does he try to get some legislation passed that will also pass in the senate and the president will sign. In doing this he will have to work with democrats and a large enough group of republicans.
Or does he try to unify his party and propose legislation that is unlikely to pass in the senate. This strategy includes delaying legislation to include using the debt limit as a hostage.
My advise to Cantor and Ryan, be careful for what you wish for.
Both sides have been very irresponsible in this fiscal crisis. Of course, taxes have to go up, and far more than the President is currently demanding. But the failure by many on this website to recognize that Social Security, Medicare and a whole host of entitlements need to be restructured (i.e., CUT) makes them either very ill-informed about the financial solvency of these programs or very reckless with the financial future of the nation.
Yes, we have paid into both SS and Medicare over our working years. However, as these programs are currently structured, we will receive far more in benefits than we have ever paid in. There is a large welfare component to all of these programs, a fact that the reckless demagogues on the Left and the AARP conveniently ignore.
The selfish failure of both parties to heed the warnings, and accept the recommendations, of the Bowles-Simpson Commission means that they are effectively advocating kicking the ever-expanding, more massive can down the road. The disastrous result will be to hasten the day when our economy collapses under the weight of our yawning federal deficits and National Debt, already of epic proportions.
The truly moral question, which the conservatives, liberals and many on this website ignore, is the immorality of stealing from our children and future generations to pay for the perceived needs (including our massive social programs) of the current generation. We have already bequeathed them a world with many horrors. I hope we have the moral courage to make the sacrifices necessary to right the many financial wrongs we have already committed.
So what your saying we are gonna need a bigger tree and more rope!
XXX no we have someone buying into the rights hype about SS going broke because the democrats and AARP didn't stop the GOP from destroying the economy. It is rather amusing these types know the number of people collecting yet haven't a clue how many die before collecting or within 5 years of retiring. Nor do they get that SS payments are not just the money the workers paid into it, they forget employers pay and all SS money is invested in treasury bonds, but hey what do you expect from a Fox news watcher, they are so misinformed they think GWB built a retirement home for them on Mars.
Today Clint Eastwood is going to speak before Congress LIVE on CNN at 10:00 am EST.
I'd rather cliff would stop getting his thoughts from Glen Beck. Wrong again cliff funny how you believe that the US borrowed the most from China but reality is China only owns 8% of US debt, so once again cliff proves he is misinformed. The biggest holder of US debt is the SS trust fund all because of your boy George who gave away a surplus and borrowed his way into history just like your idol Ronnie tax cuts pay for themselves Reagan, who never refused to repeat a lie if he got something from it. Also it is rather amusing that you mention the republican darling Madoff, the guy who the GOP worshiped until they found out that it was time to throw him under the bus because Madoff told on the GOP scams.
Rumors going around Boehner is going to be ousted as Speaker and Romney will replace him in a secret ballot.
Boehner has failed miserably, so of course the GOP will reinstate him!
Are we facing a fiscal cliff or a fiscal opportunity? If President Obama wants revenue it looks like he will get some if the current negotiations with congress continue to fizzle and the Bush tax cuts expire. Then, rather than trying to reinstate them for those earning less than a quarter million, which will certainly offend the easily offended Republican led house, he might better try to push through a massive infrastructure program. This is so badly needed it will be difficult to argue that a good portion of the funds realized by letting all the cuts expire, shouldn't go for this purpose. New jobs will be a major plus but it is also time for the government to realize that in the case of infrastructure, if it is broke, you do fix it.
Obama say--If it works for infrastructure, maybe we could try fixing the government. (obamasay.com)
Rachel, regarding your interview with Jared Bernstein,
If you wish to abstain from referring to the looming crisis as a "cliff" (due to Chris Hayes' decision to call it a "curb", I presume?) that's one thing. Your censoring of an honored guest, in this case Jared Bernstein, is another - and something I find quite insulting. Besides, I think Mr. Bernstein may know just a bit more about economics than Mr. Hayes or you. Maybe even combined.
The sequestration might be the best thing we can hope for. Both sides get their way - we cut spending and raise taxes. We'll make a big cut in defense. It'll drag down the economy, but maybe not for long. Republicans will be caught holding the bag. I'm sure they'll find a way to ruin it, but I'll keep my fantasy.
For a group of people who work as politicians, the GOP seems to have forgotten that compromise is what they do for a living. I'm afraid the above is the best we can hope for. This is a deal that is already done - it got done. These people don't seem to know how to make a deal anymore. The GOP has to compromise, somehow. That's the only possible outcome that will allow a deal to be made so the country can move on. Logically and mathematically, this is the only solution. Someone in the GOP has to give. Again, these are supposed to be professionals, and they can't figure it out. They have to compromise, and yet the radicals keep saying they won't budge. It would make a good movie, but I'm not enjoying living through it. I say take the sequestration and let the GOP get counseling.
What are the chances of The American People being able to start an impeachment process "FIRING" The House of Reps for dereliction of duty??
The "Republican" party should be renamed AINO. AMERICAN'S IN NAME ONLY!!
Hell, you call these figures a "recovery" and claim its better. Compared to the bad numbers of the past, these also bad numbers are better? That is stretching optimism a wee bit.What do yall do, sit around a martini bar and tell tall tales? Toppers tellin whoppers then reporting how good things are? Democrat policies and economic growth go together like beer and tofu.
Oh look a Mitt support, to bad for him all he has are GOP lies.