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Probably the telling sign that we shouldn’t expect a deal regarding the fiscal cliff in the near future is that Speaker John Boehner is going back home to Ohio this weekend. While it is true that Boehner and President Obama can always talk on the phone, when you have a negotiation involving so many moving parts there is no substitute for being in the same place with not only the principles, but also the analysis, aides, and number crunchers.
If there were a deal or even the possibility of being very close to a deal, it is highly unlikely Boehner would be going home this weekend. Instead, he would be in Washington so if they rushed they could get a bill drafted, scored, and voted on before Christmas.
At this point it is becoming increasingly clear that we shouldn’t expect anything until around January 1st. That is when we are either likely to get a last minute action that only fixes the fake crisis Congress created for itself, or they will try to ramp through a horrible deal claiming “there is no time to even read it because the economy will implode if it is not approved in the next 30 minutes.”
Right now the former seems more likely given how many times Obama has tried and failed to get a grand bargain. A bill just dealing with the tax cuts and few months continuing resolutions delaying most of the spending cuts would take all the elevation out of the so called fiscal cliff.
Photo from Speaker Boehner under Creative Commons license.
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“A bill just dealing with the tax cuts and few months continuing resolutions delaying most of the spending cuts would take all the elevation out of the so called fiscal cliff.”
So, as has been stated here many times, the fiscal “cliff” really is just a fiscal mirage.
I’m glad that Obama isn’t going to get his “grand bargain”, which he has a pathological obsession about. I don’t feel like having austerity in the US just because Obama and his GOP friends think it’s awesome.
These two are the functionaries for the PTB and not “the deciders”.
Two stops along the way.
1. The liquor store.
2. Home Depot. They’re having a sale on orange paint…
I’m really sick of this asshole’s “low taxes, “job creators” bullshit…
Isn’t that how we get all of our (mostly bad) legislation, like the PATRIOT Act, etc. While cigars are not allowed in these meetings, I’m tired of our government being run in secret, without niceities such as hearings and testimony.
I’m sure that there is a reasonable answer, but when the median income is $50K, why is $250K (the top 4%) considered “middle class” for tax cuts?
I’m not so sure that isn’t necessarily a good thing.
I dont; trust either one of them. ‘Specially not Boehner. He’s a dastardly, despicable example of a public servant. Frequently beneath contempt. And a wussy crybaby to boot.
I’d bet he used to get beat up coming home from school every other day.
#2 LOL!!!
Now, you know I usually agree with you BUT……. the orange man gets his “spray tan” from Walgreens, “Ban de Soleil”. Comes in a package of two spray bottles for $18.98 + tax. Bottle lasts about a month.
Uhhhhhhhh, so I’m told.
I stand corrected.
Maybe he and the President can squeeze in another round of golf?
Careful using it on your knees and elbows.
So I’m told.
remember cost of living from the most expensive real estate areas of the country are far different from the lowest real estate cost areas. i make a little over a hundred k a year in an expensive state. coupled with alimony payments it cuts you down to size. i always wonder how much less income it would take to live the same if i lived in a cheap state with no alimony. for all the trolls whose knee jurk reaction is to advise me to move-Bite me
$250k less 30% for taxes works out to $3365/wk income. If that is middle class and the median income is $50k before taxes that is the proof America is failing in math.
Barring monkeybreath’s whine @11, I guess that’s the best answer I’ve heard.
BTW, the median applies to high cost areas, too. I guess the $50K people should move out of your city.
In discussing what determines the middle class, I think it is important to recognize that what one does with the money earned and how it is earned is just as important has how much is earned.
There are neighborhoods adjacent to mine where I suspect many family incomes fall into the $200K plus range. Their houses are bigger than mine along with their mortgage. They drive fancier cars and perhaps take vacations. But they still earn their money through wages and spend most of it.
They are drivers of our consumer based economy not members of the investment class.
We know Boehner is talking with his members of Congress. I haven’t heard anything about Obama talking with Democrat groups. Are they even in on the conversation? I’m not sure I want to hear the answer…
Thanks for saying what I was thinking.
We’re probably better off with Obama and Boehner not coming to any agreement. Sheesh.
But I do fear that if Obama can’t make cuts to SS and Medicare this go round, he’ll set up –or help set up– another fake crisis where he can once again put the two programs on the cutting block, er, table.
Is median income based on only those earning wages? Or does it include the zero income of the unemployed?