Tick tock: No deal on the fiscal cliff yet; Update: The last hope is …
posted at 9:31 am on December 31, 2012 by Ed Morrissey
I think this is the moment when Harvey Keitel started running after the blue 1966 Thunderbird convertible at the Grand Canyon, isn’t it?
Senate leaders are racing against the clock to reach a “fiscal cliff” deal the House and Senate can approve on New Year’s Eve.
Leaders in the upper chamber narrowed their differences Sunday as Republicans agreed to drop a demand to curb cost-of-living increases to entitlement benefits, while Democrats showed flexibility on taxes.
Yet after months of talks on ways to avoid the fiscal cliff of tax hikes and spending cuts at the end of 2012, House and Senate lawmakers find themselves approaching the new year without a bill to present to their members.
Significant differences remain over two key parts of a deal — the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester and the estate tax.
Instead of working through the night, the Senate recessed at 7:27 p.m. Sunday with plans to reconvene Monday at 11:00 a.m., and the House recessed around the same time.
Without legislative language, the likelihood of stopping the leap seems pretty low. Even if Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell reach a deal this morning, they’d have to schedule a vote by this afternoon — and hope it gets a floor vote with no debate by unanimous consent. What’s the likelihood that Rand Paul will allow that? Remote.
Even if the Senate managed such an effort, the House would have to pass the deal in time for Barack Obama to sign it before midnight. I think the goal now has become to pass a deal before the next Congressional session starts, so that they don’t have to restart the process all over again. That means that the new deadline will be Wednesday, January 2nd, and a deal this morning with legislative language has a decent shot at making it … assuming a deal is reached at all.
Here’s Chuck Todd claiming that the chances of getting a deal “really depends on the political motivations” of the negotiators. In other words … status quo ante, right? This whole crisis generated from political motivations over the last three years. It started with Harry Reid refusing to use the normal budget process in order to shield Democrats from voting for the fiscal consequences of their own spending policies, preferring artificial crises to pressure Republicans into sharing the blame for them; otherwise, we could have resolved all of these disagreements through the usual conference-committee process. Funny how Chuck never mentions that while insisting that it’s the Republicans who are making purely political moves at that point.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Update: Has it gotten this desperate? Help us, Joe-bi-Wan Bidenobi …
With the fiscal cliff just hours away, there is new hope that conversations between Sen. Mitch McConnell and Vice President Joe Biden can produce a deal to avert the financial disaster. Aides say the pair spoke multiple times last night and will continue working toward a solution.
McConnell called the vice president after waiting 18 hours for a counter proposal from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who seemed to throw in the towel.
The thought of Reid getting cut out of the solution may make the pain of the compromise a little easier to take.
Update II: Andrew Malcolm has declared Biden the 2012 Joke of the Year. Maybe the joke will be on Harry Reid …
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I think Cruz is doing a great job, but this was pretty weak. I would have preferred Cruz to point out that given Reid’s failure to do his duty and pass annual budgets it’s not surprising that Reid engages in trivial personal attacks in order to distract attention from his dereliction of duty.
Basilsbest on May 7, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Done
tom daschle concerned on May 7, 2013 at 10:34 PM
He’s a masochist. I bet his fave book is Venus In Furs.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:35 PM
Cruz is the best thing to happen to the Republican party, since McCain’s VP choice in ’08.
The Dems/Media will crucify him, if they can. The establishment Repubs will doubtlessly offer up the necessary silver to seal the deal
Watch your back, Ted. You’re walking amongst a brood of vipers.
TitularHead on May 7, 2013 at 10:37 PM
J-I-B, fool!
Dennis Miller’s lawyer is sending you a cease-and-desist letter.
Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Yeah, right.
Like nonpartisan can actually read…
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Meh, he’s disappointed he got busted so soon, and thouroghly, so the slime is off to some other forum to spew.
cozmo on May 7, 2013 at 10:41 PM
Hope it’s a liberal one. Liberalism always needs a pacifier.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:43 PM
Still waiting on those answers about Vidal, Holy Trinity, Reynolds, and Everson.
You went on the longest dinner run in history.
Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 10:45 PM
Listen, I owe you nothing.
Also, law school was awhile back, and I profess I wasn’t the best of students. And post law school, I decided not to pursue a legal career.
This will be my last post on this matter.
nonpartisan on May 7, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Against you, it’s not the dinner that counts among the trolls.
It’s the run.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:48 PM
I got busted again and have no answer.
cozmo on May 7, 2013 at 10:51 PM
God, I love Cruz! I don’t care if he and I disagree on abortion rather stridently. We need him as president in 2016!
Why? Not enough people have the inner intellectual strength to resist the elite consensus. Cruz has that strength. And the elite consensus is far too often just lunatic.
thuja on May 7, 2013 at 10:51 PM
Too bad it’s not your last post ever.
You’re a failure to your precious Obama. You’re a failure to liberalism.
I hate the idea of what YOU are to your wife and kids, being such a…Well, you being you.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:52 PM
nonpartisan on May 7, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Resist We Much just made you her gib.
HumpBot Salvation on May 7, 2013 at 10:52 PM
None of we Conservatives will fight RWM. She knows what she’s doing.
You liberals will try bucking her, and lose every time.
Against RWM, an entire army of liberals are quite overmatched.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 10:57 PM
reading the posts above, it appears as though the schoolyard is here
ok, so I wasn’t too sure about Cruz to begin with, but he is surely winning me over… I can’t think of anything that needs shaking up more than Dingy Harry’s Senate
whatabunchoflosers on May 7, 2013 at 10:58 PM
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
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Stop it, yer killin’ me!!!
Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 10:58 PM
The attacks on nonpartisan here are just stupid. In politics, it never makes sense to attack people who agree with you.
And let me be clear that I am impervious to social con bullying. You will never see me write anything like “This will be my last post on this matter.” on any matter that I care about. I urge nonpartisan to interpret “this matter” very narrowly, and to continue posting on whatever he feels is worthy. I enjoy what he has to say.
thuja on May 7, 2013 at 10:58 PM
Oh geesh, and here I thought you were slowly clawing your way back to relevance.
cozmo on May 7, 2013 at 11:00 PM
Cruz with another take down. What a bully.
ritewhit on May 7, 2013 at 11:00 PM
You should just copy and paste this post on every thread on every subject:
Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 11:00 PM
nonpartisan got himself into his own quagmire. He could have stpped any time he wanted, but didn’t.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:01 PM
some pols I was hopeful for like Paul Ryan seem to wilt under any pressure
Cruz seems to thrive on it
He is quickly becoming the epitome of the Reaganesque “happy warrior”
CRUZ 2016
thurman on May 7, 2013 at 11:03 PM
thuja on May 7, 2013 at 10:58 PM
Did you forget a sarc tag? If not, do you need a tissue?
rsherwd65 on May 7, 2013 at 11:05 PM
And I bet Sen. Cruz wouldn’t say harsh things about your areas of disagreements.
Cindy Munford on May 7, 2013 at 11:05 PM
Well, take the passion of a Cuban, the laid back nature of a Canook, put it in an American and let it
bakerefry in Texas for a while…cozmo on May 7, 2013 at 11:06 PM
I just read the complete context of nonpartisan’s “This will be my last post on this matter.” I take back what I said. Nonpartisan needs to take a break from political posting and do something to develop self-confidence. His current postings indicate he is an utter loser, but that can be changed. Redemption is possible, but arguing politics on the internet is not the path to redemption. Come back in a year nonpartisan if you learn to feel good about yourself, but this is not the place for you at your current mental state.
Seriously, nonpartisan, I would welcome you as an ally if I thought it would do our joint beliefs any good or you any good, but it benefits neither.
thuja on May 7, 2013 at 11:06 PM
Coming late to the party, thuja is playing second string.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:06 PM
Thuja defends the class idiot…how appropriate ….two peas in a pod….hey Thuja at least you found a thread that didn’t have to do with religion or abortion you simplistic twit.
CW on May 7, 2013 at 11:07 PM
Heh, I doubt you have a high school diploma.
CW on May 7, 2013 at 11:08 PM
After nonpartisan announced that he is a graduate of Harvard Law, he is going to have to do a better job rhetorically. Just when I thought I couldn’t have thought Harvard’s reputation to be more grossly inflated, I am proven wrong.
Cindy Munford on May 7, 2013 at 11:09 PM
Agree with nobrain?
Except it WAS foreseen…by Ambassador Stevens HIMSELF, which is why he pleaded for more security.
So much to agree with! Not.
Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 11:12 PM
Which begs the question: How dare he presume to come here and lecture us? Discussion is one thing; we all try to learn from each other.
But where do these liberals dare presume to come in here and lecture us?
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:12 PM
nonpartisan seems to consider himself an event looking for a place to happen.
Typical liberal, in my book.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:13 PM
@Resist We Much on May 7, 2013 at 11:12 PM
You are right and I was wrong about nonpartisan.
thuja on May 7, 2013 at 11:14 PM
He can happen here as far as I’m concerned. If he wants to be a verbal punching bag, who am I to quibble?
Cindy Munford on May 7, 2013 at 11:19 PM
I have to debate there.
We suffer him, and that’s not right for any of us.
for example, on the day of Sandy Hook, we friends got together to grieve together, to make sense of it all. We really needed each other, to find peace as colleagues.
But…
…Lo and behold! In came the trolls to ruin it all!
They didn’t allow us any time to mourn. Instead — and nonpartisan was one of them — they attacked our hurt with their liberalism. No, they couldn’t join us in grief for five seconds. THEY and their politics were too important for THAT.
nonpartisan and all the other trolls that day, and for a week after, destroyed any notions I held that liberals like nonpartisan are worth consideration.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:26 PM
They don’t want you to find peace or comfort, they want you to be guilty. My biggest fear is that there are more like them than us.
Cindy Munford on May 7, 2013 at 11:30 PM
Ah, Harry really loved it when go along to get along Republicans was the norm. Suddenly he has a problem with the rules (rules can really be a bit*h when you’re in the majority) but I sincerely hope he learns to appreciate those rules, when he returns to the position of Minority Leader next year.
bflat879 on May 7, 2013 at 11:31 PM
I just need to correct this LIE.
I did NOT post on the day of Sandy Hook, even that week iirc.
You are LYING about me. If you claim I posted on that day, then show me one post of mine from that day.
nonpartisan on May 7, 2013 at 11:31 PM
The trolls — nonpartisan included — made fun of us in our grief.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:31 PM
The only thing better than an epic smackdown, is getting to do it again. On the same ground no less.
Convinced it’s some high school kid.
The only thing I would ever do with RWM regarding Law is ask questions.
Highest regard is well deserved. She makes me hit the books.
If someone can point me to a single error, I’d be surprised.
NonP is some kid. If they would admit as much, I would take a different approach.
wolly4321 on May 7, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Let the archives tell. Not that I care.
YOU are a liberal and a troll.
Other trolls did what they did, and you are one of them.
Same thing, really. You have spoken for them and they have spoken for YOU.
I see no difference at all between you and all the other trolls.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Ted Cruz……my President.
PappyD61 on May 7, 2013 at 11:36 PM
They are miserable stupid people, I don’t know what else to say. Eventually they will say something terrible, get banned and some new idiot will come along. I will never understand how we are labelled the awful people.
Cindy Munford on May 7, 2013 at 11:37 PM
Reid is too senile to realize the hole he keeps digging.
GarandFan on May 7, 2013 at 11:37 PM
YOUR own posts tell, for a year, all there is about you. You are just the same as the other trolls. There is really no meaningful difference among you.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:39 PM
“you are lying about me”
You are lying about yourself.
You a Harvard law grad? I’m not. High school drop out.
Tell me, how much wheat should a chicken farmer be allowed to grow?
wolly4321 on May 7, 2013 at 11:42 PM
Liberals are loose, they need to always be ‘justified’ in what they do.
Conservatives, on the other hand, have a basis for ourselves. The Bile, and/or the Constitution. For some, it’s one or the other. For others, it’s both.
Either way, we Conservatives have some solid base. Liberals have no such thing.
“If it feels good, do it!”
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:42 PM
Should bakers be allowed to work overtime in NY?
wolly4321 on May 7, 2013 at 11:45 PM
That depends on the tax rate.
Liam on May 7, 2013 at 11:46 PM
You don’t need to be a Lawyer to read law.
I’m a highschool drop-out nonP. Your Haaaavard.
Let’s discuss the Lochner era.
You are a bullshitting highschool kid.
wolly4321 on May 7, 2013 at 11:51 PM
YOU are still a ghoul, no matter what you did or didn’t do. You were watching that day, but you never came in to grieve with us. I bet you waited for a ‘more opportune’ time to be a liberal.
No surprise there.
YOU are a ghoul, keeping your liberal partisan politics. You know us all after all this time. Why didn’t you grieve with us? Why did you stay away from us that day?
I know these people. Had you come in, without politics, to grieve, we’d have gladly taken you into the fold, as it were.
But you avoided us, though you saw all of us as we truly are, as persons. All for your liberal politics.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I saw YOU as you are.
So don’t you ever again dare lecture me or anyone else around here.
Liam on May 8, 2013 at 12:00 AM
You’re welcome, America.
Love.
Texas
txag92 on May 8, 2013 at 12:07 AM
Down here in the Lone Star state we sure are proud to have voted Ted Cruz into the Senate to shake up the club and especially dingy Harry. Well done-classy! You go Ted. Whoop!
3dpuzzman on May 8, 2013 at 12:14 AM
Busted again… How about three?
And, there are many, many, many more…
Resist We Much on May 8, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Sheesh, Esquire!
The rest of us are tearing his soul(?) apart. That’s cheap and easy, off the cuff. You don’t need the archives to get it don’t.
Besides, he’s too stupid to read all you have. Dr. Seuss would overload his circuits.
Liam on May 8, 2013 at 12:39 AM
Thread’s hopping, so you might not feel like it ATM. But for reference, John the Bastard Is Alive and Well.
Axe on May 8, 2013 at 12:42 AM
You’ve got to be kidding.
Axe on May 8, 2013 at 12:45 AM
Whoever paid for that Harvard degree wasted a bunch of money for nada.
Schadenfreude on May 8, 2013 at 12:47 AM
Liberals take sport in our grief, seeking weakness and a place to exploit.
If Sarah Palin lost Trig, liberals like our trolls would laugh at her tears.
Liberals are total heartless scum.
Liam on May 8, 2013 at 12:47 AM
yeap the liberals are sharpening their knives for Cruz. And if not for that VP choice in 2008 Cruz wouldn’t be in the senate today. Instead we would have the rove/Bush approved jr senator from TX instead of a real conservative like Cruz.
I can’t wait for 2014 and see what other great conservatives the Palin/Cruz team can get into congress.
unseen on May 8, 2013 at 12:58 AM
Ted Cruz.. The best hope we have right now that a giant is there to maybe fill Reagan’s shoes..
Go Ted.. We’ll be with you.
mark81150 on May 8, 2013 at 2:23 AM
Preach it, Bro.
TitularHead on May 8, 2013 at 3:06 AM
It was Shakespearean!
Basically Cruz just went Anthony on Brutus…I mean Harry Reid!
After all Reid is a candid man…
Cruz was born to be President.
William Eaton on May 7, 2013 at 10:27 PM
First thing I thought of when I read Cruz’s remarks! Another poster did as well when he posted the quote from Antony’s speech.
txmomof6 on May 8, 2013 at 4:05 AM
Reid is such a scumbag.
John the Libertarian on May 8, 2013 at 4:36 AM
Well done…Sarah!
Don L on May 8, 2013 at 4:46 AM
As they say on the game show. “Good answer.” Almost as cool as Cruz.
Don L on May 8, 2013 at 4:49 AM
thuja feeds on aborted fetuses. She loves butchering babies more than anything. Please stop feeding thuja.
John the Libertarian on May 8, 2013 at 5:08 AM
Guess who couldn’t pass the bar.
talkingpoints on May 8, 2013 at 6:13 AM
Looks like it’s time for another long, long dinner break.
bigmacdaddy on May 8, 2013 at 6:15 AM
They keep using “esteemed” and “honorable” when talking about politicians.
I don’t think those words mean what they think those words mean.
LoganSix on May 8, 2013 at 6:25 AM
…you were an affirmitive action student…and you were too stupid to get a government job?
KOOLAID2 on May 8, 2013 at 6:35 AM
thuja is a…ggggiiiirrrrllll?
22044 on May 8, 2013 at 7:13 AM
Nonpartisan claims to have gone to Harvard Law?
That’s funny. I doubt very much that she went to law school at all, but if she did, it was to a third tier school at best.
Monkeytoe on May 8, 2013 at 7:38 AM
What’s funny is that demon-crats bully people* all the time and it gets little, or no coverage by the MSM.
Well, the shoe’s on the other foot and Cruz is trying to get Reid and company to give us back our hard earned lunch money.
*Condi, Justice Thomas, Palin, President Bush, Romney (just last week), tax payers and businesses (big & small).
kregg on May 8, 2013 at 7:59 AM
That was really pretty hilarious.
I think more republicans should respond to the disingenuous ploys of the democrats.
Deep delicious sarcasm.
Karmashock on May 8, 2013 at 8:13 AM
Brilliant post.
ToddPA on May 8, 2013 at 8:39 AM
OMG. That was a thing of beauty.
totherightofthem on May 8, 2013 at 8:46 AM
I agree with Carville: The GOP hasn’t seen a talent like Cruz for the last 30 years. Plus he’s fearless.
petefrt on May 8, 2013 at 8:51 AM
This made me laugh out loud.
totherightofthem on May 8, 2013 at 8:59 AM
/better
roy_batty on May 8, 2013 at 9:35 AM
I love Ted Cruz. He drives the Obama cultists crazy because he is very effective. They are trying to discredit him, but it’s not working. Cruz is no Palin! He will demolish and devour all you amnesty-pushing, tax-raising, gun-grabbing, America-bashing, “occupy Wall Street”-supporting bums and spit you out. And he won’t break a sweat while doing it. Tangle with Cruz at your peril. This isn’t a man who runs and hides from a fight.
bluegill on May 8, 2013 at 9:41 AM
I think Cruz is doing a great job, but this was pretty weak. I would have preferred Cruz to point out that given Reid’s failure to do his duty and pass annual budgets it’s not surprising that Reid engages in trivial personal attacks in order to distract attention from his dereliction of duty.
Basilsbest on May 7, 2013 at 10:33 PM
That was weak? Dude, that was a sharp stick in Reid’s eye. Ted is something else, he totally gets it
MMinCanonCity on May 8, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Nonpartisan claims to have gone to Harvard Law?
And yesterday nonintelligent was telling us how young he/she is. It won’t give any specifics at all, ever.
NotCoach on May 8, 2013 at 9:45 AM
Yeah, I agree.
Use the budget weapon another day.
22044 on May 8, 2013 at 9:46 AM
This Harry Reid guy may well dispel the notion you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. He hasn’t learned yet though.
DanMan on May 8, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Oh. So that’s the sound of a bitch being slapped!
nukemhill on May 8, 2013 at 10:05 AM
Yes!
Resist We Much on May 8, 2013 at 10:09 AM
It is as ‘smart’ as Obama.
Schadenfreude on May 8, 2013 at 10:48 AM
I wonder if that would have violated the spirit of the rules of the Senate, on how one refers to the other members. The Senate has odd rules. And even if Reid violates them, or very nearly violates them, doesn’t mean Cruz should too.
Paul-Cincy on May 8, 2013 at 10:52 AM
I wonder if that would have violated the spirit of the rules of the Senate, on how one refers to the other members. The Senate has odd rules. And even if Reid violates them, or very nearly violates them, doesn’t mean Cruz should too.
I can assure you that Senator Cruz very carefully did follow the letter and the spirit of those Senate rules. His civility in getting adverse points across is really Senatorial – a far cry from some of the dunces now sitting in that body, who succeed only because of a fawning mainstream media which call them out on neither boorishness nor mendacity.
Insufficiently Sensitive on May 8, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Ooh, ooh, teabagging reference!!!!1!11!1! Now where’s Ahole Cooper??
Nutstuyu on May 8, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Garden variety no doubt.
Nutstuyu on May 8, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Oh, well. Can’t have everything, I guess. He’s still pretty good, though.
I think the biggest difference between these two is that Cruz is a very intellectual guy, almost wonkish. He’s what Bork might have been on the Supreme Court. He represents intellectual conservative-power continually firing on all cylinders.
In contrast, Palin, at least to me, represents the American Spirit personified. She’s Joan of Arc of America (at least to me). She’s a symbol of everything decent, good and strong in our country. She’s the spirit of the Founding Fathers–even if, unfortunately, we live in corrupt times so that her message has been belittled and marginalized.
I will root for Cruz and hope he continues to demolish stupid liberals who can’t keep up with his big brain; as for Palin, I will trust her gut and wherever she leads, I’ll follow.
Burke on May 8, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Leave us not forget – Palin was muzzled by the McCain Machine during the campaign, just think back on what she’s done to them SINCE.
Palin and Cruz, what a one-two punch, with Paul the Younger as a follow up.
PJ Emeritus on May 8, 2013 at 3:44 PM
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