Gallup
Poll: 82% say it’s extremely or very important to avoid fiscal cliff
Although about a quarter of both Republicans and Democrats say it would be best for the country if the other side compromised more, two-thirds of both groups say both sides should compromise equally. In short, rank-and-file Republicans and Democrats across the country are to a significant degree willing to forfeit philosophical purity in order to avoid the fiscal cliff.
In contrast, Americans have quite mixed views regarding how likely it is that both sides will comprise. About a quarter predict that both sides will compromise equally, while 34% say neither side will compromise, with the rest about evenly split between saying Republicans or Democrats will compromise more.
Blowback
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Doubled over, laughing
djl130 on November 14, 2012 at 3:33 PM
I can’t imagine why. Let the cuts come, and let the taxes rise. These things need to happen either way.
ernesto on November 14, 2012 at 3:33 PM
82% need to STFD STFU and FOAD, they reelected the man dedicated to driving America over that fiscal cliff, they no longer have any right to say jack shit.
SWalker on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
They say one thing yet vote another. We haven’t had a budget in 4 years. What makes these people think it’s going to get better after voting against their sudden interest in fiscal responsibility?
HotAirian on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
I want my cake, and eat it too!
portlandon on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Well, thank god they put Obama back in charge then.
Gatsu on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Gee, ya think? The problem is this is a no win scenario. It’s not like kicking the can down the road is gonna be an option for much longer.
Doughboy on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
Doing nothing=genius in Obammunism Amerika.
tom daschle concerned on November 14, 2012 at 3:36 PM
America decided to commit suicide and reelect Obama. NOW they’re scared of cliffs?
Rocks on November 14, 2012 at 3:36 PM
How many people believe it’s also very important to avoid swimming in chummed water near the Great Barrier Reef.
Bishop on November 14, 2012 at 3:36 PM
Don’t ask for a show of hands.
portlandon on November 14, 2012 at 3:38 PM
LET… IT… BURN…
Or as NASA would say, “go with throttle up!”
Rixon on November 14, 2012 at 3:39 PM
The House should pass something just giving Obama the power to raise taxes/cut spending as he sees fit, as long as it meets the deficit reductions required. Make him own this mess.
LukeinNE on November 14, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Eighty-two percent of the people don’t even know who Fiscal Cliff is.
NoNails on November 14, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Elections have consequences.
the_nile on November 14, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Appalling xenophobia. Cliffophobia.
the_nile on November 14, 2012 at 3:43 PM
The other 18% want to know when they’ll be getting their Obama phones.
The Zoo Keeper on November 14, 2012 at 3:43 PM
I hate to say it but I pretty much agree. If we get actual, substantial spending cuts, I’ll stomach the tax increases.
Doomberg on November 14, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Nah, bring on the fiscal cliff.
Let it burn.
The Rogue Tomato on November 14, 2012 at 3:44 PM
Its near the grand canyon right?
Gatsu on November 14, 2012 at 3:44 PM
So NOW the 60% of unregistered voters, the 30% of registered voters that did not vote, AND the Willard bench warmers are all wee wee’d up? TOO BAD! You get what you work for, and since you did NOT A THING to keep this from occuring you WILL pay for it, like it or not.
You cannot fix stupid, nor can you force a jacka$$ to drink.
DannoJyd on November 14, 2012 at 3:45 PM
Forward.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 3:46 PM
DannoJyd on November 14, 2012 at 3:45 PM
Forward.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Can’t really add to that. Thank you.
kim roy on November 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM
So what’s the choice?
1) Lose all the Bush tax cuts, raise all the taxes like we lowered all the taxes… why would anyone complain that we let the “evil BOOOSH tax cuts FOR THE RICH!” expire?
1a) Have some serious spending cuts, and limitation on future spending.
2) TAX THE RICH and then SPEND TRILLIONS MORE INTO DEBT.
I’m going to go with door #1 here… if my choice is to jump off the cliff now; or to drive another 10,000 feet up the mountain and get pushed off the top, then going over the “cliff” now might be our best of a series of bad options.
gekkobear on November 14, 2012 at 3:51 PM
Well too bad.
Elections Have Consequences
Let. It. Burn.
gregbert on November 14, 2012 at 3:52 PM
I’m pretty sure voters didn’t just say that. In fact, I think they opted for Ludicrous Speed.
Editor on November 14, 2012 at 3:55 PM
I blame; bush, the media, oh and don’t forget the joooooossssss.
D-fusit on November 14, 2012 at 3:59 PM
I only ask one thing:
Whatever our newly-bipartisan politicians come up with in their Grand Bargain, once signed into law, the results should be referred to as the “Current Tax Policy”.
If the Dems or Reps want to raise the rates on the rich, or the middle-class… heck, even the poor, it should be called what it is: a new tax hike, NOT extending the “Bush Tax Cuts”.
I would (almost) agree to that trade.
Droopy on November 14, 2012 at 4:01 PM
Nice summary. I’m in 100% agreement. Time to take the bad medicine.
Doomberg on November 14, 2012 at 4:01 PM
These polls mean nothing.
You might ask how many people prefer reality to fantasy.
I’m sure those numbers are not encouraging.
And they also mean nothing.
What people believe and what they’ll actually vote for are two different things.
Badger40 on November 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Here cliffy, cliffy, cliffy…
L.I.B.
Fallon on November 14, 2012 at 4:04 PM
One more thing:
I think their were two mandates resulting from the 2012 election…
1) Most Americans really like that cool, even-tempered, mixed-race fellow, and elected him to be the country’s spokesperson.
2) Most of America elected fiscal conservatives to the chamber that holds the purse strings to make sure the spokesperson doesn’t do anything stupid.
Please honor our wishes.
Droopy on November 14, 2012 at 4:08 PM
So does nominating a moderate. Sure-fire way of giving voters the distinct impression that we’re going over the cliff anyway. Don’t blame them.
ddrintn on November 14, 2012 at 4:23 PM
Here’s hoping the R’s have figured out how to play chess instead of checkers.
txhsmom on November 14, 2012 at 4:26 PM
I just hope they haven’t lost their marbles.
Fallon on November 14, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Apparently not extremely or very important enough to sway a vote.
theperfecteconomist on November 14, 2012 at 4:33 PM
Then they voted for the wrong party.
Esthier on November 14, 2012 at 4:51 PM
If we’re going to drive off the fiscal cliff, could we do it in a Government Motors Volt?
moo on November 14, 2012 at 4:54 PM
Americans agree that it’s important to get our financial house in order and the majority agrees that Republicans are not qualified to do it. #NovemberSix2012
Mmm...Burritos on November 14, 2012 at 5:01 PM
You mean seize the means of production?
See you under the klieg lights comrade.
tom daschle concerned on November 14, 2012 at 5:07 PM
Those streams of consciousness in between naps must really be annoying.
lynncgb on November 14, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Really??!!??..
Dire Straits on November 14, 2012 at 6:03 PM