Why they want to go over the cliff
For many Republicans, a cliff dive means blaming President Barack Obama for a big tax hike in the short term and then voting to cut taxes for most Americans next month. That’s an easier sell back home in Republican-heavy districts than a pre-cliff deal that raises taxes on folks making over $250,000 or $400,000, extends unemployment benefits and does little if anything to curb entitlement spending. If they back a bad deal now, they run the risk of facing primary challenges in two years.
For Democrats, the cliff is better than setting a rich man’s cutoff in the million-dollar range — or worse yet, extending the Bush tax cuts for all earners — and slashing Medicare and Social Security to appease Republicans. They, too, see an advantage in negotiating with Republicans who will feel freed from their promise not to vote to raise taxes once the rates have already gone up.
Plus, Obama’s polling in the mid-50s on his handling of the fiscal cliff situation, according to Gallup. Republicans are mired in the 20s. Why cave to the GOP when the president is winning?
In this way, what seems like the height of irresponsibility can be explained rationally.
Blowback
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Thank you, Captain Obvious.
stvnscott on December 28, 2012 at 12:40 PM
It’s simple – the Democrats want to raise the rates on the higher earners. They get that even if they do nothing. So why negotiate to reduce what they’re going to get anyway?
JeffWeimer on December 28, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Some Americans (tens to hundred of millions, apparently) will only learn through pain and hardship.
And even then, they still probably won’t.
Jeddite on December 28, 2012 at 12:54 PM
If Boehner had any stones, he’d announce that he’ll allow Obama’s $250k^ but will refuse to allow any further increases in the debt ceiling. Tell them he’ll secure enough “Present” votes in the house to let it pass. If Obama comes to him for another cent, they should prepare to either default on our debt or pass the Ryan Plan.
The Count on December 28, 2012 at 12:54 PM
So long as they all ‘win’, to hell with the land and the people.
Relatively free fools and weasels always deserve the charlatans who ‘lead’ them.
The once freest land is now the stupidest.
Enjoy your destroyer, idiots.
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I hope they go over the cliff, heads first, Obama, Boehner and Reid leading.
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2012 at 12:58 PM
LOL. How did the Sequester come into being, to begin with? These idiots act as if aliens dropped this sequester on us out of nowhere. How is it that this is “the height of irresponsibility” now (politico claims it certainly seems like that and would be if the sequester went into effect) and yet no one said anything like that about the Sequester when these idiots first agreed on it – no one except for conservatives who said that it was stupid and that the gutting of defense more than anything else in it was absolutely insane?
It is just amazing how everyone is acting as if none of the idiots who fashioned the sequester are responsible for it, including the idiots who fashioned and voted for it. I’m really tired of this stupidity.
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on December 28, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Nah. I figure if Boehner had any stones, he’d pass a balanced budget out of the house and dare the Senate to shut down the government. See who blinks first. No mamby pamby continuing resolutions, never ever. No dept of Education, et al, and all other non-constitutional cabinet secs and departments reduced to 10-15 person advisory committees. Should’ve done that 2 years ago, or actually many years ago.
Fenris on December 28, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Stopping the feral government from borrowing more does not imply default. They take in more than enough cash to service the debt. Barky is the one who pushed that lie that the US would default on some $20 bil/mnth in debt service if the debt ceiling wasn’t raised, but that was always total BS as they take in over $200 bil/mnth in receipts. The only reason that default was even talked about was because Barky threatened it, in clear violation of the 14th amendment. The Crybaby was too stupid to fight back against this total BS before but you should refrain from repeating Barky’s lie. Not raising the debt ceiling would cause serious cuts to programs but would not imperil debt service.
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on December 28, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Well, we passed the Ryan Budget which went nowhere.
The problem is that a slim majority of the country are TMZ/Real Housewives/Honey Boo Boo watching idiots who think we can tax the rich our way out of this. That’s what Obama and his apparatchiks in the media told them in the 15 minutes they spent following current events last year, so that’s what they believe and voted accordingly.
How do you break through to morons? I think we have to let the $250k go because when the economy continues to stall we keep slamming against the debt ceiling, they won’t have any excuses. Or, maybe they will, but I just can’t think of what they would be since this and Big Bird were about the only things they ran on.
The Count on December 28, 2012 at 1:15 PM
How to break through? Well, reality will hit eventually. You can’t print money forever, but you can for a really long time. Like the proverbial boiling a frog in water, our standard of living will deteriorate. I’m not sure there will be a breakthrough, but if there is, it will be due to reality and a broad social movement. Politicians will have to follow, they’ve shown no ability to lead.
Fenris on December 28, 2012 at 1:23 PM
Point taken, but I think it’s moot anyway: Obama would just bypass Congress anyway while claiming to have saved us from default by kamikaze Republicans. That’s how he does business, and it’s not like his half the country cares if they even know what happened. And, if they did, they’d probably support it.
Sure, we can drag it out in court, probably settle it sometime after 2016. Of course, I’m still waiting to see what ever became of his non-recess recess appointments. Did we even challenge that in court?
The Count on December 28, 2012 at 1:26 PM
History suggests that reversing socialism usually doesn’t work once you’ve already started down that road. Usually, it goes in the opposite direction. Look at Greece, France.
The Count on December 28, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Probably right, sad to say.
Fenris on December 28, 2012 at 1:37 PM
Sounds good to me.
Paul-Cincy on December 28, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Most of the country does not even know what is going on.
If the public doesn’t even know what good is anything else?
The root of our problem is a corrupt media. If we don’t fight that everyone reading this is just pissing into the wind.
How are we going to fight?
GardenGnome on December 28, 2012 at 2:33 PM
I really like this idea!
8 weight on December 28, 2012 at 2:46 PM