The political knifes are drawn

[skysidhe]

tease

[footfootfoot]

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by bluecuracao

If they're going to filibuster, they should have to do it the right way. Stand up there and talk the entire time, with no bathroom breaks!

I thought the original tax cuts were passed using reconciliation to avoid a filibuster. The reason for the 10 year limit was that even some Republicans realized that it was a debt bomb.

Why not just use reconciliation again to extend the legislation or just write new legislation?

[Lamplighter]

Voice of America
Dec 4, 2010
President Obama Returns Home After Afghanistan Visit

The president landed unannounced in Afghanistan Friday for an almost four hour visit,
days before the White House is set to release a much anticipated review of the increasingly unpopular war.
Bad weather forced the White House to cancel plansfor the president to meet
face-to-face with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.
He instead held a phone conversation with Mr. Karzai from the air base.

Yeah sure... damn Kabul weather
----------

Politico
Dec 4, 2010
Senate takes up tax cut extension

The Senate opened a rare weekend session Saturday to cast test votes on two
Democratic tax-cut measures that were widely expected to fail.

But Senate Democrats, who are eager to create a contrast with Republicans over the Bush-era tax cuts,
pushed for the doomed votes as it became clear that they would ultimately need to accept a deal
that ran contrary to their campaign promises over the last 10 years.

Obama negotiating strategy:
Give away, Compromise away, Run away... far away

He still seems to think that if he can work with the Republicans, he will be re-elected in 2012.
The only way Obama can now regain credibility on this is to veto the Republican bill.

I may end up changing my signature line to "Elections don't matter"

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by skysidhe

Really, wasn't Cheney all over Bush?

Not really an issue since "Don't ask, don't tell" doesn't apply to the executive branch.

[Lamplighter]

Dec 4, 2010 10: 55 EST

The Obama tax plan to eliminate taxes on families earning $250K or less was defeated
by a Senate "cloture" vote on the Baucus Amendment of: YES: 53 NO 36.
In effect, 60 votes were needed to avoid fillibuster.

The next vote on taxes (today) will be on the Schumer Amendment that eliminates taxes on families earning $1M or less.

[Lamplighter]

Dec 4, 2010 11: 19 EST

The Obama tax plan to permanently eliminate taxes on families earning $1million or less
AND extend unemployment benefits for 1 year was defeated
by a Senate "cloture" vote on the Schumer Amendment of: YES: 53 NO 37.

In effect, 60 votes were needed to avoid filibuster.

[Lamplighter]

Right after the vote, Sen McConnell addressed the Senate saying 100% of the Republicans and Obama
voted NO on the Schumer Amendment ????

And here I thought Obama's top news for today was this:

Reuters News
Obama lauds U.S., South Korean trade deal

Dec 4 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Saturday a new trade deal with South Korea
will boost U.S. annual exports of automobile, agricultural products and other goods and services by $11 billion.

Sorry, I've got to learn to keep my priorities straight.

[Pico and ME]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I'm saying that while Cheney might have been Bush's foreman, he wasn't the General Contractor, the Architect, or the Client.

Or one of the owners...

[footfootfoot]

It is a shame he died so young.

That's why it's called "The American Dream" because you have to be asleep to believe it.

[Lamplighter]

Voice of America reported:

Bad weather forced the White House to cancel plans for the president to meet face-to-face with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

So the best you so-prideful "liberals" -- when you aren't very -- can come up with is a cloudy maundering about conspiracies, page 1 of the thread?

Good Christ, you people could all benefit from a year's subscription to National Review.

You may either continue mental masturbation, or you might just learn how and why I sound like I do.

_______________
"Come, my songs, let us speak of perfection;
We shall get ourselves rather disliked."

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

You may either continue mental masturbation, or you might just learn how and why I sound like I do.

I think I just figured it out...

[TheMercenary]

Last time I checked the dems still had the majority and
could have swayed the vote with 100% votes by dems. So the blame still
is with the dems on this one too. They didn't defeat the bill only the
vote to limit debate and bring it to the floor through an open and
transparent process, something the Dems have done over and over in
Congress. Their attempts to Rham things down the throats of the American
people through cloture are over. Bring the bill to the floor and let
them debate on it, so that was what they really prevented, an all or
none up or down vote on an otherwise potentially useful solution. As
evidenced in the article, both dems and repubs voted against the bill.
(pg 2). Everyone knows that any revenue raised by these taxes on the
"rich" will not go to reduce the deficit, because nothing in the bills
states that the income gathered from the bill will go only to deficit
reduction, it will be spent on more programs and continues the progress
ideals of "tax and spend", the very thing that lead to a loss of the
election in Nov, the rest of the voters get it.
(see page 1 article)

Bottom line is that it was political grandstanding by the Dems as their last final attempt to frame the Repulickins as the party of the rich. More attempts to foster a class warfare between haves and have nots. Same ole BS. The Republickins now have the responsibility to make stuff happen, if they don't they will be out at the next election. The people have had enough of the BS. I know I have.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/45953.html

[Lamplighter]

After a good rant and a good night's sleep, I'm in a much better mood.

Now the country knows the two primary addictions of the Republican leadership:

1) @ Senator Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader:
Primary mission: Make Obama a one term president.
Rules of Engagement: Take no prisoners.

2) @ 100% of the Republican Senators concur :
Secondary mission: Full steam ahead on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires
Rules of Engagement: Do what you have to do, increased federal deficit be damned.

---

By the way, if you are unemployed and thought you were getting those unemployment benefits
you paid for while you were working, you are mistaken.
Republicans tell us those benefits just make you lazy.

Get your off your ass and get out there and take any work offered.
Minimum wage jobs are just fine.
If you're greedy and want more $ for your family, take two jobs.

Part time jobs are even better because it makes you more productive.
Medical benefits just entice to the doctor's office when you should be at work.
Obamacare will take care of you until Republicans can repeal it.
Maybe if you're a sexy waitress, you'll get tips to supplement your pay.

Oh, if you do have a job now, get busy brown-nosing because you will want to be the one chosen
to train your replacement when your job is shipped overseas.
Maybe you'll even get to use up all your vacation time,
and learn what the COBRA plan means for you.

------

UG reports that global warming is cooling down because there are fewer jobs generating all that human activity.

There now, see, the week is looking better already, and it's only Monday.
Have a nice day