The President Did Most Of The Talking (THAT'S the way to 'negotiate' with republicans)

[bigtree]

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from Jonathan Karl at ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/major-setbacks-in-fiscal-cliff-negotiations/


And a top Democratic aide says, “The Republicans have taken to screaming at us.”

And sources familiar with the call last night between Boehner and Obama – which lasted 30 minutes – as “unproductive” and “blunt.” One source said the president did most of the taking: explaining why he will insist that tax rates go up.

“Right now, the only thing preventing us from reaching a deal that averts the fiscal cliff and avoids a tax hike on 98 percent of Americans is the refusal of Congressional Republicans to ask the very wealthiest individuals to pay higher tax rates,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. “The President has already signed into law over $1 trillion in spending cuts and we remain willing to do tough things to compromise, and it’s time for Republicans in Washington to join the chorus of other voices – from the business community to middle class Americans across the country – who support a balanced approach that asks more from the wealthiest Americans.”

read: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/major-setbacks-in-fiscal-cliff-negotiations/



from Ezra Klein at WaPo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/29/obama-to-gop-i-wont-negotiate-with-myself/?wprss=rss_business

Obama to GOP: I’m done negotiating with myself. ”We’re seeing two things here. One is that the negotiations aren’t going well. When one side begins leaking the other side’s proposals, that’s typically a bad sign. The other is that Republicans are frustrated at the new Obama they’re facing: The Obama who refuses to negotiate with himself…Perhaps the key lesson the White House took from the last couple of years is this: Don’t negotiate with yourself. If Republicans want to cut Medicare, let them propose the cuts. If they want to raise revenue through tax reform, let them identify the deductions. If they want deeper cuts in discretionary spending, let them settle on a number. And, above all, if they don’t like the White House’s preferred policies, let them propose their own.”

read: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/29/obama-to-gop-i-wont-negotiate-with-myself/?wprss=rss_business

[BeyondGeography]

1. Love the sound of Republicans screaming

It's really simple: We won on this issue. Deal with it.

[geckosfeet]

2. Finally.

Waiting to see the repuglycant response (besides the temper tantrum), but this is a very interesting opening.

Bravo Mr.President and White House.

[jollyreaper2112]

3. goddamn

I need a cigarette and I don't even smoke.

[frazzled]

4. When the Republicans kept saying "The President has to lead on this"

They thought his leading would mean his presenting a proposal THEY could accept: something he thought was reasonably in the middle and that they would see as conciliatory. This time, he's not falling for that trick. He's laid his best cards on the table. Now it's their turn to spell out for the American people exactly what THEIR plan is.

Of course there will be negotiation in the end, and compromises on both sides. But this is the way to negotiate: come in with your best hand and force the other side to lay their cards on the table.

[wiggs]

5. This is similar to a story about the start of POTUS's first term, when he accepted an invitation

to meet at a GOP luncheon...gop was ready to pounce, hundreds against one but Obama ate their lunches instead, doing most of the talking and giving them a lecture on the way things were. It was generally seen as a huge victory for Obama, mistake by gop. He can do it...and this time perhaps he KNOWS it won't result in better discourse because he knows them now and he already has backup plans to get to a solution more quickly.

[JDPriestly]

6. Republicans boast about their business acumen.

Well, as any businessman knows, you can't sell Porsches to the penniless.

Conversely, you can't balance the budget by taking from the penniless money they don't have.

There is only one place to get enough money to end our deficit problem (assuming that is what our problem is, and that is yet to be proved): tax those who have money.

Unfortunately, those who have money happen to be that minority we describe and label as "rich," "wealthy," the over $200,000 per year crowd.

If the Republicans have some other way to satisfy their demand for deficit reduction, let them show the American people the details.

If it involves cuts to essential social programs, Republicans can forget it. The American people will vote them out of office. And they know it, which is why they are not presenting their "plan." (The minute they reveal the details of their demands, their gooses are cooked for 2014.)

Democrats, good job. Keep fighting.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. K&R

[heaven05]

8. bout time

I see some steel in democratic leadership spines.

[Stellar]

9. 'Mornin Joke' was pretending he was sooo infuriated

about that this morning, HA!

[maddiemom]

10. When WILL the Republicans ever get it?

Except for gerrymandering in many districts that allowed them control of the House, the U.S. voters are turning away from their policies. It can only get worse for them in future as voting demographics continue to change. Way past time for them to take stock as to representing their changing constituency. The nation's in serious trouble and basically calling the victims of this " moochers" doesn't help. Special thanks to them for nominating the poster boy for outsourcing and offshore money. Admittedly the other potential candidates were crazier, and the sane ones (Huntsman) marginalized. Why hasn't the Party learned from this?