Obama’s new approach to deficit reduction to include spending on entitlements

[onehandle]

Source: Washington Post

President Obama this week will lay out a new approach to reducing the nation’s soaring debt, proposing reductions in spending on entitlements such as Medicare and Medicaid and renewing his call for tax increases on the rich.

In an effort to go on the offensive in the battle over government spending, Obama will look for cuts in “all corners of government,” senior adviser David Plouffe said on several Sunday talk shows.

Although Obama’s health-care law is projected to curtail Medicare spending over time, “we have to do more,” Plouffe said Sunday, marking the first time the administration has made an explicit commitment to changes in entitlement programs for the purpose of deficit reduction.

Contrasting the president’s approach with what Republican leaders have put forward, Plouffe said Obama will use a “scalpel” and not a “machete” as he seeks to preserve funding for education and other areas he considers crucial to the country’s long-term economic success.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obamas-new-approach-to-deficit-reduction-to-include-spending-on-entitlements/2011/04/04/AFpDoDHD_story.html?hpid=z1

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Oh, no, he's got it all wrong. It' supposed to be

tax CUTS for the rich.

Oh, wait, I bet that tax increase stuff is the part he left in to negotiate away.

[RedCloud]

69. it should be "I'll talk left, but I will act right!"

These entitlements are NOT negotiable!

[Born Free]

139. thank you sir, may I have another....

It reminds me of an individual that enjoys being abused, problem is he is asking for all the working people to be abused over and over again

[vi5]

2. "going on the offensive"

I do not think that phrase means what they think it means.

And if Obama or anyone in his admin thinks what he's doing or has done can be described as "going on the offensive" then they are even more delusional and ridiculously out of touch with reality than I thought they were.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. "Sensible!" "Pragmatic!" "Going on the offensive!" "Pull my string!"

(Sorry for dragging you into this, Woody.)

[Divernan]

15. Well, he's certainly offended me more and more over the last two years.

[cyberpj]

54. Ditto. I really dislike him now - especially after spending so much time defending him to family

and friends AND contributing to his campaign before the 08 election.

He's an embarrassment AND not only disappoints but harms those who got him elected.

[Zorra]

81. I guaranteed to my Democratic leaning Independent brother that the B*ush tax cuts

for the wealthy would expire, because the WH said that they would not need to veto any bill that included extending tax cuts for the wealthy, due to the fact that such a bill would never reach Obama's desk.

Then, Obama began to push for extending the tax cuts for the wealthy. The bill extending the tax cuts for the wealthy got to Obama's desk, and he signed it.

Obama made me appear ignorant to my brother, and caused my brother to rethink his Democratic leaning position. Both of us were using this issue as a litmus test.

So if anyone wants to know why Independents voted so heavily for republicans in the last election, IMO you can take this example as one of those reasons.

I pretty much completely lost faith in the President, and the political system after this (I was always very skeptical, but thought their might be some shred of hope left).

Now I can't believe a word he says, and that really, really sucks.

I have been hoping for a Democrat to challenge him in the primary, but I'll vote for Obama in 2012 only because I have no choice, I despise the all pervasive corruption of republicans and their filthy anti-democratic ideology. But I will be holding my nose tighter than ever before while feeling profound remorse as I cast my ballot.

[cyberpj]

92. Also, when he didn't do more while he had the majority in congress was shocking to me. nt

[Telly Savalas]

155. I have problems keeping up.

A few months ago, the trendy argument was "look at all those Blue Dogs who got their asses kicked in the midterm election -- proof that conservative Democrats are ineffectual."

Now it seems the last Congress had no Blue Dogs, but rather was filled with New Deal Democrats ready to pass a history-making progressive agenda, but this opportunity was squandered by Obama.

But I guess the prevailing arguments don't have to be consistent so long as they shit on the Democratic Party, since that's what this website is all about.

[cyberpj]

158. Well he IS the leader of the party isn't he?

Mmmm... nope. Not so much.

He SOUNDED like a leader while campaigning, which is why and how he got so much attention and so many votes.

But that turned out to be false advertising. Partly because of his 'cooperation' stance which negated most of the campaign promises but also because of timid or racist Dems in Congress who never liked him in the first place.

So yeah, I'll admit it's not totally his fault, but a leader is supposed to stand for what he said he stands for and so far I don't see a lot of that.

[wordpix]

161. he had an angry fire smoldering when he ran in '08 but fire's gone out

the corporate campaign donation$ he got drowned it

[No Elephants]

121. "I'll vote for Obama in 2012 only because I have no choice."

Even if someone puts a gun to your head, you have a choice.

[OKDem08]

148. You've got that right.

I've had to endure quite a few "I told you so" comments recently. I don't even bother trying to defend him any more.

[zogofzorkon]

19. I think they meant that his tenure will continue to be offensive.

[Plucketeer]

62. January 20th, 2009

There wasn't any official announcement regarding such, but THAT'S the day the Obama team embraced a whole new dictionary from the one they'd used to get to that point!

[russspeakeasy]

101. Not just out of touch, out of sight.

[Odin2005]

3. So Obama has capitulated completely to Corporatist crap!

:grr:

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NorthCarolina]

49. Do you REALLY think it is "capitulation"? It's nothing more than Good Cop/Bad Cop

Kabuki theater for the mind. Obama is getting exactly what he wants. He appoints conservatives, he surrounds himself with conservatives, and conservatives seem to always get their way with him. So, do you think he is more likely to BE a conservative who is on board with the conservative agenda, or that he is simply a misguided progressive with world class ineptitude in negotiations?

[No Elephants]

120. +1

[Roy Rolling]

4. first of all, lose the word "entitlement" altogether

and change the framing of the argument. The use of the word "entitlement" is the Republican way of saying Medicare and Social Security are free gifts to recipients. They are not "entitlements"---they are the payoff from years of paying premiums. You don't call money received from your car insurance after a wreck an "entitlement"---it is an insurance benefit. A settlement, a payment,...never is it called an "entitlement".

Wording is SO important and anyone who uses "entitlement" to call benefits we receive after a lifetime of paying for them has already sipped the Kool Aid.

GET RID OF THAT WORD---ordinary people do not know what an "entitlement" is. Republicans use it as code talk to their base for "things that are free from government and should be cut."

[rasputin1952]

72. I agree, "entitlement", needs to go...

if there are any "entitlements", they are the tax breaks that have been given to the wealthiest and to Corp's.

[Paper Roses]

86. I agree with your interpretation.

Social Security and Medicare are not entitlements. We paid for them.
The rich should be the ones targeted as receiving entitlements. Because of their vaulted status, they are entitled! Baloney!
Monies due for taxes should be straight-out percentage of income for all sources. No cut offs. No ceilings, no BS deductions.

Taxes should be proportional to total income from all sources.
We are supposed to be equal under the law. No shenanigans, no quasi-losses.

I am so fed up, If I don't make sense any more it is because my old brain cannot comprehend where we have been lately and where we are headed.

[Liberalynn]

150. Totally agree with this

Medicare and SS are not entitlements. Not that it will do any good but I already called Schumer and Gillibrand and asked them to publicly call both the President and the Pukes on labeling them as such.

[goobergoober01]

73. 100% CORRECT...... please change the title----- just like UNEMPLOYMENT, not

[defendandprotect]

95. Why don't we also lose the word "liberal"? Or maybe "activist" ?

What we need to lose is RW propaganda which remains unresponded to by the

Democratic Party --

we need to lose GOP voting computers, as well --

And RW political violence, stolen elections and their lies --

This is simply another effort to use propaganda to destroy the meaning of words --

it's GOP Newspeak --

with rightwing distortion of policy now so prominent that actually "reform" has

become a dirty word -- and means the opposite of what it used to mean -- something good!

Remember Bush "Signing Statemens" which pretty much promised to try to reverse the

legisltion being signed?

Where was Congress -- they are solely responsible for ensuring that the legislation passed

is carried out according to the "spirit and intent" with which it is passed by Congress!!


The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[drm604]

102. We payed for those things so we're entitled to them.

Am I misunderstanding the word? If I pay for it, I'm entitled to it, fair and square. There's nothing wrong with that.

The Republicans are attacking things that we are completely, morally, ethically entitled to.

We can't allow them to continue distorting the language. We need to make clear what the word means, not dispose of it. Every time they make us dispose of a word they've narrowed the language and made it more difficult to discuss certain concepts. That's what they want! We can't allow it any longer.

[Warren DeMontague]

111. NO SHIT. Every time that word is used, it's a win for the other side.

These are wildly successful programs that Americans have ALREADY PAID FOR. Why isn't defense an 'entitlement'? Why is the DEA 'entitled' to piss away $40 Billion a year so it can throw pot smokers in prison?

[hack89]

153. Entitlement is a proper legal term that reflects progressive values.

An entitlement is a guarantee of access to benefits based on established rights or by legislation. A "right" is itself an entitlement associated with a moral or social principle, such that an "entitlement" is a provision made in accordance with legal framework of a society. Typically, entitlements are laws based on concepts of principle ("rights") which are themselves based in concepts of social equality or enfranchisement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitlement

They have always been called entitlements.

[asjr]

5. I keep waiting for Pres. Obama to

stand up, hold up his hand, palm outward towards the Republicans, and say Stop, in the name of common sense. Stop trying to kill us all with your stupid ideas of taking over the country. Bipartisanship is a myth. Never going to happen. I want him to point his finger at them, stamp his foot and go into a rage. I am tired of the blustering of Republicans. Some of them, especially Cantor and Ryan who remind me of pictures of rodents in a Disney movie, holding their heads in the air a la Mussolini during WW2 with crossed arms, smirking. How in the name of all that is good did these people EVER get into politics?

[defendandprotect]

84. When are you going to figure out that isn't going to happen?

The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

:)

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. Every day it becomes a litlle bit easier to toss up your hands..

and say fuck it, everyone's on their own and if that's what people want then let them have it. You begin to believe that the system is so rigged you don't stand a chance.....legally.

[BigD_95]

50. more and more I feel this way

Im so sick of it. People dont even vote in their best interest. I have a brother and his family voting Republican yet are low middle class trying to get federal help for their son for college. I have a cousin who votes Republican yet benefited from the unemployment extension or she would have had no income. Yet every Republican voted against that extension and was passed on Dems only.

This country has become such a joke. Im about to give up and just worry about myself. I have a pretty good job with a great retirement package. I have good health benefits with eye and dental. Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much and could just go blindly through life like so many of my friends and family.

Because if any of them actually sat down for a week and studied this stuff they would vote left.

[Bonhomme Richard]

65. "Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much"

I have the same thoughts. I don't have to care so much. I'm not in debt, started my own business 10 years ago, and have assets. My guess is I will be just fine unless something really nuts happens but it bugs me that intelligent people have no interest in looking into things. I was with my brothers and nephews this weekend, some see my facebook post (all documented ferom reputable sources, not crazy rants) and don't even bother to check it out, or others that thinks to themselves that is just my crazy uncle or brother. I am beginning to really feel like I am beating a dead horse and that there is no legal recourse left to make any change.

[No Elephants]

122. Turned out, I didn't even vote in my best interest. I voted for Obama.

[QC]

7. I feel so hopeful!!!!! n/t

[bowens43]

8. Obama is quite prepared to give it all away

There is nothing that this man will take a stand on. He is quite possibly the weakest Democratic president we have ever had.
I have NEVER been so throughly disappointed with a politician as I am with this person.

[earthside]

12. I agree.

President Carter is often referred to as a "weak" president, but he battled on the Panama Canal Treaty, he told it like it was on energy, and even with the hostage crisis -- he never lost sight of the goal of getting all those folks home safe, despite the political beating he took.

Pres. Obama on the other hand has played this "Mr. Nice Guy" role to nobody's advantage except the banksters, big pharma, the military-industrial complex ... and apparently the Tea Party.

There is nothing wrong with Social Security that reducing the national debt won't fix (ie., faith in Treasury bonds) and the way to reduce the federal debt is cutting the Pentagon budget and taxing the super rich.

There in nothing wrong with Medicare and Medicaid that "Medicare for All" ie., 'single-payer' wouldn't have cured ... but we know how he took that off the table from the start.

Finally, the chutzpah of Pres. Obama talking about raising taxes on the rich after his 'deal' to extend all the Bush tax cuts ... really ... what can one say?

[QC]

13. Why would someone so utterly averse to conflict go into politics?

This is what I cannot understand. It's like a person who hates math deciding to become an engineer.

And is there anything he actually believes? I don't think we have found it yet.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

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[QC]

45. Well, yeah, there's that question, too.

I'm not even sure, though, if the president actually admires Reagan and GOP values. That, after all, would constitute a core belief or two, and I have seen little evidence of anything like that.

He seems to me a figure driven by his aversion to conflict. If TPTB were liberal, then Obama would be a liberal. As the power elite is now conservative, well, Obama is conservative.

Obama seems to me a feather on the breath of the establishment.

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

85. Try looking at it the other way around --

look at home much Obama has accomplised --

for the GOP!

Evidently, Obama is an expert politician --

but what we need is a humanitarian in the White House!!



The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[No Elephants]

124. You're assuming he's averse averse to conflict. He fought Hillary for his nomination and he's

told anyone on the Left who criticizes him to, in effect, shut up and sit down. He fought his own sponsor to get into the Illinois legislature. He'll fight for his Presidential re-election, too.

If he really disagreed with Republican economic policies, why did he appoint Republican Geithner as Sec. of Treasury and re-appoint Bush appointee Bernanke to head the Fed again?

Obama is very perplexing--if you assume he wants the same things you do and just is unable to exeute on them. You wonder how a smart man never wins. However, you may jusi have "an aha moment." if you flip your paradigm and assume he IS getting pretty much exactly what he, Timmeh and Hanky Panky want, while blaming it on Republicans and "compromise."

[shanti]

79. and that's the problem

at least with a repig, we knew what we were getting.

[defendandprotect]

97. You think this is "weakness"? Obama is "Superman" when he's standing up for corporations -- !!

Obama is a politician who certainly knows what he is doing!!



The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[edhopper]

10. we saw

When Obama and the Dems caved on the Bush Tax Cuts extention, making all this talk of deficit reduction nothing but hypocrisy, that was all she wrote.

[neoralme]

46. Yep. That was the beginning of the end.

[No Elephants]

129. Nah.

The beginning of the end was when we nominated Obama. However, I did not begin to catch on until he started making appointments--Rahm, Geithner, Gates, and so on. Republicans and RW Clintonites.

[EndElectoral]

11. 3 Wars, Tax Cuts for the Rich, Gas Subsidies, ..oh and we're cutting your medical insurance.

Just unbeleivable from a so-called Democratic President.

[Hoyt]

14. There are plenty improvements that won't impact Medicare beneficiaries. If that's goal, I'm for it.

So-called "cuts" aren't always bad. There are a number of things that could improve Medicare, Medicaid and other programs without adversely impacting beneficiaries. No harm in trying to save money that ain't currently helping anyone.

The GOP approach doesn't care who gets hurt. In fact, their approach punishes those who need it most.

[neoralme]

47. Baloney. Obama opens the door, suggests some changes. The

Republicans counter with some drastic changes. Obama agrees with 2/3rds of what they suggest. Are you not paying attention?

[Hoyt]

56. Baloney back. There are plenty of people who open up a supposed medical facility and bill Medicare

for services when they never saw a patient. There is no reason for that to go on wasting billions of dollars.

Then, there are duplicate tests that wouldn't be necessary if physicians and other providers were tied together closer. That is part of health care reform. Preventive medicine is not utilized sufficiently under Medicare. There is little emphasis on quality of care.

So, say "baloney" if you want, but you ought to wait and see what's proposed.

[neoralme]

59. I know what's going to happen.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

115. whats next weeks winning lotto numbers please? n/t

[Raschel]

103. There are too many other areas of government waste that can be cut before even looking at medicare

I hear what you're saying though.

[No Elephants]

126. If beneficiaries were not going to get hurt, Plouffe would have said that.

How stupid would a political advisor have to be to mention cuts to Medicare, Medicaid "and even Social Security" without also mentioning that beneficiaries would not be hurt in any way?

[Hoyt]

154. How do you get that from what Plouffe said? Are you confusing Plouffe and Ryan?

Here's what Plouffe is quoted saying:

"So you’re going to have to look at Medicare and Medicaid and see what kind of savings you can get.

"First, squeezing them out of the system before you squeeze seniors.

"Secondly, on Social Security, what he said is that is not a driver right now of significant costs, but in the process of sitting down and talking about our spending and our programs, if there can be a discussion about how to strengthen Social Security in the future, he’s eager to have that discussion."


I don't find a lot to disagree with there.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. oh so he admits that he is selling us out AGAIN and that he is only gonna "renew his call "

for taxing the rich....good luck with that one !

fuck this shit....Mr President hope you enjoyed the fucking! goodbye!

[neoralme]

17. I'm getting curious: when will we grab the pitchforks. We have

a relatively small group of people calling the shots. We have our military all over the world. We are being sold out on a daily basis. Does the government have to come to our doors and shoot us in the belly? When exactly do we get beyond waving garish signs and emailing Bernie Sanders? When they have us all too sick, tired and broke to drive our cars, will that be the time? When do we become serious?

[No Elephants]

125. Good question. I ask it often, 'tho sometimes, I just ask "Is it soup yet?"

Where's Madame Dearge when you really need her?

[neoralme]

128. Madame Defarge, you mean? There are no Madame Defarges and

the soup will never be ready. Never seen it this bad. There is no hope. Trojan Horse is right. You know, a few people saw this before he was elected. I read their posts. They were ridiculed at times. I hadn't joined the board yet then, but would read different boards. Maybe see you one day at the barrel fire on the corner of Walk and Don't Walk.

[No Elephants]

130. Yes. My typing is worse than Obama's politics.

I stuck up for Obama before the election. Joined this board bc I was terrified he might lose and wanted to be encouraged by fellow Democrats.





:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[nalnn]

21. Anyone else suspect

Anyone else think that this was part of the agreements/meetings the prez held last week with the legislators (behind closed doors I might add).

[neoralme]

61. Absolutely. It's a great performance.

[defendandprotect]

98. All decision making is being removed from public view -- from Congress ...

[No Elephants]

131. I think this was n the works LONG before last week.

Since before he took office

[L0oniX]

22. Fucking entitlement DINO!

Gee ..I pay into Medicare every week ...if it's an entitlement I guess I don't have to pay anymore.

[Demit]

55. It's an entitlement because you're entitled to it. You're entitled to it BECAUSE you've paid for it.

I do not understand this rejection of the word. You should be DEFENDING the word, for the reasons I stated above. You should be defending its meaning from those who would want to pervert it. The way they did the word 'welfare', a perfectly good word. After all, it's in the Preamble to the Constitution: 'promote the general welfare'.

You are buying into their framing, that entitlement is a dirty word. It is not. It means something you have a RIGHT to.

[nichomachus]

24. "Entitlements" is a corporatist propaganda word

They want you to think that Medicare and Social Security recipients are getting something for nothing. We should avoid using it.

[defendandprotect]

87. No -- they've simply taken a another word and made it something evil -- !!

RW propaganda does work -- !!

Sadly!!




The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[kpete]

25. Obama to Put Taxes on Table in Spending Plan

Source: FOX

Obama to Put Taxes on Table in Spending Plan
Published April 11, 2011
| The Wall Street Journal



President Barack Obama will lay out his plan for reducing the nation's deficit Wednesday, belatedly entering a fight over the nation's long-term financial future. But in addition to suggesting cuts—the current focus of debate—the White House looks set to aim its firepower on a more divisive topic: taxes.

In a speech Wednesday, Mr. Obama will propose cuts to entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and changes to Social Security, a discussion he has largely left to Democrats and Republicans in Congress. He also will call for tax increases for people making over $250,000 a year, a proposal contained in his 2012 budget, and changing parts of the tax code he thinks benefit the wealthy.

"Every corner of the federal government has to be looked at here," David Plouffe, a senior White House adviser, said Sunday in one of multiple television appearances. "Revenues are going to have to be part of this," he said, referring to tax increases.




Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/11/obama-taxes-table-spending-plan/#ixzz1JDtetG4w

[no limit]

26. We were told over and over Obama would not touch social security and any such fears were unfounded

yet here we go, cuts will likely happen.

[MacNfries]

30. well, GW Bush campaigned on "Read My Lips ... No New Taxes" ... then BINGO!

So, what else is new? Hey, man, this is just POLITICS! Don't ya love it?

[keopeli]

33. And he lost re-election, even after having a 90% approval rating months earlier.

You're right. It's just politics!

[No Elephants]

133. Yep. Republican voters were not afraid to have Poppy lose to Clinton, even with Perot in the race.

[alp227]

82. the elder not younger president bush n/t

[msongs]

27. obama just approved extension of bush tax cuts. dr, jekyl & Mr Obama lol nt

[No Elephants]

132. I think you may mean President Obama and Mr. Hyde?

(Dr. Jekyll was the good one.)

[earthside]

28. This is a satire, right?

Obama is a Democrat, he's not going to touch Social Security; he will defend it as it is.

And, come on, he already made a 'deal' on the tax cuts for the wealthy.

[WCGreen]

29. Yea, cut benefits for poor and needy and raise taxes on the rich...

Wow. Seriously.

It's not the entitlements that have gotten us into this place it was the ill advised tax cuts the half-witted Texan pushed through that got us into the mess we are in...

[No Elephants]

134. No, the ill advised tax cuts the half-witted Texan pushed through expired on 12/31/10.

Besides, Obama and the Democratic Congress ould have gotten rid of them when Obama took office, or, failing all else, when they went to reconciliation on HCR.

We are now in the era of the ill-advised Obama tax cuts.

[dkf]

156. Lol. Yeah I guess we need to call them the Obama tax cuts now.

[WCGreen]

159. The ill advised tax cuts expired for this fiscal year

so the ill advised Obama cuts haven't fully kicked into effect...

[xchrom]

31. recommend

[dkf]

32. All the Bush tax cuts need to be rescinded on schedule.

I hope he does not delude people into thinking we can keep Bush tax cuts for the middle class. Then we really are in deep doodoo.

[No Elephants]

135. The Bush tax cuts already expired. Please see Reply 134.

[keopeli]

34. I trust neither Fox nor WSJ, but even a broken clock, you know...

I fear this is his campaign strategy. Raise taxes on the rich while slashing medicare, medicaid and social security, in spite of the proven solvency of those programs when the bulk of money in the US is less centralized, which it will be again before 2037...one way or another.

[KoKo]

108. Axelrod will hail it as "Compromise." Reid will say: "It's the Best Deal we could Get."

It will be seen by Pundits as Obama is "The New Reagan."

[No Elephants]

136. Pundits usually miss the mark. Reagan was more liberal than Obama has been. So was Nixon.

[FailureToCommunicate]

35. Will Obama include ANY attempts to require corps like GE to pay up?

Not. Holding. Breath.

Change laws to regain a fair share of corporate profit?!? That's crazy talk.

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

[JTFrog]

36. foxnews....

Just when you think some folks couldn't sink any lower.

:shrug:

[No Elephants]

140. It's a Wall Street Journal piece. And kpete doesn't sink.

[JTFrog]

151. Once upon a time I would have agreed with you.

By the way you do know that FOX and WSJ are basically one and the same right? Or is one Murdoch rag better than the other?

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

37. What he really say's "He also will call for tax increases for people making under $250,000 a year"

[mike_c]

38. no mention of vast and unnecessary military expenditures...

...and as for raising taxes on the rich and their wealthy corporations, I'll believe THAT when I see it. Obama has already given away the farm in that respect, unless he's going to work for repealing the tax cuts for the wealthy he capitulated "negotiated" with House republicans last year.

[Kolesar]

42. Good messaging at ploughshares.org

www.ploughshares.org

[valerief]

43. Military spending is where rich people get their money. Can't cut that. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

39. Obama just got finished extending the Mega Rich tax breaks

Is he Sybil?

[totodeinhere]

40. You bolded the wrong sentence. The part that stands out to me is

that he will propose cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. If he does that he will lose my support.

IMO he is giving lip service to tax increases on the rich while his real agenda is cutting so-called "entitlements."

[nalnn]

41. My money

My money will, literally, be on the taxes eventually not being on the +250k'ers but all of us who make less than that. Those in the currently targeted loop will raise a fuss and find the loopholes and the rest of us will pay.

[valerief]

44. Does cutting Medicare and Medicaid mean no more subsidies for the oil industries? Cuz any other

meaning is traitorous.

[dmosh42]

51. Just lip service! Don't expect he'll use much political capital on this. More BS! n/t

[JDPriestly]

52. Fox News? Well, I hope the portion of the report in the OP is correct

and that Obama really is hoping to sell the idea of raising taxes on those who earn more than the rest of us. It is about time. It should not be difficult. They may be rich, but they are a minority, and they are doing well while others are suffering.

[creeksneakers2]

77. There isn' a word in the article

or the one it links to about cutting military spending.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SHRED]

53. HE NEEDS TO PUT THIS ON THE TABLE

Breakdown of Policies

Individual income tax policies
1. Extend marriage relief, credits, and incentives for children, families, and education, but
let the upper-income tax cuts expire and let tax brackets revert to Clinton-era rates
2. Index the AMT for inflation for a decade (AMT patch paid for)
3. Rescind the upper-income tax cuts in the tax deal
4. Schakowsky millionaire tax rates proposal (adding 45%, 46%, and 47% top rates)
5. Progressive estate tax (Sanders estate tax, repeal of Kyl-Lincoln)
6. Tax capital gains and qualified dividends as ordinary income

Corporate tax reform
1. Tax U.S. corporate foreign income as it is earned
2. Eliminate corporate welfare for oil, gas, and coal companies
3. Enact a financial crisis responsibility fee
4. Financial speculation tax (derivatives, foreign exchange)

Health care
1. Enact a public option
2. Negotiate Rx payments with pharmaceutical companies
3. CMS program integrity and other Medicare and Medicaid savings in the president’s
budget.
4. Prevent a cut in Medicare physician payments for a decade (maintain doc fix)

Social Security
1. Raise the taxable maximum on the employee side to 90% of earnings and eliminate the
taxable maximum on the employer side
2. Increase benefits based on higher contributions on the employee side

Defense savings
1. End overseas contingency operations emergency supplementals starting in 2013,
providing $170 billion in FY2012 funding for withdrawal
2. Reduce baseline Defense spending by reducing strategic capabilities, conventional
forces, procurement, and R&D programs

Job Creation
1. Invest $1.45 trillion in job creation, early childhood, K-12 and special education, quality
child care, energy and broadband infrastructure, housing, and R&D
2. Infrastructure bank
3. Surface transportation reauthorization bill
4. Finance surface transportation reauthorization

http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/CPC.Budget.112th.Memo.pdf

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70

---

[defendandprotect]

89. If that's what you want, you need someone other than Obama in 2012 ---

Sen. Bernie Sanders can run on a Dem ticket --

we need two strong anti-war candidates --

Biden has been pushing Israel for more than a year to attack Iran!

Biden says, "Israel would be justified in attacking Iran" -- !!


How about Tom Hayden for VP --

there are tons of dems out there who can run on the Dem ticket --

We don't have to keep fooling around with Dems who have already been

pre-bribed and pre-bought by corporations!!





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[on point]

57. NO! Cut the military, corp welfare and tax the rich FIRST, before opening discussion on anything els

[Jefferson23]

58. One way or the other most Americans get fucked once again but it

will be done with a scalpel not a machete...how comforting.

[raouldukelives]

60. I'm a "liberal Democrat" and still have his back

Later this week when he slashes military spending by 30% and finally introduces the public option as a way to save Medicaid you will change your tune.

[neoralme]

63. Oh, puhleeze.

[pecwae]

68. What?

[Doctor_J]

75. .

:thumbsup:

[SomeGuyInEagan]

109. Please, please, please .... if you are correct, I'll be working to re-elect. n/t

[No Elephants]

137. The way it's supposed to go, you help get him elected, then, from the WH, he gets YOUR back.

Yeah, I know you were kidding. I just wanted to go on reord.

[Liberalynn]

152. I'm tapping dancing on the moon

later in the week too. :sarcasm: :rofl:

[inna]

157. lulz, thanks for the comic relief

[wordpix]

162. I won't hold my breath but he needs to do this to get my support back

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BklynThirtyThree]

66. Montreal

Does anyone recommend it? I'm already planning my exodus in a few years. This country might be done.

[Arlene McCarthy]

67. Are You Surprised ?

Knowing that Mr Obamas biggest backers in 2008 were financial giant Goldman - Sachs and the military - industrial complex Crown family of Chicago, I'm not at all surprised.

Arlene Marie McCarthy Liberal & LGBT Supporter - Out Twilight Girl since 1970

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JackInGreen]

71. Despite the good and the just

and all the other successful points, and as much as I'm loathe to think that I wouldn't support him, he's slowly but surely writing himself off of my emotional calender.
I have respect for those that raise my ire, my apathy on a personal level is only the product of continual betrayal.

[Doctor_J]

74. The Onion always makes my day

:cry:

[craigmatic]

76. If Obama is talking about preserving funding for education you can bet that

he means charter schools which get private and public funds while he cuts public education. He's also going to cut services people actually need from Medicare and Medicaid. I'm not impressed by this proposal.

[Jefferson23]

78. The Dangers of Deficit Reduction

by Jospeh Stiglitz

http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/faculty/jstiglitz/download/papers/2010_Dangers_Deficit_Reduction.pdf

[defendandprotect]

80. Ah, but what will our response be: "Fool me once......." --- ?????

[Vinca]

83. I'm just waiting to see how much he gives up before negotiations start.

[alp227]

88. now he's treaded into inexcusable territory, and i bet some of you say "he'll deserve loss in 2012"

and then will start over the frustration when a fundamentalist Christian/anti-science/super-corporatist will come to the White House and make things worse than what they are. Well with the Republicans in the House what do you expect Obama to do, and could you easily figure out what you would do if you were president? Probably not!

Unfortunately, "all corners" does NOT include military and corporate welfare...because that would piss off Obama's campaign contributors and the Fox News/right wing talk radio audience and low-information independents who trust the overrated right-wing media wouldn't it? Expect a bigger crowd of 2012 boycotters because of this. "We can't afford it" is NO excuse to cut those benefit programs (not entitlements as the establishment media says) given the Bush tax cuts renewal etc.

Meanwhile check out this Duge's Space blog suggesting that progressive change starts in Congress not just the White House since Congress votes on bills to begin with.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

90. We need someone step up to primary this PRICK! BO is just another corporate whore.

He's trying to out do the idiot that preceded him. Where is the public or at least liberal outrage at this bull shit? Has the whole fucking Democratic party sold-out? Isn't there anyone in out party that will call this asshole out? I've heard too many apologists for his behavior, bottom line, with all due respect and heartfelt sincerity, fuck the slimy sonofabitch.

[radhika]

91. He's Should Run as a Tea Bagger in 2012 n/t

[defendandprotect]

100. Well, DU'ers certainly went into 2012 campaign mode last week =-!!

with OPs supporting Obama -- !!

Evidently re-electing Obama will be as easy as selling nuclear reactors to Japan

post-Hirosima and Nagasaki!!



And, Obama is still supporting oil-drilling in Gulf, etal --

and a new generation of nuclear reactors for America !!




The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[defendandprotect]

93. What does it take to wake up DU?

Obama is pushing more oil drilling even after BP and the catastrophe in the Gulf

which many seems to want to suggestd is over -- !!

Obama is pushing more nuclear reactors for America -- !!

Shall we join Japan in suicidal efforts?

Think about the level of salesmanship which went into convincing a nation we had

dropped nuclear weapons upon in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and their suffering to end

up getting all their energy across this earthquake prone island from nuclear reactors!!

Are we that nuts?


How many here still don't really understand the consequences of Global Warming and what

is happening to the planet -- and our ability to survive here?





The Rightwing Koch Bros. Funded the DLC --

http://www.democrats.com/node/7789

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x498414

If you knew, why didn't you tell us?

If you didn't know - pass it along -- !!

[Shining Jack]

105. +1000

[goobergoober01]

94. ITS NOT A NEW APPROACH... i read it last year in the GOP playbook

BUT IM NOT GOING TO LET A BUNCH OF HIGH-STRUNG LEFTISTS or RIGHT-WING BLOGGERS stop me for voting for OBAMA in 2012

these tactics are ANTI-PROGRESSIVE and as much as you might hate SOME OF WHAT HE DOES.... OBAMA is still the best of 2012

i know... and some of what he does disappoints me too... but he DOES try to reach across the aisle (to democrats haha) and he DID get a healthcare plan passed which is NOW covering my twin 22 year old sons.... and he did close PART OF the doughnut hole.... and he has made the TEA PARTY affect on the GOP look stupid.... and he HAS made the world "in general" a safer place.....

SO WHO DO YOU WANT.... palin? Pawlenty? Boner?

AND WITH NO FURTHER TERM BEYOND 2016, I SUSPECT OUR MAN WILL FIND HIS BALLS

[Auntie Bush]

107. It's hard to say that around here. You're the one with balls.

But I agree 10000+. Let's not forget the next elected president will be picking the next several SC judges. For that reason alone...I'm with Obama all the way.

Another thing...I don't think Obama will be under the control of big money after the election because he will no longer need their filthy money. But,for now it's necessary if he wants to be reelected. In other words...I believe he'll prove to be much more progressive during a second term. Have faith!

[ctwayne]

112. The Supreme Court Already is Hard Right

In case your haven't noticed, the Supreme Court already has a hard right majority. Look, for example, at the Citizen's United case. And Obama will very much want the money of the rich after he leaves office. Expect lot's of fat speaking fees at gatherings of the Oligarchy.

[Auntie Bush]

123. I'll assume you didn't have your reading glasses on.

We all know the SC is conservative...That's why I WANT Obama right there selecting some progressives for the SC. If the ReThugs get the next electron...this country is screwed !!! Think of all the laws those f**kers can pass and the SC would OK every one of them. :puke:

[defendandprotect]

146. You need a right winger to retire -- who will it be in next four years?

It's more likely Ginsburg will be out before any of them!!

[No Elephants]

141. We've changed from hope to faith? LOL!

[No Elephants]

142. Obama "HAS made the world "in general" a safer place"?

1/ He's made it more dangerous.

2/ That's exactly what Republicans said about Dummya and it wasn't true of him either.

And, pssst, if you ain't on the left, you're on the right.

[defendandprotect]

145. Obama has balls -- unfortunately they're for helping the rich -- !!

Corporations --

[OhioChick]

96. Is anyone really surprised? n/t

[Jefferson23]

99. No. n/t

[Shining Jack]

104. Nope.

[neoralme]

110. Nope.

[Warren DeMontague]

113. "Everything Is On The Table"*

* Serious cuts to the defense department, of course, are NOT on the table. Neither is ending the wildly expensive drug war. Legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana will NEVER be on the table.

[Zhade]

114. Told you so. Again.

NT!

[AlbertCat]

116. Plouffe said Obama will use a “scalpel” and not a “machete”

To remove the 2 cancers the size of mountains: Tax cuts for the rich and the defense budget. I think a machete might be too small for that.

[kiranon]

117. Start with no health insurance coverage for members of Congress

so they will learn how expensive it is to obtain and what the term "pre existing condition" means for them and members of their family. Give them an allowance for health insurance equal to the amount seniors are required to pay out of their social security checks for medicare and not a penny more. And the members of Congress need to experience the doughnut hole and use Arizona's standards for extraordinary and not so ordinary treatments. Perhaps if they walk the walk they will do less silly talking. It's time to inject a dose of reality into this situation. Without it, the Democrats will always lose to the better negotiators and to those Republicans who do not care one whit if people die from hunger or lack of access to health care. Belt tightening begins at home (Congress). All their office space should be downsized and no car allowance if their vehicle does not get more that 30 miles to the gallon. Stop all projects within the Congress person's district if the Congress person wants deep cuts based on ideology as their ideology would justify shutting down such projects in their own districts. Since their constituents elected them, their districts have agreed to such cuts already.

[valerief]

119. They're not affected by Boehnbama policies. They're in a protected class.

They're agents for the 1%.

[Politicalboi]

118. Maybe some of the cuts will be

No Medicare for the wealthy, or no SSI for the wealthy. I can hope can't I.

[RussBLib]

127. Sure would be nice to have a Democrat in office

for a change.

[librechik]

138. whoo--didn't see this coming!

:sarcasm:

[No Elephants]

143. We needed FDR. We got Hoover.

Remember how Obama joked during August 2009 about people telling him to stay away from their Medicare?

[defendandprotect]

147. +1000% -- exactly -- !!

[They_Live]

144. When election campaigns are fueled by corporate spending

why not just make sure you're covered no matter which side wins, control both sides of the game. I think that is what we're seeing. I've seen it happen in the Texas governor's race as well, with incredibly weak Dem candidates. We need to eliminate ALL private funding from our elections.

[_ed_]

149. Obama AGAIN uses Republican framing prior to the debate

and conveys his willingness to surrender before a shot is fired.

Did fucking Boehner come out today and agree with Democratic ideology? Didn't think so.

This man is the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a leader the Democratic party has ever come up with. What will he actually fight for?

[wordpix]

160. here's hoping the entitlements he's talking about are corporate welfare

otherwise, I'll be voting for someone else