Obama: Geithner And Lew Will Try To Break Through Tax Cut 'Logjam'

[ProSense]

Obama: Geithner And Lew Will Try To Break Through Tax Cut 'Logjam'

Jillian Rayfield

In his remarks following today's summit with Democratic and Republican leadership, President Obama announced that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Budget Director Jack Lew will "work with representatives of both parties to break through this logjam" on tax cuts. "I've asked the leaders to appoint members to help in this negotiation process. They agreed to do that. That process is beginning right away," he said.

Obama called the meeting "productive," and though he acknowledged the two parties did not agree on the tax cuts issue, "there was broad agreement that we need to work to get that resolved before the end of the year."

Obama said he also emphasized "the importance of ratifying the new START treaty," and "reminded the room that this treaty's been vetted for seven months now. It's gone through 18 hearings. It has support from senators from both parties."

"It's absolutely essential to our national security," Obama said. "We need to get it done."

The President concluded that though the "atmosphere was extremely civil" in the meeting, "there's not doubt that those differences are going to remain no matter how many meetings we have. And the truth is, there's always going to be a political incentive against working together."

But, he said, "these aren't times for us to be playing games."

[Vincardog]

1. Here is a clue: Bring up the Middle class tax cut extensions for a vote. If the richie rich party

blocks the vote get it on the record and plaster it all over the 'Liberal' Media

[ladjf]

3. Your suggestion is a winnable political move. Why Obama would'nt'

jump all over this and win I can't imagine, especially if they raised the limit to 1,000,000 instead of 250,000. nt

[polichick]

2. Oh, well now that Geithner's on the job, we don't have anything to worry about...

*COUGH*

[ProSense]

5. Actually, now that Geithner is on the job

you know what to expect. It's almost certain that some expect the worst.

I hope he sticks to his previous statement.

Geithner said the Obama administration favors a permanent extension of middle-class tax cuts but would “be very much against a permanent extension” of cuts for high-end earners.

<...>

Mr. Geithner hinted, as has the president, that there may be room for compromise, possibly a temporary extension of the cuts, but warned that temporary fixes could add to the lack of long-term clarity. “This should not be a complicated problem to solve,” he said. The administration’s ultimate position would be dictated by “what’s going to be best for the economy.”

[polichick]

6. Notice how the word "veto" never comes up. Same ol', same ol'. nt

[ProSense]

11. So? n/t

[polichick]

13. So, if the prez was serious about not caving on tax cuts for the wealthy...

...he'd use that word - obviously.

[ProSense]

15. Does that make sense?

The OP is about the President appointing two officials to work out a deal. Why would he use the word veto in this announcement?

[polichick]

16. If he had been serious about not caving, he wouldn't have met with...

...Republicans today or made that announcement or chosen a corporate tool like Geithner for either his cabinet or this purpose - and he would've used the word "veto" weeks ago.

Spin away - it's apparently your only gig.

[ProSense]

17. Great, so you know the outcome already

In fact, you seem to have decided what the outcome was going to be long before this announcement.

"...Republicans today or made that announcement or chosen a corporate tool like Geithner for either his cabinet or this purpose - and he would've used the word "veto" weeks ago."

[polichick]

19. Here's what I know: Obama will cave to Republicans, as usual...

...because he serves the same entities that they do, despite all the pretty campaign rhetoric.

[ProSense]

20. So you weren't expecting him to use the word "veto"?

Why did you bring it up?

[polichick]

21. It's obvious to anyone whose main purpose is not spinning for the administration. nt

[ProSense]

22. The President has a job to do

and everyone believes they know how to do it better.

[polichick]

24. We just know WHO he is supposed to be working for. nt

[Cal33]

25. You haven't noticed that Obama does not threaten -- even when

he should. It's not his style to threaten.

[polichick]

26. It would just be a fact, a statement of determination - not a "threat." nt

[displacedvermoter]

23. Always "room for compromise" in Obama's and Geithner's

world when dealing with billionaires and the GOP.

Not so much when talking about teacher's unions, consumers, or most just plain folks.

[RaleighNCDUer]

27. So, give Richie Rich a two year extention on his tax cuts, which means

depriving the economy of much needed revenue to deal with the recession, which means the recession will NOT get fixed, which means Obama loses in 2012, which means the Republicans take over, which means that Richie Rich's temporary extenion becomes permanant.

Good job, there.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. He just threw us under the bus. Again

[polichick]

7. He doesn't work for us - he works for the same entities Republicans work for...

Sooner we get that, the sooner we get serious about what to do next.

[ProSense]

10. What was the agreement?

I remember when Geithner allegedly threw Warren under a bus. It wasn't reality.

[Tansy_Gold]

8. "broad agreement. . . resolved before the end of the year."

ARE YOU SHITTING ME?

Seriously, Mr. President, do you really believe this? The pukes will have the majority in the house AFTER the first of the year and they have no reason whatsofuckingever to negotiate with you prior to that. NONE. Do you get that? NONE. N. O. N. E.

What part of that don't you understand, Mr. President?

They have no reason to negotiate with you. THEY ARE LYING. Everyone knows that, except maybe you? Please, say it ain't so, O, because I just find it difficult to believe you are either that stupid or that oblivious to reality.

The Republicans are not going to negotiate with you, Mr. President. Not now, not next month, not next year, NEVER.


Or is the real truth, Mr. President, that you don't mind if they don't negotiate? Is the real truth that you don't give a shit about working people who will be hurt by these policies?

I went out on a limb for you, Mr. President, last week. I said the Left, or at least the part of the Left that I belong to and believe in, doesn't want you to fail. We want you to succeed with more progressive (that's with a lower-case p) ideas and policies and proposals. But that's not going to happen if you continue to believe that the Republican leadership is going to work with you now, when they will come into power in just a few more weeks.

Say it ain't so. Tell me, please, Mr. President, that you are not that stupid.



Tansy Gold, prepared to have her post pulled as an attack on the president even though she's only saying what he himself is doing

[ProSense]

9. "The pukes will have the majority in the house AFTER the first of the year "

The taxes expire at the end of the year. If there is no deal, they expire.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. That's right.

And after the first of the year the pukes can reinstate ONLY what they want. They can do it retroactively if they need to, but they can protect their own. They don't care if the middle class, working class tax cuts expire; they can use that money to cut the deficit that suddenly seems so important to them. But come 1/1/11, they can begin new tax cuts for the rich.


The point is -- They will be in power after the year ends. They have no reason to negotiate until then.




TG, NTY

[MannyGoldstein]

12. This is good news

Geithner and Lew are both calm, mature, and responsible people, with a sharp focus on the wealthiest Americans, who understand the need for the Republicans to feel safe and listened to. This move should go a long way in restoring Republican trust in our Party.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. They will applaud Obama meeting

With the chamber, a standing ovation.

[Autumn]

29. Manny, I got to say,

your posts are forcing me to clean my monitor very frequently.:spray: :rofl:

[Norrin Radd]

28. They are about to cut a log, alright...