"It seems as if the plan was designed to piss off Republicans."

[babylonsister]

http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/09/obama-deficit-plan-veto-promise-speech

Obama's Deficit Plan: A Big Veto Promise


Welcome to the latest battle in Washington's deficit war.

—By David Corn


Mon Sep. 19, 2011 8:27 AM PDT


Ahead of President Barack Obama's big speech on Monday morning outlining his "growth and deficit reduction plan," the White House released a fact sheet detailing his proposal to cut an additional $3 trillion from the deficit in the next ten years. It noted that the plan includes Obama's American Jobs Act and will lead to a total of $4.4 trillion in deficit reduction. Over $300 billion would be squeezed out of Medicare and Medicaid, with about two-thirds of that resulting from reducing "overpayments" in Medicare. The plan does not include any cuts in benefits for Medicare recipients or entail raising the eligibility age for Medicare. (The plan doesn't touch Social Security.) Other savings would come from agriculture subsidies and federal employee benefit programs. The plan counts $1.1 trillion in savings from the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It seems as if the plan was designed to piss off Republicans. It doesn't have the level of entitlement cuts that GOPers crave. They hate the idea of counting deescalation in Afghanistan and Iraq as a cost-saving. Most of all, they despise the plan's revenue-raising proposals: allowing the Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire; limiting deductions for those making more than $250,000 a year; and closing loopholes and killing special interest tax breaks. All of these tax provisions would add up to $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction. So this plan—Obama's submission to the so-called supercommittee—is an invitation to a smack-down brawl.

Which brings me to the one sentence in the White House fact sheet that is in boldface: "The President will veto any bill that takes one dime from the Medicare benefits seniors rely on without asking the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share."

snip//

Rather than produce a proposal that could be an ending point for bipartisan negotiations, the president has unveiled a strong opening position. This is somewhat in contrast to how he approached the negotiations over the budget earlier in the year and the more recent tar-pit talks concerning the debt ceiling. But striking this tough stand at the outset will only serve him well, if he's now willing to battle publicly and negotiate fiercely in the weeks ahead. "Public servants," he said, "weren't elected to do what's easy... And that's what this debate is about." And for Obama, the challenge ahead is to maintain this well-framed fight even as he seeks a deal.

[WI_DEM]

1. good! that means he is going in the right direction and that the plan has merit.

[alc]

10. unless you want something done

Nothing will be accomplished in the next 14 months without Republican support. As a campaign move it's a good idea to piss off the republicans, get nothing done, and run against "the party of 'no'".

But it's poor leadership for Obama to give up over 25% of his first term to focus on the next election. I don't have a better alternative, but I'm not president. There's a chance republicans still have the house for his next term. If he pisses them off enough over the next 14 months, he won't be able to accomplish anything in the next term either.

[Donnachaidh]

13. exactly WHEN does he *have* republican support?

The old saw of needing their support is so much hogwash it's gone past hysterically funny to just plain sad.

they DON'T support him. Period. They've said time after time they will do ANYTHING to make him a one term president.

Whining about him *finally* calling them on their bullshit is amazing, especially in this forum.

[Enthusiast]

19. So, if he does EXACTLY what

Republicans want he will get their support? I believe he tried that.

[TheBigotBasher]

24. To say the least

This President will be attacked for compromising with the GOP and now not compromising, I have seen this new attack about him not compromising repeated so often over the past 2 days that there is no denying that this is simply a talking point.

So now that the firebaggers want the President to be all cuddles and sweetness to the GOP, tell me how does he pass a jobs plan?

[Hawkowl]

32. Nothing is going to be accomplished REGARDLESS!

The only objective of the Rethuglicans was to stop Obama. So now that he finally has gotten that into his thick skull, he has fought back!

By doing so, he has a chance to splinter the Rethuglicans and actually get some votes from a fractured party membership who fear being unelected.

BEAT THEM INTO SUBMISSION. It is the only thing they understand because it is what their own party leaders do.

In any case, FIGHT for traditional Democratic values and he will win in the long run.

[Frustratedlady]

2. I still haven't seen the speech, but if it is as good as it sounds, I will email the WH.

He needs everyone to let him know this is the right direction to go.

[Guilded Lilly]

3. Yes, sir.

The republicans have been pissing off the entire intelligent portion of the country for a long long time. Hit back hard.

[Towlie]

4. We need "The President will veto any bill that takes one dime from the Medicare benefits" PERIOD!

To hear "The President will veto any bill that takes one dime from the Medicare benefits seniors rely on without..." is absolutely unacceptable, no matter what follows "without."

[DrDan]

5. exactly!!!!

[Whisp]

9. jeesus!!!!

[DrDan]

12. so you support putting Medicare on the table?

[Whisp]

14. it's not on the fucking table.

[DrDan]

16. I just read what the WH stated:

"The President will veto any bill that takes one dime from the Medicare benefits seniors rely on without asking the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share."

Did you notice the part following ". . . . without asking the wealthies Americans . . . ."

Did you see that part?

What exactly does that mean to you? What if the "wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations" as asked"to pay their fair share"????

What then?

Seems pretty straightforward to me.

[Whisp]

20. it's been 'pretty straight forward' for some of you ever since Obama

stepped into the whitehouse. This has been a constant meme all along, Obama to cut SS, to cut Medicare, to cut cut cut. And Obama is a homophobe that hates gays and will NEVER repeal DADT.

I am full up sick of this.


It always ends up a big huge messy LIE some jerkass like Jane Hamsher hatches out of her stinky bellybutton.

[DrDan]

22. so what do you think of the WH statement?

You seem to be ignoring what the WH says. Wonder why.

Never mind - I think I know.

[_ed_]

39. Clearly

The biggest problem facing progressives and Americans at large is insufficient reverence for the President.

And you're right: Obama isn't a homophobe. He just thinks that marriage is between a man and a woman. Just like it's not racist to say that marriage is only between members of the same race.

[secondwind]

21. Medicare will be cut in terms of waste, fraud and abuse...

[DrDan]

23. so this is not true?

"Among the changes, Obama has proposed to hike premium costs for wealthier seniors enrolled in Medicare's prescription drug program, and increase the deductible for seniors receiving physician services under Medicare."

or would you classify these as "waste, fraud, and abuse..."?

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/182409-liberals-pan-health-benefit-cuts-in-obama-plan

[JuniperLea]

27. HAHAHAHA! The fucking HILL!!

No wonder.

And you have a problem with cutting bennies to the wealthy who are also using Medicare? Really? That doesn't seem wasteful to you?

[DrDan]

33. its a cut to Medicare, isn't it?

[JuniperLea]

42. Only from the mouths and mouthpieces of the Pubbies...

The President has this nailed down tight.

Check out the reply below from sofa king... he/she nailed it!

[JuniperLea]

26. You have a link to that?

Name source?

[DrDan]

34. the link in the OP

[DrDan]

18. just wondering if you saw this

"Unveiled Monday, Obama's sweeping plan to create jobs and control deficit spending includes $248 billion in Medicare reductions and $73 billion in cuts to Medicaid and other health programs. Among the changes, Obama has proposed to hike premium costs for wealthier seniors enrolled in Medicare's prescription drug program, and increase the deductible for seniors receiving physician services under Medicare."

not on the table? How do you explain it?

Then there is this:

"From the White House Rose Garden Monday morning, Obama said the changes are necessary to make the entitlements sustainable and ensure they're around for the benefit of future generations."

"not on the ***** table" . . . . hmmmmmm - an interesting perspective in light of the facts.

and this:

"But if those are taken off the table and the president advocates to tax the rich and invest in jobs, he will have a lot of support."

hmmmmmm - ". . . . taken off the table . . . . "

but I thought you said they were "not on the ***** table"?

guess I should add the source - http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/182409-liberals-pan-health-benefit-cuts-in-obama-plan

[JuniperLea]

28. You have a problem with diminished benefits for the wealthy?

Seriously?

You didn't read the REPUTABLE websites that are saying the gaps in Medicare would be filled by new health care laws?

Of course not. You're reading The Hill... keep it up... jeez...

[Mojorabbit]

31. I have a problem with means testing

Once you start you open the door and will end up with people way down the ladder who will get sucked in after a bit. Everyone who pays into the system should benefit from it. Period. IMO

[DrDan]

35. so how would you like to structure means testing for medicare?

I guess you are in favor.

How about Social Security? Want to reduce those benefits based on income also?

[Enrique]

7. I agree

notice the other side took tax cuts off the table, they didn't make it conditional. We should do that too.

[corkhead]

6. it does sound like Medicare / Medicaid cuts are still on the table if there is something in a bill

to "ask" "the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share."

[liberal N proud]

8. Any time you can piss of a republican - it is a good day

[Turbineguy]

11. No more Mister Nice Guy

If you are going to live among wolves, you have to howl like one.

[AtomicKitten]

15. Pissing them off is merely a delightful bonus.

:loveya: David Corn

[tanyev]

17. Good.

:thumbsup:

[JuniperLea]

25. It wasn't designed to do that...

That's just a happy side effect:D

[pacalo]

29. No cuts to Mediare, period.

Better to raise taxes on those who use the money for luxury homes, yachts, exotic vacations, etc., than to take one dime away from those who depend on Medicare & are struggling to make ends meet just for the basic necessities.

It's not only math; it's common decency.

ONE MORE THING: STOP THE WARS -- REALLY, IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

[sofa king]

30. Notice how much of it is already screwed down tight.

The tax cut issue? Can't be touched. That little Cuban Missile Crisis this summer proved that the President isn't going to let them be extended no matter what (and since 70% of voters support it, that single issue practically guarantees his reelection).

Virtually everything else falls into some area where the President's executive authority can be used to make it happen one way or another, by not spending funds allocated and returning them to the general fund, for example, or a hundred other pirouettes that Congress can't interrupt.

And the punchline is that unless the Committee advances his own goals, President Obama gets to say, "f^%$ you," veto it, and everything defaults to the plan he himself proposed back in March. That's screwed down tightest of all: Congress actually reversed roles with the President, and can only "veto" what the President decides to do by voting in disapproval... and if the President decides to veto that, it takes a 2/3 majority to override it, which ain't gonna happen.

The media might try to play it as a brawl, but what it's going to be is a fourteen-month long one-sided beatdown that the Republicans cannot win, and because of their prior agreements, cannot change, and cannot avoid. The President has http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY3yIIxXvy4">come off the ropes.

[lonestarnot]

36. Yeah Mr. President!

[JuniperLea]

41. That was sofa king well said!

:applause:

[Blue Owl]

37. McConnell, Cantor, Boehner, & Co. need a golden thundershower

Let's piss all over their leg and tell them it's raining, for once.

[blkmusclmachine]

38. I'm SO OVER Obama's "11-Dimensional Chess" bull$hit:

When you pass GOP Policy, use GOP talking points, and coddle, praise, and protect the GOP Economic Terrorists as "good faith negotiators," the evidence is inescapable: YOU ARE THE GOP!! No spinning it as "bi-partisanship" is gonna whitewash your record. 2010 proved that. And if you want to believe what the DC DEM's are saying, they're "very worried" about how 2012 is shaping up. FAIL. FAIL. And FAIL.

[99th_Monkey]

40. Our country desperately NEEDS more pissed off Rethuglicans. BRAVO Mr. President!! nt