• Barack Obama,  Fiscal Cliff,  Polling

    Fiscal Cliff Poll: Obama Seen as Victor But What About the Legislation?

    Pew Fiscal Cliff Poll

    Maybe President Obama looks better than GOP Speaker John Boehner and the feckless Republicans/Democrats in Congress. But, what about the law itself?

    Barack Obama is viewed as the clear political winner in the fiscal cliff negotiations, but the legislation itself gets only a lukewarm reception from the public: As many disapprove as approve of the new tax legislation, and more say it will have a negative than positive impact on the federal budget deficit, the national economy and people like themselves.

    The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 3-6 among 1,003 adults, finds that 57% say that Obama got more of what he wanted from the tax legislation while just 20% say Republican leaders got more of what they wanted. And while 48% approve of the way Obama handled the fiscal cliff negotiations only 19% approve of the way GOP leaders handled the negotiations.

    Republicans take a particularly sour view of the outcome: just 16% approve of the final legislation, and by a 74% to 11% margin they think Obama got more of what he wanted. Only 40% of Republicans approve of how their party’s leaders handled the negotiations; by comparison, fully 81% of Democrats approve of how Obama handled the negotiations.

    Relatively few Americans expect that the tax legislation that resulted from those talks will help people like themselves, the budget deficit, or the national economy. Just three-in-ten Americans say the tax measure will mostly help people like them; 52% say it will mostly hurt. And even when it comes to the budget deficit, 44% say the deal will mostly hurt, while 33% say it will mostly help.

    President Obama does not have to run for President again and the repercussions of the Fiscal Cliff legislation as of yet realized will have no effect on him. But, should the economy fail to rally his Democratic Party will pay the price at the 2014 elections.

    Stay tuned as the details of fiscal cliff, sequestration and the debt limit play through the American economy. My bet is that Obama will NOT be viewed as a political winner, when all is said and done.

  • Fiscal Cliff

    Fiscal Cliff Poll: 43% Approve Vs. 45% Disapprove

    Gallup Fiscal Cliff Poll

     

    According to the latest Gallup Poll:

    Americans have a decidedly mixed reaction to the “fiscal cliff” agreement reached by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama this week, with 43% saying they approve and 45% saying they disapprove. Two-thirds of Democrats approve of the agreement, while almost as many Republicans disapprove. Independents are slightly more likely to disapprove than approve.

    These results are based on a one-day poll of 1,026 national adults conducted Thursday, Jan. 3, two days after the agreement was reached. The strong rank-and-file Republican opposition to the agreement appears to be in line with the opposition among Republican House members. The agreement was initially approved by a strong bipartisan vote of 89 to 8 in the Democratically controlled Senate, but passed by a much slimmer 257-167 margin in the Republican-controlled House, with 151 Republicans voting against it.

    Attitudes toward the agreement are split along ideological lines, in a fashion parallel to the partisan differences. Liberals are highly likely to support the agreement, while conservatives oppose it. Moderates tilt toward approval of the agreement.

    Just wait until Americans receive their first paychecks for 2013 and discover their payroll taxes have increased 2 per cent.

    The Fiscal Cliff compromise was a bum deal and while President Obama succeeded in winning more taxes for the rich and others, nobody really won here. Plus, the national debt continues to rise.

  • Fiscal Cliff

    The Fiscal Cliff – Something for Nothing?

    Speaker Boehner and President Obama at the White HouseHouse GOP Speaker Boehner and President Obama earlier this month meeting on the Fiscal Cliff

    What is the best deal Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell can achieve over the next 24 hours to avoid the Fiscal Cliff?

    Byron York says whatever the deal, it will end badly for the GOP.

    Under the most likely scenario, Republicans will get nothing — nothing — in return for giving in on tax rates for the highest-income Americans.  No spending cuts, at least no serious spending cuts beyond what are already included in sequestration, would be part of the deal done on Sunday or Monday, if that is indeed what happens. . . .

    [T]he bottom line is that the fiscal cliff fight will not end happily for Republicans.  They will have given in on what was an article of faith — that taxes should not be raised on anybody, poor or rich — in return for essentially nothing.

    But, what York does not clearly explain and Ramesh Ponnuru does over at National Review does is one LARGE failure of the Republicans.

    They LOST the election in 2012 and are essentially boxed into a NO WIN scenario.

    The reason we’re not going to get spending cuts beyond those already scheduled in return for tax increases smaller than those already scheduled is that current law doesn’t force larger spending cuts and does force larger tax increases.

    What would Republicans get out of a deal? A reduction in scheduled tax increases; the avoidance of a fight with Obama that would be structured in a way that lets him get to Republicans’ right on middle-class taxes and posture as the biggest tax-cutter since Reagan; and that’s about it.

    Republicans had two ways of avoiding this scenario. They could have passed smaller tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 but not given them expiration dates. Or they could have done better in the last few elections. At this point it’s hard to see what strategy would undo the effects on the budget from that mistake and that failure.

    The House GOP can go along with whatever McConnell-Reid’s deal is or go over the Fiscal Cliff. Remember everyone will have higher tax rates if we go over the Cliff, including the AMT.

    At this point, extending the Bush tax rates for everyone, except for those over $400K is probably the only choice.

    When Bill Kristol announced a similar strategy a few weeks ago, everyone on the RIGHT cried sell out.

    Now, it appears to be the only game in town.

    So, the House GOP should accept the deal or be willing to go over the Cliff and endure the wrath of outraged American taxpayers when their first 2013 paycheck is much smaller.

  • Crossroads GPS,  Fiscal Cliff

    Crossroads GPS Targets Democratic Senators Over The Fiscal Cliff

    [youtube]http://youtu.be/CIZGp43GYrg[/youtube]

    Alaska Radio Ad targeting Denocratic Senator Mark Begich

    The 2014 election for the United States Senate and GOP control has already started.

    Crossroads GPS, a GOP Super PAC is up with radio ads targeting Democratic Senators who reside in Red States.

     Crossroads GPS will launch new radio ads in five states today urging Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska), Mary Landrieu (Louisiana), Kay Hagan (North Carolina), Tim Johnson (South Dakota), and Jay Rockefeller (West Virginia) to support significant spending cuts as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations.  The spots, supported by a $240,000 total buy, begin airing today on local radio stations.

    Since the President continues to campaign, promote upper income tax increases and since he has lent his campaign e-mail list to the Fiscal Cliff campaign, I guess the GOP effort is in response.

    Why not?

    A balanced plan includes more than just the massive tax increases President Obama is insisting Congress pass, and these U.S. Senators should lead by pushing for significant spending cuts,” Crossroads GPS president and CEO Steven Law said in a statement. “It is up to these U.S. Senators to push President Obama and Harry Reid to show real leadership by negotiating a balanced plan which stops Washington spending and helps our economy.

  • Fiscal Cliff,  John Boehner

    The House Fiscal Cliff Strategy: Shut Up and Pass a Bill

    Boehner and Obama What Should the GOP House Do About The Fiscal Cliff?

    epublican House Speaker John Boehner and President Obama at the White House on November 16, 2012

    Earth speaking to Republican House Speaker John Boehner on the “Fiscal Cliff” – shut up and pass a bill. You are not winning the discourse with the President.

    I told you before what to do and it is very simple.

    Pass an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut and block its automatic rise from 4.2 percent of wages to 6.2 percent. To raise that tax now and scoop off the discretionary income of most of America’s families in this anemic economy makes no sense economically or politically.

    The House should then vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for another year, with a pledge to do tax reform — lowering tax rates in return for culling, cutting or capping deductions for the well-to-do in the new year.

    Then let Harry Reid work his will. If the Senate votes to let Social Security taxes rise, let Harry and his party explain this to the middle class that gets hammered in January. If the Senate votes to let the Bush tax cuts lapse for those over $200,000, decide in the caucus whether to negotiate — or to go home for Christmas and New Year’s.

    As for the automatic sequester that would impose $100 billion in cuts next year, half in defense, do nothing. Let it take effect. The budget has to be cut, and while these cuts are heavy on defense, the depth and mixture can be adjusted in the new year.

    Another week has gone by and nothing really has happened, except Obama has been beating up on the Republican brand. Boehner, you are not going to be doing any better than the above.

    So, just do it and get it over.

  • Barack Obama,  Fiscal Cliff

    House GOP Can Fight Back #My2K By Passing a Bill

     

    The President went on a PR offensive with his tweet and hashtag this morning.

    And, conservatives have gone on the offensive.

    The White House’s ‘My2k’ hashtag campaign is a success on Twitter, trending nationally on Wednesday and stirring up debate over the upcoming tax rate deadline. But conservatives are fighting back, appropriating the hashtag and arguing their side of the debate.

    The #My2k hashtag began trending nationwide on Twitter on Wednesday morning when senior members of the administration — in a coordinated effort — began tweeting about the hashtag campaign. Use surged anew after President Obama’s speech about extending middle-class tax rates, when he urged supporters to call, write, tweet at and post on the Facebook walls of their members of Congress.

    But, all Speaker Boehner and the House GOP leadership have to do is pass a bill.

    As I said before.

    Pass an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut and block its automatic rise from 4.2 percent of wages to 6.2 percent. To raise that tax now and scoop off the discretionary income of most of America’s families in this anemic economy makes no sense economically or politically.

    The House should then vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for another year, with a pledge to do tax reform — lowering tax rates in return for culling, cutting or capping deductions for the well-to-do in the new year.

    Then let Harry Reid work his will. If the Senate votes to let Social Security taxes rise, let Harry and his party explain this to the middle class that gets hammered in January. If the Senate votes to let the Bush tax cuts lapse for those over $200,000, decide in the caucus whether to negotiate — or to go home for Christmas and New Year’s.

    As for the automatic sequester that would impose $100 billion in cuts next year, half in defense, do nothing. Let it take effect. The budget has to be cut, and while these cuts are heavy on defense, the depth and mixture can be adjusted in the new year.

    There you go – very expedient.

    But, so far, Speaker Boehner appears to be tone deaf – even from members of his own party, like Rep. Tom Cole.

    Plus, Obama’s effort is actually funny:

     

  • Fiscal Cliff

    What Should the GOP House Do About The Fiscal Cliff?

    Speaker Boehner and President Obama at the White House

    Republican House Speaker John Boehner and President Obama at the White House on November 16, 2012

    Everyone seemingly has an idea about what the GOP controlled House should do to avert America going over the “Fiscal Cliff.””

    But, what the House Republicans can do is really quite simple and is outlined by my friend, Pat Buchanan, in his piece for Real Clear Politics.

    Pass an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut and block its automatic rise from 4.2 percent of wages to 6.2 percent. To raise that tax now and scoop off the discretionary income of most of America’s families in this anemic economy makes no sense economically or politically.

    The House should then vote to extend the Bush tax cuts for another year, with a pledge to do tax reform — lowering tax rates in return for culling, cutting or capping deductions for the well-to-do in the new year.

    Then let Harry Reid work his will. If the Senate votes to let Social Security taxes rise, let Harry and his party explain this to the middle class that gets hammered in January. If the Senate votes to let the Bush tax cuts lapse for those over $200,000, decide in the caucus whether to negotiate — or to go home for Christmas and New Year’s.

    As for the automatic sequester that would impose $100 billion in cuts next year, half in defense, do nothing. Let it take effect. The budget has to be cut, and while these cuts are heavy on defense, the depth and mixture can be adjusted in the new year.

    There you have it.

    The House is back in session today and they should get busy. Pass the extensions and let Harry Reid and Senate Democrats work their magic or not.

    Let the President’s surrogates, including Warren Buffett, go on all of the tall shows touting how increasing the taxes on the rich is the savior of the nation. Of course, everyone knows there is not enough money there.

    The House will have passed the Bush Tax Cuts and the Senate Democrats can simply negotiate what they will accept as a top rate roll back. Say, $500,000 for couples.

    The GOP will not lose any sleep about increasing taxes on the rich, but in return the Democrats must agree to curbing the spending side.

    Let the President and Harry Reid lead instead of bloviate.

    Simple, isn’t it?

  • Americans for Tax Reform,  Fiscal Cliff,  Grover Norquist

    Republicans Jumping Off The No Tax Increase Fiscal Cliff?

    Grover Norquist on CNN

    Those Republican lawmakers who are bloviating about violating the Americans for Tax Reform pledge are doing just that. They have NOT and probably won’t vote for higher taxes.

    Why?

    Because they know their constituents would vote their asses out of office.

    Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist said Monday that his group, Americans for Tax Reform, would work to unseat Republicans who break their pledge to never vote for higher taxes.

    His vow came after prominent GOP lawmakers said over the weekend they would consider breaking the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in order to reach a deal with Democrats and President Barack Obama to avoid tumbling over the fiscal cliff – the combination of sweeping spending cuts and tax increases that would go into effect at the end of the year if negotiators can’t reach a deal on reducing the federal debt.

    Norquist said his group would “certainly highlight who has kept their commitment and who hasn’t” when it comes time for lawmakers like Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Peter King to run for re-election, though Norquist claimed voters generally decide on their own to oust elected officials who vote to raise taxes.

    “Historically the people who lose do so because the people in their state have figured that out,” Norquist said on CNN’s “Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien.”

    Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina will probably be replaced as the Republican nominee anyway, since he has proven to be too left for the South Carolina GOP.

    There seems to be a great deal of posturing with the knowledge that if NOTHING is done, taxes will really increase.

    Here is the video:

    It should be a fun few weeks before Christmas with EVERY POL submitting their own plan to avoid the “Fiscal Cliff.”