Sure - not a lot of details, but basically the sequester has cuts of $1.2 trillion scheduled. Boehner passed a bill to override that with $200 billion in cuts instead - thus raising spending by $1T: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 Although the House didn't vote on Boehner's tax measure, most Republicans did vote together earlier Thursday as the House narrowly approved, 215-209, a related measure to alter automatic spending cuts set to kick in next year under the fiscal cliff, replacing cuts to the military with reductions elsewhere. The Congressional Budget Office said this would lead to $217.7 billion in cuts over the next decade, short of the $1.2 trillion in cuts that would go into effect in January if the fiscal cliff isn't averted. It basically replaces all the defense and social program cuts in the sequester with the stuff mc mark listed a few posts earlier.
The GOP is in shambles Obama put SS and medicare on the table and Boehner couldn't get his caucus together.
The hatred and fear that the Republican base and their Congressional representatives have for the President has made them insane.
We're seeing the consequences of gerrymandering the House. Republicans have created a pretty solid house majority thanks to some creative redistricting. Democrats as a whole received more votes than Republicans in House races but badly lost the house. Historically that number has pretty much mirrored the result of who controlled the house. With that being said, by creating so many safe seats, Republicans have forced their caucus to govern to avoid primary challenges (since they dont have to worry about Democrats challenging them) Candidates that would normally have to move to the center due to Democrats challenging them are now moving to the right due to primary challengers. The end result is a caucus that is steadily moving to the right as long as seats remain non-competitive in general elections. Either the Republican primary electorate has to change or this trend will continue. Republicans had control of state legislatures in something like 9 or 10 states that Obama won during the 2010 redistricting cycle. (while Democrats had control of West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi) And since 2010 they've lost control of Mississippi and Arkansas while West Virginia will probably go Republican within the next 4-6 years. All of this is resulting in totally skewed Congressional representation since only a handful of states engage in non-partisan redistricting. Unless Republicans fix their primaries they will struggle to control their caucus, as their members will always be in fear of getting knocked out of a primary. Hell Mitch McConnell is already freaking out about getting beaten in a primary.
How about another poll response: Obama, the bluedog gets what he wants, but real Dems don't. Shame on this moderate Republican/Blue Dog for proposing to destroy social security as a universal benefit, turn it into at best a means tested program that history and its opponents know will eventualy make it seem like welfare and will turn the upper middle class against it. Also no skin off old Obami's ass to take away $10 to $20,000 away from the average low wage social security ricipient during their retirement. He and Michelle and his two trust fund girls don't need to worry. So sickening to have this guy leading the Democratic Party which is supposed to be the party for ordinary Americans.
Canter busy boning Boner. The Republican Party bending over, yet again, for the welfare of the wealthy at the expense of the Middle Class, the elderly, the young, and the other unfortunate people of this country. You know, the vast majority. I'm shocked. I'm stunned. I'm shocked and stunned. (yawn) Anything good on Maddow's show tomorrow?
You sound really really pathetic. Every time one of you guys tries belittling Obama, you just come off sad and childish. I'm sure you're really cutting the Harvard educated lawyer president really deep with your mean old words. Maybe there is a reason your party lost the election and is now in shambles...
wait -- did you just tell glynch that his party lost the election? BWAAAAHAHAHAHA hint: glynch is on your side. dims are snapping
Ah, good to know. So I don't know who on clutchfans is a democrat...your party can't get it's own bill out of the house. Score....waitforit.jpg.......board brah.
These convervative Rep who are against Boehner's plan B are so dumb. By doing so, they are cutting their own throat since the only plan that will get passed now will be one closer to the Dem's wish.
1. Dems haven't agreed to any means testing. 2. The 'average low wage SS recipient' is protected from the discussed changes 3. Can you explain, in your own words, why Chained CPI is not the proper measure to use when making COLAs instead of regular CPI? If it's a better measure of inflation, why *shouldn't* it be used? Shouldn't the goal of COLA be to accurately measure inflation? BTW, many progressive organizations have promoted this change in the past as perfectly logical and rational. This isn't some crazy "blue dog" change.
I'm ready for the GOP to go over the cliff. It's going to be hilarious watching the party tear itself apart while getting the boot from it's constituents. I Can't believe it's actually this bad for them.
I'm actually starting to think that Obama's stances in these negotiations (maybe even going back over the last 2 years) has been as much about keeping Boehner in the Speaker's chair as looking for the best deal with the recognition that if Boehner goes there will be absolutely no chance of getting anything through the House. Kind of a scary thought, that. If last night brings Boehner down, I'm not sure it will be the schadenfreude outcome many Dems think it will. I'm pretty convinced that the Republican Party is tearing itself up, but I don't want them to take the country along for the ride.
I heard a GOP supporter call the Party the "RipItUplicans" on the Diane Rehm show and it makes perfect sense. It's about not giving in to the President than making the right choice. Reminds me of what Alfred said: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/efHCdKb5UWc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Is there a reasonable breakdown available of the house GOP caucus, in terms of extreme versus not-extreme (perhaps tea party versus "regular" GOP)? I'm wondering if it's even possible to form some sort of coalition that could pass anything in the house at this point.
It terms of this particular vote, they could afford about 25 defectors and though they had the votes in the afternoon. So they probably have about 30ish totally-off-the-rocker types. I think Boehner can easily pass cliff legislation with the support of Pelosi - you could probably get small majorities of both parties fairly easily. He just doesn't want to because he's worried about his job. But I don't think there's any way Boehner is overthrown - the crazy wing is obnoxious, but it's not that large.
