Hey I'm with Obama and all the other hardline hypocrit libs. I want my extra $40 a week per family stolen from the social security funds. Those old folks don't need it. They can eat dog food instead of chicken and I can give the money to Big Oil for more gas to waste in my huge SUV.

And the hell with creating jobs...especially union jobs. Thanks libs...hang tough.

I don't know if McConnell is a coward (don't know him personally, so I will not go there), but I do know that John B. just blindsided him :)

How to pay for this payroll tax cut? Well, let's start with GE, then overhaul the entire tax code. What I find laughable is that the Repubs are 'horrified' this will underfund SS, but they and the Dems have had their hands in the cookie jar for 30 years. So, pass the two month compromise, then sit down, and do what you were elected to do, like represent the people, not the Koch Bros.

Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
Galatians 5:14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

McConnell is just a Koch Brother lackey who smells the winds of change and is only interested in preserving his power. Time and again he has thrown his constituents to the wolves at the bequest of the uber rich.

Yes he is truly a coward. The word traitor also comes to mind.

What a great position the President has just put John Boehner's Republican house in... he just drew a line in the sand which has now become a lose/lose for Republicans. Either do what the President and Minority Leader McConnell say to do, or be responsible for raising taxes on millions of Americans, getting the blame for that, AND getting Obama re-elected in 2012.

This has to be the dumbest cluster of political hacks ever assembled in the House to let it get to this point. House Republicans couldn't have given Democrats a more useful and meaningful gift for Christmas. Thank you Republicans! And... keep dragging this out, PLEASE!!! The longer the better.

JPSOTW

Hey I'm with Obama and all the other hardline hypocrit libs. I want my extra $40 a week per family stolen from the social security funds. Those old folks don't need it. They can eat dog food instead of chicken and I can give the money to Big Oil for more gas to waste in my huge SUV.

And the hell with creating jobs...especially union jobs. Thanks libs...hang tough.

Your own words and the words of your Republican cronies will serve as a part of the historical record; this will be the first time in world history when the acts and deeds of misguided souls will be left on display to compare and analyze for decades. Sadly, this wreck of a party will come crashing down on the wrong side of history, and will look exponentially more foolish because of it. I, for one, will be there with all the notes and proof the world will ever need - and I'm one of millions upon millions who will be able to corroborate those facts. History will hang your party from the gallows and leave your party's carcass on display for all to review and reflect upon. The absence of humility and humanity has become your party's largest asset, and will end up being the greatest single gift to us all.

Pride cometh before the fall.

The unhonorable have been predictable since the beginning of time. Republicans are soooo predictable. The depth of their deciet is unfathomable. The shame they have brought to us and our future generations is unforgivable.

The bottom line is our nation NEEDS:

TAX REFORM

A Congress that works for America all 325,000,000 not just the 9,750,000 that are the 3%

A Congress that will work to fix the problems with job creation not filling the pockets of their rich contributors

Money to be returned to Social Security, which was robbed by previous administrations from the Baby Boomers so these administrations could look good

An end to Free Trade Agreements that lead to businesses to take jobs from America and send them overseas

A Health Care Plan that provides for America and not fills the pockets of CEOs like McKesson Pharmaceuticals who's compensation for the year was $146,000,000

A true pan to address the energy needs of this nation that doesn't rely on other nations that are bent on killing every American and destroying our nation

An end to loopholes allowing money to be hid from taxes overseas

An end to wars in nations that are only benefiting the companies providing goods and services

and I can go on....

For a chance to discuss these and more check out:

WWW FREEDOMISNTFREE2012 COM

i wonder when the "mainstream media"and i use that term very loosely is going to start to talk about the ndaa bill?

Well, Rob, when the GOP leadership in congress actually decides to work with the president, on anything, for once, maybe you'll have the long-term fixes you cry for.

Obama's "vision" has yet to be implemented.

saw something in the article about freezing congress' salary for a few years. do you think that has anything to do with the 'impasse'?

having the higher income people pay 1.9% more for medicare coverage. do you think that has anything to do with the 'impasse'?

let the payroll tax expire but don't let the "temporary" bush tax breaks expire. do you think that has anything to do with the 'impasse'?

also it just might interrupt or delay their leaving for christmas vacation. what they need to do is not important enough to stay and get the job done!

Eileen- what did GE do to you?

This mentality has to go. It's about fairness. I paid taxes last year. GE did not.

Unfortunately...

Anytime a person or party goes to the Press with their side of the story - they are saying that they will not sit and negotiate. This is true for all sides.

Looking into the numbers, in my own case anyway, with a practically level income (near average US income level) for 2010 and 2011:

2010 paid 5.3% into SS and 13.2% into Federal income tax.

2011 paid 3.6% into SS and 14.1% into Federal income tax.

Looks like a tax increase to me. At least doing it this way, they are more honestly taking from SS, instead of raiding the SS funds as if it were a tax.

Not that I am all that confident in SS and would rather have the money up front to prepare for retirement on my own. I just wish it wasn't presented as some kind of sacrifice by the government.

It is a tax increase. Probably thought up by some government accountant to disguise more revenue going to the government coffers.

I wish they all would quit lying.

The key phrase is ".... where he (Obama) was surrounded by several Americans RECRUITED by the White House to support Obama." In other words, the show of support was STAGED.

If the payroll cut extension is such a good idea, then why not go for a full 12 month extension ?

Of course, if Democratic goals are actually to delay the issue, refuse to negotiate in good faith while POINTING THE FINGERS AT REPUBLICANS .... well, we will be looking at another two-month band-aid near the end of February, and perhaps at the end of April as well.

The dog and pony show continues and Obama is the ringmaster !!!

I agree with DuaneWS -- They're doing it AGAIN robbing from SS...that's how it got hosed in the first place. If they REALLY want to make a difference for EVERYONE that actually PAYS taxes including seniors -- why not raise the tax base? Also -- I seem to recall reading one of the problems 'they' are having is figuring out how to 'pay for this'...WELL I could think of several ways one of which would be to STOP ALL foreign aide...we don't have that money either so.. why is THAT on the list of things that must be paid? It just blows my mind how little common sense there appears to be in Washington. They aren't doing US any favors by de-funding social security (this is not a 'tax break') they are only making that problem worse and I see little benefit to us in borrowing money from China so that we can donate it to the rest of the world -- wake up people! ALSO -- I could give 2 hoots if these senators don't get a 2 week 'break' -- they ALL SHOULD have their butts IN WASHINGTON. Christmas is on Sunday...they can take off then. They haven't passed a bill all year -- they've been on break for most of 2011 as it is -- get to work guys and do your jobs -- stop posturing yourselves for the 2012 elections!

Really, Really, If anybody actually listen to this spewing of fecal matter, the extension is for 2 months. So the average FOLKS he says would pocket a 1,000 dollars right. Wrong all you idiots this is a 2 month extension! The bad republicans don't want tax relief. No they want it for the whole YEAR!!! I can't believe what an absolute phoney he is. The house is showing what true leadership looks like.

Our federal reserve notes that we use to buy stuff are, in effect, IOU's. Social security trust fund assets are no more IOU's than savings bonds or federal reserve notes. All of these things have the "full faith and credit of the United States" behind them. If one is worthless, they are all worthless.

I just read the CBO report on the social security trust fund... It is now actually solvent until 2038 vs. last year's projection of 2037, so despite the "stealing" of payroll taxes from social security for the last two years, we are doing better than we did two years ago. That's because more people are working and more people are paying into the fund. Raising or eliminating the cap on social security would help tremendously toward pushing that number out farther and farther and farther.

My recommendation is to stop crabbing about the republicans and democrats and just replace most of them in the next election until we can find some people that will support your belief's and tell us the truth.

Ok now we are getting somewhere. This congress is the worst in history...EVER. We (those of us right here arguing on this post as to whose fault it is) have the ability to make changes needed by voting out EVERY single person we can in congress to show that we will kick their azz out, just as quickly as they got in, if they don't do what they said they would do. Wake up people, the idiots are in Washington because YOU/WE put them there. VOTE EVERY ONE OF THEM OUT!!!

let's see....

The US constitution set up the means of reconciling differences in bills between the house and senate.

Now the senate and president wants to ignore the constitution by declaring that the senate way is the only way.

Senate leader reid doesn't think that this issue is important enough for the senate to reconcile the differences this year, and obama supports this?

If their christmas break takes precedence over tending to government business both the senate and obama needs to tender their resignations forth with.

Obama says that the house should just pass the senate version because it is the right thing to do.

Seem to recall pelosi saying essentially the same thing on health care, We all know how well that worked out.

Obama holds up those affected by the payroll tax cut extensions to do what?

Sway us like other organizations do when they show images of children with cleft palets, abused animals, unfed children, etc. Really mr obama is that what you call being POTUS is all about? trying to shame us?

Obama says that passing the senate bill is the only viable option. Also that once it is passed congress can then hammer out the details for extending it for a full year.

Golly Mr obama alot of us were born at night, but not last night.

Who among us have forgotten all of last years shenanigans you <Mr obama> personally did to delay or obfuscate legislation or how dysfunctional congress was. What makes this different now? Because it is time for vacation?

Block quotes are my responses to what obama and company (including senate republicans)

Geo said: "Really, Really, If any actually listen to this spewing of fecal matter. the extension is for 2 months. So the average FOLKS he says would pocket a 1,000 dollars right. Wrong all you idiots this is a 2 month extension! The bad republicans don't want tax relief. No they want it for the whole YEAR!!! I can't believe what an absolute phoney he is."

Don't you bother to read about whatever it is you are writing about? The issue isn't 12 months of payroll tax cuts vs. two months of payroll tax cuts.. The issue is that the House bill is chock full of nasty poison pen measures that are distasteful to most of the Dems.. and should be distasteful to any of us who consider ourselves civilized and human. Keystone XL.. very controversial, and it is unclear if more than a few thousand temporary jobs will be created from it. The 12 month provision insists that Obama sign off on this mess. Unemployment extensions.... The states don't have enough money as it is, but the House bill pushes states to DRUG TEST unemployed people, makes it more difficult for them to get benefits, and cuts benefits back quite a bit, particularly in the hardest-hit states. Unless you adopt a punitive attitude towards the unemployed and unless you believe that in our four-jobseekers-to-every-job economy, it is the fault of the unemployed that they are unemployed, then the House bill should be distasteful to you as well.

Anyone who supports the House bill either 1) Hasn't bothered to check it out and investigate it, or 2) Is not a very human or civilized person.

$200 Billion sounds like one expensive pizza night.

Ryan:

"So the Democrats want a 2 month payroll tax break

and the Republicans want a 1 year payroll tax break.

This clearly shows the Republicans care more for the working Americans.

What kind of tax break is just 2 months?

Talk about a tax nightmare.

Sorry Democrats - we make tax cuts last the entire year. I get that Democrats love complicated Gov't schemes, but a tax rate for just 2 months out of 12? That's ridiculous.

As I just wrote and I'll repeat as long as necessary: Anyone who supports the House bill either 1) Hasn't bothered to check it out and investigate it, or 2) Is not a very human or civilized person.

Here's the problems with the Repubs who care not one whit about you or me unless you or I can contribute big bundles of cash to their campaign funds:

The issue isn't 12 months of payroll tax cuts vs. two months of payroll tax cuts.. The issue is that the House bill is chock full of nasty poison pen measures that are distasteful to most of the Dems.. and should be distasteful to any of us who consider ourselves civilized and human. Keystone XL.. very controversial, and it is unclear if more than a few thousand temporary jobs will be created from it. The 12 month provision insists that Obama sign off on this mess. Unemployment extensions.... The states don't have enough money as it is, but the House bill pushes states to DRUG TEST unemployed people, makes it more difficult for them to get benefits, and cuts benefits back quite a bit, particularly in the hardest-hit states. Unless you adopt a punitive attitude towards the unemployed and unless you believe that in our four-jobseekers-to-every-job economy, it is the fault of the unemployed that they are unemployed, then the House bill should be distasteful to you as well.

There are other distasteful provisions of the House bill as well. Do yourself a favor. Educate yourself. Read about this bill.

Molly, I do believe the house republicans requested a conference to solve the differences with the senate. How did that go. Or was Reid in a hurry to go on vacation?

3 Week vacation, well maybe they should have taken the opportunity too resolve the problem when the Democrat Senators were here instead of playing games .... Its a Win Win for the Democrats why should they come back now, 2012 in in th BAG ...

@ Ed-403353

As an astute reader of the Bible you would then surely know that those verses pertain to an individual, right? And not mandates by government, RIGHT?

So in your eyes to honor god we must cede our personal control over free-will to the government. How then will goodness prevail in the eyes of the lord when freewill is no longer accounted for!?

Un-simplify your mind, context means everything. A nice attempt though.

T-Rex said I'll agree the tax code needs to change. We waste billions on tax prep software, and every special interest group wants preferential treatment. Start with removing all deductions and exemptions...I could care less how many kids someone has or that they need cay care, or that someone donates to charity or has a mortgage...etc. My tax dollars should not care about this either

I've got to say for the most part I find these boards filled with people full of hate on both sides, but especially so on left. This however is an incredibly shortsighted comment from the right. Stop caring about those charitble deductions and see how many more government programs and taxes we need to create to replace the charities. Stop caring about those tax credits for families and see how many more social programs and welfare recipients we have. Don't care about that mortgage break and watch those jobs disappear in housing.

Newton told us there's a physical law that for every action there is a reaction. That is also a truism in social interactions that we far to often think we can just ignore.

puppet leaders -- I am totally with you on the lack of mainstream coverage on National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). It's kinda scary. What's the deal?

wow , so much pathetic rambling.. here's a number 40 cents on every $ dollar $ right or left they all SUCK!

you all sound like a bunch of whining children.. .

At least the Democrats look like people, meaning understanding and compassion..

Lets start using our railroads again.

ksw62118

Rick's Real a two month extension does very little. For most taxpayers it probably amounts to $100.00. For businesses it creates a payroll nightmare. This is all political one upmanship at it's worst from both sides. Stop buying in to the drama. We should all expect both sides to do the job they were elected to do.

If this wasn't about political posturing, ksw62118, then why did John Boehner conveniently wait for the Senate to adjourn, pack up and leave for the holidays before announcing the House's decision to contest the bill? This is not about a 2-month extension, and making it a 3-month extension as Boehner is now talking isn't going to help him or the other House Republicans save face on their stupid decision to challenge people in their own party.

The Republican Tea Party has shown us once again that they just can't get along with anyone - even with themselves.

The house gave Obama everything he wanted (You got to watch out for those sneaky Republicans) and something he wanted to avoid (Keystone XL) until after the election. Reid is just protecting BHO's chances in the election by refusing to support the Houses Bill. Prince Harry was not going to let the Beloved Leader look bad by vetoing the bill. Reid and Obama knew exactly what they were doing with this. Why do you thing they Recessed so fast?

This is more for Ryan from TX. The problem with this bill the house pushed through is that it had the Koch brother pipe line attached to it, And I will bet the Bush tax cuts for the rich also. I can live with out that $40 per pay period if the Rich have to buck up and pay there fair share. But no mater what, the rich will not pay there fair share because we all know they pay no taxes at all. GE, Koch Industry, GM, Ford and any of the rest of businesses. They pay no Taxes and never have.......

Rick's real Can you read? I said it was political posturing on BOTH sides. Everyone is out to make the other side look bad. The other problem is all of them wanted to put this out of the way before their holiday vacations.

@jollyoldsoul1

I have some of the same experiences as you, but still want to see the people who really need the help get it. And I am looking forward to seeing what happens when the (R) take over Detroit in what is effectively a "monarchy within a democracy" and install a new mayor in the city. A mayor of the governors choosing, not the person the people elected. Apparently, voters don't count in Detroit and Benton Harbor......

On the subject...............

Sorry to say, the 1 year deal is what EVERYONE wants but the current 1 year bill being proposed has so many attachments a pig would be embarrassed! Using the 1 year proposed deal as "fodder" for bashing the other side of the aisle is, well frankly, as see through as the plastic sheeting on my sliding glass door. Speaking of which, I could use that $40 to put towards my oil bill.

Congress; PASS THE 2 MONTH EXTENSION AND FIGURE OUT THE PORK IN THE NEXT SESSION!!

@Rick's Real

It only creates a nightmare for small business if the congress cant get it together next session and pass something more long term

......And as for that $100.......

I can't afford to lose that much when my oil bill is over $800.00 every few months this winter.

ksw62118 doesn't have a clue....

The ONLY good tax cut is a PERMANENT tax cut.

2-3 months will do ZERO to help the economy. It's not enough to create any jobs what-so-ever.

And in the end; the less you pay into your payroll taxes, the LESS you will be entitled to receive when you retire.

Your average is going to be determined by what your payroll tax deductions are, not what your salary is.

Pay now or when you retire, you be lacking in benefits. Less painful to pay now.

Ryan in Texas

What about a 1 year deal with NO PORK!!!!

LOL@ you can have a 1 year deal but you must give us the extra money to do what we want...

I'm Just Sayin'..

The house is responsible for the mess they are in. They created it and now must live with it. They have acted like spoiled bratty children since elected. They are playing games, but it is effecting millions of peoples lives. If congress wants to act like big boys and girls then maybe the president will listen to them. Boerner should of brought it to a vote, but he wouldn't do that. He is a leader that cannot lead. He is dealing with morons that are fueled by hate. They want to destroy everything good we have accomplished. If Jesus Christ lived today, he would be called a socialist and a liberal. The tea party, republican party and Fox faux news would try to destroy him.

Unbelievable If you have an $800 couple of months oil bill you have more of a problem than losing the payroll tax deduction.

Now we have McConnel asking the Tea Party to act like adults.

You can't make this stuff up.

The Republicans have been eaten by the Koch brothers monster. The Tea Party is doomed, and will possibly take the GOP down with it.

Finally.

But this does reduce revenue flowing into the SS sustem that we all know is in trouble--we can take the reduction now and just push that problem further down the road.

What part of -It's paid for - don't you get? I hear all the conservative pundits say the same thing, i.e., it's reducing the SS fund. It's paid for morons. It may be complicated for some, but if you pay for something, it means you have paid for it.

Now the 12 month payroll tax holiday is not fully paid for (again, only enough to pay for two months). The democrats and Republicans haven't been able to agree on how to pay for it for months now. Why does Cantor say it'll only take an hour?

Most of the republicans in the Senate voted for the two month extension and went home, Yet, it's the Democrats fault. Again, I must be an idiot because the Republicans are trying to make the argument it's the Democrats fault.

I guess Republicans must think people are either so stupid, or so out of touch, they don't see this. We actually have people on this vine saying the exact same things. Are we that dumb that we can't see what's happening?

Keep up the good work Republicans....you might have just lost the 2012 elections.

I just watched the video of Norquist's view of this impasse... naturally he sides with Boehner and as long as he (Boehner) sticks to his guns, he hasn't violated the Norquist pledge against compromise... regardless if it ends up raising taxes.

Norquist is a traitor. Boehner is a puppet of both Norquist and the Tea Party rookies. McConnell is a wimp and afraid to land anywhere on anything of late. And we're in deep sh!t until these dirt-bags either start working with truth or simply get out of the GD way.

I've been Republican back in the Nixon and early Reagan days. I'm Democrat now... and getting more Democrat every day. In all my years I have never seen such a collection of inept morons.

At. 3.58 pm. EST, Boehner agrees to "Let" the House vote on Payroll Tax, Ext., The wives and husband's of the Tpubs, did a massive call in, to tell them to Get Your A#@ home, right now! LOL, it's about time the Tpubs did the will of the people, the longer this goes on, the better Pres. Obama looks. Obama/Biden 2012

What a great position the President has just put John Boehner's Republican house in... he just drew a line in the sand which has now become a lose/lose for Republicans. Either do what the President and Minority Leader McConnell say to do, or be responsible for raising taxes on millions of Americans, getting the blame for that, AND getting Obama re-elected in 2012.

This has to be the dumbest cluster of political hacks ever assembled in the House to let it get to this point. House Republicans couldn't have given Democrats a more useful and meaningful gift for Christmas. Thank you Republicans! And... keep dragging this out, PLEASE!!! The longer the better.

AMEN to THAT!!! I just love that this is making the righties on this board heads explode. This was the Obama I voted for. Chastise them and chastise them often. He needs to keep this up.

Charles de Gaulle once said…..“You may be sure that the Americans will commit all the stupidities they can think of, plus some that are beyond imagination”

Often it takes years for this sort of statement to validate it’s meaning…..perhaps Charles de Gaulle saw in us something 60 years ago that enabled him to say what he did.

Let’s hope the next 11 months is an eye opener for us all, because our country can’t afford to continue divided like this, any longer.

Middle Molly

The number of jobs just to build the pipeline would be hard to estimate. Peak employment on the Alaska pipeline was 3400 - just to build the 800 miles of pipeline, access roads. airstrips and camps for the workers. Keystone is 3456 miles long, so the estimate of over 10,000 workers sounds reasonable. There will be additional work for the refineries at the receiving end, AND everyone providing materials will have to increase employment to supply materials, AND anyone along the pipeline will have to hire people to keep up with the needs of those working on the pipeline.

Approval should have been a no-brainer provided enough safety has been built in to protect the surrounding environment is protected.

The poison part is that a lot of support for the democrats come from radical environmentalists.

wtw of KC,

I agree. The importance of function overrides the political direction at the moment. We need to get reasonable on both sides.

BTW, I assume KC is Kansas City?

I just love that this is making the righties on this board heads explode

Amen to that. Like in the movie "Mars Attacks" the little green men have green goo in their helmets.

A huge victory for the USA.

Get the Tea Party OUT of politics and back to the trailer park in Oklahoma.

@Willing.Sniper
You and the "willing" Tea Party need to bet back in that HATE hole and STAY THERE. Definitely no place in Congress for your kind ...............................

R estore

O ur

N ation

P rotect

A merica

U nderstand

L iberty

Although I agree with the Boehner that a 2 month deal is bad, I think this is a very bad issue for the Reps politically, and will probably cost them some seats in 2012.

It's sad, but the leaders in both parties (and the president) seem far more concerned with personal and party politics than they do with doing what's best for the country.

Eliminate the cap on Social Security contributins and make the payroll tax cut permanent.

We'll have more jobs and more money in the Social Security trust fund.

The Keystone project is a big part of this discussion.

This is why, the bill will be called, "The Republican Keystone Cops Initiative"

Ron-1861300

I wouldn't get too worried. We have Democrats trying to win political points on tax cuts.

As long as we keep the focus on more money going to the people, and less to Washington - it still gets us to a better place.

Another big plus is a payroll tax cut only goes to working Americans. So at least this time, no tax break for those that don't even pay taxes like the Democrats normally want.

All in all, most Republicans are going to be happy with any tax break. You starve the beast and empower the working man. It's going to be fun watching the Democrats try to take away the tax breaks later.

LMarcT....Yes, my birth place…..but now, my home is in Gary.

The GOP seems hell-bent on destroying the economy, the government, the middle class, Social Security, anything they can get their hands on, hoping that it will lead to a victory in the 2012 elections.

Some of these tea partier congressmen are as mad as hatters.

I knew I could come here for a laugh at the Liberal hypocrites. Complaining about wanting to make this a 1 year deal instead of just 2 months as Obama wanted. This takes 121 billion (year) out of the S.S. coffers and yet no mention about how this will shorten the life of SS with the normal mantra that this is killing S.S. and everyones grandma. Just yesterday they were celebrating EPA regulations that will raise energy prices more than this will save the workers along with costing jobs. Also this includes the pipeline they oppose in the bill and here they are drumming the beat to pass this bill. Liberalism is truly a mental disorder.

I hate to be so abrupt...but Eric Cantor and his Teabagger cling-ons are one term d-bags! Cut the childish antics and just pass the bill...as the VAST majority of Americans want. The delay is bad...but the outcome is very good. The bitter dichotomy within the Republican party will be their demise come the general election. A word to the wise...if you Republicans want any chance at all in the general election...you must separate yourselves from Eric Cantor, Jim DeMint and any Tea Party leaning cells that have polluted your ranks. They have the appeal of cobra venom and anthrax combined!

JPSOTW

Gotta love the responses.....ROTFLMAO!!!!

and this does NOT take fro soc. sec. stop lying

What do you think FICA funds?!

Do you actually know how the legislation was written? The amount lost thru FICA is recouped from the General Fund. But go ahead and perpetuate the lies...after all if you tell a lie loud enough and long enough the masses will believe it.

Who are destroying the economy are the Democrats, 3 trillion in debt in three years, 15 trillion so far , reserve bank is printing dollars 24/7 , very soon our dollar value is going to be less than a sheet of toilet paper. Thanks democrat keep taking our country down , Obama demand more from the rich but he realize that not even increasing 10% or 20% can keep up with the irresponsible handling of our economy ,however he still use this mantra for political class warfare . If Obama where honest about taxing the big corporation ,long time ago he could offer a bill to close loopholes , that make companies like GE , whose CEO sleep in the White House , pay their fair share. Democrats continue giving to the people money we do not have. Very soon our dollar will be not longer use for trade and the consequences will be indescribably. Yes is the tea party fault for not proper communicate the treat to our economy , but they are the only ones that care about our future .

The DEMOCRAT (sic) Senate has gone home for a 3 week vacation.

The entire Senate, Democratic and Republican, has gone home for a 3 week vacation because they took care of business at least well enough to tide the nation over for 8 weeks, which gives them 5 weeks to work on it some more once they get back. Nearly every Senator, whether Republican or Democrat, voted for the extension to the payroll taxcut.

The boneheaded Republican (not, PUBLICAN, not REPUBLIC, not REUBLIAN) House doesn't deserve a vacation because they didn't get their work done. Nor did they even try.

By the way, it's the Democratic Party, and its members are called Democrats, while members of the Republican Party are called Republicans.

When you take your grammar lessons from a drug addicted college dropout, you leave yourself open to correction.

I love it when obama gets on tv and demands republicans to pass a bill that will underfund social security even more. I hate old people anyway and i hope they have to eat dog food. I also hate the rich and since i dont work nor do i ever intend to work, i demand the same stuff as the rich have and i think we should raise the taxes on the people that arnt paying enough. I know that half the country doesnt pay taxes, but so what? We should not have to pay taxes at all. Im tired of all this political crap, just give us your money and quit being scrooge. I had to laugh at the stupid republicans after our OWS movement too! Boy did we trash the cities and they have to spend millions now, ha ha, and we screwed up all these cities budgets too!!! We showed them Tea Partiy people..... what pussys, they didnt trash a thing like we did! I love it when democrats get together and we can get our communist agenda going strong, as communism is what we want, and even obama agrees with us, so the heck with this country and lets all move forward into a new ara of communism together!!!

Who are destroying the economy ...

Yet it was the great American statesman, Ronald Reagan, who TRIPLED the national debt in 8 short years and George Bush the Younger who more than DOUBLED it again in 8 years just a short time after that, and after inheriting a SURPLUS that could have had the national debt PAID OFF completely by 2014! Both of those guys are were Republicans, by the way, and had the backing of Republican politicians in running up the debt the way they did.

President Obama has a deficit because we are still paying for two UNFUNDED Republican wars and an UNFUNDED Republican welfare program that has given an AVERAGE of $130,000 per year (that's over one MILLION total) to every wealthy family in America each year for the last 10 years.

Crazy!

long time ago he could offer a bill to close loopholes

He recommended that and the Republican political hacks rejected it. By the way, Presidents do not write bills, that is the duty of the legislature (so complain to John Boehner about the loopholes). The President's job is to sign the bill into law or not, as he or she sees fit.

Wow, talk about tossing a crumb to the masses and the democrats are all over it like they are giving out HUGE wads of cash. What a pathetic joke. Whoopee, another forty dollars a month. Wow, that'll sure help, too bad they're taking it out of Social Security, the sacred cow of the democrats who won't admit that the SS fund is full of IOU's that'll never get repaid. Hmmm, so, people are applauding this puerile political show as something meaningful and valid? Think that Obama has accomplished something here? Really????

The sound of laughter fills the air and the joke is, once again, on the American taxpayer who is apparently too stupid to know that once again he has been taken to the cleaners and is programmed to say thank you for getting screwed...again.

The Republicans need to hire a media person to deliver their message because Obama is winning that game. He keeps stating that Congress is taking $1,000.00 away from the middle class and that is a flat out lie. The 2 month deal he is talking about is $80.00 with an uncertain outcome. Congress is trying to lock in a deal to give the middle that $1000.00 Obama keeps taking about. Budget is due now so pass it now or wait until next year when the 2013 budget is due. YOUR CHOICE $80 from Obama or $1000 from Congress.

Ryan in Texas

The senate did their job. They passed 89-10 on the payroll extention. I'm not sure what your problem is with the Senate closing for Christmas holiday. I guess it's fine for you not to celebrate the birth of Christ but you shouldn't expect everyone else to feel the same.

The House failed to do their job. When the bill came up for votes, the republican leader walked out. They refused to do their job and take it up for a vote. I suspect the republicans in the House do not celebrate Christmas because they are still there, not doing their job.

How can this be put into any better perspective for you? A bill, passed bi-partisanly in the Senate, favored by 70% of American voters, passed to the House with instructions from the minority leader to pass this bill, was walked out on.

Is it the 2-month opposed to 1-yr extension that bothers you? Let's go there. The 1-yr extension the House had earmarks on it that was undebated. Are you for or against ear marks?

Here's a bigger mystery for us. How is it possible the republicans swore not to raise taxes and yet, here they are threatening to do just that? What changed? The rich got to keep their extension.

Killerteam - The amount lost thru FICA is recouped from the General Fund. But go ahead and perpetuate the lies...after all if you tell a lie loud enough and long enough the masses will believe it. Let's see...who said that? Dick Chaney or Joseph Goebbels?

As to your comment about taxes, you don't like the tax rate under Democrats? Ok, lets revert to the tax rate we had under a Republican, Eisenhower (91% top rate) or Ronald Reagen (50%).

Why don't Republicans just admit what they are..."Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power"... Benito Mussolini

"When they show you who they are...believe them!"

Commonsense means stepping back and seeing the whole picture. What the Senate did try to force it's bill on the house without due course. They left knowing the House would not agree. This should have been handled in conference committee instead of we are voting this through and if you don't follow, your the problem.

It's this kind of paritisan excriment that keeps the ill-will ball rolling.

Freaking Boehner..he delays wet dreams..no wonder his old lady hates him too!

DB Akron - funny, seems to me it was Mitch McConnell railing about the House Republicans earlier today. Are you saying he recently changed parties? How else could it be partisan excrement?

GOOD GOSH don't some of you people read & research before you post? Dems wanted the 1 yr extension from the Git-go. When the Repubs & Dems in the Senate couldnt agree on it they worked out a deal for a 2 month extension so that it wouldnt come down to the last minute bull we have now. It passed with a whooping 89-10. The plan all along was that it will be a 1 yr extension. That has been said over and over. But the problem was how it was ultimately going to be paid for & all the poison that was added to it. Both Reps & Dems wanted more time to debate and work it out. They passed the 2 month extension and then recessed with the original BLESSINGS of Mr Boehner UNTIL his House Repubs got mad that Senate didnt pass it exactly the way the House wanted. Mr Boehner & McConnel both had agreed to the 2 month extension, thats why Senate Repubs arent supporting the House Repubs on this now.

So Obama wants to get Joe a little extra money for Pizza night with the kids. NO PROBLEM!!!!! Cut Federal Income Tax. The Republicans will cheerfully vote for it. Perfect!

So why target FICA? Obama's plan specifically targets FICA? WTF is WRONG with him?

"Roberton Williams, an analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center in Washington, said that “60 percent of an extended payroll tax cut would go to households making more than $100,000.”

So Obama wants to cut funding for SS to give a "tax break" that 60% of the benefit will go to households making more than 100K per year

Obama wants to cut funding for SS to give a tax break to the wealthy! OBAMA WANTS THIS!!!

But wait, it gets even better. "The Senate Bill would be offset by higher fees on home mortgages guarunteed by federally backed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae".

Wait, WHAT? OBAMA wants people paying mortgages, people who didn't default, people who did the right thing....

That's who Obama wants to pay for it? THE WORKING STIFF WILL BE PAYING FOR A TAX BENEFITTING THE WEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!

Face it Obamanites, your fearless leader is completely out of touch with reality.

How many of you have mortgages? You would be paying for all the people who don't!!!!

Typical Obama, pitting one group of people (mortgage holders) against another (non-mortgage holders) to give a tax break to the wealthy.

Gimme a break. He makes me sick.

They left knowing the House would not agree.

No, they left thinking the deal was done. They high-fived it out the door saying to themsleves it was a no-brainer. It should have been cut and dried. Even Boehner claimed they had a deal.

However, Boehner couldn't even get a 95% passed bill to come up for a vote in the House. What happened? Boehner went to his chamber, made a few contacts and all of a sudden there was no deal.

Tail wagging the dog.

, Presidents do not write bills, that is the duty of the legislature (so complain to John Boehner about the loopholes).

Obama had two year to work with the Democrat dominated congress, but he prefer to play golf with the GE CEO. Even if , he don't write bills, we all knows that if he wants , people from the White house and Congress can get together and write the bill no excuses, to get things done..

I am not certain what happened today. Boehner finally said "Uncle" for the two month tax extension, correct? What about the XL Pipeline? In or out? And as soon as Congress convenes in January, is that when the Republicans start bawling are we going to see, the Democrats caving into allowing the pipeline? And are the Democrats going to insist on raising taxes on the millionaires? These things were not mention, during all the hype today. I just want some one to clue me in. Sorry, I had a headache from chemotherapy and watching the news all day, is overwhelming for one who is feeling well, let alone moi!

Now, if you are a tea party person and ready to rant, I don;t want to hear it. All I want is the facts, nothing more. Thanks, Judy

Alil Common Sense

It would help if you used all the facts instead of pulling out what you see fits your argument.

Secondly, it would help if you didn't say Obama wants. He didn't write the bill. He didn't say to pay for it that way either.

Lastly, 100,000 a year isn't rich anymore. It's gotten that bad.

Bosslimo it would help if you would specify which facts exactly you beleive are not correct, rather than post some vague attempt to discredit me without stating why.

Secondly Obama and Reid are both Democrats, so it is a reasonable assumption that they agree on the version of the bill they wish to see passed. In addition, The President has publicly stated his support for the democrat sponsored version on several occasions.

Also, 100K is wealthy or not wealthy depending where you live. However, with half of The US now below the poverty line, I can assure you that it is a lot to more than half of America. In fact, it is just under 5 times what over half of America is making right now. Regardless of where they live.

Looks like the Republicans blinked. I wonder if their previous actions which helped the President's approval numbers go up had anything to do with that?!

" ... Stop buying in to the drama. ... "

Lol. Drama huh? That what you call between 1.6-3 million Americans loosing the only income they have, drama? That number includes my wife and I. Drama?

I don't call it drama. I call it hunger, no food. I call it cold, no heat. I call it dark, no light. For millions of Americans. Drama. Geeze.

Merry F'ing Christmass to you to arsehole.

Boehner saying the Republicans put up a good fight after accepting the two month extension approved by the Senate Republicans says it all. It is not about doing what is right. It is about fighting regardless of what is good for the country.

Their main goal was from DAY ONE with OBAMA as president..he will not be re-elected..and thats all they been working on the republicans since Obama's day one..not working for you-me-the people of the USA..only their idiotic party ways!!!

Kudos to the Weeper Of the House john boner, you sir are truly a "tour de FARCE" (spelling correct). Lucky for you and your evil minions the paper work to certify, all the House Reps, as mentally unstable and in serious need of rest time at the nearest psycho institution (padded cells for everyone) hadn't been signed yet. Not that, that doesn't need to be done and the sooner the better for our nation. Seriously Boner, you and your gaggle of goofs are the best advertisement for the re-election of the POTUS. Keep up the grate work, 2012 is coming.

" ... As for the giveaways to Big Oil--maybe you should check the profit margin of oil companies ... "

$44 BILLION in profits for a single year. Don't look like their "margins" are to bad to me. And then they got tax payer money in the 100's of millions to billions of dollars on top of that. And then they paid how much in taxes on that amount?

Yep sounds like they have it real bad. Hope they can manage to stay in business with "margins", taxes and handouts like that. It would be a shame if they had to make less obscene amounts of profits then that.

But you go right ahead and defend their right to make them while you whine about people getting the unemployment insurance that they paid for. While they get the Medicare insurance that they paid for. You go right ahead.

There is a special place in YOUR Hell for people like you.

Mike27 please read my post at 693.103.

Your hero Obama is a cheap political stunt man willing to play games with the funding for SS

JUST TO GET VOTES!!!!!!!!!!!!

My post at 693.103 will help you understand why.

The way this board keeps getting edited, who knows wat the number will eventually be. Right now it is fluctuating between 693.103 and 1.103.

And the Grinchs' small heart grew three sizes today!

I can't believe people are so opposed to a payroll surtax on millionaires. You realize that the payroll tax is regressive, right? A person with an income of $100 million pays the EXACT same amount of money to social security as a small businessman making $200,000 a year.

Obama's plan specifically targets FICA? WTF is WRONG with him?

Not his plan. Period.

So Obama wants to cut funding for SS to give a "tax break" that 60% of the benefit will go to households making more than 100K per year

and below.

And yet, Obama wants the tax break extended. How it is paid for is not up to him. You keep saying "Obama wants..." when it isn't true.

The republicans are forcing it to be paid for.

If Congress extends the tax cut, but cannot agree on offsetting revenue, then it will simply be borrowing money (and adding to future interest costs) to pay for the $187 billion tax break.

The reason republicans in the House oppose the deal:

Of the riders that are still being fought over, the sweeping reforms to unemployment insurance are the most unsettling for Democrats. Many of these reforms would effectively gut the unemployment insurance system by making it more difficult to enroll to collect benefits, by making it easier for employers to deny benefits by terminating employees rather than laying them off, and by slashing the period of eligibility from 99 weeks to 59 weeks.

A particularly contentious change would require all recipients of unemployment insurance who don't have a high school diploma or GED to enroll to get one. This seems sensible on the surface, except that the bill does not provide any funding to pay for this education mandate. Since cash strapped States are already struggling to provide financial aid, this unfunded mandate would prevent the population most desperately in need of unemployment benefits from collecting them.

Another highly controversial provision would allow States to mandate drug testing for beneficiaries. This is a major invasion of privacy by the Federal Government (one that the Supreme Court has already ruled unconstitutional when passed by state governments). It is also a huge giveaway to big corporations.

Republicans don't give a rat's butt about middle class tax breaks. What they care about is the choking off of individual rights and privitizing all of the government.

All of this is left out of your "Obama wants.." post without mentioning what republicans want.

The GOP/TP 'self-lovers' can try and spin this story any way they want! The TRUTH, supported by hard facts, tell the entire electorate and the world that they LOST this battle. Also, during the fight the GOP and thier TP masters let the Ropublican Elephant out of the bag and the stench will be hard to remove from both the GOP and their masters the TP. They gambled and lost badly. Now for their next trick shot.....

"Bonehead was Choking on his foot, this Country Won't be fooled by this loser again !!!!!!!!!

Truth is democrat 60 day deal only kicks the can down the road so Obama can keep it alive in an election process.

People wanting a 60 day deal over a one year deal are STOOOOOOPID!

The GOOPS & BAGGERS are the biggest bunch of LOSERS!!

OBAMA 2012 Yes Yes Yes Yes!!!

bosslimo you are completely wrong. The whole payroll tax cut was Obama's Idea. Go read about it.

Period.

And yes the republicans are insisting that it be paid for. Obama just wants to cut the funding.

AND NOT HAVE TO PAY IT BACK!!!!!!!!! THAT'S INSANE!!!!!! SO IS REPAYING FICA FROM TAX DOLLARS!!! SO IS MAKING PEOPLE WITH FANNIE/FREDDIE BACKED MORTGAGES PAY FOR IT!!!!

What, your going to take money from my left pocket and put it into my right pocket???????

Do you know what type of people have mortgages that are NOT backed by Fannie/Freddie? Rich People. Like really REALLY rich people.

He could have cut Federal Income Taxes and the republicans would have all voted for it.

The rest of that stuff you wrote I don't care about. Your assumption that I am a republican is as false as your assumption that this whole mess was not Obama's idea in the first place. Ask Obama, he's said so repeatedly, publicly, over and over. Too bad some people only hear what they want to hear.

Obama is a cheap political charlatan who stirred up this whole mess in a misguided attempt to score cheap political points. There is no excuse for his behavior.

He is willing to cut the funding for SS to benefit mostly people making more than 100K per year.

Shameful.

~~~~~~~~~~~"Pumpkin-head is a Dishonor to this Nation"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, little impotent Hairy Reed's limp Libby TeaBaggee's did their usual FleeBagger imitation and ran just like the cowards in Wisconsin.

How predictable can these buffoons be.

And what have they accomplished?

Nothing, as usual.

ABO (Anybody But Obama) 2012

(By the way, a “teabaggee” is the one who accepts the bag from the teabaggers. You can find a more descriptive definition here, urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=teabaggee)

"if Newt can be, why can't I?" thought John B....

old fat guy - Now, now the house repukelicants decided that it was better to kick the can down the road rather than get a foot up their collective arses. Their poorly played game of charades has gotten pretty old and their demise is imminent in 2012. Don't forget to get off your couch in Nov 2012, the exercise would do you good. Happy Holidays!

EVERYONE of you who is whining about the house and senate going home for recess had better damn well be at your jobs on Christmas Day. Oh I suppose you will be wanting the whole day off? It is not fair, you would think me ill for docking your wages for the day! Well take it then, but be here all that much earlier the next morning.

Bah humbug.

Silly idiots, especially those who crow family values for complaining that a manor woman wants to be with their family and kids for Christmas. You will be visited by three spirits...

Lord the number of you folks that can be numbered amoung the morons of the world. You live your entire lives on the fringe because you lack the balls, the integrity, the motivation, the heart to better yourself. you have forever stood in a line waiting for the next GVT handout because its easier than working and then have the unmitigated gall to whine, complain, bitch, and moan about those who have succeeded in life through their own hard labor and sacrifice. Those you consider the 1% are the real heart and soul of this nation not the whining failed 99% that forever have shot themselves in the foot by making every incrediablly stupid decision possible. You ignored an opportiunity for a higer education through college or a skilled trades program,you chose to marry your childhood sweetheart when you knocked her up at 18 and had your third child at 25. you decided that a High School diploma was your path to richness and success, you decided that it was more fun to spend everything to live for today because tomorrow is not promised, you made the decision to explore drugs, screw around on your spouse and in general become the total failure you are today.

Others chose a different path and decided to make the sacrifices upfront to live a better life in the future, they postponed marriage until after college, they invested their moneywith a plan for the future, they took care of families, lived within their means and now you hold them as the enemy. you people are pathetic and an insult to the american heritage. No onme did this to you you did it to yourself - losers

Ternan .. If your selling crazy, We're all stocked up.

Ternan

Excellent post!

Unfortunately your well stated logic will always fall on confused if not deaf ears here. If you've been to other Liberal sites the usual tripe is very similar to what you see here. The usual illiteracy by the same narrow minded useful idiots that Big Government loves to indoctrinate. Exceptionalism is replaced with mediocrity. Ambition is replaced with apathy. Success is replaced with the construct of being exploited.

Liberals and Progressives realize it’s easier to promote their ideology by lowering the common denominator rather than raising it. It's easier to bring the uninformed and unwashed masses down than it is to try and elevate them. They realize an illiterate populace is easier to brainwash by claiming they are being exploited by some evil bogeyman. The chosen bogeyman today is the successful independent individual. The elitists they so worship have never created anything of substance. They reside in the teachers lounges of the Ivy League schools and they read a few books and are embraced. If they happen to be so inspired as to have written a book they are elevated to deity level. Experience is considered a nuisance and is replaced with wishful thinking. Projection is their usual defense mechanism.

They expose their lack of self-confidence struggling with the absurd concepts of social and economic justice, collectivism and their fervent convolution that we are a Democracy. Success is demonized unless you are from the anointed ranks of the Bourgeoisie who manipulate their minions in unconstructive ways to maintain their position of self-aggrandized excellence. No level of investigation is pursued, their word is superior and is enough. No responsibility is ever demanded, accountability is never achievable and hypocrisy is acceptable.

The Liberals promote exploitation and at the same time argue it creates their injustices. Their ideology is so flawed that they usually need to resort to anger, bias, racism, hate-mongering and vitriol. This is usually out of frustration as all their alleged facts are continuously denounced.

Yes, you're right. Fortunately we still have the slim majority in this nation that prides themselves on individualism, self-confidence and success. As our Republic created the greatest level of wealth, prosperity and standard of living in history the Liberal response is unfairness. Now they have taken it to the extreme of class-warfare and envy. The only solution is that the real Americans who still pride themselves in family, faith and nation can right the corruption and diseases known as Liberalism and Progressivism.

The amount lost thru FICA is recouped from the General Fund.

Hey Ole_Doc, would that be the General Fund that was $1,400,000,000,000 in the red this year and is projected to be at least that far short next year?! Talk about perpetuating lies and spouting propaganda. Goebbels would be proud of you. ROTFLMAO!!!

Church member Ann Marsh-Meigs told the newspaper that she heard Sensenbrenner's remarks. She said the 16-term congressman was speaking about the first lady's efforts to combat childhood obesity, and added, "And look at her big butt."

So clear this up for us Mr President......Are you going to fight childhood obesity or Stimulate Children's Pizza Night with Early Distribution of Social Security Funds?

Arguments are so much easier when they lack verifiable examples, reliable statistics, and historical precedent, but I guess those are only necessary in those infernal bastions of corrupt liberal propaganda, the academic and scientific communities.

It is an easy dance to learn: one ad hominem, two straw men, three false dilemmas, and end with a big circular argument.

Hey you so-called libs remember the State Aid package Obama got passed? 26 Billion dollars for the States so they could say jobs were "saved or created".

Guess where the money came from?

Food Stamps. He cut the money from Food Stamps.

Guess where he's talking about getting money for Michelle Obama's childhood obesity initiative?

Food Stamps.

And now his "payroll tax cut" that specifically targets FICA. Did you know it was originally part of his "pass this bill now" jobs bill?

And now people with mortgages are going to be on the hook to pay for it.

Awesome! Isn't it Awesome? Obama is going to take money from my left pocket and put it in my right pocket, and then he expects me to be happy and go stimulate the economy somehow.

What a joke.

Unless you don't have a mortgage. Then those of us that do can pay for Joe's Pizza night!

Woo Hoo!

What a Joke.

An interesting side note to all of this... If you have an existing mortgage, and you have contracted for your payment to be x number of dollars per month.....

CAN THE LEGISLATURE MANDATE A CHANGE TO AN EXISTING CONTRACT????

I mean, I didn't sign up for that, right? I got a mortgage I could afford, that I budgeted for. I know my monthly payment, and I budgeted for that prior to entering into the contract (mortgage).

Or will he only charge on mortgages that come later? Because if that's the case, there's going to be a whole lotta unfunded SS. I don't know if anybody has noticed, but new mortgage volume is waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy down.

Let's make this a longer term solution. Kicking the can down the road 2 months is just the senate leadership being lazy. In 2012 we have a good chance to improve the leadership in the White house and the Senate.

Why should he? Welcome to politics UAW Please. Like it or not the GOP effed this one up. They gave life to an issue that could have slide under the radar (for the holidays) and give them more bargainingroom. It's hard to look at a bill that pass with around 90% vote in the Senate, yes the Senate that never pass anything by a wide margin and then have the GOP house turn their back on it. Yep, they effed up. I keep hearing the President is weak from the GOP side, but they keep giving him a life line, since they are so quick to bury him. Slow and steady win the race. The GOP has pull the president so fast to the middle, that they are trying to force him immediately to the right, without thinking of how it's coming off. Remember perception is king, even if it's wrong.

They were in the process of doing exactly that and realized they didn't have time to hammer all the differences out. So, rather than bitch and complain and do nothing, they actually did the smart thing... they reached a compromise to buy them another couple months to work out the details without hurting your average American.

The Senate finally got it right. (Don't say that much...) Keep things going, keep working the long term deal.

UAW, you totally missed my point, but as far as hope and change goes. If you want to stay with that perception, then the GOP effed up that fricking bad that America actually elected a minority to office, right? I do not care if you think the president is doing a good job or not, but on this issue, which I thought you were discussing, the GOP house gave Obama something else to beat them over the head with. The GOP/TPersare winning. They have gotten more than I think they should have (in compromise by the president), but they do not know when to walk away. This is a silly battle for the house GOP to take up, especially with the senate passing it by such a wide margin. It makes them look petty and foolish.

Jahmakeen- I agree with your thoughts....I hate to see this thing get kicked down the road. why not handle it now?

Mike: I am just talking about the overall compromising the president has done since the Dec. 2010, after the as$ beating the Dems took in the Nov. elections. As far as this bill goes, there is a pipeline compenent, but the president has 60 days to decide whether or not he will approve it. That's a different story and I will put my newsvine quarterback outfit for that one when an article needs my oh so professional opinion :) (Yes, people that was just a silly joke, do not latch on to it and make a big deal out of nothing.)

UAW... I think you need to read a bit more. The House version contains loads of "poison pens" designed to push the Dems into taking distasteful positions. Drug testing UI benefit recipients? Forcing approval of Keystone XL, about which so many have very legitimate concerns? Cutting UI benefits much more than the Dems believe is appropriate? The smartest thing to do is to approve the two month extension, and then get to work on some kind of compromise before the end of February.

By not reading the Repub bill or making an attempt to understand why it is unacceptable, you are falling right into Repub hands. .. and hastening this country's demise.

Sorry Monk, I came up with my name back when Obama took away the equity of the bond holders of GM and gave it to the UAW. My name was more a sarcastic comment ie UAW?? Pleeeeeeease. In regards to the current subject. I think most Americans would agree that giving up a $40/wk short term is a grand bargain for a longer term solution. (even if we have to wait for the 2012 election)

Sure, UAW, and just let the 7,000,000 dependent on unemployment benefits (about 12 to 15 million if we include their families) starve, go without heat, or lose their homes in the middle of winter. We forget that part of the equation.

Come on Molly, As distasteful as this sounds leaving a little uncertainty in whether unemployment may or may not be extended could be just the catalyst for getting alot of people off the couch....

Apparently, you didn't read the article. the article states exactly why the Senate GOP passed the bill. Next time, before you spill useless rhetoric from your head, read the article. Try to comprehend what it says before making your rediculous statements that obviously have no value. I even took the effort to state a key statement of the article for you. This is the very first sentence of the article, read it once and then read it again, maybe this time it will sink in.

"The Senate-passed bill includes a provision requiring Obama to make a decision within 60 days on whether or not to approve the building of an oil pipeline from Canada, the Keystone XL pipeline."

The Senate GOP passed this bill for 2 months so that they can have something to hang over the Dems heads. If Pres. Obama agrees with this Pipeline to Nowhere, then the Senate GOP will help with a longer extension. If the Pres. Obama disaggres with the Pipeline to Nowhere, then they will hold the Amercan People's Income Hostage until they get what they want. If anybody is messing up, its the House GOP.

America needed Hope and Change from the direction that this country was headed, right off the cliff. A majority of this country voted for Hope and Change. When it was time to make further changes, people voted for these T-Baggers with their unwillingness to comprimise. What we got is nothing short then a hostage negotiation and we my friends, we are the hostages. Make no doubt about that because it only takes a few with well placed money to decide an outcome these days.

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that “a one-year bill … is simply better for jobs and better for our economy

When the whole tax cut ordeal came about I could have sworn that Obama proposed, a year long extension...then the whinny babies( know who you are) was complaining about how it was going to be paid for.. Obama agrees to a 2-month extension AND NOW 1 yr extension is better....I'm tired of the games that these idiots are playing with my lively hood.

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that “a one-year bill … is simply better for jobs and better for our economy

When the whole tax cut ordeal came about I could have sworn that Obama proposed, a year long extension...then the whinny babies( know who you are) was complaining about how it was going to be paid for.. Obama agrees to a 2-month extension AND NOW 1 yr extension is better....I'm tired of the games that these idiots are playing with my lively hood.

Connie, If your lively hood depends on any thing a politician does Democrat or Republican you are in the wrong hood......

The idiotic position of the House Republicans reminds me of this classic scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdKa9bXVinE

Just guard the House... and whatever you do, make sure nobody goes home for the holidays!!!

So what exactly is wrong with wanting to drug test people who receive welfare or unemployment insurance? Is it the same thing that's wrong with asking people for photo I.D. before they can vote?

MSDNC

A history lesson will do you justice. Google "Jim Crow Laws and poll-taxes and literacy and comprehension tests"

This was tried in the past. I know times are different but since when have we ever been forced to carry "papers" just to vote.

I can see it now........... You walk into your polling place and some dude in a uniform says in his thick German accent "paperz pleeze"

***********New Info*****************

House R in conference call @5:00 to save face and pass 2mo extension!!

Hahahahah!!! They're gettin' hammered by the people and NOW they change their minds?

Have a nice vacation at home in Hawaii Mr. President!!

UAW Pleeeeeeeease

Why doesnt he press the Senate to extend this another year?

Quit playing stupid. You and all your buddies know full well why. The House bill is a Republican only bill that holds hostage the tax cuts and the unemployment extension to get EPA regs put on hold and to authorize the building of the pipeline... and we are all sick and f'ing tired of the hostage taking and the game playing.

McConnell finally stood up to the plate, got a 2 month extension and time to negotiate a bipartisan 1 year extension... not under duress.

Boehner and company will lose this battle bad... They lost the Senate Republicans. They lost the WSJ. They will lose it all. The only good thing to come out of this will be an annihilation of the GOP in 2012.

Obama wants to take water(Money) out of the deep end of the pool and poor it in to the Shallow end. Guess what? Doesn't matter, Obama raises taxes on the rich, gives money to the poor. Poor spend the money on the products the Rich offer. Money goes right back to the rich.

The reason why nothing ever gets accomplished in Wasington DC is front and center here....spend a month trying to get a two-month extention of the payroll tax cut, then in one more month start debating the same topic all over again. The Senate and House will spend 6 of the next 12 months agruing about this one minor and tempoarary tax break....and not do anything to help create a single job.

What a complete waste of valuable time that needs to spent on more important issues.

But it does give the president a chance to look like a neophyte weatherman...standing in front of his hokie charts & graphs...and getting some more TV time for his re-election campaign, which is what this is all about anyway.

Unbelieveable...

Nooooo...the poll workers will simply say "Can I see your ID?".

Wow....such an 'unbelievable' burden for American voters. It's almost oppressive.

The Tea Party representatives that are holding this up and hoping for it to fail still have plenty of options to postpone the vote to run out the clock if they want to and the leadership is running out of options to bring it to a vote while the clock ticks. We're being held hostage by a minority faction that only has the support of maybe 10% of the voters and that could easily drop to 5% or less within the next week or so.

Ebeneezer bonehad says, "Bah, humbug!" once again.

UAW

I agree 100% that the corruption and bribery need to stop, thats why I mentioned that the money flowing to goverment is a major issue. Its not limited to the Dems, both parties are guilty.

Health care reform is definitely needed in this country. Too many hands in the cookie jar in the current system. People are told to get a second opinion but very few can afford that let alone the first one.

As far as the politicians that care about the course of America, maybe its not a majority consensus of those few politicians that you believe that are trying to take this country in the right direction. To hold everyone's feet to the fire is asinine. If these politicians have a particular standing on a certain issue, then let it be known and let the masses decide. I don't want to be impuned upon with beliefs that I don't share and I bet most here can contest to that.

The house gave Obama everything he wanted (You got to watch out for those sneaky Republicans) and something he wanted to avoid (Keystone XL) until after the election. Reid is just protecting BHO's chances in the election by refusing to support the Houses Bill. Prince Harry was not going to let the Beloved Leader look bad by vetoing the bill. Reid and Obama knew exactly what they were doing with this. Why do you thing they Recessed so fast?

UAW Pleeeeeeeease

Sorry Monk, I came up with my name back when Obama took away the equity of the bond holders of GM and gave it to the UAW. My name was more a sarcastic comment ie UAW?? Pleeeeeeease. In regards to the current subject. I think most Americans would agree that giving up a $40/wk short term is a grand bargain for a longer term solution. (even if we have to wait for the 2012 election)

In that case, how about we roll back the Bush tax breaks that Obama extended? If I'm going to have to pay, the upper crust (likely NOT receiving regular "paychecks") should, as well.

One dollar has a higher value for the lower to middle class (in terms of survival) than the upper class.

Speaking as a middle class person and supporter of the 99% movement -- and in the spirit of the 1%ers and Tea Party -- I'd like to say, "f*ck you, it's my money."

So what exactly is wrong with wanting to drug test people who receive welfare or unemployment insurance?

Why don't we also have grocery stores drug test people, check their citizenship status, fingerprint them, do a retina scan, determine their residence for precinct assignment purposes and whether or not they voted in the most recent Republican primary whenever someone wants to buy milk.

That should only raise the price of milk to about $475 a gallon from the current $3.49.

We can start in the inner-city neighborhoods, because they have a lot of minorities. We'll skip the suburbs, if it's a rich suburb.

What people don't understand is there is no money to pay for this cut other that print more dollars and devalue its value. This so call tax cut is a reduction of the SS trust found that is part of our future retirement, we are stiling from our own money. So how democrats can say this is for the poor when precisely the poor depend from the SS for their retirement, while the rich don't. Nothing more the a sugar coat big lie. Obama must be please for announcement for the 2 month extension and enjoy his 4 million taxpayer money vacation in Hawaii.

LMarcT- I agree with you on the game playing. I agree we need the one year ext made and not under duress. That is good only for the country. I disagree on your view of the Pipe Line. The Pipe Line will provide jobs and lessen our dependence on other Foreign oil.. Ex Russia, Iran and other Arab countries. Everybody knows the President was playing politics only with that issue. He did not want to disturb his Voting base before the Election. On the other hand I cant say the Republicans were pushing it just for jobs they were playing politics also. I think in this case the PipeLine will happen ...to many Pros for this issue. I disgree with you thinking Republican will be anialated in 2012. In Senate , unfortunately, the Republicans have only 7 seats to defend , The Dems will have 25. The Senate may go Republican no matter over whelming public opinion. Also Conceded by most Democrats... In order for the House to go back to the Dems ...it would have to be a Political event. The other question we have to ask ourselves.... Will the Congress suddenly just wake up and decide to work with Obama.... The sad truth is no..... It will never happen. This guy has a very difficult problem getting people to work with him and will not change. He is an awful Leader!!! Bill Clinton is what this country needs.....and Obama is not even in the same ball park with him...If you are wondering... I have never voted Republican...ever. I am a card carrying Democrat with roots in the Power Industry(I have worked with and for various Unions for 28 years). I can tell you one thing for sure .... I will never vote for Barark Obama again.

All those who voted for politicians to take the easy way out with short term fixes, so those corrupts can rush home for a month vacation & leave economy with uncertainty - all those voters stick your head BACK in the sand. Hang tough House of Rep - someone must take real responsibility. How many know that new health law raises taxes on the 'rich' (i'm in favor of some increase, too) by appx 4% ??

mike in Pa, please dont vote for obama, people like you, never vote in there best interest, so be it.

And the Elderly and Disabled suffer. The Payroll Tax is needed for Social Security. Looks like Obama has declared war on the Elderly and Disabled.

Boehner sobered up enough to find out that some of his freshman class of GOP/TP idiots are worried about loseing there freebes as congressmen in 2012 .. these TP idiots are now out campaigning in a rush to keep there seats

lahater - In regards to your post #2.27. Do you read what you post? Better yet, do you think through in a logical manner what you offer up as an opinion? The government spends a lot of money on various and sundry things. This money when spent makes our economy work. Many people not just the rich make more money because of government spending. So if the POTUS raises taxes on the rich and give money to the poor and then the poor spend the money and rich get richer, how is that a bad thing. Your a bit bewildering.

'In his statement, Reid cautioned that "there remain important differences between the parties on how to implement these policies." He said, "Two months is not a long time, and I expect the negotiators to work expeditiously to forge year-long extensions of these critical policies." '

Of course, Reid couldn't find the time to pass a 12 month extension right now to avoid another obscene crisis in just another 2 months.

independent jim - We both know Boner likes his liquor but I really think he has known for quite a number of months that his term as Weeper of the House is literally his sentence of "hell on earth". Those Teatards have probably only made his liquor intake double and really what else can he do? Other than resort to his sacred 2ND Amendment loophole, if you know what I mean. So sad but he should have thought this through before seeking that position. Happy Holidays!

Can't save the ship it took in too much water already, the GOP is going down hard come this up coming election, What were they thinking?

"The president cited some specific people such “Joseph from New Jersey” who would have to sacrifice a pizza night with his children if the payroll tax cut did not get extended."

???????????? This is what a president uses as an example? Really, really lame.

The big problem with the millionaire's surtax is that there are so many expenses democrats want the rich to pay for coming up that they would be forced to keep trotting out the same language. So once a month do they impose another surtax on the rich. These people in Washington boggle the mind. They sure don't want to fix the big issues, that is for sure.

o.k. I think this would be pretty close.

This surtax would be the .1% approx. That is 138,000 filers in 2009 making over 1 million in agi.

Those 138,000 filers have a combined income of 610 b. They pay 148 B, or 24% income tax on that income. This group pays 17.11 percent of all income tax.

So if my math is right this 1.9 surtax would be about 12 billion approx.

I should point out that NY and MD passed a millionaire's tax back in 2009 that did not produce the tax they expected. The last I read both states wanted to eliminate the tax probably fearing they are driving out the super rich that pay 40 percent of the state income tax in each state.

Quit playing stupid. You and all your buddies know full well why. The House bill is a Republican only bill that holds hostage the tax cuts and the unemployment extension to get EPA regs put on hold and to authorize the building of the pipeline... and we are all sick and f'ing tired of the hostage taking and the game playing.

Its the way the game is played...dumb ass. If you think your guy O'bama is as clean is the wind driven snow, maybe you should start breathing air outside of your colon for a change.

BTW, what happened to grandma and grandpa eating dog food? Did you Libs give that up?

I just love the way the sheeple buy into the liberal propaganda and blame the Republicans for families not being able to budget their money to afford pizza night! SERIOUSLY? We are going to cave on economic stability so that some idiots can afford a fricken PIZZA? That crap actually worked?

Hile Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The boys

Do you think that libs have enough brain to understand numbers. They only know about political battles, class warfare, race warfare,social issues nothing that help the economy, economy is for people with brains something that is absent in liberal activist, this is why in most countries are turning to the right, as example Spain after the socialist wreck their country elect a right win party to take care of the mess. I'm sorry for the Republican President, is not going to be easy , since Obama is pouring more garbage over the garbage we got from Bush and the RINOS in congress.

Yep, that's how the game is played but I thought the goal was to win, is this what the GOP thinks is winning by losing the vote, can't figure that one out, the whole purpose is to get the vote not lose them, and people some how think the GOP did something right, Wow I'm impressed ..... NOT

I admit I haven't read everyone's response within this thread (due to some being collapsed). First, President Obama originally wanted the payroll tax break to be extended for another year before the Senate came up with their compromise. As Parrothead has pointed out, the Senate needed more time to hammer out the details of a year's extension. The process of writing, then passing a bill is not as easy as most here can even imagine.

Second, although the Keystone pipeline should not be a part of this, it is. Yes, it would create jobs but if you look at it closer, you will see that very few of those jobs will be permanent. Once it's built, those construction workers who helped build it will be out of a job. Now hopefully by that time the economy will be better but you cannot depend on that. Also, Canada is a foreign country, so to say it would lessen our dependence on foreign oil is incorrect. The oil would come from Canada, not from Alaska. But most of all are those who are incapable of looking at our energy usage long term. Yes, there are oil reserves available now, but for how long? And since no one really knows what damage is being done below the surface by drilling for oil, we may be making it worse for ourselves by excavating that oil.

Keeping on the pipeline, how long will it last? The Alaska pipeline was not built to last as long as it has and in all likelyhood will not be around a century from now (or for that matter, may not even be trasporting oil by then). How long will this pipeline be built to last? How long will it be functional? Will we treat the pipeline once it's outlived it's usefullness like we do businesses (like strip malls, factories, or shopping centers that sit vacant and slowly rot) or homes in undesirable areas? The cost to disband the pipeline will cost much more than it would to build it. And as long as we keep depending on energy sources like oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear, we can forget improving our lives to the point that is currently only dreamed about in Sci-fi shows and movies like Star Wars or Star Trek.

I also noted that a few talked about making those who get government assistance to be drug tested. While a good idea, the reason many like it is because it does not or would not affect them. Some talk about those who abuse the system and want to stop it. That sentiment is admirable but not practical. No matter what, there will always be people who abuse the system unless you take away all rights of all citizens and that is not what our country is about. I do not condone drug use but like anything else, once you start requiring conditions, you start losing freedoms.

In the last 30 years, we've become a country who wants to tell everyone else how they should live. When the seatbelt laws were first discussed and passed, insurance companies told us that it would help reduce the cost to the consumer. Never happened. Car seats for infants, plastic playground equipment, helmets, knee pads, etc. were all suppose to help cut costs. Yet costs continue to climb, even with all this "protection".

I could go on but I've already said enough for now and would rather stay on topic. Instead of looking for the differences and telling everyone else why they are wrong, we should be looking for areas of agreement. Can we act responsibly and do that? I'm not holding out hope.

I admit I haven't read everyone's response within this thread (due to some being collapsed). First, President Obama originally wanted the payroll tax break to be extended for another year before the Senate came up with their compromise. As Parrothead has pointed out, the Senate needed more time to hammer out the details of a year's extension. The process of writing, then passing a bill is not as easy as most here can even imagine.

Second, although the Keystone pipeline should not be a part of this, it is. Yes, it would create jobs but if you look at it closer, you will see that very few of those jobs will be permanent. Once it's built, those construction workers who helped build it will be out of a job. Now hopefully by that time the economy will be better but you cannot depend on that. Also, Canada is a foreign country, so to say it would lessen our dependence on foreign oil is incorrect. The oil would come from Canada, not from Alaska. But most of all are those who are incapable of looking at our energy usage long term. Yes, there are oil reserves available now, but for how long? And since no one really knows what damage is being done below the surface by drilling for oil, we may be making it worse for ourselves by excavating that oil.

Keeping on the pipeline, how long will it last? The Alaska pipeline was not built to last as long as it has and in all likelyhood will not be around a century from now (or for that matter, may not even be trasporting oil by then). How long will this pipeline be built to last? How long will it be functional? Will we treat the pipeline once it's outlived it's usefullness like we do businesses (like strip malls, factories, or shopping centers that sit vacant and slowly rot) or homes in undesirable areas? The cost to disband the pipeline will cost much more than it would to build it. And as long as we keep depending on energy sources like oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear, we can forget improving our lives to the point that is currently only dreamed about in Sci-fi shows and movies like Star Wars or Star Trek.

I also noted that a few talked about making those who get government assistance to be drug tested. While a good idea, the reason many like it is because it does not or would not affect them. Some talk about those who abuse the system and want to stop it. That sentiment is admirable but not practical. No matter what, there will always be people who abuse the system unless you take away all rights of all citizens and that is not what our country is about. I do not condone drug use but like anything else, once you start requiring conditions, you start losing freedoms.

In the last 30 years, we've become a country who wants to tell everyone else how they should live. When the seatbelt laws were first discussed and passed, insurance companies told us that it would help reduce the cost to the consumer. Never happened. Car seats for infants, plastic playground equipment, helmets, knee pads, etc. were all suppose to help cut costs. Yet costs continue to climb, even with all this "protection".

I could go on but I've already said enough for now and would rather stay on topic. Instead of looking for the differences and telling everyone else why they are wrong, we should be looking for areas of agreement. Can we act responsibly and do that? I'm not holding out hope.

theboys this is actually what happened in NY:

The report says that from 2007 to 2009, when the Millionaire’s tax was imposed, New York saw a 9.4% decline in state taxpayers who earn $1 million or more. Citing stats from Phoenix Marketing, the Partnership says the number of $1 million earners fell to 345,892 in 2009 from 381,786 in 2007.

It sounds scary. But it isn’t entirely accurate. As the liberal Citizens for Tax Justice points out, the 9.4% decline was actually for people who have wealth of $1 million, not for those who earn $1 million or more. And during that time, the nation as a whole lost wealth and millionaires because of the stock-market swings.

But there is something else to note in the Partnership’s research. The number of millionaires in New York actually increased in 2010–while the tax was in place. New York had 381,197 millionaires in 2010, an increase of 35,000 millionaires from 2009. This again likely reflects wealth gained from the stock market and Wall Street, not from taxes.

Odd redvirginian that you want to cite Spain as a socialist mess when socialist Norway, Sweden etc are doing quite well:

Consider three key dimensions of the economic crisis: high unemployment, large budget deficits, and high current account deficits (broadly meaning more imports than exports). To compare how countries are doing, I'll create a simple Misery Index equal to the sum of these three indicators. In 2010, for example, the U.S. had a Misery Index equal to 23.4, the sum of a 9.6 percent unemployment rate, a budget deficit equal to 10.6 percent of GDP, and a foreign (current account) deficit of 3.2 percent of GDP.

When we calculate the Misery Index for the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, we find that, lo and behold, the U.S. ranks among the most miserable performers, 5th out of 20 countries. The country with the highest Misery Index is Ireland, followed by Spain, Greece, Portugal, and the United States. All five countries deregulated their financial markets and thereby experienced a housing bubble and bust.

The lowest macroeconomic misery is in Northern Europe. Norway has the lowest score, followed by Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Demark. All seven countries have lower unemployment rates, smaller budget deficits as a share of GDP, and lower foreign deficits as a share of GDP, than the U.S. We look pretty miserable indeed by comparison.

Yet, miracle of miracles, these seven countries collect higher taxes as a share of GDP than does the U.S. Total government revenues in the U.S. (adding federal, state, and local taxes) totaled 31.6 percent of GDP in 2010. This compares with 56.5, 34.2, 39.5, 45.9, 52.7, 43.4, and 55.3 percent of GDP in Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark, respectively. These much higher levels of taxation are raised through a combination of personal, corporate, payroll, and value-added taxes.

The Northern European countries earn their prosperity not through low taxation but through high taxation sufficient to pay for government. In five of the seven countries, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, and Sweden, government spending as a share of GDP is much higher than in the U.S. These countries enjoy much better public services, better educational outcomes, more gainful employment, higher trade balances, lower poverty, and smaller budget deficits. High-quality government services reach all parts of the society. The U.S., stuck with its politically induced "low-tax trap," ends up with crummy public services, poor educational outcomes, high and rising poverty, and a huge budget deficit to boot.

Now YOU tell me who doesn't understand the concepts of economy! Repugs are so brainwashed they can be earning nothing and yet come in here and start spouting off the rights talking points and actually kinda sound like they know what they are talking about but of course THEY DON'T! Y'all keep on posting your illiterate garbage. After all, each one of your posts earn you .81 cents.

wow rico, where did you pull that big pile of crap out of. Misery index? rofl. You libs absolutely kill me

Jeffrey Sachs

Economist; professor and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University; Special Advisor to the UN Secretery-General; author, 'The Price of Civilization'

Yeah, Kornfed, with credentials like that Mr. Sachs probably doesn't know what he's talking about...

By the way YOUR credentials are WHAT????

Do a search of him to read the entire article if you aren't too lazy and can stand a dose of truth... not what's spoon fed and spun wayyyyy off from the truth by the lying Right.

People complain about politicians arguing and acting like children, but then they don't seem to see that some here are just as bad or worse. (I don't have to name names; you likely know who you are.)

Each country’s economy revolves around it’s natural resources and the processing of those by people to enrich their own lives and the lives of others through exports. The United States is blessed with abundant fertile soils and abundant underlying mineral resources, and abundant water and clean air.

Business will manage U.S. resources and provide jobs for everybody if government will stay out of the way. The greater the intrusion by our government into business the lesser will be growth and the greater will be unemployment.

People who rightfully should be paid by the government are the elderly who had faithfully made lifelong contributions into Social Security. Not funding Social Security in order to keep a few dollars in the pockets of American workers is not fair to the elderly.

Apparently Scott you have not been paying attention. We do not have abundant natural resources. They will run out if they aren't preserved and protected. I still don't understand how a few billionaires can lay claim to the natural resources of ALL the people. Unfortunately our water nor our air is as clean as it used to be. I'll never forget when my brother who is an avid fisherman started talking about the deformed fish he was catching.

We have all seen what deregulation does and it isn't pretty. It seems to bring the greed out in otherwise normal people. Left to their own devices they have the ability to bring down the United States. We need regulation and we need serious regulation not less.

We can have jobs by improving America...fixing our eroding infrastructure. Only American documented workers and all materials bought here. Whether you like it or not you can not argue the fact that America did it's very best when Unions were at full strength.

When the Republicans start to care about ALL the people instead of just those who grease their palms we can maybe move forward. When the Republicans stop signing pledges to protect the few and instead turn their interest to the multitudes we will have a society that will thrive.

Middle Molly

Sure, UAW, and just let the 7,000,000 dependent on unemployment benefits (about 12 to 15 million if we include their families) starve, go without heat, or lose their homes in the middle of winter. We forget that part of the equation.

So Middle Molly, what happened to those poor folks who were the original 99 week people who saw their helping hand go by the wayside? Those folks are not even carried on the unemployee roles anymore. They have just vanished from the government view.

have you forgotten that part of the equation?

With that logic, the Bush tax-cuts to the rich from 2001 to Present should never had occurred (and they shouldn't have). With that logic the "tax holiday" should be over and this should be sold as a tax reinstatement but the FauxNews crowd will call it a tax-hike.

Hathaway-3411496 It was never a contribution to Social Security but to devoid Social Security of all its money.

Too bad more people don't understand this!!! BTW, are you any relation to Jane?

Niteman: Keep in mind Bush cuts went to everyone!!, not just the rich... This isn't about that, both parties have kept WA a true cluster for far to long. Reid has had plenty of time to bring up House bills wheather good or bad, and attempt to do his job but has chosen not to! The Reps were wrong to add the pipeline to this bill and the Dems wrong for not adjusting it to a year and (Cutting other budgets to pay for it.) But what does anyone expect from all the azzes in both houses. They all need to get off or out of their azzes and work, not vacation and cause business and people that don't meet their criteria all this BS!!!

niteman,

You get a big fat "F" for honesty !

The "Bush Tax Cuts", passed many years ago, lowered the % levels of taxes ON ALL LEVELS OF TAXATION ! Therefore, your first sentence is an absolutely, horrific DISTORTION of the truth !! Go back and read the damn bill as it was passed. Furthermore, exemptions were "phased out" for some taxpayers with higher levels of income, meaning their Adjusted Gross Income increased and their taxes also !!

One final thing, when Obama signed the "Bush tax cut extension", it became the "Obama tax cuts", or, as you would like to say, "the Obama tax cuts to the rich".

jim...

This is the 'Newsvine' site....why would facts matter ???

You'll soon be instructed to stop getting all your information from 'Faux News' and 'Rush Limberger'...and if you're lucky, someone will call you a 'low information voter'.

The Bush tax cuts were rammed down the throats of America, being passed under reconciliation with Darth Cheney passing the tie breaker, hadn't happened in a long time. What should have happened was some Democratic Senator should have fillibustered the s..t out of it. It was designed to enrich the already rich, (they clearly received the largest benefit) and just as importantly, de-fund the hated government so they could usher in the depression which I think they hoped the government would be unable to respond to. Just what the hell are the Repugs trying to conserve, upper crust control of the 99% like robber barons and monopolists? They sure as hell aren't about conserving the American middle class. Drug test corporate CEO's and vulture capitalists along with Rush (no oxycontin pun there) Limbaugh.

Bush started the SS death march, and it looks like Obama is going in for the kill....

Republicans, you lick the rich. Your date in Hell is assured. Satan awaits you at the Gates.

So ur saying 160 million struggling, working ppl should pay $40 or $50 more, but taxes on the wealthy should stay low, not raising them? Wat happenned to shared sacrifice? I don't see it at all. All you "Christians" have a real funny way of showing it. Wat hypocrytes. Romney the "plastic man" and Newt "MONEY" Gingrich. Hey, the "King of Ging" had his hands on millions in lobbying $$ he's the cancerous "insider" AND a true scumbag. The GOPPERS do the elites bidding. How can you ppl in Virginia elect a stooge like Cantor? Damn, that boys' a jerkoff LMFAO!! Shame shame..

We are 15 trillion in debt.... just when are we going to stop these give away programs that we cannot pay for? All we need to do is stop welfare, stop entitlements and the lazy people will have to work if they want to eat..... a done deal!

Phillip- Thanks for the great advice! I so glad you know my best interest. Just because I am a Democrat i should vote for this idiot. The fact that i had Republican friends that voted for the McCain Ticket because they were Republican turned my stomache. I have a better IDEA! When you are 18 and register to join your party...why not eliminate the right to vote and it automatically votes across the board under what my intentions should be since i am a Democrat. Didnt that go out the door with the Chads in Fla?

Dan -Your arguments with the Pipe Line do not hold water. Wat are we going to do with it when it becomes obselete? Iis still depending on foreign oil.... The jobs are not permanent.

Where to start- What will we do with it when the reseves are dried up? Really??? Oil is one of our most plentiful resource in the World. What to do with the Pipeline afterwards? Gee - I have worked with in many Power Plants in Western Pa that are obselete and sitting there....I think that is a better question to ask about than the pipe line. The Power Plants are mostly shut down to this terrible Economy and the stricter Regulations that were put in place to starngle them. They were also put in place to make room for Obamas great Green Energy intiatives. Result- More hard working men such as Carpenters , Iron Workers,Insulators,Electricians etc......all go to the Unemployment Line.

The Jobs will be Temporary--All Construction jobs are Temporary. The building of this Pipe Line will keep a large amount of people working for years, then they will keep even more people working in Maitainence afterwards.

Dependence on Foreign Oil- I qualified the statement saying Arab Countries and Russia. I would much rather help with Canada and use of our own Resources.

This Pipe Line will go through and to think he was going to kick the decision down the road for Political reasons makes me sick!!! Didnt i see an interview with our President comparing and ranking himself as one of the top Four Presidents ever???? I am sorry he should be comparing himseldf to the worst Presidents ever Carter , Bush 43, and himself.

killerteam - Your posts 3.8 and 3.12 leads me to believe you are bi-polar. Please seek professional help and medication. LOL!

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassionfrom him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Now thats some bs

Not to mention that under Obama's (energy program) LOL that $25.00 just might buy you 3 gallons of gas. I hope the people that voted for Obama and plan to do it again don't bitch when gas hits $.00+ a gallon if he is re-elect

Obama and his policies are nothing but smoke and mirrors. He refuses to take responsibly for his own actions and policies which makes him a big baby and nothing more.

not usually a guy that bashes the miss spellings and shyt like that but @fordman4life if your going to make a point you might want to make sure that the random arbitrary number you were going to put in is there because you posted $.00+ a gallon which doesn’t sound that bad to me :)

Rambo, is that you out there? Sorry I meant $4.00 a gallon Mr. monkoshodows.

The openmindedness and kindhearted words used by the most lovingly liberal, holier than thou Democrats on this site never cease to amaze me !

"Scumbags"..."morons"...very nice ! And why...because somebody else doesn't agree with every single thought in your head ! Wow...a great premise for debating the issues.

You know what...I don't really want to be in total agreement with anyone who so very easily refers to other human beings as "scumbags" simply because they hold a different opinion.

And vicious insults typically say much more about the 'insulter' than the 'insulted'.

tony, so I take it you don't see the "Libtards, or the pig liberals. Are you right blinded or what??

That why we have board monitors here to keep the children in line. This board leans to the left but what is wrong with being civil to each other?

Don't say anything you would say to that persons face and it is only cowards that are "computer toughies"

Don't say anything you would say to that persons face and it is only cowards that are "computer toughies"

I agree, but now I am bankrupt from paying back everyone that had to keep bailing me out of jail...

except the President doesn't make laws or pass budgets..you have the wrong branch of government...try telling your gripes to the Repubs who control the House!

I expect more from the President

Expect it from Congress. It is congress that makes budgetary decisions.

discussion

Why don't you ask your repugs to just do a bill on the tax cut and don't add all that other crap to it so they can get their Christmas bonus from the koch brothers?

He just wants to get elected for 4 more

So all that crap like that pipeline fron Canada is something we don't need? We should continue to get oil from the middle east which is totally unstable .. The Chinese are buying up all the raw products they can all over the world and they want the Canadian oil also and IYO that is no big deal.

Thousand and thousands jobs are being held up by extremists like the Sierra Club. Oil is something we are going to need no matter who is POTUS but Obama knows best and wants to give Iran a chance by shutting down the Strait of Horowitz and that is good government policy. BULLSH-T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ford

if the oil is all over the ground and in your drinking water. what good is it going to do us? Try to learn what is going on before you open your month. If you are trying to get a job with flux news, go fill out an application.

TransCanada has a dismal record of cutting corners, ignoring the law, and spilling oil. The company’s Keystone 1 pipeline spilled more than 12 times in its first year of operation, including a 21,000-gallon spill in North Dakota in May 2011 that shot a 60-foot geyser of oil into the air. Last year, the U.S. EPA determined that sections of the Keystone 1 pipeline were constructed using inferior steel and defective welds.

That means we have an irresponsible company asking for permission to build a kind of pipeline that is already far riskier than normal. Unrefined tar sands crude is both thicker and more toxic than conventional crude oil. Sand in the mixture scours the inside of a pipe, and highly reactive chemicals in the crude corrode the steel. Making things even worse, the heavy, gooey tar sands has to be pumped at far higher temperatures and pressures than conventional oil.

Not BS: I understand that there is no need at all of a pipeline all the way down the USA from Canada to the gulf. It is feasible to build a refinery just below the border of US/Canada, and refine the oil there, and distribute the fuel from there (just as it is distributed from Texas). That would create jobs, but would minimize environmental threat. Somehow, special interests do not like this idea. Who benefits from a long pipeline? Why do you assume that "Big Oil" is going to suddenly be a more responsible caretaker of the environment than they have been to date (too many disasters to mention)? Why are the Republicans not putting riders on bills that would promote Solar and Wind (non-oil) energy development schemes? Or is it that there's no consortium of powerful and rich renewables special interest to make contributions to their campaigns? Or is it simply that Obama has been clear about wanting energy independence to be based on renewable and safe sources, and anything Obama wants is anathema to Republicans?

Madeline

Do you know the last time a Large Refinery was built in the US? Come on guess. What about the EPA Regulations? What about the Site Survey? What about Environmental Impact Reports? What about the Sierra Club? What about the NIMBY's? What about the Law Suits? Come on Gal THINK ABOUT IT! It will take 2-3 years to build a Pipeline but it will take 10 years just to get the OK to build a Refinery. Then it will take about 5 years to build it. That's a total of 15 years BEFORE it PRODUCES. Come on Gal use your head for something other than keeping your ears apart.

Libs think this is the only pipeline in America. Got news for you, America is allready crisscrossed with thousands of pipelines, whats one more? Its really not an issue of them building another pipeline its that obama doesn't want to loose votes before election. Same reason this bill is held up in the senate, its all about votes.

Yes lahater the US is covered with pipelines, like the one that leaked under the Yellowstone river this summer, and the gas pipeline that blew up and killed many and damn near ruined a town. Yep we have many. And there will never be a problem with deep water drilling either, ooops, maybe there will be. Hmmm, who would have thought?

slodon:

TransCanada is building this pipeline, right?? Are American workers even going to be hired to do the work?? who is providing the pipes, America or Canadians or some other overseas company?? How much is it going to cost to refine this sand tar?? More then to refine crude oil??Who is going belief from this pipeline, Canadians or Americans??? It is a Canadian product, not American.

I get a full belly laugh every time i read some of the post on this site. to you really ignorant people that post things like { why dont they just build a refinery close to the us/canadian border to refine the oil there and then distribute it from there} how in hell do you think they dist.the refined products you dipweeds??? by pipeline ,thats how as my kids say you are a duffus.

Yes it is. It's just SOOOOO demanding going to the computer and changing a formula. It wears me out just thinking about it.

@nosferatu Your comment shows your total lack of experience in programming. Most companies don't run their payrolls on an excel spreadsheet. Stick to what you know.

I t also shows noseferatu has absolutely no understanding of the ANNUAL accounting cycle and that any such law needs to allow for PLANNING ... and not a two-months at a time hiccup which may or may not happen.

It's an extension for 2 more months, meaning absolutely nothing will have to change with respect to companies booking payroll and withholding(s). It's an extension, not new tax legislation. . .get it? Is that really all you have in your arsenal? If so, it's an epic fail. My husband is the CFO of a large company, and his comment was: "No big deal. We'll just keep withholding at the same rate until a final decision is made." Had it not been for all the porky pork the Republicans tried to tie onto this rather minute decision, we may be talking about a 1 year extension. Trying to force the Keystone XL pipeline down everybody's throats without further and appropriate environmental review, is wholly irresponsible. Many people making comments about the pipeline project being a "no brainer" MIGHT want to do a little research as to TransCanada, their poor record of tar sand oil pipeline failures/responses and use of inferior and inadequate materials, the impact of leaks and pipe failures on ground and underground water sources, the levels of exceptionally high levels of arsenic that result from ruptures/leaks and impact animals, humans & crops, and spend a little time learning the ultimate cost of refining this cruddy crude and who, exactly, will be buying it. Clue: It won't be us. Clue: It won't reduce fuel costs at the pump. Clue: Research and THEN try to post a sensible and meaningful comment.

And you guys did read, did you not, the article here under the headline "America becoming net exporter of oil". This is about making money, it is not about energy independence, or lowering the domestic or international price of oil or oil products.

Actually, I work in IT. And I have a great understanding of whiny *ss folks such as yourselves. It's absolutely amazing what can be accomplished if one wants to.

Imagine that its obama who seems to be on vacation all the time

had enough, Dubya was on vacation foe 8 years.

Bush started SS on this death march and it looks like Obama is going in for the kill...

Why did the house tack on their pet projects to the payroll tax bill in the first place?

They did vote on it. It failed. The House Republicans filled it full of crap, like cutting unemployment benefits in half, defunding aspects of HCR, adding means testing to Medicare... all they had to do was send a clean bill over and this would be a non-issue. Instead they decided to hold the American people hosteage yet again for their middle-class killing ideology.

They fight so hard for tax cuts for the rich and fight so hard against helping the majority of Americans. It's sickening.

"I hope he fails"

- Rush Limbaugh

bob

Where were you when the house refused to vote on the version the white house had? Or did your selective memory fail again?

So now you think the WHITE HOUSE should be creating ITS versions of laws ..... intending for the House and Senate to rubber stamp ??? The three latin declensions of "dense" are densus, densa, densum ..... take your pick and wear it !!!

flnobody, You really need to understand the "SEPARATION OF POWERS" that was built into our Constitution ....... built into it for a purpose ..... to keep power hungry chief executives from going crazy with their power, trying to DICTATE what legislation should be.

SBParrothead

What crap did the House attach the the Social Security Tax Cut Bill?

slodom, did you not read what SBP wrote. They stated exactly what was in the bill that shouldn't have been.

jim:

Although your analysis of the overextension of the powers of the executive branch is accurate from a constitutional standpoint, your partisan slant weakens your argument. The previous president pushed for greater executive power and privilege frequently and forcefully. Other previous presidents did as well. Congress promoted this because it gave them a convenient scapegoat when things went poorly.

Nothing about the current President is unprecedented, except that he has to pass additional citizenship requirements, much like blacks during the Jim Crow era.

Did you forget that the 1-year extension was refused by the House unless their pet project for big oil were approved? The two-month extension was the senate compromise since the tea people only care about their corporate sponsors.

Gary, riddle me this..what have the obstructioninst Republicans done for 36 months other than to vow "Barry will be a one term president", yeah, that's what we elected them to do.

Pedestrian...you are talking to the wall...repubs don't want to hear truth...they want to tell their lies and even believe their own half-truths...they don't want to believe that the Senates bill is cleaner and the House bill is dirtied with add ons... Repubs always preach up or down votes but when they want to screw the President...they add on riders to bills. Thye lie and the only way to deal with them is to vote them out...which they will be now for sure.

Couldn't agree with you more, John. Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012!

1) The unemployment rate is not 10%. It is 8.6%

2) What the hell is a 2 month extention going to do for Obama's campaign?

3) We can't actually tell whether the president's policies are a failure or not since the pubs refuse to pass any legislation at all. Although, you must understand how hard it is for them to legislate when they take a week off for every two that they work.

A two month extention will allow time for debate without blindsiding the American public with an additional loss of $40. per week right as the new year begins.

gary

Nice try gary, How did those unpaid for tax cuts for the "JOB CREATERS" work out for you. You know the ones that drove the unemployment from 45% to that 10 % you like to talk about.

You mean the 91.4% employment rate.

Enjoy your blue tarp.

Eileen,

Did you forget the the obstructionist Republicans didn't control the House for Barry's first two years? I know he was recovering for the Herbert Hoover mess.

jimmy

Ops, I meant 4% unemployment, not 45%. That is what was going on before the bush tax cuts. ò¿ó

gary

did you know that you don't have to have a control to block things? it's never just a simple lets take a vote thing. the dems were not like the hitler youth group (REPUGS) and march step the same way on everything. The dems were allowed to think on their own.

Smarmy Cantor seems to think this is a joke... how funny that the middle class would go without, but let's tell doggie jokes. The last time he was in the same room with the President, he got his a$$ handed to him. I'm surprised he's in such a hurry to have that same experience again.

In November, 2010, Barack Obama had his a$$ handed to him by mainstream U.S.A. You don't know what mainstream U.S.A. is do you Pedestrian ? You can talk the trash talk but reality bites you in the butt now and then doesn,t it ?

Of course, if you are from San Francisco, I am sure you fully supported government regulation of "Happy Meals" ! Is that why California is bankrupt and businesses are leaving in droves ?? Is it the controlling, government-knows-best mentality that make you lefties so extreme ???

Tell me Mike, the country is 15 trillion in debt...... just how long do you think we can go before we run out of money to give to the people that wont work? Obama is printing money 24/7 and we are going to pay the price very soon. Obama is nothing but a Marxist and is trying to destroy this country on purpose, and if this were not so, would he not do something different? But now, he promises his ghetto voting base more and more free stuff and you people blindly follow him and collect his handouts. He wants to keep people poor and in the ghettos, because my friend, thats where he gets his votes from... Just like how he ignores the law of the land, and will do nothing but fight anyone that punishes people entering this country illegally..... thats more votes for this socialist. Its about time you people wake up and face the facts that if you want to eat you have to work so its about time we stop welfare and all the rest of the entitlement programs and make the country go to work again.

Tiger

Do you have a problem with a pipeline that will create thousands of jobs? Odumba wants to wait until after the election to make his decision, only it won't be his to make after he looses.

Tea Party = a thoroughly failed experiment. GET THESE GUBERS OUT OF CONGRESS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!

Johnny, I do. First, because the majority of those "thousands" of jobs will not be for US citizens... but Canadians. Of those that will be US, construction, ect., short term, it is 5000 - that will be gone in two years. Permanent jobs only amount in the hundreds. Now, before you start with the "well, even if it is only ONE job..." argument, take a look at this: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/globallaborinstitute/research/upload/GLI_KeystoneXL_Reportpdf.pdf

Cornell's study has shown that this pipeline will actually HURT the job market in the long run... as well as quite a few additional negative consequences. Do you really want to be back here economically within the next decade?

JohnnyOnTheSpot-3794903

Tiger

Do you have a problem with a pipeline that will create thousands of jobs? Odumba wants to wait until after the election to make his decision, only it won't be his to make after he looses.

Your comment is disrespectful and childish.

I am not a a tea party member but I bet they can actually spell GOOBER.

Does anyone realize that BOTH the house and senate bills include the pipeline? The issue here is how to pay for the cut for a year not just two months.

Look at the bright side....passing the senate bill will create more jobs for the extra paper work that will need to be done in two months to extend the tax hoilday for the whole year

Actually, Johnny, I think the best way to provide jobs would be to stop the pipeline just inside the border! Then our own workers could transport the stuff.

We realize BOTH bills have included the pipeline, but the 2-month bill was intended to provide a bridge so the workers wouldn't be hurt in the meantime. Instead of accepting the 2-month bill, the Republicans still want to force the d*amn oil deal.

Building the pipeline just makes it cheaper for the oil guys to transport oil to other countries. We pay more at the pump, and the Rich keep getting Richer!

We can go round and round about the oil deal being bad or worse for most Americans - but that only detracts from the real discussion hear: Giving MOST Americans a tax break. The Rich have no idea how $40 can truly affect a household.

The only reason Mr Obama Does NOT want to make a decision on the pipeline is .............. MONEY. He is currently enjoying campaign donations from both sides. The republicans want to force him to make a choice earlier then he wants. The enviro wads or the petro wads would continue to both contribute until he makes a choice.

Very dumb a$$ statement!!

Oxymoron:

Republican Leadership

They do not lead to anything but tax holidays for the wealthy and lots of lobby money bribery to pay the Republican Senators to do the bidding of the rich, no matter the cost to the rest of us.

Go drink some more kool-aid.

RTR13...Too funny! Republican's want to tack on their pork-barrel Keystone Oil project (a huge waste of time and money that will do nothing for the economy of price of gas) but the Dems knew that this turkey won't fly once the public finds out about how dumb the project is.

Sorry RTRl: no one is buying that spin...The R's were AGAINST the one year extention, so the two month was the compromise to give them more time to hammer out a deal...

RTR: Remember, the low lifes don't return until late Jan. That only gives them 30-40 days to fix it another 2 months. What BS!! The same peeHol-s that are telling us a 1.? trillion deficit for 9yrs is a good fiscal attack on our debt. They can't even find 300 billion a yr in cuts. I believe we the people could do a he11 of alot better..

Payroll tax cut???? Bush started SS on this death march and it looks like Obama is going in for the Kill...

When Bush stole the 2000 election we were in the BLACK for the first time in 37 years! It only took that MORON 1.5 years to get us in the red and create a deficit the likes we have never seen. Along with his and the Repubs other policies almost created another great depression( same thinking by the bigs around the world) and you call anyone ELSE a MORON!!!!!

s'and: you don't have much grasp on reality. The moron "mission accomplished" guy is gone...but not after dragging this country through the worst presidency of the modern era. Not everyone just discovered "responsibility" when the black guy became President.

Just like the Congressional Repubs and Tea Baggers. No Difference Dunce.

s'and

He is the biggest moron we have ever had in the White House. Everything is blame someone else, he never takes responsibility for anything.

How would you know what taking responsibility looks like? I don't believe you or anyone else in your party would even recognize it if you saw it.

you have got to be kidding < right!

Celebration, you have it all backwards. One is a tax cut, one is a payroll tax. Go and read and learn. Then come back and we can discuss.

Yes, celebration3, isn't it interesting how he's showed the GOP/TP for what they really stand for; pretty smart, you must admit.

celebration: you are more than a little confused. George Bush declared two wars and kept them off the books while giving tax cuts and driving this country to the edge of financial ruin. Come on. Keep up.

we'll never know what the gar would have done if was prez in 01....scary thought

I think celebration started celebrating the holidays too early...LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Celebration3

I just donated to the DNC in your name.

I love obama and what he is doing to the country.... He and Kruschev had the same dream, but obama is doing what Kruschev only dreamed of. Kruschev said we would destroy ourselves from within, and he sure was right. Obama, keep it up, your doing a great job bringing America and its lazy citizens that wont work but want to collect from the government to its knees. 15 Trillion in debt and going up every day, and all you hear on here is George Bush.... Hey people, wake up, your token is in office for 3 years now and he is just as ignorant now as he was as his only job, Community Agitator....

celebration3

Isn't this the same president who was totally against extending the Bush era tax cuts.

Was that a question? Because most Americans - including THE MAJORITY of Republicans, agree that it's time to end the Bush-era tax cuts.

Now he's flipped flopped in favor of a tax cut extension.

And again, MOST AMERICANS will benefit from a tax cut extension on the middle class and MOST AMERICANS, as your Senate Republicans showed us, agree. Only Tea Party zealots disagree.

Go figure.

Yes, do. Sharpen your pencil and take an economics class.

The class warfare campaign of Obama continues.

Be careful what you wish for this Christmas. Because it's obvious you're vastly outnumbered, and the majority of Americans are seeing that - and more importantly - finally starting to believe it. If this is class warfare, then you're poised to lose.

Worst president ever.

And not to be outdone, the Republicans are currently parading their nominees to replace their perceived "worst" president ever with an even worse president. And though they won't win the White House in 2012, at least they show us how delusional they have become.

He makes Bush look like George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

Bush's face on a one or five dollar bill? Never gonna happen. Ever.

killerteam

I love obama and what he is doing to the country.... He and Kruschev had the same dream, but obama is doing what Kruschev only dreamed of. Kruschev said we would destroy ourselves from within

The Republican party has succeeded in doing that to themselves once again. And this is Obama and the Democrats' fault because...?

Republican want a tax break for the working class for a year. Democrats want it for two months. Read the article.

the dems wanted the year and the repubs refused.the senate came up with 2 mos so they could work out the details. lying like you are does not make it so. the repubs hate tax breaks for the working people and forced a how do we pay for this. the repubs dont care how tax curts for the rich are paid for.

You must be one of those! "they said it on Fox news so it must be true"

Read the article? Have you been reading the news for the past month, or did you just start yesterday? The one year extension was proposed and accepted by the President and the Senate. The House would only accept it if they could tack on a bunch of pet projects. The two-month compromise is the Senate answer to House obstructionism, and you might want to take a look at how many GOP Senators are for it.

denny-

the fox news come back is old. think of something new. the only people who watch fox news are lefties looking for imaginary conspiracies.

Thats funny as hell...... but correct. I have never watched Fox anything well except "Bones" I do how ever watch NBC news and MTP religiously. I would love to see how many people on the left watch and listen to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity just to get incensed. To be honest, I dont even know anyone on the left other than my neighbors (I live in Detroit) who would vote for any democrat (including re electing a felon) as long as they can continue to collect from the system. Really read about Detroit for the last 10 years and tell me that republicans have had any input into my cities issues.

I figured none of you would touch the Detroit Democratic vision. Even the democrats in Detroit dont identify them selves as Democrats.

You people are mostly all IDIOTS !! Can't seem to get the facts straight. The republicans wanted a YEAR it was the democRATS who opted for a two month deal.

And if we continue to tax the hell out of the wealthy, there won't be any anymore, and you people will have to give up your entitlements and pay some taxes like the rest of us I'm talking of course of the 49% who pay NO tax.

There are truly a bunch of idiots on here because they are the ones that dont work and have nothing else to do but praise the person that gives them their entitlements. Just go figure out why a person that works hard and saves his money, and according to obama, is an enemy to this country. Obama is the one that wants to punish success and hard working people so that he can pass the cash along to his voting base, the slugs of society, and ghetto thugs, and the lifetime people that wont work. He learned all this as a community agitator in Chicago, where he worked with terrorists and the New Black Panther Party, and other muslim terrorist organizations, and learned how to lie with a straight face and win votes from ignorant people that he manipulates. He learned well as you can see. America is going down fast and obama gets on tv and blames everyone but himself for all the problems we are facing today. Then the people get on here and ignore the shape this country is in, and blame everyone but obama for what is going on.... Just how stupid people can be is amazing to me.

kiki-2629687

denny-

the fox news come back is old. think of something new. the only people who watch fox news are lefties looking for imaginary conspiracies.

Well then, according to the ratings, lefties are watching Fox News at a ratio of more than 2 to 1 vs. MSNBC. That's a whole lot of lefties:

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/12/22/cable-news-ratings-for-wednesday-december-21-2011/114492/

Why work hard to create a conspiracy? Lazy, unemployed people wouldn't work hard enough to do something like that now, would they?