but it suits their individual agendas more to have constant fighting and gridlock.

the agendas are called "winning elections" and "securing donations to win elections."

but it suits their individual agendas

Key word there Steeler Fan is their INDIVDUAL agendas and not the wishes of their constituency or the citizens of this country. All polls (as noted in the video) are stating that both R & D's want compromise. Why isn't this being voted on rather than just Boehner speaking for the entire Congress?

Layton, the key word you used is "compromise." So when the President understands that, things will proceed.

ozzie, the President DOES understand that. It's Boehner and the House that do not. The country is willing to accept letting the 2% pay more as evidenced by various polls, including the WSJ stating 61% of Republicans are on board. Is Boehner waiting for 66%???

This is not a Red thing or a Blue thing, it is the United States of America. This should not be about what is best for one political party or the other. This should not be about posturing for votes, this should be about what is good for ALL Americans.

I realize that Layton but Boehner already said he's willing to go for the tax increase on the wealthy as long as there is cuts to spending. The President said we will discuss that later and we know what that means. Show the repub leadership your serious about deficit reduction and you get your tax increases that's compromise.

Jersy Girl, I can honestly say that is one of the first comments of yours that I have voted up.

ozzie ..

I don't think there is enough detail out in the press as to what exactly is in either plan but according to the article below, the President is fine with cuts.

The White House and congressional Democrats rejected the Republican contention that the president's proposal lacked serious spending cuts and reforms to entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security as part of a comprehensive deal.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/12/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html

Layton, OK, I will go with the statement that the President is proposing serious spending cuts. What are they?

Miguelito, note my post above about detail from either side.

If either side was really serious about this issue they would have come up with something long ago.This whole thing proves that both parties are more interested in their agendas than they are of the American people.

Layton, thank you. I am a small business owner. I understand how business works. A government really isn't much different. Also when you negotiate a contract, it has to be good for both sides. That is also what I expect out of my government.

Good try Layton. Nice feel good article but nothing on spending cuts that the President would apply. Be specific. What are they? Will SS and Medicare be addressed. Where I come from we call the Presidents comments cortinos de humo.

Layton-3733410

It's Boehner and the House that do not.

Boner's Wish List:

1. I keep all the Bush tax cuts permanently (even though they have not worked and put us in debt since they are still not paid for)

2. I wants cuts to all the programs that take care of the old, the poor, and the sick so the rich can buy another yacht or fifth Rolex this year...

the end

JERSY GIRL 1

Layton, thank you. I am a small business owner. I understand how business works. A government really isn't much different.

so since business is not any different than government, as a small business owner you also start wars with sovereign countries that you cannot pay for?

or

have 2 different management teams that vow to get the other one "fired" regardless of the consequences?

or

allow your employees to elect your CEO, CFO, COO?

business is NOTHING like government and government is nothing like business for one simple reason:

one is for profit and the other is for the rich/poor, young/old, sick/healthy, employed/unemployed...etc, etc, etc.

you don't seem to understand either...

Miguel, well then why don't YOU go find an article and present it here? I looked for one and as stated, couldn't find one with details. Speaking of which, where exactly is the article outlining Boehner's proposal?

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

Another discussion by the Libbies based on polls and percentages.

Most Americans have no idea what the fiscal cliff is, let alone sequestration. Ask the average American what they think should be done they won't even be on the same page.

Of course Barrack Husseins plan is just more about tax and spend, as usual. This is to be expected as the Liberals/Progressives haven't offered anything more than their pathetic class warfare/envy meme of punishing their favorite bogeyman, the wealthy.

This will do nothing more than prove Barrack Husseins hatred for America and anyone successful. This is what statists do, they can't compete with the successful so they drag everyone down and enamore them with mediocrity.

It's so sad to watch an American president only encourage the masses to be middle-class. It seems unfathomable for Barrack Hussein to promote exceptionalism to the American people. This is because statists believe that only they should be successful and the unwashed masses grovel at their feet. The Liberals/Progressives already do that, it's fortunate there are still so many real Americans that understand the corruption involved.

Layton-3733410

Jersy Girl, I can honestly say that is one of the first comments of yours that I have voted up.

Don't get too excited -- Like the title of the article, I despise this false equivalency crap. The Teapublicans, per their track record since 2008, are the ones who continue to put Party before country and ignore what the voters clearly support.

The voters want the richest 2% to start paying their fair share in tax revenue, and in the case of the president's offer of everyone paying the low rates on the first $250K, and only a small increase in the rates above that, the Teapublicans merely protect the rich at the expense of the working class (as always).

The voters do not want the eligibility age for Medicare increased, and do not want Social Security on the table at all. Everyone knows Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit, and that increasing the age for Medicare will shift costs and solve nothing. Just raise the damn cap on withholdings from $110K up to $500K and both trust funds will be solvent immediately and for a long time -- Enough for the baby boomers to die off.

So Teapublicans, stop boohooing, stop creating uncertainty and gridlock that caused our credit rating to drop last time around. And most of all, EVERYONE -- stop with the friggin' false equivalency! Contact Republican Reps and demand they do the right thing for our country.

I don't hear anyone saying they want to put the budget problem solely on the working class.

Job1, Congratulations... you've gotten the libbie talking points down to a fine art !

Where are the Obama expenditure cuts ? In recent years, revenue has been pretty much the same but federal government spending has more than doubled ... and with it, the national debt has gotten out-of-control.

The House of Representatives ALREADY VOTED before the elctions to extend the Bush Tax Cuts for everyone ! It is Obama who is willing to screw the other 98% because of his declared mandate that the "rich" must pay more.

Meanwhile, the beat goes on $16.37 trillion in debt with no planned spending cuts from Obama other than gutting our military. Growing government and spending are at the very core of Obama's philosophy of government

ozzie---until the GOP agrees to raise taxes on the top 2% while insisting on cuts to Medicare and Social Security, they are putting the budget problem on the working class. If the folks at the top don't pay more, how are they contributing to the solution?

Fan, the repubs already said they would acquiesce to taxing the wealthy more but want to see reforms (not cuts) to those entitlements (especially medicare) so they stay viable for the future recipients. We also need cuts to other spending because believe it or not taxing the rich is not the answer to your problem.

Jobs, you and your Liberal friends are what is wrong with politics today. It has to be your way or the highway. It has to be good for your party so that you stay in power. The budget affects all of us and even more now it affects the solvency of our country. It also affects the future of our children and grandchildren. The more debt we incur the less chance they have of living a life we have lived.

The liberals have had a taste of the programs of the republican party & don't agree with them i.e Michigan union programs, unecessary wars not paid for, prescription drug program also not paid for, probing women, plans that always cost the middle class ,gerrymandering, actually too numerous to site. GOP needs to wake up & be the party that pretends to care for the least among us.

The Liberals seem to want to take us down the path of total fiscal destruction.