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“Obama predicts tax bill passage, possible changes”

Just to give you some perspective on the numbers Krauthammer was decrying this morning. Washington Examiner:

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., one of the House’s highest-profile conservatives, said that Democratic discontent highlights the difference between the two parties.

“The compromise that was forged wasn’t rich enough for Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats,” Bachmann said on NBC’s “Today” show, referring to Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “They want the taxes up even higher. And that’s really where the line of demarcation is in this discussion.”

Speaking separately, Tim Kaine, chairman of the Democratic Party, said Democrats objecting to Obama’s tax deal may be showing voters in their districts that they have “some spine” and predicted that the two-year extension of the lowered income tax rates would eventually help Democrats.

“By extending it two years, and I think this is going to happen, you’re putting the debate about tax cuts for the wealthiest right in the heart of the presidential election. I think the president feels very confident he can make the case,” Kaine said on CBS’ “Early Show.”

The measure appears headed for Senate approval after negotiators added a few sweeteners to promote ethanol and other forms of alternative energy.

Tax provisions designed to increase production of hybrid automobiles, biodiesel fuel, energy-efficient homes, coal and energy-efficient household appliances would be extended through the end of 2011.

There is no precise timetable for passage in the Senate, but a test vote was set for Monday afternoon that appears likely to demonstrate overwhelming support for the legislation. Supporters say it would help accelerate a sluggish recovery from recession.

“This bill is not perfect, but it provides the economic boost middle-class families and small businesses in Nevada and across America need,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “Middle-class families and small businesses will see their taxes go down.”

At the insistence of Republicans, the measure includes a more generous estate tax provision. That infuriated Democrats already unhappy with Obama for agreeing to extend tax cuts at incomes of more than $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.

In all, the package would cost about $855 billion, according to a preliminary congressional estimate.

“If we pass this agreement as written, it says we are going to continue the Bush policy of trickle down economics for at least two more years, and in my mind, that is absurd,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent.

Vice President Joe Biden has told Democrats in closed-door meetings this week that they are free to oppose the agreement but it might unravel if they do.

“If it’s take it or leave it, we’ll leave it,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, after a closed-door meeting in which rank-and-file Democrats chanted, “Just say no.”

Despite significant criticism from fellow Democrats, Obama has said the sweeping measure is necessary to help the struggling economy recover from the worst recession in decades.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell has said he expects most Senate Republicans to support the tax bill. Prominent House Republicans back it, too.

Check out a summary of the deal’s provisions here.

See also, Darleen’s earlier post.

160 Replies to ““Obama predicts tax bill passage, possible changes””

  1. cranky-d says:

    The problem with calling it “cost” as we all know is that any time the government doesn’t get our money it’s considered a cost. When framed in that manner it just adds to the notion that it’s all their money in the first place.

    Still, more pork equals more votes, just like always. We should note which R senators vote for this piece of carp so we know who needs to be removed soonest. I wish it had been over for a while with the elections, but it’s just starting and we cannot rest, ever.

  2. Crawford says:

    cranky, this is the same Congress that gave us Obamacare. Why is everyone amazed that the people who added “deem and pass” to the political lexicon are still acting like petty tyrants?

  3. JD says:

    There is no precise timetable for passage in the Senate, but a test vote was set for Monday afternoon that appears likely to demonstrate overwhelming support for the legislation. Supporters say it would help accelerate a sluggish recovery from recession.

    “This bill is not perfect, but it provides the economic boost middle-class families and small businesses in Nevada and across America need,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “Middle-class families and small businesses will see their taxes go down.”

    Am I missing something. Maintaining the status quo is now stimulative? Who is getting a tax cut, Hairy Reed, you lying greasy fuck?

  4. Carin says:

    “This bill is not perfect, but it provides the economic boost middle-class families and small businesses in Nevada and across America need,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “Middle-class families and small businesses will see their taxes go down.”

    How is keeping the taxes the same a boost? Our small businesses taxes are going down?

    Woot! Why didn’t someone tell me?

  5. cranky-d says:

    I’m not amazed at all, except with the jackass team R guys who agreed to this in the first place. And I guess I’m not amazed as much as surprised how dense they are. The shenanigans of Congress are par for the course, they just need to be met with resistance for a little while longer. If after that we have shenanigans from team R, we send them packing soonest.

  6. JD says:

    Carin – Great minds. ;-)

  7. happyfeet says:

    DeMint has cowardly backed away from his promise to filibuster

  8. JD says:

    The MFM is doing pretzel twisting contortions to make this out to be something it most certainly is not.

  9. cranky-d says:

    So, the most prominent reframing of the meaning of words is “cost” when referring to people getting to keep their own money as opposed to having it stolen by the government, and “tax cuts” referring to keeping the current tax rates. How many more words will they re-define before the year is out?

  10. cranky-d says:

    If DeMint can’t keep his promise he had better start thinking about spending more time with his family.

  11. cranky-d says:

    I’m a bit torqued today, in case you didn’t notice.

  12. sdferr says:

    I don’t know why, but I’ve actually begun to harbor a hope(?), thought(?), impression(?) — I don’t even know what to call it it is so indistinct — that just as a wave can form in the people to demand their representatives ‘bring home the bacon’ in federal revenues to be spent in district, so a force may develop in the people to demand that their representatives not ‘bring home the bacon’, not add to the cumulative debt of the nation, start to seriously cut the size and scope of the federal government, and actually compete amongst themselves (the representatives, that is) to demonstrate that they can shine in this regard. Granted, it hasn’t taken hold yet, but again (it’s vague), I think this stance is coming.

    And I can’t help but believe it’ll be a good thing when it arrives.

  13. Carin says:

    Carin – Great minds. ;-)

    I guess Harry just expects the voters to be really fucking stupid.

  14. cranky-d says:

    I hope you’re right, sdferr, because without that force from the electorate to not spend, we are surely doomed.

  15. pdbuttons says:

    when i go into a convenience store
    and bring my goods up,and lay ’em on the counter
    and hand the clerk a piece of paper that
    i crayon doodled on, for payment..
    and say to clerk guy-“this bills not perfect,but..”

  16. JD says:

    Carin – Obviously, the MFM and the Dems are really fucking stupid, or really fucking dishonest. Or both, no need to rob them of the opportunity to be both.

  17. JD says:

    flat headed crippled prison farm kids in boxes should be negotiable tender in buttons’ world.

  18. JD says:

    Has there ever been a more clear and illustrative example of how the political class simply does not give a flying fuck what is in the best interests of the American people?

  19. pdbuttons says:

    parched fresh out of the box
    flat headed crippled prison farm babies
    i believe is the proper term

  20. JD says:

    I beg forgiveness.

  21. Mike LaRoche says:

    Carin,

    Harry Reid has every reason to think the voters are really fucking stupid, considering that so many of them voted to re-elect him.

  22. ThomasD says:

    Demint is describing some different numbers in a bulk email that just went out today.

    Dear Fellow Conservatives:

    Many of you have contacted me about the bipartisan tax deal reached between President Obama and Republican leaders. I’ve carefully reviewed the legislation and I wanted to explain to you why I cannot support it.

    First, I do not want to see anyone’s taxes go up and I have been fighting for years to permanently extend all the tax rates. I disagree with the President that we cannot afford to extend these rates for everyone. It’s the people’s money and we should not raise taxes on hardworking American families.

    But this bill does much more than simply extend tax rates.

    For starters, it includes approximately $200 billion in new deficit spending and stimulus gimmicks. That’s a lot of money that will have to be borrowed from China and repaid by our children and grandchildren. If we’re going to increase spending on new programs, we must reduce other spending to pay for it.

    The bill also only extends rates for two years. We don’t have a temporary economy so we shouldn’t have temporary tax rates. Individuals and businesses make decisions looking at the long-term and we’re not going to create jobs without giving people certainty as to what their taxes will be in future.

    The bill also fails to extend all of the tax rates. It actually increases the death tax from its current rate of zero percent all the way up to 35 percent. One economic study shows that this tax increase alone will kill over 800,000 jobs over the next ten years.

    Finally, the bill now includes dozens of earmarks for special interests, including ethanol subsidies, tax breaks for film and television producers, give aways for Puerto Rican rum manufacturers, favors for auto racing track owners, and a hand out for businesses in American Samoa.

    The President called Republicans “hostage takers” this week but he should be pointing his figure squarely at himself. We’ve known for years that these tax rates were going to expire but he did nothing about it until the last minute. Now Americans are being told they have to accept hundreds of billions in new spending and stimulus gimmicks, an increase the death tax, and a bunch of unnecessary earmarks or their taxes will go up.

    I’m not going to be bullied into voting for things that will hurt our country because politicians in Washington ignored the problem until it was a crisis.

    Many of you fought hard to elect new leaders to the Senate this year with the expectation that they would fight deficit spending, tax hikes, and backroom deals. I take that commitment very seriously and I’m prepared to vote against this bill even if I’m the only one in the Senate to do so.

    I appreciate the efforts made by my party’s leaders to negotiate this deal but I believe Americans deserve much better. This deal should be rejected and then fixed. We can easily extend these tax rates without increasing spending once the new crop of Republican senators, including Pat Toomey, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Ron Johnson, are sworn in. The President has already conceded that taxes cannot go up and we’ll have more Republicans in Congress in a few weeks to fight for a better deal.

    Thank you for supporting the principles of freedom and for your continued encouragement. I will continue to do my very best to be your voice in the United States Senate.

    Respectfully,
    Jim DeMint

    It’s all Calvinball at this point.

  23. pdbuttons says:

    no- it’s
    parched,fresh outta the box,flat headed midget
    crippled prison farm babies
    btw- congrats on ur colts
    but do u really want to come to ne[new england]
    also- i don’t know if u know
    but there is a popular t shirt in these parts
    the front says
    i hate peyton manning
    and the back says
    eli sucks too
    cuz, the giants spoiled our perfect season- which
    i guess is a good thing- cuz we’d be hearing about it forever

    sorry about the colts injuries.. but not so much
    the pats got a great draft next year..
    fortunately, or unfortunately
    we’ll be around for a few years

  24. JD says:

    My 2 favorite t-shirts are “I do not suffer from ADD, I just … Hey, do I like waffles?” and “Rex Ryan sucks, but Bellicheat swallows”

  25. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – As long as the Democrats can keep both hands on the lid of the cookie jar nothing will change in our country.

    – Bummblefuck has it exactly right unfortunately. Neither side wants to get hung with the blame of higher taxes. It’s blame avoidance politics, at the expense of all else, at its worst.

    – If we can’t find a way to reverse this we are going down. Right now our *leaders* aren’t leading anything. Both sides are fighting over the carcass of America.

    – The real problem that no one even wants to mention is that at this point it’s not clear that anything can be done any longer to stop the slide.

  26. Ernst Schreiber says:

    [T]he political class simply does not give a flying fuck what is in the best interests of the American people[.]

    It’s not so much that they don’t care as it is that they think that what is in the best interests of the political class is the best interest of the American people.

    The chess analogy keeps coming up, and it’s a good analogy as far as it goes. This is political warfare by demonstration and maneuver. What neither side realizes is that they’re maneuvering right off the edge of the earth.

  27. pdbuttons says:

    fyi
    my favorite t-shirt was
    on the front-it had a pocket
    and cigarette smokers notice shit like that..
    and right above the pocket was the bands name [tool?]
    never heard about them but i think i saw one
    of their videos when i was clicking..
    anyway- tool- and above that was a gun, a 45 i think
    so the front was calm/ minamalist almost
    but the back had a big picture of an old homeless bag lady/ sitting on the ground leaning against a brick wall/ with an ak 47 machine gun in her hand
    and above the picture was the message
    arm the homeless!
    but the best part of that t-shirt was i used to wear
    it every time i got picked for jury duty..
    and i always was the first one dismissed!
    to seize the day-ha!

  28. Ernst Schreiber says:

    If it’s not clear that anything can be done, maybe we should just step aside and stop trying to save the Democrats from themselves (or more accurately, the people who elect Democrats from the Democrats they elect).

  29. dicentra says:

    In other news, I’m supposed to own a reptile, but I haz kittehs instead.

    And reptile owners are the most likely to earn six figures.

    Anyone got an extra ball python lying around? Chameleon? Anole?

  30. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Ernst, I’m not by nature a pessimist, exactly the opposite in fact. What leads me to think that is a simple understanding of the way investments work in the real world.

    – In general, countries compete for investment money, and you do whatever you can to attract said cash flow. How exactly does one expect to instill trust in investors when everything your government does shows animosity to the source. What mechanisms can you use to counteract that policy? I honestly don’t know. This administration seems to have a death wish, and there’s no doubt the Progressives absolutely do. They’re like children, trying to operate with playground rules in a grown up world.

  31. Ernst Schreiber says:

    This administration seems to have a death wish, and there’s no doubt the Progressives absolutely do.

    Agreed. We should grant them their wish.

    They’re like children, trying to operate with playground rules in a grown up world.

    That’s because they think they’re the playground monitors.

  32. sdferr says:

    It’s not so much that they don’t care as it is that they think that what is in the best interests of the political class is the best interest of the American people.

    I’d like to amend this generally accurate picture Ernst, to say “that they think that what is in the best interests of the political class [can be made to appear] is in the best interest of the American people [in times which are either good, or not so bad that the American people begin to pay closer attention to what’s going on in Washington].

    Which latter condition (the very bad one that makes citizens sit up and notice), I believe, has taken hold today and therefore necessarily somewhat alters the formerly plausible standard mode of operation in the Capital City, though this change of circumstance is slow to dawn on the political creatures themselves: for want of better understanding of their own situation; for a most definite lack of understanding of the views of the people themselves; for lack of an understanding of the deep meaning of politics itself, which shallow understanding they do possess they find sufficient to cope or with which they can manage to cope in relatively undemanding times and which by habit have learned to lean on when it cannot be appropriate; for lack of imagination to foresee their own newly examined position relative to the demands and needs of the people, demands and needs they still have not come to grips with.

  33. Big Bang Hunter says:

    “…the demands and needs of the people, demands and needs they still have not come to grips with.”

    – Well the blinders go up when those “demands” start to focus on “less” of everything.

    – Our founding fathers warned us about this extensively. Maybe this is one of those moments in history when we’re going to have to make some sacrifices and fight for our country and freedoms, because its not going to just to away. Our enemies, those that seek to either turn the US into a Eurotrash Socialism, or others that just want to bring us low, are not going to go quietly, or relent.

  34. alex_walter says:

    So when the Republicans passed these tax cuts in the first place, why did they make them expire at the end of 2010?

    (I now prepare to play the “because the Democrats forced them” drinking game. Any reason beyond that?)

  35. sdferr says:

    And alex undertakes to confirm his simplicity. It’s a boring act alex. Take it somewhere else.

  36. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Budget reconcilliation rules.

  37. cranky-d says:

    alex, you are tedious. You add nothing to the conversation. Could you at least try to be funny? That might help.

  38. Carin says:

    Alex thinks he’s on the Sean Hannity blog.

  39. Carin says:

    #

    Could you at least try to be funny? That might help.
    #

    And, if you can’t be funny, try using a clown nose like I did.

  40. Carin says:

    CBC has an alternate tax plan.

    Who wants to be the one to tell them that it’s really, really, stupid?

  41. JD says:

    When alex is done diddling his squeakhole, he licks his finger. Mmmmmmmmmmm

  42. Ernst Schreiber says:

    And, if you can’t be funny, try using a clown nose like I did.

    Sigh. When what we really want is a picture of you doing your best Lizzie Borden impression on one of those feathered hamsters you keep.

  43. Hamsters says:

    You’ll be hearing from us, Ernst.

  44. cranky-d says:

    Sockpuppeting doesn’t work as well when you have the same icon.

  45. Carin says:

    Well,one of my hens has apparently taken solidarity with the anti-DADT crowd. Grown tail feathers. Gotten one of those red things under her chin. I’ve even caught her hopping on the other hens, who really aren’t that interested in straight-chicken sex, let alone hot hen-on-hen action.

    So, one Rooster was enough. I don’t need a gender-bending one as well.

    You think I could ship my shemale off to some same-sex couple?

  46. sdferr says:

    You think I could ship my shemale off to some same-sex couple?

    Heaven forefend you should just eat himherherhim.

  47. Carin says:

    Heaven forefend you should just eat himherherhim.

    Eat Shim? It was the run-away chicken.

  48. Carin says:

    I’ll never know what s/he went through in those woods.

  49. sdferr says:

    au vin — Shim’s almost qualifying — coquettishly, n’est-ce-pas?

  50. cranky-d says:

    I’ll never know what s/he went through in those woods.

    Evidently it was a transformative experience.

  51. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Alien abduction, or secret government expirement?

  52. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Just suck it up and embrace your inner diversity Carin!

  53. Stephanie says:

    Wouldn’t that be inerds diversity in your inners?

  54. cranky-d says:

    Testing to see if the website is blocking out my hyperactive commenting…

  55. Big Bang Hunter says:

    Gibblets Unite!

  56. cranky-d says:

    I tried to link to a site about chickens changing their sex, and I failed twice. That has never happened before. I am chagrined.

  57. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – cranky – we may be under DOS attack by the angry chicken caucus.

  58. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Personally I blame Carin and her non-inclusive poultry policies.

  59. JD says:

    Carin is bigoted against transtesticled chickens.

  60. JD says:

    You transtesticle chickenists disgust me. Denounced and condemned.

  61. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Totally off topic, for which I apologize and crave the indulgence of you all. I’ve got a small concern that might be of interest to the classically liberal crowd around here, and I thought some opinionated folk might care to opine.

    I pick up my oldest from elementary school (K-5). Every afternoon for the last two weeks, I’ve observed the current rotation of crossing guards (5th graders) enforcing a “no running on the sidewalk!” rule by taking down the names of runners offenders in a notebook. I finally decided I had seen enough of it this afternoon and left a note with the junior statist aparatchik young lady with the notepad on my particular corner.

    Having the crossing guards remind the other kids not to run on the sidewalk is one thing, but taking down names [underscored] of “violators” is something else. I’d like to know what you think you’re teaching the kids here.

    (Or something like that). The enforcement, if not the rule is something new since December. I don’t necessarily object to the rationale –last winter we had 18 inches of snow fall over Christmas and freezing rain on top of that over New Year’s, so the sidwalks were solid ice from after Christmas vacation until mid-March. But I don’t like how the school is going about gaining compliance. Anybody have any thoughts?

  62. Stephanie says:

    I fought a school over something similar. In the morning, the teacher would assign one of her “favorites” to take names of any kids (1st grade class room) that got too loud before the morning bell had rung. 1st grader on 1st grader. It was, to my ear, not a noisy room at all and seemed a bit authoritarian – sit quietly and no talking before the bell had even rung or no recess for you.

    The response I received was “you don’t expect me to handle 20 1st graders by myself do you?” My response was yes, I do unless you want to share a portion of your salary with the kids. She wasn’t amused. I went to the principal with the response and she explained that the teacher needed a para-pro. I explained that my 1st grade teacher handled 33 kids with no assistance and is that the parapro’s job description, name taker? No change, so I pulled my kid out and homeschooled him for the remainder of that year. Got a call from the school board asking where my kid was and said that I had voted with my feet that their methods were bullshit. The teacher and admin were gone the next year (where I don’t know).

    The teachers have no cause/effect relational thinking to realize that asking kids to take names enforces anything other than to make it easier on the teacher to have someone else help with their “thankless” tasks. That it is part of the job description doesn’t enter into their thinking or that it reinforces der fuehrer’s kindergarten training.

    The change in methodology is probably a response to some parent complaining that their kid wasn’t running and instead of having a talk with Jimmy, the school took the easy way out and asked that all offenders be ticketed. All part of that zero tolerance training that relieves them from doing burdensome things like actually checking the facts out for themselves and punishing according to the crime. Critical thinking isn’t in the job description in either application or applied methods.

  63. Stephanie says:

    Should mean critical thinking isn’t in the job description for teaching it to students or for applied methods in classroom management. Don’t want to be confusing.

  64. JD says:

    Good Allah. I don’t have a lot of hair left, but crap like that would make me pull out my remaining few.

  65. Stephanie says:

    Heard from Bmoe…

    I am mostly online on a mobile these days and have been having problems with word press. Long story but I am fine and will have it all sorted out soon I hope.

    Whew… now to get his hairy ass back to posting. ;)

  66. Ernst Schreiber says:

    What set me off today (mostly I’ve been bemused by it) was when a kid who’s probably a 1st, maybe a smallish 2nd grader, didn’t want to give her his name) –not sure what he said to her, but she, in her best gr’up voice replied “yes, actually, it is my business.” That did it for me.

    The other thing that’s funny is that it’s an all-girls crossing guard “unit” this month. That’s never happened before. I guess the theory is the girls are going to be less likely to abuse there authority and bully the littler kids. Yeah right.

  67. Stephanie says:

    That is ass backwards. Girls are all little hitlers. Why do they marry so many shit for brains and metro sexual types? To CHANGE them. The ugly flip side of “when did you quit beating your wife” is “why she keeps going back.”

    I’ll be over in the corner waiting on the wymyn’s studies types to claw out my eyes now.

  68. Stephanie says:

    “why does she keep going back.”

    Geez. I need a drink or several. BBL, I’m going to the mall! Shoes and drinks. Eleventy!

  69. ThomasD says:

    Eat Shim? It was the run-away chicken.

    That chicken is one cheesy theme song away from being a ’70’s movie.

  70. Ernst Schreiber says:

    With boys you get “hey dummy! stop running!” and no names in the notebook. With girls you get names in the notebook. Girls are better at following directions that way.

  71. Stephanie says:

    Check out the headline and pic at Drudge. Priceless.

  72. ThomasD says:

    This little country of ours is so boned.

  73. Crawford says:

    I’ll never know what s/he went through in those woods.

    Apparently a trip to south-east Asia and a procedure at a really good clinic.

  74. newrouter says:

    is bernie sanders still talking?

  75. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – I think they wheeled in an IV drip stand for him a few minutes ago.

  76. happyfeet says:

    Kids running on the sidewalk?

    Fucking animals.

  77. Big Bang Hunter says:

    Obama’s Clintons presser:

    “Both sides are going to have to eat some things they don’t like,” Clinton told reporters about the tax deal. “We don’t want to slip back into a recession. We’ve got to keep this thing going and accelerate its pace. I think this is the best available option.”

    Clinton gave the package his full-throated endorsement, even while noting that he opposes the extension of upper-income tax cuts — though he himself will benefit from it. (Why do Democrats hate themselves so.)

    – The pic shows the Golden Erkle retreating from the room. No doubt one of his advisors was panicky that the Pres would look “less than” standing next to Clinton with his typical forceful delivery.

    – Too funny.

  78. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – I guess they thought they better bring in the Master to show the kid how it’s done.

  79. happyfeet says:

    did we notice this? I don’t remember anyone telling me this. That’s not surprising cause nobody tells me anything. But still.

    Efforts to repeal what is widely seen as a burdensome tax provision in the new federal healthcare law failed in the U.S. Senate Monday despite broad support to drop it.

    A majority of the Democratic-led Senate voted in favor of waiving the chamber’s rules to allow a vote on a proposed amendment to eliminate the reporting rule which businesses say is onerous.

    But the vote – 61-35 – fell short of the 67 needed to permit consideration of the amendment as part of an unrelated food safety bill. A second and similar amendment also failed, 44-53.

  80. ThomasD says:

    As far as I am concerned this is simply evidence that we’ve been living under a continuous Clinton presidency since 1993.

  81. ThomasD says:

    A second and similar amendment also failed, 44-53.

    That one should be disturbing. There are still too many statists willing to be out in the open.

  82. Ernst Schreiber says:

    The pic shows the Golden Erkle retreating from the room. No doubt one of his advisors was panicky that the Pres would look “less than” standing next to Clinton with his typical forceful delivery.

    On that point:

    Jonah Golderg’s latest G-File:

    Ultimately, I think Obama’s biggest problem and his best path to political salvation can be gleaned from this passage in Peter Baker’s profile of Obama from just before the election:

    Obama is preaching patience in an impatient age. One prominent Democratic lawmaker told me Obama’s problem is that he is not insecure – he always believes he is the smartest person in any room and never feels the sense of panic that makes a good politician run scared all the time [emphasis added ––ES], frenetically wooing lawmakers, power brokers, adversaries and voters as if the next election were a week away.

    In other words, he’s arrogant. More importantly, he’s most comfortable in rooms where he thinks nobody is smarter than him and when he thinks all his advisers are dumber than him. We saw that man this week. He was visibly pissed that his friends couldn’t see the big picture and he lashed out at them, and none of his comparatively dumb advisers could stop him. [emphasis added]

    So what does it say about Obama that he didn’t want to be in the same room with Bubba?

    And Michael Walsh:

    So which is the real Obama? Conquering avenger or hapless stooge?

    A man who has never been tested, who’s never had a door slammed in his face, who’s never been told to take a hike, who’s won every fixed fight he’s been in, is getting his first taste of adversity. How he deals with it, whether masterfully or petulantly, will tell us a great deal — not only about Barack Obama, but who will be the president come 2013.

    My money’s on stooge. Brings to mind SNL’s Will Farrell’s GWB’s famous cri de coeur “Where are all the Grown-Ups!” doesn’t it?

  83. JD says:

    Our little pezzydent man could not look any smaller if he tried.

  84. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – On a related note: What a made to order situation for Hillery.

  85. newrouter says:

    bernie went 9 hours. if he needed material he should have read the health care bill.

  86. newrouter says:

    so the clintons have the birth cert.?

  87. Big D says:

    Here is a video of what BBH mentioned above. As DrewM over at Ace’s said, it’s clear that the man is just not up to the job. “I’ve been keeping the first lady waiting for a half hour so I’m taking off. Gibbs will call last question.” Unreal.

    Watch this video and try to keep your jaw off of the floor. I couldn’t.

  88. JD says:

    Big D – he is a smal small man, getting smaller by the day. the optics from that will not go away anytime son.

  89. newrouter says:

    The leader of the free world and the ex-leader wandered a deserted hallway, past the offices of the senior advisers, only to discover the door to the press corps briefing room locked.

    Had it not been, Mr. Obama and Mr. Clinton might have discovered only a few reporters milling about or catching a few minutes of sleep. Instead, they turned around and found a junior staffer sitting outside of the office of Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary.

    “Do you know how to open up the briefing room?” Mr. Obama asked the staffer, Katie Hogan.

    “Yeah,” Mr. Clinton said, “can you help us unlock it?”

    Hearing that, Mr. Gibbs walked out.

    “I said, ‘what are you guys up to?’” Mr. Gibbs recalled later. “President Obama said, ‘we’re looking for some reporters.’”

    “What have you guys got on your mind,” Mr. Gibbs –- always cautious — countered.

    link

  90. Ernst Schreiber says:

    I especially liked the “can’t keep the first lady waiting” part. He’s not even the President when Bill Clinton’s not in the building.

  91. Ernst Schreiber says:

    Best time to launch an attack on the United States? Date night.

  92. JD says:

    I would prefer to go back to the days when Slick Willie had his crank in Monica’s mouth, than deal with this nincompoop that occupies the White House now.

  93. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – The MFM is trying mightily to ignore the contrast that occured today. One talking head had it wrong when he said “Long time since we’ve seen two presidents in the same room”.

    “Long time since we saw a President and an empty suit in the same room.” – FTFY

  94. happyfeet says:

    this is very very yelverton I think

    mercy

  95. Big D says:

    Sheesh, Barcky! Just tell her to eat the damn salad and you’ll be with her in a minute. Do I really have to explain this to you?

  96. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Gee, he wanted to stay and have fun playing prezident, but mommy was calling him for dinner.

    – Gawd we are so fucked.

  97. Big D says:

    Seriously, how many of us have had to make the call: Honey, I got tied up at the last minute at work. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

    He’s the FUCKING PRESIDENT for crying out loud. She can’t wait for more than 30 fucking minutes to stuff her maw? Well, pardon me all to hell.

  98. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – I gotta believe he’s wearing one of those Secret Service ear pieces, and one of his minions saw the onstage contrast and told him to get the fuck out of dodge, just saying something about the dinner as an excuse.

  99. newrouter says:

    mr. jeff you were right on this tax thing.

  100. newrouter says:

    clintons definitely have the birth cert..

  101. Ernst Schreiber says:

    If a brand new set of high-end golf clubs mysteriously arrives at the White House doorstep, that’s an indication that we ought raise the terror threat alert to red and go to DEFCON 1.

  102. Pablo says:

    This reminds me of Baracky’s pre-election fundraising swing through my little state.

    The President spoke for about 20 minutes then announced he could not stay to eat, stating, “I’ve got to go home to tuck in the girls and walk the dog and scoop the poop.”

    Except that time he didn’t leave Bill Clinton filling in as President for him. I Am Bumblefuck The Splendiferous. And I’ve got to run. The Missus, you know.

  103. Big D says:

    Backstage at the presser:

    BO: Please, Sir!

    BJ: No.

    BO:Please! I don’t know what the fuck to do!

    BJ:Look shit for brains. If you hadn’t pulled the shit you did, I’d be living here full time and doing this every fucking day.

    BO:How about an ambassadorship?

    BJ:Ambassador? To what? Do you have any idea what people pay me to speak now? You want me to take that kind of pay cut? Bite me.

    BO:I’m lost here and the Mrs is hungry. Have you seen her when she’s hungry? Godamn scary is what it is.

    BJ:Yeah, well I can understand a pissed off wife. Say, did I ever tell you about the time…

    BO:Please! We don’t have time for this. They’re waiting and I have no friggin clue as to what to say. Look, I helped you out getting Hil out of the way with the whole Sec of State thing. I think you owe me here.

    BJ:Oh for fuck’s sake! Aaaiight, hold my beer. Let me show you how this is done.

  104. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Yes its true folk’s. We have a community organizer for our Prezident. Word on the street is he can’t even drive to his right.

  105. Big D says:

    Word on the street is he can’t even drive to his right.

    Have you seen his swing? The right side of the fairway, well into the rough, is where he spends his time.

  106. ThomasD says:

    Great, that means we got two hookers at the podium.

  107. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – Well I was referring to hoops, but if that’s true then he has a right to left slice too.

  108. newrouter says:

    Say what you want about Sarah Palin quitting her job, but at least she finished her own press conference.

    Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/12/10/did-obama-just-quit/#ixzz17lgFUXI8

  109. Big D says:

    Whether or not you like AOS, Slublog nails it with this.

    The peter principle writ large.

    FU52

  110. Mike LaRoche says:

    Who is holding Bumblefuck’s testicles hostage?

  111. newrouter says:

    hillary with the birth cert. in the dining room.

  112. Big D says:

    Col Mustard, in the study, with common sense.

  113. newrouter says:

    sumthing weird going down. gibbs with a press release in the oral office

  114. Darleen says:

    I was running around this afternoon doing a bunch of errands before the twins arrived for Weekend at Grandparents (they are downstairs watching Home Alone II for the umpteenth time) and heard the audio of Billy Jeff on Hewitt’s show.

    Amazingly, I was able to keep my car on the road.

    Billy has wanted back in the White House so bad for so long, and here The One just hands over the press conference to him? And Billy was just reveling in giving his opinion on just about everything.

    Egads.

  115. pdbuttons says:

    as i smoker- in tense situations a smoke
    will calm u down
    i think he was jonesing for a nicotine fix

  116. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – But Darleen. The shame of it all is the way Willey’s presence just highlights glaringly what a community organizer capable guy Bummblefuck really is. It was pitiful to watch.

  117. happyfeet says:

    when is the first little obama monkey going to quit and write a book like that Paul O’Neill piece of shit

  118. Bob Reed says:

    I too was stunned to see “Big Dawg” Billy Jeff, the original black President, addressing the press on the state of the economy and the latest tax deal. I especially found it breathtaking that addressing the fourth estate regarding the business of the nation, including the critical matter of extending the existing tax rates, and selling the “compromise” he supposedly struck with the gangsta-terrorist Rethug! hostage takers to accomplish, all had to take a back seat to M’chelle and the White House Christmas shindig.

    Priorities, dontcha know…And, well, the arms, man!; he’s not going to cross the one person that the secret service won’t save his woosie ass from. And as far as the press goes? Well, I guess he figured it would be business as usual, and no matter what he said or did, all that would make it into copy was the official version according to The Narrative

    Anyway, all snark aside, I was struck by the notion that this was all anyone shoud expect; it’s what he’s done his whole life. Recall, during the campaign one of his colleagues from the Harvard Law Review noted how he was happy to leave all the real work to others, and just take credit for being in charge; a fact that might have recieved more play if the MFM had, you know, actually vetted the guy like they were supposed to instead of sending 80% of the press corps to Wasilla to dig dirt on you-know-who.

    So it’s really not so surprising; just the same as it ever was…

  119. Stephanie says:

    Back from the mall.

    Remember this?

    Ending weeks of speculation and rumors, President-Elect Barack Obama today named Bill Clinton to join his incoming administration as President of the United States, where he will head the federal government’s executive branch.

    “I am pleased that Bill Clinton has agreed to come out of retirement to head up this crucial post in my administration,” said Obama. “He brings a lifetime of previous executive experience as Governor of Arkansas and President of the United States, and has worked closely with most of the members of my Cabinet.”

    Clinton said he was “excited and honored” by the appointment, and would work “day and night” to defeat all the key policy objectives proposed by Mr. Obama during the campaign.

    Iowahawk nailed it in 2008.

    The best line of the day was Michael Goldfarb’s twitter: “Finally, America has a black President again.”

    Heh.

  120. pdbuttons says:

    another reason i vote repugly
    class
    do u ever see an ex r president sticking his snout in the trough?
    when jimma carter, at ms kings funeral=dissed president bush
    who was sitting right behind him and just had a pleasant smile throughout..
    class/grace..
    obamas a young’en
    gird ur loins..

  121. Big D says:

    If pdbuttons avatar is really pdbuttons, I take back anything negative I ever said or might have thought about pdbuttons.

  122. geoffb says:

    Are the wheels coming off the bus, or are we witnessing the most brilliant, and dangerous, political theater in our life times?

  123. Stephanie says:

    If Big D had pdbuttons avatar we could sue for fraud… thems at least Big Hs.

  124. Stephanie says:

    Geoffb false choice…

  125. Big D says:

    OT, but “They Live” is on AMC. So corny it’s fun.

  126. pdbuttons says:

    who got negative things to say about me?
    i’m a cup-cake
    and-no- thats not my pic
    go to this site needs doggerel poetry #777 to see it proper
    [thanks to geoff]

  127. Stephanie says:

    I don’t want to hear any more shit about the Alaskan. She was being sued to death and she managed to stay through her own press conference… Barry’s out to lunch. Permanently.

  128. Big D says:

    Oh then you’re an as…wait, what? You have a link? Do share.

  129. Big D says:

    128 intended for 126.

  130. pdbuttons says:

    i can’t link..big d
    but-if u wanna see the cnn tower babe
    i will go doggerel
    u follow?
    then scribe up to 777
    ok?

  131. Big D says:

    No worries, buttons. I’m fairly certain that pics of breasts are not scarce on the internet. Or so I’ve been told. I wouldn’t know myself, you understand.

  132. pdbuttons says:

    but..but..
    it’s not a picture of breasts..
    it’s a picture of the cnn tower!
    and the whole juxposition
    of the dieing phallic background
    to the earth mother in your face
    of the protien..giver..
    and the child that we are..
    we want to..climb..atack!
    tame the tower..
    but..in the end..we just want to suckle..zzzz

  133. geoffb says:

    False choice? Possibly. My problem is that with the left we a dealing with a large group of stone cold liars. Every word in every sentence is a calculated lie including every “and, “the”, “ummmm”, and “ahhh”. They are a house of mirrors.

    When I have forgotten that I have always regretted it later. In was for this tax deal but seeing that old liar WJC today has brought me around to Jeff G’s view.

    Snakes they are and ever will be. No quarter should be given.

  134. Stephanie says:

    That was just fuckin poetic. Seriously.

  135. geoffb says:

    So does “PD” stand for “Press doze”.

    I kid, I kid.

  136. Big Bang Hunter says:

    – H’s? Well, at least no one can accuse the pw commentariat of being “narrow minded”.

    – On a lighter note, we had a 911 call today from a local lady who somehow found herself with a trapped squirrel in her toilet.

    – The attending police officers were able to capture the poor, half drowned animal, and release it in a nearby park.

    – The reporter on the scene asked the lady how it all happened and she rolled her eye’s and said “How he got in my toilet, I’ll never know.”

    – Groucho would have been proud.

  137. geoffb says:

    I like pdbuttons too. The doggerel thread is/is going to be epic.

  138. Stephanie says:

    My problem is that with the left we a dealing with a large group of stone cold liars. Every word in every sentence is a calculated lie including every “and, “the”, “ummmm”, and “ahhh”. They are a house of mirrors.

    Which is why I’m kinda hoping it passes and the repubs pull all the sweeteners out in the 112th. That is what the tea party newbies soon to ascend to the hill are saying that they want to do. What are the dems going to do? Demand that the drunken spendings continue?

    “You are in a position to demand *nothing*. I, on the other hand, am in a position to *grant* nothing. ” – Khan

  139. pdbuttons says:

    i like pd too

  140. pdbuttons says:

    okay lets dissect my avatar..
    it is a picture.. of a gal
    with big hoots
    i agree-they kinda jump out at ya..
    but just think..
    the photograhpher was taking a picture of thye cnn tower..
    and she just happenened to strut by..
    also
    he was on his knees taking the photo..
    and she was just walking by..
    she didn’t pose for him
    ‘look at my big tits’
    no..
    she was walking with a purpose.. notice how her skinny hips
    are in motion..
    and best of all..
    the look
    the look she gives the camera..
    not dissing/or acknowledging..
    just being..
    where did she go on her trek?
    she will live, in pd buttons/protein wisdom
    forever!
    we should name her..

  141. pdbuttons says:

    it’s like
    if ur kid is an asshole
    startin shit
    u gotta defend him..
    not that my avatar needs defending..
    the more i look at avatars..
    not knowing nuttin but
    puttin butter on one side of toast..
    my avatar rocks!
    who has got a better one than humble me,,
    tickle tickle

  142. Stephanie says:

    Marianas Trench.

  143. Mike LaRoche says:

    we should name her..

    Melons McTata

  144. pdbuttons says:

    i want to say
    plenty goodhead
    but i wont

  145. Big Bang Hunter says:

    Marianas Trench.

    – Deep.

  146. McGehee says:

    we should name her..

    “Mmmffmm Mffmmfff.”

  147. Darleen says:

    we should name her

    Chiropractor’s Dream

  148. Mueller says:

    bigD
    A small man, with a small mind, doing small things with a mighty effort, with little result.

  149. sdferr says:

    Misty Straction?

  150. Ernst Schreiber says:

    I’d suggest Melonie Neuma, or maybe Lisa B. Puller in honor of the general.

  151. Bob Reed says:

    Abbondanza Annie?

    Curvacious Cathy?

    Pnuematic Nellie?

    Voluptuous Violet?

    Or should we just plain call her Darlin’? And I wonder if she’s a civilian or a, erm, movie star?

    She has kind of a European look…

  152. JD says:

    I heart pdbuttons, in a not-ghey way, NTTAWWT. Off to get my haircut for the first time since March, from some dude that makes Liberace seem like a lumberjack.

  153. pdbuttons says:

    aside-my barber don’t small talk..
    how u been, hows the family,blah blah blah
    nope..
    i go in,and i say this everytime
    number four,bobby orr[in reference to his clipper settings]
    and then he does the shaving of the neck[ooh-disgusting]
    but-you’ll thank me if u have to stand in line behind me
    cuz we only like hair on men if they’re rasslin!
    [george-the animal steel?]

  154. pdbuttons says:

    i like chiropractors dream
    not to suck up to darleen
    but..so far thats the tits..
    c’mon-we can do better!
    anybody got teenage boys?
    they are a wealth of information on this subject..
    proper d
    [cuz it references my handle and her ‘size?]

  155. pdbuttons says:

    OH MY GOD!-oh my god oh my god oh my..god
    she got a button holding her pants so tight!
    rudolph with ur nose so bright!
    i got my x-mas present
    proper d!
    go to doggerel poetry thread #777 to study
    there will be a test

  156. […] Krauthammer (video at 2:54). Krauthammer’s article isn’t so much about so-called “sweetners” as it is about the $855 billion dollar tax deal Stimulus II contains no spending cuts. While some […]

  157. serr8d says:

    That photo’s been around for years. I remember getting it in my (always full of junque) email four years ago. Very notable for the CNN CN Tower in the background.

  158. pdbuttons says:

    thank serrd- i wasn’t aware of the origins of that photo
    does it matter tho?-can i claim it?
    run with it?
    hey-ac/dc-rolling stones..
    chuck berry wrote that..

  159. serr8d says:

    Keep it, pdb. It’s all your’en.

    Just as I’ll keep this splash of Tycho Brahe
    (that I lifted off a spirit bottle)
    until I feel an urge to change it out
    as ejecta of a impacted meteorite..

  160. pdbuttons says:

    i read it
    ur avatar wins

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