1 If Repubs hadn't agreed to the unemployment extension the MFM would have crucified them, and handed the Dems an issue to run on in two years

2

Option 1 (ooga-booga) is for the Democrats to do it and take credit for it.

Option 2 (Death by ooga-booga) is let Republicans do it, and maybe much more, and let the Democrats take credit for it.

I didn't really care which one it was, but I see they chose Option 1.

3 I need the Bush tax cuts expiring in 2012 to help my next run for prez.

I am a super genius.

4
Ezra Klein knows shit about shit.

5 And giving in on unemployment benefits?  Well... where's that money coming from?  Is it in the money we borrowed for China to pay off Democrat constituencies in the Recovery Act, or is it a new batch of money we will be borrowing from China?

6 Gee, all those hollow booms I've been hearing during the past few minutes... it was lefty's heads exploding in Cambridge, Newton and Brookline, and at the Boston Globe.... Good times, good times...

7
The Democrats in 2011: "Don't blame us for the huge deficit; blame the Republicans for not raising taxes."

8 A two year extension of the current tax rate means the storm clouds of economic uncertainty are still dark and menacing. 

9 Taxes make Margaret Cho sad.

10

Uh.... isn't the "Payroll Tax" the Social Security and Medicare Tax?

Which is "supposed" to be a seperate fund??? Won't this CUT the amount of funds in Soc Sec, and Medicare, right when the boomers will start to need it???

Hmmmm....

11 9 Taxes make Margaret Cho sad.
When in doubt, whip out an old hoary chestnut?  I see what you did there.  I admore the cut of your jib and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.  Slicing like a hammer, you are.  And above all, keep fucking that chicken.

12 Thank goodness, some decent news today.  Finally.

13

Option 1 (ooga-booga) is for the Democrats to do it and take credit for it.

Option 2 (Death by ooga-booga) is let Republicans do it, and maybe much more, and let the Democrats take credit for it.

I didn't really care which one it was, but I see they chose Option 1.

I always told that one using "bunga-bunga". Either way, nice use of an old joke.

14

Boy is my ass sore.

15 Posted by: B. Hussein Obama (D) Economic Genius

Don't forget "Foreign Policy Wizard" on that job title

16 Oh and the Democrats agreed to a 2 year extension? Sign me up for having this argument every election cycle. It's a winner for us.

No, in the long run, it's not.

Here's what this does (remember, if someone compromises on something, it's less important to them than the thing they weren't compromising on): Unemployment benefits are now (for all practical purposes) infinite and unending.  Because here's what'll happen:

2014: A Republican President runs on fiscal sanity but exempts unemployment from the list of cuts because "it wouldn't play well" (or some other politics of perception argument).  2020: Same Republican (please, God) runs and mentions fiscal sanity: but includes unemployment in the same list of sacrosanct entitlements as Medicare and Social Security.  2024:  Rinse, repeat.

Unless we can pre-maturely end this insanity soon, I doubt if we ever get unemployment benefits back down to one year, let alone the only-slightly-insane 25 weeks that most States were already providing.  And you can completely forget the actual sane 0 weeks that indicate we're all big boys and girls and should be planning for bad things to happen to us.

17 Yeah but fees are going through he roof!

18 Wendell Goler has his tongue so far up Obama's ass that.............

( finish the sentence as you will, or won't)

19
I always knew that JugEars was chicken.....never thought of it in the Ernie Anastos context.

20 Oh and the Democrats agreed to a 2 year extension? Sign me up for having this argument every election cycle. It's a winner for us.

This is the key.  Turn taxation into an election issue.

21 This is good news.  Companies will, at least, have something they can use for their business projections for two years.  By then we can be working hard on taking over the senate and throwing Dear Leader out on his ears.  Then, perhaps, we can start working on real repair of this nation.

22 I like this deal. The 2 year extension still keeps small business people off-balance, and the Big Corp boys need to keep pumping the contributions (tribute) coming to the Democrat party and my re-election. Republicans get rolled and don't even know it.

23 This is the key.  Turn taxation into an election issue.

Posted by: frode at December 06, 2010 06:04 PM (fY/Qx)

Hmmmmmmmm.  I thought it always was

1776,,,,,,,,,,

24 omg....they are extending unemployment benefits? again? this is ridiculous

25 AllenG:  I agree, but it's me belief that unemployment benefits became a new middle-class entitlement probably about a year ago.

26 Posted by: Soona at December 06, 2010 06:04 PM (ipUuW)

I have never seen any company that forecast only 2 years out.  Most of the ones for which I've worked aim for 5.  At least.

27 stupid sock

28 Well, it's a start.

29 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at December 06, 2010 06:01 PM (8y9MW)

Once unemployment drops down from 20 percent, there will be little pressure to keep the duration high because 1 or 2 or 6 years might as well be forever when everyone that wants a job can get it.

Failing that, these people would just go on welfare for 2 years, then pressure that program to be started again.

30 i'm sorry but 3 years of unemployment is a disservice to everyone....including the person collecting the benefits

31 unemployment benefits became a new middle-class entitlement probably about a year ago.

Posted by: Truman North at December 06, 2010 06:06 PM (HLGCA)

In this recession, which is decimating the middle class with years-long unemployment, UBs are keeping a lotta people barely afloat.

This idiot-president could help in many better ways, but as a Trotsyite he won't

32 Posted by: Truman North at December 06, 2010 06:06 PM (HLGCA)

Think about what that means, though: if I get a pretty good paying job (say, enough that my unemployment benefits net me roughly 20 - 25K a year- which isn't that hard to do, I think I'm in one now) and then I lose my job "through no fault of my own" (You know, besides not being as good for the company's profit margins as that guy beside me who didn't get fired): I can collect 20 - 25K per year without getting my rear off the couch.  That means I don't pay for gas, I can officially "park" my car with my insurance so I'm not paying for that (most families have at least two anyway), etc.  If I was looking for a way for one parent to stay home, I've found it- without giving up their whole income (because filling out and submitting 3 applications in a week is pathetically easy).

So now, we have a permanent encouragement not ever to seek real work again.  And, since the system doesn't punish those who turn down job offers that "aren't good enough" they can just keep doing it forever.

33 I think this is a huge cave on Obama's part, but, there's still 2 other questions I have:

First, we were already at 99 weeks of unemployment benefits. Now we get an additional 13 months? So, we're talking unemployment benefits now run THREE YEARS?

That's not going to help unemployment go down -- at least for another year.

Second, is there no deal on the capital gains tax rate? If that goes back up on Jan. 1, then look out for some serious profit-taking in the market over the next few weeks.

34 Think this makes the bucks fly? Wait till those assholes try to roll back Health Care. Hello Big Pharma and AARP. I might even get moochelle another job outa this. Bwwaaaahahahahahaha

35 He punted on 2nd down.

36 Are they extending unemployment another 13 months from 99 weeks (for only blue --ie high unemployement) states. Or are they extending the 99 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for 13 months instead of dicking around with 2-3 month extensions like they have done with Pelosi and Reid in charge?

37 Wendell Goler has his tongue so far up Obama's ass that.............

( finish the sentence as you will, or won't)

Posted by: SantaRosaStan, over the hills and far away at December 06, 2010 06:01 PM (UqKQV)

That his tongue tickles Obama's uvula.

38
Gee, hmmm, now how would we keep the unemployed quiet while we invite more illegals to come into the United States to steal benefits and steal jobs?

I know! We'll extend unemployment benefits. That'll shut 'em up.

39

I have never seen any company that forecast only 2 years out.  Most of the ones for which I've worked aim for 5.  At least.

It's better than not being able to do it at all, like the situation my company was in.  It all hinged, salaries, procurement, insurances, etc., on how much all of it would cost when/if higher taxes kicked in.

 

 

40 THIS President won't do anything to create non-govt jobs, and can hardly create any of those ( so he focuses on keeping current govt workers employed )

In two years, a R President and Congress can begin comprehensively creating jobs

until then, much of what Repubs do will be Damage Control

41 And you can completely forget the actual sane 0 weeks that indicate we're all big boys and girls and should be planning for bad things to happen to us.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at December 06, 2010 06:01 PM

This "conservative" talking point is beginning to grind on me. I have been unemployed for over six months, and underemployed for more than a year. I look for work daily. When "bad things happen" it's someone damn lucky -- or in a damn high-paying profession -- who can survive that long on what they've saved.

I can't get unemployment, BTW. I've been a freelancer for more than 25 years. And I don't think the payments should go on for years in most circumstances for those who are in the system.

If you have a job you can't lose, or have a fat inheritance or have struck it rich in some other way, I'm happy for you. But the arrogance of your statement bugs me. The unemployed people I know -- too many -- would love to have work, and I'm one of them.

Let the government cut other spending. They piss away enough money to handle unemployment claims until they get off their dead asses, stop sucking up to cheap-labor nations and greedhead unions here; in fact, they should back the fuck away from the business world altogether, thus encouraging employers to hire again.

42 35 He punted on 2nd down.

Posted by: t-bird at December 06, 2010 06:12 PM (FcR7P)

According to HuffGlue and dumKos commentors, he punted during the opening kickoff return.

43 Posted by: Oldcat at December 06, 2010 06:08 PM (z1N6a)

Your insufficient cynicism is amusing to me.

The key is that whole "want a job."  Why would I want a job when you're paying me to stay at home and submit resumes to companies that will never hire me via Monster or CareerBuilder or whatever?

And, if the Republicans really get ready to let them lapse, the media will run sob stories every night about how it may be okay for some people, but for others- their unending unemployment is the only thing keeping them afloat: darn that economic Darwinism!

44 i'm sorry but 3 years of unemployment is a disservice to everyone....including the person collecting the benefits

Posted by: phoenixgirl at December 06, 2010 06:10 PM (eOXTH)

Obama had to be tossed some kind of bone to save face. This is the least bad option I've heard, and we get an extra tax cut as a bonus.

45 There's also a certain theory that long-term, the best deals on legislations are the ones that drive Dems the most nuts, even if they are, substantively less desirable.  You know, like just arbitrarily naming a law the Sarah Palin National Recovery Act...

46 Another 13 months of unemployment?  That's almost 3 years in total; I believe, with the current extensions, it's already 99 weeks.  So now we're setting up a permanent 'on the dole' class plus a welfare class.  Extending unemployment does not help the economy nor does it stimulate sales.  I can't believe they've pushed unemployment to the length it already is, and now might become even longer.  Was there a catch somewhere about raiding 401(k)s?

47 I heard Obama also announced that he's reinvading Iraq cause he's got airtight evidence that they have WMDs

48 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at December 06, 2010 06:14 PM (8y9MW)

If everyone in the country fits your description, then there's no point in talking about anything, we are finished. Since that isn't the case, lets win this battle and move on to the next one, when we are in a better position to make real effective changes.

49 TrotsKyite.  My apologies to Zombie Leon Trotsky, Stalin's former BFF

50 This is going to drive the left off the edge.

Ohhhhhh yyyeaaahhh....

yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes yes yes

51 "Now, they need to stand firm on any other crap Reid and Pelosi try to ram through in the next two weeks."

And for this political kabuki theater alone, the GOP should have rejected the unemployment and Death Tax concessions and played for time since it has decided to abandon principle. I'm none to pleased in the former as it's even more debt (along with disincentivizing labor) or the latter as it's double taxation and a confiscatory money grab; but couldn't the GOP have extended the fight to eat up the legislative calendar? The Progressives are dying to get the economic battle (that they'll lose) off the front pages so that they can expedite more insidious legislation. Why is the minority party helping? Did they not get that "they won"?

52 Thier tears taste like sweet sweet whine

53 This AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) person makes too much sense. He must be a Palin plant.

54 ***the GOP should have rejected the unemployment and Death Tax concessions and played for time **** The Senate should have been in full filibuster lock down since Scott Brown was elected, so our Senate Minority Leader isn't too bright.

55 Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at December 06, 2010 06:18 PM (swuwV)

I'm glad I don't have to pay a big fat tax increase just to help your team win some kind of moral victory in a tit for tat game.

56 Presidential statement coming at 6:10 est. 'Imperious', I'll believe; but never 'Presidential'.

57

Uh, what guarantees that this compromise will pass?

Aren't there enough progressives that will buck their leadership on this?

58

these people are beyond parody, what a bunch of spineless pussies. there you go you slimy hippie douches your fearless leaders at work. haha

 

59 There's also a certain theory that long-term, the best deals on legislations are the ones that drive Dems the most nuts, even if they are, substantively less desirable. You know, like just arbitrarily naming a law the Sarah Palin National Recovery Act...

How about the Sarah Palin Social Justice Act that eliminates welfare payments to unwed parents, high school drop outs, and convicted criminals and bans funding for any global climate change research or prevention?

60

I suppose a banana republic is better than no republic at all.

61

Uh, what guarantees that this compromise will pass?

Aren't there enough progressives that will buck their leadership on this?

Posted by: AmishDude at December 06, 2010 06:21 PM (T0NGe)

They'd have to outvote the leadership AND the Republicans, which is a taller order. Still could happen, I suppose.

62 they should have held out for 4 months unemployement extension and 15% death tax. We have all the time in the world. Reid is basically Jason Statham in Crank. His time is running out. He has to deal as the 111th will mercifully die soon. our Senate Minority Leader isn't too bright.

63 Probably a secret deal in there somewhere to pass the DREAM act.

64 Cutting off the unemployment benefits right now would have ensured a boom for jobs in the fields of tear gas manufacturing and riot police...

Because there would have been riots.  Have no doubt the MSM would have made sure of it and tied it right to the Repubs necks.

65 Anyone heard anything as to whether another COBRA extension is in this puppy?

66

And, if the Republicans really get ready to let them lapse, the media will run sob stories every night about how it may be okay for some people, but for others- their unending unemployment is the only thing keeping them afloat: darn that economic Darwinism!

 

What I would do if I were in congress is to start gearing these benefits downward.  They don't have to be cut all at once after the 13 month extension, but cut, perhaps by 10% every three months until the public is finally weened off of this graft.

67 **Cutting off the unemployment benefits right now would have ensured a boom for jobs in the fields of tear gas manufacturing and riot police...** yeah, right. The only violence is coming from the other other organized crime arm of the democrat party, its union thugs.

68 Cutting off the unemployment benefits right now would have ensured a boom for jobs in the fields of tear gas manufacturing and riot police...


Not to mention the pitchfork industry.

69 And while you're starving, please wear a sweater.

70 Did he agree to ALL the tax cuts extension?  AKA capital gains?  Also what about the AMT?  Any word on that?

71 Posted by: MrScribbler© at December 06, 2010 06:14 PM (Ulu3i)

See, it's not "pie in the sky" for most people.  I (because I'm paying my "stupid tax" for not having done it when I was a kid) should be there (3 - 6 months of outlays saved for emergencies) within a couple of years.  Had I been smarter when I was younger, I'd already be there.

Most people think it can't be done because they live beyond their means (not all, but most) and have been tricked into thinking that "if they can make the payments" its not beyond their means at all.

I know most people on unemployment "want" work.  But you know what else, I've found?  That most of those people want work that pays at or near what they made before, not just enough to scrape by.  I went (several years ago) from a 38,000/yr job to waiting tables at Olive Garden.  I took that job because I wasn't going to keep taking unemployment.  It sucked, and I kept looking for work, but it brought in enough to keep our bills (mostly) paid.  Had it not, I knew I could go to my church, explain my situation, and get some help with my bills without sticking it to people I'd never met (and would never meet) through increased taxes/depressed wages (both of which result from the current unemployment model).

Now, I'm guessing that, as a Moron, you're not one of those people.  I'm sure your situation absolutely sucks, and if I could help you fix it, I would.  But we cannot make policy based on what is, by definition, a minority of cases.  We have to do the most just thing for the most people- and, in an absolutist world (where even I already admitted we won't get to ever again) that means we don't pay people unemployment benefits.  Yes, that means that there will be people who are hurt, but how much "invisible" suffering is caused by the increased regulation/cost on businesses so that the hiring environment is even more unfavorable than it has to be right now?

72

Big time.  The 35% on the estate tax is just downright nasty.

Posted by: Il Douche D'Indonesia at December 06, 2010 06:20 PM (G/MYk)

But they are also raising the level at which it starts, to 5 million... so much better than 55% on anything over 1 million, which is what it would have been.

73 The Death/Estate tax change is excellent, and actually better than we had in 2009.  Old 2009 rule was $3.5 Million exclusion and then 45% tax.  2010 there's no estate tax!  Now, with the new proposed rules it's $5 Million exclusion with 35% tax rate.

Assume a $5 Million estate:
- In 2009, the tax would have been $675,000 (45% of everything over $3.5 Million). 
- In 2010: $0. 
- For 2011, under evil rules currently in effect ($1 Million exclusion, 55%), it would be: $2,200,000. 
- Under proposal as outlined here, 2011: $0.  That's a pretty good result!

This is going to save a bunch of middle class people from paying hefty estate taxes. 

No death tax would be best, but this is a pretty good result.  It will be interesting to see if there is a change to the basis rules, which were pretty favorable under the rules in 2009, and less so in 2010.  The basis rules under the _current_ rules for 2011 are actually good, again.  So, it will be interesting to see what happens with the 2011 rules as proposed...

74 **the media will run sob stories every night about how it may be okay for some people, but for others- their unending unemployment is the only thing keeping them afloat** go figure. The media has no credibility. The GOP should counter (using the mouse they have in their pocket) by pointing out that the welfare state is a killer of economies and people's souls. Look at Europe falling apart, people spending their lives on the dole. Point to the same thing being said in 1996 and how it worked!

75 BTW, I love how Obama's piss ant tax credit of $300 is "making work pay" but the massive $3500 reduction I get from the Bush tax cut is "tax cuts for the rich".

76 ESPN is reporting that Josh McDaniel will be collecting unemployment benefits now.

77 AmishDude: "Aren't there enough progressives that will buck their leadership on this?"

I don't think so despite the posturing. They are getting a good deal if the GOP gives up anything at all. Of course, that assumes a GOP that will play hardball once the new session begins which is still an unknown. It could be that the Progressives believe the GOP will grow right back into power and continue to grow government just as before, in which case wheeling-and-dealing will be fruitful for the spenders. Posturing will be all they need to do to scare the GOP.

78 If the AMT is not included, McCaskill's pitchfork prediction will come true.  Obama would have to be a drooling idiot to allow that to kick in (but then he qualifies . . .)

79 I'm not as excited about this as Drew.  I was thinking the compromise would be something like 6 month UE extension and a 5 year tax extension.  2 years just isn't a long enough time frame for business to ramp up employment.  The 2% payroll thing is nice.

The 35% death tax is atrocious.  No reason the repubs had to agree to that.

80 2 years is perfect. That means in 2012 the issue will be taxes going up for EVERYONE in 2013. Sarah is going wrap that around Obama's neck. He will be the guy who wants to raise taxes in the campaign, err let the rates expire (thus raising them) while unemployment remains high. That will be a disaster for him!

81 Posted by: Oldcat at December 06, 2010 06:17 PM (z1N6a)

I actually mostly agree: I think we just have to be realistic about the deal we made.  Otherwise we won't have a realistic chance of getting back to anything resembling sanity.

Posted by: Soona at December 06, 2010 06:25 PM (ipUuW)

And that (or some form thereof) might, maybe have some chance of passing.

82 Maybe the GOP agreed to the deal knowing full well the House Dems will never pass it.

83 Prefaced by saying I'm not on UC and never have been...

...Especially right now, not extending UC would be a bad move. Forget riots and loafers, certain job sectors (like construction) have been ass-raped to death by leftist economic policies. We need to get some tax work done to incentivize employment before we "fix" that problem.

Could it be done better? Oh, Hell yeah. Are there loafers and losers gaming the system? Oh, Hell yeah. Are people supporting lifestyles they can't afford with our tax money? Sure. But for the same reason I don't support just yanking SS benefits from people getting them, despite the system being completely bankrupt, I don't support ending those  other "gifts."

It sucks, but I'm guessing it sucks less than the alternative.

Yes, Pelosi's math is dead wrong, government spending IS worth less to the economy than private spending. But we have to stop taking the money away from the private sector before they can spend it. Which means running up more short-term debt.

And try to stop the Dems from making that short-term debt long-term by either raising taxes again (hurting growth) or just spending like mad. Like I said, it sucks, it's hard work, it will take too long, and it will hurt.

Just less than the alternative.

84 Unless we can pre-maturely end this insanity soon, I doubt if we ever get unemployment benefits back down to one year, let alone the only-slightly-insane 25 weeks that most States were already providing.  And you can completely forget the actual sane 0 weeks that indicate we're all big boys and girls and should be planning for bad things to happen to us.

I don't see any reason to not privatize unemployment benefits like they've done with workplace retirement benefits. You get to put away money for a "rainy day" tax-deferred and if you lose your job, that's what you live off. I don't see any reason why my employer should pay into some state-run unemployment fund and then I draw on it if I'm unemployed, when I could just as easily save my own money (which I now get paid by the employer, since it's not paying into a UI fund). Then, if you make it through to retirement without going unemployed, you draw it down like a 401k or IRA. Of course, that would eliminate fraud as well. Hell, as long as your drawing down your own money, stay unemployed forever, for all I care.

But, as usual, that's too much responsibility for people to take on for themselves.

85 re: Fred Upton:  Already made two calls.  I'll call again on my way to school tomorrow morning.

86 I can't wait until the GOP controls the House so we can try price controls again.

87 OT Josh McDaniels OUT as coach of the Broncos!

88 Maybe the Obama Administration agreed to the deal knowing full well the House Dems will never pass it.  Thus allowing him to triangulate.

89 Posted by: Serious Cat at December 06, 2010 06:31 PM (bAySe)

Is Serious Cat serious?

90 What an A-hole

91 Obama that is.

92 ....someone forgot to bring his gun to the knife fight....

93 Sets up a great 2012 issue!

94 I love the GOP. Those guys are sooooo smart. And wise. And caring and compassionate. Did I mention conservative? No? I guess that was no oversight. Bwaaahahahahaha.

95 **Maybe the GOP agreed to the deal knowing full well the House Dems will never pass it.** If so, then maybe GOP leadership is bright. The DNC in the 111th are the ones playing against the clock. The more time wasted on this stuff is less time for them to shamnestize or weatherize the country.

96 Posted by: BS Inc. at December 06, 2010 06:32 PM (q+MY0)

You could already do this (well, not the Tax deferred part, but the rest).  Most people just don't.

They don't plan for "what if" very well, if at all.  They get to where they're living only a little better than "pay-check-to-pay-check" and think they're living within their means: only to find out those nice people who lent you all that money are not nearly so nice when you're slow about paying it back...

97 Get use to 'hell no', Barry.. for the next 2 years.

98 O/T Bowlen fires McDaniels.

99 Take your nuts out of the pan before they burn.

100 And I just have to say, boy are we lucky that Obama didn't unleash the Biden on us in negotiations. Combining his intellect and Obama's leadership would've caused our side to agree to 100% confiscation tax rates.

101 Obama's doing the old it's Republican's fault for not budging on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, and they are therefore stopping me from the MUCH NEEDED balancing of the budget that I so want to do, so I'll do the noble thing and make a deal with them to ensure the evil Republicans don't stand in the way of the middle class getting a tax cut.

102 [Fuck you, Romney spam-bot. -TB]

103 See, I don't care if its a political issue in 2 years.  I would rather they do something that allows business to plan and hire.  And I don't care who gets the credit.  Instead, we get a mish-mash of the same that will end up with larger national debt and long-term high unemployment.

104 I will LMAO if "Wink" Martindale gets elevated to interim head coach.

Watch out for that dragon!

105 This whole 'extending the Bush tax cuts' meme pisses me off.  What they did was extend the current tax rates.  If they did nothing, which is doing something, the tax rates would rise but would never be called Obama's Tax Hike.

106 This guy sure hates the rich.

107 Wait, how can middle class tax cuts be extended. I told you idiots the tax cuts were for the rich only.

108 OT:  Schwarzenegger is stealing the food out of the mouths of hungry children.

"Schwarzenegger on Monday unveiled a plan that relies largely on cuts to health care and social services for the poor.

About $7.4 billion of his proposal would come from cuts, include reducing cash assistance to needy families by 15.7 percent in April, then eliminating the entire welfare-to-work program in July.

He is proposing to eliminate vision coverage and increasing monthly premiums for Healthy Families, a program that provides health coverage for children of low-income families."

Linked on Drudge.

109 Cocaine gets the tough stains out!!1!!1!1

110 Posted by: Dan at December 06, 2010 06:37 PM (9L1z6)

Gag.  Go away with your robo-posting self.

Until Romney really takes on the issue of Romney care (and doesn't just try to pooh-pooh away the questions Conservatives pose about it), he's not a serious contender- no matter how much the National Media would like him to be.

111 Barky is sounding pretty angry. But boy is he casting himself as the savior for 'ordinary Americans'.

112 OK, so you make a compromise with a guy and he goes out and immediately declares victory.

Let's not compromise again.  He's doing a really poor imitation of Bubba.

113 And it's cheaper than home heating oil!11!11!!!1

114 @23: "This is the key.  Turn taxation into an election issue.

Posted by: frode at December 06, 2010 06:04 PM (fY/Qx)

Hmmmmmmmm.  I thought it always was

1776,,,,,,,,,,"

-------------

1776 was only an election in the same sense (though bigger scale) as Ford's Theatre, Dealey Plaza, etc. 

115 meh, no one cares what he has to say. "I uh lost the election yet would like to act like I am awesome."

116 Dear Leader didn't take any questions.  He's pissed he had to do this.  No fucking questions!

117 This while he has the lame duck majority?  Should be fun when the Republicans take office.

118 Liberal Outrage^™ begins in 5.. 4.. 3..

119

Meh.

13 month UI bennies. (I really need to get laid off or something). Extension of Obama's imaginary tax cuts...

Not a bad deal, but not great. I expected this though. What concerns me more is timing. I hope this is an agreement in principle that will take a week or two to iron out. I knew a tax deal was coming; I just hope that consumes enough time and resources to keep all the bullshit off the table.

I doubt mssrs. Pryor, Nelson and Webb & Co. are not all that eager to spend Christmas Eve negotiating DREAM Act, START and DADT in D.C.

 

 

 

120 Hey guys, I learned a few more things about this Romney guy.

Sure, he's a dark horse candidate with some fresh ideas, but he has accomplished a lot.  Did you know he cleaned up the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002?  It's true!

121 Posted by: franksalterego at December 06, 2010 06:42 PM (+6fgE)

You're late to the party.  Liberal Outrage began last week, at the latest.

122 This guy sure hates the rich.

Of whom, he is one.  After spending all his life to attain the status.

Apply whatever psychoanalysis you wish.

123

This while he has the lame duck majority?  Should be fun when the Republicans take office.

Fun like popping a zit is fun.

124 If Obama thinks he can recreate the magic of 1996, his tone-deaf petulance is not going to help.

125

@35: "He punted on 2nd down."

That's why it's such a brilliant move - no one saw it coming.

126 Triangulation won't work for the one.  He has long ago burned his bridges to the average American (even though Rangel doesn't do average Americans) and now he is burning his bridges to the left.  This isn't triangulation; it's floundering.

127 The only difficulty in making it an issue in 2 years will be that it will put the Democrats on the side of tackling the deficit. Yeah, I know, it sounds ridiculous considering the spending spree; never underestimate the ignorance and short memory of many voters though.

128 Posted by: logprof, novice voter at December 06, 2010 06:43 PM (BP6Z1)

I thought I saw that.  I think he was that guy with the litter-spear hanging around the front gate...

129

OT: My wife has successfully guilted me out of being able to enjoy the Pats and Jets tonight here in Foxboro.

Either I watch it, and she plays the martyr in the other room, all alone, watching wrestling

Or I watch wrestling.

130 Moral:  never get married or make any friends.

131 If Obama folded this quickly, the GOP leadership didn't ask for enough. We should have tried to kill the AMT.

132 Triangulation won't work for the one. He has long ago burned his bridges to the average American (even though Rangel doesn't do average Americans) and now he is burning his bridges to the left. This isn't triangulation; it's floundering. Posted by: WalrusRex at December 06, 2010 06:43 PM (xxgag) He's doing a reverse "Johnson" if ya know what I mean

133 Now if only President Jerkoff would realize that the government cannot create jobs! This is the central flaw of the lib/socialist dream.

Yes, the government created Osama Obama's jobs, and we're all getting a taste of how well that works.

But what America -- that would be everyone but the Traitor-in-Chief -- needs is for government to reduce taxes, cut spending by 50%, close their bloated agencies, crack down on unions and remove regulations affecting business. No more sweetheart deals with slave-labor nations and "free-trade" agreements that work to the benefit of other countries, either.

Unemployment payments? The cheapest way to end those is to encourage private businesses to prosper, not have a government that wants to "create" jobs.

134

@48: "Since that isn't the case, lets win this battle and move on to the next one, when we are in a better position to make real effective changes."

Um, I see two small flaws in your plan....this is the GOP, after all.

135 What's a tenther?

136 How you like the taste of my ass now, bitch?

First, you will blow me.

137 This isn't triangulation; it's floundering. ---------------------- Oh, come on. He's a mega brilliantaire. He knows what he's doing. Now watch this jump shot.

138 Posted by: Truman North at December 06, 2010 06:46 PM (HLGCA)

It's called "DVR."  I'll let you figure out to which spectacle I'm referring.

Of course, for me, it's not even a question: I don't get ESPN.

139 No word on AMT, but cap gains stays at 15%.

140 Of whom, he is one.  After spending all his life to attain the status having unearned wealth handed to him.

Apply whatever psychoanalysis you wish.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 06, 2010 06:43 PM

FIFY

141 OT: My wife has successfully guilted me out of being able to enjoy the Pats and Jets tonight here in Foxboro.

Leave your man card on the table.  And that's a discussion you should have had way before marriage.

142 138 What's a tenther?

Posted by: The inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 06, 2010 06:47 PM (hPCwp)

--Sort of a synonym for Tea Partier, i.e., someone who wants emphasis on the Tenth Amendment.

143 @138 - There was a link in the side bar (I think) a few weeks ago disparaging people who believe there should be limits on the Federal Government and most of its current authority should be returned to the States.  People who believed such an outlandish idea were labeled as "Tenthers."

144 Dear Leader,

Does this mean you won't require our unique blend of talents for your promised singing telemercial?

145 Bernie Sanders' head just exploded like that dude from Scanners.

146 Football?  Tonight?  WTF?  Is Manchester playing?

I'll be coaching them next year!

147 The "You Must be Joshin' Me" McDaniels firing continues the theme of Belicheck assistants being great as assistants but not so hot as the Main Man.  Eric Mangini may yet break the mold, but even he had to flop with the Jets.

148 Report: Julian Assange To Appear in UK Courtroom Tomorrow

149 OK, so you make a compromise with a guy and he goes out and immediately declares victory.

Let's not compromise again.  He's doing a really poor imitation of Bubba.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 06, 2010 06:40 PM (U6LOz)

Everybody declares victory. Not everyone will be believed when he declares victory.

150 He just called Nancy Pelosi Hitler!

151 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at December 06, 2010 06:36 PM (8y9MW)

I hear you on the lack of planning. I suppose the tax-deferral would be only fair because there are no taxes paid by the UI fund investments on their gains and it's pre-tax dollars taken from your employer's revenues to fund it, so logically it should be pre-tax if you save it in your own account.

The other thing is that if you were drawing down your own money each week, rather than pulling it in from a fund to which you probably hadn't contributed as much as you're taking out, you'd be more motivated to find work. Yes, I know that there are significant numbers of job seekers for each job and I am not blaming the unemployed who are diligent and can't find work. Studies I've seen quoted have shown that even in good times, you take 1 month to find a job for every $10K you make per year, so anyone making $60K/year is going to probably run just to the brink of using all of their 26 weeks even in good times.

And, if what I've read about UI payment fraud being a good 10-20% of the total UI outlays is true, that would save the states a lot of money right there. Of course, I'm sure a lot of the fraudulent payments are funneled to people with connections to the unemployment fund trustees, so there's probably not a whole lot of demand to shut those frauds down.

152 Obama is declaring victory?  That will just freak out the Left even more!

153 Now if only President Jerkoff would realize that the government cannot create jobs! This is the central flaw of the lib/socialist dream.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at December 06, 2010 06:47 PM (Ulu3i)

It has always created HIS job. Which is all he cares about.

154 Not for nothing, but Peter North made a very nice living perfecting the 'sputnik moment'.

155 That's all fine and dandy but have you seen my abs?

156 #156

I declare victory every week, when I see my pay check!

157 Eric Mangini may yet break the mold, but even he had to flop with the Jets.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 06:52 PM (BP6Z1)

He flopped with the Browns too, and lost all his "genius" perks last year. Now he just has to do his real job.

158 Oh wait, this means the stock market won't crash on the 15th?

159 What's a tenther?

Posted by: The inexplicable Dr. Julius Strangepork at December 06, 2010 06:47 PM (hPCwp)

Unlike the heathen down-river detritus commoner that you apparently are, a tenther is one who accommodates himself (but not herself) with those of proper upbringing and sophisticated lifestyles involving elevenses and riding lessons.

160 way ot ....hahaha janet is a bit late asking people at walmart to report something if they see something.....hasn't she/he heard of the people of walmart site? hahahahahhaha

161 Wendell Goler has his tongue so far up Obama's ass that.............

( finish the sentence as you will, or won't)

Posted by: SantaRosaStan, over the hills and far away at December 06, 2010 06:01 PM (UqKQV)

he can taste Rahm's cock.

162 See, I don't care if its a political issue in 2 years.  I would rather they do something that allows business to plan and hire.  And I don't care who gets the credit.  Instead, we get a mish-mash of the same that will end up with larger national debt and long-term high unemployment.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at December 06, 2010 06:37 PM (b75eT)

Maybe businesses should plan more about defeating Democrats instead of trying to buy them off.

163 @ i50  McDaniels definitely wasn't up for the job. Head coaches are mainly managers of the assistants and need a good arm to throw the red flag during the game.

164

None of this was supposed to happen.  The economy was supposed to have healed in February 2009 when Obama and Pelosi and Reid laid hands on it and said, "HEAL!"  By summer 2010, the booming economy (because the economy always booms coming out of a recession -- at least, it always did before this bunch took over) was supposed to make everybody feel good about paying higher taxes, because we'd all feel wealthy enough to afford it.

None of the people in Obama's inner, outer and extended circles even conceived of the possibility that their approach to fixing the economy was bogus and futile.  They still don't believe it, even though it's plainly clear to see right in front of their eyes.  That's why they had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this deal, and why this deal is going to cause the Democrat Party to rip itself wide open.

We need to encourage a Progressive Party (or the Greens, or the Peace & Freedom Party) to mount challenges to every elected Democrat.  Let's help the Left peel five or six points off the vote totals for Democrat Congressional and Senate candidates, instead of just watching that happen from the Right and costing Republicans elections.

165 I know my peoples will help out.  But, who the fuck to we report?

http://tinyurl.com/yemqsjf

166 McDaniels definitely wasn't up for the job. Head coaches are mainly managers of the assistants and need a good arm to throw the red flag during the game.

Posted by: Ronster at December 06, 2010 06:59 PM (9q4PA)

Getting Reamed by Bill on the Mulroney trade can't have helped his stock.

167

Haven't had a chance to read the whole thread, but the UE benefits are not being extended for another year making it 3.   What is happening is that those that were not eligible for the next tier, because it was stopped at the end of November, will now be eligible to continue receiving benefits for a total of 99 weeks.    It is not, now, a total of 3 years.   It only allows those that would have been eligible for extensions to continue to recieve them until they reach a max of 99 weeks.

It still sucks, but that's what it is.   Now, the death tax being raised to 35% is lousy, but a cut in payroll taxes is good.   We got more than we gave up, I guess.   Hopefully, the Repubs can find a way come January to cut enough spending to offset the extension of UE benefits.  

All in all, it could have been worse.

Oh, and Jeff Flake is being endorsed by Boehnor and Cantor to head the Appropriations Committee.   He's a die hard fiscal conservative, so there's that.

168 and then I lose my job "through no fault of my own" (You know, besides not being as good for the company's profit margins as that guy beside me who didn't get fired)

You are extremely naive if you think that the predominant reason people are unemployed has to do with their productivity within a company or organization.  People get fired because the company is downsizing, because they were the last employees hired (therefore the first out), because they don't play intra-office politics well (shocker: bosses and co-workers are petty back-biters), because their projects have been completed, because they're work has been outsourced, because they are approaching retirement age and cheaper help is available, etc etc. 

The fact of the matter is that it's harder to fire low-level clericals based on performance - since the work product they produce is so nebulous - than it is to fire managers, directors, VPs and the like.  But apparently once you're earning more than minimum wage (since apparently when you needed to find work quickly the Olive Garden was good enough; I'm guessing you're 25 or live near/with your parents) you should put all of your money in some ultra-safe place (mattresses sound great; TIAA-CREFs and the market not so much), live in a studio apartment (because there's norfolk and way you can buy a place to live), and hope you can save three years of living expenses before the next round of layoffs.  Oh, and don't get sick or need new tires or have an emergency during that time either. 

Your grasp of the economics of most families and individuals is bizarre. 

169 And this is spun as stimulus how? Who the fuck is doing anything with any extra dough except simplify their financial lives? Damn this is some funny shit. Those DC fucks are really senseless.

170 Yet another "indispensable" government program, whose only option is to get larger. Just like all of them. What a victory.

171 Oh, and Jeff Flake is being endorsed by Boehnor and Cantor to head the Appropriations Committee.   He's a die hard fiscal conservative, so there's that.

He's the one with the habit of asking for floor time just so he can call out everyone's earmarks.  Definitely a good pick.

172 Well, Carter gave us Reagan, Clinton gave us Gingrich, what goody will Obama bring us in 2012?

173 Posted by: joeindc44 at December 06, 2010 07:08 PM (QxSug)

Mike Castle! He's rested and ready!!!

174 Well, Carter gave us Reagan, Clinton gave us Gingrich, what goody will Obama bring us in 2012? Posted by: joeindc44 at December 06, 2010 07:08 PM (QxSug) An Iranian Bomb?

175 180 what goody will Obama bring us in 2012?

ROMNEY/PALIN IN DA (WHITE)HOUSE...

176
He's the one with the habit of asking for floor time just so he can call out everyone's earmarks.  Definitely a good pick.

Posted by: Methos at December 06, 2010 07:07 PM (Ew1k4)

Yep, great choice.   Now, if they can pick someone for Energy besides the prick that was instrumental in making us use the curly light bulb, I might start to believe that Boehnor is who I want him to be (at least most of the time).

177 So the question is...which Democrats WILL vote for it in the senate? Lieberman Tester Manchin Webb Bayh Dorgan Pryor Lincoln Specter Rockefeller and possibly Warner. We need 8 + VP Biden to get it passed- if it doesn't end up filibustered.

178 Gingrich revolution, it was a good ride, don't knock it because he wasn't ronaldus maximus.

179 Cons !

180 Um, guys, remember your strategery. And correct me if I am wrong, but we want a knock down battle over this thing. Time is running out for the 111th. The more we fight over this, the less time they have to slam 8 different versions of the DREAM act down our throats. let the fillibuster. Sheeeeit, if the GOP leadership was smart, we'd get Maverick to surreptitiously join in.

181

None of the people in Obama's inner, outer and extended circles even conceived of the possibility that their approach to fixing the economy was bogus and futile.

Actually, that's what they were counting on.  What they weren't counting on is that they would make it worse.

They were hoping their Keynsian bullshit wouldn't effect anything and the natural cycles would bring us back to square 1.

182 They still have to fight about the budget. I don't see alot of time for DADT Dream or all the other leftie things they want

183 **They were hoping their Keynsian bullshit wouldn't effect anything and the natural cycles would bring us back to square 1.** ding ding. you are correct. These people look at us like piggy banks. They figure they can fuck with the secret formula and it will still taste like KFC. Obama's thinking, inasmuch as it could be described as such, was "we'll be as rich as we were before, only more communistical."

184 #186

TRUE DAT!

185

--Sort of a synonym for Tea Partier, i.e., someone who wants emphasis on the Tenth Amendment.

Posted by: logprof, novice voter at December 06, 2010 06:50 PM (BP6Z1)

Thanks, logprof & AllenG.  I must have missed that in the sidebar.

186

Now, if they can pick someone for Energy besides the prick that was instrumental in making us use the curly light bulb, I might start to believe that Boehnor is who I want him to be (at least most of the time).

Look, being Speaker is like herding cats.  He can't simply assign people to whatever he wants.

Hell, even Pelosi had to swallow shit sandwiches and she has no shame.

187 TV question: anyone here care for the new Hawaii Five-O?  Just wondering if it's any good since I have never caught one, and am considering putting off work by watching it!

188 TV question: anyone here care for the new Hawaii Five-O? It pales in comparison to the original.

189 Man, I don't think I have enough popcorn watchin' the Democrats going ape Shiite over Obamanation, to think about all the train wreckes down the road ahead us...stay tuned fi at 11.....

190 the Democrats will huff and puff and hurt their own lame duck- per Reid it ends for the Senate Dec 17th. So if this bill does get through, the earliest will be this saturday- which means Congress has 6 days to pass a budget (likely but crappy), overturn DADT (likely), but then everything after that will take simply too much. There is only so much time.

191 I can't wait to see olberdork lose his shit in a half hour. If he got out of the tub that is

192 Hugh Hewitt is practically despondent over the deal--don't quite get it...

193 Obama will be worst person in the world.

194 Um, guys, remember your strategery. And correct me if I am wrong, but we want a knock down battle over this thing.
Time is running out for the 111th.
The more we fight over this, the less time they have to slam 8 different versions of the DREAM act down our throats.
let the fillibuster. Sheeeeit, if the GOP leadership was smart, we'd get Maverick to surreptitiously join in.

Posted by: joeindc44 at December 06, 2010 07:20 PM (QxSug)

So the Dems drop it, and get a tax increase for free and can blame us for it. How clever we would be!

195 CAC there's no way this deal goes through this fast. This deal will suck almost all the energy out of the Senate

196 #201 Which is even better. Obama will realize quickly he has no friends in the Senate. All of them care about their next 12-24 years, they don't give a shit about him. They may agree ideologically but they couldn't care less. I actually think that a strongly Republican Congress forcing Obama's hands to the middle may actually guarantee his reelection, and strengthen Republican majorities in the Senate and House. I would rather have a GOP President but if we control the agenda of the nation at the legislative core, let him romp around. The Senate Democrats' behavior in the waning days of the Lame Duck will seal their fate for the next cycle, but may actually HELP Obama if he triangulates away from them.

197

Look, being Speaker is like herding cats.  He can't simply assign people to whatever he wants.

Hell, even Pelosi had to swallow shit sandwiches and she has no shame.

Posted by: AmishDude at December 06, 2010 07:26 PM (T0NGe)

No, he can't just assign someone, but he can help to push people into positions.   Who he endorses says a lot.

Jeff Flake is a great choice to head Appropriations.   Fred Upton is an effed up POS to chair Energy.   I hope Boehnor acknowldeges that, and endorses someone else for that position.

198 201 CAC there's no way this deal goes through this fast. This deal will suck almost all the energy out of the Senate Release the inner chakra!11!1!!1

199 hahahahaha, house dems in revolt. Oh snap.

200

Posted by: Zulu at December 06, 2010 07:30 PM (SwkdU)

They've got a booming bass section, mind, but they've no top tenors.

201 193 logproof: It's idiotic, derivative, trite and a waste of time.  In other words--Must See TV!

202 The folks on the hard left are going absolutely batshit, crazy. We'll see how bad this hurts O with his base.

203 They've got a booming bass section, mind, but they've no top tenors. I barely understood what I said. What the hell are you talking about?

204
I actually think that a strongly Republican Congress forcing Obama's hands to the middle may actually guarantee his reelection, and strengthen Republican majorities in the Senate and House. I would rather have a GOP President but if we control the agenda of the nation at the legislative core, let him romp around.
Posted by: CAC at December 06, 2010 07:41 PM (Gr1V1)

I don't think so, and you can look at what he said about this deal as a demonstration.

He said that it was a victory since he kept the evil Republicans from getting what they wanted forever. So he is NOT taking credit for the tax cut. But he IS going to get blame for not having a tax raise from his side.

The smarter, political move would be to trumpet the Unemployment compensation "win" to show he is a great legislator and not mention anything else.  The Clintonian big lie would be to take credit for everything as his idea, and force the liberals to follow along.

205

Well, since I have the stinky hash, I thought I would amble over to the Kos kids and see how they're doing.   Not so well...

 I'm sorry to be writing this way, but I'm fed up. I didn't work my ass off here in fucking Red-state America (IN) to elect McCain-lite...and that is very nearly what we have thus far.

...and it's not just this capitulation. It's his piss-poor handling of DADT. It's the big-insurance giveaway called HCR.

I'm so pissed right now, I could punch a hole in the wall.

If President Obama didn't intend to lead, he shouldn't have applied for the job.

 

Bwhahahahahaha!   Hope he doesn't hurt his widdle hand.

206

It's pretty obvious that the people griping about the unemployment benefits extension have jobs and don't have to worry about putting food on the table and a roof over the heads of their families.  Why can't some people grasp this well known fact?  There are no jobs. What are they expected to do in this horrible time?  They can become homeless and hopeless?  That's an option which is inevitable.  Many have already lost their homes and have moved in with extended family but what about the ones who don't have these familes or if they don't have room for them?  ALL the males in my family have lost their ;jobs with the exception of one...  a doctor and good luck with that one.  We need to make exceptions for these times and straighten out UB later.  Nothing congress makes into law is written in stone.  The unemployed would love to have a job and hopefully, when the job situation will get better in the coming years.  Some people talk about some of the unemployed gaming the system.  Some people will always game the system.  Just look at the problem this way.  There but for the grace of God go I.  You could be one of the ones unemployed but for the luck of the draw.  I'll bet if you were you would want this extension.  However, remember this has not passed in legislature yet and might not fly.

 

207 207 193 logproof: It's idiotic, derivative, trite and a waste of time.  In other words--Must See TV!

Posted by: SurferDoc at December 06, 2010 07:49 PM (o3bYL)

--I grant that it would not live up to the original (which, to be honest, I did not watch much since I was too young), but just wondering how it matches up with some of the other fluff out there.  I mean, it's gotta be better than CSI: Miami, right?

208 There but for the grace of God go I.  You could be one of the ones unemployed but for the luck of the draw.  I'll bet if you were you would want this extension.  However, remember this has not passed in legislature yet and might not fly.

 

Posted by: BarbaraS at December 06, 2010 07:56 PM (MvtSf)

Horseshit.

I never failed to find work when I lost my job. There's always something to do, soe table to wait, shithouse to mop. Being out of work entirely after 2 years means you're not trying hard enough. Why should the remaining working people pay for assholes who have sat on their asses for 2 years?

209 No olberdork...man I wanted to watch him eat the shit sammich

210 I barely understood what I said. What the hell are you talking about?

Posted by: Zulu is confused at December 06, 2010 07:51 PM (SwkdU)

They're not taunting you.  They're saluting you!  They're saluting fellow braves!

Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming....

211 OK so finally Obama did sign a tax break into law. The "stimulus" tax cut wasn't a tax cut at all.

212 I mean, it's gotta be better than CSI: Miami, right? That's... impossible.

213 As someone who is likely to lose his job in January and who has been looking for 9 months (since I took my first pay cut) for a more secure position, the job market is utterly fucked. Unemployment benefits for people like me who WORKED A FUCKING JOB and paid our taxes aren't a handout. However, I also understand that two years or more is crossing into government dependency. I would much rather have a job as I currently do than go to a government office for a check. It is not as cut and dry as "don't be a heartless ass" or "don't be a mooch". 26 weeks in a regular cycle, 52 weeks in a recession, 99 weeks in a depression. But 2 years is long enough. Some unemployment is necessary because it inadvertently creates jobs and wealth by forcing people to find their own way. So long as loans and taxes are cheap, recovery can happen without ludicrously long UE benefits. However, when you have a weasel who wants to raise taxes on anyone who actually pays them as your President, onto the UE plantation you go.

214 218 I mean, it's gotta be better than CSI: Miami, right?

That's...
impossible.

Posted by: David fuckin' Caruso at December 06, 2010 08:02 PM (SwkdU)

Well logprof, you might that Hawaii Five-0 should be . . .

voted off . . . the island.

YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

215 Why, it's almost as if the Repubs knew they could count on El Wimpo Maximo to fold up like a cheap suit! SHOCK!

PS: WTF is with minix.cc? Is it supposed to take 2 minutes to load up the fuckin' icons for your comment thingy?

216 Hugh Hewitt is practically despondent over the deal--don't quite get it... The cave-in on unemployment bennies out to infinity and the 35% death tax over $5mil estates is discouraging, but... if Mitt Romney's boyfriend is depressed over the deal, perhaps this is actually a good development. Actually, maybe he's right for a change.

217 If you read Malkins site, the businesses are also hit by way of unemploment insurance. It is starting to kill some small businesses.

218 Oh the liberals are just soooo upset with Barry. It's funny that open minded, non-bigoted types like Billy Maher always have to refer to Barry's race. He hoped Barry would be more gangsta and not turn out to be Wayne Brady. I'm sure that little Billy thought that comment was just so witty but if a conservative said that he/she would be branded a racist

219 PS: WTF is with minix.cc? Is it supposed to take 2 minutes to load up the fuckin' icons for your comment thingy? It's loading fine for me.

220 Why, it's almost as if the Repubs knew they could count on El Wimpo Maximo to fold up like a cheap suit! SHOCK!
Posted by: Cap'n Buck Nekkid at December 06, 2010 08:06 PM (D6Uk6)

It probably was getting close to his tee time.

221 A link to a post by Monty from two months ago.  It's apropos of nothing particularly, but this thread made me think of that one.

222 You know, Hewitt is right after all. He did make a succinct argument: All we won is two years of current tax rates. Unemployment benefits apparently should extend until death, and upon death, taxes hit you again if you have an estate over $5mil. Whereas before it was ZERO tax upon death. All of this after a historic GOP victory. A huge opportunity wasted and voters betrayed.

223 If you read Malkins site, the businesses are also hit by way of unemploment insurance. It is starting to kill some small businesses.

Posted by: Ronster at December 06, 2010 08:09 PM (9q4PA)

You don't have to read Malkin to know that. Unemployment rates for employers are set by how long people you layoff are unemployed. If you layed off someone who is drawing benefits for two years you are getting into the danger zone of being unable to afford your premiums.

Other than that obama folded and royally pissed off the wealth redistributers which is pretty fucking funny.

224 Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:13 PM (AZGON)

Hugh is being silly. We haven't started with the Historic Victory fruits yet - this is still the Skittles and Rainbows Congress of 2008.

225 I'm sure that little Billy thought that comment was just so witty but if a conservative said that he/she would be branded a racist

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 06, 2010 08:10 PM (fcrzf)

When a conservative criticizes Obama's job performance, he's racist.  When a liberal makes a joke about Obama's skin color and how it should affect his job performance, he's hip.

226 Looks like this deal is going to fail.  Massive phone and email campaign taking shape.  Hewitt is right.  If this goes through, look for Tea Party Party to challenge GOP in 2012.

227

228 227 A link to a post by Monty from two months ago. It's apropos of nothing particularly, but this thread made me think of that one. I guess you are just insufficiently compassionate. Clearly you don't understand the positive role government plays in a society of compassionate conservatives. (hurls into tin bucket) Sheesh, why did we even bother to vote last month? We had the ratfuckers in a corner and after the fight, we got nothing but a two year extension and some minor crumbs.

229 Did Obama mention in his speech what sort of remedy he plans on using to alleviate the lasting pain in his O-ring caused by this public prison rape?

Obama be sitting in the shower tonight wearing his torn, stained, Chairman Mao Underoos and sobbing like Kal Penn on a Sunday morning.

This is gonna leave a mark on him way down in his little 8yo commie core. I predict some serious partying at the White House in the next few days. He'll need to drown his sorrows in some celebrity worshipers.

230

When a conservative criticizes Obama's job performance, he's racist.  When a liberal makes a joke about Obama's skin color and how it should affect his job performance, he's hip.

POP CULTURE COMMENTARIAT WINNER

231 Sheesh, why did we even bother to vote last month? We had the ratfuckers in a corner and after the fight, we got nothing but a two year extension and some minor crumbs.

Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:19 PM (AZGON)

You are a little early in attacking a Congress that isn't sworn in yet.

232 I need taxes cut to ZERO retroactive for a few years or at least the same treatment a black man from Harlem gets for evading taxes.

C'mon Charlie, pull some strings with TurboTax Tim or maybe Barry needs a Hollywood Suck Up Czar.  I gots the prerequisite tax problems dude.

233 Harssh harweshnoo blooosdooolsefndsfn (spittle) Greowendnddd!!!!! The richsannndbererrrrrr!!!!! (spittle) Hercjushshushushush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

234

You don't have to read Malkin to know that. Unemployment rates for employers are set by how long people you layoff are unemployed. If you layed off someone who is drawing benefits for two years you are getting into the danger zone of being unable to afford your premiums.

Posted by: robtr at December 06, 2010 08:13 PM (hVDig)

Malkins post was specific to CO. Maximum percent taken for UI is starting to hit companies that have good records of employment because the companies with worse records have hit the maximum UI percentage.

 

235 Wesley, Wesley, you know you will never get anywhere even close to the same prison experience as a peasant would.

You'll spend the days working out and doing deals. And think of the street cred and script ideas you are gaining.

Plus, there may be vampires for you to kill in there.

Chin up.

236 Hugh, for a change, is not being a tosser. Look, what did we get? A lousy two year extension on federal rates. The earned income tax credit was untouched. A temporary 2% reduction in payroll tax? Temporary. Remember that: temporary. We went from zero death tax to 35 freaking percent over $5 million. Plus, we'll probably end up with that needledick Upton on a chairmanship. I'd like to introduce him to a spiral CFL bulb through his back door. Look, when even a beltway 'tard like Hewitt thinks this is a "cave-in" perhaps we ought to reconsider it. Oh, and Ed Morrissey is proving he's a RINO on Hugh's show.

237 It's pretty obvious that the people griping about the unemployment benefits extension have jobs and don't have to worry about putting food on the table and a roof over the heads of their families.  Why can't some people grasp this well known fact?

There are jobs, just not in some locations.  C'mon, if you are two years without a job, you are on welfare PERIOD.

I went 9 months on the lovely couple hundred bucks a week after bringing in 6 figures for years.  I took a job for less than half what I used to make.  Yes, it's a major life change, but I'm not on welfare.

Then again, I'm so happy I was able to spend what was left in my 401k to keep my house while it still had value and was not confiscated by the Marxist Fraud in the White House.

Bottom line is 2 years of UE bennies does nothing but create government dependency

238 You are a little early in attacking a Congress that isn't sworn in yet. If you don't herd the cats early and often, you'll never get them behind the fences.

239 Wesley, Wesley, you know you will never get anywhere even close to the same prison experience as a peasant would. I don't know; he was pretty convincing in "To Wong Fu, etc"

240 Three years of unemployment is a lifestyle, not a safety net.

241 Logproof:  If you are still there  Hawaii 5-0 is God-awful.  CSI Miami at least looks pretty and has some unintended laughs via Caruso's pomposity.  5-0 is just warmed-over shit.

242 It's official (not that we didn't already know), Ed Morrissey is a "play nice and surrender quickly" Republican.

243 Every Republican politician must live in terror for their jobs every single day for the foreseeable future. No exceptions.

They signed up for this time in the pressure cooker, so they better not bitch about it.

We fired those assholes, we can fire these assholes.

244 If you don't herd the cats early and often, you'll never get them behind the fences.

Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:26 PM (AZGON)

I hope you will use your magic commenting powers only for the good.

245 Best scenariao, in my opinion, is for the bill to pass the Senate but fail in the house.  Control of that body changes in January and both the Senate and the President are on record as  supporting an extension, at least.  The pressure will be on in January when the gavel bangs.

Might even get the AMT as a bonus.

246 Why are so many here so down on a Congress that has yet to convene?

Look at the libtards bitching: They are so petty, misanthropic, envious and spiteful that they are upset not because their taxes went up, but because some rich guy they never met did not have his taxes raised.

Fuck 'em.  Let us celebrated with stringed instruments and mirth.

247 #248 So just fuck it then. Let the new tax rates established in 2001 expire completely, have Democrats screaming at an idiot public for 2 years we caused the tax hike, even though that isn't true at all, because we cant get what we want WHEN WE ARE STILL IN THE FUCKING MINORITY? Its not a fantastic deal, but it is the best we are going to get, George. Yes the clock is running for the Dems- but it is for us too during the lame duck.

248 Ed Morrissey strikes me as the guy in the bar fight that throws a mug at someone's head, screams fight!!!! then crawls under a table until the fight is over.

249 Fuck 'em.  Let us celebrated with stringed instruments and mirth.

I'd settle for some chilled Val-U-Rite.

250 *cough*MNF*cough*

251 #251 Would be the ideal, actually. Obama + Republicans in Senate + some Dems in Senate all agree, but Pelosi fucks it all to hell. However it will probably clear the House (many of the blue dogs want another bite at the congressional chew toy and voting for keeping the tax rates low gives them some fluff in a few years).

252 I'd settle for some chilled Val-U-Rite.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at December 06, 2010 08:33 PM (c0A3e)

--Yeah, all I got is Bacardi 151 and Christmas music.

253 Fuck 'em.  Let us celebrated with stringed instruments and mirth.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:32 PM (BP6Z1)

and drums! I think it's time we took the drum circles away from the hippies. We could restore strippers to the center of the circles where they rightfully belong.

254 I hope you will use your magic commenting powers only for the good. Toy not with the wrath of the mighty AZGON! I might unveil my dread CAPS LOCK key.

255 256 *cough*MNF*cough*

Posted by: just sayin' at December 06, 2010 08:34 PM (S5YRY)

--Got it on already.

After seeing Belicheck's Mini Me get shitcanned in Denver, the game is just icing on the cake.

256 So basically precedent wondermanboy the 'won' got EVERYTHING he said he wanted.

He got the current tax rates for his definition of middle and low class households extended AND he got the rate for the rich extended only temporarily.

Why is everybody so happy. HE WON AGAIN!@!!!!

The 'new' republicans COMPROMISED!!!!

WTF!!!!!


btw Sifty is absolutely right. That's why we all left h/a

257 Bill Belichick would make a better POTUS than Obama, and I'm not joking and I'm not drunk.

258 I thought Obama looked like crap today. He had this bulging vein on the side of his head; he kind of reminded me of those mind reading aliens from the origal Star Trek. I think he's getting ready to pop from the pressure, like a huge greasy zit all over the bathroom mirror. Or something.

259 I do need Deion Branch to score eeeever so much more than Shayne Graham tonight to avoid an 0-3 fantasy weekend, though.

260 O/T, but sorta tax-related (OK, not really).  I was discussing various bands with friends today, and I wondered, how does the average sideman in a superstar band get paid?  For example, for Bruce Springsteen - I assume Clarence Clemons and Steve Van Zant have deals, but how much does, say, long-time bassist Gary Talent take in?  Is he on salary, or does he get a percentage of something?

261 Does the little shitbird bastard know who Boehner is yet? I assume TOTUS does, even if POTUS doesn't. Useless little puke. He was useless here in Illinois, he was useless in the Senate. He's basically been a waste of oxygen his whole miserable, Marxist lifetime.

262 #259  We could restore strippers to the center of the circles where they rightfully belong.

The only object that should be in the center of a drum circle is a keg. 

263 Its not a fantastic deal, but it is the best we are going to get, George. Well, I'm not convinced of that. Seems to me the GOP in DC could have played this game a lot closer to the wall. And I must say, if this is the best we are going to get, I don't look forward to 2011. This should not have ended so soon. This should have been pushed out another week at least.

264 Obama a big greasy half Hawaain, half Kenyan, all bull shit zit?  Who knew?

265 Oh yeah, completely forgot:

R.I.P. Don Meredith.

I did not watch MNF back in the day (too young for that, let alone watching him as a player); I mainly remember him from the Lipton commercials.

266 Oh, and Ed Morrissey is proving he's a RINO on Hugh's show. Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:25 PM

Hugh and "Poppin' Fresh" are among those "pundits" so consumed by the "process" and inside-baseball bullshit that finds a happy home at sites like TepidAir and NRO that the couldn't see the friggin' forest for the trees.

They care more about what other equally deluded political junkies think than they do reality. They're Bubble Boys.

Today's supposed "action" -- which like everything in D.C. is talked to death before anything as strenuous as a vote happens -- was no victory. It was no loss, either. Sort of a "middle," in which both sides go away dissatisfied.

Expect that kind of worthless shit to go on and on, so long as the Dems have the Senate (and a bunch of yellow-bellied RINOs) and White House.

At best, what may or may not happen (depending on backroom deals and pork doled out to fence-sitters) is better than nothing.

267 He got the current tax rates for his definition of middle and low class households extended AND he got the rate for the rich extended only temporarily.

Did I miss  something?  I thought the Republicans kept everyone in the same boat.  Did the lower incomes get permanent break, with the top only temporary?

268 Ombudsman-- All those guys get a percentage of the take. They get pieces of recording royalties, gate, T-shirts, everything. It's just a question of what percentage it is...and it isn't much. But still, imagine being an extra musician at Apple Records who sat in to play a little for Sgt. Pepper.

269 232 Looks like this deal is going to fail.  Massive phone and email campaign taking shape.  Hewitt is right.  If this goes through, look for Tea Party Party to challenge GOP in 2012.

WTF?  From who, the liberals? 

Where is the "Massive phone and email campaign".  Links??

I don't see conservatives doing anything.

270 Pert Plus junior takes the field. 

271

The critics here do realize that the GOP is currently in the minority?

We got the fucking rates extended for two years.  Period.  If the GOP doesn't make that deal, my taxes go up in three weeks. 

What other concessions did you think they were going to get?  Elimination of the Department of Education, a return to Constitutional Federalism? 

Judas Priest, what a bunch of crybabies.

There's no reason in hell the GOP can't start making proposals for radical changes to the tax code come next year. 

There's no reason the GOP-controlled Congress can't pass a budget with significant across-the-board spending cuts.

Will they?  Probably not.  THEN, it'll be time to bitch.

Bitching now is just stupid.  They got just about the best deal they were going to get.  Compromise is a whore.

272 263 Bill Belichick would make a better POTUS than Obama, and I'm not joking and I'm not drunk.

Posted by: swamp yankee at December 06, 2010 08:36 PM (3DIBw)

--Wasn't he an assistant coach at the Naval Academy?

That alone is more leadership that King Barry had.

273 BTW, the Pats are doomed.  I gave the points.

274 The only object that should be in the center of a drum circle is a keg. 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at December 06, 2010 08:38 PM (c0A3e)

Alright, strippers dancing on kegs. I am in a comprimising mood.

275 268 #259  We could restore strippers to the center of the circles where they rightfully belong. What about the hookers?

276 I did not watch MNF back in the day (too young for that, let alone watching him as a player); I mainly remember him from the Lipton commercials.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:39 PM (BP6Z1)

I vaguely remember Meredith as Howard Cosell's foil, who took over once after Cosell got blind drunk at an MNF game in Philly, puked on Dandy Don's shoes, and hired a limo to take him back to NYC at halftime.

277

I vaguely remember Meredith as Howard Cosell's foil, who took over once after Cosell got blind drunk at an MNF game in Philly, puked on Dandy Don's shoes, and hired a limo to take him back to NYC at halftime.

Posted by: Ombudsman at December 06, 2010 08:42 PM (c1oyg)

--If that's true, both belong in the Honorary Moron Hall of Fame!

278 Bill Belichick would make a better POTUS than Obama, and I'm not joking and I'm not drunk. Posted by: swamp yankee at December 06, 2010 08:36 PM (3DIBw)

Only if he can get film of everyone's practices.

279 I think this was as good a deal as was out there for now.  The Press would have killed the Republicans over no unemployment benefits at Christmas time and Obama capitulating on the Taxes makes him look like a jackhole in front of his people.  Win-Win.

280 This should have been pushed out another week at least. Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:38 PM (AZGON) There is no guarantee the deal would have gotten better for us. Obama folds like a tent to pressure from his own side, so getting him now before he renigs on the deal, while leaving the public with a week of liberal screaming and whining, I think was the point of Boehner's willingness to agree to this. We scored a massive victory by forcing Obama, who repeatedly said he will not expand benefits to the rich, to go back on it, even just for a little bit. He loses his supporters on the left, he loses a good core of supporters who helped his GOTV in 2008. Already weakened by the bad economy, the lack of a supportive GOTV bloc is another bat to the knees.

281 You would think that someone who gets 100 million uniques could give us a cheerleader pic.

282 I don't see conservatives doing anything.

Posted by: Kemp at December 06, 2010 08:40 PM (JpFM9)

Since I have this stinky hash, I tiptoed over to see what the kos kids thought about it.   They're not happy, at all.    Freakin' out is putting it mildly.   Plus, some of the Dem Reps are lpsing thier minds, and swearing they're not going to vote for it, and the won can't count on thier cooperation.

It's a lovely thing to behold. 

283 Well, for the meantime I'm ahead of my foe with that Branch reception.

284 Liberal cannibalism--it's what's for dinner!

285

--If that's true, both belong in the Honorary Moron Hall of Fame!

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:43 PM (BP6Z1)

It is true.  the only fact in dispute is that Cosell later claimed he had a "stomach virus"

286 If the GOP doesn't make that deal, my taxes go up in three weeks. THIS is what is on voters minds. Fair or not. We have been gleefully talking about a clock ticking for the Democrats Lame Duck agenda. That same clock ticks for ours, as a (currently) overwhelmed minority in the House and Senate.

287 Fuck 'em. Let us celebrated with stringed instruments and mirth.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:32 PM (BP6Z1)

and drums! I think it's time we took the drum circles away from the hippies. We could restore strippers to the center of the circles where they rightfully belong.

Posted by: robtr at December 06, 2010 08:35 PM (hVDig)

150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

288 OT but wtf happened to weasel zippers?

289 287 You would think that someone who gets 100 million uniques could give us a cheerleader pic.

Here you go...

/Wait for it...

290 Well, for the meantime I'm ahead of my foe with that Branch reception.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:45 PM (BP6Z1)

Too bad Shayne Graham didn't tip the pass away.

Then Branch can block Shayne's FG.

291 The left and the right are unified in their bipartisan dislike of the One.  Now I see how the community organizing works.  Great Job! 

The Secret Service is going to busy for a while sifting through all the hate mail he's about to receive from his evaporated base.

292 3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

--We all know King David was a party animal!

293 Here you go...

15 yards, unmoronlike conduct.

294 Worst part of this: more dam speeches. This dope is never going to learn. He really believes that he is so awesome that if he babbles enough times people will see the rightness of what he says. Thinking that this is not a win for the GOP is unrealistic. We wanted the tax rate to stay the same because it is best for the economy. Oh, and Obama and the dems DIDN'T get what they wanted, which was sticking it to the rich.

295 OT but wtf happened to weasel zippers?

Posted by: Modgi at December 06, 2010 08:47 PM (Vrb/j)

It was there a little while ago.   Hopefully, they'll fix it.

296 The Social Security tax cut is a subterfuge to hide the fact that Social Security has now permanently gone into the red.  It went into the red on Obama's watch and, despite their forecasts that it will get back into the black before it goes red again, it won't.

The Social Security "trust fund" has all been spent.  There is no means to pay for its deficits which will only get bigger.  This tax cut move will hide the fact that it would have never gone back into the black.  Thus, saving Obama one more form of embarrassment.

We need urgently to separate Social Security from the rest of the government budget and force it to pay for itself.  Either benefits get cut (my preference) or rates get raised (which would probably accelerate the death of the program).

297 I think it was a given unemployment benefits would get extended. What's striking is just how completely Bambi rolled over, like Bo greeting Moochelle. I wasn't even expecting the estate tax to be part of the deal!

298 The GOP had to go along with the extension of unemployment benefits which we would not have needed without Obama. Got it.

299 Look at it this way. What does this deal do? -merely maintains current federal income tax rates, but only for two years -a temporary 2% reduction in payroll tax -vastly increases taxes on estates over five million from 0 to 35% Seems like small beer when some of us, apparently myself included, expected a bigger set of opening demands from the GOP. So, I suppose if one thinks nobody had any business expecting more than this, then it's happy time. On the other hand, if one thinks this may be the moment of the Demotards' greatest weakness, disappointment might not be unexpected.

300 I am loving every comment on Kos right now. A taste: "Yeah, he gets things done. like shattering the Democratic Party; losing 60 House seats to an insane Republican Party; sets up commissions to gut the only program keeping millions of seniors (including both of my grandmothers) out of abject poverty; betrays one of the central promises of his campaign in allowing these cuts to continue; escalates a lost war in Afghanistan; takes giant dumps on the people that put his sorry ass in office; ad nauseum, ad infinitum. Yeah, he gets things done. Like losing the 2012 election, not only for himself, but for the entire party. Don't kid yourself, that's what just happened - this guy just fucked himself, totally and in every way. All of the defenders happy, delusional talk about "getting things done" won't change that."

301 I did not watch MNF back in the day (too young for that, let alone watching him as a player); I mainly remember him from the Lipton commercials.

Posted by: logprof at December 06, 2010 08:39 PM (BP6Z1)

I'm old enough to have seen Dandy Don play. It was in the day room at Ft. Sam Houston. I was not a football fan, but what are you going to do on Pvt. pay on a weekend?

302 The left and the right are unified in their bipartisan dislike of the One.  Now I see how the community organizing works.  Great Job! 

The Secret Service is going to busy for a while sifting through all the hate mail he's about to receive from his evaporated base.

Posted by: Sock Puppet 5000 at December 06, 2010 08:48 PM (W58PC)

There's a Keith Laumer story where a mediator trying to stop two fleets about to attack each other succeeds in getting both fleets to join in trying to blow his two man vessel out of space.

303 Super. Now the empty suit will lose the only support he has, the far left. I'm wondering if our stuttering dipshit-in-chief has decided he wants to go for a second term, otherwise I can't see his motivation. I also wonder that our pack of RINOs is sorrowful because they wanted to compromise. Nothing worse than a sorrowful RINO.

304 Oh, I forgot... the GOP went for extending UI benefits another 13 months and the Earned Income tax credit is intact. So if you're a fan of welfare lite, you're a happy guy.

305 248 It's official (not that we didn't already know), Ed Morrissey is a "play nice and surrender quickly" Republican.

Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:30 PM (AZGON)

Morrissey's a twat.

Useless piece of RINO crap.

I post over there with this screenname so fuck him.

306 Now the empty suit will lose the only support he has, the far left.


*cough*

307 The GOP had to go along with the extension of unemployment benefits which we would not have needed without Obama. Got it.

Posted by: navybrat at December 06, 2010 08:50 PM (1MOr3)

Yeah, but we can't refight 2008 now.

308 The idjits over at kos are screaming about what this does to the deathcare bill.   They're saying it makes it closer to repeal because when it was written all the potential tax hikes were used to offset the cost.   Looks like that's in the crapper even worse than we thought.   Oh, well.

309 If Obungler was the fucking genius they say he is, he could have beat the Republicans up over Unemployment Benefits for a few more days before Christmas and then rolled over after exacting as much damage to them as possible.

310 @295: I'm not falling for it, Kratos! Anyone clicking on that link will see the deadly visage of Medusa. Or even worse: Helen Thomas.

311 Posted by: Joffen at December 06, 2010 08:50 PM (gGYsJ)

I know its a KOS kid you are quoting, but its funny that he expects sympathy that his grandparents will be poor because Obama failed and he will stand there and do nothing to help them.

312 Or even worse: Helen Thomas.

But you repeat yourself

313 Kratos has played that card too many times for anyone to fall for it.

314 There is no guarantee the deal would have gotten better for us. Obama folds like a tent to pressure from his own side, so getting him now before he renigs on the deal, while leaving the public with a week of liberal screaming and whining, I think was the point of Boehner's willingness to agree to this. There is no guarantee we wouldn't have gotten a better deal. It's only a week. Plus, the Dems had to cave or the new tax rates would have even their constituents demanding their heads on pikes. So when you know your negotiating opponent is in a corner, you usually take advantage. As noted above, all we got was a two year extension of current rates, plus a huge tax increase on estates, and a temporary drop in payroll tax rates.

315

Yeah, but we can't refight 2008 now.

Posted by: Oldcat at December 06, 2010 08:53 PM (z1N6a)

The problem was we put a senile old lunatic clown in as our warrior.

We never got to fight in 2008.

316 I feel a poem:

It seems that spring has broken, and I can hardly wait
to throw open my window, and gaze at my estate
The wind was blowing lightly, it made the flowers sway
The garden looked delightful on this enchanting day.

I saw a little birdie, with the cutest yellow bill
I beckoned her to come and sit upon my window sill
I fed her first some water, and then a crust of bread
When I quickly closed the window, and crushed her fucking head

317 Anyone clicking on that link will see the deadly visage of Medusa. Or even worse: Helen Thomas.

Posted by: CoolCzech at December 06, 2010 08:55 PM (tJjm/)

Last time I clicked on a kratos link I thought about calling an ambulamps. Damn near killed me.

318 If you challenge a spot and the ball gets moved, but not enough for a first down, does that count as a failed challenge or not?

319 Morrissey's a twat. Useless piece of RINO crap. I post over there with this screenname so fuck him. Posted by: TexasJew at December 06, 2010 08:52 PM (NP/HU) Somebody needs a kolac!

320 320 Kratos has played that card too many times for anyone to fall for it.

Hope springs eternal.

/Rex Ryan challenging a spot?  He'd better be right - I hate seeing that pretty boy Brady on the field. 

321

More from the kossies...

Fuck this clown.   For reals.  You let the apathetic independents be your atm, asshole.

They truly are losing thier minds, and it's some of the funniest shit I've seen in a while.

322  Plus, the Dems had to cave or the new tax rates would have even their constituents demanding their heads on pikes. 

Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:56 PM (AZGON)

The Democrat base doesn't pay taxes.

323 So, I suppose if one thinks nobody had any business expecting more than this, then it's happy time. On the other hand, if one thinks this may be the moment of the Demotards' greatest weakness, disappointment might not be unexpected. Posted by: George Orwell at December 06, 2010 08:50 PM (AZGON) We fought from the right, he fought from the far socialist left, this is what resulted and since his party has control of Congress, meeting "in the middle" WAS the best we were going to get under the circumstances. This deal could have been totally ruled by Rinos who wouldve tried to negotiate from "the middle" (tax cuts for everyone under $1million permanent, over $1 million expire) and then forced to accept a "deal" where the taxes are cut for everyone under $500,000 and everyone over gets boned in the ass PLUS another 99 weeks of unemployment. We wanted OUR VISION from our side, and got 50% of it. Had we gone the Rino route, we wouldve ended up with 10%.

324  If you challenge a spot and the ball gets moved, but not enough for a first down, does that count as a failed challenge or not?

Posted by: toby928™ at December 06, 2010 08:58 PM (S5YRY)

No not if you challenged the spot 

325 so I guess I was wrong about that

326 If you challenge a spot and the ball gets moved, but not enough for a first down, does that count as a failed challenge or not?

Posted by: toby928™ at December 06, 2010 08:58 PM (S5YRY)

It would be a successful challenge, but kinda pointless.

327 I miss Don Meredith. He and Howard Cosell  were the sound of football when I was growing up.

Then along came Madden and football was on MUTE all day.

328 Uh, wat?  Why bother challenging the spot call if you were going to go for it anyway?  Ironic if the Jets need the challenge later and it comes back to burn them in the ass.

329 It would be a successful challenge, but kinda pointless.

If its upheld, you have a chance for the third challenge.

330 Obama says he will spend next year focusing on the recovery. Just like he did before (remember "laser like focus on jobs"?) and then spent the year on...health care. vacation.

FTFY

331 Doesn't a two-year extension mean 2012? "Re-elect me so I can finally raise your taxes and finish off this damned economy!"

332 Obama says he will spend next year focusing on the recovery. Just like he did before (remember "laser like focus on jobs"?) and then spent the year on...health care. vacation.

FTFY

Posted by: tangonine at December 06, 2010 09:02 PM (x3YFz)

If you focus a laser on something, it usually catches on fire.

333 If you focus a laser on something, it usually catches on fire.

That made me chuckle.

334 Posted by: CAC at December 06, 2010 08:58 PM (Gr1V1) Fair enough, I merely expected some harder bargaining.

335 It's not a done deal until the Wicked Witch of the West agrees.

336 I'm picturing a drumming circle with Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, Phil Rudd, and David "Pick" Withers. Surrounding a 200 gallon oak cask of bourbon and a 1000 gallon steel vat of Sam Adams being served by cheerleader-nurses with guns.

Now that's a drumming circle.

337

End of the lame duck isnt the end of the world. It will cause some uncertainty, but the GOP leadership can just say it will submit the Bush cuts in January. With 47 Senators, they should have enough.

Apply it retroactively. Obama has to sign, or raise taxes on everyone.

338 I'm curious how the defeated "Blue Dogs" will vote.  Are they still bitter, or do they have further electoral ambitions?

339 heh, well if you are going to get flagged for interference you may as well leave no doubt.

340 I'm picturing a drumming circle with Neil Peart, Alex Van Halen, Phil Rudd, and David "Pick" Withers. Surrounding a 200 gallon oak cask of bourbon and a 1000 gallon steel vat of Sam Adams being served by cheerleader-nurses with guns.

Now that's a drumming circle.

Posted by: sifty at December 06, 2010 09:08 PM (MoA1d)

But where are the drummers?

341 @343: What? No hawt Asian chicks serving sushi on their naked asses?

342

According to the Law Firm of Ben Jarvus Green Ellis, a MNF thread is needed.

343 coolczech this is for you

344 He is the village Idiot. 

345 Ginger, Ginger, if we let you in, then Bonham will insist on coming, then Moon will show up all sloppy drunk.

Then a zombie movie will break out.

346 Delay of Game.  Heh.

347 chemjeff you're back! I was worried about you after the cornholers performance.

348 robtr yeah I'm back - thanx for your concern
looking forward to the rematch in the holiday bowl

349 Is it legal to tackle someone by their dreadlocks?  Or is that a horsecollar tackle?

350

He punted on 2nd down.

 

So this was the deal our first Halfrican American Precedent came up with. 

HECK OF A JOB, BROWNIE!!11111

 

(ruh roh, was that racist?  I ban myself!)

351 Down goes Brady!

352 Hair tackles are legal.

353 Oh, and thank God the Bamster got this worked out in a timely fashion.  He's already late for his Hawaii vacay.

354 hi runningrn!
hey guess what, I walked/ran 2.25 miles today

355 careful talking smak chemjeff, the huskies beat another powerhouse last weekend right after my daughters bought me a new UW sweatshirt. We're unbeatable now.

356 Ginger, Ginger, if we let you in, then Bonham will insist on coming, then Moon will show up all sloppy drunk.

Then a zombie movie will break out.

Posted by: sifty at December 06, 2010 09:14 PM (MoA1d)

Are you trying to kill me off?  Is that you, Starkey, you incompetent, jealous bastard!  I'm alive and well and raising polo ponies in South Africa!  (well, granted, I'm not allowed back in the UK and the US)

357 350 coolczech this is for you Posted by: chemjeff at December 06, 2010 09:14 PM (PaSAU) Confucius say, man with those two must indeed be Won Hung Lo.

358 Plus, the Dems had to cave or the new tax rates would have even their constituents demanding their heads on pikes. --- The Democrat base doesn't pay taxes. Except that they do, and we all know that. Low income democrat voters would lynch their representatives when faced new higher rates and smaller paychecks.

359 Congratulations, chemjeff!  Keep it up.

360 I drove over 50 miles today and I'm pooped.

361 More like breeding Shetland ponies for an Enumclaw "Petting Zoo".

362 RRN, I ran 5 miles!   (Ok... I drove 5 miles... but I'm still exhausted)

363 Nice play, but let's not start sucking each other's dicks yet, Gentlemen.

364 I'd even accept a CDR M  cheerleader pic at this point.

365 Jets!

366 356 Is it legal to tackle someone by their dreadlocks?  Or is that a horsecollar tackle?

Posted by: toby928™ at December 06, 2010 09:16 PM (S5YRY)

--Nope, it's legal.  Both Ricky Williams and Marion Barber have been legally tacked by their hair.

367 Can has cheerleader?

368 Jesss!

369 TD Branch.  Life is good.

370 372 Jets! Posted by: toby928™ at December 06, 2010 09:26 PM (S5YRY) That's the hairiest muff I ever saw!!

371 Jeez even the vikes played the pats better than this

372

JOE WURZELBACHER  Your new tax plan is going tax me more, isn't it?

OBAMA: It's not that I want to punish your success; I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you that they've got a chance to success, too. I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody.

JOE WURZELBACHER  What's Plan B, champ?

373 hair tackle

374 hair tackle

Now, that was great.

375 chemjeff. I watched that game.Tacklee was not pleased. Tough shit, get a haircut.

376 He should have butt-fucked him while he had the hair.

377 382 chemjeff. I watched that game.Tacklee was not pleased. Tough shit, get a haircut.

Posted by: Ronster at December 06, 2010 09:33 PM (9q4PA)

--Hell no, men of South Seas heritage attribute talismanic properties to their hair.

378 OT - if there really was a T anymore - but a nice snippet from over at Sweetness & Light: By the way, where are the WikiLeaks documents to prove that 9/11 was an inside job by George Bush and Dick Cheney? Or the documents that prove Bush intentionally lied about WMD to invade Iraq? Or that Karl Rove leaked Valerie PlameÂ’s name to the media? Or that global warming is real? Or that the US started the AIDS epidemic? Or any of the hundreds of other leftwing lies we have been hearing about for years? Is WikiLeaks covering up for the US? (Actually, I'd add where is the secret order to bring down WTC 7, and the one about the alien spacecraft and bodies at Area 54?)

379

Typical RINO Clueless Underreaching Losership Trench Warfare (RINO CULT warfare). With no partiicular conservative message, and only a small result.

The Losership should have started publically including repeal of Obamacare, four year extension of taxes cuts, EPA stepdown on CO2, etc. All to get a two month extension of unemployment. Otherwise, no deal and the Obamacrats get to deal with the 2011 House variation perhaps including ending cornahol, redefining prevaling wage to market based checks and balances, Private/Public pay & benefits equality, etc,etc.

The Losership thinks in inches to earn a first down when it should take the process public and press for running up the score.  Instead Mitch and the cloud of dust in the trenches plow ahead for a few easily obfucated yards to get thru New Years.

380 I didn't like the way he announced it! I thought he was petty and petulant. Then he was late coming out of his meeting. I bet the dems were beside themselves, and nanci and harry were wetting their depends. It's funny that he never worked together with the repubs until after the election. Screw the dems!

381 Stretch

382

--Hell no, men of South Seas heritage attribute talismanic properties to their hair.

Crazy assed superstition. Or maybe not.

383 And more flexibility.  The Jets Girls like to poke that thing. 

I swear, I could disappoint her all night long.

384 Whats this extending tax cuts for the middle class shit? Everyone knows the tax cuts were only for the wealthy.

385 Do I really have to do this?!

386 Sick toby, just sick!

387 Sick toby, just sick!

Oh the Decadence!

388 I'd hit that so hard, she'd walk like a rubber chicken for weeks.

389  The Jets Girls like to poke that thing. 

If you zoom in like I did you can see the sweat patch under her arm. Eeeewwww.

390 I chose ... poorly.

391 No way that should be a TD!

392 Oh yeah, the sweat patch. That did it for me. I wouldn't touch her..

393 My liberal Canadian truther brother-in-law just had his first child not even 24 hours ago after hours waiting for his baby mama-to-be-maybe-wife to pop it out already and was talking about these tax cuts to my husband! I just laughed and said, "Jane's pussy melts STEEL!"

394 Sweet! I've got an old pair of leather moccasin slippers that I like but have stretched out and started falling off my feet. I remembered my mom used to shove tissue paper in the toes of my brothers shoes that would get passed down to me. Thanks mom!

395 Milfy goodness.

396

 

The Democrats live, eat, shit, breathe, dream, fuck and die - to TAX.

btw- the Bush tax rates are our current rates and they are much more fair and business friendly and job-creation friendly that the Clinton era tax rape rates.

 

The dems want to tax=rape anyone making more thatn 200,000 and think that it will help create jobs.  They don't care about jobs - they care about their progress to socialism.

 

 

 

397

 

So after you've been tax-raped your whole life, the dems want to tax rape what's left after you die.  Sure we all don't get to 5 million - but much of that wealth is invested.  MUCH OF THAT WEALTH IS INVESTED.

The democrats think the government is a better investment than a family or an inidividual.

 

 

 

 

398 The Democrats in 2011: "Don't blame us for the huge deficit; blame the Republicans for not raising taxes."

The Republicans in 2011 (if they're smart): "Who are the ones that pushed to spend $787 billion bucks with nary a drop in the unemployment rate?"

399

 

If you're rich, please die.  You've paid taxes your whole life--  Payroll tax, income tax, property tax, sales tax, capital gains etc...

Please die and invest in our wonderful government.  They know what is best.  Have to sell the family business to pay the tax bill?  You should be thanking the precious democrats. 

 oh holy socialists! 

So - please die for your government.  Die and invest in the government.  They know how to spend your money wisely.  Claire McCatkill(D) needs another $6-figure + benefits assistant.

 

400 NRO's Pollowitz had a good on on his Twitter

At this rate of change, Pres Obama will embrace waterboarding by Memorial Day.

401

Posted by: TexasJew at December 06, 2010 08:00 PM (NP/HU)

You can go fuck yourself, asshole.

402

@403 -

OH Hell Yeah!!!

403 I'm waiting for the "Judas kiss" from the republicans on this one, but when you have the lunatics at Huffington Post wanting to see his birth certificate now its worth it!!!!!

404

OK, so let me get this straight.  Obama has seen fit to beat the American people over the head for the past 22 months over the evils of maintaing the Bush Tax Cuts in the present time of economic crisis. Depsite the fact lower capital gains rates and income tax rates would bolster economic growth.

And now Obama comes out and says he wants to reduce the payroll tax.  The tax which presently funds the social security trust fund.  A trust fund that is currently 41 Billion in the negative that is going to implode when the baby boomers start retiring in 2014 when recipients outnumber those paying in.

Also the Disability Insurance part of Social Security is set to go completely bankrupt in 2018.

Obama is an ideological fool.

405

Orwell is correct here.

Hewitt (yes, somewhat atypically) is correctly appalled at the "deal".

Stickety - you and so many others, no offense, but you manage to exhibit limited understanding of both process and substance (this is starting to remind me of the silliness about not risking a single nominal R pick-up in the Senate, however personally and substantively repugnant the "R" was - Castle for example).

The Rs just won one of the largest mid-term victories in US history.  It was extremely disappointing, yes, and could be taken as another sign that despair and panic are appropriate, as utterly ridiculous incumbents survived and the numbers weren't historic highs (90+) - but nonetheless it was a huge whomping on the former majority.

That former majority was so incompetent in every sense of the word that they put themselves is a helpless tactical position - they had no appropriations bills and no tax bill passed, with a few weeks left.  The Rs, with minimal fortitude and tactical sense, coulda/shoulda be sweating them, playing a huge game of chicken on both fronts. 

On the budget, the worst that would happen is a slimmed-down continuing resolution (leaving the new congress to actually pass the FY2012 budget).  On taxes (at issue here), the worst that would happen is a brief jump in tax rates - only serving to highlight the issue even more - before the new House could confront the terrified 23 Senate Dems up in '12 and the floundering WH with a balls-out no-compromise extension - without a sunset date - of all tax rates, incl. cap gains. 

This is not rocket science.  One doesn't have to have spent years on the Hill, as I did, to get this.  It's frigging obvious.  So obvious that even Hewitt, usually a reliable party hack as noted above, is agog. The Rs are in the strongest position they've been in for years, if not decades, on economic issues - not just numbers in the new House, but national reality and political circumstances generally.  And they just made a deal they didn't have to make, weeks from controlling the House, when they could/should take very bold action, which would fix any temporary tax hikes.

To add to the clown show, they did it quickly - as others noted above, idiotically in a tactical sense - while they should have dragged it out both to raise awareness of the differences between the two sides and to run the Dems up against the wall of sine die adjournment.  Those above talking about how the Rs don't have the House til next year really don't understand the budgeting, political, or legislative situation the Rs are failing to exploit.

This is not how you start to change course after a smashing electoral repudiation of your opposition.  Here's to hoping this leads to a 2006 shamnesty revolt/meltdown and repudiation of the sub-mediocre "leadership" of the current GOP. 

 

 

406 The Patriots will cover.

407 Ebola just joined the TEA Party?

408 On taxes (at issue here), the worst that would happen is a brief jump in tax rates - only serving to highlight the issue even more - before the new House could confront the terrified 23 Senate Dems up in '12 and the floundering WH with a balls-out no-compromise extension - without a sunset date - of all tax rates, incl. cap gains. 
Posted by: non-purist at December 06, 2010 10:36 PM (7uwi7)

Rubbish (Sorry, I have Top Gear on since MNF is a blowout).

If Obama had any balls and/or brains he would let the tax cuts expire and force Republicans to defend the upper income rate at the expense of the middle class rate increase...not possibly paying more but actually paying more.

The pressure works both ways and the Republicans would have been under tremendous pressure to decouple the upper and middle rates. I bet they would have caved within a week.

409

Nonsense, DrewM.

Common sense and current polling give no reason to believe the "pressure works both ways".   Most of Bambi's base doesn't pay fed income taxes.  His idiotic NPR-listening taxpayer base is either fed up or otherwise not so obsessed with their envy and class bigotry as they are with the macroeconomic situation.  Which is what the tax thing is all about.  And why there's overwhelming public support for no tax increases on anyone.

And in terms of process it's even more ridiculous to say the pressure works both ways.  Both now, and in the next congress.  There's not a voter alive in the country who would ever vote for an R who would think THEY (GOP) are the ones responsible for any temporary middle class tax increase.  Who's gonna lead the Dem slander-fest on this?  Rangel?  Pelosi?  The non-entity in the WH?

I admire your dark view of the electorate - completely taken in by the cretinizing, hate-and-envy-based, obssessive bigotry about the upper brackets in which everyone marinates in this country - but it appears many have resisted this idiocy and understand they don't benefit by crushing small businesses (or large ones).  Thus the polling results on this question (no tax cuts for anyone, by a significant margin).

But I am intrigued that you somehow find in November's election results, at all levels (excl. Illinois/Zimbabwe and idiotic CA, where I sit), any reason to think that economic ignorance and bigotry, er, I mean "populism", animates the majority of voters these days.  Oh you're right - it's out there - but it's not the operative political juice these days.

But this sort of is trees vs. forest.  The GOP should have insisted on no sunset on income tax rates.  Common sense and mountains of academic research confirm that predictable and lower rates of taxation, in a developed economy, are the key policy with impact on economic vitality.  Anyone who isn't floored by the idiocy of accepting a two-year extension is as economically illiterate as a WH staffer. 

So if the Rs are in this tenuous defense posture you assert, just one functioning WH political neuron away from being crushed by the class bigotry club, gee - what other delights do we have to look forward to next year?  It's funny, I thought there was election and that "elections have consequences".  Justice Miguel Estrada and the Gang of 14 would beg to differ, I suppose, so maybe you're right.  The purpose of Dem political victories is to wreck the country through actual action; the purpose of GOP political victories is to sort of cut a deal to half-wreck the country.

 

 

410 er, make that "no tax INCREASES for anyone" - current polling showing that position with overwhelming support

411 Posted by: non-purist at December 06, 2010 11:48 PM (7uwi7)

Oh go fuck yourself and your defender of the enlightened voter crap. I never said voters were stupid. But if you think the vast majority of voters wouldn't have been more receptive to decoupling the rates once they actually had to pay more, you are stupid.

The GOP could have insisted all they wanted on non-sun setting rates but that doesn't mean they would have ever gotten them. Bush couldn't get them in 01 or 04 (that's why they are sun setting now) but you think with Obama in the White House the GOP was going to get a better deal then they got with Bush (of "Bush Tax Cut" fame) in office?

That kind of shit will get you drug tested in the real world.

412 Fucking democrats who have whined about this for ten years are going to pass an extention of one of the few domestic policy initiatives of the Bushitler regime. Do you understand what that means? We could have not done any better. There is no way they would make these permanent. Did you not watch these senators whine and cry for half the day last Saturday? Would I want to make the permanent? Of course. We will revisit this issue again in 2012 and make Obama fold like a chair on it. And then we will bash the heads of 23 senate democrats with it. They flinched on something I thought was ideological. Something has them very scared. Perhaps the idea of Bambi running in 2012 with unemployment at 10%

413 Horrible betrayal by the GOP leadership and they aren't even sworn in. Scumbags.

I am sick of the stupid, "If we don't do it people won't like us, boo hoo" crap that seems to be the excuse for every liberal piece of crap the GOP peddles. They are nasty spineless toads for this. In two years the Dems will just use this as a cudgel as an early poster pointed out, giving in on the estate tax at a level ' that most GOP agree on' is just conceding class warfare points to the Dems, and unemployment for 13 more months? Kicking the can down the road, delaying recovery for a feel good now piece of legislation. 13 FRAKKING MONTHS.They negotiated this down by how much?

Total worthless pieces of DUNG the GOP. My husband thinks it's not too bad, a lot of people say it's win win for the GOP he says. Tosh.

It's because we never fight and always compromise that republican/libertarianism is stuck in the mud.

414

Obama did not get rolled. The leftist fucktards operate in allowable space. For weeks now, they've said if they don't get their tax hikes there would be hell to pay. Claire McCaskill even invoked pitchforks and social unrest.

Obama came away as the guy with tax cut ideas, surprising everyone. The Claire McCaskills of the Democratic Universe ought to be pissed!

But they won't be. They'll modify their position. They will claim that they were wise all along.

This is politics, and it is dirty, and my God how low can it sink. Yes, it well sink there.

Sooo, bad. Sooo fucking ridiculous. Fire the fucking clowns in DC already. All of them!

415 Hey, So the arnold is gonna gut deep into the fiscal stone that is the "Peoples Republic of Kaliforneea". My only question, will it yield kryptonite or maybe U-Haulings ass east to escape the the implosion? Either way this place is boned to the stone. May just stick around to watch the fall, maybe write a diary to leave to future generations to show what it's like to wear a commie coat made of leeches. Paint your own visual for that one and if you are of the "commitment", then crush up your CFL's and put them in your kid's granola. The gene pool is in serious need of thinning based on my observations from this last election cycle. Night Morons and Moronettes

416 Oh, Remember Pearl Harbor, not many of this recent generation do. God Save America!

417 Is it legal to tackle someone by their dreadlocks?  Or is that a horsecollar tackle?

Posted by: toby928™ at December 06, 2010 09:16 PM

It depends on which team you play for.  If you play for 31 NFL teams not named the Lions, it's a legal tackle.  If you're named Ndomakong Suh and play for the Lions, they call you for a horsecollar tackle.  (He was called for it in either the Dallas or the Patriots game I believe.)

418 Once again, Teh Bamsters gets rolled.

My 2 cents.

YMMV...

419

Non-purist:

You're a condescending asshole.

And actually, yes, I do have an understanding of the process. 

GOP = still in the minority

DEMS = still in the majority + Presidency

Thus, extending the Bush tax cuts across-the-board is a limited win. 

Dragging this out for another few weeks would have done nothing but PISS off more independent voters and hurt the chances of the GOP success next year.  The GOP wouldn't have gotten any better of a deal; in fact, they likely would have gotten something worse. 

Governance starts next year.  Let's see what the House of Reps. does.  If they fail to use their appropriating muscle properly, then we should criticize.

 

420 You know, if there's going to be spam, can we at least make it link for some kind of deliciously dippable new pudding?

421 Can't this guy EVER start something on time?  Is he THAT inconsiderate of others?