tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post6098667980455166583..comments2024-03-22T10:49:51.766-05:00Comments on Horizons: Speaker Boehner in a bit of a pickleNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-71293050404079980072011-09-20T13:23:00.116-05:002011-09-20T13:23:00.116-05:00absolutely on pointabsolutely on pointrikyrahhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-32399857977130565432011-09-20T09:33:33.695-05:002011-09-20T09:33:33.695-05:00Nagleator - When we've been having this same b...Nagleator - When we've been having this same battle over deficit reduction for months on end with no resolution in sight - then I'd say "yes," the Super Committee is most likely destined to fail. What Democrats got out of that is that the automatic cuts favor our positions almost completely. <br /><br />This is why the idea that PBO is a bad negotiator is SOOOOO off base.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-24073550752924935672011-09-20T09:13:30.929-05:002011-09-20T09:13:30.929-05:00It seems to me the supercommittee, which poutrager...It seems to me the supercommittee, which poutragers are so fearful of, was artfully designed to fail utterly at ever coming to an agreement.<br /><br />Seems like a 'discovered attack' in chess, to me. And just as satisfying!Nangleatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01908938252272172718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-48015038392282699292011-09-20T07:41:23.258-05:002011-09-20T07:41:23.258-05:00This is an example of why I'm not too worried ...This is an example of why I'm not too worried -- at least not yet -- about the frightening poll numbers about next year's election. A lot of the discontent with Obama stems from a perception that he's not taking firm enough stands to protect middle-class and worker interests (I'm not talking about the poutragers, but about the broad mass of not-very-politically-engaged people who have only a scattershot sense of what's going on). There's still plenty of time to reverse that perception.Infidel753https://www.blogger.com/profile/10965786814334886696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-90281937564325954492011-09-20T06:54:33.754-05:002011-09-20T06:54:33.754-05:00John - I think its hard to grasp how big the cuts ...John - I think its hard to grasp how big the cuts to defense would be. There's already $350 billion in cuts agreed to before the Super Committee even gets started. And then, if they fail, its a bit over $500 billion in additional cuts. Perhaps one way to look at it is that they'd be cutting as much from defense as was spent on the Recovery Act. <br /><br />In terms of what else, everything gets cut - but with some carve-outs that are protected:<br /><br />"...the sequester would be divided equally between defense and non-defense programs, and it would exempt Social Security, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, programs for low-income families, and civilian and military retirement. Likewise, any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side."<br /><br />So we're talking another $500 billion in cuts across the board in non-defense spending with the above programs excluded. <br /><br />As you'll see from my comment to Chris above - I agree that the chess game isn't over yet. Its just that Mr. "I got 98% of what I wanted" Boehner is in a bit more of a pickle than he's admitting.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-41053198779235875952011-09-20T01:58:16.482-05:002011-09-20T01:58:16.482-05:00I have not studied the automatic increases if a de...I have not studied the automatic increases if a deal is not reached. Defense spending is one thing, but what else gets cut? <br /><br />Also, I have trouble believing a huge cut in defense spending is that big of deal, as we tend not to make defense choices based on price tag. I wonder how that would really go down. <br /><br />Anyway, what else gets cut? The GOP may go for it and sacrifice the defense budget. I don't think this chess game is won yet. Obama has gained a strategic threat, but I am not sure who is calculating more moves ahead.John Mystehttp://johnmyste.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-20639751772193907512011-09-19T20:37:58.760-05:002011-09-19T20:37:58.760-05:003Chics - "Where did he go?"
He got bogg...3Chics - "Where did he go?"<br /><br />He got bogged down in Republican hostage-taking on one side and a total dissing from the left on the other. <br /><br />When any of these fools tell me how they would have handled that stuff more successfully than PBO - I'll be happy to listen. But I'm SO done with their whining!Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-30402956671223417702011-09-19T19:48:21.157-05:002011-09-19T19:48:21.157-05:00Chris - Lets play that out. First, what would have...Chris - Lets play that out. First, what would have to happen is that the Super Committee fails. Either they can't agree to a plan, or they can't get it through Congress or the President vetoes it. Then the automatic cuts are slated to kick in.<br /><br />I doubt Democrats in Congress would agree to simply cancel the Defense portion of the cuts. They wold also likely insist that cuts to other programs (ie Medicare) be included as well. Pretty soon - all the deficit reduction goes out the window. <br /><br />But in the meantime, in his summary of the deficit reduction plan, Obama made clear that if there was no tax reform completed, he would allow the Bush tax cuts to expire (which is slated to happen Jan. 1, 2013).<br /><br />What the Republicans would be looking at is trying to get rid of the defense cuts as well as extend the Bush tax cuts. That sorta makes toast of their claims to be all about deficit reduction. And it puts Boehner in the position of HAVING to get something passed - not blocking Obama's proposals. <br /><br />And all of this would have to happen with our current Congressional delegation - Democratic Senate and Republican House.<br /><br />I think this is a pretty likely scenario. So it should be interesting to watch.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-86892117824373840132011-09-19T19:26:20.975-05:002011-09-19T19:26:20.975-05:00Question: what's to stop Boehner from introduc...Question: what's to stop Boehner from introducing a bill to cancel the planned cuts to defense and then challenge the Dems to vote against it?Chris Andersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18139817527808942227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-13344161029200748102011-09-19T19:17:10.642-05:002011-09-19T19:17:10.642-05:00BINGO!PBO's is always a gazillion steps ahead ...BINGO!PBO's is always a gazillion steps ahead of the GOP. I'm listening to to Robert Reich now on The Last Word, saying the president is back. Pray tell, where did he go?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com