The Fiscal Cliff talks

[3rdnlng]

Yes, I'm choosing the typical PPP response.

Aren't you being a bit melodramatic? Fight for all sides to reach a conclusion? He wasn't elected by the republicans. These are divisive economic issues between the parties. What does it mean to fight for the entire US? Is that what Romney would've done? What is the best economic policy for the entire US? Maintaining tax cuts for the rich? Maintaining the largest military budget in the world? Maybe the majority thinks he IS trying to do what's best for the majority of the country.

 

Income continues to get more and more concentrated at the top, so, yeah, the folks at the bottom will vote for someone who will hopefully maintain the crumbs that they get. That's what the long term fight is about. If we want to maintain some minimum standard of life for the majority of people in this country into retirement, then, starting about 2020, more resources will be needed to meet those needs. That most likely will mean less funding for military and more taxes for the 20% who have 50% of the income.

 

So, yes, my response that "the other guys do it too" was done to make the point that you're being hypocritical. I hope BO does play it political and makes the republicans take the fall. I hope he gets everything he asks for too, because the working class has been given the shaft for too long. Now, all this said, and pay attention here, I doubt it will happen. I will bet a pitcher of beer that BO will cut entitlements as part of a grand bargain. The good cop-bad cop routine is done to make us think that one party really tries to protect the majority.

 

It wasn't long ago, especially when the election was in doubt, that you and your ilk were pleading for compromise, claiming that was what was good for the country. Going back to the Summer of 2011 when the grand bargain fell apart you guys claimed it was Boehner and not Obama backing away. Now I guess, the proof is in the pudding.

 

"I hope BO does play it political and makes the republicans take the fall"? That says it all, you partisan, intellectually dishonest hack.

[B-Man]

Yes, I'm choosing the typical PPP response.

Aren't you being a bit melodramatic? Fight for all sides to reach a conclusion? He wasn't elected by the republicans.

 

These are divisive economic issues between the parties. What does it mean to fight for the entire US?

 

Is that what Romney would've done?

 

Wow, your previous responses have been much better,

 

He wasn't elected by Republicans......again....Really?

 

I am sure that many Republicans did vote for him, but even if not a one did it doesn't matter . He was elected to represent ALL Americans,and he should fight to represent everyone.

 

 

and YES, it is beyond a doubt that that is exactly what Mitt Romney would do.

 

I'm cynical often too, but your responses really don't show too much belief in Americans and their government.

 

.

[TPS]

Wow, your previous responses have been much better,

 

He wasn't elected by Republicans......again....Really?

 

I am sure that many Republicans did vote for him, but even if not a one did it doesn't matter . He was elected to represent ALL Americans,and he should fight to represent everyone.

 

 

and YES, it is beyond a doubt that that is exactly what Mitt Romney would do.

 

I'm cynical often too, but your responses really don't show too much belief in Americans and their government.

 

.

How can one not be cynical about a government that is more responsive to Wall Street, military contractors, big media, big pharma, corporate farms and food than its people? There are a handful of good people, but the rest are bought and paid for. They also are highly rewarded in their careers, and if their careers end short, they get jobs in those industries or on boards, and still end up with a better pension and healthcare than most Americans. Cynical, damn straight.

[meazza]

How can one not be cynical about a government that is more responsive to Wall Street, military contractors, big media, big pharma, corporate farms and food than its people? There are a handful of good people, but the rest are bought and paid for. They also are highly rewarded in their careers, and if their careers end short, they get jobs in those industries or on boards, and still end up with a better pension and healthcare than most Americans. Cynical, damn straight.

 

You forgot unions

[TPS]

You forgot unions

I don't think they hold much sway at the federal level anymore. They get lip service. Their numbers are at an all-time low as a % of the workforce.

[/dev/null]

Boner proposes same fiscal cliff deal that Democrats offered last year. Democrats reject

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2012/dec/18/house-dems-now-reject-gop-fiscal-cliff-offer-they-/

 

Forward!

[TakeYouToTasker]

Boner proposes same fiscal cliff deal that Democrats offered last year. Democrats reject

 

http://www.washingto...ff-offer-they-/

 

Forward!

Harry Reid had this to say: “It will not protect middle-class families because it cannot pass both houses of Congress.”

 

So, it won't protect middle class families because congress won't let it?

[B-Man]

Harry Reid had this to say: “It will not protect middle-class families because it cannot pass both houses of Congress.”

 

So, it won't protect middle class families because congress won't let it?

 

 

Nevada must be so proud.

[fjl2nd]

All politics still from both sides. Ugh...

[B-Man]

Dear Mr. President, Zero-Sum Doesn't Add Up

by PJ O'Rourke

 

FTA:

But the worst thing that you've done internationally is what you've done domestically. You sent a message to America in your re-election campaign. Therefore you sent a message to the world. The message is that we live in a zero-sum universe.

 

There is a fixed amount of good things. Life is a pizza. If some people have too many slices, other people have to eat the pizza box. You had no answer to Mitt Romney's argument for more pizza parlors baking more pizzas. The solution to our problems, you said, is redistribution of the pizzas we've got—with low-cost, government-subsidized pepperoni somehow materializing as the result of higher taxes on pizza-parlor owners.

 

In this zero-sum universe there is only so much happiness. The idea is that if we wipe the smile off the faces of people with prosperous businesses and successful careers, that will make the rest of us grin.

There is only so much money. The people who have money are hogging it. The way for the rest of us to get money is to turn the hogs into bacon.

 

 

Mr. President, your entire campaign platform was redistribution. Take from the rich and give to the . . . Well, actually, you didn't mention the poor. What you talked and talked about was the middle class, something most well-off Americans consider themselves to be members of. So your plan is to take from the more rich and the more or less rich and give to the less rich, more or less. It is as if Robin Hood stole treasure from the Sheriff of Nottingham and bestowed it on the Deputy Sheriff.

 

But never mind. The evil of zero-sum thinking and redistributive politics has nothing to do with which things are taken or to whom those things are given or what the sum of zero things is supposed to be. The evil lies in denying people the right, the means, and, indeed, the duty to make more things.

 

Or maybe you just find it easier to pursue a political policy of sneaking in America's back door, swiping a laptop, going around to the front door, ringing the bell, and announcing, "Free computer equipment for all school children!"

 

 

 

 

<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324660404578199363527441002.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324660404578199363527441002.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

[Keukasmallies]

Can any meeting, to resolve anything, really be serious if Joe Biden is involved? Picture being in a room with Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, John Boehner and Mitch McConnell; they couldn't agree on the day of the week let alone something of substance.

[Magox]

I don't quite see what sort of deal will get done. Boehner has already made it known that whatever proposal that he decides to attempt to push through will have to be to the right of the "Plan B". The "Plan B" was already too far to the right for Liberal members of congress, (even though they were for it before they were against it, odd how the media isn't picking up this story), and too far to the left for Conservative lawmakers, so I honestly don't see the path to move forward. My guess is that it will have to go throught he Senate first, some of the more moderate R's will have to be the one's who vote for it, McConnell will have to agree on not filibustering it and there will have to be enough R's to pass what most likely will be a left leaning deal.

[IDBillzFan]

I don't quite see what sort of deal will get done.

 

It doesn't matter. This is what the American people want. It's what they elected. It's what they chose. A county led by people with no leadership skills.

 

In due time, the takers will eat themselves and we can come out again. Until then, heed my four-year plan: Arm up. Lock up. Shut up.

[Alaska Darin]

We go back to the tax structure that generated the surpluses

:lol:

 

You are such an idiot.

[IDBillzFan]

:lol:

 

You are such an idiot.

 

First a discussion that includes phrases like "gun control" and "ban assault weapons." Now a reference to the Clinton surplus.

 

It's like people are purposely trying to get you to post more.

[Alaska Darin]

First a discussion that includes phrases like "gun control" and "ban assault weapons." Now a reference to the Clinton surplus.

 

It's like people are purposely trying to get you to post more.

It's too bad work has slowed down for the holidays. I can't say I've missed the tard bashing as much as one might think I would.

[B-Man]

LEADERSHIP:

 

Dow Sinks 70 Points During Obama’s Speech – Dow Futures Drop 226 Points Following Obama’s Speech.

[John Adams]

Can any meeting, to resolve anything, really be serious if Joe Biden is involved? Picture being in a room with Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, John Boehner and Mitch McConnell; they couldn't agree on the day of the week let alone something of substance.

Be nice if you knew what you were talking about. Biden did more to get a deal done last time around than anyone...but Cantor would not give an inch like a 5 year old who won't share his Lincoln Logs. Now here we are cramming a deal in at the 11th hour like a high school student studying for the big test at recess. It's a failure of leadership by all, and an embarrassment for everyone.

 

I desperately want the fiscal cliff.

[GG]

* Leveraged refinancings post record loan volume

* Leveraged new money is up 36 percent in 2012

* Leveraged pro rata lending hits all-time record

* Investment grade is down 28 percent

 

U.S. high yield capital markets issuance hit an all-time record of $991 billion in 2012, beating 2007’s $777 billion and comprising of a record $327 billion in high yield bonds and $664 billion in leveraged loans, according to Thomson Reuters LPC.

 

Thank you Mr. Bernanke.

 

Regards, Barack Obama.

[TPS]

 

 

Thank you Mr. Bernanke.

 

Regards, Barack Obama.

You are giving Ben too much credit. He controls the short rate. Thank the recession and a huge pool of money looking for higher yields for historically low long rates. It's a no brainer for CFOs to take advantage of it.