Obama defends extension of tax cuts
December 7, 2010 at 8:10 am in Grand Forks Herald
With Democrats balking at his compromise with Republicans, President Barack Obama today staunchly defended his decision to deal with the GOP in order to extend about-to-expire tax cuts for all Americans. Continue Reading
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
12 
32
This is what frustrates me about Obama. I think he’s a great representative for progressives everywhere and has, in fact, done quite a lot for this country in the short time he has had to fix the mess left behind by the largely corrupt Bush Administration.
Now that all the republicans have clicked thumbs down we can continue. I thought part of his message of change would involve sacrifice. I expected, and would prefer, my taxes go up marginally so we can bring some fiscal reality back to the market. The message seems to be that no one in Washington has the guts to tell Americans they can’t have it all. And by all I mean two wars, tax breaks and a house with consistent, skyrocketing value.
The Tea Party has no answer for any of this. They are conservatives who don’t care about abortion, religion and all the “religious right” rhetoric that’s been effective for republicans for years. However, they also bring absolutely no solutions to any of this. Conservatives can’t—every one of their “solutions” has been implemented and it caused this mess. Not loaning money to brown people, not providing benefits to the uninsured.
Let’s be explicit: giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires, cutting corporate taxes and not taxing banks at reasonable rates has brought us to state where we have to choose between paying police officers to protect us our paying teachers to educate our children. It is a false choice. We have the money to do all these things, but conservatives have convinced themselves we can only afford an army of airport scanners and enough nonsense anti-health care legislation to choke a horse.
What we need is a leader who isn’t afraid to tell us “this is gonna hurt.” I thought Barack Obama was that leader. That leader will come from the left–it will never come from the right.
Hot debate. What do you think?
30 
22
this is one of the dumbest comments i have ever read. you clearly do not understand economics
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
I think you meant, I don’t understand Rand Paul’s “economics.”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Remember that the mega-rich in this country need their deficit exploding tax breaks. The tax cut for the rich plan worked for creating jobs during the George W years didn’t it? Don’t think so. It’s the plan that got us where we are sitting today.
One more thought of irony, since this is a Christian Nation and all:
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” Mark 10:23
Hot debate. What do you think?
24 
12
where were the liberals when the deficit exploding health care law and stimulus plan were implemented?
Like or Dislike:
1 
1
You mean, the extraordinary measures taken to make up for the exploding economy Bush left us with? They were easy to spot–they were the rational ones.
It always seems to me that Libertarians always cry for a limited government–limited to the services they want. Strikes me as kind of pathetic, and simple-minded. Just being honest.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
how is the HC law and stimulus working out for ya? prices are still exploding. unemployment is still 10%…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
did you expect once the bill was passed light would flood the land and evil would magically vanish like at the end of Tron 1? Give me a break, most of the effects of any of that won’t be felt for a while, with many health care provisions not coming into effect until later. Believe me, they should have started immediately.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
12 
23
Zardoz, I already contribute to local food pantries, shelters and even shovel walks for seniors for free. Please don’t lecture me about charity.
Now, I do all that not to impress the likes of you, but because it is satisfying to do so. I imagine, in your own way, you give back as well. If not, try it. It will give you the strength of ten Grinches plus two.
I support higher taxes because I feel that some of the things my money would go toward are programs I like that I can’t always give to directly. Schools for example. I can’t send $10 to every school I went to each month to thank them for the education I received, but I can vote for people who will support them. That’s what I do. I also like feeling safe in my home, so I want some of my tax money to go to cops, fire protection, nice sidewalks and smooth streets. I want some of my money to helps kids who will eat one hot meal a day–their school lunch. I want those kids to know that they are loved and we need them. I want some of my money to go to science to work on cures for cancer, promoting healthy populations of wildlife (but mostly walleye and whitetail, I admit it) and protecting them from the pollution our species produces. These aren’t crazy, pie-in-the-sky dreams. This is being rational. I want to leave a better world for my kids. And no, I don’t care that sometimes it is an inconvenience. If I wanted to complain about every little inconvenience and uncomfortable expenditure I would join the Tea Party. Those folks couldn’t weather a grape embargo.
When we all contribute, Zardoz, we are at our best, and capable of some really wonderful stuff.
Like or Dislike:
13 
7
Well, stated, Craig.
Like or Dislike:
9 
6
Craig, that isn’t enough! You are rich! You need to be taxed more and say you don’t mind. Fine, then write a check out to the US Treasure today. No hesitation or argument. Put your money where your mouth is. You want to contribute? Then send your money in voluntarily, no need to raise taxes on everyone.
You are typical. Raise taxes on others to pay for things that benefit you.
Glenn, how about you? Are you going to send more money to Uncle Sam?
Jeff, and you?
Like or Dislike:
3 
3
Zardoz, these are the Democrats that President Obama described as “Purist and sanctimonius”. Spending your money “makes them feel good” about themselves. This is a good deal for Democrats and they complain. Give them a new rope to hang themselves, they complain!
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
I am far from rich.
I am asking that taxes be raised to help you, too, Zardoz. That’s the funny part. As mean as you are, I still think you should benefit in every way I would from this proposition. Lighten up.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m sick of Democrats whining. They finally get into power and they can’t get together to support their President. The division in his own party makes it hard for him to move his agenda. He has to compromise to move his agenda. Duuuuh!
Then during the congressional election they moan because they didn’t get everything they wanted and they don’t get out to vote or (even worse) they vote Republican. Now the GOP has the House and Dems whine because the President compromises to get things passed. You lazy Democrats put Obama in this position in the last election! Its not the President that has to get backbone. It’s the Democratic Party and its members that need to buck up and show some unity. The Dems need to take a page from the GOP playbook. Party unity matters! The Dems put their own President in this predicament so stop your bitching!
Like or Dislike:
18 
9
John,
As a Democrat, I would like to say that your post is 100% correct.
Like or Dislike:
14 
4
I agree to a point…The Dems need to pull together and become a force to be reconed with. On the other hand that would do more to add to the current state of affairs than to promote adaquate statesmanship. Having a party consistantly vote lock step on the party line regardless of the effect on the people they represent (All the people, not just those within their party) does not make a government of the people. This idea that we can only be in agreement with one party or the other and are forced to vote that way on every issue is a dangerous one. It might seem alright as long as it’s the same opinion you hold, but think about it. Wasn’t it scary to some of you when the Dems held both chambers and the White House? Some of you feared for the worse….That the Dems would suddenly act like the Repubs and vote everything in lock step as they did all the time Bush was in office. That would have been pretty cool to a lot of us who wanted to see so much more done for all the people, but would have mad heads explode for those of you who follow the Republican line completely.
What is truely needed is real campaign reform so both parties can actually get people elected who can actually do the peoples work instead of a particular parties work…
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike:
5 
18
Wheres the jobs GOP???? Your getting your extortion tax cuts for the richy rich billionaires. That’s what this country really really needs right now GOP is big fat tax cuts for the very very wealthy-yup-that’s the ticket.
Like or Dislike:
15 
9
As for the left, they ignore my accomplishments and are always looking for “weakness and compromise.†They are “sanctimonious,†“purist,†and just want to “feel good about†themselves. In a difficult world, they cling to their “ideal positions†and constant charges of “betrayals.†President Obama at his Tuesday press conference.
President Obama needs another stimulus and having a stable tax policy on the †so called rich†may give busineses the confidence to hire more employees. Obama care has placed a tremendous burden with much uncertainty for small business. I own a small business and have delayed expenditures especially when they require adding employees. I am 58 years old and have no desire to work harder if there are more risks than perceived rewards. For those of you who work for government or have had prior lives as community organizers, like Barry O, I understand and feel your pain about tax cuts for the rich. For those unemployed Americans who want a job and not a hand out, please support President Obama on his latest stimulus plan, his tax compromise. I think he finally gets it! Today President Clinton reaffirmed this is a good bill and good for our poor and unemployed. Government unions and their members support tax increases to grow the revenue base of government, translated increased income for them. I believe they are as greedy as any business !!!
Like or Dislike:
5 
5
The tax cut extension will put $800 B. into consumers pockets. If B.O. had asked for an $800B stimulus it would have failed in Congress. But the tax cut extension of $800B is the same thing as a stimulus. He is brilliant. Consumers drive the 80% of the economy. He prevented a depression with the 1st $trillion to keep banks from failing and now another almost $1trillion to get consumers spending. That is leadership with an IQ of 145.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
No it’ll leave it in consumers pockets rather than picking their pockets.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Spearmann IQ 145??? Have you seen his SAT score, his college grades, anything about his intelligence??? He is good at reading a teleprompter?? Corpsman, he needs phonetic help! First teleprompeter in Indian Parliment. I do not think I would wet my pants over his intelligence.The vote 83 to 15 to extend the bipartison Bush tax cuts for the rich. I love the Democrat, Obama even if he is average like me, tax cuts for the rich. Bipartisanism is wonderful?? Obama care today was ruled unconstitutional!!! How much confidence do Dimocrats have in Barry, Harry, Nancy’s knowledge of law? Much or little?? I have little so we will kill this law for those with an IQ over 90!! Definitely 80!! Merry Christmas Democrats. As an agnostic, I love you!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We don’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. It is not possible to raise taxes enough to cover the current federal deficit. You could take every dime every rich person makes and it wouldn’t come close to covering the deficit.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There’s a lot of interesting points that have been made here, hidden in and amongst the unsubstantiated claims. Craig is right about the Tea Partiers; they haven’t come to the table with a plan for rational cuts to be made. No advocacy for pulling our military forces back to US soil and protecting US public interests, as opposed to corporate interests abroad. No plan for coming up with a tax structure that would tax everyone fairly, from the wealthiest to the poorest, so that every citizen has some skin in the game and would pay attention to what the government does in our name. No lists of bloated government bureaucracies to be eliminated, like the highly dangerous to freedom Department of Homeland Security, for example. Then there is the tired old canard that we Libertarians don’t want any government, or taxes to support it, which would lead to anarchy and chaos. Give me a break Craig, that argument is just a silly waste of time. You made some very good points about the services that should be funded, and volunteerism, and I salute you. But why wouldn’t the Democrats discuss the merits of tort reform or interstate competition of health insurance during the Obama-care debate? Is it because we have too many trial lawyers with a (D) behind their name in DC? Why was the only solution to health care their solution, and we had to pass it before we could read it? Then there are the Conservatives with their weird fascination with Sarah Palin? I’m telling you fellas, she’s cute, but just because BHO wasn’t (and still isn’t, in my opinion) qualified to be POTUS, doesn’t lower the bar enough to justify running Palin as a candidate. And all throughout the comments I see the typical class warfare argument about the uber-rich and the unfair advantages they have. Some of this is justified because we read stories of crony capitalism every day, giving one politically connected company or CEO an advantage over the others, twisting people’s perception of the free market and capitalism. The government shouldn’t be running the economy, period. Private citizens should be doing that. Take the money away from the politicians so they can’t hand it out to their friends. Fight for transparency in government, (which I think we were promised 2 years ago and haven’t seen yet) and let people go out and compete on a level playing field. Taxes shouldn’t just be higher, or lower, or progressive, or regressive. They should be fare for all to pay.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“why wouldn’t the Democrats discuss the merits of tort reform or interstate competition of health insurance during the Obama-care debate?”
Tort reform is not off the table, in my mind, but no one has ever proven to me it would be anything more than a drop in the bucket.
The interstate competition idea is interesting, but would likely lead to a race to the bottom as insurers set up corp hq’s wherever the laws were most lenient. Could be done, but might be tricky to get that right. Otherwise, I could get behind that.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Fair enough then.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The dollar amount paid out in litigation may be small, but the unecessary tests ordered by physicians for litigation prevention have significant costs. Most if not all other countries limit physician and hospital liability.
t
Like or Dislike:
0 
0