Obama Tells Progressives He Won't Budge On Bush Tax Cuts

[chance1]

Let the posturing begin

The President evidently told his "base" that he's committed to raising taxes for "high income earners"

My primary problem with this approach is the absurd notion that $250K is "wealthy" and that this position ignores the fact the small businesses are grouped here

Newly elected Senator Tim Kaine - Virginia - on Morning Joe recently talked about $500K being the threshold - many other Dems with their heads not firmly planted in their asses suggested similar.

But the Pres. has come out of the gate flexing here

Which is his right - he won

But will we win ?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/13/obama-bush-tax-cuts_n_2124324.html

 

[TX-Beau]

We'll see won't we. Small businesses do not pay income taxes.

 

[TX-Beau]

Plus I fucking agree that Romney et all should be AT LEAST paying the same percentage I do.

 

[chance1]

Plus I fucking agree that Romney et all should be AT LEAST paying the same percentage I do.

i figured u for a 47% er

 

[bankside]

Any person earning USD 250 000 per annum is very wealthy. How is that complicated?

Incidentally, never mind the >250 000 folks, the economy was growing just fine before anyone had a tax cut.

What should have happened is Bush Tax Raises, to pay for the Bush Afghanistan Invasion, and the Bush Iraq Invasion. You can't pay for wars with tax cuts.

If he had done that, then you'd be talking about repealing the Bush Tax Raises now that the wars are winding down.

 

[chance1]

Any person earning USD 250 000 per annum is very wealthy. How is that complicated?

Incidentally, never mind the >250 000 folks, the economy was growing just fine before anyone had a tax cut.

What should have happened is Bush Tax Raises, to pay for the Bush Afghanistan Invasion, and the Bush Iraq Invasion. You can't pay for wars with tax cuts.

If he had done that, then you'd be talking about repealing the Bush Tax Raises now that the wars are winding down.

it's not complicated

it's an arbitrary figure that doesn't reflect real life - and isn't indexed to reflect cost of living in big cities vs. smaller ones

tim kaine and many other dems agree

in fact IMO it'll probably get raised before this is done - and that'd be a good thing

just not popular with the crazies

the cost of living is pretty high bankside - where do u live?

a family making 250k with kids and a house, etc. - isn't necessarily "rich"

a small business with earnings of 250k ........ isn't necessarily "rich"

but don't ask me

ask key democrats

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65272.html

 

[bankside]

Yes I'm sure the cost of living in the Emerald City is pretty high too, what with streets paved of gold and….well…emeralds…. It does not change the fact that people are wealthy even if their cost of living is high. In fact one of the goals of wealth is often to enjoy a high cost of living.

 

[chance1]

Yes I'm sure the cost of living in the Emerald City is pretty high too, what with streets paved of gold and….well…emeralds…. It does not change the fact that people are wealthy even if their cost of living is high. In fact one of the goals of wealth is often to enjoy a high cost of living.

i guess u didn't read the article

and didn't answer my question

thanks for stopping by

 

[T-Rexx]

First of all, it is hard to imagine Obama standing firm on the tax cuts. This president always compromises with Republicans on everything. The safe money is that he will cave and give the Republicans everything they want, as he has done in the past.

Secondly, it is remarkable that John Boehner is indicating that he will not compromise with the president on the tax cuts. That was, of course, the position of Mitt Romney, who lost the election. Boehner and the Republicans lost, and yet they will nevertheless attempt to force down our throats that which (presumably) most of us do not want. Boehner's confidence that he can do this is an indication that he, too, believes the president will back down.

 

[JayHawk]

Obama doesn't have to stand strong for long.

January First and taxes are raised on everyone above 250K... then they push a bill cutting taxes for the rest. People already believe that republicans will be the reason taxes go up so they will get the blame and then be painted into a corner of obstructing tax cuts for Americans....

I think we are about to see fuck you Obama for a strength policy towards irrational pugs. he said he learned from trying to give them bones last time around...


we will see. I certainly hope he stands his ground.

 

[gewhite3]

Obama doesn't have to stand strong for long.

January First and taxes are raised on everyone above 250K... then they push a bill cutting taxes for the rest. People already believe that republicans will be the reason taxes go up so they will get the blame and then be painted into a corner of obstructing tax cuts for Americans....

I think we are about to see fuck you Obama for a strength policy towards irrational pugs. he said he learned from trying to give them bones last time around...


we will see. I certainly hope he stands his ground.

You read my mind on that one. This is EXACTLY what I hope happens.

 

[BostonPirate]

Boehner was offered a deal of 800 billion in revenue increases and he turned it down last year. Earlier this year the president offered a bill that raised revenue to 1.2 trillion, Fifty percent more, before the election and made it a central theme of his campaign.

Today He offered Boehner a deal of 1.6 trillion in revenue hikes.

Now two things are clear here....

one? It would have served Boehners cause to have taken the first offer. Now Boehner has to argue against double of what he almost had, and his backis against a wall held there by the Majority of Americans who voted in this election.

Two? Obama goes Up not down with every offer, and if Boehner and the repubs don't grab that 1,2 trillion deal waiting for a vote that the senate passed and the president promised to sign, they are going to have to agree to higher tax rates in a grand bargain.

Obama isn't going anywhere on this one, and no matter what happens, no matter what choice the GOP makes, it will be hated for doing it.

I heard a saying..... Elections having repercussions... something like that

 

[palbert]

It is impossible to negotiate from an inflexible position -- how does one do that? -- and maintain credibility.

 

[BostonPirate]

It is impossible to negotiate from an inflexible position -- how does one do that? -- and maintain credibility.

They can revive any past bill that has not been voted on. He is not being inflexible, he is letting the GOP know that they can do better than the 1.6 trillion if they just take one vote on one bill currently waiting on the speakers desk.

IF they want the cheaper deal, it's best they hurry that one through before the new congress convenes, and the bill dies.

 

[Jack Springer]

I still think the republicans should give him the tax increase he wants for people making over $250,000/year -- and call his bluff -- include nothing else in the bill.

Obama has sold the tax increase to the "rich" as solving all the economic problems of the USA. He even pushed it several times in his press conference today.

I hope that the House would pass it today and Obama sign immediately. Let the prosperity begin.

 

[ReadyWithReadyWit]

it's not complicated

it's an arbitrary figure that doesn't reflect real life - and isn't indexed to reflect cost of living in big cities vs. smaller ones

tim kaine and many other dems agree

in fact IMO it'll probably get raised before this is done - and that'd be a good thing

just not popular with the crazies

the cost of living is pretty high bankside - where do u live?

a family making 250k with kids and a house, etc. - isn't necessarily "rich"

a small business with earnings of 250k ........ isn't necessarily "rich"

but don't ask me

ask key democrats

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65272.html

I think you raise a lot of interesting points. On small business, I tend to agree... that seems like a pretty rough cutoff if no incentives are added to promote small business growth.

I tend to disagree on family income though... I think that households making $250k are indeed necessarily rich. While I understand that "rich" is an ill-defined term, I think it is pretty safe to say that a household making more than 98% of other households is indeed "rich" by any reasonable stretch of the imagination... not "yacht rich"... but certainly not struggling to pay the bills. I find it a little amusing that everyone considers themselves part of the "middle class" regardless of income.



Cost of living considerations is a tricky topic. The reason being that places like NY, SF, and DC are not just randomly more expensive... they are more expensive because people actually want to live there and are paying a surcharge to do so... they are intrinsically "getting something" out of paying more. So... in a way... it is their choice... they could certainly choose to move to Houston (and secede apparently), for example, if they wanted to. I do somewhat catch your drift about tax policy exacerbating this surcharge, but:
1.) Even indexing for some of the highest costs of living, a household making $250k is still better off than roughly 90% of the population.
2.) You really expect the gov't to reach this level of sophistication?

Finally, I want to reiterate a point I've made elsewhere... the tax code is progressive... something that Chuck Schumer, this article and peeps in generally love to ignore:

“In the eyes of many, it is hard to ask more of households making $250,000 or $300,000 a year...”

Well... actually can we guess how much taxes would increase for households making $250k? That's right... zero. And for $300k... that's right... they would only increase on the last $50k. The ironic thing is that I would imagine a lot of House members have salaries lingering in the "rich" but not "yacht rich" category...

 

[rareboy]

Obama is right in that a tax increase on the rich would help cover the deficits this country is facing. This is proven. Lets make capital gains tax the same as income tax. Tax capital gains at a level of 25-30%. The snarky attitude isn't winning points here, Jack.

Oh god.

And the 2nd 4 year term hasn't even started.

 

[gewhite3]

Obama has sold the tax increase to the "rich" as solving all the economic problems of the USA.

No, he didn't. You're delusional.

 

[Benvolio]

No, he didn't. You're delusional.

The House has approved a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts. The Dems have two choices. 1. Pass and sign the extension bill, or 2. Be soley responsible for the largest middle class tax increase in memory.

- - - Updated - - -

No, he didn't. You're delusional.

The House has approved a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts. The Dems have two choices. 1. Pass and sign the extension bill, or 2. Be soley responsible for the largest middle class tax increase in memory.

 

[BostonPirate]

The House has approved a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts. The Dems have two choices. 1. Pass and sign the extension bill, or 2. Be soley responsible for the largest middle class tax increase in memory.

Apparently you are having a hard time understanding what the repercussions of an election mean.

You have been consistently incorrect. Why continue to make statements on your personal wishes and likes? Everytime you are proven wrong it looks worse for you.

Can't you just ignore the pundits and consider something with your own internal critical thinking?