No surprise..."super committee" couldn't make a deal...

[CosmicCowboy]

I just got a "breaking news" update on my iphone so no details yet...

[CosmicCowboy]

Here ya go...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/20/politics/super-committee/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Washington (CNN) -- Members of the "super committee" charged with coming up with $1.2 trillion in budget cuts are focused on how to announce failure to reach a deal, Democratic and Republican aides confirmed to CNN Sunday.
While aides said no final decision had been made, they acknowledged that -- barring an unforeseen development -- an announcement of an end to negotiations is the most likely scenario.
Talks on trying to reach a deficit reduction agreement are essentially over and discussions are focused on a Monday announcement, a senior Democratic aide said.
Another senior Democratic source said, "No decisions or agreement has been reached concerning any announcement or how this will end. But, yes, the likely outcome is no agreement will be reached." A Republican aide said, "I don't think they've decided when they will do it."

More at link

[boutons_deux]

Now watch the threatened "automatic cuts across the board" evaporate, esp cuts for the MIC which the Repugs were already planning to exempt.

What a fucking charade.

The bully Grover Norquist is this generation's Senator Joe McCarthy. The anti-tax-raise pledge-signing Repugs are a bunch of balless assholes.

Norquist, Limbaugh, Ailes(Murdoch) dictate thoughts to the Repugs.

[ElNono]

So, what you're telling me is that they're working on the finger pointing speeches from both sides...

[ChuckD]

Now watch the threatened "automatic cuts across the board" evaporate, esp cuts for the MIC which the Repugs were already planning to exempt.



Obama has the hammer now, and has already said that without a SC deal, any bill that comes to his desk without the agreed upon automatic cuts will be vetoed.

[ElNono]

This is just like the NBA lockout... millionaires don't know how to slice a trillion dollar pie...

[ElNono]

"The other side don't want to budge" :cry

[baseline bum]

Obama has the hammer now, and has already said that without a SC deal, any bill that comes to his desk without the agreed upon automatic cuts will be vetoed.

LOL, when has Obama ever followed through on anything?

[Winehole23]

Doing nothing (i.e, triggered cuts plus letting the Bush tax cuts lapse) would be one of the better outcomes IMHO.

[scott]

I'm shocked.

[Drachen]

Doing nothing (i.e, triggered cuts plus letting the Bush tax cuts lapse) would be one of the better outcomes IMHO.

except it wouldn't be big enough

[Winehole23]

what would be, in your view?

[Winehole23]

Doing nothing (i.e, triggered cuts plus letting the Bush tax cuts lapse) would be one of the better outcomes IMHO.Only, neither side will gave the guts to to let tax cuts die.

[MannyIsGod]

I agree with WH. I prefer this to bullshit cuts. I'd love to see the military take huge cuts, to be quite frank.

[Das Texan]

I'd love to see fucking Americans grow a pair and vote out their Congressional representatives next year, instead of just complaining about how ineffective Congress is as a body.

[scott]

I'd love to see fucking Americans grow a pair and vote out their Congressional representatives next year, instead of just complaining about how ineffective Congress is as a body.

+1.

Amazing how an 8% approval rating for Congress really means "Well, my guy is part of the 8% I like!"

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I'd love to see fucking Americans grow a pair and vote out their Congressional representatives next year, instead of just complaining about how ineffective Congress is as a body.

Look around you. Who the hell are we going to vote in? Just more fuckheads from the same two parties .

What happened last year with all the incumbents losing? Did things change?

Once you saw who it was the GOP put on the panel compared to their actual member body, it was obvious what was going to go on.

This committee isn't getting it done. The Dodd-Frank committee is not getting it done. This legislative body is completely ineffective because of the influence of two party politics.

I get shit everytime i say that we need to revisit the structure of our government but I say people need to wake the fuck up and look around.

[scott]

Look around you. Who the hell are we going to vote in? Just more fuckheads from the same two parties .

What happened last year with all the incumbents losing? Did things change?

Once you saw who it was the GOP put on the panel compared to their actual member body, it was obvious what was going to go on.

This committee isn't getting it done. The Dodd-Frank committee is not getting it done. This legislative body is completely ineffective because of the influence of two party politics.

I get shit everytime i say that we need to revisit the structure of our government but I say people need to wake the fuck up and look around.

I agree with you, but how do we make that happen?

Protest? Camp out in the streets all across America for weeks at a time in massive numbers? Think that would get their attention?

......

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I agree with you, but how do we make that happen?

Protest? Camp out in the streets all across America for weeks at a time in massive numbers? Think that would get their attention?

......

The Tea Party got the Congress to put forward the asinine balanced budget amendment.


The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

Its going to have to get worse before it gets better going that route. Obviously it takes a large consensus but what is certainly heartening is that more and more people every day are coming around to the idea that some profound changes need to be made.

I want to see one of two things personally. A corporation amendment stating that firms are not people, person or persons and that their campaign finance contributions are not speech.

The apportionment of house representatives to single member districts is dictated by the state legislatures.


The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing [sic] Senators.

This means that a state can say we no longer want to use districts and use a parliamentary approach. Thats what would be a lot easier. The board 'conservatives' always talk about states rights well there you go. Our states get to decide how we elect.

Congress can legislate stating that you have to have districts but its not in the constitution. If nothing else its an avenue to pursue rather then just accepting the status quo and hoping that a miracle is going to come and fix this clusterfuck.

Just one state needs to step up and force the issue rather then get over 300 reps to not vote the party line. The parties will fight giving up power.

[boutons_deux]

"influence of two party politics."

BZZZZTT Wrong Answer.

"18,000 lobbyists... 12,000 clients.... and 1,700 lobbying firms"

http://www.lobbyists.info/ProductDetail/the-18-0-282/Washington_Representatives?gclid=CMGQsdqfxqwCFQLj7 QodmB--qA

Get Smart (like me).

[FuzzyLumpkins]

"influence of two party politics."

BZZZZTT Wrong Answer.

"18,000 lobbyists... 12,000 clients.... and 1,700 lobbying firms"

http://www.lobbyists.info/ProductDetail/the-18-0-282/Washington_Representatives?gclid=CMGQsdqfxqwCFQLj7 QodmB--qA

Get Smart (like me).

Go stick your blue pom poms up your ass.

The two are inseparable. That you think parties and PACs are two independent entities just goes to show how little you understand. That's why i address both in what i say i would like to see.

[boutons_deux]

You said they are inseparable not me.

The money bags UCA and capitalists OWN (enough of) both parties at all levels. How do you interpret that as inseparable? UCA needs legislators to execute UCA's commands, legislators need UCA's money to stay elected. inseparable? GFY it's a symbiosis.

[Trainwreck2100]

I'd love to see fucking Americans grow a pair and vote out their Congressional representatives next year, instead of just complaining about how ineffective Congress is as a body.

Let's say you're right and americans voted out the current seats. We'd have a democrat controlled house and a republican senate.

[boutons_deux]

No matter who gets kicked out or voted in, they will by necessity be corrupted by corporate money, sooner or later. It's about the only way they can stay there. Take our money or we'llgive it to you next opponent. Even if some Elizabeth Warrens got elected, there would more more of the conventional corrupted/corruptible types elected who would fall prey to money.

The system is fundamentally broken, owned by VRWC/UCA, and it's irretrievable. And that's just the legislative and exec, look at SCOTUS and the 100s of conservative judges the VRWC has been polluting the judicial system with for 30+ years.

[scott]

Let's say you're right and americans voted out the current seats. We'd have a democrat controlled house and a republican senate.

Massive overhaul won't happen overnight, short of a coup by the people. I think a major rejection of incumbents is a good "1st step" - it sends the message "we're tired of doing things the old way."

When that inevitably fails and these yahoo's revert to their old ways, then you go ahead and stage that coup lol.

[ElNono]

Massive overhaul won't happen overnight, short of a coup by the people. I think a major rejection of incumbents is a good "1st step" - it sends the message "we're tired of doing things the old way."

When that inevitably fails and these yahoo's revert to their old ways, then you go ahead and stage that coup lol.

Actually, doing it "the old way" would've been much more productive. This filibustering everything under the sun, prioritizing a one-term presidency over the country and actually crippling government is fairly new.

What's even worse is that you will find a long list of mediocre people in here cheerleading for that.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Actually, doing it "the old way" would've been much more productive. This filibustering everything under the sun, prioritizing a one-term presidency over the country and actually crippling government is fairly new.

What's even worse is that you will find a long list of mediocre people in here cheerleading for that.

It was very similar in the 1850s when the slaveholding south and the industrializing north controlled the parties. The Civil War happened the southern democrats lost their ass and were subjugated until the 1910s-1960s when those old Dixiecrats moved to the GOP and minorities and labor replaced them.

Changes to the senate selection process and the party primary systems has made the system more candidate driven.

Now they are just head to head once again. The contentiousness no longer has geographic lines anymore but rather socioeconomic and you see it playing out in the protests. If it was geographic we would be seeing a move towards violence once again. Its already getting ugly as it is.

[boutons_deux]

FLASHBACK: Past ‘Grand Bargains’ Relied On Taxes To Reduce The Deficit

In the five fiscal grand bargains of the 1980s and early 1990s, tax increases accounted for an average of 61 cents of every dollar saved. In fact, in President Reagan’s 1982 and 1984 budget-trimming deals, more than 80 percent of deficit reductions came from tax increases. What’s more, the deals passed with majority support from both parties. Mr. Reagan may be remembered as an antitax hero, but he actually raised taxes 11 times over the course of his presidency, all in the name of fiscal responsibility.

Republicans used to rank deficit reduction ahead of curbing taxes, but now the reverse is true.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/11/21/373293/flashback-deficit-deals-taxes/

[RandomGuy]

Oh, and the overwhelming majority of people who parade around Washington posing as fiscal hawks are frauds. They're the ones who created a tax system that collects revenues that can't fully fund the spending system they also voted to create. And when push comes to shove, those who cry most loudly about the deficit shy away from doing what's necessary. When the Republican presidential candidates all indicated that they'd reject a deficit plan that included 10 dollars of spending cuts for every dollar of tax increases, it was an extremely clear signal that the Republican party as currently constituted isn't interested in a grand deal. Democrats, for their part, figure there's no point in making massive concessions on entitlements if there's no reciprocation on taxes. And for both parties, these postures make complete political sense.

Superfail: Why D.C.’s Fiscal Clown Show May Still Yield Results

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/daniel-gross/superfail-why-d-c-fiscal-clown-show-may-133350281.html

[boutons_deux]

Norquist: GOP won’t be ‘fooled’ into raising taxes

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/fox_ff_norquist_111121a-615x345.jpg

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/11/21/norquist-gop-wont-be-fooled-into-raising-taxes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story% 29

========

No, the Repugs ARE fools, and Norquist is bully, and not elected, and not an official of the Repug circus. The Repugs let themselves be pushed around by Limbaugh, Norquist, Ailes.

[JoeChalupa]

This is totally pathetic.

[fraga]

http://i.qkme.me/5xi9.jpg

[vy65]

http://news.yahoo.com/time-ran-super-committee-watched-football-hung-around-150322495.html

[coyotes_geek]

http://news.yahoo.com/time-ran-super-committee-watched-football-hung-around-150322495.html

The two sides must have been far apart if they couldn't get a deal done after watching Tim Tebow play.......

[coyotes_geek]

The sovereign credit rating of the United States is under review by Fitch Ratings after a Congressional super committee failed to reach agreement on reducing the nation's budget deficit.
(http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/22/news/economy/us_credit_rating/index.htm?iid=HP_Highlight)

[boutons_deux]

http://exiledonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/reaganomics-cato1-470x378.jpg


William Niskanen, the embodiment of how Reaganomics and the Koch brothers’ libertarian movement were joined at the hip. Niskanen was an advisor to Ronald Reagan throughout the 1970s; a board director for the Koch-founded Reason Foundation; a member and chairman of Reagan’s Council on Economic Advisers from 1981-85; and he moved directly from Reagan’s side back to the Koch brothers’ side, as chairman of the libertarian Cato Institute from 1985 until 2008.

Faced with record-smashing deficits that could top $100 billion a year, the Reagan administration now says it can live with a torrent of red ink without reversing its strategy against inflation and high interest rates.

In a turnaround from President Reagan’s longstanding assertion that deficits are a cause of inflation, senior White House economic advisers yesterday sought to downplay that relationship. One member of the Council of Economic Advisers, William A. Niskanen, suggested the connection is virtually nonexistent.

…Rudolph G. Penner, a budget official during Gerald Ford’s administration, said there is a “certain irony” that the record deficit of $66.4 billion, which occurred in 1976, “was set by a conservative president (Ford), and the record will be broken by another conservative president.”

Actually, what Niskanen said was this: “The simple relationship between deficits and inflation is as close to being empty as can be perceived.”

And this: “There are no necessary relationships between the deficit and money growth.”

And this: “Evidence doesn’t support” the assertion that deficits crowd out private borrowers.

And finally, William Niskanen, one of the leading libertarian figures of the past four decades, said this about deficits: “The economic community has reinforced an unfortunate perspective on the deficit which is not consistent with the historical evidence…It is preferable to tolerate deficits of these magnitudes either to reinflating [the money supply] or to raise taxes. Other things being equal, I would like to see lower deficits too, but other things are not equal.”*

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/11/mark-ames-libertarian-liars-top-reagan-adviser-cato-institute-chairman-william-niskanen-%E2%80%9Cdeficits-don%E2%80%99t-matter%E2%80%9D.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capi talism%29

[Th'Pusher]

Now watch the threatened "automatic cuts across the board" evaporate, esp cuts for the MIC which the Repugs were already planning to exempt.

What a fucking charade.

The bully Grover Norquist is this generation's Senator Joe McCarthy. The anti-tax-raise pledge-signing Repugs are a bunch of balless assholes.

Norquist, Limbaugh, Ailes(Murdoch) dictate thoughts to the Repugs.

looks like Cantor has floated the first bargain to spare the sequestrian cuts to the MIC

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/69489.html