White House not "hopeful" sequester will be averted

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Who's to blame: Obama versus the GOP on sequester cuts

Senior administration officials do not expect the spending cuts to be averted; they expect them to happen.

"It doesn't look hopeful that we will resolve this before Saturday," said one senior official who briefed reporters Tuesday afternoon.

The White House does detect some differences emerging among Republicans and pointed to comments from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Va., who flew with President Obama to Virginia on Tuesday.

Graham has called for up to $600 billion in new revenue from tax reform if it is combined with entitlement reform. Rigell said he opposes the GOP position of refusing to raise taxes in pursuit of an alternative to $85 billion in discretionary spending cuts. 

"I believe that a position that says we will reject a proposal if it has even a dollar increase in revenue, I don't think that's a wise position and I don't hold that value," Rigell said today before President Obama's remarks.

• Sequester impact real but not overnight, Obama says
• On sequester, Boehner tells Senate to get "off their ass"

"There seem to be some cracks among Republicans," said one official. "There is some division there."

White House officials said it was "hard to predict" when the standoff would be resolved. They said Obama will not budge and the only outcome he will accept is a GOP cave on higher taxes.

"Until they are willing to accept that revenue has to be part of this deal, it's not going to happen," one official said.

"We know where this ends, which is an agreement that includes balance," said one official. "We just don't know when."

The officials also said there would be little use in giving the administration flexibility on where and how to impose the cuts. They said the macro-economic effect of reducing federal spending by $85 is still the same - whether if done by across-the-board spending cuts or through ones the administration has discretion to impose.

Even with flexibility, officials said the cuts would be "terrible" and "inescapably bad" for the economy.

[JWsOpEd]

So what, government shuts down for 28 minutes out of one year? We wait in line longer than that at about any government facility.

I know - we can move everyone's clocks forward 28 minutes. We'll call it chronotative easing.

[sangjmoon]

I'm confused. Didn't Obama sign the law which resulted in the sequester? The only conclusion that makes sense is that he's trying to play this politically both ways as being both for and against it and collect all the political points.

[highlndr55]

Fox parrot wants a cracker: IT was OBAMA and LEW's idea to start with. Obama said that he would VETO any attempt to change the SEQUESTER. Even though the House came up with two bill, WHY should they have? He said he would VETO any attempt to change it. The left can not change what he said. They can deny that he said it, but that doesn't change the fact that he said IT!!! They only have one thing to say - IT IS BUSH's FAULT. What a joke. I forget that is Biden's job, tell jokes.

[rykatspop]

I read a number of right wing rebuttal nonsense to my 10 points on which party is responsible for this govt. collapse on the budget and America's growing inequality. Yeah, I got the usual nonsense of "you're a low informed voter" and "all those congressional policies were bipartisan" and other twisted retorts. No biggie.

Andy Rooney pointed out he never understood why Republican voters always vote AGAINST their own political and economic interests. I don't either. Yeah, the old CBS columnist Rooney was a complete failure and political moron. Drink some more kool aide Tea Party kids.

I'll make it simple for all of you right wing zealots who swig the Karl Rove, Ann Courtier, Koch Bros., Limbaugh, Norquist, etc kool-aide--here you go:

Warren Buffet is speaking out that this political, economic and taxing system is broken and states that the problems goes back waaayy before Obama. When one of you right wing knuckleheads can step forward with the wealth and success Buffet has, THEN YOU can tell me how wrong I am about agreeing with his take. He is correct that this govt (Repugs in particular) have broken the middle class with their corrupt policies that lean heavily toward the monied interests. And that does include unions in my view. Yeah, too big to fail for banks and corporations too. Bipartisan my arse. I watched the TARP circus as the right told the left just hand over a blank check or we will all sink because of the GREED OF MONIED INTERESTS the Repug Party exclusively serves and worships. That's Wall St. etc, NOT Main St.. I live on Main St.!

I hate Reagan and spit on Cheney!!! Bush was just a puppet like Romney would have been. Reagan and Cheney did all they could to put the middle class in chains and debt. It was always "protect big business and let the little guy beg for crumbs. I have spent 30 years living with Reagan's policies, and want no more of that one sided greed with Paul Ryan, McConnell, Cantor and other budget fakes who speak HALF TRUTHS. I've suffered enough with Republican economic oppression. I want real free trade that forces corps to complete like the rest of us. I am well over 50 and know far more than you junior wannabes about politics, paying bills and how the system is rigged EXCLUSIVELY for the rich and Buffett agrees!!!!!!!!!! There's nothing wrong with shopping at a Walmart. Health care should function in the same fashion. Competition is key. I blame Repugs for the health care mess, but too long to explain or add here.

Here's YOUR reading assignment Republican worshippers: The Price of Inequality, Joseph Stiglitz. True, he's no Karl Rove or Rush Limbaugh. Stiglitz has a Nobel Prize in his name. Yeah, right, that's nothing. Sure . . . keep drinking the kool-aide Republicans.

[TimeToEvolve]

The sad fact is that most of us posting here pay at least double the tax rate of Exxon and other multi-billion dollar corporations who don't even care about America.

We need to repeal the Reagan tax cuts so we have the money to fund public education to lower the number of ignorant, idiot sheeple in America.

[ajvw]

maybe we could afford to send you to an economics class

[imright100]

The ability to get an education and/or educate yourself is available already. Throwing money at our public education system has never been the answer. Good learning skills begin at home.

[thefatcat2]

SO TO PROVE HOW MUCH POWER OBAMA HAS HE RELEASED 30,000 CRIMINALS
INTO THE USA.
Then obama says do not blame him -- blame his departments.

[cjauregui10]

Republicans used to be against slavery. Just watch Steve Spielberg's" new movie, LINCOLN. Republican's led the fight against slavery during the Civil War. Most people don't know that important fact. Democrats were all for slavery and still are today. Most people don't know that fact either. Today Democrats are all for the "slavery" of public debt, which they are loading upon to us, our children and our children's children. I thought Republicans would fight this new modern form of slavery. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case. In their very public displays of political impotence, Republicans continue to cave in to Obama's efforts to disarm and to enslave the American people. All we see from Republicans is capitulation followed by tears. Leadership is all about getting results, like Lincoln did in 1865. The nation needs leadership now to fight this growing "slavery of debt". Democrats embraced slavery during the Civil War and they continue to embrace it today in the form of debt ---- in every name but their own. Nothing has changed except for Republican failed leadership. Make no mistake. Debt IS slavery.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Comments like cjauregui10's is what you get when your knowledge of history comes from movies. BTW the deficit is going down under President Obama not up, a fact obviously you are unaware of.

[A_Moderate]

I agree with the cuts as long as they are across-the-board. The Government never caught up with private sector with the fact we were/are in a rescission. Yea there may be some inconveniences, but no one ever said tightening the belt would be easy!

[venusvegasvada]

Reckless, short-sighted and narrow minded.

That is what should be printed on the calling cards of the GOP.

Their track record over the last 14 years is basically leap, don't look. Shoot, don't aim.

From the wars to the financial meltdown to this, the GOP doesn't believe in slow and steady, long term solutions to anything.

From the way to fix and grow an economy to dealing with our other problems, they act like a bunch of spoiled rich kids who want EVERYTHING their way and they want it ALL RIGHT NOW. Screw everything and everybody else.


It's high time we got rid of the Tea Party and deviants like Boehner. We don't need a bunch of spoiled rotten 7th graders screwing up our Govt anymore.

[nottblu]

reckless is spending more than you take in, short sided is Obama's temporary fixes and created ongoing crisis, narrow minded is Obama and his brainwashed minions, next.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Republicans have done more damage to America than any terrorist ever could.

The Republican game plan is to destroy the economy blame the Democrats and President Obama. This was their strategy to obtain the White House and the Senate in the 2012 elections. If you think the Republicans are death on average Americans, working-class and middle-class people now. Just think of how much more damage they could do to this country if they had the house,the Senate and the presidency to consolidate power to do whatever they want. They would then have free reign to turn America into the third world country that they want for their corporate overlords.

They've already shown their hand by not approving extended unemployment benefits for people and anything else that would help the average American. Then they took America to the brink of default with the debt ceiling crisis. A crisis in which they created. Republicans on the supreme court ruling corporations are people and therefore can give unlimited funding to politicians. Republicans fighting for tax cuts for corporations, big oil and the wealthy while advocating cutting social security, medicare and medicaid. For those reasons and more I can't imagine any thinking working-class poor or middle-class person supporting Republicans after all the damage they've done to this country.

Americans must reject republicans at town hall meetings for their anti American unpatriotic strategy and tactics. The only difference between Timothy McVie and the republicans is he used explosives and they used their congressional positions.

The phony debt ceiling debate and agreement was another part of the republican game plan to take back the senate and white house. They create artificial crisis to stall (run out the clock on President Obama's term) and cripple him and the economy to prevent JOBS from being discussed or created. They were counting on voters blaming the president for the bad economy even though they the republicans are sabotaging every step of the way.

Even a blind man can see republicans couldn't care less for average Americans. Just imagine what they would do if they controlled the house, senate and presidency. Americans did not let that happen. Because it is crystal clear by the behavior of republicans they do not want America to progress and will hold it hostage to prevent it.

Republicans are screwing up government to prove their mantra " government doesn't work". This is designed to frustrate and turn off non supporters f thus paving the way for their depraved zealots to shape the discussion. Hostage politics is their strategy. Americans need to punish republicans at town halls and with calls, letters and emails.

They cannot be allowed to get away with sabotaging our great nation. Americans need to recognize that republicans have no intention or incentive to do anything to bring America out of its economic woes.

After all, they think they can shift blame by blaming President Obama and Democrats. Time will tell if Americans will fall for this again. Prevent abuse of struggling Americans and America. Just say no to republicans.

[nottblu]

Partisans like you are totally clueless, you believe partisan talking points and leftwing propoganda equate to fact, your diatribes blaming only one side of the equation are fantasy driven by hatred, pure and simple, get a friggin clue.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Partisan zombies like you never argue the facts you just argue.

[Protect_US_Jobs]

Wouldn't it be More Productive if Our Elected Leaders Started Working Together as AMERICANS for AMERICANS and AMERICA, instead of just bickering, stalling and posturing for the next election as democrats and republicans! The American People have had it with this unproductive BS! The way that both parties having been operating for years just stinks! Neither party has really been looking out for the best interests of the US Citizens who elect them and who they're supposed to represent.

Both parties have sold out the bulk of the American citizens, who they're supposed to represent, by allowing the "out-sourcing" floodgates to open wider and wider without taking any sensible measures to stem the tide.

It shouldn't be all about Democrats or Republicans! It should be about Americans, especially our elected officials, doing the right thing for our country and its citizens. All the single-minded, left versus right, ideological one dimensional bull has got to go!

Both parties need to start working together and actually start doing something to fix the real problems in our country like "out-sourcing", illegal immigration, the out of control costs of health care insurance and our reliance on foreign fuel. If they don't start working together and actually start making progress by the next election, then American citizens should run a nation-wide campaign to vote out all incumbents regardless of party to send the message.

The ONLY REAL FIX is to Raise Revenue, by Bringing Back Jobs to US Citizens who Pay Income Tax.

Massive cutting just puts more people on unemployment, which just depresses the economy even further.

Returning private sector jobs to American Citizens will provide income tax revenue to OUR Government versus our government having to pay unemployment benefits to those who would be jobless instead. We need our elected officials to Start Protecting American Jobs and do whatever it takes to bring back the jobs they let go. We need leaders who will actually stand up for the American people.

The bottom line is that "Our Government" has to protect domestic industry and the jobs that those industries provide. If they do that, the rest will take care of itself.

We may have to pay a bit more for products made here in the USA by US citizens, but at least we'll still have jobs and a future for our children.

And yes - I'm Angry - As are most American Citizens right now!

[sabniz]

i agree that it's fault of both parites. but the sequester cut isn't massive at all, less than 2.4% of total budget.