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Political Eye © 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Obama, Republicans tout progress in "cliff" talks
President Obama, in his weekly address today, reiterated much of what he told reporters yesterday after his last-minute "fiscal cliff" meeting with bipartisan congressional leaders, declaring, "I still believe we may be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses [of Congress] in time."
"But if an agreement isn't reached on time," said Mr. Obama, "then I'll urge the Senate to hold an up or down vote on a basic package that protects the middle class from an income tax hike, extends vital unemployment insurance for Americans looking for a job, and lays the groundwork for future progress on more economic growth and deficit reduction."
After the president's meeting yesterday, he said he was "modestly optimistic" about the possibility that a deal would materialize. But in the absence of a broader agreement, he called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to pass a "bare bones" bill.
In both his weekly address and his appearance yesterday, the president said that failure to act would be a "politically self-inflicted would to our economy" that we can ill afford amid signs that the economy is finally healing.
"Economists, business leaders all think that we're poised to grow in 2013," Mr. Obama said yesterday, "As long as politics in Washington don't get in the way of America's progress."
Obama: "Modestly optimistic" a "fiscal cliff" deal still possible
And he took umbrage at the bickering in Congress, saying it poorly reflects the accommodating spirit of most Americans.
"Outside of Washington, nobody understands how it is that this seems to be a repeat pattern, over and over again," said Mr. Obama yesterday. "Ordinary folks, they do their jobs, they meet deadlines. They sit down and they discuss things, and then things happen. If there are disagreements, they sort through their disagreements. The notion that our elected leadership can't do the same thing is mind-boggling to them. It needs to stop."
He reinforced that chiding in today's address, saying, "You meet your deadlines and your responsibilities every day, the folks you sent here to serve should do the same."
Delivering the Republican response to Mr. Obama's address, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., laid the blame for Washington's dysfunction at the feet of Democrats. But he also sounded a sanguine note on the prospects of a budget agreement, saying, "We still can avoid going over the fiscal cliff if the president and the Democrat-controlled Senate step forward this week and work with Republicans to solve this problem."
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., delivers weekly GOP address
Blunt's cautious optimism mirrored that of his caucus chief, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who took to the Senate floor to declare he was "hopeful and optimistic" after his meeting at the White House yesterday.
Despite the rosy words from all sides, there remain many landmines on the road to an agreement. CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett reported yesterday that the main sticking point between Democrats and Republicans continues to be the income threshold beyond which taxes will increase. Mr. Obama opened the meeting yesterday by renewing his call to hike taxes on household income above $250,000, but Republicans have rejected that proposal and indicated they would like to nudge the threshold higher.
The extension of unemployment insurance, which expires today, remains another dispute between the two parties - Democrats and the president would elect to extend unemployment benefits for job-seekers; Republicans would not.
- Obama "modestly optimistic" about a "cliff" deal
- The "fiscal cliff": What to expect if there's no deal
In addition, the $110 billion in automatic spending cuts due to begin on January 1 remain unaddressed. A Republican aide told CBS News that the cuts will move forward unless Congress adjusts them at a later date. The aide also said that raising the federal government's borrowing limit - the "debt ceiling" - will likely be left out of a final "cliff" agreement, setting the stage for another big fiscal dispute at the beginning of 2013.
And finally, even the "bare bones" agreement that the president requested as a backup plan faces an uncertain future on Capitol Hill. While Democrats hold a majority in the Senate and could likely persuade a few Republicans to join forces on a stopgap measure, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives remains a question mark - it is not at all clear that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, would bring a bill to the floor without a majority of his caucus behind him.
Lawmakers in both chambers are working behind the scenes today on the parameters of a deal and will be back in session tomorrow. A deal, if one comes together, could come up for a vote tomorrow or Monday.
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I spoke the truth about myself and it generally applies to thousands of people I know.
Crickets, for just one minute. Is the left so misguided, so misinformed they won't listen to one person speak their truth?
Why does the government have to do everything? Why don't you see the people around you quietly doing good, regardless of color?
Yaaawn. It's all so dire. So important. We continue the selfsame conversation over and over and over again as if it were the only conversation.
Is this the what either side wants to do for the next 4 years? Or do you think that both sides may want to work on some other issues?
Seems that our reasoning processess have been hijacked by visceral code words, that emote an automatic response.
I listen to Conservative and Liberal commentators who are not trapped by this code. Howe refreshing is the conversation that does not devolve to the usual stereotypes and name calling. What are Liberal or COnservative but relative stances on the spectrum of any topic.
The country needs some fiscal repsonsibility that it has not had for 30 some years. A deal is near done that adresses 1/6 of the budget deficit;the cliff would address 1/3 or the same. Neither is enough; neither is any permanent fix on Social systesm or defense spending or anything else. AND they do not need to be.
I like the cliff. I think the economy will be better for it. If Bernanke increases interest rates enough that lenders (and savers) can actually make a little money, the economy will be humming.
So tell me. Is my philosophy liberal? is it conservative? does it matter?
Censorship runs rampant by the liberal moderators. Too much truth, seems to be particularly annoying to them. They come U-N-G-L-U-E-D.
We don't See "minorities" as disadvantaged. We see America as the land of opportunity. Is America perfect? Of course not, we try to get better.
I refuse to victimize someone based on color of skin. I speak for myself but I feel most in my party would agree. Now of course those that are retired have programs they have paid into and have the right to utilize the programs, the disabled or those that fall into categories that qualify legally. We can't afford for people to take advantage of the system. It is unsustainable. Obama acts like he is King and extorts from the "wealthy". All liberals should be ashamed of themselves.
Try moving to New Zealand. I believe it costs you $250,000 up front. No one can afford free loafers.
Conservatives are far more charitable in their personal lives then democrats. It is done quietly and without fanfare, it is something of ours that is given to someone else. It is not me screaming to get it from you, calling YOU greedy and selfish, to give to someone else.
See the difference in approaches to giving? Jesus was a conservative. Liberals think way too highly of themselves, so high your heads are in the clouds and rainbows. Meantime, conservatives are doing and giving without all the fanfare. I'm an RN, for some of us it is a "calling", we were given agape and we use it 24/7. Don't tell me who is the giving and charitable party.
Jesus was a conservative. I know it, I feel it, I live it.
Jefferson: what a socialist.
It wasn't modern math and ignored precendent set by RR and followers that the debt dose not matter.
Now in order the fulfill Grover, the budget would need to drastically cut for several years......or taxes have togo back up and spending reduced gradually. All of this nearly impossible during a recession.
The typos are in your brain. You are possessed with anti-Obamaism and can't think outside that bubble.
Since he already won re-election, you may consider focussing your efforts elswhere. After all, do you really want to spend the next four years in this selfsame argument or are you mature enough to go on to more important things?
If you were man enough, you might take note of how liberals chip away at our freedoms and quality of life.
No one wants to loan money and get nothing for it.
I'm not for usury rates of the 90's, but damn it, if everybody makes some money then the economy can hum.
Sorry for the off topic - really targeting that Wuss Bernanke, but come on! The economy could EASILY be much stronger.
So my question is: Will the deal of the cliff be better for America overall.
I believe the cliff is better as it is fiscally more sound AND the economy is stable enough to absorb its effect. Any of the deals seems watered down or have little bearing on the normal Federal budget issues that they purport to correct.
Tax increases on 1%-2% need to be exorbitant to make any difference or we all have to pay more (i.e. the cliff).
It is as if none of these individuals ever had to manage more than one account for separate entities (like separate bank accounts) or plan for any long term expenditures or pay of a debt. Where is the accounting to pay for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? Why is this not included in any budget deal?
Righting SS or Medicare, although especially Medicare needs righted...has nothing to do with normal budget or past debt incurred.