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Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner vowed there will be no deal to avert the coming “fiscal cliff” that does not include raising tax rates on the wealthy.
“There’s not going to be an agreement without rates going up,” Geithner on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Asked whether that meant the White House was willing to go over the cliff at the end of the year — triggering sharp tax hikes and deep spending cuts — if Republicans stand firm on not raising rates on top earners, Geithner was resolute.
“If Republicans are not willing to let rates go back up — and we think they should go back to the Clinton levels, a time when the American economy was doing exceptionally well — then there will not be an agreement,” he said.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told “Fox News Sunday” he was “flabbergasted” when Geithner outlined President Barack Obama’s budget deal offer last week, which included $1.6 trillion in increased tax revenues and a $50-billion economic stimulus program.
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Comments (145)
IMCHRISTIAN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:18pmObamacare will be loaded with taxes that all will have to pay so why not no new taxes on ANYONE for the fiscal cliff. They are the ones that got us 6T in debt so why blame others for their bad management.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:59pmPush Geithner and Obama off of the cliff. Do not fold.
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RANGER1965
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:01pmI hope all you Blazers realize what is happening just behind the curtain.
The administration is extending this thing out, offering ludicrous proposals which they know will not even be considered by the House. They are purposely running out the clock.
Trial balloons are already going up here and there, about the fiscal cliff being a matter of national security. Here’s one from the the Secretary of State.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/secretary-of-state-hillary-clinton-fiscal-cliff-is-a-national-security-issue/
Once the ground had been prepared by newspapers, and news shows perhaps on Christmas Eve, or shortly after, the President will make an emergency announcement which will be carried on all the networks. He will talke about the dangers of the fiscal cliff, and the paralyzation of the Republican controlled house. He will talk about how partisan politics are destroying America, and such cannot continue when America is on the brink.
He will then declare that the Fiscal Cliff is now a matter of National Security, and will declare that the management of this emergency will be handled by the adminstration.
He will also assure Americans that once this Fiscal Emergency is over he will lay down these executive powers.
…and so it begins.
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wordsofwisdom
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:10pmSince when does little timmy control the budget process? We have the Senate putting forth legislation illegally, the pres. trying to rule by decree & all him merry men think they can regulate us into submission. Put it all together & what we have is a criminal enterprising government that includes both parties. Kiss your country good by cause this situation can only lead to destruction & kayos. In other words “The End Times” http://ibroadcast.tv/studio/default.aspx?tab=edit#
they are here.
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IMCHRISTIAN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:16pmThey just want no progress just pass the debt plus future debts on to future generations. However, along with more debt and more regulations they want us to pay to stop or to abort what would have been future generations and if your to ill a panel will judge who gets treatment and /or what kind of treatments. Don’t kid yourself with Obamacare we will have fewer doctors and longer waiting time.
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The_Jerk
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:17pmRANGER1965, then the lead flies.
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Gorp
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:37pmIs it just me or does Geithner remind anyone else of Wally from “Leave It To Beaver”? Wally was a sleaze bag also and just by looking at him you could tell he was dishonest.
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pavepaws
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:11pmRomulan.
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tifosa
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:21pmMcClatchy tells it all: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/11/29/175922/fiscal-cliff-crisis-made-in-the.html#storylink=cpy
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AhLeahIris
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:25pmThere’s no fixing this until we address the overgrown welfare state: http://wp.me/p2filR-3N7
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VanceUppercut
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:37pmI saw Brian Schweitzer on CNN today, and he put it best: “Congress set the barn on fire thinking that they would get the credit when the fire was put out.” Sorry to burst your delusional bubble folks, but the fiscal cliff is on the heads of Congress; they set a date when the world would end if things weren’t resolved, and now that doomsday is coming they’re screaming that it’s all Obama’s fault. Obama has already agreed to give them 98% of the tax cuts that they want–most people would call that a victory. But no, not the Republicans on Congress–either give breaks to those who need them the least, or everyone will suffer. I can’t wait till 2016, because if Cons keep behaving like this, we may just see both houses of Congress held by the Dems, as well as the White House.
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DZ-015
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:40pmGorp: Wally was the beaver’s older brother, and a nice kid. The one you are thinking of is Eddie Haskell, the smarmy twerp who was always getting people in trouble. And yes, Timmy G. does resemble him.
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Gorp
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:57pm@DZ: Thanks. I always get that wrong. It is/was Eddie.
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ambrosia
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:23pmIchabod Crane Geithner…what a joke !
What a fine mess, he & the Boy-King have made of our country
and he STILL acts like THEY have all the solutions.
They led us to the cliff-
as gracious Americans,
let’s allow these wimpy, sugar wafers to jump FIRST !
Unfortunately, their golden parachutes will soften the fall.
Come January, Ichabod removes his tax-cheating **** from the White House.
Be assured, he’s going to try to ink a deal to wax poetically,
about his stint as Sec. of Treasury.
Tax & spend are ALL they know-
they have NO real diehard solutions, just the same ole’ political sap.
Meanwhile,
America learns
“Little Obama Horner” sits in the White House corner
eating 6 kinds of pie-
how ’bout start CUTTING back there, ya’ big gorging glutton ?
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DZ-015
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:30pmGorp: Something about that Geitner picture has been nagging at me, like there was someone else he resembles more than Eddie Haskell. It has finally come to mind. In “Ghostbusters II,” Peter MacNichol played Janosz Poha, who restored the painting of Vigo of Carpathia, the villain of the film. That is the other smarmy twerp Timmy looks like more.
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MIBUGNU2
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:55pmTimmy Tax Cheat and O’Blamer have NO intention
on getting this solved !!! All show and BS… This AH
hasn’t even started his second term and he’s already
F’N us over,
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Marine25
Dec. 2, 2012 at 7:18pmTwo wars and a simultaneous gargantuan tax cut. No civilization had ever tried that. Now the Republicans in the House are willing to “go off the cliff” to protect record-low tax rates for the uber-wealthy. The cliff, by the way, guts benefits to both retired and active-duty military personnel.
‘Support our troops’ my a$$.
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TomSawyer
Dec. 2, 2012 at 9:05pmObama’s goal is to go off the fiscal cliff and blame it on Republicans.
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rickc34
Dec. 2, 2012 at 10:16pmGiethner and Obama the first ones to use the term fiscal cliff and they are the cause. They are looking forward to driving over the cliff so they can raise everyones taxes and spend it on their union buddies. They do not want to reach a deal with the Republicans.
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dcatkin
Dec. 3, 2012 at 7:50amOh c’mon guys do you really expect a miracle from a moron. TG is a rotten worthless pile of crap, and we all know it.
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longknifed
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:15pmWe know the neocons approve of anything and everything the federal reserve puppets do.
http://www.therightscoop.com/krauthammer-bernanke-is-an-american-hero/
Nope nothing to see here….Israel first….cough…america last….cough…..
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BlackCrow
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:45pmNeocon
A political philosophy where one holds social liberalism while supporting a strong national defense. Don’t see many Joe Libermans, the poster boy for Neocons. Quit using that word unless referring to the Joe Libermans of the world. All you are doing is showing an incredible level of ignorance and gullibility.
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dcatkin
Dec. 3, 2012 at 8:01amNeither side the repaublicans, ot the democrats are worth the skin they are made out of.
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glassman2000
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:08pmBoehner and the House have a job. Pass a budget. If they want to send a message to the President they should send up a balanced budget with tax cuts and even throw in a 5% cut to the military. Let the Senate vote it down and then the Dems can wear it.
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Advection
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:27pmGood idea. They should just do their job.
I’d also like to see them quote the Constitution to Obama/Reid/Pelosi; swear to uphold it; and pledge to impeach anyone who breaks that oath. What these Democrats are doing is infamy!
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truthnstuff
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:38pmThis would be their opportunity to get away from the trough and act like patriots, doing what they were elected to do. Somehow I doubt they are up to it
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VanceUppercut
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:22pm@glassman2000
You can’t get anywhere near a “balanced budget” on just spending cuts. Sorry, but you don’t get to change reality.
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UNALIEN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 4:21pmcareful, the thoughts in your head may not be your own,,
“the top 10 percent of households in the U.S. pays 45.1 percent of all income taxes (both personal income and payroll taxes combined) in the country. Italy is the only other country in which the top 10 percent of households pays more than 40 percent of the income tax burden (42.2%). Meanwhile, the average tax burden for the top decile of households in OECD countries is 31.6 percent”
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OlefromMN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:08pmThe “rich” didn’t create this problem. In fact, if you want to be intellectually honest about it, the poor did.
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jungle J
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:17pmnobody wants to hear the troof..
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tifosa
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:03pmThe poorest live in bright red states~10-North Carolina,9-Alabama, 8-Kentucky, 7-South Carolina, 6-Montana, 5-Louisiana, 4-West Virginia, 3-Tennessee, 2-Arkansas,1- Mississippi.
Lowest median incomes, high unemployment, and take more in entitlements than they pay in.
What should we do with them?
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Fubared
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:04pmTiaformosa
Cali? Only problems being most of those peeps, unless plantation dwellers are mostly self sufficient.
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OlefromMN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:24pm@TIFOSA,
Tax them like the rest of us. Flat tax.
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thegreatcarnac
Dec. 2, 2012 at 6:53pmTIFOSA…..the ‘poor’ you speak of are 90% black and hispanic. I say we send them up north and get them out of our hair once and for all. Then they can bring your states down to crap.
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ThoreauHD
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:06pmWho is this guy to tell them how to make law?
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Polarized America
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:24pm“” Who is this guy “” ..i don’t know, but i got a sudden urge to make a bobble-head doll of him
stick it in a Mason jar and take a leak in the jar… i don’t know where i got this idea.. it must be the artist in me ./;-)
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Advection
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:30pmThe correct response to Geithner is two copies of the Constitution of the United States of America. One for Geithner and one for his boss.
I’d also send copies to both Reid and Pelosi.
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50Caliber
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:05pmGeithner is a tax cheat, a pawn, a poltroon, and a sock puppet who looks like a Christmas Elf
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zman173rd
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:01pmOkay, raise them, give it a year and then say,” SEEE?!?! It doesn’t work ya morrrrooooones!! They’re using it as an excuse to blame the repub’s for not compromising. There’s more to it than that so give it to them. I’m not saying better them than me cause I’m not rich. I KNOW that, before the year is up they’ll be coming after my $40K income tax bracket. Who are we kidding? Then we can decry the inability of Obama to fix the problem. Until then it will be the conservative’s fault we’re in this lurch. We just don’t know how to play the game. Take to them and keep applying their rules against them. Over a short time the truth will show itself. ( can you tell it’s Sunday, I have my feet up and have nothing better to do than post of five separate articles? LOL! )
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RodT82721
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:58amI hope that voters remember where this so called fiscal cliff came from. It is the result of our elected members of Congress refusing to do their job and write bills and laws that promote the interest of the entire Nation, not just a few lobbyists.
Congress passed “temporary” tax cuts for everyone in 2001 – 2003, but since that included the 1% too, they became known as “Bush’s tax cuts for the rich”.
Now, after 8 years of the left’s screaming mantra of only “tax cuts for the rich”, they don’t want to let them expire because they know, like anyone that doesn’t get their information from the late night comics, these were tax cut for every worker!
The ill-informed are still cheering the class warfare rant of fair share, because they know no different. Thank to our progressive media.
Going over the cliff will wake them up.
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Blacktooth
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:09pmWhen people are over taxed, what do they do?
They go somewhere else for relief. Will the rich, the job producers stay?
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DZ-015
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:56amTimmy needs Lassie’s help to extricate himself from his own verbal dilemma. The republicans don’t have to agree to raise rates on the rich, because that will happen automatically on January 1. Since the ‘crats don’t want to negotiate in good faith over spending cuts, why not wait until after New Year’s to sort things out? The heat will be turned up a lot higher then, and taking the heat is what we are overpaying Congress for right now.
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EqualJustice
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:48amTAXES on the rich, TAXES on the rich, TAXES on the rich…. if it doesn’t fit you must acquit? There is so much more to this than just TAXES on the rich!! So frustrating, this O.J. Syndrome epidemic. Tax payers can not be this stupid. Do they think increases will only be on the “rich” or do they think any increase in revenue will be used to reduce the deficit and not just SPENT? Cutting spending and reducing the deficit must ALSO be a part of any deal. Revenue does NOT have to come just from increased TAXES! Stupid, ignorant Obama worshipers!
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UNALIEN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:54amgood point,, remember if you tax something you get less of it,,,,
Put a tax on stupidity, ignorance and irrationality, the Dems will scream intellectualism…
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OldSurfRat
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:46amI say go over that cliff.
It will weed out the weak and we all know who I’m talking about.
The longer we wait the longer we have to worry. The wait for the fight is always worse than the fight it self. Once you are in the fight you are more focused and have less time to think about it.
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OlefromMN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:45amLet’s do go back to the Clinton levels, taxes, size of government, and spending levels. How’s that Lil’ Timmy?
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CatB
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:55amSounds good to me … let’s see them “live” with those spending levels.
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oneshiner
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:06pmAll this noise from a man who didn’t bother paying his own taxes, little Timmy.
He’s mouthing the words from the White House that are intended to put this Nation into the worst depression we’ve ever known. I still see in my mind the photo’s and newsreel clips from those days.
WE MUST CUT spending on everything that doesn’t depend on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Giving millions to all these entitlements like studying the sex life of the frog, or fire ants, etc. isn’t going to make or break us after eons of doing what they’ve already been doing.
If it has nothing of value for us NOW, cut the dam entitlements. If the world won’t collapse by letting these entitlements go, LET EM GO and worry about our American Values NOW. Now or never!
I don’t trust anything coming from the W.H.
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progressiveslayer
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:44amTaxmageddon will hit just like they planned all along,when they had these rates they set them to expire and guess what they’ll expire,big surprise. The only difference is the government pigs will be adding new taxes to pay for all that ‘free’ healthcare,you know the law that Barry said wouldn’t raise spending one dime. He told the truth it won’t raise spending a dime,it will however bankrupt this country and give us VA healthcare for all.Raising taxes in this economy won’t help one bit in fact it’ll be destructive to the economy but it’ll appease Barry’s simpleton base. They’ll be content in knowing that BO is doing everything in his power to punish someone else to support the worthless federal government pigs feeding at the trough. Timmy pay your taxes,bastard.
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SpankDaMonkey
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:44am.
I Hate Democrates and those who support them……
Hope you all get sick and suffer from Obama Care……………
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The_Almighty_Creestof
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:43amPay attention Paul-bots…though each of us may believe whole-heartedly in what the R’s or D’s are doing, the bottom line is that the R’s are going to vote for the R’s proposals and the D’s are going to vote for the D’s proposals…unconditionally.
If a 3rd party president ever exists, the gridlock will be doubled and will amount to nothing more than 4 years of nothing more than talk.
If you believe in someone who is in a 3rd party, encourage them to join one of the main party’s and then run with their own ideas once elected.
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soybomb315_II
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:53amfix the corrupt election laws if you want a better America
Remember, Gary Johnson ran as a republican candidate but they did not let him in the debates so he ran independent. Very few people want to vote 3rd party, but when you nominate someone like Romney – we have no choice
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1776freedomofspeech
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:36amSeems like it is the democrats that are scared about going over the cliff.
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:35amHas anyone noticed how many members of the administration are making these same claims while Obama remains fairly silent, and on vacation, over the fiscal-cliff matter?
Once again Obama has managed to set a stage where he can claim to have been away on business while the admin negotiated ‘in good faith’ on his behalf, and blame the Republicans as ‘Obstructionsits’ while he and Reid are the real headaches.
So how long until Obama ups the ante and threatens to declare the nation insolvent and refuse to honor our nations debt?
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muffythetuffy
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:42amTHE HOUSE SHOULD SHUT DOWN UNTIL JANUARY
This will prevent Democrats from Lame Duck session tactics and allow Congress to have its first real Christmas break in four years. Obama will make his recess appointments no matter what and the House does not take part in Presidential appointments.
LEAVE WASHINGTON AND TAKE A VACATION.
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oneshiner
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:02pmSNOW: And WHO says he isn’t smart? But not smart the way he needs to be to run this Nation.
Yup, he left the 2faced, tax cheat, Geithner to do his dirty work while he enjoys the beach. Smart! NOT
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oneshiner
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:19pmIn fact, recently, again, I saw the number of those connected with this administration who haven’t paid their taxes. Can’t remember where I saw it, but it’s become so common with them, I just rolled my eyes.
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Tigress1
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:34amHey Geithner, did you pay YOUR taxes yet, or are you hoping the “rich” are going to pay them for you?
Shut up!
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Proud Stray Dog
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:44amNope. He’s still trying to reverse engineer Turbotax.
Geitner, why don’t you take a long walk off the Empire State Building.
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Pontiaku
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:34amThis guy obviously cheated on his taxes and we’re to take him seriously?
He should be in jail, not in a puff piece interview.
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Advection
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:42pmThe only required qualification to work for Obama is to be corrupt.
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M40-A1
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:33amIt’s our money little Timmy, not yours. Perhaps you should pay your taxes before asking us for anymore of our money. May God grant me breathe long enough to see these thieves swing from a rope.
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skytwzzlr
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:32amSince when did Geithner dictate policy. Oh, that’s right Obama is on VACATION>
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:40amExactly, Obama is on vacation, and he can sacrifice Geithner as a scapegoat should it be necessary in the long run.
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CatB
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:59amVacation is the only thing BHO has an aptitude for. Working is like garlic to a vampire with BHO. He prefers to RULE as a puppet dictator.
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jessieH
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:31amA tax cheating Democrat wants to raise taxes. Typical.
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Gregb
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:53pm“Tiny Tim” Geitner is an idot
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Gregb
Dec. 2, 2012 at 12:55pmI should have gone into more detail… someone that can not even use turbo tax correctly to file a proper tax return is an idot!
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UNALIEN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:30am“If Republicans are not willing to let rates go back up — and we think they should go back to the Clinton levels, a time when the American economy was doing exceptionally well — then there will not be an agreement,” he said.
UM.. turbotax TIMMY, higher Clinton era rates didn’t hurt the economy because the economy was benefitting from the internet boom,, the economy wasn’t doing well because of higher taxes… backasswards jerk…
In fact taxes are higher now than during Clinton if you factor in the State and local tax increases since…
So going to Clinton tax levels federally will be a total tax burden, much higher and destructive of the economy.
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rickroland
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:28amHey, Timmeh — go pound sand down a rat hole. Yes, you can quote me on that.
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barber2
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:36amAgree. Or as General MacAuliffe so eloquently once said, ” Nuts.” ( which actually has a much broader application here ! )
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purecolorartist
Dec. 2, 2012 at 11:27amHere is a simple question. How is raising taxes on job creators going to create jobs?
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Gregb
Dec. 2, 2012 at 1:21pmand add to that at least 5 new obamacare taxes…
The House has the power…will they use it?
I e-mailed my representative and I also e-mailed my senators…
I suggest that everyone do the same -
here is what I wrote….
please stop the obama agenda of raising taxes…
no new taxes
reform the titlement spending
and
cut spending!!!!
please work with all of our legislatures to make sure that this socialist does not bully our congress. You guys have the power!!!!
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VanceUppercut
Dec. 2, 2012 at 2:20pm@purecolorartist
You lost me at “job creators “. LOL.
P.S. Google “Study: Tax Cuts for the Rich Don’t Spur Growth”. Here’s a sampling ;
“Cutting taxes for the wealthy does not generate faster economic growth, according to a new report. But those cuts may widen the income gap between the rich and the rest, according to a new report.
A study from the Congressional Research Service — the non-partisan research office for Congress — shows that “there is little evidence over the past 65 years that tax cuts for the highest earners are associated with savings, investment or productivity growth.”
In fact, the study found that higher tax rates for the wealthy are statistically associated with higher levels of growth.”
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Chet Hempstead
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:45pmThey never started creating jobs after we cut their taxes eleven years ago. Raising the rate to what it was for 60 years before that when they actually did create jobs can’t make anything worse.
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UNALIEN
Dec. 2, 2012 at 3:59pm@VANCEUPPERCUT
“In fact, the study found that higher tax rates for the wealthy are statistically associated with higher levels of growth”
Of course, that is because taxes are ALWAYS raised during economic growth. The higher taxes do not cause economic growth and the study does not show this… but it tries to imply this…
Raising taxes reduces future tax revenue to the Government and historically it has been in a tight range around 18% of GDP no matter what the tax rate was..
Thai study is intellectually dishonest as it is represented… further overall taxes, all in, are higher than Clinton era already..
Research Coolidge reduces taxes…
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