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(UPDATED) Latest on Fiscal Cliff: President Cuts Vacation Short, House Won’t Reconvene, and Now Reid Gives Up (and Uses the Word ‘Dictatorship’)

Dec. 27, 2012 1:14pm Becket Adams

UPDATE — The House adjourns, won’t return until 2:00 p.m. ET, Dec. 31:

House of Representives convenes for 10 minute pro-forma session. Then adjourns till Monday at 2pm.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 27, 2012

Despite repeated assurances from U.S. lawmakers that they would do everything in their power to avert the so-called year-end “fiscal cliff,” congressional officials said Thursday they knew of no significant strides toward a compromise and no negotiations have been set.

In fact, it appears that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has given up on all attempts to find a solution, saying Thursday that a lack of progress in bipartisan negotiations will most likely put the country over the “cliff.”

The Nevada Democrat says it’s up to congressional Republicans to come up with a plan that both houses would pass and President Barack Obama would sign. Reid says of missing the Dec. 31 deadline to avoid the fiscal cliff, quote: “it looks like that’s where we’re headed.”

Sen. Reid also accused Speaker John Boehner of running a “dictatorship” by “not allowing the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want.”

“They’ve done nothing,” Reid said of the GOP-controlled House. “The speaker has just a few days left to change his mind,” Reid said, but added: “I don’t know time wise how it will happen.”

After conferring on a conference call Wednesday, the House Republican leadership said they remain ready for talks, but gave no hint they intend to call lawmakers back into session unless the Senate first passes legislation.

“The lines of communication remain open, and we will continue to work with our colleagues to avert the largest tax hike in American history, and to address the underlying problem, which is spending,” the leadership said in a statement.

The Senate is due in session Thursday, although the immediate agenda includes legislation setting the rules for government surveillance of suspected spies and terrorists abroad, including Americans, as well as a measure providing $60 billion for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Meanwhile, President Obama decided to cut short his Hawaii vacation and took an overnight flight that brought him back to the White House on Thursday.

After weeks of negotiations, the president urged lawmakers to agree on a plan that calls for raising taxes on the “wealthiest Americans.”

“Everybody’s got to give a little bit in a sensible way,” he said at the White House.

The House has no plans to convene, following last week’s rebellion in which conservatives torpedoed Speaker John Boehner’s legislation to prevent scheduled tax increases on most, while letting them take effect on million-dollar wage earners.

“How we get there, God only knows,” the Ohio Republican said of efforts to protect the economy — and taxpayers — from the tax increases and spending cuts.

“We have a spending problem. We have to address it, And we’re not going to address it by kicking the can down the road,” the speaker said at a news conference late last week when he was asked about setting a vote on a plan that Democrats find acceptable.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Featured image Getty Images.

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Comments (155)

bluehen
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:14pm
@HOBBS57

You’re too stupid to even speak. Do you know what private equity is? Do you know what Bain does? Let me break it down for you. I worked for bain out of my undergrad and guess what, they aren’t in the business of helping broken companies, or save the working man you dullard, it is about maximizing profits for the investor. Taking out debt in the companies name all the while taking in crazy management fees etc etc. You speak of what you don’t know and just look like a fool. It is all about money in pe. now sit down and eat your cheerios kid.

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- RaydocX
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:30pm
  poor CyanoticBird, loosen the leash the trollmaster has on you and get some oxygen to those remaining brain cells…
  
  profit for the investor and saving companies are NOT incompatible… in fact, a failing company with a solid product and poor management can grow and make even MORE money if the right management team takes over, a la Bain.
  
  And even if the parent company partitions or sells off portions of the purchased coporation, some jobs are saved, and the end result is the continued function of at least some of the core business, vs bankruptcy and closure… What percentage of workers have to keep their jobs for you to justify an acquisition as being successful, because YOUR President has us at conservatively 13-14% total unemployment, worse than when he took office, so your cries seem a bit hypocritical.
  
  Harry Reid won reelection by some ‘miracle’ and has remained a blight on any progress in DC since… Remember he was the one championing ‘new’ ways to filibuster after losing control, and after frowning on the same when he held power…
  
  Hypocrisy, thy face is Liberalism.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:36pm
  LOL….yes HOBBS..and BLUECHICKEN is so successful today that he can troll all day as both ETCHYSKETCHY and BLUECHICKEN on blog boards. See what that “undergrad” tenure got him?
  
  Apparently making a profit in venture capital is a no-no to BLUECHICKEN. Let’s tell the “folks” (Obama’s favourite word next to “unprecedented”) at Staples how mean and awful Bain was to them.
  
  Guess what here;’s a surprise..some businesses fail and their assets have to be liquidated..and some can be saved, remodelled and go on to make profits. Venture capitalism isn’t in the charity business, it’s in the profit business. But BLUECHICKEN didn’t learn that part while an “undergrad” during his imaginary tenure at Bain. Bain is a business that’s in business to make profits..apparently that’s a bad thing to BLUECHICKEN the champion of piety on the Blaze. LOL.
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:39pm
  By the way BLUECHICKEN…why can’t Obama make Harry Reid vote on a budget in the senate?
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:47pm
  Let’s all go over that Cliff together ! One way to get rid of a few Commies in Washington – Heck – We are willing to sacrifice those phony Conservatives Boehner and Cantor to take a few Commie-Crats down ! Reminds of that guy in the movie riding the A-Bomb down , waving his Cowboy Hat and Cheering !
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 4:16pm
  Blue chicken is a blue light special.
  
  Report this comment
- YAHSHUARULES
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 5:09pm
  TO SocialistSlayer there are more then a few Commies in Washington: Most powerful block in government “Congressional Progressive Caucus” has chairmanships on most committees and are tied to either Democratic Socialists of America or to Communist Party Usa.
  
  THAT IS THE TIP of the iceberg of the cancer that is rotting America – If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…
  
  Do you know who theFabians (with logo of wolf in sheep’s clothing), SDS, Frankfurt School and Willi Munzenberg, John Dewey , Antonio Gramsci, Mattechine Society, Alinksi (who dedicated his book “Rules for Radicals to Lucifer), which Obama taught in Chicago for years, Committees of Correspondence are? Connect all the dots that allowed Obama to waltz into the White House…
  
  All part of the Agenda to create an America so corrupt it stinks and to drive this culture in a direction designed to destroy it. If you don’t know all this you need to find out! I have watched it 12X to absorb all that is in it!
  
  This is the most comprehensive, best movie I have seen pulling all this together. Watch it. Share it. Arrange a showing in church, groups, clubs, with friends or family. Everyone who loves America needs to see this movie,
  It is free on line for the moment
  
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  
  Report this comment
- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 6:16pm
  GOOD!
  
  The House is doing exactly what we voted them to do. Democrats are powerless without our money and when that money is no longer available they will be face down in the gutter. I cannot wait to jump on the back of their head when they are sucking in gutter slime.
  
  Report this comment
- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 6:20pm
  WHERE IS THE PRESIDENTS BUDGET?
  
  The GOP House should plan vacations to Hawaii if Obama will not submit a budge as the Law Requires. If there isn’t any budget then we need not pay any income and federal taxes. If we keep the money we can provide everything that the Federal Government provides for a premium. Only the 47 percenters want a Federal Government. The rest of us say, take this Government and shove it.
  
  Report this comment
- Platonician
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 6:39pm
  Lol man, last week you were a marine, just before you were a pastor, then a Jewish holocaust survivor, a WH intern, a Palestinian refugee, etc. Now you say you worked for Bain…
  
  In fact you are a mythomaniac, a pathological liar, probably unemployed. LOL
  
  Report this comment
- rawmilker
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 9:41pm
  The Blaze is eyeball deep in bull$h!t from BLUEHEN where he is paid to divert issues on forums, to mock people, to marginalize & infiltrate the discussion….typical commie tactic…
  
  Report this comment
- scarydave
  Posted on December 28, 2012 at 1:53am
  I have always wondered who it is that pays people like BLUEHEN to spend their days, and nights, promoting left-wing propaganda.
  Seriously, does anyone know how to get a gig like his?
  
  Report this comment
- Trigus
  Posted on December 28, 2012 at 7:54am
  We should probably go over the cliff – the country is already divided – Workers, and Tax payers vs couch potatoes and hand outers – (you people with the hand out keep electing the same individuals who keep you down)
  
  “Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master.”
  Dwight D. Eisenhower
  “Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature…. If the next centennial does not find us a great nation … it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
  James Garfield, the twentieth president of the United States, 1877
  
  Report this comment
Mandors
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:03pm
Got give Boehner some credit. Barry the Idiot was coming back to look good. (Then again, who could stand to hang with Moo in a bath suit that long?!) But Barry does comes back, and Boehner says “stick it.” Not a big fan, and Boehner will pay for it, but any time anyone tells Barry the Moron to Eff off, is awesome.

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- edcoil
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:09pm
  Who cares what people make – the 14th amendment should guarantee the government treat citizens equally. This entire progressive income tax should be un-Constitutional!
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:42pm
  Look..stop kidding yourselves. Obama wants all the tax cuts to expire. Obama’s end game is getting the house back to the democrats in 2014, he doesn’t give a d@mn about the economy or who the tax hikes will affect. In fact as a community organizer he made it a point to aggitate others and get them angry at someone else. This is all Obama knows how to do. This is all political for Obama he couldn’t give a toss about the tax hikes, in fact higher taxes across the board is something he’d love to have.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:59pm
  Still wondering the House can’t simply pass a bill that states that the Cliff will be postponed 6 months. The Cliff is not a constitutional mandate. Pass a bill, put it off six months or a year. Go home. Let the Senate and WH own the cliff by vetoing the legislation that gives more time for negotiation.
  
  Report this comment
- ninja
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 7:42pm
  Boehner deserves NO credit. It’s the tea party conservatives who told Boehner to “stick it’ and cry-baby boehner just passed along the message to Obama.
  
  Report this comment
taintso
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:02pm
Reid gave up years ago, perhaps he should bring to vote all the bills on the floor around his desk he won’t even read.

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- NHwinter
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:32pm
  Reid uses the Alynski method and blames the Republicans for exactly what the Dems do.
  
  “They’ve done nothing,” Reid said of the GOP-controlled House. This from a man who hasn’t passed a budget in three years, who sits on bills and says he wouldn’t even bring them up. He is a lying, useless idiot. When you have leading political figures in the Democratic party (Reid, Pelosi, and Obama) lying all the time I think we can say evil is their source.
  
  Report this comment
schroeder123
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:55pm
The best thing that could happen for Obamamama is to go over the cliff.

All those new taxes, like a pig in Hog Waller,

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- rickc34
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:07pm
  The fault lies with Obama , Ried and Pelosi….kicking the can drove us over the cliff.
  
  Report this comment
- Popp40
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:08pm
  Come on Schroeder123…you are giving Obama’s supporters to much credit. They aren’t intelligent enough to figure out it was his fault that we went over the cliff. Obama and the media will blame the Republicans and the Tea Party and his supporters will lick every word he says.
  
  Plus, mark my words….Obama will come riding in on a “White Horse”…oh wait I better say a “Black Horse” (I don’t want to be labelled a racist by saying “white hourse”) and save the day. And the MSM and his followers will fall to their knees and worship him as though he was God…
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:15pm
  The cliff is an artificial mechanism brokered in an attempt to force an agreement to deal with the debt and deficit. There is little stopping the House from just kicking the can down the road to allow more negotiating room and to push the fiscal cliff past the ceiling debate. Just pass a bill that redefines the deadline date, and let it go to the Senate. Killing that bill makes the Senate and WH look like they want the cliff, and then they’d own it.
  
  Report this comment
- JacquesChirac
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 4:45pm
  “Never let a serious crisis go to waste”
  
  Hmmm…Jamie Foxx’s lord and savior gets more revenues and gets to blame it on the Republicans. And you know the lemmings won’t let nobama claus down come the first Tuesday in November, 2014.
  
  If the USofA isn’t buried by then, it will be once the Dems own two branches of Congress outright. And you just know that a few of the “conservative” SC justices will have to be replaced by then…
  
  We need a song…the animals had one on Animal Farm…we need one, too…
  
  Report this comment
- Quester55
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 8:06pm
  Strange, How your president can take another Vacation (#23?) while our Nation goes to hell in a hand basket! If His Government is WORKING over the HOLIDAYS, That Lazy S.O.B. should have been on the job as well!
  AS for the LIE that the GOP has done nothing, we all know that is a LIE. We offered several Ideas to his UNHOLINESS & each & every time he has Rejected the Plan. He wants the REPUBLICANS & the rest to ” Compromise “, To HIS WILL or get Screwed. Look at how the Newly Appointed DICTATOR has Gone Back on his Word on Gun Control & Plans on FORCING ALL GUNS to be Registered & all Clips that hold 10 rounds Plus, Too follow suit. MARTIAL LAW, HERE WE COME!!!!
  
  Next we’ll see the Homeless, Poor, Disabled & Retired rounded up & fed one last meal, On this earth! My Faith is Strong in JESUS, I Hope yours is Just as Prepared !?!
  
  Report this comment
crusaderx9
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:52pm
The scrawny aging dictator has to cut his VACATION short to do his job. B F D!

This has been going on for OVER a F’ing year! They’ve had OVER a year, and now we are supposed to believe that its another end of the world crisis that requires another atrocious sell-out-the-American-public deal.

We are well down the road to ruin and simply cannot sustain existing spending. Confiscating a few hundred billion from the remaining private wealth of a select demographic WILL NOT solve our demise.

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- Gorp
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:00pm
  “The Nevada Democrat says it’s up to congressional Republicans to come up with a plan that both houses would pass and President Barack Obama would sign. Reid says of missing the Dec. 31 deadline to avoid the fiscal cliff, quote: “it looks like that’s where we’re headed.”
  
  NO matter what the House comes up with Reid and Bummer will reject it. So what’s the use of trying to come up with a plan? It won’t get accepted by the Dems no matter how close it comes to their plan. That is unless the Republicans totally give in, cave and make a plan that goes hand in hand with the Dems plan. Either way WE the people lose and that’s what Bummer wants in the first place. Then he can blame the Tea Party and Republicans.
  
  Report this comment
- hauschild
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:00pm
  Neither side wants no deal because it coincides with their myopic vision of governance – they want to stay employed and it is much better to pass awful bills than to do nothing at all.
  
  I mean this stuff is getting so easy to read that it borders on completely ridiculous.
  
  Report this comment
- nrse2go
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 7:13pm
  dittos!!
  
  Report this comment
hauschild
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:48pm
You fools are only perpetuating the sham.

Yawn.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:55pm
  Exactly Haus. All this fecal cliff stuff is just a dog and pony show to fool the masses. What a joke.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:12pm
  Elaborate?
  
  Report this comment
- hauschild
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:57pm
  I’m tired of it.
  
  It’s one thing to be exposed to this for the first time, but if you’re of a certain age and have any amount of intelligence, you know how this game is played and we know how it ends.
  
  I’ll admit, however, that it does take a fair amount of self-discipline to avoid this topic completely. Unfortunately, media outlets are about the last rung on the ladder in terms of exhibiting that characteristic.
  
  I’m just amazed at the continual coverage year after freaking year after year and watch in horror as people become glued to the story (that has the same cast of characters, same plot, same outcome, same everything) – almost as if it is a phenomenon never before experienced….please!
  
  On one hand, many on our side wonder how a Marxist got re-elected. Judging by the staggeringly high interest in this charade, it isn’t hard to figure out why. We’re freaking idiots!
  
  Report this comment
- bertr
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:59pm
  Overall maybe with the 5-10 year outlook perspective, but this one hits home now, I believe we’re all looking at about $280 a month less in our paychecks starting January if you’re middle class.
  Even though that’s not much versus the bigger picture and the freedom of humanity which is slated for termination, that drives me bankrupt in about 6 months(assuming they don’t reverse it somehow which they will) unless i take personal action
  
  Report this comment
Excomunicatedmarine
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:44pm
Gave up ? Fire the bastard.

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- schroeder123
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:53pm
  Amen Brother
  
  Report this comment
- Hobbs57
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:55pm
  Yes America, don’t elect a man who has spent his life working out deals and fixing broken company’s … No, instead re-elect the same moron who has proven to you he has no ability to negotiate, fix anything, or even manage a fast food joint for crying out loud. I like the idea of going over the cliff. All that we are witnessing is a bunch of crooks trying to protect their resources, OUR money !! Let them try an land a prime real-estate pay-off doing favors with out any of OUR money to fund the deal. I wish the cuts were steeper. Barney Frank got out because he could see the writing on the wall, no more favor or payback money for him …. Thank goodness for the guys we elected in 2010. Stick to your guns boys … You will get re-elected , don’t worry, we will support you !!
  
  Report this comment
- GuruMeditation
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:00pm
  Right on! Along with Feinstein. DO YOUR JOB OR STEP ASIDE!
  
  Report this comment
Robert999
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:42pm
The reason Obama passed this Fiscal Cliff law is to destroy America. He knows that if we go over the cliff it will bring about a depression, just like the depression FDR created. The reason Democrats want depressions is to make America into a Communist slave state.

They weren’t able to totally do it under Roosevelt, now it’s their second chance. We all will become slaves to a Communist state government that is controlled by the Soviet Union (Russia) if Obama succeeds.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:02pm
  Just have the house pass a bill that says, “The date for the XYZ in Bill ABC is extended to Jan 1 2014″ or if they are feeling ballsy (which I doubt) they could say June 30th 2013. Six months more breathing room. The Cliff Legislation is not a constitutional mandate. Then send the house home. Force the Senate and WH to veto legislation that specifically would have granted more time for negotiations. Then they own the cliff.
  
  Report this comment
- revron
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:27pm
  Robert999
  Democrats said we need revenue and republicans found $1.2 billion in closed loop-holes. When they presented it to Obama, he said he didn’t want revenue, he wanted tax rates raised.
  It’s not about balancing the budget, it is about sticking it to the doers and redistributing their wealth to the users.
  America can’t become 1 with a 1 world globalists, humanists, socialists state till 2 things happen; we lose our superiority economically and our soverignty. This is Obama’s strategy.
  
  Report this comment
- NHwinter
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:37pm
  Bankrupting America is an impreachable offense accourding to the Constitution.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:29pm
  @NHWinter, If you think you can get Reid to allow the Senate to try him, or get anywhere near the votes then it might be an option. However, unless it is a sure thing, the House won’t even try. They’ll be labeled racists for trying, thwarting the will of the people, et al.
  
  Report this comment
- Gregb
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 7:00pm
  by Harry Reid not allowing votes on any bills sent to the senate by the house and obama blocking all ideas – Reid is being the dictator and covering for obamas ultimate plan to raise taxes on everyone.
  SMOKE AND MIRRORS…..
  reid has already started the blame game… obama is going to escalate it.
  
  Report this comment
kat747
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:42pm
Oh Harry, don’t give up.
Just ask Barry what he wants to do and do it.
That’s what these stall and delay tactics are all about, aren’t they.
And, try doing a budget….finally.

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BlackCrow
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:40pm
No budget in almost four years, no proposal for spending cuts and he best they can do is raising 8 days worth of operating capitol by punishing the very people who create jobs and drive the economy. Harry Reid is an incompetent hack, Brack Obama is in so far over his head it isn’t funny and the news media are blaming the only adults in the room.

Now Diann Finestine wants to take our guns? Are the inmates in charge of the asylum?

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:15pm
  They have been for quite some time…
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:40pm
We HAVE a SPENDING Problem ! Where is Tom Coburn? Where are Committees that should be convening daily with press conferences on WASTE? There must be at least 1 Trillion is WASTE in the budget EVERY Year. Washington is Drunk on Borrowed Money and Saudi OIL. The whole system is Broke and Broken. They are doing nothing but protecting each other and their jobs. They are consumed in corruption. Worse than Mexico! They are insane.

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- ranepowel
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:48pm
  We do have a spending problem. Cut the defense. Cut it to the bone.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:59pm
  The budget definitely needs to cut into defense spending, although if you completely eliminated National Defense (one of the primary functions of the Federal Government) they would still be spending more than they take in by hundreds of billions of dollars.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:08pm
  ranepowel
  
  We do have a spending problem. Cut the defense. Cut it to the bone
  ***
  We borrow 40 to 50% of every dollar spent, then cutting defense completely will not solve the deficit or the debt problem.
  
  Do you know what the Quadrennial Defense Review is? I think not because you are college age?
  
  Are you proposing that we go back to the time when Americans were routinely kidnapped & enslaved? Is that what you want. Do you know the history behind the stanza in the of the Marine Corps Hymn to “the shores of Tripoli”?
  
  Report this comment
- annieoakley
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:29pm
  Exactly! This whole stupid Fiscal Cliff is a distraction. The fix is in to happen right at the big holiday time of the year. Reid et, al got just what they wanted and right at the time they wanted the cliffy thing to come to a head. We are screwed big time and maybe for a long time. This is SHTF with no where to go but down.Repubs gave up a long time ago, now they just roll over and say–my bad.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:37pm
  ranepowel
  
  Read the book “The Pirate Coast” by Richard Zacks. It is 380 pages & rather longer than a You Tube video.
  
  You see what a cut t the bone military gets you.
  
  P.S. In the 1880s or 1890s the Kaiser wanted to invade America over a incident between the 2 navies that took place of the coast of Samoa.
  Would we have prevailed? Maybe. Probably. How much would we have lost by looking weak in the 1st place? Choose you defense spending wisely.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:44pm
  “The Samoan Crisis was a confrontation between the United States, Germany and Great Britain from 1887–1889 over control of the Samoan Islands during the Samoan Civil War. At the height of the confrontation three American warships, Vandalia, USS Trenton and USS Nipsic were wrecked along with the three German warships SMS Adler, SMS Olga, and SMS Eber. The six ships confronted each other in a tense standoff over several months in Apia harbour which was monitored by the British warship HMS Calliope”
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoan_crisis
  
  The Kaiser considered sending 400,000 troops to occupy NYC & the local region. He felt that he could do so considering the size of our military. The general staff pointed out the lack of enough transport & possible British interference & he was dissuaded.
  
  Report this comment
- scarydave
  Posted on December 28, 2012 at 2:31am
  Drastically cutting Defense spending is the dumbest idea I have heard in many years. Could we find ways to save money in Defense appropriations? Sure we could, and we should. But cutting-to-the-bone is suicide. I would much rather see cuts across the board for ALL social services. I’m not talking about cutting-to-the-bone cuts, I’m talking about logical cuts to programs that simply replicate what 9 other agencies do.
  One area where WE COULD cut-to-the-bone is the money we give away to foreign countries. This figure is in the billions and is nothing but bribery money that goes down a rat hole and at times only funds our enemies.
  Anyway……….. If you want to cut out Defense spending by using a chainsaw I suggest you have your young uneducated brain looked at. Immediately!
  
  Report this comment
Winedude
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:39pm
If going over the “fiscal cliff” is the only way to cut spending, so be it. The cuts are despicable to both sides, so there must be some benefit to them. There is at least half a trillion wasted in both the Defense budget and the administration of the “entitlement” programs (even though most of us paid in to both SS and Medicare and THOUGHT we were buying something to help in senior years) which also includes “food stamps” or whatever the electronic program is called. I have no sympathy for employees who get laid off as a result of these cuts. They have known that the cuts were coming for at least one year and have done nothing. They were foolish to believe their rep that the cuts would be removed in the future. We don’t need any damned weapons to keep fighting the “cold war” and far too much of the Defense Dept budget is full of them. Even the armed forces don’t want some of what is appropriated. IKE was correct in alerting us to the evils of the “Military-Industrial” complex.

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- Robert999
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:44pm
  Cutting the defense budget will leave us to the mercy of the Muslims, Communists and Socialists who are in control of the rest of the world. America is the Only Free Nation still remaining. We must be ready to Fight for Our Freedom.
  
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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:53pm
  @Robert, make sure you define freedom before claiming that. There is quite a long list of “Except for” (and “as long as”) on that list of freedoms we assume we have, and that “Except For” list seems to get longer every year.
  
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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:08pm
  Guys
  
  Even with the so called draconian budget cuts for the military, we will still be able to defend ourselves. We will still be the most powerful military in the world.
  
  Report this comment
RoDogg
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:38pm
I am worried because Americans are stupid. It will be like gas prices or the frog in the boiling water bit…… Americans will just get used to it like 3 – 4 dollar a gallon gas.

we should never be OK with high gas prices or sales and state taxes but the sheepie just get used to it and go about their life more concerned with getting the newest thing or posting a picture of themselves on facebook etc…..

Case in point … Californians don’t believe you when you say texas doesnt have a state income tax or oregon doesn’t have a sales tax etc.
they get used to it and really think its the norm.

So, IMO, going over the cliff is a double edged sword. It might wake people up but its more likely that the sheepie will just become institutionalized to higher taxes like they become with everything else.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:06pm
  We just need a state or even a small region in a State with no property taxes.
  
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- JacquesChirac
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 5:01pm
  RODOGG – so true, so true, so true. This won’t change ANYTHING!!! The sheeple will still wake up on Jan1, Jan2, Jan3 with their hands out without even realizing what they have lost – or how much they are owned…
  
  Wouldn’t you just love to hear comments from the Founding Fathers now???
  
  Schya! They’d just be drowned out by lemmings like that person telling us all about her obamaphone…
  
  “Four legs good. Two legs baaaaaad.”
  
  Report this comment
mcdiddy
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:36pm
Mark my word…..Crisis…..here comes an Executive Order to save the day and further down the tube we go.

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- mrunner
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:47pm
  An executive order would need to implement a budget that has not been passed by congress. That would be a monumental abuse of power and would CLEARLY violate the separation of power. It would be blatantly unconstitutional. Maybe at that point enough would wake up to his abuse of power and impeach him… Ok, I know- just a pleasant daydream. The ObamaZombies would support such an action by this Vacationer and Chief.
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:35pm
As stated above in the story.
Sen. Reid also accused Speaker John Boehner of running a “dictatorship” by “not allowing the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want.”
Now, that is truly funny coming from Reid. Just who keeps the senate from voting on anything that has ever come out of the house during his reign? Oh, okay a very few bills did make it through when Nancy In The Sky With Diamonds was Speaker, but only then.

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- GeorgieJo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:43pm
  HARRIET REID?
  Where is THE BUDGET?
  You are the dictator–you pompegranite cowboy.
  HOW many desks do you have?
  FULL of BILLS while you snack on popcorn and watch the movie LINCOLN with Speelberg.
  Have a brain scan and a nice day.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:48pm
  GEORGIEJO, LOL, and well said.
  
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- GeorgieJo
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:37pm
  RJJ?
  Did you recently recommend a book on The Blaze?
  It was about 2 weeks ago. If you did—please recommend again.
  Lost my notes where I wrote down title.
  Thanks—GJ
  
  Report this comment
- M40-A1
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:58pm
  Agreed. Where is McConnell? He should be screaming from the rooftop everyday for Reid’s impeachment and removal. No budget in 4 years and very few, if any Bills coming to the floor thanks to the little coward Reid. I believe the time for finding a rope and a tree draws near.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 4:05pm
  GeorgieJo
  
  Senator Kirk had a stroke. It was public knowledge & his progress has been publicized.
  
  Harry Reid is rumored to have had a stroke.
  
  The press treats Republican & Democrats differently.
  
  How many Democrats die from the diseases of old age in office when their heirs pry their cold dead hands from their Senate desk?
  
  I hope is McCain runs for Senate again he switches parties to Democrat or runs as an independent.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:35pm
Ah yes our fearless leader cuts short his Hawaiian vacation to save the serfs I mean Amerikans from all those taxes. Barry will never leave campaign mode and his racing in to save the day,his narcissism won’t allow it. Our taxes are going up no matter what the lawbreakers in DC do or don’t do,how do you expect to pay for socialized medicine? Increasing taxes on the ‘evil’ rich to a worthless progressive like Barry is erotica,he probably can’t believe his good fortune with the timing and all right after his installation to give the simpletons the impression that he’s rolling up his sleeves to get to work for the Amerikan people.LMAO Folks it isn’t four more years of this disaster because the damage he’s done is irreversible,our fate was sealed when SCOTUS aided and abetted the fraud in chief with his socialized medicine Ponzi scheme.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:03pm
  Actually it all started in 1913 and that’s what bums me out the most. 100 years they have been doing this and the people have never stood up once and i’m sick of seeing or hearing about some oathkeeper BS. We our not going to do a damn thing……
  
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EqualJustice
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:34pm
Reid “gives up” on what? He was never going to do anything but let us go off the cliff anyway. He just wants to blame Boehner and Republicans. He’s a lazy good for nothing and in 2014 I will do everything in my power to take the majority away from him! Can’t wait for our side to have a ‘revenge” vote! At least we have been wronged and are entitled to revenge.

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- chips1
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:44pm
  Wouldn’t it be easier to kick Reid down the road? Better yey, kick him over the cliff.
  
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- ranepowel
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:47pm
  How’d that go in 2012. Oh. Right. You lost seats in the Senate.
  
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l8e9x
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:31pm
The real stupidity in this Democrat “over the cliff” mess resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and the Senate of the United States. Neither the White House or the Senate were serious in doing anything about this mess. It was all created by Obama and his minions in the Senate to bring this country down permanently. Oh, would you please pass the bananas please?

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:38pm
  The whole “Over The Cliff” mess is exactly what the Democrats voted for in early ’93. Known as the Clinton Tax Hikes. This was manufactured by the Democrats in the first place. Its theirs, they own it lock, stock, and barrel.
  
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MrSunshine
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:27pm
I know you are but what am I? Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah!

These overpaid professional swindlers need to grow up and do what they were hired to do. They represent us! They need to be held accountable by us! The hypocrisy is stunning as usual.

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- naughtycal
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:38pm
  EFF them they need to pack their bags and carry a55 …WE DON’T NEED THEM AND WE DON’T NEED THIER DICTORIAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
  Our country was designed to be fifty seperate states in which all forms of social programs and economic theories could be attempted if the citzens of that state wanted to try it. What works in Cali. might not work in Kansas we were never meant to be governed by a federal government …fact is the only reason there was a Washington is for defense….NOTHING MORE.
  
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- MrSunshine
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:44pm
  I think I can go along with that!
  
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Micmac
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:26pm
In fact, it appears that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has given up on all attempts to find a solution
———————————-

And what is it he has done besides say he won’t allow bills to come to the floor?

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:26pm
NOW Reid is saying we have a spending problem, and making the claim of Boehner being a ‘dictator’ and thus the source of all their problems in getting the fiscal-cliff and debt-ceiling matters solved.

The real source of all the problems is with the stubbornness and obstructionism of Obama and Reid, to ensure we go over the cliff, and weaken the Republicans to the point of no return.

Look how Reid is trying to claim the moral high ground, to appear at the last minute as ‘desperately trying to save the nation’ from the fiscal-cliff as is Obama trying to appear busy with the same. We are seeing the end game of Obama and Reid fully in hand, and I can expect that this weekend or shortly afterward, we will see Obama use an executive order to take control of the debt-limit and seize more and more power into his own hands.

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Popp40
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:26pm
Obama flies back to Washington……marketing stunt to make it look like he cares and the MSM will buy into this and fool the low informational voters aka stupid voters.

Reid “gives up” come on Blaze….that would mean Reid was in it in the first place and we all know he wasn’t.

I hope everyone is enjoying the dog and pony show….I for one am tired of it and it is time that our “elected” officials start representing us and stop dictating to us….

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:44pm
  0bama is not dumb on this action. He is back in campaign mode working to keep the Republicans from expanding in 2014. He knows that the democrat plans will make things worse and especially what 0bamacare will do. He and others are trying to set up the Republicans to look even worse for the 2014 elections. The trouble is, it could actually work.
  
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- Walkabout
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 4:07pm
  RJJinGadsden
  
  You nailed it.
  
  Report this comment
mrunner
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:24pm
Pantry full, power dry, over the cliff we go. The ObamaZombie Apocalyse is soon to follow. You ready?

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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:26pm
  And may this come back to bite Obama and Reid and the democrats hard in the end.
  
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- DadRocked
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:41pm
  encinom – I decided quite some time ago not to bother with you and your writings…
  But I concede…
  “More like the lemming Tea Baggers”
  I have heard this example in different forms stated… My question, and I’m serious/curious as to a intelligent description/definition of a ‘lemming Tea ******’?
  
  Again, I am curious…
  
  Report this comment
- MrSunshine
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:43pm
  Yes encinoMORON, you are sooooooooo right. Your stunning intellect astounds us all. I’m in awe of your insight and wisdom. Are you on Twitter? I think I’d like to follow you there. Every day you provide more knowledge and culture, which proves to be invaluable to those of us who are ill-informed. The sophistication of your expertise is remarkable. I will seek your wise council and illumination of facts that are beyond the grasp of us Tea ****** rubes. So, thanks for being here….
  
  ….douchenozzle!
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:46pm
  ENCINOM, That strikes me as so odd that you would refer to the Clinton Tax Hikes of ’93 in such a manner. There was no TEA Party back then when your hero did this to us. Blame the root cause how about it?
  
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- mrunner
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:53pm
  I choose to ignore Enema. When the dust settles, it will not have survived anyways. Do right by you, your friends and family. Remember the Ant and the Grasshopper fable? Enema is the Grasshopper- won’t be around when things get tough…
  
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- booger71
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:01pm
  More like the lemming Tea Baggers rush for the cliff taking the GOP, the Speaker and maybe the rest of the country with them.
  ======================
  A plan was passed by the House and sent to the Senate, but harry won’t let them vote on it. Why Encinomom
  
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- LoveMyFreedom
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 2:06pm
  encinom… it’s too bad there is no cure for stupid… you’re out of luck.
  
  Report this comment
- civilwarcometh
  Posted on December 27, 2012 at 3:18pm
  @enin: I think you should start to worry about yourself. You know what happen to the last group of usefull idiots? http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2012/12/27/FBI-Occupy-Movement-A-Potential-Terrorist-Threat Ask a russian….
  
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- Fubared
  Posted on December 28, 2012 at 9:28am
  Encidiot, the original Free ******.
  
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Micmac
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:21pm
Too little. too late. Just a political move with no real intent. Sincerity went out the window when he left for Hawaii.

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DougHuffman
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 1:20pm
” while letting them take effect on million-dollar wage earners.” My mind boggles at the thought of a million-dollar WAGE. Or have we reached Wiemar Republic economic status? Already, so soon, I hadn’t noticed.

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