Politics

WSJ Slams GOP for ‘Payroll Tax Fiasco,‘ Says Party Has Lost ’the Tax Issue to Obama’

WSJ Slams Republicans for Not Passing Payroll Tax Extension

The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board came down hard on House Republicans Wednesday for pandering on passing a payroll tax break that would extend cuts to 160 million American workers. The Journal is baffled regarding how Republicans are managing “to lose the tax issue to Obama,” and the board claims that the GOP is becoming an unintentional ally for the Obama reelection campaign team:

“Republicans have also achieved the small miracle of letting Mr. Obama position himself as an election-year tax cutter, although he’s spent most of his Presidency promoting tax increases and he would hit the economy with one of the largest tax increases ever in 2013. This should be impossible.”

A bipartisan package to extend the tax break for two months passed in the Senate 89-10 over the weekend, but was rejected by House Republicans Tuesday. Leaders in the House called for a longer plan rather than what they referred to as a two-month “band-aid.”

The measure that passed in the Senate included a provision demanded by Republicans that pressures the White House into approving construction of a 1,700-mile Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline that promises thousands of jobs. The Senate plan would have provided a two-month extension of the two-percentage-point payroll tax holiday to 4.2% from 6.2%. After passing their bill, Senate members left Washington for the holidays.

The House prefers a separate plan passed by their chamber last week, that would have extended the payroll tax cut for one year, while cutting spending opposed by Democrats and tightening rules for jobless benefits.

The Journal editorial board suggests that the House GOP cut their losses, as they continue to bleed political capital the longer the public tiff with Democrats, and even with their fellow Republicans in the Senate, continues.

“The entire exercise is political, but Republicans have thoroughly botched the politics,” reads the Journal. The editorial criticizes Republicans for adopting the president’s language on the issue and failing to present a unified House and Senate strategy:

“If Republicans didn’t want to extend the payroll tax cut on the merits, then they should have put together a strategy and the arguments for defeating it and explained why.

But if they knew they would eventually pass it, as most of them surely believed, then they had one of two choices. Either pass it quickly and at least take some political credit for it.

Or agree on a strategy to get something in return for passing it, which would mean focusing on a couple of popular policies that would put Mr. Obama and Democrats on the political spot. They finally did that last week by attaching a provision that requires Mr. Obama to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days, and the President grumbled but has agreed to sign it.

But now Republicans are drowning out that victory in the sounds of their circular firing squad.”

The editorial notes that high profile Democrats are all ready pounding the Republicans for internal strife and ‘raising taxes on the middle class.’ Read the entire article here.

Comments (165)

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  • Robert999
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:18pm

    This tax cut will endanger Social Security and Medicare. I am for ending all socialist programs like Social Security and Medicare, but it should not be through bankruptcy. There needs to be a slow, methodical fazing out of all socialistic programs in the US. An abrupt cancellation will leave everyone in the lurch. The kind of disorder that would result in is what the Commie/Democrats want so they can seize total power and impose a Communist dictatorship on America.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:23pm

      So the Dems admit that Social Security “donations” are a TAX! Also the big thing I see in this is the OIL PIPELINE .. 20,000 jobs that Obama and the Dems want to kill!

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:32pm

      .
      Hey WSJ…….
      If a democrat payroll tax cut of two months is good………
      Then why is a republican tax cut of one year bad?

      Obama even quotes what the family will keep over a year,
      but he hates the republicans for proposing a cut for a year.

      Have I entered a parallel universe? Where up is down?

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:34pm

      Chaos… is the Agenda of the Obama Administration… to support his Revolution & Dictatorship… and the Democrat-followers and Entitled buy into the Party Propaganda. Reasoning… does not work with these people… because they cannot Conceptualize the results.

      We are attempting to Defend the System of the Constitution & Capitalism… and Defenders NEVER WIN!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • YOUR NOT GETTING MY GUNS
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:50pm

      @CATB
      They only ask him to consider it not agree to it. It’s as dead as dead can be. These guy’s in D.C. need to grow a pair and start fighting back. I often say about the Republicans, how many times do they need to get punched in the nose before they start to say “ hey that hurts” and start blocking some of the punches. They better start soon.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:56pm

      The House GOP is playing with dynamite right now. Obama will shamelessly demagogue this throughout 2012 if it goes south. My heart is with the tea party freshmen but they really need to understand political strategizing. Obama was against the ropes…he would have been forced to veto the Keystone pipeline in the bill and explain why he won’t allow 20,000 jobs to start up almost immediately.

      Report Post »  
    • Sibyl
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:07pm

      EXACTLY, SECRET SQUIRREL! This Democratic liberal administration occupies a parallel universe, an alternate reality, where up is down, good is bad and bad is good, wrong is right and truth is lie.

      They project their feelings onto others, calling us hateful and intolerant when they are the ones who are feeling hatred and unwilling to tolerate any disagreement or dissent.

      Remember they called the Tea Party and returning veterans criminals and terrorists, but love the Occupy movement with its violence, drugs, make excuses for real criminals and terrorists.

      Report Post »  
    • diamondlil222
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:08pm

      Is there a website where a list has been made of all of the Senate and House Repubs who are up for election in 2012 and how they have voted? A movement needs to be started to vote these people out. The less progressives the better!

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:22pm

      WSJ is right… Boehner is doing a great job of making Obama look like a great man here. All Americans are hearing is “obama wants a payroll tax cut for our citizens, and republicans are saying no”, they don’t care about particulars or specifics. It makes the house look (even more) useless and lost. Boehner, do you think you are looking “tough” and sticking it to barry? Barry is laughing all the way to re-election.

      Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:27pm

      Btw Robert999… Totally eliminating social security and medicare is ret@rded. First of all, senior citizens vote in larger numbers than anyone, anyone voting for destroying those programs, would certainly be voted out of office, quickly. Second, if we have trillions to burn on wars in the middle east, we can certainly take care of our own sick and elderly. Use your head buddy.

      Report Post »  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:11pm

      @SECRET SQUIRREL
      Can you read? The point of the article was how the republican’s missed the boat, politically speaking, to make the very point you just made in your post.

      Report Post » SimpleTruths  
    • TJinNJ
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:33pm

      WSJ Showing True RINO colors

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:14pm

      I watched the entire play. Front to back. It was theater on all 3 sides. GOP. POTUS & communist democrats.

      All 3 used the U.S. tax payer for political capital.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • We are Americans
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:52pm

      The article is right on
      I really dont think they know what they
      are doing. Snatching defeat from the jaws
      if victory. The point of the article is that
      the Republicans in the house and senate
      should be working from the same page.
      What happened to the pledge to not allow
      any tax increases? I don’t think you all
      understand how incompetent they all look
      to most Americans. In less then 10 days every
      democrat running for election will be able to
      say the house broke it’s pledge to not
      raise taxes. And worse. On middle class
      America. Gonna be bad

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:59pm

      Based on the conclusion that the WSJ “Knows” what it is talking about, I guess, we can blame them for not predicting the economic crisis of 2008. Since they thought it was all BS.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • robert
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 9:56pm

      Republicans keep getting their butts whipped, because they don’t have any expertise in psychological warfare.

      They’re in managerial mode with no fire in their bellies.

      We need a third party.

      Report Post »  
    • Callie369
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:13am

      Employers must deduct 06.2% from employees pay for social security. For 2011, congress voted for a “tax holiday” and reduced it to 04.2%.

      This 2% is what they are now fighting over. Obama is claiming this will raise people’s taxes by $1,000. That is true for those making $1,000 per week. And the $19 they will save each week is hurting social security because the 2% is not going into the trust fund. That on top of the money not going in from the 8%+ unemployed (or the 16% unemployed/quit looking).

      Republicans are fighting now for this “tax holiday” to be extended by a year. What they SHOULD be fighting for is letting the holiday expire and going back to the regular rates!

      Report Post »  
    • TheCoffinMaker
      Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:34pm

      Boehner is a drunk.

      Report Post » TheCoffinMaker  
  • RodT82721
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:13pm

    Stupid is as stupid does! Even that lovable liberal Sen. Simpson has this figured out.

    First the only reason payroll tax (FICA) is a ‘tax’, is the same reason Obamacare is un constitutional! You can’t force free men to buy something they don’t want! But you can ‘tax’!

    So we are down to the clown debate, 2 months and then 10 months or 12 months now? Which are you for? Who will win? Who cares???

    The unspoken of course is that this great, economy saving, ‘tax’ holiday is also the only source of revenue for that other lovable government program, Social Security/Medicare! That’s why even the unfortunates, that 47% that are excused from funding the gov operation through income taxes, have to pay too! So the clowns in Washington have it all figured out!

    They are going to pay for this Holiday by – – stand by – - By those big revenue generators Fannie and Freddie! By raising the cost of a new home mortgage, a big boost for the on-it’s-back, housing industry!
    Is it any wonder we are on the brink of bankruptcy?
    $15 Trillion in debt and growing by the minute, while Congress argues over who’s going to pay for future SSI benefits.

    Report Post »  
  • Sam Brown
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:59pm

    MMMMM Wall Street, is your money safe?

    http://barnhardt.biz/

    Report Post »  
  • Kerri g
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:55pm

    again, this is all about $40. 2 month extension. Really? Employers can’t even get ready to do this two month extension in 2 months. It was all a ruse in the first place. If our president is fighting a pipe-line that would created thousands of jobs, that should be the story, not saving $40 in two months, period. This is all a bad dream and I hope it ends in 2012.

    Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:03pm

      $40 per paycheck~$80 per month.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • AxelPhantom
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:11pm

      The real reason they are fighting it is that the 1 yr house version would require those who are getting unemployment checks to pass drug testing and have at least a high school diploma, GED or be working towards one. The Senate removed those requirements, they just won’t say it because most of the American people would be for the new requirements.

      Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:59pm

      Spare us your piousness TIFOSA. You look forward to the day of nationalized health in this country where EVERY tax paying American would have to pay far more than $40 a month from their earnings.

      Report Post »  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:34pm

      Why is the House working and the Senate has gone home ?
      If the Senate is called back to Washington over this who will
      pay for their travel ?
      I don’t believe it will come out of their pocket but it should.

      Report Post »  
  • Bruce_Almty
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:46pm

    Not to worry,,,,,,,the house and senate will pass something sometime and make it retroactive to Jan.1.

    Report Post » Bruce_Almty  
  • Ruffus
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:41pm

    DON’T YOU ALL GET IT?? They are doing this on purpose. The Tea party movement awoke too many of us – they need to stem the tide…..halt the momentum – if any of us pulls a lever for anyone NOT 110% supportive of the U.S. Constitution, States’ Rights, and ETHICAL/MORAL behavior (look at their voting records), it’s our own fault…..STOP BEING SO NAIVE and look passed the facade…..Boehner is one of THEM….It’s US against THEM and last time I looked, there were 220 million of US, and only 516 of them! LOCK-N-LOAD!

    Report Post »  
    • schroeder123
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:52pm

      You got that right on !

      Report Post » schroeder123  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:51pm

      My guess, nobody will run overtly on a (now exposed) teaparty agenda. TEA=TheyEmbarrassAmerica If they do, they’ll go the way of Joe Miller, Ken Buck, Christine O’Donnell, Linda McMahon, Sharron Angle, Carly Fiorina….

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:40pm

      Is that what you “guess” TIFOSA? So we’re just to ignore the GOP “tsunami” in the house of the 2010 mid terms that was inspired by the tea parties? It was the biggest GOP house victory in nearly a century and the numbers are so robust that it will take several election cycles to reverse it. Any GOP candidate will be measured in their approach it’s just good political sense. They know have to court independents as well as disgruntled soft democrats.

      Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 4:34pm

      Yes, dear, and now we have seen the destruction that the 2010 tsunam-tea has caused, including the downgrade, maybe payroll tax increases for 160M Americans.

      Report Post » tifosa  
  • matinva
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:39pm

    Now comes the news that the WSJ is also clueless. Just because you‘ve been around a long time doesn’t mean you have any smarts. The Democrapheads have been so busy playing with themselves they have missed the freaking billboard that was presented to them by the 2010 mid-term election. There is another election coming that should put these clowns in a box long enough for us to get some real relief. How embarrassing it must be to be a liberal and have your party being run by a bunch of abject frauds.

    Report Post » matinva  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Not to mention but the two month extension would cost businesses programming costs and the possiblility that by the time they get it going .. they would have to change it back as before. They need to stop playing around with a month or two here and there .. and then threatening to shut down the government ( which might just be the BEST THING) … come up with certainty that businesses can PLAN with!

      Report Post »  
    • IMPEACHBHO
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:03pm

      Please, don’t poke any holes in the box.

      Report Post » IMPEACHBHO  
    • lildrummerboy
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 4:28pm

      @CATB..I agree and the only people that care about the gov’t shutting down are the people that have become dependant upon it….sadly some of them are not by choice…

      Report Post » lildrummerboy  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:35pm

      Now comes the news that you are delusional. The 2010 elections were an anomaly (Walker recount is purring along way ahead of schedule) and you can expect a big course correction in 2012.

      Report Post » SimpleTruths  
  • America,loveitorleaveit
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:38pm

    A few thoughts on the war in Washington regarding the Payroll Tax Reduction. While the reduction from 6.2% to 4.2% sounds good, the time frame under which it is to apply is absurd. Let me explain. The two months are January & February, the payroll tax system operates on a Quarterly basis and the Quarterly Form 941 is filed by April 30th for the first Quarter. If you have a reduced rate for the first two months of the quarter and an increased amount for the 3rd month (and if they can’t agree on a reasonable time now what makes you, in your wildest dreams, think they can do it later?) just try to imagine the accounting and reporting issues that will arise on April 30. The Form 941 would have to be drastically revised and approved by the IRS, sent to all the commercial tax package suppliers and printers and that is a process that takes months.
    Next, the accounting procedures would be a monster, not every payroll system in the country operates on a monthly basis and if you have a payroll period that ends on March 7th for instance, part of that payroll would have one tax rate applied and part would have another rate. Now we are being forced to go from the ridiculous to the absurd to the downright impossible due to the child like Congress we have. What is proposed by the Senate and the President can not work. PERIOD. The House, The Senate and the President have shown their outright distaste for all businesses by this proposal. It simply will not work just like our Government.

    Report Post »  
    • America,loveitorleaveit
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:43pm

      This should tell you how much the WSJ knows about accounting and the business world.

      Report Post »  
    • Oh, God!
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:55pm

      Rush just finished talking about this. There are so many questions and no one is willing to ask them. Who is going to pay for this once the cuts expire? Won’t this mean that down the road, taxes will be increased to make up for the lost money from this cut? How will this help the economy? Will this not hurt Social Security and Medicare since they are part of the FICA tax? This is not a tax cut,just made to look like one.

      Report Post » Oh, God!  
    • booger71
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:07pm

      This is not a tax cut people. It is the libs and Rhinos, just giving back some of your own money, and then paying for the lost Social Security revenue out the the General fund with money created out of thin air.

      Report Post » booger71  
    • wem_n325
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:23pm

      This hits the nail exactly, this plan is unworkable with almost all the payroll tax packages I have ever seen. Ask anyone who knows how payrolls are processed

      Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:26pm

      Will (and did?) Rush ask those questions about the Bush tax cuts? Maybe to get answers he should read about the process: where Bob Casey started with S.1917, the concessions to the Republicans that caused tax breaks for businesses to be ditched in the interest of protecting the wealthiest, the time frame change (the one year would never have passed the Senate Repubs…) My guess is that Rush knows and can’t defend the Repubs role in this.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • stuartr44
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:27pm

      It always amazes me how downright stupid the permanent political class is. Republican or democrat they all need to go!

      Report Post » stuartr44  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:38pm

      STUART, very true.

      Report Post »  
    • Oh, God!
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:49pm

      @TIFOSA-I was asking these questions not Rush. He just happened to be talking about this at the start of his show. And if you go back in his archives, you will find many examples of him attacking the Republicans on many issues. But if you don’t listen to him and use moveon.org as your source of info, hate to break it to you, but their facts are false.

      Report Post » Oh, God!  
  • jrcowboy49
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:35pm

    Senators, Do Your Job and Get to Work

    Posted By Mike Brownfield On December 21, 2011 @ 9:30 am In Entitlements | No Comments

    On the front page of the White House’s website [1], a clock slowly ticks away, second by second, counting down to the day, hour, minute, and second that the nation’s payroll tax “holiday” expires and the American people get socked right where it counts — in the pocket book. And just next to that clock is a message laying the blame squarely on the House of Representatives. But today the real culprit in this debacle is the U.S. Senate which, right now, is home for the holidays already, celebrating with family while Washington sits in a stalemate.

    In a rare appearance in the White House press room yesterday, President Barack Obama reiterated his message [2], blaming Washington’s inaction on “a faction of Republicans in the House” and their “refusal to cooperate” with the Senate — as if it’s the job of Members of Congress to go along and get along for the sake of advancing the President’s agenda, regardless of whether it’s the right move for America. As a reminder, this is the same President who has not met with House Republican leadership in five months and is now praising the grand accomplishment of a Senate that has failed to pass a budget for nearly 1,000 days under Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) direction.

    As you might not be surprised to learn, there is, of course, more to the story than the President

    Report Post »  
  • junior1971
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Merry Christmas!

    Report Post » junior1971  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:32pm

    Boehner & o’Connell are two big-spending Republicans who went crazy, ******* away our tax dollars from 2001 through 2006.

    They have alway proved the point that winning an election doesn’t necessarily make you smart.

    These guys should be voted out in the primary campaigns, along with most other Republicans. Get people on the ballot that want to fix our problems – not just get re-elected.

    Report Post »  
  • Unix
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:31pm

    See the Repubs in congress are villified for wanting to extend a tax break from 2 mos to 12 mos, yet there is no compromise at 6 mos, this is not right. We need a flat or fair tax, even the drug runners would have to pay it – based on commodities – EG a TV, Car, radio, food…blah blah

    I stand with tem, as the band-aid goes both ways, in order to compromise, they have 6 mos, what then? still no REAL cuts, pffft…these people in DC are p_ss_g in the wind.

    Viva TEA

    Report Post » Unix  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:04pm

      It is a sad joke that there is even a proposal to alter the tax code for just two months. It is a blatant attempt to maintain the status quo without accomplishing or facing up to any of the real problems that we are facing. Anyone with a quarter of a brain could figure that out, and the fact that so many people, WSJ included are falling for it is more than a little depressing.

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • CLG 4
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:30pm

    Well it sure looks like the WSJ needs to raise some cash during the christmas season. take a opposing view and sell some papers. How shallow

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:29pm

    I agree with the WSJ on this. Obviously, the entire year’s tax rate needs to be addressed. But by doing this, the House GOP is raising our taxes right now… and this was after getting concessions from the Dems.

    I helped vote in some of those representatives. I’m VERY angry that, in an effort to play partisan politics and score points (which is why I vote against Democrats), the House GOP is now hitting me in my wallet. This is not what I voted them in for.

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:35pm

      They should stop spreading the lie this is a tax cut, it’s playing games and sealing from social security and our children. Cut income tax 35% across the board if you want to help the economy, don‘t further bankrupt and lie that it’s a tax cut.

      Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:42pm

      You nailed this LOCKED, but welcome to the Teapublicons. They want to attach all kinds of junk (to “pay for this”) and hold this tax cut hostage. On the other hand, when it comes time to continue the Bush tax cuts, 4% on the wealthiest, they want to continue them UNPAID FOR.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • travlman77
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Not true!! how can businesses like mine plan anything! They are killing people like me and my business and confusing my accountant and enriching tax attorneys just so you can live the illusion that they are letting you keep a couple of your on dollars Wake up America!!

      Report Post » travlman77  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:48pm

      The “tea party” should have backed libertarians to get into congress, not these statists.

      Report Post »  
    • IMPEACHBHO
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:54pm

      @ LOCKED AND TIFOSA
      My dear socialist moles, piss off.

      Report Post » IMPEACHBHO  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:01pm

      TRAVLMAN, if you own a business that depends on the middle class having spendable cash, you should want this $80/month in their pockets, not going to the govt.

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • travlman77
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:34pm

      TIFOSA
      I do, thats why it should be permanent not a two month “political game”

      Report Post » travlman77  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:36pm

      The Teapublicons will NEVER make tax cuts for wage-earners permanent.

      Report Post » tifosa  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:28pm

    1% income tax for all, close all foreign bases (if someone wants to crew with us or our allies, we can get ‘em from here), and place a salary cap on polititians.

    Report Post »  
  • tjefferson.lives
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:26pm

    The game has always been. Keep the American people fighting each other, while we in government walk hand in hand to Tyranny!!!!

    Report Post » tjefferson.lives  
  • steve-in-pa
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:23pm

    The liberals should be mad at the fact there has been no budget for over three years. Twenty bucks a week gets swallowed up by rising gas and food prices thanks to the printing presses going full bore. The most unfriendly business administration ever in my opinion. Business needs stability before they hire.

    Report Post » steve-in-pa  
    • IMPEACHBHO
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:30pm

      Liberals with a budget?? ROFL!

      Report Post » IMPEACHBHO  
    • SimpleTruths
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:40pm

      Gas prices have been on a steady decline for nearly a year – you need to come out of your cave.

      Report Post » SimpleTruths  
  • AlmostaCowboy
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:22pm

    Has the WSJ hired a bunch of ex-NYT’s writers?

    Report Post » AlmostaCowboy  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:19pm

    The Senate & Obama push for another EZ pass Continuing Resolution. Approaching 1,000 days without budget. Deficit out of control. Insanity!

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • COFemale
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:15pm

    Was I hearing things, but didn’t Obama ask for a one-year tax break and it was the Senate that came out with the two-month to stick it too Republicans? So who is playing who now? As far as I am concerned this is Democrats baby and they need to get rid of Harry Reed. His ___________ is getting to big for his britches and needs to be taken down a notch.

    Frankly, let it go back up to the 6.2% and more money come out of your paycheck. Then tell the American people Democrats wanted to give you 2 months and we were seeking 12 months. Even the President called for a one-year tax break and Harry Reid went against him serving his own agenda.

    Frankly, if the Congress keeps up these tactics, I afraid someone is going to take things into his own hands and there will be some assassination attempts and successes on both sides.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • CatB
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:14pm

    Two months .. kicking the can down the road .. or one year … and an oil pipeline .. WSJ has this WRONG .. just because the Dems own the MSM doesn’t mean that they are right. Republicans need to get their side out .. THE WSJ could have helped .. instead they play into the Dems and Obama… SAD.

    TEA!

    Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Other than the surplus during the Clinton Presidency. Presidents (including Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.) have been kicking the can down the road towards the cliff. Reagan pushed the federal deficits over $1 trillion and the Bush bros. added another $9 trillion to it. While I appreciate laying the blame for the $1.2 trillion go forward deficit left by Bush Jr. on Obama, the fact is this issue cannot be solved with repeating political rhetoric. Even Tea Party rhetoric. The only way to get the fiscal house in order is to cut every aspect of the federal government equally to cover half of the current annual deficit, including defense. The other half should come with adjustments to the tax code which return it to a progressive tax system. Reductions for super high wage earners and elimination of corporate tax credits and corporate welfare is a good start. As far as paying down the deficit, that should come from a tax surcharge, earmarked for deficit payoff, on those corporations and individuals who benefited from the excess spending that contributed to the deficit. Defense contractors, big pharma, bailed out banks and the corporations ripping off the government in Iraq is a good place to start.

      Report Post »  
    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:56pm

      In the last 72 years: Annual Job growth Avg. by DEMOCRAT presidents= 3.6%,
      REPUBLICAN presidents= 1.1%
      Debt increase by presidents:Reagan 186%, Bush 54%, Clinton 41%, Bush II 72%, OBAMA 23%
      Make a case for voting Republican?

      Report Post » tifosa  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 3:14pm

      The fact that so many people are falling for this blatant political trick makes me question just how intelligent the average American is. If you can’t see this for what it is, just another political game that accomplishes nothing, then I seriously doubt you can be counted on to make the hard choices when the country’s bill comes due.

      Why do they think it is only designed for two months? So President Obama and the Democrats can use it to leverage more of what they want out of Republicans in an election year, and it makes a great one-liner for the lemmings. (See miss TIFOSA above)

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • dsm
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:14pm

    I don’t understand what the republicans are doing. They aren’t going to get the senate to come back for another vote. They don’t let the 2 month extension go through, they will be finished in 2012.
    I don’t like the idea of only a 2 month etension either, but the republicans are going to get anymore,.

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    • CatB
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:21pm

      No they need to stand up to the THUGS in the Senate and White House …

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    • COFemale
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:22pm

      If they only go for 2 months it also kills the pipeline portion. This is Democrats way to renege once again on bills that come before them. This is my understanding anyway. This will not hurt Republicans as long as they get out the reason behind the 12 month time frame versus 2 months. Do you honestly want to bank on 2 months and then zero at the end of the two months and have the Pipeline killed totally?

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • Lord_Frostwind
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:16pm

      The President is setting them up for a Xanatos Gambit. If they give him the two month extension, then he will use it again it two months to put them in a position where they have to A. Follow his social and political agenda in order to continue the Tax Cut or B. Will force them to lose the Tax Cut in an election year where he can then use that to campaign against the Republicans in Congress and the President. It seems bad to not go with this plan, but that’s the point, they are being walked into a trap and the American People and Public Opinion are the bait.

      Report Post » Lord_Frostwind  
  • cemerius
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:13pm

    Senators Corker (R Tn), Demint (R SC), Johnson (R WI), Kirk (R IL), Leahy (D VT), Manchin (D WV), Moran (R KS), Sanders (I, VT), Sessions (R, AL) Shelby (R, AL) and a pathetic showing of abastaining Rand Paul (R, KY). Yep, all of them did the right thing and voted NAY on this 2 month extension BS!!! Marco Rubio and Scott Brown the darling “new guys” voted YAY for this 2 month band aid!!!! Laziness is my thoughts of this…..Yeah ITS the Republicans fault because they are supposed to do EVERYTHING the Democrats tell them to do so we can call it compromise!!! Thank these 10 senators for voting correctly and make sure the OTHERS feel the heat too!!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
  • lukerw
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:10pm

    4 year ago… if anyone wanted to Cut FICA… every Social Security advocate would be up in Arms! SOCIALISM has gone Crazy!!!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:28pm

      Not to worry .. Obamacare will kill those paying now off before they can collect anything. As for those now .. they are going after them also …

      “HHS has quietly told neurosurgeons that those over 70–called “units” by HHS instead of “people” or “patients”–will not be eligible for brain surgery, even if in distress! Instead, they will be allowed only “comfort care”–in other words, doped up until they die. An outraged brain surgeon called national talk host Mark Levin to blow the whistle. Here is the leading edge of inevitable, cold-hearted and long denied rationing under Obamacare. Whatever is decided by the Supreme Court, we, the PEOPLE of the USA will have our own version of “comfort care” at the ballot box.”

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    • tifosa
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 2:25pm

      Aside from the accusations by the anonymous “Jeff” is there any confirmation that there’s any validity to those allegations CATB?

      Report Post » tifosa  
  • JLGunner
    Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:08pm

    I just want to know whats bundled in this bill.

    Report Post » JLGunner  
    • cemerius
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:16pm

      Taxing the “rich” instead of cutting spending THAT is the biggest difference in the two!!! Not too mention the tax “year” is a year long NOT 2 months!!! The Senate especially the Republican Senators are now at a negative approval rating for me almost as low as the Democrat ones!

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • msconstrue
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:41pm

      my thoughts exactly! this is a repeat of the “christmas gift” americans got last year in the form of obama-care and we still dont know the full extent of that nightmare.

      maybe a nation-wide recall effort is in order…for all of them. send them back home to live with and abide by the decisions they have made for the rest of us.

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    • JLGunner
      Posted on December 21, 2011 at 12:44pm

      I find it more than insulting that even when we now whats going on here, barack still comes out and spews garbage from his sewer knowing he’s lying. I heard Pelosi repeat over and over and over how its the “radical tea partiers” that are causing alll the problems. I never knew believing that my right to life liberty and the persuit of happiness was such a radical idea?

      Report Post » JLGunner  
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