GOP leaders set sights on tax reform but fret over newly combative Obama

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

Less than two weeks after Republicans won control of Congress, acrimony over immigration is dampening hopes for cooperation on more ambitious initiatives, with President Obama and GOP lawmakers bracing not for compromise but for combat.

White House officials insist that Obama remains interested in finding common ground when Republicans consolidate their hold on the Capitol in January, with an overhaul of federal tax laws at the top of everyone’s agenda.

Obama has been promising to cut the nation’s corporate tax rate, the highest in the world, for nearly three years. And with a rash of companies moving abroad to escape U.S. taxes, many Republicans see action on that issue as critical to both the economy and their political fortunes in 2016, when more than 20 GOP senators will be up for reelection.

However, lawmakers say that instead of engaging with Republicans, Obama has provoked them on a range of issues, most explosively his threat to unilaterally halt deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants. And instead of starting work on tax legislation that would be politically and substantively challenging under the best circumstances, Republicans are threatening another bitter partisan showdown that risks shutting down the government.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gop-leaders-set-sights-on-tax-reform-but-fret-over-newly-combative-obama/2014/11/16/e52ec090-6c2a-11e4-b053-65cea7903f2e_story.html

[freshwest]

1. They'll try to shut down the government no matter what. They said that earlier this year.

In fact, some of them up there, and their new batshit crazy pals already on the hill, promised their voters they would do it no matter what. Obama's actions have nothing to do with what their Koch masters want. Even if he did nothing they won't work with him.

[joshdawg]

7. Absolutely correct!

[George II]

10. They've stonewalled him for the last four years with only one house, they won't change now.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. If there's one thing the wealthy need right now,...

...it's a tax break. Republicans seem to have a kind of third sense for such matters.

I bet ALEC and the Kochs have been working for two weeks on their Christmas lists, but what gets me is how Barstool Republicans seem eager to play the lowly elves in this get richer quick scheme.

[TomCADem]

3. I Think President Obama Understands That Republicans Are Not Going To Deal

So, let Republicans come to the table with a plan, then sell it. President Obama is the President. Let Republicans actually pass a bill, then try to defend it, rather than sitting on their backside demanding that the President bid against himself. The only issue is whether the media actually explains to the Public that Congress is responsible for passing laws. I can see Fox blaming the President for the lack of immigration bills coming out of Congress, for instance.

On immigration, I think the President understands that Republicans are going to try to have it both ways by doing nothing, in order to please their base, but blaming the President for their lack of action, in order to appeal to Hispanics. By acting, the President points out that there is absolutely no reason why Republicans can't pass immigration reform. Yet, rather than pass immigration, and upset their base, Republicans are responding by threatening to defund the Government.

[Cosmocat]

15. THIS America, is what you bought

in putting these jackasses into power.

I
JUST
DO
NOT
GET
HOW
THIS
COUNTRY
KEEPS
ELECTED
THESE
ASSHOLES

[C Moon]

4. I'll bet the GOP was giddy about impeaching Obama with their new majority...

but now they are a tad cautious, because the President is actually more popular than that "little" election that put them in power;
And I would guess now that they (the Koch Brothers) are going to begin a mud slinging campaign at Obama to bring down his popularity.
Starting in 5....4....3....2....

[7962]

12. They have to know impeachment would be such a stupid move!

[Populist_Prole]

5. "Yay Team" and all, seriously: But I sure wish it was "old-ly" combative Obama

We would be dealing from an increased position of strength now. The republican "mandate" with the hoi-polloi doesn't add up to a pinch of monkey shit, issues-wise: But now that they've solidified their gains via the last election, you have to know damned well they're going to run with it.

[Turbineguy]

6. Repub tax reform

When are people who don't have any money gonna start paying their fair share?

[MillennialDem]

8. Lower taxes on the rich, increase "fees" (the most regressive of all taxes)

[IronLionZion]

9. Diddly squat is going to happen for at least 2 years

until Dems retake both houses of congress, and hopefully still have a Dem president

it would be nice if we could get one more supreme court pick but that is highly unlikely now

[7962]

11. I guess they thought he'd say "anything you want guys"? Ha. nt

[jmowreader]

13. The Republicans have screwed their pooch over this one

Will the Democrats take advantage of it?

Wedged somewhere between the "we must repeal Obamacare" and "if the president does anything we will impeach him" lines, was the "we have to solve Obama's $17 trillion national debt" shit. How, exactly, do you solve a debt problem if the first thing you want to do is cut taxes and the second is to increase defense spending?

[Kingofalldems]

14. Tax reform: Throw a couple peanuts at the working class

and the other 99% of tax benefits got to the wealthy.

Then couch the whole thing as a middle class tax break.

[Cosmocat]

16. It will be some gussied up bullshit

that the halfwits of this country will gobble up ...