President talks tough on MTP

[One of the 99]

“We have been talking to the Republicans ever since the election was over. They have had trouble saying yes to a number of repeated offers,” said the President, according to an advance transcript of the interview. He would add, later: “[S]o far, at least, Congress has not been able to get this stuff done. Not because Democrats in Congress don't want to go ahead and cooperate, but because I think it's been very hard for Speaker Boehner and Republican Leader McConnell to accept the fact that taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up a little bit, as part of an overall deficit reduction package.”
...

The only thing I would caution against, David, is I think this notion of, "Well, both sides are just kind of unwilling to cooperate." And that's just not true. I mean if you look at the facts, what you have is a situation here where the Democratic party, warts and all, and certainly me, warts and all, have consistently done our best to try to put country first."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/president-obama-fiscal-cliff_n_2384230.html

[loyalkydem]

1. Now the panel is getting ready to talk

for the first time I don't want to watch the second half nor do I care for this mornings edition of Up: With Chris hays.

[Evergreen Emerald]

2. Smart move--poor Doris is alone and overrun

Not a democrat on the panel.

[FarPoint]

3. That is typical of MTP failures.

Feels like trap setting to me. Get the viewers and escalate ratings then trash the star.

[Still Waters]

4. I watched a few minutes of the panel

David Brooks made up some cutesy word about the cliff--shamplosion or some such bon mot--my mind has already blocked it. Brokaw piously informed us that $250,000 is not big money in the big cities. He also then stated that "we" (must not be part of his greatest generation) are burdening our children with debt and therefore the President must push for entitlement reform. Yes, those two thoughts were one after the other with not an eyeblink to the juxtaposition. Yes, more tax cuts for the rich but cut SS & Medicare. (Reform is always cut benefits, never raise the SS cap.) Since Brokaw is usually an automatic "click" for me, I missed the rest. I did note that there was no effort toward balance on the panel.

Also, on the Up With Chris show I caught a moment of the Tea Bagger guest crying (not literally) about entitlements, especially that dastardly Obamacare! The pressure on Obama to give in on "entitlement reform" is coming from all directions.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. "$250,000 is not big money in the big cities."

Did any of the panel mention piously to Brokaw that the majority of Americans make far less than $250K?

No.

I watched it.

Talk about out of touch.

[jerseyjack]

5. Horseshit from Obama, again.

"... taxes on the wealthiest Americans should go up A LITTLE BIT...."

That's the problem with Obama. Their taxes should go up a big bit. Not a little bit.

[forestpath]

7. Exactly.

[octoberlib]

8. Did anybody mention cutting Defense? nt