"Gang of Six" Plan?" "Not So Fast," Says Bernie Sanders

[Forkboy]

With a blessing from President Obama and support even from some deficit-hawk Republicans, momentum is building for the ten-year deficit reduction plan announced Tuesday by the "Gang of Six" Democratic and Republican senators. "Can't We All Just Get Along" commentators like the proposal, while headlines declare: "Bipartisan Support Builds for Gang of Six $3.7 Trillion Deficit-Reduction Plan."

---

He is objecting. And he says the American people should join him in challenging a a plan that he says would result in devastating cuts to needed programs.

“While all of the details from the so-called Gang of Six proposals are not yet clear, what is apparent is that the plan would result in devastating cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and many other programs that are of vital importance to working families in this country. Meanwhile, tax rates would be lowered for the wealthiest people and the largest, most profitable corporations," says Sanders.

“This is an approach that should be rejected by the American people. At a time when the rich are becoming richer and corporate profits are soaring, at least half of any deficit-reduction package must come from upper income people and profitable corporations. We must also take a hard look at military spending, which has tripled since 1997.”

http://www.thenation.com/blog/162166/gang-six-plan-not-so-fast-says-bernie-sanders

[KittyWampus]

1. #1. Obama merely said the plan was on the right track. #2. This deal ain't happening anyway

because there isn't enough time as per Reid and Durbin.

[Skittles]

3. how the fuck is that plan on the right track?

PLEASE

[Fearless]

8. +Infinity!

[KittyWampus]

11. They are negotiating.

[Skittles]

15. omg

:rofl:

[bullwinkle428]

16. It strikes me as a weird way to negotiate, when our side is doing it from the right.

[Enthusiast]

32. This is no different than extending the Bush Tax cuts.

Same role playing, same lies all over again.

[fasttense]

47. Yeah, and instead of repeal of DADT he's giving us repeal DOMA.

Be ware, Obama is playing rope-a-dope not with RepubliCONS but with We the People.

Shared sacrifice my ass.

[Jackpine Radical]

61. You're a total alarmist.

Obama will never go along with extending the Bush tax cuts.

Huh? Say what??1?

[Hubert Flottz]

72. Hey,

People had all kinds of doubts about the medical thingy and didn't Obama deliver for the first people he met with?

Edit...You folks are playing checkers, while the president his having a circle jerk with the GOP and he's at the center of the circle.

[SugarShack]

89. He will sign for cuts to the sick and elderly though....

[AlbertCat]

77. This is no different than extending the Bush Tax cuts.

No shit!

And this "Gang of Six" crap.

Why all these committees? Especially on something like this? Remember Rachel did a segment on the "new" thing of debating in little committees instead of, say, on the House floor. You think Boehner could handle this on the floor? I don't. He sux.

[markpkessinger]

17. And, based on past "negotiations," we're supposed to be confident about the outcome?

Give me an effing break.

[Cali_Democrat]

20. LOL

Wuh?

[Lorien]

26. Good Lord; I hope you don't walk on to used car lots

by yourself.

[me b zola]

41. The only thing they are negotiating is who is going to take the blame

:grr:

[russspeakeasy]

57. YES !!

[tekisui]

46. Utter bullshit. It is on the wrong track, started from the wrong point.

It is not salvageable and was NEVER on the right track. It is pathetic the mental gymnastics required to be an ardent support of Obama.

[robinlynne]

22. Thank-you!

[Ichingcarpenter]

36. The 'right track' goes to Reagan city..The 'left track

goes to FDR city....

Make sure you get on the correct train

[midnight]

60. I second that please...

[Recursion]

67. By actually but not nominally raising taxes and cutting benefits

Tax rates will go down, which is the only way Republicans will swallow the fact that actual tax payments will go up. Nominal entitlements will continue to rise, which is the only way Democrats will swallow the fact that real benefits will go down. Free Republic will never accept the first half; DU will never accept the second half. The 80% of the country that thinks we're both loonies can probably come to terms with it.

[dmallind]

78. The first useful and accurate assessment of this deal I have seen her so far. nt

[John Agar]

68. [phone]!

When is the time to stand up? when the deal is already DONE, and we are screwed ONCE AGAIN?

No, the time is now. Thank you, Bernie!

[Hubert Flottz]

71. Well,

If you are a billionaire it is on the right track. I think that's what he means.

[michaz]

6. This deal should not happen because "there isn't enough time". It should not happen

because it is wrong! It is wrong for the people of this country who have already taken enough hits. It is wrong because the wealthy get away without paying their fair share again. It is just plain wrong!

[robinlynne]

23. NO DEAL should happen. ALL that should happen is a rise in the debt ceiling. NOTHING ELSE.

THERe is no reason on earth for Obama to be making deals right now. we had it on a plate. Big Business told the republicans to shut up and pass the debt ceiling raise already. The owners of the country already said it needs to be raised. So why make a deal? A deal just like last December. 75% bad news, then smile about the little bit of goodness in it?

[Forkboy]

10. Bernie is just another lefty who doesn't understand how things get done in Washington, clearly.

[bowens43]

43. yes, Obanma thnks it's on the right track

obviously he wants bigger cuts to entitlements.....he doesn't feel that he has kissed enough con ass yet....

[BlueJac]

59. You must be kidding

[creeksneakers2]

69. What if they

passed a small temporary increase in the ceiling while they work on the gang of six monster?

[lark]

75. Come on now!

How is closing your eyes and wishing real hard working out for you these days? Obama has consistently supported cutting SSI, Medicare and Medicaid - he personally appointed SSI enemies to lead the catfood commission. He brought this up and inserted these into the debt ceiling talks. He personally OK'd keeping taxes artificially low on millionaires, he is the problem. Closing your eyes and wishing otherwise will not change the totally ugly, nasty fact that Obama hurts the working class people and is deep in the corpor-facists hip pocket. His mission seems to be transferring money from our pockets to theirs. Rove couldn't be prouder!!!

[Stuart G]

2. If the details are what Sanders says they are,,,and it

looks like they are, then this needs to be rejected by all of us. I could use stronger language, but I will leave that to others.
k and r.

[jtown1123]

50. We need actualy Dems to oppose this. Love Bernie, but he has zero power in the party

[Raksha]

4. K & R - God bless Bernie Sanders!

I sometimes think he's the only person in Washington who consistently stands up for the rest of us.

[Stuart G]

5. I agre with that, Bernie always cares about the rest of the world,

not the rich and famous.

[xchrom]

7. Recommend

[Fearless]

9. I crunched the tax numbers... the Gang of Six plan CUTS wealthy's taxes...

For more info: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1525277


Tell it like it is Bernie!

[chill_wind]

13. K & R. Thank you Bernie Sanders for staying the message.

eom

[pscot]

14. I guess this means we won't be rolling back

the Bush tax cuts then.

[Fearless]

18. Rolling forward the red carpet is more like it.

:grr:

[Buns_of_Fire]

53. Was that EVER going to happen in the first place?

Oh, and that "temporary" payroll tax holiday that's stiffing SS from funds? IMO, look for it not only to be extended, but joined by a NEW tax "holiday" for the employer's portion (since it was GROSSLY UNFAIR for the peons to be "given" something that the almighty "job creators" weren't).

[Lasher]

19. Thanks, that was a good contribution.

Thanks for linking it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

52. Particularly this observation:

gratuitous (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-19-11 04:21 PM
Response to Original message
3. Please withhold your analysis or criticism until it's too late
At which point, you will be told that you shoulda said something earlier.

[spooked911]

44. THAT'S FREAKING OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!

FUCK THESE FUCKING BASTARDS.

[Stuart G]

12. Let's not let Bernie down, this plan has got to go down...nt.

[Horse with no Name]

21. These little gangs are antithetical to democracy.

They are merely serving whichever master purchased their seat at the table.

[robinlynne]

24. I just sent him a thank-you letter.

[Forkboy]

25. ...

:thumbsup:

:)

[suffragette]

27. Can someone just clone Bernie already and have him run for Senator

in all fifty states?

:)

[Lorien]

28. And the Presidency as well. nt

[suffragette]

29. Yep, I'd love to see him giving the G20 an earful instead of getting on the Austerity bus.

[Bluebear]

33. You said it.

[Recursion]

82. Can you think of a state other than Vermont he would win in?

The problem is voters, not candidates.

[TheKentuckian]

30. "Far left"=sane

[NorthCarolina]

48. "Far left = sane + compassionate" "Centrist = far right = greedy + dishonest + indifferent"

[99th_Monkey]

31. If anyone is in a position to know, with requisit balls to tell it like it is, it's Sanders ~nt

[Octafish]

34. Truth to the powerful.

Bernie speaks for me. Why he's alone in the Senate should be of alarm to all.

[Tx4obama]

35. President Obama did NOT endorse the plan, he hasn't even read it yet.

SNIP

... We just received it, so we haven’t reviewed all the details of it. ...

SNIP

Q: When will you announce whether you will be supporting the Gang of Six plan? Would that be in the next day?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I said, I think what you’re going to be seeing is an evaluation of that plan versus the things that we’ve been looking at. ...

SNIP

President Obama's FULL remarks here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x715551

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Big Vetolski]

51. You really need to stay out of the Texas sun. It appears be having...

undesirable side-effects.

[roxiejules]

87. But...he also called it 'balanced'

"And so I want to congratulate the Gang of Six for coming up with a plan that I think is balanced."

[AtomicKitten]

38. A compromise bill will NEVER pass both Houses of Congress.

If it contains anything about raising revenue, the House GOP will vote no. If it dismantles the social safety net, the Democrats in both Houses will vote no.

This is an exercise in futility. Time is running out, in fact, Dems announced tonight there is not enough time to work out a compromise deal. That is how a clean vote on raising the debt ceiling stand-alone bill is born, and I am hopeful that is the way it goes.

[seabeckind]

40. I wouldn't be so sure

Just look at all the talent we have on our side.

We wouldn't be here today without the unceasing incompetence of our "leaders".

The ones on our side.

[creeksneakers2]

70. Dem Senators are supporting the gang of six monster

Bernie is the first one, elected or in the media, to call if for what it is.

[seabeckind]

39. Bernie one of the FEW on our side

Haven't seen the official "compromise" but I believe:

1. We lose the mortgage deduction -- proportionally I'll bet a whole bunch more middle class benefit from it.

2. The AMT goes away -- proportionally I'll bet a whole bunch more in the upper class pay it.

Yep, seems fair to me :sarcasm:

Oh, and we cut corporate tax rates. If we do that, how will they pretend to pay the higher rate?

Job creators, my azz.

Oh, and I watched Bernie on Big Ed. Ed has to be the dumbest "lefty" on teevee. I live out in podunk and know more about what goes on than he does. And he has a staff behind him -- and a big thick head keeping him from hearing them.

Warner? Conrad? Them, too. Azzholes.

[divvy]

42. Everyone should see this chart

?1311111914964

[spooked911]

45. and what an amazing economy it has given us!

if you're rich, that is.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[swilton]

54. How do we challenge HIM??

Especially if our representatives and senators are not speaking out.

[OwnedByFerrets]

55. You can always count on Sen Sanders

[Somawas]

56. Your mama tqught you all you need to know about shared sacrifice

You cut the cupcake. Your brother chooses his piece.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

58. Every time they come up with one of these "Gang of whatever ". Somebody is going to get fucked

and it ain't the rich.

[KoKo]

64. That the term "Gang of Six" is even used is more than a clue...It's "In Your Face!"

Karl Rovian....cute stuff. Even The Chimp would chuckle over that one.

[Jim_Shorts]

65. Kent Conrad is a far far far right winger

Ignore the fact that he has a D in front of his name. They say he comes from a Conservative district so he has to think that way? Ok, let me see, you go against the wishes of 98% of democrats in the country so that you can get reelected. You can kiss my ass in the county square.

He was very adamant that we not get health-care reform too.

[Hubert Flottz]

73. He's as right wing as Mitch the Turtlehead.

[sulphurdunn]

83. Of course not.

They are the rich and they are a gang.

[ProSense]

62. Senator Sanders:

Defending the American Social Safety Net

[rhett o rick]

81. Thank you for that. nm

[myrna minx]

63. Thank god *someone* is willing to fight for us. K&R n/t

[FlyByNight]

66. K & R

Thanks, yet again, Sen. Sanders.

I guess it only appropriate these 6 are referred to as a gang. Can they be prosecuted under RICO statutes?

[mzmolly]

74. Hoyer just said the same.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/172259-hoyer-no-benefit-cuts-in-entitlement-programs?wpisrc=nl_wonk

K and R. :hi:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

76. Time to hit the phones -

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, DNC head
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

White House
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: [phone]

Harry Reid
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

John Boehner
Washington, DC 20515
[phone]
[phone] fax

Eric Cantor
P: 202.225-2815
F: 202.225-0011

Mitch McConnell
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Nancy Pelosi
Phone: [phone]

On edit:

Here is the Gang of Six to add to the mix:

Tom Coburn
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: [phone]

Mike Crapo
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Kent Conrad
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Saxby Chambliss
Main: 202-224-3521

Mark Warner
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Dick Durbin
[phone] - phone
[phone] - fax

[okieinpain]

79. so with all the back slapping everyone is giving sen. sanders

there is just no way in hell that he's going to vote for anything that doesn't have revenue increases and no cuts to entitlements, right?

[okieinpain]

80. so with all the back slapping everyone is giving sen. sanders

there is just no way in hell that he's going to vote for anything that doesn't have revenue increases and no cuts to entitlements, right?

[pam4water]

84. Go Bernie!

[blkmusclmachine]

85. Conned, robbed, and ripped off:

"bi-partisan-style" :hurts:

[Sadie5]

86. What about our morgage interest deduction?

Are they going to try to rob us of that too???

[RyanPsych]

88. In other words, the Democrats have become Republicans

while trying to appease the Republicans, who have become escaped mental patients and/or Batman villans

[Recursion]

90. The plan assumes both the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and a permanent Medicare doctor fix

That is, the tax reduction is baselined at letting all the Bush tax cuts expire, and the Medicare provider reimbursement reductions are baselined at permanently increasing the reimbursement levels like they have to do every year. An increase in provider rates is being called a cut, and a tax increase is being called a tax break (the "-500 billion" thing is as compared to letting all the Bush tax cuts expire completely).

This is actually a better place than we've been in about a year and a half.

http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/07/20/274271/gang-of-six-proposal-raises-much-more-revenue-than-deal-john-boehner-already-rejected