Kerry is saying that the 'deal is done' IF Bush tax cuts are

[gateley]

off the table.

No link - just saw Kelly O'Donnell reporting on MSNBC.

[vi5]

1. "off the table" meaning.....

The Democrats will go forward if Republicans agree to not demand that they be made permanent?

of "off the table" meaning the Republicans will go forward if Dems agree to not let them expire?

Knowing Kerry and our wonderful Democratic party I think I know what the answer to that is, but figured I would ask just in case.

[karynnj]

3. Off the table as in they are not part of this discussion - so it is the first case

That means that after the agreement, the cuts would still expire at the end of 2012 as currently planned. It is the same thing he said on MTP yesterday.

[closeupready]

2. What the FUCK? So let me see if I have this - Democrats will surrender if the GOP does nothing.

Gawd. :puke:

[JuniperLea]

5. No, you don't have it...

Try not to get so upset over things you make up in your head. It's not healthy.

[malaise]

6. LOL

:fistbump:

[closeupready]

9. Not much to go on here.

nt

[JuniperLea]

12. Off the table = not under consideration

It has always been so.

Not much to go on = All the more reason not to get knickers in a twist.

[Pab Sungenis]

15. No, it's absolutely correct.

Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security have all been put on the chopping block by the committee Democrats, and the Republicans have not offered ONE DAMN THING.

The Bush Tax Cuts are the REASON the deficit is where it is.

[karynnj]

7. No - this is taken out of context

Kerry's entire MTP discussion listed the fact that the Republicans were not really willing to have tax increases used for a significant part of the 1.2 trillion - and they were in fact pushing plans that actually cut the taxes.

Kerry summarized by saying that the reason they could not get a deal was the Norquist pledge and the fact that the top goal was to make the Bush cuts permanent now.

[closeupready]

10. Okay. thanks.

nt

[WI_DEM]

4. Can't dems just let the Bush Tax cut expire naturally?

[karynnj]

8. I think it is the ONLY way they can do it

The Republicans can not filibuster the Dems doing nothing.

I am not optimistic as many Democrats do not want all the Bush cuts to expire - and that requires a bill. If a bill to extend just the lower incomes cuts could not pass when we had the House and 59 Senators, I think it impossible now. I hope the fact that it is not remotely possible leads them to - do nothing and let all of them expire.

[Bandit]

11. apparently not

They used unemployment benefits the first time they were set to expire and I am positive they will find something equally as "Vital" to ensure they remain...

[bigtree]

13. remember the veto threat in August

"If it fails either to produce something or if Congress fails to act on it, you can be sure that the President will honor his promise to veto any legislation that would extend the Bush high-income tax cuts beyond 2012, which would, of course, create nearly $1 trillion in revenue raisers when that happens."

read: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/01/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-812011


White House officials said Obama would veto an extension even if it were coupled with a continuation of cuts for middle class Americans that he supports.

"The president has made clear that if we don't have comprehensive tax reform, he is not going to extend," one official said.

"And those in Congress will have to decide whether or not they will then allow the middle-class tax cuts to expire. Our sense is they probably won't. So, again, I think that's an incentive for everybody."

read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/01/obama-debt-ceiling-deal-bush-tax-cuts_n_914708.html

[MH1]

14. that is what is meant by 'off the table' in a deal.

i.e. the tax cuts just expire according to their current expiration date.

Of course the republicans have been refusing to make a deal UNLESS the tax cut extension is part of it, i.e. ON the table.

[eShirl]

16. surrender now, and trust they'll keep their promise next year?

brilliant