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Activists: Army Kills At Least 145 across Syria, Among Them 113 in Hama
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Economy
Obama Got Rolled II
One senior Senate Democratic aide said that averting a default was a victory of sorts for Obama, "but when you look at the emerging details, spending cuts and triggers with no revenue, the president got rolled." After weeks of presidential demands for sacrifice by corporate jet owners and hedge-fund managers, those taxpayers and others can rest easy -- at least for now.
Don't start hiring yet, because The One is not through raising taxes yet.
Some Democrats, too, turned Sunday to questioning Obama's negotiating skills -- asking if he could have avoided the current crisis altogether and maintained a stronger political position. Obama, after all, could have accepted earlier GOP plans that included additional tax revenue -- including one that he was negotiating with Boehner. The speaker, who seemed willing to allow $800 billion in additional revenue, walked out of the talks when Obama asked for more.
Overplayed that hand, didn't he?
Sucking up to the hard Left. Lot of good that will do him.
It was the only jackass horse left in the stable...
Liberals were furious as the terms of the agreement came into focus Sunday, and yet another capitulation by Obama on economic policy threatened to further dampen enthusiasm among the core Democratic voters he will need to win reelection next year.
"Catering to party extremists" - something the pundits will fail to mention because it's the wrong party.
It's good to cater to the extremists of the left, and bad to cater to the 40% of the country that is conservative. Ev'ryone knows that...
The silver lining for the WaPo -
But for a White House eager to improve its standing with centrist independents who have been fleeing Obama, even a losing deal can be a winning strategy.

Obama's big compromise on the debt-ceiling deal was agreeing to a "trigger" forcing across-the-board spending cuts -- including to Medicare and defense -- should the committee process not work.
Punted to yet another bi-partisan committee who can recommend raising revenue.
Many Democrats will be relieved to learn that the automatic cuts would not apply to Medicaid, Social Security and certain programs for low-income families. But liberals had hoped the trigger would include taxes.
I'd prefer manadatory resignations of all involved, but that's just me.
A White House official argued Sunday that the president had another trump card to play: the scheduled expiration of the George W. Bush tax cuts at the end of 2012. Obama would block extension of the reductions, either as a final act in office after losing the November 2012 election or after winning a second term.
Scorched earth, Barry? Either that, or "We Won II -- Get Over It Again"
Even an apparent capitulation by Obama helps present him to voters as a reasonable compromiser doing battle against rigid ideologues, his aides say.
Too bad he didn't compromise last week; he'd of had $800 billion more to spread around.
"In the short term, everyone suffers politically," Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said in a recent interview. "In the long term, I think the Republicans have done terrible damage to their brand. Because now they're thoroughly defined by their most strident voices."
Like Nancy Pelosi.
Obama and his aides insisted Sunday that the president has not given up his fight on taxes.
Oh goody.
The creation in the agreement of a bipartisan committee that will recommend the bulk of the deficit reduction later this year gives the president more chances to apply public pressure for tax increases on the wealthy. "Over the next few months, I'll continue to make a detailed case to these lawmakers about why I believe a balanced approach is necessary to finish the job," the president said Sunday.
I thought he didn't want any halfway measures? He was going to veto anything else? Oh, well, the WaPo already forgot that.
Posted by: Bobby || 08/01/2011 12:44 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A 'balanced approach' is not necessary to 'finish the job' of wrecking the country.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 08/01/2011 13:17 Comments || Top||

#2  And it's only a dupe because some dope scrubbed the first one. [grin]

Sorry, TW, it was too poetic to let it go!
Posted by: Bobby || 08/01/2011 13:29 Comments || Top||

#3  a lot of wishcasting in that drivel.
Posted by: Frank G || 08/01/2011 14:27 Comments || Top||

#4  But it was dopy, Bobby, and I caused you to do extra work, so the poetry is fair. Mea maxima culpa. We can only hope the mortification will keep me from doing it again.
Posted by: trailing wife || 08/01/2011 14:35 Comments || Top||

#5  Too bad he didn't compromise last week; he'd of had $800 billion more to spread around.

Obama doesn't have to compromise if he wins in 2012. The Bush tax cuts expire end of 2012.
Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 || 08/01/2011 14:38 Comments || Top||

#6  Oops. Removed the 'dupe entry' from the title before seeing the comments.
Posted by: Steve White || 08/01/2011 16:29 Comments || Top||

#7  Got Rolled I don't think so. Now here is a blast from the past Bill Clinton said "He pointed to an obscure provision in the 14th Amendment, saying he would unilaterally invoke it “without hesitation” to raise the debt ceiling, “and force the courts to stop me.” That's where this idea came from I believe. So should the deal fall apart look for this back door. Goes back to Civil War era. Business as usual with current plan in my opinion. Boehner now is saying he has the votes. Filibuster possibly in the works.
Posted by: Dale || 08/01/2011 16:57 Comments || Top||

#8  I think we got rolled.

If the automatic cuts go into effect, Defense has to shoulder some 50% of the cuts.

It's currently 20% of the budget.

And we're in five wars.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 08/01/2011 17:31 Comments || Top||

#9  Well, four.
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 08/01/2011 17:32 Comments || Top||

#10  I believe military cuts are an easy target in this groups mind. Monday many in health care were up in arms "We know the [debt] deal will have an impact on Medicare pay to physicians," he said. "We're just not sure how large that impact will be."
It looks like health care is a prime target. People will just have to quit this profession. Education and the many costs of operating as an independent or in an association will be too daunting a task to manage. 70-80 hours a week for what. The government just cuts what they will pay for a service assuming abuse when you have over utilization. So you don't know week by week what you will be paid. Then the kicker rejected because you didn't provide correct information, please correct and resubmit. Other insurance programs fall in line so you can't go there.
Posted by: Dale || 08/01/2011 17:33 Comments || Top||

#11  Looks like the health care people were correct "any cuts to Medicare would be capped and limited to the provider side".
Posted by: Dale || 08/01/2011 17:41 Comments || Top||

#12  I think we got rolled.

Bingo! I think Congress owes us all dinner and flowers, because ...
Posted by: CincinnatusChili || 08/01/2011 19:51 Comments || Top||

#13  The Political Class to the taxpayers:

"You might want to put some ice on that."
Posted by: charger || 08/01/2011 21:27 Comments || Top||

#14  As per CNN + FOX PERTS, a DEBT DEAL THAT CLAIMS TO CUT US$2.4 TRILYUHN OER TEN YEARSS WHILE INCREASING SPENDING BY US$7-10 TRILYUHN ISN'T ACHIEVING, SOLVING, OR REDUCING ANYTHING.

As does a Debt Deal that seemingly "balances" Cuts wid Spending WHILE LEAVING THE ORIGINAL DEFICIT INTACT.

IMO, iff the above Perts are correct, THIS DEAL = "PLACEBO" UPON MAINSTREAM US VOTERS, + IS ABOUT GETTING POLITICOS PERSONALLY ELECTED OR RE-ELECTED COME 2012 US ELEX.

hence cometh ...

* PEOPLE'S DAILY FORUM > US HOUSE APPROVES BILL TO AVERT DEBT DEFAULT, via vote of 269-161.

* SAME > US DEBT CRISIS: DEBT DEAL REACHED BUT [Ratings] DOWNGRADE STILL ON WAY?

* SAME >US DEBT CRISIS: OBAMA"S SHARP RIGHT TURN, in favor of GOP-Right, Conservatives, + Tea Party???

* SAME > US ECONOMY: GDP GROWTH MUCH WEAKER THAN THOUGHT.

* BHARAT RAKSHAK > ANALYSTS: MASSIVE TAX INCREASES IN US LIKELY AFTER 2012 DESPITE DEBT DEAL.

* FREEREPUBLIC > EXPERTS SAY US COULD STILL LOSE AAA DEBT RATING.

AAA = AA, but wid "negative outlooks".

I could be wrong but IMO it strongly looks like POTUS BAMMER is gonna be getting some serious political US, International Lending heat for the next week or two, espec iff the rating goes down to AA???
Posted by: Clart Jones4669 || 08/01/2011 21:54 Comments || Top||

#15  Sorry, last Post is mine.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 08/01/2011 21:55 Comments || Top||

#16  I knew that...
Posted by: tu3031 || 08/01/2011 21:57 Comments || Top||

#17  whoa! no wayyyyy dude
Posted by: Frank G || 08/01/2011 22:16 Comments || Top||


Obama Got Rolled
Yellow highlight does not work like before. It always goes to the top. Internet Explorer.
One senior Senate Democratic aide said that averting a default was a victory of sorts for Obama, “but when you look at the emerging details, spending cuts and triggers with no revenue, the president got rolled.”

Some Democrats, too, turned Sunday to questioning Obama’s negotiating skills — asking if he could have avoided the current crisis altogether and maintained a stronger political position.
I suppose that suggests the Pubs stood their ground and called his bluff.
Obama could have accepted earlier GOP plans that included additional tax revenue — including one that he was negotiating with Boehner. The speaker, who seemed willing to allow $800 billion in additional revenue, walked out of the talks when Obama asked for more.
Mis-played that hand, didn't he.

The deal to trim the federal deficit by more than $2 trillion and increase the government’s borrowing limit contains no guarantee that tax increases will be part of the equation. Obama’s big compromise on the debt-ceiling deal was agreeing to a “trigger” forcing across-the-board spending cuts — including to Medicare and defense — should the committee process not work.

After weeks and weeks and months and years of presidential demands for sacrifice by corporate jet owners and hedge-fund managers, those taxpayers and others can rest easy — at least for now.

Liberals were furious as the terms of the agreement came into focus Sunday, and yet another capitulation by Obama on economic policy threatened to further dampen enthusiasm among the core Democratic voters he will need to win reelection next year.
Yet another capitulation? If he has given up so many times, why aren't we swimming in prosperity?
But for a White House eager to improve its standing with centrist independents who have been fleeing Obama, even a losing deal can be a winning strategy. “Over the next few months, I’ll continue to make a detailed case to these lawmakers about why I believe a balanced approach is necessary to finish the job,” the president said Sunday.

Even an apparent capitulation by Obama helps present him to voters as a reasonable compromiser doing battle against rigid ideologues, his aides say. “In the short term, everyone suffers politically,” Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said in a recent interview. “In the long term, I think the Republicans have done terrible damage to their brand. Because now they’re thoroughly defined by their most strident voices.”
Sorta like Nancy Pelosi as Speaker?

Obama and his aides insisted Sunday that the president has not given up his fight on taxes. The creation in the agreement of a bipartisan committee that will recommend the bulk of the deficit reduction later this year gives the president more chances to apply public pressure for tax increases on the wealthy.
Isn't the public tired of that tune?
Posted by: Bobby || 08/01/2011 06:02 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I guess he signed off on this. When I see he signed then we move on.
Posted by: Dale || 08/01/2011 7:13 Comments || Top||

#2  Obama got what he wanted, a large enough debt limit increase ($2.4T?) to tide him over the 2012 election. The US is still going to run $1.5T or greater deficits for as far as the eye can see.

The greatest driver of deficits, besides the $1 trillion/year Obama Mad Money, is Social Security and Medicare. This year the leading edge of the baby boomers (1946) turn 65.

Births per 1000 population
Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 || 08/01/2011 7:16 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Obama Urged to Invoke 14th Amendment to Bypass Congress
From Democracy NOW! (which advocates Socialism if not Communism) comes this:

Obama Urged to Invoke 14th Amendment to Bypass Congress
The Congressional Black Caucus
A Racist Organization - even it's name is racist - but lets not go there today
is urging President Obama to invoke the 14th Amendment affirming the validity of the national debt as a means to bypass Congress. In his speech on the Senate floor, Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders also backed the 14th Amendment proposal.

Sen. Bernie Sanders:
I bet you can tell he's a Democrat even if DemocracyNow (which advocates socialism) plays Guess-that-Party)
"The Constitution is very clear in saying that the debts of the United States, quote-unquote, 'shall not be questioned.' The president swears an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, and many
not most or a majority mind you - but 'many' which I believe is more than 7
constitutional scholars
Note that Obama is a 'constitutional scholars' and as we've seen in the VP debates of '08 Biden is too (at least in his own mind) - so we know how low that bar is.... but I digress
believe that the 14th Amendment gives the president the authority and responsibility to pay our debts regardless of the dysfunctionality of the U.S. Congress."

Posted by: CrazyFool || 08/01/2011 19:39 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Bernie is actually a Socialst, and was elected with that Party title on the ballot. He caucuses with the Donks, because..well, caucusing with other official Socialists would be lonely. It's a subterfuge, but "cute" to his constituents. Assholes
Posted by: Frank G || 08/01/2011 19:56 Comments || Top||

#2  He caucuses with the Donks,

So if Socialism is like Juice cooties, does that mean the entire Democratic Party is infected?
Posted by: SteveS || 08/01/2011 19:59 Comments || Top||

#3  their behavior would indicate so
Posted by: Frank G || 08/01/2011 20:10 Comments || Top||

#4  A good argument can also be made for a BALANCED BUDGET in the Constitution, wid or widout need for any formal Congressional or Fed statute.

SO WHY THEN, ARE US CONGRESSCRITTERS ROUTINELY DISSING THE CONSTITUTION, AKA "LAW OF THE LAND"???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 08/01/2011 21:59 Comments || Top||

#5  You're have to have a micrometer to measure the difference between Socialist and Democrat anymore.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 08/01/2011 23:11 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2011-08-01
  Activists: Army Kills At Least 145 across Syria, Among Them 113 in Hama
Sun 2011-07-31
  Syrian Generals Desert, Start Neue Armie
Sat 2011-07-30
  'US, Israeli mercenaries' blow up Iran-Turkey gas line
Fri 2011-07-29
  Libyan rebels' military commander arrested whacked by own comrades
Thu 2011-07-28
  AWOL c.o. Soldier Arrested In Killeen Over Ft. Hood Atk Concerns
Wed 2011-07-27
  Security, Army Divisions Join Popular Revolution in Yemen
Tue 2011-07-26
  Arkansas soldier shooter pleads guilty, gets life
Mon 2011-07-25
  Taliban hang 8-year-old boy in Afghanistan
Sun 2011-07-24
  More than two million Somalis out of aid groups' reach
Sat 2011-07-23
  8 Dead in Syria as More Than 1.2 Million March in Hama, Deir Ezzor
Fri 2011-07-22
  Blast rocks Oslo, Norway PM's office
Thu 2011-07-21
  AQAP Announces Allegiance to New Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri
Wed 2011-07-20
  'Death squads' on streets of Homs
Tue 2011-07-19
  Libyan Rebels Claim Control of Brega
Mon 2011-07-18
  Gunmen Kill Senior Karzai Aide, Afghan MP in Kabul


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