Landrieu is worried because the 2014 Senate map looks almost as bad as the 2012 map did for Democrats. The senator will likely be challenged by two-term congressman Bill Cassidy or perhaps even Governor Bobby Jindal, although the latter may be more interested in a run for the presidency in 2016. There are at least 10 vulnerable Democratic Senate seats going into 2014, and since neither party is covering themselves in glory during the fiscal cliff debate, Democratic senators don’t want the backwash from a failed deal to hit them as they go into campaign mode next year.
Politics aside, there is the economy to consider, and taking hundreds of dollars a month out of the paychecks of the average American by not keeping the middle class tax rates in order could prove to be a disaster if no deal can be reached for several months. And while blame will likely fall mostly on Republicans, Democrats are not going to reap much in the way of a reward because voters will rightly see all parties bearing some of the blame anyway.
Harry Reid knows this, which is why the most likely scenario now is an up-or-down vote on a much-reduced fiscal cliff package:
On Saturday, Reid and McConnell traded a flurry of offers, but sources close to the talks said they were still far apart from a deal. They plan to continue to negotiate through Sunday before briefing their respective caucuses in the afternoon. If no deal is reached, Reid will put a plan on the floor on Monday to raise taxes on families who earn more than $250,000, extend jobless benefits, patch the Alternative Minimum Tax and prevent doctors who service Medicare patients from seeing their payments slashed.
But Republicans said Saturday they doubted such a plan could pass the House, meaning Congress could very well conclude the year’s session without a deal to avert the fiscal cliff.
If this were an episode of 24, Jack Bauer would dramatically break into the room where Reid and McConnell are negotiating and torture them until they came to a deal. “There’s no time!” Bauer would exclaim over and over again.
In that, Bauer can be forgiven for understating his case.
More: Senator Graham on Obama Cliff Stand: ‘He Won’
The idea a revenue bill originating in the more-aristocratic Senate, our version of the English House of Lords, could be used to pressure the House of Representatives into functionally raising taxes–despite a clear majority of the House desiring not to do so–would not have been approved by the Founding generation. Of any stripe–Tory, Whig, Federalist, Anti-Federalist. None of them.
I want the people of America to know that Barack Obama hates one group of Americans so much that he is willing to wreck the lives of millions of others so as to get “revenge” on that group. for any revenues raised from that group will be but a drop in the bucket compared to that needed to pair income to outgo. It thus makes little rational sense. We need to cut spending. We also need to love all Americans, especially those who make it happen, rather than giving into the deadly sin of envy.
The simple fact he was just re-elected by an overwhelming victory, is simply not a factor and no reason NOT to call for impeachment, because You do not agree with his thinking. I got to admit, you`ve got some BALLS. You are THE man to give the final verdict on an elected official.
“dismantling and removing our rights one by one”. What rights have been removed since January 2009?
“out of control spending that will destroy our economy for decades to come”
Oh you mean the expensive wars Bush started? Or the financial collapse that started in the summer of 2007, BEFORE Obama was inaugurated? Under Bush presidency?
Ramming gun control etc. What kind of gun control has been started since january 2009? NOTHING AT ALL!!!
Bengazi scandal and murder? You mean Obama committed the murder in Bengazi. OK, with that logic Bush was responsible for the murders on 9/11, right?
“NO meaningful action on unemployment” What about the FACT thet unemployment is lower now than when Obama took office. Or unemployment was HIGHER under Bush.
See how silly your claims are?
Why don`t you mention Obama raised taxes, as FOX claimed? Maybe because Obama LOWERED taxes for 4 years after inauguration.
1. No the whole birth certificate thing was disproven.
2. No at most he’s a socialist but he’s closer to being a moderate republican
3. No he is NOT a marxist.
4. POS is an abbreviation of piece of **** and no he is not he managed to become president of the united states so he’s not a piece of ****
5. No there are no stereotypes about black people and cows
6. No not really at all
7. No it would be hard for one man in a position of power to take down america things are staying the same more than they are changing
8. No what would be in that for him?
9. No he is a good man with good intentions who may not be going about things in the right way
f) ‘Bama isn’t destroying America as fast as Bush did or Romney would. But he’s not turning it around, either.
g) Nope, if you want traitors, you should look to Reagan (Iranian hostages) and Nixon (Paris peace
11. No he is not gay he has a wife and kids
12. No he is very good at seeing past personal differences as all politicians need to be!
Klansman Joe is just a racist, bigot piece of crap like you that hates Black people!
Thus further proof another who hates barack obama is a racist scumbag!
As sure as I’m standing here – the “fiscal cliff” is a charade.
We’ve gone over the fiscal cliff.
We went over it a long time ago.
They’re printing money faster than the Weimar Republic did.
This ‘thing’ they are working on isn’t a ‘deal’, it’s a negotiated letter to Santa Clause.
Dear Santa,
We promise to be good. We want a pony, a puppy, and a new laptop with wireless internet.
[signed]
Washington, D.C. Ruling Class
No “bipartisan deals.” No “bipartisan compromises.” No “grand bargains.”
Let’s go over the “fiscal cliff.”
Raise taxes on the middle class.
Grant amnesty for 12-20 million illegal aliens.
Pass Cap & Trade.
Appoint Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton to the Supreme Court.
Pass a special “white tax” — all whites must pay a special tax, an additional $5,000 a year for the “privilege” of being born with white skin.
Establish a special “infidel tax” — all non-Muslims must pay $3,000 a year, so they can practice their religion.
The sheeple voted for it. Give it to them. Good and hard.
“President Obama is scheduled to make a rare appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.” …. Whoopdee freakin doo!!!!! He’s STILL campaigning!!
This guy’s just dividing in order to create a crisis … thereby forcing something unsavory down our throats. The constitution is the answer; it’s the law and therefore these clowns have no authority to even negotiate without passing a budget etc.
Who the hell cares anymore? All politicians are snake oil salesman and they sold our future long ago. Screw all of them. I wish not for them to do something, I wish for them to do no harm, but we are well past that point.