Wednesday Afternoon Thread: We Done It Again

Live Stream of PBO’s Press Conference is up!

Posted at 09:57 AM ET, 11/14/2012

For his opening proposal, Obama offers his budget

By Jamelle Bouie

Last year, when President Obama was negotiating with House Speaker John Boehner to raise the debt ceiling, he offered a deal that would raise $800 billion in revenue over the next 10 years, while also making cuts to Medicare and Social Security in the form of stingier benefits and a higher retirement age. From the perspective of liberals — and Obama’s own agenda — this was a terrible idea. A figure of $800 billion isn’t nearly enough to fund future obligations, and the proposed (regressive) cuts to entitlement programs would unfairly burden middle- and lower-income seniors who rely on income from Social Security and health benefits from Medicare.
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Now, of course, he’s in a much better position: With a solid reelection win and expanded Democratic majorities in the Senate, he has real leverage. And as such, he’s offering a deal that’s much better for liberals, and much less favorable to Republicans. Instead of $800 billion in revenue, he’s calling for $1.6 trillion, drawn in large part from increased taxes on the wealthy. But this isn’t a new plan — it’s what’s outlined in his 2013 budget, and — by and large — it’s what he campaigned on.

Where would the revenue come from? The Tax Policy Center provides an analysis: $849 billion would be raised from letting the Bush tax cuts on high earners expire. $584 billion would come from limiting itemized deductions, closing a variety of loopholes and ending tax breaks for oil and gas companies. $148 billion would come from limits placed on corporate tax shifting (to lower tax countries), and $143 billion would be raised by restoring the estate tax to its 2009 levels. The remaining revenue would come from the “Buffet rule” — a new tax on millionaires — and some of this would be offset with tax reductions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/for-his-opening-proposal-obama-offers-his-budget/2012/11/14/ea5e1b8e-2e69-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_blog.html

Rubio’s Iowa trip and pre-positioning for 2016

By Steve Benen

Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:58 AM EST

Even thinking about the 2016 presidential election right now seems a bit like putting out Christmas decorations on the 4th of July — it’ll make sense eventually, but it seems kind of silly in the meantime.

And yet, ridiculous or not, the race is on. Indeed, 2016 efforts didn’t start minutes after President Obama won re-election; it actually started months before, most notably during the national conventions, when potential candidates seemed inordinately interested in chatting with delegates from Iowa and New Hampshire.

The difference is, now it’s become more explicit. A friend jokingly asked me over the weekend whether likely candidates have already scheduled trips to Iowa, but the answer isn’t a joke — Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will be in the Hawkeye State this weekend, headlining a birthday fundraiser for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R).

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All of this seems wildly excessive — maybe the political world can consider at least some governing before investing energy in who’ll be president in 2017? — but Benjy Sarlin makes a compelling case that this is actually a highly relevant stage in the process.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/11/14/15164712-rubios-iowa-trip-and-pre-positioning-for-2016?lite

The President defends Susan Rice.

When Buzzfeed is more than happy to step on your neck you probably need to STFU

McCain And Graham Defended Condoleezza Rice Over Iraq WMD Testimony

Now targeting Susan Rice for comments on Benghazi attack.
WASHINGTON, DC — Before Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham went after Susan Rice for claiming that the attack in Benghazi was the result of an anti-Islamic video, the pair defended then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from charges that she was a “liar” over her testimony claiming there were WMDs in Iraq.

more here
http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/graham-and-mccain-defended-condoleeza-rice-over-ir

So Mitt blaming y’all darkies getting ya Obamaphones and free cadillacs for him losing huh? *snicker* and all these fast azz gals running round having all the wild evil sex on free birth control pills that you can now get in the free dispensers right by the coke vending machines outside every grocery store! Good Times! Good Times!

Good Evenin’ miranda/POU FAM♥ – — ***BIG HUG** :>) —

– –***tears** and ***smiles** at the SONG. :>)

– — – -YES! – –WE! – -DID! – - -Woo! Hoo! –:>) —

– — –OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT has INSPIRED sooo MANY SONGS. – - -Oooooweeee!

- — -Stevie Wonder – Keep Moving Forward –> – -:>)

IMMA look 4 MORE. :>)

THANK U 4 this bit of – –INSPIRATION. :>)

miranda – - –BWAHAHA – –HE –DI-ENT DO – -WHA’???? – - – -

– - -EXCLUSIVE: Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS Never Filed Legally Required Registration – -

— – -When Karl Rove’s Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (GPS) formed in 2010, it established its official address in Warrenton, VA, and registered with the Internal Revenue Service a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) “social welfare organization.” It apparently did not, however, register as a charitable organization with the Commonwealth of Virginia, as appears was legally required.

– — SNIP- – - -
While the group’s federal tax filings and registration with the District of Columbia indicate that it is a Virginia corporation — and Crossroads GPS did apparently register with the state’s corporation commission — the Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs confirmed to ThinkProgress that no entity named Crossroads GPS or Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies has ever registered to solicit contributions in Virginia.
THERE IS MORE – - -

– -Sooooo – -DEY – - –ILLEGITIMATE!!???- – -HAH! — -

A Final Letter To Mitt Romney
by one Sarah Zacharias

Dear Mitt and Paul,

I wanted to clear something up for you.

I have seen the debate about what went wrong, and why you lost this election. As a voter I want you to know that my voting against you had nothing to do with the fact that you are both rotten people.

It was not because of your crazy religions.

It had nothing to do with Eastwood’s empty chair, or the hurricane, or the liberal media telling me bad things about Bain.

I did not vote against you because I am a minority.
I did not vote against you because I live in an urban area.
I did not vote against you because of the cheese wiz in your veins or the elevators for your cars.
I did not vote against you because you are bullies and bigots.
I did not vote against you because you are rich hypocrites.

It was not because of Chris Christie, or Colin Powell, or Bill Clinton, or Anne Coulter, or Chris Mathews or Rachel Maddow or Meygn Kelly or Jon Stewart or Brian Williams, or anybody on tv.
I didn’t vote against you for any of those reasons because, I didn’t vote against anybody.

I voted for someone.
I voted for a man who brought my childhood friends home from war that they could kiss their wives and tuck their kids in at night.
I voted for a guy who loves New Jersey more than he dislikes Chris Christie.
I voted for the guy who looked in the mirrors of his daughter’s eyes, questioned himself, and changed his mind about marriage equality.
I voted for the guy who called Sandra Fluke and told her that her parents should be proud.
I voted for the guy who honors the women in his life by ensuring them trust to make their own reproductive and health choices and opportunity to work through glass ceilings with equal pay.
I voted for the guy who signed the stimulus that paid for the hearing aids that allowed me to hear my children clearly.
I voted for the guy who gave my sister the ability to buy health insurance in spite of pre existing conditions.
I voted for the guy who picked Joe Biden for a VP. Joe’s love for his country, his willingness to give of himself, his smarts and experience are top notch.
I voted for the guy who was smart enough to put a ring on Michelle Obama’s finger.

Most importantly, I voted for the guy who will continue to place America and what is right for her first.

I trust him.

When he hears a lone voice in a crowd of plenty shout, “I love you!” He shouts, “I love you back!”

See Mitt, Paul, it’s not you… It’s him.

I did not vote against you.

I voted for Barack Obama.
I voted for Joe Biden.
I voted for Michelle and Sasha and Malia.
I voted in favor of my self and my spouse and our sons and our future.
I voted in favor of the best tomorrow for America available.

You can blame polls, and weather events, and skewed electoral votes and biased media and urban minorities who supposedly want free stuff till you actually turn into the slow moving regressive elephants who represent you if you wish but no manipulating the facts.

You lost not because you are losers but because Barack is a winner.

Sincerely,
Sarah Zacharias

Obama Uses His Press Conference to Set a Tax Cut Trap for House Republicans

By: Jason EasleyNovember 14th, 2012

President Obama used his press conference in order to set a trap for House Republicans that will leave them in a lose/lose situation on the Bush tax cuts.

President Obama was asked about caving on Bush tax cuts in 2010, and why Republicans and the American people should believe him that he won’t cave again. Obama answered that the economy was in a different situation two years ago. He mentioned the unemployment tax and payroll tax cut extensions, but as he said back then this was a one time only proposition. We cannot afford to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy but we can make sure middle class taxes don’t go up. Obama prodded Republicans again to immediately pass tax cuts for 98% of individuals and 97% of small businesses. The president said we have to look at entitlements. Obama said, “When it comes to the top 2% what I am not going to do is extend a tax cut for folks who don’t need it.” The president added that we can’t afford to spend $1 trillion on tax cut for the rich, and the math doesn’t add up when it comes to just closing loopholes. Obama said that the issue was debated extensively during the election, and the majority of Americans agreed with him. The president said he wanted a big deal, a comprehensive deal.

Later on, Obama was asked if the Clinton tax rates are the bottom line, and if there would be no deal if tax rates did not go back to Clinton era levels. The president answered, “I am open to new ideas.” He continued, “If Republicans or Democrats have new ideas to raise revenue, reduce the deficit, protect the middle class, I am not going to slam the door in their face.” The president recognized that we will have to compromise, but what he won’t do is have a process that is vague that will sort of, kind of raise revenue. Obama said he does not want to find the country in a situation where the wealthy don’t pay as much as they should, and middle class folks are bearing the burden.

The president made it clear that he wants the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy gone. As far as raising revenue, the president repeatedly said that he is open to new ideas from all sides.

Some on the left hear this kind of talk and immediately freak out, but this is a strategic move on the part of the White House. By opening the door to new ideas from all sides, the president is putting the ball in the House Republicans’ court. He is forcing them get serious about cutting a deal. Obama’s offer isn’t a display of weakness.

The president is setting a trap.

http://www.politicususa.com/obama-press-conference-set-tax-cut-trap-house-republicans.html

miranda– —Was THIS posted? – - -

- – -1981 AUDIO- Lee Atwater on Southern Strategy: “You can’t say ‘nigger,’ that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states’ rights.” – –

– – A must-read report by The Nation includes 1981 audio of Lee Atwater while he was working in Ronald Reagan’s White House. He was interviewed by Alexander Lamis, a political scientist at Case Western Reserve University. Campaign consultant Atwater explains how Republicans could win the vote of racists without sounding racist themselves:

Jaw-droppingly, appallingly, painfully stomach-turning.
THERE IS MORE – - – –

Gee LEE!! – - – - -U GOT A BAD CASE —of the RACIST!!! – - -geesh!! – -

miranda – - — -***poppin’ the POU FAM♥ popcorn –NOW! LOL***

—Petraeus to testify behind doors on Benghazi Friday- -

– - –Gen. David Petraeus will testify before a House Committee on the Libya embassy attack Friday morning, despite the ongoing FBI investigation into an extramarital affair that led to his resignation as director of the CIA.

– — “It’s just on Benghazi. Our hearings are on Benghazi and the intelligence that preceded Benghazi and the intelligence that determined security,” she told reporters.
THERE IS MORE

– — -Soooooo – -Da FIRST QUESTION WON’T B: – - – -HOW WAS IT – - –

WITH da TWINS?? – –LOL –

mirnfa – - -Heeeeere’s – - -SISTA-NINA!!- —-

– - – -Luvin her♥ — –

Good Eve POU,
Back from Sioux Falls SD. I didn’t get out much. Colleagues were pleasant enough. I’m not moving there or anything, but it wasn’t that bad.

Rice getting dissed by Old Bitter Crackers? Luke trying to step to Nancy, and being told to sit his ass down somewhere! PBO saying if you got shit to say, come here with it!

This is what he meant when he told Putin I’ll have more flexibility. Flexibility to tell errybody – Rethugs, Isrealis, Emos, and yes China – Where the fuck to go.

As y’all say here, dis gonna b good. Have a good night.