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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Confrontational Obama rebukes GOP on debt talks

World Jun. 30, 2011 - 06:29AM JST ( 24 )

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24 Comments

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MolenirJun. 30, 2011 - 08:12AM JST

he tried to put heat on Congress by saying lawmakers should cancel any plans to take days off in July if they can’t make substantial progress by the end of this week.

He then asked to be excused as he and his family are planning a 4th of July get-away.

Just when you thought maybe, just maybe the President might actually start being a leader, he goes and shows his true colors. More class-warfare garbage, and no leadership. To paraphrase Harry Truman, The Buck stops... somewhere else.
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BreitbartVictoriousJun. 30, 2011 - 09:16AM JST

Take that ! Obama delivers another "blistering rebuke" to the evil Repubs - if you still believe MSM coverage of this president.

Obama on Wednesday pressed lawmakers to accept tax increases as part of a deal to cut the nation’s deficits and avoid a crippling government default.

This is the 4th ultimatum.

Weak.

“Let’s get it done,” Obama challenged, chiding Congress for frequent absences from Washington.

Points for chutzpah. This guy has played more golf in 2 years than Bush did in 8.
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Taka313Jun. 30, 2011 - 09:57AM JST

If the republicans cannot approve of tax hikes for the top 2% at this point, they should pay a heavy price at the polls in 2012. They have shown they aren't interested in representing the other 98% of us.

This guy has played more golf in 2 years than Bush did in 8.

Wow. A guy named briebart posting lies. Who would have thought.

Taka
0

paulinusaJun. 30, 2011 - 10:13AM JST

John Boehner : “The president is sorely mistaken if he believes a bill to raise the debt ceiling and raise taxes would pass the House. The votes simply aren’t there.”

The Republicans are pushing the limits of the definition of a "tax hike".. Now, any closing of any tax loophole (which affects corporations or the wealthy of course) is considered a tax hike.

"More class-warfare garbage,..."

Yes, those upper income earners have really suffered over the last decade.

"This guy has played more golf in 2 years than Bush did in 8."

Repeated and repeated tired old stuff. Really think "W" applied himself to the job than Obama?
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MolenirJun. 30, 2011 - 10:39AM JST

Points for chutzpah.

The most amusing part was where he was lecturing people on being a leader. Talk about hypocritical.

Wow. A guy named briebart posting lies. Who would have thought.

Sorry, but thats no lie. Admittedly its because Bush felt he shouldn't be playing golf while the US was at war. Now that he's no longer the President, he's been spending lots of time golfing. Still, it looks bad for the President. Just one more example of how he is not a leader.

Yes, those upper income earners have really suffered over the last decade.

Sure, and they pay the vast majority of the taxes as well. Loons are always bemoaning how the rich aren't paying their 'fair share'. That if only they would pay their 'fair' share we could get out of this crisis. They keep saying this garbage, but you'll note they never say how much is a 'fair' share for those earning the money. Another thing they always fail to mention, is that even if you confiscated 100% of the high income earners wages, it still wouldn't be enough to cover the deficit rung up by Obama. Thats the lie behind the class warfare garbage. Its also what the loons really don't want people to realize.

Repeated and repeated tired old stuff. Really think "W" applied himself to the job than Obama?

Umm, yes actually. However lets go ahead and give the idea a fair reading.

It depends on how you mean it the question. If you mean, was he more of a leader, then the answer is obvious Obama has never been a leader. If you meant spent more time doing the business of state, then again, W wins handily. Obama spends most of his time running for President, as opposed to being President. No, about the only thing Obama has going for him would be on the subject of vacations. Bush chose to do much of the work of his Presidency from his home in Crawford Texas, and rarely took vacations, but you could say, that being in Crawford was a vacation. Obama stays in the White House, but he and his family take frequent vacations.
2

yabitsJun. 30, 2011 - 10:56AM JST

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday that Obama “can’t call for tax hikes and job creation. It’s one or the other.”

McConnell is acting like an idiot who doesn't seem to remember that Reagan and Clinton both raised taxes and presided over economies with healthy job creation.
-3

paulinusaJun. 30, 2011 - 10:58AM JST

"Bush chose to do much of the work of his Presidency from his home in Crawford Texas, and rarely took vacations,..."

Houston, we have a problem.
0

BreitbartVictoriousJun. 30, 2011 - 03:35PM JST

No credibility left for chuckle-heads like Biden and Obama when they admit on TV before a nat'l audience that there never were any "shovel-ready" jobs. Honestly, that they could laugh at 800 billion wasted should enrage every American old enough to understand the contempt they hold you in.
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BreitbartVictoriousJun. 30, 2011 - 04:03PM JST

If the republicans cannot approve of tax hikes for the top 2% at this point, they should pay a heavy price at the polls in 2012.

The top 10 percent of wage earners in America pay about 70 percent of taxes. The bottom 48 percent pay no income tax. This is not Fox News "propaganda" either. You can verify quite easily by checking IRS.gov

With this arrangement we are back to what H.L. Mencken said about the New Deal and how it divided America into a nation of "those who work for a living and those who vote for a living."

Why do Democrats prattle about 2012 ?

They have yet to come to any real reckoning of how the country voted in 2010. Republicans won historic gains. Since late 2009 all the energy and enthusiasm has been on the conservative right and among libertarians.
-1

SerranoJun. 30, 2011 - 04:05PM JST

Whatever happened to "90% of Americans will get a tax cut"?

"raise the U.S. debt limit"

Shoot, why not just scrap the limit? That way the government can easily borrow even more, lol.
1

Lieberman2012Jun. 30, 2011 - 05:18PM JST

Obama chiding Congress critters for too much time away from DC. That's rich. He use a freakin auto-pen to renew and expand the Patriot Act. Rebuke? The Senate voted 97-0 against his budget. Any other pres woud be lampooned as a lame duck but of course with this one his fawning fan base would shout you down as "racist"
1

chewitupJun. 30, 2011 - 06:36PM JST

“His administration has been burying our kids and grandkids in new debt and offered no plan to rein in spending,” Boehner said"

A simple question: Is it the job of the President to tackle the budget, or Congress? Boehner seems to think its not his job, doesn't he?

The top 10 percent of wage earners in America pay about 70 percent of taxes.

And they hold 80 percent of all financial assests! They are making out like BANDITS to only be paying 70 percent!

Obviously, budget cuts are not going to pay the debt. Budget cuts might pay the interest on the debt IF we are lucky.

Republicans want everyone to tighten their belts...except those who are hoarding all the cash! Its nonsense!
-1

LagunaJun. 30, 2011 - 11:15PM JST

Sheesh. Some of these posters seemingly didn't bother to read the article - they just defaulted to their usual Obama-bashing mode. Then, the topic is verged to golf, but this makes sense: it's called 'attention deficient disorder.' Balancing the budget is excruciatingly difficult and will not happen soon, no matter what some may demand; raising the debt limit to ensure full functionality of the US government is so crucial that economists have to invent newer, darker words to describe what would happen if the Congress failed in its job. Compromise is painful for both sides, certainly, but one side would like to harp about golf. Just like Eric Cantor, the Republican point-man who walked away from roundtable talks chaired by VP Biden, some people just want to change the subject.

This type of attention deficit disorder can be expected from JT posters, but it is unforgivable from legislators. Anyone who was surprised by Obama's remarks obviously had not been paying attention; his message has been clear and consistent, Raising the debt ceiling and creating a budget, though, is beyond his powers: these belong to the Congress. Biden as VP is hybrid executive/legislative and thus is the logical focal point of negotiation, and he's been up to his neck in this for months.

The Obama-bashers above have had a go at golf but have put forward no constructive arguments whatsoever. Perhaps they should run for Congress on the Republican ticket: they are oh-so-typical.
0

chewitupJun. 30, 2011 - 11:20PM JST

Oh, yeah, jump on Taka for not knowing something as important as how many times Obama has played golf. He probably does not know how many times he took a pee either! Why doesn't Taka focus on more important things, like the Obama bashers do?

Bush got a reputaton for golfing, but it had nothing to do with how many times he played the game. It was his "watch this drive!" remark right after commenting on a terror attack. It was not an issue of playing golf. It was an issue of "we can't take this president anywhere!". Obama is not such a PR nightmare.
1

SerranoJun. 30, 2011 - 11:22PM JST

@Laguna - Sheesh. The U.S. government is in so much debt now, it's no longer sustainable. It's killing the economy. We don't need to be raising the debt limit, we need to be cutting spending.
And Obama needs to spend less time playing golf.
0

TorafusuTorasanJun. 30, 2011 - 11:47PM JST

Sarge Serrano et al,

Double sheesh. Obama's round of golf was not unrelated to his job. He played a round with John Boehner--a fact that you all forgot to mention--who reportedly is the House majority leader who has decades of experience in Washington (but still can't get an acceptable budget together). I thought you'd be commending Obama for spending a couple hours with the guy. I'll believe your whining about golf the moment you start bellyaching about Bush's brush clearing, jogging, mountain biking, and best buddy Bandar.

"libertarians"--How come Ron Paul isn't in the top five in GOP polls?
-2

Taka313Jul. 01, 2011 - 12:10AM JST

Chewitup,

Thank you but you don't need to defend me from serrano's words. He's a twerp and his words mean nothing to me.

Taka
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Eric SchneiderJul. 01, 2011 - 01:40AM JST

The political grandstanding in the US is only surpassed by the LDP any more. Nothing of substance is being done.
0

chewitupJul. 01, 2011 - 07:28AM JST

And Obama needs to spend less time playing golf.

So you agree with Boehner and think this issue is the primarily the president's job rather than Congress?

Are you of the opinion that the president has the backround on this subject that massive amounts of input from on this will help the country? You really think it should be Obama hammering out the little details?
1

MolenirJul. 01, 2011 - 08:23AM JST

The Obama-bashers above have had a go at golf but have put forward no constructive arguments whatsoever. Perhaps they should run for Congress on the Republican ticket: they are oh-so-typical.

lol, what is the Dems plan exactly? Whats Obama's? So funny. The Dems are the ones that got us into this mess, and now rather then stick around to clean it up, they tell Republicans, go be leaders. The President is supposed to lead, thats something that comes with the job description. Its why he has so much power, and why when it comes down to it, its almost impossible to get anything through congress without his approval. Without a President willing to lead, then nothing is going to get done. Republicans can't pass the bills by themselves, and they can't make them law without the Presidents signature. Both sides need to sit down and compromise. The Republicans have made it perfectly clear where the line is, they will not agree to raise taxes. Dems haven't put forward a single plan other then, raise taxes. Since that is not going to happen, nothing will get done. Obama should let everyone know when he is ready to get serious. Until then, the congress might as well just go on holiday.

the House majority leader who has decades of experience in Washington (but still can't get an acceptable budget together).

Thats the difference between Republicans and Dems. Republicans actually passed a budget. Dems under Pelosi couldn't be bothered.
1

arrestpaulJul. 01, 2011 - 10:14AM JST

Does the U.S. government have a revenue problem or an out-of-control spending problem?

There are two basic ways to control the U.S. growing debt.

1- Cut spending.

2- Stop spending.

Raising the debt limit and allowing Congress to keep borrowing more and more money will only increase Congressional spending not slow or stop it.

Obama doesn't need to get involved. Even the Democrats won't listen to him.
0

BreitbartVictoriousJul. 01, 2011 - 10:44AM JST

"Republicans want everyone to tighten their belts...except those who are hoarding all the cash! Its nonsense!"

Thanks for the laughs there. "Helicopter" Ben Bernanke has the mint's printing presses primed for yet another "Quantitative Easing" by the Fed and the economic illiterates on the Left think the problem is that people are "hoarding" their now debauched and increasingly weak dollars.
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chewitupJul. 01, 2011 - 02:55PM JST

economic illiterates on the Left think the problem is that people are "hoarding" their now debauched and increasingly weak dollars.

You should look more toward the facts I laid out rather the dramatic commentary used to illustrate the facts. Speaking of illiterate. Anyway, the fact is that the top ten percent hold 80 percent of all the financial assets. Is your brilliant plan to heavily tax those that only hold 20 percent while giving the others a tax break, or keep their taxes the same?

If you just think America should default on the debt then just say so please and stop monkeying around.
1

SerranoJul. 01, 2011 - 09:28PM JST

"pessimistic voters"

How can there be any pessimistic voters after two and a half years with Barack Obama in the White House?