White House, Republicans seal deal on fiscal cliff crisis

"Senator John McCain accused Obama of ridiculing Republicans and of needlessly antagonizing House of Representatives’ members who will be required to vote for an eventual deal."

"Republican Senator Bob Corker said his heart was pounding with disappointment at Obama’s remarks."

My remarks about the AKB40 article also apply here: Real drama queen stuff.

So surprised! Really thought mutual bi-partisonship for the good of all was gonna happen this time--wait, now I'm awake.

Big winner: Biden. With Hillary potentially out, he's looking more presidential.

The Dems gave, as is there penchant, but they did so in a way that draws the GOP further into a corner. Achievement of acts done for the good of the country that also advance political goals are enjoyable to watch.

“Now, if Republicans think that I will finish the job of deficit reduction through spending cuts alone… then they’ve another thing coming,”

The words "spending cuts" and President Obama should never be associated with each other.

Just 1:30 am and the Senate has just passed it. Yey! Now it will go to the House of Rep for final vote tomorrow morning. I can go to bed now. Good night and Happy New Year.

Ah yes, a grande eleventh hour round of "kick-the-can."

Please note that absolutely nothing was included to actually rein in spending nor to reduce the debt.

More of the same.

Hearts pound with excitement, with anticipation, or with fear. It's an odd heart that pounds with disappointment.

Crappy reporting.... (gee ain't that just a shocker):

Article mangled up everything the Senator said. Even screwed up his quoted comments. His reaction was this:

“I just listened to the president and my heart is still pounding,” Corker said on the floor Monday minutes after Obama called on Congress to finish work on a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.

“I was very disappointed to hear what the president had to say in front of a prep rally," he said. “I know the president has fun heckling Congress, but I think he probably lost a number of votes with this.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/275017-corker-says-obama-lost-votes-by-holding-his-pep-rally

President Obama's full comment today.

“If Republicans think that I will finish the job of deficit reduction, through spending cuts alone -- and you hear that sometimes coming from them -- sort of, after today we're just going to try to shove only spending cuts down, you know, well -- shove spending -- shove spending cuts at us, that will hurt seniors, or hurt students, or hurt middle-class families without asking also equivalent sacrifice from millionaires or companies with a lot of lobbyists ... if they think that's going to be the formula for how we solve this thing, they have another thing coming,” Obama said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/31/obama-fiscal-cliff-remarks_n_2388980.html

President Reagan's comment after working tax-reform in1986 saluting Democrats along with Republicans for making it happen.

But we must also salute those courageous leaders in the Congress who've made this day possible. To Bob Packwood, Dan Rostenkowski, Russell Long, John Duncan, and Majority Leader Bob Dole; to Jack Kemp, Bob Kasten, Bill Bradley, and Dick Gephardt, who pioneered with their own versions of tax reform -- I salute all of you and all the other Members of the Senate and House whose efforts paid off and whose votes finally won the day.

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/102286a.htm

It's going to be a long 4 more years with this current President is all I can really say.

Congratulations to Obama for yet another success, and not giving in to the greedy 1%. Good job.

I’m going to bite the bullet and cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) as President Obama has ordered. After doing the math, it looks like instead of spending $1,000 a month, I’m going to have to cut that number by three cents. Yes, I’m going to have to get by with only $999.97, but that’s what sacrifice is all about. lol

@Lizz

I’m going to bite the bullet and cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) as President Obama has ordered.

Bite the bullet?

I invite readers to investigate what you posted in the days leading up to the election, simply as a way to establish your credibility with math -- statistics, the ability to process data, and all that.

This is great! Now that this miniscule spending cut and trillion dollar tax increase over the next 10 years is in place, all of America's future debt problems have been solved. Americans can all go about their daily lives with the firm belief that all of the nations troubles have been solved and that the future is bright now that the Messiah has been resurrected in Washington DC.

Of course, those wealthy people will now change their behavior and move more of their money to tax shelters or move it overseas like Warren Buffet. The important thing is to believe - in all of our religious certitude - that under the Messiah, America a fairer and more unified nation of resentful poor, middle class, and filthy disgusting rich people. We can now all join hands in hatred for one another and move together as one dysfunctional and blissfully ignorant nation.

Gee, i can't wait for the coming debt limit fight firm in the knowledge that the Messiah will ignore the $16.4 trillion debt - of which $6 trillion is due to his administrations decisions - and argue that .... we need to raise taxes! Because as we all know, higher taxes will lift all boats and cure all ills.

What I don't comprehend is how those in the "wealthy" bracket think they can have only 14~15% in taxes (and still try to cheat on paying taxes) and others even the working poor have to pay 19%~38%. Our society really needs to figure itself out. If a person is earning the $250k a year and is taxes lets say 38% total (between both state and federal) They've still got more than enough to live a very comfortable life.

The majority of people those in the highest income bracket haven't figured out that their extravagance is ruining not just their country but themselves as well. The big difference between luxury and extravagance is simply this. A person that likes luxury has a nice home, and maybe up to 2 nice cars and more income to fit their NEEDs and even savings. A person who lives on extravagance has 4 nice homes (which require more $$ to maintain) and 15 cars that they hardly ever use (which also costs more $$ to maintain) and then they want to buy an island (which costs more $$ to maintain) and so they trap themselves as slaves to making more and more money to keep up all the expenses they've made for themselves to maintain that level of lifestyle which is just plain old greed. And to top it off its only based on income not inherited finances.

Just my POV but if I was earning $250k (total-39% income taxes between state and federal which leaves $150k) or more a year I could easily take care of a full family of 4 have that "nice" house/2 cars to own and still and be financially stable enough to pay all necessary bills/insurance costs and still pad a savings account. Some people live off much much less than that in a year (if you've been in the working poor section before and are still barely able to make it (with some assistance from government programs and charity organizations). Those that want more may be "in the pursuit of happiness" but it will only be their "happiness" and in many cases is at the expense of others which has lead us to our current situation.

After doing some research all the income the government can pull in can help go towards full coverage universal healthcare in the US and help streamline the various healthcare funded by federal income that is split between Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and Tricare would only have to go to one department that covers all US citizens period. Talk about making less government Its as simple as re-appropriating funds to more beneficial programs as well as freeing up income (no more health insurance problems/payments or crazy medical bills that people can't pay because its already paid for).

When I was making 19-25k a year I was paying a total of 19%~20% of my income in both state and Federal taxes excluding the Social Security tax that I'll never get to see in my old age. Its supposed to be the higher the income bracket the more you have to pay in income taxes, not the other way around... "the more you make the less you have to pay in income taxes" Does that make any sense to anyone?

@Lizz:

I’m going to bite the bullet and cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) as President Obama has ordered.

For the sake of the country, Obama and his followers are incapable of such a huge sacrifice. They feel it's better for all to go bankrupt instead.

globalwatcherJan. 01, 2013 - 03:59PM JST

<<Just 1:30 am and the Senate has just passed it. Yey! Now it will go to the House of Rep for final vote tomorrow morning. I can go to bed now. Good night and Happy New Year.

The Fiscal Cliff has just averted. The House has just passed the bill. Yey!! Tomorrow will be a big day for the Wall Street. Great News.