Obama - People Talk About Him Like He Shot A Dog

Jennifer Rubin on Obama v.2010:

Obama sells out the left: a Republican win on taxes

By Jennifer Rubin

There really is no other way to say it: the Republicans won, the liberal Democrats lost, and the president sided with the Republicans. The subject, of course, is an agreement to extend all the Bust tax cuts.

...So you can see why liberals are morose. A Capitol Hill aide described Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid's demeanor upon returning from the White House: "He looked like someone shot his dog."

Bush 41's famous "Read My Lips - New Taxes" deal  with the Democrats in 1990 divided his party and eventually led (by way of Buchanan and Perot) to Bill Clinton. I wonder how much of that will replay from the left over the next couple of years.

NOTHING LIKE THE POWER OF AN IDEA THAT IS RUMBLING THROUGH THE NIGHT:  Jonah Goldberg is also having a 41 flashback:

While we’ve spent so much time comparing Obama to Carter, maybe we’ve left out the other one-term president of recent memory: George H.W. Bush. Bush, let’s recall, had soaring popularity ratings and then plummeted because of a recession that had technically ended long before reelection. And one of his biggest problems is that he was perceived as being too politically passive, unwilling to fight for his core beliefs, to the extent he had them. When he went populist, it seemed phony and calculated.   He was undone in large part by his flip-flop on taxes and a primary challenge to his right.

Sound familiar?

It does to me!

Comments

[Donald]

I know off topic, but my Buddy Rick's nephew Michael gets his appeal heard today at the:

Army Court of Appeals
901 N Stuart
Arlington, VA.

If any of ya'll live around there, drop in and give Michael your support!

www.defendmichael.com

[Honey, that's the same gear that got us here.]

Hmmm. On the arc from 'let's drive this economy out of the ditch' to 'Maybe we have to reverse of this one'.
================================

[Let the record be rewritten.]

Heck, that's what ya get for changing 'back out' in an attempt to reach 'R'.

Plenty of blame still to be spread. But not to Bush; now to Congressional Democrats and their infamy in housing.
==============

[You've just ruined my day. This was Al Mansur.]

Travesty, Donald. Macdonnell's exculpatory must see the light of day.
==========================

[No, not that Dunse.]

Woof, SCOTUS to peer into the climate crystal ball.
=========================

[NK]

Nancy the fascist stripped of her power and will spend her days at the botox clinic with nothing else to do; Cholie rangel censured and no longer able to take bribes for tax breaks for those bringing the biggest brown bag; Harry betrayed and stabbed in the back by that man with no discernable negro dialect-- couldn't happen to a better group of disgusting hacks. Barry O? as of now he would lose to any credible Repub, but the political day is young. If Barry O rebrands himself as a pro American conservative by rattling the Mullahs cages, talking straight with the Chinese, expanding US oil/gas drilling, cutting spending, simplifying the tax code, ending affirmtive action(think Col. Allen West) Barry O becomes that most attractive thing in american politics, a black conservative. he would win in a 2012 walk. Never happen, but....

[Appalled]

What the Democrats did over the last two years was persue the agenda uitems that had been accumulating in their to do list for the last 50 years. Never mind that these agenda items (Healthcare Reform, nationalization of Student Aid, all those super-speed railways) were tangental to all of us not in DC who were concerened about the economy.

Raising taxes in the teeth of a weak recovery does not make sense in the Keynsian universe in which our President functions. Had the President insisted on the tax on people making over $250K, and the economy continued to tank over the next couple of years, we would have yet another demonstration that the Democrats in Congress are so addicted to their talking points that they cannot respond appropriately to current events.

Look, I like deals and triangulation. I like it when people choose good sense over strict adherence to their ideology. I think Obama deserves some credit for finally getting it, at least on one issue. A caution to the GOP, though, is that an improving economy will allow the next election to be about, in part, the share of taxes people who make over 250K should pay. The GOP may not ultimately win that argument, but I think we will finally have that issue litigated by our society.

Gotta say, this is the first significant right move by our President since his Nobel Prize speech.

[BR]

I'm ROFWL over the Assange Honeypots' After Action Reports:

Excerpt site:
...both Ardin and Sofia Wilén, the second accuser, sent SMS messages and tweets boasting of their conquests following the alleged "rapes."

"In the case of Ardin it is clear that she has thrown a party in Assange's honour at her flat after the 'crime' and tweeted to her followers that she is with the 'the world’s coolest smartest people, it’s amazing!'" he wrote.

"The exact content of Wilén’s mobile phone texts is not yet known but their bragging and exculpatory character has been confirmed by Swedish prosecutors. Niether Wilén’s nor Ardin’s texts complain of rape," Catlin said.

[BR]

INTERPOL - The New Sex Police
aka The Condom Police
aka Holdher's Holdhim

[narciso]

So, his attorney, a real slimeball throws out disparagement of the accusers, sliming people
who really have spoken truth to power, like Montaner and the Damas de Blanco, and who still hold out that hoary chestnur about Posada, when the actual perpetrator is long
dead, after 18 years, really BR, I thought you knew better

[BR]

Don't know much about the Cuban angle, Narciso. Enlighten us.

[narciso]

Las Damas de Blanco, are a group of dissidents who have petitioned the govt for
some justice and liberty, how gauche, Hebe de Bonafini, is an outright Marxist moonbat and
borderline truther, Carlos Montaner, is a well known Cuban exile activist who is against
the regime, there's no actual proof that Posada Carriles is a supporter and what of it.
The slimy nature of Assange's network, is so clearly seen, in another time, they would be
legitimating the Moscow purge trials

[BR]

The Soros connection to Wikileaks is being discussed on the radio. How about we start the St. Jane's Island Appeal, get funded by Soros and then do as we please :)

[sam]

By summer of 2012, Obama will be running on repealing Obamacare.

[narciso]

How dare they, not genuflect at the 'Walking Coma' and his Kim Jong Ilesque camarilla, in the LUN

[Jack is Back!]

This guy is not just the weakest leader we have ever had but he is really a wimp of enormous portions. As soon as any of his principles meets any resistance (paper thin even in some cases) he folds like a cheap suit. The Russkies knew this from day one as well as the Chinese, Israelis, Germans, French and now the Americans. From now on I am referring to him as TFWOTUS.

The First Wimp Of The United States.

[Clarice]

There is some talk that the Dems will not sign on to the tax deal. IMO that is just to show their constituents that they are doing their best. They'll sign on, but as I said on the earlier thread this is something of a three stooges gambit--they have to go thru this again just before the 2012 election.

These cuts are in effect permanent.(Well, as permanent as the "temporary" govt offices on the mall were. They were built in the 1940s and remained in use until sometime in he 1970s.)

[Clarice]

Jim Ryan did a great riff on the three stooges on the other thread:

MO: Wait a minute, moron, when's the next election?

CURLY: 2012, Mo.

MO: How many years from now is that?

CURLY: I don't know, two?

MO: And how long did we make the tax cuts for?

CURLY: Two years, Mo. Why?

MO: That means at the end of two years we gotta cave in again or screw the economy over with a tax hike.

LARRY: Yeah, and? What's the big idea?

CURLY: Yeah, so what, Mo? that's a long time from now.

MO: Oh, a long time from now, is it? A long time from now? I'll give you a long time from now!! [POKES CURLY"S EYES]

CURLY: OW! I'm sorry, Mo!

LARRY: Now take it easy, Mo! [GETS PUNCHED BY MO IN STOMACH] OOWWW!!!

Posted by: Jim Ryan | December 06, 2010 at 11:43 PM

[Walter]

I think we are due for a "Minuteman gets results!" thread celebrating Tom's win on an employment tax hike over Krugman.

Or at least a tread dissing Krugman.

[Walter]

Which is to say, Tom promoted a cut, Krugman denigrated the idea, and Congress and the Prez have agreed to adopt it. But Tom was against a hike.

[Walter]

And the 'tread' refers to the marks left on those in the wrong. Tis a bad day to run out of coffee, I see.

[Extraneus]

Why do they have to do this before the 2012 election? Won't it be the same lame duck deal?

[narciso]

Well they had to do it now, because thanks to the poison pill that was accepted because Jeffords, Castle 1.0 had switched, they didn't
have control of the Senate, the rates' would
necessarily skyrocket' as someone was wont to say.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

It will, and Obama hopes he will be more popular. I hope that he will be so unpopular that we can make them permanent.

[I R A Darth Aggie]

Obama won't have the same problems as Bush 41.

Anyone who challenges him in the primary will tarred & feathered & lynched as a dirty raaaaaaacist! So no primary challenge, unless it is Al Sharpton.

In the general, any third party candidate will be from the right, and appeal to the Tea Party to siphon off votes from the Republican nominee. That giant sucking sound? votes going down the drain to the third party.

So, yeah, I can see: The Won, 43%, Romney/Huckabee/Pawlenty 37%, Tea Party 17%, and the rest to miscallenous candidates.

[glasater]

I don't see Evan Bayh going third party.

[tommy mc donnell]

they cut anybody's taxes. they just didn't raise them. all they will do now is invent a whole bunch of new taxes to make up the difference. all money to the ruling class(politicans).

[Cecil Turner]

There is some talk that the Dems will not sign on to the tax deal.

Riiight. Even tin jug ears can see that one's a loser. Better to get rolled than to raise everyone's taxes in a recession.

Had the President insisted on the tax on people making over $250K, and the economy continued to tank over the next couple of years, we would have yet another demonstration that the Democrats in Congress are so addicted to their talking points that they cannot respond appropriately to current events.

Sorry, but this is not on as a hypothetical. The President did insist on the tax for people making over $250K, and the Democrats did, in fact, pass precisely that bill in the House. And a majority of senators (53 Dems) then voted for the same bill. They are addicted to their talking points, and only a GOP filibuster (and an unattractive sunset clause) stopped 'em.

[narciso]

yes there was a gimmicky payroll cut, much like last time, and some AMT relief, but as
Rick points out, we still don't have a 'bloody' budget. Rush is right 'nothing is real' Potemkin would be embarassed.

Btw, could Rove be a scotch more disingenous,
thanks

[Danube of Thought]

I think the reaction to this deal has been so hostile that the Dems won't pass it. It'll pass in the next congress on day one, but only after all the dislocation caused by changes to withholding and the like.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Cecil Turner]

I caught about half the press conference before turning him off when he started to blither (okay, when he began re-blithering the same points for the third time).

The part where the meanies from the GOP made him do it was priceless (especially with the lemon-sucking facial expression). The recapitulation of "as I've said" whilst justifying his rowback was nearly as good. But the best part was hearing about how leaving all the tax cuts in place (essentially changing nothing) was going to provide a massive stimulus effect. As if it already had.

[Captain Hate]

narc, what's the Rove reference about? Not that I need more ammo in my clip....

[narciso]

This from the YouToo link:

Karl: Show me implicitly that you have the decision making ability so I can see you in the oval office.

Unify republicans and reach outside the party.

The American people want to govern themselves.

It struck me as ironic, not in the Alanis Morisette way

[Captain Hate]

Ugh, I'm sure Christine O'Donnell should find that "unify Republicans" part humorous in an ironic kind of way. This from the gerbil emerging from Mike Castle's colon who thought comprehensive immigration reform was a brilliant idea. Fox news really needs to take the architect of 2008 off their "A List".

[NK]

DOT-- I hope you are wrong too about the House Dems playing spoiler, and I think you are. The only thing the 150+ safe Dems care about is their own personal power. I am sure you are right that their ideology and egos want to shaft BarryO, BUT IF they do, it hurts them more than playing along and blaming the Repubs. if they shaft BarryO, the tax rates get fixed in january anyway, AND 20+ of the 47 Dems who voted against Pelosi go Repub, AND the House Dems forever lose swing voters who work for a living. That means the safe Dems lose the House majority for their lifetimes. so it's in their interest to pass this. Cecil Turner is right (as usual) the Repub filibuster saved the taxpayers' bacon here, McConnell gets the credit for that.

[Rick Ballard]

House Dems are not going to cut off extended unemployment benefits. Dead Dogs can't be whipped and limping Blue Dogs now know the precise value of 'This time you have me'. We'll see a lot of howling and a great gnashing of teeth from the proglodyte community as the reality of the magnitude of the electorate's rejection penetrates their thick skulls and reaches their pea brains but it's all sound and fury.

[Clarice]

Exactly, Rick. I fully agree.
Now, let's all write to Dean demanding he run against Obama.

[Rick Ballard]

Geraghty has a succinct summation of Obama Past and Obama Present. My bet is that Obama Future consists of him choosing to lie back and think of Kendonesia.

If you can discern the coward's path, bet on the President taking it.

[NK]

Rick-- I think that's right.

We all learned a lesson from this. BarryO's only priority is re-election; BarryO can be rolled like a rubbber ball, you have to be the last one pushing before he leaves the room. Finally, never -- ever -- take seriously what BarryO says.

[Porchlight]

I think Obama deserves some credit for finally getting it, at least on one issue.

He deserves no credit for it because up until this week he's done everything possible to oppose it. Yet when the time came for a fight, he immediately folded.

It's a Republican win, plain and simple, and a loss for Obama on all fronts.

[glasater]

Jonah Goldberg made a funny on Special Report yesterday to the effect that the left would be so upset with Zero caving on taxes--they'd be out looking for his birth certificate.

[MayBee]

I agree with much of what you said, Appalled. I agree that Obama should get some credit for doing the right thing. I suspect he knew he was going to have to do this from the minute he was elected. This:

A caution to the GOP, though, is that an improving economy will allow the next election to be about, in part, the share of taxes people who make over 250K should pay. The GOP may not ultimately win that argument, but I think we will finally have that issue litigated by our society.

Perhaps we can start with why Obama's arbitrary $250,000 is some magic number.
The Democrats will have to keep in mind that class warfare doesn't win, even though they keep trying.

[Porchlight]

I agree that Obama should get some credit for doing the right thing.

I guess I just don't understand this. Obama obviously did not want to do this. He campaigned against doing it. He made it clear he would never have done it if he didn't have to. But he should get credit for it anyway?

It's not like Obama's suddenly gotten religion on tax cuts. This is merely political necessity.

We do not credit Lee for surrendering to Grant; we credit Grant for the victory.

[Danube of Thought]

As best I can interpolate from available numbers, an income of $250,000 puts a couple at the top 1.5 percentile mark, and that group pays something over 40% of all individual federal income tax.

There is simply no argument that can establish whether that share is too high, too low or just about right. Obama does not know of any such argument. He plucked that figure out of the air in the 2008 campaign, and it has attained a mystical, talsimanic stature in his mind.

This all seems a bit crazy to me.

[narciso]

It's a holding action, they seem to have come up with the least harmful pattern of behavior, still don't have a budget yet, but you have to 'crawl before you walk' or something

[Danube of Thought]

I think this pathetic buffoon has arrived at his current posture on this issue by the most graceless, peevish route he could possibly have taken. What else is new?

[Appalled]

Porchlight:

I don't quite see this as Lee surrendering at Appamattox. For one thing, Obama goes on to fight another day.

[Clarice]

Make a list of things he promised his supporters--closing Gitmo, etc. He hasn't kept one. I understand 74% of his supporters oppose this. I think he just bought himself ne term, unless the Republicans pick someone selected by Newsweek and Politico.

[Porchlight]

No, of course not, Appalled, it was just an illustration. My point was you don't "get credit" for losing a fight you'd rather have won.

[MayBee]

I guess I just don't understand this. Obama obviously did not want to do this. He campaigned against doing it. He made it clear he would never have done it if he didn't have to. But he should get credit for it anyway?

I don't see it as an either/or. Obviously, it's a huge GOP victory too. But it's the right thing for the American taxpayer. If you don't credit people when they do the right thing after initial resistance, it reduces their incentive to do the right thing.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Capn',

You are really screwing up my grand finale over at You TOO.

[Janet]

We can all agree on the bastard part. Either magnificent or just plain!

[Rocco]

Sorry, I couldn't resist but the stooges reminded me of this old skit

[Porchlight]

If you don't credit people when they do the right thing after initial resistance, it reduces their incentive to do the right thing.

In the world of normal people, that is so. But in Obama's case, his incentive to do the right thing is so near zero that reducing it or increasing it won't have much of an effect either way.

I would rather rub his nose in his defeat so that he understands there's more where that came from and acts accordingly.

[MayBee]

The truly annoying thing about all of this is how the Dems for YEARS were able to pretend Bush only cut taxes for the wealthy. Then they were able to transition into this argument with nobody calling them out.

"Bush's-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy" seemed to be the approved language, even for the press.

[MayBee]

I would rather rub his nose in his defeat so that he understands there's more where that came from and acts accordingly.
======

I don't know. I think as long as he is President and he can give prizes to Oprah, have Paul McCartney sing for him, and get Michelle free $15,000 dresses, he won't feel defeat.
Specific policy means little to him.

[narciso]

They the left are only 20%, but they are over represented in the 'symbolic manipulation'
industries as Robert Reich has pointed out, hence 'they have to be dragged to a certain
result

[Clarice]

What MayBee said.

(BTW HB, girl.)

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I dunno every once in a while he has to grasp what an unmitigated failure he is, and at least contemplate that he won't be re-electd - which will mean he loses Air Force one but will be adored forever. He will go forward knowing that everyone but he is just stupid.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Clarice,

I promise that was my last blow. But I sure did milk it for all it was worth, didn't I?

[MayBee]

Yay! Happy Birthday to me! Thank you, Clarice.

[Danube of Thought]

Is there a sentient being who actually believes that the Dem position on the $250K+ people stems from concern over the deficit? It's clearly an obsession with punishing them, and it all traces back to Obama's wholly contrived campaign pledge.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I agree DOT, and it looks like the press conference scheduled in the next few minutes is designed to placate his base.

Just how badly this white house has screwed up its first 2 years seems to be coming home. I expect republicans to defund health care in the budget and Obama be forced to either sign it or close down the government.

That might be fun.

[NK]

Hold the phone: Nancy P making twitter noises that the House Dems won't support this. Hmm... 47 Dems voted against her for speaker, if they all vote for the Tax rate extension, that plus all Repubs is 225 Yes votes, a majority. Will Nancy P. let the House vote? Pass the popcorn.

[Clarice]

Jane, of course you milked it, but I did get a Time cover because of the backlash.

Exactamente, DoT. Another sophomoric pledge bites the dust.

I have to miss the conference, I expect a blow by blow to be posted here.

[glasater]

every once in a while he has to grasp what an unmitigated failure he is

Somehow I don't think that phrase crosses his mind.

I'm just wondering what that delay was when the pronouncement was to come forth from Obama yesterday PM. Special Report made a big deal out of the delay.
AB Stoddard said Obama was supposed to talk to the D leaders and then meet with the D's in the House--where after all of that the D's in the House were to make the announcement.
Obama rushed to the podium first which has to make D's very unhappy.

[glasater]

"I'm gonna fight tooth and nail for tax hikes in two years"

From the presser.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I'm snarkblogging the press conference over at You too

[glasater]

I'm back to my old Dennis Miller saying:

Liberals have to build up the economy so they can suck it dry again.

[Captain Hate]

Well done, Jane; I wish my photoshop skills were better because I'd change it to "Castle Loses Again".

[Porchlight]

he won't feel defeat. Specific policy means little to him.

If he can't/won't feel defeat he probably isn't likely to be motivated by praise from the right either.

So let's hand him some more defeats. ;)

[centralcal]

The American people are on our side, says Barack Obama.

Disgraceful liar.

[MarkO]

He’s a caricature of a stereotype of a fourflusher.

[Rick Ballard]

The American people are on our side, building gibbets and buying rope.

[glasater]

From a tweet:

JimPethokoukis
Obama: (When you have to explain a metaphor, it is not a good analogy)

Oh yes--he's soooo smart.

[narciso]

Timothy Leary, on his worst days, wasn't that delusional

[NK]

BarryO calls the opposing political party "hostage takers"...... OK... what a turd this guy is. He has nothing that makes him good and worthwhile, he is the worst sort of loser to be in the White House -- Ever. Worse than Carter, worse than LBJ, worse than Harding, worse than Buchanan.

[MayBee]

So let's hand him some more defeats. ;)

You call it handing him a defeat, I'll call it giving him credit for doing the right thing. Together, we will both hope for more of that.

[MayBee]

Apparently he promised the Dems he would come out and whine about Republicans today.

[glasater]

Obama: I'm watching the long term

US: So are we--your opponents

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Oh my gawd that press conference was such a loser. He is such a loser. And a liar too. And a laughing stock. And I bet he is pissed at the press.

[NK]

he is a sad loser, and we are all worse for it. The Repubs should be watching carefully; his word is useless; he is dumb as a post. Confront him with substantive tax and budget plans in 2011, barryO the useless will tie himself up in knots and make himself irrelevant.

[Captain Hate]

Jane did he mention anything about remembering Pearl Harbor?

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Sheesh Capn' he's never heard of Pearl Harbor. I loved the part where he said that he was only allowed in the country due to compromise. (cause he is black lest you forget.)

What a guy

[maryrose]

glasater: We aren't the opponents we are the enemy according to Obama who must be defeated. Hearing us called hostage-takers was so over the top and unpresidential that I was actually stunned to hear it.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Me too Maryrose. He is such a classic narcissist. He cannot for the life of him acknowledge that anyone else (a democrat or republican) has a different position.

[Janet]

Maybe that is a new JournoList term, hostage-takers. Here is a Newsbuster article on a blogger that also used the term.

[Janet]

Just put it on the list after cro-magnon and before bitter clinger.

[Captain Hate]

Anybody doubt that he's in mid-meltdown? Imagine how it will be next month when the Repubs actually control the House. Think Al Pacino near the end of "Scarface".

[glasater]

Yes-the "hostage" comment was over the top and stunning.

I loved this tweet addressed to Jake Tapper:

jpodhoretz
@jaketapper After that press conference, I think my proposed question about hiring Russ Feingold and Howard Dean takes on new resonance.

Heh!

[East Bay Jay]

How does "hostage takers" fit with the new "can't we all just get along" approach announced less that two weeks ago?

The press packaged and sold BO instead of vetting him. But the real problem with the news, per the FCC, is FNC and Rush. And so it goes in Planet Beltway.

[Clarice]

Of course he remembers Pearl Harbor. Didn't he say that was when someone dropped a bomb on that place?

[Jack is Back!]

Only a true wimp would consider himself a "hostage' or his policies and tenure "hostage" to those mean Christmas scrooges - the republicans. This how wimps deflect their lack of spine or principle. Even Charles Atlas would have a hard time making a man out of him.

[Porchlight]

Reid is now saying he's not sure if the votes are there and Pelosi is saying she hadn't been told the deal was going to be announced.

Kinda hinky. I wonder if this is all just theater and Obama knows it's not going to pass.

[Rick Ballard]

CH,

He's down to Jarrett and Souffle in the WH bunker. I'm sure he's trolling for more yes men (with superb credentials) but apparently there are few who wish to work for a Kendonesian commie with an extraordinarily limited intellect.

I keep looking for a historical precedent but I don't believe we've ever had someone this damned dumb in the Oval Office. I'd sure like to see other countries leaders' actual assessments of BOzo. If the GOP has him hostage, maybe we can work out some sort of exchange with Kenya or Belize.

OTOH - this is probably more like The Ransom of Red Chief raised to the 10th power.

[centralcal]

Reports are that Elizabeth Edwards has died.

[NK]

Ohhhh... Rick Ballard... you are a berry, berry, BERRY BAD MAN. Hysterical, keep it coming.

[Captain Hate]

Rick's the man!

Well that was quick on Elizabeth Edwards. RIP. Did Silky make it back on the Pony Express?

[hit and run]

Hostage?

Obama's so dumb he recycles Frank Rich talking points . . . that are intended to insult him.

[lyle]

RIP, Elizabeth. At least you can't be coopted into a sham for base political ambition humiliated anymore.