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The Boston Globe

Politics

Obama seeks end to ‘dysfunction’

Says Americans want both sides to work together

WASHINGTON — President Obama used his first formal appearance since his reelection to call on Congress to immediately make tax cuts permanent for the middle class, declaring on Friday that Tuesday’s result was a repudiation of congressional “dysfunction’’ and proved that Americans want Republicans to compromise.

Whether the wealthy get tax cuts along with the other 98 percent of taxpayers, the president suggested, could be part of broader negotiations to reduce longterm deficits. In the meantime, he said, taxes on the rich should be allowed to increase at the end of the year.

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A lame-duck Congress shouldn’t do big things...Then why did Boehner vote for the bill creating the "fiscal cliff" in the 1st place? Boehner and his Tea Party friends are complaining about the bill they created.

What a clever idea, kicking the can down the road again.  You don't suppose Boehner thinks he's boxed in the public's view at this moment and thinks it will be easier for him to negotiate when there are congressional midterms within sight again, do you?  Now there is true leadership from the Republican party! 

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Boehner is boxed in and pushing matters down the road will give him time, so he believes, to get things more to the liking of his party. Also, if the various job prognostications are true ,several million jobs could be added this coming year. If that happens then the revenues that Boehner says are needed through growth will possibly deaden the issue of raising taxes on the wealthy.

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I emphatically disagree with Boehner's gambit. Postpone the "fiscal cliff" for a year while ostensibly negotiating, then dig in preparatory to midterm elections in 2014. That's very obviously his ploy. It's the same "game" we just played with this issue. Enough already! This voter emphatically wants Washington to tackle the problem NOW. Win or lose, I hope the President pushes forward on this issue. Let the GOP and Democrats put their plans on the table and try to persuade the public.

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What is so infuriating about this ploy is that short months ago Republican House held the debt ceiling negotiations hostage because "fiscal imbalance is threatening our very nation."  Now, guys, things are so much better that putting off the solution another year is the right thing to do?  Chutzpah about just plain lying certainly isn't limited to Mitt.  Given this craven nonsense, it is all the more clear that the GOP got exactly what it deserved in this election (and don't tell me retaining control of the House is a mandate!).

Mr. Boehner needs to grow a spine and lead, or resign. The Tea Party caucus in the congress did not just win an election.

"This was a central question during the election,’’ Obama said during a brief speech at the White House. “It was debated over and over again, and on Tuesday night we found that a majority of Americans agreed with my approach". Ok so according to Ph.D economist Mr. Obama that all we have to do to wipe out America's deficit and create millions of jobs is to tax everybody making over $250,000. This clearly shows that Barack Obama just wants to make a political point. But he has NO INTENTION of actually cutting any spending. He is simply NOT SERIOUS. ..Meanwhile Gov. Jerry Brown of CA has insisted that by raising state sales taxes, allowing cities to impose their own taxes, and raise income taxes will turn CA back from bankrupcy into the the most prosperous state in the country. As startup business flee CA into neigboring states. Jerry Brown is NOT SERIOUS about cutting CA's deficit. Mr. Obama wants to bankrupt the US. Actually, Mr. Obama has decided that the campaign is STILL on, and Americans elected him not to actually lead the country but just to bash Republicans and half the country. This is a very UNPRESIDENTIAL approach. And meanwhile, Mr. Obama is busy holding out the olive branch to Iran's leaders again. His enemes are not radical Islamists, but are his fellow Americans. israel is also Mr. Obama's enemy. Iran's mullahs are just jumping for joy that Obama got reelected. While Israel's leaders are telling him to just jump. He didn't do anything or tell Americans after Iran fired on an American drone, BEFORE the election. While in campaign mode Obama said "We will not allow Iran to get a  nuclear weapon". Now that he is reelected, he and Hillary Clinton have decided that Iran is a soverign nation and any nation is entitled to have a nuke.

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Sorry lesvalseuses, I clicked dislike on your nap rec totally by mistake--meant to click LIKE

Thank God for the Tea Party. Is there anyone out there who believes that without them Obama and the democrats would ever be forced to consider cutting spending?  Americans wanted that spree stopped which is why they threw the democrats out on their butts in 2010 and chose to let the republicans keep the house now. America likes divided government, checks and balances. Madison believed this, Madison was right.

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You apparrently were on the side of the group that wanted to increase the defense budget?  Where does that fit into cutting spending?  I am not kidding.  Apparently you are kidding, or at least that's what your moniker would suggest.  

 

Nonsense flows evermore out of the mouths of the right.

Someone tell Axelrod the campaign is over.  Must the president always need to have a "standout backdrop" when laying out his objectives?

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Unlike Boehner, who cries on demand for effect?  The country was imminently threatened a few months ago by growing debt that would cripple our future:  holding the debt ceiling negotiations hostage was the only way to save us.  Now, it's fine to kick the can down the road another year so the House majority leader gets a better negotiating position?  I can't say I'm really feeling the love for Republican gimmick peddlers and hypocrites, either.  Why are you giving them a pass that Obama isn't getting from you, guys? 

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Dear Mr. Boehner,

I earn a lot less than $250k a year yet my family and I eat every day and pay our bills. Millionaires won't starve if they have to pay a bit more.

Trickle down has been given many, many years and has not worked.

The wealthy do not invest in growing jobs; they spend on a high life style.

The poor and middle class also spend...just not so high and with less security about the future.

We have plundered the future to pay for the high life for a few...maybe more than a few as a lot of the middle class has spent above their means.

We are polluting the air and warming the planet putting future generations at risk.

Just once, lead the House to see that our kids are more important than anything else and do the right thing for the future.

Let that be your legacy. Let them say that Boehner was the one that turned things around.

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What is very clear to me is that the overwhelming majority of Americans (including many wealthy Republicans) see the need to let the Bush tax cuts expire for wealthy people. Trickle down has become sucking up. It simply doesn't work anymore. Seventy percent of the whole economy is generated from consumer spending and the consumers(the middle class) are broke. We have a demand problem not a supply problem Raising taxes on wealthy people will not change that dynamic. If we are serious about deficit reduction,these taxes must be collected. If I was Obama; I would call the House's bluff and let all the tax cuts expire. Then and only then will the American will on this matter be exercised. It is time to end being hostage to a backwards vision. God bless the United States of America. We need it

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That's NOT what exit polls said when voters were asked if they support raising taxes on everybody making over $250K. See today's WSJ article "The President's tax Bludgeon"..Also, with regard to foreign policy, why does Obama offer an Olive Branch to Iran's mullahs and STILL offer to negotiate about their nuclear weapons, while swinging a Baseball bat on the American people? Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when in Campaign mode said "Iran will not be allowed to posess nuclear weapons". AFTER the campaign is over Barack and Hillary say "Iran is a sovereign nation. Any sovereign nation has the right to posess nuclear weapons" The mullah's in Iran are just LAUGHING and LAUGHING at this President. .. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323894704578109152933575788.html?mod=opinion_newsreel

From Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "We Republicans have a Voter Mandate to NOT raise taxes" In today's WSJ..http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324894104578109000926531558.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop... And also in today's WSJ "The President's Tax Bludgeon" Absolutely NO bipartisanship from the Campaigner in Chief. He alone is the cause of the current Congressional gridlock... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323894704578109152933575788.html?mod=opinion_newsreel

Dont kick this can down the road! Make a deal now or go over the cliff. Republicans don't give a damn about this country--only their money$

It's unreasonable to expect an ethical solution from the Speaker of the House.  He is a former bagman for the tobbacco industry (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/05/opinion/05herbert.html) and is the lowest of the low.  He and his cronies will play brinkmanship with the economy and I hope Obama and the democrats have the courage to stand firm.

As well he should, those dam rich people only pay 80% of the income taxes anyway!!! Hate those rich white guys anyway...

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The top 1 percent contributed about 37 percent of the taxes paid in 2009. Read more: Top 1 Percent: How Much Do They Earn? | Bankrate.com http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/top-1-percent-earn.aspx#ixzz2BsiIgGiv

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Blah-Blah-Blah Trixie! Blah - Blah - Blah. Here is a story the media will repeat many times over.