What happened to “the deal”? Plus … caption the picture contest
At 6 pm Friday evening, we learned that the negotiations between the President and the Speaker of the House concerning the debt/deficit fell apart. Why?
This much we do know. Prior to Thursday, although nothing was “cast in granite”, both parties to the negotiation had generally agreed that a piece of the bargain would be $800 billion in increased revenue. This would be accomplished by reforming the tax code by lowering tax rates for all, and eliminating some, or all deductions.
On Thursday, however, the President, “moved the goal posts” by demanding that the revenue increase be $1.2 trillion. The Speaker took that as an indication that the President wasn’t negotiating in good faith, and called off the discussions.
This much is the current speculation. On Wednesday, the “Gang of Six” released its 7 page outline of its plan, and the President learned that their plan called for an increase in revenue, via tax code changes, of, depending upon how the Congressional Budget Office scored it, anywhere from $1 trillion to $3.1 trillion. Some say the President saw that, and decided he could get more money out of the conservatives, and thus, upped the ante.
UPDATE (Jim): I cannot vouch that the Boehner version is 100% on how it went down. Perhaps the President felt he wasn’t out of line for asking for more, since nothing was on paper. But I think that’s what drove Republicans crazy, that the President was never willing in initial anything in writing.
Here’s a report on how it all deteriorated, not from Fox, but last night from NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell. It’s a deal … then poof .. no deal, and all over taxes.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVkvBrXraD0
My guess is the petulant President thought he could buy his side a little more and that’s a dangerous thing to do in money talks. I know. I’ve been there. All in all the President’s lack of experience in business, I think showed.
BTW, here’s the pix released by the WH at the start of talks this morning. Boehner sipping tea … Obama T’d off. One pic is worth a thousand words.
COME ON my little mobsters … give me a caption for this pic.
22 Comments
The website's content and articles were migrated to a new framework in October 2023. You may see [shortcodes in brackets] that do not make any sense. Please ignore that stuff. We may fix it at some point, but we do not have the time now.
You'll also note comments migrated over may have misplaced question marks and missing spaces. All comments were migrated, but trackbacks may not show.
The site is not broken.
The picture was snapped right after speaker Boehner said, ” TEA, Mr. President?”
Can’t respond to all but … that David is too funny.
Speaker Boehner enjoys impromptu White House get together
Gdavid wins the caption contest right out of the gate. My impression of the photo is Speaker Boehner is enjoying a hot beverage; Bumpy Barack Hussein O’Bama is seething at missing out on a round of golf and thinking about “clever” non sequiturs to describe the negotiations; and Harvey Rude is thinking about pudding.
“You fellas should have a cup of this new ‘Reali TEA’
The Mad Hater, the March Fair, and the Duhhouse?are late, they’re late, for a very important date.
Kitchen staff just fired for offering “tea” at a financial meeting.
Boehner “C’mon! I’m missing the start of happy hour with the lobbyists again”.
Doesn’t he know I’ m The President!
How about,? I missed my tee time for this?
“One lump, or two, Mr. President?”
I think it is high time the government becomes accountable t the Taxpayers. A taxpayer, in an IRS audit, has to account for all income and expenses. We have given the government the ability to spend our tax dollars with out any documentation or accountability. They have abused that privilege beyond all limits. We need a panel, made up of exclusively tax PAYERS, to audit the expenditures of the government. After all, it is our money! The government should have nothing to hide and if they don’t, they will welcome such a panel. I think we all know what kind of reception any type of accountability will receive.
I am a TEA Party member. The most important thing I have in common with all the other TEA Party members is that I am a tax payer. Those citizens that do not support the party are those who depend on entitlements to survive. The very ones calling us wackos, racists and extremists.? I am none of the those. I am a taxpayer that feels more like an indentured servant to those who vote for a living rather than work for a living.?
It is time for us to unite and make some changes!!!! Our government has sold us down the road in the interest of their own reelection.
Steve, not to mention that when the IRS audits someone that he/she is guilty until they can prove their innocence.
It’s so hard being a god among mortals. Where’s the PGA on this teleprompter?
I’ve grown weary of these “negotiations” (no, not a caption for a typically p.o.ed-looking Obama).
Has anyone else heard talk of a super congress–a third appendage of the beast?? From what I read of it, sounds like more gridlock.? If we can’t do it with 2 houses, what makes anyone think adding a 3rd would work?
…and if Michelle’s not back there, make mine a double and onion rings to it….
Just heard Harry Reid say anything Boehner brings is a non starter. WTF
OK- Some great ones, but I’ll try:
BO- “I thought he said TEE time, so I said ok, I’m in”
Caption:
The 3 Stooges all in a “daze” work!
Captions:
Part 1: “NO,NO,NO, Mr. President!”
Part 2: “Speaker Boehner: Mr. President, when is the next TEA time?”?
David should get the grand prize, but all the captions are good!
Obama: “You left me standing at the altar how many times, and now you want to bargain?”
Boehner: “Hell hath no fury like an Obama scorned!”