Obama Is Increasingly Irrelevant to the Debt Ceiling Process

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The M.O. seems to be the same throughout. Appeal to the base, enlarge the base (at any cost to the taxpayer), engage in pitting American against American, tax, spend, buy every vote possible with taxpayer money or large donations from the wealthy who want to curry your favor just in case you remain in power and wish to punish those who didn't buy your favor. All reminiscent of any South American dictator. Obama is the worst ever, even worse than Jimmy Carter of the double-digit inflation and interest rate fame. The man has a one-track mind. Taxes, taxes and more taxes. Regulation, regulation and more regulation. If it all kills off business and industry, so be it. Then the state can own everything and us with it. I'm sure we'd be just as successful as the old Soviet empire, eh?

Steve in Philly of PA 6:37AM July 28, 2011

Senator barry’s involvement:
“The 2005 Energy Policy Act was one of the friendliest ever with over $10 billion in handouts. It lets oil giants pay federal royalties in barrels of oil and grants exemptions on some wells, subsidizes a new R & D program for ultra deep water drilling and unconventional oil and gas development, creates hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax breaks, increases what oil and gas companies can deduct on pipeline expenses, provides more liability protection besides the $75 million cap (established by the 1990 Oil Pollution Act after the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, an amount too small to matter)."
“As an Illinois senator, six months into his term, Obama supported it, an early clue to where he stood, and how he hoped to gain - the usual "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" payoff.”
“It worked hugely with BP, the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) reporting that its employees and political action committees gave more to him than to any other federal candidate in the past 20 years.”
“During his 2008 campaign, CRP reported that the oil and gas industry overall gave him $884,000, more than any to other lawmaker except John McCain, and no wonder. His Senate voting record showed what they bought:"
“the right of mining companies to strip mine everywhere, including on government lands; Vast new powers and handouts to the nuclear industry; harmful biofuels production;
lax regulation; and other pro-business, anti-populist measures - besides supporting the 2005 Energy Policy Act."
“Obama promised change, and delivered betrayal - evident now in the Gulf, America's greatest ever environmental disaster, fast becoming the most catastrophic in history, a shameless addition to his resume, already revealing a world class rogue and failed president less than a year and half into office. No wonder calls for his impeachment have begun, including by James Petras on May 27, on the Progressive Radio News Hour, hosted by this writer who wholeheartedly agrees.”
Don’t forget barry’s waver to worst polluter in Gulf, Who else, barry’s buddy, BP. There is more, enjoy reading link...
http://warisacrime.org/node/52692

Bill Hedges of MO 2:46AM July 28, 2011

“According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Bush tax cuts actually shifted the total tax burden farther toward the rich so that in 2000-2004, total income tax paid by the top 40% of income-earners grew by 4.6% to 99.1% of the total.”
http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/03/lying_about_bushs_tax_cuts.html
__ tax cuts for rich paid for theslves plus tax cut for non-rich too...
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“The tax cuts of the 1920s”
Tax rates were slashed dramatically during the 1920s, dropping from over 70 percent to less than 25 percent. What happened? Personal income tax revenues increased substantially during the 1920s, despite the reduction in rates. Revenues rose from $719 million in 1921 to $1164 million in 1928, an increase of more than 61 percent."
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“The Kennedy tax cuts”
President Hoover dramatically increased tax rates in the 1930s and President Roosevelt compounded the damage by pushing marginal tax rates to more than 90 percent. Recognizing that high tax rates were hindering the economy, President Kennedy proposed across-the-board tax rate reductions that reduced the top tax rate from more than 90 percent down to 70 percent. What happened? Tax revenues climbed from $94 billion in 1961 to $153 billion in 1968, an increase of 62 percent (33 percent after adjusting for inflation)."
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“The Reagan tax cuts”
“Thanks to "bracket creep," the inflation of the 1970s pushed millions of taxpayers into higher tax brackets even though their inflation-adjusted incomes were not rising. To help offset this tax increase and also to improve incentives to work, save, and invest, President Reagan proposed sweeping tax rate reductions during the 1980s. What happened? Total tax revenues climbed by 99.4 percent during the 1980s, and the results are even more impressive when looking at what happened to personal income tax revenues. Once the economy received an unambiguous tax cut in January 1983, income tax revenues climbed dramatically, increasing by more than 54 percent by 1989 (28 percent after adjusting for inflation)."
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“Harmful Spending & Complexity”
“Lower tax rates are important, but they are not the only critical issue. Both the level of government spending and where that money goes are very important. And even when looking only at tax policy, tax rates are just one piece of the puzzle. If certain types of income are subject to multiple layers of tax, as occurs in the current system, that problem cannot be solved by low rates. Similarly, a tax system with needless levels of complexity will impose heavy costs on the productive sector of the economy.”
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/08/the-historical-lessons-of-lower-tax-rates

Bill Hedges of MO 2:37AM July 28, 2011

If he wasn't a threat to Republicans - you would not have written this article. I think he is the BEST president we have had in decades and that he is doing a fine job in the face of highly organized, much funded and right-wing underhanded tactics form the RIGHT. He is fair, literate, articulate, well-spoken, knowledgeable and he actually sees the needs of NORMAL Americans (translation: NOT the corporate wealthy). My family and I will vote him in for a 2nd term. No problem. He has faced the most difficult years in recent history that any of our Presidents have faced. Worldwide economic difficulties, terrorism at an all-time high, a war he inherited - costing us billions!!! And he is holding his own. That is the kind of leader we need, now and in the future! Not some out-of-touch Republican, who doesn't know the price of a loaf of bread - who wants to keep all the tax breaks for his cronies in corporate America.

Shaw of AZ 1:21AM July 28, 2011

How do they let pundits write here who don't have a basic understanding of how our government is run.
Mr Felzenberg should be force to take a 'US Government 101' course before they let him display his ignorance here again.

Harry of MO 12:56AM July 28, 2011

Ridiculous premise as usual unless you are pointing out the infighting within the GOP that has left Beohner impotent. True its not Obama's fault Beohner can not lead and Beohner is getting stabbed in the back by his own team.
Regardless Obama is very relevant because he is going veto any the House ransom demands. He holds all the cards, while Beohner can not even get a consensus within his own ranks. Obama is relevant because he is the target of irrelevant hatemongers like Felzy who otherwise would be sitting on his thumb.

Lacey of AZ 12:47AM July 28, 2011

is he's screwd up everything he's done and the American economy in short order .

Hunter of WI 8:07PM July 27, 2011

obama paints a unrealistic picture. Funny, liberals call us extreme. Talk of civil disobedience ???
Only way we will not lose AAA rating is Speaker plan. CBO reported his plan did not cut enough. New one too much. Over goal. Democrats can save face and change A LITTLE.
What has Democrats done ? No 2011 budget when they had control Oct. 1, 2010. Democrat Senate no budget for 800 days. obama poposed additional $$$ 9.5 trillion in debt in 2011 budget (CRAZY). Republican House HAS passed budget bills. We have the guts to make the hard choices, Democrats DO NOT.
Is not a question of cuts. That is a GIVEN. Democrats buying votes must be curtailed. Senator obama had nearly $$$ 1 million a work day habit of PORK, second only to Hillary Clinton. No hard choices, obama voted "PRESENT" LIKE NOW.
At this TIME while Democrats have NOTHING (Reid plan not real, continues path we are now on), Speaker plan is it. obama sitting in office getting high on himself (Bush fault. Bush fault):
"Billionaire businessman Steve Wynn, CEO of Wynn Resorts (WYNN) and self-described democrat, is really not happy with President Obama's economic policies."
"I'm afraid to do anything in the current political environment in the United States…."[There's] a total lack of leadership from the President and nothing's going to get fixed until the President himself steps up and wrangles both parties in Congress," said Wynn on the company's quarterly conference call on Monday. "I'm saying it bluntly, that this administration is the greatest wet blanket to business, and progress and job creation in my lifetime….until he's gone, everybody's going to be sitting on their thumbs."
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/steve-wynn-obama-wet-blanket-rant-nonsense-says-145537058.html
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To Scott of WI_ "taxes for the rich. That is awesome. "
Tea rather create JOBS than have you nursing on government welfare. You've been kicked out of Daddy's house.
1. Get rid of nearly every obama passed legislation.
2. Government has the money to pay debt, obama is a liar. He now going to do a 180 in his talk ? Clinton did !
3. Only way to get America running is tax cuts continued:
“According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Bush tax cuts actually shifted the total tax burden farther toward the rich so that in 2000-2004, total income tax paid by the top 40% of income-earners grew by 4.6% to 99.1% of the total.”
4. But:
“Harmful Spending & Complexity”
“Lower tax rates are important, but they are not the only critical issue. Both the level of government spending and where that money goes are very important.
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2003/08/the-historical-lessons-of-lower-tax-rates

Bill Hedges of MO 7:02PM July 27, 2011

Its mind-blogging to read what the presidency has built itself upon and how the dissonance between each party leader draws a clearer picture regarding their internal affairs. Insofar as the role of the president, there are experts who reel in and hunker down on factuality over the the outcrying pitches from a poor historian's selling tactic. Surprisingly, some of us struggled whether to agree, or simply dismiss the leadership of the Oval Office. The verity the president excels at bluffing, reminds anyone of sales folks clambering at reaching their daily sales quota in any fashion feased to "get those numbers." A falser denial by supporters encamped at his side. Where were inapt to disbelieve that the presidency was literally 'full-of-bull.' Great for the sporty Sports fans . No one questioning his integrity behind that unveiled ploy. Like a neighbour. Who wreaks havoc on the lives of others destroying their abode and living conditions with the use of a simple washing machine. Then at every turning event while. Waters stream from the ceiling into the apartment, say, "Oh I don't know. The Landlord's gotta fix it."

Bernard of NY 6:44PM July 27, 2011

Frustrated over the Republicans' inability to bring Obama to his knees during the debt ceiling talks, party operatives have reportedly hired Jeff Stinger, President of K.N.O.T. (Kindness Never Overcomes Tenacity) Inc to help the party regain the political initiative.
Stinger has never ever talked to the media, and he prefers to function behind the scenes.
"He gets the job done. Period," said a Stinger friend of a friend.
A friend of a friend of a friend added, "Stinger is a pro at creating the perception of a crisis where there isn't one. It drives the Democrats crazy!"
The story continues at the whimsical Thinking Out Loud,
http://marperl.blogspot.com/2011/07/republicans-in-knot-over-debt-level.html

marperl of WA 6:01PM July 27, 2011