A deal has been struck on Tax Cuts

Looks like in exchange for extending unemployment benefits for 13 more weeks, the Bush Tax Cuts will stay in place for two more years.  IMHO it is a small price to pay to get the Bush Tax Cuts for two more years and then hope to make them permanent so we don't have to go through this every few years.

Liberal Democrats are mad that Obama cut the deal with Republicans because they wanted the tax cuts on the rich to go away.  That would be the same 'rich' that create the jobs, but for once Obama didn't listen to the likes of Pelosi and the Progressives.  He did the right thing.

We think unemployment being extended for long time unemployed is something that needs to end, but at this time of year, some of those people cannot find work and with Christmas approaching, they could use the extra help.  A lot of places are not hiring and when you are unemployed, there is no way you can afford to move so it is Catch 22.  There are some people unemployed who have worked for years, have paid into the unemployment fund and for the first time have had to draw unemployment checks to survive.  With the high unemployment rate, I just don't see how we can do anything but help these people.  It is not like they are getting checks that most can afford to live on, but it puts food on the table and a roof over their head. 

A down economy leads to unemployment which is what we are seeing and believe the numbers are much greater than the ones we are seeing released from the Federal government.  It has hit every state but some a lot harder.  We do not see a big push to hire people even for the Christmas holidays either at least where we live.  We have noted a lot of older employees have taken jobs in places like Walmart, Home Depot, Target, and Lowes when they were used to having jobs with a lot of responsibility.   We will say one thing that the customer service at check-outs has improved dramatically with the influx of these older people. 

We don't know the answer to the unemployment and down economy but we do know if the Bush Tax Cuts were removed for people making over $250,000, it would have been a disaster.  Thirteen more weeks of unemployment may just help some of the people make it to where they can begin to get jobs. 

Know we haven't seen the full details, but we think it is probably the best deal that could be achieved from what we are hearing off the record.  Lot of people forget that they hated everything being rammed through with no compromise.  Now that Obama has agreed to compromise, they want to go after Republicans for compromising.  Short-sighted in our opinion and part of what is wrong with politics on both sides especially from the pundits.  Not always going to get your way so you get the best deal possible. 

We have noted that pundits on both sides who have never been in politics always claim to know what is best and if an office holder doesn't follow their agenda, then they are not a 'true' conservative or liberal -- throw a dart depending on the office holder.  Have to wonder if some of these pundits have worked in campaigns before the way they want everyone to think they know it all.  As someone who has worked campaigns for years, nothing is ever a done deal because something out of the blue always comes up.  Anyone who says only "I" know the right way to go is arrogant. 

There are some pundits who are former campaign people like Dick Morris who at times is all over the place and one of the ones to use "he is not a 'true' conservative."  We have no clue to his agenda and frankly pay little attention since he was the Clinton mastermind.  When Karl Roves speaks, we listen because he knows how to organize a campaign and understands very well how something can come up out of the blue to hurt a campaign and what has to be done to keep moving forward.  If we had to rely on one person, it would be Karl Rove.  Even when not agreeing with what he is saying 100%, listen closely because he knows politics as well as anyone on the scene today and a lot better than most.  Sometimes a campaign guru gets blamed for what the candidate actually does, but most have broad shoulders and no one is going to rattle them.

We remember back in the 90's when the Republicans shut down the Government thinking it was a good idea when it was a horrible idea and gave Clinton the upper hand again.  We believe this leadership team is very smart and will not allow that to happen.  They will do what is best for the American people as a whole and work to always get the best deal possible.  With the Senate still Democrat controlled, it is going to be a tough fight but the House Leadership is up to that challenge the way we have seen them fight the last two years.

Bottom line is that this looks to be a good deal because we have two more years for the Bush Tax Cuts unless Pelosi throws a monkey wrench in the compromise. If that happens, then the new House can pass the Bush Tax Cuts and make it retroactive to 1 January 2011.

   

Scrooge in the White House and Congress on Retaining Bush Tax Cuts

Anyone with an ounce of brains understands that the people with the wealth are the ones who create the jobs in this Country. We are sure that people making over $250,000 a year are shocked they are considered part of the wealthy now according to the Democrats.

Cannot fathom what would happen if the Bush Tax Cuts were allowed to expire on 1 January 2011. Wouldn't want to have money in the stock market on January 3rd, 2011 if that happens. That would be one sure way for the wealthy of this country to lose even more money.

It is so ridiculous that there is even a discussion about allowing any of the Bush Tax Cuts to expire. Extend them for two years, one month, and let the new Administration in 2012 decide to keep them because we cannot fathom anyone with the slightest of an economic background allowing them to expire.

Obama, Pelosi, and Reid need to stop playing games and extend the tax cuts today. Oh wait, they are not meeting until tomorrow. They also need to get the budget passed but we are not holding our breath on that one either. They only passed a continuing resolution until December 19th. The House never has drawn up a real budget but has shell bills with numbers. Are they going to punt to the 112th Congress with a continuing resolution that expires the day the Republicans take over in the House and gain seats in the Senate? Would not shock us even a little. This group of Democrats in charge could care less about the American people as evidenced in the way they pass bills without reading.

Cannot wait to see the gavel handed from Pelosi to Speaker-Elect Boehner. Going to be a breath of fresh air in the House and the American people will finally learn what is going on in an 'open environment' when we are allowed to see the bills before they come up for a vote.

President Obama is in for a rude awakening as his leftist agenda goes into a black hole. Will he be able to handle not demanding something be passed? We doubt it! Should make for an interesting two years. Unlike Clinton, it will be hard for him to compromise with Republicans -- actually virtually impossible with his attitude.

The Journal Editorial Review: Deficit Commission -- Paul Ryan: What Conservatives are Missing!

The first part of the The Journal Editorial Review with Paul Gigot video from The Wall Street Journal, November 20, 2010, covers the Deficit Commission where Paul Ryan sits as a member. Cong Paul Ryan (R-WI) gives the real facts on Tax Reform by the Deficit Commission. It turns out it is not about raising taxes that we are hearing from some conservative sites and pundits unless you are talking about no mortgage deduction on a 2nd home or a mortgage over $500,000 for starters.  Seems they completely missed the recommendation to lower tax rates on business and individuals with the top rate of individuals going to 28%.

Ryan as a member of the Commission and doesn't like everything and doesn't expect lower tax rates to get approval from Obama because he is a class warfare person who believes in redistributing the wealth of Americans. Ryan said Republicans need to be a pro-growth, low tax party and what the Republicans plans are for the 112th Congress beginning on January 3, 2011. Obama didn't want Medicare or Medicaid looked at by this Commission so they ignored these programs. IMO best guess is because he didn't want Obamacare looked at with a fine toothed comb especially with Paul Ryan sitting on the Commission.

Congressman Paul Ryan takes over the Chairman of the Budget Committee in January and gives his plans on the second part of this video. Gigot reveals that Dave Camp (R-MI) will be taking over as Chairman of Ways and Means which writes the Tax Laws and is made of the same cloth as Paul Ryan. Things should get very interesting House starting on January 3rd.

The video also gives an update on TSA Reviews. Long but well worth watching. Paul Gigot does a very good job of interviewing.




It is time that we start questioning some of the Conservative websites along with the liberal ones and ask what is in it for them when they come out with less than truthful information. One thing is to get contributions to continue their fight from both sides. Be very wary of any site charging to send a fax as this is a great way to raise money for the people who run the site.  It pains me to see the same tactics being used by some members of the right that the left has used.

Anyone can log onto the sites of the Houseor Senate to find the websites of their member of Congress or Senators, click on their link, and leave their comment or call their office if you don't like something. Personal contact with the member from their constituent is much better than a petition signed by many people not in their district or state. Don't forget if you are going to criticize a member be prepared to thank them when they do the right thing. Even if you don't like something they have done, being rude is not going to get you very far. Be reasoned with your complaint because the person answering the phone is not the Member of Congress.

Don't know about anyone else but this 'sky is falling' mentality from some conservative websites is getting really annoying. So many emails I am getting have no basis in fact. On Friday received numerous emails saying a bill was about to be passed in the Senate and send faxes at their website, but the bill has never left Committee.

Then we have the threats now from National Tea Party people along with some Conservatives to do as they say or else. That's beyond annoying and starting a blow back from a lot of individual Tea Party people along with Republican grassroots. What we saw out of the Tea Party Patriots sending out private cell phone numbers and email accounts of incoming Freshman was so wrong and so arrogant. These people talk about elitist, then they should look in the mirror.

The holidays are coming up and time for some people to chill out and not expect to see the bogeyman around every corner. Enjoy the holidays, spend time with your family, and remember on January 3rd, 2011, a new day dawns as the 112th Congress is sworn into office.

Cong Mike Pence On the Record with Greta about House Adjournment before Voting on Tax Cuts

Pence Goes On the Record to Discuss the Need to Stop Democrat Tax Hikes

"Members of Congress are going to adjourn the Congress to go home so they can work to save their jobs with not having lifted a finger to protect the jobs of millions of Americans”

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, talked about the Democrats leaving town without offering a vote to stop tax hikes with Greta Van Susteren On the Record:

Excerpts:

Rep. Pence: “It really is unconscionable, Greta. Congress is going to finish up in a couple hours. But earlier today they actually passed, Democrats passed, by one vote, an adjournment motion that's going to allow Members of Congress to head home to work on saving their jobs without doing a thing to protect the jobs of millions of Americans that are going to be facing higher taxes in January of next year. Republicans fought it. It’s amazing, 39 Democrats actually voted with Republicans against adjourning. And we have dozens of Democrats who have said they are willing to support extending all of the current tax relief, but that's not what they are doing. We are going to adjourn Congress so folks can go home to campaign with having done nothing to ensure that Americans won't face a tax increase in January.”

***

Rep. Pence: “Well, I don't know how it is our fault. Republicans have made it very, very clear that we believe that the last thing you want to do in the worst economy in the last 25 years is raise taxes on anybody. We've been calling for a full extension of all the current tax relief for every American. But look, the American people aren't very interested in the blame game and the finger-pointing between the House, the Senate Republicans and Democrats. What they would like to see is the bipartisan majority just down the hallway that wants to extend all the tax cuts to get an up or down vote. But when the gavel falls tonight, Members of Congress are going to adjourn the Congress to go home so they can work to save their jobs with not having lifted a finger to protect the jobs of millions of Americans from taxes and a tax increase in January.”

***

Rep. Pence: “I saw your show last night, that's where I learned about the New York Times editorial. And I don’t agree with the New York Times. I believe we should extend all the current tax relief. Make sure no American, no small business sees a tax hike in January of next year. But you have to give them credit for telling the Democrats, “Hey step up, man-up, take a vote.” If you think a tax increase in January is the way to go, then take the vote. What we've done here is seen the Democrat majority literally just punt. And they are putting politics ahead of prosperity. I think the American people are going to see through it. I think a lot of these members of Congress are going to get off the plane tomorrow and I think they are going to get an earful from their constituents. They are going to say, ‘What are you doing here when you have done nothing to prevent a tax increase in January from taking effect?’”