Scarborough: "OBama Needs Nerve, Perspective"

[Appaholic]

Democratic politicians always become sitting targets when they lose their nerve.

Former Vice President Al Gore’s team stayed away from issues like global warming and gun control because it was afraid of losing states like West Virginia and Tennessee. Well, guess what? Gore lost them anyway.

Four years later, Sen. John Kerry was so fearful of being called weak on national defense that he bragged publicly about being for the funding of the Iraq war before being against it. Again, game, set, match to the GOP.

And now we have Obama, who spent two years ignoring Republicans, now deciding to throw in the towel on tax cuts before the opening bell rings. If the president of the United States really believes that he is in such a weak position that he cannot stand up to a party that wants to give tax cuts to millionaires while cutting benefits for unemployed families at Christmastime, I fear not only for the Democratic Party but also for America.

Someone close to the president needs to give him a dose of Washington reality.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/12 ... Page2.html

[GannonFan]

I don't get the comment about cutting benefits for unemployed people. Doesn't the proposal call for extending the unemployment benefits another 13 months, on top of the 99 weeks that are already covered? That's like 155 weeks of unemployment, or just shy of 3 years of unemployment coverage. That's getting to be considerably susbtantial unemployment coverage, even in tough times.

[blueballs]

Perhaps Mr. Obama is finally listening to the voters instead of his own party and the liberal media, as it should be.

We can only hope...

[Appaholic]

Perhaps Mr. Obama is finally listening to the voters instead of his own party and the liberal media, as it should be.

We can only hope...

Disagree. His party was working on a plan to raise the threshold to $1mil. Americans aren't for giving tax cuts to people over $1mil. But we'll never know the outcome since he pussied out. Congrats to the Reps for a well-played hand. Obviously, I'd rather have tax cuts for all than tax hikes for all. But what a political moron. He could have brought them to the table for the exact reason listed in the article - demanding that continued unemployment benefits be funded or removed (at Christmastime no less) while demanding tax cuts for rich without associated funding - who wouldn't want to take that bullet point to the American public while simultaneously pointing out the Rep admin of Bush / Paulson bailed out Wall Street. What a political novice....I'm appalled, not because I'm a liberal, but because I admire political gamesmanship. Obama needs to go back to organizing community bake sales & recycling drives....

[89Hen]

I don't get the comment about cutting benefits for unemployed people. Doesn't the proposal call for extending the unemployment benefits another 13 months, on top of the 99 weeks that are already covered? That's like 155 weeks of unemployment, or just shy of 3 years of unemployment coverage. That's getting to be considerably susbtantial unemployment coverage, even in tough times.

It's no longer unemployment coverage... it's welfare.

[GannonFan]

I don't get the comment about cutting benefits for unemployed people. Doesn't the proposal call for extending the unemployment benefits another 13 months, on top of the 99 weeks that are already covered? That's like 155 weeks of unemployment, or just shy of 3 years of unemployment coverage. That's getting to be considerably susbtantial unemployment coverage, even in tough times.

It's no longer unemployment coverage... it's welfare.

And I agree with that - if you're out of work for 3 years, you just aren't going about it the right way or you just don't want to work. But to decry extension of tax cuts while the unemployment protection has ballooned to almost 3 years is just myopic - we've quicky and quietly gone about a huge extension of government assistance in very little time. It'll be hard to ever get back to where we were when this started.

[AZGrizFan]

It's no longer unemployment coverage... it's welfare.

And I agree with that - if you're out of work for 3 years, you just aren't going about it the right way or you just don't want to work. But to decry extension of tax cuts while the unemployment protection has ballooned to almost 3 years is just myopic - we've quicky and quietly gone about a huge extension of government assistance in very little time. It'll be hard to ever get back to where we were when this started.

'Ya think?

And why WOULD you when you can continue to get something for nothing?

[mainejeff]

Back to the main crux of this post......Obama is a complete p*ssy. Lord help us if we are somehow attacked during the next 2 years.......come on Hillary, challenge this piece of Chicago trash in 2012!

[Appaholic]

And I agree with that - if you're out of work for 3 years, you just aren't going about it the right way or you just don't want to work. But to decry extension of tax cuts while the unemployment protection has ballooned to almost 3 years is just myopic - we've quicky and quietly gone about a huge extension of government assistance in very little time. It'll be hard to ever get back to where we were when this started.

'Ya think?

And why WOULD you when you can continue to get something for nothing?

Agree, but I'm more concerned with a larger issue. How can you commission a study on debt reduction & two weeks after it releases it's findings, make a deal with Republicans to extend unfunded tax breaks to ANY income bracket while the Repub's have demanded that, if you want to extend unemployment benefits, you gotta fund them.....and then not bring up that inconsistant Republican stance during the debate? It's mind-boggling...what a moron...it's hanging on the fokking rim, but instead, you call a travel on yourself before the ball could go through the basket....

As I stated earlier, I'd much rather have the tax break for all than no tax break, but here was a chance to force BOTH sides to sit down & make some tough decisions regarding the out of control expenses. Instead, he lets the Repubs have a victory at the expense of making him look like their "boy"....

[pwnman9903]

Guys is pretty sad when people have no heart for other people who are not as well off as you. You guys should be ashamed of yourself. I only prey that someday you need unemployment and its not there for you. Or someone that lost everything walks up to you and shoots one of you just because theyve lost everything and blame whoever. People are killing themselves over this economy. You tell me they would rather shoot themselves in the head then work. I THINK NOT, THERE ARE NO JOBS. AND WHAT GOOD IS A JOB THAT DOESNT PAY SHIT. IF YOU CANT MAKE ENOUGH TO FEED,HOUSE,CLOTHE AND LIVE WHY DO IT. YOU CAN STAY HOME AND GO COMPLETELY BROKE. ITS NOT NECASSARY TO DIG A HOLE TO GO BROKE. HAVE A HEART AND TRY NOT TO THINK EVERYONE IS A DEAD BEAT. SOME PEOPLE ITS NOT WHAT THEY WANT. AND ITS NOT THERE FAULT. there are 20 applications put in on average for every 1 job. so dont tell me there not looking. Thanks im a 99er with a job now. I think they should extend ui for 260 weeks or foreer. give it out till you find a job like welfare but better!! GOD BLESS AMERICA. AND IM IN INDIANA AND WE JUST GOT 155 WEEKS. THANKS OBAMA....

[89Hen]

I'm guessing you work for Merriam-Webster.

[Cap'n Cat]

You know, this liberal Obama voter can't disagree with a lot of what Conks have said here.

Only one caveat - there ain't no Conk plan other than tax cuts for Cheney-types.
old.

[AZGrizFan]

Guys is pretty sad when people have no heart for other people who are not as well off as you. You guys should be ashamed of yourself. I only prey that someday you need unemployment and its not there for you. Or someone that lost everything walks up to you and shoots one of you just because theyve lost everything and blame whoever. People are killing themselves over this economy. You tell me they would rather shoot themselves in the head then work. I THINK NOT, THERE ARE NO JOBS. AND WHAT GOOD IS A JOB THAT DOESNT PAY SHIT. IF YOU CANT MAKE ENOUGH TO FEED,HOUSE,CLOTHE AND LIVE WHY DO IT. YOU CAN STAY HOME AND GO COMPLETELY BROKE. ITS NOT NECASSARY TO DIG A HOLE TO GO BROKE. HAVE A HEART AND TRY NOT TO THINK EVERYONE IS A DEAD BEAT. SOME PEOPLE ITS NOT WHAT THEY WANT. AND ITS NOT THERE FAULT. there are 20 applications put in on average for every 1 job. so dont tell me there not looking. Thanks im a 99er with a job now. I think they should extend ui for 260 weeks or foreer. give it out till you find a job like welfare but better!! GOD BLESS AMERICA. AND IM IN INDIANA AND WE JUST GOT 155 WEEKS. THANKS OBAMA....

A professional "unemployed" and proud of it.

[OL FU]

The problem was that the current congress waited to damn long to do anything, backed themselves and everybody else in a corner and left little time to work out something other than another plan that nobody would like. Without taking a position, the democrats had the opportunity to resolve this to their like but pushed it off until after the election. Negotiating with a couple of republicans before the election would have been a lot easier than after a massive defeat. Obama may be a pussy, but the democratic congress needs to look in the mirror and undestand where the blame for the compromise lies.

[houndawg]

The prez missed one helluva political opportunity to make it crystal clear to the country exactly who the Honks work for.

Where the Honks are fcking up is that every day the average Joe cares less what happens to a system he has an ever-diminishing stake in. A system, btw, that would already be on the rubbish-heap of history right next to Soviet collectivism had not the government forced those same people to bail out our bankrupt system.