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President Obama Calls Out Speaker Boehner For Blocking Payroll Tax Cut Extension

video

by Tommy Christopher | 4:12 pm, December 20th, 2011

» 202 comments

In a surprise appearance at Tuesday afternoon’s White House briefing, President Obama called on House Republicans, and specifically, Speaker of the House John Boehner, to stop playing games with the payroll tax cut extension. The President slammed one House Republican who called the tax cut deal “high stakes poker,” and demanded an end to “brinkmanship.”

The House has rejected a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate on Saturday by an 89-10 margin, which has placed Speaker Boehner, who initially praised the Senate bill as a “good deal” and a “victory for Republicans,” in the President’s doghouse. The Senate deal calls for a two-month extension, but the House has disingenuously called for a conference to negotiate a full-year extension. President Obama explained, “In fact, the House Republicans say they don’t dispute the need for a payroll tax cut. What they’re really trying to do, what they’re holding out for, is to wring concessions from Democrats on issues that have nothing to do with the payroll tax cut — issues where the parties fundamentally disagree.”

“So a one-year deal is not the issue,” the President continued. “we can and we will come to that agreement, as long as it’s focused on the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance and not focused on extraneous issues.”

President Obama also blasted House Republicans for treating the payroll tax cut as a game. “I saw today that one of the House Republicans referred to what they’re doing as, ‘high-stakes poker.’ He’s right about the stakes, but this is not poker, this is not a game — this shouldn’t be politics as usual.”

Here’s the video of President Obama’s statement to reporters in the Brady Briefing Room: (transcript follows)

Transcript:(via email from The White House)

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Sorry to interrupt.

MR. CARNEY: All yours, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. It is no secret that there hasn’t been an abundance of partisanship in Washington this year. And that’s why what happened on Saturday was such a big deal.

Nearly the entire Senate — including almost all of the Republicans — voted to prevent 160 million working Americans from receiving a tax increase on January 1st. Nearly the entire Senate voted to make sure that nearly 2.5 million Americans who are out there looking for a job don’t lose their unemployment insurance in the first two months of next year. And just about everybody — Democrats and Republicans — committed to making sure that early next year we find a way to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through the end of 2012.

But now, even though Republicans and Democrats in the Senate were willing to compromise for the good of the country, a faction of Republicans in the House are refusing to even vote on the Senate bill — a bill that cuts taxes for 160 million Americans. And because of their refusal to cooperate, all those Americans could face a tax hike in just 11 days, and millions of Americans who are out there looking for work could find their unemployment insurance expired.

Now, let’s be clear: Right now, the bipartisan compromise that was reached on Saturday is the only viable way to prevent a tax hike on January 1st. It’s the only one. All of the leaders in Congress — Democrats and Republicans — say they are committed to making sure we extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance for the entire year. And by the way, this is something I called for months ago.

The issue is, is that the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate worked on a one-year deal, made good progress, but determined that they needed more time to reach an agreement. And that’s why they passed an insurance policy — to make sure that taxes don’t go up on January 1st.

In fact, the House Republicans say they don’t dispute the need for a payroll tax cut. What they’re really trying to do, what they’re holding out for, is to wring concessions from Democrats on issues that have nothing to do with the payroll tax cut — issues where the parties fundamentally disagree. So a one-year deal is not the issue; we can and we will come to that agreement, as long as it’s focused on the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance and not focused on extraneous issues.

The issue right now is this: The clock is ticking; time is running out. And if the House Republicans refuse to vote for the Senate bill, or even allow it to come up for a vote, taxes will go up in 11 days. I saw today that one of the House Republicans referred to what they’re doing as, “high-stakes poker.” He’s right about the stakes, but this is not poker, this is not a game — this shouldn’t be politics as usual. Right now, the recovery is fragile, but it is moving in the right direction. Our failure to do this could have effects not just on families but on the economy as a whole. It’s not a game for the average family, who doesn’t have an extra 1,000 bucks to lose. It’s not a game for somebody who’s out there looking for work right now, and might lose his house if unemployment insurance doesn’t come through. It’s not a game for the millions of Americans who will take a hit when the entire economy grows more slowly because these proposals aren’t extended.

I just got back from a ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base, where we received the flag and the colors that our troops fought under in Iraq, and I met with some of the last men and women to return home from that war. And these Americans, and all Americans who serve, are the embodiment of courage and selflessness and patriotism, and when they fight together, and sometimes die together, they don’t know and they certainly don’t care who’s a Democrat and who’s a Republican and how somebody is doing in the polls and how this might play in the spin room. They work as a team, and they do their job. And they do it for something bigger than themselves.

The people in this town need to learn something from them. We have more important things to worry about than politics right now. We have more important things to worry about than saving face, or figuring out internal caucus politics. We have people who are counting on us to make their lives just a little bit easier, to build an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded. And we owe it to them to come together right now and do the right thing. That’s what the Senate did. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate said, we’re going to put our fights on other issues aside and go ahead and do what’s right on something we all agree to. Let’s go ahead and do it. We’ll have time later for the politics; we’ll have time later to have fights around a whole bunch of other issues. Right now, though, we know this is good for the economy — and they went ahead and did the right thing.

I need the Speaker and House Republicans to do the same: Put politics aside, put aside issues where there are fundamental disagreements, and come together on something we agree on. And let’s not play brinksmanship. The American people are weary of it; they’re tired of it. They expect better. I’m calling on the Speaker and the House Republican leadership to bring up the Senate bill for a vote. Give the American people the assurance they need in this holiday season.

Thank you.

Payroll Tax Cut, President Obama

Anonymous

I guess the next post will be about Speaker Boehner’s presser, right? Calling on the President to finally act and stop campaigning? Right?
Carl Emmoth

Slam the reich wing Obama!
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

Boehner has no control… thus, the Tea Party Tax.
Anonymous

When Social security runs out of funds and goes bankrupt early, can we call that the “liberal bankruptcy”?
Gloves E. Donahue

“What the hell are we paying him for?’

Chris Christie on Obama.
Anonymous

2 months? seriously 2 months?
Anonymous

Very bad move on the part of Boehner.
Anonymous

I wish we had a leader in the white house instead of a finger pointer
Pablo

A two month extension is playing games! Why doesn’t Obama get Harry Reid on the phone and tell him to pass the thing for a year? Because he likes them playing games! He plans to run against Congress and he wants them at each others throats.

Man, this puke makes me miss Clinton.
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

…nah, you can thank the establishment right wing for that one. Remember how we laughed at Gore when he repeatedly said “lockbox” before Bush raped SS?
Pablo

That’s $1000/year for American families!!!! (for two months)
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

Well, it’s not two months now is it?
Pablo

So you’d rather have a two month tax cut extension than a year?
Anonymous

Look, it’s our crying president.
Nicholas

Speaker Boner had originally agreed to this two-month deal. He called it a victory! He lost control of his own caucus and now has to back track. you cannot pin this on Obama. Speaker Boner is not very good at his job.
Anonymous

Damn it Boehner…..you keep delaying our incompetent community organizer from his 8 million dollar taxpayer subsidized vacation.

The only thing this immature man child does is blame blame blame when he doesn’t get his way…what a disgrace…..grow up Obama!! or at least borrow a pair from Hillary!!!
Anonymous

“On my way out the door to vacation with ‘chelle and the kids in a mansion in Hawaii for the next 17 days but wanted to stop by and whine about not getting my way so you can all report about how rough it is to be me.”
Pablo

That’s what Obama is insisting on. That’s what he’s demogoging.
Pablo

Poor President Victim.
Pablo

No. Got details?
Mo Fokker

Congratulations to the teabagger-fundie congress for setting a new record:

“Congress is closing out a year of dismal approval ratings by sinking to a new low of 11 percent in a new Gallup poll. The barely double digits job approval rating for Congress breaks the record low since Gallup first began asking the question, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?” since 1974.”
Anonymous

Ohhhh…the little man-child is getting petulant.

(Me: What do you mean, ‘getting?’)

Also, shouldn’t he be in Hawaii acting like a rich, elite 1%-er right now?
Anonymous

Harry, when John calls, just say no.
Anonymous

Claiming this isn’t about politics while standing next to a countdown clock that is nothing more then playing politics. No one is this blind, both sides have been playing this game for years and the president does it just as bad as anyone else. For the first time in my life I’m really considering not voting.
Pablo

What Boehner agreed to was a year extension.

All of the leaders in Congress — Democrats and Republicans — say they
are committed to making sure we extend the payroll tax cut and
unemployment insurance for the entire year.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Anonymous

That is crying to you? Racist twat you.
Anonymous

Next Obama will claim its Bush’s fault. geez

The manchild just wants to go on his multimillion dollsr tax payer funded vacay.
Pablo

Ever heard of the Senate, Mo? Most Americans are smarter than you are.
Anonymous

If you say that you won’t vote for a tax extension unless a pipeline is OK’d, that means that the tax extension is not as important to you as the pipeline – and you are just using it for leverage to get what you want. Republicans could give two craps about these taxes going up if they don’t get their precious pipeline…at least that’s what their negotiating tactics are showing the American public.
Anonymous

Christie is a grease-addled wind bag. He can’t even control his weight, the twat.
Anonymous

Obama- quick- say this is happening because you are black.

Ever wonder why people think the media is in Obama’s pocket?

Dec 19, 2011 5:35pm

“POTUS has Coffee with Progressive Media Stars”

An all-star list of progressive and liberal media folks came to the White House today to chat with President Obama over coffee in the Roosevelt Room.

Those there included the Washington Post‘s Ezra Klein and Greg Sargent, MSNBC anchors Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow, and Chris Hayes, the Nation’s editor and publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel, the New York Times‘ Frank Bruni, and stars of the interwebs Arianna Huffington, Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo, Faiz Shakir of ThinkProgress and Joy Reid of The Reid Report.”

Case closed.

BTW, with Christmas approaching, on Obama’s wish list is a new digital teleprompter that will give his speeches, walk the dog, and make Brian Williams bow.
Anonymous

racist dick.
david r

I imagine it will be Reid who is calling.
Mo Fokker

Americans are smart enough to know it is the teabager-fundie wing of the Congress that is causing gridlock.
david r

Hillary would have been better.
Anonymous

yes you are, son

If it is good enough for Holder it is good enough for Barry.

Now get my coffee you repulsive little child.

Your filth proves you are a lib.
Anonymous

Hahahaha…little man child gets irritated by ‘extraneous issues’ finding their way into this. Oh, like funding for studies on masturbating monkeys in Ethiopia? THOSE kind of ‘extraneous issues?’

Mr. Pork Pie doesn’t quite like it that the pipeline is part of this.

Tough nuggets.
Anonymous

LOL

More vulgarity , filth and race card playing by a pathetic race card playing lib!

Now crying is “codeword” for racism!
Anonymous

More delusion from the Tea party set. Reid has 89 out of 100 votes. America knows who is being obstructionist.
Anonymous

Just about anyone would be a hell of a lot better than the current occupant!!
david r

I’ve never seen a less-presidential President in all my years. Can you imagine Clinton doing this? Check out the opinion piece on the CBS site by Jay Cost. Here is what he says about Obama and the lack of bi-partisanship:

Obama’s approach was to breezily tell congressional Republicans, “I
won.” Because the stimulus manifestly failed to deliver the growth that
the president promised, Obama and congressional Democrats must bear the
weight of that failure all by themselves.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1572984371 Cindy Nowicki

Sorry to disagree….The “lockbox’ was raided by many presidents BEFORE Bush….Check your facts!
http://twitter.com/Kegbuna Ken Egbuna

They couldn’t do it for a year because of the concessions that republicans wanted, and we’re not even talking about stuff to pay for it. They wanted to include drug testing of the unemployed, keystone pipeline legislation, environmental regulation cuts… these republicans are out of control and have destroyed the process
Anonymous

How dare those Republicans try to ruin his well deserved vacation.

Have they no shame?

(Now we know what the Presstitute meeting was about yesterday)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1572984371 Cindy Nowicki

You DO realize that congress is comprised of 435 members, don’t you? BOTH parties fall into the polling and deserve their ratings.

Neither party is looking out for, “we, the people,” but their own self-interest.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1572984371 Cindy Nowicki

Hate to break it to you, but unions are WITH the republicans on this one!

Obama can’t keep both sides happy with this issue…Environmentalists will be on his back if he approves. Unions will be p****d if he doesn’t approve.

So, as usual, this wimp, (Obama) can’t take a stand. Punting, as he always does, instead of looking out for the people.
http://www.madcharles.com/ MadCharles

The media are such scum tools for this tool Obama…
AlaskanTexan

I agree with you wholeheartedly. If you saw Austin Scott this morning on CNN it would answer many concerns for the rest of us. He is only interested in himself and the rest of us be dammed.
AlaskanTexan

I saw Austin Scott babbling his holier than thou crap on CNN today. I must tell you that I don’t care bout his f’d up family. REALLY don’t give a s@!& about THEIR Xmas.
If the bagger dipsticks deny MY payroll tax cut, my friend’s unemployment insurance or, my Aunt& Uncle’s Medicare benefits they & their worthless family will learn the term ‘GODSMACKED’. Teabaggers are the least social, totally inept, acrimonious, gutless, self-righteous, RACIST, bags of monkey scat. Downright disgusting having to live in the same country. None of the a-holes care about us, only for their self-absorbed, unholy, irreverent, ignorant self-preservation. Scott’s tired-ass speech confirmed it. Hell, he announced it to America, thumbed his nose at us.
Can’t stress enough that baggers get used to a black man being THEIR President of the United States of America & do it fast. President Obama IS going to be re-elected. This gives me solace knowing that it will be the end of the tiddy baby teabag party in November, 2012. Unfortunately, won’t come soon enough for millions of families, the fabric of USA. Their sense of entitlement is abhorrent&their worst enemy.They can blame their parents for the demise of their family. We, the 99%, won’t rub their astronomical deficiencies of compassion for us in their face but we won’t be quick to let them forget.
If the idiotic ideologues mess any more with my friends/family’s well-being, be prepared for reaping the wind. I can guarantee their families will be paralyzed for a long time to come. I mean, it’s only right that they suffer the same condemnation we are being put through, right? I await the day when their Klans ostracize them from their comfortable little nests of racism. Take great pleasure knowing when they throw a party no one will show up after the ass stomping in November, 2012. God Giveth &can goddamn Taketh away! Is that how it goes?
Let’s review. Ahole-e-oes quit frikin’ w/me & mine-I’ll quit frikin’ w/them. I’m metaphysically wrinkle free, tenacious, a persistent cuss &will badger all concerned until they work for us, not Kock Bros. I’m prepared to begin the onslaught available to me by the Internet. It’s up to the freshmen elected numbnuts on how far this goes. Locked onto targets, chomping @the bit to get going. They can save their families from social annihilation this X-mas. They must make their worthless offspring know that entitlement is bad for business. Get that monkey under control in their houses AND the House that belongs to us, the Citizens of the United States of America. Oh, I found out today why Boehner is so cross with President Obama! The President told him to quit drunk dialing the House Saturday night! HA!
Anonymous

Everyone has raided it. And now they won’t work to reform any entitlements. Not only that, but they’re now cutting off the cash flow to SS. Want to tell me what logic is used here?
Anonymous

Let’s remember what Obama said:

“Now is not the time to slam the brakes on the recovery. Right now,
it’s time to step on the gas. We need to get this done. And I expect
that it’s going to get done before Congress leaves. Otherwise, Congress
may not be leaving, and we can all spend Christmas here together.”

Then the president announced his 17-day Christmas vacation.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Nice try, but Obama was the first one to say that everyone would stay in D.C. to get it done!!
Anonymous

Yawn, you are as uninteresting as your comment is long, son.
Anonymous

yeh they are sayn’ will give you a year extension but we need to stop medicare and social securty. Well something to that effect?
Anonymous

But our kids.

Get the knee pads and drool cups out, Leedog is back to salivate over Barry again.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

You are correct Sir!!
Anonymous

You mentioned unions Cindy, not me…lol. You thought you picked gold on that one Cindy, turned out just to be a booger like all the rest.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

That is not true!! Obama wanted the tax cut for a year from the beginning… but will take 2 months until the year deal could get worked out in Congress!!
Anonymous

Tommy, the hyper-partisan joke of a journalist — how about posting this:

Two-Month Payroll Tax Holiday Passed By Senate, Pushed By President, Cannot Be Implemented Properly, Experts Say

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/two-month-payroll-tax-holiday-passed-by-senate-pushed-by-president-cannot-be-implemented-properly-experts-say/

A two-month extension won’t work. It can’t be done. I know you can’t ADMIT that’s the case, though. It would your leg-humping of Obama seem completely biased, wouldn’t it?
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

John Boehner continues to fail as Speaker of the House!! Boehner is more worried about losing his Speakership to Cantor that doing what’s right for the American people!!
Anonymous

Wow weasel, way to take a quote out of context. Least you could do is copy the whole quote from Holder or clean everyone up after jacking us off. What a typical conservative weasel.
Anonymous

But our kids, Leedog.
12voltman1

No the Senate passed this bill. The GOP is playing political games and you known it.

Oh BTW I miss Bill Too!
Anonymous

Son, that IS the headline on Mediaite- man, you must fell like the total fool that you are!

Here is the entire quote:

Of that group of critics, Mr. Holder said he believed that a few — the
“more extreme segment” — were motivated by animus against Mr. Obama and
that he served as a stand-in for him. “This is a way to get at the
president because of the way I can be identified with him,” he said,
“both due to the nature of our relationship and, you know, the fact that
we’re both African-American.”

And guess what, HE still is blaming his problems on shis skin color!

LMAO

man, you is one benighted little lib.
Anonymous

Here’s proof positive the president has Cahunas, and Boehner has had his removed by Cantor!
12voltman1

EWWWWHH!!!!!
Anonymous

Too long. You are beyond hope, racist moron.
Pablo

Pull something else out of your ass, don.
Pablo

The American people expect Congress to pass a
one-year extension, and we should not wait to finish this work. We
should complete it immediately.
That’s why the
House has voted to begin a formal conference committee to resolve the
differences between the House and Senate bills. There’s nothing unusual
about this. This is the system our Founders gave us. It’s as old as our
nation, as clear as our Constitution. Republicans have appointed eight
lawmakers to this conference committee, and they are in Washington now,
ready to meet.
Despite all this, Senate Democrats
are refusing to return from vacation and negotiate with the House. We
hope the president, who has repeatedly said he won’t go on vacation
until this matter is resolved, will urge Senate Democrats to change
their minds. He should call on them to appoint negotiators so we can
extend payroll tax relief for a full year and help create jobs.
Otherwise, Senate Democrats’ refusal to negotiate means Americans’ taxes
going up on Jan. 1. It should not come to that, and I’m confident it
won’t.
When hardworking taxpayers have work to
finish, they don’t knock off early. They stay and get the job done.
Let’s follow their example and come together to do the right thing for
our economy and our country.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-12-20/boehner-payroll-tax-extension/52119722/1
Anonymous

You can be vulgar without swearing, like you. Racist dick.
Anonymous

sorry, lib- your race card expired last year and quoting what Holder said IS not racism.

I know you libs have an 11 commandment of “thou shall not use our words against us” but too bad, child. They are Holder’s words and he said them.
Pablo

The logic?

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

That’s it.
Anonymous

Leedog, answer my question.
Pablo

Two months is a waste of time. Work it out, get it done, the end.
david r

I’m surprised he didn’t come out and say the Republicans “acted stupidly” like he did when the Cambridge police tried to question his homie Gates.
Anonymous

You put the headline in quotes as if it was his own word – could you be more of a weasel? No. Seriously – just admit you did that fool. Come on…stand up like a man sweetie…lol…I won’t tell anyone…haha
Anonymous

Don’t you baggers have any shame? The two month extension is not designed to be a permanent solution. It’s purpose is to allow more time for negotiation.
Pablo

The House isn’t having any trouble getting it’s work done. And the House isn’t refusing to have their vacation interrupted. Or whining about their vacation being interrupted.
Anonymous

LOL

More fifth and vulgarity from libs.

They are melting down- all they have is their profanity!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690550741 Michael A. Leach

Tommy,

Did Obama come by your West Wing office to wish you “happy holidays” yet? Were you given that raise he promised you? Gosh, I hope you get a raise in January, because you do such a good job carrying his water. You should be proud.

Best,

mal
Pablo

America knows who’s trying to sell them a two moth extension as an accomplishment.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

I’m not sure if StonePark is still upset because I helped to get him banned or exposed him for having 6 Disqus accounts to supply himself with “likes” because that’s the only way he could get them, due to the fact, everyone thinks his comments are a combination of sad and repulsive??
Gloves E. Donahue

Too bad the Economic Roadblock in the White House has to be forced to make a decision to bring jobs and oil to his own country. All because Obama wants votes and donations to continue through the election. The country’s welfare be damned.

“Harper warns Americans he will ship oil elsewhere”

“When asked how serious Ottawa is about selling oil to China, and run the risk of compromising Canada’s relationship with the United States, Harper replied: “I am very serious about selling our oil off this continent, selling our energy products off to China.”

But the prime minster also said that on a recent trip to the U.S., he was told by a number of senior officials that the Keystone XL pipeline will be approved, thereby opening a new route for Canadian oil to be sent to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. ”

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111219/stephen-harper-year-end-interview-111219/20111219/?hub=OttawaHome
Pablo

Where are the Senators? Gone. And it ain’t done.
Pablo

U mad, bro? tl;dr
Anonymous

racist wind bag.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Why link ABC News, I thought Republicans considered them part of the “Lamestream Media” and had no credibility??
Pablo

If he had any balls he’d be staring across the table at the leadership of both houses right now.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

It is not necessary to reply to Stonepark, no one takes him seriously!!
Anonymous

Lib. haha. You have no idea what a ‘liberal’ is, I am sure. Very few people do. You are just annoyed a black man is in the House. Racist dick.
Anonymous

LOL

You are really a dumb lib.- the quotation marks are to mark it as a quote and it was a Mediaite quote.

Quotes are used among other thigs to signify that the words are not that of the poster.

man, you are one stupid man!

Now SHOW how the meaning changed- go ahead- show it, son!

LMAO
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Maybe I missed it, but didn’t see in your comment on how Republicans were against the tax cut a few weeks ago, said we couldn’t afford it!!
Anonymous

But you do- what about the kids?

And Leedog, are you reporting this to Mediatite?

“racist dick.”

“Racist twat”

Or are those words that describe you?
12voltman1

Obama tries to turn the tables on GOP with call for payroll-tax-cut extension.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/176803-obama-tries-to-turn-the-tables-on-gop-with-call-for-tax-cut-extension
By Russell Berman and Bernie Becker – 08/14/11 05:00 PM ET
President Obama’s call for an extension of a payroll tax cut could upend the political dynamics in Congress heading into the fall, as Democrats adopt a trademark Republican tactic: warning against a looming tax hike.

With the economic recovery stalled, the Obama administration is pushing aggressively to keep in place the payroll tax holiday that was enacted as part of the bipartisan tax deal Congress passed in December.
Republican leaders have resisted that idea, preferring instead to push for a comprehensive tax overhaul that would simplify the code and permanently lower income and corporate rates.It would be difficult for such a broad package to be completed this year, however, raising the possibility that Americans could face a higher tax bill next year despite the weak economy.“We should extend the payroll tax cut as soon as possible, so that workers have more money in their paychecks next year and businesses have more customers next year,” Obama said at the White House on Monday. The president wants the tax cut extended along with unemployment insurance benefits, and has warned that if Congress fails to do so, “it could mean 1 million fewer jobs and half a percent less growth.”The administration says the two-percentage-point reduction in the payroll tax put in place for 2011 has cut tax bills by about $1,000.
Anonymous

leedog- our kids!
Anonymous

It’s not even a temporary solution if it can’t be implemented. Do try to keep up.
Anonymous

LOL

Dear, you seem way , way to concerned about Obama’s race- that makes you the racist!
Anonymous

Either you are delusional or a pathetic liar. Getting 89 votes on anything in this Congress is an accomplishment. Gallup just announced the approval rating for this Congress set an all time low. Does that ring a bell? This bill simply gives them more time to come to an agreement. It is not intended to be a resolution.
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

The Senators left because Boehner agreed to the deal with Mitch McConnell over the weekend, but then realized he couldn’t get the votes in his Party!!

Cantor and the Tea Party members don’t like the deal!!
Anonymous

But our kids, leedog!
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

For your information, Congress deals with tax issues!!
Anonymous

When ABC reports quotes from a non-partisan group, I find it hard to question them. That’s what we people who live in the real world refer to as “facts.”

I’m not a Republican, BTW. They suck, too. It’s just that Obama is alarmingly incompetent and pathetic, despite Tommy’s fetishization of him.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bee-Ruled/100001985815996 Bee Ruled

TWO EFFING MONTHS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BeeHO, you are a D HOLE
12voltman1

Tag Team Barabu!

Stonepark
You’re a fool, an ignoramus. Monkeys look down on you. Even sheep won’t have sex with you. You are unreservedly pathetic, starved for attention, and lost in a land that reality forgot. And what meaning do you expect your delusionally self-important statements of unknowing, inexperienced opinion to have with us?
Hout Bosques

B.S. Boehner agreed to nothing of the sort – he DANGLED that as meme, in order to take control of the agenda on unrelated Republican demands.

For you to say this reveals you once again as a tool.

But the proof is coming shortly. No matter what Boehner does to posture, the Senate is not going to re-convene. That, by the way, is a BIPARTISAN determination, between the full Senate Dem Caucus and MOST of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Bear in mind that under the Constitution a president has the power to command the House to stay in session, but he does NOT have same power over the Senate. The Senate leadership & an overwhelming majority of the Senate have decided what they needed to decide, and they ain’t coming back to Washington until they’re next scheduled to sit in the last week in January, 2012.

This is all on Weeping Johnny Boehner and his Tea Party rat folk. And while he twists in the wind on this now, he also knows that he & the entire Tea Party caucus are going to pay for this in November of next year.

Welcome back, Speaker Pelosi; you’ve been missed.
Anonymous

Poor Shit-park can’t decide which alias to use to “like” her own posts anymore? The horror!
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

It’s funny and pathetic, all in one!!
Anonymous

sound like someone is jealous of SP- is that you KOTEX Sailor?

LOL
Anonymous

Leedog— OUR CHILDREN!

LOL
http://www.facebook.com/people/Arthur-Clark/100000610136790 Arthur Clark

Lame ass Attempt, to sound hip, but you really sound ignorant…..
Anonymous

He didn’t have to. Scum Republicans prove that daily!
Hout Bosques

What a meme-ing tool you are. This is RIGHT out of the message box from Weepy John Boehner.

This is big. This is something that’s going down in the history books. This is going to be remembered in November 2012, because Democrats with hammering this event home day after day and in ad after ad all through 2012. We could be hearing the death nell of the Republican party; and we’re certainly hearing the death nell for the one and only term Speaker Weepy John is ever going to serve.

I’m going to check on the shortest-serving speaker in U.S. history. I know there’ve been a number of instances where speakers were in office for one term, then their party was voted out of office, but they came back to take up the speaker’s gavel again. I’m thinking that we probably have to measure the last time we had a speaker so ignominiously inept was well over a hundred years ago.

It looks good on Weepy John, and his big freakin’ gavel. And it fits in beautifully with the younger Bush: it’s looking like that in less than a decade, the Republicans have brought forth the worst president in U.S. history AND the worst speaker in U.S. history.

R.I.P. G.O.P. – death of the Know Nothings 2.0.
Anonymous

What a immature response- presidents have brought leaders of Congress into the WH and have brokered deals.

You really showed your ignorance with that feeble excuses for obama’s feckless leadership.
Anonymous

Did you just read your comment? The epitomizes ignorance.
Anonymous

Kotex, who am I now?

LOL
Pablo

Maybe I missed them saying that. I do recall them saying that paying for it out of Social Security was a bad idea.
Pablo

No, it’s right out of USA Today, genius. See you in November!
Anonymous

Scum bag “conservatives” never understand when they’ve failed. That’s why poor Shit-Park keeps coming back. Just watch…
Pablo

That was 89 votes for going on vacation. You may be impressed. I am not.
Hout Bosques

For openers, there’s this analysis from 4 years ago by John Nichols at the Nation:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/worst-house-speaker-american-history

arguing a good case for Denny Hastert being the (then) worse speaker in U.S. history – worse even than Henry Cobb. If Hastert is in fact the worse ever BEFORE Boehner, this is really quite an accomplishment by Weepy John. It’s like Phil Esposito shattering the NHL seasonal goal record one year & just a few years later Wayne Gretzy obliterating that. It’s like Gingrich was setting up a career record like Joe Montana did, then Hastert coming along like Steve Young to rewrite Montana’s records, then Weepy John coming along like Tom Brady to rewrite Young’s records – except in bad, real bad, history-making bad.

What a string of losers the GOP have spawned: GW Bush, Gingrich, Denny *cough* Tom Delay *cough* Hastert, and now Weepy John. If the GOP were a horse, we’d have it put to sleep forever.
Anonymous

I’m sorry Beevis – I thought you were trying to be misleading about the actual NYT interview…turns out you didn’t actually read the NYT interview – you posted the Mediaite headline in quotes. So you’re either dumb, and didn’t know there was more to Holder’s quote because you didn’t read the NYT story, or you’re a weasel and tried to mislead everyone into thinking Holder just came out and said the reason he’s taking hits for Obama is just because “We’re Both African American”

Which one is it Beevis? Let’s go sweet cheeks, I’ve wasted enough on your slippery tactics.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F7QCLMHCFRSKBP7ODMJSWXYR3Y Watkins

@readers:disqus my best friend’s aunt makes $87 an hour on the computer. and last month her pay was $7299 , she learned Kelly Richard’s ways in “Online income solutions”… MakeCash1. com
Anonymous

Dems want a tax cut, Republicans want a pipeline…that is all.
Hout Bosques

Dang, I forgot about Speaker Jim Wright, the Dem speaker brought down by the Pamela Small scandal. Well, at least the Dems were alert enough to get rid of him while they were still in charge of the House.
Anonymous

Let me help you out. The reason it cannot be implemented is some persons are paid on a bi-weekly basis. As a result, under the temporary arrangement, some persons would conceivably have a pay period with both tax scenarios at the end of the extension. It will be resolved before it happens.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolf-Fenster/100000420267385 Dolf Fenster

Congratulations on waking up from the coma that you were obviously in during the 90′s, dave. Clinton used to bitch-slap his republican congress like this all the time. Just ask Newt. He still pisses his pants a little when the Big Dog walks into any room he’s in.
Anonymous

Chris Christie thought Obama was just a bad black waiter that hasn’t brought his 64oz steak yet.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolf-Fenster/100000420267385 Dolf Fenster

Congratulations on wakening from that coma you were obviously in during the 90′s, dave. While you were under, President Clinton regularly bitch-slapped his Congresses in just such a way. Ask Newt Gingrich. He still pisses himself a little when the Big Dog walks into the room.
http://www.madcharles.com/ MadCharles

Obama’s talking about only $22.00 a pay check.
It’s about the pipeline and thousands of jobs…
Pablo

For your information, you’re in over your head. Like Obama.
Anonymous

Twoeyedwilly you are without a doubt the stupidest lib ever to grace Mediaite.
Now we have to explain quotation marks to libs!
ROTFLMAO

God now we have to explain punctuation to ‘em.

And this one is so stupid, he can’t even understand a headline!
Anonymous

Kotex, I’m now The Real Royal Emperor!

LMAO
Mo Fokker

The new ABC/Washington Post poll
gives Obama an approval rating of 49%, to 47% disapproval. This is up
from the previous ABC/WaPo poll from a month ago, which had a figure of
44%-53%. The new survey of adult Americans was conducted from December
15-18, and has a ±3.5% margin of error.

Very similarly, the new CNN poll
gives President Obama an approval rating of 49%-48%. This is up
significantly from the CNN poll from a month ago, when his approval was
44%-54%. The new survey of adults Americans was conducted from December
16-18, and has a ±3% margin of error.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolf-Fenster/100000420267385 Dolf Fenster

Pablo knows all this, Leedog. That’s why he’s on here spinning for all he’s worth. I say we attach power lines to his churning poles, and we’ll generate enough power that we won’t need the freakin’ pipeline.
WiddleBabyDanielson

man child

What does that mean?
WiddleBabyDanielson

man-child

What does that mean?
AlaskanTexan

Real mature stoner IV.
AlaskanTexan

Do you think a person like you with an obvious deficit of intelligence would be a good representative for your state? Don’t worry. It’s a yes or no answer. And, a rhetorical one at that!
AlaskanTexan

You’re a little racist critter aren’t you? Again, rhetorical question.
AlaskanTexan

Evolution has kinda left you at the pond stage hasn’t it, Pablo?
AlaskanTexan

You weren’t raised in a loving home, were you?
AlaskanTexan

I wish we didn’t have RepubliKKKans in Congress.
12voltman1

What fantasy do you hold that you would believe that your tiny-fisted tantrums would have more weight than that of a leprous desert rat, spinning rabidly in a circle, waiting for the bite of the snake? You are a waste of flesh.
12voltman1

Jobless claims are going down. The unemploymrent rate is going down. Holiday retail sales are having a pretty good year. All good news,
http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

Not a bad idea!! =)
Anonymous

More frightening for the Republicans, Obama is polling ahead of Romney (and Gingrich, obviously) in South Carolina, a state that hasn’t voted blue for President since 1976.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/latest_polls/elections/
Anonymous

How original.
Anonymous

Your steadfast insistence on this fantasy of a cozy relationship between TC and Obama is what’s pathetic.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dolf-Fenster/100000420267385 Dolf Fenster

If by “in over [his] head,” you mean that the President is in the driver’s seat, then, yeah, “like Obama.”

And you know it, too, because you keep wanting him to step in to rescue your dumbass caucas, when no one can believe, after the last couple of years, that Obama is the one to talk reason into the Tea Party. (Just like no one believes that the Tea Party caucus wants this tax cut anyway.) Assuming the House doesn’t fold outright in the next few days on the two-month extension, what’s gonna happen is the tax cut will expire, and Obama will go to the whip hand until the extension is approved immediately after the first of the year. And if that extension is not approved for one year, he will carry his whip to State of the Union.

Face it, Pablo, we’re smarter than y’all. And he’s not the 4th most successful President of the modern era (and the Civil War) for nothing.
Anonymous

Congress now more dysfunctional than it ever was…

…At anytime.
david r

I’ve ignored all your posts so far.
AMP2020

The GOP needs to realize this is a losing manoeuvre. Separate the damn tax cut. It’s too important for so many people.
david r

Gringo, that’s cojones.
david r

Get back to your algebra segment, home schooler.
david r

What in God’s holy name are you guys talking about?
12voltman1

ROLFLMAO!!!
12voltman1

Follow the thread.
Try to keep up!
Anonymous

Facts are not his friend.
Anonymous

Oh, no. Tommy isn’t the LEAST bit obsessively partisan!
Anonymous

“It’ll be resolved before it happens.”

Right…because Congress always does the right thing before they run out of time.
AlaskanTexan

Your comments indicate you are still lowest on the food chain. Really, try to walk upright to keep from dragging your knuckles.
AlaskanTexan

Do you go to the park to get stoned using an IV? Yeah – Go Me!
AlaskanTexan

Please refrain from using gibberish. It is not well received on our planet.
AlaskanTexan

NOPE – not Congress! Only the tea party is causing our United States of America’s division. Not the Republicans and certainly not the Democrats. Only the tea party.
Anonymous

It’s unbelievably disappointing, considering who it all affects the most…

…and it’s not the Politicians!
AlaskanTexan

You’re right. But it is the tea party that has thrown us ALL under the bus. Again, not the Republicans and certainly not the Democrats. Only the tea party.
AlaskanTexan

Call your Representative and tell them what you have just posted here! I swear you will feel better if you do!
Anonymous

Tea Party are doing nobody and least of all themselves any favors across the country at large.

It will be interesting to see how this starts to trend in the polls with voters.

Since Congress is at an all time low. Who will voters decide should carry the can for the continuing Congressional fiasco?
AlaskanTexan

You have a valid point. I have taken steps today to spur the tea party’s representatives home districts into making a decision on voting for the same dumbass or making their lives better in the long run.
Myself and 5 of my friends have sent 120 emails out today to those districts. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive on them not re-electing the person that was supposed to help them. Most didn’t know the extent to what they had put into gear and all of them indicated disgust for the part they took in our present situation.
Anonymous

Thanks for the laugh Beevis! I can’t believe your stupidity – you say you read the NYT article, and then (as proof) copy/paste the Mediaite article in your post! Are you really that dumb?

I haven’t had such a good laugh at a dumb wingnut in a couple days. Go to bed genius before you hurt yourself…hahahaha dummy.
AlaskanTexan

You have a valid point. I have taken steps today to spur the tea party’s representatives home districts into making a decision on voting for the same dumbass or making their lives better in the long run.
Myself and 5 of my friends have sent 120 emails out today to those districts. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive on them not re-electing the person that was supposed to help them. Most didn’t know the extent to what they had put into gear and all of them indicated disgust for the part they took in our present situation.
Anonymous

Good luck!
Pablo

It seems to have left me with an argument, something it has not bestowed upon you. Man cannot live on snark alone.
Pablo

What? And put all those unicorns out of a job?
Pablo

Then why do you speak it so fluently?
Jackson Baer

I don’t dislike Obama and I think he inherited this awful economy. I
disagree with his Obamacare plan and think it’s simply something we
can’t afford, though it’s a nice thing to want everyone to have
insurance. I support Ron Paul and will be voting for him. If Gingrich
wins the Republican nomination, I’d consider voting for Obama.

http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/
LJB57

Obama is the biggest embarrassment America has ever gone though,
Nothing as bad as him has ever happened before.
America is still kind of in a state of shock that a communist mutant actually made it to the W.H.
And if that wasn’t enough the democrats have finally revealed themselves for the totalitarian socialists/nazis that they all are.
That is the reason the democrats are acting so crazy lately, they know their Goose is cooked,as a matter of fact it’s nothing but ashes now.
LJB57

After all the Corruption, Scandals, Thievery and outright incompetence, you don’t dislike Obama,
…one question Jackson…

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?
us995

i wonder if Obama will be attending Joe Bidens taliban themed Christmas party this year
Anonymous

Pablo, is confused again.
Anonymous

Republicans are playing games as usual.
Ben

Hmmmm….so you quote some BS opinion to make your point,which is an opinion…

Remind me not to hire you if I ever end up in court.
LJB57

My money says, he’ll be the first in the door,us995.
david r

(Mediaite cut off my profile info. That’s supposed to say “jailhouse lawyer.”)
david r

I see from your profile that you post at christiangays.com. I’m not interested.
WiddleBabyDanielson

homie?

Nice.
http://twitter.com/TommyBennett Tom Bennett

Obama came out swinging- Boehner is between a rock and a tea bagger’s hard-on. The conservative wing has destroyed the GOP once and for all. What a joke.
Anonymous

This poorly timed brinksmanship (again!) hasn’t put the Speaker and House Republicans in the President’s doghouse; it’s put them in America’s doghouse! Why are the Speaker and his cronies so determined to further destroy the Republican Party and it’s reputation? Surely they don’t think the Tea “Party” will replace it, because Americans will remember them acting like toddlers instead of elected representatives.
http://mrfunn.myopenid.com/ mrfunn

“Everything Obama Knows About The Economy.”
by Jimmy Moncrief

A 200 page book, all blank pages.
Libs, read it, you may learn something
Anonymous

Apparently, Obama did not have the leadership skills to convince Harry Reid to do the right thing and pass the year long extension instead of this joke we are all arguing over. Just something else to demagogue.
Anonymous

You are a racist, aren’t you?
John Wisniewski

Look at the poll numbers. Obama’s approval ratings are on the rise and congress’s numbers are going down. The tea party has just given Obama a win. What a freakin debacle to have 39 republican senators vote for the 2 month extension and the House reject it. Don’t Boehner and McConnell speak the same language. Boehner should know from the debt debacle, never say anything until you clear it with the crazies on the extreme. If he brought it up for an up and down vote, it would have easily passed.
Anonymous

The teaparty has no idea of how much buyers remorse there will be from the general public for putting these nuts into office in the first place. And the polls show it.. Maybe people will finally wake-up and stop believing everything Fox News and .am hate radio tells them for once.
Anonymous

Tell us something we don’t know.
Anonymous

If they wanted it the Republicans wouldn’t put any attachments to it (the Bill) And I would like to know how the name has changed from social security and medicare to entitlements? So lets think who wants to dangle both them out for cutting? Why is it ok to cut payroll taxes for rich, thenwant to raise tax on Middle class, and cut money to elderly and disabled?
Anonymous

Boehner got 99 problems, but a bitch aint one! OH wait he is the bitch!
Anonymous

Boehner got 99 problems, but a bitch aint one! OH wait he is the bitch!
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

I wouldn’t associate Bush with logic unless I was writing a joke.
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

…you’re not actually disagreeing with me.
http://twitter.com/grimcity Neal Boyd

Yep! The Tea Party Tax thanks to the fake populists you consider “conservative.”

Great job!
http://www.facebook.com/codemon Cody Hill

Could someone explain how extending the pay roll tax “holiday” one year, as per the Republican plan, is either a resolution or a solution? Conversely, the GOP wants the Bush tax cuts to be permanent.
Anonymous

The Democrats haven’t passed a budget since Bush was president and they have had control of both houses since 2006. Obama had both houses for two and a half years of his presidency and the only thing he accomplished was Health Care which will probably be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The log jam is in the Senate, Harry Reid has refused the senate to vote on many house bills. A two month payroll tax reduction is a waste of time. You can’t run a country with a two month tax reduction, one year is minimum. This president is way in over his head, he doesn’t know the first thing about operating a business, or a country for that matter.