President Obama not giving up on big debt deal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By LAURIE KELLMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama hasn't given up on getting congressional leaders to accept a $4 trillion debt reduction deal that Republicans have rejected for its tax increases and Democrats dislike for its cuts to programs for seniors and the poor, administration officials said hours before talks resumed Sunday.

"He's not someone to walk away from a tough fight," presidential chief of staff William Daley said. "Everyone agrees that a number around $4 trillion is the number that will ... make a serious dent in our deficit."

But House and Senate Republican leaders now say the largest of three proposals under consideration would not pass the GOP-led House because of its tax increases, an abrupt shift in negotiation over the terms of raising the nation's debt ceiling before an Aug. 2 deadline.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced late Saturday that he was rejecting that proposal. Heading into the talks at 6 p.m. EDT, the top Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, suggested the deal was dead.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110710/D9OCSSSO0.html

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In this July 7, 2011, file photo President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio meet with Congressional leadership in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington to discuss the debt. A debt-busting deal on the scale that Obama and Boehner are seeking all but guarantees Medicare beneficiaries would feel part of the pain. Some working-age people and their families could also be on the hook, if the deal ultimately curtails the tax break for employer-provided health insurance. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

[polichick]

1. Of course he's not.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Strelnikov_]

3. Boner is looking bad, as in sickly, lately

I expect a Speaker Cantor before the end of the year.

Then the real fun begins.

[Cereal Kyller]

4. It's fine if you don't give UP, Mr. President

Just please don't give IN!

[NoodleyAppendage]

5. PLEASE GIVE UP! Working Americans can't afford your big deal capitulation.

The best thing to come of this whole fracas is the inability to reach a deal.

We can't afford anymore of Obama's "deals." With the "deal" going down at least working Americans aren't going to get as screwed as they would if it passed.

J

[Liberalynn]

6. Please give it up

You said yourself Mr. President that SS and Medicare did not cause the debt. Therefore cutting them via messing with COLA does not lessen the debt. Cutting these programs ccomplishes nothing. GOT THAT NOTHING other than hurting the very people you are supposed to represent.

Things that hurt the poor and the lower middle class and help the rich is all PUKES went period. They are not willing to accept tax increases, they are not willing to reduce defense spending, so just walk away. There is nothing good to be accomplished by continued negotiation with these weasels.

Put the 14th amendment option back on the table and tell the Boner and Cantor to go sit and spin.

[onehandle]

7. 'Keep fucking that chicken.' nt

[Dept of Beer]

8. LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss8LDBNcsWc

[pam4water]

9. No he doesn't walk away. He drop Social Security on the floor and runs away screaming don't hurt me.

[ooglymoogly]

10. What's that great old song, "thought by now , you'd realize, theres no way

to hide your lyin' eyes.

[julian09]

11. He has to do the Big Deal now

If he doesn't the repugs will be blackmailing him every time the debt ceiling comes up every year to get more concessions, while giving up nothing. For that reason alone he has to stand his ground and not capitulate. The repugs will not give up until they dismantle the new deal altogether. That is the purpose of linking the debt ceiling with the deficit negotiations.

[JDPriestly]

12. The proposal is worse than I suspected.

Ending the tax deductions for employer-provided insurance plans?

Doesn't that idea pretty much gut Obama's health insurance bill?

Obama's bill assumes employer-provided health insurance as the norm. What employer is going to provide health insurance for employees if there is no tax deduction for it?

End the Bush tax cuts and get it over -- clean and simple. Forget the rest.

Better yet. Share the pain for real and just default. As with Greece that will happen eventually no matter what kind of bandaid plan Obama and Boehner put together.

This whole discussion about deficits is just silly.

Check out this Max Keiser video which is posted here on DU in the video section.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qo3t8EBNSg

The real problem is the private debt and our utter worship of the banks.

[Hawkowl]

13. He won't give up until the Koch brothers tell him to

Or whomever else is he whoring for. He gave up easily enough on the public option and ending tax cuts for the rich. He's not happy until the working folks aren't happy.

A disgrace to the Democratic party. The worst Democratic president in history bar none.