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Here Comes the Last Minute Budget Capitulation

By Jeralyn, Section Economy
Posted on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 05:21:32 PM EST
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President Obama joined the negotiations this afternoon. Now we can get ready for the deal we all knew was coming. Prediction: The gang of 12 that presides over the second round of cuts which will include cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and probably raising the Medicare eligibility age, will be filibuster-proof and for all intents and purposes, veto-proof given the Republican-dominated House.

In other words, the Democrats are about to sell us out, as we've known for the last two weeks they would.

I could care less about the debt ceiling. I care about the cuts coming less than a year from now that no one will be able to stop. Obama is opening the candy store and letting Republicans eat all they want.

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    Here Comes the Last Minute Budget Capitulation | 37 comments (37 topical)

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    Wearing everyone down (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 05:46:12 PM EST
    was part of the plan, in my view.   It may have gone on a bit  longer than expected, but the next step is one from  Cole Porter's, lyric:  "and now, god knows, anything goes."   Democratic values, I fear,  gone with the wind and, like Scarlet, I can't think about that right now.  If I do I'll go crazy.  I'll think about it tomorrow.

    It is O.K.. though because Obama is (5.00 / 7) (#2)
    by MO Blue on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 05:59:52 PM EST
    blameless. No matter how often Obama said he was going to put the safety net programs on the table, no matter how many times he personally said he offered the cuts to these programs, it is all the Tea Party's fault. {bangs head on table}.

    No way anything will ever be resolved to the benefit of ordinary people while people ignore the actions of the politicians in their own party.  

    Yes (5.00 / 5) (#27)
    by BDB on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 10:02:55 PM EST
    Obama capitulates by essentially getting what he wants - cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  

    A better term might be "conspires" because that's exactly what the Dems are doing with the GOP - conspiring to rip off the average American on behalf of their wealthy masters.  You can bet that whatever deal is reached will be good for the top .5% and horrible for the rest of us.  

    Of course, one can't use "conspires" because that would make it clear that the Dems are just as willing - if not outright anxious in Obama's case - to sell us all out as the GOP.  So they must be weak and be capitulating.  Trust them, their hearts are pure.  

    Parent

    Ironies of Ironies (5.00 / 4) (#43)
    by pluege2 on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 06:48:58 AM EST
    gutting social security and Medicare could never have happened under a mccain presidency. only obama, the Trojan Horse could accomplish that.


    Parent
    An interesting discussion of that (none / 0) (#44)
    by BDB on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 07:18:43 AM EST
    over at Ian Welsh's place, "So compared to McCain, was Obama actually the lesser evil?

    Parent
    Yes, we know Cat Food Two (none / 0) (#10)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 08:12:27 PM EST
    is in our near future, if  President Obama and the Democrats have their way.  How ironic, how warped is it, that the hope of the non-one percent resides with the Republican Tea Party's ideologic rejection, forcing a 14th solution?  

    Parent
    You CouldN'T care less. (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by savdavid on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:07:54 PM EST
    If you say you "could care less" you are saying the opposite of what you mean. You meant you "couldn't care less". Big difference.

    sure (none / 0) (#5)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:10:35 PM EST
    but "could care less" has become standard usage anyway because, well, that is the expression that most people actually use, correct or not

    grammar and dictionaries are ultimately descriptive, not prescriptive

    Parent

    If only I had known the colloquialism (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 08:30:03 PM EST
    has morphed into "I could care less," I could have so instructed my grammarian friend who laughed at my screw up.  

    Parent
    Irregardless, you (5.00 / 5) (#15)
    by observed on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 08:53:21 PM EST
    should of been more careful. Its alright tho. Honestly there is not a grammatical error up with which I will not put.

    Parent
    No, I think "gooder" is the word (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Anne on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:04:19 PM EST
    you're looking for - you'll promise to do gooder.

    Just between you and myself, I know you can do it.

    Parent

    Tough call (none / 0) (#18)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:01:46 PM EST
    as to whether this is worth a 5, or perhaps I should just take my laugh and call it a day.

    Parent
    I agree with you (none / 0) (#22)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:23:24 PM EST
    all of the sudden.

    Parent
    Ahem. Should have, not should of. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Towanda on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:30:34 PM EST
    Much as it pains me to have that header end in a preposition.

    But the latter is increasingly accepted, much as it pains me.  However, "should of" still is not acceptable, thank heavens, for "should have."

    Parent

    psst, hopefully (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by observed on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:37:09 PM EST
    Ill remember the snark tag, next time.


    Parent
    But, aren't we supposed to not say (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 12:29:09 AM EST
    "hopefully"?  Unfortunately I cannot remember the correct phrase.  

    Parent
    I have hopes? (none / 0) (#40)
    by sj on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 01:48:49 AM EST


    Parent
    Must we (none / 0) (#30)
    by lilburro on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 12:13:13 AM EST
    pitch or battle here?

    Parent
    Send in the calvary. (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 12:29:52 AM EST


    Parent
    I'll be reading about (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by observed on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 12:48:11 AM EST
    Cavalry in the missiles at church tomorrow. ..do I nguyen this round?


    Parent
    Bring it! (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by lilburro on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 12:49:53 AM EST
    My light brocade is ready.

    Parent
    This is insane. (5.00 / 11) (#7)
    by mjames on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:28:48 PM EST
    It is disastrous economically (as any objective analyst knows). Therefore, it is disastrous politically. More importantly, it is disastrous to every single one of us, except for those in the top 1% financially.

    Obama is utterly without a single Democratic Party principle. He WANTS to gut Social Security and Medicare. And he's so weak that he can't even make it look as though he had no choice. This was and is HIS choice. Yet, as has been said over and over again, Social Security and Medicare have nothing to do with the deficit or the debt.

    This man and his obsession with being the Great Conciliator has, all by himself, destroyed the Democratic Party - which, as far as I can tell, now stands for nothing, except for bailing out and not prosecuting the bankers, mandating we buy crap health insurance that does not cover health care, engaging in a worldwide killing spree (can't cut that budget, no sirree), and destroying the social safety nets that were promised to us and that we have paid for.

    This country is about to experience a depression of gargantuan proportions.
     

    And, prosecuting whistleblowers (5.00 / 4) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:55:48 PM EST
    in an historic way.

    Parent
    The "Come In - We're Open" sign (5.00 / 10) (#13)
    by Anne on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 08:43:11 PM EST
    has been hanging in the window of the candy store since the day Obama took the oath - and it's not like he didn't announce what his plans were long before that.

    My biggest disappointment continues to be in the performance of the congressional Democrats, who cooperated, pretty much every step of the way, with giving Obama everything on his list.

    No one listened to us when we voiced our fears about what an Obama administration would mean; it's been nothing but excuses, and magical thinking, and pretzel logic from the eyes-wide-shut crowd, who for some reason believed there was some benefit to denying the obvious.  Yes, the thing to do when something isn't working is to keep thinking up reasons why the not-working is okay.

    Here's the thing, though: if the tag line to all the anger and indignation is, "yeah, but I'm pretty sure I'll vote for Obama in 2012," then - congratulations! - you're a proud member of the sternly-worded-letter club, perfected by the congressional Dems and still just as ineffective as ever at changing anything.

    Yay!

    I don't have (5.00 / 4) (#20)
    by lentinel on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:13:57 PM EST
    all the answers because I'm not sure what the questions are.

    I do know that we are still spending 5 to 6 billion dollars a week on heartless and unending wars.

    I do know that they are not being raised as an issue by any of the republicans or democrats. Especially when it comes to an issue in which the discussion is about expenses that are driving us into bankruptcy.  I do know that social programs are on the table for cuts, but the wars are not.

    I do know that the patriot act, a republican repressive idea currently adopted by the Obama administration as something we need "more than ever" has recently been renewed. Thank you.

    I do know that American citizens are forbidden to travel to Cuba.
    Canadians can. The French can. Mexicans can. Thank you.

    We have had more than two long years of Obama. It is time for hindsight - although foresight had been eminently possible.

    This guy is nowhere. And that is being charitable.
    Uncharitable talk would say that he is a brainless and soulless puppet in the pockets of the very rich and very powerful and very nasty.

    Parent

    your first line reminds me (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:18:54 PM EST
    of a line from one of my favorite Joan Didion books, "Play it As It Lays."  The line was "Maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?

    Seems like the Republicans are now holding all the Aces but are too stupid to know how to play them. Obama has folded so many times, and they still don't know how to declare victory.

    Parent

    And your comment reminds me (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Towanda on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:34:05 PM EST
    of Carville's great line the other night, to wit that the Democrats have been trying to surrender, but the Republicans would not relieve the Democrats of their d*mned white flag.

    Parent
    Here's the thing about Cassandra (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by sj on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 10:09:17 PM EST
    She was cursed to never be believed -- and to always be right.

    Parent
    I recall you responding to someone and (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by seabos84 on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 10:49:15 PM EST
    telling that someone about all your great inside experiences and knowledge - you certainly use the language of the "Leaders" in the Dem side - blame us for pointing out their ineptness & thievery, and then ask us what to do - as if it would get done, anyway.

    I understand this as a math problem.

    For a good 30 years, the greediest most selfish aristocrats, and their toadies who are most effective at lying - these people have been jiggling the rules so that the top 1% is NOT accountable, NOT responsible, but they get all the authority and all the rewards!

    "Opposed" to them, for decades, every year, there has been this layer at the top of the "opposition" consisting of:

    hundreds of over 6 figure a year congress critters and senators and governors,...

    thousands of their well paid minions doing press relations, press releases, media, communications,...

    HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN SALARIES AND CAMPAIGN DOLLARS.

    Why can this layer at the top ONLY come up with excuses for losing, AND, keeping their jobs?  

    At some point, those who won't acknowledge that they're incompetent have to be pushed out. At some point, it is PERSONAL.  The Bob Shrum branch of the Democratic Party have cost me - they've cost me income security, cuz the job market of the last 30 years is such crap that I'd be lucky to replace my job with a 50k a year salary. They've cost me health security, cuz, how the hell do I keep up the rip off "health" insurance premiums when I lose my job? They've cost me retirement security, and ... read Naked Capitalism and bobswern on dailykos.

    Bob Shrum and his cronies, for NOT recognizing their incompetence for 30 years, are just selfish pigs - unless they've deliberately sold me out, in which case they're lying thieving scum like the fascist aristocrats and their lackeys.

    You seem like a decent person from your comments - why are you using the ruling class approach of blaming us pee-ons for NOT fixing what the leaders have been paid do fix.

    Cassandra my ass.

    rmm.

    Parent

    I dunno Donald (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by smott on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 04:04:05 AM EST
    I guess I feel we really don't have a democracy any more.

    It's impossible to achieve when the political landscape and discourse is so thoroughly owned and controlled by monied interests.

    Oligarchy? Yes.
    Kleptocracy?  Most definitely.

    Democracy - not so much....

    Parent

    So while the politicians (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 06:05:49 AM EST
    who were elected in 2010 are truly horrible, the problem started earlier than that. Before patting ourselves on the back for our sanity and good judgment, maybe we need to keep history straight.

    In 2008 we elected a president who promised to put the safety net programs on the table. He told us that he was going to do this. He is merely keeping his promise on this one. He is very good at keeping his promises to the bankers and Wall St. at the expense of Main St.

     

    Parent

    OMFG (none / 0) (#6)
    by The Addams Family on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 07:18:18 PM EST
    so sick

    hope you had your bong

    Well, I just was wandering Millennium Park (none / 0) (#26)
    by Towanda on Sat Jul 30, 2011 at 09:45:12 PM EST
    in my Chitown and got to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for free.  The kettle drummers were having a fine time in an outdoor setting, where they could be less constrained than they must be indoors.  The crowd was convivial.  The night is gorgeous. . . . despite the dewpoint of 70.

    This city especially enjoys all of its public arts, musical or sculptural.  It is something wonderful to see thousands of folks out enjoying the "jelly bean," the giant gazing ball in Millennium Park that reflects so beautifully the dark-blue summer sky.  But the crowds also were out for the temporary installation of the 40-foot-high Marilyn Monroe statue, a hoot!

    And I stopped again at the markers for Fort Dearborn that reminded me of such difficult times for this country, at war two centuries ago next year -- as well as at Haymarket Square in this 125th anniversary year of the terrible tragedy there for reformers hanged for our freedoms.  And then I stopped at the Trib building to gaze again at the embedded pieces of the Parthenon, the Vatican, the Taj Mahal, Pompeii, and many more, all to remind me of how so many have endured so much throughout the ages, so I certainly can survive these sad days in our history.

    Parent

    glad to hear you're having a good time (none / 0) (#39)
    by The Addams Family on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 01:01:21 AM EST
    in the city - i've lived in just about every SF neighborhood you can name, the Castro included

    & i do have very fond memories of the Starlight Room - try the Top of the Mark too if you can get to it - one of the iconic SF experiences

    the Cliff House out at Ocean Beach has been beautifully refurbished though likely to be crowded on a Sunday

    bon voyage & a safe trip home

    Parent

    Will you still vote for Obama? (none / 0) (#45)
    by lambert on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 07:46:07 AM EST
    Why?

    Wait for it, wait for it, here it comes (none / 0) (#46)
    by itscookin on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 09:16:52 AM EST
    "Because of the Supreme Court"

    Parent
    We don't have to vote for them; we should not vote (none / 0) (#47)
    by jawbone on Sun Jul 31, 2011 at 09:30:01 AM EST
    for them.

    We need a party which represents the interests of the people, not just the Uberwealthy, Big Bidness, Banksters.

    Here Comes the Last Minute Budget Capitulation | 37 comments (37 topical)

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