Monthly Archives: December 2012

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Throw  them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out.   Throw them all out. Throw them all out.    Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out.    Throw them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out.

 Throw them all out. Throw them all out.

Throw  them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out.   Throw them all out. Throw them all out.    Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out.    Throw them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out. Throw  them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out.

Throw them all out.

Throw them all out.

Throw them all out.

Throw  them all out. Throw them all out.  Throw them all out.   Throw them all out. Throw them all out.    Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out. Throw them all out.

Throw  them all out.

Please.

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I have decided that the fiscal cliff interactions between Obama and the Republican leadership are clearly a dance. What is unclear is whether this dance is simply a “mosh pit” of stumbling morons  or  actually a beautifully disguised and brilliantly choreographed ballet.  While I am praying for the latter, I am preparing for the former (as St. Augustine advised, “Pray like everything depends on God, but work as though everything depends on you“).

MOSH PIT ?

BRILLIANT CHOREOGRAPHY ?

In an effort to decipher which of these dances is actually taking place, I have just placed a bug in the White House negotiating room, and am eagerly awaiting the clues.

These are the clever tells I will be listening for:

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Evidence of the Mosh Pit:

Obama: “I won the election. Taxes are going up. Screw entitlement reform.”

Boehner: “We don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. We can’t hurt the job-creators.”

Obama: “I won the election. Taxes are going up. Screw entitlement reform.”

Boehner: “We don’t have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. We can’t hurt the job-creators.”

Obama: “You One-Percenter!”

Boehner: “Marxist Kenyan!”

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Evidence of the Well-Disguised & Brilliantly-Choreographed Dance:

Obama: (…whispering…) “Can anyone hear us?”

Boehner: “No. We’re clear.”

Obama: “OK. Just like we agreed. Tomorrow, I will publicly attack you and make a pathetic opening offer. Remember to beat your chest and tell America how disappointed you are in me. We then bicker like children for two weeks, letting our fringe elements think we are battling for them to the bitter end. At the last minute, we will reach that Grand Bargain, all the while telling our supporters how courageously we fought for our core beliefs (sounds of knee-slapping heard…). We then both declare victory and play golf. I’ll tell my Liberals that Republicans finally caved on taxes, and you’ll tell your Conservatives that you finally forced real entitlement reform.”

Boehner: “Sounds great. Can I still call you a Socialist once or twice? It will really help.”

Obama: “No problem. One more game of Parcheesi before you go?”

Boehner: “OK, but this time I go first. Baby needs new shoes!”

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I am really, really  hoping I hear the word Parcheesi…

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I’ve been bashing the Republicans lately for not only forgetting that there was a recent national election, but for overlooking the small fact that they were soundly beaten (Democrats won the Presidency, the Senate and a majority of votes in the House).

And as the President ran and won on the promise of raising taxes on the wealthy, this issue has now been officially litigated and the nation has passed judgment (even exit polls demonstrated support for raising taxes on the wealthy by a wide 2:1 margin). So PLEASE, enough  rambling about “how bad it would be for the economy to raise taxes on those wealthiest job creators“. Whether or not such a proposition has merit, the issue has now been fully debated and your side lost . Done. Kaput. Over.

Well, almost.

This tax increase has always been predicated on the concept of a Grand Bargain, whereby Democrats would meaningfully cut federal spending — at least $2 for every $1 in tax increases.

So, Democrats, it’s time to put up or shut up. Show the Republicans your specific spending cuts (real cuts to take effect now) and then demand the corresponding level of tax increases.

If you Democrats are not willing to make these meaningful spending cuts, then it’s time to stop the assault on Grover and his minions.

Democrats, it’s time to pay the piper. Then you can require the Republicans to do the same.

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