Obama Signs ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Bill With Autopen

“the bill…would be in our best interest” Really??? Higher taxes and continued crazy, out-of-control spending is in our best interest??? Those are just two of the insidious effects of this lousy bill. There are plenty of other nasty surprises.

HAWAI’I is NOT OVERSEAS…. it has been a part of the US since August 1959… doesn’t anyone fact check anymore????? Your editor must be related to the MP that would not let my father on base because his Hawai’i drivers license was not issued in the United States….. fricken haoles

All he wanted to do was get back to Hawaii, why didn’t he use his “Autopen” instead of !80,000 + and hour to shuttle back and forth form Hawaii to DC? OH that’s right, I forgot “big government” tax payers foot the bill. When’s the last time you could afford to do something like this ? Nothing like waiting till the last second to do something that you new about was going to dump for a year, find government we have,ahh don’t fret over it we as Americans are to busy with our own “important stuff” to do. Tell how much you like “the change” now, “go forward” my subjects, I command you.

why didn’t he use his “Autopen”

Posted by: imthegrumpyone | January 3, 2013, 3:28 am 3:28 am

He did. You might want to catch up a bit with the facts.

Repeating the same lines over and over again, CHARLES. Funny, but that’s exactly what all of the other trolls do. Perhaps you all work under one roof at the same computer. Obviously, Obama has been good to all of you. Bet it’s amnesty for all five of you, isn’t it? TV’s “I’m descended from native Americans” comment is what gave it away. That’s one of the lines that the illegal “dreamers” use on on other news sites. The five of you aren’t fooling anyone.

I hope the voters remember this slowdown in government over the past four years and vote out basset hound and his followers.

Posted by: jayboat300 | January 3, 2013, 3:39 am 3:39 am

Agreed. The Republicans have already begun setting themselves up for huge losses in 2014.

disrespecful using autpen and leaving town in a hurry…

This president is utterly despicable.

Posted by: Francis | January 3, 2013, 3:54 am 3:54 am

Of course the Obama’s can go to Hawaii for a holiday. Just like hundreds of thousand of other Ameriicans who will go to Hawaii for a holiday this winter, or the millions who will holiday in warmer climes this year.

Put your pitiful class envy away – you need to learn how to survive in a capitalist society, rather than whining.

And no one should base their arguments on being a frightened little bigot.

Are you the moderator, MARTIN??? It has nothing to do with class envy, CHARLES, but it has everything to do with what is right and what is wrong. It’s wrong to go gallavanting all the way to Hawaii at taxpayers’ expense when we have a terrible economy. Please do not use the word bigot. I haven’t used that with you are anyone else. It’s abusive, and if there were a “report for abusive” button in here, I and others would click on it, and your comments would be deleted and/or you would be removed from this discussion.

FRANCIS: People use the word bigot a lot when you are around because you are a bigot. And a racist. OK?

“People use the word bigot a lot when you are around because you are a bigot. And a racist. OK?”—-Actually the use of the word seems to be used only by you who can’t make a point without playing the race card. Its actually make one look pretty stupid.

PEIKOVIAIAN: “Oh my goodness, when did Obama (PBUH) invent the autopen? Thanks for that insightful reporting, ABC!” – - – You need to learn to read better also becauase the article DOES NOT say or imply that President Obama invented the auto pen. Some conservatives seem to simply need to whine and complain and criticize only for the sake of doing so.

Mannnn I’m sick of the constant whining about vacations and signings. Sore losers. That’s what this all boils down to.

DEM_WITHOUT_A_CLUE: It’s hard not to ‘play the race card’ when dealing with racists. That so-called ‘race card’ is just a pathetic attempt by racists to stop the rest of us calling them out for what they are. For what you are. A racist and a bigot. It’a apparent to anyone that a substantial section of President Obama’s detractors are primarily motivated by racism and bigotry. Hence the ridiculous Kenyan Muslim claims, among others. If you want the ‘race card’ dropped perhaps you could consider dropping the racism and bigotry?

B-K KNIGHTRIDER: Hawaii IS overseas. 2,000 miles of Pacific Ocean overseas from the North American mainland.

@2K — Being a wanker from the UK you should know all about race cards seeing you anglo-saxen brits are some of the most racists people across the pond. Perhaps you should work on that first before criticizing others you prat.

New words for 2013: Raceaphobic, an individual who defaults to calling others “racist” when all other logical arguments fail. Replaces “obfuscate” since obfuscate has become the standard operating procedure for all progressives.

When 41% don’t vote, 30% vote Democrat, 28% vote Republican, and 1% vote for a neighbor, the results are not a mandate. The result is confusion. GWB’s faith-based overspending and overseas failures are replaced with BHO’s class-warfare overspending and overseas failures.

Between the autopen signing his name on his behalf, and the teleprompters telling him what to say, it’s a wonder Obama can feed himself —I mean, he can feed himself, right?

Obama is the one who REFUSES to compromise. It’s his way or no way. And as for being a family man & taking his family on vacation!! REALLY!!! This so-called FAMILY has more vacations in the last four years, then I’ve had in 52 years. This is the absolute WORST president EVER!!! And his wife, God help us please!!! Dresses like trash & acts like trash.

Tyrants are empowered by a continual state of emergency, even if they must create one.

I’m guessing Hawaii being some 2000 miles across the Pacific ocean makes it overseas…just because it’s overseas doesn’t mean it’s not a state…although, I’m sure many americans aren’t aware that Hawaii is even a state….
who cares that he signed with autopen? why does that even matter. I’m more concerned with WHAT he signed. We’ll be like, what, 20T in the hole by the time his next 4 years are up. then it’s up to the next prez to start the dig out…

auto-leader…auto-pen. Who cares?

Can we drive to Hawaii?

Everyone could have conference-called and Skyped. The important thing is we are now bankrupt.

Why is it called by democrats the fiscal cliff bill, when its nothing but a TAX bill, no cuts just increases in “investing” $680,000 revenue increase and “investing” of $ 1,400,000,000,000.That’s the new math the democrats and President are using calling it a balanced approach.

Posted by: PeiKoviIan | January 3, 2013, 9:53 am 9:53 am

Dear Pei, you win the coveted Post-o-da-Day Award™ for 01-03-2013.
Recognition of the type of job the press is doing is becoming increasingly important in the fight to remain free here in the good old USA.
Thank you and please keep up the good work.

The republicans are a dying party (the tea party).

They have conducted a war on the middle class then expect that same middle class to vote for them. Even republicans are beginning to see this.

The republicans need to cash a reality check and quit blaming Mitt for their failures. It’s the republican trickledown policies (which have never worked) that is the sole cause of their down fall.

They have become the same as the Tories in 1776. They’ve just substituted the upper 2% for the English aristocracy..

“Obamacare is also a tax. He claimed it wasn’t, but that’s the only way the SCOTUS approved it.”
Posted by: PEIKOVIIAN | January 3, 2013, 10:25 am

JUSTICE ALITO: General Verrilli, today you are arguing that the penalty is not a tax. Tomorrow you are going to be back and you will be arguing that the penalty is a tax.
Has the Court ever held that something that is a tax for purposes of the taxing power under the Constitution is not a tax under the Anti-Injunction Act?

GENERAL VERRILLI: No,

I can just imagine what would have happened if President Obama had not come back from his Hawaiian vacation the night before we fell off the fiscal cliff, but it was okay for Boehner and the rest of his ilk. Yes, President Obama went back to Hawaii on Air Force One, that’s how the President of the United States travels. Remember when Bush was on vacation for 1/3 of his term? He also used Air Force One many, many more times than any other president in history.

“It’s the republican trickledown policies (which have never worked) that is the sole cause of their down fall.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 10:36 am

Reaganomics, trickle-down economics, supply-side economics, worked in the 1980′s. Reagan didn’t need two full terms to see improvements, America was on the rebound in the middle of his first term.

Obamanomics, Keynesian economics, centralized command and control authroity, has strangled this economy, and stifled the recovery.

PIEKOVIAN

Dah. It’s been class warfare since the first caveman hunter demanded his fair share of the mammoth kill.

These nonsensical republican clichés “class warfare”, “job creators” ,”small government” , guns don’t kill, people do”, etc, are all meaningless BS and designed to con the American people.

The problem is the republicans don’t have the will, the motivation or the guts to defend their own class. They are afraid the upper 2% won’t let anything spill over to them and have become totally dependent on the truffle eaters for their standard of living..

“Class warfare is the religion of lunatics.” Then apparently we’re a nation of lunatics because it worked.

DALMATION

Supply side economics, hence trickle down is nonsense. The chief proponent of supply side economics was appropriately named, Arthur “Laugher”.

Demand creates a good business environment. You don’t spend money making a product or service then expect to sell that product when nobody wants it or can’t afford to buy it.

So, the President didn’t sign the legislation into law. The autopen does not produce a signature, it produces a facsimile of a signature. Since this hasn’t been reviewed by the Judicial Branch, it is the height of arrogance to presume the bill is now law. It isn’t likely to be reviewed, but you never know.

Tmferretti; You really need to start picking and chosing your democratic talking points. Start with valid ones.

“…at lot off homeless…”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 11:30 am

When applying for the job from the homeless guy, I’d suggest running your résumé through a grammar checker.

ABC apparently will not let me post the 19th Century origins of class warfare. It will report on how the president signed a document. So much for journalism.

“ABC apparently will not let me post …”
Posted by: PEIKOVIIAN | January 3, 2013, 11:37 am

I’ve had mixed results when posting here. After I post a comment, the url has #comment- added as a suffix. I find that by erasing that suffix and reloading the page, my next comment has a better chance of going through.

Democrats, Liberals, Progressives, Socialists and Anarchists agree with their European mentors that the individual belongs to his kind, and his kind shares a reality different from others, with a purpose of millenarian struggle and a future without a need for property or the right to property. Just like the medievals, their earth is ruled by dictators, and their heaven is beyond this lifetime. Pure mysticism.

I’m pretty sure it’s censorship. Constant blather without content. BTW Al Gore’s TV network was sold to Al Jazeera, so we can see programming that reinforces American oil dependence on OPEC while those criminals fund militant Islam.

DALMATION

If Grover wants to reduce my taxes and all middle class taxes to stimulate the economy ,I’m all for him. Reducing taxes on 2% of the market , doesn;t do a damn thing but take money out of the economy.

One thing though, I’d never be stupid enough to sign a pledge to him in violation off my oath of office (If I was ever, highly unlikely), elected to Congress

Demand creates a good business environment. You don’t spend money making a product or service then expect to sell that product when nobody wants it or can’t afford to buy it.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 11:03 am 11:03 am

Obama begs to differ. Look at all the green companies WE spent money on that are now bankrupt. And he has put additional green spending in the Hurricane Sandy relief package.

WHERESMYMONEY

What, You don’t want cheaper and cleaner energy? I do. I think the demand for that is pretty high.

We should be investing in small , reseach driven companies instead of giving tax breaks and subsidies to Exxon and the coal industry.

I’ll respond to your points one at a time.

“If Grover wants to reduce my taxes and all middle class taxes to stimulate the economy ,I’m all for him.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 12:00 pm

Why does he have to justify why taxes shouldn’t go up? Shouldn’t the onus be on government to justify why they need more money, not on us to justify why we should keep what we’ve earned?

“Reducing taxes on 2% of the market , doesn;t do a damn thing but take money out of the economy.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 12:00 pm

You have it backwards, the IRS takes money out of the economy.

“One thing though, I’d never be stupid enough to sign a pledge to him in violation off my oath of office (If I was ever, highly unlikely), elected to Congress”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 12:00 pm

Nobody signed a pledge to Norquist. They make a promise to the voters not to raise taxes just as they would promise not to have an affair with their secretary. Does a Congressman’s marriage vow violate his oath of office too?

DALMATION

Defending you and I, having good roads, having a good education, regulating commerce, law enforcement, social programs is justification enough. If you object we could always become another Bangladesh.

Yes the iRS takes money out of the economy but it goes right back when government has enough sense to spend it. It doesn’t sit in some corporate vault waiting for some CEO to figure out what he and his friends should get as a bonus.

Having an affair with a secretary is not even close to determining the standard of living for 300 million Americans. The only oath these idiots need to take is one to defend the Constitution and do what is best for the people of this country.

After all the congressional debacle and dysfunction just to pass a bill at the thirteenth hour, who needs a presidential ceremony to sign a bill. The president’s actions seem to indicate that the whole mess congress brought upon itself was unnecessary. Lawmakers could have forged a bi-partisan agreement to pass a bill on time, instead of fighting and bickering like women. If that had happened, Democrats and Republican lawmakers would have proudly stand behind the president as he signs the bill. But, in this case, the president had to disrupt his vacation to deal with Boehner who abandoned the negotiation in pursuit of a “Plan B” that went no where.

Wouldn’t want to delay the restart of his vacation, long enough to actually sign the bill.

The Latest Con
Barry Obama said he would not sign a fiscal cliff bill that was not “balanced” yet that’s just what he did once he got his revenge tax rate increases.

POSTED BY: NOZ | JANUARY 3, 2013, 12:27 PM 12:27 PM_____________NOZ, the “job creators” have enjoyed tax cuts for more than two decades creating jobs in China. It is time to squeeze them for some of that money to take care of the deficit here at home. On the spending side, we need to cut defense, subsidies to oil companies, and stop the war in Afghanistan. That is a balanced approached to take care of the deficit problem.

This president makes the grass grow, and the wind blow, and the sky blue.

The republicans believe that companies hire workers out of the goodness of their hearts.

In reality they hire you because they need you to increase profits by meeting “demand” . When you are of no value and your paycheck impacts their bottom line they will let you go.

The republicans have such low self-esteem they believe they are valueless: hence their dependence on the goodwill of employers. You can give employers all the tax breaks and money you want but they won’t hire you because they appreciate your efforts or will they trickle down some money so you can live.

They’ll hire you when you have some value and can help them make money. Training and education (which you republicans oppose and want to cut) is the criteria for a productive employee.

I also think republicans are opposed to educational programs because an educated public won’t fall for their BS. Americans are becoming more informed because of the expediency of socal media. Thats why the republican party is in decline.

“Blah, blah, blah…Thats why the republican party is in decline.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:10 pm

Wrong. The Republican Party is in trouble because the Democrats have spent the last thirty or so years successfully turning productive citizens into people dependent upon government largesse.

The Founders were men of the Enlightenment, who believed that government existed to protect the rights of private citizens, and government was limited so it would not become a threat. The culture was described in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. There were expectations of individual liberties and free markets. “The general welfare,” like “nature and nature’s god,” are poetical expressions not meant as socialists or televangelists mean them today.

Socialism did not exist during the lifetime of the Founding Fathers. They would not have agreed to it.

“No one is saying the government should blow money.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:23 pm

Nobody says it, they just do it. Government blows money like fish swim. Have you ever seen how Congress sells furniture every year for pennies on the dollar, so they can spend their entire budget? They’re afraid that if they don’t, their next budget will get cut. That’s how Washington D.C. works.

“If the largest capitalist democracy in the world is afraid to invest in its people and infrastructure we are doomed to become just another third world poor nation.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:23 pm

Losing 92% of your deposit is what’s referred to in the private sector as a ‘bad investment’.

“Are we losing money on SNAP, hell yes, but the solution is not to further the misery of the poor. The answer is to get those people jobs.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:23 pm

And your Dear Leader removed the work requirement. Why do you support him again?

“If you think a government can’t determine its citizens standard of living why have a government at all.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:23 pm

It’s all or nothing? Either they do too much, or nothing at all?

What conservatives have been saying all along, and you haven’t comprehended, is that government has a limited role that it should do well, and it’s become a government that tries to do too much very poorly.

tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 1:23 pm —— You really need to read what our government is supposed to do, not what you think they can do. Establish Justice, Provide for Common Defense and Promote the General Welfare, etc. Ships in the Straights have nothing to do with our government or the price of gas. We should be using all of our resources available, but we are not. Earlier, you said the GOP was on some other planet, I am beginning to think you are on some other planet. Our government was NEVER supposed to be this large nor this intrusive. Please show us something to prove this wrong, I show you our Constitution as proof.

The republicans are not going to be satisfied until we have a “small government ” and become a third world nation without a middle class.

We’ll all work for a $1,50 an hour, seven days a week, live in shanties and be just a labor pool for the large companies A good job will be as a landscaper or maid for some wealthy family. If we complain we are just part of the lazy, dependent, do nothing, 47%.

We’ll just step over the bodies of dead people who died on the streets because we don’t have a decent health care system that average people could afford. The poor will rumage through garbage dumps for food. No lazy people allowed.

Our elderly will have to be taken care of by their families or left on a hillside to die because we have no social net for them.

Women will wear burkas and there needs and aspirations will be ignored.

But just think of it, none of us will have to pay taxes and the budget will be balanced, isn’t that a great country to be part of. Such a “small government” we can be proud of.

We can do all the things the republicans want, but does anyone want to live like that..

COMMONSENSE

I would except ABC won’t let me post my full response

The Founding Fathers were not socialists. The thought is ridiculous.

ABC, censorship gets tiring.

tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 2:16 pm —- Obama raised the federal budget for education 181% in his first year and there has been no difference in 4 years. Promoting the general welfare can be simple things like anti-smoking commercials, surgeon general warnings, Smokey the Bear commercials, etc. People will be educated if they wish to be educated. I am a product of our educational system and I am doing fine. I worked through college and mommy and daddy paid for nothing. Our free market system is being slowly taken over by the government and there has to be a balance. The government offers loans to those who wish to pursue higher education, but the government cannot make people learn. Parents need to step up and show their kids the relationship between education and success. Anyone who does not apply themselves to be educated will not be educated. The governemnt can put all the money it wants into education, it won’t force those who do not wish to learn to participate. We need to keep our system in place and quit throwing money at it. It has been proven not to work.

The republicans won’t be satisfied until they accomplish their goal of a “small government” even if that government makes us a third world nation. How the hell can the largest, most powerful, democracy in the world have a “small government?”

No food stamps let the poor rummage through garbage dumps. They’re just a part of that lazy, dependent 47% anyway.

We can all work for $1.50 an hour, seven days a week and live in shacks, a labor pool for the big corporations. Think that’s absurd? Read about the coal miners and meat cutters in the early 1900s.

We can step over the dead and dying in the streets because they can’t afford decent health care.

Our elderly will be taken care of by their families and left on a hillside to die if they become a burden. No social safety net, what do you expect?

Don’t fret, we will have a balanced budget and no deficit and lo and behold a “small government”.

COMMONSENSE

I do agree, there is fraud, not rampant, and it needs corrected. Let’s do that, not throw out the baby with the bathwater. There’s also fraud in Medicare and Social Security, we need to be more vigorous in cleaning that up too.

I would make a law that any person who wants a student loan for college would have to serve, if physically qualified, in the Military, Vista or the Peace Corp before or after college before they could get a loan. They could get loan forgiveness deductions dependent on the time they served.

We can thank the Republicans for not extending the payroll tax cut. Ie. a tax increase.

Doug | January 3, 2013, 2:52 pm —- Why is that? Did you not notice how many Democrats voted yes and how many GOP voted no? Or are you simply clueless? Obama got what he wanted and you blame the GOP? Had the GOP voted it down, would you blame them for the fiscal cliff? Congratulations, you are a 60%er.

Government grows government, unless prevented.

“…a labor pool for the big corporations. Think that’s absurd? Read about the coal miners and meat cutters in the early 1900s.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 2:39 pm

People aren’t prisoners of the towns they were born in anymore. For example, states like California and New York are suffering an exodus of taxpayers due to the high taxes they’ve imposed.

Just as people can flee from high taxes, people can also pick up and move to where the jobs are -look at the boomtown the Bakken oil field has become.

If the company(s) running things in Bakken were to turn into oppressive slave masters today, those people are gone tomorrow.

China will be dancing on our debt! Obama will be laughing at the middle class for their total ignorance! Americans will join Greeks as the end of freedom and liberty draws ever nearer!

Doug | January 3, 2013, 3:02 pm — So just disregard what the Democrats voted for right? They didn’t seem to even worry about it this time and voted yes…overwhelmingly. So, as the facts stand, you are incorrect.

A new credit downgrade is coming!
Last time Obama blamed Bush, as he will try to do again!
This time Obama will own any new credit downgrade.
Elections have consequences!!!

“Obama and the Democrats have pushed for the payroll tax cut every time its come up – in fact they introduced it. It was the Republicans who fought against its inclusion each time.”
Posted by: Doug | January 3, 2013, 3:02 pm

Obama and the Democrats wanted tax cuts for most, and the Republicans wanted tax cuts for all. To imply that it’s the Democrats who are the tax-cutters is disingenuous.

“These corporations today would take just as much advantage of their employees as those corporations did in the 1900s if it wasn’t for reforms fought for by the labor unions.”
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2013, 3:20 pm

The ability to pick up and move has made much of that obsolete. The automobile has made that obsolete. People back then couldn’t even commute more than a few miles to a job, whereas today it’s normal to commute 30+ miles each way to work. Over the last century, employees have gone from marketing their skills to employers within a five mile radius, to being able to market their skills fifty miles away. Heck, if their job is internet-based, they don’t even have to be in the same country.

The reforms were written to protect employees who were, in effect, a captive audience. That’s not the case anymore.

Obama has always claimed to be for the middle class yet he sneaked this by many of you trained minions. Pulled the rug right out from under you. Don’t worry, it won’t be the last time he does this. He even told Russia: “”"I will have more flexibility after the elections”"”. Wake up minions before he does it again.

DALMATION

All us stupid democrats know is the President stood up in front of the American people and said he would sign no bill that did not allow the Bush tax cuts to be extended to the middle class. He got his way. End of story.

All the spin in the world can’t change the fact that the republicans opposed this because the upper 2% weren’t included in that tax extension.

I’ve said this before. I hope you never have to live on the streets; your shopping cart would always be empty unless you recognize a con job when it’s happening.

“Thanks to the votes of Democrats and Republicans in Congress I will sign a law that raises the taxes on the wealthiest of Americans,” Obama said in remarks at the White House Tuesday, “while preventing a middle-class tax hike.”

WHAT A LIAR!

Posted by: Doug | January 3, 2013, 3:37 pm

Next thing you’ll be arguing is that because Democrats want to keep skeet shotguns legal (and ban everything else), that they should get an NRA A+ rating for fighting for gun-rights.

Some Christians believe the Earth was created just for them. Liberals believe the economy was created just for them, and will adjust the property rights of others to make it so.

The Republcans were right to oppose it (the extension of the payroll tax cuts).

Posted by: Reality Check | January 3, 2013, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

Not according to all the Republicans on this blog whining about the increase in the payroll tax. Once again the Republicans bicker amongst themselves and blame it on the Democrats.

Doug | January 3, 2013, 3:52 pm ———More Republican congressmen (151) voted against the Senate bill than for it (85), meaning that Democrats’ support was needed to advance the final deal. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, took the rare step of casting a vote, and did so in favor of the legislation. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the former Republican vice presidential nominee, also supported the package. But Boehner’s top two lieutenants, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., each opposed the deal.

Posted by: Commonsenseparty | January 3, 2013, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm

The Republcans were right to oppose it (the extension of the payroll tax cuts).

Posted by: Reality Check | January 3, 2013, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

Not according to all the Republicans on this blog whining about the increase in the payroll tax. Once again the Republicans bicker amongst themselves and blame it on the Democrats.
______________________________________

As noted . . .

Chris Christi seems like a down to earth street smart guy who is not afraid to give credit where credit is due and is a formidable opponent when he wants to be.

Even he sees the futility of trying to get the republicans do do anything for the working class..

Doug | January 3, 2013, 3:57 pm —- Even as a Libertarian, just to get us out of this mess I am OK with slightly higher taxes…….BUT, Obama promised balance and didn’t/couldn’t deliver. Also, I would be more inclined to higher taxes if the government would show some fiscal sanity. You, on the other hand, seem to enjoy the fact that we just gave a drug addict more drugs with no promise of rehabilitation. Anyone in their right mond would be stupid to think this was a good deal for anyone.

The tax on capital gains and dividends is across the board with no income limits which make Obama a liar….again!

Posted by: newcountryman | January 3, 2013, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

No, it makes you a liar . .. again!

—Capital gains, dividends: Taxes on capital gains and dividend income exceeding $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for families would increase from 15 percent to 20 percent.

Some working middle class investors also receive dividends and pay capital gains when they sell. That’s going up from 15% to 20%.

Posted by: newcountryman | January 3, 2013, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm

Prove it.

The public used to be jealous of the wealthy, and imitate the wealthy, to get the same results

Posted by: PEIKOVIIAN | January 3, 2013, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

The wealthy under Eisenhower used to pay income tax up around 90% (and a tax rate far higher than today even after deductions) and they were happy to live in wealth in the wealthiest and best country in the world. As time went by they became greedier and greedier – and we’re left with the results.

In the American Decade, there was no foreign competition for American products. Europe and Asia were rebuilding after WW2. America had unsustainable market share and unsustainable deals with big labor. It began to unravel in the 1970s and has been getting worse ever since.

Ask Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamster who’s greedy.

Ask Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamster who’s greedy.

Posted by: PEIKOVIIAN | January 3, 2013, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm

I don’t have to ask them, I have only to observe the huge shift in wealth towards the upper end, and the whining over taxes from the same people.

DOUG, Your hatred of those who are rich and successful is nauseating. Since you’re so angry about it, why don’t you go out and work and build up your own finances? It can be done if you really want to do it.

Doug, so you take it by force? Must be a charmer with the ladies.

I don’t have to ask them, I have only to observe the huge shift in wealth towards the upper end, and the whining over taxes from the same people.

Posted by: Doug | January 3, 2013, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm

Who stopped you from getting wealthy? The Koch Brothers? LOL! The answer is staring you in the mirror.

I already pay way more in taxes than I will ever collect in government benefits. You’re not entitled to any more of my labor to fund your little utopian experiment. Sorry. I restructured my compensation last month. This year Obama collects much less from me, not more. Any government benefits you collect are going to get cut and Obama will be doing the cutting. There’s nothing you’ll be able to do about it. He doesn’t need you anymore.

I already pay way more in taxes than I will ever collect in government benefits. Sorry. I restructured my compensation last month.

Posted by: Susan | January 3, 2013, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm

Oh you poor little thing. Living rich in the richest country in the world and you’re still whining.

Like I said, clinical, psychopathic, obsessive greed among the super rich has real consequences for the entire nation.

I found no where that states the capital gains and tax on dividends going from 15% to 20% will be based on the individual/family $400/$450K taxable income threshold. As a matter of fact, the $400/$450K theshhold cannot even be determined without a-priory calculation that includes dividend/capital gain income as part of the taxable income determination.

“People like Romney can afford to pay a little more…”
Posted by: Jeff | January 3, 2013, 4:37 pm

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need?

Maybe we should be investing in barbed-wire, because they’ll need a lot of it for all the camps.

Some of the lowest taxes on the wealthy of all time, and still poor little Susan is whining.

Posted by: Jeff | January 3, 2013, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

Both a whiner and a tax evader. Living wealthy in the wealthiest country in the world, with some of the lowest tax rates on the rich in history – and she’s a whining tax evader. People like you are one of the main reasons the country is so divided and weak.

Since the beginning of man’s history there were those who have always stayed in camp. Their main function has always seemed to be how to divide up the spoils of those who have ventured forth.

Yep, I notice that too, COMMONSENSEPARTY. And they keep the posts of the trolls. ABC can’t get enough of the Obama suckups.

My post stating that the increase in the tax on dividends and capital gains is going from 15% to 20% across the board also disappeared. They apparently like Jeff however.

ABC deleted some of my comments. I was encouraging people to go out and be productive and work and earn their own money instead of relying upon government handouts. I guess ABC thinks that foodstamps and walfare are better for people???

the tax on dividends and capital gains is going from 15% to 20% across the board

Posted by: newcountryman | January 3, 2013, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

Wrong again.

“Capital gains and dividends will rise to 20 percent from the current 15 percent for the same income thresholds ($400,000/$450,000)” CBS news.

“taxes on income, capital gains, dividends and estates will raise for American families making more than $450,000 and individuals making more than $400,000.” Forbes

All Barack Channel is alive and well.

Jeff | January 3, 2013, 5:23 pm — You’re a riot. Did you not see how many Dems voted for this bill? Obama wants higher taxes and the GOP wants lower taxes. This bill gives Obama what he wants. It is complete lunacy to think otherwise. Geez.

The tax increase on dividends from 15% to 20% is all over the internet. Just look it up instead of attacking everyone. Also, the middle class income tax hike has NOT been stopped. Stop posting the ludicrous and phony propaganda in here!

Posted by: Francis | January 3, 2013, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

Only on incomes over $400,000/$450,000 threshold.

I know full well right wing blogs will spread any lie they like and others will be stooged into repeating it as truth.

Cite me one legitimate source. Provide the name of the story and the quote.

If the censorship is bad on ABC, wait until you see the new Al Gore channel on al-Jazeera.

Jeff; CBS stated what you did, but from Forbes; “The second negative targeted investors of all stripes by increasing the top capital gains and dividend tax rates to 23.8 percent (20 percent + the 3.8 percent healthcare law surtax added to that to help fund the Affordable Care Act). BTW, I don’t see how the $400K/$450K taxable income threshold can even be determined without first nailing down the taxable dividend/capital gain amount unless they go back after the form is filled out and tack on an extra 5% on that portion of income. But we’ll see when April 15th rolls around.

What??!! Obama went on vacation and can’t seem to do his job??!! Seems vaguely familiar…oh that’s right, that’s what he’s done the past 4 years!!!
Wealth redistribution here we come! America is no longer a Democratic society, it’s Socialist. God Bless America! I will miss her!

$16 trillion dollars. Gee, thanks for the autopen. Quite a souvenir.

Taking cash advances from a credit card at the Bank of Bernanke is worse than payroll tax deductions that fund the worker’s retirement. Try running a household with a maxxed-out VISA Card.

Posted by: newcountryman | January 3, 2013, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

The Republicans have fought against the payroll tax cuts consistently the last several years. This time they won. All of our payroll taxes will go up as a result of that.

All day, Republicans and the right wing posters have attempted to ‘blame’ this on the President, when anyone who has followed the issue knows better.

And all day long, JEFF, you and others have been in here shilling for Obama and attacking every single anti Obama poster, even though their comments are accurate and yours are not.

Living wealthy in the wealthiest country in the world, with some of the lowest tax rates on the rich in history – and she’s a whining tax evader. People like you are one of the main reasons the country is so divided and weak.

Posted by: Val | January 3, 2013, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm

What ignorance. Tax avoidance is not the same thing as tax evasion, dufus. I’ve switched to living on savings this year, so I’m not paying $25K in federal income taxes. I’m paying nothing. That’s tax avoidance, and it’s perfectly legal. You can’t force the producers to work and pay taxes. You’ll need to make up the difference. The reason this country is divided and weak is because of freeloaders like yourself stealing from everybody else and always expecting more while you sit around all day. Once the economy truly collapses from all the debt and your benefits stop, you won’t have a clue what to do. Whining here won’t help you. Obama doesn’t care what you or any other of his useful idiots think. He doesn’t need you anymore.