tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536140049505603887.post271318638764005782..comments2024-01-26T03:26:54.060-05:00Comments on O-pinion: Why the fiscal cliff impasse doesn't matter - so far Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7536140049505603887.post-54027599736209890112012-12-04T13:31:49.791-05:002012-12-04T13:31:49.791-05:00"...so long as neither side decides that a wi..."...so long as neither side decides that a win is more important than a compromise."<br /><br />And there's the problem. Most of these key players are MUCH more interested in winning. I think BHO is as arrogant as he is narcisistic. In his world, winning an election with 51% is a sign that everyone in the country agrees with all of his policies and ideas. Boehner is at least willing to negotiate, although his approach of closing loopholes and deductions indicates he is just as concerned about getting voted out of office in favor of a Tea Party candidate as he is in actually avoiding the cliff. That's what will happen to all these GOP cats in '14; Tea Party candidates will run against them in the primaries on the platform of "they're not real Republicans; they agreed to tax increases!"<br /><br />But at least Boehner is putting something out there that has a legitimate concession in it. BHO is not budging an inch. He's counting on not moving, then being able to blame Republicans when we go over the cliff and into depression (yes, depression - we're already in recession, as the '07 recession never ended, I don't care what the GDP numbers say). I think he's mistaken. Republicans are going to be able to say, "BHO won on a campaign of tax increases. We offered a plan that increased the tax burden on the wealthy. He rejected it and we went over the cliff." The 12% unemployment rate and additional decrease in median household income that will come as a result of the depression will anger enough people to make sweeping changes in who goes to Washington, just like the depression of the '30s. The party in power will get the blame. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com