Obama holds press conference on debt

[florida08]

Source: USA Today

Summary of the almost 40 minute discussion. My favorite part

Updated at 11:15 a.m. ET: Obama says "I have not seen a credible plan that would allow you to get to $2.4 trillion without hurting" people, and the idea that they would make cuts that deep without asking for some new revenues, such as eliminating tax breaks for big oil companies, isn't realistic.

What did you think of it?

Read more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/07/obama--holds-press-conference-on-debt-talks/1?csp=34news

[NYC_SKP]

1. I'm glad he came out for the third time in 17 days, hope he does this more.

Thanks for posting.

[FreakinDJ]

2. I liked the "80% of Americans want a Balanced approach" part

vs: Ideological Positions

Kind of summed it up in plain words

[Doctor_J]

3. That's not exactly true though

80% don't want cuts to SS & Medicare, period. I wish he would just take cuts off the table - this would be far better politically and morally, but he just doesn't seem to have it in him to take a stand.

[florida08]

5. well in order to get an increase in revenue

he feels he has to put it on the table. I don't like it either because those programs have not caused this recession or job loss. I do like the idea of means testing Medicare though.

[Doctor_J]

10. Then he's wrong, morally and politically

in order to get an increase in revenue he feels he has to put it on the table

If this is true he is either irretrievably confused, incompetent, or buffaloed. The truth is that over the last 30 months he's managed to abandon a large number of Dem constituencies while taking not much from Boner. Rather than a pre-emptive giveaway, maybe an actual firm stance will work better.

[Vattel]

12. Exactly right.

He can get a much bigger increase in revenues simply by refusing to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy the next time they expire.

[florida08]

13. have you seen the polls?

I don't agree with them but:

"According to the poll, 68 percent of self-identified Democrats, as well as 76 percent of political independents, say they want Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to make compromises to gain consensus in the current spending debate."

Now exactly how do you do that without giving up something on our side? I'd prefer we didn't but I can't argue with the numbers. What would you suggest he concede?

[florida08]

4. me too

really helps his position for people to hear from him directly.

[Doctor_J]

11. "Willing to give in" is not a position

[Doctor_J]

6. Another weak, conciliatory exhibition

I am beginning to think he's ambivalent about getting re-elected, or getting a Dem Congress. Phrases not heard:

- "Renewing failed policies of the Bush presidency"
- "Eric Cantor is actually betting that the economy is going to crash. He's going to lose that bet if I have anything to say about it"
- "Deciding that the debt ceiling is important, after voting to raise it 7 times during the Bush years"
- "Deliberately crashing the economy so they can blame it on me"
- "Taking health care from neediest Americans to pay for the Cock Brothers' 3rd corporate jet"
- "Social security and Medicare benefits will not be cut while I am president"

Americans don't like leaders who cower and run when attacked.

[ClarkUSA]

7. Another Bizarro World interpretation.

:boring:

[Doctor_J]

8. More like a Bizarro World press conference

It appears that he's decided to stake his presidency on kissing up to the most malevolent congress in history. I guess his memory doesn't reach back to November.

[ClarkUSA]

14. Prove it. Show us a list of factual quotes w/credible source links.

For example, here's a quote from a credible news source that disproves your negative rhetoric:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x711443

"Obama: Americans back me on debt deal":
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x711436

Here are DUers who disagree with you who watched the same press conference:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x711390

Here are more DUers who are discussing his press conference points and disagree with your claims:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x711374

You see, it's easy to poke holes through your inflammatory bullshit with the facts and via the opinions of those who are honest about what they are hearing.

[paparush]

9. Republicans 2012 - Keeping millions unemployed to put one man out of a job.

[JoePhilly]

15. Obama touched on ALL of those things if you actually WATCHED the conference

- he said the deficit was from Bush policies (referred to the last 10 years of GPO)
- He said that Cantor and Boehner are at odds on this and that parts of the GOP want to default
- He said that the GOP raised it 7 times when Bush was President (all of the leaders did)
- He pointed out that they are now AGAINST their own policies the minute he advocates one
- He said that the needy should not be paying for corporate executives

And, as for SS and Medicare cuts ... he said that only those at the top might see reductions, and then he said people like HIM, rich people!!!

Geeze ... did you watch the conference, or get your just talking points directly from Karl Rove!!!

[Igel]

16. $2.4 trillion, 10 years.

I'm betting it's not $240 billion per year. I'm guessing it's more like $5 billion next year, $10 the next, and then sometime around 2014 or 2015 the cuts get really serious. Of course, the assumptions will be bad so that really it'll wind up $4 billion next year, $4 billion the next year, and $3 billion in 2014--because the next Congress won't want to let the painful cuts happen during their watch.

I'm also guessing that if there's $2 trillion in revenues passed, it'll be more like $200 billion next year, $200 billion the following year--and likely to exceed the goal because of bad assumptions.

That's how the game on this side of the aisle is played: immediate revenue, delayed cuts to actual programs that are fairly anodyne and projected and therefore unlikely cuts to programs that are large and will show great growth.

The Clinton surplus was a combination of reduced government spending (much offset by a "peace dividend" and reduced military spending) and incredible growth that made for increased revenues over and above the tax hike that was passed after the recession was over and job growth was kicking in fairly strongly. Even then he balked at the idea of taking strong steps for a balanced budget, until he could paint the (R) black and move to adopt a viewpoint that most of the voters had wanted (displacing the (R) at their own game).

It'll be interesting to see if this is 1995 or 1975. Or 1935.

[florida08]

17. am thinking 1975

slow job growth..higher inflation and gas prices. One more crisis though could change that