WSJ: Congressional leaders said they have agreed to a fast-paced negotiation process to broker a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff."
In an unusual display of bipartisanship, the four congressional leaders addressed reporters jointly after meeting with President Barack Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) said White House and congressional staff would work together next week to begin sorting through details, and suggested they could all reconvene in two weeks.
Work together? Reconvene in two weeks? This sounds like the same old back-Republicans-into-a-corner-and-watch-them-squirm strategy used again and again. A couple of weeks will push us into December, which compounds that strategy and is reminiscent of another Democratic tactic: increase pressure at the last possible minute, instead of doing something now...they're more likely to cave that way.
TheHill: Congressional leaders emerged Friday from the White House saying their initial meeting on the “fiscal cliff” with President Obama had been a “constructive” first step.
The lawmakers offered no details on their discussions to avert major tax hikes and spending cuts that could cripple the economy in January, but Republican leaders signaled a flexibility on higher taxes while Democrats said they could agree to spending cuts.
In plain language: 'constructive', 'flexibility'...it all means caving to real tax hikes with only lip service given to spending cuts. Same ol', same ol'...and the taxpayers are stuck footing the bill (as usual). Meanwhile, layoffs and closures will continue, deficits and debt will rise, and we're freefalling off the cliff. All these mental midgets (h/t: Levin) are showing us is that they're willing to negotiate our demise.
ADDENDUM: And please don't let Pelosi do any of the negotiating. Who knows what the hell we might end up with (just look at Obamacare!)...
Constitution schmonstitution...not as if she ever swore to uphold tha...oh wait...
