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President Barack Obama answered reporters' questions about the fiscal cliff and other issues in the East Room of the White House Wednesday.
ANALYSIS: Hopes for a bipartisan compromise on the "fiscal cliff" threatening the nation's economy are beginning to fade just 10 days after the election that will leave President Barack Obama in the White House and Republicans in command of the House. Obama on Wednesday drew a line in the sand, saying he was confident the problem could be resolved but that he would not approve an extension of Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.
The standoff guarantees that we will be hearing a lot more about the complex budget issue in coming weeks as Congress works against a Dec. 31 deadline, and possibly beyond.
Here are some answers to questions about the fiscal cliff and its impact on household budgets as posed to us by TODAY.com readers in a web chat this week:
Is this fiscal cliff thing going to be resolved soon? If not, will all hell break loose in the markets?? -Jen
The cliff is really more of a slope because the cuts don’t hit all at once on Day One. The tax hikes – if they are allowed to take effect – would raise the average household tax bill by about $68 a week.
Financial markets are concerned about several different issues. Stock investors are worried that the capital gains tax rate will go up, which is why many are selling now before year's ends. (The Dow Jones industrial average is down 5 percent since Election Day.)
The more worrisome reactions would be from the bond market, where investors are still buying Treasury debt at record low interest rates. If they begin to fear that the U.S. government has lost control of its finances, those rates could go higher. That would be very bad news for the economy.
Do you believe raising taxes on the upper 1 percent and closing loopholes is a way to begin to draw down the deficit?
It’s hard to see how you can balance the budget without raising taxes. Call them “revenues” if you don’t like the word “tax.” The hard part is deciding who pays more.
Closing loopholes sounds like a great idea – until the loophole that’s closed is the one that puts money in your pocket. Unfortunately, the most popular loopholes are the most expensive, such as the deduction for mortgage interest. It would be great if cutting subsidies to, say, the oil industry would do the job. But most of the “freebies” go into individuals in the middle of the income ladder. Here’s our story with a list of who gets what.
If these guys can't get their act together, is there an easy way to figure out how much my taxes would go up? I know budgeting is a foreign concept to the guys in Washington, but it's important for me to do a monthly budget, so knowing what my income will be is kind of important. -Ed
Well, they do create budgets. The problem is that they use math and accounting rules that few people on planet Earth can understand.
There have been multiple studies done on the impact of various proposals on specific taxpayer/income groups, but none of these proposals is going to survive intact. So until you see the line-by-line law that results from these budget talks, there’s no way to know how it will impact your tax bill.
You can also expect this to be one of the worst tax-filing seasons in recent memory. Just keeping up with “routine” changes in the law is a challenge for the IRS. It’s a safe bet that a lot of people will be filing extensions this year.
If no deal is reached, will there be money to fund Social Security payments and Federal workers' pay? I know last time that was a big concern. - Matt
If no deal is reached by the end of the year, the government continues paying its bills without interruption. Social Security payments and federal salaries go out as normal. For federal workers, the question is whether the agencies that, by law, have to cut spending will begin laying off workers. That’s also unlikely on Day One. Though the spending cuts are fairly deep, the agencies have broad discretion in how quickly they make them. Some may decide to hold off – expecting a deal to be a reached in a few weeks or months.
What constitutes rich in this country? Daniel Indiviglio, Reuters Breaking Views, and Simon Rosenberg, New Democrat Network, discuss who should get a tax hike in order to solve the fiscal cliff.
We also face another congressional brawl over raising the debt ceiling, which we’ll hit sometime in January. (The exact date depends on how much tax is collected in December.) If Congress decides to play games again with the debt ceiling, that would force a shutdown in spending – and possibly send the Treasury back toward default. The debt ceiling debacle in July 2011 is what produced the law that created the fiscal cliff in the first place.
Can't the Fed just print their way out of this? -Troy
Not really. The Fed has helped ease the pressure on Congress by lowering interest rates, which has lowered the cost of borrowing needed to make up the deficit shortfall. The government paid less interest last year on its $16 trillion in debt outstanding than it did in 2008 on $10 trillion in debt.
But the Fed can’t keep rates low forever. As rates go up, so will the cost of servicing the debt which, in turn, adds to the deficit.
If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then why is the Fed’s monetary policy and the federal government's habit of increasing the debt ceiling going to fix anything? - Jesse
Fed policy and the debt ceiling are certainly related to the deficit debacle, but they’re not the problem. Fed policy is much more the result of the once-in-a-lifetime financial collapse of 2008.
The debt ceiling is a legal technicality: If your lender increases the limit on your credit card, you don’t owe any more money. The question is whether you have the discipline not to go out and spend it.
My own view is that there is a single cause underlying the debt crisis that is hitting the developed world: increased human longevity. When Social Security and Medicare were created, no one expected people to live as long as they do. That has made all state-funded health care and income security programs more expensive than when they were originally designed. But no politician will ever get elected on a platform of cutting these programs. None of us wants to give up the idea that these programs will be there when we’re old.
Related: 47 million Americans living in poverty
I thought we wanted to reduce the federal debt. Increasing taxes and cutting spending appears to be the correct method - why is it all of a sudden the wrong thing to do? Do we not have to start paying down the debt?
The most important measure of the debt isn’t its absolute size – it’s the size relative to the size of our economy. If you have credit card debt of $20,000 but you only earn $30,000, you’re in a lot worse shape than someone with the same size debt who earns twice as much.
But yes, we want to slow the growth of debt and get the economy (our national income) growing faster. The problem is if we try to do it all at once, the economy will slow down again. Tax hikes take money out of the larger economy. So do spending cuts - think of all the government contractors who pay salaries to their employees.
Once the economy gets back on track, it will be a lot easier to raise taxes and control spending because our overall national income will be higher.
Our monetary policy is directly related to the current fiscal crisis. If we hadn't abandoned the gold standard, the government wouldn't have got us to this point. Any chance we'll hear renewed talks of returning to some variation of gold standard? - Mike
If we could turn the clock back, oh, say 100 years, it might be possible for the U.S. dollar to be linked to gold. Today, you might as well ask everyone to throw away their cellphones. Forever.
Governments – no matter how big – can’t fix the price of a commodity that is bought and sold second-by-second on a global market. But even if ours could, there’s another much bigger problem. There’s simply not enough gold in the world to back the U.S. debt outstanding.
Click here for full story on the gold standard debate.
And here is the link to the full webchat:
Leave a Comment:
Be prepared my lower wage people that pay taxes. If you have a fence in your back yard, you are prepared. Put five dogs in the fence and call it a kennel. We also can play the game of the elite rich and the republicans on tax write offs for the wealthy. Personally I'm thinking of having two "Dancing Dogs." I noticed that Romney got a "Dancing Horse." Writting off his taxes on travel,lodging and eating out. Checking the world on "Dancing Horses."
I find it extremely funny that the top 1% pay 36% of all tax revenue yet Obama continues to bang this drum. By letting their taxes go up (and many are small business owners) will only be a drop in the bucket and will hurt small business...some will close their doors. Obamacare will hurt them and employees even more. Just wait. Class warfare is just wrong.
See Clinton Era Tax rates.. (and it's positive effects on the economy) -- compare with today's tax rates.. and what is ly presentbeing proposed by the Obama Administration and then come back and talk.
It sounds as if a reality check might do you some good.
Simple solution -- step 1: abolish congress; step 2: jail ALL politicians; step 3: get rid of the entire banking system and jail Wall Street speculators; and, step 4: put real people, the wage earners, in charge of government.
interesting idea - to help solve the debt crisis perhaps pay-per-view beheadings on the steps of Congress?
You are interestingly funny
Irrelevant, technically it already has in some political arenas and reading through news outlets, blogs, forums, and threads like these clearly depict an absolute divide in our nation. Collaboration will not improve within our federal government, but get worse. And when we see 69 separate secession petitions covering all 50 states... we're in trouble.
The last time we saw such a divide and such response... was before the civil war.
I'm not suggesting we are at war, or even close to starting one within our nation... but history does not lie, and it does not judge. And we will be doomed to repeat history if we do learn from our past.
Borderlands,
I am 62 years old and have been observing and reading about this stuff for a long time. I think I can predict with a good probability what is going to happen. The politicians will not fix anything except minor fixes and kicks of the can down the road. The markets and other countries will deal with the problem. We will have an economic and financial catastropy that the politicians will only be able to react to not really fix. What is happending in Greece and Europe might be a possible scenario. However hyper inflation might also be a possible scenario. It will most likely be very ugly no matter what it is. This is pretty definite, IMO. The next part is more unsure. Will our form of democracy and government survive this calamity especially all of our freedoms? That I don't know but I am still optimistic since we went through the civil war and great depression and came out with intact form of democracy and government.
The sky is falling,the shy is falling..No,there might a dip for awhile but in the long term it might be the best thing to go over the cliff.
Bill CT,
I have concluded that all things considered including the fact the politicians will not be able to come up with a comprehensive, balance and long term solution with teeth such as a balance budget ammendment, that going over the cliff might be the best thing to happen. It will shake things up and put a large down payment on the deficit/debt problem. What I don't like about it is it focuses too much on revenue increases instead of spending cuts. However it aint going to happen as both parties have too much to lose. They will come up with a short term solution and kick the can down the road. The markets and other countries will eventually deal with the problem and it will be ugly.
Obama is clearly prepared to go over the cliff.. and it might be the only thing which will get a sensible response from Congress (and one which is good for the country) by letting taxes go up on Republican constituencies such as the Rich and Corporations.. let spending be deeply cut on other Republican constituency = The Military Industrial complex.. then going over the fiscal cliff would change the discussion immediately.. As right now Eric Cantor and John Boehner holding the Republican party-line on what they've always said, that 'they don't wan to raise taxes on anybody..' Going over the Fiscal Cliff immediately changes the discussion from not who are we going to raise taxes on.. but to who are we going to LOWER taxes for .. and by how much - and how much are we going to increase military spending by.. and in which areas -- Business and the military will need to lobby Congress with a different (opposite) focus and intent --of what it is today. I see this as part of an Obama master plan -- short term pain, long term gain.. he's asked Congress to keep tax cuts for middle-class Americans in place for now.. Boehner has refused -- I think we're going off the Fiscal Cliff -- but I think it will be more like going over a waterfall ride at Disneyland and the scary effects won't last for long.
I noticed that you conveniently omitted entitlements which are the real and long-term issue. That makes the rest of what you said, irrelevant, huh?
A lot of interesting comments here. One way or the other, we are between a rock and a hard place! No easy way out--most of the rich are holding on tight to their money, and will simply move it in response to increased taxes. Many large companies moved their manufacturing overseas a long time ago, and we, being the blind that we are, bought lots and lots of cheep imported goods because it made us feel good. We elected Democrats and Republicans that gave us the Gramm, Leach Bliley Act of 1999 which was in many respects, the straw that broke the camels back. We want to help the poor, support our senior citizens, make sure we make affordable health care available for all--we want to do the right thing and have a society that reflects the best that can be found in humanity, but we have shot ourselves in the foot--oh wait--in both feet! Add to that the fact that with BOTH poles melting--and it doesn't matter whether it is man made or not in relation to the fact that it is impacting us today--and all CO2 aside, we are polluting our planet in many other ways that makes it all the more difficult to even live in a physically healthy environment--well yes, we are between a rock and a hard place. It seems to me that the best hope for rebuilding is to start out locally by building up our local community's economy in ways that are sustainable and healthy--quite a challenge! And when it comes to politics, 1.) Both Democrats and Republicans got us where we are today through decades of mistakes made. 2.) Balance of power is key to freedom--concentrate too much power in one place, be it a monarchy, ogliarcy, theocracy, extreme communism or extreme capitalism, and you will not, NOT have what our founding fathers envisioned in the democracy within the republic that they created. The challenges are many, and no one person has all the answers, which is why we need to find a way or ways to pull together. And it has to start locally--I really don't think it will happen otherwise.
Lisa C,
you are probably right. However it is hard to be optimistic that anything like you described is going to happen. However, the markets and other countries will eventually deal with the problem and straigten it out. This will be extremely painful especially for the poor, but I am still optimistic our form of democracy, freedoms and government can survive this financial and economic disaster.
George Johnson-1073268 --Yes, I see what you are saying and it is hard to be optimistic, and I realize that I personally have no power to affect it one way or the other, except-- I can choose how I will react to it. I choose to be the best influence I can be in the free marketplace of ideas, prepare myself and my loved ones the best I can, and leave the results up to my Higher Power. And when it comes to what you said "but I am still optimistic our form of democracy, freedoms and government can survive this financial and economic disaster", well, from your mouth to your Higher Power's ear.:)
Another "tax the rich" piece of liberal crap.
Raising taxes is NOT the answer, period. Even the CBO says that raising taxes is going to COST JOBS, not create any.
Cutting the TRILLION dollars that's being handed out in welfare, food stamps, housing, energy, and every other "entitlement" that MILLIONS of Americans have never contributed a DIME to would be a good start.
These people think that it's somehow "beneath them" to work a minimum wage job and sit on their duffs waiting for the next "free" check from the government.
And what do we get from Obama? Why raise taxes on the "rich" of course, like that's the answer to every fiscal problem that this nation has.
How about passing a BUDGET Barack? You know, that actually says what the government can spend and where. Something that the Senate has NOT done in THREE YEARS now. The last budget passed by the Senate? Why it's the EXACT same year the Democrats controlled the entire Congress and EXPANDED SPENDING and rolled up Trillion dollar deficits. Since then, NOT ONE budget for this nation because Republicans are actually trying to cut back on spending, which NO Democrat is willing to do. Instead Democrats just want to punish the successful people in this nation and use their money, which they EARNED by WORKING, to buy votes.
How about making SURE that people actually get out and WORK, not matter what the pay they take in so they actually CONTRIBUTE SOMETHING to the nation instead of just taking? Obama actually BROKE THE LAW and put out an executive order that said the "welfare to work" law signed by Clinton could drop the REQUIREMENT that people look for jobs. All he did was enable MORE poverty and MORE enslavement of people to the government.
California just raised their top tax to 13% the HIGHEST state income tax in the nation. And Obama wants the highest tax to be 39.6%. DO THE MATH you left wing wizards. You think ANYONE wants to pay over half of what they have worked for and earned to the government? Not counting the business taxes, licenses, sales taxes, "fees", and every other scheme that government uses to get money to spend?
Geez, this MORON that "answered" the questions doesn't say a single thing about cutting spending ANYWHERE. All he does is fall in line like the good little shoe licking liberal he is and demand that those that have worked, sweated, invested, and gambled their financial LIVES be punished for it.
You could take 100% of of everything that the so called "rich" earn and it wouldn't run the Federal Government two months. But you libs actually believe that punishing the rich for your "free stuff" is the answer to every problem we have.
This article was nothing but more blind liberal ignorance.
Go look at tax rates during Clinton Years .. compare to today and what's being proposed .. then come back and talk.
The bright moves by Clinton like the Financal Services Modernization act of 1999 and the socialists philosophies of the left are what caued the banking criss which was the largest reason why we are in this mess now. It wasn't all his fault or the Dems but it is the philosophy of the left and not the right that produces these types of policies.
What 'Socialist policies' from the left ??- Republicans have been playing this Communist - Socialist card since 1947 -- Richard Nixon called John F. Kennedy 'a radical' and 'A Communist' and guess what fast-forward to today and we have Republicans like Paul Ryan quoting John F. Kennedy..
I don't know which America you what to revert back to.. but I remember things being pretty good in the Kennedy days.. it was under Bush when it all came crashing down again.. which has led us to this impasse.
The Repubs have been led to many to believe that things work .. (such as upper income Tax Cuts being 'Economic Stimulus') things which are not true.. and have not worked.
And, yet people such as yourself are here today fighting tooth and nail to defend those already discredited Bush Policies.. how about this.. let's go back to the tax policies or Reagan.
And then I want to hear some Republicans call Reagan a 'Socialist'.
What all these comments seem to reflect is a dysfunctional government. Too bad as I am not sure our form of government, freedoms and democracy can survive. We have always pulled together when it came to outside threats or war. We will see in the next threat if we can continue to do this. I am not so sure. It would be a good sign if all politicians pulled together and stated we are all Americans and we support our government.
as referring to 'war' - did you mean Iraq?
would you support a war against Isreal?
That would be excellent to hear that the politicians in Government actually support Government and will use it's powers for the good of the American people.
But it's a shame that too many persons who hate Government have been elected to Government by the tea party and others ..members who hate Government such as Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan.., and those others (Alan West, Joe Walsh) who were sent to Congress in order to make Government grind to a halt and NOT serve the will and the needs of the people.
We need to root people out of the Government if they are not going there in order to serve the needs of the people and the Republican side is full of these Anti-American-Anti-Goverment viruses. And The Congress needs a strong Anti-Biotic of American Patriots to come in and replace them.
We nearly elected another one who hates Government into the Presidency.. Mitt Romney.. and that was a close ( and nearly disastrous) call.
My thoughts on secession: If we split the US into two parts, red and blue, it would be epic. The socialists, democratic left would end up a 3rd world nation in need of economic aid while the conservative right would thrive as the US has in the past based on proven principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and more cash flow for everyone. Could you imagine? Then we could build a wall so the left could patrol it with armed guards trying to prevent all he defectors lol.
I hope that happens you'll get Mississippi and Georgia and Alabama.. and all those Red States presently suckling off the Government teat., and collecting more revenues from the Gov than they give back.. And the Blue states with Get California with Silicon Valley and New York and Wall Street.. and almost of the intelligent people, entrepreneurs and job creators can you imagine.. ?
more "FEAR" mongering; brought to you by the top .5%
Instead of taxing these folks X amount and those Y amount, would it be hard to implement a nationwide sales tax? Have a tax rate of say 20% and everybody will have to abide by it. Illegals, poor, middle class and rich will all pay something depending on what they purchase. This country has shifted itself from being proud to be an American to what are YOU going to do for me (entitlement).
The government also needs to stop wasting money on failed businesses and shotty investments. No more money should be spent on companies like Solentra where there was no business plan to receive millions of OUR tax dollars. Governments do not have any idea on how to make money, case in point the Postal Service.
I'm glad the Gov was/is investing in futuristic Technologies..The Obama administration invested in the futuristic electric auto tech of Tesla.. and this year Tesla Model' S' has been nominated Car and Driver car of the year.. I'm also glad Obama admin invested in Fisker Karma luxury hybrid concept --as I expect that futuristic car concept to be a success as well. I'm glad Obama admin invested in Solyndra.. although I wish we had not let the Chinese kill it as the Chinese look to dominate the future of Solar Energy - the U.S. used to be a leader in futuristic technology.. we must get back to that -- Gov investment in tech is an important component.
I know Mitt Romney said the Government should not be picking' winners and losers' yet Mitt Romney approves of Government subsidies to certain select Oil Companies.. welll.. isn't THAT the Gov picking winners and losers.. ?I'll say it is.
and Repubs are all for that -- as long as the U.S. puts 100% support into the ancient industries of coal, oil and natural gas -- yet, not spending a dime on exploring the potential waves of the future?
I'm proud of the Obama Administration for being bold and taking the U.S. out into the future.
Where the 'severely conservative' (such as Romney) are generally stuck in the ways of the past.
southernbusinessowner,
A national sales tax, VAT tax, fair tax or some other form of flat tax might work as long as it was not in addition to the current income tax we pay. The reason most people are against a flat tax is that it is regressive. The current income tax process is progressive. The more you make the more you pay which has served us well over the years and I believe a majority support. It doesn't seem like the right time to change to a more regressive tax when the poor and middle class is are going down and the rich are getting richer. The flat tax would just add to this problem. What we do need to probably do is close some of the loopholes, deductions and credits that reduce the progressive nature of the income tax for many people.
the press loading up on crisis talk from the ruling class. now there is a surprise. cut 1 dollar in defense spending 2 dollars in entitlements and discreationary and 1 dollar of tax increase. much to do about nothing
RENE for President! AMEN!
when the GOP mention 'entitlements' - they are referring to your ssi
try to plan one monthw without your ssi supplement and see how fast you end up on the street begging for food and shelter
We all need to get a clue. Obamacare is expensive and is already costing jobs and the opportunity for some to earn a full 40 hours of pay. Taxing the rich will only further the demise and the working class will end up having to absorb it one way or another. This is easy to understand. What happens whenever costs go up? The difference is made up by charging the consumer more. When the rich prosper it produces more jobs, more goods and services being purchased and everybody wins. I'm 45 years old and it used to be that everyone understood socialism does not work. It never has worked, it has always failed because it does not promote advances in goods and services. It does not reward the innovative and the hard working. It is not what made America great but I guess most of America has forgotten this based on the last presidential election.
Why do the Republicans in congress always seem to care more about Political Posturing and protecting the ultra wealthy? I tend to dislike the Democrats on many issues, but they appear to be the only ones who actually want to DO anything constructive. What gives?
I think it only appears the the GOP doesn't want to do anything because they are fighting against what the left is trying to do. The moves the left have been making have been destructive, the housing crisis, Obamacare, etc. The GOP is trying to get back to conservative values which is small governmnt, low taxes, and a strong national defense. We cannot afford large governemtn and under Obama it continues to grow and Obamacare will expand it even more while crippling the work force. The GOP believes in lower taxes to promote commerce.
As for protecting the wealthy? It's because that's where commerce starts. You can replace the word "wealthy" with employers, or innovators, or successful citizens or movers and shakers, whichever you prefer. At the head of every successful company do you think you have rich people or a lower-middle class person? How many poor people are creating jobs?
Gossman has it RIGHT!
Grossman,
Me thinks you are too partisan. The Republicans are not much better that the Democrats. Both parties do a lot of what you are saying. As an example Bush cut taxes significantly but did not fight tooth and nail to cut spending or put in a program that required cuts in spending in order to obtain the tax cuts. In fact he promoted the biggest new entitlement since medicare; The Part B Drug Program. He also started two wars and never asked anyone to sacrifice a dime even though some young Americans were risking their lives and many Americans would have been willing to sacrifice financially. Spending went up under Bush as much or more than any Democrat. We have the problems we have because of both parties.
CherylLM,
Me thinks you are too political. Neither party is going to cut spending enough to solve our deficit/debt problem. Also as reflected in the Simpson/Bowles proposal revenues are also needed. The best way to do this would be to lower rates especially on corporations and close loopholes and deductions. You have to take on SS, Medicare and Defense to balance the budget and the Republicans are not going to do this because the American people will not stand for it.
I DO want to talk about lowering Government spending.. and it is at unsustainable levels.. I have been saying that.. we need a balanced approach.. raising revenues and decreasing spending.. for sure.
Why do we need increased revenue $2T coming in is not enough?
The problem is $3.5T spending. We can go back to the Clinton tax rates as long as we go back to the Clinton spending.
And company after company saying they are not expanding, cutting jobs and the stock market tanking.
I guess the business community is not so thrilled with Obama's plans. Who'd a thunk it that "pro-business" policies would actually promote business. And anti-business policies hurt business. I guess not the 51%
But what the heck the girls on the view like it and all the college kids like it. And of course the "Obama money" crowd just loves it.
Agreed. And that's why many of us are shocked that America voted to keep it going for four more years! Almost makes me want to give up, let things continue to slide until the left has no one else to blame and we finally get back to what made America great. So if you voted for the status quo give yourself a nice pat on the back for contributing to the demise of our country.
$68 a week? Doubtful. For most folks, I would say about $30 a week, or even less. Let it go down the slope! We need to get that debt under control.
The house should pass another budget and demand that a budget be passed by the senate and signed prior to discussing tax increases or increasing the debt ceiling.
I hear a lot of talk about how the house Republicans have no leverage. Putting a lid on the debt ceiling is tons of leverage.
The "tax the rich" stuff is grand standing. Revoking the credit card is serious stuff.
Amazing how a buzz word like "fiscal" or "cliff" always portray devastation....the media loves to run with it and the public always jumps on like sheep.
Fiscal Cliff is a myth, designed to frighten middle class. All the Bush Tax Cuts to expire, all of them!
Fiscal Cliff isa myth, designed to frighten the middle class. Let all temp. Bush Tax Cuts expire. Nothing bad will happen, only good like paying down the debit.
I pay $1300 in student loan payments and make $2800 after taxes. I can hardly get by now a days. I decided to stop paying my student loan payments if they go over the cliff. I have just had it. The liberal policies are killing our country.
Oh and why didnt MSNBC or any of the other Obama protectors report about this before the election? Hmmm now all sudden it's a big deal.
The MSM is the same crowd that pushed the "video did it" theory and then shielded Obama during teh debate when it came up
The MSM also seems Ok with believing that Obama knew nothing about Petraeus until the election
The MSM is basically a modern day Pravda, and I guess 51% of the dumb sheeple believe it also
funny how the GOP didn't even bring it up during the debates - Hmmmmmm!?!?!?
@wreckinball. Sorry, but I have to ask "are you really that freaking stupid?" The reason is, watch the Director of the FBI explain exactly when they told the white house about Petraeus.
Now do you understand why I think you are stupid? Or just a plain liar, take your choice, you made the statement, I just proved you wrong. Get mad at yourself, not me.
And no, 51% of the sheeple realize it, the other 49% are like you. Still mad about the election results? Get over it.
Yes. Now both Senior Officials responsible for Benghazi have submitted letters of resignation - two days after the election - but this wasn't a story for the mainstream media before the election. <sarcasm>