Listen to Ross and Burbank weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
 Ross+Burbank


Most popular
Help us build a Fisher House
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.
AP: faa2ee4c-584b-442d-80d6-1917ab08b7d6
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talks about the elections and the unfinished business of Congress at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo)

Ready for another cliffhanger?

BY Dave Ross  on November 8, 2012 @ 8:32 am (Updated: 9:03 am - 11/8/12 )

Midnight Dec. 31, tax rates jump back to the levels under Clinton, and the defense budget plummets.

First of all, let's all remember, the fiscal cliff is an artificial precipice, like smearing Tabasco on a kid's thumb to get him to stop sucking it. He just sucks the other thumb or develops a taste for hot sauce.

So John Boehner, Speaker of the House, and a representative from Ohio, the most powerful state in the free world, steps to the podium to say this:

"Because the American people expect us to find common ground, we're willing to accept some additional revenues via tax reform."

Sounds reasonable, but note the final three words: "Willing to accept additional revenues via tax reform."

The minute you talk about rewriting the tax code, you're talking long past Dec. 31.

So it sounds like Mr. Boehner and his Senate counterpart, Mitch McConnell, or as I call them, Thelma and Louise, it sounds like they want to keep pushing the Romney Plan. The same plan that we as a collection of independent states just finished not electing.

Yes, the election was close. And yes, it's true that those same states also elected pretty much the same Congress.

But when all was said and done, Barack Obama had a national approval rating of 50, Mitt Romney had a respectable 44, and the Peoples' House had a pretty chilly 17. And that's Fahrenheit not Celsius.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
More Ross and Burbank

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (45)


  • Add A Comment

  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Will likely prove to be the cliff from a Roadrunner cartoon...
    November 8, 2012 8:08 am
    We'll find a way to run right off the edge of the thing, but just keep on trucking like nothing special happened. We may even get quite a ways beyond the actual cliff before we notice, "Hey! We ain't got any ground under us no more!" [cue whistling sound of bomb dropping to earth- Wiley Coyote in long free fall, holding a picket sign that reads "yikes!"]
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    We're already well past that point
    November 8, 2012 9:40 am
    ..and that whistling sound is the stock market in free fall. Goodbye 401k, hello standing in line for crumbs at Uncle Sam's door. That wouldn't have been part of Comrade Obama's plan now would it???
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maimzini wrote...
    Sorry, but...
    November 8, 2012 10:36 am
    No, sghouse, that would be Wall Street worried about a Congress unwilling to work with the White House. As one investor told the Wall Street Journal, "The biggest concern is the fear of a more deeply divided Congress. Given the track record of our lawmakers in raising the debt ceiling last year, there will be tremendous difficulty in getting a compromise."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @maimzini...
    November 8, 2012 12:46 pm
    but if you take away these folks' ability to fake and lie to create an alternate reality where it's all Obama's fault, you'll cause peace to break out in Washington DC. How dare you sir!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    Just keep drinking that kool-aid
    November 8, 2012 1:21 pm
    while our country sinks into a cesspool of debt and liberal ideology. America sealed its fate Tuesday.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TheSymbolForBoron wrote...
    liberal ideology?
    November 8, 2012 1:51 pm
    Better that than being buried under that truckload of Medieval BS that lost the Republicans the election.

    Liberal ideology might not be perfect but a majority of Americans heard what the Republican 'plan' is and it has been soundly rejected. Thank God.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    Medieval BS like...
    November 8, 2012 3:07 pm
    liberty, self determination, and the constitution. It's already being reported Obummer is working to further undermine our constitution via the UN.

    No, what lost the election was a bunch of hard core socialists ramrodding the 47% who can't be bothered to think for themselves and only want their food stamps and "Obama fone" from their sugar daddy federal govt.

    America is so screwed.....

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    The omnipotent problem.....
    November 8, 2012 8:15 am
    ...since Obama took office in the beginning and again this time is the continuing lack of responsiblity by the Congress to act as, well, Congress. The President has been ready to act forward but not the little boys and girls in their red, white, and blue wagons with flag lapels. Most of them got reelected, for lack of a better alternative, and any reason herein. For us, plainly and bluntly, we deserve what we get. 17% OK is too optimistic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • clevesside wrote...
    "Thelma and Louise"......
    November 8, 2012 8:17 am
    ... is too kind. Try again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    And let's hang this one on Bush two, too.
    November 8, 2012 8:17 am
    Nice post, Dave. Apparently the only thing that will same the world as we know it from plunging into the abyss is for House and Senate Republicans to roll over and allow the Top Dog Barack Obama to assert his absolute dominance. ... Any why not ? After his astounding 50%+ vote he for sure has the entire nation behind him. So there is certainly NO REASON for him to change even one iota of his master plan. .... And if he does, good old Harry Reid will stand fast and set him straight. ..... None of that compromise stuff - that's only for the losers.

    The election certainly proved that the Wizard CAN walk on water. Not he can take another crack at parting the seas and keeping our taxes down - IF he really wants to ???????

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Ron, If Bush runs over the fiscal cliff, he better hang onto his
    November 8, 2012 8:23 am
    tu-tu.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Agreed - Chuck
    November 8, 2012 8:29 am
    Bush never did have any media to rush out and keep him from falling. Or even tell him where the rocks were when he tried to walk on water.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    OK, seriously. Proposed congressional and administative experiment
    November 8, 2012 8:27 am
    For the next 180 days, let's be purple people. A combination of red and blue. Let's forget about being Democrats, Republicans, Right Wingers, Left Wingers, Knee Jerk Reactionaries, Libtards, etc.

    Let's pretend, (and yes, it will be pretty difficult), that the most important thing we are is American; and that we hold that overriding distinction in common. Let's forget about what's best for the Republican Party, or the Democrat Party, and make some tough choices that will be good for America.

    One day after the election, and we're already going back to our respective bunkers to re-arm? Shame on us all.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    Chuck I will take you up on the offer but remeber purple is a two street.
    November 8, 2012 9:48 am
    I will accept tax increases at my income as long as coresponding spending cuts are made in defense and entitlements. Im on board, however, why, why specificaly WILL the D's and therefore all of the D and only D voters never, ever accept tax reform? Say we cut out the pro sports write offs which are considerable and yet the vast number of people get nothing of benefit back from these write offs. Even this will never be accepted. Number 2- If you study spending trends and the revenue you will learn just how massive of a deal we need-revenues and taxes-yet when the d and r's come together for a deal it will be droping a teaspoon of water into a lake!! Watch.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Logical, I thought Chuck was challanging the White House and Congress, but......
    November 8, 2012 10:04 am
    that might not be a bad idea right here also.

    But the problem is I think Harry Reid really DOES have his true political agenda at the forefront. Remember how he almost blew the Obama/Boehner compromise earlier this year? ... What happens if that agenda really doesn't want ANYONE to keep their tax cuts? .. And the way things get spun, unless the GOP accepts the Obama plan in total, I won't be Obama who will be blamed for higher taxes on all of us.

    To work, compromise DOES have to be a two way street - BOTH ways.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    ron P read chuck's post again. "for the next 180 days, lets be purple people"
    November 8, 2012 2:10 pm
    ???how do you miss the "people" part?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    Yah, but his subject is "Proposed congressional and administrative experiment."
    November 8, 2012 5:00 pm
    My read was that the 'people' were the government folks. ... At least, I think, most of them (or at least some of them) are people, too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    ron p-exactly what is your point of nit picking my point on people? Read Chucks post one more time-will you.
    November 9, 2012 8:39 am
    Again, I see american and people not just congress in chucks point and you for some reason can't, but why nit pick this. Quite stupid really.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Steve Dallas wrote...
    Chuck...
    November 8, 2012 10:34 am
    We had a chance this last election to vote in "purple" people. Instead, we voted back all the incumbents who have done this in the past. You expect change? Then don't vote the same people into office. We need to dump all of the incumbents, both Democrat and Republican...and vote in people who will work for us. Our current politicians are working for themselves to not lose votes.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    steve- you are correct. I have been an anti incumbent voter for a decade. Most voters are not interested enough to know that incumbents being voted in again and again will never change anything.
    November 8, 2012 10:50 am
    The lobbyist on both sides have their claws in deep. Read "Republic Lost" Most voters couldn't be paid to read this book but whine, whine whine.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Mr Dow and Mr Jones have voted
    November 8, 2012 8:39 am
    They are not pleased with four more years of Oblamer.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    I think Congress and Bo like
    November 8, 2012 8:42 am
    the fact that the fiscal cliff doesn't have their fingerprints on it. If it happens they can still point fingers with a straight face. This should be fun to watch.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    Now come on Dave
    November 8, 2012 8:48 am
    Obama said during the debate that Sequestration would not happen... or you implying that he was lying???

    Don't you trust the President?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    And
    November 8, 2012 8:57 am
    The Democrats are beginning to show their hand: this was never about cutting spending; it was always about raising taxes. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) explained yesterday that her party would allow the cuts in defense and nondefense spending to go forward, and the Bush tax cuts to expire, if Republicans didn’t agree to tax hikes on the wealthy.

    The GOP should allow the defense and nondefense cuts to go forward, refuse a tax increase, and renegotiate a debt reduction deal that doesn’t leave entitlements—the real drivers of our long-term fiscal calamity—off the table.

    This administration has had almost 4 years to address this problem and has done nothing, absolutely nothing. Blame Congress or the Senate - Sequestration was the administrations idea and solution.. it did not originate from the Congress or the Senate.. and seriously.. what is sequestration anyway... a band-aid being applied to a gaping wound...

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    From the lieing mouth of Obozo.
    November 8, 2012 9:06 am
    It's My Way Or the Hiway. Does that sound like a president that will reach across the isle? Not a chance. We'll go in the tank and he will blame it on Bush. Can your 401K take another big hit. Our leaders don't have to worry about their 401Ks. They have guaranteed pensions paid by us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }