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Then, right before the climax, a plot twist, in which the villain, in this case Grover Norquist, brings up something out of the blue. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Let's see how the fiscal cliff talks are going

BY Dave Ross  on November 30, 2012 @ 7:06 am (Updated: 8:37 am - 11/30/12 )

We have the President's spokesman drawing a line in the sand.

"He will not sign, under any circumstances, legislation that would keep rates where they are for the wealthiest Americans," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

We have Republican John Boehner's reaction, "I've got to tell you, I'm disappointed."

And we have Democrat Harry Reid's reaction to his reaction, "I don't understand his brain."

I'd say it's going well.

It makes for great drama. In great drama you need clearly defined characters, and intense conflict.

Then, right before the climax, a plot twist, in which the villain, in this case Grover Norquist, brings up something out of the blue, like refusing to let the President raise the debt limit for another year.

"They can give him debt ceiling increases once a month," said Norquist. "Here's your allowance, come back next month if you've behaved."

Norquist is proposing that the debt ceiling be increased month by month?

"Monthly if he [the President] is good," responded Norquist. "Weekly if he's bad."

Treating the President as if he were a petulant teenager refusing to do his chores - I'm sure that kind of thing goes over well at the White House.

"Asking that a political price be paid to ensure that the United States of America pays its bills and does not default for the first time in its history is deeply irresponsible," said Carney.

So like I say it's going GREAT.

Meanwhile, White House reporters learned that the lunch between the President and Mitt Romney turned out to be just that. Lunch.

So that's your cliff update. Bottom, line -- the current plan is for the Treasury to buy a Powerball ticket as soon as the jackpot gets over $4 trillion.

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.
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Comments (33)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    n
    November 30, 2012 7:19 am
    .
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  • ron prevost wrote...
    If Grover Nordquest is treating the president like a petilant teen ager, and that's wrong, just why is it right for the president and Harry Reid to treal the Congress like a bunch of 5 year olds who mist obey 'Papa'?
    November 30, 2012 7:37 am
    Dave, that 'line in the sand' by Mr. Obama is NOT helping the situation. ... Nor is it anywhere close to compromise.

    The president''s bottom line appears to be 'do everything I want - NOW - and maybe I'll think about budget reductions later (if ever?).

    Perhaps the administration really does NOT want any compromise. Perhaps it is willing to go off that 'fiscal cliff' just so the republicans can be blamed. Or, perhaps, there is no plan at all.

    There is one advantage to this financial cliff for the president. The payroll tax reduction is also set to expire AND all those wonderful new taxes for Affordable Health Care kick in early 2013. Both would be well hidden if ALL income tax rated jump back to Clinton era levels. ...... Nice plan.

    Once more, although no one is listening. Compromise is a two way street. .. BOTH WAYS.

    Mr. Obama, last time I looked, your name was Obama - not Morsi.

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  • rational wrote...
    ron prevost
    November 30, 2012 8:13 am
    Perhaps the administration really does NOT want any compromise. Perhaps it is willing to go off that 'fiscal cliff' just so the republicans can be blamed.

    That does seem to be the plan...and with the treason media (formerly known as the MSM) I'm sure that's how it'll play out in the press.

    One question for Dave...so this Norquist fellow...what office does he hold? None?! So you're suggesting that a private citizen is holding up Obama and the democrats even though they hold 2 branches of government and have a solid voice in the 3rd? Sounds like scapegoating. Just when, if ever, will the democrats take responsiblity for even one of their actions?

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  • Lonestar wrote...
    Hey Barack, the 1930's called
    November 30, 2012 8:04 am
    They want their economy back.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Grover Time for you to
    November 30, 2012 8:14 am
    Fade Fade away,your impotent,your "pledge " signers are dropping by the wayside.The Dems will get the 20 or so GOPers who hold the country's good before your pledge and WILL vote for an increase in taxes on the wealthy.And by doing so make you an extinct dinosaur. By By Grover.
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Apparently
    November 30, 2012 8:25 am
    Grover Nordquist runs the Republican legislative branch. Ron, I agree, the POTUS has to compromise and I am hopeful that he will. Nordquist will continue to be a thorn to the Republicans as long as they keep letting him speak for them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    First off, tax cuts for the wealthy doesn't spur growth.
    November 30, 2012 9:17 am
    der.com/study-tax-cuts-dont-lead-to-growth-2012-9

    Back when I was an entrepreneur in the late seventies the tax rate was much higher. I was inclined to spend any extra money I had to build the business rather than give it to the government in the form of taxes. Reinvesting in tools and equipment builds the economy by circulating the money in other businesses. If the tax rate had been really low, I would have taken the money from my business and invested in property. That wouldn't have done near as much for the economy. It would have been better for me but not done much in the way to boost the economy.

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  • Forrest wrote...
    Whoops, cut off the link
    November 30, 2012 9:19 am
    http://www.businessinsider.com/study-tax-cuts-dont-lead-to-growth-2012-9
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    By the end of this fiscal year we will be another 1.2 trillion further in the hole.
    November 30, 2012 9:25 am
    If the government had no other expenses other then Social Security, Medicaid, Obama care, and Medicare as well as the debt payment on the 16 trillion we owe.....we do not have enough revenue for anything else........so all the posturing about getting a little here and a little there is pure BS.....to keep this country from going over the cliff, real reform needs to take place with the entitlement programs. The talk about saving 1 trillion over ten years does nothing, absolutely nothing
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  • itiswhatitis wrote...
    Norquist is NOT an elected official
    November 30, 2012 10:08 am
    But seems to control people who were because they signed a document 20 years ago? Times change, things change and the Republicans are being held hostage by a document. They need to pull their heads out of someplace and start working for the people that DID elect them and they need to work together for the whole country.
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  • rational wrote...
    itiswhatitis
    November 30, 2012 3:44 pm
    They need to pull their heads out of someplace and start working for the people that DID elect them and they need to work together for the whole country.

    Democrat translation...the GOP must stop trying to protect the American people and stop following the constitution and allow the democrats to complete their destruction of the ecnomy and the nation. Yeah...times do change, but idiocy is still idiocy (and I'm talking about democrat policies, not a personal slam).

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  • Fuego wrote...
    I'm still waiting
    November 30, 2012 10:34 am
    to find out what the Democrats are offering in regards to this compromise we keep hearing about. So far the only thing that's been mentioned is tax hikes. Where are the spending cut ideas?....anyone?
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    Herbert (Barack Obama) Hoover
    November 30, 2012 10:54 am
    We need a President who can lead , not a wanna be King.
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