TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: 0ff1d9db-6b25-4816-9f28-75138cbe8f12
The lights of the U.S. Capitol remain lit as the House worked on the "fiscal cliff" legislation before voting, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

It's like a fairy tale!

BY Dave Ross  on January 2, 2013 @ 8:16 am (Updated: 8:34 am - 1/2/13 )

In a vote that took place at a time when the only people watching CSPAN were me and Mark Knoller, Congress swept away a bunch of its own artificial booby traps in a decisive bi-partisan vote.

You're probably wondering, what suddenly changed?

Well, as it turns out, Republicans suddenly remembered that Democrats had vigorously opposed the Bush tax cuts in 2001. So, to see them vigorously supporting them now was a victory!

"I just wanted to thank so many people on the other side for finally acknowledging publicly that the 98 percent of the Bush tax cuts help the middle class," said Rep. Louie Gohmert from Texas' 1st district.

And there was something else...

Grover Norquist, the lobbyist who's gotten most Republicans to sign his no-tax-increase pledge, tweeted Tuesday "The Bush tax cuts lapsed at midnight last night. Every R voting for Senate bill is cutting taxes and keeping his/her pledge."

"So we're not raising taxes, we're actually cutting taxes," Norquist later clarified on TV.

And just like Cinderella, everything changed. A homely tax increase became a fairy tale tax cut; the frog turned back into a prince.

During the final debate there wasn't a peep about how taxing the rich would spook the job creators.

"Republicans and the American people are getting permanent tax relief," said Michigan Representative Dave Camp.

So it was all about putting up the appearance of a good fight, then waiting for the clock to tick past midnight.

And they lived happily, until they hit the debt ceiling.

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 Dave Ross

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 (59)


  • Add A Comment

  • William Lawn wrote...
    So, in the end Patty Murray was right
    January 2, 2013 7:58 am
    To get a deal done, taxes needed to rise so Republicans could pretend to be cutting them.

    Too funny.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    And Grover....
    January 2, 2013 8:09 am
    ...supports what happened since taxes are being "cut" as he struggles to remain relevant. He'll look good with that man purse made of pig ears.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    Pork Barrel Patty
    January 2, 2013 1:59 pm
    Is the problem not the solution. She is deranged to think she can continue to bloat debt and have no accountability...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Clankety, clankety, clank.....(sound of can being kicked down the road)
    January 2, 2013 8:07 am
    Of course the "creators" aren't spooked. Leaving more purchasing power in the hands of customers is good for sales and profits. If every other "creator's" taxes go up the same amount at the same time, there is no competitive disadvantage.

    Will prices increase by 3% because the nominal tax rate of the "creators" has gone up 3%? Nope. Some minor portion of the current retail pricing covers the cost of paying federal taxes. If that goes up a small amount, it doesn't increase the other by that same amount all the many other costs that are included when calculating prices.

    Some of those guys could simply reduce CEO compensation from $200-million per year to $194-million per year and see no effect on return to shareholders. Somehow, the CEO would probably squeak by.

    The very bad news is that we decided to kick the can down the road. The temporary payroll tax cut is allowed to roll off, and the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire for the top 2% of Americans. Spending is the core of the problem, not taxation- and nothing has really been done to address that.

    When the patient is squirting blood out of a severed artery, somehow the idea of simply pumping in more blood (tax money) doesn't seem like the most productive course.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Grover Norquist is a goober.
    January 2, 2013 8:15 am
    He tweeted that no Republican raised taxes because in fact they technically cut them. What a dork. I bet he was a dork in high school too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @gaymarried....
    January 2, 2013 11:07 am
    Norquist is a blatant liar. He's blissfully ignoring the fact that the lack of action by Republicans is what caused the rates to go up - therefore, they raised taxes. Period. No amount of lies will change that fact. Americans will see right through his lies - and know that Republicans did raise taxes. They just didn't actively vote - they actively avoided voting to prevent it, which in essense IS voting FOR what is automatically going to happen.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Yeah...
    January 2, 2013 6:29 pm
    he is such an idiot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    Everyone's taxes went up today...
    January 2, 2013 8:25 am
    You seem to forget that they've raised everyone's taxes by 2% by letting the "tax holiday" (the reduction in SS tax rate from 6% to 4%) expire. More across the board tax increases are coming when they finally sit and discuss sequestration in 2 months...which will become 4 years...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Big Zipper wrote...
    interesting...
    January 2, 2013 12:06 pm
    the 2% fica tax deduction was one of the largest tax breaks to the middle class in history. Nobody gives obama credit for the tax break. but its gone now... ah yee
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    Now we are back to Bill Clinton tax rates
    January 2, 2013 2:03 pm
    So why would any good left leaning person complain? Don't they just idolize Clinton(s)? Bring on the Hill-Billy side show from Arkansas part II
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cdbtx wrote...
    And spending
    January 2, 2013 8:25 am
    continues to increase by a higher percentage that what America can afford...

    A Fairy Tale for those that thrive on instant gratification and could care less about future generations and a nightmare for all.. many just don't know it yet.

    Another debt ceiling coming and another credit downgrade in the works.. since only the Liberals in America think we've "Fixed" the problem.

    Growth forecasts have now been revised to recession levels.. everything is "Peachy"

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    cdbtx...
    January 2, 2013 8:34 am
    You're spot on, nobody is paying any attention to the fact that this country is broke. Were all supposed to be relieved that the fiscal cliff didn't happen. The problem is the cliff just got bigger and slightly farther away, meanwhile Congress just floor the gas pedal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    To save this country
    January 2, 2013 9:18 am
    We ALL need to accept gradually raising taxes but even more important, reduced spending, particularly in entitlements which is the lion's share of the budget. Yes, all of the government needs to be smaller.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    it's quite clear left vs right on spending and economy
    January 2, 2013 9:47 am
    lefties hate and are jealous of the rich. lefties live in a dream drug induced world that the rich will solve our fiscal problems. lefties have not heard or studied the new global free trade economy which has forced US wages down. Lefties think unions have nothing to do with loss of mfg jobs in the north and gain of these jobs/factories in the south. Rightys believe the opposite of the above. Time will show lefties to be way too stoned on these issues and righties to be mature and informed. (on spending and economics)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    A song for my fellow Republicans . . . .
    January 2, 2013 9:06 am
    http://youtu.be/04854XqcfCY
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Sucks
    January 2, 2013 9:23 am
    Because last week I moved all my money to T-bills expecting failure, so I missed out on today's DOW circle-jerk. It's stuck there for three months so my only hope is that it takes a dive for the debt ceiling fight in a couple months. The market is so fake it's laughable. It's the new bubble.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    The new bubble is the federal government
    January 2, 2013 2:09 pm
    It is bloated and ready to pop. Just one "no thank you" from China and we all go down. Our currency will be worthless and a loaf or bread will be $250+ if you can get one...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    The new bubble is the federal government
    January 2, 2013 2:13 pm
    It is bloated and ready to pop. Just one "no thank you" from China and we all go down. Our currency will be worthless and a loaf or bread will be $250+ if you can get one...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Republicans, it's too late, you're out in 2 years
    January 2, 2013 9:41 am
    They made a grave mistake by fighting tooth and nail against the President's budget, this budget was what the President ran on in his campaign and it's what the American people voted for, now the Republican's used what little remaining power they had to stall everything and force us to go over the cliff... The American people will not forget that, we will vote the Republicans out in droves... The Republican party is well on it's way to becoming politically irrelevant in America.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    cbrew
    January 2, 2013 10:01 am
    The President doesn't have a budget, and hasn't for years.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    Cbrew what presidents budget? Do u know the senate voted down POTUS budget 97-0?
    January 2, 2013 12:59 pm
    hey maybe libs a re libs because they dont read much
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • monroemad wrote...
    Cbrew - show me the Obama budget
    January 2, 2013 2:19 pm
    The last one he submitted was voted down 98 to 0 in the Democrat senate. Even they know that he is a whack job.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Roark wrote...
    Your point still escapes me Dave
    January 2, 2013 9:47 am
    Are you congratulating the RINO republicans for becoming democrats, or giving a backhanded compliment to conservatives who were the only ones who wanted to have spending cuts to go along with all the tax increases? Or are you just wallowing in the mud with Harry Reid who gets another $660 Billion to add to the debt? You seem aware of the fact that raising taxes on small businesses will be a job killer. So are you happy about this? Obama got his way, I guess that's all that matters to people since they think he's some kind of master economist sent by God to straighten out the "Bush mess" which the left says were caused by the "Bush tax cuts" which Obama just extended.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }