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

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Comments (59)


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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Oh please...
    January 2, 2013 10:19 am
    The Tea Party made their stupidity clear when they held up signs that said "Keep Government Out of My Medicare". So silly. They want the goodies but they don't want to pay for them. At least Obama makes an effort to pay for his goody bags. Republicans have spent like drunken sailors for 3 decades and now they're moaning about all the spending. Cry me a river.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Sandy Disaster Relief Fund doesn't get a vote.
    January 2, 2013 10:21 am
    For shame. New York and New Jersey are donor states. They contribute way more to the federal goverment than Texas, Alabama, and all those other welfare states that consistently get help from the federal government.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jason wrote...
    People are really not smart or informed
    January 2, 2013 10:26 am
    Regardless of what comes out of DC we cannot afford what the public wants and is will to pay for. Even if we confiscate every dollar above $50k it will not pay for what has been "promised" or wanted. We need REAL cuts to all spending (excluding defense).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Why on God's green Earth would you exclude defense?
    January 2, 2013 10:28 am
    We spend more on defense than the next 19 top spending countries combined. 59% of the federal budget goes to the military, veteran’s affairs and homeland security. 2% agriculture, 2% justice, 2% energy, 4% department of state, 4% housing and urban development, 6% education, 6% health and human services, 15% other (transportation, labor, space, etc.) It's madness.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jason wrote...
    Defense
    January 2, 2013 10:32 am
    The reason I wouldn't cut defense is that it is the only "product" the government produces that provides any value. Everything else is welfare. Defense is also not the top budgeted item that distinction goes to social welfare services.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Jason
    January 2, 2013 10:46 am
    Exactly. I read somewhere, something like "to provide and maintain a Navy" Besides I would rather my money go to folks working in the defense industry than a bunch of dope smoking welfare queens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Have mercy.
    January 2, 2013 1:39 pm
    Conservatives live in a fantasy world where the new fairy tale is living on the government dime. Jeez. You have to be so poor to qualify for any kind of government assistance it's not a lifestyle that is appealing to that many people. I don't know why conservatives think it's what people aspire to be. Why are conservatives so down on everything. You dump on people presuming the worst and you have no facts to back anything up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    What a load of tosh.
    January 2, 2013 1:33 pm
    Sure, if you count EVERYTHING (like Pell Grants, public works spending, head start, child support enforcement, the child tax credit, foster care, the earned income tax credit, etc.) as WELFARE. Otherwise, it's just another lie conservatives tell themselves so they can have something to make them feel better about opposing everything. "Welfare" or what used to be called welfare made up less than $500 billion from 1964-1994 or what the pentagon spends in two years. Interestingly enough they didn't count corporate welfare which gave corporations like Wal Mart about 92 billion dollars, more than twice the 59 billion that was spent on traditional welfare like food stamps, housing assistance.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Oh Mylanta
    January 2, 2013 10:30 am
    Did you hear Boehner told Reid to go do something to himself? That's awesome. The country is in turmoil and the leaders can't leave high school.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dmaxx wrote...
    Does everybody get what they say they want
    January 2, 2013 10:59 am
    if we raise taxes significantly on the 250K+ crowd but then give them a deduction for investments they make in American companies that employ American workers ? I'm arguing with myself over this since it seems too easy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Top federal expenditures 2012
    January 2, 2013 11:03 am
    Just to clear up some false comments (and this is important to know because it affects everything, and puts everything into perspective:

    1. Social Security 781b 2. Defense 676b 3. Medicare 499b 4 Medicaid 327b 5. Interest on debt 224b

    Yes that's right, just maintaining our debt is the 5th biggest expenditure. Now keep in mind interest rates are stupid low right now, so borrowing is cheap. What will happen when interest rates go up to 4%,5,%,6%????

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    CH You aren't a Republican . . . .
    January 2, 2013 11:34 am
    what am I? Let me play this fish for a while.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    CH
    January 2, 2013 11:52 am
    State social worker?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Whig party?
    January 2, 2013 1:59 pm
    Tea party? Libertarian? Socialist? Socialist Democrat? Marxist? Come on, I gotta know!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    You have to pay down the debt.
    January 2, 2013 11:52 am
    I don't care what side of the political spectrum that you may be on. Any person who has a credit card has enough experience to understand that if you max out your card and pay the minimum amount due is nothing more than being a hampster on a wheel going NOWHERE. Now the trillion dollar question is HOW do you pay down the debt without 1. raising taxes or 2. cutting spending? Can you pay down the debt with cutting spending only? Can you pay down the debt by raising taxes only? I think both parties missed a great opportunity to move this country in fiscally responsible position. I am at the point were I absolutely hate ALL politicians as they don't work to the benefit of the people who pay there salaries. PUNKS
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ sportsguru
    January 2, 2013 1:38 pm
    You posted I am at the point were(sic) I absolutely hate ALL politicians as they don't work to the benefit of the people who pay there(sic) salaries.

    Welcome to the club.

    New members are joining daily... :~{

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  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    I love politicians. I love politics.
    January 2, 2013 1:41 pm
    We don't grow these people in special gardens, they are us. If you don't like the politicians maybe you don't like America. Just kidding...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    The Dear Leader got his tax increase!
    January 2, 2013 12:30 pm
    Now the clown eared man child wants to raise taxes even higher. Now with more of our stolen tax dollars, the Dear Leader will have more to spend (We are already overspending!) on all you 47 percenters, your cherished ObamaCare, welfare and illegals, all the minority groups, and further skyrocket the ObamaDebt.

    You Parrots voted for this!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    It's me! Ha ha!
    January 2, 2013 1:03 pm
    Would you prefer US minority leave YOUR AMERICA. Don't answer that, I already know the answer. BTW, welfare counts for less then 4% of expenditures. What you mean to say is that all the retiree's who put money into Social Security need to get back off of there butt and go back to work and get off SSI and Medicare and contribute. Seeing that you have a government job and pension, that's what I would call the height of hyprocrisy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    BREAKING NEWS : Boner to QUIT tonight 01.02.13 . . . .
    January 2, 2013 12:46 pm
    tears are going to flow tonight. Tears of JOY that is from Us Americans !!!! De Can't her to take her job?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I heard that as well.
    January 2, 2013 12:57 pm
    Bonher could quit as soon as this evening. Heard that a couple of times.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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