11.9.12 - 'This is not your father's Obama' - Prez presser on fiscal cliff

[janedrake]

I couldn't be more happy to see the Prez make crystal clear where he stands re: the 'fiscal cliff negotiations'. It looks to me like 'Second-Term Prez' is nowhere near as patient about tolerating the bad faith antics of McConnell, Boehner, et al. as 'First-term Prez' was. Without further ado:

[There Is No Spoon]

I suspect the Republicans are going to learn to play ball. They really don't have a choice - Obama won the election based on the principals he's described in that speech. Elections have consequences.

[pappy]

I was struck by the consistency of his message.

Before the election he called for an immediate extension of the tax cuts for incomes below $250,000. Today he firmly repeated that call.

The President also did not back off from his veto threat against any extension of the tax cuts above that $250,000 threshold.

I think he signaled to Boehner and McConnell (and even to the blue dogs) that he expects the bickering to be put aside and get the business of the people done. I think on Monday he will privately give an ultimatum to the Republicans to stand up to their caucus and stick to any deal that might be cut.

Finally I expect to hear allot of tut-tutting from both Republicans Monday given from behind ashen and downcast expressions. They are, after all being called into the Principals office.