I’m one of the few Americans who will benefit from the so-called “tax reform” (I wish it would stop being referred to as that as any objective analysis will conclude it’s really a “tax cut for the wealthy”) both in the near term and over the long haul. Squarely in the 1%, my family stands to gain a lot over time, both in terms of personal savings and eventually via the elimination of or a reduction in the estate tax (I think being able to pass on $11 million to my heirs is plenty…they can earn the rest). That being stated the mere fact that this is even being debated says a lot about a broken America and demonstrates that a majority of our “public servants” in Congress are really bought and paid for by special interest groups…who in all likelihood already have the personal means to live life quite comfortably without more tax cuts. As far as the “trickle down” that will result from the lowering of tax rates for corporations…well, in this age of automation that is simply not going to happen. A CEO’s first responsibility is to advance the financial interests of shareholders, not ensuring that their workers benefit from increased profits. Having run a business with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, I’m fairly well versed in how these things work. And it’s no surprise to me that families like the Trump’s will benefit the most; what is surprising is that his middle and lower class supporters don’t quite appear to grasp what’s about to go down.
1
These Republicans will destroy what's left of the middle class, and they know it. The bulk of them were around when Reagan's 'trickle down" economics wrecked the economy, and when Bush's tax cuts did the same. These lackeys can only see the money being waved over them by their billionaire donors. None of the amendments will undo raising taxes for the poor and middle class to pay for tax cuts for the rich.
New York Times, stop doing their bidding by only quoting elderly Democratic establishment party leaders that feed off the same donors. We need the impassioned words and calls to action from young progressive Democrats being ignored by this newspaper. What is wrong with this newspaper that it stifles any voices not getting payoffs from the uber-rich? Make it right.
1
Wow these republicans are going to get hammered in next years elections! Remember kids, these morons passed this bill without single democrat help and circumvented the 60 votes for passage that the republicans pushed for all those years ago! Man payback is going to be a mothereffer when the democrats come back to power. I say let the government shutdown! By this time next year when the deficit balloons out of control and unemployment starts to creep up, who do you think the public will hold acountable for this debacle? Also remember this, no one but a few people in congress has seen this bill in its entirety, when this passes and the general public starts to read this thing and discover that instead of a tax cut, they are getting a tax increase not just once, but from all indications two to three tax increases for the foreseeable future! And here I thought that I could afford a Cadillac with the $1200 bucks I was going to get!?!?!? HOY VEY!!!!
Trump and his cronies in congress are the most selfish, self centered of all time. This bill will screw everyone but the rich and will help the rich get richer. They should be ashamed of themselves. Trump is not leader just an insecure bully.
The gutless wonders fall into line.
No surprise.
God save America
Die, GOP Tax bill. Die.
1
Allowing $10,000 of property taxes deductible is worthless because that is less than the standard deduction of $12,000. What idiot would choose to leave $2,000 on the table? Only if the $10,000 property taxes was deductible in addition to the $12,000 standard deduction would it be worth anything -- or if they allowed the medical deduction and someone had more than $2,000 in medical deductions as well. Remember they are also loosing $4,000 in individual exemptions per person.
People like us, with wage income and a modest house in a suburb with a good school district, are facing huge tax increases, almost 10 thousand dollars. We take no deductions except state and local taxes, and charitable deductions.
1
What a sorry figure the president's spokesperson makes. How can she stand there daily and say what she says and still look in the mirror?
1
Any reduction in the corporate tax rate should be contingent that the company 100% relocates back into the United States and they bring their offshore money back into our country. Anything less and it is a huge gamble that quite frankly the middle class will not tolerate.
OK all you minions, people with big money are personally incorporated as a pot of money the family can pull from while writing off on taxes everything so tax cuts claimed by dems about Trump is more propaganda to suckers that don't understand money!
Economists are apparently paid not to understand money in this con artist playground, DR.
Another Republican disaster waiting in the wings.......and our country is being led by an ignoramus who is in the process of destroying our State Department. Just when it is needed the most. I am glad I am very old, America.
2
I disagree with Senators Schumer and Pelosi's decision to pull out of the meeting because of Trump's tweet. I don't believe anything fruitful will come out of the meeting, but by refusing to attend they are feeding into Trump's ability to blame the Democrats for lack of cooperation. Think about what his supporters will hear! Sarah Huckabee Sanders has already used this to attack them. While many of us hear her attack of "pettiness" as nonsense, I doubt his supporters will see this the same way. All they will hear is that he offered to work on the tax bill in a bipartisan way, but those obstructive Democrats refused!
It would be better to meet and then report what happened at the meeting. Instead, they are letting the tweeter in Chief control the situation. So I see their refusal to attend as a win for Trump and the Republican party.
As for the tax plan passing, I would be very surprised if any Republican Senator's voted against it. They need a " win". Does anyone really believe they care if that "win" for their political purposes is a "lose" for " we the people" ?
2
Remember when John Boehner acted as a pioneer introducing a new era of transparency in government as he handed out donor checks on the House floor? In doing this he reassured the oligarchs that they were indeed getting their money's worth.
What nobody is addressing is who is going to pay for this when the republicans get slammed for adding to the deficit? The middle class had better clutch their $300. close, because you'll be paying when your deductions and social services go away.
Reagan and Bush 41 at least had the integrity to raise taxes, but we have a new species of republican that has sold its soul to a cabal of antitaxers who have no clue about how a decent society functions.
1
Go fast, go fast, but let's not get deceived. The article starts out okay, saying "The Senate took a big step...", but then goes utterly off track by adding "forward".
This bill makes the very rich richer. But that's not enough. We also need to get it done before the year ends, because....um, because, we're in a hurry to...because.
This way of governing is so trashy!
4
OUR Country has now been sold to the Highest Value Tax dodging offshore tax loophole owners, Billions will come back to the country to produce more profit for the tax dodger, The ordinary Joe has been marginalized and sold off as Data, your no more then a user of goods and services to be valued the same as Sheeple. There are no laws, no Congress, no Govt that will stop the Bribed and bought, Citizens United started the slide, this Tax Boondoggle will assure the complete takeover of American Capitalism by the Oligarchy, The United States of Oligarchy is here...Cheaters, Bribers and Fake Potus have succeeded in the complete destruction of America...
3
Just when I was thinking sexual harassment was the most important issue this one slides right by. Weinstein, Rose and Spacey are a small sacrifice for the wealthy elitist of both parties get a tax plan that benefits them and only them.
But that’s ok I committed a micro aggression while watching the weather girl this evening. I deserve it.
1
Today's American plutocracy really should revisit the history of the French Revolution for a reminder that arrogant greed ends badly.
3
I don't like ending the health-care mandate, because I consider health care to be a proper subject for government subsidy -- i.e. like roads, bridges, defense, military.
But many readers complain about much more than that; they insist that the poor will pay more. Some will, but most won't, as the Times' own analysts (in a separate article) have concluded.
Almost all taxpayers who don't itemize will pay less. To be sure, many taxpayers who DO itemize and who are accustomed to taking large deductions for property taxes and state/local income taxes will pay more because these itemized deductions are being eliminated or capped.
But, frankly, I don't have much sympathy for the taxpayers this affects (even though I'm one of them): owners of expensive homes and high-income earners. Though many hand-wringing complaints seem to apply to lower-income taxpayers, these complaints really are focused on the tax bill's impact on wealthier taxpayers -- i.e. those who are accustomed to deducting property taxes and state/local income taxes.
If you're one of those hand-wringing complainers, are you really looking out for lower-income people, as you claim to be, or are you looking out for relatively well-to-do homeowners (i.e. those who pay more than $10,000 a year in property taxes) and high earners (i.e. those who pay high state/local income taxes)? If the latter, SHOULD you be looking out for that group?
Some reader suggested that families earning less than $75K a year should protest this tax bill by not filing tax returns until it's repealed.
Why? According to the Times analysts, a family earning less than $75K a year almost certainly would pay lower taxes. By not filing, they'd not get a refund of withheld taxes. (The reader who suggested this may not have known that most filers get refunds.)
Several readers say this tax bill shouldn't pass if Trump will benefit from it.
Why should this matter?
Many readers have reflexive objections to the whole tax bill. But some of us dislike only parts of it. I'm one. I think most low-income taxpayers will pay lower taxes. Somehow I don't have the same sympathy as other readers for those poor (as in "not poor") homeowners whose property-tax deduction will be capped at $10,000. That will hurt me, but I'll accept that hurt in exchange for lower-income earners paying lower taxes.
What DOES bother me about the tax bill is the elimination of the health care mandate. That will effectively end Obamacare. I understand that that was precisely the intent, but I happen to think health care SHOULD be guaranteed. If I were the Republicans, I wouldn't be overtly gleeful about that; I think a lot of Americans don't want Obamacare to end, and eliminating the mandate will end it.
I live in the least believing place in North America maybe even the world. Our government doesn't believe the church or gods have any place in politics and has very little place in our civic lives. Most Quebecers claim not to believe in a God or gods.
I am in no position to understand how two groups of God fearing people should resolve their dual dueling deities dualities. The founders resolved dueling deities by banning a state religion but in less than a century civil war broke out.
The God of Barrack Obama is not the God of Roy Moore. the God of Pope Francis is not the God of Paul Ryan, the God of Bernie Sanders is not the God of Jared Kushner. That is the observation from here in the frozen north a few yards from America.
Back in 1845 Ireland's economy was based on the export of pork, beef grain and dairy products. The potato blight hit Ireland and the government in London had to decide whether to feed the poor or take the advice of The Economist and let them starve or be deported.
One million Irish peasants starved to death and another million were deported and Ireland's farmer owners prospered. The division then was the same as it is now and is only about which deity one serves.
I am a Jew and it wasn't that long ago my people sacrificed their children to Moloch now we only cut off a bit of skin.
In 1727 Jonathan Swift wrote the Republican Tax Bill he called it A Modest Proposal the Trump Republican Bill is exactly the same except it is not meant to be satire.
2
I've read the comments here and in the Washington Post. No one seems pleased with the direction this tax reform legislation is taking. There are vague threats of voting these congressional leaders out and bringing in a new crop of leaders. Unfortunately, when push comes to shove, Americans always seem to vote against themselves. What we're experiencing is no surprise to those who didn't vote for this administration. We were warned by a number of economists that a Trump administration would be disastrous for our economy - possibly worse than our last great recession - possibly one we won't dig out of.
And now it's happening. Readers here are urging the GOP to put aside petty grievances, stand up and do what's right, blah, blah, blah.
The fact is, America got what it wanted and deserves. If Americans are too lazy to educate themselves about who they vote into office, they deserve the financial hardship the GOP is inflicting on us. If Americans fail to vote, they deserve what they're about to get.
No one should be surprised. This is what you voted for.
2
If this tax bill passes , it will guarantee a second term presidency for Trump.
For American people it is all about economy and job and the rest is political theater .
The Echo chamber is echoing loudly as everyone buys everyone else. Republicans are pros at buying people and being bought. Despite the fact that a majority of citizens are opposed to this tax cut for the wealthy, they forge ahead buying anyone they can find. They buy votes all the time; each others or citizens votes. After all, aren't they buying voters with the meager tax cuts, and donors with tax cuts? It's the great Republican sale. They are for sale and this is advertising and buying people.
Now can we stop pretending that John MaCain and Jeff Flake are any kind of heros?
4
We've been pretending that the Republican Party isn't a RICO for decades.
Do we get to celebrate the Schumer / Pelosi Holiday?
1
This #TaxScam will be the Worst thing ever done to this Country! Republicans think they need to do Something so a Rushed ill advised Giveaway to the Wealthy and Corps it is! Mostly this is the will of GOP Donors, so they comply! Ruining healthcare and increasing its costs to everyone else in the Country is just a bonus! This should be the final nail in their coffin in 2018 & 2020!
3
The "Huckster" seems to be working hard at peddling her deficient boss. But nobody's buying it. Grandstanding, petty and a liar to boot is exactly what he is. Maybe she should try being truthful for a change.
2
Excellent!!
1
they must remember they work for us we pay there salary 200.000 a year get to work bums
2
Oh please!
"Pay close attention, senators Flake, McCain, Murkowski, Collins, and Corker...The time has come to put up or shut up."
Did you really think most or all of these Republican Senators were not going to vote FOR this Republican tax bill? To be sure, each complained about some parts of it, but it was always in the cards that most (possibly all) of them would vote "Yes" in the end.
4
They all look like they're wired with bombs to blow them up if they don't suck-up, ThreeCents. Hostages with Stockholm syndrome.
Are Republicans insane? Do they want to destroy the US, or do they not believe it can happen, or do they simply not care?
They act as though the US were infinitely resilient and had infinite resources, so that they take as much as they want from it and do anything they like with it. It is not; it does not. Pushed too far a large complicated system can collapse with little warning and terrifying speed.
5
The Reagan tax cuts PAID for themselves. The economic boom create so many new consumers spending so much more money that income to the Treasury was close to doubling.
The Reagan and Bush tax cuts both raised MIDDLE class incomes by over 12%. Quit hating America long enough to educate yourself.
L'oss: Loving America is loving facts. You are in short supply.
Reagan gave us a recession. Trickle down did not work then, it did not work in Kansas and it did not work in Oklahoma.
But only in the Real World.
1
A line in the sand for Democrats should be that Trump has to show his Tax records to the public for the past ten years to prove he isn't lying about this plan not helping him and his family.
3
And when he doesn't, they should....what? Huff and puff till they turn blue?
1
If this passes, in 4 years' time any family making less than $75,000 a year should simply stop filing until it is repealed.
3
Interesting. So many Trump supporters despise and deride the Coastal people as elites. Deride their morals and accomplishments and educations.
And yet, and yet, this tax bill would transfer much wealth from the coasts to the hinterlands by halting deductions for state and local taxes which primarily go to expensive coasts.
Sems to me, for them not to be hypocritical, those hinterland folks would not accept such largess from their despised coastal brethren. Or at least say it out loud: we in the hinterlands talk a big game about our rugged self sufficiency but the fact is we are, well, dare I say it, beggars! Say it. Say my name.
5
Who can figure country folk who could fall for the greasiest slicker from New York City born in the Baby Boom generation?
I suppose the former fiscal hawks can use an additional $1.5T in debt to justify taking a sledge hammer to social security.
4
Instead of Chuck Schumer holding a press conference before President Trump arrived for the tax reform meeting, he and Nancy Pelosi should have been preparing to attend this important meeting. They are so quick to criticize the Republicans and yet are no shows. If they want change to the tax code, they should give their input. They have no right to find fault when they do not provide any suggestions to improve what is in place. They should have been present and seem to not take the tax reform policy seriously. This is very important to the American people but they may wonder if it is important to Democrats. They may see the results in the 2018 elections.
The Republicans have almost completely shut out Democrats in all of the deliberative sessions leading up to the unveiling of the proposed tax reform plan. Some of their own members have been shut out too.
https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/28/gop-tax-bill-secrecy-244253
2
Your theory is that after Trump--with whom, by the way, they've cut deals that he blew off two days later--screams and yells that he ain't making no deals with the likes of Chuck and Nancy and Pocahontas, they should trot over meekly and beg?
That's your theory?
As for the 'lection, why yea, I think we will see an effect. What's this cockamamie Bill got for support? 25% and sinking like a stone?
Saying ahead of time that you "do not see a deal" is Bad Faith. It is dishonest. Take responsibility.
1
As a Democratic voter, I am mystified by Congressional Democrats inserting DACA into the budget bill negotiations. Is that issue really at the top of the list for their constituents? Really? I must live in an alternate universe. Somebody please explain this to me.
1
Corporate America is doing a lot better than this administration is leading us to believe. THERE IS NO NEED TO DO A MASSIVE TAX CUT NOW.
• Of the largest 100 companies in the world,53 are US companies.China is a distant second with 10.
• Since the great recession, US companies have outperformed those of other countries
• US firms focused on the domestic market have done best
• In terms of share of net growth in employment, the US had more than half of the total growth of employment in the world
So why not do a massive tax cut?
Even when things are going well, there are things we must keep in mind. The Aging population, US Debt, and the Next Recession are 3 BIG ONES.
The Aging Population: Soon there will be more people taking money out of the system and fewer people putting it in. That’s a problem.
Median incomes have stagnated since 1970. This tax plan is a massive shift of wealth to the top 1%.
US Debt: The US is one of the world’s biggest debtors, second only to Japan. The US Congressional Budget Office is projecting that it’s likely to get worse.
Why is that important?
Servicing debt is expensive. In 2015 interest paid as a % of the US federal budget was 6%, this is projected to jump to 14% by 2030.
If the US ramps up spending in conjunction with tax cuts we NEED to be concerned about US debt skyrocketing.
There are no safety gaps built into this plan. This is a reckless move by Trump and the GOP.
6
This bill adds 1.4 trillion to the debt. The question is not do you like the changes in the tax proposal, but do you like the changes in the tax proposal more than your Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, free public education, roads, bridges, scientific research, military preparedness, and sovereignty cause once they get this through there will be no money for any of that.
2
I wish much of the news media would stop referring to the current GOP effort as tax "reform".The term reform basically means redoing something to make it better.
Tax "overhaul" might be one way to accurately describe this Trumpian machination
1
If you have multiple children between the ages of 17 and 21, you're going to be paying a whole lot more in taxes (individual exemptions gone, and CTC stops at 16). You can thank your tax cutting Republicans during your college tuition paying years. I am Republican. I feel bad about that.
1
Trump never keeps his promises. This is like Lucy, Charlie Brown and the proverbial football.
1
Which is why Senators Corker, Johnson, Collins, etc. etc. need to not capitulate--assuming they'll get a chance to make amendments. This tax overhaul is a dirty deal.
The joyous season is here! Can't you just feel it, with all the good tidings??
3
Forget about a government shutdown. The whole country should go on strike.
3
I just finished reading the first 541 comments on this article. Believe me, it was not great fun. I wanted to get a rough idea of the proportion of pro and anti comments on the GOP's proposed tax bill. Give or take a couple of misreads, I found 15 of 541 supporting the bill, the rest in opposition. My guess is that national opinion is running around 35 pro, 35 anti, 10 legitimately undecided, and 20 lost in space. Obviously, your digital readership is wildly out of step with American opinion, past and present. Might not the publisher and editor of what was once our nations premier gatekeeper of "all the news that's fit to print", examine their consciences?
2
Perhaps they simply looked at the actual polls, which say this thing has about 30% support.
Most Americans support cutting taxes for small businesses and offering the little guys some reasonable cuts; this thing's ticking most Americans off, as it becomes more and more clear that it doesn't do that at all.
It is very distressing that the futures of a majority of Americans are in the hands of people who care more about their party than their country. They do not care that this lop-sided tax cut, which gives all the advantages to the very wealthy and puts the country in a giant deficit, only benefits a very small minority of U.S. citizens. Big corporations and the ultra-wealthy will be the only beneficiaries to the tax cuts being voted on. It's an abomination and the reason for most of the revolutions in history. It's time for those Republicans who will vote on this terrible bill to get a conscience and vote against it. How do they think their constituents will look upon them when their terms are up, when their taxes go up, not down as their president promised in his campaign. Trump promised to cut middle-class taxes and target the rich. LIES, LIES, LIes!
5
A commenter makes a point so generally that it's incorrect:
"Please stop reporting this as a tax cut! If you live in NY it is a tax increase."
Some New Yorkers will pay higher taxes (for example, most of those who own very expensive homes and/or make tons of money every year), while other New Yorkers will pay lower taxes (for example, most of those who do NOT own expensive homes and do NOT make tons of money every year).
In other words, "it depends..."
1
I feel pretty helpless as Trump and the Republican party try to tear our country apart. I just hope there are a couple Repubs in the house who actually care about the working person!
3
Pay close attention, senators Flake, McCain, Murkowski, Collins, and Corker.
You are supposedly members of what is touted as a "great deliberative body." Yet, the absence of deliberation as the tax bill is rushed through behind closed doors negates the very mission you were elected--no, sworn-- to carry out.
The time has come to put up or shut up.
Either reject this ill-begotten piece of legislative skullduggery, or else we must dismiss every word you have heretofore uttered in opposition to the Kremlin's Manchurian Candidate as so much hot air cynically calculated to preserve a modicum of self-respect when future generations speak of your legacy.
Will you rise to the occasion, or forever hang your heads in shame?
The American people are watching.
20
They know no shame. 3 of the 5 are rich and retiring. Murkowski cares only about opening the Alaskan wilderness to exploitation by big oil. Collins is not going to go it alone - her state, like Vermont and New Hampshire, feeds on federal largess.
1
LOOK! There is the "Correction" again, at the top of this news article.
It says cigarettes are bad. But it looks like a standard blanket prohibition against smoking when in fact it was ordered to be paid for and sponsored by Big Tobacco.
BT weaseled out of identifying that it is saying that information, thereby greatly lessening its meaning and value. Showing it to a kid who's thinking about smoking won't convince him. But if it stated it was written by BT, the very industry that wants his money, and to kill him he would recoil in anger.
BT: you are the BEST! Heroin pushers all!
What? did you not know there were debates on the bill? I've been hearing bits and pieces of debate on cable TV. You can tell the party of the person talking as soon as you flip the channel.
So, you just come here with talking points from someone trying to train you to bark whenever the bell sounds?
So they're going to ram through legislation that will rip away health care for at least 13 million Americans, make it more expensive for millions more, and raise taxes for middle class Americans all for the sake of an unnecessary tax cut for the wealthy and corporations that will explode the deficit by 1.5 trillion dollars. And the "deficit hawks" in the Republican Party are all "ok" with this, just like they were all "ok" with Roy Moore being in the Senate notwithstanding his open lawlessness, homophobia and Islamophobia? It has come to this in America? And a President who doesn't have the basic decency not to use racial slurs when he is supposed to be honouring the patriotic contributions of Native Americans during WW2? It's all too insane for words. One can only hope that these people are all voted out, every last one of them, and that when the true extent of the Big Fool's treason and treachery are exposed, that he be removed from an office he dishonours on a daily basis in total disgrace. It cannot happen soon enough.
14
And yet so many Americans love the guy and what he does: mocking women, Indians, Blacks, Mexicans, LGBT, the usual suspects. Love giving $$$ to corporations in the hope their Master will trickle a few pennies to them.
Trump voters are an Amen Chorus of Bitter Music: the world done them wrong, and done pass them by, too.
Except for some of the tax cuts for the wealthy, it looks like a great bill. My taxes would appear to go lower by a few dollars according to the analysis of Quoctrung Bui of the NYTimes.
Have you taken into consideration what might be lost by adding 1.4 trillion to the debt? This could lead to major cuts to Medicare, Social Security, bridges and roads, scientific research, public education, or military preparedness down the road.
That is the problem. It is too easy to get the middle class and working poor to go along with multi-trillion dollar tax cut for the rich, for just a handful of dollars more in their paycheck.
Good point. If any of the commenters had the decency to actually read the bill, they would see that most middle class people have their taxes reduced.
I agree that boycotting a meeting that discusses important issues over a tweet is, in fact, vary petty. can we, at the vary least, agree that the pettiness over the losses democrats suffered in 16 is unproductive? it seems like democrats are almost hoping for the country to fall apart just so they can say "I told you so". someone needs to tell them that trump isn't the problem with American politics, ineffective leadership is. Chuck an Nancy, if you contribute ineffective leadership to attack trump then your not part of the solution, your part of the problem.
6
Please stop reporting this as a tax cut! If you live in NY it is a tax increase. This sham reform is a divisive deliberate political attack on the states that didn’t support the Republican Party. Where is our representation in this process? I do not support double taxation on the money I pay towards State and Local taxes!
8
Interesting. Because many said the same thing when Obama gave healthcare to the poor, that they were subsidizing that move. Fact is the middle class did.
Just like now the middle class is subsidizing corporations.
Seems to me: either be poor or be rich, but this in betweenin' ain't working.
I was against income redistribution as a Republican.
This rank hypocrisy is why I'm a former Republican.
Fortunately, many people here are ignoring the "Hollywood" distractions, figuring this out and joining me.
6
So this is how China and the Russians intend to break us? By watching us bankrupt ourselves? Don't forget that Trump is the bankruptcy king. He has stiffed the banks, his colleagues and the workers on his projects while he has skipped off with hefty dividends or management fees time after time. It is his M.O.
This so-called boastful piece of garbage would have gladly shown us his tax returns if he had income instead of losses, if he had an impressive amount of dividends received and if his interest payments were in the neighborhood of "reasonable" he would have his returns on billboards. You can bet hat he and his son-in-law are so far in debt that they are desperate and willing to do most anything asked of them in this nation or elsewhere.
Did Trump and Ivanka move their businesses back to the States? No.
8
It is astonishing that a tax bill which will have enormous impact on Americans is being pushed and rushed through without any hearings being written by lobbyists and Congressional staffers. Of course, as with healthcare, Trump has no idea of what the tax bill is about. The governance of Trumpism is not NORMAL and is an insane clown act but with serious consequences.
6
The GOP sold its conscience (I don't know it ever had a soul) to oligarchs years ago. This is just the fat lady singing, as "Dandy" Don Meredith said on "Monday Night Football". The result of this shameful act will wreak havoc on our children and grandchildren for decades to come. Unless you happen to be in the 1%...
5
Democrat leaders made the right move. Trump's criticism of them was just the beginning of a blame game. Had the leaders met with Trump, he would have continued to blame the Democrats for future failings. Don't leave your fingerprints on this tax bill other than to vote No, and don't participate in talks to avoid a shutdown or the Republicans will blame you for their rigid refusal to continue the budget. Let the Republicans go down in flames as you stand back and watch saying they did it. Stand firm. "Bipartisanship" mantras only lost you several elections and power.
4
As a good general moral, of you don’t vote, even in a state that is always going to go to one side, you can’t complain about the outcome of the polls. This is like that! Boycotting the meeting was an intensely ‘petty’ move, and the Democratic Party needs to actually txt to stop the bill if they think that is correct.
On the other hand I am completely fine with them letting he bill ease through Congress.
I never thought that 98% of us would have no seat at the table....sure, maybe the bottom half, but 98% of us ? Not represented at all ? Tax Bill. Net Neutrality. Consumer Finance Protection Board. The hits just keep on coming and I've counted zero things done that help the average person; indeed, every single move hurts the normal person.
9
Clearly you would know that if you actually read about the bill, you could see that most middle class people are getting a tax cut. If that isn’t helping, I don’t know what will.
That's one view. here's another: government regulation gets in the way of making money. Make it step back and watch the markets work.
I happen to believe we are in another Robber Baron Era and don't think for a second that allowing an unfettered market will benefit anyone except the already rich.
Yee Haw!
This bill is by far the worst thing that could happen to this nation. It will come off the hide of working people, students who have earned scholarships, teachers and people with catastrophic illness and disability in their family. As if that is not bad enough we have to BORROW the rest of the funding required for this bill so that my grandchildren can pay it further down the road with interest.
Do NOT believe for one minute that this bill will benefit working people. I have spent many years in two of the Big Four's as a tax professional beginning in 1986 and I know what reform is and this is not reform, instead it is thievery. I am very familiar with tax law and I have only worked for the 1/10th of the 1% in my 30-year career. The only reason the wealthy come close to paying a fair share is through AMT (Alternative Tax System) -- something that bit Donald in the rear in 2005, so of course it is gone.
The man that "works" for a buck is the one paying the freight in this country and it is going to get worse.
Colleagues of mine (R or D's) cannot decide if Congress is evil or if they failed to read the bill. Who gave the Republicans their talking points? They sound like a broken record. Any partisan think tank can work the numbers in their favor.
Tax is a complex subject and generally speaking if one is not in the business so to speak, they have no idea what is coming their way. I regard the failure to disclose all as an omission and a purposeful one at that.
9
Well, look at it this way:
The Rich generate jobs for one and all so deserve to pay nothing as a reward and incentive.
The Poor simply can't pay having nothing.
So the Working Middle Class pays, and given that it is YOUR country, that is how it should be.
I happen to disagree with this, by the way.
Thank you for your comments. I wish your voice was amplified. Too few people understand what's happening.
So how is this not a conflict of interest for the President? Will a tax attorney or anyone familiar with the law please explain this to me? Won’t Trump and his family greatly benefit if this passes?
4
When I watch Trump attempt to behave as president, I find myself feeling pity for him. Here is a 71 year-old man who craves praise and approval, but has no clear idea about how his office and the government he represents actually work. He is a man with no apparent interest about the world around him-the real world--and resorts to name-calling when he dislikes people or doesn't get his way. He feels aggrieved when he is stymied and is quick to blame those around him rather than accept responsibility. He is pitiful and pitiable.
3
Republicans are all for it. Trump's golfing buddy Lindsay Graham could not defend the bill tonight on the evening shows. You could tell within minutes he knew he was compromised.
Federal revenues will fall by 6 trillion. Vital programs will be decimated. His poor constituents in South Carolina will turn on him. The highest incomes benefit the most. Shame on Republicans for caving.
The wealthy benefit, the poor suffer. Notice they ignore renewing Children's Health Insurance, as if it doesn't matter.
Our federal debt will rise by perhaps more $10 trillion over the first decade and by as much $15 trillion by the end of the second ten years.
College will be out of reach. Healthcare scarce. Medicare and Social Security might be completely phased out. The poor will be on the streets.
5
Both of the NYT articles today neglect to mention the 1.7 million graduate students in the US... assuming only 25% of those receive partial or complete tuition waivers, we’re still talking another 400k households that are going to be destroyed by this bill. As a young, home-owning couple in New York State with a $30k tuition waiver from Cornell University for a PhD student, we’re easily looking at a $6k tax increase, probably more. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks.
32
In the 70's, the Japanese government (and its party) passed a "tax-cut" bill EVERY year with a big advertisement to the voters. In fact, it's a tax-increase bill in terms of the absolute value, but could give us a tiny amount of cut in terms of percent, because of large and steady economic growth at that time.
When this bill passes, and I believe it will because Republicans have everything riding on it, and it screws over the middle class, greatly benefits the wealthiest Americans who already want for nothing and the biggest corporations who already are sitting on trillions of dollars in cash and it fails to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. and probably doesn’t even get them to pay a reduced tax rate will the voters who’ve supported these people take note? When it fails to increase wages, increases the deficit (as every Republican tax cut has), when it fails to raise wages, guts the meager strides we’ve made in getting health insurance, and increases the tax burden of the middle class will any of the people who voted for Trump or their Republican Senator or Representative reconsider?
10
Raise wages? People will have more of the money they earn because they will be taxed less. That's a wage raise.
1
You're being duped, wilingly.
If you earn less than $70,000 you will have less money to spend now and almost no money to spend in 2027. The corporate tax cuts are permanent...the personal cuts evaporate in ten years.
It would be such a boon to the nation if Trump supporters actually learned how to do basic math and interpret graphics.
For people who are not millionaires and think they're getting something out of this GOP smash and grab...you are looking at a crack-cocaine high. May feel good right now but you are going to regret it in the morning.
And be prepared to watch most of these criminals get re-elected in in '18.
This is all on the somnambulant American voter, selling out their children's and grandchildren's futures to the Koch bros and the rest of the uber-wealthy.
FCS, wake up Americans! Your country is being destroyed and in a democracy, you are responsible! No excuses!
19
One hopes that even the clueless American voter will notice when his taxes increase, and that he will pay the greedy Repubs back in the voting booth next year. Not even the inept Dems should manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with this kind of ammunition, but as they show no sign of toning down the identity politics which put Trump into office, we can probably count on them squandering this opportunity, too.
2
Which Republican Senators will saddle America with unprecedented debt to likely bankrupt the nation in order to give huge new tax benefits to the 1%?.
Which will rise above "victory" for Trump and America be damned?
7
Maine: Vote Susan Collins out and get somebody with real principles! She was against the ACA and then against its repeal. She's useless.
9
I'm totally disgusted with her, as I am with every member of this GOP Congress. They are traitors to this nation. They back a treasonous president, sit out when they should act, and act when they should not. There has not been a single decent, humane idea from them in the course of this deplorable year.
I have certainly deplored decisions my country has made before, but I have never ever been so ashamed of my country on an hourly basis. Millions of us knew how ruinous this man would be; I'm not sure we could have ever guessed how craven and complicit this Congress would be.
It's no longer clear if we can ever fully come back from this mess. Norms of decency and humanity are going up in smoke. It's the bonfires of the self-indulgent, rampant narcissists.
Have at it, GOP. It's worth the hardship if it ends with them being decimated in the midterms. And hitting Trump's minions in the pocketbook is the only thing that will clue them in to their naivete and ignorance.
4
Bet you also said that kind of stuff before Trump won the election. How it work out for you?
So Chuck and Nancy won't pull up ringside seat on this disaster. GOP performing open heart surgery on America, awake and unanesthetized. Sure sounds merciful and full of goodwill at Christmastime. Once a long shot thought, America to go down as one of most evil Countries ever founded...
4
Next election let's send the GOP packing for a generation or two.
12
Too bad they only need 45% of the vote nationally to keep control of Congress.
1
Unlikely, seeing that Democrats have consolidated their votes in a handful of coastal urban centers.
2
Lets be honest. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer have not participated on any proposed legislation that has come from this Administration. Who are they representing? Certainly not their voters These two are advertisements for term limits. Neither has held a non-government job in their careers. They have not accomplished anything with the exception of Nancy Pelosi screwing up our healthcare system with her Just sign it, read it later mentality. I am fed up with their lack of leadership. The tax reform appears to be a done deal. Now lets not have these two screw up our budget. Start acting responsible you two
7
Yes, let's be honest. Considering that on the ACA and on the tax bill the Democrats have been specifically and deliberately excluded from any role in creating the legislation, and are left with only the choice of voting yes or no on legislation that is totally the creation of the GOP in Congress and the White House, just how do you propose that they start acting "responsible"? Or would you prefer that they just rubber stamp anything Trump wants like the White House, McConnell and Ryan clearly do? Hmmm. Government without opposition. There's a word for that, but "democracy" isn't it.
7
This bill should pass. No one from either party should sneeze at several trillion dollars US companies hold overseas coming back to the United States.
4
What part of the Tax Bill requires them to bring the money back?
3
So pass that bill without the rest of it.
Slam dunk.
Yes, and I should plan on casino winnings for my retirement.
Please Senators McCain, Collins, Corker, and Flake!
Please vote with true integrity. This bill is welfare for the
wealthiest and $400 billion taken from Medicare.
15
Support for this bill by Murkowski, in consideration of the grant of drilling rights in the Wildlife Refuge, would represent nothing more than the ultimate betrayal of the American people.
15
I thought the Iraq war was the ultimate betrayal of the American people. You cant have two ultimate betrayals.
What McCain said earlier this year concerning the ACA is even truer today. This is legislative malpractice to the highest degree. Since when does "we need to pass something" trump whether or not the bill is the right thing to do? The GOP is an embarrassment to this country. I only hope that the seemingly feckless Dems can rally us ahead. Thanks to the GOP we are now the laughing stock of the entire thinking world.
13
It looks like it will pass. The horrible consequence is that Democrats, being responsible, will have to increase taxes when they are in control (if ever) to avoid decreases in Medicare funding. After that, they won’t win a Senate or House election for ten years, at least.
3
All the better to pass the bill... it will snowball into an era like the one before trumps, instead it will be all republican presidents.
What a broken democracy we have. And one party is pushing this. The Republican strategy seems to be, 1) fain majority power, 2) quickly pass nominations and radical legislation before they lose it.
That is not governance. That is smash n grab.
5
Um,..the GOP is the majority not because they took power, but because they were elected into power. That's called democracy.
I just found out I am going to pay about $2500 more in taxes next year if this bill passes. I'm about to cry.
9
This is nothing less than the greatest looting of national treasure in history by the malefactors of wealth.
13
Buffoonery now has a price.
3
In spite of Senator Corker's pledge that he would not approve any bill that would add one penny to the deficit, he voted to let this bill out of committee. He claimed that although he did not like it, he was expecting that it would be changed enough so that he could vote on it. Since the bill adds approximately 1.2 trillion dollars to the deficit, and that's only true because it uses accounting gimmicks, you have to ask what changes could possibly be made to the bill over the next couple of days that would eliminate the shortfall. It will have to be a Christmas miracle come early.
6
I didn't feel refusing to respond to divisive, nasty name calling was petty at all. In fact I expect those two to give it to Trump and all the Trumpies as hard as they can.
Time they started to drive a harder bargain. As a Democratic supporter I hope that Schumer and Pelosi will offer to support keeping the Republican war machine operating in return for no tax increase on the middle class tax bill.
2
If you have a couple million dollars to spare, you too can buy a U.S. Senator. Your investment will be repaid tenfold from public money, funded on the backs of the poor, the middle class, the children and the ill and infirm.
6
Further decline of a once great country I could be proud of. Democracy? Well, we can still vote but after that, power and money run things. Please, everyone, learn about the issues and VOTE in 2018. As in 2016, we will get the government we voted for.
There is no point in writing my PA senators about the tax bill. Casey (D) is sure to vote against it and Toomey (R) cares only for advancing the causes of the wealthy. My Congressman Tim Murphy has resigned but he would have voted for anything Trumph wanted anyway.
3
While the Republican Congress, urged on by our Republican President, rushes to give America's Billionaires and wealthiest corporations a huge, permanent, tax cut, it failed to renew CHIPS, the children's healthcare program.
It's so apparent where lie the values of our current Administration and Congress. While shutting the door on children's healthcare with CHIPS (which also provides healthcare to pregnant women), the Republicans also are cutting funding to Medicare, shutting that door in children's faces as well. Obamacare is a possible alternative, but Congress is starving that as well.
Republicans want to block women's access to birth control pills, abortion and pre-natal healthcare while shouting from the rooftops that they are "pro-life"; then they turn their backs on the resulting children. They don't care about women's or children's health; they simply want to control and grow richer.
This stench of moral rot coming from the White House and Capitol Hill, as well as from the wealthy donors that support them, threatens to asphyxiate us all (except, of course, for our elected officials and their wealthy donors who can afford hazmat masks).
8
I adore this president. He doesn't seem to hate white people and he's in position to preside over perhaps the greatest economy in decades, and maybe
ever.
3
“I love this president...ad nauseam”
I had to adjust my glasses, checking to see if I really read those words correctly.
What planet did this writer fall from?
No ability to see the erosion of our health care, public education, our safeguards and safety nets...even our traditional mores.
The Trump “brand” will be a blight in on our country for years to come.
6
Especially from Red States. We will see...
Republicans: You are going to own this one. Watch for the run on pitchforks.
12
Give Donald Trump and the Republicans a Government Shutdown. Chuck and Nancy.. show them when Republicans the Donald Trump play with fire.. they get burned!! I support Chuck and Nancy!!
5
When you support he people that decided to boycott instead of actually negotiate.
I really don't understand how any decent, honest public servant can honestly in good conscience vote for these kinds of tax cuts again, that put the screws to the middle class at the expense of piling more money into the wealthiest less than 1% of American's, it is just a disgrace.
13
Your first error was to refer to these people as "public servants".
I have to admit, I'm stunned.
Here were all these Democrats filing through here for years, swearing that they were all for the poor, the little guy, the people who hadn't made it big yet.
Well, here is a chance to blow the lid off of employment opportunities for poor American, the lower middle class, and the people who worked in factories. Yet, the lords of progressivism in D.C. and in their mansions declare that it must NOT be.
Five million? Ten million? How many workers will find real work once this bill passes? Instead, the supposed Rooters For The Little Guys show up here just to hate the rich.
This is what lost you all those elective seats the last seven years. What is it? Are Democrats going back to hating black people, the Hispanics, and poor whites? Is the Democratic Party simply The Haters Club now?
2
Hmm, by raising the poor's taxes, taking away their healthcare, and shoveling money into the very rich's pockets at a time of record inequality? Seems you're more than stunned. Insensible and deluded are words that come to mind.
7
Democrats are set on destroying our democracy in the USA.
3
I'm a Democrat and I served this country to preserve democracy. Why didn't you?
5
are you all for real? you're writing about a MAJOR tax bill and then use the phrase "here's how things stand" -- and then you go on mention Warren and Pelosi/Schume and a tweet!!! Is that how we stand on a multi trillion dollar tax bill? are those relevant?
1
And the beat goes on... and on... and on...
"Put aside pettiness"
Like spewing a racial slur when "honoring" Native America soldiers.
Conservatives, bless their little hearts.
5
payback comes next November
remember VOTE THEM OUT
8
Wall Street and their book publisher proxies will pay them back as soon as they leave office....just like the did with Obama. What else is new? They've already voted themselves a gold-plated retirement. Did you really ever wonder why so many members of congress go in poor and come out millionaires?
1
Pelosi and Schumer back off because of a tweet? ILOL. If you people —and that includes those twinkies— knew how ridiculous you appear to the people who actually make the country worked, you would be stunned into silence...
4
"That mean Donald called us names, Mommy."
"Well, just stay away from him and don't play with him."
"But he hurt our feelings"
1
Funny how the refusal of the Democrats to give in to Trump and the GOP is petty while the refusal of the GOP to work with Obama was considered acceptable by GOP members. GOP grandstanding and lying was fine as long as Obama was in office. But legitimate concerns from Democrats aren't worth considering. Nor are the effects this tax overhaul will have on working Americans being taken seriously by the GOP and its minions.
Apparently it's more important to widen the economic divide in America, to give entities that don't need it more government welfare and, as real slap in the face, burden the rest of us with the bill. Never have so many labored so that so few can benefit from their labor. The GOP is not working for most of us. They should have abandoned that pretense years ago. They work for the Koch Brothers, the Waltons, the DeVos's, the Scaifes, the Adelsons, the financial industry, the "health care" industry; they work for everyone but 99% of us. Perhaps we should all apply for minority status because that's how they treat us, like we don't exist in their universe.
11
Stick a fork in it, this regressive tax cut bill is going to law of the land in some disastrous form because both Trump and the Republicans need it, in spite of Bernie's protest (I saw him on the evening news).
While it is many dollars short and more than one year late, the Dems cannot escape culpability because of their selfish infighting, leading to this sorry state of affair. Worse, even now, they are still not waking to the fate of the nation.
True, this is a Republican abomination but the Dems help to make it happen
5
It's called "enabling". And one might think they actually did it on purpose.
1
Take the 20 minutes to understand this link in the article. It is very educational
“What the Tax Bill Would Look Like for 25,000 Middle-Class Families”
Some very interesting and objective data analysis.
4
Oh, how I love the hypocrites on the left. How many of you railed against the Republicans when they were in the minority in the Senate and threatened to use a government shutdown to gain concessions? Is there a single Democrat or progressive journalist in America that has any integrity? Look at Schumer's statements just a few years ago about nothing other than the debt limit should be addressed. How the media cheered and reinforced that principle. You want FAKE NEWS and BIASED reporting just look at the reporting has changed. Quite honestly, I hope the government does shut down. It is too large, spends to much money and has to much power (as you Democrats are finally learning when the other side has all the levers of power). The President deserves another term just for teaching Democrats and Progressives how wrong they have been about having a big Federal government. Look back to the Founding Fathers and why it is imperative that we have a smaller Federal government if our Constitutional Republic is going to continue to prosper.
2
Our Founding Fathers were of different opinions as to the merits of a small, limited gov't. Thankfully for us, George Washington agreed with Alexander Hamilton on a more expansive role for gov't, and as a result were able to pay off the debts of the revolutionary war, and put the country on a solid financial footing. Of course the anti-tax sentiment was very much alive then, even when those taxes were needed to pay the soldiers in the Continental Army. It was Washington's experience with managing this army that led to his understanding of a need for a stronger gov't.
Thankfully as well, Thomas Jefferson violated his own limited gov't principles when he agreed to the Louisiana Purchase, something he wasn't sure was within the purview of the federal gov't.
I think our founding fathers would have been appalled by the charlatan demogouge currently occupying the Oval Office, and at those who seek to run the gov't solely for the benefit of corporations and their shareholders. They were educated men who respected science, as well as separation of church and state.
Your take on history is selective.
14
Well, I guess you would rather have big business making the rules you and your family live by rather than your elected representatives? The republicans were in the majority when they were going to shut down the govt. they are still in the majority. How are the Dems responsible for a shutdown? The Republicans are running the show.
3
When did the Republican controlled Senate, put aside their pettiness, and consider the nomination of Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court?
18
Schumer and Pelosi should have gone to the meeting, moved Trump's chair to face a corner and sat him down it for a 5 minute time out. That seems like a response suited to his maturity level.
7
The Kabuki Dance continues and makes for Great Ratings.
1
So ALL of the Republicans are going to roll over on this abomination, even though most of them know how bad it is. The want to punish the American people, although I can't understand why. I never thought America could sink so low. It will take us a long time to recover from the damage they're doing. I'm ashamed for our nation.
13
WOW, that's it? Johnson and Corker, after days of talking about how they can't support this bill, simply voted yes when the moment came? "Oh yeah, I talked to the guys and they addressed all my concerns. All good." Really????
15
Well, good luck with this one, GOP. Elephants aren't the only ones with memories. November 2018, if you haven't checked a calendar, is now 12 months away. See you then.
10
Take from the poor and middle class and give to the rich-trumpism.
8
I've contacted friends and family in states where the so-called "wavering" senators live, asking that any and all pressure be placed - emails, phone calls, etc. And Senator Bernie Sanders is taking a show on the road to generate protest at the grass roots level in these states. Good for him.
10
If you live in Texas and own property, watch out for this bill. Our property taxes average close to 2% and significantly above 2% in some metro areas. The Senate bill is looking to demolish all deductions for property taxes and the House bill lowers the deductible amount to just 10k. At our current property tax rate, that means you won't be able to deduct more from your tax bill on properties worth more than ~$500k.
My family owns a farm here, the sort of small business this tax cut is supposed to help out. Guess what? Their tax bill is likely to rise - significantly - for two reasons. First, they already get taxed at the individual rate of 25%, so the new 25% pass-through rate is useless to them. Second, without the deduction on property taxes, they lose $30k in deductions. Even under the House bill, they'd lose $20k in deductions. Thanks Trump.
9
So true. This will hurt Texans and other southern states that have high property tax/low or no income taxes.
3
They should be ashamed of themselves. This is the end of America as we know it. It's become the club of 1percenters.
9
The fence-sitters who appear to be leaning toward giving this tax bill their thumbs-up now say it's because the issues they had/have with it are apparently going to be addressed at some point. When? In time for legislators AND constituents to read and evaluate them? Or will it be another midnight vote with zero transparency? Here's one revision I'd suggest. If the goal of lowering the corporate tax rate is to encourage investment in R&D and create jobs/raise wages, why don't we provide tax breaks to businesses that actually DO THAT instead? As it is, any reduction in the corporate tax rate is far more likely to wind up in the pockets of company owners and investors than in those of middle-class workers.
6
Trump is the game show host, those that don't show up are characterized "something less", as his game show suggests. His military off to the side, suggesting action against the North Koreans. Then fade to Trump, nothing to suggest but "where are my Democrats" for support. This is unsustainable behavior from a President.
3
Are capital gains that have never been taxed now going to go untaxed at the time of inheritance for the rich?
5
Mitch McConnell pontificates that he never refused a meeting with President Obama. Sure. But President Obama was not so juvenile and petty as to write a derogatory tweet on McConnell hours before the meeting.
Trump insulted "Chuck and Nancy" deliberately and Chuck and Nancy were well within their rights not to show up.
8
This Tax Bill will blow up the deficit which will increase our debt. 10-15 years from now the GOP will claim once again to be deficit hawks (THE BIGGEST LIE!!) and then they will claim entitlement programs like Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security will need to be cut to pay it down. If you don't fight this tooth and nail, don't come crying to me when you are old enough to receive these benefits... Benefits you've paid into your entire working life and they are no longer there for you.
7
Write it down. We are getting tax cuts.
2
Perhaps you are. Do you have a $10 million Estate?
Most of the rest of us are facing cuts to Medicare
7
Breaking news: households carrying most of this countries tax burden being asked not too. No more hiding the fact NYC, Cali, etc are all egregiously over taxed by using state deductions. Liberals howl more taxes if it is them (not the wealthy) being forced to pay their 'fair share'.
2
we already subsidize the moocher red states by giving more to the Federal Government than we get back while they take more in benefits than they give. We don't want to subsidize them any more than we already do just so Trump gets a huge Estate tax cut.
8
I don’t know about anybody else but I’m feeling a lot like that frog in boiling water about now.
11
Sticking it to workers, tanking the economy, ballooning deficits, all to give handouts to the wealthiest people on earth are mainstays of the Republicans party since the end of the 19th century.
The siding with foreign enemies and making excuses for sex offenders to do it is the latest wrinkle in their disgraceful behavior
9
Et tu Susan Colins? You honestly believed Trump when he told you he would be "supportive of backing legislation that would stabilize insurance prices that could rise if the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate were repealed"? Seriously? Trump's word lasts about as long as a snowflake in Hades.
This tax bill is fiscally irresponsible and if passed, the ACA will become null and void. What a Merry Christmas from the greedy Republicans. I am certain destroying all the social safety nets is next on their Christmas wish list.
9
The message is clear.
Never vote for a Republican.
Even the "good" ones voted to put McConnell in charge of the Senate.
5
This terrible, horrible, no good, very bad tax bill may actually pass. It was drafted in secrecy with no participation from the Democratic senators who represent many millions more Americans. It is aimed like a weapon against blue states, the middle and lower classes, those needing healthcare, and education among other targets.
This is class warfare. Republicans are not on the side of 99% of Americans but are abusing the trust of their constituents to do a giant giveaway to the wealthy and corporations which are already making record profits.
The betrayal of American principles with bigotry through years of birtherism and attacks on minorities and immigrants; the treason with Russia to gain the presidency; and now the conspiracy with the wealthy to raise taxes on hard working middle and lower class Americans, to take away the health insurance of 13 million Americans and raise premiums 10%, to destroy the chance for students to get a college education, and to shred a decent life for those with large medical expenses already suffering from serious illness. The deficit will expand enormously. There are no funds left for infrastructure or future disasters.
The 2018 election and the 2020 election will hopefully get rid of all these Benedict Arnolds but the damage to American democracy and representative government may be beyond repair. Shame.
9
I feel the heavy hand of the GOP in my pocket.
4
The GOP number crunchers forget that the numbers are struggling working poor and lower middle class individuals and families. The top tier of wealthy Americans and corporations scan afford to pay higher taxes and the Senate and House should be discussing exactly how much they can increase minimum wage. BTW, where's the jobs bill and the infrastructure initiative candidate Trump promised during the same campaign where he promised to tax the rich?
3
Amazing that Republicans can support a tax overhaul that most Americans do not want, and that benefits only the rich. This shows the power of the Big Donor Class and Trump's New American Oligarchy. The rest of us are unimportant, and our opinions are meaningless. It's time for a change. Let's make this right in 2018!
6
Sen. Corker "...wants some kind of mechanism to be added to the legislation that would kick in if projected economic growth from the tax rewrite does not end up materializing." This tax plan has little hope of sparking economic growth, and every thinking person knows that. The trickle-down theory is a proven failure.
Someone once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I think this idiotic idea fits the bill.
5
If the results of these proposed tax cuts are higher budget deficits, then maybe the government should look inward and see where it can make some cuts. After all, it is taxpayer money to begin with. Can the government ever do without so taxpayers can keep more of what belongs to them?
1
So potential GOP tax bill hold-outs came out of the meeting with Trump optimistic because Trump assured them their objections will be met. Of course we all know in a situation like that, Trump will always say "yes." I'm sure he has no idea of the significance of the proposals he's assuring them about -- what trade-offs might be needed, etc. So if WE know he will always make promises he can't or won't keep, don't they as well? if they do, what are they playing?
2
The passing of a senate tax bill looks more promising today then it did a few days ago. More senators seem to approve of most or a partial tax reform bill and with a bit of tweaking in the days to come hopefully it will pass the senate.
This is something the American tax payer was promised during the election and they want to see it occur. The Republicans know they must pass this bill if they are to stay relevant. It is unfortunate that there were no Democrats taking part in these discussions. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer should have attended this meeting as it should have had bipartisan support. It gives the impression that they do not care about tax reform. They cannot find fault with this tax plan when they refuse to give their input. They need to put party politics aside and show they are adults.
2
How can democrats have input when their isn’t any real hearings on the issue??? If this reform is so important should hearings be held on the issue?
2
Possibly interesting, but would be much more useful if you hadn’t made an egregious error. Social security income is taxed, contrary to your statement. Some of it is tax-free, but for middle-class families, most is taxed as regular income. Explaining the dense lines better would give clues as to the errors in this model.
1
It appears this horror show of a tax cut for the wealthy bill...will pass. The pain it will cause is frightening to contemplate. As someone who will retire in the next 5-10 years, I fear for my ability to survive with increased Medicare costs, bigger taxes and fewer programs to support the most vulnerable. America has become a heartless, libertarian nightmare. I fear for those of us who are NOT billionaires. It is going to be a very bumpy ride that most of us will not be able to afford.
5
Since the bottom half of the US does not pay ANY federal income taxes, then how in the world are tax cuts suppose to affect them in any positive way? We are seeing the effects of potential tax cuts even before they happen as both consumers and businesses large and small see them happening in the near future-the stock market has broken more daily records in Trump’s first 9 months than Obama’s 8 years in office, we’ve finally hit 3% GDP growth the last 2 quarters (never happened at all in Obama’s 8 years), the unemployment rate is the lowest in almost 2 decades. This is Trump’s economy now.
Liberals always state you can’t ignore facts. Chew on those for a bit.
2
Just to set the record straight for readers:
1. "Since the bottom half of the US does not pay ANY federal income taxes...":
Let's not leave out the *top* half. According to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policies, 18 companies (corporate welfare queens, you might say) paid an average -4 (that's negative four) percent of profits in federal income taxes between 2008 and 2015. Not to mention hiding profits offshore. And, DanielMarcMD, *shame on you* for omitting the fact that our tax-savvy POTUS claimed a $916 million loss on his New York State tax return in 1995.
2. Re GDP growth "(never happened at all in Obama’s 8 years)":
Your statement is false. GDP growth during Obama's tenure included: +4.6 Q4 11, +3.1 Q3 13, +4.0 Q 4 13, +4.6 Q2 14, +5.2 Q3 14, and +3.2 Q1 15.
3. "the stock market has broken more daily records in Trump's first 9 months..."
You mean the guy who said in the first presidential debate in September 2016 that the market was a "big, fat, ugly bubble"? [CNN.com] In fairness, the market has gained almost 30 percent; however adults in the room know that the stock market also goes down, bigly, at the most awkward times.
Let's not ignore chewable facts. As you infer, Trump will own the effects of his administration's actions, and this tax bill, after he's out of office.
4
Since all the the budgets and laws pertaining to the economy were passed last year and nothing was done this year all of the growth in the economy should be attributed to Obama’s, not Trump
4
Wrong on Obama’s GDP growth during his 8 years; he never reached 3%:
http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/economy/2017/01/06/obama-economy-10-ch...
1
Ironically, this bill won't really benefit the really rich because they don't pay taxes anyway.
2
What was done to President Obama from 2008-2016 is repeated and directed toward President Trump. Washington is dysfunctional and voting in today's election confirms and endorses candidates who stand for nothing but focus on obstruction. President Trump wants a wall; democrats want amnesty! Polar opposites diametrically opposed with no room for compromise, both parties are at fault. Infrastructure and tax reform with no addendums should be the focal point and the concurrent agreement of both parties. Yes President Trump is a buffoon, gruff and of sub-par intelligence, but the issue:the economy, jobs and the shrinking middle class. He speaks for the continental US not only for the democratic stronghold of LA, NYC, SF. The more the democrats oppose, the stronger his 2020 candidacy becomes and his re-election inevitable. The US is a diverse country but also it has a diversity of opinions and beliefs. It is unfortunate political parties have become monthiestic in thought and its support bi-coastal.
I will never understand why middle and lower class Republicans support this kind of redistribution of wealth; to the upper class. What is this going to gain us all? Or especially them, those middle to lower class Republicans voting for Republican. You'll get a very slight tax cut at first, then be crushed later. We'll all end up with more debt, a lot more debt. I just don't get the logic.
1
This is a travesty, and I feel helpless. Do we in blue states have any recourse? If we call out-of-state Republican Senators, do our voices make any difference? The Republican tax plan is insane.
3
Based upon the comments of Sen Collins and Sen Corker, it sounds like the freight train has started rolling downhill - and I'm afraid (for the country) that there's no stopping it now.
3
It's almost not even worth discussing all this. "Lies and stealing" sums up this and everything else Trump and the Republicans do. "Sophistry" sums up the thinking of any conservative intellectuals who defend them.
You see this behavior and you have to extrapolate. Do you really think these people will give up power just because they lose some elections? I don't think so.
2
This will pretty much be the last stand for the sole remaining Senators such as McCain, Collins, Flake, and Corker to unify their moral integrity into a solid rejection of Trumpism and a solid "no vote" on this tax bill. For the moderates and anyone else with any hope of returning to a civil, vital, and responsible Conservative Party in this country, this President must be denied this craven Plutocratic agenda at all cost. We already know Lisa Murkowski was simply bought out by giving her the prize rights to drilling in the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge. So much for her integrity after that first blush bucking the party in the summer with the ACA vote. Everyone has their price.
6
Dear Chuck and Nancy,
Thank you for taking a stand. Don't let accusations of playing politics and being partisan bother you. When Republicans set out to make Obama a one term President, and refused to cooperate not on legislation but even on nominating a Supreme Court Justice, their justification was that Obama was so extreme, and his policies so horrible, that their behavior was merely principled. Obama, for his part, declined to argue with Republicans on principles, but instead called them out for being partisan and playing politics. Fast forward to the present, and we now have a congress run by these obstructionists, and a President who represents the antithesis of everything Obama represented. Clearly, the Republican voters bought into their argument.
Trump is a dangerous psychopath who relishes pushing the boundaries of legal or ethical behavior. He will continue to seek gratification by violating norms and maintaining the loyalty of the Republican party. He is now making the case that a child rapist who has refused to uphold the law of the land on two occasions is a preferable choice to a Democratic candidate and he still enjoys the support of his base.
The fact is that the vision of the future posed by the Republican party is diametrically opposed to that of the Democrats. This tax bill seeks to starve the gov't of funds and ultimately to roll back elements of the great society. There is no room for compromise. Republicans need to own this catastrophic bill.
41
VOTE 2018
1
Let's be clear: Men and "women" are doing this to us.
5
Shame. The Devil is in the details.
7
Sorry, but it looks like it’s going to pass.
Being from New York, my taxes are going up.
13
But now you can smile because the people out in the open country aren't going to be paying your state's bills so much.
You can smile with pride every time you are reminded that your state thinks enough of you to ask you to pay more so that progressivism will triumph.
If you've been trained to hate Trump voters, this will be icing on the cake.
New York, New Jersey, and California, among others, support the red states. They pay out more they than receive. I think they should secede.
1
L'osservatore - you have it the wrong way round. You repeat a falsehood.
Today, NY and Calif citizens pay far more $ to the IRS than the US Government spends in NY and Calif.
We are already subsidizing your "open country". Your "open country" gets US welfare payments from our pockets, and now is reaching for more.
2
"Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer pulled out of a White House meeting after President Trump attacked them in a tweet."
If they pulled out because of the Tweet then they need to start putting the country first and participate in meetings critical to determining our nation's future,
Such an action looks like bitter obstructionism.
4
Or he could stop using social media to air out his irrational grievances and focus on running our country instead
John, the guy you are dealing with says no deal. Why the heck go sit there?
Do you think that Trump's tweets are nothing but entertainment for his base?
2
So, were the Republicans just “basic obstructionists” against Obama while the Democrats are “bitter obstructionists” against Trump?
2
Tump just wanted them for a photo op. Nothing else. Neither Trump nor Ryan nor McConnell intend to listen. Or even pretend to listen. If they listened, that would be a sign of competency, which history shows they lack.
Better not to show up to give them their fake show of bi-partisanship.
36
I wonder how much a Senate Budget Committee costs these days.
13
Hopefully more GOP members then just McCain will stand up for what's right and protect the financial integrity of the American middle class!
16
The Democrats should announce that if the Republicans pass the tax bill the tax bill, the Democrats will not vote for raising the debt limit, so a vote for the tax bill is in fact a vote for shutting down the government. The Republicans have always been so good at shifting the blame it is time for the Democrats to do the same
36
If every Democrat in D.C. brought a box of TNT to the Capitol and Mr. Schumer lit the match to blow the whole building to bits, the WaPo and NYT would print solid proof the next morning that the GOP, Trump, Roy Moore and James O'Keefe were the guys who did it.
2
I am stunned to read that Senator Collins has been placated in some way. How could that be? Many of her constituents are still going to lose their Medicaid insurance. As many as 85,000 children will be affected by the so-called tax breaks in the bill. According to a report for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, that is the number of children in Maine who will receive less than the full increase in tax savings. 29,000 children from families with low incomes would receive less than $75.00.
Then there are the questions of changes to the tax savings after 10 years, which are permanent for the ultra-wealthy, but are rescinded for most all of the middle-class. And then there are the tax breaks on the estate tax, and the other loopholes which continue for the super rich. What part of voting no doesn’t Senator Collins understand? Her constituents don’t want it, and she shouldn’t, either.
47
Trump's approach to tax reform kind of reminds me of Obama's on the issues of healthcare and the budget. Obama wanted Republican votes, but he was totally uninterested in their opinions or suggested changes. And look what a mess that gave us. Looks like we are heading down the same path again.
2
Apparently, you forgot about the time Obama invited Congress to the White House, to discuss the proposals about what was to become ACA. That meeting was televised, by the way. He certainly was open to hear what Republicans had to say; except, what they had to say was more political than productive.
In the grand scheme, it wasn't that Obama didn't want to hear what the Republicans had to say; it's more like the Republicans stopped at nothing to play partisan politics with Obama.
Only to rant and whine afterwards, because they couldn't have their way.
2
Give me a break. Nothing could be further from the truth. The ACA has its roots in a conservative think tank. You look foolish when you tell this kind of lie.
2
Hmm nothing spells we don’t want your input like hundreds of hours of hearings and amendments. Nice one
1
These lying frauds in the Republican party claim to be deficit hawks, but the evidence indicates they are only deficit hawks when it's a proposal by a Democratic President, otherwise they don't mind blowing a hole in the deficit.
25
Nice... so the Budget Committee decided to ignore how this would affect the budget? Sounds like Republican doublespeak to me.
They claim again and again to hate the deficit, then cut taxes to the rich and blow up the deficit, and cost the public billions upon billions.
How can anyone vote for these clowns?
15
People who believe in magic know there can be no logical connection between cause and effect for it to happen.
Sarah Sanders should be ashamed of herself. Her Orwellian excuses for this excuse of a president are pitiful.
Trump needs to work with Democrats and he needs public input. That he is so immature and grotesquely out of his depth should not be made light of with petty lies by Ms. Sanders.
22
As long as the Democrats hang tough, a new tax bill is moot. The continuing resolution FY budget will be based on the previous FY budget. Nothing new! To quote Roll Call: "Passing a budget resolution is key to the GOP goal to overhaul the tax system and helps kick-start the appropriations process because it sets topline budget numbers. " There are many ways to skin a horse.
7
Well, I suppose we could always put the "pettiness" comment to a test:
The next time Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are invited to a White House meeting to meet with Trump and Congressional leaders, one of them can tweet "Off to meet congressional leaders at White House. We're bringing a paddle-ball and a 500+ piece puzzle set so that @realDonaldTrump has something to do, should be a productive meeting!"
If Trump is above pettiness, he'll let it go.
11
The real question that should be asked is: Is this bill good for the US, bad for the US, or just bad for high tax states? That's the question none of MSM is addressing.
3
There is a very nice graphic in this newspaper today that depicts the scattered distribution of effects of this legislation on individual taxpayers at all income levels. You can decide if it is good or bad for you.
Yeah...it's "just" bad for millions of people. Wow, you uncovered a zinger there.
Do any of you deriding the Tax Bill know anything about it other than echoing what you've read about it in the NYT? Because if you only read the NY Times, all you know about it is that it "benefits the rich". That sentiment is not based on fact but based upon the natural reaction of liberals to any Tax cut at all and if you don't believe that you can do what Casey Stengel says and "look it up".
This afternoon the NYT published an article, "What the Tax Bill Would Look like for 25,000 Middle Class Families". The authors state that "most middle class families will pay less in taxes until 2027". So doesn't the accumulated savings between 2018-2026 add up to more than what they would pay in 2027? If it's that unfair you don't think that other legislation would be enacted between now and 2027 to rescind that? You have no confidence that democrats will again have control between now and 2027 and be in a position to create new legislation? C'mon guys.
1
Until last November, the liberals were all in favor of eliminating itemized deductions such as taxes, interest, and even contributions. The reason was that they disproportionately benefitted wealthier tax filers. The facts are still accurate. The liberals are what have changed. Since Trump proposed to eliminate them, they are now fervent believers in tax policies that favor the rich. Oh, and they figured out that they are part of the group that would lose the deductions.
You can look to more than a dozen reputable news outlets and know how damaging this bill is to most of the country.
2
Rich liberals don't feel so bad about taxation because they see how the public spending it funds filters back into their own income.
1
This is terrible the NYT's stock price could jump another 2 points if this passes. What will the NYT editorial board do? Buy a new Mercedes is my suggestion and keep complaining & crying until the man's term is up. Stay Angry & Carry On!
5
The GOP has turned Congress into a house of ill repute. The fact that even Susan Collins claims to believe the chronic liar at the head of the table who says she can offer amendments to the tax bill only shows how deeply GOP pimps have gutted any lingering scruples. She's one of a couple of Senators who fought the rape of the ACA. Now she's gonna participate. All hope is gone.
15
So those we thought had some kind of moral compass in the GOP like Collins is now on board to vote for this tax handout to the rich. Susan Collins should be ashamed of herself knowing full well that this does nothing for the middle class with many of them paying higher taxes, not lower taxes. There is no honor or integrity in this GOP Congress when they would harm the middle class to favor the rich. Hopefully, in the elections to come America will realized that they were played for fools, had a tax bill shoved down their throats so that the rich can have more, and vote every GOP liar out of office. And for those that would obey their master Trump and do his bidding, you are part of the problem. You are suppose to be an equal part of our government, not a lap dog for him.
11
Will be interesting to see if there are three Senators "man enough" (meaning two female Senators who can find a third who isn't scared of the weak Predator in Chief.) And Sarah Sanders gets an award for most abhorrent person of the year.
15
Republicans are hellbent on handing over the keys to our nation to a bunch of selfish wannabe oligarchs. Meanwhile, is the DNC really doing anything to stop them or just faking resistance?
6
Great gaslighting, Mr. President!
6
Our President is a worm with no moral compass and neither the republicans or the democrats have any courage to provide constructive leadership.
7
Susan Collins pleas please please please stand your ground and don’t let the con-man in chief con his way to your vote. You have been a beacon of hope that not all republicans are self-interested cowards. You know this bill is flawed and will hurt almost everyone in your state.
13
the biggest tax scam in US history brought to us by elected traitors one and all.
13
Who, again, is Sara Sanders? Was she elected to office? Is she in a position to speak either for or against anyone elected? I think not.
6
shut it down. let the republicans reap what they have sown
5
Ah, Jeff and Bob -- gone so soon? We hardly knew ya!
Senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker had brief moments in the limelight -- like Jim Comey (who's still there). Alas, though, Flake and Corker appear to have lost their "good guy" status as they apparently intend to vote for the Republican tax bill.
Hooda thunk it, eh? Two Republicans voting for a Republican tax bill?
12
The selling out of America is almost complete.
Ethics is no match for greed.
23
I applaud the Democrats refusing to act as collaborators. There is no role for "negotiation" with this current regime. This "president" and this toadying Congress continue to dismantle our once great country. Targeting racial and ethnic minorities? Check. Removing access to health care for millions of our neediest citizens? Check. Stripping away the rights of women to control their own bodies? Check. And now, taking even more resources from our poorest citizens so that the wealthiest can buy that extra villa on the French Riviera?
What could there possibly be to negotiate with any Republican in this Congress, or in the White House. Negotiation with people like this is tantamount to negotiating with one's killer to at least go about it a little more slowly. The only "choice" we now have as a nation is by how many cuts death will be.
What would possibly motivate decent people to "reach out" to leaders as depraved as the ones who now control this country? And these leaders are effecting the very policies their voters want. The poorest Republican voter will give up his home, his family's security, and his very health, as long as whites, particularly white men, continue to rule this country. As long as rights and liberties are only for them. This is all they want. Trump voters would gladly go hungry should this tax cut be passed, so long as their "dear leader" tells them it's a win.
Negotiation with this regime? Never. Overthrow? Yes. By any peaceful means necessary.
13
If the people of the United States fail to oust the GOP majorities in 2018, it may spell the doom of American democracy. The big money oligarchy are waging an outright civil war against the majority of Americans, and they are winning. They have a third of the population brainwashed with their propaganda media, and the political districts so gerrymandered that it takes a 2/3 majority vote to win 50% of a state's congressional districts.
10
For once I agree with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who adviseed Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to "put aside their pettiness, show up and get to work." If our prima donna Democratic leaders are too thin-skinned to manage a Trump tweet, they should be replaced by someone tougher and more focused. This would be a good thing anyway, because both Chuck and Nancy represent the much-disliked Establishment, and its Clintonian approach to national policies, which brought us severe income inequality. Someone like Elizabeth Warren would have shown up to the meeting with Trump, and moreover would have pushed forcefully on our behalf. Go take a nap, Nancy, while your minions ensure you receive the proper reception at your next engagement.
2
"Chuck and Nancy represent the ... Establishment"
GOP controlled Congress 6 of 8 years under Obama, 6 of 8 years under Bush, 6 of 8 years under Clinton.
So, it is obvious to every Conservative that it is all of the liberals fault.
Because they failed to stop the incompetent GOP for 19 of the last 25 years.
4
Here is what I know. Between this tax bill and what Phill Murphy is proposing, there is a very good chance that we will be moving to Floriday or Washington State when our kids graduate high school. Which is in a few years.....
To remain here and literally be financially excoriated seems stupid. I would love nothing more than to stay put but at some point, enough is enough.
.....I guess the good news is two more blue people in the red state or Florida.
1
New York State is a great example of how tax and spend policies destroy democracies, governments hence communities more so than any other action our politicians can take. NYS is simply totally fiscally irresponsible and corrupt.
1
More important than ever is a front page chart of what is in the bill, the items they want to hide from the public, such as defining unborn children, etc etc. Please.
11
Donald J. Trump is a serial liar and a bully. His calling Senator Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" motivated me to get a copy of her book, "Fighting Chance" published in 2014. The need for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and healthcare are brilliantly argued for. The American people really need to be informed and participate in the political process and not blindly follow Fox and Friends.
12
This tax bill will prove to be like the creature in the Alien films. It will be shoved down our throats and the some time in the future it will burst out of our collective chests, killing our economic future.
12
Still think there are sane moderates among the Republicans? Just watch Susan Collins. As always, she and other supposed moderates will be hard to move off of their default position: "I'm a Republican first."
I really do wish that the New York Times would run a blunt story about the politics being played out here, rather than treating it as just the usual political maneuvering. I'll suggest a title:
"Just. Sign. Tax. Cuts. Before. You. Are. Arrested."
10
Would it have mattered?
"What do all those smug Johnson and Stein voters say now?"
If every single voter who voted for a minority-party candidate had instead voted for Hillary Clinton, she would not have won any additional state.
3
Wait, what? She would have won Wisconsin just with Stein's votes. Where are you getting your (dis)-information? (Lost by 23,000, Stein received 31,000).
3
Can you imagine a more lucrative place to be an influence-peddling lawyer than the US, ThreeCents?
Djt,
You're right -- I overstated the point and stand corrected. However, if all of the Stein voters had voted for Hillary and all of the Johnson voters had voted for Trump (more likely, in each case), or if the Johnson/Stein voters had simply voted for Trump and Hillary in the same proportions as other voters did, the result wouldn't have been affected in any state. It's possible, of course, that all or nearly all Johnson voters would have voted for Hillary if Johnson hadn't been on the ballot, but it's generally accepted that most Libertarian voters would opt for the Republican candidate if no Libertarian candidate appeared on the ballot (and vice-versa for Jill Stein, of course).
You can talk about whether or not Shumer and Pelosi are petty, but they reacted to it that mentioned immigrants flooding across our border and then, in the next line, that these two were weak on crime. Mixing these two images--crime and immigrants-- is again borderline racism coming from the president. The Dems are talking about DACA, not the flow of immigrants. It's too much already. I would protest too.
3
If this passes....a collapse will be coming soon!
6
Donald Trump explains his idiocy:
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I still talked like a child, I still thought as a child and still reasoned like a child.”
With apologies to: 1 Corinthians 13:11New International Version (NIV).
3
Trump hasn't changed since his personality crystallized in a punitive military academy his daddy sent him to to polish up his manners.
Yeah well, remember his "Two Corinthians?"
"Democratic leaders skipped a meeting with Mr. Trump to work on a deal" -
This is exactly why we term limits in Congress.
These two lifelong government wonks have sucked the life out of American taxpayers for way too long.
Schumer and the wrinkled what ever she is from California are the types that start revolutions, like my great grands did against King George of England to fight for his freedom and duress under over levied taxes.
1
I do not believe your great-grandfather fought in the American Revolution ... do the arithmetic. Oh yeah, Republicans don't believe in arithmetic ... right?
2
"Put aside their pettiness." This president is the epitome of "petty"--carrying his petty grudges to the highest office in the land. If you want to see the definition of projection, the white house provides a perfect opportunity. Democrats, stay strong. Don't let this bully control the conversation.
12
Frankly this is terrifying. This tax bill is horrible and will do real damage to tens of millions and to the economy at large. It is of course impossible to tell how it will affect me personally as the process has been so completely opaque but I expect my taxes will rise and my retirement prospects will dim as the repubs take an ax to social security, medicare, and other social programs that most Americans rely on. Of course the full effects of this horrible bill won't be felt for years at which time the repubs will blame it all on the Democrats, and their sheep, er, I mean, supporters, will blindly accept their denials.
8
Maybe we shouldn't be relying on government. This country was founded and grew based in the notion of independence and self-sufficiency. The men who built the railroads didn't do it for the retirement benefits. There weren't any food stamps with those Conestoga wagons. Having children didn't equate to tax breaks.
1
If you want to Make America Great Again, than consider the alternative. Instead of the trickle down effedt, try the trickle up effect. Raise the minimum wage., Every dollar earned will be spent by buying manufacturers products, food, cars, etc. The wealthy put their money into the stock market where it languishes making more money on paper but not stimulating the economy at all. Those millions that essentially live hand to mouth are the backbone of the country and will stimulate actual broadbased growth. Give the wealthy even more money and you want to take a flyer that that will translate into higher wages? If the goal is higher wages, than skip the posturing and guessing and just DO it!
10
I applaud Shumer and Pelosi and their decision to not attend Trump's meeting. How they could stand to be in the same room with him, let alone breath the same air is beyond comprehension. Sarah Huckster Sanders, Trump's shill, should take caution in her tone. Pelosi and Shumer are simply wondering how this deficit busting bill, from which the rich will gain the most permanently aligns with Republicans pledge to control government spending. They don't want to be part of a lie.
16
Today's game show host response to North Korea clearly indicates we need a President, not Monty Hall. Trump's removal of critical diplomatic personal suggests he will weaken our ability to engage and resolve disputes with other nations. We are looking at someone bent to make America a nation without cause or purpose in the world, unless we make Trump ruler. Scary stuff.
6
as of right now they have 49 votes with johnson, mccain and flake noncommittal; collins and corker are in according to wapo.
this looks unfortunately like it's going to happen as they will do something for johnson to get his vote.
not much can derail a "successful" conference committee either.
1
So Johnson and Daines have a similar objection: the giveaway to the rich isn't big enough. As another NYT article stated, 70% of the income that qualifies as pass-through goes to the 1%.
5
The middle class is what made America great. Education for all and jobs with a reasonable wage and benefits were the enhancing lives. The past 35 years of the GOP's constant assault on the middle class has ensured a return to a two class system of haves and have nots. This new tax scam will just hasten the demise of the powerless classes as 80% of the population will not have money for more than basic necessities. High debt, low wages and no healthcare for the much of the population are not a formula for making anything great.
With current unemployment at 4% or so, the federal budget should be in balance; even paying off some debt. Congress and the Whitehouse should figure out how to do such, but it will never happen. If the tax scam is passed, the return to trillion dollar yearly deficits is a lock--especially if there is even a mild recession...oh goody.
3
Unbelievable hypocrisy on the Federal budget deficit. Worse, it's premised on deceit.
First the math. Say the corporate tax rate is 30%. Then $1,000 generates $300. If rate the drops to 20%, in order get the same $300, that $1,000 now has to swell to a tax basis of $1,500, which is 50% growth. Maybe there are multiplier effects, adn whatnot that change the calculation, but to a non-economist that's the highly implausible way it looks. If my math is wrong, someone please save me.
Second, Republicans are reasoning as if taxed money just goes into some vault to decompose. The sentiment is widespread, of course, but in actual fact a lot of Federal spending stimulates economic activity and growth. The very notion that our economic woes, such as they are, results from lack of private capital and investment and that letting the wealthy keep more money will unleash a surge of investment and growth is ludicrous. Banks are more profitable than ever, corporations on sitting on tons of capital, while the little guys who supported the president see their labor earnings whittled away.
Far from America becoming 'great', it seems to be transforming into just another kleptocracy, but, for reasons I can't fathom, with the enthusiastic consent of the Trump-loving "klepted".
5
If this tax bill passes to pacify wealthy donors it's likely to cost Republicans many seats as their base finally realizes they were scammed. But those donors won't care, as they will have their permanent tax deductions and can hang back for a while while they decide whether to put their newly gained taxpayer funded money into an offshore account or set up a new shell company to hold it. They can then donate to the Democratic majority to avoid rescinding their lucrative tax breaks.
When you align with a group that has no interest in your future but only their own you've made a pact with the devil and we all know how that turns out.
5
The Dynamic Analysis has yet to be released. It is very likely to reveal a very bad bill for the deficit and most Americans. That is unlikely to stop Republicans.
If this passes, maybe the rubes who support Trump and those who are asleep watching Dancing with the Stars will wake up and take back the country in 2018. It's like the decline of Rome all over again.
2
These people don't believe any kind of mathematical dynamic analysis. It is all climate change hee-haw to them.
3
Thank you Democrats for rejecting this dangerous and destructive tax bill shoved through both houses by the Republicans and Republican/Trump big money donors. I see that the Republicans who seemed to have a brief moment of conscious let that pass and put party over the people of this country, who you were voted to represent. Shame on you, Congress. Every single one of you need to show your campaign donors and tax returns -- hard to believe that it doesn't benefit all of you who voted for it. As a working professional, I am disgusted with this administration, it's GOP cow-towed Congress, and the billionaire donors who just got an early Christmas present. You are not my government! At least Senator Schumer and Representative Pelosi had the guts to walk out of this blatant pandering to the rich whose greed is unparalleled.
5
I can't believe Republicans are threatening Democrats with government shutdown. If there were a total government shutdown, it would be extremely detrimental to the Republican party and the presidency.
1
I see there is still the rush to pass a bill, any bill, before its implications can be analyzed by the experts rather than just by the ideologues. The health bills failed when their implications became known. I suppose the Republicans will try not to make that mistake again.
3
I just feel sadness about this. We have hundreds of Representatives and Senators toiling to dismantle the middle class on behalf of a handful of greedy power mongers. It makes no sense. Is this the point of their lives? Will they honestly lie on their deathbeds filled with satisfaction that they brought low a great nation in order to enrich a few plutocrats?
5
I'm sure they expect a red carpet reception at the Pearly Gates, because God finds Republicans so fascinating, He wants their company in Heaven for the rest of time.
The republican senators are still engaged in a con game by making promises to those who don't want to see and increase in the national debt, those who think the "pass through" should be more generous and those who think the individuals should have a more permanent set of tax cuts rather than big business.
This is the same sort of “To and Fro” the republicans went to extremes in trying to get their repeal and not replace with the Affordable Care Act earlier this year. Remember that activity would have taken away health insurance for between 23 Million and 32 Million Americans.
This current republican activity would reward the rich with huge tax cuts while it sticks it to the Hundreds of Millions of the working poor and middle class. In addition, this current legislation would take the Affordable Care Act “Individual Mandate” away and force “only” 13 Million Americans to lose their health care while it cost many more Millions of Americans to have to pay much higher insurance premiums.
I noted Senator Collins saying that: "I’m going to be getting the opportunity to offer amendments on the senate floor" when will that happen since the republicans want a final vote this Friday?
3
The "President" hurls insults and calls Democrats names and then feigns shock when Democrats decide not to attend. I think the Democrats should demand two conditions before they choose to participate.
1. An acknowledgement and apology for the hatred and obstruction that Republican legislators showed when Obama was President.
2. A guarantee that all those in attendance, especially the "President," show a measure of dignity and respect toward the expression of views different from those that they espouse and those who express them.
3
Please Bob Mueller, please. Truly, you are the only thing standing between the American people and disaster. This tax plan will not only bankrupt many middle and lower middle income Americans like me, it will dramatically increase the deficit. Don't think the Republicans won't put Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security on the chopping block, right after the midterms, to help fill the hole left by their irresponsible budget plan. These people are absolutely heartless.
3
It took Senator Corker a whole day to lose his principles. It was just yesterday that he said he would not vote for a bill that adds one cent to the deficit. The bill he voted to move out of committee and onto the Senate Floor will add 150 trillion pennies to the deficit. Maybe he was just overwhelmed by the big number in a way that didn't allow him to vote smart.
4
Sorry to see Senator Corker throw his principles to the wind. I really thought he had the backbone to stand up to the President. Let's hope Senators McCain, Collins, and Murkowski demonstrate the will to return to "regular order" and seek a bipartisan approach to handling tax policy that affects all 300 million Americans. Please do the right thing and postpone action for several months to take a principled approach.
3
Another prime example of what terrorizes the Left. The tax bill gets passed, worked on, and becomes law. The economy takes off like crazy. Wages increase. Life improves for millions. Trump gets re-elected.
The Left would prefer the economy not improve, wages decrease, and life worsens just so there's less of a chance that Trump gets re-elected.
Quite pathetic.
2
Does anyone believe the tax bill will not become law? Let these naifs consider these two words: Citizens United. In other words, when the wealthy and powerful pay, they must and will be served.
Certainly, anyone who thinks the US ever has really been about democracy and idealism is naive and hasn't been paying attention to the wealth disparity, regulatory history, and war-mongering (Central and South America; Philippines; Cuba and Haiti; Iraq, etc.) that defines us to our similarly well-off but no longer aggressive country-club brethren.
But, in the past, there was absolute faith that programs like SS, Medicare, and Medicaid were necessary to keep the "lower classes" from open revolt. Now, a brilliant, decades-long campaign of lies and deceit has accomplished a seemingly impossible jiu-jitsu move: programs to help the less fortunate are seen as injurious to those needing them--- by those recipients! And initiatives that help the rich accumulate more and more are seen by these self-same lower-income folks as beneficial--- to themselves!
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
5
Pelosi and Schumer can't win. If they went to a meeting and no deal was made, Trump would blame them. But Trump announces that a deal can't be made, so they don't waste their time going --- and Huckabee-Sanders blames them.
There's nothing you can do when truth is irrelevant and the whole point is to make you look bad.
This is true for the country as a whole under this repugnant leadership. They have to go in 2018.
3
Every Republican will vote for this bill. They bought off Susan Collins, and the frantic, crazy zombie-like drive to win SOMETHING is reducing the Republicans to crazed netherworld creatures. They are using every bribe, every trick, every obfuscation to get this mess over the finish line. No hearings, no discussion, no collaboration with Democrats, no regard for the American people. And the teaser-rate tax cuts of a few hundred bucks they provide for the first two years to get the rubes past the 2018 election are the most immoral, most despicable bribes we have seen in many years--perhaps in our whole history.
The public will pay for this when Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid along with God knows how many other beneficial programs are destroyed. Ìt's back to the age of the robber barons.
7
We can still hope that this GOP tuna (the tax bill) will go belly-up. It smells bad enough to suggest that perhaps it is already dead. I am really hoping that the year 2017 will end with NO substantial items on the GOP agenda passed. Based on what I have been reading, the GOP leadership is having nightmares over this very real possibility.
Oh, and since I am forever quoting Brecht/Weill songs, there is one with a title that translates as something like, "As one makes one's bed, so one must lie in it."
Just simply horrifying. We will be paying for this for years to come.
Get ready, citizens, for the dismantling of Social Security and Medicare. Be careful what you wish for. This is a true emergency.
2
What is clear to me is that the RNC doesn't want DNC votes for any legislation, they actually treat the DNC as though they aren't really there or of any importance. Of course any failure of the RNC to pass legislation will be blamed on the DNC as being uncooperative and un-American. It plays well with their base and gives them an easy out. It's all about the manipulation of We-the-People - nothing more. To Trump this is all a big game. His disdain for America and our Constitutional government is evident.
8
I was in one of the resistance movements. Part of my group included a young, disabled woman worried about losing SSI. I encouraged her to keep coming to the meetings and she made it clear the poor would be attacked first and lose under this regime and that includes the reps. She was right. The rest of us knew our fate would be met with an early demise with easily anticipated cuts. Here they are. Thanks for the present. Where are you going to bury us?
9
Sensible compromise on property taxes: $10,000 cap on deduction. That will hurt taxpayers in high-priced areas (SF, for example), but let all but a few homeowners deduct property taxes.
It seems like this tax reform bill is all about politics Democrats versus Republicans instead of what is best for all Americans. The best idea I heard from Trump was that it should be written so that all Americans can understand it and file their taxes without the assistance of a tax accountant or lawyer.
Maybe the Democrats should have thought about this before rigging the primaries in favor of H. Clinton over Sanders and we would not have been in this mess. Identify politics at its worst. Now we all pay the price in NY, CT, NJ and CA.
7
Oh please, just stop with the conspiracy ideation. You and the Russian trolls. By the way, those states voted big for Clinton, and the rest of the electorate were seriously impacted by voter suppression and intimidation. Nothing like blaming the victims for what Republicans did. Or perhaps you are a Trump supporter?
3
Ah yes, the Russians. As a life long voting Democrat (who has stopped voting for either party out of disgust) your response is predictable. Perhaps Democrats do not see the fault in their own actions that led to this situation. Look in the mirror once and awhile. I suggest you read Thomas Frank's recent book on Democrats abandonment of the working class as to why they lose all the time.
1
Socialist Sanders bit your bait hook line and sinker.
Susan Collins you are a fool if you believe Trump will address your concerns in future legislation. With his track record of flip flopping and lying to get elected you better get want you want first and then give him what he wants or you will be made a fool of.
41
She doesn't believe it. She's just caving in to the pressure of the party and using that story as an excuse so she can say she held to her principles. When the middle class gets raked over the coals over the next 4 years, she can then just say she was "lied to".
She's no better than the rest of the party Anybody with a shred of decency in that party would just flat-out vote "no" and not bargain for any concessions, because the bill is so far afield from decent and fair that it cannot be "fixed". It has to be trashed and forgotten.
The GOP hung the moniker "ObamaCare" around the Democrat Party's neck - and rode it to victory...Why haven't the Dems done likewise with "TrumpTax"...
If a Conservative is a Liberal who's been mugged - is a Liberal a Conservative who's been extorted...
By their own political party...
8
"Pettiness"? Really?
How does Sarah Huckabee Sanders live with herself?
Jesus called. He wants his name back.
41
Several GOP Senators are "on the fence" about the upcoming vote (later this week) for the "Tax Reform" bill. Please join me in calling these Senators and asking for them to vote no for this financial slap in the face for most Americans:
Senator Corker 202-224-3344
Senator Flake, 202-224-4521
Senator Collins 202-224-2523
Senator Johnson 202-224-5323
Senator Daines 202-224-2651
Senator Moran 202-224-6521
You can also text RESIST to 50409 and have emails and/or letters sent to these specific Senators.
27
I called 2 of them.
Call these senators and let them know how you feel about the GOP tax cut for the rich! Tell them to please vote no!
Jeff Flake 202-228-0515
Lisa Murkowski (202) 224-6665
John McCain (202) 224-2235
Susan Collins (202) 224-2523.
32
Trump and the Republicans are going to own a screwed up healthcare system and a wretched tax code. Thy may do okay in 2018 but after that, they'll return to being a minority party. Also too bad, that Corker just proved he doesn't really have a spine! But hey why not help write yourself a hugely generous tax cut before going off to be a corporate lobbyist?
18
Who do these Senators think they are kidding? This tax plan is a boondoggle and bad legislation for many different reasons - they are caving to special interests and lobbyists.. Nothing more, and nothing less. #SAD
12
Two thirds of them know they don't even have to run for re-election next year.
This the eighteenth century pace of events dictated by our great compromise with slavery.
Susan Collins must be one of Democrats' favorite Republicans, but to hear her say that she is reassured after meeting with Trump that many of her concerns will be addressed has most of us scratching our heads. How she can trust anything he says is unfathomable. Oh well, one more finger in the dam coming out.
26
To West Coast and Mid-West complainers here - You FAILED to pressure your Republican Representatives to vote against the House bill.
In NY and NJ, we convinced our GOP Reps to vote against. You didn't.
I emailed and snail-mailed 350 neighbors in our Village to write and call our rep. I stuffed 120 envelopes.
You didn't.
Our GOP Rep voted against. Your West Coast and Mid-West Reps voted in favor.
How dare you come here to complain.
18
I am sick of Hickabee- Sanders and her sneering derision towards anyone who won’t bow down to you know who.
24
Well, it looks like Senator Corker's conscience must have the day off. Shoveling money to the ultra-rich is the only real Republican value.
25
What common ground can there be between people who want the federal government to assert adult supervision over the states to maintain a common denominator of equally protective law and policy, and people who will have none of it?
6
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, says Democrats should “put aside their pettiness” and show up for the meeting."
Wait a minute.
Trump said this morning that he "Did not see a deal" on this issue before the two Democrats even left for the meeting. Then why should they go to a meeting that Trump has already shot down their positions, which he doesn't even know, since he hasn't talked to either of them.
And Sara Huckabee Sanders says: “put aside their pettiness”?
It seems to me that Trump and Huckabee Sanders are the ones with the "pettiness" issues. Trump didn't even want to hear what the two Democrats had to say. And Trump has claimed at least a million times that he is "the great deal maker." Yah, right, sure you are Trump; not.
22
Once a republican politician, always a republican politician.
Imagine the history books when this segment is written up for future generations.
"The last and only piece of legislation signed by Donald Trump before he resigned his office because of coordinating efforts with Russia as a candidate and acting as an investment partner for the Russian leaders as a businessman, was the tax bill which (a) robbed the middle class to reward corporations with reduced taxes, (b) added $2T to the national deficit, and (c) eliminated the inheritance taxes for the small number of the wealth class of the country."
Wordy, but it had to be translated from Russian.
As PT Barnum once said ...
As Pogo once said ...
14
You would have thought the elderly Democratic swamp monsters Chuck and Nancy would have acquired a thicker skin by now.
They got their feelings hurt because the Con Don sent mean tweets about them.
So what?
You were elected to serve the interests of your constituents and not to throw some hissy fit like a 12 year old.
But I guess since you are the Democratic 'leaders', yet don't offer voters a viable alternative vision besides "I'm against Him", you might as well go back to your safe space and pounce instead of fighting.
Both of you and many of your colleagues benefit greatly from this aberration of a tax bill.
But, thanks, for showing your true colors, bailing out of the legislative process because bad, bad Trump wasn't playing nice.
7
You didn't listen to what they said.
The aren't meeting with Trump because it will be a waste of time.
And they are right.
3
"bad, bad Trump" wasn't playing at all. So why should they participate in the charade? There is no "process" with this bill. If the Republicans wanted input they would hold hearings.
3
What is the point of going to a meeting when the person you are going to negotiate with says that there is no deal? It seems like good time management to me...not a hissy fit.
The most depressing thing about this article is the indication that Republicans --even Corker and Collins -- are moving to support the awful tax bill. The well known fact that "in the end, the Republican moderates fold" may be about to be proven right again -- the only recent contrary example was the failure of the Obamacare repeal with three negative Republican votes.
16
Hopefully it has now become obvious what the Republicans think of the 99% - that our only purpose is serfdom to the uber wealthy, that somehow if we're not uber wealthy it's our fault, and that we simply don't matter. Period.
13
This is what you get when you elect an immature, petulant, self-absorbed and deeply needy man-child.
And to think there are still millions and millions of people who support this President.
13
'Bout time the Democratic leadership showed some backbone (some life ?!). I've been waiting.
4
Well! I can't say I am sorry about this bill.
I will most probably benefit financially.
Furthermore:
I, at least, can say with a clear conscience that I voted against the Donald.
What do all those smug Johnson and Stein voters say now?
What do half the eligible voters in the country, who didn't bother to register and vote, have to complain about now?
What does the Democratic party, which supported the candidate with the strongest negative rating, say now?
To paraphrase:
Countries get the leaders that they deserve.
9
Smug Johnson and Stein voters? Give its rest. Your comment reeks of what is wrong with this country.
2
I'm a smug Johnson voter, and it was an easy call. He would have balanced the budget in his first term, and avoided unnecessary military actions around the world. If either Trump or Clinton would have promised the same things, I would have voted for them.
1
So Corker and Johnson chickened out. Brave individuals are they not?
9
GOP = Scam artists.
This vote proves they have no interest whatsoever in serving their constituents, the American people.
DISGUSTING.
Corker, McCain. Shame on you.
15
The Republicans are a hugely dishonest bunch.
Shame on them.
7
More accurate headline would read, Trump Attacks Democratic Leaders with Lies.
7
Great American Con I
In 2003 the Republicans under Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld invades Iraq and bills the American taxpayer $5 trillion dollars for the Weapons of Mass Destruction lie. The military complex consisting of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon etc. all cash in. The US treasury is raided.
Great American Con II
2008/9 The Republicans are in office and the regulators are looking the other way. Wall Street in cahoots with the mortgage industry pushes America to the brink of economic collapse marketing subprime mortgages. The country avoids another 1929 Great Depression because of a $750 billion bailout from the Federal Reserve. The US treasury is raided again.
Great American Con III
2017 Tax Reform Con. As a result of corporations like the Koch brothers funding the campaigns for the Republicans to recapture the White House and Senate, a bill has come due in the form of a tax cut. The tax cut is so huge at over 40% the corporate executives are likely orgasmic that Congress is so close to passing the bill. It’s the price you pay when you sell your soul to the devil. When Obama wanted a trillion dollars for an infrastructure jobs bill the Republicans said no, it would increase the deficit. The tax reform bill will increase the deficit by over $1.5 trillion dollars, yet there are no cries by the Republicans about the bill adding to the deficit. The US treasury will be raided yet again.
As Al Pacino said in the movie “Heat”: “These guys are good”.
9
You left out the biggest scam of all, Bill Clinton, in 1999, repeals the Glass-Steagall Act; making the 2008 "con" possible.
4
shame on republicans for hurting the people of this once great country!
4
As the GOP pushes this slurry through the congressional pipes, we are now officially living in Acirema: where up is down, black is white, and backwards is forward. Making it great again? Nope.
2
Looks like it's suddenly seventeen eighty eight all over again. Well, at least the gold leaf decor Trump loves so is finally starting to make some dumb kind of sense. Next episode: Cue the Reign of Terror!
11
"[Alexander] said that Mr. Trump was very involved in the details of the tax package on Tuesday and that he took several questions from senators."
The only detail Traitor Trump is involved in is how much more he and the oligarchs can steal.
13
What does this tax bill say about America when the sure winners are the most well off among us--all at the expense of millions of losers who among the least well off among us?
10
Soon it will be the job of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to make sure people don't figure out what's happening before 2019.
8
A scourge reminiscent of the early days of fascism is sweeping across this country. Barely-elected leaders say one thing, do the opposite, and then blame someone else. Trump shouts that no deal is possible with the Democrats and then blames them for not showing up to make a deal. He vilifies minorities and his base eats it up. Vile individuals like Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders go along with it, and weaklings crow a bit but then vote along party lines.
And all so they take away health insurance, consumer and environmental protections, and increase taxes on the poor, on the middle class, on students --- really, on everyone --- so that corporations and billionaires can be a little bit more mega-wealthy. It's disgusting and deplorable.
But as long as they keep tweeting their dog whistles, the base will continue to love them.
15
"A scourge reminiscent of the early days of fascism is sweeping across this country."
I am so glad that somebody else sees what this is - the scourge of facism.
Trump and his party are clamping down on money, religious freedom, racial fairness, access to social services. They are controlling and spinning the media. The are purging dissenters from Government.
And all the while, they are stirring up hatred toward a common enemy, whether it be Muslims, Mexicans, or North Korea, so they can keep up the "us vs THEM" focus.
It is so much like 1933 Germany as to be truly horrifying now.
3
Valerie,
Very well said. Thank you for speaking out.
2
Maybe the GOP can ask their wealthy 1%er donors to float them some cash to keep the government running.
3
Corker and Flake need high paying jobs with few qualifications soon. They traded the Average American for a lobbyist gig at a corporate giant.
6
One wonders how much they have in their campaign war chests. They can pocket it for not running again.
I guess it's going to be up to Dems to again bail out the country when the GOP tax plan craters the economy
9
When you take one step backward in economic crashes, you have to take two steps forward to recover from them.
You can be critical of someone’s choices and behaviors OR you can support number 45. You can’t do both.
2
"Mr. Trump was very involved in the details" say the Rs. Oh yeah, sure . I believe that about as much as I believe that permanent tax cuts are a benefit to the rest of us. And just like I believe that cutting the ACA off at the knees is a good thing for the richest country in the world to do to its citizens.
The lies. The lies. The lies.
14
Great - one step closer to turning the US into Kansas.
12
Remember that time that 52% of the Senate got drunk on donor money and decided to mortgage the entire country so that their friends could buy cool stuff like media outlets and US Senators?
Well, make sure that you remember in 2018.
12
I wonder when folks are gonna get over the ridiculous notion that Donald Trump has a thoughtful, knowledgeable, clever, intelligent or strategic bone anywhere in his body.
Guy's a greedy fool who we were stupid enough to elect, and who just yells whatever comes into his head, okay?
Hopefully we'll get through this lunacy without a major war, but if you wanna worry--worry about what happens when North Korea keeps this up, and the tax bill flops.
President's gonna go ballistic, you should pardon the expression.
8
Why would anyone expect anything less than total fealty to the rich? They're awful, lying people, every one of them who votes for this bill.
2
This fascination with people following tweets , FB posts, even this comment section in the Times is absurd. It’s childish and in the end will be one of our biggest downfalls. Look no further than our bully in chief who is mesmerized by his base, his tweet followers etc. He can’t help himself- he’s a narcissist. I think there is a little of that in all of us. I don’t do tweets or FB, but I will check back here to see how this post was received. We all do.
4
Anyone getting within spitting range of Trump will get spat upon by him. Just look at every member of his staff and the insults they take from him. But Schumer and Pelosi do not work for Trump, and owe him nothing.
For the sake of the country the only concerns of Democrats should be to retake at least one house of congress in 2018. After that, the removal of Trump on charges of treason with an enemy nation will likely be at the top of Santa's shopping list.
7
Is the GOP non partisan?
And so our turning into a dictatorship continues. Shame on everyone in Congress and especially POTUS as the leader. I hope those people who support him no matter what are happy when they realize their taxes will increase, healthcare goes away. NO CHIP still, and jobs decline. Good work MAGAS!
3
What the Republicans are doing amounts to that parable about boiling a frog -- this tax bill devastates everyone not in the top 1% ...but slowly.
What they are banking on is those being boiled are not only too stupid to see it coming, but won't even jump out when it starts to get bad.
In reality frogs won't sit there to be boiled; they jump out. Are Americans stupider than frogs? That is what the Republicans are betting on.
3
Excellent analogy.
They are counting on their ignorant 30% base to not realize they have been ripped off even when they file their taxes next year, or in 3 years, and are paying more than they were before. Trump's base has to be so stupid that in 2020, he can run for re-election and claim he brought tax relief to millions of Americans, even as they are paying more, and they will believe him.
No animal shall sleep in a bed... with sheets.
We continue to hear about hollowing out of the State Department. Seems that Trump and Co. want to hollow out much more: environmental safety, healthcare for the most vulnerable Americans and now with this bill, the financial security of most American families.
15
Trump is of low intelligence and repugnant morality. But that is not a reason to kill tax reform or legislation across the board.
So that said, it is good that the Senate is moving and hopefully this rate reduction will start the legislative ball rolling. As bad as the paralysis was under Obama, the answer is not to continue to paralyze legislation and the government. Let's move forward, make change that the people want and supported in the last election, and then work to improve the bill, mitigate negatives, enhance and extend positives, and in general act like a government legislative process. It is foolish to talk of this bill as a set in stone, no change, a locked 10 year plan - it gets the ball rolling, and where it rolls will depend upon who is engaged intelligently.
1
Silly John. This "legislation" is not a process, it's a must-do tax cut for the very richest Americans, period. There are no positives to move forward, not by the GOP, which is in control. No one is being engaged. No debates. No open hearings.
1
I am concerned the tax bill will pass which will benefit Trump and his family the most and hurt the middle class. The bill is getting rid of the inheritance tax. Originally there is no tax up to $5.5 million for individuals and $11 million for couples. Now without the tax, the Trump children will not have to pay any taxes on the billions they will obtain.
10
And let's hope they get it soon!
1
Well, civilization is likely to collapse before Trump's children will inherit...so, no biggy....wait...
If this bill is approved and becomes law these "people" should become persona non grata in their voting districts. Citizens should make their anger felt. These Congressman and Senators should never be allowed to feel safe for as long as live.
10
Republicans can quit the pretense that they are the fiscally conservative party. This legislation is going to result in a jump in debt and for what...so the rich can get richer. That is shameful. We need tax reform, but tie it to real growth. Let the cuts for the wealthy be correlated to increases in the average take home pay. If more workers are employed at a higher wage and salary then the wealthy can have a break. Make job creation advantageous to the wealthy.
4
Trump says he likes to be unpredictable, so that he is free to negotiate. He also says that he sees a negotiation as a zero sum game.
How is telling the other side in a negotiation that he does not see a deal happening being "unpredictable"?
How does telling the other side in a negotiation that he does not see a deal happening advance the possibility of getting to an agreement?
If he is offering a zero sum game (either "you win or I win") and he does not see a deal happening, that says he does not think he will win.
3
Garbage in, Garbage out. There aren't any compromises on the tax reform legislation that have made me move one iota in not supporting it. Bad for the country, bad for seniors, children, struggling middle class families, and the poor. Bad for healthcare, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, infrastructure, and the overall health of our economy. Who Do They Think They're Fooling? Apparently everyone except greedy corporate leaders, millionaires, and billionaires. It's really a national disgrace and will become an international example of how to run a country into the ground.
7
GOP Senators who vote against this bill will, in the long run, be seen not only as saviors of the Republic, but saviors of the Republican party.
The only positive thing that can be said about the bill is that the GOP has established its cred as honest politicians: they were bought, and they have stayed bought.
3
It looks like the Republican Congress is going to pass the proposed legislation just to say that they enacted Tax Reform, regardless of the merits.
4
If President Trump has the votes to pass the GOP tax bill, which will raise taxes on those making less than $75,000 and lower for those making more, then he should do it.
But, please, Republicans if you do enact this bill : Never again talk about a Regular Order legislative process, tax fairness, or how much you are concerned about budget deficits. Take your campaign contributions and do not embarrass your friends and families with anymore hypocrisy.
3
The best of this bill is what effect it will have on "the base". There will be no trickle down anything. I am looking forward to the recession, financial crisis and job downturn in the very states that voted trump and repubs into office.
Sadly, though, these folks will be voted right back into office that to gerrymandering. Meanwhile nothing will have actually been fixed.
#defeated
7
Not only is the Senate bill shameful—in its effects on the ACA, Medicare, Medicaid, and a host of other programs in the social safety net—it's just plain ill considered. Put aside all the benefits accruing to the rich and to large corporations, the bill won't create work or lower taxes for many, many people in the middle and working classes. In fact, it will raise taxes on the large majority of Americans in the long run, while creating at the same time a large rise in deficit spending that will impoverish future generations. Rotten economics all round.
7
It seems that the only move available to Republicans is to shove tax cuts for the wealthy down the throats of the people they allegedly represent. All of this is to prove that they can pass something, no matter how bad it is for the country. I can hardly wait for voters to respond in kind in 2018.
6
Our only hope (that is us 99%'rs) is to vote the Republicans out of office in 2018. By then people should realize how they have been sacrificed to the rich. I am so disheartened by this congress and administration. Things just keep getting worse and worse every day.
6
I missed something. Isn't Trump already in process of shutting down the government, one agency or department at a time, via the appointment "process"?
9
A hostile tweet doesn't seem to be the best tactic from the so-called master of "The Art of the Deal" to avoid a government shutdown. Lately, it all seems to be one giant Raw Deal from the President and Republicans who are governing on their own, or their donors', terms. It seems that for many the Grinch is about ready to steal Christmas with the coal of a tax increase for many and then a possible shutdown to say Happy New Year! Of course, given the record of accomplishments, we might not even notice.
4
It's amazing all of a sudden republicans care about having the government run. The last 8 years they wanted government shutdowns, now all of a sudden a possible shutdown "puts our men and women" on the battlefield at great risk? But it didn't put them at risk when republicans shut the government down in 2013? Also it doesn't put them at risk. I would like someone to explain how it does. What nonsense. Personally I think it's embarrassing this country can't even keep the government running, the richest country in the history of the world can't find the cash to keep things running. Can't negotiate
8
"Republican leaders say Democrats are playing politics with boycott"
The very definition of "chutzpah." The GOP has a very limited view of itself, it would seem.
3
No matter how bad you think Trump is today you will almost certainly think he is worse tomorrow and more so the day after that. It seems only the Mueller investigation can save us from this long, national nightmare. God knows, the GOP controlled Congress won't.
6
Well this era of American history ought to evaporate (at least) one myth about American democracy: the myth that it's a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people". That needs to be edited to "of some people, by some people, and for some people"
3
"Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said they were pulling out of a White House meeting after President Trump attacked them in a tweet."
Why is the NY Times headlining the Huckabee-Sanders' talking point.
Trump said there was no deal in a tweet. Since there is no deal, why would they meet with him?
14
This tax bill is a tragedy in every way shape and form. How can a majority expect the minority party to work with them if they are frozen out of discussion?
31
So the Squeaker of the House and the master legislative technician Senate Majority Leader cannot get there without the democrat party. So Sad.
6
Just got my hands on Sarah Huckabee Sanders' diary. Careful examination shows each day's entry is the same:
"Today I lied and obfuscated for the president."
46
Some dealmaker. Smart negotiators know you don't alienate the people you have to make a deal with. But Trump can't help himself. He just always has to be a jerk.
25
The reality of Trump's reality T.V. world has gone the way of Trump University !
4
Actually, my political preference for the Democrats would have been to ignore the moron's tweet, made a token appearance with him followed by little comment and then start working directly with whoever claims to be leadership in the "republican" party. Who knows, maybe they could have even schmoozed some stuff from him since the guy is so susceptible.
I like that they demonstrated offense to President Trump's childish, insulting behavior. I wish everyone who thought his behavior was unacceptable would speak out.
2
Pelosi and Schumer know better than to join a crime in progress. Trickle down policies and government shutdowns are republican creations. Let them own them.
26
"Never interrupt your opponent when you see him making a mistake." - Napoleon
6
Good call. Trump can get back in his bathrobe and return to shouting at the TV to pass the time.
12
And to top off the tweet disparaging Schumer and Pelosie by Trump, Mitch McConnell said that it isn't becoming for the minority party not to accept an invitation to the White House because they always came to see Obama when asked. But McConnell neglected to mention that Obama didn't send tweet or other communications stating that the minority party were unwelcome or unnecessary. Ugh. And remember, McConnell was the one, along iwth Eric Cantor, who conspired on Obama's first inauguration day to obstruct and block everything Obama might propose in order to "make him a one term president." Let's not forget that.
51
God they're all little kids ... for goodness sake ... these were tweets ... Schumer. Pelosi and the Democrats need to stop trying to beat the big kid at his own games ... time for some new leadership ...
4
The definition of "pettiness" is how the GOP treated President Obama for 8 years.
58
"Pettiness" is slandering a senator by calling her Pocahontas at an event that's supposed to honor the Indian Code Talkers.
Cudo's to the Democrats for not attending this "meeting" after President Trump essentially dissed them. They did the right thing.
President Trump is an embarrassment for the United States. Half the world is scratching their heads, and the other half are laughing at us.
55
Have a closer look and you'll find the whole of the world is doing both.
REALITY: Trump did not attack them but considering they backed out he must have been correct in what he said i.e. sides are too far apart
I guess the "Chuck and Nancy" show is over. That was a short run.
4
Trump, Pelosi, Schumer, and Sanders. If ever there was a quartet whose spats are not worth spilled ink in the NY Times, it is these four.
Meanwhile, the NY Times has done some fine work that everyone should pay attention to, represented in the graphs on today's digital front page that show the impact of proposed tax code changes on "middle class" taxpayers.
What a surprise--there are winners and losers.
In the words of Nancy Pelosi "We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy."
1
Sticks and Stones ...
I expect all representatives of government ( regardless of party ) to act like grown ups at all times. They were elected to be the mouth piece of their constituents they represent ~ not just a mouth piece that spouts off.
Get in the room and if the other one is there just to tweet, then the job of the press is to fairly and accurately represent that.
It is then up to the people to judge them all and see if they still have their vote ~ and if not, to partake in Democracy and change the actors
That is the way it is SUPPOSED to work ,,, alas
6
I'm sick of the endless Tweeted insults that amount to serial bullying. Enough already. If Trump wants respect, he needs to show some.
24
Please don't hold your breath. I'm afraid it could be a fatal exercise.
1
I've been muting Trump for a while now. He never says anything I don't already know and I don't enjoy being lied to. He's said he isn't capable of understanding anything that's too complicated. That means the only motivation he brings to the tax bill is notch on his belt to bring to the SOTUS. I'm not watching that either. It'd be too painful. Obama was the complete opposite as to wanting to listen to someone articulate the thinking that goes with issues. Its always, Follow The Money and the laps it actually comes to rest in. That's the cycle -- contribute to campaigns, have tax breaks disproportionately benefit you. Demand Side is the only honest approach to growing the economy. That means the 99 per centers.
6
Trump is leading an alternate presidency, packed with fantastical statements from him and his puppet, Huckabee-Sanders. It is astonishing that after nearly a year of this constant craziness our country hasn't yet experienced an outright revolt from "we the people."
But that doesn't excuse the Democratic leadershp from showing up. They are playing right into the president's little hands by using his inane tweet as a reason to stay away. How are the Dems going to say 'we gave it everything' when they weren't there?
Every kid who has ever encountered a bully knows that the only way to defuse them is to be unafraid and to be in the room. If there ever was a time when showing up was half the battle, it's now.
4
Yeah, worked for elderly Native Americans, didn't it?
1
Clever move on the president's part. Most of his 95% (ers) don't understand what it means that the Republicans have a majority in both Houses; regardless of their level of academic education. Consequently, Trump senses things are going wrong and the legislation may not pass, hence, the Democrats become the scapegoats for refusing to meet with Trump. Snake oil salesmen know all the tricks.
2
Trump is the President. Trump is a graceless man without any ability to control his basest impulses. Only very angry and unthinking people encourage behavior like Trump's, but nearly half of the voters in 2016 approved of or condoned it because they thought that the star of Celebrity Apprentice was really a genius of a businessman, despite four decades of reporting that indicated what a big phony he really happens to be. Trump is the President.
If Democratic leaders what to avoid a government shutdown, they need to let Trump insult them to continue to deal with him. Someday, all of Trump's supporters are going to crying about how the Democrats obstructed Trump from making America great, again, because they are people who never learned to use their reason when it opposes their impulses, just like Trump.
3
Any republican senator or congressperson who votes for the tax bill that will balloon the deficit to give money to million-billion-aires is a total fraud and will lose all respect and support from their constituents. Since some of them readily admit that it's their donors who matter most, their votes will show us who is influenced most by money.
19
you're assuming an informed and intelligent electorate which sadly is nowhere near reality.
How about we get away from who is playing politics and who is not.
The bottom line is that one part of government - the Executive - telegraphed his intentions to a second part - the minority leaders in Congress - and in response the second part declined to play.
There's no pettiness or politics here, and the message to the great negotiator is pretty clear: we have better things to do.
8
I hope Sarah Huckabee finds her way back to The Golden Rule and the teachings of her God. There is no hope for Trump in this life.
To think our country called the United States of America has fallen so low. The "ruling" party has only one god and that god is mammon.
4
I wouldn't give this guy the time of the day, much less meet with him. He's a despicable man, devoid of any decency or care for the common men and women of this country. His tax bill is nothing but a welfare check for the rich and corporations. The middle class may get some crumbs, but they will pay back tenfold more in the future from increased health premiums, medical deductions eliminated, and cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for the 1.4 Trillion dollar deficit that WE, not the rich will have to pay for. Every tax organization and group, including the CBO say the same thing...this tax bill benefits the rich and corporations mostly, not the middle class or real America. We New Yorkers know of this con man and what he has done to America is to con them all. He cares nothing about real folks.
21
You are absolutely right, but this con man gets away with it all. He keeps on insulting opponents like little marco who called him a con man and got crushed. He fooled many with his fake "Trump University" which he settled for $25 million (he said he never settles). As you say New Yorkers know he is a con man (he lost NY by a lot). I hope that the tax bill is defeated; but maybe passage would create the middle class hardship that forces people to ultimately reject him. When you think about it, he only has about one-third of the people tolerating him.
It may be one of the first times Trump has ever experienced consequences for his poor behavior.
10
To S. Husted:
We can only hope (and pray) that Trump, for once in his life, will be held responsible for his actions. He is destroying our democracy and our standing in the world. If this continues, we will become a devisive, desperate country. No longer the beacon of democracy, but the victims of an ignorant ego maniac, and we may never recover. It seems he brings out the worst in people, and brings them down to his level with his words of hatred, zenophobia, and stupidity. For the first time in my many years I am afraid we will not survive him.
3
“Petty?” Truly one of the worst of character traits Ms. Huckabee, and your boss Donald Trump has it in spades. This president applies the same pettiness principle whether tweeting out threats of nuclear war against North Korea’s “Rocket Man” or veering off script to use a slur against Native Americans during a ceremony to honor them. Trump’s mind is positively seething with petty insults and giving them full rein clearly occupies his mind more than running the country. Trump’s narcissism is matched only by his paranoia, and his paranoia is matched only by his pettiness. God help us!
11
No honest person in their right mind wastes time with the likes of Trump. The only people who deal with him believe they can out-con him, and some can.
6
This man who claims to be leading the nation couldn't possibly be more self destructive. It's easy to point out his most especially shocking mis-steps and mis-statements, but at some point you almost begin to feel sorry for this wretch of a man.
7
The bad effects of his behavior negate any sympathy for him because a lot of innocent people are being hurt and adversely effected by his silly and inconsiderate behaviors.
8
The government doesn’t work for me anymore. Shut it down.
8
The trump always has to say SOMEthing.
5
What did Ryan and McConnell do for Obama's eight years, but stonewall everything despite open hearings and committee meetings over ACA and every other thing they did. At least they held hearings, and everyone had input. Further, Ted Cruze in cooperation with the GOP shut down the government which cost us $24 billion
Under this scenario, the GOP has tried to pass both Trumpcare and now their "tax hack act", using reconciliation, and not allowing any input by Democrats.
Finally this proposed tax act eviscerates everyone except for the wealthiest individuals, Wall Street and Big Biz. It sentences the poverty the rest of us to mandatorily peonage to pay for the $1.4 trillion deficit this will cause by cutting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security with a chained CPI.
it ends our illusory tax cuts, while making those permanent for those for the top .1%. And it includes loopholes for Trump et al with loopholes for feral golf courses and private jets, etc, etc, etc
So, the GOP should stop complaining and contemplate fairness, even though they are the poster children for inequality. We are not their serfs, and they should not be our masters.
18
The whole lot of them, on BOTH sides including the President, are a sickening disgrace! Might as well fill the government with kindergarteners because what we have right now is WORSE! Our government has been a corrupt, greedy, self-serving cesspool for a LONG time. But, people can't stop taking sides long enough to WAKE UP!!!
3
False equivalence.
At least the Democrats try to pass measures that benefit the middle and working classes.
The Republicans nakedly line their own pockets, including starting wars to do so.
2
We are behind you, Chucks and Nancy. Stand up to the bullies.
25
Republicans obstructed Obama for 8 long years. Karma.
26
Love the blatant hypocrisy of the whining, hateful cruel party of no, aka republicans, whining about dems not negotiating on this hateful tax scam for the wealthy. For 8 years they blocked obstructed criticized cheated lied and stole a Supreme Court seat because of racism against the first black president, and they have the lying liar that lies (Sanders) come out and whine some more about it. People with functioning frontal lobes lost all respect for the Repubs years ago, but they've gone even lower than even their worst critics could believe.
Brings to mind the old joke, how do you know tRUMP or Sanders are lying? Their mouths move.
33
Come on Chuck and Nancy. You were supposed to be the adults in the room.
1
andy:
The adults put the kids to bed.
Chuck and Nancy just gave Donny his blankie and his pacifier and tucked him in for the night.
7
I don’t blame Chuck-Nancy one bit for not attending the meeting, if Trump plans to taunt them in an early morning tweet.
Why should they subject themselves to Trump’s abuse in person? He’s already stated he has no plans to do a deal on avoiding a shut-down, so let him learn some manners if he expects people to put up with his tantrums.
52
Mr. Mueller, this would be a perfect week for a lightning strike on any of the treasonous scoundrels whose last name is "Trump."
20
Isn't this the party that actually shut down the government a few years ago, over their petty, mean-spirited, cruel demands? #utterly detestable
18
It's not clear that a meeeting with Trump would help, given that he's got a bit of a habit of going off about Pocahontas during them, and then massively lying about what happened.
By the way, for all the faux leftists yelling about "Nancy and Chuck," this is part of whatfighting back in Congress looks like.
Really not sure why anybody thinks that acting like a spoiled, Presidential infant helps.
8
NO TRUMP TAX CUTS!!!! Who will have the courage to STAND FOR Working and Middle class folks?!
Repeal and replace Republicans in 2018!
13
To Mari:
Or please replace Trump sooner if possible!
What's this? Do I see spines growing in Democrats? Huzzah!
6
Tweets matter!
7
The schoolyard tweets and Sanders's nasty grunts are no longer news, if they ever were. Stop reporting on them. It's WikiLeaks all over again. That's how we landed in this manure heap.
9
Democrats want bipartisanship and now pull out of a meeting. I hope the Democratic voters are watching this. The Democrats have put nothing forward except to complain and obstruct, I guess they will start screaming into the sky next. Looks like we will have to buy the Democrats on the hill baby cribs.
1
Buy a crib for your king baby President. Part of stoping enabling is knowing when to stop—maybe if Trump starts acting like a president, people will meet him halfway.
21
Yes, they want bipartisanship, which is why then go try to work with someone who has no deal for them and is clearly unstable, they are seeking to work with the Republican leaders in the a Senate and House.
The only person not trying to work things out is Trump.
9
I find it ironic when a Republican speaks of bipartisanship endeavors when all they did for the past 8 years of the last presidency is obstruct.
5
For Trump, distraction is Job 1.
Whenever Trump comes out with a particularly destructive and/or off topic tweet or remark, my immediate reaction is it must be he just got a not-so-cheery briefing from Ty Cobb about what Cobb suspects Robert Mueller's next move will be.
Now we have had, in quick order, egging on a government shutdown, reprise of the "Pocahontas" taunt (in front of a Native American audience no less), carrying Putin's water on CNN International, repudiation of his prior Access Hollywood confession (on tape), and (his all time favorite target) African American NFL players. Plus having two consumer protection heads at the same time....You cannot make this stuff up.
I am may have missed a few, but my guess is that the latest briefing from Cobb where he explained that Trump's good buddy Mike Flynn is likely becoming a stool pigeon was none too happy an occasion and preemptive distraction is accordingly the order of the day...
242
Bob, you hit the nail on the head.
1
thank you!
'Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that the Democrats should "put aside their pettiness".'
Reader sputters coffee.
91
The sheer instinctive low cunning of Trump takes your breath away, though. His tweet is designed to be win/win.
If no deal is reached - well, it's because the Dems were so demanding and obstructive.
If a deal can be reached - well, it's because D J Trump is the master deal-maker.
Thank you “Chuck and Nancy” for a grown-up response. What a shame the GOP leaders are still in Grade 5.
50
The, absolute, best way to deal with this President is to not deal with him at all. They are a co-equal branch of the government and should be treated with the dignity, respect and seriousness that their august positions demand. If the Commander in Chief wants to treat the Executive Branch like a frat house, with his constant degrading of the office, it doesn't mean that the rest of the government should descend to his level.
48
"Not deal" with Trump at all? Then we surely don't need them. Vote them out!
May the shame of her efforts eternally reflect on Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
61
When one side in a negotiation signals beforehand that he intends to negotiate in bad faith, the other side should refuse to negotiate at all — at least until the first party agrees to negotiate in good faith. You’d think that someone like Trump, who brags about what a great dealmaker he is, would understand that. But we all now know, of course, that Donald Trump couldn’t negotiate his way out of a wet paper sack.
27
Bad faith drove out the good from the Republican Party decades ago. The party neglects to enforce minimum standards of decency.
2
Ah, so that's what a spine looks like.
Good move.
44
Trump said a mean thing to Chuck and Nancy and now they are having a temper tantrum and won't talk about averting a government shut down, with Trump?
I am in disbelief
Let's put country before party.
1
"Country before party"?! Did you tell the GOP that when they disrespected Obama?!
10
Like the Republicans did during the 8 years of the Obama Administration?
6
Trump said he had no deal for them. Instead of wasting money, they are working to meet with Republican leaders instead. Why do you want to waste money when Trump has no deal for them?
5
Has the New York Times suddenly joined the Trump propaganda team? The current headline that the Democrats are pulling out due to tweet attacking them is inaccurate even given the quotes in the article body. Trump tweeted that he didn't "see a deal" happening with Pelosi and Schumer. Schumer and Pelosi explained that they won't attend given that Trump didn't see a deal happening. They would rather instead negotiate with Congressional Republicans.
The headline makes it seem as though they were withdrawing because they were offended by a tweet. But that was not the reason. Why attend a meeting when the other party is already declaring, publicly on Twitter, that they don't think a deal will happen? That's not the action of somebody who plans to negotiate in good faith.
15
Like standing next to Pig Pen, it's hard to avoid getting dirty when you interact with Trump or his cabinet. Schumer and Pelosi are relieved. Watching the Senate, however, is like getting a free ticket to the worst show on Broadway. These are the best we can elect?
Intelligent adults hold their nose and wait for the disastrous finale, hoping McCain, Corker, or other embarrassed Republicans will lower the curtain first. They may. Why fear an administration that sends in the clowns? Big red Pinocchio noses look scary, but they're just make-up.
7
Babies, babies, babies. These people defend sex offenders, yet can't discuss topics that can really help struggling Americans? They need to retire.
3
Or get impeached
3
How can Sarah Huckabee Sanders continue to enable POTUS' increasingly uncivil and intentionally rude behavior? She should be ashamed of herself.
17
Sarah Sanders sees herself as is a highly religious woman, which is an interesting study in self deception.
When she gets to the Pearly Gates, she's going to have some 'splainin to do...
33
Haste and hype for the biggest con/cover-up in GOP history.
The GOP brazenly attacks the Democrats for not showing up for their con.
Still waiting for that new car for $1000 promised by Cohen!
6
Sarah Huckabee Sanders talks about Democrats putting aside pettiness? How can she say this with a straight face since she works for the most petty man who has ever held any office in the history of the United States? We have gone through the looking glass with Alice. Off with their heads!
13
No one should believe Trump on any subject, at any time, ever.
11
I hope Nancy and Chuck use their support for the CR as a sledgehammer against this Tax Bill - well done, Dems - don't give an inch!
10
Which part of Trump's comments were incorrect? Immigration, crime and tax positions all sound consistent with Democratic priorities. Not sure why Chuck and Nancy were so sensitive. I guess they are Resisting.
Why invite them?
3
Trump just ate lunch with the Republican Senators at the Capitol. One would think that a meeting with McConnell, Ryan, Schumer and Pelosi on the tax bill and the budget could easily have been held at the Capitol.
But that would not be such a great photo op for Donny, would it? No Oval Office, no Resolute desk, no big crowd of hangers-on.
The reality tv POTUS can't even keep his Twitter fingers off his phone long enough to get a meeting together. He just wants another photo op, and Time failed to pick him for Man of the Year. He must be all bent out of shape that he cannot tell any of these Senators and Representatives that they are FIRED. Sorry, Donny, it does not work that way.
8
I think the Democrats need to play the same strategy as the Republicans. Shut down the government until immigration reform is enacted, the healthcare mandate sustained and Puerto Rico is given full assistance. Anything less than hardball is an abdication of their own mandate to resist.
295
Until PR is made a state with full voting rights for president.
1
Yes RP, I agree. The Dems need to stop bringing a feather duster to the gun fight.
1
That is precisely the trouble with having to negotiate with those without conscience. A shutdown of the government hurts the country and a great many people. “Winning” is not really the point, although Republicans seem not to know this. Governing for the public good is a lot harder than a brawl to see who comes out on “top”.
Trump is playing with fire as usual. This time he may get burned. We have a two-party system. If Trump and the GOP think otherwise and refuse to negotiate, so be it. They not the Democrats for an impending government shutdown.
4
Senator Corker "...wants some kind of mechanism to be added to the legislation that would kick in if projected economic growth from the tax rewrite does not end up materializing." Thank you, Senator Corker, for recognizing and naming a pipe dream when you recognize one.
So much to say about this Monstrous Proposed Tax Bill...I'll just say that most of the GOP congress is like a mean drunk on a total bender ~ they don't care who they harm long as it's not their wealthy or corporate sponsors...
7
You mean Democrats have a spine? Really?
Many of them seem more interested in attacking Bernie supporters, and blaming the measly 12% of them who did not vote for Hillary for Ms Clinton's defeat, mostly in a Blue State that went for Hillary by a huge margin anyway, You mean those Democrats? They have a spine now? Really?
3
"The President’s invitation to the Democrat leaders still stands and he encourages them to put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work. These issues are too important.”" Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Straight from the playbook "attack is the best form of defence." The press secretaries mirror their bosses, and Sanders perfectly reflects the intelligence and values of the man she works for.
9
Oh, that naughty Mr. Trump!
He called these users on their resistance to America's decision last year. They insist on open borders, he doesn't. They insist on workers remaining dependent on government aid, and Trump wants America to be the land of the free EVEN for the poor workers.
This free man insisted on calling it like he saw it, and the progressives marching in lockstep toward complete government-directed lives for all of us simply had to bail.
The people decided, and the people's representative is running the White House. Thank God.
2
Actually the people did not decide. the electoral college did.. te people decided they wanted Hillary despite all her baggage. Please be accurate when you pontificate.
2
Too funny. I guess you missed the article about Trump mistreating the Polish immigrant workers, and the article about him stiffing the contractors who worked for him, and the article about the people he conned with Trump university........
4
Um no, the whole reason the electoral college is here (and to stay) is to keep the entire country from being mob ruled by the left coasts. Those so-called 3 million votes for Hillary were all in California. No thanks. That woman wasn't fit to run a Dairy Queen.
2
I'm no fan of the milquetoast Democrats, but why would they show up to a meeting they have explicitly been told will be pointless? Why would anyone?
14
During the entire eight years of the Obama Administration, right-wingers howled and uluated rage if congressional Republicans even hinted at cooperating with the President. Conservatives thrived on extreme partisanship and constant obstruction, even when this stance directly violated the Constitution (for example, refusing to even consider Merrick Garland's nomination to SCOTUS). Did they not consider that they were creating a political culture that could be used against them? It appears with the Democrats' new show of backbone that day has arrived.
387
Nihilists are delighted when you respond in kind. Trump's fans want to burn down the US to save it.
Don't count on this "new show of backbone" continuing... for almost an entire year, our Congressional Democrats have let us down with their complacency and lack of bold, effective leadership.
1
Publicly stating before a meeting that there will be no deal. Just how dumb is Trump? Wasn't being a good negotiator supposed to be his one talent? After the health care debacle (in which he also publicly shamed opponents, thus also reducing the probability they would actually back down), can we finally all agree that this guy wouldn't know how to negotiate his way out of a paper bag?
The only things Trump knows how to do is to entertain, attract attention, appeal to people's most venal instincts, and spend other people's money (wastefully). The only talent he has is utter shamelessness.
29
"Pettiness" "grandstanding" "antics" This is about basic respect for American citizens. The Democratic Congress members represent far more Americans citizens than do the Republicans. Three million more Americans voted for Hillary Clinton in the popular vote. The same thing was true in the vote for Democratic senatorial candidates where the popular vote was several million more for the Democrats.
When the president and Republicans insult or ignore the Democratic members of Congress, it is not just about "Chuck and Nancy". It is about the tens of millions more American citizens who are represented by the Democratic senators and representatives.
Trump has spent his first year in office insulting hundreds of people. Once again he has insulted the Democratic leaders and by extension the majority of the citizens of this country.
What matters to more Americans is infrastructure, the Dreamers, healthcare, and not hiking taxes for the middle class and lower class as well as education and various departments.
I hope that "Chuck and Nancy" do have a government shutdown if the option is 13 million Americans losing their healthcare, the Dreamers being deported, taxes going up for half the country, and 9 million poor children in CHIPs losing their insurance.
16
I have been a federal employee for 14 years and in that time, have experienced the very real and harmful effects of shutting down the government, or coming down to the wire in shutting down. Either scenario is bad news for everyone. A significant amount of time and resources are spent preparing for a shutdown and restarting operations afterwards. I nonetheless support Pelosi and Schumer in their response to Trump. They are correct to work with those who negotiate in good faith. Trump has already done enough damage to our government. Why should anyone pretend otherwise?
402
The last such hiccup cost $24 billion. It should be charged to Ted Cruz.
1
When the shoe was on the other foot....?
Do you really think ryan and the turtle do anything in good faith.
1
Like others, I find the call for Democrats to put aside pettiness to be an outstanding piece of hypocrisy, but it is more: it's been an unwritten M.O. of politics that Republicans threaten to shut down the government unless their demands are met, and it's the Democrats job to appease them. The fact that Democrats have been assigned the job of being the only adults in the room and that Republicans are rewarded for hostage taking is a good enough reason to refuse to meet, if only to change the dysfunctional dynamic.
I certainly don't think it's Democrat's job to do as the Republicans do, and pretend like these tweets never happened, or that we shouldn't pay attention to them. "Don't pay attention to what Trump says" is ALSO a good reason to not meet. Why meet with someone who says all sorts of stuff that he doesn't mean? What kind of meeting is that? Attempted fraud?
18
Compassion for the poor and middle-class seem to be lacking from the character of the GOP ruling class in crafting a partisan tax bill that will really harm millions of Americans. The most we can hope for in this immoral morass is for those few senators who can still vote their conscience and have a sense of noblesse oblige toward their less privileged constituents.
203
"The most we can hope for in this immoral morass is for those few senators who can still vote their conscience and have a sense of noblesse oblige.." Yes, and that hope is very slight indeed. I was very discouraged, for example, to read that Bob Corker--so recently disparaged by Trump as Lil Bob Corker--voted to put this mess through committee.
He may not be running for office again, but perhaps he has a cushy lobbyist's job or some other well paying position in his sights? Could the same be true of Jeff Flake?
And what about Sue Collins? She was against repealing the ACA, but she will now probably vote for the bill, which would undermine the ACA severely by eliminating the individual mandate?
I sometime wonder if these people have any principles at all.
93
Trump bought Collins with two destroyers at Bath Iron Works.
2
Alas, I don't even wonder anymore. They don't. Beyond lining their own pockets, of course.
2
The sad thing is that the President thinks his unstatesmanlike behavior is "negotiating", as he is applying the pressure to the Democrats. While this behavior might work when "negotiating" with building contractors and in real estate where he can bulldoze to get his own way, it does not work well with Congress. The problem is Mr Trump does not understand that Congress is on an equal level with the president, not an inferior level he can bully. Then again, this misunderstanding on Mr. Trump's part is only one of the many, many things he does not understand about how the US government actually functions. His ego is so pathological he is actually willing to risk getting a "win" on taxes for his administration because he simply cannot control his mouth as evidenced by his Twitters and appalling comments at the Navajo Code Talkers presentation yesterday.
8
Get it straight, please. This is not about an "insulting" tweet; it's about a clear statement from Trump that in his mind (using that term very loosely), a meeting with Dems is useless. The Dems rightly are taking the position that they'd rather spend their time on talks that might turn out to be fruitful in the end rather than waste their time on the 35% president.
16
I want to hear some Democrats say, "We had no part in writing this bill. It is fundamentally the wrong approach to tax reform and no amount of tweaking will change that. If Republicans want to start over and open the process to us and our constituents, we are eager to participate. Until then, see you in the midterms."
499
Thank you for saying this--why isn't this out there?!!
1
You mean like how Republicans had no part in writing Obamacare?
They have been saying that. Have you been listening?
Sarah HuckabeeSanders... put aside pettiness? Where do you come up with this material!? I can see by your face, you are pained. It must be the hardest job on Earth to lie and blow smoke as much as you do.
80
She comes by it naturally and learned all she needs to know about hypocrisy at her grifter daddy's knee. The Hucksterbees, ain't they grand!
3
She is so practiced, she now does both without realising.
Ok,
The republicans have not accomplished a stellar record for economic initiatives that actually help main street and American Families.
The Iraq war was a bit more expensive than the Republicans thought.
Relaxing consumer safety legislation is only going to produce further 2007 Recessions, and installing a mouth breathing idiot with a bag of donna donates to run such an agency, is not a terribly bright idea.
How about instead of a Tax overhaul Scam, why don't we ask elected officials to come up with insightful tax reforms. Bit by bit, no hurry, no frantic rush to do something.
Rather let us review each idea and build on good policies to protect our nation.
Or Nancy and Chuck could ask Donald to 'borrow' more Russian laundered money.
16
Chuck and Nancy, Nancy and Chuck, Time to draw a line in the sand. Man and woman the barricades.
17
Who's calling whom petty?
25
This is not how representative democracy is supposed to work. The GOP is in such a rush to pass this Neanderthalic legislation for their Boardwalk and Park Place donors that the average citizen's voice is drowned out in the chorus of Daddy Warbucks making deals with Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, all to present a dainty dish to set before the king.
This process has been one of gross irresponsibility and naked theft.
What member of Congress can honorably put his/her name to a lemon like this "legislation?" This is stealing. Period.
167
It is called "losing an election."
Hate to see the so-called right honorable Senators who were holdouts now capitulating on the promise they'll be able to add amendments later. Mr. Trump has said before he likes to grab them by the P word. Surely adults would understand the only thing they can trust him on is to do just that.
Vote every one out who voted yes for this tax scam. Paul Ryan lies and we told him in the 2012 election where to stick it.
Mr. "Art of the Deal."
13
Which we know is a scam.
1
Mr. "Art of the Steal."
4
Nancy and Chuck. Please. Don't. Show. Up.
25
•Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said they were pulling out of a White House meeting after President Trump attacked them in a tweet.
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, says Democrats should “put aside their pettiness” and show up for the meeting.
Follow-up to Sarah Huckabee Sanders: Do you know what the word "pettiness" means?
41
Who exactly should be setting aside their "pettiness?" Good GOD. The gall of that woman, as though her boss is not the worldwide King of Pettiness.
97
She took the hypocritic oath, didn't you know?
5
Operation Gaslighting is still ongoing.
4
This is not a tax code overhaul. If it was then we wouldn't see such a tilt toward tax expenditures in this bill. I rarely tell the NYT's how to do their job but in this case they need to call it what it is, wealthy entitlement reform.
The rich think they are entitled to benefit from our military protection of their overseas business and our infrastructure without paying their fair share. Government revenue should be based on to what scale rich people use or benefit our national resources. For example, they use national parks to profit from our natural resources then they owe 95% of the profits. 5% would be a huge windfall even though they are greedily exploiting more right now.
The problem is most Americans are shockingly ignorant about everything even the intricacies of how THEIR government works. It's not their fault, it's due to unequal educational distribution of GOP policies. It's important what we call things and they shouldn't get away with calling this wealth redistribution to the richest from the poorest 'tax reform'.
If North Korea distracts us from this issue which is what they want because this bill will effectively destroy America and we will be forced to implement revolution, then we are truly lost.
45
I think its's disappointing that Sanders is going on TV every day projecting a despicable example of a high profile professional woman.
66
im praying America gets its head on straight by the mid-terms and Dems can take over the congress. And stop this fool from doing any more damage.
40
The hypocrisy of the GOP is astounding. Its members want the Democrats to play nice when for eight years they whined about President Obama and his policies and did everything they could to thwart him. Unbelievable.
76
Who is petty? Who is grandstanding?
25
We,the voting populace,really need a sign that the Kochs,Mercers,and other huge corporations are not going to decide all of government policy,against a lot of odds at present. I am really counting on the congress to represent our interest and call the lies and damaging policies out for what they are,and Not to negotiate with this LIAR.
20
Republican voters hopefully are starting to realize that they voted in one of the worst administrations in contemporary history.
24
For once, Pelosi and Schumer have to stop appeasing and genuflecting to Trump and the rest of the barren and corrupt (..ed by money, as in the Koch brothers) Republican Party and simply say NO!!! Let the Republicans shut down the government just before the holidays. Maybe those who still support Trump (as he picks what remains in their pockets) will finally, finally see the dreaded reality Trump and the Republicans have foisted upon them.
19
Um, they did. It's what the article's about. And you're part of how Trump got elected.
Pettiness, Ms. Huckabee-Sanders? PETTINESS?!? This on behalf of a boss who calls women fat and/or unsightly? Who denigrates a war hero and the parents of a slaIn soldier? Who engages in name-calling with national leaders? Trump's photo should appear next to the dictionary definition of pettiness!
63
I guess the "great negotiator" is waiting on something important to show us his negotiating skills. We are still waiting on the BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS from his Asia trip. Truth is, the Gasbag isn't as tough a negotiator when he can't strong arm subcontractors.
21
The bullies see their bullying is ruining their plans, but they're fighting back with even more bullying. The only comforting thing here is that they are too stupid to pull their own fat out of the fire they just lit.
4
The Great Negotiator strikes again!
3
Looks like Chuck and Nancy took the bait.
Seems Trump is playing everyone. Wait until Mueller is done- if he finds no proof of coulsion Trump will hold the report up to CNN and say “This - is that an Apple”.
3
I'm in awe of this power-move by the Dems, which has Nancy Pelosi's fingerprints all over it. She has prepared her entire life for these times; our shared prosperity may well hang in the balance.
Frankly, I like our chances. Go get 'em Mrs. Pelosi. Show them no mercy as they have none themselves.
14
When the man goes lower, he goes on to go lower. America the beautiful.
7
For the record I remember Nancy as a D'Allesandro in Baltimore where I schooled. Also remember her as an undergrad Act Trinity College early '60's.
The lady gets it honestly. I admire her greatly. About Schumer, might say I came to know of him during my Columbia Years--early 60's. They are a pair, aren't they deserving one another?
3
The sad fact that the Trump administration's puerile strategy of flipping accusations back on the accuser still works at all in this day and age is truly maddening.
7
Good. Firstly the best thing that can happen is for this tax bill to fail. Secondly doing a deal involves pretending (in Trumps case) to not need to do a deal, when we all know he is sunk without it. I think the Dems should do all in their power to make this fall over.
10
Trump thinks his hardball negotiating style is a winner. Maybe when he is told that without 60 votes in the Senate his budget is going nowhere, he will wise up. Oh, sorry, ... "wise up" and a reference to Trump in the same sentence is clearly an oxymoron. My apologies.
6
It's Trump who is posting insulting tweets--and the Democrats are being petty? How does that work? Give me a break.
23
Tweets have consequences Mr. T.
34
Of course they’re playing politics.
The proposed tax bill will be horrible for most voters.
So unless materially significant changes are possible, the Democrats must avoid any confusion over who authored it.
20
I don't understand how Republicans don't see that their policies are going to ruin this once great nation. In 2008 we were on the brink of collapse, and it appears that this time they are going to accomplish it. We were once the model government that other countries aspired too. Now we seem to think Russia has the best government, run by a dictator and his oligarchy.
8
The democrats have been utterly and entirely excluded from the creation of the abomination that the media continues to allow the republicans to call "tax reform" and now the president and republican leaders and Huck have the gall to suggest there is hard to work to be done that depends on them. What a ridiculous and obscene joke Washington has become.
9
sounds like my middle schoolers, way too shocked and offended that there are consequences when grown ups hear what they say, in life or online.
5
A lot of us had feared the worst from the autocratic president elect, yet in many ways he's politically weak and isolated in Washington. Once again, nearly adrift due to self inflicted wounds.
4
The election was a year ago and here we are, one year later and still we have no functioning government.
We have a government of immature greedy plutocrats, interested in only their own advantage. Our fake president is just a 71-year- old spoiled brat, he never grew up.
That is about as disturbing as it gets.
15
_
"...two pieces of legislation [are] melded together: the tax overhaul and a separate measure that would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil and gas drilling."
Can Republicans and Donald get any more outrageous, dangerous, and appalling? They are so bad for the USA, the world, the Earth. We must all work to rid ourselves of them.
11
Before the US election, Donald Trump billed himself as the world's greatest negotiator. He can't accomplish anything despite the fact his party controls all the branches of government. There will come a day when there is a genuine crisis and the President of the United States will not be believed because he has no credibility. How long are Americans willing to suffer this buffoon?
16
Sarah Huckabee should give up her lies.
10
Thank you Democrats for having a backbone for once!
142
Man child and Chief POTUS. Dear God save us from ourselves. Thank you all you Trump supports....nicely done.
24
I think we're still better off without the imaginary viewer from the other side of the sky, who would have grown bored with this channel long ago if sentient anyway.
The president's spokesperson urges Schumer and Pelosi to "put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work."
Is someone planning to urge the President to "put aside his pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work"??
138
Our US Congress has not showed up to work for the last 9 years. This is the worst congress in US History!
Bravo Chuck and Nancy! And excuse me, but someone needs to tell Ms. Falsehood aka Huckabee Sanders that her lies (especially after yesterday's debacle) are getting worse. Really, where does Trump find these people? Professionalism seems to be not in any of their vocabulary. But spending taxpayer money on trips and gloating over money in photo ops worthy of Al Capone and company are a daily occurrence.
119
Edgar,
Right. Huckabee Sanders is truly despicable. Trump is psychologically deranged; that explains some of his actions. What is her excuse?
2
I want to object to your pejorative use of the phrase “skunk in a garden party.”
This summer we had the pleasure of having a family of skunks move into our back yard. They have been nothing but pleasant, curious and social. I think they’d only express their unique displeasure if really harassed. Rather, they are quite content searching for grubs right at our feet as we sit drinking gin and tonic and watch the fireflies.
The real villains in your phrase are the “garden party attendees” that let their prejudices instill fear and discrimination where none should exist.
49
The White House accuses Democrats of pettiness and political grandstanding?!
Who is it that yesterday demeaned honorees at the White House with a snide, gratuitous reference to "Pocahontas?"
Who is it that supports Roy Moore, accused sexual predator, by saying that he is more tough on crime than Doug Jones, a former federal prosecutor?
Who is it that refers to Congressional leaders overly casually as "Chuck and Nancy?"
Sarah Huckabee Sanders should point fingers at her boss, where they belong.
96
Well said!
1
To be a "master of negotiation", as Trump boasted, he already accumulates several failures due to his big mouth ... or, in this case, his twitter mania
17
Smart people avoid any negotiations with people who cannot be trusted to adhere to any oath or principle.
3
Times, you're doing a terrible job of detangling the government shut down from the tax bill negotiations for your readers! What is this tweet/boycott business about the impending shut down? I don't understand!!!
After 8 years of grandstanding, brinksmanship, and empty words, the Republicans have a lot of gall. Most Americans did not wake up yesterday. The Republicans are making themselves look more and more ridiculous.
476
Republicans are the Rip Van Winkle party. Believing them means having slept through years, most conspicuously those in which Obama was president. ;)
3
Ridiculous? I say mean, greedy and unprincipled.
3
Yes, indeed. If anyone has rigged the game for the past eight years, it's the GOP. I love how Mitch portrays himself now as the epitome of "cooperation." This would be laughable if it wasn't so sad.
3
Congratulations to Mr. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi. Insist on nothing less than a clean bill! If Republican want to negotiate, then include in the bill that ALL bills must include immediate full funded, and not by short or long term debt or economic projections!
16
I wish the press would stop giving Trump a pass on his statements by always referring to them as "tweets". Yes, they are delivered by the electronic medium of Twitter, but it's as if a peace treaty (or other meaningful document) were referred to as "some words written on a piece of paper". Emphasizing the medium trivializes the statement.
A more accurate headline would read "Democratic Leaders Cancel Meeting After Trump Statement"
826
A still more accurate headline would be "Democratic Leaders Cancel Meeting After Latest Trump Stream of Idiocy."
2
I agree. Always referring to them as "tweets" diminishes the fact that these are statements by the US president... kind of puts them in the same class as smarmy blasts from an immature 12-year old, which they are, but they still reflect on our country.
4
...and referring to them as "tweets" is free advertising for Twitter.
1
Self-importance and indignation. Two feet, two Achilles' tendons, makes sense, except for the fact that the real Achilles was only dipped by one. Sit down Chuck and Nancy and try not to strain anything else.
1
Sarah Sanders (SS) actually says "put aside . . . pettiness, stop political grandstanding, and show up for work?" Even this president owes respect to other people, and attacking someone and expecting THEM to act as nothing had happened is incredibly abusive.
20
The senators are playing politics, naturally, but they'd be right to stand on principle and say "This man's behavior is unbecoming of a president and we won't meet with him again." Trump isn't worthy of the house he's in.
587
Yes! It's time to stop enabling Trump's behavior. He really is a psychopath who gets enormous gratification from seeing what transgressive behavior he can get away with and still have the support of his voters and his party.
I have no doubt he will keep lowering the bar as to what constitutes acceptable behavior and daring his supporters to object.
The man has no conscience. He is a danger to the country.
6
Exactly. Schumer and Pelosi failed to demonstrate a strong, effective rebuttal. The goal, always, should be to SHAME and HUMILIATE Trump.
2
Trump isn't worthy of the country he lives in. I suspect he will be convicted of serious crimes and live the remainder of his miserable life in a NY State prison.
2
Excellent. You can't reason with willful ignorance. Make them OWN this.
And, by the way, being insulted by Sarah Hucksterbee Sanders is a great compliment. Congratulations.
155
Right! Ms Hucksterbee Saunders is the master of the backhanded insult.
2
The idea that Trump would implore people to put aside their pettiness is really hilarious.
431
Not even one bit funny. SICKENING, that we must continue to deal with this immature, nasty man.
3
Dear Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer,
To you and your esteemed colleagues in Congress, good for you!
Long live your Resistance against the Trump administration!
206
when confronted, ignored/left out, or disciplined for behaving immaturely, kids and trolls who don't take responsibility for their actions tend to say exactly the same thing. leave it up to others to forgive insults, work despite derailing and be the bigger person. claim it's always someone else's problem for having a problem with you.
what a legacy.
8
Yes, the legacy of this president, who behave like a child, is extraordinary. I'm sorry my kids have to see this from the WH.
3
Congratulations. Its time Democratic leaders, who represent millions of hardworking Americans show some spine. Mr Trump lies and totally misrepresented Democratic position in his tweet trying to smear the democrats.
Why did not Mr Schumer and Mrs Nancy , whom Mr Trump derisively refers to as "Chuck and Nancy", not refute Mr Trump's tweet in their reply and seek an apology for his smear and mis-representation ?
44
Hail to the Petty-Officer-In-Chief !
155
Bravo!!
Republicans should "put aside their pettiness" and put together a bill that will genuinely benefit all Americans, and do it through unrushed study, deliberation and without closed-door midnight meetings and without obeying the commands of their owners. But most Americans have long ago given up hopes that the GOP would support or even tolerate real democracy.
867
In order to do that, we need an administration of mature and competent people. We need people with character and integrity, where are they? We don't have it and there is nothing in sight either.
4
Well said.
but dems did same thing with Obamacare
2
“The President’s invitation to the Democrat leaders still stands and he encourages them to put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work.”
A cringe-worthy assertion by the kings and queens of "pettiness and grandstanding." You can't make this stuff up.
303
A nauseating, topsy-turvy approach to the truth.
6
Democrats are waiting for mature and dependable leadership. If and when the Republicans have it, they can come again.
6
Trump's grandstanding and pettiness with respect to North Korea has brought all of us to the brink of war, so much so that Hawaii is now having to test their war sirens in preparedness for a likely strike by NK. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Trump must remember that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Instead they should take a good look at themselves in the mirror.
So glad that Schumer and Pelosi took a stand today. That's the only language it seems that Trump understands.
2
The president's spokesperson urges Schumer and Pelosi to "put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work."
You first, Mr. President, you first.
1157
AMEN, JG! One does wonder if the current president of the United States ever has, ever could, ever will. Forgive me, but I don't see a deal on that one .
3
I'm sick of this gesturing and expectation that Mr. Trump act "presidential" or even civil. I wish Schumer and Pelosi would have just showed up to this meeting for the good of the American people. This decision to not show up does not help their cause ... we already knew that Schumer and Pelosi are much more respectable than 45.
1
I cringe every time I see him referred to with that title. So inappropriate and undeserved. An affront to the office.
1
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, says Democrats should “put aside their pettiness” and show up for the meeting."
Trump's tweets DEFINE immature pettiness. Sanders is projecting.
466
Yes, Trump is projector in chief. Whenever he insults someone else, he's really talking about himself. His lack of self awareness is breathtaking.
6
Sanders may be a replicant.
4
Nothing that comes out of that lying woman's mouth is worth repeating. Period.
How long will we have to listen to Huckabee-Sanders partisan drivel?
339
My remedy for that is that I don't. I've never heard her voice. :)
17
AND we pay her salary!!!
1
“The President’s invitation to the Democrat leaders still stands and he encourages them to put aside their pettiness, stop the political grandstanding, show up and get to work."
And sending out a tweet beforehand declaring the other parties in the meeting monsters and no deal being likely is NOT political grandstanding? I wonder if this president will ever learn that words mean things... at least to the rest of the world.
218
Absolutely Zero chance that he will ever learn that.
There is a greater chance of Roy Moore admitting his obvious mistakes and apologizing to the people of Alabama and the country, or of Sarah Sanders, calling out the president and admitting he lied, or Kellyanne Conway telling the truth.
But we can hope!
1
But early on Tuesday morning, the president was focused on his frustration with the National Football League and players’ civil rights protests.
What is sad is that he is frustrated that they are protesting not that they see the need to protest. What is sad is that they see him as the flagship in the rampant racism of the nation instead of him working to get rid of it.
108
So this is how our government works? A President that doesn't have the smarts to negotiate and a minority party that is too smart to pretend to negotiate with the President. Where does that leave us? Come on guys, let’s play pretend. It can’t be worse than negotiating with Mitch and Paul? Or could it?
19
I believe what this signals is that he's not a real player in the negotiation. They're meeting with people who can actually make things happen -- their counterparts in Congress.
30
Trump -- our beloved Russian mole, hard at work.
222
Pelosi and Schumer are always in sync. Good to have them backstopping the Democrats in Congress. They stay in touch with one another, and have been able to get their caucus' to vote in unison. Great leaders in difficult times.
Proud to be a Democrat.
290
Yes!
4
" ... and have been able to get their caucus' to vote in unison." Pelosi's ability to enforce party discipline is why she is so hated (and feared) by Republicans. Whose losership can't do squat.
This was all a setup to allow Trump and the Rs to blame the Dems if there is no deal....even though Trump already tweeted (he says his tweets are official pronouncements) that there would be no deal with the Dems.
The should have gone anyway and then announced that Trump sounded like he was ready to go along with Dem demands (I mean, if Trump can constantly lie, why not Dems)
54
I was happy to see that they didn't play the game on his terms.
But I do like your idea - announcing that he'd agreed to several key demands. It could always be phrased something like; it was their understanding that he'd agreed to ( list several concessions). It would've thrown Ryan off - - and maybe Trump actually can't remember what he's said anyway , not that it matters to him - -
4
OR - they could have gone wearing wires . . .
5
EXACTLY. I know... it's not good to lose ones moral compass.... but it seems that the repub base only believes in lies. saying something over and over - makes it true...?
Can the democrats make any inroads towards good policies without fighting fire with fire ?
I do struggle with sinking to their level. But something has to be done - to stop this awful agenda.
1