Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard, Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to fake compassion."
If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of the president, "How much do you really love the country you are in charge of?"
These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins on Election Day.
Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be even more illusory.
If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate already raw feelings.
Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2 trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered --- the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events, especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
"That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest solution is to effectively address all three crises with a massive reform effort that would both cut government spending and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those making $250,000 a year or more.
"I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts. I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50 worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
> Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard, > Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the > audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful > Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to > fake compassion."
> If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred > miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron > Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of > the president, "How much do you really love the country you are > in charge of?"
> These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from > mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the > political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins > on Election Day.
> Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of > Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are > poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller > margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House > also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties > wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be > even more illusory.
> If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply > divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
> election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that > the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over > budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the > "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate > already raw feelings.
> Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly > after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
> In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face > three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts > will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher > Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2 > trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered --- > the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate > path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the > country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events, > especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the > economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
> "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
> Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest > solution is to effectively address all three crises with a > massive reform effort that would both cut government spending > and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the > personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
> But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
> Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will > veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those > making $250,000 a year or more.
> "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts. > I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we > also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the > rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the > president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
> In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James > Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a > balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50 > worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces > spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
>> Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard, >> Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the >> audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful >> Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to >> fake compassion."
>> If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred >> miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron >> Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of >> the president, "How much do you really love the country you are >> in charge of?"
>> These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from >> mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the >> political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins >> on Election Day.
>> Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of >> Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are >> poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller >> margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House >> also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties >> wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be >> even more illusory.
>> If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply >> divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
>> election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that >> the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over >> budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the >> "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate >> already raw feelings.
>> Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly >> after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
>> In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face >> three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts >> will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher >> Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2 >> trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered --- >> the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate >> path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the >> country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events, >> especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the >> economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
>> "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
>> Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest >> solution is to effectively address all three crises with a >> massive reform effort that would both cut government spending >> and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the >> personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
>> But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
>> Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will >> veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those >> making $250,000 a year or more.
>> "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts. >> I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we >> also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the >> rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the >> president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
>> In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James >> Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a >> balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50 >> worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces >> spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
>It all depends on voters ALSO throwing out the obsdtructionist >Republican Congress.
They did that in 2006. And installed a Democrat in the Whitehouse in
2009. So the Democrats controlled Congress and the Whitehouse for
nearly 5 yrs.
And they never even managed to pass a budget.
Seems like your faith in Democrats...is hystericaly funny and all too
symptomatic of your mental health issues.
Leftwingers,, mentally ill and dumber than cat shit.
Gunner
--
"President Obama is not going to lose. He will be re-elected. It is those of
you who have these grand fantasies of that pip-squeak Romney actually having
a chance at winning the election that will have to wake up to reality the
day after the election. I hear there is plenty of room in the rest of the
world where you can reside and establish new citizenship.
Kirby Grant,<KGr...@yahoo.com>
> On Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:08:38 -0500, Bill Steele <w...@cornell.edu>
> wrote:
>> In article <7f1a91e5b0323e7e91de80ea4e324...@slug.slugish.net>,
>> "Ray Nagin" <nob...@slug.sluggish.net> wrote:
>>> Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard,
>>> Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the
>>> audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful
>>> Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to
>>> fake compassion."
>>> If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred
>>> miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron
>>> Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of
>>> the president, "How much do you really love the country you are
>>> in charge of?"
>>> These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from
>>> mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the
>>> political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins
>>> on Election Day.
>>> Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of
>>> Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are
>>> poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller
>>> margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House
>>> also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties
>>> wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be
>>> even more illusory.
>>> If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply
>>> divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
>>> election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that
>>> the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over
>>> budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the
>>> "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate
>>> already raw feelings.
>>> Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly
>>> after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
>>> In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face
>>> three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts
>>> will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher
>>> Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2
>>> trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered ---
>>> the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate
>>> path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the
>>> country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events,
>>> especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the
>>> economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
>>> "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
>>> Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest
>>> solution is to effectively address all three crises with a
>>> massive reform effort that would both cut government spending
>>> and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the
>>> personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
>>> But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
>>> Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will
>>> veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those
>>> making $250,000 a year or more.
>>> "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts.
>>> I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we
>>> also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the
>>> rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the
>>> president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
>>> In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James
>>> Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a
>>> balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50
>>> worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces
>>> spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
>> It all depends on voters ALSO throwing out the obsdtructionist
>> Republican Congress.
> They did that in 2006. And installed a Democrat in the Whitehouse in
> 2009. So the Democrats controlled Congress and the Whitehouse for
> nearly 5 yrs.
> And they never even managed to pass a budget.
> Seems like your faith in Democrats...is hystericaly funny and all too
> symptomatic of your mental health issues.
> Leftwingers,, mentally ill and dumber than cat shit.
> Gunner
Typical Republican, can't add... And doesn't understand how the government works.
Sad, but how else would such vile people get elected but to make the electorate dumber than a post?
> In article <7f1a91e5b0323e7e91de80ea4e324...@slug.slugish.net>,
> "Ray Nagin" <nob...@slug.sluggish.net> wrote:
> > Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard,
> > Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the
> > audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful
> > Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to
> > fake compassion."
> > If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred
> > miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron
> > Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of
> > the president, "How much do you really love the country you are
> > in charge of?"
> > These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from
> > mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the
> > political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins
> > on Election Day.
> > Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of
> > Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are
> > poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller
> > margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House
> > also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties
> > wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be
> > even more illusory.
> > If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply
> > divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
> > election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that
> > the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over
> > budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the
> > "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate
> > already raw feelings.
> > Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly
> > after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
> > In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face
> > three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts
> > will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher
> > Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2
> > trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered ---
> > the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate
> > path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the
> > country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events,
> > especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the
> > economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
> > "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
> > Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest
> > solution is to effectively address all three crises with a
> > massive reform effort that would both cut government spending
> > and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the
> > personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
> > But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
> > Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will
> > veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those
> > making $250,000 a year or more.
> > "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts.
> > I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we
> > also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the
> > rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the
> > president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
> > In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James
> > Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a
> > balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50
> > worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces
> > spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
> > > Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard,
> > > Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the
> > > audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful
> > > Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to
> > > fake compassion."
> > > If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred
> > > miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron
> > > Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of
> > > the president, "How much do you really love the country you are
> > > in charge of?"
> > > These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from
> > > mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the
> > > political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins
> > > on Election Day.
> > > Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of
> > > Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are
> > > poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller
> > > margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House
> > > also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties
> > > wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be
> > > even more illusory.
> > > If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply
> > > divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
> > > election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that
> > > the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over
> > > budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the
> > > "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate
> > > already raw feelings.
> > > Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly
> > > after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
> > > In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face
> > > three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts
> > > will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher
> > > Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2
> > > trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered ---
> > > the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate
> > > path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the
> > > country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events,
> > > especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the
> > > economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
> > > "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
> > > Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest
> > > solution is to effectively address all three crises with a
> > > massive reform effort that would both cut government spending
> > > and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the
> > > personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
> > > But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
> > > Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will
> > > veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those
> > > making $250,000 a year or more.
> > > "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts.
> > > I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we
> > > also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the
> > > rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the
> > > president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
> > > In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James
> > > Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a
> > > balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50
> > > worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces
> > > spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
>> > > Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard,
>> > > Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the
>> > > audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful
>> > > Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to
>> > > fake compassion."
>> > > If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred
>> > > miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron
>> > > Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of
>> > > the president, "How much do you really love the country you are
>> > > in charge of?"
>> > > These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from
>> > > mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the
>> > > political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins
>> > > on Election Day.
>> > > Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of
>> > > Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are
>> > > poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller
>> > > margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House
>> > > also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties
>> > > wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be
>> > > even more illusory.
>> > > If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply
>> > > divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
>> > > election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that
>> > > the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over
>> > > budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the
>> > > "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate
>> > > already raw feelings.
>> > > Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly
>> > > after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
>> > > In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face
>> > > three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts
>> > > will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher
>> > > Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2
>> > > trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered ---
>> > > the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate
>> > > path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the
>> > > country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events,
>> > > especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the
>> > > economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
>> > > "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
>> > > Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest
>> > > solution is to effectively address all three crises with a
>> > > massive reform effort that would both cut government spending
>> > > and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the
>> > > personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
>> > > But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
>> > > Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will
>> > > veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those
>> > > making $250,000 a year or more.
>> > > "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts.
>> > > I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we
>> > > also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the
>> > > rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the
>> > > president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
>> > > In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James
>> > > Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a
>> > > balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50
>> > > worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces
>> > > spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
>> > It all depends on voters ALSO throwing out the obsdtructionist
>> > Republican Congress.
>Republicans have to look ahead to 2016. To have the proverbial >snowball's chance they'll have to demonstrate that they've done >something.
No..they simply need to check their arms, ammunition and food stocks.
The US wont make it to 2016.
Gunner
--
""The Democratic constituency is just like a herd of cows. All you have
to do is lay out enough silage and they come running. That’s why I
became an operative working with Democrats. With Democrats all you
have to do is make a lot of noise, lay out the hay, and be ready to
use the ole cattle prod in case a few want to bolt the herd.
Eighty percent of the people who call themselves Democrats don’t have
a clue as to political reality.
What amazes me is that you could take a group of people who are hard
workers and convince them that they should support social programs
that were the exact opposite of their own personal convictions. Put a
little fear here and there and you can get people to vote any way you
want.
The voter is basically dumb and lazy. The reason I became a Democratic
operative instead of a Republican was because there were more
Democrats that didn’t have a clue than there were Republicans."
James Carvell, DNC operative
Discussion subject changed to "Second Obama term would confront fiscal mess he made before inauguration...yeah right..." by There's Nothing Helpless Pedophile Bill Steele Can Do
There's Nothing Helpless Pedophile Bill Steele Can Do
> > > > Mentor, Ohio (CNN) -- At a Friday morning rally in Hilliard,
> > > > Ohio, Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland exhorted the
> > > > audience to vote for President Barack Obama because GOP hopeful
> > > > Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan have "to
> > > > fake compassion."
> > > > If you think that sounds unusually cutting, go a few hundred
> > > > miles across the country to a Romney rally where Sen. Ron
> > > > Johnson, R-Wisconsin, told his home state crowd he wonders of
> > > > the president, "How much do you really love the country you are
> > > > in charge of?"
> > > > These aren't average campaign season contrasts. Coming from
> > > > mainstream political leaders, they reflect a bitter mood in the
> > > > political class that will make governing hard no matter who wins
> > > > on Election Day.
> > > > Adding to the level of difficulty, the partisan balance of
> > > > Congress is likely to remain essentially the same. Democrats are
> > > > poised to retain control of the Senate but with a smaller
> > > > margin. Republicans are expected to retain power in the House
> > > > also with a narrower majority. Divided control with parties
> > > > wielding even less power in each chamber means consensus will be
> > > > even more illusory.
> > > > If Obama is victorious on Tuesday, he will govern a deeply
> > > > divided nation, and he will not have a grace period to heal post-
> > > > election wounds. That's because looming deadlines demand that
> > > > the president barrel straight into a headlock with Congress over
> > > > budget cuts and tax changes shorthanded by Washington as the
> > > > "fiscal cliff." That fight has the potential to exacerbate
> > > > already raw feelings.
> > > > Obama will turn to negotiations over the fiscal cliff quickly
> > > > after Tuesday, sources close to the president said.
> > > > In the lead-up to the new year, the nation's leaders will face
> > > > three events in quick succession. First, the Bush-era tax cuts
> > > > will expire on December 31, triggering a return to higher
> > > > Clinton-era rates unless new policy is set. Second, $1.2
> > > > trillion of painful automatic budget cuts will be triggered ---
> > > > the so-called "sequester" -- unless Congress finds an alternate
> > > > path to bring that sum into the nation's coffers. Third, the
> > > > country will hit a new debt ceiling in mid-spring. These events,
> > > > especially the sequester, could have a devastating impact on the
> > > > economy, pushing it over the fiscal cliff.
> > > > "That's a cliff no one wants to go over," Axelrod said.
> > > > Democrats and Republicans largely agree that the cleanest
> > > > solution is to effectively address all three crises with a
> > > > massive reform effort that would both cut government spending
> > > > and bring in more revenue. It would include changes to the
> > > > personal tax code, entitlements and debt reduction targets.
> > > > But, as usual, the devil's in the details.
> > > > Obama administration officials have told CNN the president will
> > > > veto any package that extends the Bush-era tax cuts for those
> > > > making $250,000 a year or more.
> > > > "I've already signed a trillion dollars' worth of spending cuts.
> > > > I intend to do more, but if we're serious about the deficit, we
> > > > also have to ask the wealthiest Americans to go back to the
> > > > rates that they paid when Bill Clinton was in office," the
> > > > president has said on the trail as recently as Friday.
> > > > In an e-mailed statement Obama campaign policy director James
> > > > Kvaal got more specific, explaining that the president wants "a
> > > > balanced plan that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion with $2.50
> > > > worth of spending cuts for every dollar in revenue and reduces
> > > > spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements."
