Middle of the night when no one looks and voting on non legislative language produced by staffers and unread by legislators.

Disgraceful

Zippy is on TV and his lips are moving but it´s more meaningless drivel that he is reading.

Right after he will walk on water.

Where are the spending cuts?

Cowards behave cowardly. The Republican Party sickens me.

Is there any hope for this country? How soon will it be before many wealthy Americans start looking elsewhere?

After the November election Nancy Pelosi said, oh well, we didn´t retake the House this year, but don´t worry because we still hold the gavel. Remember when she made that goofy statement? Well, this is what she meant. It´s not looking so goofy anymore.

democrats in control...taxes up, spending up, inflation up, ...the stagflation ´70s are almost all the way back again, and this time there´s no Reagan on the horizon.

We may need to look toward one of our conservative, fiscally responsible Republican governors #7 for a Reaganite.
It´s possible he, or she, is out there waiting in the wings, cutting their teeth on their state budgets.

I´m done with the Republicans.

Constitutional Convention, anybody?

republicans lie just like the dems to get elected...I guess they can through magic create another trillion dollars with nothing to back it up....We are doomed.....I give up and will not ever vote again....What good does it do....

Some tough talk here... but the reason we get this is because millions of "conservatives" couldn´t bother to get off their rear ends to vote. Elections have consequences

So, the disintegration of the Republican Party begins. Reagan conservatives will have to regroup in the Tea Party camp, hopefully within some new Party label, or forever give up control to the Socialists.

This should, at least, lead to Boehner´s ouster. I feel as pessimistic as I did when Romney won the nomination.

Congratulations Libertarian Party for you have just won my vote easily for the next two election cycles.

More money for the dems to buy votes. Without spending cuts it means nothing.

Gee, good thing those "conservatives" mad about losing their committee assignments rebelled against Boehner, destroying all of his bargaining leverage in the process. Those petulant bozos, led by The Grand Wazoo of buffoons everywhere, Mark Levin -- of Christine Odonnell, Angle, Mourdock, Akin, fame -- are to blame if you don´t like this "deal".

I´m not sure I agree with #12´s hypothesis.

I agree with the general sentiments of these letters. Where can we find a list of the gutless, establishment GOP cowards who voted to support this monstrosity? Obama seems to be winning everything, and the Republicans refuse to put up anything but the weakest of token oppositions. Boehner must go.

Outsmarted by Joe Biden...God Help us...

Tax more and spend more. And above all, avoid really facing the nation´s problems.

Even those token cuts will probably never materialize.

The only good news is that Boehner couldn´t sell it to over half of his own party. Maybe they will choose another Speaker for the new Congress.

Another shameful day for a political system - and I include both parties - that has become a disgrace to mankind.

Boehner´s done!

Go to the House website, floor summary, 01/01, 111:15pm, Roll no. 659. That link should open a window which will display the list. Until they disable it...

http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.aspx

SC is very proud of our House delegation for standing firm and voting NO. Thank you, Trey Gowdy, Jeff Duncan, Mick Mulvaney, Joe Wilson and Tim Scott!

And it will be totally ineffective and we will continue to spend, spend, and spend. We have already gone over the cliff and the only difference it will make is the recession will continue to deepen; but it will be "more fair."

I for one stongly agree with #12.

Let´s cut taxes to zero, that would be great for the economy, right? Oh, except for the rich, of course they still pay whatever.

Waitaminute, let´s give everyone a million dollars a year and no taxes, that would be SUPER DUPER for the economy, right?

Will y´all vote for me on this platform? I know the Republicans will never support it, but they´re a bunch of old white guys.

I keep wonder how a revenue bill unquestionably originating in the Senate can take effect in derogation of the clear wording of Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution, which states that "All revenue bills shall originate in the House of Representatives but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on any other bills." Of course the Obamacare bill did, at least so far, but that issue is winding its way up the court system now that it has been determined that it was in large part a revenue bill with taxes not fines despite its own clear declarations to the contrary. There are no such obfuscations in this mess. It is a revenue bill and it originated in the Senate not the House, and there appears to be no attempt or time to switch it around, so what machinations could make it Constitutional?

I have seen no discussions on this obvious problem. Has anyone else?

I know everyone would love to cut spending but the economy is still in the tank. My wife is still looking for a job after two years! It´s just not the right time to put ourselves back into a recession. I´d like to talk tough but I´m truly worried about my own financial future. I wish it were not so, but that´s the way it is. We aren´t going to get what we want, at least not until we as a country decide that enough is enough! Until then, we just kick the can down the road once again and the only bright spot is the economy won´t go further in the tank!

We can do what 25 suggests and Geitner will like it, too. Remove all limits to the national debt and just borrow all the money we need. No more taxes or tax hikes, congress can do everything for everybody, we won´t have to interrupt future presidential vacations.

No matter the label, the "Republicans" Hve proven there is no partcular point to vote for or really pay any attention to them. The high elected officials have only self interest in mind. They want to be reelected and stay in the feed trough.

The character of the country was changed for ever last year with the decision by the Supremes, the election, and the Connecticut school tragedy. This vote ranks right with those events.

No need to watch any TV news. This is the end of history in a way more profound than posited by Fukuyama.

Kick the can.

And we´re paying them all to play it.

Boehner MUST GO.

John Boehner, it is time to go. We need charismatic leadership. The House is all we have. Boehner did nothing to help Romney win. He was just keeping his powder dry to give in to Baracka Hussein.

We need a new Republican Speaker that can make the case that this is not the time to create a third party. With Boehner are certain to lose the next two election cycles so maybe during that time a third, Conservative, party might be assembled. With a third party Communists will certainly win elections, but with Boehner too.

Time to step aside.

Fiscal cliff becomes fiscal *stiff*.

Small consolation in that my congressman voted No. Thank you Mr. Guthrie.

They´re a day late and a trillion short.

I´m not sure I follow the logic of posters here. Sure, get mad at the Republicans that caved, but don´t abandon the party because they lost out to the Democrats. That attitude is what kept people at home in November.

If we give up and let them rule both houses and the Presidency again...well....I shudder.

We DID blow a huge opportunity to change the dialog (sp) and educate some voters. Just complaining accomplishes nothing.

This country is now a one party political animal. As for conservatives voting in the last election, that happened. But with over a million illegals given amnesty, the number of people dependent on the government and the idiot republicans that keep trying to run democrats for office and can´t figure out why the FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY citizens aren´t buying it and the liberals in that party unwilling to make the sacrifices for our country and run true fiscal conservatives....we get one evil, corrupt party. And lose a republic.

167 members can go back to their constituencies and truthfully say "I promised not to vote to raise taxes and I didn´t". The fiscal cliff is avoided. Most of the Bush cuts are permanent, estate tax exemption is raised to $5 million, capital gains stayed at 20%. Roll on to the next battle. This is the best they could do after the way we voted in November. Get real.

If positions were reversed on this bill, it is hard to imagine the dims rolling over so easily. We lack fighters on our side. And whatever happened to the notion "better no bill than a bad bill"?

Republicans are just a bunch of spineless wimps. They ALWAYS cave. I refuse to be associated with them any longer....

Good points, #36. Why don´t we,continue to support the GOP and make sure they get the House and Senate with the majorities they need and the WH too?

#10 you need to take a pill for insanity. If this country had a constitutional convention it would replace free speech with correct speech. Destroy the second amendment and so much more.

This is Mitch McConnell´s and the Republican party tax hike on the middle class. This isn´t Obama´s tax hike...it is the Republicans. Thank you for increasing the size of government republicans. And taking money from me today, I mean right now from my next pay check.

You low life pond scum.

Just what exactly is it going to take? How much more can BO & Co - and RINOs - pile on the good working people of this Country before the realization sets in that we have "irreconcilable differences"....It ain´t going to get any better, people. At some point in time you have understand the givens, cut bait, and move on. In my mind seceding is the only real option. ´Wrought with difficulties, yes, but compared to where zippy is taking our Country, I´d rather take my chances. I am just sick and tired of being tied to the whipping post. Remove the cancer, or the patient dies...

We have had men and women make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom only to have the ruling class in Washington DC vote to hand it over for political gain.

This will continue until we run out of people stupid enough to lend us money. I´ve learned my lesson: Something called Sequestration cuts spending, which Republicans can´t or won´t do. What Republicans can do is help Democrats loot successful productive citizens.

I support Sequestration and hereby nominate it to be the new Speaker of the House. Sequestration may not stop Obama raising taxes, but at least it cuts spending and doesn´t cry in front of reporters.

Most of the Bush tax cuts are preserved. The AMT is fixed. These are permanent fixes - no more bargaining needed. How is this a conservative loss? This is a pretty good outcome given the fact that we only control the House. We will get better deals when we start electing a Republican Senate and a Republican President.

I don´t understand what most of you expected to come of this. The unrealistic notion that GOPers might rise up as one, hold out against any tax increases on any income levels (a position which, as the election results clearly showed, has very little support in the country as a whole) and allow themselves to be held responsible for the consequent impasse and across the board tax increases just wasn´t in the cards.

And don´t be deceived - you can be sure that many of the House Republicans who voted against the measure would have supported Boehner if he had needed their votes.

The Bush tax cuts have been preserved for most working and investing Americans. Spending cuts and the debt ceiling will have to be a separate battle.

And no super hero on a white horse is going to ride in, set the country straight with a few speeches, rout Obama and the Dems and get the country back on track overnight. And please forget about third parties and dumping Boehner. Who is going to challenge him and convince a majority of House GOPers to go along?

Politics is the (very sloppy) art of the possible. Turning this muddled country around is going to take a long, hard slog.

Time for the birth of The Constitution Party.

i sort of agree with #27 it was a bad spot all around.....

Why is the House caving to the petulant, racist illegitimate son of Communist Frank Marshall Davis? (MO stated that 0´s mother was unmarried when he was born. Furthermore, 0 has a thinner resume than a sheet of bathroom tissue. Oh, it´s because he´s BLAAACK. Well, working Americans will decide that 0´s "race" isn´t enough reason to cater to his "Dreams from my Father", because the "Dreams from (his) REAL Father" are a hellish nightmare.

Secession is the long term answer. The short term solution is for the HOUSE to grow a pair and refuse to ratify the fraudulent election of Barack Hussein Obama, due to massive voter fraud.

#48... ummmmm.. there already is a Constitution Party. Why is this news to so many "conservatives"?

I have never started out a new year feeling so depressed about the future. I just so want to give up. But if there is going to be any hope, I do think people need to work to transform the Republican Party. There are too many ignorant, envious people out there to keep splintering the few remaining people who believe in freedom. There are RINOs because the majority of people have become socialists. The RINOs aren´t going to go away because you vote Libertarian, that just gives the communists more offices. And I agree completely with #12. If you didn´t vote for Romney, you voted for Obama and the end of the US as a superpower and all that entails.

Let´s see, we have a pResident that jeers, taunts, and threatens congress, the people who represent us. So if he thinks they are fools, what does he think of us? Then we have a bunch of idiots who are supposed to represent us, but they don´t, because they are into playing games with our lives and our fortunes. We have just been forced to give them our money (more taxes) which is highway robbery. I didn´t know the "recession" was over and the insane government spending is now higher than ever. Such a deal!

The Republican Party did this to itself by allowing out-of-touch extremist fools like Santorum, Gingrich, Bachmann, Perry, et al to represent it during the primaries. They character-assassinated Romney, dooming his candidacy and making this possible. I note that one Ldotter says he was disheartened to learn over the holidays that more family members voted for Obama than he had feared. I suggest that every Ldotter take a look around, talk to someone other than people on this board, see what is happening, and realize the Republican Party we all knew isn´t coming back. You reap what you sow and the party has sowed intolerance, privilege and what seems to most Americans as outright craziness by focusing on abortion. I´m not voting Republican again because it´ll be a wasted vote. Time to form a new party because the party of Lincoln is dead.

The GOP will have its chance to contract federal spending by voting against an increase in the debt limit unless significant spending cuts are made. Obviously, the Marxist in the Oval Office will be vehemently opposed to any such spending cuts. As a result, this pending collision will give the world a chance to judge the stiffness of the backbone of the Republican Party.

Time we let the truth sink in. He won.

As for the $60 billion. At least $30 billion of pork. Glad the republicans just said NO.

And the removal of the tax reduction for FICA is a good thing. More money towards social security.

I disagree with those who say it isn´t time for a third party. I am finished with the Republicans as are most other conservative Americans. They are 100% worthless in representing conservatism and it´s time for all conservatives to break from the Republican Party. Creating a third party is the only way to stop the Democrats from destroying our country.
The Republicans no longer stand for anything.

The Republican Leadership in both houses of congress are not any better than their counter-part in the Democratic party. The only main difference, if any, is that the Democrats have smarter "politicians". That is why a third party must rise if changes are going to happen in this country.Obama must be laghing his testicles off!

We already have several splinter parties which champion small government, do we not? None has ever gained any traction. What makes some here think that adding another such party to the list would make any difference?

This is one part of his incremental plan of changing this nation. He succeeded and will try again if we don´t get better leadership. With the new congress, we will only have a 16 seat majority in the House. Make no mistake, Nancy Pelosi is priming herself for a comeback. Unless the GOP impliments a "take no prisoners" plan to win at all costs and not be afraid of the Dictator In Chief (would have abreviated this title to initials but don´t want to be thrown off Lucianne) Obama will continue to kick sand into the face of the GOP and the hard working taxpayers of this nation which we has nothing but contempt for. The Middle Class...he has no concept of the real Middle class. He wants to turn us all into a anxiety filled, struggling no class country.
Happy new year? I don´t think so.

So instead of just the fiscal attributes going off the metaphorical cliff - we now have a bill that pushes the whole continued existence of the country off the national cliff.

I remember what my father used to say as I was growing up.
And now I will amend it to,"Welcome to the hand basket."

#46
Senate-Passed Deal Means Higher Tax on 77% of Households.
The budget deal passed by the U.S. Senate today would raise taxes on 77.1 percent of U.S. households, mostly because of the expiration of a payroll tax cut, according to preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center in Washington.

More than 80 percent of households with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000 would pay higher taxes. Among the households facing higher taxes, the average increase would be $1,635, the policy center said. A 2 percent payroll tax cut, enacted during the economic slowdown, is being allowed to expire as of yesterday.

Stocks up 250 points, Obama at 57% approval, Congress at 5% approval-- life is good.
Alfred E. Neuman

A new party is too complicated.If there were people that were articulate even a charming spokesperson, man or woman that would speak on every comment and issue that the donks bring up. Even if we had to hire cameras and interviewers for a while.It would be much better to re-but the commentary of the lefties than to let it go unanswered as it happens now. It has to be rebutted at the time-immediately.
The lefties just say anything and it makes the news. But I know there is no guarantee that the spokesperson will get on the news. But it is way better to get the alternative view out there and after a while it will be picked up.
No cost, no party problems, Our viewpoint and the donks are rebutted.
The point is now to not let the left /donks control the news day as they are doing.

I strongly agree with #12 who is strongly agreed with by #24. Also thank you #36 for your clear thinking and logic.

Okay, everyone - it´s time to adopt a Winston Churchill attitude as he spoke on October 29, 1941, to the students at his former school, Harrow School, in his closing remarks:
Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Can I hear an Amen?!

This has to be the definition of unlimited irresponsibility. The 2 biggest problems are catastrophic spending and too high taxes. So these degenerated congressmen decide to increase spending and taxes. Are they completely detached from reality?

Dear Congressman,

If I was as bad at my job as you are at yours, I would be dead.

Signed,

US Armed Forces

#27 I can relate. My wife just took a job that is way, way out of her league and pay well below par just to keep the pennies rolling in. Of course, this job is without bennies and she is miserable. Oh well, as long as those strong Repubs are fighting for us, oh wait, they aren´t?

We have the taxation. How about the representation?

If the Republicans cave again on the debt ceiling there will be a bloodbath in 2014.

Well the GOP lost this round big time so now on the the next debt limit negotiation. Obama has already told us his line on that - the GOP agreed to the spending so now they must agree to the increase in the debt limit and He is not going to negotiate with them. This is our only chance because when Obama negotiates the GOP Cave./s

AS Mark Styn aptly put it the other day there are two men Biden and Mccollum working overnight in a room deciding whether the taxes for every US household should be raised. No debate no vote taken, we will pass it anyway.This coming Thursday let´s put some backbone into the Republican position and dump Boehner. He cried when he was handed the job let´s make sure he cries when he leaves the Speakership. Obama got what he wanted 620 Billion tax increases. 50 % of which is earmasrked to increase the size of the Government bureaucracy.( more Regulations) Makes one want to heave. Publish and remember the names of the Republicans who voted with the Democrats to pass this House Bill.

#71
I believe it was a caller from Nebraska who brought it up. The best call of the day IMHO. Steyn really got wound up too. Taxation without representation.

Hey conservatives, Tea Partiers and repubics (I include you only because you are so far the only organized force), when are you going to get through your thick sculls that we will lose ANY fight with commies without conservative mainstream media???
We need to propagandize and educate common sense at least with the same vigor the fascists/commies do their schtick in their own media.
Why hitler/stalin/mao/putin/chavez/castro understand this, but we - don´t?

The editors of National Review Online, of which Lucianne´s son Jonah Goldberg is one, today wrote: "In our judgment, though, the deal was worth passing. It will result in less economic damage than either doing nothing (and thus letting all the tax cuts expire) or adopting Obama’s initial position would have. It will also give the federal government less revenue to spend than either of those alternatives. Conservatives who judge these matters differently should make their case without suggesting, falsely, that taxes would have stayed down if only McConnell, Boehner, et al. had not ´caved.´ Republicans who supported the deal, meanwhile, should not oversell it. Political parties and movements sometimes have to limit the damage that a different course of action would entail; they cannot make ´limit the damage´ their slogan and battle cry."

Re #74; The NRO appears to be in damage control mode for the republican establishment. Yes, it was obvious taxes were going to go up. The failure was that SPENDING soared and the cuts are a joke. The republican leadership is completely inept at 1) negotiating and 2) getting its message out. They are unwilling to hold a principled position because they do not have one. They are more concerned about how they will be percieved by the media and that elusive independent voter than actually solving a problem.

If they are unable to accomplish anything over the next 12 months they lose the House and forget about gains in the Senate and 2016 will be a Chavez type election. We the People will lose what few rights we have remaining.

# 12 Spot on , #16 You forgot Ken Buck of Colorado.
5 Senate seats thrown away by the Tea Party
and talk radio over the past two years.
Having a 50/50 Senate would have given the Republicans
more power than
( as of noon tomorrow )
being 10 seats behind at 45/ 55
( the 2 Indys will caucus and vote Dem. )
The low information voter also exists on the right fueled by Limbaugh and Levin and Hannity , et al.
I think far right talk radio has
actually been instrumental in destroying
the conservative movement.
Talk radio promotes pie in the sky ideas that are not based
in present or any legislative reality.
The unappeasable ,always miserable and completely out of touch
far right wants Boehner to wave
a magic wand and give Republicans the Presidency ,
the Senate , control of the media
and erase the 8 seats
the House Republicans just lost .
" We were elected, therefore we get our way "
is very Obamalike.
Democrats are also in the House in greater numbers and
the Tea Party is actually the minority
in the totality of the House
and for all 3 branches of government.
Ranting and raving and threatening does not change
the numerical facts.

Fortunately #76, the tea party movement is dying off, literally.

Hey dummies!

We just got thrown over the cliff.

America is fiscally, politically and morally bankrupt and fiscal Armageddon is picking up steam. Cue the headless´s riots in the streets just as soon as these blue collar masses discover their collective fiscal heads have been chopped off.

So what! Bow-Boy and his pinko goons could care less.

They are all doing an absolutely fantastic job destroying America and there´s not a damn think you can do about it.

Bow-Boy: Entitlement 2013. And you don´t matter..at all.

Just sit back and enjoy the chicken dance. It´s all you´ve got left.

Obama is warmed-over Peron with Muslim rather than communist/fascist roots. Peron succeeded in transforming Argentina from an economic powerhouse to an economic basket case.

Good question # 26, I would like to hear some conservative constitutional experts discuss that.