If Boehner says he got 98% of what he wanted that means Democrats got 2% of what we wanted.
Anyone here want to seriously defend this deal now? Maybe call it a victory even though the other side is telling you they got 98% of what they wanted? Even if they were exagerating, can we honestly say we got 98% of what we wanted? 88%? 78% 8%?
Any way you look at it we were screwed by this deal and it will be your family, friends or neighbors who will be the ones suffering as a result of the cuts to vital social programs. Anyone who argues otherwise is being intellectually dishonest with themselves and everyone else.
Oh and if anyone seriously thinks that taxes will be raised in the future, I have a bridge to sell you, only slightly used.
Transcript below
Boehner: We've got divided government in Washington. We've got big issues confronting us. We have a very open process and society. And as a result, we have healthy debates about how to move forward. This has certainly been a long, healthy debate.
Pelley: Give us a little bit of insight. How did the grand bargain fail? What was the breaking point? How did you tell the president you were walking away?
Boehner: It really boiled down to two issues. President was insisting on more taxes. President never got serious about the kind of spending cuts that were necessary in order to get America back on a sound fiscal footing.
Pelley: You don't think he negotiated in good faith?
Boehner: No, I do believe the president was negotiating in good faith. We had a lot of productive conversations, a lot of tense conversations. But it became pretty clear to me that I wasn't going to be for higher taxes, and the president wasn't going to cut spending as he should.
Pelley: What did you say to each other?
Boehner: I told the president I'm not going there. I can't do that.
Pelley: If this super committee that you talk about recommends raising revenue, can you support that?
Boehner: We'll see what it does. But I'm confident their focus will be on reducing expenditures coming out of Washington.
Pelley: Can you image Republicans backing increased taxes?
Boehner: I think that would be a stretch. It doesn't seem likely to me that that would be recommended, much less supported, but I've been surprised before.
Pelley: You were unable to get your own caucus behind your bill a few days ago. Do you intend to remain Speaker of the House?
Boehner: I do. When you look at this final agreement that we came to with the white House, I got 98 percent of what I wanted. I'm pretty happy.
Pelley: Folks at home have been watching the acrimony, name calling, finger pointing. And I wonder whether the Congress has lost something, an ability to talk to each other, to settle down and make agreements?
Boehner: Well, there's the public noise and then there's the private discussion. Some of the most liberal members of Congress are great friends of mind. But the American people don't see the cooperation that exists off camera that really are the glue that holds this place together.
Pelley: Are you saying it's not as bad as it looks?
Boehner: It's not as bad as it looks.
If this was a Bugs Bunny cartoon This is what Yosemite Sam would say to us.