President Obama is putting forward a big number when it comes to raising revenue ahead of “fiscal cliff” negotiations. The White House is proposing $1.6 trillion in new revenue from letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the top 2% wealthiest Americans and closing deduction and loopholes. That’s nearly half of all the savings expected to come from $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next ten years that the President is proposing in his new budget.

It’s also double what Speaker of the House John Boehner floated during negotiations last year. But it shows the President is finally going to the negotiating table with a big offer rather than an already compromised offer. He’s also talking tough – telling labor leaders on Tuesday that he’s “not going to budge” on letting the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire. On Friday, the president will meet with Congressional Republicans to begin negotiations. Still, there are valid concerns that Medicare and Social Security could be put on the chopping block during these negotiations.

Democratic Congressman Chris Van Hollen hinted that Democrats are open to the idea of raising the eligibility age of Medicare and slowing cost-of-living increases with Social Security as long as it’s part of a "balanced deal." Last time I checked, Democrats won big in last week’s election – and still control the White House and the Senate on behalf of the voters. House Democratic candidates also won a half-million more Congressional votes than House Republican candidates.

That looks like a mandate to me – meaning Americans don’t want a “balanced” approach – they want a progressive approach.

-Thom

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Tuesday's Daily Stack

Hour One: Secession
- Thomas Naylor, Founder-Second Vermont Republic (Vermont’s secessionist movement).

Article: "White House to Review Online Secession Petitions" by Chris Good.

Article: "Texas Republican Wants State To Leave U.S. Over Obama Win" by Ryan J. Reilly.

Article: "Most Red States Take More Money From Washington Than They Put In" by Dave Gilson.

Article: "10th Amendment". "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people"

Article: "Scalia: "There is No Right to Secede."" by Eric Turkewitz.

The Big Picture
- Sam Sacks, The Big Picture producer, progressive commentator

Article: "Spanish banks to restrict evictions after suicides" by Martin Roberts.

Article: "More suicides under Conservative rule", 18 September, 2002.

Article: "The Canadian Offer To Rethugs" by Penguin.

Article: "Attention Conservatives: Canada has a Home for You" by Thom Hartmann and Sam Sacks.

Video: "Rick Perry / Austin Tea Party ::: On Secession and "Right Wing Extremism"".

Article: "Maps of the 2012 US presidential election results" by M. E. J. Newman .

Article: "Fox station tells Romney supporters how to ‘beat the traffic’ to Canada" by David Edwards.

Article: "Secession in the Air" by Patrick J. Buchanan.

Full Monty alert: "Alabama secessionist says working people must unite to save America" by George Talbot.

Hour Two: Who's better for business...liberals or conservatives?
- Mike Slater, Host-The Mike Slater Radio Show 6-9am weekdays on 760 KFMB, San Diego

Article: "Small Businesses Grew Twice As Fast Under Clinton Tax Rates" by Igor Volsky.

Article: "Report On Manufactures" by Alexander Hamilton "The terms "general welfare" were doubtless intended to signify more than was expressed or imported in those which preceded; otherwise, numerous exigencies incident to the affairs of a nation would have been left without a provision".

Article: "Constitution of the United States" Article 1, section 8". "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes..."

Crazy alert: "Okay, Let’s Talk about Making Sex with Robots" by Reno Tibke.

Book: "The Trial of Socrates" by I. F. Stone .

Article: "FBI agent sent shirtless photo to Kelley before email investigation, officials say" by NBC.

Article: "Here's The One Unemployment Chart Obama Will Use To Win Reelection" by Jon Terbush.

Article: "Powers Designed for 'Terrorists' Entangle US Top Brass" by Common Dreams.

Book: "Cracking the Code: How to Win Hearts, Change Minds, and Restore America's Original Vision" by Thom Hartmann.

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Ellen Ratner, Bureau Chief

Article: "Eric Cantor's Petraeus October Surprise Failed as FBI Stood Firm" by Mark Karlin.

Article: "Generals backed Jill Kelley's twin sister in custody case: David Petraeus and John Allen wrote letters of support to judge" by AP.

Article: "Paul Ryan: I Didn’t Lose Because Of The Issues, I Lost Because Of The ‘Urban’ Vote" by Igor Volsky.

Article: "AFL-CIO Sees Exit Poll Ammo In Push to Protect Entitlements" by Lara Seligman.

Article: "Obama Standing By Allen" by Geoff Holtzman.

Article: "Angus King Will Caucus With The Democrats" by Justin Duckham, 14 November 2011.

Article: "Supreme Court postpones consideration of review of Prop 8 case".

Article: "UN once again votes to condemn Cuba embargo" by Michael Astor.

Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman.

Article: "Bill Kristol: 4 Presidents have won 50 percent of the vote twice: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan & Obama" by Anomaly.

Article: "Sherman Antitrust Act", 1890.

Article: "Two Santa Clauses or How The Republican Party Has Conned America for Thirty Years" by Thom Hartmann.

Quote: "A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling 'Stop!' " - William F. Buckley.

Article: "2nd Amendment".

Picture: "Gun toting, veggie-eating, liberal mama!".

Speech: "Address at a Union Dinner. Washington, D.C." by Franklin D. Roosevelt, September 23, 1944.

The good: "Powered Up: Tesla Model S Named ‘Car of the Year’ By Motor Trend" by Chris Nagy.

The bad: "Holly Solomon Blames Husband for Obama's Re-Election, Allegedly Rams Him With Her Car" by Matthew Hendley.

The very, very ugly: "Bryan Fischer: ‘Clamp down’ on ‘socialist’ Hispanics who voted for Obama" by David Edwards.

Article: "First Presidential Debate", October 3, 2012.

Article: "Corzine Searches for What's Next " by Aaron Lucchetti and Julie Steinberg.

Article: "Corzine Wants Case Dismissed, Gupta Seeks Leniency: This Week in Corporate Crime" by Aaron Task.

Article: "Congress Should Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits" by Sarah Ayres.

Article: "Most. Diverse. Ever.: Congress Looks (A Little) More Like America" by ThinkProgress War Room.

Article: "Japan nuclear plant on fault line may be next Fukushima, says geologist" by AFP.

Article: "Joe Muto, 'Fox News Mole': Network Producers Know 'This Is All A Farce' (VIDEO)".

Article: "Texas Republican Wants State To Leave U.S. Over Obama Win" by Ryan J. Reilly.

Hour One: Is Conservatism dead?
- Tom Pauken, Former Reagan White House staff member / Commissioner-Texas Workforce Commission / Author-Bringing America Home: How America Lost Her Way and How We Can Find Our Way Back.

Plus: Spending vs. investing...what makes America work?

Hour Three: "Conversations With Great Minds"
- Dr. Richard Wolff, New School University NYC

And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...

The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...

California's Prop 8 is hanging in the balance at the Supreme Court...4 states legalized marriage equality...the Family Research Council is calling for civil disobedience to block same sex marriage...have we reached the tipping point? I'll challenge conservative radio host Dr. Michael Brown, author "A Queer Thing Happened to America"...

Plus, my favorite segment of the week...Geeky Science rocks!

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

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