Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all?

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all?:

Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all?

by Mike Klonsky

Beautiful speech, then more concessions on health care, taxes.

If you thought that the reaction to the Sandy Hook school shootings would provide impetus for more mental heath care resources, think again.

Following the Pres. Obama's beautiful speech in Newton, he went and met with Boehner and offered the Republicans a deal sweetener on the mythical "fiscal cliff" that would cut $400 billion from federal health care programs, including those for mental health. Obama also agreed to cut $122 billion more in cost-of-living increases in Social Security and other benefits by using a different formula for measuring inflation. Obama is reportedly also retreating on the level of a tax increase for the wealthy,  permanently extending Bush-era tax cuts for those making below $400,000 (rather