Conservative Knives Are Out for Bill Kristol After He Tells Fox News it ‘Won’t Kill the Country’ to Raise Taxes on Rich

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Appearing on Fox News Sunday to talk post-election politics, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol informed the other members of his panel it was time to face reality and give the people what they want.

"Four presidents in the last century have won 50 percent of the vote twice: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Obama," the influential neocon said. "It pains me to say that, to put him in with those other three, but it's a fact. Democrats picked up seats in the House and the Senate. The president is in good shape."

...

"Let's have a serious debate. Don't scream and yell when one person says, ‘You know what? It won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires.' It really won't."

...

Conservative outlets were quick to go after Kristol.

...

"Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, is looking for someone to whom to surrender," writes Joel Pollak. "And so is much of the Republican establishment, so desperate to hold onto positions of influence that they are willing to abandon the newly-confirmed House majority and a bedrock Republican principle for the last two decades."

That "newly confirmed House majority" was elected with half-a-million fewer votes than the Democratic minority thanks to extensive gerrymandering, and even House speaker John Boehner was forced to acknowledge that the GOP "lost badly" and had to avoid "nasty showdowns."

http://gawker.com/5959749/conservative-knives-are-out-for-bill-kristol-after-he-tells-fox-news-it-wont-kill-the-country-to-raise-taxes-on-rich

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[quote name=' timestamp='1352743070' post='5817339]

Appearing on Fox News Sunday to talk post-election politics, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol informed the other members of his panel it was time to face reality and give the people what they want.

"Four presidents in the last century have won 50 percent of the vote twice: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan, and Obama," the influential neocon said. "It pains me to say that, to put him in with those other three, but it's a fact. Democrats picked up seats in the House and the Senate. The president is in good shape."

...

"Let's have a serious debate. Don't scream and yell when one person says, 'You know what? It won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires.' It really won't."

...

Conservative outlets were quick to go after Kristol.

...

"Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, is looking for someone to whom to surrender," writes Joel Pollak. "And so is much of the Republican establishment, so desperate to hold onto positions of influence that they are willing to abandon the newly-confirmed House majority and a bedrock Republican principle for the last two decades."

That "newly confirmed House majority" was elected with half-a-million fewer votes than the Democratic minority thanks to extensive gerrymandering, and even House speaker John Boehner was forced to acknowledge that the GOP "lost badly" and had to avoid "nasty showdowns."

http://gawker.com/59...e-taxes-on-rich

As usual you took half a statement made a headline that has some truth in it but is basically a total disconnect with what he said. He said Don't scream and yell if someone says that. He did not say he wanted to . All he ws saying is have the debate

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Ok, here's the transcript. For clarity, I've removed the text from everyone but Chris Wallace and Bill Kristol. But you can click on the transcript link to read it all.

Yes, he is asking for open debate outside of the usual ideological confines... but he is also clearly saying he doesn't believe raising taxes on the 250K+ is all that bad.

WALLACE: That was President Obama in his victory speech promising to work with Congress to get big things done during his second term. And it's time now for our Sunday group. Bill Kristol of the "Weekly Standard," former Senator Evan Bayh, syndicated radio talk show host Laura Ingraham and Kirsten Powers from the "Daily Beast" Web site. Bill, what do you think are the chances, the realistic chances the president can work with Republicans in a second term, to solve the nation's problems?

BILL KRISTOL, THE WEEKLY STANDARD: I think there is a very good chance that he'll pass major consequential legislation in the second term, and people like me won't like it that much.

I think Republicans will have to give in much more than they think

. He won re-election, he is -- four president in the last century won more than 50 percent of the vote twice -- Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan and Obama. And it pains me to say that, to put him in that window (ph) with the tree. But it is a fact. The Democrats picked up seats in the House and Senate, and the president is in good shape, you don't have -- the Republicans in the House will be able to get some concessions and some compromises, but I think there will be a deep budget deal next year, it will be an Obama-type budget deal, much more than a Paul Ryan budget deal, type budget deal. And elections have consequences.

WALLACE: Well, let me asks about that, Senator Bayh. You heard Congressman Price say, no, the country voted for divided government, they gave him a mandate, they gave House Republicans a mandate. As a moderate Democrat yourself, what do you think is the key to how Obama finds a way to work with the GOP and not just have two more years of gridlock?

BAYH: [...]

LAURA INGRAHAM, HOST, THE LAURA INGRAHAM SHOW: [...]

WALLACE: Wait a second. We are going to talk about Republicans in the next segment.

(CROSSTALK)

INGRAHAM: [...]

BAYH: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

WALLACE: Let me bring in ...

(CROSSTALK)--

WALLACE: Let me bring in Kirsten.

POWERS: [...]

WALLACE: But do you agree with Laura that he is not going to move to the center, in fact he is going to double down on liberal progressive, whatever you want to call them, policies?

POWERS: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

(CROSSTALK)

POWERS: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

POWERS: [...]

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: All right. I want to, before the second ends I want to talk a little bit personnel. Bill, we had the shocking resignation Friday of David Petraeus. I want to get your thoughts on that, and also, the whole national security framework. Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Panetta, both indicating they want to step down. What does -- what does that mean in terms of who is going to replace them and any possible change in Obama policy? Let's start with Petraeus.

KRISTOL: Well, it was a terrible end to a horrible week. And, it really was -- and I don't know anything more than anyone else does. You know, I think the president will face national security challenges more quickly than people realize. That when things are well, we can put that on the back burner, make some personnel changes, new secretary of state, new secretary of defense, new CIA director now, and wait for six to nine months. But in fact, major decisions have to be made about Syria, where 30,000 people have been killed, and we are losing influence by I think not having been more forward leading in Afghanistan.

What is the president going to do, we have 68,000 troops there, as the vice president said we're getting out in 2014, period? His own administration policy is more responsible, in my view, to try to get a force there, advisory and support force there afterwards, but I don't know, will there be support on the Hill if Republicans and Democrats think we are just in slow motion defeat in Afghanistan? Will people support sending more troops over there for the next two years? I'm not at all sure. So he has got to make a decision, is does he want to get out of that war, does he want to try to have a stable outcome? In which case he needs to rally the country? So I think he will have a busy foreign policy agenda in the first six months, too.

WALLACE: Senator Bayh, you are going to get the last word because we are running out of time in this segment. Petraeus, in specific, and national security in the second term in general?

BAYH: [...]

WALLACE: Laura.

INGRAHAM: [...]

WALLACE: A lot of that is unconfirmed.

INGRAHAM: [...]

POWERS: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

POWERS: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

WALLACE: All right. We need to take a break here. As you can tell, it's -- you can tell it's going to be a very calm, relaxed second term. Also here at Fox News Sunday, when we come back after a tough election night for Republicans, how does the GOP come back?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Check out Fox News Sunday.com for behind-the-scenes features, panel plus and our special Monday preview of the week ahead. You can find it at FoxnewsSunday.com and be sure and to let us know what you think. Stay tuned, for more from our panel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOEHNER: It is clear that as a political party we've got some work to do. And I think the principles of our party are sound. But how we talk about the -- who we are as a party is clearly a conversation's that's under way, and we'll continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: That was House Speaker John Boehner, acknowledging Republicans have to retool after a disappointing election. And we're back now with the panel. Laura, how much trouble is the GOP in?

INGRAHAM: [...]

WALLACE: Kirsten, let's look at the exit polls which point out some of the challenge that Republicans face, let's put them up on the screen: Republicans lost women by 11 points. Hispanics, by 44 points. And young people, by 23 points. What does that tell you?

POWERS: [...]

WALLACE: Senator Bayh, you know, it's interesting, because I was thinking of 2004 as well. The pendulum swings back and forth, and after the 2004, when Bush obviously had a lot of issues and he still won, the Democrats were dispirited, and, obviously, four years later, they came roaring back. What do Republicans need to do?

BAYH: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

BAYH: [...]

INGRAHAM: [...]

BAYH: [...]

(CROSSTALK)

BAYH: [...]

(CROSSTALK)

KRISTOL: Mike Pence, who's actually a great star of the future, won by only five points, it was such a bad year.

Republicans should not kid themselves.

Republicans lost 25 of 33 Senate seats. Republicans gained back the two states that were easy to gain back, Indiana and North Carolina, won no other new states at the presidential level, even though Obama had a very tough economy, that the glow was gone from the first term, all of that.

Republicans lost the national House vote by half a million votes.

They won -- they held the House because of redistricting and Democratic voters are more concentrated in some districts.

It was a bad year.

And the youth vote if very worrisome, 60-40. You -- you know, I believe Republicans have the right policies for the future. I believe it's the Democrats who are defending.

WALLACE: So what do the Republicans do?

KRISTOL: You need to have a totally vigorous and open debate, I believe. And

I don't think the answer is to be more moderate, nor is the answer to be more conservative. The answer on some issues is going to be fresh thinking

, which will be taken as moderate, and some issues actually to be more conservative.

I think we have a huge middle class problem. There, the particular nominee Republicans had was, you know, unfortunate in that respect. Four years after a huge Wall Street crisis, you nominate someone from Wall Street.

But I think honest debate, fresh thinking -- leadership in the Republican Party and the leadership in the conservative movement has to pull back, let people float new ideas. Let's have a serious debate. Don't scream and yell what one person says. You know what? It won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won't, I don't think.

I don't really understand why Republicans don't take Obama's offer to raise taxes for everyone below 250,000...

WALLACE: Or a million?

BAYH: [...]

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: Bill, let me ask you about the Tea Party. Because this is the second election in a row where I think it's fair to say Republicans squandered a really good chance to take over the Senate. I mean, by all mathematical right, they only had 10 seats to defend. Democrats had 23. Because they nominated people who were strong enough to win in primaries but too out of the mainstream to win in general elections.

Does the Republican Party have a Tea Party problem?

KRISTOL: No, it has as much a Republican establishment problem as a Tea Party problem. Because the establishment nominees were nominated in Florida and Virginia and North Dakota and Montana and they lost; a sitting congressmen who had the same stale establishment Republican message.

So we have some -- Republicans have some Tea Party problem and some establishment problem, and, basically, they should get away from either maniacally defending the establishment or maniacally defending the Tea Party and try to find good -- let good young people volunteer themselves...

(CROSSTALK)

WALLACE: Laura, you have 30 seconds.

INGRAHAM: [...]

WALLACE: Thank you, panel. See you next week. Don't forget to check out "Panel Plus," where our group picks right up with the discussion on our website, foxnewssunday.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Kristol is a closet lib. No surprise there.

Kristol is the same guy that said people don't have a right to assault weapons.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

[quote name=' timestamp='1352744242' post='5817360]

Ok, here's the transcript. For clarity, I've removed the text from everyone but Chris Wallace and Bill Kristol. But you can click on the transcript link to read it all.

Yes, he is asking for open debate outside of the usual ideological confines... but he is also clearly saying he doesn't believe raising taxes on the 250K+ is all that bad.

Once again you are misquoting what he said. He said let's have a serious debate and don't scream if someone suggests it. I am not arguing the issue I am arguing you bending what was said to further your viewpoint. BTw ####### is Kristol and who cares what he thinks. He is a journalist right ?

But I think honest debate, fresh thinking -- leadership in the Republican Party and the leadership in the conservative movement has to pull back, let people float new ideas. Let's have a serious debate. Don't scream and yell what one person says. You know what? It won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won't, I don't think.

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Once again you are misquoting what he said. He said let's have a serious debate and don't scream if someone suggests it. I am not arguing the issue I am arguing you bending what was said to further your viewpoint. BTw ####### is Kristol and who cares what he thinks. He is a journalist right ?

But I think honest debate, fresh thinking -- leadership in the Republican Party and the leadership in the conservative movement has to pull back, let people float new ideas. Let's have a serious debate. Don't scream and yell what one person says. You know what? It won't kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won't, I don't think.

Yes, you're right. He did say that. He also said he doesn't think raising taxes on millionaires is a big deal.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Conservative Knives Are Out for Bill Kristol

Kristol is a closet lib.

BTw ####### is Kristol and who cares what he thinks.

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[Teddy B 17,252]

Kristol is a closet lib. No surprise there.

Kristol is the same guy that said people don't have a right to assault weapons.

Well there ya have it! He's a complete moron!

[Danno 1,228]

Look folks these Libs know you have to tax the Rich first.... when that sugar-pill does not balance the books.. then they come for your wallet.

And of course they will play the game where they cut this or that on a temp basis, where as the money they take from you... is forever.

Give up your money....shut your mouth and let him turn this country into something he can finally be proud of! (for once).

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

If you don't tax the rich then how is Obama going to be able to hand out more free stuff?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If you don't tax the rich then how is Obama going to be able to hand out more free stuff?

You gotta get that broken record in your head looked at. It might hurt you some day.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Bill Kristol has been recognised as America's leading neo-conservative intellectual for some time now. Just because you don't know who he is doesn't mean his opinions don't carry considerable weight.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

You gotta get that broken record in your head looked at. It might hurt you some day.

Ok bright guy how else is Obama going to pay for his freebies? He has to get that money somewhere.

You gotta get that broken record in your head looked at. It might hurt you some day.

He's anti gun so he's a tool imo.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]