The consumer is already somewhat vulnerable in the year ahead as the tax-cut effects fade. If we continue to see pressure from energy prices, consumer spending is almost sure to slow down some.

There's definitely going to be nervousness around the event and a kind of inertia. My wife has already asked me not to come into work that day.

I continue to believe that the effects of higher gas prices on the consumer are overestimated. Most of the important measures of discretionary spending such as furniture, lawn and garden and food sales held up nicely.

He got a tax cut of $100,000 and you only got $1.

Not continuing a tax cut is not technically a tax increase.

A tax cut to compensate for a tax increase is not a cut - it's a con.