Last time, Obama "compromised" on the Bush tax cuts

[MissMillie]

The only way he could get a cut for the middle was to extend them for the rich.

It's the GOP's turn. The only way they get a cut for the middle class is to give up the cut for the rich.

MIGHT be the best single thing for the deficit to let them all expire. (And yes, I get the struggle of the working poor and middle class.)

But I think it's time for the President to put the onus on the GOP.... if you want to keep cuts for 98%.... then lose them for the 2%.

He'd win that fight--politically.

[Old and In the Way]

1. I agree....call their bluff. Let them all expire

Then explain to the American people that their taxes had to go up because Republicans were holding our economy hostage. Maybe next election cycle the morons who vote against their best interests will figure it out.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Strategically ...

It would be far better if there was widely publicized legislation setting the rate for those under $250K already in both Houses of Congress.

That would allow the Democrats to say to the American electorate, "If the gop doesn't support the pending legislation your taxes WILL go up as of January 1st."

So if they pass the legislation, we get what we want. If they don't, we campaign on their allow the tax cuts to expire, making your taxes go up, because they were willing to hold the economy hostage, when there was a perfectly reasonable alternative.

I prefer to be in a "Heads I win; Tails you lose" position.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Except ...

I think you're operating from a false premise ... saying to the gop:

It's the GOP's turn. The only way they get a cut for the middle class is to give up the cut for the rich.

Would be alot like saying to your kid, "If you give up your ice cream, I'll let you eat your spinach!"

You seem to think the gop gives WANTS to give, or cares about giving, a cut to the middle-class ... They most assuredly do not.

That is why it is essential that someone ... everyone ... in the Democratic Caucuses of both Houses, must sponsor and/or sign onto a Bill explicitly setting the tax rate for those under $250K at the current rate AND saying NOTHING about the rate for those above, as soon as possible!

[julian09]

7. Didn't they do that last time?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

3. "only way"? Then, as long as there are GOPs in Congress, he cannot do anything different.

Under your logic, he will have to extend tax cuts for the rich again if there will be tax cuts for what is left of the American middle class.

[MissMillie]

12. That's not my logic

my logic is that the voters are already w/ him on this and he CAVED the last time. It's time for the President to stop caving. It's time for him to lead.

AND don't get me wrong, I would love to see the middle class get another tax break (I would also love to see an entire overhaul of tax policy, but that's not going to happen in an election year), but for the folks who worry about debt and deficits the best thing right now MIGHT be to let ALL the Bush tax cuts expire (now, that's the other side's argument... so call them on it)

[kentuck]

5. The Repubs are behind closed doors at this moment...

deciding what is their best strategy. They have to take someone hostage. They know that. It worked the last time and they suspect it will work again. The dirty secret is that the Democrats in the House and Senate really want to keep the tax rates where they are for their own personal benefit.

[panader0]

6. Remember the unemployment extension being held hostage by the 'pubs?

A coupla million people were going to be thrown off their unemployment benefits, along with their families, right before Christmas, if Obama didn't compromise. The effect would have been horrible.

[SoutherDem]

8. Last night a heard a couple of Republican talking heads on the tube say,

the best thing to happen would be for Obama to allow all to expire, then they could reissue the ones for those making $250 or less with it being a tax increase but a tax cut. Republican are more afraid of Grover than the voters.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. "Only, please, Brer Fox ...

please don't throw me into the briar patch."

No, I think that's them gop talking heads trying to get out ahead of what they see is coming.

But, again, the Democratic strategy should be for the Caucuses in both Houses to HAVE legislation drafted and submitted ASAP. That way they can campaign on it until the election and should it fail they can point to the gop as having ignored the only reasonable alternative.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. They extended them until the end of 2012 because both sides want to run on it

and it is to late for either side to change now.

There won't be a compromise. This was a trap set ~2 years ago and there is no escape.



The next level is

"If the Republicans care so little for the majority of Americans that they will allow all the tax cuts to expire, I will ask Congress to pass a new set of tax cuts focusing on the middle and lower classes and excluding people making more than $250,000 a year".



I expect it during the debates.

[Ship of Fools]

11. All of this chess playing is good, imo,

except my concern is about the last 6 weeks of teevee messaging
that will flood in by the GOP. They could very easily lie about who
did what re: taxes and convince the people who aren't tuned in that
it was all the president's doing.

Whatever.

I hope O comes out swinging on this--2 or 3 times a week.
Over and over ad nauseum.

[AtomicKitten]

13. All he needs to do is nothing and just let all the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

He can advocate extending the tax cuts for the middle class and use it as a cudgel to beat the GOP over the head with, but it will be the GOP that must acquiesce and that IMO is as likely as hell freezing over.