Prediction: There will be no compromise on the Bush tax cuts

[Badger]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

Just look at health care reform.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

Just look at health care reform.

Yeah, killing one of the most popular provisions (public option) and having 40 Republican senators calling Bob Dole's plan from 1994 "socialism" just oozes reason.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

Just look at health care reform.

Yeah, killing one of the most popular provisions (public option) and having 40 Republican senators calling Bob Dole's plan from 1994 "socialism" just oozes reason.

But a public option wouldn't have passed.  Clearly Obama thinks it was better to pass this version than nothing.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Nothing makes people think "Reasonable" like a good old blackmail.

[All Along The Watchtower]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

Just look at health care reform.

Yeah, killing one of the most popular provisions (public option) and having 40 Republican senators calling Bob Dole's plan from 1994 "socialism" just oozes reason.

But a public option wouldn't have passed.  Clearly Obama thinks it was better to pass this version than nothing.

70 percent of Americans support the public option.

[Mr.Phips]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Who cares?

[Frink]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill not related to tax cuts until Obama is out of office.till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Fixed.

[-]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill not related to tax cuts until Obama is out of office.till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Fixed.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill not related to tax cuts until Obama is out of office.till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Fixed.

And what do we hear from Obama? More talk about he wishes he had worked more with these 42 in the past. This Presidency is a train wreck in slow motion.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Or, there's no compromise, and the Republicans end up doing it just after the New Year.

And possibly have Reid not bring it to the floor in the Senate or have it filibustered there. 

Reid wouldn't do that... he's not as stubborn as Pelosi.  He may be a terrible Majority Leader, but he isn't an idiot.

He might not do it, but enough Democratic Senators could well filibuster it. 

I think enough of them realize that something needs to be passed.  This Senate has been much more reasonable than the House has.

Since when?

Just look at health care reform.

Yeah, killing one of the most popular provisions (public option) and having 40 Republican senators calling Bob Dole's plan from 1994 "socialism" just oozes reason.

But a public option wouldn't have passed.  Clearly Obama thinks it was better to pass this version than nothing.

70 percent of Americans support the public option.

Source?  And ultimately, even if 90% of the public supported it, it still wasn't going to pass.

[Marokai Backbeat]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

This is the attitude we're dealing with here, people.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Nothing makes people think "Reasonable" like a good old blackmail.

Appearently Obama has agreed to extend all the tax cuts temporarily and that the current debate is how long the extention will be.

Its ridiculous that you have a congress rejected by the voters passing a legislative adjenda, that has no more been endorsed then the Republican one, when you have critical spending bills and tax code uncertainty to be dealth with. I think it was the right step in my opinion.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Alright Yankee, I've thought about this before, but now it really must be done. This is an intervention:

adjenda

Obama adjenda

progressive adjenda

her adjenda

Obama's adjenda

"freedom adjenda"

adjenda

adjenda

his adjenda

adjenda

adjenda

Obama adjenda items

adjenda

adjenda

What adjenda items

06 adjenda

the enviro-facist adjenda

radical Gay Adjenda.

adjenda

radical libertarian social adjenda

Obama adjenda

PLEASE GOD FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, SPELL THIS WORD WITH A "G"!

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Alright Yankee, I've thought about this before, but now it really must be done. This is an intervention:

adjenda

Obama adjenda

progressive adjenda

her adjenda

Obama's adjenda

"freedom adjenda"

adjenda

adjenda

his adjenda

adjenda

adjenda

Obama adjenda items

adjenda

adjenda

What adjenda items

06 adjenda

the enviro-facist adjenda

radical Gay Adjenda.

adjenda

radical libertarian social adjenda

Obama adjenda

PLEASE GOD FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, SPELL THIS WORD WITH A "G"!

For the love of god, do you not have anything better to do? You need a daily adjenda.

I was wondering how that would take to be pointed out. I think it looks more appealing with "dj" instead "g".

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

If the media had pawed through Obama's statements the way you have pawed through my posts, McCain would be President today.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Source?  And ultimately, even if 90% of the public supported it, it still wasn't going to pass.

And how that statement reconciles with your other that the Senate is more reasonable?

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Nothing makes people think "Reasonable" like a good old blackmail.

Appearently Obama has agreed to extend all the tax cuts temporarily and that the current debate is how long the extention will be.

Its ridiculous that you have a congress rejected by the voters passing a legislative adjenda, that has no more been endorsed then the Republican one, when you have critical spending bills and tax code uncertainty to be dealth with. I think it was the right step in my opinion.

So lame duck sessions must be banned? And what's exactly the agenda this congress tries to pass that is so reviled by the people?
Ending DADT? Nope, a majority of 2-1 supports that.
The START treaty? Nope, the public also supports that and even Richard Lugar had to denounce his colleagues for their stalling.

And let's not forget the inconvenient fact that a clear majority of the people oppose the extension of Bush's tax cuts for the rich.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Source?  And ultimately, even if 90% of the public supported it, it still wasn't going to pass.

And how that statement reconciles with your other that the Senate is more reasonable?

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Nothing makes people think "Reasonable" like a good old blackmail.

Appearently Obama has agreed to extend all the tax cuts temporarily and that the current debate is how long the extention will be.

Its ridiculous that you have a congress rejected by the voters passing a legislative adjenda, that has no more been endorsed then the Republican one, when you have critical spending bills and tax code uncertainty to be dealth with. I think it was the right step in my opinion.

So lame duck sessions must be banned? And what's exactly the agenda this congress tries to pass that is so reviled by the people?
Ending DADT? Nope, a majority of 2-1 supports that.
The START treaty? Nope, the public also supports that and even Richard Lugar had to denounce his colleagues for their stalling.

And let's not forget the inconvenient fact that a clear majority of the people oppose the extension of Bush's tax cuts for the rich.

Why do you love to put things in people's mouths?

I said Lame duck priorities should be emergency and procedural items. Once taken care of it, if there is the support to pass repeal of DADT, or START then by all means go right ahead.

Yet Dick Lugar signed the letter about the tax cuts as did Lisa Murkowski, threatening to block everything till the gov't is funded and the taxes extended.

Just because something is fair or supported by a majority doesn't mean it should be done. Especially if the economy is too weak right now to support an expiration of the tax cuts. The purpose of the Senate is to precisely stall or prevent stuff that isn't the best policy regardless of how it polls. In this case the law is already in place so the only option is to work together to extend the tax cuts for all or risk slowing the economy recovery. Remember, if we can't afford to lose the unemployement benefits to the economy, how can we afford to have taxes go up, either? Keynesian economics applies to both spending and taxes you know.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Source?  And ultimately, even if 90% of the public supported it, it still wasn't going to pass.

And how that statement reconciles with your other that the Senate is more reasonable?

The 42 Republican Senators will fillibuster every bill till the gov't passes a CR/Omnibus and extends the Bush tax cuts.

Nothing makes people think "Reasonable" like a good old blackmail.

Appearently Obama has agreed to extend all the tax cuts temporarily and that the current debate is how long the extention will be.

Its ridiculous that you have a congress rejected by the voters passing a legislative adjenda, that has no more been endorsed then the Republican one, when you have critical spending bills and tax code uncertainty to be dealth with. I think it was the right step in my opinion.

So lame duck sessions must be banned? And what's exactly the agenda this congress tries to pass that is so reviled by the people?
Ending DADT? Nope, a majority of 2-1 supports that.
The START treaty? Nope, the public also supports that and even Richard Lugar had to denounce his colleagues for their stalling.

And let's not forget the inconvenient fact that a clear majority of the people oppose the extension of Bush's tax cuts for the rich.

Why do you love to put things in people's mouths?

I said Lame duck priorities should be emergency and procedural items. Once taken care of it, if there is the support to pass repeal of DADT, or START then by all means go right ahead.

Yet Dick Lugar signed the letter about the tax cuts as did Lisa Murkowski, threatening to block everything till the gov't is funded and the taxes extended.

Just because something is fair or supported by a majority doesn't mean it should be done. Especially if the economy is too weak right now to support an expiration of the tax cuts. The purpose of the Senate is to precisely stall or prevent stuff that isn't the best policy regardless of how it polls. In this case the law is already in place so the only option is to work together to extend the tax cuts for all or risk slowing the economy recovery. Remember, if we can't afford to lose the unemployement benefits to the economy, how can we afford to have taxes go up, either? Keynesian economics applies to both spending and taxes you know.

Well, that's all fine and noble.
But holding the majority's agenda hostage unless they cave to your demands is still blackmail (and a distortion of democracy). 

[Sbane]

Would you be fine with the Democrats pursuing this kind of stalling technique, Yankee? Or would that be different? Republicans are playing a very, very dangerous game right now and could destroy the American system of governnment if this sort of disgusting partisanship isn't brought in check.

And don't even say it was the same during the BUsh years. You know that's not true.   

[Landslide Lyndon]

Another terrific piece by Ezra Klein. Must read:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/12/why_did_the_democrats_falter_o.html

[memphis]

Would you be fine with the Democrats pursuing this kind of stalling technique, Yankee? Or would that be different? Republicans are playing a very, very dangerous game right now and could destroy the American system of governnment if this sort of disgusting partisanship isn't brought in check.

And don't even say it was the same during the BUsh years. You know that's not true.   

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"We're going to filibuster everything unless we get our way on x" is so dangerous to our system of government. This is the new GOP government shutdown. 1995 all over again.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

It is assumed by most that there will be some deal that extends the Bush tax cuts for a couple of years.  I am not so sure of that at all.

Nancy Pelosi is still Speaker of the House until January and is royally pissed off at Obama and Republicans for what happened in this election.  Well connected sources are saying that Pelosi will not budge on her position that only the middle class tax cuts should be extended.  As Speaker, Pelosi has the power to choose what legislation goes to the floor and she will likely only put a middle class only tax extension on the floor.

Basically we are in a position where Republicans will have to cave and support a middle class only tax cut extension or see taxes go up on everyone.

If taxes go up on everyone, Pelosi has nothing to lose.  Every Democrat that could be defeated was defeated in 2010 and in 2012, many of the Republicans from swing districts that voted against a middle class tax cut could well be defeated in an anti-incumbent 2012 election.  This would leave Pelosi in a good position to regain the House in 2014 and become Speaker again.  

I basically disagree 100% with everything in this post.  everything points to all incomes ranges having their current tax rates extended at least 2 years.  It's a done deal and has been a done deal.  In fact, the Dems would be smart to extend them for 3 to avoid it being a big issue in 2012.  The GOP is 100% in the driver's seat on this issue for they can easily force the issue to force Obama to choose to extend the tax cuts to all or none.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

What's astounding on this is how little flak the Republicans are getting for having approved the looming Bush tax hike in the first place.