The stakes are higher for the Obama administration and the American people than merely some or all taxpayers receiving lower taxes temporarily or unemployment benefits extended thirteen months.
This deal represents a victory for the immediate and the modest issues over the major challenges and long-term. It guarantees that these peripheral issues will dominate political discussion through the next election and beyond. It undercuts the ability of the president to be taken seriously on the major issues that confront the nation -- budget deficits, national security and economic reform.
By refusing to stare down Republicans on issues that are supported by the American people like assistance for the unemployed and not extending tax cuts for the most well off, the president loses his leverage. Obama would be supported by Congress if he vetoes proposals that are economically unsound and stands firm. There will never be a better time to shine a spotlight and make these two issues crystal clear. If the president blinks, how can he be expected to stand firm on health care reform's death by a thousand cuts? How can he have the credibility and leverage to usher in the necessary changes to how America does business?
This agreement means two years of dithering, delay, and dissembling on the big issues: defense modernization, health reform implementation, energy security, and tax overhaul. These and more must be addressed in this decade of decision. Decisive action now by the president makes real progress possible during the remaining two years and probably a second term. Sliding past this moment with a one-sided compromise, which leaves all the problems in place and America another trillion dollars in debt, sets up the same confrontation down the road.
The problems will still be addressed this decade, only solutions will be later, harder, and less effective while the politics get worse. I urge my colleagues to help the president and our country by rejecting this expensive and ill-advised proposal.
Follow Rep. Earl Blumenauer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/repblumenauer
The Republicans were cowering in fear of him from November 5, 2008 thru January 20, 2009. President-elect Obama had the towering moral authority to move America forward but the moment he took the oath of office and showed his true colors (That Ralph Nader and Chris Hedges had warned us all were the true make up of the man), the Republicans began to lose their fear.
His deafening silence during the summer of 2009 when the insurance and for profit medical industry completely owned the health care "debate" and Obama's complete dismissal of MediCare for all sealed the deal.
The only thing that can save him now would be to make his stand on the Bush tax cuts. Let them expire and promise that they will be vetoed if they are passed unless the Democrat's terms are met. Play the hostage game.
The corporation and the 1%ers want that extra money. If Obama were to demand repeal of DADT, ratification of START, MediCare for all, passage of the DREAM act, and unemployment insurance extensions and the price for the tax cuts and didn't flinch, all these demands would be met immediately.
Nothing motivates the filthy rich like the thought of losing some of their money. Their precious, precious money.
the difference you speak of is due to the making work pay credit...which was provided in the recovery act...yes the dreaded stimulus.....that tax deduction,, which no one seem to even freaking remember, nor talked about while conservative crazies were screaming that their taxes went up... (Even though it was a blatant lie)-media barely covered it and never repudiated the claim that taxes went up...when anyone who reads knows their taxes went down......
So whatever, those tax rates were sent to expire anyway..They were going away anyway...
I see the argument on the social security holiday...yes the GOP will use that to say shut down the program...but it will also provide working class tax relief.....
Go figure a better way.....the bill is not totally written......
As the base shows shock and dismay at the utter lack of regard for any ideas it has to offer, indeed, it is soundly chastised again and again, I dare say that most of us have, reluctantly, given up on this president. Being a leader and champion for the ideals and values that have taken blood, sweat, tears and 250 years to achieve is not going to happen this go 'round. The opportunity of a generation is too easily given away to the greediest among us.
You tried to pass unemployment....didn't happen....
Tried the middle class tax cuts... at 250k and 1 million....
Still 4 blue dogs and traitor Joe....shut all of you down......
Now there is a deal on the table.... you can tweak the deal people..So tweak the deal...and make it more effective...
Does the same thing as far as have a plan avail to present the cap on the tax cuts to either phase out.....1% each year...or something of that nature....use the social security failure to justify why conservatives need to give up 1 to 2% of those tax cuts to help free up money so the govt can get the economy moving...
it is not rocket science......just keep swinging a t it......cause if you pass nothing during the lame duck session...Republicans will come in in Jan....and we will never hear from you again.....
Yesterday, Republicans in the House and Senate blocked efforts by Democrats to pass an emergency $250. check to the elderly and disabled who will not see cost of living increases in their Social Security payments.
The 2 year freeze on payroll tax deductions will lead to reduced payments into Social Security and Medicare. The GOP and Conservadems will argue that in order to offset the lost Social Security revenues it will be necessary to reduce benefits.
And President Obama will be rightly blamed for increasing taxes on the poorest Americans, failing to provide COLA to senior citizens and the disabled and ignoring the plight of the 99er's all while locking his Democratic colleagues out of negotiations with Republicans to extend G. W. Bush's greatest domestic policy agenda; lowering taxes for the rich.
If all that doesn't guarantee a credibility problem for Barack Obama, I don't know what will.
the difference you speak of is due to the making work pay credit...which was provided in the recovery act...yes the dreaded stimulus.....that tax deduction,, which no one seem to even freaking remember, nor talked about while conservative crazies were screaming that their taxes went up... (Even though it was a blatant lie)-media barely covered it and never repudiated the claim that taxes went up...when anyone who reads knows their taxes went down......
So whatever, those tax rates were sent to expire anyway..They were going away anyway...
I see the argument on the social security holiday...yes the GOP will use that to say shut down the program...but it will also provide working class tax relief.....
Go figure a better way.....the bill is not totally written......
Losing is a term you'd tend to use if people sincerely expected Obama to put up a real fight. But it's hard to use that term when you've watched him telegraphing his potential position for a couple of weeks. Between that, and the fact that he's been caving in on pretty much every other economic issue I can think of since taking office, his latest episode was for me, totally expected.
So I suppose you could say that with some of us, respect for his position and the way he is handling it can be "gained," because I can't really lower my expectations beyond totally disappointed anymore.
We kicking al Qaeda’s tail with those drone attacks.... recession is over....just needed more investment to create jobs in the recovery act...
health care is passed....dude this is like 100 yrs in the making......it ain't perfect, but she still is pretty.........signed into law equal pay across genders.. DADT is up for a freaking vote...1 st time since 1994 ish.......even passed some regulations, as well as set up the financial consumer protection agency.......with the honorable Elizabeth Warren heading it up......
In light of the completely insane opposition to his very being the president, let alone his caricatured socialist agenda.....boo are you scared......Obama has move a couple of mountains.....
Where as a Supermajority for the Dems in the Senate, was just a shell game...with those secret republicans aka Blue Dogg Dems..... Sprinkled in just enough place to sabotage all Democratic legislation.....as they tried to fix the mess the conservatives made of our nation and our economy
Richard Ellmyer
Portland, Oregon