A new somewhat optimistic START article in the Boston Globe

[karynnj]

It speaks of Kerry having spent the weekend intensely lobbying fellow Senators by phone and that he flew to meet with Biden over the recess.

Some interesting points,
- McCain is vaguely signally that there could be a vote this year
- Brown is - as usual - studying the bill and has no position
- Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds - Kyl, Lamar and Corker want money for their state - over and above what has already been offered to get them to vote for a treaty continuing their hero Reagan's work - right after they joined Republicans in rejecting earmarks, which these would be!

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/12/01/republicans_warming_to_russian_arms_treaty/

[Blaukraut]

1. Rumor has it that Obama and the repub stooges made a deal

"Temporary" extension of all tax cuts in exchange for passing UE extension and START. I will try to find a link. Heard it on TV last night. I swear, if Obama caves on this I am done with him and the Democrats.

[MBS]

2. I also am very, very frustrated and upset by the prospect of

a compromise on this. I could live with a slight increase in the income ceiling (say, $300,000 or even $500,000 as the maximum instead of $250000). But no more exceptions, extensions or special favors for the wealthy.

As I wrote to Obama's website a few weeks ago: compromise on this issue is bad economics, bad politics, and just plain wrong.

Seeing rumors of a hard-ball filibuster threat by the Republican senators if the Dems don't play by their rules, I'm just beside myself.

Honestly, if Dems can't fight for this, AND WIN: what do we stand for?

[wisteria]

6. I agree with you, and "temporally" extending the breaks for the wealthy is clearing a path

to make them permanent in another couple of years.

[karynnj]

3. I just saw that on various threads

Clio the leo has an interesting thread that forces people to decide yes or no. It forces me to see that while this is lousy when the debt is so high, in good conscience, there is no way to justify calling the Republican bluff and throwing millions off very needed social security. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x538031

It also preserves taxes cuts that many striving to survive might need. I used a tax calculator and found that even at $20,000 taxable income, there would be a 16% increase with taxes going from $2581 to $3000. I hate that the Republicans would let everything expire - but this deal suggests our leaders believe they will.

Not to mention, nothing prevents us suggesting a new tax increase in any deficit reduction package - which they supposedly want as much as we do.

[Blaukraut]

4. I voted "no" in that poll

This is not compromise. It's giving in completely. The Democrats should have let the tax cuts expire, and the day after (right before the new congress) offered a permanent tax cut for the 250k and under income bracket. The republicans would have been forced to either vote for it, or go on record as opposing tax breaks for the middle class.

I might even have been able to swallow a 2 year extension for all, if Obama hadn't decided on a 2 year wage freeze for federal workers. Those savings don't even amount to a fraction of what the tax cut extension for the wealthy will cost, and it is a slap in the face of the middle class. And I do not believe for a minute that Obama choosing the lesser of two evils is going to prevent the repubs from implementing their idea -cut fed employees AND cut existing wages- as soon as they convene for the new congress. Doing this is only going to validate the republicans' efforts to demonize government employees. Sure, most of the workers won't be affected too badly by a freeze, but it's the idea of taking from the little guy in order to buy the big guy a present that offends me.

I've watched Obama for two years conceding when he didn't need to right away. Yes, he got major legislation passed, but in the end it was without his oh so treasured bipartisanship. For once I want him to stand firm and let the chips fall where they may. He has the bully pulpit and should use it to draw attention to the intransigence of the opposition. Every day, every week, every month, until the public hears it, loud and clear.

Granted, I see your point about people's paychecks getting smaller after the taxcut expires, but with a $20k taxable income, and increase of $419 over the course of a year will be absorbed. We are perfectly willing to pay more taxes again, as long as the upper 10% income doesn't get yet another break at everyone else's expense.

[karynnj]

5. good point on the federaal worker's freeze.

[Mass]

7. Totally agree. It is harder and harder for me to stay positive on the administration at

this point.