Defending Obama on no veto threat on 250K+ tax cut extension

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

In an interview with George Stephanapolus President Obama tied himself into knots refusing to say he would veto and extension of the tax cuts for $250K+. ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/09/obama-refuses-to-say-hed-_n_710279.html )

Earlier today I posted as to why he would refuse to be pinned down on that. It appears that my post was a few hours premature. From our afternoon perspective the form of the argument will be more clear.

If nothing is done all of the cuts expire.

To extend any part of the cuts requires new legislation.

There are ways for pugs to block new legislation. And more importantly, they will have a lot of Dem help in doing so. Many Dems are going to be so afraid of “raised taxes!!!” ads that they will not support letting the cuts for $250K+ expire.

This is an election year. Many of the Dems in the most trouble are blue dog types.

The blue dogs (and some others) will want the whole package of cuts renewed.

Republicans say they want the whole package renewed, but they really don’t. They will never say it publicly but they want the cuts to expire for everyone. That’s the nightmare scenario for Dems… a middle-class tax “increase” on the eve of an election.

If the President should threaten to veto any bill extending the $250+ cuts then presumably there is a benefit to the threat. But who would be influenced by the threat? What legislator who wants to vote to extend the whole package will change his mind because the president said he would veto it?

If the Republicans could draw the whole thing up they would design it so that Obama vetoes a bill extending the whole package of cuts. Biggest tax increase in history... blah, blah. blah. Then they heroically reinstate the cuts (and maybe more) when they sweep to takeover congress on the wave of anti- tax sentiment.

There is a good chance President Obama will find himself with a bill on his desk extending all the cuts, and will lack the leverage to be able to veto it, send it back to congress and have them pass a new bill limiting the cuts to those under $250K.

The time for Obama to be bold and principled was 2009. He could have really done some good, educated the populace, inspired hope and set us up to do tolerably well in these elections. But he didn’t.

Finding some conviction at this too-late date weeks before an election only to step in front of a pug and blue dog driven truck wouldn’t be much help to anyone.

Though finding some conviction after the mid-terms will be strongly encouraged by me, probably in my usual sharp terms.

Thus the refusal to issue a veto-threat. He is in no practical position to make good on it.