So,if the tax cuts expire...

[butterfly77]

won't the republICONS just replace them in January for the rich and not extend unemployment benefits?

[DJ13]

1. Saying 'NO'

can be a two way street.

[butterfly77]

24. As we have seen..

for 2 years with the Bluedog/republiCONS..Who don't give a damn about you unless you are one of their rich buddies..

[bbinacan]

2. Probably. n/t

[tekisui]

3. Only if Obama signs.

[butterfly77]

25. And if he doesn't what ...

will the Dems do..

[lunatica]

4. The Republicans have always extended enemployment benefits without added incentives

like the tax cuts. They were bluffing.

[emulatorloo]

5. These Republicans seem different to me.

My Republican Senator used to be a "moderate" and independent minded. Now he is one of the best Robots in Mitch McConnell's robotic army, and is about as right wing as you can get. They are all ideologues now.

[leftstreet]

6. So do these Democrats n/t

[emulatorloo]

7. They don't have the robotic unity of the Republicans, they never have.

Which can be a good thing.

[Andy823]

11. Really?

Actually they have done pretty well at saying NO to just about everything the last two years, why would they stop now? Sure they did a lot of things in the past, but now they need to do their best to take down the president, to make sure he does not get re-elected. It's easy to say they were bluffing, but if you were on unemployment and it had ran out, and now you don't know what is going to happen, would you still be so willing to "trust" that they would extend your benefits if they didn't get their way?

The right is on a full attack right now, we have trolls coming here daily trying to keep people all worked up and angry, and sadly it is working. Now don't get me wrong, I wish that we could stop the tax cuts for the rich, and if congress can find a way to do it and still get tax breaks for the middle class and unemployment extensions, I would be very happy, but I don't think they can do it. Time will tell, but what I see going on are the same people who say you can't trust republicans at all, now saying they were just bluffing! I don' think they are bluffing!

[lunatica]

22. My point is that they're getting away with bluffing, not that I think

the unemployed shouldn't be helped. If they want their tax cuts as badly as they seem to want them, Obama could have used that to get what's best for the American people. They would have conceded much more if Obama had used their greed to get something. Maybe all he had to say was, "OK, I'll let you have part of the tax cuts but you have to give us...." He could have forced them to help the 911 firefighters and to give the elderly a $250 dollar check and give them a raise in their social security as well as extend unemployment.

[butterfly77]

27. +1 on your comments..

and they have more than that in store for the people,they are cooking up some more schemes right now.

They don't think there is an emergency in this country they just don't give a damn and pretty soon they will get what they want a R and it isn't going to be pretty..

[JamesA1102]

17. The last times they were extended on 2 GOP Senators voted for it

Snow and Collins. All the other Republicans voted no. Since the public didn't punish them for this, it would be safe to assume that they wouldn't be punished in 2 years by still voting no.

[mstinamotorcity]

23. no they were not

bluffing.

[butterfly77]

26. Do you realize that...

most of these people are INSANE!!! and they don't give a damn about anyone but the rich and making sure that this President fails no matter what the cost to the people.

[TheKentuckian]

8. Filibuster and veto.

[DailyGrind51]

9. Obama still has his veto, and there are unemployed Republicans, also.

[butterfly77]

28. So how do you see things going next year..

Do you think we will get anything or will he be vetoing until election time because the Dems aren't going to do a damn thing again...

[badtoworse]

10. Best move for the Repubs would be to pass Obama's deal intact

Obama seriously miscalculated the opposition to his deal in the House and had he anticipated it, he probably never would have agreed to it. If the Repubs make the deal substantially worse, it would give Obama an excuse to veto it (assuming it passed the Senate). If they pass Obama's deal with no changes and the Senate approves it, he would look like an idiot if he vetoed it. The Repubs will have more Senate seats in the next congress and I believe it will pass.

The unfortunate thing is that the public will be up in arms when their withholding taxes go up in January and people continue to roll off unemployment. If the deal passes at that point, the Repubs will be heros.

[Gin]

12. they will be up in arms if the payroll taxes increase after 1 year too

that's why it was a trap to agree to that..

[badtoworse]

13. That could be a big problem in the future

IMHO, it's the worst part of the deal.

[wellstone dem]

14. The tax cuts expire, so to reinstate them

they will need 60 votes in the senate, where we still have a majority, and they will need the President to sign.

[JoePhilly]

16. Delete, wrong spot ...

[Warren Stupidity]

15. 40 D senators would have to allow it and Obama would have to sign it.

Congressional Repugs cannot do it alone.

[JoePhilly]

18. The Dems in the Senate will COLLAPSE ... like a BUNCH ... OF ... BROCCOLI!!

[Warren Stupidity]

19. well yes, there is that

[butterfly77]

29. Exactly...

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. probably, but they'd have to show their true colors to the nation...

And lose a large number of base supporters

[MadHound]

21. Only if Obama signs off on them, after they get through the Senate,

Where Dems will still have the majority.

[butterfly77]

30. ...