Food for thought from, of all detestable people, David Frum.

[Writer]

http://www.frumforum.com/waterloo

At the beginning of this process we made a strategic decision: unlike, say, Democrats in 2001 when President Bush proposed his first tax cut, we would make no deal with the administration. No negotiations, no compromise, nothing. We were going for all the marbles. This would be Obama’s Waterloo – just as healthcare was Clinton’s in 1994.

Only, the hardliners overlooked a few key facts: Obama was elected with 53% of the vote, not Clinton’s 42%. The liberal block within the Democratic congressional caucus is bigger and stronger than it was in 1993-94. And of course the Democrats also remember their history, and also remember the consequences of their 1994 failure.

This time, when we went for all the marbles, we ended with none.

This is the part that caught my attention. I remember back to the early 2000's when we complained bitterly about compromising Democrats. However, had we considered the impact on us politically for not compromising? I suppose it's up for debate, and I'm sure that those who disagree will speak loudly, but I truly believe that the 2000 Congressional Democrats, especially following the 2001 Terror Attacks, were thinking far ahead in their strategy. Sure, it makes the party base feel good when a politician stands firm, curses the opposition and refuses to budge on principles. But look at this - we are making history! This is an effort fought over for a century, and we are realizing the beginning of that dream.

[Clio the Leo]

1. Kick! NT

[housewolf]

2. An important grain of truth in the article

"I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters – but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed – if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office – Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.

So today’s defeat for free-market economics and Republican values is a huge win for the conservative entertainment industry. Their listeners and viewers will now be even more enraged, even more frustrated, even more disappointed in everybody except the responsibility-free talkers on television and radio. For them, it’s mission accomplished. For the cause they purport to represent, it’s Waterloo all right: ours."

http://www.frumforum.com/waterloo

[karynnj]

3. Not to mention - it was the democrats who added the

rebates for those on the bottom. They needed the money more than the top 1%, which was the Republican part of those tax cuts.