The chief of staff for a Democratic senator comments on Axelrod

[ProSense]

TPM: Tell Me About It

The chief of staff for a Democratic senator writes in regarding Axelrod's seeming willingness to forgo a permanent extension of the Bush middle class tax cuts:

It's hard to know what to make of David Axelrod's tax policy comments to the Huffington Post, and Dan Pfeiffer's subsequent denial, other than maybe it was a trial balloon that got shot down, or maybe Axelrod went further than he was authorized to go.

In any event, the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership made a terrible political mistake by avoiding a fight with the Republicans on this issue before the election, when it could have clearly demonstrated the hypocrisy of the GOP's constant harping about deficits, as well as their most critical concern: the "plight" of the poor rich people.

<...>

For context, it sure would be good to know which Democratic Senator this chief of staff works for.

[dave29]

1. for all those who complain the Pres is weak

I enjoy how many of them go anonymous when talking to the media.

[ProSense]

2. Yeah,

especially people who work in the Senate, where bills go to die.

I wonder what the Senate's role is in this?

[Pirate Smile]

3. It was the Congressional Democratic Leadership who didn't hold the vote because they didn't have the

damn votes to pass it. Too many moderate and Conservative Democrats were going to side with the Republicans to keep the tax cuts for the top 2%. Of course, everyone will blame this on President Obama because ... that's just what they do for Congressional - more specifically Senate - failures.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Pre-election: "Senate Dems Ready To Shelve Tax Cut Vote"

Senate Dems Ready To Shelve Tax Cut Vote

A senior Senate Democratic aide told TPM today there won't be a vote on extending the Bush tax cuts in the upper chamber before the November election, a blow to party leaders and President Obama who believed this would have been a winning issue.

It's also a signal that the House won't take action -- though nothing has been decided for certain, since leaders there have said all along they are waiting for the Senate.

"Absent a stunning turn of events, we're not going to do tax cuts before the election," the aide told TPM.

The aide said it's already a winning message without a vote since Obama and Democrats have framed the debate as the Republicans being for the rich and Democrats wanting to help the middle class. Others have made similar arguments, but several lawmakers have said they think a vote is the only way to score a political victory. The senior aide doesn't think so.

"We have a winning message now, why muddy it up with a failed vote, because, of course, Republicans are going to block everything," the aide said.

Another Democratic Senate source hesitant to even discuss the inner-workings of the caucus said it's the senators who are facing tough reelection bids this fall who have been driving the discussions. Senators are huddling today for a caucus, but multiple sources we spoke with believe the vote is scrapped.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/senate-dems-ready-to-shelve-tax-cut-vote-1.php

[DrToast]

5. How come everyone could see that this was going to blow up in our faces except them?

[TheWraith]

7. The Senate specializes in limp cowardice and blaming things on the President.

It's what they're best at.

[asjr]

6. Is Evan Bayh still around?