President Obama should let the tax cuts expire for everyone.

[Township75]

President Obama should let the tax cuts expire for everyone. EVERYONE...not just the rich.

IF the country is finally on board with reducing the deficit then he should be making the appropriate steps to do it while we can. The Repubs will cry, and maybe even bargain for just letting some of them expire, which is better than renewing them for all.

I would rather see the debt go down, and if that means these tax cuts expire then so be it.

I would hope liberals embrace this as it removes one more mark from President George W. Bush.

[OHdem10]

1. I would agree, if Obama and the Democrats did a real campaign

explaining that the Republicans refused to agrree on
Middle Class Tax Cuts.

Here is something to consider:

Blue Dogs and DLCers are for the tax cuts for the wealthy.

The New Class of Republicans start Jan l. They can pass
a Taxcut for everyone bill through the house getting enough
Conservadems for a veto proof majority.

In the Senate the Blue Dogs, DLCERS are the swing vote.
The GOP can probably get enough of them to pass it in
the Senate.

President Obama will be forced to sign it.

Either way, they fail as Democrats, If they do not make
clear the Republicans were not really for the Tax cuts.
It is easier to make the initial case at the top of
page.

[Township75]

3. The new congress can not override a presidential veto.

They need 2/3 in the house AND senate. There will not be that many votes in the senate...I doubt even the house.

THis is entirely up to the president. He shoudl let them expire for everyone and pay down the debt. If the repubs were serious about wanting tax cuts they woudl have compromised. I think they could care less but just play up the issue.

Obama needs to be a leader on this issue and force the rest of the country to see reality...this is how you pay down debt.

[OHdem10]

12. We shall see. More Conservadems than Liberals in Senate

and Conservadems want the Taxcut.

[Life Long Dem]

23. If the votes are there after Jan 1st for tax cuts

then that might be the way to go. If the Repubs want permanent tax cuts, Obama may be only left with letting them expire, and going for tax cuts after Jan 1st.

[veganlush]

2. the democrats can't make a case for any kind of action

they just can't

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. It would be impolite. nt

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. .

[Dr.Phool]

20. Dinner

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

[jberryhill]

7. Actually, no action is required

The tax cuts expire at the end of the year.

With no action at all.

[Township75]

10. Exactly.

That is also why I think he should do it. Repubs knew they woudl expire and woudln't compromise, so he has political cover.

With that said, even if the repubs offer a compromise, I still hope he lets them expire.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. Fiscally it makes the most sense...Politically it makes no sense.

Obama would get no benefit form reducing the deficit, only for enacting the biggest tax hike in history.

It isn't fair, that it is the way it is.

If he does not at least extend tax breaks on the middle class, he violates his pledge not to raise taxes on the middle class.

[Exilednight]

13. Fiscally it makes good sense, politically it's suicide. But this isn't about politics, it's .......

about what's good for the country.

Eventually, Republicans would come around go for the 98%. Personally, I would aim at raising taxes of everyone making over $100k a year. The deal I would like to see made, making tax cuts permanent for everyone making under $100k, extending tax cuts for one year for everyone making between $100k and $250k, and letting the rest expire.

Edit: Remember, this is the president who said it was better to be a good one term president instead of a mediocre to bad president for two terms. Commit political suicide and if you lose re-election, at least you will be known as a good one term president who cut the deficit.

[Ozymanithrax]

14. Yes, but it is the peson who would replace him that is the biggest concern then...

And politics doesn't affect just the President, but every elected person.

[Exilednight]

15. Then we do what the tea-party did. Push hard left and become ..........

obstructionists. The difference is, we can become obstructionists with solutions.

The political arguments can be made, and people will believe the truth. We just someone who can actually stand up and articulate the truth in simple enough terms for the general public to understand.

I know our party hates bumper sticker slogans, but sometimes they're a necessary evil to get the message through.

[Ozymanithrax]

16. Actually, I think the tea party experience is instructive...

Liberals should push hard and back primaries against Conservative Senators and House members. We should fight to get our ideas out there.

The squeaky wheel gets greased.

[Exilednight]

18. I totally agree with you. The question is, especially on ..........

site like this (where there are many different personalities), how do we find enough people with similar beliefs to push the party where it we would like it.

I think most that are further left on the spectrum, compared to our centrist counterparts, are willing to compromise to a point of not getting everything we want, but still getting legislation that makes headway to where we want to go. e.g. public option instead of truly universal health-care.

[RBInMaine]

8. Political Suicide In This Environement - Get Onto The Planet

[Township75]

9. I don't agree.

THe people have been clamoring for jobs and reducing the deficit. Never have they said they want tax breaks. Only tea party people and conservatives have.

Obama can do this and look good. Bill CLinton did it and he was as popular as ever.

It only takes courage.

[Pholus]

11. Suicide is axing Social Security for lack of $$ while giving a big tax break to the wealthy.

Because at that point *I'm* done and looking for an alternative and I'm the guy who WANTS to like the dem.

[jberryhill]

17. Better political suicide than fiscal genocide

The right thing to so is the right thing to do.

I didn't elect a president to engage in political calculations. I elected a president to do the damned job.

[Autumn]

19. He should. We can't fucking afford to extend

the tax cuts for the rich. So we should all bite the bullet and do without. Of course we could end the fucking wars, that would help.

[Awsi Dooger]

21. Obama shouldn't be stupid enough to worry about taxes as a political issue

Half the people always believe their taxes will go up no matter who is elected. That's demonstrated every time it's asked, 49% in 2008. We're not risking much of anything by letting everything expire. The GOP will scream taxes like they always scream taxes, and the same tunnel vision group will fall for it while a greater percentage will properly weigh it, or ignore it altogether.

The deficit swamped taxes as a concern in this year's exit poll, 40% to 18%. And that's in a heavily right wing year. In a 2010 environment it will be many points more pronounced in favor of the deficit as a bigger worry. Allowing everything to expire would finally put Obama on the offensive for a change, emphasizing it had to be done for long range good, and sensible economics, even if it requires short term sacrifice by the middle class. The country would lap that up if it's presented skillfully, just like Perot's old pie charts.

If Obama defaults to fear and violates another campaign theme it will merely reinforce the growing suspicion that's he's weak, and that means his approval rating and benefit of a doubt start from a lower baseline, and economy/jobs would have to recover at more rapid and dependable pace to save him in 2012.

[Kaleva]

22. Agree. Kicked & Rec'd.