How are we even having this discussion about the bush tax cut???

[Milo_Bloom]

The tax cuts were ill-advised budget busting messes in the first place and never should have been taken. It is a large part of the reason (along with his wacky wars) bush managed to turn a surplus into a deficit without reducing the national debt (and the interest paid on it).

Let them all expire NOW. It is 2 years from the next election. A billion and one things will happen between now and then that will make the momentary whining about taxes going up a distant memory. Let these stupid tax cuts expire and begin working on a more SENSIBLE tax plan that involves tackling some of the same issues, while eliminating corporate loopholes.

Everyone with half a brain knows that we CAN'T AFFORD ANY OF THE TAX CUTS. NONE OF THEM!

The BUSH tax cuts shouldn't be a sacred cow that everyone is afraid of touching.

Hell, they came from BUSH!! Doesn't that tell you enough???

[Skittles]

1. they shouldn't be up for discussion at all

but politicians no longer work for WE THE PEOPLE

[gkhouston]

2. Chris Hayes is on the Rachel Maddow Show right now talking about it.

Catch the video later.

[Clio the Leo]

3. The next election will start this winter.

Barack Obama declared his candidacy in what would be the equivalent of February of next year. If Dems start sending voters home with less $$ in their pay checks and we'll be hearing about it for the next two years.

[Exilednight]

6. So basically, Obama is more worried about winning an election instead of .............

actually doing something that is good for the nation, like letting ALL tax cuts expire.

[Milo_Bloom]

7. Good.

And then when things turn around, because the government is raising more revenue and can spend more money, people will know who to thank.

[kentuck]

4. Amen, Brother Milo_Bloom

They are acting as if it is a sacred cow.

[moondust]

5. It's absurd.

Amazing to see Republicans preaching fiscal responsibility out one side of their mouth while simultaneously demanding an additional $700 billion in wasted tax cuts out the other side. I don't remember anything quite like it since Reagan went around telling everybody whatever he knew they wanted to hear (later known as "voodoo economics").

[Milo_Bloom]

8. It is more like 5 TRILLION

That is how much the entire tax package costs over 10 years, including interest.

[glitch]

9. They are talking about extending tax cuts for millionaires at the same time as cutting Social

Security tells us exactly who is in charge of this broken democratic republic.

[Enrique]

10. the democratic party was united against the tax cuts

Cheney had to come in and cast the tie vote. And now we have large majorities in both houses, and a democratic president, and we have "no choice" but to extend them. Absurd.

[niceypoo]

12. The CBO said the tax cuts would explode the deficit

...and that is exactly what happened.

[silver10]

11. The Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy are sacred cows!

We need to extend them because they have been so wonderful for the economy! Haven't they? Because if not, why would so many of the teabaggers have won so many elections to keep them in?