Reid tries to box in Republicans on tax cuts vote...

[kentuck]

Obviously, the Majority Leader doesn't have to jump into the icy water, but he wants to?
And he believes if the Republicans block the middle class tax cuts, it is the Democrats fault??
Because the media will help the Repubs convince the American people it was the Democrats' fault?
===========

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/harry-reid-tries-to-box-gop-in-on-tax-cuts-vote.php?ref=fpb

<snip>
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he's willing to do "whatever it takes" to extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class, up to and including allowing a vote on extending all the cuts, not just those on incomes below $250,000.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill this afternoon after a Democratic caucus meeting that focused on the Bush tax cuts -- which will expire in January unless something is done in the lame duck session -- Reid said that he's willing to allow a vote on Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's plan to extend all the cuts in exchange for many votes on dealing with the upper-income cuts while letting the middle class cuts continue.

Such a bargain would put Republicans in the politically tricky position of having to filibuster middle class tax cuts, or abandon their goal of permanent tax cuts for wealthy Americans.

"We want an opportunity and -- and we mean plural -- to vote once, twice, whatever it takes to show the American people that we support the middle class," Reid said. He said there could be "multiple variations" on how to proceed on the cuts for wealthier Americans.

.......more

[Cosmocat]

1. These braindead twits are now in a must do it situation ...

They SHOULD have had this battle two months ago ...

But, they will have taken a REAL victory and turn it into a clear defeat if they do not have votes in this session ...

Boehner will have a bill up the second he gets the gavel in January that has the upper tax cuts permamently extended, and they will HAMMER the Ds for voting against it ...

Good god, it is just mind boggling how they have butched this, seriously ... If they don't get a vote up NOW, pass or fail, they have no cover when the Rs WILL box them in on it ...

That is just the political end, it is the RIGHT GOD DARNED THING to do from a policy standpoint ...

[joeybee12]

2. You know, I'm hopeful that Reid finally might grow a spine since he's

safe for 6 years...he seems overly-cautious, but now realizes he's got some security so he can bust some balls.

[democrat_patriot]

3. Are we glad Reid won?

[WI_DEM]

6. Yes, because he is a whole lot better than Sharon Angle.

[Tatiana]

4. Well I'm glad Reid has finally decided to strategize and put his brain to good use.

I understand that Reid and Pelosi wanted more leadership from the President (per Olbermann's report last night), but really I think Reid and Pelosi need to take matters into their own hands and force the issue by playing some Hardball with the Republicans.

Also, some arm twisting needs to be done to get the Blue Dogs and New Dems in line when the vote comes up.

[kentuck]

5. I hope he knows how many votes he's got?

Before he brings it up?

Like a good lawyer, he doesn't ask a question to which he does not already know the answer.

[ProSense]

7. Here's a convoluted argument by Ezra Klein

The Democrats have picked the wrong strategy on the Bush tax cuts

By Ezra Klein

The Democrats are converging around a strategy on the Bush tax cuts that, if it works, would potentially eliminate the tax cuts for the rich. The votes in the Senate are such that legislators on both sides say the strategy won't work, but leave that aside for a second. The "win" here -- eliminating the tax cuts for the rich -- is the wrong one.

The tax cuts for the rich are bad for the deficit, but that's about it. And if they're only extended for a few years, they're not that bad for the deficit, and they do have some (minor) stimulative impact.

Comparatively, unemployment insurance is going to expire for 2 million Americans in a matter of weeks. That will kick out whatever meager financial security they've been able to cobble together, not to mention depriving the economy of some of the most stimulative spending we've got going. Unemployment insurance can't be allowed to expire, and the extension should be for longer than a few months. It should be until unemployment comes down to 7 or 6 percent.

<...>

Getting rid of the tax cuts for the rich is not as important as extending unemployment benefits or protecting the Affordable Care Act. Right now, Democrats have settled on a strategy that focuses on those tax cuts and leaves unemployment insurance and the debt ceiling alone. That's a bad strategy. If we're extending economic relief, we should be extending it to for the jobless. Giving someone making $195,000 a year a tax cut but cutting off the unemployment benefits for an unemployed machinist in Ohio is cruel and counterproductive. And if both parties want to add trillions to the deficit by extending these tax cuts, then both parties need to raise the debt ceiling at the same time.

The right outcome here is not the end of the tax cuts for the rich, though that might be nice. It's an extension of unemployment insurance and an increase in the debt ceiling.

What exactly does unemployment insurance have to do with the tax cuts? He seems to be arguing that Democrats secure the votes for unemployment by allowing tax cuts for the rich, which is nuts!

[global1]

8. Reid Really Doesn't Have Anything To Lose On This.....

he just was re-elected for another 6 years and when that runs out he'll probably be ready for retirement anyway. He's protected right now. He can do whatever without much worry.

[niceypoo]

9. Why do they insist in extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class?

Get rid of them all, they are a failed policy. Tax cutting is a GOP thing. Stop worrying about stupid failed tax cutting and balance the fucking budget.

[kentuck]

10. Better yet...

Let the Repubs vote against them. :-)

[niceypoo]

11. Better in the short term political....

...but extending them will add five years to any effort to balance the budget

[kentuck]

12. Very true..

I think the middle class taxcuts should be incrementally cut over the next three years and the taxcuts for the wealthy should be cut immediately. The good news on the deficit reduction would be good for our economy, domestically and internationally, in my opinion.

[harun]

13. I'm sure we'll get as much back-bone on this as we got with Health Insurance

Reform, Wall St. Reform, Mortgage Reform and shutting down Guantanamo Bay.


:puke: