"I am 'The Capitulator'; I don't do take-a-stand-and-fight for what's right."

[kristopher]

Obama today, "I want to make sure that taxes do not go up for middle class families...starting January 1st. That is my number one priority. I also believe that it would be fiscally irresponsible for us to permanently extend the high income tax cuts."


"number one priority"

"fiscally irresponsible ... permanently extend"


I'm sorry I can't be more positive, but I just don't have it in me any more...

[Old Codger]

1. Cop-out

He keeps using that "permanently". Word, he is leaving it wide open to go ahead and let them stay in force and leaving it for someone in the future to have to face it...

[Autumn]

6. That is the word that really

bothers me, "permanently", and leaves me to believe he is more than willing to give them what they want. Either that or he has got to be the worst negotiator there ever was.

[Exilednight]

33. That can has a bullseye on it, and the road is long. n/t

[ProSense]

2. Well you can give up without putting words in the President's mouth. n/t

[kristopher]

3. I'm just judging HIS negotiaing position.

He has demonstrated no inclination to take a stand on anything no matter the right or wrong of the compromise required to "move forward". I fail to see why we should assign any other interpretation to his very specific and carefully chosen words.

[great white snark]

4. "Obama won’t sign bill tied to foreclosures after problems found."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct/07/obama-wont-sign-bill-tied-foreclosures-after-probl/

[Blasphemer]

5. So they will all be temporarily extended and then what?

The GOP will not budge - not now, not a year from now and not two years from now.

[jenmito]

7. Sorry-but he's not a magician. Even with the huge majority he has 'til Jan. 1st,

he does NOT have the votes to only extend tax cuts for the middle class. There are too many Conservadems who are not on his side.

[Tansy_Gold]

8. Okay, fine. So what CAN he do? Anything? n/t

[jenmito]

10. Compromise. n/t

[Tansy_Gold]

11. You do understand, don't you, that there is a big difference

between "compromise" and "capitulation"?

Never mind.




TG, NTY

[jenmito]

12. "Capitulation" would be if he said he will accept permanent tax cuts for the rich. n/t

[niceypoo]

22. "Capitulation" would be if he accepts any extension of supply side economics, period

Supply side is a dismal failure and has bankrupted the country. If Obama extends supply side, then he is a supply sider and no different than the republicans.

[jenmito]

23. Tell it to the Conservadems currently in Congress who won't vote for anything other

than tax cuts for the rich along with tax cuts for the middle class. THEY'D like permanent tax cuts for the rich. A compromise would be to make them temporary.

[StreetKnowledge]

24. And have the issue jammed in their faces during an election year?

If they get that "compromise" now, it will be made permanent. Believe me. It's knock them down now or it will NEVER be done. The Conservadem traitors need to remember what side the party base is on.

[niceypoo]

26. Tax cuts for the rich explode the deficit and create no jobs

There is no rationale for extending them

I will not support Obama any longer if he becomes a supply sider.

[jenmito]

27. Again-If Obama had his way, he would make sure the tax cuts for the rich expired in '11. But he's

neither a king nor a dictator. He has to deal with Dems. who don't agree with him. If you support someone other than Obama in '12, they'll have to deal with the same congress as Obama would have to deal with. Only THEN would you realize the power of the presidency and you won't be happy with the new person.

[niceypoo]

28. If Obama becomes a supply sider, there will be no one left to vote for

The assimilation will be complete

[jenmito]

30. He's NOT becoming a supply sider. He's doing the best he can to get

an extension of tax cuts for the middle class.

[Old Codger]

32. He doesn't

Take a strong stand on anything, he has backed off or repudiated almost his entire platform, and "compromised" every issue so far and his definition of compromise seems to be almost the same as my definition of capitulate... He seems to have not even tried to stand up and fight, if he is doing so in the background he is making a huge mistake not making his battle public..

They can let the whole thing lapse when it is supposed to, if they give it an extension they will figure a way to make them permanent.

[MineralMan]

31. I don't recognize your screen name, actually. When DID you

support President Obama, if you did?

[rury]

36. Some people just like the word "capitulate"

so they keep accusing President Obama of it even though the REAL problem is that the Conservadems in the Senate want to make the tax cuts for the wealthy permanent.
Congress has to vote on this people, the president cannot do it by fiat or executive order.

[jenmito]

38. Yup...

and some people ALSO just like to try to find excuses to not vote for Obama in '12.

[Nite Owl]

9. That's where the problem lies

it isn't just the republicans we don't have the votes on our side. They don't want to say that too publicly but quite a few in the Senate agree with extending the tax cuts for the wealthy. It's either the compromise or none at all and if their were to be none at all it would really save some big money but he should call their bluff and blame it on them.

[Exilednight]

34. Obama holds the veto pen. He can kill ALL the tax cuts. n/t

[rury]

37. He does not want to hurt the middle class by killing all of the tax

cuts.
But I guess he won't get credit for that on DU.
He can't control the behavior of the fully-formed adults in Congress, so he gets labeled a "capitulator."
That's a pathetic bullshit charge against him.

[Exilednight]

39. This argument ath tax cuts will hurt the middle class is pure garbage .................

it would hurt the working poor (those making 25k a year or less).

Call it a bullshit charge all you want, but history proves otherwise.

[impik]

13. Happy to unrec this BS headline

[mkultra]

14. sounds like he has my back

Im middle class and i would certainly rather have my taxes cut then not.

[kristopher]

15. I'm middle class also

But I'd be happy to donate my "tax cut" to the cause of fighting for what is right and showing the Repukes for the animals they are.

[mkultra]

19. i care more about progress than petty bitterness

[Exilednight]

40. tax cuts aren't progress. It's an attempt at supply side. n/t

[Teaser]

25. well good for you

but what if other middle class types aren't happy to do that?

[Exilednight]

41. Then they shouldn't be worried about losing public services. n/t

[Uzybone]

16. is Obama the only democrat in Washington

use your vast disillusionment and lobby Congress...thats where this battle will be won/lost.

The president will not veto a bill with middle class tax cuts that doesn't include permanent tax cuts for the rich.

[RBInMaine]

17. He's exactly spot on. What is your problem?

[Exilednight]

42. He was spot on a month ago when he said to all tax cuts for the rich, including temp one's. n/t

[SidDithers]

18. Unrec...nt

Sid

[displacedvermoter]

20. Sure am glad that you are always around to let me know what

posts are worthwhile, I read them all carefully once I note you Unrec them.

Good job!

[MrSlayer]

21. I'm middle class and I don't care if my taxes go up.

Let them all expire back to Clinton levels. Didn't hurt then, can only help now.

[Rageneau]

29. Damned Right!

I'm sure the middle class is willing to "share the sacrifice" of getting our budget under control.

So let the damned tax cuts expire! Then let Congress and Obama propose NEW tax cuts for the middle class -- amounting to the same rates they 'enjoy' today. If the Goppers block those, it will be obvious to the public who is really on their side.

That will get around Obama's ridiculous contention that he has to let the rich continue to benefit hugely just so the poor and middle class can benefit a tiny bit -- which sounds like nothing but right-wing propaganda to me.

[Milo_Bloom]

35. Taking the idiotic tax cut was FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE in the first place!