It’s a Trap!

Posted on 09/09/2010 at 11:34 am by Bob Cesca

This isn’t a compromise at all:

House GOP Leader John Boehner offered a concession on tax cuts, suggesting Republicans would accept a two-year extension of all the Bush-era tax breaks rather than the permanent extension they have been seeking.

The GOP proposal is an alternative to Democratic leaders’ plan to allow the top two rates to rise next year to pre-Bush levels.

Two years from now is the 2012 presidential campaign. The Republicans will absolutely NOT let the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire and they’ll screech about it throughout the campaign — possibly trying to force the president and Democratic candidates take on-air pledges and so forth. Also, the Republicans set the 2011 expiration date in the first place, and now they want to extend the tax cuts — renegging on the original deal. There’s nothing in the history of this policy that indicates they’d stick to their pledge.

And meanwhile, we continue to add $700 billion to the deficit without any stimulative effect on the economy. So yeah, this is a bullshit GOP trap.

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  • ec

    There is no upside for Obama to accept this deal. None. Whatsoever.

  • roxsteady

    Those were the same thoughts I had when I heard that Mitch McConnel suggested the same thing yesterday. I don’t see how the President could even discuss a compromise with the very valid arguments he’s been making about the tax cuts for the rich over the last few days. The rest of the spineless Dems had better not screw the President on this. I don’t see how they’d expect to get reelected in November.

  • MrBrink

    The expiration was basically an arbitrary date, made via reconciliation, on the Rovian assumption that there’d be a permanent Republican majority– Forever!Muahahahaha…I really think these a-holes thought they’d be in power permanently, so when it came time to renew, lickity-split, no worries. 51 votes? Mere bag of shells.I cringe from disgust whenever I think about Bush in that tuxedo saying at that champagne toast, “some call you ‘The Haves,’ I consider you my base…” blah blah blah.I’ll tell you what, though, If the Bush-Republican top-heavy tax cuts and immoral policies of concentrated wealth are renewed, even for a year or two, the White House just might lose my vocal support.It would certainly test my patience and morale.When it comes to this, my position is, “does go fudge yourselves qualify as compromise?”

  • http://broadwaycarl.blogspot.com Broadway Carl

    This along with the bullshit MSNBC coverage I’ve just had the misfortune to watch is railroading the WH.I’ve just watched three news stories in a row about how our taxes would go up if President Obama lets the Bush tax cuts expire. Have I gone absolutely insane, or has the President not said that he would let the Bush tax cuts sunset on the top 2% of earners and extend them for everyone making $250,000 or less? That little tidbit of info was completely ignored.MSNBC is soooo in the tank for Obama.

  • indyinwc

    Yes, MrBrink, the 2011 expiration date was an easy political setup. I saw it then as clear as day. If the Republicans were in power by then, extend the cuts, no problem. If the Democrats were in power and they tried to let them expire, scream “the Democrats are raising taxes”. Win win.

  • MrBrink

    All the whining and excuses about “uncertainty” would be put to rest.As in, “you runamokers in the top-two percentile can be certain your taxes are going up to Clinton-era levels.”Debate’s over. The ride has ended. You had a good run at the expense of Middle income Americans who saw the once mighty manufacturing base sapped, availability of quality jobs hunted to near extinction, wages stagnated, morale squeezed…now get back to business, Haves.”Alert your accountants.

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ Nicole473

    Broadway Carl—>>>Have I gone absolutely insane, or has the President not said that he would let the Bush tax cuts sunset on the top 2% of earners and extend them for everyone making $250,000 or less? That little tidbit of info was completely ignored.He might not be able to get congress to extend the MC cuts without also extending the cuts for the top 2%.

  • Alan Fors

    He might not be able to get congress to extend the MC cuts without also extending the cuts for the top 2%.

    Then let them all expire, and push for new legislation to cut middle class taxes, paying for that with an increase on the top 2%.If congress extends the current package, the President can veto that, can’t he?

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ Nicole473

    Alan, if he can’t get an extension of the mc cuts through, why would congress agree to a new bill which does the same thing essentially?Yes, he can veto it, but thus far, he’s refused to say that he will.Keep in mind that economists are saying that extension of the mc cuts is necessary for the well being of the economy. Orszag said that if we have to extend the top 2 cuts in order to get an ext on the mc cuts, we should do that.

  • MrBrink

    “why would congress agree to a new bill which does the same thing essentially?”Because it’s good policy and good politics and the majority of the American people agree.Call them, “The Obama Tax Cuts,” and put to rest the rhetorical “Bush Tax Cuts” once and for all.”Moving forward” and all that.All it would take is 50 votes+ Biden.I dare anyone to put up a fight against cutting middle income taxes in this economy.I welcome the argument that “the Democrats are cramming middle income tax cuts down our throats.”

  • Alan Fors

    Because seperate legislation on MC only tax cuts could be pushed through via reconciliation (as the expiring package was) if need be. Modifying the existing package to make the MC cuts permanent, but letting the top 2% expire can’t be done via reconcilliation, so would be subject to cloture, fillibuster, etc., if I understand how it works correctly.Dems should (though I know some won’t) take a firm stand on the top 2%. When folks scream “deficit” they can point to this as one of the steps they’ve taken to reduce it.

  • Alan Fors

    Right MrBrink, that’s my thinking too.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/38911730@N05/3865216182/ bjritz

    I like that too. Let the Bush tax cut expire and introduce new MC tax cuts. Bravo, go!The noise machine would spin into orbit, that would be fun to watch.

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ Nicole473

    Good points, Alan and MrBrink. Let’s just hope it can be done quickly prior to November.

  • staci

    I’m with Mr. Brink and Alan Fors. Let them all expire and then do a bill for the middle class tax cuts through reconciliation.I’ll ask this again: Wasn’t Obama held up at the beginning of his term from fulfilling a campaign promise to dump these cuts by cries of we were in a recession? Wasn’t the compromise to let them naturally expire?

  • Irish Girl

    I’m on board with let the cuts expire and attempt a MC cut in new legislation. Even if we don’t get it, which we probably won’t, and even if the Economy needs it, I think we should take a stand. I don’t care if it hurts me (and it would)….I don’t want those fuckers in the upper 2% getting a single penny more. I’ve had it with compromise for the sake of the appearance of bipartisanship. Let the whole damn ship go down and the 2% can sink with the rest of us…..greedy fucks.PS: Can you tell I’m in a horrible mood?!

  • Monique Yeaton

    Here’s a quote by Edward Wolff, professor of economics at NY Univ: “One reason we have such high levels of inequality, compared to other advanced industrial countries, is because of our tax and, I would add, our social expenditure system. We have much lower taxes than almost every Western European country. And we have a less progressive tax system than almost every Western European country. As a result, the rich in this country manage to retain a much higher share of their income than they do in other countries, and this enables them to accumulate a much higher amount of wealth than the rich in other countries. Certainly our tax system has helped to stimulate the rise of inequality in this country.” Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Repubs! There’s no reason for this at all, except for greed.

  • Monique Yeaton

    If Obama doesn’t push through the expiration on taxes for the rich, he will have failed thoroughly in my opinion.

  • mattpd

    I would say this to whomever says that Obama will be raising taxes “The people who voted to let them expire in 2011 are the ones that voted to raise your taxes…not me.”This is one case where the do nothing congress should do nothing.Opponents of those still in office who voted for this…here’s a comercial for you. Show a cute baby on the screen (with the year 2002 (or whenever they were passed). Voiceover… Joe Incumbent voted to raise taxes on this baby on his ninth birtday. Then cut to current day with a puppy dog eight year old kid saying ‘Joe Incumbent why did you raise my taxes? What kind of birthday present is that?”

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ Nicole473

    staci—>I’ll ask this again: Wasn’t Obama held up at the beginning of his term from fulfilling a campaign promise to dump these cuts by cries of we were in a recession? Wasn’t the compromise to let them naturally expire?No. He was considering scrapping the cuts, but instead allowed them to go until the expiration which is Jan. 11, 2011.

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ Nicole473

    I would like to see the cuts expire also.But, I will not be changing my opinion of Obama based on this issue. It isn’t like he is governing alone.