But while raising taxes when unemployment is high is a bad thing, there are worse things. And a cold, hard look at the consequences of giving in to the G.O.P. now suggests that saying no, and letting the Bush tax cuts expire on schedule, is the lesser of two evils. Bear in mind that Republicans want to make those tax cuts permanent. They might agree to a two- or three-year extension — but only because they believe that this would set up the conditions for a permanent extension later. And they may well be right: if tax-cut blackmail works now, why shouldn’t it work again later? – Paul Krugman
Mark Halperin, sage of the Washington insiders, gets something very right today.
The already tiresome debate about what Obama should do to launch a comeback tells only part of the story. Yes, he needs to show people what he stands for, fight for what he believes, compromise with Republicans when it’s sensible, reshape his circle of advisers and focus on job growth and deficit reduction. But those are all tall orders, and they run counter to Obama’s instincts, the political realities of American politics for the last generation, or both.
Even if the President somehow sloughs off that Spock-like laconic demeanor and dispatches his fired-up-and-ready-to-go persona, he isn’t going to be able to change many of the dynamics that have weakened him. Republicans are emboldened by the results of the midterm elections and by their continued discipline and verve in driving the same message since Election Day (and likely well into 2011). They believe they can beat Obama for re-election and will stay on their winning path as long as it is working.
Halperin makes the argument also that the Left will be furious and “cry betrayal whenever the President cooperates with the GOP.” Movement progressives have good reason to do both, because Pres. Obama has caved on his campaign marketing from Gitmo to privacy to DADT to health care to Bush tax cuts, while ceding all territory to Republicans in a message collapse that leaves Democrats no one to follow, let alone support looking at 2012.
Paul Krugman’s brilliant column was seconded by Chuck Schumer as well, even if no leadership is coming from the White House beyond their Yes We Cave policy. From Sam Stein:
Amidst the talk of capitulation, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) suggested that rather than extend current rates for two years in exchange for other tax-cut goodies and unemployment insurance, the party might simply let all the tax cuts expire. After all, the president could come back next Congress and build his own package of middle-class tax cuts, branded under the Obama (not Bush) name.
“There are lots of people in our caucus who do have that appetite [to let all rates expire],” said the New York Democrat.
But no place was the Democratic President’s ineptitude revealed more strongly than on “Morning Joe” today. I can’t upload the entire 6 o’clock hour, but here’s a segment with Dee Dee Myers that is illustrative of the conversation.
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The situation Pres. Obama finds himself in after the midterms, understanding that he’s lost states to Republicans he held in ’08, doesn’t come close to outlining the President’s apocryphal position after his first two years in office where hope has warn out, change hasn’t happened, and the only thing Democrats are left with is a weakened Obama presidency where foreign policy possibilities are crashing amidst a domestic landscape that has revealed Barack Obama won’t even fight against tax cuts for the super rich, which aren’t stimulative, but also symbolize everything the Democrats are against.
Ironically, the only person to blame for Democrats being in this position is Barack Obama. It’s not Bush’s fault. It’s not the economic recession either.
See Gov. Chris Christie, someone with whom many New Jersey voters disagree, but like George W. Bush before Obama, Christie once again proves that the American people respect strong even if it’s wrong and will give you credit for being a man or woman of your mind. That Obama is not only weak but also very wrong makes matters worse.
Taylor,
I agree with what you said with the notable exception of Chuck Schumer. If Chuck Schumer is “fighting” for the middle class and against the upper end tax cuts, then take it to the bank the deal is already done. And Chuck Schumer will vote for the deal. Here is a partial list of Schumers greatest hits:
Voted to repeal Glass Steagal
Voted against Dorgan Amendment that would have allowed prescription drug reimportation from Canada
Voted for the Patriot Act
Voted for AUM in Iraq
Mukasey-need I say more
Put up no fight to break up the large financial institutions-believes in maintaining the too big to fail banks as is
This is reminiscent of when Schumer was appointed to the committee to to come up with a healthcare plan that would pass and he was “confident” the support for the Public option was there-it wasn’t.
Schumer, is smart, he knows which is the popular position-end the tax cuts for the upper 2%. He can read the handwriting on the wall on the cave in. So comes out now, strongly for ending all tax cuts so he can say he was fighting against the Repubs. Pure theater and bs by Schumer.
Schumer is what is wrong with the Democratic Party.
I’m a New Yorker and this guy is full of crap.
Hey, I’m talking about ONE ISSUE right now. Dems are desperate to show they’re not invertebrates, so I’ll take the crumb.
Your comment does illustrate how badly Dems suck that it’s Schumer out front on the millionaire tax cut.
Schumer is *not* full of crap on this one. I’ll take it.
Taylor,
I love your passion on the things you believe in. And yes the tax cuts are the issue right now. And yes Schumer is making all the right sounds on the issue. But this is theater.
Where was Schumer one month ago before the election, or immediately after the election staking out this position so forcefully? The answer is that he wasn’t anywhere.
This guy has his head stuck so far up corporate asses, (especially those on Wall Street who are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the tax break) his eyes look out their mouths.
He comes out now when the endgame is already decided so he can look like a hero. If I’m wrong and the position prevails then I will be glad to eat crow. But I don’t think I’m wrong.
Your right, he’s for it now, but only because it has no chance in hell of passing and thus annoying his Wall Street buddies. kabuki by Schumer-IMO it’s not genuine.
Taylor I love what you do but I have to disagree with you on Schumer, his motivations are bs. As you can tell I’m no fan of Schumer so I may be too blind to believe Schumer may be acting honorably on this. I just don’t think he is.
peace
Hey, I don’t care if anyone is acting “honorably.” I just want the Bush tax cuts ended. Horrible economics & policy, too.
Taylor,
I think Schumer is Kabuki theater as well, however, thank you for sharing that Joe Scarborough segment. I had read his tweet last nite about being stunned by Obama’s caving in.
Even more stunning, is the argument Joe made is something that Keith or Rachel should be making on their shows, but will not. Having said that, I will take my wisdom from wherever and I appreciate Joe’s brutal honesty.
I would also remind John Kerry that it is not Obama’s *preference* to make the tax extensions to those earning below $250,000, it was his CAMPAIGN PROMISE. Nice sleight of the hand by this millionaire who takes his yachts to Rhode Island to avoid paying taxes. Two creeps that deserve each other.
My biggest disappointment yesteday stemming from the Sunday talk shows, was Senator Wyden (D) from Oregon. He has always appeared to be progressive. He goes on this rant about Congress always kicking the can down the road instead of solving TODAY’s issues. In the very next sentence? He says he has co-authored a bill with Senator Gregg (R) to extend the Bush taxcuts to everyone. If that ain’t kicking the can down the road, I don’t know what is. We can’t trust anyone at this point to do the correct thing in Washington, DC. It really IS this bad!
Obama before long will be consigned to making speeches before captive audiences (our military), just as Bush was in his last two years of office. That is a good thingy!
I watched part of Obama’s speech today in North Carolina. He is a liar. He comes out all happy, happy acting like he had won the lottery while saying he FEELS the pain of the millions of Americans he, himself, has left behind. Dirty rotten scoundrel is Barack Hussein Obama. I caught myself crying at what this Ivy Leaguer hath wrought our nation. We have *righteous* anger and hurt, he has fascism as his God.
The one thing I can say about every president in my lifetime is that they were steadfast (also mentioned on Joe’s show), regardless of whether I agreed with them or not. Not this SOB Obama. He has deliberately weakened our nation, made us vulnerable to terrorist attacks in the future while pretending Afghanistan is the PLACE TO BE. Ya reckon he would advise his daughters to join the Army and go to Afghanistan to do their patriotic duty? NEVAH!
P.S. Taylor, I agree with MLK’s friend. We MUST primary Obama out for the good of our nation and really, the world. Bush cannot compare to the vast destruction of Main Street that Obama has delivered upon America. It is not even close. The reasons at this point, does not matter. We matter and we must remove this scourge, ASAP!
Obama is giving Main Street VALUES the middle finger. Again, we must grab that finger and shove it up his own *ss, where it belongs!!!!!! Enough already.
lets face it- obama and thus america is screwed. his precompromising stances are detroying us badly. oh and Im getting real tired of some dems getting mad at me over mentioning a primary- but oh u see mccain would have been worse! and oh if u primary obama we will get a repub etc.. boy some folks havent figured it out yet- its about PRINCIPLE AND ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE AS DEMCORATS HERE. And Obama is violating every dem ideal there is these days. Obama is enacting longtime gop goals anyway- wait till his budget comes out with ss “reform” etc..
gop sen voinovich tells obama to let tax cuts expire. calls him fiscally ireeponsible. schumer joins in. bipartisanship has come
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/george-voinovich-bush-tax-cuts_n_792741.html?view=print
Bernie Sanders says he’ll go to the mat against it.
If it was McCain doing this long list of right-leaning stuff, the Dems might actually be fighting some of it. Maybe.
NPR Breaking News: Obama, GOP Agree On Tax Cut Extension
President Barack Obama has announced a bipartisan agreement on year-end legislation to extend expiring tax cuts and renew jobless benefits as part of a sweeping attempt to strengthen the economic recovery