The Tax Cut Capitulation Package: Losing is our new strategy for winning!

[nashville_brook]

NPR and Politico reported today that the White House press office has been furiously selling the Obama tax cut capitulation package, with near constant tweets and missives about how it's going to "stimulate the economy" and that various mayors and governors are "endorsing" the deal.

This got me to thinking, in his disastrous presser yesterday, Obama rationalized that the Tax Cut Capitulation Package would be easy for Democrats to run against in 2012 because it's a GOP plan that the public hates, and it's also bad medicine for the economy (forcing painful cuts later on).

...if in fact (Republicans) want to pay for $700 billion worth of tax breaks to wealthy individuals, ...corresponding cuts that would have to be made are very painful. So either they rethink their position, or I don’t think they’re going to do very well in 2012.

On day one of the Tax Cut Capitulation Package, Obama sells it as politically smart for Dems because it's a GOP plan that's horrible for the country. It will force "painful" cuts in the budget that will be unpopular in 2012.

On day two, the White House twists this into "it's great for the country and governors LOVE it!"

In less than 24 hours he's gone from saying the plan is so bad that it's going to sink the GOP, to taking ownership of it even to the point of dispatching his PR machine to the Hill to sell it to Congressional Dems and Beltway newsers -- effectively taking the turd from the Republicans and running it into the end zone making it impossible to use as a political whacking stick in 2012.

What's worse, as Obama clearly states above, this $700 Billion Dollar Giveaway To The Rich is going to result in "painful cuts" to the budget. I ask you, what sort of "painful cuts" are Republicans going to run in fear from? Who doesn't expect Republicans will use this *to strengthen their position* for dismantling of public education, Medicare and Social Security?

In what universe are Republicans going to suffer politically because there's no money for healthcare, education or jobs?

In the infamous presser Obama says he had to capitulate on tax cuts for the rich because "the fact of the matter is, I haven’t persuaded the Republican Party. I haven’t persuaded Mitch McConnell and I haven’t persuaded John Boehner. And if I can’t persuade them, then I’ve got to look at what is the best thing to do, given that reality."

Mr. President, it sounds like you're saying that John Boehner will be dictating policy to you for the next two years. If your operating standard for the next two years is what you can persuade John Boehner to do, then you're not leading. You're not driving the bus. You're luggage. And we've been left by the side of the road.

Does Obama really think we can let the GOP destroy the country and then stand on the smoldering ashes and campaign on how the Republicans fucked up (worked in 2008?).

If so, losing is now our strategy for winning.

[Autumn]

1. He can stand on those ashes and campaign all he wants to

those cuts he is going to make will hurt people, and he is the one who will be held accountable.

[nashville_brook]

3. yep -- he's not going to be able to have it both ways.

and, how cynical is it to allow all sorts of harm to come to the country in order to have a campaign issue?

[russspeakeasy]

38. You and I don't matter. Neither do our kids or grandkids

only the rich and politically connected matter. You and I are
just in the way.

[nashville_brook]

42. I never expected to be made so explicit by a Dem prez. He is showing only contempt for us.

The pressed was a great example, but it's not the only one. He seems to take every opportunity to distance himself from us and make the bankers et al feel at ease.

[niceypoo]

69. I am a lberal and my Democratic president hates me for it

He hates the left and embraces the right. Change you can believe in.

[nashville_brook]

75. really makes you wonder what political strategy is being employed.

[truedelphi]

23. Astrologically - Obama has natal Jupiter square Neptune. the sign of a

Deceiver.

That is all you really need to know.

[liberation]

25. Come on...

[Autumn]

36. That's interesting. I read my horoscope everyday

but have never looked into the other stuff. I think some of us knew that pretty fast, even without looking at his stars.

[nashville_brook]

37. Natal charts are a lot of fun.

One of my philosophy profs had an interest in it and he did my chart many years ago. It was a hoot and comported pretty much with what I already knew.

I bet there is software online to do these now.

[nashville_brook]

58. You wouldn't happen to have a link to his entire chart, would you?

I just think that would be fascinating to look at.

[truedelphi]

68. I can PM you a link to his chart tonight.

I gotta leave for a meeting, but this post should remind me to do it.

The Jupiter/Neptune thing can indicate MERELY that someone is continually duped by those around him.

But since Obama delivers his own speeches, it would seem to me that unless he had the IQ of our previous President, he would be catching on to how his facts are opposite one another, sometimes months down the line, sometimes hours. So I for one cannot say it is oth4ers duping him, unless he is now willing to go along with it.

[nashville_brook]

76. that would be awesome! i'm really familiar with aspects...

well, it's been years...but i really got into it with my favorite prof. he liked reading my chart b/c i have a grand earth trine...he'd not seen one of those at that time. i'm all earth and water, which means i get stuck in the mud a lot -- :evilgrin:

[Dinger]

30. Yes.

and correct, sad to say.

[olegramps]

33. Hey, its all part of his 20 dimensional chess strategy.

[nashville_brook]

45. We're just too stupid to understand the true greatness of his "plan"

[DirkGently]

2. Spot-on. He's put himself in the position of arguing the GOP agenda to Dems, but still thinks

Republicans will be blamed for the disastrous results? There is no strategy in this strategy. Mind-bogglingly tone-deaf.

Great post, NB.

[nashville_brook]

8. if trickle-down worked, we wouldn't need more tax cuts for the rich...

if doing what the GOP wants and then trying to campaign on how bad the GOP is worked, we wouldn't have been "shellacked" last month.

are you as tired as i am of being pissed on and being told it's raining manna from heaven?

[DirkGently]

10. It's a Secret Stimulus Program, apparently.

[nashville_brook]

11. it's like workplace Secret Santa, only all the gifts are taken away and given to your CEO

[DirkGently]

12. Ho! Ho! Meh.

[nashville_brook]

17. Ho! Ho! CEO!

[russspeakeasy]

39. It is soooooo secret that you and I will NEVER know about it.

That's because he is 11 times smarter than we are. At least
that's what I've been told.

[nashville_brook]

77. this talking point might have to be put to rest if smart things don't start happening.

[DearAbby]

28. We've been under the Bush tax cuts for ten years...

Just wasn't enough time to create those jobs...just another two more years -YEAH RIGHT! :eyes:

Amazes me how people can be so fooled, and now this...

[nashville_brook]

32. And the Reagan cuts before that...it's longterm mass hysteria

there's a greater chance that UFOs are going to land in my front yard and return all my lost socks and toys, than a single job will be created from giving a rich guy a bunch of cash with no strings attached.

[Toucano]

4. Psst. Keep your powder dry. Sssh!

How many times have we heard that?

[nashville_brook]

5. hold your fire...

until you see your disemboweled innards splayed on the floor.

[DirkGently]

6. We'll crush their clubs with our skulls!

[nashville_brook]

9. we'll smash their bombs with our babies!

b/c everyone knows that squishy babies make the best bludgeons.

[laughingliberal]

7. K & R nt

[Dr.Phool]

13. All of these painful budget cuts to embarass The GOP.

Who does the suffering from those cuts?

Not the GOP.

[nashville_brook]

15. last i checked, they were "drowning govt in the bathtub"

for the GOP, no cut in government services is a bad cut (unless it's defense).

there's plenty of utopian countries consistent with their ideology, like Uganda and Afghanistan. why don't they just move somewhere that fits better with their principles?

[donco6]

14. Exactly. Even to the question of who linked UI to tax cuts?

The two should never have been put together. Obama did it because he's trying to make a pretty present for Boner. WTF?

[nashville_brook]

16. why borrow money from China to give to the rich in the form of tax cuts, and not demand

anything more than 1 lousy year of UI?

why not demand a PAYGO provision where the $$ comes out of fraud and abuse in military spending? or closing loopholes in corporate taxes on oil companies? or foreign aid to countries engaging in human rights abuses?

i could go on and on. such a waste.

[donco6]

18. amen. n/t

[nashville_brook]

20. Obama helps GOP with their Tea Party problem: GOP helps Obama with his liberal problem

i think this might actually be the bottom line. the deal made is to wall off "principled" opposition from the left and the right. The GOP wants to wall off the Tea Party people and the DLC wants to wall off the prog-caucus. maybe this was never about material gains and losses (except for the BIG bucks they're giving to themselves) -- maybe it's all about getting the pesky principled political actors out of the way.

[DirkGently]

21. Wow. That rings chillingly true.

[nashville_brook]

44. More on this later -- :)

[Amonester]

22. You're on to something here!

In fact, where are all those stupid teabagsters these days? :shrug:

On teevee 24/7 like they've been for the last 2 years? (Not that I would want to...) :puke:

[nashville_brook]

41. They are busy being told how they will put down their childish things, their principles

And learn how to be real republicans.

[liberation]

26. Actually that makes all sorts of sense...

I have noticed Obama usually grows a spine and dispenses plenty of passive aggresive vitriol, not against those who claim he is a secret muslim fascist communist born in Kenya... but against those on the left who have the "audacity" of require him to stand for something or to actually articulate publicly what his principles are.

Carlin was right, bipartisanship really means that a larger than usual deception is being carried out by politicians.

[nashville_brook]

31. i think he's shown amazing spine in defending the status quo -- this episode

will give establishment Republicans the opportunity to haze their new boyz and girlz. they'll be forced to vote against everything they ran on, and after that, they are walled-off from their based and fully owned by the establishment.

establishment Dems play the same game with their new critters.

[DirkGently]

61. ... and yet he seems to believe Republicans, not Dems will have to answer for this at the polls.

Does he not understand that when you wrap your arms around a lopsided "deal" with the Republicans, then ferociously and derisively defend it against "the left," Democrats now OWN the policy? Will have to defend it themselves as well, come election time?

How did blaming Republicans for the stinkier parts of Healthcare Reform work out for us?

Oh, right. No one bothered because it was impossible to do that.

It's the $700 Billion Obama Tax Cut for the Rich now, sir, like it or not.

[nashville_brook]

79. heartbreaking b/c it's so spot on. he never actually gets around to painting the GOP with their

shitty policy. instead, he takes ownership of it...exactly the way he's doing now.

this is why you don't make the other sides' argument for them -- you don't "help" them b/c the struggle then becomes your own.

[myrna minx]

49. You just gave me chills. I think you're onto something - especially since I've never seen

Obama fight so passionately for any progressive ideals, but he'll sneer at his own base and go to the mat for the super rich.

[DirkGently]

50. He seems to insist on bloodless, risk-free backroom dealing in every case. If that's so, we're done.

If Democrats and liberals AND conservatives and tea partiers are ALL against tax cuts for the rich, but Obama saw no other option because he "couldn't convince John Boehner," then we are in fact, with no hyperbole, living in an oligarchy in which a tiny minority of wealthy invdividuals control American policy.

If Obama truly believes, as he appears to be saying, that nothing can occur politically now without John Boehner's express consent, he has effectively nullified the Democratic Party, and anyone else in the country with a need or an opinion or a vote, for that matter.

[nashville_brook]

52. This post is a MUST READ -- freaking spot on!

[myrna minx]

56. Oy, this was difficult, but necessary to read. I'm afraid you're right. n/t

[nashville_brook]

57. It's thee worst kind of business as usual.

[DirkGently]

78. It's difficult to even think it. But it appears to be staring us rather rudely in the face.

[hay rick]

66. Boehner.

Video on Boehner handing out tobacco checks on the house floor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAC2xeT2yOg

Any doubt about what the phrase "convince John Boehner" means?

[nashville_brook]

71. Boehner belongs on a county commission somewhere.

Not, running the country. He's as transparent as they come.

[nashville_brook]

51. Yep - why should he trust boehner if he isn't doing him a steady.

[Lord Magus]

67. I guess we should just pretend that we have the votes even though we don't.

And end up with the tax cuts for the rich and not the extension of unemployment insurance.

[amborin]

19. K&R

[Greyhound]

24. K&R. I guess there's no denying that this is "change".

Watching this being done to our nation by the "good guys" has been... surreal?
:wow:
:kick: & R

[nashville_brook]

29. i'm really afraid of what's going to come in the next congress.

[hay rick]

27. Co-presidents McConnell and Boehner.

"You're not driving the bus. You're luggage." The absolute bitter truth.

[nashville_brook]

34. that makes me want to take another shower -- *shudddddder*

[DirkGently]

47. Certainly appears that way. nt

[BREMPRO]

74. the point is he's doing this all backwards. he should had had the pr barrage

BEFORE the deal was crafted- to force the republicans to face their hypocrisy and rally the public behind his position of no tax cuts for the wealthy. He has too much respect for Republicans-treats them like equals that simply disagree. The Republicans are not equals in a reasonable debate. they play fast an loose with the facts and use power and the rw noise machine and corporate funded "think"tanks to further their political goals. they represent the wealthy and corporations- not the majority of americans. This issue is a PERFECT EXAMPLE and missed opportunity to show them up for who the really are to the American people. KUdos to the Dems for saying HELL NO! They were totally locked out the negotiations (reminds me of Cheney and his energy policy negotiations) and now are asked to swallow this bitter pill for the good of the country. I hope Obama learns a lesson here as he watches his party, the Dems, take over and hold the pukes feet to the fire until they burn up or give in.

[Poboy]

35. recommend.

[EndElectoral]

40. I need to take a break from politics. Obama has really depressed me.

[nashville_brook]

43. I hear you. We take news holidays on the weekend...well, tv news.

My weakness for Internet info is strong.

[closeupready]

46. It's all just so fucked up.

K&R

[avaistheone1]

48. tax cuts for the rich will create jobs

and war is peace

[nashville_brook]

53. In this universe we should be to eat everything we want and lose weight

Or take Keith richards amounts of drugs and have a job and family.

Delusional Nation.

[Individualist]

54. A loss for progressives is a win for DLC.

[nashville_brook]

55. It's a shame they have such contempt for rank and file party members.

[DirkGently]

62. We don't sufficiently appreciate How Things Work, apparently.

[liberation]

63. Because they know the rank and file has nowhere to go...

... honestly I think it is as much the fault of the DLC as it is of liberals for enabling them. If progressives had told the DLC to go pound sand from the get go, we would be in a much different situation.

At some point you gotta start showing your teeth, esp. against those who want nothing but your total obliteration.

[nashville_brook]

64. This is one area where I'm Optimistic - no on is in the mood for DLC bullshit after the shellacking.

[bertman]

59. You got it right, Brook. REC. nt

[nashville_brook]

60. Don't miss DirkGently's post above #50

[bertman]

80. Thanks for the reference. I also saw his thread and recced it.

[bertman]

81. Thanks for the reference. I also saw his thread and recced it.

[bertman]

82. Thanks for the reference. I also saw his thread and recced it.

[spanone]

65. whip cream on a pile of doo doo

[nashville_brook]

70. Just like ice cream except for the poo part

[mdmc]

72. r

I really enjoyed reading your OP..

[nashville_brook]

73. thank you!

:hi:

:evilgrin: