I don't like that the tax cut is being extended for the top 2% but I understand why Obama compromised

[Tony_FLADEM]

I don't like that the tax cut is being extended for the top 2% but I understand why Obama compromise...

The Republicans were holding the unemployed and the other 98% of taxpayers hostage. Keeping the tax cut in place for the top 2% is the ransom Obama had to pay to help the poor and middle class.

Although keeping the top rate at 36% will do nothing to help the economy and hurt any effort to reduce the deficit, it's also important to keep the tax cut in place for the middle class because these people will actually put the money back into the economy.


So I am frustrated about this deal but I am also putting it into perspective.

[myrna minx]

1. Now the Repubs know that this tactic works and they'll continue to use it.

Caving won't make them stop this, it encourages them.

[Larkspur]

2. Obama compromised because he's a WIMP and a lackey for Wall Street

The payroll tax cut is a hidden bomb that will do to Social Security what the Republicans could not do -- begin the destruction of the most successful social welfare program in history.

I'll be stripping my Obama/Biden sticker from my car today.

[PinkTiger]

3. Do what you gotta do.

Just be glad you have a car to put a bumper sticker on.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Lost My Home And Car During The Great Recession So I Don't Have Said Car

~

[MineralMan]

7. You have a car? Lucky you.

Lots of people had to sell theirs some time ago.

[Larkspur]

19. It's a 2001 Saturn L2

not a BMW or a Hummer. My mechanic bought it for me in 2003 from an auto auction for less than $9K

And if I don't have a car, I can't have a job. There is NO public transportation in my town.

[MineralMan]

20. And I have a 1991 Volvo 740 wagon. I'm not sure what

that has to do with what I said. You have a car. You have a job. That's good. Not everyone is so fortunate.

[Larkspur]

21. I was laid off in Nov 2008

I only got my current job because the Indian H-1B contractor couldn't manage the Customer Service Phone Rep Training Environment. He and his managers had it so screwed up that the end users of that environment called me at home and they, not the Systems Group, hired me. I completed my 26th week of UI when I went to work for them, but I only have a contractor position, so I have no paid vacations, no paid holidays, no paid sick days and no paid personal days. If I don't work, I don't get paid. And my contract gets extended at 3 month intervals, so I could lose my job any time. Yes, I do have health insurance, but its crappy insurance.

My problem with Obama is that he's a WIMP. A Richard Chamberlain who uses compromise with our Reich Wing the way Chamberlain used appeasement with the Germans. I want a Democratic President who will honestly fight FOR the American people, not piss on Progressives when we rightly criticize him.

[dgibby]

18. If you do take your sticker off, this might interest you:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9709151

[bushisanidiot]

4. K&R

I completely agree!

There's no way unemployment benefits would have been extended, otherwise. The repukes will vote no on everything, as they have done. Once they take control in january, they will be doing nothing but trying to set up President Obama to fail. He had to get this done while he could.

[jtown1123]

5. Call THEIR Bluff. Even Republicans don't want to tell their unemployed

constituents they let their benefits run our or their middle class constituents that they let their tax cut expire because they were holding out for the millionaires.

[aquart]

8. So you favor negotiating with terrorists?

Why is that policy usually considered lethal?

[Tony_FLADEM]

10. The Republicans are terrorists in a metaphoric sense. Unfortunately that was the only option

given the election result.

[aquart]

16. Yeah. Couldn't see that coming.

Why should the Dems have guts when their constituents are cowards?

[PVnRT]

9. Which means they'll do it again and again

The extensions should have been for three years to avoid this becoming a campaign issue in 2012, which it will now. We've already seen that the Democrats cannot effectively use what should be a fairly simple theme (The GOP is holding workers hostage to benefit millionaires!) in the midterms, and there's no reason to believe they'll figure it out by the next election.

[Tony_FLADEM]

12. On what other issue will they do it again? They only care about the tax issue.

[PVnRT]

17. Cuts in social programs, more tax cuts, estate tax

Virtually everything they want.

[MadHound]

11. Thing is, he didn't have to compromise

He could have paid for UI extension out of unspent stimulus funds, and then dared the 'Pugs not to pass a middle class tax cut.

[Tony_FLADEM]

14. That's a good point about the stimulus funds, but there is no indication Obama would be willing

to do that.


The Democrats did dare the Republicans to be against middle class tax cuts and most of them voted against it.

[MadHound]

15. Yeah, that's because they thought they had a weapon at hand in the UI extension

Obama could have taken that weapon away from them, then slammed them on not voting for a middle class tax cut.

Nope, all Obama was willing to do was cave, again.

[JamesA1102]

13. K&R nt