Pelosi won't budge on expiring Bush tax cuts

[kpete]

Source: The Hill

Pelosi won't budge on expiring Bush tax cuts
By Jordan Fabian - 11/12/10 09:58 AM ET

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) signaled Friday she is not softening her opposition to extending the Bush-era tax cuts for high income earners.

Asked whether she would accept even a temporary extension of all the cuts like some Democrats want, Pelosi said that it is time to let them expire for the upper income brackets and be extended for the middle class.

"The position that we have, and which is the position the president has put forth, is that everybody should get a tax cut in our country," the outgoing Speaker told NPR. "The problem comes," she said, "when an additional tax cut to the wealthy is two percent that will heap $700 billion in debt" upon the country's children.

Pelosi's comments indicate that Republicans and Democrats are headed for a stand-off on the tax cuts when Congress returns for its lame-duck session next week.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/128889-pelosi-wont-budge-on-bush-tax-cuts

[county worker]

1. Let them all expire.

I'm willing to let my rates go up so long as the wealthy rates go up too.

This is our last chance to stand up for what we believe in. We need to send a signal to the next congress that we won't be bullied.

[Warpy]

4. For the good of the country, they need to

The fight over restoring cuts for the bottom couple of quintiles can commence in two years. Or not.

The dirty secret is that the budget busting quality of tax cuts to plutocrats is nearly matched by what the middle and working class got.

If this country is to avoid bankruptcy, those tax cuts need to expire. Allowing the cuts for the rest of us to expire along with them will only help the country start putting its financial house in order.

Remember, the IMF is not kind to bankrupt nations.

[grahamhgreen]

47. It's not really a tax cut if your running a deficit, it's a loan we'll pay back with interest.

I don't want to be forced to take this loan Called a tax cut.

[Warpy]

57. Exactly, which is what Joe Sixpack just never manages to understand

along with that hundred bucks a year he's saved on his taxes is taken out of a budget somewhere, meaning his streets are going to stay full of potholes and his kids are going to be crammed into crowded classes with last year's books.

[alanquatermass]

73. Amen, Warpy! The "Joe Sixpacks" of this country aren't stupid, exactly...

-- but they live in a world of instant gratification, and it is up to us to lead them (and occasionally, grab them by the short-hairs and DRAG them LOL!) into a more beneficial way of living.

Now you can call this "elitism" if you want to, I don't give a shit (what's in a name, right?) but it seems to me that the Joe Sixpacks of America need a lesson... even, God help me, an at-first unwilling lesson... in the Greater Good, because the ones Progressives are REALLY trying to help, at the end of the day, are THEM.

The ignorance of the quote-unquote "Common Man" is truly staggering.

[unkachuck]

80. "The ignorance of the quote-unquote "Common Man" is truly staggering."

....we are bred and educated that way....

....what do you do when ball scores replace political debate?....what do you do when children are taught to play the stock market but never taught to organize a Union?

....we don't need elitism, what we do need is the complete purging of the pervasive 'corporate interest' from our lives....

[Kall]

117. Tax deferral

is what it should be called.

[grahamhgreen]

124. Very good point. Excellent framing!

[Skink]

131. "what do you care when it's deffered to it's the best tax exempt loan you'll ever get"

"Are you telling me who is gonna be in the White house cause that would be some useful information"

[Creative]

125. Well, you are free to "give" yours back.

[grahamhgreen]

127. But not pay it back -so I would still have to pay the interest forever even if I gave the cash back!

[politicalmajority]

7. Amen

I am willing to pay more taxes to see the top 2% pay much more taxes.

[24601]

88. Yeah - why the F*$k do we let Gates & Buffett give their Billions

to the causes THEY like when we could be hitting them with a kick-ass wealth tax and spend it on what WE want. Just cause they fracking earned it is not a good-enough excuse to let them keep it and spend it the way they want!

[Chulanowa]

90. And after taxes, they will still have billions and billions

And they can spend those billions and billions however they want.

Billionaires aren't going to be reduced to rags. Not one of them will lose any noticable portion of their banks to taxes. However as a collective group, they could completely refinance this country with those negligible contributions.

The American government has invested in them, and the American people, like any stockholder, want a return on that investment.

[24601]

98. Not when I'm done with them - I'll have a billion or two! Just my

"safety net."

No way either one "needs" more than a single million.

[Creative]

126. Yeah...!

What kind of $#!t is that...?

[Hoyt]

10. I'm in too.

[clayton72]

14. Enough of the Bushit policies that got us into this mess

I agree. I'm willing to pay more taxes so long as the top 2% pays their share too. And let's solve the budget issues by bringing our millitary back home. They are stretched too thin for our national security already.

[DesertFlower]

19. i agree. the problem is

so many people are barely "hanging on". if they have to pay more in tax they might lose their houses, etc.

[clayton72]

28. Run out the clock

Well, the Dems could float a bill to extend the cuts for the bottom 98%, the Repubs will shoot it down, the Dems throw up hands and say, "Oh well, we tried", and wait for January and let them expire. Tables turn. Then the Dems just shoot down any bill with cuts for the top 2% and no cuts get renewed.

[ArcticFox]

69. You don't seriously think that would work, do you?

(sarcasm) It's just too simple.

[eridani]

89. People who are just hanging on aren't paying much in the line of income tax

An extra $400 isn't going to do diddlysquat for someone close to forclosure.

[dhpgetsit]

109. For those who are barely hanging on

It will make little difference if any.
All we need is 40 senators who are committed to letting them expire, and they will expire.

[Samantha]

37. This is the decision I arrived at today as well

Let them all expire.

Sam

[cindyperry2009]

45. When do they actually expire?

just wondering

[pattmarty]

54. Jan 1st 2011

[2Lib4Dem]

60. Too many deep-pockets, corporate Dems

I believe that this is more theater. The Dems have had ample opportunity to show me that they will ultimately do the right thing for the lower 98% economic bracket in our country. The probability is high that the Bush tax cuts for the rich will be extended for two years. At that time, the Repubs will control the house and the Senate is full of ConservaDems. In addition, an election will be on the horizon and they will not be wanting to miss an opportunity for big corporate contributions for their campaigns.
No, this is only theater. How long will we continue to tolerate this?

[AC_Mem]

66. Raise my taxes

I'll do my part to pay off the debt. And I make under 70k.

If I can do it, why can't the millionaires and billionaires?

[ArcticFox]

68. I agree completely

Us little people have to understand we're in a class WAR. In war, people need to make sacrifices. If I must give up a few hundred dollars in order for our rich enemies to cough up hundreds of thousands of dollars, the sacrifice pales in comparison to the satisfaction.

[PADemD]

77. I agree

[bowens43]

95. yep. Let them go. nt

[bowens43]

96. yep. Let them go. nt

[No Elephants]

99. "send a signal to the next congress that we won't be bullied" may be may be the

funniest thing I've read here in a while.

We're soon to wind up four years of being bullied as the majority Party. At this point, we'd need a mighty big signal to convince anyone we will not be bullied after losing the House, our pride and what was left of our spine earlier this monith.

I don't even want to contemplate how far or how fast the dash to the right will be after the biggesst loss in 70 years. Lesley Graham better watch out he isn't trampled.

[murbley40]

107. Let Them All Expire!

I agree. I am also willing to pay more in order to see to it that the wealthy pay their
share. I agree that if we do not stand up now, we are never going to have that chance again in our lifetime.

[mirrera]

112. That is what I have been saying...

Just let them go. If they want to cut taxes for those in need, let it be called an Obama tax cut and let this mess go. We still have power until January, lets use it. Just do not bring it to the floor Nancy!

[davidwparker]

114. +1

Right. I'll be glad to pay the $12/75 increase in my taxes so that the idle rich pay all of it -- and they are still getting a bargin.

Repeal Reagan tax cuts.

[harun]

2. I trust Pelosi on this, Obama...... we'll see.

[DesertFlower]

20. i trust nancy too. nt

[BillH76]

26. Well, I don't. nt

[harun]

84. She's a member of the Progressive Caucus, they're the only ones who have been

on our side through this whole thing.

Not that I think that will change your mind, just say'n.

[onehandle]

3. The most effective Speaker in decades. nt

[Larry Ogg]

11. No doubt about it...

She effectively preserved the Republican Party and managed to effortlessly let the right wing lie machine convince the clueless electorate that all the republican fuck ups (too long to list) were because of Democrats.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Politicub]

12. She is amazing

It burns me up to see people on DU castigating her.

[DesertFlower]

21. i agree. nt

[madmax]

34. That's what the pundits are saying. That's good sign.

They usually have a lot of negatives to spew about every Dem.

[myrna minx]

39. Love her - she was penalized for the incompetence of others.

:loveya: Nancy.

[alanquatermass]

65. She's gotten a HORRIBLE rap --

-- which she certainly doesn't deserve and my Rethug Father is the worst offender, prattling on about her "stupidity" and "low IQ", and insisting that "off the cuff she is a sputtering jackass" etc.

But I think people's INTENTIONS are... in many cases... even MORE important than their IQs and too many people like by bigoted fucking Father (and even a few folks here at DU) fail to realize that.

Nancy Pelosi was hands-down, without question (for me, anyway) the most well-intentioned Speaker we have had in DECADES.

So, y'know, no offense but...

FUCK YOU, DAD!!!

[No Elephants]

101. I've never seen Pelosi sputter when interviewed. George Bush, OTOH.....

Whnever I've seen her, Nancy's spoken very deliberately and cogently. Unflappable.

[alanquatermass]

121. Agreed! Dubya was an idiot -- holy crap! -- but you gotta admit...

-- Pelosi ain't exactly Winston Churchill when she's speaking off the cuff, either. My point is, it doesn't matter! As Pelosi has so ably demonstrated, you don't need to be Phi Beta Cappa from Cal Tech to be an effective Speaker of the House.

Or, to put it more succinctly, a crummy "speaker" can still be a wonderful "Speaker"!

[kirby]

123. She is a poor speaker...

I regularly watched her weekly press briefings and she stutters all the time and trips over her tongue.

[alanquatermass]

128. Agreed! But a gift for self-expression...

-- or being "telegenic"... or possessing above-average intelligence are not necessarily prerequisites for being a successful Speaker.

Pelosi got Health Care through -- let us never forget that.

The job is AT LEAST as much about networking, good intentions (which she has in abundance!) and determination (ditto!)

[billlll]

5. "91% top tax rate during president Ike" - Bill Maher

We had prosperity then.

Maher keeps mentioning it.

Hoover... Depression
Bush....great Recession.

[me b zola]

13. I also like to remind people of this

Back when CEOs made 30x the amount of the average worker (as opposed to now when they make 300x the average worker),and was taxed at a much higher tax rate, they still lived quite a lifestyle that was far and beyond anything that most of us can imagine. They prospered and most Americans lived a good life. Of course there was still poverty, but not as wide-spread as it is now, and we *were* working toward making poverty & inequality things of the past. Now it seems that poverty is in most of our futures.

[greymattermom]

55. write offs

What we forget is that back then all sorts of things were write offs. Fancy parties, country club memberships etc. Maybe that was good for the economy though.

[eridani]

91. The nominal top rate was 90%; the actual top rate was 50%

That's still WAY better than we have now.

[rucognizant]

87. Poverty is in my PRESENT!

Yes, back then the CEO's even trickled down generously...........wanting to give back for their good fortune. I ran a small business on their generosity. Different breed of cat!
4 years ago I had heavy expenses in Oct. & Nov.I created a calendar to sell on my computer & with my original art work, then went door to door selling it. My success was somewhat marred by DISH TV, (CORPORATION!!!!) refusing to wait for my $46.00 payment until Jan 3rd, Social Security Payday. On Dec 22nd. they raided MY BANK ACCOUNT WITH THE SAVED, FOR 15 MONTHS, DEBIT CARD NUMBERS ( ILLEGAL) and removed NOT $46.00 but $200. ( for their precious box!)I only had $186.00 in the account! The bank worked with me carried the $200. and didn't charge bounced check fees.I sent the box back promptly......It took a FULL month for the bank to be reimbursed..............
I sold calendars well in '08. 09' & '10..................2010?..........I have an art show tomorrow; I ran out of magenta ink tonight, cutting short production on the final 6 months of the current calendar...& christmas cards to sell. Yes I always USED to keep an extra set in house..............until this year Staples ( CORPORATION!!!!)jacked the price up 50%. ( $45.00 to $90.00)
ON AN INCOME OF $891. A MONTH I can't afford to do that. SO I AM OUT OF BUSINESS! Forced out of a small workable entrepreneurial AMERICAN, business. HOW SOCIALIST IS THAT? OR CORPORATIST?
TIME TO PUSH BACK HARD INSTEAD OF ENDLESSLY BLOGGING OUTRAGE!
AND THERE ARE MANY WOMEN IN MY COMMUNITY WHO ARE TRYING TO LIVE ON ONLY $500. SS INCOME A MONTH! The Lily Ledbetter Law came WAAAAAAAAAAY TOO LATE FOR US!
Oh & my Repig Senators, (female), when I call about changing legislation, offer me welfare instead!

[corkhead]

120. Those criminals at Dish tried to do the same thing to me

but I saw it coming and told my bank that my card was stolen before they could charge it. they tried to hit me with the $200 charge because they didn't have their box back. They were supposed to send me a prepaid box and I had asked them for it three times and it didn't come until after they tried to charge my card. I ended up putting their shipping tag on an oversized box that contained not only the box, but the cabling and the entire dish itself, bees nests and all.

all this because THEIR 5 year old equipment crapped out and they refused to look at it or fix it if I didn't pay them $100 to "diagnose" the problem.

2 years, an off the air antenna, and Netflix subscription later, I have never missed them and enjoy sharing my story to any present and future Dish customers.

about the only thing I was watching regularly that wasn't on local tv was the Daily Show, and I am watching it online now.

[MannyGoldstein]

27. AND both houses of Congress had Republican majorities

Those were real Conservatives - they believed in a balanced budget.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

97. +1

[No Elephants]

100. And Maher would have to cough up big $$ if 91% were the top rate, so it's very unselfish of him.

[blackspade]

6. Pelosi rocks.

I was not too happy with her at first, but she has shown herself to be consistently in the corner of the middle class and poor for the last four years.
If she had only impeached shrub, I might be sending her marriage proposals! :)

[juajen]

67. I agree with most of your post; except I believe that Pelosi

didn't want to impeach Bush because she knew her time to get things done was going to be limited, as it has proved to be. Taking the time to impeach a President when the country is going down the toilet would have been treasonous, IMHO.

[gkhouston]

70. Yes. It's not that she didn't want to; I suspect she itched to. But she had to choose

between putting out the fire and arresting the arsonist. Not an easy choice to make.

[Larry Ogg]

78. Especially when the arsonist is starting fires quicker than you can put then out. n/t

[gkhouston]

79. And that was no accident. It was a strategy to get away with it all.

So far, it's worked.

[No Elephants]

104. Bush would have taken a lot of Democrats down with him.

[Vincardog]

8. Let them all expire. I don't have an income It will not hurt me at all.

[Vincardog]

9. Let them all expire. I don't have an income It will not hurt me at all.

[chaplainM]

15. These tax cuts expire because of Bush flim-flam

Bush and the GOP wrote the expiration into the bill to hide the huge deficits they would cause. They should own this expiration.

Let them expire the way the GOP intended.

[indimuse]

16. Thank you Nancy!

knr!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

17. GO Nancy, you have GOT to win!!!

WIN!! WIN!!!

may the RW liars who blame this all on you and Obama rot painfully in hell!!!!!!

WINNNNN Nancy!!

[thereismore]

18. I trust Pelosi over Obama. She has been a rock. nt

[Ramulux]

22. Honestly

Obama needs to just disappear and let Pelosi handle the democrats political messaging. Every time Obama speaks he pisses people off and Pelosi has to come in and tell everyone to chill.

[LaPera]

23. I LOVE you Nancy Pelosi!!

[rainlillie]

75. Me too.

[pezDispenser]

24. I can only speak for my family

I understand raising some people's taxes right now would really hurt them, but for us - let them expire.

[BillH76]

25. She will "budge." Count on it. nt

[Tx4obama]

29. Let them all expire and THEN....

Have Congress pass a NEW " OBAMA TAX CUT " bill for the middle class.

I am sick of hearing the phrase 'Bush tax cuts' --- it isn't helping that people keep hearing that phrase over and over each day - it makes it sound like only the republicans want to give taxpayers tax cuts. It's a very bad out in the open subliminal message.

[customerserviceguy]

102. The only problem is

it will be a Rethuglican House that has to approve an "Obama Tax Cut", and the only thing they will approve is a worse deal than we'll get from the lame-duck session. It will take a lot of political courage for the President to veto a Repuke-Blue Dog bill, while people's paychecks are seeing a cut in January. I just hope he has more courage to stand up to our enemies than he did in dealing with the DINO's for the last two years.

[No Elephants]

106. Why? Dems are still a majority in the House. (They should have done Ihis well before now, but they

still have time.)

[Tx4obama]

132. Our Dem Congress can pass a new 'Obama Tax Cut' bill - before January. n/t

[customerserviceguy]

133. We'll see

I have a feeling that the reasons they didn't do it before the election are still firmly in place. Besides, I would imagine that there are a lot of soon-to-be retired congresscritters who don't want to take any more cover for this President.

[DailyGrind51]

30. I would gladly let my meager tax cut expire, than let the upper 2% keep one dime of theirs!

[madmax]

33. I would too. Just on GP

General Principle a term used back in the day... ;) Haven't heard it said, lately.

[DailyGrind51]

71. Thank you! Fortunately, we have Nancy Pelosi and Jan Schakowsky on OUR side!

[madmax]

31. They hate her for a reson. She doesn't back down.

If they hate her, I want her. Hang tough, Pelosi.

[DailyGrind51]

93. Sad, that of the 3 main Democratic leaders, the one with real cojones lost her job.

Democratic Obama Harry, DOH!

[No Elephants]

105. When did she lose her job?

(And, obviously, testicles have less than nothing to do with bravery, resolve, etc., so please use a metaphor that does not imply those are essentially male qualities)

[proteus_lives]

32. K/R.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

35. Way to be Nanacy...stay your ground!

[old mark]

36. Nancy, I wish you would run for President - we need a real Democrat!...nt

[DesertFlower]

40. i'd vote for her. nt

[begin_within]

38. Not only that, go back to pre-Reagan tax rates, and enforce taxes on corporations.

[DireStrike]

41. Are people really cheering Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi?

How quickly we forget. One or two populist exhortations and the pitchforks turn to pom-poms.

[AllyCat]

44. I take the breaks where I get 'em.

[stopbush]

46. Yeah, we could have spent the last two years doing impeachment

of bush...and nothing else.

Pelosi got 400 bills through the House. FOUR HUNDRED! Most of them loaded with progressive principles.

But they never even came to a vote in the Senate. Ergo, the House got punished in the election for the Senate's BS.

Nancy Pelosi is the LAST person Ds should be blaming for anything. I'd love her if all she did was piss off the Rs.

[jeff47]

82. Uh....

Bush wasn't president for the last 2 years. One can not impeach someone who is not in office.

[AlbertCat]

53. Nancy "impeachment is off the table" Pelosi?

Yes... that SINGLE thing has caused the entire mess we're in now! Everything that she has done since is not worth anything!

:sarcasm:


Boy... the stupid hurts!

[No Elephants]

108. Jan 2007 to Jan 2009-"Impeachment off the table"-Pelosi. Jan 2009 to forever-"Prosecution off the

table"-Obama. And Congress never blinked.

[texshelters]

42. What, she's not whinging?

Is she acting like an actual Democrat and sticking up for the non-rich?

If so, good on her!

Peace,
Tex Shelters
http://texshelters.wordpress.com/

[AllyCat]

43. Thanks for standing up for us Ms. Pelosi.

The standing-ups have been few and far between, but I will take them where I can get them.

[craigmatic]

49. She's absolutely correct. They cut taxes to the bone over the last 30 years.

Raising taxes is the only way to pay off our debt.

[LawnKorn]

50. Stick to your guns Nancy

I hope Nancy Pelosi crafts a bill to increase taxation on the rich and submits it in the next Congress.

[LawnKorn]

51. K&R

[ClarkUSA]

52. And that's why Pres. Obama wants her to remain in charge of House Democrats.

President Obama: Nancy Pelosi has been an 'outstanding partner' ... He praises her and Reid in response to a question about whether the party needs new leadership.

www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45035.html

[eringer]

56. I agree. Let them all expire. But this is not about tax rates. Its estate taxes.

The rich want their family to inherit their billions when they die. If the tax cuts expire, they must dies before January 1, 2011. If they don't the old pre-Bush Estate tax rates apply. These are as follows:
For amounts not greater than $10,000, the tax liability is 18% of the amount.
For amounts over $10,000 but not over $20,000, the tentative tax is $1,800 plus 20% of the excess over $10,000.
For amounts over $20,000 but not over $40,000, the tentative tax is $3,800 plus 22% of the excess over $20,000.
For amounts over $40,000 but not over $60,000, the tentative tax is $8,200 plus 24% of the excess over $40,000.
For amounts over $60,000 but not over $80,000, the tentative tax is $13,000 plus 26% of the excess over $60,000.
For amounts over $80,000 but not over $100,000, the tentative tax is $18,200 plus 28% of the excess over $80,000.
For amounts over $100,000 but not over $150,000, the tentative tax is $23,800 plus 30% of the excess over $100,000.
For amounts over $150,000 but not over $250,000, the tentative tax is $38,800 plus 32% of the excess over $150,000.
For amounts over $250,000 but not over $500,000, the tentative tax is $70,800 plus 34% of the excess over $250,000.
For amounts over $500,000 but not over $750,000, the tentative tax is $155,800 plus 37% of the excess over $500,000.
For amounts over $750,000 but not over $1,000,000, the tentative tax is $248,300 plus 39% of the excess over $750,000.
For amounts over $1,000,000 but not over $1,250,000, the tentative tax is $345,800 plus 41% of the excess over $1,000,000.
For amounts over $1,250,000 but not over $1,500,000, the tentative tax is $448,300 plus 43% of the excess over $1,250,000.
For amounts over $1,500,000 but not over $2,000,000, the tentative tax is $555,800 plus 45% of the excess over $1,500,000.
For amounts over $2,000,000 but not over $2,500,000, the tentative tax is $780,800 plus 49% of the excess over $2,000,000.
For amounts over $2,500,000 but not over $3,000,000, the tentative tax is $1,025,800 plus 53% of the excess over $2,500,000.
For amounts over $3,000,000, the tentative tax is $1,290,800 plus 55% of the excess over $3,000,000.
Additionally, estates of decedents that die after December 31, 2010, will be subject to a 5% surcharge on the excess of their estate over $10,000,000.

The tentative tax is reduced by gift tax that would have been paid on the adjusted taxable gifts, based on the rates in effect on the date of death (which means that the reduction is not necessarily equal to the gift tax actually paid on those gifts).

Although the above tax table looks like a system of progressive tax rates, there is in 2011 a unified credit against the tentative tax which effectively eliminates any tax on the first $1,000,000 of the estate (or the first $1,000,000 on a combination of taxable gifts during lifetime and a taxable estate at death), so federal estate tax rates effectively start at the 41% tax rate once the $1 million (as of 1/1/2011) unified credit exclusion amount has been exhausted.

Why do you think that all the big money poored into the last election. It had nothing to do with Obama, Health Care or stuff like that. Nope. It was estate taxes. The tax was put into place to ensure that there is no aristocracy in America. The rich want to change that and figure the pigs think they can buy what they want.

Go Pelosi! Stand your ground and fall on your sword on this one if you must.

[customerserviceguy]

103. Well stated

In addition, spouses can inherit unlimited amounts, and all of the dodgy trust-thingies that the rich were using before the Bush tax plan are still out there. Let the tax cuts expire, we can go forward without them.

[Javaman]

58. is this some of that "powder" that she has been keeping dry all this time?nt

[Festivito]

118. I think we're being TOLD we like Pelosi... on a curiously winning subject.

Since Obama came out and clarified this issue as those making over 250 thou a year versus those making less than 250, the people are no longer fooled by RW gibberish on this issue.

Now Pelosi is getting the focus, the credit. But, why?

Either, she gets this as payback for keeping impeachment off the table.

Or,

She gets the focus and when it drops, she gets to take the fall for everyone.

[ooglymoogly]

59. These are the words (0) should have been shouting while pounding the table;

instead of a weak "We are open for a bipartisan deal" A two year extension is a good starting point." "We are open to compromise........anything, anyone...No....How bout if I sweeten the pot.....anyone, anyone....No...well ok then have it your way, we'll extend the damn things permanently." "Now on to SS and Medicare cuts." "same deal....No....how bout if we double the 700 bullion in tax cuts for the rich and cut out SS and Medicare all together....do we have bipartisanship or what?" que the kum ba yah; someones laughing lord; music, sung by the(0)chorus band "Now that is what I call a bargain worth fighting for." and to Rahm..."Was that good enough Rahm...better get the lobby lawyers to write a few thousand pages and make it sound like the folks are getting something....hell they'll fall for anything as long as there is a magic D after it"

[ProudDad]

61. Good for her...

If the mythical "Middle Class" can't afford $25 per month to bail out their children and grandchildren...

Than we're in a hell of a lot more trouble than we thought...

Which we are...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Emergency

[StarsInHerHair]

62. good, I'm somewhat relieved SOMEONE is refusing to

budge.

[martymar64]

63. I'm sliding with Pelosi on this

if the Rethugs are serious about debt and deficit reduction, they will let them expire. Of course they are not doing that, they want to extend the tax cuts to the rich uber alles, so they are just spouting bullshit when the word' debt reduction" leaves their lips.

Don't budge Nancy! Let them expire!

[FailureToCommunicate]

64. Okay:expire 'em all - BUT, hoping we don't get fooled again...

[murbley40]

110. Expire'em all.......

OK.

Everyone who has expressed a willingness to "expire 'em all",contact your Senators and Representatives and the President and express the same to them.

Just sounding off on here is not going to have any effect.

We all need to stand up for ourselves and our country.

[FailureToCommunicate]

119. Have; but wanted to sound off here anyway.

[laughingliberal]

72. This is why we need her. Even if she doesn't prevail, she will fight to make the case. nt

[rainlillie]

74. Nancy knows how to get the job done!

[colsohlibgal]

76. Rock On Nancy!

She continues to do a great job, Obama should have her true liberal sensibilities and her spine - instead of carrying water for the Rubin crowd.

Nancy does not deserve the shots she's been taking.

[midnight armadillo]

81. Too little, too late

Imagine how much weaker the GOP would be if she'd spent 2006-2008 investigating the stuffing out of the Bush White House crimes. Oh, right, that's because she and many other Dems are complicit in the illegal wars, illegal wiretapping, etc etc.

Sorry Pelosi, fighting hard when you're on your way out isn't political courage.

[defendandprotect]

83. Good for Pelosi ... have to admire her for this -- nice contrast to Obama ....!!!

Amazed that we're not seeing a break away in the party from the DLC and the

"New Dems" --

They know what the public wants and it's not a move to the right --

We need to regain control over this corporate circus and return to a people's

government --

We have a ton of corruption to correct -- $12 TRILLION in bail outs in one of the

largest financial coup d'etats ever -- in one 18 month period!!

$4 TRILLION in funds still missing -- Hello, Pentagon????

If crime doesn't mean anything if a corporation does it, why do we bother with DOJ and law?

[ibegurpard]

85. She took it on the chin for Obama on healthcare "reform"...hope she stands her ground this time

[steve2470]

86. You go Nancy ! :) nt

[Enthusiast]

92. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is principled.

Something the Democratic Party could use a little more of. K&R

[gibby2433]

94. This is why I love that woman

and the Right hates her so much. I've learned over the years when the "other side" hates something/one as much as they hate Nancy Pelosi, the opposite opinion is always correct. Go Pelosi!

[Flagrante]

111. Frame increase as Republican tax policy, they wrote/passed this bill

Any tax increase is the Repukes fault. They wrote this bill, they passed this bill, they included the expiration. This is their albatross if the Dems are smart enough to hang it on their necks (but of course, they aren't).

/edited for typo

[gkhouston]

130. The people pushing this tax cut for the rich are lining their pockets and sticking

our kids and grandkids with the bill. That's pretty damned corrupt.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

113. The OBAMA tax cuts for the wealthy will be "extended" to "save" the middle-class from a tax hike.

This will be the official kick-off for the BO re-election campaign contribution drive, Wall Street on the speed dial. Boner is already playing the tune and BO has started dancing his ass off to it. BO signaling compromise means he will cave-in to the pukes and the money interests. Guaranteed! Nice pep rally here but at the end of the day Nancy may have one losing vote to cast but she will probably cave too.

[NoodleyAppendage]

115. PELOSI for Primary Challenge to Obama in 2012!!!!

I'd vote for Nancy in a heartbeat to be the Dem for 2012.

It's ironic that it takes a female Dem to show the male Dem President how to have some balls.

J

[chill_wind]

116. Sign the letter. FIGHT Bush Tax Cuts for Millionaires

113,000 +. Add your voice.

http://act.boldprogressives.org/sign/petition_obamafight

[hedgetrimmer]

122. Waste of time to even discuss!

I'd feel a little more confident if it just never made it to the floor and they use this time on something more to do with change.

[classysassy]

129. Pelosi has more balls

than most of the members of her party.The president bent over backwards trying to convince the republicans to work with him inorder to improve the plight of the average citizens.The party of no don't give a damn about the people,it's about theri supporters the wealthy criminals and they have duped the poor and middle class into believing their lies.