House Democrats consider quitting early, ensuring Republican victory in November?

[geek tragedy]

If they do this, I will join the crowd who says it's time for a purge, and that the current party is just too dysfunctional to go on,

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42439.html#ixzz108dPCfuk

House leaders are considering adjourning as early as the end of this week, which would give lawmakers five and a half weeks to campaign before the Nov. 2 election but could also leave them exposed to allegations that they didn't finish their work in Washington. . . .

The other major item on the docket is a renewal of tax cuts for earners in most or all tax brackets. The president and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have called on lawmakers to extend the 2001 Bush tax cuts for 97 percent of workers, while allowing breaks for the top 3 percent to expire at the end of this year.

Republicans say an early adjournment would surely mean that Democrats would go home without extending tax cuts for the middle and lower classes — leaving the majority party open to accusations that they won't act to stop taxes from going up on all Americans.

The tax cut for the middle class, and not the wealthy, is the one issue that can rally the base and put a real contrast between us and the Republicans.

Fleeing away from the issue and refusing to even vote on it--the coward's way out--is so stupid that I have trouble believing that they would do it. They'd get hammered as raising taxes on the middle class while taking an early vacation, and they'd deserve it. This is an issue on which they can play offense and put the Republicans on the defensive. It should work for us, and they're talking about turning it into a huge negative.

Guaranteed that they will lose the House if they do this. +50 Republicans minimum.





http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42439.html#ixzz108dPCfuk

[blondeatlast]

1. Politico. That's all I need to know. nt

[geek tragedy]

2. As I said, I have trouble believing this is true.

It's enough to get me to completely ignore the fall elections. If they want to drive off a cliff, I'm not going to get in their way.

[Oceansaway]

3. Politico=Human Waste.....nt

[spanone]

4. i don't get the 'guarantee'

[geek tragedy]

8. Quitting early AND handing the Republicans a chance

to accurately accuse them of letting tax rates on the Middle Class go up in the middle of a deflationary economic environment.

It would be group suicide.

[bullwinkle428]

5. The classic "Playing not to lose" strategy only ensures one thing -

LOSING.

[geek tragedy]

12. The old 'prevent' defense only prevents one from winning. nt

[Scuba]

6. Well, being as they're all millionaires I have to question their motives. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

7. What's The Use Of Passing Legislation That Won't Make It Past A Dysfunctional Senate

The House can and has voted out many good bills that have died in the House of Reid for lack of 60 votes. It's a shame that the House Democrats will take the brunt of the loses in November considering they were a lot more Progressive (passed HCR WITH a public option) and saw most of their good work watered down in the Senate. There's not much more they can do.

[geek tragedy]

10. The vote itself is a political winner.

Also, it would put pressure on Senate Republicans to vote against Middle Class tax cuts.

If they quit early, they're the ones who are effectively killing Middle Class tax cuts.

[KharmaTrain]

13. The Senate Will Play That Game...

We're seeing it today on DADT and Reid has said he will push through a vote on the tax cuts for the rich. If the bill makes it through the Senate, then the House will have a far easier time and it could see final passage...but as I pointed out previously, the Senate is dysfunctional and 60 votes for this bill is far from assured. This has been the big roadblock all along and Reid has been rolled many times by the GOOP...and there's no assurances he won't be rolled again.

From the political standpoint, the Democratic leadership is far more concerned about holding the Senate than the House and thus that's where the action will be. And that may be a smart strategy as many skittish Blue Dogs and other "moderate" and "conservative" Democrats who are vulnerable may make it difficult to get anything passed in the House.

[madmom]

9. That's totally opposite of what I read yesterday.

[geek tragedy]

11. I hope you heard correctly yesterday.

Because this is a simply awful prospect.

[kentuck]

14. So what happens if they do?

At the end of the year, all the taxcuts expire. Why can't they come back at the first of the year and pass a stand-alone taxcut bill for the middle-class?

[geek tragedy]

16. Because it will be a new Congress run by the Republicans

at that point.

It is also politically INSANE to walk away from this issue and turn it into a weapon for the Republicans.

They need to hold the vote BEFORE the election.

[COLGATE4]

15. As the old saying goes, "Consider the source". Politico = POS

[xxqqqzme]

17. Why do they have to vote

on the tax cuts. Aren't they expiring at the end of the year? I know the cuts are for all economic tiers. So the House votes to let the upper tiers expire and extend the middle or below $75,000. Mission accomplished. Then they go home to campaign. Then the Senate, once again, wimps out.

[blondeatlast]

18. AHEM! LBN, 1 hour ago: House Dems: We Won't Leave Without Addressing Tax Cuts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4547742