Will tax cuts for the rich be extended?

[onehandle]

[xchrom]

1. don't know. -- i think there's a chance they will but i don't know. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

2. I'm trying to get the usual suspects to bet against it

But nobody seems to want to bet, even as they tell us that Obama and Congressional Democrats are taking a stand against extensions for the rich.

Strange.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Maybe you can get them to bet

against cuts in Social Security, increases in full retirement age, and tax cuts for corporations.

I mean, this IS a Democratic administration with one house and veto power, isn't it?

[MannyGoldstein]

10. I've tried 2 of those 3 also

Zero luck so far.

[rurallib]

3. temporarily. Yeah that's it - just temporarily

I mean temporarily.

[sadbear]

5. Here's a compromise

Place the fate of the short-term economy in the wealthy's hand. The compromise is a choice. First choice: Extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy two years. If the economy hasn't recovered completely by then, jack up their marginal tax rate to Eisenhower-era levels. Second choice: Just let the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire on Jan. 1. That's the deal.

[T Wolf]

6. I like that. Make them prove that their way works.

But in order for this plan to be implemented, it would be necessary to have a Democratic Party that actually wants to do something positive, even if the rich get "hurt" (though they never are).

Instead, look for more compromise from the Vichy-Dems.

[sadbear]

7. It's called accountability

republicans throw that word around, but they (and their media puppets) never apply it to themselves.

[DirkGently]

8. Put it this way: Let's offer a big, giant GOOD JOB! in advance, if those cuts are NOT extended.

All our leaders have to do collect it is not cave on the politically pathetic notion that we must add $700 billion the deficit the Republicans promised to REDUCE to somehow get the rich to "create jobs" they haven't managed to create so far with the same deal.

What could be easier? The public is clearly behind a middle-class tax cut only. This issue is a near-perfect encapsulation of what Democrats are supposed to stand for, and the hypocrisy Republicans really do stand for. They came "sweeping in" to ruthlessly reduce the deficit, and the very FIRST thing they demand is to burden the rest of the country for the benefit of the few who are already doing fine in this enconomy.

I expect to see Republican teeth and eyeballs on the floor before Democrats "lose" on this issue. Pelosi seems to be holding firm.

I eagerly await confirmation that the administration and our other leaders will do the same.

[LatteLibertine]

9. They will qualify it by saying, "It's just temporary..."

and the next time the issue needs to be addressed they will be "temporarily" extended again.

[denverbill]

11. Of course. That's why they refused a vote before the election.

Conservadems knew extending them would kill them in the general election (assholes like Bennett). So rather than gives themselves a huge boost in the general by forcing Republicans to filibuster the tax cuts, they push it to the lame duck session where Bennett, et al, could vote for it either as a lame duck or reelected Senator.

And of course, it will be easy to get 60 votes to avoid a filibuster, because the bill will be presented as a package deal and any Democrat who opposes it will be 'blocking middle class tax cuts'.

It's hopeless.

[INdemo]

12. As I have said before Obama gives a great speech

During his campaign we heard him talk about the tax cuts and healthcare..how increasing the tax for the top one percent would pay for universal healthcare coverage..Well we all know how that worked out..Even in his town hall meetings lately it was all about the tax cuts and how we would save 7 billion by making the rich pay their share..
Well President Obama has promised us a lot of things and has not delivered but wow,there were some great speeches..