Republicans 'CAN'T TAKE YES FOR AN ANSWER' ~ Huffington Post [View All]

[mzmolly]

(snip)

On the surface, it would seem like an opportune time for Congress to include targeted tax hikes as part of a cost-cutting package to reduce the huge federal deficit.

Federal taxes, as a share of the overall economy, are at their lowest levels since 1950. A return to the higher income tax rates of the Clinton presidency - when many Americans prospered, and calls for tax cuts were fairly muted - would wipe out most of the deficit. And congressional Democrats appear ready to make deep spending cuts, sought by Republicans, in exchange for a smaller level of tax increases.

Despite all that, most congressional Republicans have vowed not to raise taxes of any kind, complicating efforts to reach a bipartisan deal to reduce spending and prevent the United States from defaulting on its loans.

The adamant stand puzzles many analysts. They say it's almost self-defeating, blocking Republicans from accepting deals in which Democrats have made the biggest concessions.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/debt-ceiling-taxes-republicans_n_895450.html

Hopefully the tea party is leading Republicans to their slow political death.