Obama Won’t Extend Bush-Era Tax Cuts to Wealthy

[ProSense]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON – President Obama will rule out on Wednesday any compromise that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy beyond this year, officials said, adding a populist twist to an election-season economic package that is otherwise designed to entice support from big businesses and their Republican allies.

Mr. Obama’s opposition to allowing the high-end tax cuts to remain in place for even another year or two would be the signal many Congressional Democrats have been awaiting as they prepare for a showdown with Republicans on the issue and ends speculation that the White House might be open to an extension. Democrats say only the president can rally wavering lawmakers who, amid the party’s weakened poll numbers, feel increasingly vulnerable to Republican attacks if they let the top rates lapse at the end of this year as scheduled.

It is not clear that Mr. Obama can prevail given his own diminished popularity, the tepid nature of the economic recovery and the divisions within his party. But by proposing to extend the rates for the 98 percent of households with income below $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals — and insisting that federal income tax rates in 2011 go back to their 2001 levels for income above those cutoffs — he intends to cast the issue as a choice between supporting the middle class or giving breaks to the wealthy.

In a speech in Cleveland on Wednesday, Mr. Obama also will make a case for the package of roughly $180 billion in expanded business tax cuts and infrastructure spending disclosed by the White House in bits and pieces over the past few days. He would offset the cost by closing other tax breaks for multinational corporations, oil and gas companies and others.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08obama.html

[stray cat]

1. Yes!

[happygoluckytoyou]

147. IT IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN ONLY ABOUT CLASS WARFARE

the teabaggers of the world have been given the bums rush toward thinking that the wealthy are looking out for them

[Kweli4Real]

153. As I've posted before ...

If the "greatest trick" ever played on mankind was the devil convincing mankind that it doesn't exist; then the wealthy convincing the working-class that policies benefitting the rich, somehow benefits the working-class, runs a close second.

[dotymed]

215. An average person voting republican

is like a chicken, votng for Col. Saunders.........

[Cal33]

216. An excellent analogy.

[grahamhgreen]

190. This is the key. Once you understand this, everything else makes sense.

[Beartracks]

195. "CAPITALISM is...

... the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."

-- John Maynard Keynes


--------------------------------------------------

[INdemo]

199. In Obama's most recent speech he has already set himself up for some wiggle room

Obama gives a great speech and when the cameras are off he looks back toward Wall St...Write this down... the tax cuts will be extended and Congress will find some sort of double talk to try and cover their actions.

[sam sarrha]

211. see post # 210

[SomeGuyInEagan]

213. Yup ... this has always been class warfare. n/t

[donquijoterocket]

217. but only

when it's the "lower" classes looking for a bit of economic justice.Otherwise it's the free enterprise system at its finest and a staple of democracy.

[2critical]

196. From a Democrat, this shouldn't even have to be stated.

It should be a given. Unfortunately, it is not.

[SpareChange]

223. Make them pay!

Is there ever a point reached where the economy can't support higher taxes? If so, how do we know when we are reaching that point? If not, why not?

[babylonsister]

2. Good, nay, great! Sounds principled to me, and something

for anyone listening who isn't a brazillionaire to celebrate!

[Jackpine Radical]

53. He's now 2 for 2 in my book.

Appointing Liz Warren would be another big one.

[Stuart G]

107. K and R

[Dulcinea]

80. Excellent!

We can't afford them.

[LonePirate]

3. He finally takes a stand which I can support. Maybe he will start taking more of them.

[SusanaMontana41]

65. At last, change we can believe in! Thank you, President Obama! n/t

[lark]

160. Ding, ding.

Now, this is the man I voted for, not the mealey mouthed, let's give in to the devil person that I've been seeing way too much lately. Keep it up, Obama, we love it!!! :toast:

[olegramps]

100. Right on!

I believe that he has come to the realization that Republicans are his sworn enemy. His attempt at bipartisanship was wasted on assholes who would rather destroy the nation than cooperate. Each and ever Republican is the scum of the earth and an enemy of the Republic.

[SpareChange]

222. bipartisanship?

bipartisanship? Why would you want to start that??

[dotymed]

106. It's election time

It would be wonderful if he tacked toward FDR territory and REALLY made a difference for the unemployed and low wage earners. Hope is eternal but the pesky facts keep getting in the way.

[wordpix]

113. +1 he's finally getting it: change = principles + not acceding to R idiocy

[wordpix]

117. Boehner Calls for 2-Year Freeze on All Tax Rates (Translation: Don't increase richies' taxes!)

The Orange Man has spoken! No new taxes on the rich!!! :rofl:

And stop spending money helping the poor and middle class, too! :crazy:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39055357

Boehner Calls for 2-Year Freeze on All Tax Rates
Published: Wednesday, 8 Sep 2010 | 8:08 AM ET

By: AP

House Republican Leader John Boehner onWednesday proposed a two-year freeze on all tax rates and a cut in government spending to the levels of 2008, before a deep recession took hold of the economy.

In a broadcast interview, the Ohio Republican said he was offering a "bipartisan" alternative to the package of business tax incentives and infrastructure spending that President Barack Obama was slated to announce later Wednesday in Cleveland.

Obama has charged that the GOP criticizes him harshly, without offering any policy alternatives. Boehner touted his freeze-and-cut roadmap to recovery as an option instead of a catchall spending bill that Congress would pass later this fall.

Boehner said the biggest problem with the economy currently is the "uncertainty facing small businesses" that have been reluctant to engage in significant new hiring. more... snip

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. Good

[Kingofalldems]

5. Uh oh-----someone not liking this one

Hmmmm.------->:shrug:

[hlthe2b]

6. K&R

[onehandle]

7. 'Obama extends tax cuts for 98% of Americans. All families making less than 250k keep tax cuts.'

This is what the DNC should say. What the President should crow about.

That headline says: Obama Won’t Extend Bush-Era Tax Cuts to Wealthy. Avoid those words.

Don't even talk about anything that sounds like raising taxes.

[ProSense]

9. You're complaining about the headline?

The NYT doesn't work for the DNC.

[onehandle]

11. Actually I was talking about the message the President and the DNC need to deliver.

They need to avoid saying anything about who they are not 'giving tax breaks.'

All people will hear is that Obama is not cutting taxes.

People need to hear what is positive for them. Personally.

[kenfrequed]

141. hmm...

Yes, the NYT is a pain in the butt about these things but a better front loaded message would be a good thing. This is something you would want out of a good communications department and a better press secretary (nuff said).

I hate the idea that when Obama does get it right that he gets his sheet shorted like this cause times like these I really do want to like the guy.

I guess we have to leave it to the bloggers to spin the story...

[kenfrequed]

142. Rapid response?

"Why does Obama seek to hurt the most productive Americans with this tax bomb?"

Because the people on the bottom, the working people on the bottom are already suffering and some of them are still looking for work so they are paid up. If you are making over 200K a year than you need to do your share and foot your part of the bill.

[ProudDad]

204. Because they are NOT the "most productive"

They are leeches...

They skim the cream from the hard work of the WORKING CLASS for their luxurious "lifestyles"...

We don't fuckin' need them at all! And the sooner we figure that one out and confiscate their ill-gotten assets the better off we'll be...

You're FUCKING right that's Class War -- and it's about fucking time WE START WINNING IT!!!

[deacon]

220. +1 That Job Killing GOP graphic is spot on. Great job. n/t

[Thor_MN]

37. No, "Obama proposes tax cuts for 98% of Americans."

Don't even acknowledge the Bush crap, it's going away, just like they wanted. They wrote in the sunset, we are going to let them have what they wanted. Any new taxes cuts are all Obama's, Bush has nothing to do with them.

[kjackson227]

120. Yes, I agree that this is a more "positive" way of getting the message out...

but we all know that the corporate-owned msm won't word it this way.

[LiberalFighter]

168. That is not even true. Every American will receive a tax cut.

The rich won't receive a tax cut in income that falls in the 35% bracket. They will still have the same tax breaks that everyone else gets with less than 250k income.

[Rincewind]

47. A suggestion,

since the repugs insist that allowing tax cuts to expire is a tax hike, and since the repugs put the expiration into the tax cut bill, let's start referring to the end of the year expiring of the tax cuts as " The huge Republican tax hike".

[Enthusiast]

77. Yup! They voted for this "tax increase".

It would be no more outrageous than some of their claims.

[The Wizard]

91. Obama to allow Republican tax hike

Promises no veto of tax on the top 2% free ride Republicans.

[axollot]

110. YES! Seriously, Dems need to control the debate they have issues..

...getting the message out - LOUD AND CLEAR - and let the Republicans distract as well as obstruct.

Cheers
Sandy

[NikRik]

119. anything to do with Bush era .....

needs to be filed away in a circular file ! About all its good for is landfill !
NikRik

[customerserviceguy]

178. The President cannot extend the tax breaks to the sub-rich

all by himself. He needs a bill to go through Congress, and the Senate will kill it with a Rethug fillibuster. The irony is that they will have to sell it as 'fiscal responsibility'. They might get away with that.

[JuniperLea]

8. Good! He keeps making sounds like the gloves are coming off...

Please, please... take those gloves the rest of the way off!

Funny how the RW is screaming that he's using the bully pulpit... and the LW is screaming that he isn't.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. Never happend. Never will happen. Never can happen. Faced...

with a choice between a story in the Times and what I read every day on DU, I have to conclude that Obama said no such thing -- it's impossible. No self-respecting tool of the banking and insurance industry who's bought, sold, and just killing time until he can draw fat consultancy and speaking fees after his one term could ever say things like that.

So the New York Times is just wrong. It's happened before.

Oh, and kill the bill!

[babylonsister]

14. LOL!

Notice the usual suspects are absent? :evilgrin:

[bluesmail]

35. Yup. eom

[rhett o rick]

38. I am more than happy to give the Pres credit if the "official" is correct and he opposes the

extension. Now let's see if we can convince him to override the Alan Simpson bust Social Security committee's recommendation.

[babylonsister]

42. Can we celebrate one thing at a time as it happens?

:hi:

[rhett o rick]

43. Yes that is more than fair.

:toast:

[polmaven]

95. There is no recommendation yet.

Lets just wait and see before we bash it, OK?

[rhett o rick]

145. I agree. I didnt bash it. We should also wait and see before we praise it, right? nm

[sendero]

89. What do income taxes..

.. have to do with the banking and insurance industries? Damn little if anything at all. Nice try.

[lark]

161. Lighten up

That was obvious sarcasm. There's isn't Free Republic, you know.

[bergie321]

12. I would feel better

If Democrats would stop talking about extending the "Bush tax cuts".

Let the "Bush tax cuts" die on the day the Republicans were forced to allow them to expire since they added to the deficit.

Pass new "Obama tax cuts" for 98% of the population. Force Republicans to vote no on new tax cuts before the November election.

Why do Democrats suck so badly at messaging?

[AlbertCat]

33. That's what I've been saying!

Let the Bush tax cut die as they were intended to do. But before they do, have, and announce the new and improved Dem tax cuts for the middle class and small business! To take effect immediately as the old Repug tax cuts expire, as the law requires. Let the Repugs hold up or vote against the new and improved cuts if they want. Let them block it in the Senate. Do this in Oct!

[lark]

163. Love you, man

:pals:

You got it exactly right!!

[alp227]

13. Kick & Front page! n/t

[davidwparker]

15. Good.

Rollback EVERYTHING * did.

[mike r]

16. Obama Won’t Extend Bush-Era Tax Cuts to Wealthy

Source: New York Times

President Obama will rule out on Wednesday any compromise that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy beyond this year, officials said, adding a populist twist to an election-season economic package that is otherwise designed to entice support from big businesses and their Republican allies.

Mr. Obama’s opposition to allowing the high-end tax cuts to remain in place for even another year or two would be the signal many Congressional Democrats have been awaiting as they prepare for a showdown with Republicans on the issue and ends speculation that the White House might be open to an extension. Democrats say only the president can rally wavering lawmakers who, amid the party’s weakened poll numbers, feel increasingly vulnerable to Republican attacks if they let the top rates lapse at the end of this year as scheduled.

It is not clear that Mr. Obama can prevail given his own diminished popularity, the tepid nature of the economic recovery and the divisions within his party. But by proposing to extend the rates for the 98 percent of households with income below $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals — and insisting that federal income tax rates in 2011 go back to their 2001 levels for income above those cutoffs — he intends to cast the issue as a choice between supporting the middle class or giving breaks to the wealthy.

In a speech in Cleveland on Wednesday, Mr. Obama also will make a case for the package of roughly $180 billion in expanded business tax cuts and infrastructure spending disclosed by the White House in bits and pieces over the past few days. He would offset the cost by closing other tax breaks for multinational corporations, oil and gas companies and others.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08obama.html

[FiveGoodMen]

17. Stick to that, Mr. President.

[muntrv]

18. I thought Obama already cut taxes back in March 2009 as part of

American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. I recall seeing my federal witholding decreasing because of that.

[vduhr]

27. That tax cut was for people who made

$250,000 a year or less. This is for the tax cuts for the wealthy that Bush put in place, and that are supposed to expire this year.

[Skittles]

19. K&R

and I want the names of any Democrat going against this published LOUD AND CLEAR

[zipplewrath]

23. Professional left?

You can't be doing that. You know what Rahm thinks of that strategy.

[Davis_X_Machina]

20. Faced again with a choice...

...between the evidence of my own eyes, and what I read every day on DU, I have to conclude that Obama said no such thing -- it's impossible. No self-respecting tool of the banking and insurance industry who's bought, sold, and just killing time until he can draw fat consultancy and speaking fees after his one term could ever say things like that.

So the New York Times is just wrong. It's happened before.

Oh, and kill the bill!

[Oceansaway]

21. wooooohoooooo !!...nt

[bergie321]

22. I would feel better

If Democrats would stop talking about extending the "Bush tax cuts".

Let the "Bush tax cuts" die on the day the Republicans forced them to die.

Pass new "Obama tax cuts" for 98% of the population. Force Republicans to vote no on new tax cuts.

Why do Democrats suck so badly at messaging?

[inna]

24. he better not

[wcast]

25. Now that's what I like to hear

Of course, the spin in this article is evident. Always have to be friction. Why would 98 percent of the people not support this, and care that the top 2 percent taxes will go back up.

[Warren Stupidity]

26. O seems to have found his angry.

I like that.

[dflprincess]

29. Me too!

[madmax]

52. I'm loving it. nt

[wcast]

28. I just contacted both my senators regarding this

I'm in PA, so I have hope they will support the President in this matter, but I figured they'd better hear from me.

[DesertFlower]

73. my senators are McCain and Kyl.

need i say more?

[No Elephants]

78. All the more reason to make sure they know you support expiration.

[olegramps]

101. I feel for you. Remember when McCain opposed the tax breaks for millionaires?

[Canuckistanian]

31. Do we have that in writing?

I want his GUARANTEE that he'll veto any extension.

A populist move like this will INCREASE his popularity, not decrease it.

[peace frog]

87. Two steps in the right direction

May Obama continue walking this path, and may the dems pummel the repugs unmercifully with it in the election season.

[uberblonde]

148. I guess you missed this story in the Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/07/AR2010090706646.html

The officials added that Obama would not threaten to veto any compromise which extends the upper-bracket cuts, a position that has gained ground in recent weeks among moderates in both the House and Senate. But congressional sources said they were told to expect the president to try to stiffen Democratic spines in expectation of a showdown over income tax rates before the November midterm elections.

Telling them up front he won't use the veto isn't exactly encouraging.

[nightgaunt]

179. Obama is stealth, say one thing loudly, do another quietly

Don't crow till he acts. Remember that Peace Prize? He got it for maybe doing something different from Bush/shrub. Not really.

[Pryderi]

188. Obama said he, "would not threaten to veto". He could just use the damned veto power.

[Carnage251]

30. Supply side Jesus will be disappointed K&R

[girl gone mad]

32. I understand the reasoning, but I actually agree with Orszag on this one.

Another temporary extension would probably be best for right now.

I know I'm probably the only one here who supports it, but my education tells me the economy will take a hit from the expiration and Obama will get the blame for it.

[Born_A_Truman]

75. Why?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/08/the_bush_tax_plan_vs_the_obama.html

[girl gone mad]

84. Because the private sector is already net saving.

The deficit simply represents this private sector savings. Reducing the deficit necessarily means a reduction of the total money available for private savings and consumption. This is not a good idea in the midst of the debt deflation/debt repudiation era that we're currently in. I think the savings rate will continue to go up, but as the money disappears through taxation, more pressure is put on the demand-side. I think a better move would be to leave these tax cuts in place for now and also give all workers a holiday from payroll taxes.

[dotymed]

109. I think you are VERY wrong.

We have had these tax cuts in place for 6 or more years. The wealthy keep prospering and the other 98% keep suffering.
This is what a "progressive tax" is all about. Insisting that the wealthiest (who have been saving money and not creating jobs or being American consumers)pay a healthy percentage of their "earnings" in taxes. This is how market-driven economies redistribute the wealth. Do you think that wealth should be accumulated in the hands of a few at the expense of the majority?
This actually encourages "them" to create jobs instead of paying the taxes on their inflated profits.
Personally, I don't believe the "private sector", at this point, can "do it all."
Government needs to step in (like FDR did) and create millions of good paying jobs to get America back to work (not at McDonald's), these jobs should have benefits and insurance.
If our government would do the right thing, like all other "civilized" nations have, they would immediately create universal health care. That (according to (real not manipulated numbers) the CBO would save Billions of dollars (and lives) within a relatively short time.
Any government, especially one "for and by the people..lol" who actually value their real citizens over their "corporate citizens"..(no such thing), would have done this decades ago.
How can anyone justify letting people suffer and die because of the individual doesn't have cash or hasn't paid the insurance companies money, so they can reap huge profits from peoples suffering?
Disaster Capitalism, by Naomi Klein, explains this better than anything I have ever read.
I think this book should be required reading for every High School student. Wow, talk about teaching young minds how to rationalize and extrapolate.
It sure wouldn't be "teaching to the test."
If we only want to "teach to the test", then logic and critical thinking should make up the bulk of the "test."

[kjackson227]

126. You're absolutely correct. The Trickle-Down Economics of...

Reagonomics specified in your post definitely isn't working. A lot of these businesses aren't in dire straits as they lead us to believe. Some are taking advantage of the bad economy situation by refusing to hire, and doubling the workloads of existing employees, while the CEO's profit and pocket the surplus in the form of bonuses. These CEO's are definitely not reinvesting in America as planned (the greedy only get greedier). I have first-hand knowledge because it happened at my company, and I'm sure it's happening elsewhere.

[lark]

165. Trickle down ecomonics is a proven loser

I'm really surprised that anyone calling themselves a Democrat would support this "supply side" crap. If that worked, we'd have had a huge increase in jobs during the Reagun and Shrub eras, and guess what - that never happened. CBO did a study and said weakest way of stimulating economy and increasing jobs was tax cuts. That's the problem with Obama's stimulus, most of it was tax cuts. The rich just sock the money away and don't spend it. Middle class people spend their money, to a much greater extent.

[SnakeEyes]

173. Hmmm

Interesting to see that the cuts are almost the same from both parties until you get above 200K.

[Xenotime]

34. Good. I will dance with joy when I see the wealthy getting taxed.

I can't tell you how much it angers me to watch them destroy our economy.

[Bryn]

50. +1000000

[CAcyclist]

137. And I will be dancing with you

It's what I've been saying for 20 years - some people need to pay more taxes.

[Hulk]

36. I'm as frustrated and depressed as the rest of you....

...but we need to give our President a little credit. I know he has ass holes surrounding him..that's the Democratic Party BS...but the man is GOOD...I mean, really good, and we're fortunate to have someone with a good heart and clear soul to take this country forward.

Reading a lot of posts.....too many times posters are down on this man because he doesn't act like Kucinich. We didn't elect Kucinich. I wish we had...but we didn't, and he is trying to pull this country together at the same time move us forward. It isn't happening..but through no fault of his. We have fox propaganda network, radio that is filled with hatred and lies...and a public that wants to believe that a black man is out to get them. It is a tough climb.

But if WE give up on Barack Obama....we have given up on the best chance we have to move this country out of the shit ditch that we are stuck in. You know the repukkkes are there, waiting to sap every bit of blood out of the citizens of this once great nation...and the corporations are just chewing at the bit to rape us all into slavery.

So.....give the man a little support. You might not like what you read..but it isn't necessarily what you think it is. He is trying his hardest. You aren't going to find a better person to have in control of the White House. We have to hang together..and we had better do everything we can to keep Democrats in Congress...or the brakes are going to come on much stronger in the near future. This mess is NOT his doing. But we have to convince this nation of morons so. So....suck up and get to work!!

[NYC_SKP]

40. Hear, Hear, Hulk!

You said it.

:thumbsup:

[slay]

46. I'll definitely applaud him on this one

but that doesn't give him a free pass in my book, nor does it make up for what i consider to be betrayals like not even considering single payer, as well as not investigating the crimes of the Bush admin.

I wish we had elected Kucinich too. Still - good for at least making the rich pay what they used to pay before Bush got into office.

[SusanaMontana41]

66. Me too.

And me too!

[nevergiveup]

54. " So....suck up and get to work!! "

Yep, you got it. Great post! :applause:

[dotymed]

114. It IS through some fault of his.

He could and should have had "HIS" FCC REINSTATE THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE. That would have stopped (and still would) the lying in the media that we hear daily. The same lies that get all of the Non-thinkers (teabuggers,mouth-breathing rethugs) "all riled up" over misinformation and outright lies.
reagan had this "Doctrine" removed so "the free market could determine the content of the news." If that is not selling the truth to the highest bidder, I don't know what is.

[ProudDad]

186. Most of the assholes surrounding him were hire by ... HIM (n/t)

[ProudDad]

205. Excuse me, but who hired the Assholes?

Maybe the head asshole???

(And by asshole I mean Capitalist in Chief)

Unless you think he's actually stupid... :shrug:

[Francesca9]

39. Congress it says, probably won't listen

[Chicago dyke]

90. at least there's one person on this thread who gets it

obama won't do anything other than propose, folks. congress has the ultimate authority here, and if they can't move it thru the house and senate, there will be nothing for him to sign. and if they want to move thru something different than what everyone here is assuming will automatically happen, they can do that too, and obama would be in a tricky situation if he didn't sign a "tax cut" bill sent to him, no matter how it is shaped. perhaps the millionaire's club known as the Senate will allow the bush breaks for the rich to expire, but i'm not holding my breath.

frankly, i'm really disappointed to see so many here fall for tax cut mania. yes, absolutely: people who make under $250K don't need to pay any more taxes. but can we all agree that lack of taxation is 'the problem' in this country? Exxon made a profit of almost $20B and not only paid no taxes, but received a refund- paid for by me and you out of our taxes and the govt debt we'll be paying off for years- of hundreds of millions of dollars. that's only one example of how the wealthiest are avoiding paying for their fair share of civilization.

taxes are GOOD. fair taxation is REALLY GREAT. please, stop propagating the meme that all taxes are evil, and that all tax cuts are good. even people making more than 75K right now could probably handle paying more in taxes without too much difficulty. in the 'golden age' of the 1950s in this country, the wealthy paid such high taxes that it would take your breath away to compare those rates to what the wealthy pay today. can you imagine today's wealthy being taxed at 80-90% rates? cause that's what it used to be. if there were progressive taxation of the wealthy, many of our budget/debt/economic issues could be solved, almost overnight.

[pinto]

92. In re: tax breaks for oil corps, there are some changes mentioned -

In a speech in Cleveland on Wednesday, Mr. Obama will also make a case for the package of roughly $180 billion in expanded business tax cuts and infrastructure spending disclosed by the White House in bits and pieces over the past few days. He would offset the cost by closing other tax breaks for multinational corporations, oil and gas companies and others.

The proof is in the details, of course, and the implementation as you note. I'll be interested to see how much detail is provided today. And hear the Congressional reactions over the next few days.

:hi:

[Odin2005]

41. He better not!

[JDPriestly]

44. I just hope that Obama sticks by his word on this.

The low top marginal tax rates are not helping the economy. In fact, they probably, along with other factors that have caused a concentration of huge portions of our national wealth into the hands of just a few families and individuals, caused the economic breakdown.

And the low top marginal tax rates are certainly slowing recovery.

Ordinary families and consumers just have not money to buy things.

I like Obama's idea of giving tax breaks for capital investment. I take it that would replace these low marginal tax rates. Obama's idea is a great improvement.

Quite a number of my closest friends in their 50s and early 60s are out of work and struggling hard to try to find jobs. Others are watching their businesses deteriorate. Something must be done. The tax cuts that Bush signed into law were disastrous for our economy. Something must be done.

[babylonsister]

45. There's been about 10 DUers posting this; it's out there for a

reason. It's too late to renege. Done deal, I'm thinking.

[Fire1]

128. Yeah, as far as PO is concerned. What congress does

remains to be seen and that's the kicker.

[Bryn]

48. Thank goodness!

I am glad! Tax cuts for the rich would only make them greedier, sitting on extra wealthy, not hiring.

[Lifelong Protester]

49. A K & R from me! Start the wind up, and begin pitching

Mr. President. We need you to stay out in front with a strong message.

[madmax]

51. WTG Mr. President nt

[Bluesbreaker]

55. Obama's stock just went way up

I've been a harsh critic of the president, but give the guy credit. This makes sense politically and from a policy perspective. This will make his base happy. Finally, the progressive wing of the party gets something more than lip service, something truly meaningful. And it will help reduce the deficit. Plus, an added bonus--it will piss off Republicans. Sweet! Maybe it's too early to write the guy off.

[SusanaMontana41]

68. You bet it did! THIS is the president I voted for!

WOOO HOOO!

:bounce: :fistbump: :applause:

[grahamhgreen]

56. If he does this, & appoints Warren, I will rally support through the election. NT

Assuming he does not enact more Bush policies.

[JTFrog]

83. LOL, you should have stuck with "NT".

:rofl:
:rofl:
:rofl:

[grahamhgreen]

130. I couldn't stop myself

The war, torture and rendition policies really bother me....

[Ramulux]

57. Fuck yes!

This is exactly what I want to see. This should do a lot in motivating democrats, I dont really see how any democrat could hear this news and not be extremely happy. This is exactly what Obama and the dems needed to come out and say and I am so happy they did. Now they just need to stay strong and fucking hammer the GOP on this issue.

[Scurrilous]

58. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Project Grudge]

59. Yay!

A clear, definite position on an important issue; he's standing up for liberals. This should motivate the base.

[SugarShack]

60. Best news so far....

[Rosa Luxemburg]

61. but the poor Republicans will complain!

LOL!

[BREMPRO]

62. draw the line in the sand- stand firm

and get ready for the predictable repuke response:

he's hurting small business- wrong- republican are by blocking small business bill that WOULd create jobs right away- they are holding off hiring waiting for the benifits of the bill.
he's raising YOUR taxes- wrong for 99% of population
he's killing jobs- wrong - only making wealthy pay fair share- small increase won't effect job creation.
he should be cutting spending on every social program, education, social security etcc- everything Except "defense" to lower the deficit rather than raising taxes- wrong wrong wrong. every credible economist says we need to keep spending to get the economy going now and deal with the long term problems later.

the party of no, the party of the wealthy, corporations, and ignorant teabaggers must lose this election or we are all fucked.

[quakerboy]

63. "It is not clear that Mr. Obama can prevail"

Its quite clear. He has a Veto. To not extend the tax cuts, all he has to do is Veto it if they pass it. I have my doubts that they can get 66 votes(i believe that's what it takes, yes?) to override a veto.

[polmaven]

98. The only problem with that

is that if he vetoes an extension, then ALL of the cuts will expire, including those for the lower income rates.

[lark]

166. That's EXCELLENT strategy

Then the Dems can put forth tax cuts for families making under $250,000 and Repugs will vote No. Make them vote on this over and over again, so Dems can run ads saying Boner voted against tax cuts for working families x times (the more the better!).

Obama just has to show some spine and not be swayed to the dark side. This is a winning message if he has the balls to see it thru.

[DallasNE]

64. This Belongs Under Opinion Rather Than News

The writer injects opinion several times, even though there is some actual news mixed in. He also consistently uses disrespectful language when he always says "Mr. Obama" rather than "President Obama".

Having said that, it comes as no surprise that President Obama will not compromise on the tax cuts ending when they expire at the end of the year. I have believed this from the beginning. When done in conjunction with the other measures outlined their is no risk to the somewhat fragile recovery as claimed by Republicans. Also as expected, the Republicans are set to blink on the business tax cuts they have been filibustering. Republicans will blink on other aspects of these proposals and they will get passed before the election. While some won't, my opinion flies in the face of the opinion expressed in the NYT article. So, you see, two can play this game.

[Hannah Bell]

72. "Mister" is not disrespectful when used to talk about the President. It's acceptable alternate to

"President", e.g.:

Time Magazine, 1956:

THE decision has now been transferred from Mr. Eisenhower to the people. If it were merely a question of personal popularity, Mr. Eisenhower might now be elected by acclamation. But it is far more than that. Many persons who have the kindliest feelings toward him may experience misgivings about the wisdom of his willingness to continue a burden of office that involves risks for him and for the country as well. Others will think the risks worth taking because of the benefits of continuity in the Eisenhower policies.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,861973,00.html#ixzz0yv7POCbY


CHICAGO TRIBUNE:

WE think that the principal result of the European sojourn has been to fortify Mr. Eisenhower's political position immeasurably. People are disposed to credit him with sincere and decent instincts, and if he accomplished nothing that is visible, at least he managed to extricate himself from a conference with the Russians without getting trimmed. In view of the performance of his predecessors, this is a feat that is not to be despised.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,807399,00.html#ixzz0yv7s0OXM


2003:

It is too easy to cast President Bush's Africa tour this week as little more than a PR exercise.... But while AIDS, trade, investment, democracy, development and the moral obligation of preventing mass bloodshed may dominate many of the speeches, Mr. Bush is first and foremost a national-security president.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,463304,00.html#ixzz0yv9aiZPo

[DallasNE]

102. You have to go all of the way back to Pres. Eisenhower?

To make your point? (Your Bush example is not valid as it would make no sense to say "President Bush is first and foremost a national-security president". The other reference is to "President Bush). The NYT article has several references to "Mr. Obama".

The article has a disrespectful tone and only referencing the President as "Mr. Obama" is one of the ways this is accomplished. The Bush example is highly complementive. The double standard is glaring.

[Hannah Bell]

154. No, I went back to Eisenhower to show it's not some recent development.

Mr. is an accepted & respectful term of address for the president & has always been so. The use of "Mr." reflects the fact that in a democracy the President is a CITIZEN, not a monarch or god.


Endangered Earth U.S. Agenda Government Get Going, Mr.Bush (1989)

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,959370,00.html#ixzz0yxn1E3iv



Karl Rove:

Senate Intelligence Chairman Bob Graham organized a bipartisan letter in December 2001 warning MR. BUSH that Saddam's "biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs . . . may be back to pre-Gulf War status," and enhanced by "longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Yet two years later, he called for MR. BUSH'S impeachment for having said Saddam had WMD.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/07/15/karl-rove-mistake-white-house-bush-kerry-edwards-democrats-lied-died-truth-iraq/


December 14, 2006 12:30 PM
What We Call The President

During my 18 years at CBS News, most of it covering the White House, there's no issue on which I get more listener and viewer mail and e-mail than on our references to the President as "Mister."

It is CBS News practice to refer to the President and former Presidents on second reference with the honorific "Mister."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-2265934-500803.html?source=search_story


Although many listeners find this second reference offensive, it is not a new policy. NPR has used "Mr." since the mid-1970s when President Gerald Ford was in office. The president is the only person whom NPR routinely refers to with the Mr. honorific on second reference. If NPR does a story, say on James Hamilton, an Ohio car dealer, he will be Hamilton on second reference, not Mr. Hamilton.

"NPR has used Mister as the alternative term of respect on second (and subsequent) references to the president of the United States for decades," Ron Elving, NPR's senior supervising editor of the Washington desk, told Ombudsman Alicia Shepard. "I personally have been Washington editor for three presidents and we have done it consistently through this time."

To confirm Elving's statement, we pulled audio from the last three presidencies.

Please listen to the following examples.... (bush, clinton, bush 1)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2009/12/why_do_you_call_him_mr_obama.html


A Strategic Alliance (TIME 1981)


As Mr. Reagan meets Mr. Begin, warm words—mostly

Under a sparkling sky in Washington, trumpets blared, drummers in red tunics beat a tattoo, and honor guards from the U.S. armed forces paraded smartly in salute to yet another visiting head of government. Amid the now familiar splendor of pageantry on the White House South Lawn, both the guest and his host, President Ronald Reagan, rose to the spirit of the emotion.


"No people have fought longer, struggled harder, or sacrificed more than yours in order to survive, to grow, and to live in freedom," said Reagan, turning to Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. "Let us remember that whether we be Christian or Jew or Muslim, we are all children of Abraham, all children of the same God." But now, Reagan warned, "forces of aggression, lawlessness and tyranny . . . seek to undo the work of generations of our people, to put out a light that we've been tending for the past 6,000 years."

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953063,00.html




In the last, the writer uses just the last name, "Reagan said" without any title at all.


You're trying to take offense where none is warranted. There's no overall media campaign to disrespect the president.

[GreenTea]

67. The massive Bush tax cuts for the richest 2% sure haven't produce any jobs-LET THE TAX CUTS EXPIRE!

The only ones who want these tax cuts for the richest 2% are the greedy republicans and the selfish rich! It's been ten years of these elitist tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% -

So where are all the jobs republicans claim tax cuts for the rich produce? They don't, the money goes right to the rich' off-shore bank accounts!

[eridani]

69. Good. Just letting them expire seems like the best approach politically n/t

[Hannah Bell]

70. kr & good news, finally.

now cancel the plan for $200 billion in new CORPORATE tax breaks.

[defendandprotect]

71. That would certainly be the right and MORAL thing to do -- now what about the

tax cuts for other than wealthy?

[onestepforward]

74. Great news! K&R

[Enthusiast]

76. Way to go! K&R

I'm gaining enthusiasm.

[impik]

79. Obama's campaign-promises-kept ratio is above and beyond

any other president in decades. The professional left will not realize how lucky we are to have this man as president, until it'll be too late.

[deacon]

97. Good point. n/t

[polmaven]

99. excellent observation...

:thumbsup:

[HughBeaumont]

81. K & R!!! Best fucking news I've heard all year.

We've been letting the greedmongers off easy for FAR too long. And I mean, REALLY . . . it's not like their TMTR is going to 50%, so why are conservadicks and the wealthy even bitching?

[fasttense]

82. Good it's about time the pitiless wealthy began to pay their fair share.

Besides, all the conscious-less rich do is hoard money in off shore accounts. They don't spend it. They don't need to. That's why they are called rich.

By lowering the uber rich's taxes, the bushes put the burden of funding America on the middle class and poor, during a time of war. Now, we need to return to the pre-Raygun taxes on the economic royalists.

[sendero]

85. For once..

.... Obama gets it. This is a NO BRAINER on every level.

[tomp]

86. "...an election-season economic package...

...that is otherwise designed to entice support from big business and their Republican allies..."

nice. love that change.

[sendero]

88. If he can pull this off..

... (keeping the tax breaks for those making under $250K and expiring them for those making over) it will be the first major progressive accomplishment of his administration.

And I would have to ease up on him a bit here :)

[barbtries]

93. good!!

can anyone let me know why, on npr yesterday, i heard that this decision means he's breaking a campaign promise? for some reason i didn't hear the rest of the discussion, and i found the statement difficult to believe.

[barbtries]

94. time to write

time to call. let our lawmakers know we support the president in this. often, loudly, unequivocally.

[ck4829]

96. Good, these tax cuts cost us dearly and we have yet to see a return of any kind to us

When programs don't work, you get rid of them. You don't privatize and slash other programs until they work.

K&R.

[bluethruandthru]

103. Great news! This is the kind of thing to get voters to the polls to support.

I hope there's no backpeddling by Obama or any party leaders. Now, if we could just get a statement from him that he won't allow any cuts to social security or any raising of the retirement age. That would be major!

[valerief]

104. Great news! nt

[racaulk]

105. Awesome!

:thumbsup:

K&R

[NC_Nurse]

108. If Congress refuses to send him a bill to sign with only cuts for middle class,

he needs to be willing to veto it and let ALL the Bush cuts expire. That is what will take some guts. He can frame it as the Repubs fault, but it will still get him some shit from some corners.

Personally, I think all the tax cuts should expire. The deficit won't be helped as much by only the wealthiest folks increase. We need the money for infrastructure and to help those in need during this time. They will spend the money. Congress also needs to create higher tax brackets with higher taxes than they have now. There should be breaks at one million and ten million and even again at 25 million or more. Why are those people paying the same percentage as those who make 250,000? It's stupid.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear this, but I want to see what happens in Congress and how he reacts. When things get ugly, he often caves. That would suck.

[kjackson227]

129. Well, anyone making from $16K and up to (not sure of the amount) will see their tax bracket...

go from 10%-15%. This would mean an additional tax of $825.00 on up. I can't afford this at the moment. If this is incorrect, please let me know :(

[dotymed]

132. I totally agree.

To have the "top bracket" end at $250,000. is beyond ridiculous. The economy, at that tax rate will never recover. It is simple and time proven economics. Pre-reagan, because of FDR, our tax rates were progressive all the way to the top earners. When you tax a person that makes $250,000 at the same level that you tax a person who earns million$ a year, that is unacceptable and counter-productive to any kind fair distribution of wealth.

[bergie321]

143. 90% tax

On income that is over 150 times the median wage.

[Deep13]

111. Good. This will start to undo some of the damage Bush caused. nt

[old mark]

112. Great! Vote for Democrats!!!!! rec. nt

[myrna minx]

115. Excellent

:applause:

[anachro1]

116. Kick the republicans where it hurts.

I want them so worried about their future finances that we see republican suicides.

[Milo_Bloom]

118. NICE - FINALLY!

[crim son]

121. Okay.

OKAY! That is some seriously good news. One reason for Obama's "seriously diminished popularity" was the rumor that he was going to extend the cuts. This might help. It sure give my faith a tremendous boost. GoBama!

[AllyCat]

122. Thank goodness! How definite is this?

It's time for them to pay since they use the stuff more than we do.

[TBF]

123. Allowing the tax cuts to expire is the right choice. Bravo! nt

[bushisanidiot]

124. Good! I'm proud of President Obama for sticking to his guns!!

That's MY president! :)

[DireStrike]

125. This shouldn't feel like a victory.

If Obama said this on the campaign trail in '08, nobody would have blinked.

[whatchamacallit]

127. I'm surprised, but pleasantly surprised

Keep it up! :fistbump:

[earcandle]

131. Nice Obama.. got to get that mojo working again. keep the base. keep the promises.

[thereismore]

133. Obama strikes again! Bravo! nt

[cleanhippie]

134. Lets hope that he means it. No BS "compromise" with republicans this time.

[bvar22]

135. Credit where credit is due. +1 for Obama.

He appears to have thrown down the gauntlet.
I pray he shows up for the fight.
I will support him 100% on this issue.

[bc3000]

136. It's gotten to the point that I hear good Obama news and think... "hmm, what's his game here?"

I just don't trust him anymore.

[RoccoR5955]

138. Not only do we have to let those cuts expire, we also need to

get the maximum tax levels to where they were before Reagan. That would be 70% for a couple making over $215,000.

[SnakeEyes]

174. How is income tax figured?

Let's say you made 200,001. Is the initial dollars are taxed at the lowest rate until you reach the top of that bracket and then the dollars made in the next tax bracket are at the higher rate and so on until that 1 dollar is taxed at the 200K+ rate? Or are all 200,001 taxed at the 200K+ rate?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

185. First answer is correct. That's why they're called "marginal" tax rates.

You never earn less by earning more, as far as the IRS is concerned.

[kenfrequed]

139. Good job!

I do like it when he gets something right, those wealthy bastards need to go back to paying their fair share.

[HughMoran]

140. Good

Let the elitist so-called 'deficit hawks' on the right be hypocrites.

[blondeatlast]

144. YES! And oh, how I'm relishing the last paragraph of the OP.... nt

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

146. I have to say...he better stick to that position...EOM

[Stellar]

149. Cool K&R

:thumbsup:

[Lorien]

150. Funny how this news comes out as he gives corporations MASSIVE new tax cuts:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9091000

[earth mom]

151. Nice political move-how long will it last?

I'm not holding my breath.

[Vinca]

152. This is the right thing to do . . . hope it actually happens.

[JNelson6563]

155. To think, all that DU hysteria for nothing.

Bravo Mr. President!

Julie

[ooglymoogly]

156. Finally taking a stand on somethig I can acrtually support.

Will be all to ecstatic when this "talk" materializes into reality. It is common sense; The smartest thing he will have done so far in his presidency. Kudos.

Unfortunately it sounds an awfully lot like the rhetoric before the last elections; In which the talk was one thing; The walk entirely another.

It is long past time to walk the walk he now speaks; Which, sadly, while we have heard it before, we have not yet seen.

[Plucketeer]

157. Well - I'll be!

Imagine common sense showing it's head!

[great white snark]

158. Knew it, now it's official. Thanks ProSense.

Yipee!

[jobycom]

159. This is an outrage! How come I can only recommend it once????

[pleah]

162. K&R

[Pooka Fey]

164. Good work, Mr. President !

[AllTooEasy]

167. I'm (fortunately) part of the %2 and I say...

let the tax cuts run out!!! We (the %2) will SURVIVE!!! Trust me!!! America has done a lot for me and my family, it's time to do something for America!

Plus, I don't create a single fucking job with my salary. If I were to drop dead, my company would just promote someone else in my position. The Repukes don't represent me, they represet Greed!!!

[lovemydog]

169. I support the President

End the tax cuts for the ultra rich.
Extend them for the 95% of working people.

[bobburgster]

170. We need to sing loudly!

wW need to be screaming about this hypocrisy every single day! There needs to be more voices then a chorus line! They're singing, "You don't raise taxes during a recession." We need to sing our mantra louder and more frequently, "Half the savings from the ultra-rich tax reversal going to increase tax cuts for the middle class, the other half for national debt reduction."


Even numbskulls will understand the validity of it. The dems have to stop letting the reps sidetrack our messages...if we do, we can save our country from a political disaster in November.
we need to be screaming about this hypocrisy every single day!

If we drown them out, they won't have the balls to vote against it....I'm talking about the spineless dems. as well as the reps.

[LiberalFighter]

171. Obama or someone in the admin needs to do a presentation

showing the breakdown of how taxes are determined using someone with $400k income.

Deduct all exemptions from the income.
Deduct all deductions from the income.

Then show the 2010 and 2011 tax brackets.

2010 -- 2011
10% - - 10% (0 - 16,850)
15% - - 15% ($16,851 - $68,400)
25% - - 25% ($68,401 - $138,050)
28% - - 28% ($138,051 - $232,950)
33% - - 36% ($232,951 - $375,700)
35% - - 39.6% (Over $375,700)

Then explain that a taxpayer receiving over $375,700 in income would not have all of their taxable income taxed at 39.6%. Instead, their income would be taxed at 6 different rates. Actually, 7 because there is a portion that is not taxed.



From the efn NY Times Super-rich would be taxed most under Obama plan by RON LIEBER and TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

Obama's tax plan will affect anyone — mostly the very rich — who works for a hedge fund or private equity firm and pays only a 15 percent capital-gains tax rate on much of the money brought home. Such people would pay ordinary income-tax rates, up to 39.6 percent, on everything.

WHICH IS A LIE

[ElsewheresDaughter]

172. EXCELLENT!!!

[Blue Owl]

175. Now THIS sounds like something a REAL DEMOCRAT would do

:woohoo:

[Tutankhamun]

176. Obama is a clutch hitter.

That's one thing we do know about him.

[Kermitt Gribble]

177. Finally some great news!!

It'll be so nice if he starts taking a firm stand on truly Democratic issues such as this one.

K&R!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

180. That's more like it!

Let's hope this is part of turning over a new leaf.

[Name removed]

181. Deleted message

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

[Sparkly]

182. WTG!!

And as I posted in GDP, the first lady gave a major boost to American modern dance as an art form today...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100908/ap_on_en_ot/us_white_house_dance;

First event of its kind and really important to me. They both get a cheer from me today. :)

[Joanne98]

183. YAY

[Zorra]

184. Yay! Looks like a done deal.

I can stay in the party.

[ProudDad]

187. Time to realize there IS a class war

and folks, we're losing...

It's past time to change that!

[disndat]

189. Did I read somewhere

a financial pundit said the eliminating tax cut for the rich would turn the economy around from the huge deficit to balanced almost immediately?

[BlueDemKev]

191. It's about friggin' time....

....Obama should have gone on the attack against Republicans more than a year ago. :applause:

Being "bipartisan" is fine, but you can't work with a bunch of thugs who are hell-bent on undermining you. It may be too late to salvage the 2010 elections, however President Obama may finally be on the right track to paving the way for his re-election in 2012.

YES, WE CAN!

[GreenTea]

192. Huge deficit raising tax cuts for the rich that produce no jobs in ten years!

[BEZERKO]

193. Sounds good to me, now

let's see if he'll hold the line.

[BlueJac]

194. All I have to say is.............

WE WILL SEE, we were promised change, and we got, what?

[bc3000]

197. I concur. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Jim_Shorts]

198. WOW good deal

Obama made a deal with Mitch Mcconnell to not extend the Bush tax cuts

HE JUST HAD TO ELIMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY TO DO IT

[texpatriot2004]

200. Awesome! Finally! Thank you President Obama. nt

[earcandle]

201. It isn't too late for Obama to change some things and get re-elected... like for instance....

1. passing a public option
2. appointing Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Protection
Agency
3. creating a "New Deal" amounting to as much as the
banks got to bail us out.
4. legalizing marijuana and putting poor folks who have been
risking their freedoms to 
work doing what they already do well, without the danger,
being fully legitimized businesses
and appointing government tax accountants to help them out
with their sales tax issues and
income tax issues, setting up their chart of accounts,
teaching them how to be legit.
5. re-appointing FDA staff to actually provide safety checks
on foods and drugs
6. turning prisons for profit into manufacturing centers
producing solar energy panels from prison
labor, while training inmates for work once released and
focusing on getting the non-criminals 
integrated back into their communities by making them foreman
and managers of said cooperatives.
7. creating national federally owned banks to put our taxes
into so our capital is available for
middle and lower class investments into small businesses and
grants.
8. paying high savings interest rates.
9. denying the Federal Reserve Bank, a private corp, any
rights in the management of American dollars. 
10. creating a path to heal mercenary contractors from the
damaged caused them to kill for pay.
11. focusing on developing farms that are healthy and owned by
small businesses that treat their animals
well, provide healthy mineral rich soil for growing organic
foods so our brains work.
12. pulling out support for pharmaceutical industries out to
make profits on process foods and who confiscate
the minerals needed in our soils to use in their drugs to
provide temporary cures and dependencies. 
13... please add to this list. 

[Vehl]

202. K&R

great news!

[ProudDad]

203. I'm glad the defender of the "public option"

is now going to make sure we don't borrow another $700 billion in the next 10 years for more money for the leeches... :sarcasm:

[yurbud]

206. I hope this is the beginning of his real presidency

and the end of the bipartisan bullshit warm up.

[KansDem]

207. GOOD!!!

Now they can start working for a living...

[bongbong]

208. We need more elections

It looks like Obama "goes left" (at least slightly) at election time.

Thus, we need elections every ... 2 weeks or so.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

209. Those here on DU and others need to at least acknowledge that Obama has kept his word...

[sam sarrha]

210. who are the rich.. what is rich? top 1% richest has 6X more financial wealth than bottom 80% >>Link>

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html



the top 1% holds 42% of financial wealth, the Bottom 80% holds 7% of Americas Financial wealth..

the Bu$h tax cuts really only help the top few.. subsidizing the richest people on the face of the earth..

the Bu$h tax cuts are responsible for 1/2 the Debt. and an attempt to bankrupt SSI

the GOP believes that Wealth is the Measure by which God favors a man.. thus it is a Sin to Tax a Rich man. thus all their tax cuts for the rich.!

:wtf: :puke:

[mstinamotorcity]

212. You mean to tell me

that they can't see through this bull. Give me a break!!!!

[lonestarnot]

214. Recommending anyway. Hmmmmf.

[Joe Chi Minh]

218. What a commentary on Democratic politics today. This is supposed to

be news - commonly described by the metaphor: "Man bites dog."

After all, when Bush enacted the cuts on the income tax rates on the rich, everyone agreed it was insane (I think there were two successive cuts, but I may be mistaken on that), completely the wrong thing to do at the time (if there is ever a right time).

What's changed? Now the economy is even worse. And its not for want of the rich being cosseted and further enriched!

[humbled_opinion]

219. I'm not holding my breath...

I wish him luck in pulling it off but I bet you that eventually there will be some type of extension because the political pressure of raising taxes during a Recession is just too intense.

The Peanut Gallery will be out all of 2011 talking about slow job growth or no job growth all because Obama raised taxes on the rich... I can see it now...

[deacon]

221. This graphic is awesome. The GOP Job Killing Agenda. Spead the logo, spread the word. n/t

[obxhead]

224. Funny. I see this on the home page nearly every single day.

I also saw Obama fully supports the PO before he threw it and the people under the bus.

I also saw Obama will not support a mandate that we buy insurance, before he told the people it was required.

And for the puppy lovers I saw Obama say he will buy a dog for the girls from a shelter, just before he got a bred specialty dog for them that never saw 1 minute in a shelter.

In other words I'll believe it when there is actually a bill on his desk extending them and he veto's it.

[alp227]

225. Thank you for not sucking it up, Mr. President! n/t

[tavalon]

226. Excellent

You have made a step in the right direction. Keep this up and you'll have this ground troop back.

Thank you President Obama.

[madmax]

227. K&R thank you Mr. President