So Obama & the Democrats caved on an issue that only 26% of Americans support??

[Bluebear]

via Americablog: Democrats caved this time, and couldn't manage to beat the Republicans on an issue that only 26% of Americans agree with the GOP position, but in 2012, Obama and the Democrats are suddenly going to learn how to message, negotiate, and fight.

Yeah, right.

I fear it's going to be a very good presidency for Republicans. And they know it.

PS How out of touch is the White House? Even Joe Scarborough can't believe they're agreeing to this.




Republicans have argued that the midterm elections have given them a mandate on what they are calling one of the most important issues facing America, the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.

"The American people want us to stop all the looming tax hikes and to cut spending, and that should be the priority of the remaining days that we have in this Congress," incoming House Speaker Rep. John Boehner said Thursday. Boehner added that a House vote Thursday to extend the cuts for all but the highest-earning Americans amounted to "chicken crap."

According to a new CBS News poll, however, Boehner is off-base in his claim that Americans "want us to stop all the looming tax hikes."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20024494-503544.html

http://www.americablog.com/2010/12/wash-post-obama-to-agree-to-continue.html

[gratuitous]

1. If they don't cater to the Republican base, how will they get re-elected?

At this point, I'm willing to let the tax rates go back to where they were when we were running budget surpluses. Or is that concept too difficult for Democrats to articulate and the popular media to understand?

[phleshdef]

2. The only doable alternative is something only 14% of Americans support.

I'm among that 14% at this point, but if you are going to cite poll numbers to make a point, tell the whole story.

[totodeinhere]

3. They should not govern based upon polls. Politicians are elected to lead, not bend with the wind.

If Congress at the time had paid attention to polls, they would not have passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was opposed by a majority of Americans at the time according to the Gallup Poll.

[Bluebear]

5. If they did pay attention to polls, they would get rid of DADT now.

I am way past thinking these people want to "lead" us anywhere but behind the warriors and bankers off of a cliff.

[totodeinhere]

6. Actually, DADT should never have been passed and GLBT's should have been openly accepted

into the military a long time ago even though sometime in the past polls may not have been as favorable to GLBT's as they are now. So this issue should not have been decided based upon polls either.

[DainBramaged]

4. The MSM is our enemy, our message will NEVER be heard, only Puke talking points

I am ready to accept our fate now.

[treestar]

7. Americans need to elect different representatives then

Or accept the fact that the Senate has two from each state, regardless of population.

Most of those Americans are crowded into blue states. Overall percentages don't mean anything for our system.

[Still a Democrat]

8. Do they know the details of a deal?

If not, how do they know anyone has caved?

[Bluebear]

12. LOL

[amborin]

9. Krugman, on Monday, says call their bluff!

[ProSense]

10. From the looks of that poll

79 percent of Americans want the middle-class tax cuts extended.

[kysrsoze]

11. That's my Obama!

Still givin' it to the middle class like he KNOWS they want it! While he's at it, I hope he continues to shelter Bush and Cheney from prosecution, like the good center-right Republican he is.

[bigtree]

13. the Obama position isn't the 'GOP position'

that's just false. You haven't shown what they would accept if they were given a choice of ending theirs or allowing the upper-class cuts to continue along with them. They can't have their way with this Senate any more than Democrats have been able to.

[WiffenPoof]

14. I Heard Joe Scarborough...

...this morning (which is amazing because it comes on at 3:00 a.m. where I am).

He really was on fire criticizing the President for not fighting or standing up to the Republicans. It was pretty amazing considering Joe is a die-hard Republican.

-PLA