If you are looking for something positive tonight in all of this tax break/UE stuff, here it is

[The Straight Story]

If Obama were not president it would have been no more extensions, no breaks for middle class, and only the rich would have gotten something.

My beer glass is half full. But only for a few more minutes...

[TwilightGardener]

1. There's a tear in my beer...

:beer:

[RandomThoughts]

2. Enjoy your beer.

:toast:

[Monique1]

4. How true

I am with you

[gateley]

3. You're right - it could always be worse. Far worse. nt

[malaise]

8. Indeed

Still it's hard to watch

[gateley]

10. Oh, God, I know. nt

[EOTE]

9. Really? How so.

In terms of tax policy, I really couldn't see things being much worse for this period of time. The biggest difference I can think of for this year is that republicans would have shouldered more of the blame for the state of the economy this past election.

[gateley]

11. Oh, I just meant generally, like if McCain were President (like when

Bush was President!). This really sucks. The ONLY think I can glomp on to is that those who need the tax break and most especially those on unemployment will be helped. High price to pay, though.

[EOTE]

12. Perhaps generally, but I can't imagine tax policy would have been any worse under McCain.

As it is, the GOP got pretty much everything they wanted. Tax-wise, the only way things could be worse is if the GOP somehow managed to extend the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% while eliminating tax cuts for the middle class. I don't think for one second that could have happened under McCain. I'm trying to see an upside to this, but it's pretty damned hard.

[gateley]

13. Yeah, the ONLY upside I can see is that the tax cuts will continue

for the unwashed masses, and more people won't get their Unemployment benefits taken away. But that's it.

Good point about McCain and the taxes, but again, I meant generally. Lots of the stuff Obama has gotten through wouldn't have been. And I doubt Elizabeth Warren would be anywhere near the WH.

[AndrewP]

5. +1

:toast:

[EOTE]

6. Do you really think McCain would have pulled that off?

Even if you think that unemployment wouldn't have been extended with a democratic house and senate, do you really think he'd have been able to achieve an extension of the tax cuts for the top 2% while gutting the middle class tax cuts? I don't think he'd even have the gall to advocate such a thing. I really can't imagine that things would have been that much different with regards to this in a McCain presidency.

[Duer 157099]

7. I disagree, strongly

I think that a democratic Congress with a repuke president would have FOUGHT HARD, unlike what they are faced with now which is to go along with their president.