Why Liberals Shouldn't Despair About the Bush Tax Cut Deal

[Writer]

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/12/why-liberals-shouldnt-despair-about-the-bush-tax-cut-deal/67541/

It's hard to talk about the Bush tax cuts without scrambling politics and policy. Politically, the Bush tax cuts have been an unmitigated disaster for Democrats, exposing the Senate and House caucuses as divided, desperate, disorganized. But as a matter of policy, this plan -- which combines short-term tax cuts with renewed support for low income families to sustain today's large government deficits while states and the labor market wobble -- is close to what center left economists want from government policy during a downturn.

[saracat]

1. "Center" Left says it all.

[Deep13]

3. +1 nt

[Honeycombe8]

27. Smile, when you say that. I'm center left.

And I think this deal is BAD BAD BAD.

Not just because of the deal itself, but because it shows without a doubt that the Republicans have the upper hand and that Obama will not fight for anything, or stand for anything. He's just talk. He can be out maneuvered politically at every corner.

This doesn't solve the problems...it just punts them down the road to election time. And if you think the Republicans aren't going to show up in droves to protect their tax cuts in 2012, then you're in another world. And NO ONE will believe Obama that FINALLY, for once, he will do what he says and stop the cuts for the millionaires. It's a lose-lose.

He's been played, the inexperienced whippersnapper. Sad to say, because I was his #1 Fan. But I see he's just too weak to be President.

[allmylove]

2. Whew! I feel a lot better now.

[Enrique]

4. get a load of this part

That's why the only reasonable solution for Democrats is to extend some part of the Bush tax cuts for a few years, fight like hell for reelection, and finally replace the Bush tax cuts with a new tax law that raises more money.

:rofl:

[Cosmocat]

13. I'm one of those "center left" democrats ..

and I want them to friggen expire ...

Like the repubicans are going to find some good excuse as to why they should not expire in two year ??? Like having MORE republicans at the table is going to make it easier to get a proper tax rate ???

Jesus, the got them the first time when we were in good economic times and a surplus with the "the gubberment should not be keeping your money" line ... They are screaming that now is not the time to let them expire because times are bad ...

That's the full range there ...

[grumgrum]

5. There, there, now take your poison pill like a good peasant and everything will be fine.

now i feel warm-and-fuzzy all over.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. O_O

:rofl:

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[Bragi]

8. Read the comments

This fellow isn't attracting a lot of support for his theory.

His contention that it's a good deal to give up $60 billion annually in tax cuts for the rich in exchange for $18 billion annually in extended benefits for the unemployed might be about $40 billion short of a good deal.

Personally, I want to negotiate a deal with the White House.

I could use a windfall right now.

[liskddksil]

9. Ok the DLC says we'll all be ok

just like with NAFTA. We can all feel better now.

[treestar]

10. YOu know what is funny, is that it is the Democrats' fault, when it

was Bush and Republican Congress that created them. How quickly we forget.

It is what it is. It is unforgivable to blame anyone other than Bush and the Republicans.

[burning rain]

15. If Democrats renew the Bush tax cuts, they are affirming that they were good policy.

.

[tekisui]

25. The Bush/Obama tax cuts.

[burning rain]

29. I agree.

It makes no sense to criticize Republican tax cuts for the rich, and praise Democratic... tax cuts for the rich. It's mindless partisanship; it puts politics on the level of sports rivaliries: no rational distinctions, just irrational animosity to the other team for being the other team, from another city, etc.

[frylock]

16. it's inconceivable that you would blame anyone but republicans for anything..

here's the deal; republicans have been out of power for a minute now. the war now belongs to obama. bush's renewed tax cuts now belong to obama. you can try and spin the reality of politics all you want. this is the reality of reality. and this is anything but "funny," but you go ahead and enjoy the fucking laugh anyway.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. But you support extending all the tax cuts. eom

[Clio the Leo]

11. Screw the poor! I want a political win for progressives!!!

:sarcasm:

[Phx_Dem]

12. Yeah, me too!! Waaaaaaaa

:cry:

[Hello_Kitty]

18. Ah yes, the DLC Champions of the Poor!

Right. I'll remember that when the Catfood austerity plans start coming and you guys defend them.

[neverforget]

23. The next hostage will be the budget. I can't wait to see the cuts the Republicans

demand and how Obama and the Democrats will cave in the name of ?

[Hello_Kitty]

28. The deficit, obviously!

Dem's will be deficit hawks again and the fanboys and girls here will go right along with it.

[burning rain]

14. Extending the Bush tax cuts for the rich will mean tacitly admitting Reagan was right.

Democrats will be as much as saying that they've been wrong about the tax issue all these years and have just been punishing the rich, even at the expense of hurting the overall economy. And since the Democratic position on the economy depends on taxes, ceding the tax issue will mean largely surrendering on economics. Democrats will be left to fight it out on hot-button social issues, and to hope that Republicans will save them by nominating the likes of Sharron Angle and Ken Buck. That's an unenviable position.

It's also radically unlikely that a two-, three-, or even five-year extension of the top bracket tax cuts will be allowed to expire when the time comes. Republicans' numbers in the Senate are only going to increase in 2012 and 2014, 2006 and 2008 having been big Democratic years. Why believe Democrats will accomplish from a weaker position in the future, what they can't from a stronger position now? Plus, they would be left to argue incoherently that tax cuts for the rich were good then, but are bad now. That, or say openly that they cut taxes for the rich simply out of weakness, even though they knew it was wrong. No, Democrats are in a world of hurt if they cave on taxes.

Rec +1 for a discussion worth having, though I strongly disagree with the view expressed.

[Hello_Kitty]

19. This. I've already had Republicans I know throw this exact thing in my face.

"Why is Obama considering extending the tax cuts if they're so bad??"

And you are right about the extensions being essentially permanent.

[burning rain]

22. Thanks for the kudos. I find it easy to think & argue as a Republican.

I was one until 2004.

[allmylove]

20. You should make this a post in the forum- you are exactly right.

[woo me with science]

26. This should be an OP. nt

[hulka38]

21. Garbage.

[ibegurpard]

24. doubleplusgood!!