Obama's tax cut deal with Republicans could win him much, cost him little

[jefferson_dem]

Here's an interesting write-up about the raw politics of the "tax deal". Of course, some may not appreciate this perspective but that doesn't make it any less valid.

Cave-in or compromise, Obama's tax cut deal with Republicans could win him much, cost him little

...

To the extent that dealing with Republican suits for tax breaks that benefit all Americans makes Obama appear his own man for a change, we'd bet it helps in future job approval ratings; until now, they've been far stronger on foreign affairs than domestic chores.

Obama had the luxury of not being on any ballot this fall. Not so, next time. Truth is, if the U.S. economy is still in the southern hemisphere come summer of 2012, the Barack Obama-Tim Kaine ticket will likely be toast no matter what. So, a 2010 tax deal could well help and couldn't much hurt.

As he had to, the president grumbled cosmetically Monday about aspects of the political deal. How could he appear pleased about compromising with the same obstinate conservatives he so mockingly portrayed all fall as wanting the keys to the car back after driving it into the ditch?

But the possibility is by "caving" on the Republicans' coveted total tax cut extensions for everyone, Obama may well have ensured his own re-election.

It could be the start of the political rehab showing that this aloof Harvard fellow who let Congress write the economic stimulus legislation that didn't stimulate, can get into the huddle and call the plays like a leader, not a king viewing from up there in the royal box. And it only took Obama a month after his midterm losses.

Back in 1994 when Bill Clinton received a lesser shellacking from voters angry over his liberal policies, he took three months to follow Dick Morris' advice, adopt some Republican goals like welfare reform as his own and declare out of the blue, "The era of big government is over." The result: An easy 1996 reelect for him.

As for Republicans, by insisting now on their holy grail that tax cuts are the fastest economic fix, they may too have done what they believe best for the country and their supporters while dooming their own party's dream of recapturing the White House, if the shots of financial incentives work their private sector wonders.

...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/12/obama-tax-cuts-republicans-left.html

[jpgray]

1. There are good defenses of Obama's deal. This is not one of them

First of all, the stimulus worked exactly as designed. It was too small, it was larded with tax cuts, but it worked. The article gets worse, attributing Clinton's success to the advice of Dick Morris, which of course has never been wrong. Alternate explanations, such as the amazing strength of the economy, apparently don't rate? Then there are the stupid sports metaphors, the praise of "no more big government," the bizarrely out-of-touch assertion that somehow Obama has been ruling and dictating on high the past two years--this is a pile of garbage.

[jefferson_dem]

4. Have you forgotten "the era of big government is over" and welfare reform under Clinton?

I think you're misreading the article. Nobody is saying Obama has been "ruling on high." Geesh... Try again?

Sorry to rain on your worldview but yesterday just may have done more for Obama's re-election chances than any day in a long time. With petty, partisan petulance all around him ... this:

"In his remarks (full text here, as usual), Obama painted himself as a presidential presider, who sure didn't like all of the Republican demands, knew he'd take heat from his own side, got some necessary progressive goodies but, by golly, was determined to do what he thought was right for the country, especially the beloved middle class and the struggling economy."

[jpgray]

9. Obama led like a king in a royal box? Stimulus did nothing?

You're really in love with this article?

[jefferson_dem]

10. Settle down now.

I said the article is interesting. ...And I certainly agree with the thrust of it.

Those two points are valid. If you paid attention, you would have heard these criticms...even on DU.

1. Obama is not a foreful enough leader. He avoids getting directly involved solving important policy questions but instead chooses to issue lofty rhetorical dictates.

2. Doing nothing is an overstatement. However, there is widespread public "perception" (at least) that the stimulus didn't work as well as planned. That's undeniable.

[ProSense]

16. That's because the author is a RW hack who used to be Laura Bush's press secretary. n/t

[DrDan]

2. the 3-dimensional chess game continues . . . .

[jefferson_dem]

5. Call it what you want.

n/t

[DrDan]

6. all rightee then . . . . capitulation

[jefferson_dem]

8. Cute.

I hope you have a good day. :hi:

[merbex]

3. Your title left out one important fact~

It may not cost Obama, but it sure in hell is going to cost the American taxpayer to keep digging deep to give billionaires a tax cut

All he had to do to make his case was go outside of DC every single day and head on over to an unemployment agency and stand around and talk to the real people who are on unemployment, standing in line, and let THEM talk about no job creation, their fears, their sense of hopelessness, and then talk about how the ultra , ultra rich and their friends in the Senate want to use them( the unemployed) as hostages....that situation must end because we are all turning into hostages to the ultra wealthy's ( be it an individual or corporation's greed).

Oh, it costs something all right.

[Kolesar]

7. aloof Harvard fellow who let Congress write the economic stimulus legislation that didn't stimulate

sorry, I don't agree. The Recovery Act did stimulate the economy. The only people who claim it did not are politicians who demagogue the issue.

[Mimosa]

11. After all, it is 'all about Obama' and screw the rest of us.

Health care, Social Security, taxes, unemployment, war in Afghnistan, DADT, etc. are just issues with which some play political games.

But we lesser people are the pawns. We have real lives.

Obama's wins have too frequently been OUR LOSSES.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Hello_Kitty]

13. I don't see how this helps his reelection chances.

The GOP will campaign on "Obama will raise your taxes" since this extension is for only 2 years. So what does candidate Obama do then? Agree with them and say "yes, we're going to let the extensions expire" or "no, we'll extend them further or make them permanent."

[Phx_Dem]

14. He definitely got this part right . . .

"It won't be a tectonic shock to Obama's key political advisor David Axelrod that such revolting talk from the left side of the left-handed president may actually help him in the eyes of the broader American public. Lo these 23 months of failed policies, many had come to see Obama as a captive of that constantly complaining crowd. Same applies if someone mounts a hopeless primary challenge from over there."