Perhaps Obama should just scrap the deal, and announce a series of town halls beginning in January.

[jefferson_dem]

He could encourage citizens attending the forums to bring their smaller paychecks and wave them around as props ... as proof that he's on their side... a real fighter!

That would be awesome!

[Clio the Leo]

1. Yep. And those who are so unhappy about the unemployment extension ...

.... can give all of the out of work folks a ride!

[Mz Pip]

2. Thing is

I think we could have had both if Obama and the Democrats had called the GOP's bluff. Put it on them.

It's too bad that the Democrats refused to deal from a position of strength.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. It's nice that you *think* that

I think it was a legitimate possibility. But it is a dire and risky gamble if your calculation doesn't cash out.

I will never ask progressives to abandon such a strategy. It's a viable strategy, among others. But it is a risky st5rategy with horrendous consequences. It's a big gamble.

[frazzled]

4. What about calling the bluffs of ...

Ben Nelson, Jim Webb, Joe Manchin, and Russ Feingold? Even if he'd been able to do that, we'd still have had only 57 votes. The Republicans would have liked nothing better than to kick this can down the road until after the holiday recess ... with the tax cuts expired and a clean slate to work their magic in the House.