Are you prepared to trade tax cuts for progressive policy legislation?

[ProfessorGAC]

37. Why Would We Want To Be Party...

...to any policy that we know doesn't work. What political advantage does that provide? That dems are not tax maniacs? Politics doesn't require detail, we just say "The very rich aren't paying enough. They're the problem, not you Mr or Ms Average American!"
I understand the way compromise works, but more cuts on business or the very rich will have a deleterious economic effect, only ameliorated by more debt.
And, I'm not sure how you don't agree that deficits are a rhetorical hammer.
The entire basis of the 43 fiscal philosophy was the Norquistian "drown the government". 43 got reelected. Cutting services to reduce deficits sold. Shouldn't have, but did.
On Edit: How about this? Agree to a substantial tax cut for those under $200k, as a couple, but it comes with increases for the much more affluent. Then, add in a public option in exchange for moderating the tax increase on the most affluent.
The middle class tax cuts are politically popular, the Rs get to claim they got that, we get the public option & the revenue increases from higher taxes on multimillion dollar incomes.