Democrats win key tax fights in emerging fiscal cliff deal as GOP defeated on multiple fronts

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. The key indicator: most of the complaints are about positioning for the next negotiation

Finding very little to criticize in the actual provisions (with the exception of the real "Tax EVERYBODY the MAX" wackadoos, of course, but they're not worse conversing with), the major quarrel now is that it supposedly "removes leverage" "unnecessarily" from the "next negotiation."

The second funny consistency from the opposition: while they think the GOP will be intent on screwing us in the sequestration (duh...), they are utterly convinced that the GOP will be forced by some mysterious public pressure to ultimately accept all the provisions of this deal and more should we go over the cliff. By some magic! Oh, don't worry about actually paying that extra $2500 or $4000 or $5500, middle class family! The GOP wouldn't dare vote against that AFTER the cliff!" This is magical thinking in the extreme.

So, complaints about the next deal, and assurances that the GOP would HAVE to deal on middle class taxes (and UI, and child tax credits, and stimulus credits, and etc., etc.). Not very compelling, all told.