General Discussion

Martin Eden

(15,624 posts)

38. Politics is a game. A tax cut is a policy.

Fri Dec 23, 2011, 12:49 PM

Dec 2011

The two are of course inextricably linked; politics must be played to implement any policy.

Sure, a bigger stimulus was needed -- but we can't retroactively make it bigger.

President Obama recently proposed the American Jobs Act, which included additional stimulus spending. The Republicans with their House majority and filibustering Senate minority killed it. They will (with one caveat) kill any attempt by Obama to improve the economy because an improved economy will improve his chances for re-election.

The "caveat" applies when their obstructionism does more to hurt their own electoral prospects. What Obama is doing with this 'payroll-tax-cut 'game'' is applying that caveat. While the Republicans in Congress have the power to block any legislation, this "game" is just about the only cards the president has to play.

I don't like it any better than you do. What better options -- given the political reality -- does the president have?

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SAY WHAT YOU WANT about President Obama...in 8 years, Bush NEVER did this. [View all] Amerigo Vespucci Dec 2011 OP

Bu$h would be at the chicken ranch by now. liberal N proud Dec 2011 #1

I beg your pardon blogslut Dec 2011 #3

My appologies to chickens liberal N proud Dec 2011 #4

We should apologize to the pigs that it was the Bush "Ranch" Thor_MN Dec 2011 #19

Hey hey hey W returned to save Terri Schiavo underpants Dec 2011 #16

Real people, real lives, real issues. But the GOP can't see beyond their hatred of Obama. baldguy Dec 2011 #2

! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2011 #7

Riding DeathToTheOil Dec 2011 #5

Kickin' for the Copycat DeathToTheOil Dec 2011 #8

If the powers that be would work a little harder to get our Living-Wage-Jobs RC Dec 2011 #6

re-inforcing the Reagan tax cut mantra TiberiusB Dec 2011 #28

Dem frame = tax relief for 99 percent. Republican frame = pretend tax hike on 1 per cent emulatorloo Dec 2011 #34

It's messier than that... TiberiusB Jan 2012 #44

Automatic Rs Guaranteed by Longterm Membership DeathToTheOil Dec 2011 #9

The OP is a beautiful example of Obama's compassion for the 99% siligut Dec 2011 #17

Tax cuts are all they have. Their corporate handlers and abettors aren't raising our wages. HughBeaumont Dec 2011 #10

"FUCK Boehner, FUCK them ALL." Scurrilous Dec 2011 #11

I posted that in the original and forgot to add it when I re-wrote the post... Amerigo Vespucci Dec 2011 #15

Thats why I love this link Left Coast2020 Dec 2011 #21

The message body of this post was accidentally deleted due to an unexpected bug in our new software. Sirveri Dec 2011 #12

There was a big problem eariler to day with the GD forum.... Tx4obama Dec 2011 #13

I updated the post with the original text (to the best of my recollection) Amerigo Vespucci Dec 2011 #14

Bush??? W Bush??? This is what he has to say..... opihimoimoi Dec 2011 #18

This wasn't a stunt...it showed empathy for the lesser of us....he could have just gone off .. Historic NY Dec 2011 #20

uh, the "lesser of us" don't make $50,000 a year hfojvt Dec 2011 #26

I saw the president to day and was very proud of his confidence in dealing with the repigs. Lunabelle Dec 2011 #22

Bush never gave examples of people who benefit from his tax cuts? hfojvt Dec 2011 #23

Yikes a post in defense of Bush? SunsetDreams Dec 2011 #25

I am sure the $40 a fortnight meant as much to real people hfojvt Dec 2011 #27

" but it seems that most Democrats here have fully embraced tax cuts for the rich." emulatorloo Dec 2011 #36

My mistake... Bonobo Dec 2011 #24

Yes, I liked that. Shows how desperate we have become. mmonk Dec 2011 #29

So many people on here agreeing that tax cuts are good for the economy all of a sudden & IamK Dec 2011 #30

Tax cuts for lower income people who will spend the money is good for the economy; always has been Martin Eden Dec 2011 #31

A bigger stimulus was needed, but we ended up with this payroll-tax-cut "game" Kolesar Dec 2011 #35

Politics is a game. A tax cut is a policy. Martin Eden Dec 2011 #38

IMO, He should dotymed Dec 2011 #43

I guess the fact that only 12% of this tax cut actually goes to lower income people hfojvt Dec 2011 #39

It is amazing how many of us suddenly think tax cuts are the answer, when not all that long ago they RC Dec 2011 #32

No. Most DU'ers beleive that tax cuts for the rich caused the debt and deficit problem emulatorloo Dec 2011 #37

now that is not hyperbolic? hfojvt Dec 2011 #40

Not all tax cuts are the same. Martin Eden Dec 2011 #42

Depends on whose taxes are cut Progressive dog Dec 2011 #33

A progressive Democratic nominee would deny Obama the opportunity ... T S Justly Dec 2011 #41