"the idea that top Democrats were broadsided by this week's announcement...is pretty ridiculous"

[ProSense]

Brian Beutler

Here's what's so strange about the Dem leaders' acute angina over the Obama tax cut compromise.

Rewind to last month: Democratic aides -- and even some legislators -- are predicting a cave. They see the end game -- a temporary extension of all the Bush tax cuts -- but they don't want to get there without 1). putting the GOP on the record blocking middle-income cuts, and 2). securing some goodies for themselves. Unemployment was one possibility. A vote on the START treaty was another. But something.

Well...that's exactly what they got.

Same thing goes in the House. The fact that the Dems lost their nerve and didn't vote on tax cuts before the election has been rehashed to death. But most seem to have forgotten that the reason, which is that several dozen Democrats were pushing for...a temporary extension of the Bush cuts. They got their wish before, and now that the White House needs a sizable number of Democrats to back their compromise with the GOP, they're getting it again.

That doesn't mean the rest of the Democratic party has to be thrilled about it. And clearly they're not. But the idea that top Democrats were broadsided by this week's announcement -- which actually exceeded the rumors in some ways -- is pretty ridiculous.

[wolfgirl]

1. As I've said before

Obama may be President, but his influence is curtailed not just by the GOP, but those Dems in Congress (both houses) that are idiots!

[vaberella]

8. Thank you. That is exactly right. n/t

[Pisces]

2. It's called political posturing for reelection. No one is out for the people, just themselves.

[Enrique]

3. he signaled his cave-in a long time ago

And they all caught the signal. When he was campaigning against the tax cuts for the rich, no one believed him.

I think what has caught people off-guard is the magnitude of the cave-in.

[ProSense]

4. "When he was campaigning against the tax cuts for the rich, no one believed him."

So no one should be surprised?

[young but wise]

5. Proof or are you full of shit.

[Jakes Progress]

7. Ah. Ever the uniter.

Did you mean to be obnoxious and insulting and drive people away from supporting Obama?

Or are you just full of shit.

[sweetapogee]

6. yes...

"the idea that top Democrats were broadsided by this week's announcement...is pretty ridiculous"

Bingo

[karynnj]

9. This actually seems a sensible analysis

If you go back a month ago on DU, even here, you would find that this type of compromise was discussed. It is ridiculous that money that we really don't have will go to a tax cut that does little for the economy, but the fact is the hostage takers firmly had their hostage.

And the hostage was the economy. The fact is that had the tax cuts expired and unemployment was not extended, billions of dollars would be taken out of the economy by increased payroll taxes starting next year. Just as putting that amount of money into the economy would have a multiplier effect - creating jobs, this would too, but in a negative direction. Now, if the new revenue taken in went back out in projects with greater multiplier effects, it would overall be positive. However, with the Republican house you can guarantee that that wouldn't happen.

The things Obama added are designed to be a new stimulus boost - and it may be our only chance to get one.

Now, beyond that, there is the pain and suffering to people needing the unemployment extension - I just wish Obama added something for those above 99 weeks. In their case, they need not just payments 9which they don't have) but something that helps them get jobs.