Reply #43: You're conflating several things

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

packaging UI with tax cuts for the top 2% = dumb

We became blackmailed by our own rhetoric about 2 million unemployed left to starve to death at Christmas if they don't get their benefits extended. And that's exactly what you are doing, here. I've been through this process. Each time I got kicked off because the Republicans wanted to grandstand, benefits were extended within a week or two *retroactively*. (Full disclosure: I face losing my benefits if they are not extended.)

What we need to do is turn the Republican base against their leaders. How can we do that? Say "NO deal." Let the Democrats bring a vote to extend UI benefits every day and let the unemployed Republican base turn on their leadership. The Republican leaders will capitulate and extend benefits to appease their base. They always have. In fact, the threat that they would not was disingenuous. But Obama doesn't like his job, so he takes the path of least resistance.

Now what? Democrats say "NO deal," and the Republicans hang UI over *our* head. How could Obama allow this to happen?!!