Reply #32: First, chill out. Obama is the best damn political chess player there is. Here is what he does:

[RBInMaine]

He argues that 2010 was what it WAS: A TEMPORARY extension to strike a COMPROMISE at a critical time for the economy. By 2012, the economy will be rebounding at a more robust rate, AND all the talk will be about DEFICITS DEFICITS DEFICITS. He SIMPLY argues that 2010 was 2010 and 2012 is 2012. That was then, and this is now.

He argues what the situation was in 2010: that he NEVER agreed to PERMANENT cuts for the rich, that he is on record TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN saying he wasn't for them (HE PLAYS THOSE TAPES OVER AND AGAIN), and talks like hell about how FISCALLY RECKLESS it would be to extend them PERMANENTLY at this NEW juncture in time. HE puts THEM on the DEFENSE by making them explain how a PERMANENT extension would be PAID FOR and WHY it is more important to give tax breaks to millionaires (WHICH IS AN UNPOPULAR POSITION WITH A SOLID MAJORITY OF PUBLIC BY THE WAY) than to extend them just for the middle class and do other things for the middle class, small business, and the unemployed.

It is simply a matter of framing it up right and putting THEM on defense.

Again, Obama is the best damn political chess player there is.
It is Obama who set the RePUKES up for a fall on this.