Obama signals willingness to "compromise", and Republicans move the line further.

[Marr]

This is so absurd, it's almost funny:

DeMint and Pence Push for Permanent Extension of Bush Tax Cuts
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/demint-and-pence-push-permanent-extension-

The quote that stuck with me was DeMint's, "we don't need a temporary economy, so we don't need temporary tax rates". Just like that, they've got their slogan and their whole pitch. Now, even if Obama gives them exactly what they previously demanded (temporary extensions), they can blame all of the ensuing problems on his refusal to make them permanent.

[Skittles]

1. they play him like a fiddle

[Lugnut]

14. And he lets them.

I fail to see the strategy if there is any.

[Sherman A1]

18. Agreed

It's sad.

I never expected a Progressive stance from him, but this is absurd.

[Hawkeye-X]

2. That's why I'm supporting a primary from the left.

I'm sick and tired of the damn compromises to the R's.

THEY ARE THE FUCKING MINORITY FOR A VERY GOOD REASON. THEY NEEDED TO REMAIN A MINORITY - A VANISHING MINORITY - but you overplayed your hand and let the Thugs take the message and make you look like a fucking fool.

If we wanted a fucking Republican President, we'd have McAsshole/Pitbull by now.

[dennis4868]

15. Even a fucking minority....

In the senate can stop everything.... This is why Obama has to compromise with them unfortunately. If he doesn't I am guessing there will be no repeal of DADT, approval of START, and the very much needed unemployment insurance. Would you rather have him fight (and lose because of the fillubuster) and have middle class taxes go up and not get out of congress unemoyment insurance, repeal of DADT, and the START treaty?

[Hawkowl]

17. Bahhh! Nonsense!

If the fucking minority is so goddamn powerful, who gives a fucking rat's ass who is president? I'd rather have 41 hard as nails, kick ass left wing Democratic Senators and give the rethugs everything else. You're just apologizing for Obama's cowardice and ineptitude.

[TransitJohn]

20. +a brazilian

:thumbsup:

[Skittles]

21. CORRECT

[BzaDem]

24. You don't even try to dispute that the minority is powerful. You just explain why you don't like it.

That's like a Republican saying "if global warming were true, we'd have to limit energy usage! and that's bad! so it can't be true! lalalalalalalalalala"

[MissDeeds]

28. +100000!!!

[msongs]

3. bullies know a willing victim when they see one nt

[glinda]

4. O 4 cryin out loud.

[Skittles]

22. yes, we all feel like doing that

:cry:

[gateley]

5. True to form - give 'em an inch... It never is enough and it will never end. nt

[MissDeeds]

6. How much more of this crap are we going to take?

When is he going to "compromise" with the people who voted for him and put him in the White House? I am so damn done with this Repuke appeaser.

[glinda]

7. "Hey c'mon closer Mr. Prez... there is no cliff here". Lie.

[tularetom]

8. IMO he believes that excessive partisanship is the biggest threat to our democracy

And he believes it so much that he is willing to abandon everything else he believes in order to avoid it.

I think he is sincere in his belief and convinced that he can lead by example, inspire bipartisanship in all Americans and bring the country together.

Unfortunately, he's living in a dream world. His opponents are not above taking advantage of his sincerity for their own purposes.

Right now they are toying with him like a cat plays with its prey before it breaks its neck.

It's his overconfidence in his ability to unite that is destroying his presidency.

[Marr]

9. I think he's just a blue dog, personally. That is to say,

pro-big business, with some easy "liberal" positions on social issues that don't effect the bottom line for Wall Street. Even those are mostly just talk.

[Catherina]

10. Agreed. The signs were there from the beginning. Rec'd n/t

[eomer]

23. And the easy "liberal"positions can't be taken care of quickly...

because then they wouldn't be useful distractions anymore.

So they have to stall as long as possible to keep those easy positions in play. For example, if DADT had been repealed right away then we would have moved on to other issues, likely other issues that the corporate masters do care about.

[glitch]

29. I'd like to see some bipartisanship towards progressives for a change. nt

[rhett o rick]

11. THEY ARE TERRORISTS AND YOU CANT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. nm

[usregimechange]

12. why not it was already working for them

[gkhouston]

13. We've already had the temporary tax rates. For ten years. They've failed abysmally.

It's time to suck it up and let them expire.

[abq e streeter]

16. "Repubs move line further". Wow; I mean who could have POSSIBLY seen that coming?

[TransitJohn]

19. Who saw this coming? Completely out of the blue!

:sarcasm:

[mtnester]

25. Ahem

[WVRICK13]

26. Compromise We Can Believe In

LOL. This President has turned into a major joke.

[northernlights]

27. keep chasing that "bi-partisanship" Obama, and soon

you'll reach the endpoint that your corporate pals want. Just keep shoving all us "lesser folks" off that cliff.

[QC]

30. This is all a very smooth, practiced game of Good Cop/Bad Cop,

in which the Bad Cops (the GOP) "force" our Good Cop (the president) to do what he would like to do anyway, namely pass corporate-friendly legislation.

The president is not weak, nor is he stupid. He is, however, a master of this particular piece of political theater.