For Democrats, On TAX CUTS,... 41 IS THE NEW 60

[Segami]

:smoke: :shrug: :smoke: :shrug:


:smoke: :shrug: :smoke: :shrug:



".....Of all my frustrations involving the tax rate debate, the most vexing is how the economic argument has been ignored. This should be the basis for any consideration of tax policy, yet it has become the least used reason for any course of action. And according to a wide spectrum of economists, the best course of action for the economic welfare would be to let all the tax cuts expire.



Today with Senator Schumer's pronouncement, economic considerations may finally come into play. If 41 Democratic Senators, can be convinced to withhold there support for any plan that couples the future of tax cuts for those making over 250,000 and the future of tax cuts for everyone else, they will have a simple economic argument to support their action: extending tax cuts for the wealthiest is economically insane. And that will help to overcome the problematic political considerations.



There are many ways to play this politically, but this is the first time I've heard a Democrat in a leadership position champion what I consider the only realistic chance we have of getting a desired outcome. If the Senate Democrats make it clear, that for the good of the economy, they will filibuster any legislation that couples the tax cuts for the wealthy with tax cuts for everyone else, they will have the political leverage they need to achieve a desired outcome. Because, for the first time, the GOP has a lot to lose if nothing is done, because it must be understood that all of these tax cuts, even the so called middle class tax cuts, greatly favor the wealthy.


cont'


<http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/4/131826/864>

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[msongs]

1. democratic leadership behaviors are depressing really nt

[European Socialist]

2. I'm thinking that Obama needs 41 Senators to block him....

more than he needs a primary challenger. This would be less damaging to the Democratic Party.

[European Socialist]

3. I'm thinking that Obama needs 41 Senators to block him....

more than he needs a primary challenger. This would be less damaging to the Democratic Party.

[malaise]

8. Where do you get the impression that

Obama wants tax cuts for the rich?

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Conventional wisdom is that raising taxes on middle class people is suicide

On the other hand, people are already convinced that under Obama their taxes have gone up when in fact they have gone down. So maybe Democrats should raise peoples' taxes and people will think they have gone down.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. So taxes can only ever be cut? Why not just get rid of them?

The taxes would be going back to Clinton Era levels. I recall the economy doing pretty damn well during those years.

The bogus "conventional wisdom" is a big part of the problem with this administration, as far as I can tell. Obama won by disregarding bogus, tired, beltway conventional wisdom, I can't fucking fathom why he feels the need to govern by it.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Well, we couldn't do that. They might get angry.

Heavens me.

[Dr Morbius]

7. I'd like to hear Democrats in the Senate tell the truth:

the nation is NOT in a recession. The corporations and the wealthy who own them are making money hand over fist. So the GOP line that it's unwise to raise taxes on anyone in a recession does not apply here!

[Segami]

9. ??If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Joseph Goebbels.



“A lie told often enough becomes truth”

Vladimir Lenin.



Republicans are quite comfortable continuing such fascist, propaganda tactics. As Goebbels himself surmised ( as well as Republicans + elites ) , repressing dissent and identifying ' truth ' as the ' mortal enemy of the lie ' were THEIR fundamental tools of deception used to target, market & administer revolving propaganda campaigns against the sleeping public. Like a thief in the night, they won't even hear them coming.


.

[KharmaTrain]

10. The Cuts Will Not Lapse...

Watch the kabuki theater that will take place this week. I'm almost willing to predict the shitstorm that will follow here when it happens.

Yesterday's votes were political theater...nothing more. Reid knew that he didn't have the votes and this is his way of saying "see, we tried". Instead, the deal's been cut. The booooosh pay-off to the rich will be extended for at least 2 years and we'll be back to this same song and dance in 2012.

[Segami]

11. The closing scene of this rehearsed Kabuki theatre will speak for itself. The question

Democratic Senators will be asked is ' did they do everything within their ' procedural powers ' to ward off the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts to the rich top 2% that added another 700 billion to our debt '?

We are playing poker using a deck of marked cards and Dems are dealing us the hand.

[Laelth]

12. It appears that the only way to get UI benefits extended is to cave on the tax cuts.

And it appears this deal is already done. What we're seeing now is pure theater.

The Bush tax cuts will be extended for 2 years in exchange for a 1 year extension of UI benefits. It's not a great deal, but I'll take it. Those UI benefits have a direct, stimulative impact on the economy, and they will avert misery for millions.

It's clear, though, that neither party gives a rat's about the deficit.

-Laelth

[B Calm]

13. Now just finding 41 democrats with balls!