With Pressure on All Sides, White House Defends Tax Cut “Framework” - FDL

[WillyT]

With Pressure on All Sides, White House Defends Tax Cut “Framework”
By: David Dayen - FDL
Monday December 6, 2010 5:33 pm

<snip>

Senior Administration officials tried to cast their deal on the Bush tax cuts in a positive light, even as forces on the left and right were mobilizing against it. The deal is so shaky that the White House officials and the President would only call it a “framework.” Several Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are already either simply opposed, or dedicated to mobilizing for defeat of the package, and the Senate Majority leader delivered a terse one-line statement only agreeing to discuss it with his colleagues. The biggest news here is that this deal isn’t done.

And...

Republicans are also not sold on this “framework.” Michele Bachmann told Sean Hannity she would have problems voting for it. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) will oppose any extension whatsoever.

Here’s the sum total of what Jim Manley, spokesman for Harry Reid, gave in response to the plan:

“Now that the President has outlined his proposal, Senator Reid plans on discussing it with his caucus tomorrow.”

Yikes.

Senior officials stressed this deal wasn’t done and could change. They said lots of this deal would not have happened if they didn’t extend the tax cuts, and that while there are aspects to the deal the President vigorously opposes, what they’re getting on the other side is a good deal, especially the UI extension. This aligns with the statement the President made.

I think there’s a real concern that this deal could fall apart. That’s why it’s called a “framework.”

<snip>

Much More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/12/06/with-pressure-on-all-sides-white-house-defends-tax-cut-framework/

:shrug:

[Cant trust em]

1. The whole putting scary words in quotes thing needs to stop.

It's annoying and tired.

[gateley]

2. We need to make our Congresspeople and Senators aware of how we feel - either way -

so when the leaders "discuss" it with their caucus, they'll have some input. I was just thinking that the vast majority of people, even if they said they were against this, will just go "oh, well" and not get as lathered as we do. So e-mail tonight and get on the phone tomorrow!

Most of my friends will probably roll their eyes and not give a shit, either way, EXCEPT maybe if their taxes go up.

[bigtree]

3. If they can change it let them. It was THEIR JOB in the first place

[Kablooie]

4. Does he realize he's totally lost all his supporters by doing this?

I thought he was smart but maybe I was wrong.

[MrSlayer]

5. Good.

Maybe the party will show some spine here. It's time to force the Republicans to be shown in the proper light.

[ProSense]

6. It's always good to see Democrats

trying to kill Republican noise.

The deal is going to have to pass the House and Senate. Good time to prove that the President isn't a dictator. The two branches of government actually have a role to play in the legislative process.