I REFUSE to believe that there wasn't a way to:

[Duer 157099]

1) let the tax cuts expire on every cent over $250,000
2) extend the tax cuts permanently for every cent below $250,000
3) extend UI benefits, including the addition of a Tier 5, indefinitely until unemployment levels are below a specific level
4) repeal DADT, just for good measure

Where there's a will, there's a way. I am certain it could have been done. How am I so certain? Because I KNOW that if this had been Bush's agenda when he was prez, even during a period when the "opposition" party held Congress, it would have gotten done exactly as he wanted. That's how I know that it was possible.

That it wasn't done means there was not the will to do so. Period.

[customerserviceguy]

1. I don't think we could have accomplished any of those four things

Unless we were willing to compromise our principles. And we only get point #3.

We should have just let the tax cuts expire. It's time to start paying the bills.

[Cant trust em]

2. Yes. All things happen in Washington due to political will.

But political will doesn't just grow on trees.

[dhpgetsit]

3. I get your point but

I don't think it was possible.

But the way I see it, we are in a fight, and we have to deliver a blow, and we can't be afraid of taking a couple of shots. I hope there are 40 senators willing to block this deal. Yes, UI benefits will expire for millions if that happens, and we will all be paying higher taxes. But it is going to be up to the GOP to turn the economy around in the next 2 years. They will have the purse and all the responsibility that comes with it.

[Tx4obama]

4. Well because....

In order to do #2 and #3 we have to have 60 senate 'yes' votes, which we do NOT have.

AND

Regarding #4 - the repeal is in the defense bill which might be voted on as early as Friday.
Excerpt:
A vote on the DREAM Act is still scheduled for Wednesday and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said he was "hopeful" Reid would file cloture on the defense bill the same day, meaning a vote could come as early as Friday. "We've got the time," said Levin. "Just take it."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/senate-gop-leaders-not-re_n_793394.html

[Duer 157099]

6. Then how did Bush do it? Did he have 60 votes to do the tax cuts?

Or did he find another way?

[TwilightGardener]

5. There were Democrats that worked with Bush. There are Democrats

who refuse to vote with Obama. How does one get around this political reality?

[Atman]

13. You are wrong. Bush got it passed with 51 votes...Cheney was the tiebreaker.

The sixty vote thing is nonsense. It is merely a rule, not law, and could be overturned tomorrow if Harry Reid wanted it to happen. Apparently the Dems are happy hiding behind this smokescreen in order to: a) give themselves political cover, and; b) give themselves evil, obstructionist bogeymen to run against. As if that ever worked for them. I, like most of us, wish I knew the real reason, why they keep up this sixty vote charade.

[TwilightGardener]

15. I'd like to see the 60 vote rule go away, too.

[Nite Owl]

14. They passed it with 50

votes plus Cheney in reconciliation. Where there is a will there is a way. They got the will dems don't.

[tridim]

7. Bush was a dictator with a rubber stamp congress.

That's the difference.

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. "where there's a will there's a way!"

Helluva strategy.

[Maru Kitteh]

9. If you refuse then what's the point of discussion? That's religion, not reason.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. I refused to believe GWBush would actually be inaugurated, - I honestly

believed that we'd prevail.

I refused to believe that we'd actually wage pre-emptive war against Iraq.

I refused to believe Bush could possibly win a second term.

Reality bites.

[BzaDem]

11. How is it Obama's problem that you misunderstand reality?

I mean, sure, you have every right to be "sure" of something that's false, but I don't see why your misunderstanding of reality is Obama's problem.

[Codeine]

12. That's just silly.

You can refuse to believe the sun will come up, but that won't stop day from breaking.