How Dems can still eke out a bitter but significant victory (The Plum Line)

[kpete]

How Dems can still eke out a bitter but significant victory
By Adam Serwer

It looks as though the parties are close to deal on the extension of all of the Bush tax cuts for two years in exchange for an extension of unemployment benefits. This is a tremendous capitulation for Democrats and a huge win for Republicans, but depending on how it plays out there may be a bright silver lining for the left.

The good news is that a deal on tax cuts will pave the way for the Democrats to move forward on other important parts of their agenda -- repeal of don't ask don't tell and the START Treaty, since at least two Republicans have indicated a willingness to vote to repeal DADT if a deal on tax cuts is reached. Passage of the DREAM Act would make turn the lame-duck session into a significant net victory for Democrats, but even with substantial revisions to the bill and a CBO score showing the bill reduces the deficit, passage seems like a long shot.The bad news is that, as Ezra Klein has written, unemployment benefits should really be extended as long as unemployment is above seven percent, so this is a fight we're going to see again in the near future. If necessary, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should, as Steve Benen writes, extend the lame-duck session.

If the deal is to extend all the Bush tax cuts for two years as some outlets are reporting, then, as Kevin Drum writes, that sets the Democrats up for another political fight over tax cuts that is likely to play to the GOP's advantage. In 2012, when the president is running for reelection, one of the biggest political fights will be over tax cuts, a terrain the Republican Party feels confident playing on -- and for obvious reasons. Despite the Democratic majority in both houses and control of the presidency, the GOP just leveraged a deal that gives them everything they want -- despite the fact that only about a quarter of the country shares their view.

There are significant downsides, but having fumbled the ball at every stage in the game, a deal that allows an extension of unemployment benefits, passage of DADT repeal and START may be the best possible outcome. For the president in particular, repealing DADT will give him an important symbolic victory to tout in 2012, the kind of historic win that will make disillusioned liberals go to the polls and remember why they put Obama in office in the first place.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/the_best_possible_deal.html

[Clio the Leo]

1. "pave the way for the Democrats to move forward on other important parts of their agenda"

and that's really it. I dont think eveyone realizes the longer this battle goes on, the more gridlock we'll have. If there's a continued fight over the tax cuts post-December then NOTHING else will get accomplished.

I dont see how raising taxes on the poor, no unemployment benes for the impoverished and NOTHING being done to stimulate the economy is worth stroking the progressive ego.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Start paving away...

Scorched earth policy be damned. Let's do some stuff.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Stroking the progressive ego is literally the only thing many on DU want.

It's fucking disgusting and it makes me sick that these psychopaths portray themselves as being "principled" when they are anything but.

[ellie]

8. This is assuming that

the repukes won't go back on their word to vote for DADT, START and the Dream Act if they get their tax cut. I don't trust them and I think they will get what they want and say screw you to the rest of it. It is not like they are going to suffer in the media or with their base.

[Parker CA]

9. I agree. If they have the votes on DADT etc first, then I think it's a good deal. If they fall

after the tax cuts are extended, I won't be a tiny bit surprised if the GOP refuses to help pass anything else that may be part of any "deal" that is struck.

Can't negotiate once your biggest bargaining chip is taken away.

[allmylove]

3. If we prove that we will roll over on core policies

where will it stop?

Get used to it. Once they've won the tax cut extensions, the only thing that will likely be exempt from their hostage taking will be defense spending.

" Congressional Republicans are hoping to put Democrats in a no-win new year's jam: defund a big chunk of their health care overhaul or slash Medicare payments instead.

Despite rampant repeal rhetoric, Republicans have so far struggled to dismantle any part of health reform. Now, they see a new path forward: pilfer health reform dollars to pay for the next "doc fix," the must-pass patch to Medicare doctor payments.

The Senate has passed four doc fixes this year alone, none of which were longer than six months and two lasted just 30 days. The last patch, a one-month reprieve passed by the House on Monday, will expire on Dec. 31. Without a doc fix, Medicare provider rates would drop 25 percent.

The idea of tying the doc fix to a partial health reform repeal has legs because it comes with a clear rhetorical message: Congress should not start creating new entitlements without the necessary funding to uphold existing ones. "

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/12/5/925915/-Republicans-threaten-to-take-Medicare-doc-fix-hostage

[Safetykitten]

4. Make you a big fat bet. No DADT repeal, rich get what they want, and unemployment is just for

six months. That will be the end result.

[GSLevel9]

5. you're probably right... nt

[AlinPA]

7. IMO, the republicans will not allow the DREAM Act, DADT Repeal, or New START. They control the

Senate now with their filibusters and fake Democrats. The only thing we will get is the unemployment benefits extension.