Can someone please tell me how extension of Un-employment Benefits can be delivered

[patrice]

without extension of the Bush Tax Cuts?

This is an honest question; I promise I won't argue with you. I just don't understand why everyone seems to think that the Un-Employment Benefits don't matter, or could they be acquired in some other way?

[Duer 157099]

1. They have been extended several times already in the past

Everyone just likes to posture and hold them hostage, but in the end, they always pass anyway because otherwise, there will be hell to pay when everyone goes to their home districts over the holiday, and THEY KNOW that!

But they'll pretend that they won't pass them for as long as they can play this game of chicken.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. FIXED

They have been extended several times already in the past with little Republican support

[Arkana]

6. They've passed with a total of like two Republican votes

in both houses.

And with Republicans poised to take the House and make the margin MUCH smaller in the Senate, there was no feasible way to get the UI extension without giving Republicans something they wanted.

[lob1]

2. It's just that Boner and McConnell both said in

separate televised interviews that the pubs would probably cave on UI. It's just like the public option, he didn't even try. And there's a lot of other stuff in the deal, and all of it favors the rich. He also left the democratic party out of the process. He didn't ask for advice or even tell them what was going on before it was announced. You normally don't leave your own party out of the negotiations.

[lamp_shade]

3. Check out all the "Dear Mr. President" posts... surely you'll find your answer....

... oh... wait.

[AtomicKitten]

4. There will be ZERO chance unemployment benefits will be extended

once the GOP takes control of the House in January. As distasteful as this so-called compromise is, this may very well be the last chance to secure an extension.

[bluethruandthru]

7. I seriously doubt that.

There are lots of unemployed people in every politician's district. Very few unemployed republicans will call their senator or representative and thank him or her for cutting off their unemployment benefits!

[kjackson227]

8. THIS is the million dollar question that I'd like to see answered, also...

Suppose if President Obama had taken the risk and lost??? What would've happened to these 2 million people???