This is why you should have stood up to them in December.

[jsamuel]

Not being able to extend unemployment insurance would have sucked, but this is going to be 10x worse and they have already learned they can hold the country hostage to get what they want.

[aquart]

1. We tried to tell them.

But the hysteria was too intense.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. The hell of it is, the repugs would have folded on the unemployment

before it ran out. We could have ended the tax cuts for the rich and STILL gotten the unemployment extension.

[TheWraith]

10. No, they wouldn't have. Where the hell have you been?

This thread is pure premium historical revisionism.

[grahamhgreen]

14. Of course they would have - you don't win by caving. Repubs are out of work too,

not just Dems.

They would have been forced by their own constituents to pass it.

Not only that, with the additional revenues from the tax hike, we would have the money to do so.

[RaleighNCDUer]

16. Exactly.

Even the teapartiers don't want to lose their unemployment.

[TheWraith]

18. That is completely counter to the last two years of reality.

Again: have you been around and actually watched the Republicans the last two years? They had EVERY reason to refuse an extension of unemployment benefits. To say otherwise, you have to assume that the Republican caucus is run by well intentioned people who really want the best for America, even though we disagree with them. And you have to do that while accusing Obama of being naive about the Republicans.

[grahamhgreen]

21. I agree the repubs are out to do everything in their power to make Obama's govt

look bad.

But he plays into their hands by compromising with them.

They only understand power and bottom lines.

For them, the goal was to extend the Bush tax cuts. They won.

For them the goal, currently, is to begin to cut social programs, Obama has placed that on the table. Yet, the Bush tax cuts are the cause of our crisis, as are the wars, while Social Security does not add one dime to the debt. A line must be drawn in the sand.

If I were Obama, I would tell them that if the debt ceiling is not raised cleanly, the first and only cuts will be to the wars and defense contractor payments, and all the troops will come home (I would have started last week). This is the use of power against power. That's why we gave him the power. To wield it responsibly, not to abrogate it.

The Republicans will NEVER give an inch on anything. You have to use power against them - it's all they understand.

Obama's strategy of compromise is actually a logical fallacy called the "Fallacy of Moderation" (http://journals.democraticunderground.com/grahamhgreen/122)

One can only conclude that he is either naive, confused, feeble, incompetent, ill-advised, or complicit, IMHO.

[grahamhgreen]

13. Whatever the reason, Obama is incapable of negotiating in our best interest of our party.

[hifiguy]

3. Exactly.

Which is why the current display of childish malevolence by the reichwingers was as predictable as the sun rising in the east.

[Angry Dragon]

4. Perhaps the only way they will listen if 10 million people

march on DC or the American people do not show up for work one day

I want the pitchfork and torch concession

[Shandris]

12. I don't think your definition of 'March on' and theirs is matching up...

...and that seems to be the fundamental disconnect. I think these bastards want to start the 'cleansing of liberals' they've been crowing about for so long. Many people made comparisons to Rwanda and were poo-poo'ed by the media, but now the ugly hideous truth at the heart of our Republic is slowly being laid bare for the world to see.

[Aerows]

5. You don't give away the house

and the tent... and the sleeping bag...

Just so you can be hysterically happy that someone gave you a sheet and promised not to call the cops when you sleep on the park bench then called it an improvement.

[grahamhgreen]

6. Exactly, and I'd like to see some here say we were right, then, and we're right now.

Progressives have the best, real solutions to our countries problems.

[eShirl]

7. Spoil your children and the result is spoiled brats.

[Johonny]

8. should have used executive power to get don't ask don't tell

done then let all the tax cuts go away and blame Republicans in congress for not extending them. Then spent this year pleading with Republicans to cut taxes on the working class instead of fighting about a fake subject like the debt ceiling.

[TheWraith]

20. So he should have blanket declared a law to not exist? You know that's illegal, right?

It's no wonder some DUers think Obama's not doing enough, if they believe that he has the power to rewrite federal law by unitary fiat. :eyes:

[ProSense]

9. This is why they shouldn't have been elected in November.

Under which scenario do you envision a Republican majority not taking advantage of power given to them?

They have no bargaining chip except the debt ceiling and they're using it.

[grahamhgreen]

15. The debt ceiling wouldn't have even been an issue if you guys had listened to the progressives

and allowed the tax cuts to expire.

[JoePhilly]

17. Huh? Why? The GOP would STILL be screaming about the debt ceiling.

Those Tea Party nuts would still be screaming.

[grahamhgreen]

27. But it would have put off this current default date because revenues would have increased.

Although by how many months or years, i do not know. I have heard some estimates that eliminating the tax cuts alone would balance the deficit.

[Marr]

11. This is why he didn't.

Without an extension of the Bush Tax Cuts, we never would've had our financial "crisis" to provide political cover for Obama's wonderful "grand bargain".

[AlabamaLibrul]

22. +1

It's pretty obvious that at this point President Obama's actions are guided by a higher power, and I'm not talking about a religious figure.

What I don't get is *DEMOCRATS* falling in line behind it.

The Bush tax cuts.

The Bush tax cuts.

FUCKING BUSH!

Wasn't that long ago we hated that motherfucker with every fiber of our beings. Now it's okay to continue those same policies (in MANY areas, so don't give me the UI-extension-for-a-few-weeks-except-for-the-99ers-who-need-it-most BS) because, well by golly we have a dude with a D behind his name in the White House, and that's what really counts, isn't it?

[DearAbby]

19. Amen....n/t

[swilton]

23. K&R

[Zorra]

24. Standing up to them beginning in January 2009 would have

solved all our problems.

They should have rescinded the filibuster rule right then and there.

I would have.

[SaveAmerica]

25. This is why people should have worked against Republican candidates last fall instead of being mad

at *fill in the blank* and doing nothing to keep them from taking over America's House.

[xchrom]

26. recommend

[tavalon]

28. Yep. Never negotiate with terrorists.

It's a truism that should never be violated.

[B Calm]

29. If the democrats don't stand their ground now, what's next?