Who Can Surrender First?

House Republican leader John Boehner is prepared to yield on extending the Bush tax cuts for "the rich".  But vulnerable House Dems are exhorting Nancy Pelosi to throw them a rope and extend all the tax cuts.

Comments

[PaulY]

Since Obama is unwilling to compromise, no surrender

[Clarice]

HEH..Rush says CBS , the NYT and the Dem campaigns conspired to force Boehner to say he'd refuse to give the middle class a tax break and he outfoxed them.

[Neo]

The failed economic policies of Barack Obama (cont.) …

Just last week, President Obama explicitly targeted the industry for two massive tax hikes. First, he’d ban oil and gas companies from using the “Section 199″ tax credit, a measure for domestic manufacturers enacted in 2004 to boost US employment. (The Senate is set to vote this week on its version of the ban.) Second, he wants to end “dual capacity” protection for US energy firms.
Without this shield against double taxation on foreign revenues, American companies would be competing on an uneven global playing field. Again, Obama aims directly and specifically at the US oil and gas industry.
Yet, by the federal government’s own economic model, these tax hikes would lead to huge, immediate job losses. I ran the numbers through the Commerce Department’s RIMS II model; it shows, under the proposed changes to Section 199 and dual capacity, Americans would almost immediately lose more than 150,000 stable, private-sector jobs.

Even more laughable, most of those 150,000 jobs are union jobs.

EPIC FAIL in his attempt at being Zeus.

[Firewalls Download]

Though tax cuts for the rich were bigger than those for other groups, the wealthiest families paid a bigger share of total taxes.

[Dave (in MA)]

So, for merely political reasons, some Ds are actually willing to (momentarily) set aside class warfare and actually try to help the economy? What is this world coming to?

[Rick Ballard]

"some Ds are actually willing to (momentarily) set aside class warfare and actually try to help the economy slip the noose before the drop?"
[Minor edit to maintain factual accuracy]

[Danube of Thought]

I read earlier today that McConnell says he has the assurance of the entire GOP Senate caucus that they will filibuster any bill that does not extend the cuts to everyone.

[lyle]

Love all the Dem jibber jabber about "extending tax cuts."

Notice how no one will actually say, "We're raising marginal tax rates for everyone along with taxing dividends and capital gains at higher rates. Who could be against that?"

As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.

[Danube of Thought]

Here's the item re McConnell.

[PaulY]

Senate is place to stop bill. Nancy's minions control House

[squaredance]

Well this would be the moment for him to point out some simple truths:

1) That the notion the Bush tax cuts are "for the rich" is a lie and the worst sort of electioneering posturing and demagoguery. A simple comparison of tax tables will point this out.

2) That the so called "rich" (i.e., the top quintile,) pay the vast majority of the taxes as it is. For them to "pay their fair share" would mean that they pay the same percentage as everyone else.

3) That just because some one has more money that you does not mean that you are entitled to that money. There is such a thing as property rights. It is just theft plain and simple to grab it through taxation.

4) That if you liquidated the entire wealth of "the rich" you could not pay the bills for even one year of the combined cost of government at the Federal, State, County or Municipal levels.

5) That due to #4, they will have to turn around and grab the money from the rest of us over the working course of our lives. This means that we will not work to accumulate wealth for ourselves but essentially be tax slaves.

6) That due to #5, NONE of this money will make it unto the public hands anyway, no matter if it is right or wrong that it do so. It will go to support a tyrannical aristocracy of the political connected. These people will be rich beyond measure but they will not know how to create wealth and in fact their wealth is built on the destruction of wealth at large. Thus not only are we tax slaves but politically we are slaves as well.

If people like Boehner kept repeating truths like this over and over it might start to sink in.

[squaredance]

Well this would be the moment for him to point out some simple truths:

1) That the notion the Bush tax cuts are "for the rich" is a lie and the worst sort of electioneering posturing and demagoguery. A simple comparison of tax tables will point this out.

2) That the so called "rich" (i.e., the top quintile,) pay the vast majority of the taxes as it is. For them to "pay their fair share" would mean that they pay the same percentage as everyone else.

3) That just because some one has more money that you does not mean that you are entitled to that money. There is such a thing as property rights. It is just theft plain and simple to grab it through taxation.

4) That if you liquidated the entire wealth of "the rich" you could not pay the bills for even one year of the combined cost of government at the Federal, State, County or Municipal levels.

5) That due to #4, they will have to turn around and grab the money from the rest of us over the working course of our lives. This means that we will not work to accumulate wealth for ourselves but essentially be tax slaves.

6) That due to #5, NONE of this money will make it unto the public hands anyway, no matter if it is right or wrong that it do so. It will go to support a tyrannical aristocracy of the political connected. These people will be rich beyond measure but they will not know how to create wealth and in fact their wealth is built on the destruction of wealth at large. Thus not only are we tax slaves but politically we are slaves as well.

If people like Boehner kept repeating truths like this over and over it might start to sink in.

[DebinNC]

"“If the only option I have is to vote for those at $250,000 and below, of course I'm going to do that,” Boehner told “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer."

Since that won't be the only option, Boehner sounds savvy to me.

[Jack is Back!]

My God what a terrible day I am having. I have just been informed that I may possibly be related to Obama. We have found out that I had a great uncle who was a farmer in Kenya and died in Mombassa in 1964 and is buried in the Mberaki Cemetery in Mombassa. I am frightened to inquire as to any dalliances he may have had with the local womenfolk:) If I remember correctly, Obama's father's parentage line of ancestry goes back to Arabia via Mombassa.

[NK]

For conservatives this is a good early test to watch the Repub party. Freezing tax rates is good policy and good politics. If the Repubs can't hold together on this and filibuster class warfare (when 5 Dem Senators have already opposed class warfare) then what good are they to conservatives? Yuval Levin has a great post in the Weekly Standard about what the Repubs SHOULD be doing this fall and next year.

[DebinNC]

Jennifer Rubin: A spokesman for Minority Whip Eric Cantor had this to say to me about the Bush tax cuts and a potential deal to give the president what he wants: “Eric will fight against all Obama/Pelosi/Reid efforts to raise taxes on working families, small-business people, and investors with every tool that he has.”

Cantor seems to be a very ambitious young man. Among the other things Boehner will have to worry about, he'll need to watch his back.

[narciso]

Well so was Dick Cheney, so that's not too big a deal, more than likely you're related to someone who detained Hussein Onyongo

[Ignatz]

Good point lyle.

As to Boehner and McConnell, if they actually coordinated their message I'd be very encouraged.
OTOH I'd also be very surprised, given that doing so would be clever and shrewd,neither commodity of which appears to be in large supply in the GOP leadership.
I will echo JMH's sentiments however that I have been somewhat impressed by the GOP's leadership in the Obama era.
They're still kind of knuckleheady, but less so than I thought they would be.

[NK]

PS: while the Repubs must be watched to see what they do, I admit Boehner had to say what he did regarding "the only option." It would have been stoopit in the extreme to go on record saying he'd spite sub-$250K taxpayers-- that's what the legacy media were trying to get him to do.

[Clarice]

Contentions:
JENNIFER RUBIN - 09.13.2010 - 9:26 AM
A spokesman for Minority Whip Eric Cantor had this to say to me about the Bush tax cuts and a potential deal to give the president what he wants: “Eric will fight against all Obama/Pelosi/Reid efforts to raise taxes on working families, small-business people, and investors with every tool that he has.”

That really has been and should be the position for conservatives. There is zero reason, either politically or substantively, to allow Obama to hike taxes on anyone in this economy. And perhaps Boehner’s press release late Sunday is an effort to clarify that this is the position of House Republicans. I frankly can’t imagine a single GOP vote in favor of allowing any of the tax cuts to expire.

[Danube of Thought]

Hell, Jack, imagine how I felt upon learning that I am Howard Dean's sixth cousin, once removed.

[Clarice]

Sorry, Deb. I didn't see your post when I posted.

[Pagar]

" Americans would almost immediately lose more than 150,000 stable, private-sector jobs."

Having watched the Obama Administration since day 1, I suspect that would not upset a lot of the members of the Administration. Getting rid of American private industry jobs seems to be a high priority for them.

[MarkO]

I read today that describing Obama's actual heritage and world view as anti-Colonial is the same as being a "birther." So, what chance is there that extending tax cuts is also racist?

Ah, well. Back to the tasks at hand.

[Dave (in MA)]

Limbaugh seems to think that Boehner is calling their bluff, and Reynolds thinks that Boehner is a squish.

[NK]

Make that 5 Dem plus 1 independent Senator against class warfare and in favor of extending current tax rates. TM-- your Junior Senator from Ct. Joe Lieberman makes his announcement today. If the Repubs can't filibuster this in the Senate it's time for a new conservative party. Hey TM-- you are a very influential blogger-- Your liberal Junior Senator and more liberal House Member (Himes) are in favor of extending all rates-- when do you deliver Dodd's vote?

[MayBee]

is the same as being a "birther."

Yeah, MarkO. When I read that Gibbs had said that, I realized it was the second time in a week the Obama WH had brought up the birth certificate when nobody else was talking about it.

[Porchlight]

I read today that describing Obama's actual heritage and world view as anti-Colonial is the same as being a "birther."

So does that mean he's a pro-Colonial?

These people in charge of the country are very weird.

[Rob Crawford]

So does that mean he's a pro-Colonial?

No, it means that any criticism of the Won is a sign of mental illness.

[narciso]

It's our 'good friend' Adam Serwer's on that kick, along with Spelunking Andy or his pal
Conor, (I didn't actually click to find out

[Jack is Back!]

Upon further research I have been able to determine that my great uncle was a pillar of the community. Since he is interred in Mombassa before independence that makes me post-colonial but pre-imperial (according to the Guardian we are all imperialists since we just want Iraq's oil and Afghan's poppy crop). And I have birth certificate to prove it:)

[narciso]

Good god, Frum should give that Yale pigskin
back

[Neo]

I thought Bush only gave tax cuts to the rich

[JM Hanes]

Clarice:

I think Rush is right. It pretty effectively took the wind out of Obama's "holding the middle class hostage" sail.

As I understand it, virtually nobody thinks this is going to come to the floor before the mid-terms, so why hand the Dems a brickbat? It's not like it's going to send the high end tax payers over to the dark side. There would be plenty of time, and ways, for repositioning down the road, even if Republicans failed to take back the House.

[Clarice]

I think so, too. It was a pragmatic move. And according to Rush it rendered useless the anti Boehner ads already paid for by the Dems. What is amazing is how naked was the coordination on this between the Dem party and the NYT and CBS..

[narciso]

You would think they had learned something after the Journolist revelation. I think with
Schieffer as we have found out with ACORN and
the Panther case, he's just not well informed

[Captain Hate]

What is amazing is how naked was the coordination on this between the Dem party and the NYT and CBS..

I'm incredulous that you're surprised. When the NYT refused to run a McCain rebuttal to some Obomber garbage two years ago I thought that drew the line pretty effectively. Ditto for all the manpower they provided for opp research on Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin. I don't know that they've done anything more blatant subsequently.

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

They're all working from the same ACME Political Strategery Supplement to the Alinsky Manual. I can't wait to see what's on the next page.

[Janet]

The whole Boehner attack seems coordinated. Old Stephanopoulos making fun of his tan & having a poll up on the ABC graphic to try to embarrass him. These "news" people look foolish & petty & just plain mean.

Have they ever polled the question, "Do you think Pelosi is ugly?" and then asked Pelosi in an interview if her crap looks were a problem for her politically? "89% of Americans think you are a hag...how do you respond Madame Speaker?"

[Janet]

Senator Mikulski, we all vomited when we saw your picture, do you think this will be a problem for your reelection campaign?

[narciso]

Here's a more comprehensive look at the ASMA pal to Rauf, in the LUN

[Pagar]

There is not going to be anyone remaining to surrender if states/unions Unions-Home Invasion.

"West told the judge that unionization of any group that accepted state subsidies would be within the state’s authority if it had “added value” to the state or the public’s interest."

IMO, nothing the Republicans do will have any effect unless the relentless drive by unions to suck funds out the American worker and give them to the Democrats is stopped.

[DebinNC]

What negative message is Boehner's tan supposed to convey? I don't get it.

[Pagar]

In my 02:39 post there should be the word
'continue their' after states/unions in sentence 1.

[Dave (in MA)]

Neo, no kidding. For years now it's been "Bush's tax cuts for the rich", but now they're considering keeping "Bush's tax cuts, except for the rich".

[Janet]

Deb, here is Bob Schieffer bashing Boehner for smoking, and here is Stephanopoulos bashing him for having a tan.
"Will he overcome it?"

[peter]

in my in-box today, courtesy the Democratic Senatorial Committee, (G-d knows how I got on that list)

quote:
Dear PETER,

How would you like tickets to be in the studio audience for a live taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart?

You've heard about our contest to meet and have your picture taken with President Obama in New York City. Now we've added an extra night in the Big Apple and two tickets to see Jon Stewart live. I would keep the tickets myself if they'd let me.

Click here to enter for a chance to meet President Obama and tickets to see The Daily Show with Jon Stewart live. We'll pay for airfare and a hotel.

Don't wait to enter - you only have until midnight tonight.

J.B. Poersch

P.S. You only have until midnight to enter so click here for a chance to win!

[DebinNC]

Stephi: I also asked the potential Speaker what he thought about a recent poll about his tan. 30% of Ohio voters said Boehner spent too much time on his tan while 27% said they do not like it.

“They probably weren’t there yesterday when I was out cutting my grass or when I was out riding my mountain bike,” he told me.

Any doubt Boehner won that round? Are there anti-tan folks out there? I just don't understand which voters Dems hope will be alienated by B's tan, especially now that the NYT made it clear Boehner is also a golfer, which is done outside... I think.

[Janet]

RSVP that you'd rather be at a tanning salon enjoying a pack of smokes than to meet Obama & see the Daily Show.

[daddy]

"What is amazing is how naked was the coordination on this between the Dem party and the NYT and CBS.."

Absolutely correct Clarice.

You expected it to happen, but just not so shamelessly.

[Clarice]

I think this level of coordination was so naked--I mean his tan, his golfing, his smoking? And it's so uttely stupid. Doesn't this remind people that O smokes, golfs parties and spends more time trying to be col?

[Janet]

Boehner handled himself well in both those interviews...he just looked at them in disgust. I liked how he kept saying people could make their own choice.

[Neo]

Has anybody heard anything about the odd thing that the Congress is supposed to do ?? ... I think they are called a budget and appropriations bills.

Face it. This whole thing is to get everybody to talk about anything but the appropriations bills, which probably are now being "porked up" to levels never seen before. Oink .. oink.
Woof, Woof.

[Army of Davids]

Some of the politically loaded headlines floating around out there are amazing.

But at least the media is consistent.

[daddy]

The Hill is publishing this story that tells us that Senator Brownback told NBC News that ">http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/118327-sen-brownback-kennedy-would-have-eased-healthcare-debate-"> The late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) would have been a positive force that might have eased tensions during the healthcare debate.

"It was one of the laments on this healthcare bill. A lot of people were saying that if Ted Kennedy were here, we wouldn’t have had as partisan of a healthcare debate as we just came through."

I think this guy is delusional. Kennedy civil and non-partisan? Geez.

[DebinNC]

Speaking of porkers:

Obama earmarks: ~$1, 000,000,000

Boehner earmarks: $0.00

[Carol Herman]

Mr. Suntan" has gotta go!

Can't imagine that the dupes who sat in the minority will get to "lead" when January rolls around. And, the cost of "doing business" changes.

Just like Wall Street's changed. You don't need laws to change it. The "average investor" would prefer to go to a casino on an indian reservation, first.

What will Mr. Suntan do come 2011? My guess is he will ride his rolodex like a ferris wheel.

[Rocco]

From narciso's link

The latest posting on the website for Muslims for 9/11 Truth is by a Dr. Syed Zaidi who proposed that after a "neutral" United Nations investigation of the 9/11 attacks, if it is determined the U.S. government was complicit in the attacks, a huge mosque should be built at the very Ground Zero site itself as a measure of atonement to the world's Muslims.

[Rob Crawford]

What negative message is Boehner's tan supposed to convey? I don't get it.

Well, they also attacked Jindal for having darker skin. I think it's some sort of racist dog-whistle, code-worded thingy that the racists in their ranks will get.

[narciso]

I swear these folks validate Van Der Leun (who is now helming Right Network) that
(some) "Republicans, they thirst for death"
(or the political equivalence)

[cathyf]

Bumper stickers: (or Tea Party signage)

DEMOCRAT TAX CUT:
YOU LOSE YOUR JOB

DEMOCRAT TAX CUT FOR THE RICH:
YOUR COMPANY GOES OUT OF BUSINESS
YOUR BOSSES LOSE THEIR JOBS, TOO

[Captain Hate]

I think this guy is delusional. Kennedy civil and non-partisan? Geez.

Somebody should consult Robert Bork for a second opinion.

[Neo]

A REAL-LIFE Eleanor Rigby about to be buried in a council grave with no family to mourn her has been revealed as a Secret Army heroine from World War II who survived torture by the Gestapo.

[matt]

What we are facing is insider's disease. It infects anyone who has been in DC longer than two terms. I do believe that if the tide is as strong as they say, they may actually get the message this time.

It was interesting to read Der Spiegel's take on the Turkish referendum this morning. A complete 180 on my own take. Then again, the left in Germany seems to have been coopted by the Islamists; that and the atavistic anti-Semitism of a certain segment of European society.

That they completely ignored Erdogan's tightening of his grip; his attacks on the opposition press; his excursions into Iraq; his party's complicity in the Israel blockade runners, etc. just blows me away.

The global paradigm is changing in ways large and small, and not for the good.

[Rob Crawford]

I think this guy is delusional. Kennedy civil and non-partisan? Geez.

The go-along-get-along coalition (aka "squishes") in the Republican party always did love the raping, murdering, drug-addled Ted!

[Janet]

I say let the Dem. vs Rep. battle be fought on the battlefield of looks & bad habits!

Waxman, Frank, Mikulski,?????? Kerry???
Kennedy drug addicts, pot busts with Boxer aides...and Frank's boyfriend...Jim Moran's drinking problems.
How about let's also judge the referees in the game (the MFM) by their looks & bad habits?
There is nothing more important going on or anything....

[Neo]

Epic feeding frenzy Beatdown of Megan McCain at AoSHQ

[Clarice]

daddy, whenever there's a story like that you have to add,"Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment."

[peter]

tanning salon enjoying a pack of smokes

LOL!

[Jack is Back!]

Further to the blatant coordination between the DNC, NYT and CBS is that as a counter feel good story the Sunday Slime ran a profile of everyone's little sweetheart - Meghan McCain in the Sunday Styles section. All about her tell-all book: "Dirty Sexy Politics"!

Which raises the question that if that is the title of a book about McCain's campaign from inside what would be the title of similar POV inside the Obama campaign? How about "Clean Articulate Thuggery"? Or, "Going Greek: Columns and All"? Or, "Astroturf Your House for under $1 Billion in Foreign Contributions"?

[Captain Hate]

Epic feeding frenzy Beatdown of Megan McCain at AoSHQ

Amazingly this story isn't getting much play at Tepid Air. Go figure.

[daddy]

2 quick Alaska updates:

1) Congress reconvenes today and is having votes on Federal Judicial nominees, but Lisa Murkowski ">http://community.adn.com/adn/node/153125"> has decided to stay in Alaska and not go back to DC. No word on when she'll head back to do her job that she was elected to do. Don't know if this should be called Relaxation without Representation, or Procrastination without Representation.

2) The Walrus influx ">http://alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/arctic/6770-whats-causing-a-massive-walrus-haulout-in-northwest-alaska"> I linked 2 days back has now appeared in the ADN , and all pretense as to what has caused it has been removed and now the absolutely positively settled science is presented by the AP reporter as being caused by Global Warming: ">http://www.adn.com/2010/09/13/1452078/melting-sea-ice-forces-walruses.html"> Melting sea ice forces walruses ashore. Amazing how that can happen in 2 days time with no additional research, and by some AP copywriter thousands of miles from the scene.

[DebinNC]

Fred Barnes: John Boehner's Sudden Fame

Obama really stepped in it.

[Jack is Back!]

Here is a link to the New Ledger review of the Meghan McCain book. You know when the review is funnier, better and more erudite than the book you have written a piece of animal excrement. But what can we expect from an airhead who told Paul Begala on Bill Maher's show "I wasn't born yet" when the conversation was about how Reagan dissed Carter all the time. Begala's retort is classic "I wasn't born during the French Revolution but I know about it". When the people you are trying like hell to ingratiate (liberals, bi-partisan softies like Dad) vacuum the dust from your brain waves, you are political cannon fodder for the Letterman Top Ten.

[daddy]

"Cayyyyy ro"

"Ellllll iott"

See you later guys. C'mon pup.

"Woof."

[matt]

when asked whether Teddy Kennedy would be going to heaven or to hell, St. Peter was quoted as saying "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it".

[bgates]

89% of Americans think you are a hag

Madame Speaker, don't you think it would set a good example for America's youth if you would pledge to stop injecting neurotoxins into your face?

[matt]

hey daddy;

they say there are 80,000+ walruses and thay the really should begin studying them, and then the walrus huggers say they should be placed on the endangered species list.

No one knows why what is happening is happening, but dammit, they're going to do their best to ram through their agendas.

We are living in the age of Alternate Reality Syndrome.

[Jack is Back!]

Does everyone know this is going on in Washington as we surf and blog? First one in over 10 years.

He's a rough looking bastard.

[Comanche Voter]

2010--First the voters came for the Democrats

2010--Then the voters came for the Republicans.

A pox on all their houses. And I'm coming to the voting booth early--every time.

If I lived in Chicago, I'd come early--and often.

[Thomas Collins]

Hats off to Colangelo, Coach K, Durant, Rose, Odom and the rest of the USA contingent that brought us home the Gold in Turkey. See LUN.

[Frau Kein Mitglied]

Boehner could never top the Goracle's Orange Man?

Love this from Lucianne: "Meet the man a black president ridiculed because of the color of his skin."

Lisa staying in AK and not returning to her job in D.C.? Didn't she just tell us she was no quitter? Sheesh!

[Rob Crawford]

Lisa staying in AK and not returning to her job in D.C.? Didn't she just tell us she was no quitter? Sheesh!

She didn't quit -- she was fired.

[Frau Kein Mitglied]

True, Rob, but her term in office is not over and she could help dish out the lame duck moolah.

[Dave (in MA)]

the absolutely positively settled science is presented by the AP reporter as being caused by Global Warming: Melting sea ice forces walruses ashore.

I have noticed that Al Gore appears increasingly walrus-like in recent years.

[matt]

How did Alcee Hastings vote, jack?

[Neo]

An epigraph for our times appears in Jonathan Franzen’s new novel “Freedom”: “The personality susceptible to the dream of limitless freedom is a personality also prone, should the dream ever sour, to misanthropy and rage.”

Any witness of the Weathermen would already know this.

[jimmyk]

If the Repubs can't filibuster this in the Senate it's time for a new conservative party.

We have to be prepared for the media spin: "Republicans force tax increases." In fact, I can imagine the Dems letting the Bush cuts expire, blaming the Republicans, and the MSM playing right along. Just like with the government shutdown in the 90s.

[bgates]

The personality susceptible to the dream of limitless freedom

How the hell does that phrase have anything to do with the most enthusiastic fans of tyranny ever born in this country?

[Neo]

War on Poverty is "lost" ...

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty is on track for a record increase on President Barack Obama's watch, with the ranks of working-age poor approaching 1960s levels that led to the national war on poverty.

Census figures for 2009—the recession-ravaged first year of the Democrat's presidency—are to be released in the coming week, and demographers expect grim findings.

[Neo]

Harry Reid vindicated

[Neo]

Cuba lays off 500,000 government employees

[Jack is Back!]

Matt,

You think the judge could end up being the next Senator from Louisiana?

[Porchlight]

Cuba lays off 500,000 government employees

Do they have any other kind?

[Ignatz]

Just a quick request and I hope I don't offend anyone, but could folks give some background info when posting a link?
Just as it's a real pain to wade through anduril's linkless logorreah it's a bit irritating to have to go to a link and a new site only to find it was of no particular interest.
Surely there is a happy medium.

[NK]

To Jimmy K--

if the Dems refuse to pass any extension of the curent rates the Legacy Media would clearly roll over and blame the Repubs/Tea Party-- just like the "Gov't Shudown". Agreed. In this case though the risk is too high for the Dems. If they refuse to bring it up for a vote before election day, the swing district House Dems REALLY get killed, and Dems REALLY at risk of losing the Senate as well. If they bring it up and NOBODY gets a rate extension because of a filibuster-- same result, or AT LEAST the risk of the same result. That's why the Dems have to bring it up, and pass it before election dday. Course BHO, Nancy and Harry are morons, so there is always the risk they screw this up. Great system we have here.

[Neo]

The Good News ... 500,000 gov’t workers cut, salaries reformed
The Bad News ... it's Cuba

[maryrose]

Typhus pad just refused a post of mine for no reason. I guess it was just my turn.

[Porchlight]

DebinNC,

That Boehner article by Fred Barnes was good - thanks for the link. Barnes points out that no President he can remember has ever gone after a Congressional minority leader like Obama went after Boehner last week. It makes Obama look desperate, and it didn't work.

Obama only knows how to campaign. That's all he can do. His trainers thought substituting Boehner for Bush was all that was needed. They've got nothing.

[Neo]

Pivot next to ..

“You have a good opportunity to remind your neighbors, your friends and your family members about who the real Republican Party is,” Mr. Plouffe said. “The very best organizer and fund-raiser in the Democratic Party is going to be here in Iowa — Sarah Palin.”