tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post6774782957033113237..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: The Tax DealJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-64705377303799673962010-12-08T01:00:28.274-06:002010-12-08T01:00:28.274-06:00jfxgillis,
I do think they'll eventually get ...jfxgillis,<br /><br />I do think they'll eventually get a debt extension, but I think it's likely that unless the Republicans badly misplay it (certainly possible) that it'll be at least a hassle for Obama and at worst a chance for Republicans to bargain successfully for stuff they want. I'm trying to remember what I wrote (!)...I think both debt ceiling and budget/appropriations stuff are big dangers for Boehner, but that doesn't mean that it'll necessarily be a plus for Obama & the Dems.Jonathan Bernsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-6123505161212121122010-12-07T17:37:16.392-06:002010-12-07T17:37:16.392-06:00And let's not forget the MOST responsible part...And let's not forget the MOST responsible party for all this mess......the amercum people. Frankly, after the two elections we just had ('08 and '10) I think people are just plain damned stupid. And why shouldn't they get things out of washington that don't make sense?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-48583461768532423192010-12-07T14:19:20.083-06:002010-12-07T14:19:20.083-06:00That seemed kind of atypical of Ygelsias.
The wh...That seemed kind of atypical of Ygelsias. <br /><br />The whole tax deal makes me want to give a Kirk-like yell of "MADISONNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!"Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15955054735802185726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-47834458149229914752010-12-07T12:56:09.673-06:002010-12-07T12:56:09.673-06:00Jonathan:
I'm almost shocked that you said th...Jonathan:<br /><br />I'm almost shocked that you said this:<br /><br />"2. And I agree with Mike Konczal that the Democrats should have insisted on a debt ceiling extension, if possible through the 2012 election"<br /><br />Since it was a post by you a couple of iterations ago of this debt-limit "debate" that convinced that the only real issue is who is responsible for whipping which majority caucus to pass it.<br /><br />It will pass. The only question is whether Boehner has the stones to make his Tea Party crazies eat it, eat it raw, rah rah rah, or whether he has to beg Nancy Pelosi for votes.<br /><br />Either Tea Partiers get a two by four upside the head or Nancy Pelosi gets to pocket a favor from Boehner.<br /><br />I don't see a downside.jfxgillishttp://jfxgillis.newsvine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-54538890724463499652010-12-07T12:16:57.209-06:002010-12-07T12:16:57.209-06:00It's not as if anyone thinks that the upper le...<i>It's not as if anyone thinks that the upper level tax cuts are going to actively hurt the economy in the short run, right?</i><br /><br />To read some of the liberal blogs, you'd think that this is exactly what they believe. But I don't see any evidence that upper-income tax cuts would hurt the economy.<br /><br />Now, you could of course argue that the upper-income tax cuts are bad because they increase the deficit. But last time I checked, liberals (like me!) are perfectly willing to let the deficit widen if it means putting people back to work. And they certainly don't subscribe to the "starve the beast" theory whereby tax cuts inevitably lead to spending cuts. So this should be a good bargain for those left of center.<br /><br />I think this deal may be a harbinger of things to come in the 112th Congress, because it clarifies exactly where Obama and Republicans can find common ground. Obama wants economic stimulus, but Republicans (and Blue Dogs) won't agree to more spending, so what do you do? Can anyone say "two-year income tax holiday"?Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913245096162048743noreply@blogger.com