Atrios, 9/10/10:
I've Said It Before
But I have no idea why we're talking about the "Bush tax cuts" instead of talking about how Bush's tax cuts are expiring as he intended, and meet the new and improved "Obama tax cuts."
Greg Sargent, 9/13/10:
Call them "the Obama tax cuts for the middle class."
Top Democratic leaders in the House are discussing using that phrase to rebrand President Obama's proposed extension of the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000, senior leadership aides tell me.
The use of the phrase has the informal support of Nancy Pelosi and Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Pelosi has used the phrase in private meetings, leadership aides tell me. Rank and file House Dems are privately discussing the phrase. Top Senate aides also like the idea.
The concept behind the new phrase, which has been kicked around by liberal bloggers and others, is that calling them the "Bush tax cuts" cedes the rhetorical game to Republicans in advance.
Who knew the professional left could be so damn helpful (and politically savvy, too)?