Today's Hullabaloo features an article by Digby (The Liberal Dilemma) that contains one of the best laid out arguments for not supporting the President's compromise with Republicans.
Democrats are always in the position of having to choose between some specific thing that will alleviate some suffering (however temporarily) in exchange for some heinous Galtian thievery and they end up taking the short term relief because they believe they have the responsibility to help people in the best way they can. Unfortunately, when dealing with nihilists, you end up creating more and more circumstances where such deals with the devil are necessary.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
Digby speaks to the long term effects of capitulating to the Republicans:
I think that's happening to a lot of people and it's a true moral and ethical dilemma. The result of this constant capitulation though is that liberals are participating in their own defeat and weakening themselves for future battles every time it happens --- and ending up causing more human suffering in the process
I believe that is the crux of our argument against this compromise: By accepting this bill, we are participating in our own downfall.
Many of Obama's supporters have been hammering us with the question: Are you willing to let unemployment benefits expire?"
My answer is: Which time? This will not be the end of this battle; capitulating to the Republicans on this issue will insure that we have to face this issue again - but next time we will be much weaker. This bill failed to protect millions of unemployed Americans. What will we have to give up next time?
Anyone who knows me, can attest to my deep abiding commitment to end human suffering; that includes the unemployed. But I also realize that if we don't take a stand at some point we are going to be marginalized so much that we will no longer be able protect anyone, no matter how vulnerable.
Taking the short term solution will not increase the security of our nation's most vulnerable. We must be stronger.