The Republicans will take us all over the cliff if Obama sticks to his unreasonable stand not to negotiate with them while they take hostages. Or maybe they will just surrender.
Either way we will miss a big opportunity to push a progressive(ish) policy program and screw the republicans even worse than they are now.
To really win Obama needs to concede - with a couple of hooks. My proposed "Deal" after the jump.
Update: The angry replies to the diary - even an admin warning! seem to be from people who read the headline and then skipped to comments. I remember this from when I was defending the ACA against all the folks on here who hated it.
The plan herein gives the democrats everything we are trying to get and hangs the republicans out to dry. The end state would be real immigration reform, tax increases and spending above sequester levels with and allowing the republicans to shut down government again in time for 2014 elections.
Dems Give:
Delay the medical device tax for a whole year. (Republicans get a delay!)
Cut the tax on insured in 1/2 for the first year. (Republicans get a tax cut!)
Eliminate the tax on uninsured for people over 50! (A huge give to republicans - a great thing actuarially)
Obama commits to entering into weekly meetings with republicans to negotiate a big compromise. (pointless give )
Republicans give:
9 month extension of debt limit (we want them to fight about it again just ahead of the 2014 elections. This time their base will really lose their minds)
A 1 year extension of CR at sequester levels. (no big thing for republicans)
They commit to bringing the immigration bill as defined by Pelosi to a vote in the house (and whatever comes back conference)
They commit to bringing a bill increasing spending on the military and social programs paid for by savings from the immigration bill and closing corporate tax loopholes to a vote.
Its a big republican victory that ends up giving the dems their key policy priorities and sticking the republicans right back in the box just before the 2014 elections. There should be no problem picking up 20 - 30 republican votes in the house for immigration reform and increasing military spending.