Dems and Obama have been boxed in by Bush temp tax cuts, 2010 elections, fear, and Obama weakness. We now had the under $ 250,000 vote (too late, should have been before the election), which won lame duck house, and lost lame duck senate (fillibuster). Poticallty, what do Dems/Obama due now? hese seem to be options
- Let them all expire- My fear, either Repugs in 2011 pass version to extend them all, and dems/Oama either get forced to do that, or if all tax cuts expire, tax rates will rise, even for middle class, AND ecomony could slow down more- 9-10 % unemployment in 2012 means Repug wins presidence and congress.
- Compromise- Take the deal, 2-3 year extension of ALL rates, BUT obtain 1 year of unempoyment insurance, maybe Start, DADT, Dream
Don't love it, BUT at least ecomny wont dovetail, taxesstay the same for middle class, and we get a shot of the other legislation that wont pass in 2011. In effect, OBAMA BUYS a shot at reelection (by adding to Deficit) and we get some other items, AND we force the issue as part of 2012 election to run on.