Comments on: Republian Idealogues Happy with Tax Cuts, but How About the Poor?

By: paz3

paz3 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:26 +0000

Maybe (?) Obama is (though he’d never admit it publicly) setting the Repubs up, you know, make them look like the anti-middle class elitists that they are if they try and filibuster or delay the stimulus package.

If so, can’t hurt in getting to 60+ Dem senators in two years.

By: yellowsnapdragon

yellowsnapdragon — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:00:46 +0000

Bipartisan was in quotes because when politicians say bipartisan what they mean is capitulation to the most rank ideological Republican way. Real bipartisanship is not a bad thing.

By: MarkH

MarkH — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:20:19 +0000

the “bipartisan” whoring

It obviously wasn’t a high priority for Liberals, but it was an Obama campaign pledge. At least we can say our Dem president is going to fulfill his pledges. I only hope this approach bears fruit. There are a lot of things which require bipartisanship, even multi-partisanship, so I’m willing to watch and keep my fingers crossed.

By: biodieselvw

biodieselvw — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:36:37 +0000

We had one, months ago…. Remember that check that got mailed out to anyone making under 80k? Really helped didn’t it! Keep pissing on the fire, maybe it’ll go out…

By: AitchD

AitchD — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:33:01 +0000

I read it as ‘reptilian’ and didn’t think “Idealogues” was a mistake either.

By: siri

siri — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:05:10 +0000

why does it seem that Obi’s Senate and the one we’ve seen since Dems got the majority (like that’s different from when they were the minority!) are 2 different groups of people?

is he talking about the same Senate rethugs that we all know and love so well or WHAT?

AND i know by not that it’s not ME, i’m NOT missing anything here.
what does that mean? that HE’S missing something/??????
HE SEEMS far far more confused than i feel and know i am.
this does not breed confidence!

By: goldstandard

goldstandard — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:51:07 +0000

Many in D.C. are still trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Whatever tax cut Obama may wish to have or ends up with will make little difference to the struggling middle class and the reason is quite clear. What the Federal government giveth, the state and local governments will taketh away. A $500 per tax reduction on income nets an employe getting paid bi-weelky on average $19 dollars. My property taxes this year on a modest $215,00 home in New York went up $380 this January and now Governor Patterson is talking about ending or putting on hold the states Star Program. There is also talk of hiking the gas tax as well as other fees. So when you come right down to it, it may be given to you in one pocket, but have no fear that some other government entity is ready to pick your other pocket. With D.C. it’s always one step forward for the middle class and five steps back.
A meainginful tax cut along with bringing manufacturing jobs back to the country is what is needed. Somehow, I doubt that countries like China and India are going to go quietly and it will take several years before Obama’s green ideas show any meaningful promise or for that matter, dollars pouring into the economy.

By: Jane Hamsher

Jane Hamsher — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:44:51 +0000

I could accept that if it were the case, but I doubt even McConnell thinks he could hold the Republicans in a filibuster like that.

Obama wants 80 votes, and this is the way to get them. I think that’s clearly the objective.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:18:27 +0000

Could there be a better reason for doing away with the filibuster and enacting real solutions to the recession/depression, financial meltdown and housing crisis?

By: yellowsnapdragon

yellowsnapdragon — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:10:39 +0000

funny historical irony

Aren’t we already there? Except for the funny part.

My hope is that circumstances force Obama to change, actually. If he really means well, then the potential is there to do the right thing to stave off total destruction of the economy.