Obama Won't Give In: Denies GOP More Tax Cuts

via AlterNet's PEEK:



Obama Won't Give In: Denies GOP More Tax Cuts

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 1:13 PM on January 27, 2009.

The president's efforts to garner Republican support aren't working.



President Obama was on the Hill today, meeting with House Republicans on the economic stimulus package. When asked if the president was winning any GOP votes, one conservative House Republican who was in the room told the Politico, "Nope," adding that Obama "won't compromise on more tax cuts."

I'm not sure what definition of "compromise" the lawmaker was using, but the bottom line remains the same: the president's efforts to garner Republican support aren't working.



The Politico report noted that the "out of power minority party" seems to be "finding its voice as a stout opposition party instead of the party of compromise." Perhaps, but I'm not entirely sure when, exactly, House Republicans were ever positioned as the "party of compromise."

What's more, the article added that Republicans "slapped" Obama's "outstretched hand," as part of a "coordinated effort to embarrass" the president.

I suspect Obama isn't feeling especially embarrassed. Frustrated, maybe. Like he's wasting his time, probably. But the institutional dynamic hasn't changed. House Democrats still enjoy a 77-seat advantage over the minority, Obama is still a very popular president, and Republicans (and their ideas) still enjoy little public support. The stimulus is still likely to pass, especially in the House.

Whether the House GOP is enjoying itself more now than last week is largely inconsequential.


http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/123100/obama_won%27t_give_in%3A_denies_gop_more_tax_cuts/

Why are they determined to perpetuate their FAIL? Do they hate America that much?

They are out of power and the recent election was a total repudiation of their ideas and policies. Kudos to Obama for trying to smack some reason into the dimwits, but really the new reality is that they don't have any power except what we give them.

All they want to do is obstruct and then when anything goes wrong turn around and blame Democrats. It is disgusting. We've all got to stand firm behind our president. Now is not the time to quibble at the margins. Otherwise, the bastards will take over and again and run the country completely off the cliff...

That is the price they set on bipartisan cooperation. "You must join us in fail and drink the Reagan Era koolaid"

If we circled the wagons half as well as they did, the nation would be considerably better off. Why is it that the Republican politicians are so much better at uniting and fighting for the wrong things while Democratic politicians can't show even a hint of spine for the right things? If Democratic politicians had fought like this for the past 8 years Bush might have even been impeached.

I'm just hoping that President Obama is going to use this early show of intransigence as justification for steamrollering them - as in, "you had your shot at bipartisanship, boys."

there would be no such thing as a Republican party any more ...

so its not his fault when he doesn't get their votes to pass it.

Fuck the Rethugs. Their policies were rejected.

For many of the rich, they're getting quite a tax cut next year...especially Bernie Madoff's customers. Add to this the billions lost in property taxes on deliquent/foreclosed properties, massive drop in retail taxes and now the growing number of unemployed. Who cares about a tax cut when you're not making any money???

President Obama knows whom he's dealing with...and has put them on the spot by offering them the chance to have input on the bill...something Democrats were never afforded, but he also knew that many of these goons couldn't go along...they represent that 25% dead-end segment that are selfish and arrogant...no way would they make any sacrifice...be it a war or a messed up economy.

President Obama has the numbers...and his game has not been to get unanimous majorities...he's got the votes in the House, but needs a few in the Senate...picking off one or two here or there with charm or other "overtures" that will ensure his proposals pass. We saw this strategy in action with the Geitner vote...even though he lost some Democrats, he gained enough "moderate" repugnicans to cover the difference. He wants to play the same game with legislation...splintering the repugnicans...let's see how long their "resolve" holds.

Here's how the Repug propaganda will go. President Obama will get no support in the as in he will be lucky to get one Republican vote. The bailout bill will still pass. There will be a struggle in the Senate but a few moderate Republicans will vote for the package and it will pass in the Senate and be signed by the President. A couple of years down the line the full effect will be seen and it will be good. The Repug spin will be 'if he had done it our way it would have worked even better and sooner' or 'if we hadn't held our ground on tax cuts (just ignoring that they didn't get what they wanted) this plan would never have worked' or (relying on the normal business cycle downturns) 'just wait it may look good now but eventually it President Obama's policies will bring a downturn'. Everyone must realize Republicans especially Neo-con Repubs are perfect nothing is ever their fault actually it's always a Democrats fault and if the Democrats ever do anything good the Repubs could have done better.

being shut out too bad they shut us out when they were in control.

themselves with? And they're greedily grabbing it up? It's like "great if they come on board, but we don't need them and they can't bray about being shut out and get political points from that" but if they don't come along, they simply spend more and more time in front of the cameras coming across as doing what's good for their party and corporate masters - not what's good for the country.

Win/Win

...him looking "partisan".

This is all a political song and dance for our benefit. Obama is extending his hand in his effort to be bipartisan knowing full well that they need to save face and be 'the opposition'. It's all theater so they can look like it's they who decide to work with Obama.

Everyone who has ever been a moderator, or who has ever brought antagonists together to talk and be rational (like ambassadors, mediators, etc.) knows that the most important thing is to allow all sides to save face. The Republicans aren't going to just go along with Obama. Even the Democrats put up some sort of face saving opposition with Bush before they caved. It's politics.

They still think that they call the shots. Obama needs to break their will.

They are foolish and they're looking more foolish by the day. And they know it on some level. Their bluster is looking like what it is.