Allahpundit calls House Democrats “a gang of cheap losers” for folding like this, and it’s hard to disagree: apparently, all that rhetoric about tax cuts for the rich can easily be trumped with an additional ethanol subsidy. To which I say, drink deep: because in a world where Al Cubslayer Gore is talking about ending that kind of pork, the odds that it’s going to get renewed by the House next year is dropping precipitously.
Also, out of curiosity: is there anything that a Democratic politician will stand his or her ground on? I mean, personally I have to take a somewhat detached view about what slop the President has to feed to his pigs in order to get them to stop squealing; the GOP currently has no effective control over that aspect of domestic policy. Still… there’s more than the slop for Democrats, right? – But if there is, why can’t I figure out what it could possibly be?
Moe Lane (crosspost)
PS: You cannot make me respect someone who will not respect himself.
Moe Lane
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Jeff Emanuel
Couldn't and shouldn't the ethanol subsidy kill the bill in the Senate due to GOP votes that
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Thursday, December 9th at 11:23PM EDT (link)will abandon the bill?
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com and Charlotte Observer columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Unfortunately, they should abandon it
joayn (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 12:30AM EDT (link)and stand their ground. Too many ramifications if they take the deal.
Jim DeMint was on Hannity tonight and explained how letting the tax rates expire would really put the pressure on Obama in January and that Republicans would actually be in a much more powerful place and get a better deal at that point. It was pretty hardball but it made sense.
God I’m tired of this.
America is an idea; a noble idea that essentially boils down to the shocking belief that the masses are in fact not asses. John Nolte
You're Not Going to That Much of a Better Deal
wonkish1 (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 12:50AM EDT (link)What are you going to get? You are not going to get a permanent extension. And get 3 or 4 years instead of 2 works against us because it puts it out of 12 election cycle which is the best opportunity to get a great deal.
Removing Unemployment Insurance from the deal? Unlikely, and wow that fight really yields huge benefit.
Not having to agree to a 1 year ethanol deal, come on. Wow we really gain a lot by having a large fight on that.
There is no question that there will come a point where the Dems are demanding to much to make the deal, but right now we are very far from that point.
“First you win the argument, then you win the vote.” Margaret Thatcher
Conservative Innovations I Want To See Succeed
http://rightnetwork.com/ –New conservative TV network
http://actright.com/ –Fundraising hub for all things conservative
http://connect.freedomworks.org/ — Connecting Tea Partiers around the country
http://procinct.net/ –GOTV walk/call lists
http://www.citizensunited.org/ –Their documentary arm
Doubt it.
wonkish1 (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 12:40AM EDT (link)Keeping tax rates the same for 2 more years will most assuredly make them the rates for long after 2 years.
The Unemployment benefits and an ethanol subsidy the OP correctly states is temporary in nature. It is highly unlikely to be renewed in the future because they A) the electorate doesn’t want them and B) They are wanted that much by liberals.
So any GOP senator that votes against this because of an ethanol subsidy isn’t thinking very much.
By the way, here is the detailed summary. http://blogs.ajc.com/jamie-dupree-washington-insider/2010/12/09/summary-of-tax-deal/ and all I have to say is wow, I can’t believe some of the stuff they are giving to us. Extension of the ESA’s I can’t believe it. A new provision allowing estate tax exclusions to be pooled after death. I’m starting to think there is a Santa Claus.
“First you win the argument, then you win the vote.” Margaret Thatcher
Conservative Innovations I Want To See Succeed
http://rightnetwork.com/ –New conservative TV network
http://actright.com/ –Fundraising hub for all things conservative
http://connect.freedomworks.org/ — Connecting Tea Partiers around the country
http://procinct.net/ –GOTV walk/call lists
http://www.citizensunited.org/ –Their documentary arm
I do think I would probably still vote for the deal - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 1:41AM EDT (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com and Charlotte Observer columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Guess we'll see
kchand Thursday, December 9th at 11:41PM EDT (link)won’t we?!?
——————–
The ‘N’ word is November! Nov 6, 2012 will be the next cleansing.
respect
pegworth Friday, December 10th at 12:00AM EDT (link)Democrats which are really no more actual Democrats they are either Progressives, Liberals, Communists, Socialists, Fascists or Marxist or a combination of 2 or 3 or more of the above. But just to be a Respectable Democrat they fell by the wayside years and years ago. That is why you see no respect for self or anyone else. They all just act like a bunch of savage dogs in heat with no modesty, or thoughts of respect ever entering their crusty old minds again. Just look at Pelosi. Her face is stuck in two positions, her hair part has become so wide you could lay it out for a lane on the interstate, she probably is hated by her grandchildren because she is such a fake.
Thats right girl, let it all out.
gekster (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 1:34AM EDT (link)We all pretty much feel the same way about the wicked witch of the left coast.
At least for three more weeks, that is.
They say Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the poor.
If they need more voters,
then they have to make more of who they are for.
We are there in the various Tea Party groups, leaderless, but not rudderless.
We steer always toward the Constitutional principles this nation was founded upon.
Erick Brockway
I’ve gone from
“Hope and Change” to
“Hopeless and Changeless”
You misread the situation, as did Allahpundit
Adjoran (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 1:29AM EDT (link)Whenever you find yourself in agreement with that squishy metrosexual, carefully reexamine your thought process.
The Democratic Caucus vote was pure Kabuki Theater, timed for maximum play with the base and rebuke to Obama for neglecting them. They knew they could never really stop the deal without further damaging their own already-tarnished image with the voters. So they gratefully grabbed as gravy whatever crumbs Obama deigned to throw them.
It’s a fine deal for our side, too. As stated earlier, tax cuts expiring in a Presidential election year are not in much danger. Extending unemployment insurance isn’t such a terrible thing – it reinforces Republicans’ willingness to “work with Obama and Democrats” and undercuts the claims of our lack of compassion for the poor and working class. Ethanol subsidies need to be zeroed out, but one more year isn’t going to make so much difference.
Besides, when Obama makes a deal with us and announces it, and instead of taking credit for the compromise, he blames Republican meanies for making him compromise, comparing us to “hostage-takers,” and then insults his own leftist base as well, it can’t even help him politically. He just looks weak and stupid.
OT: I actually like Allahpundit...
Moe Lane (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 8:41AM EDT (link)…he’s a good blogger and a good guy. Do not use my posts as an opportunity to call him names.
We clear on this?
[PS: [Mr. Wolf] Pretty please, with sugar on top. [/Mr. Wolf]]
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
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My (combined) wish list.
This proves the left is not environmental and doesn't care about the economy in one single act
rogershru2 (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 6:10AM EDT (link)Ethanol has been debunked by both the left and the right. It is expensive, completely inefficient to produce, and is driving up food prices.
Oh well – I understand why this is tough for some like DeMint to accept, but I still would take the deal. Maybe I’m wrong, but there seems to be more to gain by taking it than not.
“We used to have the best infrastructure in the world here in America. We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad …” – President Obama
Actually DeMint
wonkish1 (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 6:17AM EDT (link)Opposing the deal is probably giving like 5 democrat senators cover to vote for the thing. Politics is a weird thing, it for some reason has more to do with how happy or ticked the other side is than anything else. The fact that some Dems can point to a GOP senator opposed to the deal from the right will make them a little more comfortable about “not caving” when they clearly are.
So it is quite possible DeMint’s opposition is doing more to pass the bill than any other GOP senator.
“First you win the argument, then you win the vote.” Margaret Thatcher
Conservative Innovations I Want To See Succeed
http://rightnetwork.com/ –New conservative TV network
http://actright.com/ –Fundraising hub for all things conservative
http://connect.freedomworks.org/ — Connecting Tea Partiers around the country
http://procinct.net/ –GOTV walk/call lists
http://www.citizensunited.org/ –Their documentary arm
I like your take.
rogershru2 (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 7:16AM EDT (link)And if you’re right I’m even more impressed with DeMint.
“We used to have the best infrastructure in the world here in America. We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad …” – President Obama
Nah - It's A Terrible Deal
IJB Friday, December 10th at 9:32AM EDT (link)And should be voted down (though let the Dems take the blame for that
).
But with everything they add to this “deal”, more and more Republicans should oppose this. Now they’re adding ethanol to this?! It’s getting to be beyond the pale.
The fact that they aren’t shows that the GOP hasn’t learned the lesson of 2010 either, and all the talk of “fiscal responsibility” is just that – talk.
If the GOP were serious about things, they’d scuttle this deal (or, better: let the Dems do most of the scuttling, thus taking the blame for it), and take a run at it again in 4 weeks.
Dems show signs of abandoning Obama elsewhere after frustration with tax deal
izoneguy (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 9:44AM EDT (link)Dems show signs of abandoning Obama elsewhere after frustration with tax deal
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/133039-dems-show-signs-of-abandoning-obama-after-frustration-with-tax-deal
The “hostages” are getting restless.
Let’s just walk out and come back when the 112th is seated.
Those who had once simpered: “I don’t want to destroy the rich, I only want to seize a little of their surplus to help the poor, just a little, they’ll never miss it!” – then, later, had snapped: “The tycoons can stand being squeezed; they’ve amassed enough to last them for three generations” – then, later, had yelled: “Why should the people suffer while businessmen have reserves to last a year?” – now were screaming: “Why should we starve while some people have reserves to last a week?” – Atlas Shrugged
Amen to that
Scope (Diary) Friday, December 10th at 10:48AM EDT (link)Walk away from the crippled duck, and come back with our newly elected members.