Posted on 12/06/2010 10:34:17 PM PST by Qbert
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday all but promised to filibuster President Barack Obama’s controversial agreement with Republicans to extend all of the Bush-era tax cuts for two years.
Appearing on "The Ed Schultz Show" on MSNBC, the Vermont Independent lambasted the agreement, which also includes a 13-month extension of unemployment insurance, a two-year exemption from the estate tax for estates worth up to $5 million and a host of provisions from last year’s stimulus bill.
“I think it is an absolute disaster and an insult to the vast majority of the American people,” Sanders told Schultz, adding that Democrats opposed to the deal “are right. We're talking about social justice. They're talking about more tax breaks for billionaires who don't need it.”
While Sanders did not explicitly say he would filibuster the bill, he made his intention clear, saying, “I've got to tell you, I will do whatever I can to see that 60 votes are not acquired to pass this piece of legislation.”
Whether Sanders can be persuaded to not try to block the bill remains unclear: Vice President Joseph Biden is scheduled to attend Senate Democrats’ luncheon Tuesday to defend the agreement, which Obama cut in secret talks with the GOP.
Senior Democratic aides said that while the deal — particularly the estate tax provisions — would be a bitter pill for the caucus to swallow, the agreement included enough pieces of the stimulus bill to make it worthwhile.
But Sanders, for one, said Monday that he believes Democrats should stand up to the GOP and the White House in the tax debate. “I think we've got to hold tough on this, hold firm on this, and not concede to Republicans, who, as you indicated, have absolutely no inclination to compromise,” he told Schultz.
Other Democrats, while not going so far as Sanders in threatening a potential filibuster, were unwilling to immediately throw their weight behind the bill.
“I need to look at it. I’m very unhappy about it,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) when asked on CNN whether he would vote for the deal. When pressed if he would stand on principle and vote "no," Brown said, “if I think this deal is as serious as a problem as it looks at this point, I’m likely to do that.”
In the parlance today of the State-Run-Media, he's a "moderate".
In common sense FACT; he's a Socialist/Communist.
A wealth-redistribution advocate of the first magnitude.....
LLS
Otherwise known as teh "Mr. Ed" Show. :)
Wealth = Net Worth
Income = Net Work
Nancy Pelosi claims that we get back two dollars in tax revenue for every one dollar we spend on unemployment benefits...and Charlie Schumer claims that paying out unemployment insurance is good stimulus! Why isn’t the press all over these people.
Because the dollar that’s spent from unemployment dollars enslave the spender to the rats whereas the dollars spent from the Bush tax cuts free the people. Can’t have that now can we?
Don’t they need to pass it first to see what’s in it?
Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
This is all just political theater.
The acting president comes out sounding like a conservative, but will not agree to ammend the tax laws.
His stock and trade is class warfare.
The dims are still in the majority until January AFTER the Bush tax rates reset back to clintoon era rates.
And none of them are talking about the obamacare taxes that will kick in on Jan 1.
Cap gains rate doubles
Dividend rates top rate goes up to 40%
Child tax credit goes from $1,000 to $500 per kid
The AMT has not been patched
The 2011 budget was due out last June. Not a peep about that and it’s December. Who knows what is in that beast.
The current crop of dimrats want to inflict as much financial pain as possible. Given all that, this story of obarqy agreeing to patch the Bush tax rate laws is just silly. Clinton campaigned on cutting taxes for the middle class and renegged on the deal. And his media gave him a pass. The current media is so much more invested in obama that he will never be critisized for backing out of the deal. He and his media have a history.
This is insane. People who are legitimately on unemployment are paying the rent or mortgage and trying to put food on the table. I don't see that it cover much else.
Cute... I like it.
LLS
For once Obama does the right thing and they trash him.
The far left is truly insane.
As you point out, there is not much WIN in this bill, just status quo and win for dems lose for the rest of us. It is unbelievable what a failure compromise is. January can’t get here soon enough, when the Senate will once again be the power broker in a broke Republic. That would be the Senate, Executive, and Judicial branches of government as the power brokers. Maybe 2012?
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
An infected butt wart of the first degree!
Agreed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree montag—and I think this compromise with BO is balderdash, too. Extending unemployment another 13 months is a recipe for DISASTER.
WTF were the Republicans THINKING when they said yes to that pile of garbage?!?!!
“Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday all but promised to filibuster President Barack Obama’s controversial agreement with Republicans to extend all of the Bush-era tax cuts for two years.”
Hmmm, wait a minute. Before you post criticism, let’s rethink this from a strategic point of view.
Suppose, for the sake of argument, that Republicans LET Mr. Sanders filibuster, and shut the Senate’s business down completely for the rest of the month.
That means no new legislation can get passed.
No “DREAM” Act.
No other leftist-agenda laws the lame-ducks can slip by us at the last moment.
Is that not a GOOD thing?
But, BUT, you’re yelling — we NEED the tax cuts.
Fine — we’ll get them early next year, perhaps in legislation from the new Republican-controlled House that is even more favorable for taxpayers and the economy.
So... we should be ENCOURAGING Mr. Sanders to filibuster, and prevent the lame-duck Congress from “accomplishing” anything for the rest of the month.
Haven’t they done enough to us already?
Drive a stake throught the heart of everything until next January. There are 63+ representatives who don’t need to be casting votes on anything.
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