Posted on 12/28/2012 8:03:07 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A number of commentators, including myself, have argued that if no deal is reached to avert the “fiscal cliff” and taxes go up on most Americans, then President Obama will be able to structure a massive middle class tax cut in the new year that Republicans would find impossible to oppose. Among the many political implications of such a scenario, one would be that the basket of policies now commonly referred to as the “Bush tax cuts” will suddenly morph into the “Obama middle class tax cut.” In my mind, this would be a major error by Republicans.
Democrats were opposed to both rounds of Bush tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 and have spent a decade blasting them as reckless policy that represented nothing but a giveaway to the wealthy. Yet even though these tax cuts were scheduled to expire after 2010, they were extended an additional two years. And now, they could still preserve 80 percent of them. If 80 percent of the cuts were made permanent, it would forever enshrine the “Bush tax cuts” as major middle class tax relief. Viewed narrowly, allowing rates to go up on those earning more than $250,000 would be a defeat for Republicans. But viewed in a broader context, the fact that a Democratic president coming off of a reelection still has to embrace 80 percent of the dreaded “Bush tax cuts” on the grounds that they’re good for the middle class, could be seen as a victory.
If the nation goes over the cliff, the most likely outcome is the worst of both worlds for Republicans. Once some sort of legislation eventually gets passed, taxes will still go up on higher income earners. But additionally, Democrats will appropriate much of Bush’s tax policy and Obama will become the great middle class tax cutter.
Yes. In the same way that Clinton balanced the budget and created surplusses. The GOP simply doesn’t know how to fight and is unwilling to defend itself. Disgusting bunch of limp wristed lilly pickers.
The repubicans are Horton the Elephant.
The democrats are the flighty Mayzie bird.
Obama tax cuts
Republican tax increases
Democrat spending cuts
---------------------------------------------------------
No matter what the Republicans do the media will lie and characterize Republican actions in the light most favorable to Democrats. So Republicans might as well do the right thing and not worry about how things are going to be labeled.
Remember how Bill Clinton reformed welfare?
There’s no way to win this crap with the media. Bush tax cuts = evil, irresponsibility. Obama tax cuts = looking out for the ordinary American.
Submit the same bill the House passed in August, and, let DumBO veto it. Granted this would be the same scenario Gingrich faced when Clinton vetoed the House passed budget and the Republicans caved. Have the Republicans learned the lesson? If not, they will be perpetual door mats.
But, but . . . I thought the Bush tax cuts were only for the rich. Where does the middle-class figure into all of this?
While I agree with all that is said above, if taxes go up on Jan 1, they should be allowed to stay there, I remember the Clinton years, they were very good for me! The House should on Jan 2 begin passing bills to reduce the budget to the Clinton years spending, pass them to the senate and recess, until the senate acts.
The stupid party had a great chance to win this battle. If I were speaker I would have had a press confrence after the election and played cuts from the last decade showing the Dems saying the Bush tax cuts were only for the rich. I would have then said we will pass a bill that will reinforce the great tax saving for the middle class that was only possible thanks to the Bush tax cuts.I would have shown the total dollar savings to these people over the decade. PLayed a clip of the President saying he wants to extend for 98% of the people Then I would have said We will vote on a bill to help all the people as soon as the President, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi admit that the tax cuts helped millions and they lied for a decade. Then left until it happened. This would have shifted the whole debate away form taxing the rich to saving the Bush cuts fo the Middle class.
The Republicans are so stupid it boggles the mind. They should have brought the Bush tax cuts to the floor of the House weeks ago and voted to make them permanent and sent it to the Senate and let the Dems vote it down if they want to. Then the pubbies could flog them about it forever.
As far as the masses are concerned, dems (Obama) want to cut taxes for the little guy and make the wealthy pay for their privileged status while the pubs want to cut taxes for the evil rich and raise taxes on hard working poor folks.
And, yes, they're still saying "Bush did it".
This is really nothing new, Republicans have let the left define the terms of every discussion since I can remember and most Americans simply accept the images put before them.
Of course the Republicans can simply do the following:
1) Tell the president that it’s all or nothing with regard to tax cuts. If the president has a new plan to cut taxes for people under $400,000 without spending cuts, say it’s “Irresponsible” and will “Blow a Hole in the Deficit”, to borrow Al Gore’s terminology.
2) Explain that increasing tax rates on “the rich” DOES NOT increase revenue to the government, as “the rich” have the resources and the flexibility to get around higher rates. This then flows into the first point.
Of course none of this will never happen, as the metrosexual advisers of the Republican leadership will tell them that they, again, must capitulate to the president’s demands.
Mark Levin had it right, cut the bottom three rates 7-10%, leave the other two top ones alone, send it to Dingy Harry and go home.
1) Tell the president that it’s all or nothing with regard to tax cuts.
The GOP has already lost that debate for the present. Using that tactic plays right into the dim class warfare game plan and will result in Speaker Pelosi.
Then in 2014 we will get all kinds of goodies like EU style open borders and a national sales tax. Is that what you want?
So your plan is to have the Republican Leadership TOTALLY IGNORE their base and team up with the president. Yea, that’s a great way to get the Tea Party people to come out in 2014.
So, without the Tea Party to vote, who, exactly do you expect to vote to keep the Republicans in power in the House?
One can blame our side all you want, but the fight is not easy.
This won't work because the obvious retort in liberal minds is, "well, then create new laws to keep them from getting around the higher rates".
And they would create those laws and this would be worse.
“This won’t work because the obvious retort in liberal minds is, “well, then create new laws to keep them from getting around the higher rates”.”
Actually the country would believe it, for they always have. And no, we wouldn’t close the loopholes - the Dems would not permit that.
Believe what? That more laws should be created to penalize the rich?
Yes, with a commie media and President...they will.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.