Dec 232011
 

Republicans were so anxious to avoid extending the payroll tax cut for Main Street Americans, that they bent over backwards to block it.  They insisted on making the poor, not the rich, pay for it.  They loaded it down with poison pills.  And even when Senate Republicans finally did compromise, the House Republican leadership refuse to allow a vote on it, because it would have passed.  Boehner even turned off C-SPANs cameras, so America could not see Democratic objections.  However, the public outcry was so great that the Republicans caved in yesterday.  This is how it happened.

23GrinchPresident Barack Obama on Thursday chided House Republicans he said are holding up an extension of expiring payroll tax cuts, saying the debate is "about the American people."

To make his point, Obama was flanked at the White House by people who said they would be stretched thin financially if Congress failed to extend the cuts before the end of the year. If no deal is reached, the White House says a person making $50,000 a year would see a loss of about $40 per paycheck.

"Now there may be some folks in the House who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don’t think 40 bucks is a lot of money," Obama said. "But anyone who knows how to stretch a budget knows that at the end of the week or the end of the month, $40 can make all the difference in the world."

In seeking to ratchet up pressure on Republicans for a deal, Obama reiterated his call for a two-month extension of the payroll tax cuts, a measure already agreed to by an overwhelming majority of Senators from both parties. He said the House GOP’s refusal to sign on to the bipartisan deal was exactly why the American people have grown so frustrated with Washington…

Inserted from <San Francisco Chronicle>

As much as I’d like to credit for the Grinch metaphor, I cannot.  It belongs to Rep. Jan Shakowsky (D-IL).

Then Boehner caved, and agreed to allow the vote.

Two of my favorite commentators, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow had excellent pieces on this.

Keith covered it in two segments on Countdown.

In the first, he interviewed Andy Kroll.

In the second, he interviewed Markos Moulitsas.

Rachel interviewed John Stanton.

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Anyone who has read my work for any length of time has seen me say that for Democrats to cave in to Republican economic terrorism guarantees more, but that if they stand firm the Republicans will cave in.  I’ve said it over and over again, ever since Republicans took the House and began to practice blackmail, holding the American people hostage over their extreme demands.  It has taken the Democrats far too long to prove me right, but I’m happy that at last they have.

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  20 Responses to “The Grinch is a Republican that Caved”

  1. This is just a kick the can move…even a dumb bastard like Boehner knew he would play it out waiting to see if Obama would cave. He didn’t want to stay in session or even possibly risk to many sound bites to be used against him in his district.

     

    I am more interested in what the hell Wyden did and why?

    • Mark, as I’ve been under the weather, I’ve been out of the loop, so when I saw this this morning, I had no idea what you meant, but have done some digging.  Given Wyden’s near perfect voting record, Wyden-Ryan seems completely out of character for him.  Some on Oregon’s more knowledgeable progressives suspect that he’s trying to set up a way to get single-payer, but the problem is that there is no actual bill, and there is no plan to write the bill for at least a year.  For now, I’ll be watching to see what he’s up to, but I have a hard time believing that Ron has suddenly gone over to the dark side.

  2. Your last paragraph – I agree and feel even stronger. That’s why I keep demanding that Democrats do better. It’s easy to make Republicans look bad, but the Democrats and the President should concern themselves with raising their low ratings and perusing more progressive policies. President Obama has given away to much (unnecessarily) to the Republicans and missed opportunities for better legislation and better compromises.

    • Tom, I agree.  I have never claimed that Obama and the Dems have done what I wanted them to do.  I hope they will learn from this success.

  3. A decent take-home lesson for Democrats: When repubicans act like spoiled, bratty toddles and have a temper tantrum, it may be best NOT to stick a pacifier in their screaming mouths – but just let ’em cry themselves into a dither.

  4. Welcome back, TomCat, and Merry Christmas to you! It’s GREAT to have you back, and what a nice present we all got to have Boner’s ass handed to him at the end of the year! This joker can’t even control his own party, and has proven by contrast what an outstanding Speaker of the House his predecessor was. Nancy Pelosi got far more legislation passed than Boner, and that’s why she’ll replace him after only one crappy term next November! Cry on, Johnny boy—you’re definitely on the way out!

  5. A needed shot in the arm, but alas I’m still far too angry that month after month this hostage taking persists – If it were Libya we’d have droned them out by now! I’m still stewing in my shoes about the NDAA, which has completely alienated me from both parties for better or worse — I’m not even giving my 2 senators from NY a vote – I may even opt out of it altogether, or just do a write in – give me your credentials TC – you’d be a great politician – I’m willing to advance your status to at bare minimum senator! Sorry I’m not thrilled by the news of a maybe 2 month extension to go back to this fear-mongering and who knows what environmental hostage-taking terrorist activities the traitors of the GOP can devise during a little holiday! I’m much more thrilled that you’re back TC, on the mend and my brain will have a chance to get back to therapy after a week of atrophy! Stay with us – we need you!

    • Lee, I think you’re missing the point here.  Republican blackmail was defeated, and for once, the Democrats framed the message to their advantage.  Republicans did not want this to continue, because, as long as it does, they paint themselves as the hypocrites who only want tax cuts for the rich, and Democrats stay on the offensive.

      Me?  A Senator?  Is your opinion of me that low? :roll”

      😉

      • I got it, but still think we’re just going to go through a “groundhog day” adventure all over again – one small victory of doing something right!

  6. This may be the end as Speaker of the House for Boehner.  We will see come January.

    • Jerry, there’s no automatic selection of the Speaker until 2012.  Replacing Agent Green-tinted-Orange in January would require a palace revolt, but it could happen.

      • Sorry TomCat.  I got my Januarys mixed up.  There won’t be a normal selection of Speaker of the House until after the election and any new members are installed.  However, a palace revolt would be very entertaining.  Maybe the Tea Party will rise up, dump the Boner, and install Cantor.  That would be a great delayed Christmas present for the Dems.

  7. Yes ; the only way to handle blackmailers is to stand up and call them on it– not to do so only increases the ante–

     

    So glad your doing better Tom–

  8. Boehner looks like he’s had too much Newfie Screech!

    Keith Olbermann —  ‘. . . a cave big enough to go splunking in. . . . ”  I love this line.

    When you play chicken, eventually you are fricasee!  I am glad to see that the Democrats finally stood their ground and didn’t blink first.  The Republican/Teabaggers are going down for the count.

     

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