The primary motivator for the Democrats right now is lay blame on the Republicans for whatever happens. In spite of being firmly in control of both houses of Congress until January, Democrats are trying to write a script where they just want to be helpful to everyone (extend unemployment benefits, extend middle class tax cuts, etc), but those bastard Republicans are insisting upon tax cuts for billionaires.
The primary requirement for the GOP is to ensure that whatever comes out, it doesn’t add to the deficit. We need not worry about one particular Democrat talking point – that extending the cuts will increase the deficit. The people aren’t buying that line – they know the deficits aren’t high because we’re taxed too little, but because we spend too much. But if we agree to an un-paid-for extension of unemployment in order to obtain all or most of the Bush tax cuts, we’ll have betrayed the primary desire of the voters who elected a GOP House – getting government spending under control.
To me, our position on taxes should remain as is – we want them all extended, because it is foolish in the extreme to raise taxes on anyone during bad economic times. Let the Democrats raise taxes, if they wish, over our objections. What we must stand firm on is on spending – in fact, we can double down and say we’re in favor of a six month extension (couching it in terms of “helping our unemployed have peace of mind about their benefits”), provided that the money for it comes out of some other program – penny for penny. The broad majority, I think, will see the sense of this and will back it firmly as it is simply the right thing to do. And if Democrats refuse to allow a vote on such a thing, so much the better. Bottom line – no deal on taxes, at all: just vote on them and let the chips fall where they may. No new spending without equal or greater cuts elsewhere.
Keep it to that simple a message and then allow the people to judge who is doing right and who is playing politics. Our only hope, fellow Republicans, is in the matter of being seen to be spending cutters – that is what is the people want, and it is what we promised them.
Once we actually take the House majority, then we can start on advancing our cause – right now, as the Democrats are in charge, it is all about preserving our reputation as Democrats dash themselves to pieces on the rocks of folly they have built for themselves.
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