I envy the political brilliance of the Republicans.

[obxhead]

Lets think about how the last 2 years have lead to the compromise Democrats and Republicans reached yesterday.

Republicans campaigned for 2 years on the most unlikely of issues, the deficit. I say it’s the most unlikely of issues because they created the enormity of the deficit themselves over the last decade with war, tax cuts, and corporate bailouts. Not only were they not forced to answer for creating the deficit, they were able to convince millions of voters that they were the solution to the deficit.

We know the results. They essentially won huge this last November. In there first actions after winning, but BEFORE the winners are even sworn in, they get to pass a bill that has only a 2 year effect and will add nearly 1 TRILLION dollars to the deficit they campaigned on. That’s adding the cost of the Iraq war with simply a signature.

Now they did have to compromise a little bit to get that amazing feat done. What did they give up though? For a few billion dollars tacked onto the deficit they never cared about anyway and they have saved their banker friends from having to claim hundreds of thousands of mortgages as bad debt. Democrats are calling it a win for the unemployed, but in the end the banks and the mortgages they hold are the biggest winner out of unemployment extension.

On top of all this they get to make tax cuts THE issue of the 2012 campaign.

It’s fucking brilliant. I hate the Republican party with all my heart and see them for what they actually are, but I have to admit they are politically brilliant. They got to have their cake and eat it too while the Democrats take all the blame. Yeah, I would call that brilliant.

We have got to turn the tide of this war. We have to decide where sacrifice can be made to do so. We are losing and we’re losing badly.

[Winterblues]

1. You know, I used to race home after work to listen to Obama when he gave a speech.

Now I don't care what he says because he lost my trust..He does not have any convictions, let alone the courage of them.

[KansasVoter]

2. +1 and so true! They are smarter than us!

[badtoworse]

3. They're playing smash mouth football...

We're playing touch.

[obxhead]

5. Some days I think we came prepared to play badminton not

the smash mouth foosball. :(

[laundry_queen]

4. It called marketing and PR

And the republicans are experts at it. Heck, I took a first year marketing course and can instantly point out all kinds of ways the D's are being completely stupid on this front. Democrats don't know how to market anything. Of course it helps that the republicans own most of the promotion channels, but I think there is something deeper here. It seems that the D's just don't seem to have that drive to win at all costs like the R's have. They are comfortable with their corporate fundings and their large bank accounts and don't want to jeopardize it. The only other thing I can think of is the D's are losing on purpose, and I don't even want to go there, because we know where that leads....:tinfoilhat:

[lunatica]

6. You envy the hatred coming from those shrivelled souls towards their fellow humans?

Evil deeds are easy to do.

[FrenchieCat]

7. I envy the media support they receive at every turn..........

makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to shape a consistent message....
cause they can simply distract us when they feel like it;
which is very often.

[BzaDem]

8. Due to the gullibility of some progressives, Republicans are killing two birds with one stone.

They hold the country hostage, and then on top of that, they get the left to blame not Republicans, but Obama of all people.

[Township75]

9. I have thought that for years. Saying we need a Karl Rove, or...

a GWB will get shot down here, if you get any response at all, because most of us here just have a knee jerk reaction to those names and don't think about the comment. Karl Rove was brilliant at campaigns, and it rewarded the R party. GWB got any legislation he wanted, yet some will say NOOOO, we don't want a GWB, because they hate the name. But given what legislation has transpired since 2008, would you be willing to take a D who can't speak publically for shit but gets legislation we support passed, or what we have?

Isn't the goal to get legislation passed? To win elections? If not, then you don't want a Rove or GWB.

Yes, you are correct. The R's are brilliant and we need to emulate that.

[dkf]

10. They got less than we got...

The bill costs $1 trillion and tax cuts for the wealthy cost $140 billion.

The rest of the goodies are for us.

Unfortunately we will have to pay the tab eventually.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

14. It's actually a decent deal when you look at the numbers.

President Obama broke a promise and made a compromise. He didn't get f'ed in the A like some around here have characterized it.

[Skidmore]

11. It has nothing to do with brilliance, but the cowering of

our Dems. Now you hear them starting to make cases they should have been making all along. The Rs did what they have done because they could.

[PeaceNikki]

12. A hard pill to swallow, but true. Their selfishness & lack of empathy work squarely in their favor.

[PA Democrat]

13. I despise the political ineptitude of the Democrats.

How many times do you lose on an issue that has the backing of the majority of the American people?

[obxhead]

15. This is what upsets me the most of all.

They KNEW they had to make a deal on this at some point. They just waited until the Republicans were ready to deal with it.

They could have haggled with this months ago and gotten so much more. I've heard loads of great ideas from the pundits and politicians today.

They chose to do nothing with it until Republicans wanted to play the card. By doing nothing for so long they got next to nothing with the exception of more debt.