Will Obama have the guts to let the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire in 2012 or will he cave?

[Cali_Democrat]

[QC]

1. I'll take subterranean structures for a hundred, Alex. n/t

[polichick]

2. imo it made a lot more sense to let them expire in 2011 than have to...

...deal with this again next year. Unless there are plans to make it a contrast issue for the campaign, it's hard to see it happening.

[ThomCat]

22. If you think this is about "sense" then you're rationalizing.

This was and is all about pressure, not sense. Obama was pressured into caving in, and he will be pressured in to caving in again.

In fact, there will be even more pressure next time than there was this time. Not less pressure.

"Sense" has absolutely nothing to do with any decision coming out of the white house when it is a controversial issue.

[francolettieri]

3. he has no choice

if he raises taxes, he'll get grilled so bad by the right!!

[bluestateguy]

4. I don't know, but I would add another scenario

Namely that the Congress will pass a permanent extension, Obama vetoes it and the Congress (a coalition of Republicans and DLC weenies) override him.

[JVS]

5. I'm sure that the only reason that they designed this to be renewed in 2012 is so they can run on it

[msongs]

6. we've heard that lie before somewhere nt

[fascisthunter]

7. it's not about guts... he believes in the ideology of giving the wealthy what they want

in order to grow an economy. It's what he believes...

[Little Star]

8. That's a no brainer.

[ProSense]

9. I think they'll expire. Here's why:

They expire two months after the 2012 election.

[bluestateguy]

11. That scenario depends on Obama winning

As of now, the House could pass a permanent extension and Harry Reid could bottle it up in the Senate for all 2011 and 2012. They need 13 Democratic votes to get to 60, and while I think they might have 6 or 7, I doubt they have 13.

Anyway, if Obama loses their new president will be ready to sign a bill for permanent extension right away in Jamuary 2013; so they might expire for a few weeks.

But if he wins, he has tenure and he won't ever have to face the voters again and he can wage the fight that needs to be fought without fear of electoral repercussions.

[ProSense]

14. Why?

"As of now, the House could pass a permanent extension and Harry Reid could bottle it up in the Senate for all 2011 and 2012. They need 13 Democratic votes to get to 60, and while I think they might have 6 or 7, I doubt they have 13."

Why even go there? Let it expire. Any bill passed in this Congress wouldn't carry over to the next Congress.

After the election and through the expiration, this Congress is intact.

[bluestateguy]

20. Don't underestimate the cowardice of Democrats in Congress

They make Obama look like Rambo by comparison.

Obama caved last time yes, but had he stayed to fight on, I am convinced that more and more Democrats would have jumped off of the boat to call for extending the taxcuts. In other words they would not have had his back. In fact, it was already happening before the tax deal was made; ever more and more Democrats were caving each day on the issue and after the election "shellacking" Obama was not exactly in an influential position.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. He'll embrace his "deficit commission"'s plan, which will

Reduce their taxes even more.

Awesome!

[Lint Head]

12. SS, Medicare, WIC and Head Start will be trashed before you see any tax for the rich expiring.

[Kablooie]

13. The supply side fantasy has has become the accepted rule of economics.

It is just as true as creationism but no politician, including Obama, dare disagree with this idiotic fallacy.

Raise taxes on the rich?! Ha! Are you kidding. Anyone who did that would get slaughtered at the polls.

[TBF]

15. When doesn't he cave? Rhetorical question .. nt

[BlueIris]

16. Let's just say I doubt it will be up to Obama. nt

[begin_within]

17. I think we all realize whose side he's on, by now.

[Tx4obama]

18. New AP article: Obama budget resurrects rejected tax increases

Obama budget resurrects rejected tax increases
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_TAXES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-02-14-16-37-04

[SidDithers]

39. Facts are good...nt

Sid

[MrMickeysMom]

19. He's given us every indication he'll do NOTHING ELSE BUT THAT.

... That's unfortunate, for sure.

[Tx4obama]

21. See article on link on comment #18. n/t

[kentuck]

23. I am too depressed to respond.

Who knows?

[Puregonzo1188]

24. In an election year?

Cave.

[Luciferous]

25. It's not caving, it's an intentional handout to his buddies, but he'll

act like he had to do it in the spirit of bipartisanship or some such bullshit.

[readmoreoften]

27. +1. Yeah, it's not really a "cave" per se when you're doing what you want.

:shrug:

[Cali_Democrat]

26. WOW!

An overwhelming majority think Obama will cave again.

Almost 90%!

[AlabamaLibrul]

28. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future returns, but it is about all you can look

at...

[Exilednight]

29. He'll extend them. Here's why, they are set to expire 2 months before the 2012 election. n/t

[Lorien]

30. Yep, and unless the economy makes a remarkable turn around before then

traditional Dems won't be happy about that.

[SidDithers]

41. They expire 2 months after the 2012 election...nt

Sid

[yurbud]

31. caving implies he doesn't want to do it.

[QC]

37. True. n/t

[sendero]

32. He will cave..

.. because that is what he does.

[Dappleganger]

33. It depends on who he looks to as his base.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

34. Not just "cave yet again" but claim the surrender as a "victory".

[Motown_Johnny]

35. He is planning on running on it, but it depends on the makeup of Congress

The tax cuts are in place until 1/1/13 and a lot can happen before then

[customerserviceguy]

36. When the Rethugs try to extend the FICA tax holiday

We'll have a clue what he'll do on the Bush tax cuts by what he does on this giveaway to the well-off.

[DainBramaged]

38. It's sad that the VAST majority thinks he will cave

I agree, but there is nothing we can do to change the President's direction

[katnapped]

40. Even more sad...

11 people are still living in some kind of dream

edit: whoops...12