re: #228 jimbo2150

If you believe that then more power to you. I will not back down on principles. Progressives have for quite a while. I don’t see “Give us what we want or we will hold off tax breaks for everyone” as a compromise. That’s more like terrorist demanding what they want just so they wont commit more crimes.

I’m confused. It was the Republican who said: “Give us what we want or we will hold off tax breaks for everyone.”

You can’t wish away that political reality. The question is, given that the GOP took that stance, what would be the way to respond that would, in reality, advance a progressive agenda?

Refusing to accept a compromise would have resulted in across-the-board tax increases. Republicans would have hammered Dems and Obama, by saying “See, just like we said, the Dems just want to tax and spend. Obama’s promises to not increase taxes for those earning less than $250,000 were lies.”

Obama and the Dems would have gone down in flames just like Bush I - for reneging on a “read my lips” promise.

In the meantime, Obama’s compromise represents real financial relief for millions of unemployed, and more progressive movement on payroll taxes and inheritence taxes.

Obama couldn’t change the political calculus - particuarly since a significant # of conservative Dems were going to sell him out anyway.