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How Dems Can Lose The Fight For Middle Class Tax Cuts

TPM reports on Dem ineptitude:

A senior House leadership aide says[:} "We shouldn't force his hand, we should let the Republicans dangle out there with their divisions exposed and keep hammering them on holding middle class tax cuts hostage for $700 billion in debt-financed tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans [. . .] You don't need a vote in the House to say the party is blocking tax relief for the middle class - you can just point and say, 'Look! Senate Republicans blocked it,'" the aide said.

This is, of course, all kinds of stupid, and a ruse. The "senior Dem aide" (I'll bet dollars to donuts a Hoyer aide) is floating this to see how it will play in order to protect Blue Dog Dems who do not want to vote against a middle class tax cut and who may be just stupid enough to do it. Well the balloon went over like lead:

Whopper of a late update: Another senior leadership aide called TPM about an hour after this post was published to say that leadership is still considering all of its options, including a vote after all. [. . .] "We may have a vote anyway to get people on the record," the aide said. "There are a number of leaders who would like a vote even if the Senate is not able to get to 60 votes. It's good for us, it shows we're for the middle class, they are for the rich."

Gee, you think? Of course, Steny Hoyer's Blue Dog friends may line up with Republicans. Their choice and their consequences.

Speaking for me only

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    Ugh (none / 0) (#1)
    by lilburro on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 06:22:25 PM EST
    I didn't think there was a chance to screw this up but if they're going to be that blatant about it just being a political ploy then yes, there is a way to screw this up.  Take the damn vote and give us our tax break you fools.

    Yup. The way to screw it up (none / 0) (#4)
    by ruffian on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 07:50:59 PM EST
    is to talk for a week about what message you want to send. For the love of god, just do it.

    Parent
    I know nobody (none / 0) (#8)
    by lilburro on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 09:28:12 PM EST
    but us nuts care about what a Dem aide has to say but I really feel like the constant breaking of the fourth wall is not doing the party any favors...

    Parent
    Breaking of the fourth wall (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 11:15:32 AM EST
    Perfect analogy! They do it all the time and it drives me crazy.

    Parent
    Heh thanks ;) (none / 0) (#14)
    by lilburro on Thu Sep 16, 2010 at 11:46:32 AM EST
    It's a very bad student play...

    Parent
    what consequences? (none / 0) (#2)
    by cpinva on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 06:48:02 PM EST
    Of course, Steny Hoyer's Blue Dog friends may line up with Republicans. Their choice and their consequences.

    so far, i've yet to see any consequences at all, from being a "blue dog" democrat, to being joe lieberman.

    The Blue Dogs are morons (none / 0) (#6)
    by Demi Moaned on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 08:53:17 PM EST
    ... if they think a vote in favor this will cost them with their constituencies.

    We hear so much about 'protecting the Blue Dogs'. It seems what they most need protecting from is themselves.

    Parent

    Good goddess, now I know (none / 0) (#5)
    by Cream City on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 08:18:31 PM EST
    who to credit for my ways:  I had 14 years, from Daisy through Trailblazer, in the feminist training corps.  I think I'll drag out my old badge sash and beanie to wear to the polls tomorrow. . . .

    (And I'm proud to say that the godless future goddess corps sent me to one of the same campsites where the Secretary of State, a longtime Scout, had gone but a few years before.  Yep, that's where it all began -- in the feminist training corps camps in the North Woods of the Midwest!)

    The Girl Scouts (none / 0) (#7)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 09:18:10 PM EST
    I belonged to for years in my childhood couldn't possibly have been more retro and less feminist.

    Parent
    Exactly. Those homemaker badges! (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Cream City on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 10:48:02 AM EST
    I still know how to sew a dirndl skirt and an apron.

    I don't know why.  I never wear either.

    Parent

    You mean you did not get the pro-abortion (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by ruffian on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 11:17:39 AM EST
    badge? The embroidery work was really stunning!


    Parent
    blue dog protection (none / 0) (#9)
    by diogenes on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 10:17:01 PM EST
    "Gee, you think? Of course, Steny Hoyer's Blue Dog friends may line up with Republicans. Their choice and their consequences."

    Of course, being seen as lining up with Obama may well have the consequence of costing Blue Dogs from conservative districts their seats.

    No one is going to actually (none / 0) (#10)
    by masslib on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:19:03 PM EST
    vote against extending the Bush tax cuts on the first 250k in income.  The wealthy likely side with Boehner on this one as something is better than nothing.