And the media just sort of accept the narrative. The media accepts the narrative that it would be foolish to try to pass tax cuts on just the middle class, for god sakes it only has 53/100 votes!
Seemingly, in this country, Republicans can set the agenda as the minority. They can get whatever they want, because they can block whatever they want to.
And rather than fight them, what do Democrats do? They try to appease them. In a move so pathetic it would make George Mcfly look like a badass, Obama [for the upteenth time] is telling Republicans he's sorry for being so hard on them, "would you like cookies? I made you tea". Obama, like the hero he is, has gotten kicked in the gut the last 30 times he's offered to handshake Republicans, is asking them gently to be nice to him and meet him halfway for a compromise [half way ofcourse being 90% in the republican direction].
You know what the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans are? Republicans are dicks. They like to play games of chicken with Democrats. Why do they enjoy playing this dangerous game? Because Democrats always swerve out of the way first. Every time Democrats swerve out of the way, Republicans all enjoy a good cackle. Except there is an important detail, Republicans are driving motorcycles and Democrats are driving hummers.
All it would take is one time for the Democrats to not swerve out of the way [and for the Republicans to go careening into their winshield] for everything in politics to turn on its head. All it takes is one time standing up to the bully to realize that the bully was actually just a weakling.
Democrats, you don't like to play chicken? That's too bad. Chicken is inherent in politics. And you are getting played, over and over.
Either play the game, or just give up and go home right now. Fight on tax cuts: and offer Republicans an ultimatem, they either get no tax cuts or they get middle class tax cuts. Stop living in fear over what would happen if the tax rates for the middle class had to go back up to 90s levels. In all likelihood, it won't happen and republicans will buckle, but even if it does happen you'll find the world doesn't come crashing down. [You can always extend the middle class tax cuts later, anyway]