I have to defend the President. I've seen some very nasty, unhelpful, unneeded diaries and comments about his tax cut proposal. So let me rip up these angry invectives like so many shreds of confetti.
1. The Senate failed to pass the tax cuts. Where was the angry invective against Lieberman, Feingold, Nelson? Crickets. In fact FOUR Democrats voted against Obama's agenda and all of them have escaped angry commercials from the PCCC.
2. Nothing. Would. Have. Changed. Their. Votes. I hear these unhinged, angry screams to FIIIIIIGGGGHHHTT! Please. He could have spent the entire lame duck session fighting against Republicans, playing politics. He could have went to Maine and held town halls. He could have held press conferences.
It. Would. Have. Changed. Nothing.
Whoops!
It would have changed one thing.
3. TWO MILLION PEOPLE would have been screwed out of their unemployment benefits because of the President playing politics. I'm not cynical enough to believe there is anyone here that would've been fine with the President playing petty politics and running out the clock on the lame duck and then letting 2 million people become homeless.
4. Some have suggested that he "play chicken" with the republicans and not blink. Except that what you guys fail to realize is that the republicans would be more than happy to throw 2 million people to the dogs. Our President, thank GOD, is not. I thank him for that. The fundamental difference between our President and Republicans is that they are playing a game while he is not. They are willing to destroy this country because it's all a game to them. Again thank GOD our President isn't playing their game. Yeah, he didn't want to extend the tax cuts, even for two years, but he saved jobs and perhaps even LIVES with this deal.
5. Basically, had the President followed the advice of many here, the unemployed would be screwed, the START treaty would be dead, and the lame duck session would be useless.