Compromise or Capitulation?

I didn't want to write about this.  It reeks to high heaven and pisses me off, but here is my rant about the future of the Bush tax cuts:

Democrats want tax cuts for the rich to expire and aren't afraid to threaten middle class tax cuts to do it.

Republicans want tax cuts for the rich to continue and aren't afraid to threaten middle class tax cuts to do it.

Then there is the 98% of the country in middle with both sides pointing guns at us.

In his speech Tuesday, Obama accused the right of holding the middle class hostage to protect millionaires and billionaires. Of course he was right.  But what he didn't say was that the Democrats were more or less pulling the same shit, willing to fuck the middle class just to stick it to the wealthy. I get it that the left's tough stance was a game of chicken to force the Republicans into choosing which tax bracket they like more, but still. 

Personally, I'm in favor of pitching them all, bringing the estate tax back and putting capital gains tax rates back where they were during the Clinton years.  If you're serious about reducing the deficit, the BEST thing to do is increase your revenue stream while stopping the credit card shopping sprees.

But I'm in the minority, my idea is not workable since it would be political suicide.  So, cue up the smoke filled back room. Both sides go in bitching and moaning, both sides come out smiling. 

We get a bill that would extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone for two years, a 13 month extension of unemployment, and the estate tax is off the table.  On the plus side, the long term unemployed don't starve to death or get hurled into the street.  On the down, the rich got EVERYTHING they wanted.

We get tossed a few scraps (did anyone think middle class tax cuts were ever really in danger?) and the rich continue to get obscenely richer. This plans sucks for two reasons: 1) The Dems gave away far more than they got and; 2) This plan increases spending while taking in even less! 

Obama compounded this folly by chastising his base again for not understanding what was going on. Not to point out the obvious, but that is dumbshit politics. You do not piss on the people who got you elected. C'mon guy, take that anger and direct it where it needs to be: at Republicans. They're kicking your ass in DC, and doing a FAR better job of getting their message out. Is it possible the reason we don't get it is because the left's messaging machine sucks? For example, most people don't realize just how many bills are being filibustered by Republicans, how many nominations are being held up in committee.

Why not send Gibbs out every day to remind the American public just what obstructionist dickholes the right is actually being?

I know I know, someone is going to point out that compromise is how government works, that this plan is ACTUALLY the result of bipartisanship. But...for fuck's sake. C'mon Dems grow a pair. Just because you don't want to destroy every country that doesn't kiss our ass on a regular basis, doesn't mean that you have act like a bunch of whiny pussies.  

Even though I'm not happy about it, I'll call the deal a compromise. Maybe in two years, Congress will pull their head out of their ass, look at the polls, and do the right thing about top tax rates.

But don't bet on it.