Republicans in Retreat!

[Townsend]

Republican candidate 2012:  "Did you see what the Democrats tried to do?"

Won't work at this time.  The GOP debacle is too messed up for now.  Now if the Democrats screw up and don't keep reminding everyone of this then maybe you could be right IMO.

[Townsend]

Okay, apparently now it is signed by Obama.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/23/politics/congress-payroll-tax-cut/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Washington (CNN) -- President Barack Obama signed a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut Friday, ending what had been a heated political stalemate and sealing a hard-fought win for Democrats on an issue -- taxes -- that has historically favored the GOP.

Earlier in the day, the measure cleared the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by unanimous consent, a procedural move allowing the measure to pass even though most members of Congress were already home home for the holidays.

Among other things, the $33 billion bill also includes a two-month extension of emergency federal unemployment benefits and the so-called "doc fix," a delay in scheduled payment reductions to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

Congress will consider a longer extension of all three measures when it reconvenes in January.

Obama was also expected to sign a separate appropriations bill funding the government through September 2012, wrapping up a legislative year marked by repeated partisan brinksmanship and declining public approval of a seemingly dysfunctional Congress.

Political analysts believe the showdown over the payroll holiday extension has eroded Republican strength on the party's core issue of lower taxes. While GOP leaders first questioned the merit of the tax holiday and then complained that a short-term extension would be more trouble than it's worth, Obama used the standoff to portray the Republicans as defenders of the rich with a callous attitude toward the burdens of the middle class.

The episode also called into question Speaker John Boehner's control over the House Republican caucus. The speaker, according to multiple accounts, initially favored the two-month extension, which had passed the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. He was then apparently forced to retreat from that position last weekend in the face of a tea party-fueled revolt in which freshman conservatives in particular demanded an immediate 12-month extension.

[Red Arrow]

Won't work at this time.  The GOP debacle is too messed up for now.  Now if the Democrats screw up and don't keep reminding everyone of this then maybe you could be right IMO.

No question, the Republicans caved and screwed up on this one.  However, November is a long time in politics.  I can understand that you won't agree with the negative connotations of "Look what the Democrats tried to do".   I expect you to also understand, but disagree with, the thought that not everyone will have negative feelings for "Did you see what the Republicans did?"

[Townsend]

No question, the Republicans caved and screwed up on this one.  However, November is a long time in politics.  I can understand that you won't agree with the negative connotations of "Look what the Democrats tried to do".   I expect you to also understand, but disagree with, the thought that not everyone will have negative feelings for "Did you see what the Republicans did?"

Sure.  Some people actually supported the Palin decision.  I'm sure there are some that supported the 2% bump in payroll tax. 

I didn't support either and I'm a Republican.

[Townsend]

And now Trump's left the table.

It's all falling apart right in front of us.  What shall we do without a real leader?

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/donald-trump-bolts-republican-party-eyeing-other-2012-options/

Donald Trump Bolts Republican Party, Eyeing Other 2012 Options

[Red Arrow]

What shall we do without a real leader?

Same thing we are now.   

[Townsend]

Same thing we are now.   

Ah, give in and pass those bills through the house.

[Red Arrow]

I'm sure there are some that supported the 2% bump in payroll tax. 

What I heard was that the House wanted a full year extension, not just 2 months.  Very clever portrayal of the House Republicans by the Dems.  I have to give them that.  Stonewalling on both sides.

[Red Arrow]

Ah, give in and pass those bills through the house.

Actually, in a few years I am going to turn into a Democrat.  I will start collecting Social Security benefits that I have been paying in to for close to 40 years.  I want some Obama money.  Since I don't have any kids, there is no real reason to care what happens to this country in 40 years because I will be gone by then.
/sarcasm

[Townsend]

What I heard was that the House wanted a full year extension, not just 2 months.  Very clever portrayal of the House Republicans by the Dems.  I have to give them that.  Stonewalling on both sides.

I think the pipeline was an issue.

[guido911]

The left is jazzed over a freakin 2 month $40 tax cut? Man, those folks must have really been bummed out.

[dbacks fan]

The left is jazzed over a freakin 2 month $40 tax cut? Man, those folks must have really been bummed out.

It's a pizza night for a guy and his daughters and three days of heating oil for some one else, they are looking out for the common man.

[Townsend]

The left is jazzed over a freakin 2 month $40 tax cut? Man, those folks must have really been bummed out.

I think they're jazzed because the GOP appeared to kick its own donkey.

[guido911]

I think they're jazzed because the GOP appeared to kick its own donkey.

Probably.

[Townsend]

Most of us know none of these guys are looking out for anyone but themselves.

This bad of a meltdown is just an unusual thing to see.  There's really no reason for anyone to be jazzed.  The "they" are only pushing their screwups a couple of months into the future.

I just didn't want to have to donate more of my money to the waste that is government spending.  I've got more important things to do with it.