A Christmas Gift
2011-12-22 - by
On behalf of all Democrats, I thank Speaker Boehner and House Republicans for their unexpected and unbelievably generous Christmas gift.
Of course, their gift for the country as a whole is more like a lump of coal. They want to give 160 million Americans a tax increase, cut off unemployment benefits and nip the nascent economy recovery in the bud, as Barney Fife would say.
It’s too much for even Senate Republicans. There, the two-month extension passed by 89-10, with support from 39 Republicans.
Apparently, House Republicans are all for tax cuts – but only for rich people. Gosh darn it, somebody has to stand up for the 1 percent in this country!
We Democrats appreciate them drawing the line so clearly as we head into an election year. Bob Etheridge, especially, thanks Renee Ellmers for taking the lead here.
Speaking of leading, the brouhaha led to real profiles in courage by the leading Republican presidential candidates when they were asked to weigh in:
Newt Gingrich said: “I have no idea how I would try to handle it if I were in John Boehner’s position.”
Mitt Romney was just as strong. According to the New York Times: “He declined to say whether he supported the House Republican position to reject the two-month extension, which had the overwhelming support of Senate Republicans. Asked directly if he disagreed with Mr. Boehner, he replied: ‘I just told you my position. I did not say that, so I’m not going to say that I said that’.”
Well said, Mitt. Well played, GOP. Merry Christmas to you all – and to all hard-working, taxpaying Americans, just try to have a happy new year.
A Christmas Gift
2011-12-22/
On behalf of all Democrats, I thank Speaker Boehner and House Republicans for their unexpected and unbelievably generous Christmas gift.
Of course, their gift for the country as a whole is more like a lump of coal. They want to give 160 million Americans a tax increase, cut off unemployment benefits and nip the nascent economy recovery in the bud, as Barney Fife would say.
It’s too much for even Senate Republicans. There, the two-month extension passed by 89-10, with support from 39 Republicans.
Apparently, House Republicans are all for tax cuts – but only for rich people. Gosh darn it, somebody has to stand up for the 1 percent in this country!
We Democrats appreciate them drawing the line so clearly as we head into an election year. Bob Etheridge, especially, thanks Renee Ellmers for taking the lead here.
Speaking of leading, the brouhaha led to real profiles in courage by the leading Republican presidential candidates when they were asked to weigh in:
Newt Gingrich said: “I have no idea how I would try to handle it if I were in John Boehner’s position.”
Mitt Romney was just as strong. According to the New York Times: “He declined to say whether he supported the House Republican position to reject the two-month extension, which had the overwhelming support of Senate Republicans. Asked directly if he disagreed with Mr. Boehner, he replied: ‘I just told you my position. I did not say that, so I’m not going to say that I said that’.”
Well said, Mitt. Well played, GOP. Merry Christmas to you all – and to all hard-working, taxpaying Americans, just try to have a happy new year.