Resisting the “no surrender” temptation
The time for Republicans to win the tax debate was during the 2012 election. They lost. That doesn’t mean they need to give away the store, but it does mean that they’ll have to make some accommodation for reality.
Republicans’ best option at this point is to make Bush-era tax rates permanent for income under $250,000. This would keep things relatively simple, and it wouldn’t necessitate giving in to Obama’s demands for larger tax increases in the name of making inconsequential tweaks to entitlement programs. …
The “no surrender” strategy is always tempting for conservatives, because they can usually score points for ideological purity without any downside. Two things are certain in Washington: 1) The “no surrender” caucus is always ignored when the two sides cut a deal, and 2) The deal is always suboptimal. Over time, as the problems with the deal become apparent, people who opposed it feel vindicated.
Blowback
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All this nibbling at the edges is political theater, so why engage in it? Only a massive restructuring will save us and that isn’t going to happen with the screeching monkeys who currently infest Congress.
Bishop on December 13, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Keyser Soze Option
fossten on December 13, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Make all the rates permanent, but break the highest bracket off into a stand alone bill.
That way no one violates their pledge, but we still recognize the reality of divided government. Obama will let the highest rate go up and own the consequences.
How sweet would it be for Obama’s legacy to be enshrining Bush tax rates as permanent law.
commodore on December 13, 2012 at 9:46 AM
Right now the GOP can choose which of those Brazilian prank videos to star in – either as the screeching little ghost girl or as the undead corpse. Either way its function is simply to scare the peasantry while providing a few laughs to the literati. At some point Republicans will have to decide whether to allow themselves to be typecast for the sake of a regular paycheck, or to tear up their contract even if it means losing their jobs.
Seth Halpern on December 13, 2012 at 9:55 AM