The real fiscal-cliff story is that the GOP won
In ways inconceivable to Republicans of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Democrats have embraced almost all of their economic arguments about tax cuts. Back then, sizable swaths of the Democratic party sought to protect higher tax rates for all. Many opposed President Reagan’s 1981 across-the-board tax cuts and the indexing of tax brackets for inflation. Many were skeptical of Reagan’s 1986 tax reform that consolidated 15 tax brackets into three and lowered the top marginal rate from 50 percent to 28 percent (with a “bubble rate” of 33 percent for some taxpayers). They despised the expanded child tax credit and marriage-penalty relief called for under the GOP’s Contract With America.
Now all of that is embedded in Democratic economic theory and political strategy. The only taxes that the most progressive Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson wants to raise are those affecting couples earning more than $267,600 and individuals earning more than $213,600 (these are the 2013 indexed amounts from President Obama’s 2009 proposal of $250,000 for couples and $200,000 for individuals). Yes, some of this increase would hit some small businesses. But that can be finessed.
The larger point is that Republicans are pushing on an open door on taxes. The GOP has won nine-tenths of the tax argument. It just hasn’t figured out what do with victory.
Blowback
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Major Moron Garrett is so deep.
Marianas trench deep as in over his head on thought it seems.
astonerii on December 13, 2012 at 8:24 PM
No doubt. These democrat establishment media progs can FOAD.
WeekendAtBernankes on December 13, 2012 at 8:30 PM
Yeah, he’s a real idiot. He thinks the eat-the-rich class warfare being by the left is such a win for the right …
I really hate when people who know nothing about conservativism try to speak about it. It used to be that people knew not to open their mouths about things they knew nothing about. Nowadays, so many of these idiots are actually proud to display their ignorance. It’s pathetic.
ThePrimordialOrderedPair on December 13, 2012 at 8:34 PM
WINNING!
29Victor on December 13, 2012 at 8:36 PM
We get to raise taxes during a depression, while many billions are going overseas to Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Afghans who shoot us in the back.
V-rod on December 13, 2012 at 8:38 PM
The old GOP may have won the argument decades ago but the new GOP is looking for an excuse to raise taxes, having failed to learn that lesson. They could just vote present and let the Democrats raise taxes without them but the new GOP wants to help them.
CurpliTium on December 13, 2012 at 8:58 PM
He does have a point. I’m old enough to remember hearing Jack Kemp speak about the importance of marginal tax rates in 1978, and he laid out the rationale for across-the-board tax cuts, which most of Washington considered ridiculous and the ideas of a crank. But two years later Reagan adopted those ideas, and another year later they became law.
And I cannot for the life of me understand why the Republicans’ message here is not “we’re glad the President agrees that we need to keep 98% of the Bush tax cuts and avoid another recession which would happen if those rates expire.”
rockmom on December 13, 2012 at 9:17 PM
I skimmed through the article and couldn’t figure it out. Therefore, I agree with everyone else.
yeah right
And the estate tax wont hurt small businesses either.
entagor on December 13, 2012 at 9:20 PM
What’s this bullcrap about the Democrats embracing tax cuts for the middle class? Has Obamacare been repealed and nobody told me?
Gingotts on December 13, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Ground control to Major To…er, Garrett – you’re forgetting the Rats only want a 2-year extension of the 98%. When they get full control, they will exercise their long-held desire to raise taxes on them too (well, except for the 47% who don’t pay income taxes now – after all, their votes need to stay bought).
Steve Eggleston on December 13, 2012 at 9:55 PM
Up is down.
celticdefender on December 13, 2012 at 9:59 PM
All dems did is manage to define “millionaires and billionaires” as those making over $250,000. Fortunately for them, the media is stupid and horrible at simple math.
MechanicalBill on December 13, 2012 at 10:00 PM
+ 10 for the Major Tom reference..
Dire Straits on December 13, 2012 at 10:01 PM
The Republicans message here should be,
“Going on 10 years now, practically all we’ve heard from the left has been, ‘Bush tax cuts, Bush tax cuts, those evil Bush tax cuts, get rid of those Bush tax cuts, repeal the Bush tax cuts, Bush tax cuts’. Well, come January 1st, you’re gettin’ your wish. so S.T.F.U!
You stomped the grapes, now drink the wine.”
mrt721 on December 13, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Obama wants to destroy the middle class and wishes for all U.S. citizens save for his precious union heads to be impoverished.
Either you are very stupid, Major, or you believe everybody listening to you is very stupid.
Right Mover on December 13, 2012 at 11:18 PM
He might be taking it too far, but those of you here insulting him as an idiot are clueless.
He has two major points that are correct in this piece:
The GOP has continually lost on entitlements
The Dems have lost on tax rates over and over.
blatantblue on December 13, 2012 at 11:56 PM