Catch-22 For The G.O.P.

It’s been amusing to see the verbal gymnastics surrounding the proposed extension of the payroll tax cut from the Republicans.

No one is buying the argument that the holdup is over an extension that lasts a year rather than the two months that could be accomplished right now.

Who knows if any of this is good fiscal policy? I won’t pretend to. What I do know is that it’s great politics (for the Democrats)—who can get away with it all and not appear to be “playing politics”

Hoisted on their own petard, the G.O.P. has successfully fended off tax increases for the wealthy on the sole premise that raise taxes on ANYONE during a recession is a bad idea. Well, now that increase falls squarely on the shoulders of 160 million Americans, many from the ever-shrinking “middle class”. A thousand bucks in extra taxes starting next year if you make $50,000—and double it if you clear $100,000. For the average working stiff, the $40 a paycheck angle drives the point home better.

Republicans who fearfully signed a “no tax increase pledge” with Grover Norquist are now about to violate it—and even Grover stumbles in his explanation on how this situation is somehow “different”.

Note to the G.O.P.: When even the Wall Street Journal takes you to task, you’ve got a problem. Jack Kennedy once quipped that the Journal criticizing a Republican was the equivalent of the Vatican newspaper taking on the Pope.

While Speaker John Boehner assails the President for a lack of leadership, it appears that he cannot even count votes in his own chamber. A Tea Party revolt over a compromise between Democrats and Republicans caused the good Speaker to trash that compromise and keep a measure that would surely have passed from even reaching the floor for a vote. For Republicans in tight re-election races, this is toxic stuff. Even Senator John McCain attacked the bickering and urged the passage of the bill.

The presidential candidates are largely keeping mum (except the ever-babbling Newt)—and yet they can see this critical moment as another nail in the coffin for their chances of taking the White House next year. In an election year where the incumbent would seemingly be vulnerable to a credible counter-campaign, the G.O.P. cannot decide which walking disaster they’ll nominate to take Obama on. With each passing day, the Democrats store up more ammo.

So, what should the G.O.P. do? Seems the choices all have costs:

1) Stick to their guns and refuse anything less than a year. President Obama would be happy to blame a tax increase on 160 million Americans on Republicans. And it WILL stick. At least the Tea Party will be satisfied. Unfortunately, this course will not only sweep Obama back into the Oval Office, but the G.O.P. could seriously risk losing the House of Representatives (again)

2) Swallow hard, extend the payroll tax break—and thus anger Grover Norquist and the Tea Party too. Republicans with elections looming could be targeted for removal with either scenario.


Good luck, G.O.P.! The public admonishment of the President’s planned holiday trip to Hawaii when there was still unfinished business in Washington backfired when he decided to stay in town. Now, it’s the Republicans who want to go home for Christmas and must face the fallout from their own words.

The American people are watching very carefully what the clowns on Capitol Hill do with their money in the coming days. Since there will be consequences whatever they decide, a smart Republican would do well to considering the following:.

An angry Tea Party/Base/Norquist----------or an angry 160 million Americans?


Do the math.


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