Obama: Stimulus tax cuts will be felt by April 1 - USATODAY.com http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...saturday_N.htm

Obama Eyes 0 Billion Tax Cut -Wall Street Journal

The size of the proposed tax cuts -- which would account for about 40% of a stimulus package that could reach $775 billion over two years -- is greater than many on both sides of the aisle in Congress had anticipated. It may make it easier to win over Republicans who have stressed that any initiative should rely more heavily on tax cuts rather than spending.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123111279694652423.html

Originally Posted by quinn14

That is, IMO, one of Obama's biggest problems. He thinks that "compromise" means accepting what he says.

Based on my read on this post it seems to me that you consider "compromise" from Obama to doing exactly what the Republicans say?

I tend to agree with ODH that things will be settled by whoever gets their "story" out the best. Republicans were able to use their status as the minority party well (just like the Democrats did from 04-06) and just say "No!" to everything.

How they handle actually having to at the bare minimum pay lip service to governing will be interesting over the next two years.

Yeah that Reagan... he's a real icon of the Progressive Movement!

Originally Posted by Schlottke

The point is, they shouldn't have given up the two safeties. Good play calling would have prevented them.

You're a hard man to please Schlottke.

Were these two safeties an issue of the message or the messanger(s)?

You forgot the gaff about "clinging to their God and guns".

He can try Truman's strategy of blaming the "Do-Nothing Congress" but I dont think thats going to get him very far, because a large part of the American Public's discontent is with Obama's legislation and he cant run from that. Nor will he be very willing to change much of it, and when he refuses he will once again be odds with the will of the electorate. This is a big part of why I predict he wont run.

It comes down to who is better are getting the side of the story out.
If Obama says he is willing to compromise on healthcare and will listen to reform and modifications proposal and Rebuplicans will only allow a vote on outright appeal with no proposals of their own even though they know it is guarenteed to be vetoed, the "Party of No" label will start stick.

The GOP in the House will most likely pass an outright appeal bill which will languish in the Senate (it will be entertaining to see Democrat Senators who are up for election in 2012 try to dodge those procedural votes). While it languishes other votes proposing various revisions will then be passed where they will be sent to the Senate where they will also pass and then to Obama.

There are two lines of thinking at this point. One says the first few will be fairly benign to Obama and he will sign them, but later ones will have deeper cuts and will not be as palatable to Obama but will be proposed so that Democrat Senators have to make an unpopular stand.

The other line of thinking is while the total repeal languishes the follow up bills are nearly as encompassing, making any kind of compromise impossible. This will be bad for Democrats but and will it could backfire on swing state Republicans.

Thats the way I see it anyway.

Originally Posted by Tight-Waist

While it languishes other votes proposing various revisions will then be passed where they will be sent to the Senate where they will also pass and then to Obama.

Kind of following this line of thinking, I've read some interesting speculation about whether or not the Dem leaders in the Senate would refuse to bring any newly passed House legislation to the floor once they get back in January before they get through all the backed up legislation passed by the last House but has been held up by one GOP'er or another in the Senate.

Would at the very least make good theater, albeit not as good as some newly elected House member bringing Impeachment articles or a refusal by Republicans to extend the debt ceiling.