Senate Strikes Tentative Deal On Payroll Tax

Harry Reid and Yertle. Image from TPM.

My first thought when I saw this story? What's the catch? There has to be a catch. The GOP in both houses of Congress don't tend to compromise, or make nice. Maybe I'm cynical, but I'm expecting the other shoe to drop, and then we'll have a couple of weeks of squawking about that damned shoe.

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Lawmakers Strike Tentative Deal On Payroll Tax Package

Top Democratic and Republican negotiators have struck a broad tentative agreement to extend the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and Medicare physician payment rates through the end of the year, aides from both sides who are familiar with the deal tell TPM. Some of the details have yet to be ironed out, but Congress appears to have had a critical breakthrough in negotiations to prevent the three provisions from lapsing. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Captain Obvious: Budget Comprimise Pleases NOBODY

This is just a quickie Captain Obvious to note that Friday night's comprimise in Congress to avert a government shutdown--temporarily--pleased no one, and worked mainly as a stalling tactic for all involved. 

Democrats and liberals are not happy about the concessions made to Republicans, nor the apparent bragging by the President at the resolution:

"As for the rest, it was a sucky deal. Billions of dollars axed from programs mostly dedicated to easing the lives of Americans who, even in the best of times, have a rough go of things economically. And these are not the best of times.

". . .Politicians must make compromises. This can be frustrating, infuriating, but necessary. There is, however, no need to put lipstick on a pig. And that's what touting the "biggest annual spending cut in history" as a good thing does. . ."

Read more at: Daily Kos

And conservatives aren't happy either. First, I must point out that every time John Boner Boehner makes a public declaration on the issue, he lets more average Americans know who he is, which could raise him to a Newt Gingrich like target, instead of an orange, drunken, crying man nobody recognizes. But oh, the tea baggers know who he is already!  To wit:

"John Boohoo is done. He’s public enemy number 2 next to any democrat. Well, maybe he’s just “number 2”. Either way...done."

"Just go away, Boehner. Thanks for handing the scum zero and Reid a victory so they can parade about on TV. Grow a pair, you weakling."

"To OHIO FREEPERS: Is anyone up for helping to Primary Boehner? Cheers!"

Read more at: Free Republic

BCS: Battered Congress Syndrome

No, not BDS--Bush Derangement Syndrome, an affliction conservatives believe affects liberals (as though we don't have plenty of reasons). Battered Congress Syndrome is as good a reason as any for the constant capitulation of the Democratic-controlled Congress. Yes, I know that they have bare majorities, but when Republicans had similar percentages, they never ever rolled over for the other side.

In fact, over the six years before Democrats re-won Congress, Republicans did everything in their power to shove Democrats into--quite literally--the basement. Why on earth haven't the Democrats returned the favor, at least once in a while? BCS?

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Battered Congress Syndrome

President Bush doesn't hesitate to kick Congress around, but Congress just can't bring itself to kick back.

During oral arguments yesterday about whether a federal judge should enforce congressional subpoenas against a belligerent White House, representatives of the judicial and executive branches both noted that Congress hasn't exercised its full constitutional powers. . .

Read more at: Washington Post