Bernie Sanders Defiant on Tax Deal (Self-described Vermont Socialist Plans Filibuster)

National Review ^ | 12/08/2010 | Andrew Stiles

[SeekAndFind]

Moments ago, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the self-described socialist from Vermont, stopped by the Senate press gallery unannounced to deliver red-faced invective trashing the proposed tax deal between the White House and the GOP, apparently doubling down on his earlier threat to filibuster the plan.

He said he is willing to do “anything and everything” to defeat the current proposal — which he called a “moral outrage” — and prevent a tax-rate extension for upper-income earners, by filibuster if necessary.

Sanders said he was going to find “a handful of Republicans” willing to reject the current deal (he didn’t say whom he had in mind) and come up with a “fairer” proposal. The prospect of increasing the deficit by extending the tax rates for high earners, he said, would be enough to convince some conservatives to oppose the current plan.

He dramatically accused Republicans of intentionally growing the deficit and wanting to provoke a fiscal crisis by passing these tax cuts, in order to set the stage for severe cuts to spending and benefits down the road.

Sanders rejected President Obama’s earlier description of hard-nosed liberal opposition as “sanctimonious,” saying that while he understands where the president is coming from in trying to compromise, the current deal is not what the American people want.

“I think we should draw the line, I think we should fight it, I think we should put pressure on Republicans. … I think this is a winnable fight,” he said.

[PGR88]

I say - Go for it.

Tell America you want to raise their taxes.

[SnakeDoctor]

I almost HAVE to be in favor of anything that pisses Bernie Sanders off this much.

SnakeDoc

[BenLurkin]

Aren't Americans supposed to have equal protection under the laws? Then the “rich” — no matter how despised they may be for their success and productivity — can not be treated separately for tax purposes.

[Col Frank Slade]

I read that DeMint wants to fillibuster it also, perhaps to delay it till Jan when the GOP majority takes over in the House and really put the screws to Zero get the tax cuts made permanent.

[MBB1984]

Yes, I hope Bernie does filibuster. We will have much more negotiating power in January.

[econjack]

... the current deal is not what the American people want.

But he's stupid enough to think they want a tax increase?? Wake up, Vermont, your village idiot is in Washington and those of us with more than one neuron firing want you to call him back home.

[GeronL]

This is great he and DeMint can freeze up the lame duck session and we can get a much better deal when the new Congress comes in.

[Brookhaven]

I can see the NY Times headline now: “Democrats throw middle-class under the bus so they can punish the rich”—NOT!

That is though, exactly what they are doing.

I’m shocked (as I’m sure many others are) at just how deeply the left’s hatred of the “rich” runs. Obama’s reply about rasing taxes on the rich even if it failed to increase revenue, because it was fair makes a lot of sense now.

This class-warfare thing isn’t just a political ploy by the left, it is a real, scorched earth, destroy everything it that’s what it takes, war on the rich.

[Elle Bee]

that's exactly what should be done

Why negotiate against yourself when you will have the majority next month

It's a crappy deal anyway ... the unemployment handout ... the death tax ... the sunset provision on the current tax rate

why go through all this again just before the next election?

To paraphrase Obama ... We Won

.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I read that DeMint wants to fillibuster it also

I think a filibuster is the right thing to do.

But it might be politically wise to let the RATS be held responsible for (temporarily) raising American taxes by allowing the cuts to expire.

Then the new Congress can ride in like the cavalry and save the day.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: he and DeMint can freeze up the lame duck session and we can get a much better deal when the new Congress comes in.

---

Let’s rememebr that EVERY TAX PAYER’s TAXES GO UP in 25 days if no deal is made.

[VeniVidiVici]

Deranged.

[ken5050]

Here's a theory, which I have absolutly NO proof of its validity:

Tin Foil hat alert:

Suppose that a few days ago, Boehner and McConnell were kicking back, enjoying a few brewskis, and they started talking about what they could possibly do to screw with Obama and the Congressional Dems? You know, mess with their minds, fracture the caucuses.etc..well..seems to me, they've pretty much succeeded.

Here's a reason why I think this could be the case. Obama's held two pressers about this deal, and in each case has really laid into the GOP, calling them every name under the sun. Usually, on the Hill, whenever that happens, the other side immediately rushes to the press galleries, and responds with equal vitriol. Yet McConnell and Boehner, and practically all GOP leadership haven't said a thing....hmmm?

[GeronL]

They can do it retroactively in the next session!!

RINO

[Brookhaven]

I almost HAVE to be in favor of anything that pisses Bernie Sanders off this much.

---

Form a purely political standpoint, this is a good thing.

The vast majority of Americans (60+ percent)think extending the Bush tax cuts for everyone makes sense. They couldn’t care less about punishing the rich.

Just as the Democrats actions the last two years shocked people into a reality check (”I had no idea the Democrats were that radical!”), the Democrats reaction to this deal is another example of how radical the Democrats really are.

[untwist]

You make a very valid strategic point. I have been thinking the same. This agreement clearly is not everything that conservatives want. It is really bipartisan and reasonable. The insolent, immature Dem house majority did not act on this before the election because they lack the responsibility to lead on anything. Now that they were massacred and Obama is left naked, they scream out and blame him instead of their sorry selves.

I totally agree that after Obama’s continuous non-presidential behavior, calling the GOP “hostage-takers” is just a first step in seeing this thing collapse and Obama reneging on the deal. The democrats are children, and I think our leadership is playing this one right. Let them melt down and kill any chance of a “bi-partisan” solution. Look for more defections from the dem’s as the only remaining sane ones will be fighting for their own survival.

[Tanniker Smith]

Bernie, if this is such a winning argument, why wasn’t it given in October?

[mewzilla]

For a socialist, Bernie's pretty well off...

Sanders' 2009 Financial Disclosure Form

[Fred Hayek]

Sometimes I think it’s more of a war against the middle class by the political elites, including the limousine liberals. Note Warren Buffet arguing for a tax increase. On one hand it looks like negotiating with the crocodile to be eaten last. On the other hand I suspect it is the political elites’ and the limo liberals’ hostility toward economic mobility. Hey, Georgy Schwartz even admitted to it!
One liberal talker was saying that the average person spends at least 90% of his take home pay, but the rich spend far less, therefore they do not need the money. You mean they don’t invest that surplus for market capitalization, which makes possible more economic activity (more jobs)? According to the current political doctrine, more welfare generates more economic activity (Jerry Moonbeam Brown’s “less jobs, more welfare”. Flush Kalifornia down the toilet).