I’ve come to the same conclusion. The GOP cannot be that stupid. They had to know this issue would help obama. They should have signed onto this thing up front and then hammer away that the dems only gave up a 2 month cut while the repubs wanted a year. Then hammer that in 2 months we’re going to fight ‘til death for a one year extension. So the only explanation as to why they chose to do this at Christmas is to hand the election to the dems.
I think the same thing about unemployment benefits. If the republicans can get it cut to 59 weeks less people are on the rolls and thus the unemployment rate goes down. The republicans get blamed for shafting the little guy while obama gets credit for lowering unemployment.
Finally, I think the republican takeover of the house, and the failure to take the senate thanks to the GOP elite, was done so obama would have someone to blame going into the election. Anyone want to take bets that obama gets re-elected?