Taxes will go up for the "rich". There's no way around this. If Republicans give in to Obama, only the rich get thrown under the bus. If Republicans hold firm and we go over the cliff, everybody's taxes go up --and then Obama and the Dems can later ride in on a white horse with tax cuts for the lower 98%.
Fact is, taxing the "rich" is popular right now. Poll after poll shows roughly 60% support. House Republicans are in a lose/lose situation and if everyone's taxes go up, they'll get blamed.
This SHOULD be obvious to all Republicans by now. It gave Dems an issue for 4 years: ‘those tax cuts caused EVERY problem we have.’ And Bohners members would end up begging him to let them vote on a partial extension anyway.
I did a vanity on this to answer those nutbags who claim that O will get the blame if the GOP refuses to extend the <$250K for everyone.