For what it's worth, I first saw this on PBS’s Nightly Business Report with Suzanne Pratt and Tom Hudson, and it was reported simply as the extension being denied. Only by Congress, no political party was mentioned and no blame/credit was given.
But the measure was set forth to Congress as a "Fast Track Bill which necessitates a 2/3 vote. The Pelosi Democrat led House set it up to fail. It's a Machiavellian strategy that Pelosi is so adept, so practiced.Remember the media talk/headlines of the last three weeks...'Republicans won'...'Republicans swept the elections nationwide'...Tea Party Republicans surprise the nation!!! We must remember a vast USA populace thinks the Repubicans are NOW in control of the HOUSE (ignorant of the fact that House Republicans just assume control in Janaury 2011).
The Obama entitlement voter will naturally blame the Republicans as not for the poor people...just for the rich.
As in the past two decades...the Republicans just do not have an adequate message nor messenger.
I thank god the Republican messenger is not one of the 2/3rds of the people involved in this thread.