Just When You Thought It Was Safe . . .

It looked like we'd be getting an extension of the payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed, but today Republicans opted to send the extension bill passed by the Senate in a bipartisan vote into conference between the two chambers.  House Republicans thus avoid the responsibility of voting against the extensions by technically voting for Senate co-operation on a bill they won't vote on without a conference and compromise.  Republicans insist that they'd prefer a one-year extension rather than a two-month extension for these cuts and benefits - and bringing this bill up in conference would obviously allow them to dictate their terms for the provisions for a one-year extension.  Maybe a one-year extension is better than a two-month extension, but at least a two-month extension of these key incentives would buy some time for Congress.  And with 2012 being a leap year, we'd at least get a one-day extension built in before a necessary vote on extending them longer by March 1!

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) hopes that public pressure against House Republicans wall cause them to cave in and approve the Senate bill.  Right.  What planet is Schumer living on? House Republicans don't cave - Senate Democrats do!

Oh yeah, the Stop Online Piracy Act is back on the front burner.  Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), a key proponent of the legislation, is pushing for a House vote on the bill this week before the holiday break despite earlier indications that it would not happen immediately.

No rest or satisfaction for the good guys. Stay thirsty, my friends.    

Pols and Polls

Barack Obama came out swinging on the unemployment insurance issue, accusing Republicans of playing politics with benefit extensions and saying they have a lot of gall to complain about the deficit after having created it out of a surplus in the first place. He prodded the Senate to overcome obstructionism and pass the benefit extension bill. A lot of liberals were pleased that Obama was fired up and speaking so forcefully on the side of the people.

Ah, but why did Obama wait until West Virginia's interim senator Carte Goodwin was appointed and after Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine made it clear they would support the legislation, giving Obama the votes he needs?

President Obama, always calculating and cautious, only seems to pick fights he knows he can win. That's why you don't see him pressing for another stimulus bill, although economists are calling for one; he has neither the votes nor public support. On the latter issue, it turns out that the voters now have his back on this one. I incorrectly reasoned that voters didn't pay much attention to the unemployment benefits issue because it affects few people. New polls released last week, though, show Americans approving of benefit extensions even at the expense of increasing the budget deficit. Also, because general concern about the deficit and the debt - also borne out in the polls - is boosting Republican chances in the midterm elections, Obama is trying to turn that against the GOP as well. Obama's passion is genuine, but his timing seems too contrived and too calculated. But then, after Robert Gibbs's faux pas on "Meet the Press" last Sunday regarding the possibility of a GOP takeover of the House in November, mabe a little calculation is necessary .

I just wish Obama would be more like this when he's fighting a losing cause. Maybe fighting for a public insurance option in health care reform was a lost cause, despite its popularity, but being more aggressively for it would have re-assured the base of the Democratic party. Some say this is a turning point and that Obama is coming right out saying "No more Mr. Nice Guy," and yes, this time he means it. Maybe. But if you support a policy opposed by the Republicans without the public support or the votes behind it, the White House isn't likely a reliable ally to have.