So, apparently we won’t be going cliff-diving to start the year. Or curb jumping, or slope rolling, or whatever it would be if we were to do it, which we totally may if the House of Representatives holds to its current level of sanity.
One note to NBC News, which had this paragraph in the above story as of this morning:
First, the last time Richard Shelby was a Democrat was before Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House, so that’s a solid 18 years ago. Second, it might have been more illuminating to note the actual Democratic nays: Harkin, of Iowa, Bennett, of Colorado, and Carper, of Delaware.
The best thing about this deal is that it extends long-term unemployment benefits. But I’m not sure why the end of the payroll tax holiday couldn’t have been phased in over two years, since that is, in fact, a tax increase on the lower and middle classes – one the GOP was apparently happy to let happen.
Anyway, this has been a stupid process caused by the massive dysfunction on one legislative branch of government. Seriously – does anyone think the last week of House craziness would have happened if Nancy Pelosi were in charge?
Anyway, happy new year. Looks like we have more of this to come.
I live in Southern California, grew up in New York and Minneapolis, and have family scattered in three countries. I am a liberal, and woe be to anyone who says that with any sort of moronic disclaimer (i.e. “I’m a liberal but I’m not crazy” or “I’m a liberal but I still believe terrorism is bad”). I’m a liberal, OK? No apologies. However, I do think, when I hear the word uttered by some people, of Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Mutant Poodle 
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