( – promoted by Sue Prent)

As a big “Thank You” to the Democratic overture of last week, the Repblican cohort of Cat Food Commission II has generously offered to raise revenues by $500 billion dollars LESS than they had offered to raise them over the summer.

Though, to be fair, out of the kindness of their hearts, they plan to spare the top earners from any worrisome tax increases, instead gutting those features of the tax code that help the middle class, such as the home mortgage interest deduction and deductions of state and local taxes.

Isn’t it awesome? Don’t you love how our clever Democratic Congress people, thoughtfully reach across the aisle to so effectively keep the other guys from dumping us into the piranha tank? Oh, wait, we’re being dropped into the tank anyway? Oops. No one could have predicted that would happen (heh).

So what if we’re stripped to the bone to further fuel the wealth hoarders’ gluttonous habits? At least the Democrats are friendly!

But here’s my favorite part:

Plus, there is a huge catch: in order to agree to raising revenue, Republicans want to not only make all of the Bush tax cuts permanent, but according to the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent, they also want to lower the top income tax rate from its current 35 percent to 28 percent:

   The highest tax rate would be reduced from 35 percent to 28 percent under the emerging GOP tax code overhaul proposal, the senior Democratic aide tells me. And the reduction would actually be even bigger than this. After all, if the Bush tax cuts were allowed to expire, as they’re set to do, the high end rate would go up to at least 39 percent. In other words, the aide says, under the proposal Republicans are pushing, the drop down to 28 percent would be at least 10 percentage points from what it would be if the cuts are allowed to expire.

To translate: the Republicans are offering to screw the middle class as a gift to Democrats, as long as the Democrats agree to screw the whole country in return.  

Here’s where letters like the one signed last week blaze a trail of stupidity across the sky:

By being vague and conciliatory, the signatories opened the door for the Republicans to create a lose-lose scenario.

Ok, Congressman Welch, looks like you guys have created an awesome outcome! Now, will you vote to end the home mortgage deduction and implement all sorts of austerity, while cutting taxes on the people who ruined the economy? Or will you let the poison pill take effect, resulting in all sorts of austerity, but at least gaining a bit of revenue without also destroying the last vestige of the housing market?

Might I make a suggestion? Stop playing these “clever” tactical games that make the entire caucus look like a bunch of strategic idiots when the Republicans inevitably turn around and kick us in the teeth.

As one insider put it, in response to this proposed Republican “concession”: “They either think we’re morons or desperate.” Alas, I’m guessing they think you’re both.

[edited to fix 2 typos]

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