Robert Kuttner: Daschle Too Timid To Take On Bush Tax Cut:

“(W)hen Democrats try to blame Bush for this year’s escalating deficit, Republicans can easily demonstrate that most of the current fiscal deterioration is the result of the recession.

That, of course, misses the real point, which is that the big tax cut misallocates national resources for the long term. Worse, instead of making national priorities the issue, Democrats make deficits the issue.

The Democrats are also loath to draw the logical conclusion that most of the 10-year tax cut should be repealed. Bush has vowed that this would occur ”over my dead body,” a vow reminiscent of his fathers famous braggadocio (”Read my lips, no new taxes”). But the Democrats should take up Bush II’s challenge.” The American Prospect