They should. They need to hold the line on spending cuts if Obama insists on restoring the top rates on very high incomes.

If they do it right, Obama will get the blame if the tax rates on everyone are restored. I don't think it's likely they'll play it right. They've never shown any talent or ability in this regard before, anyway.

The Republicans can make a strong historical argument that agreements to raise taxes and cut spending are good at following through on the tax-raising and horrible at following through on the spending-cutting. While they like to play that as something entirely due to Democrats, the truth is that members of Congress all love spending OPM (Other People's Money), especially if it helps get them reelected. That's why Republican Congressmen were lined up at ribbon-cutting ceremonies across the country from the stimulus spending in '09 that they, to a man, opposed.

Even so, and even with the memory of the profligate Republican government we had for six years under Bush the Younger, the Republicans could still seize the mantle of fiscal conservatism. It's not as if the Democrats are really going to fight them for it. Not seriously, anyway.


Of course, the first step is one that Republicans have never shown a willingness to do: cut spending by sacrificing their own sacred cows. That would give them the moral authority to demand more spending cuts than the President (so far) seems willing to yield.

“Nobody has a legitimate reason to fear a faithful interpretation of the Constitution, and nobody has any legitimate reason to fear effective and complete protection of civil rights." - Alan Gura