GOP: Still the “party of no,” unless you make more than $250K a year

Today, all 42 Senate Republicans signed a letter informing Harry Reid that they would block any “legislative item” in the Senate unless and until the Bush tax cuts are extended. Now, let’s be clear: the tax cuts the GOP is determined to extend are tax cuts to Americans making over $250,000 a year.  The Democrats would agree in a New York minute to extend the tax cuts for those making $250K or less, i.e., for everyone but the richest Americans.  In fact, House Democrats plan to vote on a permanent extension for all but the richest of us tomorrow morning.  House Republican Eric Cantor has dismissed that vote as a “non-starter” and “political chicanery.”

The legislative items that are being held hostage by the GOP include, inter alia, extending unemployment benefits and ratifying the New Start Treaty.  Seems nothing – including fundamental fairness and nuclear non-proliferation – is as important as making sure that the richest Americans don’t have to contribute their fair share to the common weal.

FML – we are sooooooo screwed.