Punting?!?

I had the chance today to chat for a few minutes with a man I've met a few times over the years. He works as a janitor, and his wife was laid off a few months ago from her job as a bank teller. We got to talking about politics, and he said something I'll never forget. "I'd like to think that at least one party still cared about us working people. It ain't like that though, both of 'em knock themselves out doing favors for the rich guys. Main difference seems to be that the Republicans don't even pretend to care about us any more."

Here's the problem for the Democrats. They still have some benefit from not being Republicans. Yet they don't generate much enthusiasm, and many ordinary Americans are beginning to wonder if they might not be Republicans in disguise. Running from confrontations with Republicans will only heighten this skepticism. Today's apparent decision by Senate Democrats, to delay voting on letting the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans, may have disastrous consequences. Losing a few big-money donors might be tough. Losing control over the House and Senate will be much tougher. President Obama seems to have done his part in setting up a positive atmosphere for this vote. If his Senate colleagues drop this ball they'll only have themselves to blame.