The fight over extending the Bush tax cuts moved forward yesterday, with Senate Republicans failing to block the Obama administration's proposal to extend the tax cuts for 98% of the population.

As TPM reports:

 Senate Democrats have accomplished a feat they were unable to muster back in 2009 and 2010, when they had a much larger majority: On Wednesday, they passed a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone’s first $250,000 in income.

The legislation prevailed 51-48 — a vote that signals Democrats would ultimately be willing to allow tax cuts for high-income earners to expire at the end of the year.

To my mind, there are two good things about this. First, it makes clear that the Republicans don't give a rat's ass about anyone except the richest people in the country. Second, it demonstrates that the Democrats were willing to stand up to the Republicans, and would, as TPM points out, let the tax cuts for the rich expire.

It's a start.