Obama's Gambit to the Left

Fresh off a speech on jobs before a joint session of Congress, President Obama has just announced his intention to make law what is being called the "Buffet Rule."  The so-called Buffet Rule would essentially bring parity to our (progressive) tax system by making the rich and corporations pay their fair share.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Obama will propose an array of tax increases on the highest earners: limiting deductions for families earning more than $250,000, levying minimum taxes on those earning more than $1 million, and taxing the “carried interest” at some investment partnerships as personal income rather than at lower capital gains rates. Mr. Obama said he would use the extra revenue to finance a short-term economic stimulus and long-term deficit reduction.

The question is, is this a line in the sand to recalcitrant Republicans who have repeatedly threatened to torpedo this latest jobs proposal by the president?  Is it an olive branch to the left who have for some time felt betrayed by this president?  Or is it both?

For my part, I have been encouraged by President Obama's apparent rediscovery of his populist roots.  I know that many on the left still see him as feckless at best, and I can understand that position. But right now, we're at war with a right-wing that is at its worst in a long decade of worst moments.  The question for the left is, which side are you on?