After ignoring congressional Republicans for 22 months and 10 days, President Obama hosted a “come together, right now” session with them Tuesday. The topic: the Bush tax cuts—on income, capital gains and dividends—that are set to expire at the stroke of midnight, Dec. 31.

The atmospherics at the White House on Tuesday were good, but the meeting isn’t likely to produce a quick agreement on substance. A lot of attention has been paid to congressional Republicans, whose strong desire to preserve the Bush rates is apparent. Less attention has been paid to the Democrats—among whom there is no consensus about what to do.