If someone wants to lose weight, they can choose to cut back on eating or increase exercise. However, the best and quickest way would be to do both at the same time.
But don’t tell that to the Republicans in Congress. Or to their bitch, Barack Obama.
As I am writing this, there are four days to go until the United States economy implodes. I am watching the weak be weak, the fools be foolish, and the incompetent proclaim their Tea Party bona fides, and I am sickened. It’s been a long time since I actually worried for America—as a place, a concept, and an ideal. But I’m worried now.
The average American would look at the current situation, with the national debt spiraling out of control, and agree that something needs to be done. In the past, under similar circumstances, U.S. presidents (including Ronald Reagan) employed Keynesian principles by increasing government spending (and taxes) to get out of the hole. Reagan did it in the 1980s, and the economy responded. In the 1990s, Bill Clinton raised taxes, cut spending and balanced the budget—and the economy roared.
But then came George W. Bush, who lowered taxes for the rich, got the country into two wars (one of which was completely unnecessary) and then fiddled while the Republican Congress burned through taxpayer money at an unprecedented rate. I’m tired of hearing pundits and talking heads ask how long people are going to blame what happened to the economy on Bush. Fifty years from now, in retrospect, what happened beginning in late 2007 will still be on him. That’s never going to change.
If you want to debate whether Barack Obama made things worse, that’s fine. I think he did. He wasted far too much time and political capital getting the watered-down health-care law passed. He should have focused on the economy, and he should have gone big or gone home. He tried a mild Keynesian approach when an all-out assault was called for. (In other situations, increased government spending acted like a bandage on a paper cut. Obama’s modest stimulus package was like a bandage on a gaping chest wound.)
Nevertheless, I will go to my grave believing—knowing!—that a vast majority of Republicans wanted the economy to get worse under Barack Obama, both as a way to ease the inevitable historic sting on George W. Bush and the Republican congresses that spent us into the hole in which we now are trapped, and as an easy excuse to attack Obama in 2012. I’m not sure if they were smart enough to actually sabotage the economy, but I am sure that they are reveling in (and capitalizing on) the misery with which most Americans are currently dealing.
Last December, after taking that ass-whuppin’ in the midterm elections, President Obama got a few things done during a lame-duck session of Congress, prompting some people (including myself) to think that perhaps he wasn’t in over his head after all. Silly me.
What we now know is that, in exchange for the ratification of the New START Treaty and the elimination of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” he allowed the rich to keep their ridiculous Bush tax cuts, and he failed to deal with the ticking time bomb that was (and is) the debt ceiling. He very easily could have tied a vote on the debt ceiling to the Bush tax cuts, but he didn’t (despite then having a solid majority in both houses of Congress), and here we are today.
Still, President Obama is like that girlfriend you once had who was insincere but a really good kisser, or the childhood buddy who became a slacker and a drag as time went by: We keep giving him one more chance. And so, when this current debt-ceiling fight loomed, I thought, “Finally, a chance to do the Democratic thumb test.” (The thumb test is when a man gets his thumbs, puts them in the waistband of whatever garment he happens to be wearing, pulls forward and looks down. If there’s something there, he’s a guy and should act accordingly.)
This was going to be the ultimate no-brainer. Democrats understand that changes are going to need to be made to Social Security and Medicare. (Heck, when Social Security was instituted, the average lifespan of an American man was 58.) And Republicans should understand that taxes are at their lowest rate since the 1950s. A true leader would have outlined a plan where we cut spending and raised certain taxes so as to attack this problem from both ends.
And that’s what Obama did … for about a minute and a half. Then some Republican, somewhere, went out in the middle of the desert and whispered, “Boo,” and Obama surrendered on the tax issue. It’s a shame. He could have pretty much guaranteed himself re-election if he had staked out (and stuck to) a position that hit both sides equally and, in the process, did what was best for America in the short term and the long run. Instead, he went on TV and whined, “Compromise, compromise, compromise,” when he had already abandoned the position of compromise the minute he dropped his call for taxes.
It’s weird. I thought people started shrinking after their 50th birthday.
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2011.
Danhey – still historically challenged. I guess you can get a degree in physics without passing history.
I hope against hope that the Republicans field a candidate I can vote for instead of Obama. But, I’m not hopeful. But, PLEASE….
Indeed. One week ago we were hearing about Boehner’s back being against the wall, that the GOP had gone way overboard in allowing itself to be taken hostage by the teabag numbskulls, and then BHO fixes it all by caving in completely.
What Tom fails to mention are a few facts. When the Democrats held control of all 3 positions what the hell did they do? Obama has NEVER stopped campaigning! Congress NEVER passed a budget! Healthcare ala Obama is a joke! Half a trillion dollars stolen from Medicare to accomplish Jack-shit but to Biden it was a Big Fuckin Deal! Then to top it all off, WAIVERS! WAIVERS! WAIVERS! I would have to type out WAIVERS over 1400 times! A failed stimulus to the tune of over 3/4 of a trillion dollars! Take this jackasses pen the hell away from his ass! Flame me all you want for my comment! Now if you will excuse me, I have a SHOVEL READY JOB to go to!
Sadly Tom is largely correct. Follow the money. We also know from a Yale University study that conservatives will ignore facts about the economy and to mention anything counter to their ideology strengthens their beliefs because they are being opposed by the “liberal left” even though some members of this “liberal left” are well informed conservative economists. Democracy is dependent upon a politically literate electorate. Sadly this is a thing of the past. As the Buddha noted, ignorance is the cause of all suffering. When those in power are ignorant, even more suffer.
I never believed that compromise equaled betrayal. Tom’s simplistic explanations for why the executive and legislative branches act as they do paints the participants with too wide a brush. The responses to his column do the same thing. Pointing fingers at “democrats” or “Tea Party” congressmen is an exercise in polarization and less than helpful in understanding a complex problem. Stop complaining about what they look like and start looking at what they are actually doing, then vote accordingly. You are not going to win them all and some days you’re not going to win any. So buckle up Tom, we’re in for a bumpy ride next election. I’m disappointed in Obama too, but there’s no way in hell I’m voting for any of the current republican pretenders to the throne. “Looking back” at the next election, “pundits” will say, “See, democrats of the day were really centerist because they re-elected someone who, in his first term, voted overwhelmingly on the conservative side.” Nonsense. People , by and large, vote “in the moment”. They will next election, too, when the debt reduction act is but a bitter memory for most voters (notice that I didn’t say most people).
Voting for a Republican to put a Democrat out of office is no different than voting for a Democrat to put a Republican out of office. In Mexico they call our problem phenomenon “la mordida”. In the U.S. we call it “campaign contributions”. Republicans AND Democrats are captured by unlimited corporate money donated to assure elections with advertising blitzkregs.
Maybe AMERICANS ELECT 2012 will provide an effective solution? There’s a web site at http://www.americanselect.org/ saying: “Is this really possible? Yes. In fact, we’ve already collected over a million signatures and are well on the way to securing ballot access in all 50 states. 1,747,557 signatures and counting! When the people vote in our convention next June, they will choose America’s first directly nominated presidential ticket.”
I was an Obama supporter. 2008 was the first time I voted for either a Democrat or Republican in many a presidential election. I contributed $275 to help elect Obama. Before that, I was a third party voter, Ralph Nadar for example. I’m back to being a third party voter from now on. Obama’s promised “change” went into another drawer at the campaign promise morgue.
Comedian Lewis Black once suggested that the U.S. use a different procedure to pick our President. Lewis Black recommended that we strap a parachute on a monkey and “… push the little f***er out of an airplane over our Heartland…”. The first person that the monkey goes up to and reaches for the person’s hand, THAT’s who will be president. Considering the historic results of the procedure we now use to elect our President, there’s a certain amount of merit to Lewis Black’s idea.
You honestly believe that Republicians are trying to sink the U.S. economy as a way to get at Obummer ? Have you ever considered psychiatric help ?
I got a flat tire on my way to the store this morning. That damn George Bush !!
Danehy- How dare you question Obama! You’re a racist and a terrorist. Turn in your Democrat card, and take that Coexist bumper sticker off your hybrid.
Raising taxes is obviously the way to economic recovery. Punish the rich and the corporations because the more money they have, the less the government has to spend on “the less fortunate”, non-wars, and million dollar pensions for disgraced congressmen.
Tom, republicans and democrats both seem to be passing your “thumb test.” Notice how many of them are getting into trouble for being led around by their male genitalia? Sex scandals continue. Good government does not. Politicians should spend less time looking in their pants (and in other people’s pants) and spend more time trying to save our country from bankruptcy as the greed crazed rich take over our country.
Your ridiculous sexist remarks weaken your credibility and the credibility of your other remarks. Just let your sexist remarks go. Be content to refer to our “incompetent” president as “Bend Over Obama.” Most people will agree with you on that.
And the reason he is Bend Over Obama is because he wants that billion dollars in campaign funds from the big rich in hopes of having a second term so he can continue to serve his rich corporate masters and protect them from regulations and taxes.
I think everyone underestimated the fact that tea partiers were willing to tank the entire country just to get their way.
A deal needed to be made and a deal was done. What was the alternative, start defaulting on our debt? Someone had to be the adult and keep the temper tantrum throwing children from ruining the day for everyone. Is it ideal to bribe whiny kids with ice cream? Nope, but it happens.
Before anyone starts saying that the lefty democrats also caused this needs to remember that originally all that was needed was to raise the debt ceiling (which democrats supported) and what happened in the end – they raised the debt ceiling. Nothing prevented congress from just raising it to begin with AND working towards reducing our debt without holding the ceiling hostage and causing all this unnecessary drama. The tea partiers used the debt ceiling to wage their ideological war. The end result was a win for no-one and a loss for everyone.
“You honestly believe that Republicians are trying to sink the U.S. economy as a way to get at Obummer ? Have you ever considered psychiatric help ?”
sorry, CW – those Republicans are beyond the expertise of a psychiatrist…
Kentop, that is exactly the sort of non-representative elections that the founding fathers wanted to protect against. The politicians need only appeal to those in the big cities and wait for the votes to roll in. Rural and suburban? You will lose your vote.
Regarding the Danehy opinion article- BO has spearheaded the biggest Keynesian spending spree in history! What has been the result? NO GDP growth, 9% unemployement, inflation, and debt that will be felt for generations to come. Get an economic clue and pull your head out of the BO.
I suppose the millions and millions of people who voted them in last Nov. are beyond help, too.
Deano first of all Bush was equally responsible for the economic stimulus spending have you forgotten? Although I do know people who direct got jobs as a result of the economic stimulus I am still waiting to see how those Bush tax cuts for the wealthy spurred the economy…
For those who doubt Danehy’s notion of the Republican party bringing down the economy in order to devalue Obama’s presidency, simply do a little homework: It isn’t difficult to find video of Mitch McConnell saying he will work tirelessly to make Obama a one term president. Too bad he didn’t work tirelessly considering the larger picture of what a broken economy and a broken political system will do to this country.
I also disagree respectfully with Tom Degan, who states that the TeaParty owns Washington. Washington including our president is owned by corporate interests. The working class hero, the middle class is in a state of atrophy. Obama is smart but weak. Bush was stupid, but strong. Everyone is working for re-election and my urge to vote or care is diminishing rapidly. Who would be insane enough to inherit this mess? Remember, love him or hate him, Bill Clinton balanced the budget, and the economy did quite well during that period.
As bleak as it is, Daney said it straight and well.
Please stop the political pandering bs. Keynesian principles, Regan, Clinton have little to do with today’s economical malaise. Deleveraging of debt has a clamp on demand around the globe. It takes time to solve. Academians have been warning all along & still on track forecasting 3-5 years to go. US household debt is DOWN to 116% of after-tax income. Jobs? What company is going to hire unless there’s an increase in demand for it’s goods or service? Both R’s & D’s will continue to spit out their sound bites “elect us, we can solve the problem”. Both know, or should know, that gov’t can’t; there’s not enough currency at US Treasury nor ability to print it. Who wants WW III to solve the problem.
Bob Johnson
“I suppose the millions and millions of people who voted them in last Nov. are beyond help, too.”
since when do Rethuglicans care about the people voting for them?
As or is that ass? Lay off the cool aid , pal.
…class act 13 yr old…
I’m too old and too smart for pissing contests. Long ago my father taught me not to get into a war of wits with an unarmed person. Let me say this. If you re-read what I said it was all about how the people voted in the last election. I have no idea how ” Rethuglicans” feel about those who pulled the lever next to their name. Maybe some care, maybe others don’t. Could’nt tell ya. But I know this. If you think all Demoncunts care about the people who voted for them then you need to get out of the attic and join the rest of us. I think the heats gotten to you.
Notice the failure on the part of the author to mention the “92 DEMOCRATS” who voted with the Republicans! Do Liberals call them folks DINO”s? Cheap shots are just that, CHEAP shots! Like any politician gives a rats ass what we think!
CW – from the level of your Talking Points ®, I would not have guessed you were either old or smart. If all you have to offer is regurgitated bromides from the old man – then you didn’t learn very much from him. I know for sure that I, for one- am tired of folks like you who seem to think you can intimidate others with a string of non sequiturs. Open wide, troll – feeding you has been kinda fun…
If my talking points are so dumb how come you refuse to addres them. All you’ve fed me is more reasons to be a proud member of the right. Talk to ya in Nov. 2012. By the way is that your real picture?? Looks alot more like a troll than I do.
it’s your refuse I’m refusing; and some smart-ass making comments gives you reasons to be proud? -that’s pathetic. By the way, is that what you consider a real question? You’re nothing more than a schoolyard bully…
I know. Thanks to lads like you I never had to pay for my lunch as a school kid.
…I’m sure those skills served you well in prison…
I’m still alive, ain’t I ?
TeaPublicans and Corporatists fixed the bill so there’s NO REVENUE at all–first time that’s happened. So, if they want to continue to shill for the richest Americans, I say tax the wealthiest at 100%–then they’ll have to meet us halfway.
brain-dead, but alive – which puts you in front of most politicians…and game-show hosts…
Don’t you mean talk show hosts ? Brain dead? Now, that’s not very civil.
Grandma8, I have a better idea. Let’s gather together the 100 most wealthy Americans. Now we take every penny they have. Not only their money, but everything from their Corp. jets to the milk in their fridge. Just think now we can run the country for a whole month. I’ll never understand the class warfare mentality that Obummer has poisoned people’s minds with. What’s wrong with wealth ? Is there any chance these people actually worked for it ? Before I worked for the County I worked for the Ramada hotel chain and Otis elevator Co. Two huge Corperations. Rich, mean and greedy in your eyes. However, they gave me the oppertunity to go to work every day and provide for my family for almost 25 years. Too bad they weren’t taxed out of business years ago. I could have been on welfare and food stamps ,too. TeaPublicians ??!! I love you people !!
Danehy has lost is marbles, as the Democrats can do no wrong…lol. Come on…hahah.
The Bill Clinton balanced budget is total BS….do your homework ! Do a fact check!
I beg to differ. You can’t lose something you never had. You want a liberal to check a FACT ?? If Danehy ever got within 10 feet of a fact, he’d break out in hives !!