Bring It On (For Once), Mr. President

Now that you've saved the debt hostage, what next? Negotiate with terrorists to avoid future hostage taking or send in the political Seal team to double tap their asses?

Why not the latter, Mr. President? You've gone out of your way to show middle-of-the-road voters that you're willing to yield to avert a default catastrophe.

Now that the bullet is dodged, how about returning some fire! The process set up in the debt deal you're about to sign is open-ended enough to turn the tables on Republicans who seemed so willing to crash the government's credit standing to make an ideological point.

Stick to your guns on parity between military and domestic spending cuts. Stop hinting that you would entertain entitlement reform that endangers the health and economic status of the least secure among us.

And for God's sake, get serious about ending the joy ride for wealthy taxpayers and big business interests brought on by George W. Bush's deficit-busting tax cuts.

Also on Craig's blog: Where is the Outrage? How can unhappy Democrats pressure Obama to remain faithful?

 

 

 

Follow Craig Crawford on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craig_crawford

Comments

[BarbaraElaine]

05:18 PM on 08/02/2011

He fights his battles on Republican terms. Is anyone really surprised by now? I'm sick of hearing his lectures and rhetoric and then not following through on what he says that he wants. Actions speak louder than words. I'm convinced that he not only doesn't have the courage of his convictions but really doesn't have strong convictions in the first place.

I voted for him even though he wasn't my first choice. He's proven to me that he doesn't deserve re-election. Remember the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. For me it means my expecting him to change - maybe next time. Not any more.

[Cleverboots]

04:02 PM on 08/02/2011

He hasn't got the the gumption. That's one reason he doesn't deserve re-election.

[Scott Fraley]

11:09 AM on 08/02/2011

Yep, that about sums it up. Someone I don't believe he's actually going to follow your advice.

[GHarry]

08:24 AM on 08/02/2011

Are you kidding? Obama just kicked the can down the road, past the election, which is what the Democrats do best. When the Gang of 12 starts carving up Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- while making only token cuts to the Pentagon budget -- Obama will sit by and do nothing to stop them, as usual. Ah, Democratic presidents -- they are just Republican presidents wearing different labels designed to fool the rubes on election day.

[Countess]

08:19 AM on 08/02/2011

I think this agreement is in keeping with the philosophy and priorities of Obama who is a very conservative president and we now know that he wants to cut social security and medicare because he put them on the table himself.

[Dianekkdi]

07:45 AM on 08/02/2011

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2021446/US-debt-Joe-Biden-incendiary-comments-debt-deal.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/la-pn-biden-remarks-20110801,0,540463.story

Joe Biden is apparently under fire for fighting back. Let's show him some support. If he said it, he is exactly right. These republicans might as well be terrorists; they are destructive and stupid.

[4U5]

07:12 AM on 08/02/2011

This is a bitter pill, indeed.

[John D Rachel]

06:49 AM on 08/02/2011

I think you are reading Obama wrong. He is for a bigger military, more drone attacks and imperial intervention, more surveillance at home. He has a Caesar complex. And he is definitely not going to raise taxes on his Wall Street buddies and the other corporate fat cats that will ante up for his reelection.

With all due respect, I think you can find better things to wish for. World peace. A condo on Mars. Dinner for two with God pouring His favorite chablis.

[JohnFromCensornati]

06:38 AM on 08/02/2011

I don't think it's right to assume that he's unhappy with these "bipartisan" outcomes.

[FogBelter]

04:11 AM on 08/02/2011

I appreciate a tweet I received from Greg Palast tonight:

"As part of the debt deal, Republicans will graciously allow ex-President Obama to live in the White House until the 2012 election."

[Imzadi]

06:31 AM on 08/02/2011

Ouch!