President Obama's speech hit all the right notes. He provided a background and context for the debt challenge. He laid the blame for this challenge squarely where it belongs, most recently on the disastrous Bush administration and its accompanying Republican Congresses, but he also referenced the Reagan-era debt follies that had to be rescued by President Clinton.
He described the real damage to real people and to the nation the Republican ideological program would lead us. He correctly stated that higher tax rates on the wealthy were not a punishment but a fair return to the country and system that provided them the opportunity to become so wealthy. He recalled that tax rates paid by the upper crust were at historical lows. He contrasted his vision of the future with the apocalyptic future the Republican budget guaranteed.
Most importantly, he spoke of America's economic greatness as a mix of individual and collective (i.e., government) actions. The president's answer to laissez-faire was not government programs alone, but a mix of the private and public sectors. That is how our economy has hummed in the past. He spoke of our embracing the twin themes of individualism and collective (i.e., government) actions as our historical social contract.
But it was not only his speech, but its timing and its underlying strategy that were also perfect. By waiting until the Republicans had committed to their ridiculous, draconian budget, he has Congressional members pinned down, with those supposedly running for president providing at least conceptual approval.
Now, Senator Reid, bring the Ryan Budget to a vote in your chamber. Just do it, dammit. Act strategically. Let the country witness how many of the Republican Senators will vote for it. I will supply the popcorn.
It is critical that the president and Congressional Democrats apply the pressure. Hit the campaign trail. Hold rallies. Remind people not only that Medicare is critical for health care for the elderly, but that it also frees their children from the crushing financial burden of paying for their parents' health care when they, inevitably, become ill. That is, it is a benefit to all generations, not just those who are currently covered.
There should be no talk about concessions to Republicans to raise the debt ceiling. None. The Republicans' Wall Street paymasters will get the debt ceiling raised.
But, on the flip side, if this turns out to be just another powerful speech by Obama and is not followed by substantial ACTION in beating back the extremist conservative's agenda, then Obama will have irretrievably lost any hope of regaining credibility. I applaud the speech. Now let's see the action that backs it up. I'll be the first to say "Thank god I was wrong!"
Got that right. All the TP wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth is kabuki theater. Meanwhile, behind the money curtain Boehner and McConnell are desperately trying to figure out how to appear to not do what they are in fact about to do.
Here's and analogy - right wing supporters keep talking about earning $100 & spending $150 as the issue. They fail to (knowingly, conveniently) mention that the earning was brought down to $100 from $150 by the tax breaks for the rich. And the spending was increased to $150 by the un-warranted wars!! Also, they conveniently don't mention the re-distribution of wealth from the middle class to the super rich which by the way also contributed to decreasing the income. That's because for each $100 the middle class pay approx. $28 in taxes whereas the effective tax for the super rich is $15.. a straight $13 loss to the exchequer !!! Go figure !
And then there will be some people who are always opposed to him no matter what.
The third option is to be independnent and realistic. I think what we are seeing is that Obama finally has a better team in place now that he has jettisoned Rahm and that wimp Pete Rouse. There are two basic questions...is it too little too late and will Obama follow through this time or is he going to be knon as the guy who talks loudly and always drops the stick?
PLUS the fact that I truly believe that Obama has been a far better president since the midterms. I've always predicted that he would have to go center-left his 1st term... Center-center to get reelected... Then he can bolt to the left his second term
So Far So Good...
Speeches are really only significant when the contextualize related actions.
Obama has shown he has difficulty with the action part. He tends to think his job is done once he has delivered his speech, but really that just is the start.
funds to continue Medicare and Medicaid as currently structured. What is all too
clear after being insulted yet again by Obama's pretense at being fiscally responsible, is that the necessary restraint on spending will not be enacted,
interest rates and inflation will rise, the country will be unable to continue to
finance its debt, the dollar will continue crashing and the financial chaos of 2008
will become a fond memory in comparison to the pending nightmare. Obama's
refusal to accept the immediacy of the danger is astounding. Not that the Repubs have a winning plan either but any hope for common sense reentering
D.C. was lost with Obama's nonsensical proposal. Arguing over which party
is worse is all that's left.
And were you dozing off when the president mentioned sustained spending cuts as integral part of the strategy. FYI, the spending:increased revenue (additional taxes) ratio is 3:1. i.e. for each $3 cut in spending, only $1 increase in revenue. What part of this doesn't make sense to you???
He negotiated a budget "compromise" that only spend 352 Million (yes that's a M) less than current levels through the end of the fiscal year (based on CBO score) and that the rest can be changed in the next budget.
So all you lefties out there realize he only gave Boehner talking points (based on "future" reductions) but no reality (no cuts now)- he fights and wins better than you all give him credtit for! and I for one expect that to continue.
And if this compromise falls apart - we will have a new Speaker! or Boehner becomes Arafat to Obama's Isreal (why would I negotiate with someone who cannot deliver the deal?), and the Senate (where Obama has control) will take a front seat in future negotiations.
After all he is the "smartest guy in the room" when matched against any Sitting republican or any 2012 candidate!
Wait a minute, you are getting this worked up over a 10 pound elephant?? That's the weight of a house cat.
Are you counting that Nobel in there? Or maybe the fact that he has never had a real job, or created a damn thing?
Obama will, at best, go down as a mediocre president, at worst go down as the president who bankrupted the nation.
i look forward to the upcoming GOP implosion