McCain Math 1+1=7

It's been so nice and quiet - with John McCain on his boyhood tour of memories. So as the Democrats slog it out, and take turns drinking beer and bowling - Johnny has been able to get a pass from the media on all things that might resemble issues. Wise move.

Yesterday, under pressure from someone or something, McCain came out with his economic 'plan'. Wow.

I did a triple take. Everyone gets what they want. McCain gets to continue in Iraq. The Bush tax cuts are made permanent (the tax cuts McCain opposed!). There's relief for foreclosures that are the result of the mortgage mess, and - wait for it - CORPORATE TAX RELIEF. I love that one.

Oh, and for those of us who think that maybe - just maybe - there's some connection between the overall state of the economy and the staggering windfall profits being raked in by oil companies - McCain is going to deal with that too.

How? By rolling back the Federal Government's 18 cent per gallon gas tax. Really. Truly. This is great math.

We'll collect less taxes. We'll spend more money. We'll give tax breaks to corporations. And in the end - we'll come out ahead. How? Well, McCain did say that would take until his second term. And since he'll be 72 when he enters office, what he means is when he's 78 or so -we'll have a balanced budget.

This is the kind of political pandering that only comes with years of experience in Washington. Promise everyone whatever they want - and sort it out later.

If the purpose was to show that John McCain has a handle on the economy - he's done that for sure. He's proven that he's prepared to continue the 8 years of Bush reckless spending, corporate give-a-ways, and and gleeful military spending without any hint of a plan as to how it all works out.

Wow. I can't wait to see his plan for Social Security. That one is sure to be a doozy.

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Comments

[PuritanDescendant]

McCain was right - economics is not his strength. Good thing he's worth 100million, otherwise he might have difficulty balancing his checking account each month.

The economy was humming along before Bush's tax cuts, and the federal budget was balanced. Given that the Clinton-era tax rates coexisted with a strong economy, why on earth should a return to those rates be a concern? Furthermore, the Bush tax cuts were intentionally temporary and not permanent, because it was not clear at the time what effect the cuts would have. Republicans believed that supply-side effects would compensate for the decreased revenue, Dems were skeptical. After many years the supply-side bump has not appeared. These cuts are proven budget busters and should not be renewed.

Does McCain really believe his economic outline is realistic? Or, is he now in the camp of various conservatives, Bush included, who would shrink or eliminate disfavored federal programs by starving them of oxygen, that is, by massively underfunding the federal government and hoping that the resulting dilemma of raising taxes or cutting programs would result in the latter?

We don't need tax cuts, what we need are fundamental changes in the economy that improve people's spending power and standard of living. Reduction of the trade imbalance, reduction of the federal deficit (at least to the point where interest does not go overseas), and reducing oil imports would be huge. Improving the efficiency of the healthcare system would have enomous dividends.

[HotSpringsSteve]

kralcmot,

Sorry, I didnt mean to leave anyone out. Who knows about Barak, the day may come when he is walking away form the podium, after his inauguration, and is heard softly saying 'Praise Allah'.

But no matter what he does, you can bet that the other two are rightly called, the representative of the wolves and the one who will gladly sell you to the wolves.

Steve

[SamThornton]

Repeal that 18-cent gas tax? Brilliant idea. Why squander all that money on highways and bridges when, if we starve them for money, they'll collapse on their own and we won't have to worry about them any more. Now, if we can just figure out a way to get all those pesky seniors to drop dead. With the exception of obvious geniuses such as Sen. McCain and his fellow millionaires, of course.

[kralcmot]

ok, Steve, you caught McCain making politician promises....but for the sake of fairness, how about commenting on the promises made by Barack Obama.....his list is at least as long and certainly no more likely to be delivered.

we voters are choosing between promises not realistic programs from both of these candidates.

we will vote on what we want, not on what we really expect. we learned long ago not to really think the President can deliver what he/she promised. There is the little problem of Congress. And money. And very strong entrenched interests on both sides of any issue.

[HotSpringsSteve]

Yep. thats him.
He has taken the role of being the representative of the wolves, as opposed to Hillary, the one who would gladly sell you to the wolves.