Posted on 08/04/2010 12:26:32 PM PDT by Thebaddog
Robert Reich had a thought-provoking piece in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Unfortunately, his argument begins to fall apart two thirds of the way through.
Reich argues:
A stimulus too small to significantly reduce unemployment, a TARP that didn't trickle down to Main Street, financial reform that doesn't fundamentally restructure Wall Street, and health-care reforms that don't promise to bring down health-care costs have all created an enthusiasm gap. They've fired up the right, demoralized the left, and generated unease among the general population...
The administration deserves enormous credit. It accomplished as much as it possibly could with a fragile 60 votes in the Senate, a skittish Democratic majority in the House, and a highly-disciplined Republican opposition in both chambers. Yet Bismarck's dictum about politics as the art of the possible is not altogether correct.
The real choice is between achieving what's possible within the limits of politics as given, or changing that politics to extend those limits and thereby more assuredly achieve intended goals. The latter course is riskier but its consequences can be more enduring and its mandate more powerful, as both Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan demonstrated.
So far, Barack Obama has chosen the former course. Despite the remarkable capacities he displayed during the 2008 campaign to inspire and rally Americans behind him, as president he has for the most part opted for an inside game.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Too small?
Dr. Reich, the "stimulus" failed because the monies were not aimed at the private sector, they were "filtered" (and thus neutered) through federal bureaucricies before arriving to the private sector. The little amount that did arrive to the private sector was a one-time hit, which would not cause capital to leave comfortable places to be put at risk. We have here, Dr. Reich, a QUALITATIVE problem, not a quantitative one.
bump for later..
He is a failed abortion?
When he goes below 30% he’ll go Castro or Hitler. Remember their speeches? Spitting mad, that’s where Bozo is headed. All the smooth cool guy goes out the window- bring on the psycho- burn baby, burn.
That’s when Congress has to move and move fast. No pussy footin around and forget the politics. Remove him from office, put all of his policys on hold until the ramifications to the country are figured out. But......I doubt that our Congress, of today, can think that fast.
A “fragile 60 votes in the Senate”??
Oh cry me a F’n river, you liberal squirt!
How many Presidents have had that kind of majority in Congress?
“...What Went Wrong with Obama?...”
My first guess would be EVERYTHING.
Another good question, What went wrong with Reich?
People really are stupid enough to trust in simple messages like "hope" and "change"...
...only to now be in a position to hope that what little change that is left in their pockets lasts...
What went wrong? His administration is wrong.In spades. Er. That’s un-p/c. Clubs would be a better analogy. sd
His mother failed to put him up for adoption. Had she done this, he would have had a shot of being raised in a loving family.
He lied about everything and the press amplified and reinforced the lies. Then once in power Obama showed his true colors Bob. But you already knew that didn’t you, you mini liar.
They get it, they just think they can fool enough people enough of the time.
PRESIDENT: WHAT HAPPEN?
5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage." Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals (Obozos playbook)
It's hard to read past a statement like that. A filibuster proof majority is "fragile"?
I fear you may be right.
I really do.
Nothing.
What went wrong with the American citizen may be more relevant.
From day one the
"...time for change is now!" made my hair stand on end.
If I am cured of cancer that is change.
If I get cancer, that is also change.
If you tell me change is coming, I need to know whether I should panic or rejoice.
When doofus started screaming change, my first reaction was, What change??!!?
For two years the question was never answered.
No one else even thought it was worth asking!
And here we are.
Did someone say "the IQ same as the freezing point of water?"
I would rather stick it out for the next 2.5 years with Obama as an incompetent, increasingly ineffectual, lame-duck than risk having a 'president -- Joe -- Biden' and the possibility he might get "reelected" in 2012.
Furthermore, if Obama were to resign or be impeached any time after 2 years and 1 day in to his term, or the potential would exist (and however unlikely it might be I would not want to risk it) for us to have to live with almost SIX years of 'president -- Joe -- Biden'.
But, if we grit our teeth, oppose Obama every time he is wrong, and let him continue to fail then we can be rid of both of them in 2012.
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