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This time, triangulation's not an option
NY Post ^ | November 3, 2010 | DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Posted on 11/04/2010 2:07:42 AM PDT by Scanian

Now that President Obama has experi enced the same baptism of fire as President Bill Clinton did in the 1994 midterm elections, the obvious question is: Will he move to the center in a bid to save his presidency and win re-election?

The move worked well for Clinton: He sought to combine the best aspects of each party's program in a third approach that became known as triangulation.

But Obama won't follow suit because he can't, even if he wants to. Today's issues are different from those that separated the parties in 1994 and don't lend themselves to common ground.

Obama's programs have been so far-reaching and fundamental that any compromise would leave the nation far to the left of where it's always been and wants to be. When he took office, government (federal, state and local combined) controlled 35 percent of the US economy -- 15th among the two-dozen advanced countries. Now, it controls 44.7 percent, ranking us 7th, ahead of Germany and Britain. So where's the compromise -- leave government in control of, say, 40 percent?

Add the overriding need for sharp deficit reduction, to bring down the debt before it strangles our economy.

Republicans are pushing to begin this by rolling back spending to pre-Obama levels. The alternative would be to raise taxes to pay the bills run up by the Democratic Congress that the voters just repudiated. Yet even partly covering that tab would lock in a government that big -- hoarding capital, pouncing on all available credit and taking away such a major portion of national income -- would be anathema to our free-enterprise system.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clinton; compromise; obama; rollbacks
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1 posted on 11/04/2010 2:07:48 AM PDT by Scanian
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To: Scanian

He won’t move to the center. He may be moving to India though.


2 posted on 11/04/2010 2:14:19 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (the way to win this game is not to play)
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To: screaminsunshine

India doesn’t want him. My source in the gov’t says that most of India’s parliament is angry that he’s coming.


3 posted on 11/04/2010 2:26:13 AM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: Scanian

You can’t compromise on freedom.

That brings me to a point Rush on his show made yesterday: Americans were willing so others could be free. We shed the blood of our own sons to bring freedom to our entire country over a century ago.

And if we’re not willing to defend our freedom for our children now, we don’t deserve to have a country. If we’re not willing to remain free or die, we no longer Americans and no longer worthy of our ancestors.


4 posted on 11/04/2010 2:47:52 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

“Give me liberty or give me death,” said Patrick Henry in defiance of the British when the colonies fought to be free.

That is the issue on which we are joined today and there can be no compromise or retreat, only perseverance and victory.

That is our calling as Americans! Charge, I say, charge!


5 posted on 11/04/2010 2:48:14 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Scanian
The alternative would be to raise taxes to pay the bills run up by the Democratic Congress

which would be totally self defeating as it would stifle the economy still further and reduce revenues producing a government with a higher percentage of national resources and far usable resources.

6 posted on 11/04/2010 3:06:16 AM PDT by arthurus (Read Hazlitt's "Economics In One Lesson.")
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To: arthurus

You can’t talk supply-side to those clowns.

They still repeat 41’s “voodoo economics” mantra from 1980.


7 posted on 11/04/2010 3:07:56 AM PDT by Scanian
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To: Little Pig

Any hint as to WHY he is going to India? And why India is angry he is coming?


8 posted on 11/04/2010 3:44:18 AM PDT by ransomnote
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To: Scanian

Obama will rule by decree (Executive Orders) - He’s said so already.


9 posted on 11/04/2010 3:47:14 AM PDT by Gomer1066
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To: ransomnote

Many of us think that Obama is insane. If this is so, do not look for a rational reason why he does what he does. In any event, Obama is looking very much like the Roman Emperor Caligula who lasted only four years in office before being assassinated and for the bankruptcy of the Roman Empire, as well as appointing his favorite horse to the Roman Senate.


10 posted on 11/04/2010 3:53:13 AM PDT by Gomer1066
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To: goldstategop
And if we’re not willing to defend our freedom for our children now, we don’t deserve to have a country. If we’re not willing to remain free or die, we no longer Americans and no longer worthy of our ancestors.

Bump the daylights out of that statement!

11 posted on 11/04/2010 3:54:21 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: Gomer1066

Caligulas’ horse = Al Franken. Democrats laughing at the senate.


12 posted on 11/04/2010 4:02:08 AM PDT by Seabeejas
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To: Gomer1066
...as well as appointing his favorite horse to the Roman Senate.

In that sense, Caligula did better than vast segments of the American population.

13 posted on 11/04/2010 4:04:39 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Good riddance to bad trash-Patrick Murphy is gone!)
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To: ransomnote

I’m not entirely clear on why he’s coming here, but the parliament isn’t happy because for one, his security and travel plans are a serious hassle for India in general, two he has been friendly with Pakistan, India’s rival, three, he apparently plans to discuss jobs and whatnot, which is a negative here, since the jobs he’s talking about are ones currently in India due to his economy back in the US (and which he’d like to take away from India), and four, he just isn’t very respected here.

It’s interesting to note that the local CNN affiliate, in conjunction with the History Channel, is going to broadcast his “biography” before he gets here. I’m torn between watching it to see all the distortions and omissions, and not watching because I want to be able to keep my food down.


14 posted on 11/04/2010 4:12:20 AM PDT by Little Pig (Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici.)
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To: ransomnote; Little Pig
Any hint as to WHY he is going to India? And why India is angry he is coming?

WHY Obama does anything should be pretty obvious by now -- destroy the USA and Great Britain, promote communism, destroy, destroy, destroy ...

Why India is angry: India takes in a few trillion dollars from the USA per year, which will continue if, and only if, the USA economy recovers and prospers. Not possible under Obamanomics.

A rising tide of communism sinks all boats, due to the requirement that all boats must have big, gaping holes below the waterline.

15 posted on 11/04/2010 4:27:19 AM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: Fresh Wind

True...Obama only has jackasses as friends.


16 posted on 11/04/2010 4:36:27 AM PDT by Gomer1066
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To: Little Pig

He’s just jealous that Dubya has gotten such warm receptions from Indian leaders. He wanted to show off that he could get one too!


17 posted on 11/04/2010 4:37:02 AM PDT by paudio (The differences between Clinton and 0bama? About a dozen former Democratic Congressmen.)
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To: Gomer1066
"Obama will rule by decree (Executive Orders) - He’s said so already."

Not without money, he won't - and WE control the House, and thus the purse strings - we can just starve him.

18 posted on 11/04/2010 4:50:39 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("Gentlemen, you can't fight in here - this is the War Room".)
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To: Gomer1066
Obama will rule by decree (Executive Orders) - He’s said so already.We've got to get him out now. His behavior is traitorous.
19 posted on 11/04/2010 4:57:49 AM PDT by tommix2
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To: Gomer1066
Many of us think that Obama is insane.That's why we've got to get him out now.
20 posted on 11/04/2010 5:04:32 AM PDT by tommix2
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