Posted on 09/06/2011 7:28:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
At Ace’s site, DrewM is goofing on him for rolling out a 59-point plan that runs literally 160 pages long on the theory that no one but no one among the electorate will actually read the thing. True enough, but I don’t think Team Mitt expects any voters to read it. They expect voters to note the sheer size and detail of it and conclude, “This guy really does have a plan. He’s actually thinking about this.” Whether it’s a good plan or not, ironically, is a secondary question, but it’s been made that way by the utter failure of Obamanomics. Byron York notes that today’s WaPo poll finds fully 81 percent of the public claiming either that Obama’s economic program is having no effect on the economy or that it’s making things actively worse. Almost the entire country has given up on him on this seminal issue, in other words, which means all Romney has to do is show that he’s serious about finding a solution and he has an advantage. Fifty-nine points says, “I’m serious.”
As for the specifics: Not many specifics at all on entitlement reform, unfortunately, which I’m sure is strategic given the attacks on Perry and his “Fed Up” book to come. (Then again, this is after all a jobs plan, not a deficit reduction plan.) Plus, a curious bit of economic saber-rattling towards China. The Journal is unhappy:
By far the most troubling proposal is Mr. Romney’s call for “confronting China” on trade. This is usually a Democratic theme, but Mr. Romney does Mr. Obama one worse by pledging to have his Treasury brand China a “currency manipulator” if it doesn’t “move quickly to bring its currency to full value.” He’d then hit Beijing with countervailing duties.
Starting a trade war is a rare policy mistake that Mr. Obama hasn’t made, but Mr. Romney claims it is a way to faster growth. His advisers say he doesn’t favor a 25% tariff on Chinese goods as some in Congress do, but once a President unleashes protectionist furies they are hard to contain.
His economic aides say this idea comes directly from Mr. Romney himself, which is even less reassuring. It looks like a political maneuver to blunt the criticism he’ll receive because some of Bain Capital’s companies sent jobs overseas, or perhaps this is intended to win over working-class precincts in Pennsylvania and Ohio. But giving Americans the impression that a trade war will bring those jobs back to the U.S. is offering false hope. It also distracts from the other fiscal and regulatory reforms that are needed to attract capital and create jobs.
Said Romney, cleverly, “We can’t have a trade war. But we can’t have a trade surrender, either.” CNN has a nice brief overview of his plan, but as for the bottom-line number on unemployment, I’m exceedingly skeptical. Not because I don’t think having a Republican president will help, but because — well, just read this in case you haven’t already. There’s every reason to think the global economy will get dramatically worse before it gets better and there’s only so much even a capable executive can do. Maybe The One should try campaigning on that idea, actually. “Obama 2012: We’re doomed no matter who you vote for.”
What does he mean “confront them”? Nobody puts a gun to our heads. Now one forces us to trade with China. China has no advantage we ourselves don’t give them.
We’re never going to get out of this recession until we fix foreign trade, particularly with China. Period.
a war with china would create a lot of jobs.
the ratio is 1 civilian to 10 troops.
Globull warming believer + Romneycare = No vote from me.
Just say no to Romney
The ultimate eastern snake oil salesman. Romney reminds me of that creep Fat Al Gore.
It will be McCain all over again; run as conservative govern to the left.
I’d like to see us address our trade relationships pretty much across all of Asia, but the currency manipulation angle might be overplayed. I’m not sure we’re prepared for what would happen to oil prices in particular if China revalued their currency significantly upwards. The problem is that we don’t produce goods like we used to, and China is sucking up quite a bit of oil that our economy could use right now. Exchange rates aren’t really the root of the problem, IMO.
The other issue is Romney’s huge credibility gap on - well, everything really.
Romney is a mayonnaise sandwich on white bread.
So, if Romney gets the nomination you are going to vote for Obama or not vote at all?? I guess you could write in your choice of some other candidates, but your only helping Obama.
What can one expect, coming from a democrat. I'll never vote for Romney, not primary, not general.
Bring on the, "that's the same as voting for Obama" remarks.
WE are just finally figuring out that we are in a trade war with China- and how badly we are getting our ass kicked
Exactly - what are they going to do? Cut off our exports of scrap steel and chicken feet?
He must’ve stolen the China stuff from Donald Trump, since it seemed to make him popular earlier in the year.
Romney thinks he knows better than you or me what we can afford and how to spend our money. We must submit to his will,ya know,what he thinks is best for us nitwits or be punished with fines. That was his attitude with Romneycare.
Also,I seem to recall that when he was Gov of Ma.,he got caught employing alien illegal invaders at the Governor’s mansion. I could be mistaken about that,but I don’t think so.
I’ll just make sure Romney isn’t on the ticket. Voting for Romney over Obama will be like being forced to eat either a shit sandwich or a poisoned sandwich. At the best, I would have a crappy taste in my mouth for 4 years.
Confronting China on trade doesn’t mean a trade war. It means negotiating for our national interest. Too many of our trade negotiaters don’t give a damn about our national interest, then go to work as consultants for foreign corporations after they leave government. Romney is right on this one. So was Trump.
Doesn’t mean I want either one as president.
No one was fooled by McCain. They decided that between a real liberal and a closet liberal, they would rather have the real thing.
He had no right,no right,no right,to oppress and force anyone into romneycare. Who the HELL does he think he is?
He is disgusting,a tyrant and no better than Obama. Maybe even worse.
Nominate him,Repubbies,then get ready for 4 more years of you know who.
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