Obama Barreling Toward Real Fiscal Cliff

Townhall.com ^ | December 4, 2012 | David Limbaugh

[Kaslin]

Some commentators wonder why President Obama always engages in brinksmanship. Why can't he meet Republicans halfway, like Clinton did, they ask. Let me try to respond.

One blogger suggests that Obama prefers to play chicken, taking the nation right to the edge of a fiscal disaster because it will increase the likelihood that the GOP will cave. Perhaps, but there's more to it.

Many of us warned that Obama is not, by nature or ideology, a conciliator. He is not a centrist, and he's not someone who is interested in the other side's ideas. He knows what he wants to do, and he is hell-bent on doing it. He is not just playing hardball as a matter of strategy; he has no interest in compromise and is angling to get his way entirely. And he wants to further damage the Republican brand in the process.

The way Obama probably looks at it is that Republicans will cave and he will either get most of what he wants, or the Republicans will hold fast and he can effectively blame them for taking us over the fiscal cliff. You'll note that in none of these explanations is there a hint that Obama is motivated to do what is best for the country. He intends to act in his own best interests and those of his party, and decidedly against the interests of the GOP and, ultimately, the nation.

To better understand what we're dealing with and what the stakes are in these negotiations, let's take a look at what people mean when they say we're headed toward a fiscal cliff in January -- as distinguished from the much bigger cliff we're heading for if we don't get our deficits and debt under control very soon.

The immediate fiscal cliff includes the largest tax increase in a single year in our nation's history ($494 billion), dangerous defense cuts via sequestration, a Medicare reimbursement fiasco and an expiration of federal funding for extended unemployment benefits.

Despite these looming concerns, Obama hasn't approached these budget talks in good faith, but in a way that even former defenders recognize is designed to result in an impasse. Indeed, Obama's proposal is so manifestly unreasonable that even his own party - Democratic senators and congressmen -- has consistently rejected less extreme versions of it in its unanimous votes against his budgets.

Consider: He chose Timothy Geithner to be his lead negotiator. Geithner has repeatedly shown he is not serious about entitlement reform. He and the president have failed even to put a proposal on the table. Also, they've proposed no real short-term spending cuts, twice the level of tax increases Obama campaigned on, more stimulus spending, an intransigent demand for an economy-smothering tax rate increase on the "wealthy" as opposed to decreases in deductions, and the topper: a demand that Congress surrender to this reckless spender of a president its constitutional prerogative over spending limits.

The upshot is that Obama is demanding Republicans agree to policies that will further damage the economy and ensure the nation's financial demise even sooner than is now inevitable. Adding insult to injury, Geithner is arrogantly boasting that Republicans will cave.

Republicans are agreeing to let Obama increase taxes (by reducing deductions for upper income earners) even with the anemic economy, but are demanding from him, on behalf of the nation, serious discretionary spending cuts and major structural entitlement reform. If Republicans cave in exchange for Obama's vague, illusory, insincere promises to cut spending and reform entitlement down the road, they will be complicit in accelerating the nation's fiscal destruction.

Some painfully superficial analysts argue that Obama is right to offer an extreme position as his first volley, because that's the way negotiations work. But Obama's hardball offer is not merely a different approach to the shared goal of restoring the nation's fiscal health. It unequivocally guarantees national bankruptcy while the Republicans' proposal is designed to avert that disaster.

Obama is playing chicken, all right, but he's not driving his own car; he's driving the United States of America. People can quibble endlessly over whether he is intentionally trying to harm America. The better way to frame it is that Obama is, by his own admission, trying to fundamentally transform America.

His transforming vision means continuing to expand the welfare state, major tax hikes, increased spending and obstructing reform of our already insolvent entitlement programs, the major debt drivers that are leading us toward the real "fiscal cliff."

Obama's policies in furtherance of his vision -- as clearly laid out during the campaign and even more so during these "fiscal cliff" negotiations -- left unchecked will complete the fiscal destruction of the nation.

So if you insist, don't call it intentional destruction. Call it, euphemistically, "the intentional fundamental transformation of America that will necessarily destroy her."

[John W]

Agreed.

[Travis McGee]

It's as if an insane skipper had somehow come aboard a ship, and is bouncing it from reef to reef, steering into hurricanes, opening up the sea cocks, seemingly doing all he can to wreck her...

Until finally, the crew realizes, that is exactly what the crazy new skipper intends.

This may be a bogus internet quote or whatnot, but Lenin is said to have had a "The worse, the better," philosophy for during the Russian revolution and civil war. Totally reduce a country to ruins, and rebuild it on the totalitarian Communist model.

And many Americans still naively believe that Obama is trying to "fix" the economy.

If there is one subject that Obama studied all his life, it's Marxism-Leninism. On that, he is an expert.

[Arlis]

The Limbaugh’s at times can be among the clearest thinkers out there.....

[xtinct]

article is a long-winded way of saying Obama is an a-hole !

[MrB]

Something I found today in the comments section of IBD:

From Dean Hilgeman · Top Commenter

you better not work.
you better not try.
you better not earn.
I’m telling you why.
Obama Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you’re building.
he wants what you all make.
he’ll tell the 47 per cent.
that being rich is a mistake.

oh you better not work.
you better not try.
you better not earn.
I’m telling you why.

Obama Claus is coming to town.

he’ll tell you to be thankful.
to bow down and give thanks.
or he’ll send you to a FEMA camp.
to get your thinking “straight”.

oh you better not work.
you better not try.
you better not earn.
I’m telling you why.
Obama Claus is coming to town.

he’ll give you a free cell phone.
say Obamacare is great.
he’ll tell you being a success.
is something you should hate.

oh you better not work.
you better not try.
you better not earn.
I’m telling you why.
Obama Claus is coooming tooo tooown!

[ScottinVA]

Imagine... just imagine if the Repubs grew a pair and called this POS out for what he is... a socialist bent on the nation`s destruction. As for the Republican brand, it`s irreparably damaged anyway.. the “media” will never allow the sheep to hold it in high regard. So.. how about the GOP do the right thing for once, pass ONE bill, stand pat, tell Obama to take it or leave it, go on vacation, and let the political chips fall where they may.

American voters wanted four more years of Obama. Don`t protect them from him anymore. Pass a bill, step aside, grab some popcorn and watch the show.

[hopespringseternal]

This nation re-elected this clown. We are all going to own it.

The republicans need one thing right now: Courage. Unfortunately, they would rather indulge their fears and go quietly than stand and fight.

They need to play just as hard as Obama is. Let the "fiscal cliff" wash over. Let it come. The nation voted for higher taxes and a worse economy, let them have it.

In January, refuse to raise the spending limits. Enough is enough. They will be excoriated and blamed no matter what. Might as well do the right thing.

[SMARTY]

S T O P

I T

“O” doesn’t care and never DID!

I wish the biased and idiotic MSM would just finally admit the OBVIOUS!

The welfare and security of the American people is NOT on his agenda!!!

STOP pretending that it IS ... and STOP assessing this administration and this President with the same yardstick as OTHER PRESIDENTS and OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS in the history of America-as if there is any equivalency in capabilities and commitment to this country!!!!!!!!

[Eye of Unk]

Obama acts like he has a surgically implanted explosive device in his skull and has his marching orders....or else.

[ClearCase_guy]

I think the point of the article is that Obama is intentionally taking actions that will destroy the country. It’s stated here far more clearly than usual.

[The Working Man]

I’ve often thought that a major reason that the MSM supports Obama and his policies is that they KNOW it will cause a bad economy and all of the ills that go along with that. Bad news SELLS newspapers and TV Time to Advertisers. And when you get right down to it that is what motivates these people.

[Flick Lives]

That’s funny... in a scary kind of way.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

I think the more important point is the GOP is set-up as things currently stand, to take the blame.

That is the more important point.

The GOP has lined up with those who would export US jobs, and so is going to take the blame.

BRING BACK US JOBS.

[jersey117]

I love your idea. Send it to Boehner.

[Sacajaweau]

He’s a Chicago hood...and a jerk...and he doesn’t give a damn about anyone.

[Andrei Bulba]

Might be nice to denounce Obama’s racist politics as well. “Class warfare” is a polite way of saying the left is fueling a revolt by minorities with outright racist appeals.

[Andrei Bulba]

The economy exports jobs because it’s a socialist nightmare you idiot.

[TalBlack]

“The upshot is that Obama is demanding Republicans agree to policies that will further damage the economy and ensure the nation’s financial demise even sooner than is now inevitable.”

Kinda’ sad, really...

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Enough excuses.

Bring back US jobs.