Does Dionne let the official motive slip?
That any economic problem–however big–can be solved with a little bit of class warfare? Last I checked, income inequality–however subjective–was not responsible for destroying one third of America’s wealth in only three months. Surely he can’t be serious.
In October, Obama told Joe Wurzelbacher he’ll need to take a little from Joe at the top–Joe can afford it–and give it to his workers on the bottom so they can afford more of Joe’s services.
What possible outcome could you expect by turning Americans against each other in this manner? I’d say more of the same.
Despite all of the dubious claims to the contrary by the President and his men of action, maybe this is all about the marxist redistribution of wealth. And, according to elite Liberals who can eschew its responsible-sounding rhetoric, it’s supposed to be. They want to fix “it” before anything else at all cost, crisis notwithstanding.
So, E.J, hats off to you for reminding us of our true priorities.
Economy, Politics, SocioFascism
dionne, Economy, income, obama, taxes
Obama tries to stave off debate on the costs of universal healthcare by telling a friendly Congress how much it will cost:
The White House contends by directly telling Congress how much universal coverage is projected to cost, it can devote more time to debating the methods of achieving coverage instead of getting bogged down in conflicting cost estimates.
See? No need to debate it. Can’t get bogged down in debate. It’s too important to debate.
None of this has anything to do with the current economic crisis. There used to be talk about tempering expectations due to the current outlook, but something’s changed. Are things really not that bad, or has the administration realized they need to act fast –not because of some kind of phony mandate for “change”–but because they fear being swept out of office remarkably fast? If it’s the latter, that some pile of arrogance.
Economy, Politics, SocioFascism
healthcare, obama, universal
How much longer is he gonna try to ride this horse? If bankers have been so disrespectful of the trust and money the public has bestowed them, then put every last one of them in jail. On what charges, you ask? Make something up–you’re already winging everything else.
Here we have a man (man-boy?) who within the same breath denounces his massive inherited deficit and proposes to quintuple it. He’s having it both ways and means. Does he feel his inheritance robs him of the ability for even grander plans?
Something is egregiously wrong here. He wasn’t supposed to be this bad. But he is. We must bankrupt America in order to save it? That’s whack, yo, and he’s setting himself up for a stunning reversal of fortune.
Economy, SocioFascism
messiah, obama
Stocks continue to fall as Obama fails to deliver details. I say that it’s actually the details, and not the lack thereof, that are scaring the markets.
Also, enough with the “Reagan-esque” bullshit.
Economy, Politics
Fools.
The bait and switch parade keeps getting better. It’s as if these people think nobody will remember what they said last year. It’s all, um, relative.
All Topics, Economy, Politics
nafta, obama
An chances are he’ll say it’s a good start, but it’s not enough.
Here’s your time to shine, Mr. Big City Democrat–Yours is the voice of the common urbanite and, come to think of it, is the only voice we need to hear from.
Economy, Politics, SocioFascism
spendulus, stimulus
It will be interesting to see how the Next New Deal settles electorally over the next few years.
Economy, Politics
barone, depression, fdr, obama
And perhaps an assortment of czars! Because just one czar’s not enough to really screw things up.
How bout this – restructure them without the UAW! That’s a step in the right direction, no? I know that’s pretty much the opposite of the intent, but don’t say I don’t have any ideas.
Economy
axelrod, chrysler, gm, obama, uaw
“Oh, the Stimulus. Yeah, we’re voting on it in like 15 mins. Dude, we posted the notice at, like, midnight. Didn’t you see it? We twittered it too.
To freely admit that you’re voting for the largest omnibus spending bill (ok, let’s call it a 10 year “stimulus”) WITHOUT READING THE GODDAMN THING can only mean you’re a willing incompetent or a lowlife political stooge. Or grossly negligent.
What sinister force is behind the idea that we shouldn’t have to read the compromise bill before signing?
Economy, Politics
democrats, obama, pelosi, reid, spendulus, stimulus
An interesing mathematics discovery, reported by IowaHawk
PALO ALTO, CA – An international mathematics research team announced today that they had discovered a new integer that surpasses any previously known value “by a totally mindblowing shitload.” Project director Yujin Xiao of Stanford University said the theoretical number, dubbed a “stimulus,” could lead to breakthroughs in fields as diverse as astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and Chicago asphalt contracting.
What’s even more interesting is what’s to come:
“The exciting news is that with more powerful computers and drugs, we believe we are on the verge of discovering an even larger number, which we refer to as a ‘stimulusconferencebill,’” said Xiao. “Speaker Pelosi has already promised us the funding.”
I still hate math, but every once in a while something clicks.
All Topics, Economy
pork, spendulus, stimulus
Why exactly is it taking so long to make execute a preordained decision about troop withdrawal? We hear about his legendary preference for seeking additional information that will enable him to make an extremely informed decision. There are details to ponder. Surely he’s got enough data by now–he’s only been whining about Iraq since his sophomoric speech in 2002. It seems political reasons alone are driving his decision. We could see victorious ticker tape parades, well, right before the 2012 elections!
By contrast, there’s a quite different call to action on the ‘economy’. On an issue that dwarfs the size of both of our current wars, the same man is imploring Americans not to sweat the details, and vote for quick implementation without any griping and without reading the thousand-page stimulus. This gap in consistency should be raising some serious hackles.
Economy, SocioFascism
While others are scouring the ninety-nine and 44/100s percent pure pork Dem stimulus package, it’s up to an honest, moderate lefty to point out a much more sinister intent of the “bipartisan” spending package. Mickey Kaus points out that the work-in-progress legislation (in both its Senate and House forms) aims to reward states for intentionally expanding their welfare caseloads, even if the number of caseloads isn’t specifically tied to economic reality.
If correct, this moves the bill’s debate from a basic argument of Keynesian economics to a much more serious discussion over the true intentions of a newly elected majority which, with each passing day, seems more bent on creating legions of new entitlement votes than actually assisting the victims of a temporarily receding economy.
This bill isn’t about an economic stimulus, or otherwise we’d actually be discussing it. It’s a dangerouse, once-in-a-generation power grab that threatens to put the welfare of Americans second to questionable political interests. For shame.
Economy, Politics, SocioFascism
Economy, obama, spendulus, stimulus
Yes, it’s making the rounds again. Why shouldn’t it? In a perfect storm, any ol’ shelter will do.
Economy, Politics, SocioFascism
cloward, Economy, obama, piven
Because only unionized contstruction contractors are suitable for big federal projects. Funny how the timing of this and the rush stimulus seem to have nicely coincided.
Economy
obama, stimulus, union
Jacob Sullum:
“The New Era of Irresponsibility: We don’t have a moment to spare, but evidently we have $1 trillion.”
Last October, while campaigning in Toledo, Barack Obama called for “a new ethic of responsibility.” The nation’s economic troubles, he said, occurred partly because “everyone was living beyond their means,” including politicians who “spent money they didn’t have.” In his inaugural address last month, Obama regretted “our collective failure to make hard choices” and heralded “a new era of responsibility.”
Now President Obama, as one of his first priorities, is pushing a gargantuan “stimulus” plan that will add around $1 trillion to the national debt and cannot possibly work as advertised. Welcome to the new era of responsibility.
Within three weeks of sweeping electoral gains, Democrats have re-stereotyped themselves in spectacular fashion.
Economy, Politics
Especially if he’s incorrect?
The idea that market actors voluntarily engage into risks with unlimited downsides is, well, meh.
Go back a little farther. What about flooding the market with an ever increasing input of bad debt (doubling, then doubling, then again), and shrugging off any attempts of additional oversight? At some point the shit clogs the pipes, and right now, the government only seems focused on fixing the pipes.
We’re second-guessing and deconstructing markets because they weren’t able to handle the destructive behavior of unbridled government. And today, the ‘bad actor’ gets off free while billions are spent rehabilitating the victim, only to be ravaged again when needed.
Economy
Economy, soros, tarp
The Bangle Era is apparently over at BMW. Brand loyalists will appreciate a return to greatness.
All Topics, Economy
bangle, bmw
Because gasoline vapors are destroying the environment!
Dozens, and potentially hundreds, of gas stations around California are choosing to shut down rather than comply with a state mandate that would require owners to purchase new equipment to reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
The requirement, known as Phase II in the state’s Enhanced Vapor Recovery Program, is set to go into effect in April. It requires gas station owners to individually purchase tens of thousands of dollars of equipment designed to prevent harmful vapors from escaping into the air when gasoline is pumped.
My guess is that the recent hike in minimum wages isn’t helping these small business owners either.
Economy, Environment
california
About 142 nuclear reactors. Energy “crisis” solved.
Next.
Economy
obama, stimulus
Put this in the chapter about saying anything you can to get elected, and then ignoring your own advice less than three months later.
Newly installed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner issued new rules Tuesday restricting contacts with lobbyists – and then hired one to be his top aide.
Well, what would we expect a non-repentant tax cheat to do? By all means, let’s give ‘em a second pass.
Mark Patterson, a former advocate for Goldman Sachs, will serve as chief of staff to Geithner as the Treasury Department revamps the Wall Street bailout program that sent an infusion of cash to his former employer.
Patterson’s appointment marks the second time in President Barack Obama’s first week in office that the administration has had to explain how it’s complying with its own ethics rules as it hires a bevy of Washington insiders for administration jobs
“This is exactly the kind of thing that makes the American public suspicious of politicians. You say one thing and do another,” said Melanie Sloan, founder of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
When fellow traveler CREW feels bold enough to ding you on the record, you’ve likely had a little too much funny juice at the party. For all of Obama’s bitching and moaning about lobbyists during the campaign, you’d think he’d be more than a little concerned about sticking to his promises. And you’d be wrong!
Economy, Politics
crew, geithner, obama
Right out of the gate, the new messiah president is pushing hard for his massive stimulus bill, which would have the net effect of increasing the federal budget by something like 30%. Much of this funny money would be dispensed after the recession is estimated to end and, as far as we know, has more pork in it than it does actual assistance.
Economy, Politics
Economy, obama, recession
And by ‘prescription’ I mean choking until submissive.
Whether this is a condition of the recent auto bailout or not, something stoopid is going on. These directives predate the current crisis, but obviously have found new life in the current administration”
The first memorandum will order the Transportation Department to work out rules for automakers to improve fuel economy. It will call for the department to notify automakers by March 2009 to increase their fuel efficiency for 2011 model year cars and trucks.
The second memorandum will order the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California’s request for a waiver from the Clean Air Act — a move that would allow California, the nation’s most populous state, to set tougher tailpipe emission standards than apply nationally.
Even in profitable times, these mandates would foist tremendous burdens on automakers struggling to minimize production costs by standardizing product across geographies. Now they’re supposed to help them out of a steep recession? Can’t the world first post-political President quit playing, um, politics with our tax dollars?
I thought the point of the auto bailout was to help automakers, not to kneecap them as they’re learning to walk again.
(See also JWF)
Economy, Politics
bailout, california, chrysler, emissions, epa, gm
