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Subscribe to RSSThe Boston Globe’s editorial page on the debt deal: “Like all compromises, the debt-ceiling deal negotiated by President Obama and congressional leaders is not a win for either side. Rather, it’s a necessary piece of business that Democrats and Republicans alike should support, even if they wish the negotiations had gone in another direction.”
“There are no real winners in the debt-crisis debacle, and in such moments the leader of the country absorbs a larger hit than most,” the New York Daily News’ DeFrank writes. The tawdry spectacle of governmental paralysis, engineered by take-no-prisoner Tea Party newbies and abetted by Republicans fearful of crossing them, is more reminiscent of a banana republic.”
Obama came away with “less than half a loaf,” DeFrank writes. But he got some positives out of the deal, like not having to go through this again until after the 2012 election. But his leadership is being questioned by Capitol Hill Democrats. "He's just too much the academician and not enough of the politician," a top Democratic strategist said. "The magic of 2008 has escaped him." DeFrank: “That seems overly harsh. By positioning himself between angry Republicans and angry Democratic liberals, Obama may ultimately be in a better strategic place, with 15 months to go until the election.”
President Obama’s approval rating is upside down in Pennsylvania at 43%-52%, according to a Quinnipiac poll out today. He loses in a head-to-head with Mitt Romney 44%-42%; Obama beats Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator, by just 3 points – 45%-42%; Obama bests Bachmann 47%-39%, and Rick Perry 45%-39%.
The Washington Post looks ahead to 2012. Whoever the Republican presidential nominee turns out to be, it now looks likely that President Obama’s battle for reelection will be fought around big issues. Chief among them: the size and role of government, and the values that will set priorities for a diminished pool of resources in austere times.
“The debt deal negotiated by the White House and congressional leaders is unlikely to drag down the economy but might not prevent a downgrading of the U.S.’s triple-A credit rating, a range of economists and financial analysts said Monday,” The Hill says.
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OK, now that we wasted all this time, let's move on to JOBs.
Heck with Jobs! Let's move on to the important stuff, the campaign trail.
And the Winner Is???
Obama
So much of the wrangling for weeks in this manufactured crisis has gone for naught, according to many analysts. Every side has been damaged in some way - and most especially, the Tea Party.
One good thing has emerged, however. The bitter battle has exposed the likes of Grover Norquist, the Heritage Foundation, the Club for Growth, and others as the shadow government of the right wing. And their machinations have called attention, at long last, to the subtle, behind-the-scene manipulations of the ultra right.
"Crisis government" is now seen as the means by which the right wing attempts to push through legislation that otherwise would never be approved. American voters have had enough of this legerdemain.
John A. Yes, the "Crisis mode" of government will be with through 2012 . The machinations of the "super congress" will make sure of that through the end of the year.
As an aside: Reading Shock Doctrine... reminding me how we turned Latin and South America into our "colonies" all under the name of promoting democracy and Cold war tactics.
thanks for the recommendation.
No, it hasn't been wasted. If it slowed down spending, it was a success. If it creates a committe that
will thoroughly analyze the Spending and where the Cuts need to be --- its a success.
If it forces Congress to reform the tax code, so that Everyone, no matter how little they make or how much they make - pays federal income tax --- its a success.
The problem is HALF the country does Not pay federal income tax.
We cannot, absolutely cannot raise anyone's taxes, unless we First make sure the other half of the
country Starts paying some federal income tax.
Interesting you are worried about the debt. But not worried about the war debt or the tax cuts for the richest being added to the debt.
You are worried that the person making $8.00 an hours pays the same percentage as the multi-millionaire. One lives in poverty and the other has more money than I could spend in several lifetimes.
If the rich control 70% of the wealth in this country, then they need to be paying 70% of the taxes. Then the only way to lower taxes is to see money and wealth transferred to the middle class and poor with education and better jobs. You know, something for America and not just for the rich. Then your dream of everyone paying taxes could come true.
John, your such a hypocrite -
Weeks ago the Congressional Budget Office predicted that, left to its own devices, our economy would likely recover on its own by the end of the year. But that hasn’t stopped liberals from using the economic downturn to massive government power grabs and hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending.
I’ve argued repeatedly that democrats are using the politics of fear, in this instance uncertainty about the economy, to ram-rod their their spending and policies. But I never expected one of the Democrats, Obama’s chief of staff no less, to come right out and admit that.
The Democrats aren’t concerned about the economy. The “stimulus” isn’t a fix for the economy. The Democrats are concerned about consolidating the government’s power over we citizens, to better their ability to promote their liberal agenda, and the “stimulus” bill (and a lot of the other legislation that will be coming out of Congress in the coming weeks and months and years) is just a means to that end.
John, your such a hypocrite -
Weeks ago the Congressional Budget Office predicted that, left to its own devices, our economy would likely recover on its own by the end of the year. But that hasn’t stopped liberals from using the economic downturn to massive government power grabs and hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending.
I’ve argued repeatedly that democrats are using the politics of fear, in this instance uncertainty about the economy, to ram-rod their their spending and policies. But I never expected one of the Democrats, Obama’s chief of staff no less, to come right out and admit that.
The Democrats aren’t concerned about the economy. The “stimulus” isn’t a fix for the economy. The Democrats are concerned about consolidating the government’s power over we citizens, to better their ability to promote their liberal agenda, and the “stimulus” bill (and a lot of the other legislation that will be coming out of Congress in the coming weeks and months and years) is just a means to that end.
Give us a link to back up your statement about the COB JFK. Your statements don't have any credibility if you don't show facts to back them up. But we all know that won't happen, that's a statement you probably heard on Fox (aka tea people propaganda machine).
John A.-400474
You are correct John, this Obama manufactured crisis has been for naught, but the true damage was due to the efforts of the Progressive Party and not the Republicans. All I saw during this crisis was Harry Reid continue to table proposals from the GOP. Where were the Progressive proposals, untile Harry produced a take-off of the Boehner one at the end. Where was constructive dialoge from the Senate? All the Progressives seemed to do was obstruct. Yep, you have the party of NO now.
And for all of the drama this last few weeks, the can still gets kicked down the road, but those professional politicians can now go on the re-election trail stating they got the job done. What a joke. Hopefully the public can see through this and vote the professionals from office.
Well, not so much actually and other parts of his original post were very sound.
If you're going to over look Bush's TARP program used to pay off his rich wall street buddy's gambling debts with billions in taxpayer money and instead site Rham's comment on using a crisis to pass extreme legislation then what would say a comment like:
Senator DeMint "If we’re able to stop Obama on this it will be his Waterloo. It will break him,"
McConnell "Single Most Important Political Goal Is To Make Sure That President Obama Is A One-Term President"
Sounds like a group of people to whom the actual legislation itself irrelevent; who are willing to destroy the lives of American citizens and the economy in order to "win" and I base that on your own type of logic.
So much for the old canard that Republicans are pro-business, or know anything about the economy. The crazy behavior of the Teapublicans over raising the debt ceiling alarmed even the Chamber of Commerce, not to mention overseas investors, the Federal Aviation Association, and 70% of the American people.
If Wall Street doesn't open its wallets for every Democrat running in 2012, they will have shown the 2008 financial crisis was no fluke: these guys don't deserve to be billionaires, they are utterly incompetent. Invest in Democratic candidates, idiots!
You have to change the current anti-business environment before you can create more jobs. That is exactly what Conservatives, Republicans, Tea Party, Libertarians are trying to do.
Obama has created a very uncertain, risky environment for businesses to take risks. Until that changes,
businesses cannot do what they'd like to do: hire more people, invest in their business.
Good job Paul, you've got the tea people talking points from a year ago down pat. Now do try to keep up.
Mo -
Unfortunately it is just as true and germane now as it was a year ago.
More and more regulation, cap and trade, and no one know what the health care law will do. Plenty to worry about.
"Obama has created a very uncertain, risky environment for businesses to take risks"
Obama bailed out Wall Street and the American automotive industry, while the Republicans wanted them to go through bankruptcy and you accuse HIM of creating an uncertain environment?
Obama brought troops home from Iraq and is set to draw down our forces in Afghanistan, in an orderly and rational way and you accuse HIM of creating instability?
Take your blinders off, President Obama has been a steady, patient and encouraging leader in a rocky time, cleaning up chaos and destruction created by Republican policies.
I see you tea people don't care anything about jobs. Just tank the eonomy so you can say we won.
Amy B. Portland, ME
It is hard trying to get the Right Wing to see things as they really are.
They live in an alternate universe. If the President says "what a bright shiny day", the Repulicans will accuse him of manipulating the sun.
That is just how crazy things have gotten.
So tell me Paul, you really think the tea partiers threatening to shut down the government did not create uncertainty in the business world? Do you think all the drops in the market were signs of pro business?
Are you telling me that Obama by not bowing at the knees to the tea partiers demands of creating this whole crisis game 6 months from now was not pro business.
The business uncertainty all over again about the debt ceiling is really anti business. I quit spending, afraid I should save my money in case the country went south. The tea partiers wanted to do it again in 6 months and you want me to believe they are pro business.
Then you blame Obama.
Mitch McConnell just said he will not allow anyone on the new panel of 12 that will vote raise taxes "EVER". So its already tainted by these "OLD TROLLS" in congress ....He is the problem's...why dont they kick him out? He isnt seeking a honest answer to any question ..he has wasted 2 years trying to get Obama kicked out .I resent paying him his 17 K plus a month ! If this were any other job he would have been fired !
Mitch McConnell may well be replaced in 2013...by new Senate Majority Leader Jim DeMint.
You CANNOT raise taxes on anyone currently paying federal income tax --- until you get THE OTHER HALF OF THE COUNTRY who is Not paying a penny in taxes - to pay taxes.
Everyone, no matter how little you make or how much you make --- should be paying some federal income tax.
Everyone should have skin in the game.
Paul, someone already mentioned this.... where do you get the figure that 50% of the country is not paying taxes? Unless you are counting children.... Everyone who works pays something in taxes. The unemployment rate, at 9.5% might mean that 9.5% of the population isn't paying any taxes. Perhaps more people than that don't file claims to get any money back because they don't earn enough to do so. Perhaps more people than that DO file claims because, according to their income and responsibilities, they should get back some of what they payed in. If you are alleging that up to 50% of the population is working "under the table" and not paying anything into government coffers, you will need some evidence for such a bold charge. Perhaps you are alleging that up to 50% of the working population are people who have off-shore tax shelters set up to hide assets, and that it is the working poor who are the 50% who DO pay taxes...but again, the claim would need to be based on some evidence.
except the rich who control 70% of the wealth of our country. Shouldn't taxes be based on what you are getting and taking in profits from our country. If you make 70% of the profits, assuming as you control 70% of the wealth, then your fair share would be 70% of the taxes collected.
You seem to think that the hedge fund manager making millions driving up the cost of gasoline should be taxed the same as the guy who was able to afford lunch today.
The poor seem to be the new republican enemy #1.
If you are so worried about the poor not paying taxes, maybe you should not be for the party that wants to cut education. Why would you cut education, the only path for the poor to make enough money to tax?
Kate it's just another statement he heard on Fox (aka tea people propaganda machine) and keeps repeating, he doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. All Paul knows how to do is quote what he hears on Fox (ask tea people propaganda machine).
Paul:
[You CANNOT raise taxes on anyone currently paying federal income tax --- until you get THE OTHER HALF OF THE COUNTRY who is Not paying a penny in taxes - to pay taxes.]
Still perpetuating the bull@!$%#, I see...even after being shown proof that your comment is crap.
The 45% of the country that you claim doesnt pay a penny in taxes live at or below the poverty line. And they most certainly pay taxes...they may not pay any federal income tax due to their poverty-level salaries, but they STILL pay taxes in the form of payroll taxes (if they are luckey enough to be working at all), state, county, and other local taxes.
Maybe you'd enjoy trading places with one of them?
Come on down to no tax land. Be sure and bring your own cardboard box. If you are rich a rain tarp really helps in the winter.
...Paul...
...PAUL...?
...Bueller...
All of this could have been avoided if it weren't for those who wanted to throw the baby out with the bath water. I site as evidence the fact that they said no to 3 trillion in cuts and a trillion in tax increases via closing loop holes.
There really are ways to solve our debt problems without wrecking everything for everyone save the very wealthy. Taxes will go up. Not only should we count on it we should hope for it rather than the alternative which will be even bigger economically inhibiting debt problems.
The debt has been raised incrementally and should be lowered incrementally but the tea party idiots ("I shouldn't be taxed to help a starving, poor, unworthy, slob. Praise, Jesus.") and the republican cry babies ("We must destroy Obama at all costs!") used the debt ceiling as their political tool. Our economy is once again in the shi77er thanks to them.
Thanks a lot, you insulated, out of touch, selfish, hateful jerks. I was a republican until Bush Jr when I became an Indendent. It's pretty damn good odds I wont be voting republican next election and, aw hell no, will I vote for a tea party candidate as I'm not interested in living under a theocracy.
Good to know that the opportunity to raise taxes has been stopped - at least temporarily. Even though there is to be a panel, I suspect that taxes will be adjusted in the future. I just hope that someone on the panel, Dem or Rep, understands that the real problem with taxes is the TAX CODE - to complex and to easy to avoid paying taxes with all the loopholes. If both parties woudl finally acknowledge that then establishing a FLAT TAX with virutally NO exclusions would result in improved revenue for the governement and enable both parties to better support thier agendas.
I want all you teabaggers out there to explain to me what Grover Norquist has done for this country. Tell me what a great patriot & good citizen he is. How many wonderful things he has done for this nation. I think it is treason to sign any pledge to this guy. He is nothing more than a selfish twit who never learned how to play with others in kindergarten. He probably used to get beat up on a regular basis in jr. high. When Grover & the teaparty finally flush this country down the toilet, my only consolation will be that 90% of you teabaggers will go right down the crapper with the rest of us.
Take a little step, one step at a time.
At least, it prevents the dramatic fall.
Take a little step...
You people need to wake up and smell what you're shoveling. BOTH SIDES got us into this mess, stop the blame game. We need to vote all of them out of office, no more career politicians, we need real business men running this country's business. BOTH SIDES are playing with your minds by using fear tactics, they know how to push your buttons. Let's face it folks, they have been pulling the wool over our eyes for a long time and it's time to remove that wool and save our country.
Mr. President you did the best you could, with what you had, and the Tea Beggers made sure that the Presdent would be given very little time or options. The Tea beggers and their "Zombies" of the GOP/RNC in Congress were going to send our nation over an economic cliff. Their political puking made that message very clear. The President should have put the 14th Admendment into effect fully, and send a clear message to the party of No! That they have to go! The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) have made it very clear. President Obama is not an American Citizen, and is not even a Christian. The Super Spewers of the GOP/RNC are still using tactics of "Distract and Attack." No tax breaks for the Mddle Class however, plenty for the very rich, large corporations, Wall Street Bankers, and large insurance corporations. The GOP/RNC voted for the destruction of Medicare in the House. Did the President smell the fumes of rotten tea in the air when signing thiis piece of economic puke? The President in the end was given no choice. The President put up a good political fight, and economic battle has just begun. Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The Party of NO has got to go!!