Obama re-election not likely to ease GOP intransigence
Perhaps out of a forced sense of optimism, President Obama has predicted that if he wins re-election, Republicans in Congress will be more willing to work with him than they proved to be in his first term, when defeating him became their primary goal.
As he told the Associated Press:
“What I’m offering the American people is a balanced approach that the majority agrees with, including a lot of Republicans. And for me to be able to say to the Republicans, the election is over; you no longer need to be focused on trying to beat me; what you need to be focused on and what you should have been focused on from the start is how do we advance the American economy — I’m prepared to make a whole range of compromises, some of which I get criticized from the Democratic Party on, in order to make progress. But we’re going to need compromise on your side as well. And the days of viewing compromise as a dirty word need to be over because the American people are tired of it.
That’s, I think, a message that will resonate not with every Republican, but I think with a lot of fair-minded Republican legislators who probably feel somewhat discouraged about having served in one of the least productive Congresses in American history.”
Nancy Pelosi, who happens to have a ground-level view of the situation, disagrees, insisting that her Republican colleagues will be just as obstinate as ever.
“I see this president sit for hours being very respectable, but trying to find a path where there could be agreement when there is [none],” Pelosi said. “‘Never. Does never work for you?’ That’s really what they’re saying to the president.”
Conservative pundit Ramesh Ponnuru, writing in Bloomsberg, agrees with Pelosi:
“If the president believes anything like this would happen in his second term, he is kidding himself. If Obama wins re-election, the Republican Party will react by moving right, not left. It will become less likely to compromise with Obama, not more….
Republicans, especially at the grassroots level, would react to Obama’s re-election by assuming that Romney failed because he was too moderate. That’s a very widespread view among Republicans about why Senator John McCain lost in 2008. During the primaries, many of Romney’s opponents argued that he would lose because he would fail to energize conservatives. This interpretation of 2008 is probably wrong, and it will probably be the wrong explanation for a Romney defeat, if it happens. It will nonetheless be an appealing theory for conservatives.”
Pelosi and Ponnuru are probably correct. Absent a major and unexpected swing in voter sentiment, I’m doubtful that most Republicans will be any more willing to compromise and act reasonably than they have been for the past four years. A cult that defines itself by its own intransigence will not surrender that identity easily.
Sure, a few of their more responsible members — perhaps including House Speaker John Boehner and senators such as Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia — may be willing to cut a deal with the president on spending and revenue, but the success of the ongoing Great RINO Purge probably ensures that they will be too few in number and influence to make a difference.
In other words, this game of political chicken is likely to continue for as long as a largely apathetic and ill-informed American public is willing to tolerate it. I don’t see that changing soon.
– Jay Bookman
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836 comments Add your comment
b-troll
September 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
Scout 3:03 jinx – if you want to pull my 3:10 (to save space) feel free to do so.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 5th, 2012
3:13 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801,
I will be curious to see what the other alledged 50,000 folks will hang out…perhaps outside arena? The weather man appears to be forecasting low chance of thunderstorms excepting the normal for this time of year..perhaps the DEMs failed to consider the weather?
Perhaps you are correct and they will turn away some 50,000 folks….seems like a big political risk to me…which will be compounded if it turns out to be a Van Gogh like evening…
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 5th, 2012
3:14 pm
Thomas Heyward @ 3:12
Great retort !
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 5th, 2012
3:14 pm
Comes now Bookman…………….sharpening up his anti-war rhetoric
Perhaps it would be less rhetoric is Jay mentioned the outrage and concern for the wedding party in WI that Obama took out with a drone in your eyes. You had plenty of “rant rage” on a fake news story then, spud.
Gordon
September 5th, 2012
3:16 pm
Same old same old: unless you go along with Obama, you’re not a “patriot.” Bill Clinton actually did move to the center after the 94 mid-terms and together he and the Republican Congress got a lot done in those six years (of course it was all Clinton if you get your information from this site.)
Obama wants to add another major entitlement when we already can’t afford the ones we have. He wants to raise taxes on the rich when the revenue generated doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of current spending, much less his proposed spending. Sorry, that’s not something to compromise over. When you are selling a home, you sometimes make a counter-offer when you receive an offer that is reasonable but low. But if you get a ridiculous offer, you just reject it.
If Obama is re-elected, I will be counting on the Republicans to thwart his plans. His policies are just too far away from what we need in my opinion.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
September 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
JAY,
Regarding your 3:10, are you suggesting the DEMS actively reached across the aisle over the 2 years of total congressional control? They had to lose house to evidence any (likely a facade since Senate remained DEM) willingness to cross the aisle…to be fair, the GOP were obstructionist but it has alot to do with President Trillions lack of leadership..such as returning phone calls, reaching out to businesses and others…..I agree with Wash Post article today that he doesn’t seem to like people and fails the leadership test…
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
Scout typifies the Republicans.
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
Huh?
Yes, you most definitely did give the impression you are here for serious discussion. The event vividly reminded me of an experience I had with JamVet when I first arrived (right, AmVet?). Save the read of the reply for anytime you want to read – just tying up a loose end.
And good on you for your foray into political life at 22.
Fading Obama Poster
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
“Yeah…those were all Republican demonstrating against the Vietnam War…you could tell by the preponderance of crew cuts and 3-piece suits at the protest marches.”
I think the majority were probably liberals who were not, for some reason or another, actually in Vietnam. They were the ones smoking pot and making “free love” (with whomever they found themselves), not war.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 5th, 2012
3:05 pm
“But I’m curious: Where is your outrage and concern for the more than 4,000 Americans who lost their lives in the completely unnecessary and deceptively sold invasion of Iraq?”
The same place I guess as the Democrat outrage over the 58,000 names on the Vietnam Wall.
MR DIGITS
You mean the war that we might still be in if the LEFT had not mobilized
to end it?
Our outrage brought that war to an end.
Ivan
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
I love the “compromise” poutrage from the left.
It’s a two party system game in which BOTH sides are trying to win, not compromise.
Joe The Plumber Too
September 5th, 2012
3:19 pm
C’mon Jay, you too??? Instead of addressing the question of a transparent White House and a potential cover up for a worthless attorney general, you counter with a “It’s Bush’s fault”………
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:19 pm
Ivan
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
I love the “compromise” poutrage from the left.
It’s a two party system game in which BOTH sides are trying to win, not compromise.
+++++++++++++++++
Really? Stupid ass me. I thought the goal was to do what was right for our COUNTRY.
JDW
September 5th, 2012
3:20 pm
“the success of the ongoing Great RINO Purge probably ensures that they will be too few in number and influence to make a difference.”
If at the end of the day Obama wins, there are 52 or more Democratic Senators and more than 200 Democratic Reps then it will get much easier.
If Wingnuts like Akin and Mourdock win all bets are off.
JDW
September 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
“I thought the goal was to do what was right for our COUNTRY.”
It used to be that way…then came Newt.
John Birch
September 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
What 4 million jobs are those? Wiki says from Jan 2001 to Jan 2009 1.1M jobs were added and from Jan 2009 to Jan 2012 1.1M jobs were lost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms
See you have to net the 5.1M lost from the 4 M added and talk in terms of net jobs. Unemployment is up, jobs are down and real per capita income is down. Quit drinking the foolaid.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:22 pm
“Obama wants to add another major entitlement when we already can’t afford the ones we have. He wants to raise taxes on the rich when the revenue generated doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of current spending, much less his proposed spending. Sorry, that’s not something to compromise over.”
Amen. Don’t mess with my 9% tax rate. Or my rock bottom property taxes. Let’s Go Fishing boys.
CJ
September 5th, 2012
3:22 pm
I will criticize President Obama for this… He seems to start with the compromise, and then allow himself to be pulled further to the right (the proposed Grand Bargain during the debt ceiling discussions, smaller than needed stimulus, cap-and-trade…). I’d prefer to see him fight for the ideal policies and legislation (e.g., http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/the-peoples-budget/ ) and then, if necessary, negotiate and compromise from there.
Mick
September 5th, 2012
3:22 pm
If re-elected, obama needs to be more of a realist and move forward(!) with the democratic agenda. I wouldn’t rule out any compromise but really its kind of like been there, done that, with the modern republican party.
The previous president was full speed ahead with no compromise and proud of it. Unfortunately for the country, it left us broken and bankrupt. Obama needs to fight for the people, we know romney won’t…
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
JDW
September 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
“I thought the goal was to do what was right for our COUNTRY.”
It used to be that way…then came Newt.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Newt compromised. I didn’t and DON’T like him, but he did compromise……..
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
“Compromise is the language of the devil.”
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
Scout 3:12
If ‘no tax increases, ever” is a fundamental, never to be compromised,
where would be have been in 1945-1945 (our participation in WWII, with the exception of a month in 1941, for all you nonhistory types.)
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:24 pm
make that 42-45
Jay
September 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
Stevie Ray, ObamaCare was itself an outreach to conservatives. He dropped his own, more aggressive plan that he had campaigned upon and adopted one created by, marketed by and even implemented by Republicans, but it got him nothing. Dropping the public option from the plan was another outreach to conservatives. Making the stimulus roughly one-third tax cuts was another. Proposing the Bowles-Simpson plan was another. And each and every time all it got him was nothing.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
“Compromise is the language of the devil.”
And that, in a nutshell, is why I’ll never vote Republican again.
Goldie
September 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
So many great speakers for the Dems’ the first night:
“Instead of safeguarding our seniors, Romney and Ryan would end the guarantee of Medicare and replace it with a voucher in order to give bigger tax breaks to billionaires,” said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. “Instead of investing in America, they hide their money in Swiss bank accounts and ship our jobs to China. Swiss bank accounts never built an American bridge. Swiss bank accounts don’t put cops on the beat or teachers in our classrooms. Swiss bank accounts never created American jobs!”
Romney/Ryan — Outsourcing American Jobs!
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:25 pm
John Birch
September 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
What 4 million jobs are those? Wiki says from Jan 2001 to Jan 2009 1.1M jobs were added and from Jan 2009 to Jan 2012 1.1M jobs were lost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms
See you have to net the 5.1M lost from the 4 M added and talk in terms of net jobs. Unemployment is up, jobs are down and real per capita income is down. Quit drinking the foolaid.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
750,000 of those “jobs lost’ were Goevernment jobs cut under the Obama presidency. Like I said earlier, with your dislike for the constitution and your dislike of shrinking the size of Government, you sure as hell picked the wrong screen name. The John Birch Society would be really mad at you if they new………
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:26 pm
Stevie Ray,
“DEMS actively reached across the aisle over the 2 years of total congressional control?”
I’m sure you meant to caveat that, right?
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/did-the-democrats-ever-really-have-60-votes-in-the-senate-and-for-how-long/
Mick
September 5th, 2012
3:26 pm
0311
Politics is the art of compromise, republicanism today is very cult like or my way or the hiway – that’s never going to happen…
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:27 pm
“Compromise is the language of the devil.”
I thought KISS was.
Jay
September 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
And with all due respect to Clint, Eastwood over Scarlett?
Sorry. That does not compute.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
September 5th, 2012
3:23 pm
“Compromise is the language of the devil.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It must be nice to be God and never be wrong. Why aren’t YOU dictator then? I mean you couldn’t be a President because Presidents are human and have to work with others. You are omnipotent and dictators dictate, they don’t wussy up and “compromise.”
Do you realize how utterly stupid your no compromise position is?
Moderate Line
September 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
Three NAZI references by the Dems. Interesting.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/09/another-nazi-reference-at-democratic-convention/1
Huh?
September 5th, 2012
3:28 pm
Jay
September 5th, 2012
3:10 pm
Again those are simply words.
Both sides have acted ridiculous. Republicans have said stupid things but so have the president and the rest of the democrats.
Just because you may agree with some of the comments by democrats does not mean thy are not offensive.
Cause carrying a huge gavel down the road really inspires compromise!
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
3:29 pm
I think most making over $250,000 would take their top margin rate back to the Clinton era 39.5. What they won’t do is let this guy hand out entitlements like candy for a damn vote.
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:29 pm
John Birch,
“See you have to net the 5.1M lost from the 4 M added and talk in terms of net jobs”
Does Romney do that when talking about the jobs created at Bain?
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:30 pm
They were the ones smoking pot and making “free love” (with whomever they found themselves), not war.
Having done both, I’ll choose the pot and free love over killing and being shot at every time.
tireofit
September 5th, 2012
3:30 pm
“And that, in a nutshell, is why I’ll never vote Republican again.”
++
Amen
Joe Hussein Mama
September 5th, 2012
3:31 pm
M. Fyed — “Funny how that statement is only coming out at re-election time. I wonder where such willingness to work with the republicans has been for the last 3 years.”
The ACA = Romneycare = Gingrich + Heritage Foundation idea, cooked up in the 90s
Cap-&-Trade = Republican idea
If y’all want some bipartisanship, then SHOW some. Especially when the Democrats get behind ideas YOUR side thought up.
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:31 pm
Ivan
“It’s a two party system game in which BOTH sides are trying to win, not compromise.”
Are you aware of the definition of ‘compromise’?
If one does not control the Executive and the Legislative, how does a side ‘win’ if it is not willing to compromise?
Jay
September 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
It’s interesting. We have a handful of conservatives denying their party holds a “no compromise” position while most of their colleagues openly and freely celebrate that same, allegedly non-existent position.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
And that, in a nutshell, is why I’ll never vote Republican again.
I won’t say never. Despite how hopeless it seems at this point in time, there IS a chance that sanity could break out in the Republican Party again………….
Goldie
September 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
The Cons won’t compromise — it took Our President a long time to realize that! He was there to get things done and bills passed, and the Cons would only say NO to everything. Remember, their main goal was to make Obama a 1-term president and they have doubled-down on doing NOTHING whatsoever to help the American economy or create jobs!
Cons — Unfit To Lead America!
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
“Three NAZI references by the Dems. Interesting.”
Fascism is a right-wing trait.
Clinton vs. the GOP: Will it work? -…
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Ewrin's cat
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
Jay – I’m prepared to make a whole range of compromises, some of which I get criticized from the Democratic Party on, in order to make progress.”
but this time he means it right?….please
saying so and doing so are two different things…and so far he has said a lot
Jm
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
I’m a liberal 3:29 amen
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
We have no budget today because of budget cuts ask for, and heavy tax increases ask for. It’s pretty simple, thus nothing has happened.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 5th, 2012
3:34 pm
jcb, good to have you back and in great form too.
Fading Obama Poster
September 5th, 2012
3:34 pm
For a different perspective on the so-called GOP intransigence:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2896111/posts
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/intransigent-meet-unserious
Vinny
September 5th, 2012
3:34 pm
Jay – Your diatribe should have been titled “Obama re-election not likely”
That would be more accurate.
Huh?
September 5th, 2012
3:34 pm
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:18 pm
No it wasn’t good but thank you.
Word of advice don’t run for office in the same town you are enrolled in college at!
St Simons - he-ne-ha
September 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
“Both sides have….”
whoa now. don’t go all ‘mikey did it toooo.’
The cons are intentionally holding progress hostage. Own it.
The only thing Obama’s imminent reelection is going to bring about
is another Tim McVeigh-Eric Rudolph wingnut domestic terrorist attack
Forward – No compromise. Let’s get it on.
Cons are bleeding 1%/year, and we’re gaining. We can wait.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
September 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
john birch
The Truth Behind The GOP Claim That Obama Hasn’t Created A Single Net Job
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/gop-obama-hasnt-created-a-single-net-job.php?ref=fpblg
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
Ewrin’s cat
September 5th, 2012
3:33 pm
Jay – I’m prepared to make a whole range of compromises, some of which I get criticized from the Democratic Party on, in order to make progress.”
but this time he means it right?….please
saying so and doing so are two different things…and so far he has said a lot
+++++++++++++++++++++
Really Cat? You are going to sit here now and claim that Obama hasn’t’ compromised with the republicans to get the very little that has been done, done? That’s not like you. You are usually honest.
Huh?
September 5th, 2012
3:35 pm
It’s been nice folks but the POS I’ve been waiting at has arrived so time to tee off!!!!!!
May see you boys and gals tonight
southpaw
September 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
Jay
Do you really think that the electorate is schizophrenic enough to
a. Re-elect the more liberal President Obama, and
b. Participate in the “Great RINO Purge” you mentioned and elect more conservative legislators?
I won’t say it’s impossible, but it does seem unlikely.
paulo977
September 5th, 2012
3:36 pm
jay……In other words, this game of political chicken is likely to continue for as long as a largely apathetic and ill-informed American public is willing to tolerate it. I don’t see that changing soon.
_______________________________________________________________
‘ILL INFORMED” and quite happy !!
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:37 pm
Scout: “Compromise is the language of the devil.”
Sen Alan Simpson, with real-world experience: ” “If you want to be a purist, go somewhere on a mountaintop and praise the east or something. But if you want to be in politics, you learn to compromise. And you learn to compromise on the issue without compromising yourself. Show me a guy who won’t compromise and I’ll show you a guy with rock for brains.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/27/alan-simpson-republicans_n_1549604.html
Joe Hussein Mama
September 5th, 2012
3:37 pm
Vinny — “Jay – Your diatribe should have been titled “Obama re-election not likely”
That would be more accurate.”
How do you figure that?
http://www.electoral-vote.com
Ewrin's cat
September 5th, 2012
3:38 pm
Moderate Lione – Three NAZI references by the Dems. Interesting.
more like despicable!
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
3:38 pm
Not sure if you missed it Jay but Saddam Hussein did murder an estimated 1.25 to 1.5 million people.
Used mustard gas on his own people. Invaded Kuwait and raped and murdered 10’s of thousands.
Can you please explain why it is acceptable for Barack Obama to attack and kill Libyans (soldiers and civilians) when an estimated 4,000 people were killed under Gadaffi?
Nevermind…silly me, you are a blinded, biased, “journalist”, with a liberal agenda.
paulo977
September 5th, 2012
3:39 pm
Granny G…The Truth Behind The GOP Claim That Obama Hasn’t Created A Single Net Job
__________________________________________________________
That’s the point …..they NEVER try to inform themselves …Thank you for at least trying to enlighten someone!
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
3:40 pm
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
Fred,
While I can concede that you are probably right, I think it will be a generational shift.
That will take time I don’t have.
Ewrin's cat
September 5th, 2012
3:40 pm
Fred I am being honest…I’ll welcome a list of “real” compromises offered by Obama
Gordon
September 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
Jay,
When did Obama propose the Bowles-Simpson plan? Are you talking about the debt commission he formed? He ignored most of not all of their recommendations. For example, they recommended going to 3 tax rates (higest rate lower than current highest rate) instead of 6 and eliminating most deductions.
Midori
September 5th, 2012
3:41 pm
trying to read and comprehend the conservative “arguments” do nothing but give me a headache.
It’s amazing to me that they are so blind, uninformed and flat out hateful.
Fading Obama Poster
September 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
“Can you please explain why it is acceptable for Barack Obama to attack and kill Libyans (soldiers and civilians) when an estimated 4,000 people were killed under Gadaffi?”
That’s easy. He has the liberal biased media’s seal of approval. And all that suggest his ideas or policies are not agreeable are either racists or nazis. Where did you go to school???
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
Howdy Keep Up!
I see things here haven’t changed much.
Midori
September 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
hey there JCB
Good to see you
Fading Obama Poster
September 5th, 2012
3:44 pm
“Fred I am being honest…I’ll welcome a list of “real” compromises offered by Obama”
Me too.
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
3:44 pm
The al-Anfal Campaign:
The worst human rights abuses of Hussein’s tenure took place during the genocidal al-Anfal Campaign (1986-1989), in which Hussein’s administration called for the extermination of every living thing–human or animal–in certain regions of the Kurdish north. All told, some 182,000 people–men, women, and children–were slaughtered, many through use of chemical weapons. The Halabja poison gas massacre of 1988 alone killed over 5,000 people.
I guess Jay Bookman is ok with this type of behavior in the world.
Joe Hussein Mama
September 5th, 2012
3:45 pm
S. Shamrock — “Can you please explain why it is acceptable for Barack Obama to attack and kill Libyans (soldiers and civilians) when an estimated 4,000 people were killed under Gadaffi?”
Can you please explain the urgency behind the decision to invade Iraq while North Korea was actually *building* an atomic device?
Jm
September 5th, 2012
3:45 pm
The only people Obama ever compromised with were moderate democrats
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 5th, 2012
3:46 pm
I see things here haven’t changed much
Well just be careful who you say is “unAmerican” with those movable “lines in the sand” cause some of our forever fighting types do threaten to go to war and bring out their battle plans. I think they have a lock down now at the Cox building but I might have missed out on some of the battle action in the past day or two.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
3:46 pm
Does anyone know what Steve Shamrock is talking about?
Whatever
September 5th, 2012
3:47 pm
We will have to have compromise to solve our issues but my concern with Obama is that even in compromise he is too far left. I also think the Republicans, in compromise (assuming), are too far right.
Neither party is truly anywhere near the middle in my opinion. I’m much more afraid of Obama and Pelosi than I am of Romney.
Either way, I’m still writing in Ron Paul.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
3:47 pm
Jewcowboy,
The prodigal son has returned! You and you wit have been missed. Welcome back.
fair and balanced
September 5th, 2012
3:47 pm
Republicans fought the stimulus plan and refused to compromise; now calling it a total waste. Some guy who they did not nominate for the presidency last time said the following in December 2008 in National Review:
“”"”"”"”"”"”"”That being said, a stimulus plan is needed without further delay, and there are some things that Republicans should insist on.The first is that tax cuts are part of the solution. Harvard professor and economist Greg Mankiw points out that recent research confirms that tax cuts have a greater multiplier effect than new spending — more economic bang for the federal buck. We should lower tax rates for middle-income families and eliminate their tax on savings altogether — no tax on interest, dividends or capital gains. Let’s also align our corporate tax rate with those of competing nations. These actions will rapidly expand consumption and investment, and right now, time is of the essence.
On the spending front, infrastructure projects should be a high priority. But because infrastructure projects involve engineering, environmental studies, permitting and contracting, they can take a long time to actually boost the economy. Spending to refurbish and modernize our military equipment is urgently needed, and it has a more immediate impact on the economy. A great deal of our armament was damaged or lost in the Middle East, and the rest is long overdue for maintenance.
We should also invest to free us from our dependence on foreign oil, not by playing venture capitalist, but by funding basic research in renewables, material science, combustion, nuclear reprocessing, and the like. “”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”
Guess who??????????????
One third of this writers stimulus plan would go to tax reduction to satisfy his party. did Obama’s stimulus plan compromise??
What part of the above dis the stimulus plan not contain? Not enough money for Halliburton, Carlysle Group and other GOP biggies?
Could it be that the gang of twenty congressmen ( including Mr. Ryan)who met on inauguration day taking a vow to obstruct all of Obama’s proposals ignored their current leaders recommendations in the National Review ?
Whose to blame for that?????????
Rightwing Troll
September 5th, 2012
3:48 pm
“Compromise is the language of the devil.”
Never argue with a fool… he’ll just drag you down to his level and beat you with experience…
Steve Shamrock
September 5th, 2012
3:49 pm
Don’t beat on Jay too much or he will pull the race card…it’s been almost a week since he pulled it.
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:50 pm
Howdy Midori!
Howdy Normal!
Prodigal huh? Did you get my Amex bill?
Wilbur
September 5th, 2012
3:51 pm
Since 2008 when Obama was first elected, the Democrats have pursued a far left wing agenda, out of touch with what Americans want. The current incarnation of the DNC is far more left wing, far more radical and far more socialistic than anything from the 80’s or 90’s in the US. This behemoth had absolute majorities in 2008 and openly rejected any input from anyone as they jammed Dodd Frank ( seen any economic growth lately) and Obamacare down the throats of an unwilling electorate. Not to mention the utter intransigence of the democrats in the final years of the Bush Administration.
For Bookman to now complain is either breathtakingly ignorant or a willful lie. I am betting that Jay is not that ignorant and is instead propping up the standard lie from the democrats. It is a posture that is becoming more and more familiar to Jay and his media buddies as more and more lies are needed to support the chosen party.
HDB
September 5th, 2012
3:54 pm
Fading Obama Poster
September 5th, 2012
3:12 pm
“Care to explain why it happens so often and why you don’t see a comparable number of such attacks by conservatives?”
Are you saying that conservatives aren’t attacking via the code words that they persist in unsin in denigrating segments of the American populace? Are you saying that certain elements in conservative politics haven’t used a racist meme to inflame their base..like the “Southern Strategy”?
OPEN YOUR EYES, MAN! It’s as obvious as a runny nose on a cold day!!!!
Paul
September 5th, 2012
3:54 pm
Wilbur 3:51
“Since 2008 when Obama was first elected, the Democrats have pursued a far left wing agenda, out of touch with what Americans want.”
Jay 3:25
“ObamaCare was itself an outreach to conservatives. He dropped his own, more aggressive plan that he had campaigned upon and adopted one created by, marketed by and even implemented by Republicans, but it got him nothing. Dropping the public option from the plan was another outreach to conservatives. Making the stimulus roughly one-third tax cuts was another. Proposing the Bowles-Simpson plan was another. ”
Wilbur, you really ought to scan at least a couple of pages of comments before you post so you won’t embarrass yourself.
Unless, of course, you are arguing Republicans were out of touch with the American people with their proposals Pres Obama embraced.
Is that it?
Joe Hussein Mama
September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
Wilbur’s a GREAT parody troll. Is someone sockpuppeting him, or is he a new contestant?
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
“he will pull the race card”
You mean like this?
http://wellthisiswhatithink.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/rnc-audience.jpg%3Fw%3D390%26h%3D277
TGT
September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
a largely apathetic and ill-informed American public
In other words, those that would vote for a liberal.
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
Jewcowboy…
“Prodigal huh? Did you get my Amex bill?”
Ah, that explains it…and I blamed it on my wife…
Fred 2 the one with a brain (flomerly John uirch)
September 5th, 2012
3:55 pm
Enter your comments here
BADAss BING
September 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
Instant obama shrine: Hang a faded ‘Hope and Change’ poster over an empty chair in the corner. BAMM, you got yourself a shrine. Feel free to add some of those Jesus candles with it, they will come in handy when you can’t pay the power bill.
Midori
September 5th, 2012
3:56 pm
Paul,
Unfortunately I lost a ton of brain cells after reading Wilbur’s first paragraph.
And I sorely needed them too.
Dang it all.
Oscar
September 5th, 2012
3:57 pm
I suspect the Obama, if he gets re-elected, will be more willing to compromise, and we will see more get accomplished. He won’t have the pressures of worrying about a second term.
Also, the GOP will not be determined to see him fail, and will be more likely to work with him. During this term the GOP has been willing to let the country go down the drain if it makes Obama look bad. McConnell of Kentucky’s main priority has been for Obama to fail and not get a second term, which meant, by necessity, seeing the country fail also. Obama can’t fail unless the country did and visa versa.
The GOP was and stll is willing to see the country fail in order to win the next election.
Shawny
September 5th, 2012
3:57 pm
duh, I could see why no one would want to work with Pelosi. She is a whack job, way out of left field.
Mr Right
September 5th, 2012
3:59 pm
Spin it Jay,spin it! We all know you are working to bring back Obama! It;s so good to know that if Romney wins the Dems will NOT try to defeat him the next election!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
September 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
I could see why no one would want to work with Pelosi. She is a whack job, way out of left field.
Perhaps if she were oranger and cried more. But then again, she did get bills through the House when she led the majority without tantrums.
JamVet
September 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
The neocons have done a poor job of getting their message out.
LOL!
Fred 2 the one with a brain (flomerly John Burch)
September 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
There you go Fred. Now you can try to make an intelligent comment instead of going on and on about a stupid blog name. I would love a reasonable discussion with some facts, rather than the Obama walks on water cause he says so koolaid.
Did we add 4 million jobs during the Obama administration or not? If so, proof please, not just the administration’s claim they did so.
Fred ™
September 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
Ewrin’s cat
September 5th, 2012
3:40 pm
Fred I am being honest…I’ll welcome a list of “real” compromises offered by Obama
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you recall extending the Bush tax cut’s to extend unemployment benefits? Does that ring a bell? If so does it jar your memory for any others?
jewcowboy
September 5th, 2012
4:01 pm
“Democrats have pursued a far left wing agenda, out of touch with what Americans want.”
1. Health Care Mandates
2. The Nuclear START Treaty
3. Dream Act
4. TARP
5. Bail Out of Auto Industry
6. Israel Going Back To Pre-1967 Borders
7. End Of Life Counseling
What do these things have in common? They were all supported by the GOP before Obama took office.