Saving us from austerity measures - John Boehner?!

[blueclown]

I am amazed at the people who are mad at John Boehner for backing out of a "larger" debt-ceiling compromise. If anything, an agreement to not to cut a deal on the debt-ceiling vote is a victory for the American people. The last thing this country needs is austerity, as it is a sure way into a double-dip recession. What America needs is more federal spending. We need to spend more on state aid, helping states keep programs such as Medicaid up and running. We need mortage foreclosure relief. We need student loan relief. We need job re-training programs. We need more federal grant money for colleges. We need more money to extend unemployment insurance.

You just have to wonder with the Obama administration - does this administration believe in anything? Is there a backbone among anybody in that administration? It is just beyond frustrating to see Republicans control the public dialogue. It is beyond frustrating for nobody in that administration to provide some pushback on the meme that spending needs to be cut. It is beyond frustrating for clowns like Austin Goolsbee to state that "America needs to start living within its means" while millions upons millions of people are struggling to live.

I really hope the Obama administration wises up quickly. Because as bad as they have been during this economic "recovery", I do know that a President Bachmann or Perry would be much worse.

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Boehner will back away from any deal.

He's not looking to find a way out of this mess. He's looking to create disaster. If Obama tells him, "Here, we'll give you the whole package, every cut you want, but you gotta give up something," and still Agent Orange walks away, there is NO WAY that this isn't just a big fuck you to the whole country.

I refuse to allow you to try to make Boehner a hero out of this fiasco.

[blueclown]

3. I am not making Boehner a hero.

Boehner is a jackass in this scenario. We all know that he is beholden to big business interests and has no interest in protecting many federal programs that Americans hold dear.

What annoys me is that there is no counterpoint in this administration to his jackass-ness. The Obama administration is essentially complicit in the GOP's drive to slash the federal budget and reduce the safety net more than it already has. What the Obama administration needs to understand is that now is the worst time to decrease spending.

[EffieBlack]

4. "What the Obama administration needs to understand . . . "

"What the Obama administration needs to understand is that now is the worst time to decrease spending."

Perfect illustration of the point made in another thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x705766

FYI - I'm sure the Obama administration is quite well aware of the economic dynamics at play here.

[blueclown]

5. Get off your high horse.

There is no doubt that President Obama is a brilliant man, but he is not beyond reproach. And certainly not beyond criticism. If you can't understand that, if you don't like that, oh freaking well.

I do not think that the Obama administration is well aware of the economic dynamics at play here - because what I am proposing here is a theory that they may or may not subscribe to, given the fact that a good deal of the advisors in that administration are supply-siders.

[EffieBlack]

6. There's considerable difference between criticism and insisting that they don't understand economic

policy as well as you do.

High horse, indeed.

[blueclown]

7. No, there is not.

It's pretty much the same. And for the record, I didn't say that I knew more about economic policy that they did. That would be a straight up lie on your part. It would be a very stupid claim on my part. Obama's economic policy cabinet is full of brilliant, grad-school educated intellectuals. There is no question about that. But the fact that they have seen the results of trickle-down economics, yet continue to advocate those policies shows a stunning degree of indifference, or ineptitude. Take your choice of which one.

[Hand_With_Eyes]

10. "I'm sure the Obama administration is quite well aware of the economic dynamics at play here."

Which is why extending the Bush tax cuts for two additional years, thus extending the recession for two more years, is so damn puzzling.

[GoCubsGo]

8. Or, maybe, just maybe...

...they knew he was a jackass, and that because the fringe of his party had him by his little, orange balls, that he would back down over those tax cuts.

What annoys me is that some won't even consider that things are not always what they appear to be.

[blueclown]

9. Why would he back down?

Not familar with the GOP, are you?

[flamingdem]

2. Maybe Obama was playing 3d Golf with him! nt