Did Republicans deliberately crash the US economy?

[code_pirahna]

[FLASH]<object width="420" height="245" id="msnbc76fa69" classid="clsid27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=47774722&amp;width=420&amp;height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc76fa69" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=47774722&amp;width=420&amp;height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 420px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">breaking news</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">world news</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">news about the economy</a></p>[/FLASH]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/09/did-republicans-deliberately-crash-us-economy

Did Republicans deliberately crash the US economy?

Be it ideology or stratagem, the GOP has blocked pro-growth policy and backed job-killing austerity – all while blaming Obama

Michael Cohen

guardian.co.uk, Saturday 9 June 2012 09.00 EDT

The Republican party congressional leadership (left to right): Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell, House majority leader Eric Cantor, and House speaker John Boehner, after the 2010 midterms. Photograph: AP Photo/Alex Brandon


So why does the US economy stink?

Why has job creation in America slowed to a crawl? Why, after several months of economic hope, are things suddenly turning sour? The culprits might seem obvious – uncertainty in Europe, an uneven economic recovery, fiscal and monetary policymakers immobilized and incapable of acting. But increasingly, Democrats are making the argument that the real culprit for the country's economic woes lies in a more discrete location: with the Republican Party.

In recent days, Democrats have started coming out and saying publicly what many have been mumbling privately for years – Republicans are so intent on defeating President Obama for re-election that they are purposely sabotaging the country's economic recovery. These charges are now being levied by Democrats such as Senate majority leader Harry Reid and Obama's key political adviser, David Axelrod.

For Democrats, perhaps the most obvious piece of evidence of GOP premeditated malice is the 2010 quote from Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell:


"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

Such words lead some to the conclusion that Republicans will do anything, including short-circuiting the economy, in order to hurt Obama politically. Considering that presidents – and rarely opposition parties – are held electorally responsible for economic calamity, it's not a bad political strategy.

Then again, it's a hard accusation to prove: after all, one person's economic sabotage is another person's principled anti-government conservatism.

Beyond McConnell's words, though, there is circumstantial evidence to make the case. Republicans have opposed a lion's share of stimulus measures that once they supported, such as a payroll tax break, which they grudgingly embraced earlier this year. Even unemployment insurance, a relatively uncontroversial tool for helping those in an economic downturn, has been consistently held up by Republicans or used as a bargaining chip for more tax cuts. Ten years ago, prominent conservatives were loudly making the case for fiscal stimulus to get the economy going; today, they treat such ideas like they're the plague.

Traditionally, during economic recessions, Republicans have been supportive of loose monetary policy. Not this time. Rather, Republicans have upbraided Ben Bernanke, head of the Federal Reserve, for even considering policies that focus on growing the economy and creating jobs.

And then, there is the fact that since the original stimulus bill passed in February of 2009, Republicans have made practically no effort to draft comprehensive job creation legislation. Instead, they continue to pursue austerity policies, which reams of historical data suggest harms economic recovery and does little to create jobs. In fact, since taking control of the House of Representatives in 2011, Republicans have proposed hardly a single major jobs bill that didn't revolve, in some way, around their one-stop solution for all the nation's economic problems: more tax cuts.

Still, one can certainly argue – and Republicans do – that these steps are all reflective of conservative ideology. If you view government as a fundamentally bad actor, then stopping government expansion is, on some level, consistent.

So, let's put aside the conspiracy theories for a moment, and look more closely at how the country is faring under the GOP's economic leadership.

As Paul Krugman wrote earlier this week, in the New York Times, while a Democrat rests his head each night in the White House, the United States is currently operating with a Republican economy. After winning the House of Representatives in 2010, the GOP brokered a deal to keep the Bush tax cuts in place, which has reduced the tax burden as a percentage of GDP to its lowest point since Harry Truman sat in the White House. At the insistence of the White House, Congress also agreed to extend unemployment benefits and enact a payroll tax cut – measures that provided a small but important stimulus to the economy, but above all, maintained the key GOP position that taxes must never go up.

But as Congress giveth, Congress also taketh. The GOP's zealotry on tax cuts is only matched by its zealotry in pursuing austerity policies. In the spring of 2011, federal spending cuts forced by Republican legislators took much-needed money out of the economy: combined with the 2012 budget, it has largely counteracted the positive benefits provided by the 2009 stimulus.

Subsequently, the GOP's refusal to countenance legislation that would help states with their own fiscal crises (largely, the result of declining tax revenue) has led to massive public sector layoffs at the state and local level. In fact, since Obama took office, state and local governments have shed 611,000 jobs; and by some measures, if not for these jobs, cuts the unemployment rate today would be closer to 7%, not its current 8.2%. In 2010 and 2011, 457,00 public sector jobs were excised; not coincidentally, at the same time, much of the federal stimulus aid from 2009 ran out. And Republicans took over control of Congress.

These cuts have a larger societal impact. When teachers are laid off, for example (and nearly 200,000 have lost their jobs), it means larger class sizes, other teachers being overworked and after-school classes being cancelled. So, ironically, a policy that is intended to save "our children and grandchildren" from "crushing debt" is leaving them worse-prepared for the actual economic and social challenges they will face in the future. In addition, with states operating under tighter fiscal budgets – and getting no hope relief from Washington – it means less money for essential government services, like help for the elderly, the poor and the disabled.

This is the most obvious example of how austerity policies are not only harming America's present, but also imperilling its future. And these spending cuts on the state and local level are matched by a complete lack of fiscal expansion on the federal level. In fact, fiscal policy is now a drag on the recovery, which is the exact opposite of how it should work, given a sluggish economy.

This collection of more-harm-than-good policies must also include last summer's debt limit debacle, which House speaker John Boehner has threatened to renew this year. This was yet another GOP initiative that undermined the economic recovery. According to economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, "over the entire episode, confidence declined more than it did following the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc in 2008." Only after the crisis did the consumer confidence stabilize, but employers "held back on hiring, sapping momentum from a recovery that remains far too fragile." In addition, the debt limit deal also forced more unhelpful spending cuts on the country.

Since that national embarrassment, Republicans have refused to even allow votes on President Obama's jobs bill in the Senate; they dragged their feet on the aforementioned payroll tax and even now are holding up a transportation bill with poison-pill demands for the White House on environmental regulation.

Yet, with all these tales of economic ineptitude emanating from the GOP, it is Obama who is bearing most of the blame for the country's continued poor economic performance.

Whether you believe the Republicans are engaging in purposely destructive fiscal behavior or are simply fiscally incompetent, it almost doesn't matter. It most certainly is bad economic policy and that should be part of any national debate not only on who is to blame for the current economic mess, but also what steps should be taken to get out from underneath it.

But don't hold your breath on that happening. Presidents get blamed for a bad economy; and certainly, Republicans are unlikely to take responsibility for the country's economic woes. The obligation will be on Obama to make the case that it is the Republicans, not he, who is to blame – a difficult, but not impossible task.

In the end, that might be the worst part of all – one of two major political parties in America is engaging in scorched-earth economic policies that are undercutting the economic recovery, possibly on purpose, and is forcing job-killing austerity measures on the states. And they have paid absolutely no political price for doing so. If anything, it won them control of the House in 2010, and has kept win Obama's approval ratings in the political danger zone. It might even help them get control of the White House.

Sabotage or not, it's hard to argue with "success" – and it's hard to imagine we've seen the last of it, whoever wins in November.

 

[ballscout1]

of course they did.

those crakkas basically are saying before a black man controls this nation there will be no nation.


Like the cat that kills the woman when she says she is leaving and he has the attitude if he can't have her nobody will

 

[water]

of course they did.

those crakkas basically are saying before a black man controls this nation there will be no nation.


Like the cat that kills the woman when she says she is leaving and he has the attitude if he can't have her nobody will

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.

Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

 

[Cruise]

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.

Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

I'm glad you finally see this.

From Day 1, I could tell Obama was selected to be the non-white fall guy for Bush's fuckups.

Now that Obama has clearly cemented that a "black President" is no different than any other President, whites can now say, "We gave yall a chance, now we can get back to business."

 

[MadWun]

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.

Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

Agreed. Republicans have dug in and plan to say "No" to every fucking thing.

When Dems had the majority, they should have gone HAM, instead passed healthcare reform that is in fucking shambles right now.

 

[MurderCity]

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.

Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

Been a problem with most democrats for a long time, no balls or long term conviction.

 

[code_pirahna]

But Republicans are only allowed to do this because the American voter is a dumbass.

Which is mainly the reason why the economy is the way it is.....

The American People.

 

[ballscout1]

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.
Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

No he didn't and I wish people will stop spreading that bullshit talking point.

He never had 60 solid votes because there was independants in there like Liberman who are counted and the blue dog contingent who run as democrats but legislate as conservative republicans.

What should be before the surpreme court is that fillibuster rule is unconstitutional. The founders never intended for the minority to have the legislative power and by requiring a 60 vote majority that is exactly what you have.

The intent was a simple majority.

There has never been anything done without compromise and working across party lines and Obama was right in trying to do that. In fact he had no choice because there were always a contingent on democrats voting against the liberal path so he always needed moderate republicans.

And as you see with the defeat of Richard Lugar the GOP is getting ride of their moderates.That is also why Snowe isn't seeling re-election.

He could have used the executive order earlier and now he sees that is his option so in a second term I expect to see more of that and a more aggressive Obama

 

[ballscout1]

Agreed. Republicans have dug in and plan to say "No" to every fucking thing.

When Dems had the majority, they should have gone HAM, instead passed healthcare reform that is in fucking shambles right now.

It's only in shambles because of misinformation and a GOP Supreme Court.

Well sit home and don't vote and with 3 potential appointments to the court during this next term

 

[BKF]

That is why Obama should have not given a fuck and do what he had to do.

He had an overwhelming majority mandate to do what the fuck he wanted.

Instead he was trying to be this uniter while the other side made it explicitly clear that their sole mission was to see him fail.

At that point you go HAM.

A failure of leadership.

I hope we as black people understand this game and take notes.

Go HAM or go home.

Throughout history, we are always the one to play peacemaker, even when we are not the aggressor.... WTF

Sounds great but having a majority doesn't equal everybody being on board. He needed 60 votes to pass anything but if the old rule were still in place (50 votes). Many bill would have been passed. Remember the Blue Dog Coalition and Judases like Joe Lieberman? That majority wasn't a Kumbaya.

 

[code_pirahna]

No he didn't and I wish people will stop spreading that bullshit talking point.

He never had 60 solid votes because there was independants in there like Liberman who are counted and the blue dog contingent who run as democrats but legislate as conservative republicans.

What should be before the surpreme court is that fillibuster rule is unconstitutional. The founders never intended for the minority to have the legislative power and by requiring a 60 vote majority that is exactly what you have.

The intent was a simple majority.

There has never been anything done without compromise and working across party lines and Obama was right in trying to do that. In fact he had no choice because there were always a contingent on democrats voting against the liberal path so he always needed moderate republicans.

And as you see with the defeat of Richard Lugar the GOP is getting ride of their moderates.That is also why Snowe isn't seeling re-election.

He could have used the executive order earlier and now he sees that is his option so in a second term I expect to see more of that and a more aggressive Obama

Yeah folks believe all of the bullshit that they hear......

Obama had blue dog democrats and independents who were counterfeit

Truth is a lot of this is the media s fault for being lazy and not wanting to spend money on investigative journalism.....

They were lazy about the Iraq war.....and wanted the money from the story....

And Lazy about the GOP obstruction.....

 

[MadWun]

It's only in shambles because of misinformation and a GOP Supreme Court.

Well sit home and don't vote and with 3 potential appointments to the court during this next term

What the fuck does this have to do with me voting? Did I say I'm not voting?

Let's be real, even on Healthcare, dems fucked up and are to blame for not giving a clear, concise message about healthcare.

 

[bigman23]

Yeah folks believe all of the bullshit that they hear......

Obama had blue dog democrats and independents who were counterfeit

Truth is a lot of this is the media s fault for being lazy and not wanting to spend money on investigative journalism.....

They were lazy about the Iraq war.....and wanted the money from the story....

And Lazy about the GOP obstruction.....

how are they lazy 85% of the media is liberal

 

[code_pirahna]

What the fuck does this have to do with me voting? Did I say I'm not voting?

Let's be real, even on Healthcare, dems fucked up and are to blame for not giving a clear, concise message about healthcare.

So its about the message not the substance right?

c'mon man....the very fact that folks could stay on their parents insurance until age 26 sold me.....

cause when I was 23 and still in undergrad I was without health insurance....

that shit is real but its all about the message not what s in it....

I swear this society is more hungry for the sizzle than the steak itself.

 

[Blu Diablo]

No he didn't and I wish people will stop spreading that bullshit talking point.

He never had 60 solid votes because there was independants in there like Liberman who are counted and the blue dog contingent who run as democrats but legislate as conservative republicans.

Truth

 

[code_pirahna]

how are they lazy 85% of the media is liberal

Wow...people believe every fuckin thing that they hear....

it is well known that it is a fallacy that the media is liberal...

Have you ever listened to talk radio?

that is nothing but right wing.

 

[MadWun]

So its about the message not the substance right?

c'mon man....the very fact that folks could stay on their parents insurance until age 26 sold me.....

cause when I was 23 and still in undergrad I was without health insurance....

that shit is real but its all about the message not what s in it....

I swear this society is more hungry for the sizzle than the steak itself.

I was sold too, but you are dealing with a semi retarded American society.

Repubs achieved what they wanted; Create doubt about healthcare. Cause confusion...

 

[BKF]

Wow...people believe every fuckin thing that they hear....

it is well known that it is a fallacy that the media is liberal...

Have you ever listened to talk radio?

that is nothing but right wing.

He overheard someone say this. So it must be true.

 

[TheFuser]

how are they lazy 85% of the media is liberal

really? Since when? You have proof of this? Or is this just passed on propaganda?

 

[ballscout1]

What the fuck does this have to do with me voting? Did I say I'm not voting?

Let's be real, even on Healthcare, dems fucked up and are to blame for not giving a clear, concise message about healthcare.

every post i make it speaking to the entire board ..this isn't an instant message so the voting statement wasn't directed at enybody except those who talk about not voting.

The message was clear to educated people who can read and understand what they are reading.

GOP caters to dumb and lazy as well as bigots so those sound bytes work.The misinformation is accepted as gospel.

To many black folks and democrats fall into the lazy and they only repeat what they hear and never question what the hear.

In that regard you are right. They should shape their message as if they are talking to idiots that's what the GOP does and it works well

 

[Mr. Equator]

American politics in it's current form is pathetic.

 

[ballscout1]

how are they lazy 85% of the media is liberal

another untrue talking point the GOP uses to kae them seem like victims.

How many liberal radio talk shows can you find in your area ?

And how many conservative ?

What newspapers are owned by liberals ?

Why doesn't the media if they are liberal explain the liberal perspective ? They could have sold healthcare had they been liberal.

 

[BKF]

I was sold too, but you are dealing with a semi retarded American society.

Repubs achieved what they wanted; Create doubt about healthcare. Cause confusion...

A Black man was elected president. After that this country went into a tailspin. The birth of the tea baggers and birthers took the debate in another direction. The republican only stated what the racist in this country were saying at their dinner table. bars, and other hangouts. They didn't want to hear Obama "the socialist" message.

 

[MadWun]

every post i make it speaking to the entire board ..this isn't an instant message so the voting statement wasn't directed at enybody except those who talk about not voting.

The message was clear to educated people who can read and understand what they are reading.

GOP caters to dumb and lazy as well as bigots so those sound bytes work.The misinformation is accepted as gospel.

To many black folks and democrats fall into the lazy and they only repeat what they hear and never question what the hear.

In that regard you are right. They should shape their message as if they are talking to idiots that's what the GOP does and it works well

Cool. Understood.

But something has to give. I sometimes feel that the democratic/independent voice is drowned out by the Right and their bullshit.

Democrats need a better strategy to get their message out. This is all I'm saying.

 

[wedrinkandscrew]

of course they did.

those crakkas basically are saying before a black man controls this nation there will be no nation.


Like the cat that kills the woman when she says she is leaving and he has the attitude if he can't have her nobody will

 

[Blu Diablo]

Yeah folks believe all of the bullshit that they hear......

Obama had blue dog democrats and independents who were counterfeit

Truth is a lot of this is the media s fault for being lazy and not wanting to spend money on investigative journalism.....

They were lazy about the Iraq war.....and wanted the money from the story....

And Lazy about the GOP obstruction.....

I have to respectfully disagree here bruh. It's not a matter of the media being lazy because the media is now just an extension of the corporate body.

The laziness rests solely with the electorate for not choosing to inform themselves to the information available. The electorate is way more likely to vote their beliefs than for policy that is beneficial to them.

Some blame can be levied at the Dems for not pushing message or the media for not digging hard enough for facts, but ultimately it rests with the electorate.

 

[MadWun]

another untrue talking point the GOP uses to kae them seem like victims.

How many liberal radio talk shows can you find in your area ?

And how many conservative ?

What newspapers are owned by liberals ?

Why doesn't the media if they are liberal explain the liberal perspective ? They could have sold healthcare had they been liberal.

Hence me saying that the democratic voice is drowned out.

In GA alone, there are several stations dedicated to Conservative Radio.

640AM - Limbaugh, Glenn Beck
750AM - Boortz, Hannity

These are only 2 stations.

I know of only one liberal radio show in GA.

 

[actinanass]

Be careful with going with this narrative. The right can easily say "well President Obama, and the democrats had complete power for 2 years. They could of fixed the economy way before we got control of the house".

 

[ballscout1]

Cool. Understood.

But something has to give. I sometimes feel that the democratic/independent voice is drowned out by the Right and their bullshit.

Democrats need a better strategy to get their message out. This is all I'm saying.

it's the people who voted for Obama and then thought their duty was complete.

they needed to and still need to vocally support him when he is making moves.

everybody pushed him out the door and are watching through the window while they trying to crucify him and them some inside watching just like damn O getting dealt with....

 

[ballscout1]

Hence me saying that the democratic voice is drowned out.

In GA alone, there are several stations dedicated to Conservative Radio.

640AM - Limbaugh, Glenn Beck
750AM - Boortz, Hannity

These are only 2 stations.

I know of only one liberal radio show in GA.

exactly yet they convince people the media is by and large liberal.


that is exactly what i mean by misinformation and people are to damn dumb to know they are lied to.

who you going to believe me or your lying ass eyes ?

 

[ballscout1]

Be careful with going with this narrative. The right can easily say "well President Obama, and the democrats had complete power for 2 years. They could of fixed the economy way before we got control of the house".

they didn't have complete power because of the unconstitutional fillibuster rules.

that 60 majority requirement should be overturned.

the intent was never to give the power to the minority

the government was setup as majority rule

but with the 60 vote requirement that isn't the case

 

[water]

Transparency.

Obama had the media machinery in place.

Embarrass the fuck out of Lieberman etc...

Obama had the public on his side.

In dictatorships, they use the media. His media savvy disappeared right after election.

His mandate was to continue talking with the people who elected him and dropping the real heat. Bush didn't give a fuck, he did what the fuck he wanted and pulled no punches

You can't clean up Washington by playing with the snakes.

The public thought he had the balls, but he went in there to make peace when war is what was needed.

 

[code_pirahna]

I have to respectfully disagree here bruh. It's not a matter of the media being lazy because the media is now just an extension of the corporate body.

The laziness rests solely with the electorate for not choosing to inform themselves to the information available. The electorate is way more likely to vote their beliefs than for policy that is beneficial to them.

Some blame can be levied at the Dems for not pushing message or the media for not digging hard enough for facts, but ultimately it rests with the electorate.

I agree

 

[ballscout1]

Transparency.

Obama had the media machinery in place.

Embarrass the fuck out of Lieberman etc...

Obama had the public on his side.

In dictatorships, they use the media. His media savvy disappeared right after election.

His mandate was to continue talking with the people who elected him and dropping the real heat. Bush didn't give a fuck, he did what the fuck he wanted and pulled no punches

You can't clean up Washington by playing with the snakes.

The public thought he had the balls, but he went in there to make peace when war is what was needed.

He had the people ?

So that is why on the day of his inaguartation they were planning his demise ?

That is why the Tea Party flourished ?

That is why more guns and ammunition was sold than any other time ?

That is why militias sprang up ?

That is why overt racism came out of the closet ?

Thats is why there have been more threats against his life than any other president ?


He didn't have a mandate he won 51% to 49% of the popular vote.

His distance was with the electoral college


So again that is misinformation that he had the people and he had a mandate.

 

[younghustla]