Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Bill Whalen is on his way to St. Petersburg and will soon lack access to the internet. I am in Prague at a cheap hotel, and I have a better connection than I ordinarily get on the road in the US – which is why I know something that, I suspect, Bill would very much like to know but doesn’t – to wit, that Harry Reid has agreed to substantial spending cuts without tax increases, that Ezra Klein at The Washington Post is reporting that the Republicans have won, and that Barack Obama is, as is utterly predictable, throwing a gigantic hissie fit.
Folks, it rarely gets better. John Boehner is going to go down in history as one of the canniest Speakers of the House in the history of Congress. By dint of sheer persistence and patience, he has won the argument on expenditures and taxes hands down. The polling data is clear. The Democrats are on the run, and the adolescent in the White House is pouting. How sweet it is!
Now if only we could find a Republican presidential nominee capable of fully taking advantage of the disarray into which Barack Obama has plunged his party. Someone should give Paul Ryan another call. There is, as they say, a tide in the affairs of men, and if that admirable Congressman from Wisconsin does not seize the opportunity, that tide is apt to pass him by. More to the point, however, if we do not seize this opportunity and find someone not a managerial progressive who can eloquently make the argument for downsizing federal responsibilities and has the moxie to follow through, that tide is apt to pass us by as well.
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
This is good news. As is the report that Perry will be throwing his Stetson in the ring next month. He's no Ryan, but he has a record on which to run and is definitely not a managerial progressive. He is as close to an anti-Obama as I can imagine.
Apr '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
"Now if only we could find a Republican presidential nominee capable of fully taking advantage of the disarray into which Barack Obama has plunged his party."
I would think it would be easier to talk Mitt Romney into adopting this as a governing strategy. He is certainly an adaptable fellow. If we team him up with Dick Cheney and his shotgun as VP the ticket may go somewhere.
May '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Kudos to Boehner, I wasn't sure if he had it in him to withstand Barrack's demagoguery and the dishonest media that accompanies Obama like propaganda pilot fish on attached to a shark.
The lack of leadership from Obama is glaring. His eventual walking away from the hard work of negotiations, eventually outsourcing any actual work to the senate was especially predictable after his self serving pressers failed to generate any traction for his phony positions.
Jan '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Marco Rubio. Watch how he handled Bob Schieffer on "Face The Nation," July 17.
Every Democrat talking point question the host asked was smoothly turned into an attack on Obama and the Democrats.
Ryan will make an excelent Veep.
Jul '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
I have maintained all along that the goals regarding this debt ceiling issue is to advance conservative principles but most importantly to not let Obama get a leg up for his 2012 destroy America tour.
There is nothing funnier than a narcissist having their world implode and Mr I Me Mine is getting some of that right now.
He claims now that "It is tempting to do this all by myself" !!!!
Just pure comedy, my sides are splitting.
Dec '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Paul, the deal you write of, should it go through, raises the debt Ceiling by $1 T, but requires a committee of six from the House and six from the Senate to select the cuts. That means Nacy Pelosi and Harry Reid get to pick 3 each and Boehner and McConnell get to pick three each.
We can count on Banshee Pelosi to give us Wassermann-Schultz, Charlie Rangel, and Henry Waxman (or similar). I'll guess Durbin, Schumer, and Conrad from Reid. Boehner will probably give us decent reps (though probably no Tea Partiers), but what about McConnell? I fear we will get three confortable representatives of the establishment that are not for election in 2012
Jul '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
I would like to offer an 'epicly'-long, painfully-slow, incredibly enthusiastic clap for John Boehner! I am only 23 years old so the following has less meaning; I have never seen a better-won game of political chicken than this.
So, who can best make use of this? My thinking is Perry could use it to his advantage. When taken in conjunction with the recent release of the FED pseudo-audit, I suppose Ron Paul could really make hay out of this.
Regardless, it is a good day; I wonder who is going to muck it up?
Oct '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Boehner has greatly exceeded my expectations. Think about where we are now compared to where we were in 2009. Amazing.
And Congressman Ryan, we still need you.
Jul '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Crab bait: "Now if only we could find a Republican presidential nominee capable of fully taking advantage of the disarray into which Barack Obama has plunged his party."
I would think it would be easier to talk Mitt Romney into adopting this as a governing strategy. He is certainly an adaptable fellow. If we team him up with Dick Cheney and his shotgun as VP the ticket may go somewhere. · Jul 25 at 12:24pm
Adaptable is a great term for shifting morality based on political expedience.
Sep '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
pseudo-audit
Ahem.
Apr '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
DocJay
Crab bait: "Now if only we could find a Republican presidential nominee capable of fully taking advantage of the disarray into which Barack Obama has plunged his party."
I would think it would be easier to talk Mitt Romney into adopting this as a governing strategy. He is certainly an adaptable fellow. If we team him up with Dick Cheney and his shotgun as VP the ticket may go somewhere. · Jul 25 at 12:24pm
Adaptable is a great term for shifting morality based on political expedience. · Jul 25 at 12:39pm
You take my meaning exactly.
Aug '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Professor, You best hoist an Urquell to Urkel, who twists again ,like he did last summer. Only this time he has to make do in Washington's heat , not Martha's Vineyard.
Edited on July 25, 2011 at 9:59pmSep '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Speaker Boehner's victory is a perfect example of why its often wise to bring a knife to a gunfight.
Nicely played.
Apr '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
“While officials from the Obama Administration raised their rhetoric over the weekend about the possibility of a debt default if the debt ceiling isn’t raised, they privately have been telling top executives at major U.S. banks that such an event won’t happen, FOX Business has learned.
In a series of phone calls, administration officials have told bankers that the administration will not allow a default to happen even if the debt cap isn’t raised by the August 2
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/07/25/obama-to-banks-were-not-defaulting/#ixzz1T9C9ZGfN
Obama: I’d Like ‘to Bypass Congress and Change the Rules on My Own’
“He told the National Council of La Raza, “Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you.”
http://www.nationaljournal.com/whitehouse/obama-i-d-like-to-bypass-congress-and-change-the-rules-on-my-own--20110725
Edited on July 25, 2011 at 10:05pmMay '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Whoa. "The idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you."
Really? El Caudillo speaks! Viva El Caudillo!
Jan '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Personally, I wonder how Boehner knew that Obama was bluffing. Heh.
Sep '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
I am listening to the Republicans press conference after their acceptance of the Senate deal that excludes the BBA. The House members rhetoric is just plain awesome. "Its time for the President to place people before politics" is an excellent. "We are talking about policy while the President talks about the election."
This is what has been missing for weeks now and it is very timely.
Jul '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
flownover: Professor, You best hoist an Urquell to Urkel, who twists again ,like he did last summer. Only this time he has to make do in Washington's heat , not Martha's Vineyard. · Jul 25 at 12:58pm
Edited on Jul 25 at 12:59 pm
That's funny.
Crab Bait, any chance at being misconstrued ended with the images of Elmer Fudd and his repeating 12 guage.
May '10
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
What? No Balanced Budget Amendment? Nuts.
Still trying to look at the glass as half full, not half empty...
Apr '11
Re: Obama: Twisting in the Wind
Things are looking bad for the Dems, and Boehner has been magnificent lately. But is it certain the plan put forth by Reid is going to pass the House? Reid counted drawing down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as $1T in savings, and another $400B savings on the interest that would have accrued in borrowings for the wars. There are not many real cuts in there. Boehner is promoting a plan consisting of a two tiered increase with the second increase to go forward only if some entitlement reform is enacted that will reduce the deficit by 1.8 trillion. The chess match is not over.