The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Last week House Republicans unveiled their budget proposals, calling for more than $50 billion in cuts during the remainder of fiscal year 2011. They also committed themselves to still more cuts once they begin work on the budget for 2012. Yesterday the Obama White House replied, submitting budget proposals of its own. From the lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal:
This was supposed to be the moment we were all waiting for. After three years of historic deficits that have added almost $1.45 trillion to the national debt, President Obama was finally going to get serious about fiscal discipline. Instead, what landed on Congress's doorstep on Monday was a White House budget that increases deficits above the spending baseline for the next two years.
Whereas the Obama budget promises cuts off in the indefinite future, in other words, what it proposes for the here and now is more spending.
The sumo wrestlers have now entered the ring. They may still be circling one another warily, but the fundamental nature of the contest--the terms of the fight that will last until election day 2012--are now clear. Republicans intend to do their duty, cutting spending dramatically, trusting to the American people to demonstrate the character and maturity to accept any sacrifices the budget reductions entail. President Obama intends, by contrast, to mislead voters, attempting to persuade them that--despite federal spending at the highest levels of GDP since the Second World War--the federal government can still shower largesse upon its favored constituencies.
Republicans see the American people as fundamentally virtuous, self-reliant, and capable of sacrifice and restraint. Barack Obama sees the American people as foolish, dependent, gullible, and infantilized.
They can't both be right.
We shall see.
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Aug '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Peter, What is the reward for being the tallest midget in town ? I vote to hold our breath, and our applause, until somebody talks about cutting amounts that begin with "T" . O has pretty much devalued the "B" word.
Jun '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Congress members would do well to remember that they are part of a "necessary EVIL"--government--necessary, but an evil none the less. The only way they can redeem themselves is to make that government less evil, and the only way to do that, at this point, is to make that government much smaller. And if that means being a brave one-termer, then so be it. Omaha Beach saw a lot of "one-termers," and they sacrificed much more for their country than just losing an election.
May '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Republicans intend to do their duty, cutting spending dramatically, trusting the American people to demonstrate the character and maturity to accept any sacrifices the budget reductions entail.
I so hope that this is the case. You sound confident, which is good to hear. But just between you and me, Peter. is your certainty as strong as it appears, or are you pumping them up before they hit the beach, while deep down you have strong doubts?
Your post is inspiring, regardless.
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Scott Reusser: Republicans intend to do their duty, cutting spending dramatically, trusting the American people to demonstrate the character and maturity to accept any sacrifices the budget reductions entail.
I so hope that this is the case. You sound confident, which is good to hear. But just between you and me, Peter. is your certainty as strong as it appears, or are you pumping them up before they hit the beach, while deep down you have strong doubts?
Your post is inspiring, regardless. · Feb 15 at 4:47pm
As best I can tell, they mean business--and the sentiment of the rank-and-file Republicans is to the right of that of the leadership. In other words, Boehner, Cantor, and Ryan are under pressure from their membership to attack, not retreat. Lookin' good.
Nov '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
I think the President is testing the new Republican house just like the Soviets would test new American presidents. Start building an airfield in some hot spot to see how the new guy would react.
Now is the time to go big or go home.
Aug '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
I surely hope the Republicans have the stones to stare down Obama - the future of our Republic depends on it.
I was dismayed to see any funding in the Republican plan for the Dept of Education. Surely the Repubs can make the case that the federal government doesn't educate one single student and this department is a waste of money. The other stuff they did propose was chump change...
Dec '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Back when the Simpson-Bowles commission was doing its work, Obama said something that I took as ominous. He essentially said (I can't find the quote): "Let's wait for the deficit commission to finish its work, and then we'll find out who's serious about cutting the deficit." It sounded at the time like he was going to put forth a budget with serious deficit reduction based on large tax increases, challenging the GOP to choose between no new taxes and sky-high deficits.
However, Obama's actual budget proposal is nowhere near that frightening -- he's not asking the GOP to make a choice between deficits and taxes, so they're free to come back to him with the choice between deficits and spending cuts. That's going to put him in a much harder place than he would have been had he taken the deficit commission's recommendations to heart.
Aug '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Repooblicans...repooblicans....how ? I was born a republican, my grandma was a delegate, but sheesh ! Alan Simpson sounds like the son of a preacher. My prayers and future are in their hands, why am I so skeptical ?
Edited on Feb 15, 2011 at 6:30pmI always gave, never received . Hope you got a paycheck, you certainly deserved it.
May '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
What do y'all make of this take on Obama's budget stance? National Review's Jim Geraghty pointed it out in today's Morning Jolt:
Obama is setting up a confrontation and he plans to win.
Obama is betting that he can force the GOP to make their proposed cuts, which he can blame them for, which he can truthfully say he does not support. Then he can attack the Republicans for making the cuts. He will appeal to the people who are suffering from the cuts, and strip away GOP support. They will be angry and mobilized.
Obama then plans to force the GOP into a funding crisis just as Clinton did. Obama plans to destroy the GOP reform wave of 2011 just as Clinton destroyed the GOP reform effort in 1995.
Obama's team attempted to use the Tucson massacre in the same fashion that Clinton used the Oklahoma City bombings, to discredit the GOP. Obama is acutely aware of the Clinton playbook. This is another re-run.
....
Obama's brazen, no-cuts budget proposal is not a sign of weakness.
It is a bold chess move that demands a strong response.
Jan '11
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
I don't see how Obama can think that he can present this plan and expect to beat Mickey Mouse in 2012. Maybe he's trying to goad the new Congress into shutting down the country over the debt ceiling. Or maybe he's been taking violin lessons.
Let's see how the fiery frosh respond. I'm not getting my hopes up.
Jan '11
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
If last year's elections are any indication of what people are thinking, then that plan is going to blow up in his face. The debt has exploded in a way that we haven't seen since Ronald Reagan. I don't think we're going to tolerate a President that does not take seriously the hemorrhaging of our public credit. If the Republicans respond they the responsible way, then he's through, regardless of the nominee.
Dec '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Aaron Miller: What do y'all make of this take on Obama's budget stance? National Review's Jim Geraghty pointed it out in today's Morning Jolt:
Obama is setting up a confrontation and he plans to win.
Obama is betting that he can force the GOP to make their proposed cuts, which he can blame them for, which he can truthfully say he does not support. Then he can attack the Republicans for making the cuts. He will appeal to the people who are suffering from the cuts [...]
Who in government wants to take credit for cuts in spending?
In her refusal to pass a budget in her twilight session—only passing continuing resolutions—Pelosi has already challenged Republicans to a game of chicken.
Now, the administration’s first draft of cuts targets the poor, elderly, and orphans, with the message: Republicans, pass this bill.
Second round: cuts in farm subsidies, defense, with the message: Republicans, pass this bill.
At some point, they will recognize that for stalemate to ensue and a return to business as usual, would be to make an offer of over $1 trillion in cuts with the message: Republicans, pass this bill.
May '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Peter, the American people are fundamentally virtuous, self-reliant, and capable of sacrifice and restraint when it comes to cutting spending that will benefit someone else. Regrettably they are also foolish, dependent, gullible, and infantilized when it comes to cutting spending that will benefit themselves.
The irresistable force of "FUND MY PROGRAM" is about to meet the immovable object of "THERE IS NO MORE MONEY"
And we have a ringside seat.
Jul '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
I think the GOP should take a scalpel, a flashlight, and a sledgehammer to this budget.
Pick out two or three ludicrous things that are being funded & talk about them constantly. Meanwhile, demand substantial cuts across the board.
Aaron Miller: What do y'all make of this take on Obama's budget stance? National Review's Jim Geraghty pointed it out in today's Morning Jolt:
Obama is setting up a confrontation and he plans to win.
Obama's brazen, no-cuts budget proposal is not a sign of weakness.
It is a bold chess move that demands a strong response.
Feb 15 at 5:25pm
I think it's right on the money Aaron. Look, Obama has many flaws, lack of guts in political showdowns ain't one of them. He went all in on his insurance bill.
I think the Republicans should respond by saying something like:
We wanted to cut $60 billion from the budget, but the President's proposal brought our attention to a few things we'd missed. Now it's $75 billion.
Jul '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Frozen Chosen:
I was dismayed to see any funding in the Republican plan for the Dept of Education. Surely the Repubs can make the case that the federal government doesn't educate one single student and this department is a waste of money. The other stuff they did propose was chump change... · Feb 15 at 4:57pm
I'm with you, Frozen. And demolishing the Department of Education would also be a great bit of political theater; an inspirational declaration of serious, even visionary, intent to reverse the tide.
Aug '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
This is very dicey. We ought to have a failed experiments in fascism exhibit adjacent to the Holocaust museum . Driving by I saw an exhibit about The Big Lie, propaganda. It would be an apt place to burn the Departments of ... Education , Energy, EPA ( and those are just the "e "s. We'd be saving lives adjacent to the memory of national socialism gone awry. That's the kind of tribute that's required .
Dec '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Krauthammer was certain that Simpson-Bowles would propose a VAT, Obama would run with it, and it would be hard for the GOP to fight it, especially if the Dems held the House.
Obama may have planned on this.
A VAT was not recommended, the GOP took the House, and Obama did not have his own Plan B. Do community organizers ever need to prepare a Plan B?
Now Gipper II is going with the Dem's old tried and true "spend, baby, spend!" game plan, hoping voters will rebel against the Republican's proposed heartless, uncaring, and unfair spending cuts, and knowing the MSM propaganda machine is on his side.
Feb '11
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
This is indeed the most important issue of our time.
There was a recent article talking about how any conservative worth his/her salt should have a handy retort to common questions.
In talking with my friends about politics (as I am wont to do) the liberals among them often bring up points like "well we would not be in this mess without George Bush and his wars" or "we supported dictators and torture". I think the best jiu jitsu for these types of comments is to simply not challenge them on it.
"Ok...suppose that is true. It is irrelevant to the main point. We still have to cut everything now. Spending, govt overreach and entitlement reform are the only things that matter now."
Just a thought. Focus people...focus. :)
May '10
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Joseph Libson: ...There was a recent article talking about how any conservative worth his/her salt should have a handy retort to common questions.
In talking with my friends about politics (as I am wont to do) the liberals among them often bring up points ......
Do you find the bunny suit to be an advantage or a disadvantage in those confrontations? :)
(Welcome to Ricochet, Joseph.)
Feb '11
Re: The Game is Afoot. At Stake? Self-Government
Scott Reusser
Joseph Libson: ...There was a recent article talking about how any conservative worth his/her salt should have a handy retort to common questions.
In talking with my friends about politics (as I am wont to do) the liberals among them often bring up points ......
Do you find the bunny suit to be an advantage or a disadvantage in those confrontations? :)
(Welcome to Ricochet, Joseph.) · Feb 16 at 5:06am
HUGE advantage Scott.
Sine their arguments typically revolve around Unicorns, Rainbows and Fairyland Creatures it puts them at ease to see see "one of their own".