The American Spectator : The Obama Downgrade

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The Obama Downgrade

By Jed Babbin on 8.8.11 @ 6:09AM

Meanwhile, Republicans had better prepare to downgrade the Supercommittee.

Standard & Poor's fired a red flare into the Friday night sky, downgrading America's credit rating for the first time in history. On Saturday, senior S&P executives warned that a second downgrade could happen if the spending cuts promised by the debt ceiling deal didn't occur.

The Treasury Department objected to the downgrade when advised by S&P of the planned action hours before it happened. Treasury accused S&P of being off by $2 trillion, saying the error raised "… fundamental questions about the credibility and integrity of S&P's ratings action."

But Treasury's objections were brushed aside when it became clear that the error -- which S&P corrected in its math -- wasn't material to the downgrade conclusion. The argument between S&P and Obama's Treasury Department resulted from a difference between the White House's assumptions and S&P's: the Treasury insisted that all the spending cuts and debt reductions included in the debt ceiling deal should be counted and S&P didn't buy it. In short, S&P wouldn't accept the old Washington "if-then" deal I inveighed against in ancient times, all the way back on 11 July.

The S&P downgrade memorandum makes clear that the objection is to "spending cuts" that are left to future action. It says, "We view the [debt ceiling deal]'s measures as a step toward fiscal consolidation. However, this is within the framework of a legislative mechanism that leaves open the details of what is finally agreed to until the end of 2011, and Congress and the Administration could modify any agreement in the future."

This boils down to the fact that "if-then" deals never result in reductions in government spending. S&P had warned that real cuts of about $4 trillion over ten years were needed to restore American economic stability. The downgrade means that S&P believes that our political class -- especially the Obama statists -- will never live up to the bargain they made. And -- from the caterwauling from liberals, and renewed insistence on tax hikes from the White House -- we know that even the bad deal the Republicans had to make won't long survive.

The debt ceiling legislation made minuscule spending cuts -- $21 billion in 2012 and $42 billion in 2013 --in the context of automatic increases in spending that so greatly outweigh the cuts as to render them absurd. All the deal does is kick the can down the road to the "supercommittee" it creates which that either compromise on $1.5 trillion in cuts or trigger massive cuts in defense spending and other "discretionary" spending. (Even if the trigger is pulled, Social Security and Medicare are protected from cuts exceeding 2%.)

As S&P's David Beers said yesterday, one of the biggest reasons for his firm's downgrade is that the debt ceiling deal did nothing to rein in entitlement spending. Other S&P executives hinted that if the supercommittee doesn't make substantial cuts, there could be a further downgrade to America's debt rating.

In the deal, and S&P's reaction to it, are two lessons we cannot afford to ignore.

First is that dealing with America's enormous debt and deficit has to be done by making real cuts that take effect now and aren't left to future Congresses or state legislatures to render ineffective. That means that feel-good legislation that cannot have any effect for many years -- such as the balanced budget amendment Republicans wasted two critical weeks on -- cannot be part of a responsible solution. Spending "caps" -- like those featured in the "cut, cap and balance" package -- have no credibility in the financial markets because Congress and the Obama administration will not abide by them.

Second is that Republicans have to take far greater political risks and do a much better job in taking their case for real spending cuts to the American people. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) made a very good speech responding to Obama's July 22 debt crisis talk, but after that, the Democrats dominated the media. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was everywhere, calling Republicans "extremists." Americans were deluged by pundits and Democrats calling the House's Tea Party members radicals and worse.

Then came Vice President Biden's statement quickly leaked from a closed Democratic caucus meeting that Tea Party Republicans "have acted like terrorists."

The second lesson is easy to learn and apply. The latest CBS News/New York Times poll shows that while 47% of Americans disapprove of Obama's handling of the debt ceiling crisis, 72% disapprove of the way Republicans did. That's the result of not hitting back harder and more often to the onslaught of Obama speeches and crazed rhetoric from Biden and others.

RNC chairman Reince Priebus should start running some national television ads now and continue them through the election. They should be aimed at the Tea Partiers. Show the faces of Tea Party members at work and at home with their families, smiling people saying nothing more than "Hey, Mr. Biden: I'm a Tea Partier and I'm no terrorist. I just want Obama and you to stop spending too much."

Every time Obama goes on television to talk about the economy, a tough Republican speech should follow. There's a deep bench of speech makers to call on including Rep. Paul Ryan, Sen. Jeff Sessions, Sen. Jon Kyl, and Rep. Michele Bachmann to name just a few. Those speeches should re-ignite the fire under the Tea Party kettle.

The first lesson is harder, but even more important.

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About the Author

Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (125) | Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.8.11 @ 6:25AM

Actually, the best ads are being written right now and they would be cheap to put together. Just point out that the nation is watching an Obamanomics meltdown and in living color. Those stock market meltdowns, the debt and the unemployment lines should all be melded together with a long range plan, "Where's the Jobs?" No jobs are forthcoming under Obamanomics so it's a sure bet.

Focusing back on the Tea Party doesn't make much sense. They've done nothing wrong so why revisit it?

In the meantime all the Republicans have to do now is just focus on the effects of Obamanomics and the Meltdown in Living Color.

As far as the Super Committee you're right. Nothing will be done because the political class is comprised of scared rabbits who want to keep spending but don't have the courage to admit it.

They go through the phony motions of one phony committee after another hoping the public is too stupid to see through the folly.

The 2012 election cycle will see many a politician kicked to the curb. In the meantime all the Republicans have to do is forget everything but creating jobs.

Attacks on Obamanomics is all they need and the video and the facts are already being played out in public.

In fact, they could show Osama Bin Laden at the beginning of a video, claiming he's dead and applauding that, then switch to the economy with videos of a tumbling market and high unemployment numbers claiming Obama killed the economy too. Now that's financial terrorism!

Alan Brooks| 8.8.11 @ 10:19AM

but the demographics have changed so much, you are certain to elect another Bush-type in this decade-- or by 2020 at the latest; which means around 'n' around we go: build things up with Reagan, tear them down with a Bushclone.
And then say, "it's those lib'ral Democrats, they practically forced us to run McCain in '08, because we had to compromise or we wouldn't have had a shot."

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.8.11 @ 11:47AM

It's the Tea Party versus the Alinsky Party. That's it.

Al Adab| 8.8.11 @ 12:35PM

Death match 2012.

Alan Brooks| 8.8.11 @ 1:30PM

the patriots of 1774 risked their lives-- all the way until 1781.
Today an old patriot risks his life when he falls down the concrete steps outside the Social Security office-- or outside a tax office after he asked about the latest loophole.

Dave| 8.8.11 @ 3:17PM

I agree with Jed's suggestion that the Republicans, especially the leadership types, get off their fat, cushy benefits and begin LOUDLY and publicly responding to vapids like Biden and other White House mouthpieces that suck-up too much "pre-spun" TV time.

However ...

I see no such battle plan on their table. Sadly, this current batch of semi-RINOS are much like the way small children react when a spider crawls across the carpet: Throw up their hands and SHRIEK, then hide-out in the hall closet. Or until dad shows up with a size 12 wing tip.

Actually, we may be on to something here, but I don't think Ann Coulter wears wing tips. At least not a size 12.

So, Boehner and McConnell becoming aggressive responders? Whadathink??

tick-tick-tick ...

Pah-leeeez!

fmm| 8.8.11 @ 4:59PM

DeMint has the correct size shoe. His SCF will do wonders if they get the proper support.

Timothy L. Pennell| 8.8.11 @ 6:53AM

72% think that the DEMOCRATS did a better job on the Debt Ceiling.
We are FINISHED, as a great Nation.
The Democrats had No Plan, save one: RAISE TAXES. They had No Plan on the Economy, save one: More Spending.
They have No Plan on JOBS, save one: DESTROY THEM ALL.
72% believe that the Democrats did a better job on the Debt Ceiling.
The REASON we had to raise it, was because of the last 4 YEARS of Pelosi being Speaker of the House, and Reid being the Senate Leader. Add in 2 YEARS of those two, PLUS a young, in over his head, raised by Communists and Marxists, and the Muslim Schools and Mosques of Indonesia, Street Radical, America HATING, Marxist, in the Oval Office, spending more money than all of his predecessors COMBINED, and you are DESTINED to end up where we are, today.
We had Elections in November. The people said they wanted to CUT SPENDING. They said that ENOUGH was ENOUGH. The Republicans had a Plan to Cut Spending. The President wanted NO CUTS, MORE TAXES, and MORE SPENDING.
Everybody says that ENTITLEMENTS need to be reigned in. The Republicans - (PAUL RYAN) - produced a PLAN, to do just that. Cutting expenses, and doing it GRADUALLY, in an effort to make it SOLVENT, for the NEXT Generation.
The Democrats went after him like a Palestinian 10 Year Old, wearing the BOMB VEST his Parent's strapped on him.
We have ONE Political Party who just doesn't care what happens to this Country. That we are heading in to Zimbabwe Territory, Economically, doesn't bother them, at all. They THRIVE on that, like all MAGGOTS do. They thrive on the DEAD SKIN. On the ROTTING GARBAGE. They will say and do, ANYTHING, to keep their power. LIE, CHEAT, STEAL. They will see us DEAD, before they'll take one step backwards, from their IDEOLOGY. Their DREAM, is that, one day, everyone will be on their knees, living in Drug and Gang Infested Neighborhoods, where Crime is Rampant, Economic Advancement is impossible, due to the Education System that THEY FORCE upon us, and there are NO JOBS for ANYONE. You can see their DREAM, now.
It's called: The BLACK COMMUNITY. And it is their Greatest Accomplishment.
72% think that the DEMOCRATS did a better job on the Debt Ceiling.
The GREAT EXPERIMENT is over.

Mimi| 8.8.11 @ 8:06AM

This post is ...PURE, Timothy L. Pennell !
Where do you get your lines? You out did yourself on this one Tim...Comical as heck..but oh so TRUE !!!

chuck| 8.8.11 @ 8:16AM

Yes, look at the black community. Look at the news, gangs of black youth running amok, attacking white people. Didn't see this as a lead story in the news? Imagine that! No, reporting like that would be RACIST! http://www.todaystmj4.com/news.....25018.html
This is the link to the story of black teens randomly attacking whites at the Wisc. state fair.
This is the end result of years of liberalism: lawlessness, entitlement, poverty, despair. Liberalism is killing this once proud country, and Obama,Reid, and the rest of them are poised to plunge the final dagger.
Everyone must be prepared to fend for themselves. Pay down your debts, stock up on supplies. This ain't going to be pretty.
Imagine what these young black gangs will do when their Obama loses in 2012!

Mimi| 8.8.11 @ 11:13AM

The big question is who LEAD these black youth to do this? The Unions have given a lot of money to spend for the recall of Republican Senators in the state of Wisc. Were these kids paid to cause havoc?....And by WHOM?

TheRightIsAnythingBut| 8.8.11 @ 4:00PM

Why is it necessary that these black youth had to be lead? These fights and attacks couldn't have spontaneously arisen? You're implying that they were incapable of making the decision to attack each other and then white patrons of the state fair? Is this more Right Wing code for racism?

And, please, if you're going to waggle your plump digit at the unions and stamp your feet in indignation, how about a little of the same contempt for the rich fronting as the Club for Growth or Citizens for a Stronger America or ALEC?

fmm| 8.8.11 @ 5:01PM

"TheRightIsAnythingBut"Right

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 8.8.11 @ 8:27AM

Timothy: Bravo!! You nailed it!! Great Post!! The Democratic Party's plan for America? Detroit for Everybody!!

Mike D.| 8.8.11 @ 8:47AM

I was born and lived in Detroit for 36 years, YOU DO NOT want this thing to end up as a Detroit, but thats the end result of leftist control. Ends up the same, over and over and over!

Ted| 8.8.11 @ 10:24AM

This was an interesting post. Maybe you should write for the American Spectator, eh?

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 1:41PM

What's finished, Timothy, is the one-term wonders from the Tea Party whose irresponsible Luddite behavior led to this fiasco. The voters will return grown-ups to Congress in 2012.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 1:48PM

Luddites are people who loathe technology.

They're "anti-Progress"...Like Liberals, who cling to an out-dated, 19th-century philosophy known as socialism.

If you have a concrete, specific example of how this fiscal disaster - the out-of-control spending, the downgrade, etc - can be pinned on the Tea Party, then please...

Share it!

I'm gettin' some pop-corn. This oughtta' be good.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:51PM

Dear RCV,

please feel free to eviscerate my comment below on Congress making its own rules. I'd like to know what a professional thinks. (From 1:20 PM)

Believe it or not, aside from dealing with people who make me feel and act juvenile (bi-coastal Clint, for example), I actually am interested in learning. You on the Constitution, Ken on oil and gas, etc.

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 2:04PM

Congress has its own authority under the Constitution to organize itself and enact its own rules, and the Judiciary is highly unlikely to interfere in the internal operations of a co-equal branch.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 2:09PM

"Bi-coastal", or "bi-polar" (or just plain "bi"?)

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 6:36PM

Herman Goring & His Little Nazi Anti-Catholic Girlfriend, Dr.Reich Got That Bi-Thing Covered

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 6:30PM

Asked & Answered.

Never Met Or Heard Of The Guy Before Dr.Reich, Your Nazi Buddy Brought Him Up.

But Then, You Already Knew That, You Serial Slandering Liar Israel Firster Fanatic Tool Job

Smoke This Asshole:
"Rasmussen Poll:
Iowa Caucus: Bachmann, Romney and Paul on Top

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2011

In the Iowa caucus race for the Republican presidential nomination, five candidates are in double digits, and many voters are open to changing their mind before caucus day arrives.

The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Iowa’s Likely Caucus Participants shows that Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann attracts 22% support, while former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney earn 21%. Just slightly behind is Texas Congressman Ron Paul at 16%, followed by Texas Governor Rick Perry at 12% and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty at 11%.

The Tea Party Rebellion Ramps Up For The 2012 Elections.

Carpe Diem."

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 2:00PM

Hahaha! RCV, Obama and his ilk have given unintentional praise to the tea party by having to acknowledge it's existence and using the proper name in media releases. It's step 3 in the Ghandi plan:

1) First they ignore you.
2) Then they laugh at you.
3) Then they fight you.
4) Then you win.

Obama isn't laughing at the tea party NOW, is he?

Among people who take the ideas of the tea party seriously include these folks that Obama and leftists cannot ignore:

1) Their creditors, the Chinese.
2) Wall Street.
3) Consumers.

And possibly voters but due to their ability to draw the wrong lessons from historical events, we'll have to wait and see.

In any case, the tea party isn't happy that the debt ceiling was raised and that future cuts are being postponed for some magical committee but it's enough to expose the sham of the blank check Obama has been getting away with.

Raising taxes? As S&P pointed out, a trillion here or there won't make a big difference. Raising taxes would harm the economy as much as any revenues that would be collected and it's unlikely that the wealthy with their lawyers would pay much more anyway. We all know that. It would hit the middle class that Obama is already losing in droves though along with possibly even his base that is now eating mac and cheese and waiting in lines for 4 dollar gas.

Finally, the luddite slur. It's now the left that is terrified of oil, nuclear power, global warming, and genetic modification of crops and puritans who shriek if a man tells a woman in the workplace she looks pretty.

Al Adab| 8.8.11 @ 3:18PM

For a bunch of Luddites, they sure manage to use their computers.

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 11:15PM

The kids love twitter, mobile phones, and ipads. Or as I used to say when I was their age: telegrams, citizens band, and walkmen. :-)

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.8.11 @ 7:05AM

Timothy,
sometimes you need to clear off a site before you can rebuild properly.

Gary B| 8.8.11 @ 8:24AM

I agree with Timothy, except for his conclusion. On that point I agree with Ken. There is reason for optimism. Not only is the huge silent majority, that's being ignored by the enemedia, angry as hell, but an actual turnaround is in play in the states.

I believe the states will lead us out of this. What I wish for is a coordinated and simultaneous action by several states taking back turf now claimed by DC. Maybe something like canceling out job-killing EPA regulations. As we know, judges can't be trusted, so going to court is mostly a wasted, time-consuming effort. I'm talking about direct action. We'll see. Something is going to break big in our favor.

Mike D.| 8.8.11 @ 8:48AM

States banding together and telling the Fed to "F" off is the only way this thing gets fixed. States have got to stand ground and stop the Federal incursions.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 7:45AM

Dr. Ron Paul said he was appalled at the ad hoc 12-member bipartisan committee devised to find further federal spending cuts before Thanksgiving, what he calls "this super Congress."

According to this week's agreement, the committee, three members of each party from each chamber, must do the job Congress is supposed to do but hasn't or can't. And if it doesn't, then other automatic cuts occur by year's end. Not unlike legislative cruise control.

"Where in the world did that come from?" Paul demanded. "And where is that going to lead to? That is monstrous. I keep looking and I can’t find any place in the Constitution where we have the authority to create such a creature as the super Congress."

Elron H.| 8.8.11 @ 10:29AM

FROM Clint Air's blog:

http://www.teapartygroundzero.com/

"Dr. Ron Paul said he was appalled at the ad hoc 12-member bipartisan committee devised to uncover alien-infiltration into the farthest reaches of the Federal Government before Thanksgiving, what he calls "this super-Alien-thingamabob-finder-death ray."

According to this week's agreement, the committee, three members of each party from each lost civilization (Atlantis, Lemuria, and Asgard), must do the job that the League of Superheroes is supposed to do but hasn't or can't. And if it doesn't, then other-worldly assistance from the planet Xenon may be required by year's end -not unlike a trip I recently made to the Enchanted Forest!"

"Where in the world did that come from?" Paul demanded. "Who's putting thoughts into my head? That is monstrous. I keep looking and I can’t find any place in my cranial cavity with an inserted, 2-way microwave transmitter...But I won't stop looking!"

Joseph| 8.8.11 @ 10:55AM

Dr. Right, don't you have patients to see, instead of writing as Elron, grow up. Wasting space here for serious people.

Doctor Right.| 8.8.11 @ 10:58AM

Not me. I wish I was that funny.

And if you find any "serious" people here, please let me know.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.8.11 @ 1:06PM

Do0ctor,
I'm as serious as death itself.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 1:34PM

I know you are, Ken.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 11:31AM

Do Your Homework Israel Firster Asshole.

Clint Air's From Apple Valley, Colliefornia, Gutless Coward Buffoon Poseur Elron H.

The Offer Stands Coward.

Doctor Right.| 8.8.11 @ 12:27PM

Oh. I guess that's why he's a member of the VALLEY FORGE TEA PARTY PATRIOTS??

http://www.meetup.com/VFP-TeaP.....ember.name

The group that you said that YOU belong to??

Gee...If I lived in California (excuse me...
"Colliefornia"...), I'd be sure and join a Tea Party group in Pennsylvania, too! That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it??

And he's also a fan of Ron Paul!

WHAT a coincidence!!!!!!

Nice try, Clint.

Keep using VFTPP to pimp your website!

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:08PM

Asked & Answered Already, Nazi Anti-Catholic Imbecile.

You're A Slandering Gutless Coward Liar Asshole, Dr.Reich.

Doctor Right.| 8.8.11 @ 12:28PM

You already BLEW the offer.

You didn't show.

Coward.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:48PM

Dr Right:

Well, Clint certainly is a Coliform, is he not?

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 2:11PM

"Colliefornia"...Is that someone who maybe loves dog a tad...too much?

Freudian slip?

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:24PM

That's Funny, We Hear Hermann Goring's Partner, Dr.Reich Likes To Mince Around In His Slip & High Heels

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 2:52PM

...crickets...

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 3:27PM

Uh Oh !
The Little Nazi Dr.Reich Does Crickets Too.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 4:51PM

That one even bored the crickets...

[Insert sound effect: Wind]

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 6:37PM

The Little Nazi Anti-Catholic Parrot, Dr.Reich Is The Chairman Of The Bores.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:21PM

Israel Firster, Tool Job Certainly Is A Neo-Chickenhawk Traitor Bastard.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 2:53PM

...more crickets...

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 3:29PM

Uh Oh !

The Little Nazi, Dr.Reich Does Lot's Of Crickets.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 4:47PM

Thanks, Clint. It's so much fun debating you, because all you can do is cut, paste, insult, and bloviate. Then you threaten people with physical violence.

What am I going to do? I'm going to ignore you, unless you trespass on my property. Given your posts, I can assume that that would only be done with hostile intent. And then I will defend myself with the maximum amount of force allowed by law.

Otherwise, you're a scumbag. My parents were married August 26, 1961, and I was born August 3, 1962. Bastard I am not, nor was I conceived in sin. I have no idea what a neo-chickenhawk is. I'm an American Firster, and I fail to see how embracing Hamas as Ron Paul does advances true American interests, unless you consider child rape and abuse an American interest.

There is no such thing, incidentally, as a "Tool Job." Kish Mir Tuchus, C(lint) Elegans. Ask your non-existent Jewish "friends" to translate.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 4:52PM

O.T.,

When Clint says "neo-chickenhawk", he means "Jew"...

And he means it with malice aforethought.

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 5:49PM

When Clint hurls most epithets at Occam he means "Jew". And he can kiss mine, too.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 7:02PM

You're A Slandering Liar Obama LawBoy Israel Firster RCV.

Aaaand, Let's See Ya Make Me Obama LawBoy Israel Firster Toughie Girl, RCV .

The Tea Party Rebellion Ramps Up To Take Down Democrats & Their Fellow Travelers.

Carpe Diem.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 6:57PM

You're A Slandering Liar Anti-Catholic Nazi White Trash Bigot, Dr.Reich.

Neo-Chickenhawks Have A Bad Habit Of Attempting To Use Our American Warriors As Their Cannon Fodder To Police The World, While They Sit At Home, Playin' Combat Wannabe Games.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 6:52PM

You're A Slandering Liar Screwball Israel Firster Neo-Chickenhawk Coward Traitor Bastard, Tool Job.

Aaaaaand, You're A Tool Job, Bottom Of The Barrel.Sorry-Ass Excuse For A Government Shrink.

Dr.Ron Paul,
" Our military is already dangerously extended, and this administration
wants to expand our involvement. When will our bombing in Libya end? Is
President Obama seriously considering military action against Syria? We
are facing $2 trillion dollar deficits, and the American taxpayer cannot
afford any of it.

“Our military’s purpose is to defend our country, not to police the
Middle East.

“As the President prepares to send even more support to Egypt, we should
be reminded that it was our foreign aid that helped Mubarak retain power
to repress his people in the first place. Now we have to deal with the
consequences of those decisions, yet we keep repeating the same mistakes.

“I am not the only one who can see the absurdities of our foreign
policy. We give $3 billion to Israel and $12 billion to her enemies.
Most Americans know that makes no sense.

“We need to come to our senses, trade with our friends in the Middle
East (both Arab and Israeli), clean up our own economic mess so we set a
good example, and allow them to work out their own conflicts.”

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Ramping Up For The 2012 Elections.

Carpe Diem.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:13PM

You Blow Everyone Who Offers, Nazi Cupcake, Dr.Reich.

Aaaaand Interesting, That Dr.Reich Answers For Elron H.

Show Up At Our Tea Party Meeting & Start Something Physical & I'll Give Ya A Free Boxing Lesson, Cupcake.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 2:55PM

Star something "physical"?? Like Olivia Newton-John physical???

Clint...you can't control yourself. Your posts give you away.

Oooohhh...I'm so scared.

BTW...How come you ducked me at the Sears Tower, tough guy?

Boxing lesson...LOL!

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 3:38PM

The Twerpy Nazi Dr.Reich starts something "physical" like Eva Braun & Adolph Mud Wrestlin'

Elron H....you can't control yourself. Your posts give you away.

Uh Oh ! Dr.Reich Is Sooooo Elron H.

BTW...How come you Purse Smacked that duck at the Sears Tower, Little ToughieGirl?

Purse Swingin'...LOL!

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 4:57PM

"Clint Air."

Kind of like "MTV".

"Clint TV"..?

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 7:06PM

Asked & Answered Little Anti-Catholic Nazi Slandering Liar Dr.Reich.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 2:04PM

G-d, what an ugly son of a bitch. Looks like a roundworm.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:18PM

Uh Oh !

Dr.Reich's Little Short Fat Aging Israel Firster Girlfriend,Tool Job Chimes In.

Tell Us All About Your Boy Allen West Voting For The Debt Ceiling & Badmouthin' We Tea Party Patriots Israel Firster Tool Job.

You're Up, Israel Firster Tool Job.

Elron H.| 8.8.11 @ 2:56PM

Did you just call Allen West a "boy"???

Nice job, Clint.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 3:40PM

I'm Callin' You A Little Girl, Elron H.

What Are Ya Gonna Do About It ?

Hmmmmm ToughieGirl ?

Elron H.| 8.8.11 @ 4:59PM

That's OK, Clint.

I'm callin' you a closet-case with deeply repressed anger to hide your...inner turmoil.

What are YOU going to do about it?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?????

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 7:09PM

I'm Gonna Help You Show American Spectator Readers What An Anti-Catholic Slandering Liar Poseur Screwball You Really Are Dr.Reich.

Doctor Right| 8.8.11 @ 9:14PM

How???

The fantasy world you inhabit is rich, indeed.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:20PM

I believe that Congress is largely self-governing as to its rules. Under Article 1:

Section two notes that the House shall "chuse their Speaker and other officers;" section three notes that the Senate "shall chuse their other officers."

Under Section Eight it states that Congress "shall make all Laws which will be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers."

In short, the question is whether or not Congress has the power to attend to the Spending Cuts. I think it's clear it does. Then the question would be whether or not this could be found "lawful and proper." I doubt that the Supreme Court would interfere with the inner workings of Congress to this extent.

RCV, how did I do?

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:21PM

Sorry, "necessary and proper."

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 1:49PM

Pretty good for a shrink. How was Cape Cod?

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:59PM

Thanks! Coming from you, that's very nice.

I listened to lectures on bipolar disorder and depression and suicide from Fred Goodwin---very interesting. We reviewed the limits of evidence based medicine (see here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14684649 for a hilarious example that a layperson will easily catch), I slept a lot, I read an introductory text (about 1/2 of it) on statistics in the health sciences, I ate a lot of Thai, had some crabcakes, had dinner with Tom Kratman in Plymouth on the Bay, ate my first Chilean Sea Bass at his suggestion (superb), saw Plymouth Rock, bought my staff 18 pounds of Salt Water Taffy (I love my nurses, Social workers, secretaries, Occupational Therapists, Med Techs, etc).

Very informative and restful. Missed my family, ran through Detroit International Airport on the Way back due to a Delta screw-up. Found the best chocolates in Minnesota, too.

I hope your summer is awesome, too. Thanks for asking! Oh, I also turned 49.

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 2:13PM

Occam - Sounds like a fascinating week! My summer has been great - lots of time with both my son (who's home from UMich for the summer, and working as an IT guy for a private school, getting their computers in working order) and my daughter (theatrical set and costume designer here in LA).

Glad you got to see Plymouth Rock. My wife is a direct descendant of Stephen Hopkins, one of those who stepped onto that rock off the Mayflower. I did all the genealogical research for her and enrolled her in "The Society of Mayflower Descendants" this year. It was fun research -- found lots of her ancestors who fought in the revolution, War of 1812, and one who was wounded at Gettysburg and died at Petersburg, Virginia on the last day of the Civil War. (My ancestors, a lot more recent arrivals from Ireland and Belgium, only got to serve in WW I and II.)

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.8.11 @ 7:47AM

Folks,
check this out from moveon.org

Dear MoveOn member,

For the first time in history, the U.S. credit rating has been downgraded.

This "tea party downgrade" is a shameful blow to our nation's honor and risks throwing us right back into recession. Worst of all? It was completely avoidable.

But when given the choice between extremist posturing and responsible leadership, tea party Republicans chose wrong. And now, amazingly, they're trying to pin the blame on Democrats.1

We have to set the record straight. Can you share this image on Facebook today?

Share This on Facebook

John Boehner and the rest of the Republicans hurt our economy and the whole country needs to know it. Click below to share on Facebook, or if you'd prefer to share by email, simply forward this email to your friends and family.

Mimi| 8.8.11 @ 8:19AM

Orders from HEAD-QUARTERS....from the desk of SOROS...We are in a jam, we overspent...quick , you must switch this around to put the blame on the Tea-Party.
Tim was right LIARS and CHEATS!!

Al Adab| 8.8.11 @ 11:01AM

And all along I thought Obama would be glad to take the credit. After all, he promised during the campaign to "fundamentally transform America." How many other Presidents have kept their campaign promises?

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 8:08AM

We Tea Party Patriots Are In A Media War With The Democrats, Their Liberal Media Agendists & Their RINO-CINO Fellow Travelers.

We Are Already Vetting Our Candidates For The 2012 Second Wave Elections.

Carpe Diem.

Conservative View| 8.8.11 @ 10:14AM

We Tea Party Patriots have two enemies in Congress, The Democrats, and the Republicans. We Tea Party types haven't paid our dues to the Republican Party. We keep looking at, and trying to elect people that have not moved up the ranks. We are the "young turks" the ones that demand a change in the long established game.

We have a choice. Either A we take over the Republican party completely. We expell the old guard like Boehner, demote the hacks; or B we start a third party, which we pretty much have now. My choice is for A, but others wiser than myself may have another ideas.

We can't win the media war fighting the Republicans too. It's time to confront the leadership of the party and tell them bluntly, either side completely with us, or, we come after you full bore. Time for compromise is long past. You are either with us, or our enemy. There is now no longer a middle ground. I think we can do that. I think the Tea Party has the chance right now to do that. Wait a month or two and the chance will be gone.

Ted| 8.8.11 @ 10:27AM

I must disagree that we have two enemies in The Republicans and in The Democrats.

Our two real enemies are the leftists and the kleptocrats. Our allies are the true Conservatives. There are Republicans and Democrats in both camps (although precious few, if any, conservative Deomocrats anymore).

Conservative View| 8.8.11 @ 11:52AM

A fair distinction. Though I still believe that the Republican Party, as a political party, is dead set against the rise of the Tea Party.

Clint| 8.8.11 @ 2:58PM

I Am In A Media War With The Internet.

The Liberal Media Agendists & Their RINO-CINO Fellow Travelers Agree!

I Am Already Vetting Candidates For The 2012 All-Male Review.

Carpe Beefcake!

Rob Roy| 8.8.11 @ 8:17AM

I would not want my representatives to be like the Democrats: liars, arrogant and without a conscience. I would like our guys to have half as much courage of their convictions as the liberals. I disagree with the liberal view on everything; however they do have representatives who really fight for these issues. Republicans never seem to learn how to fight in this political arena. Stop worrying about reelection and do what you were elected to do. Reelection will come to those who deliver on their promises. And stop trying to be liked by the media (a la McCain) it will not happen!!

MacDaddy| 8.8.11 @ 8:19AM

4/19/11, Timothy Geithner: "There is zero chance of a downgrade of our credit rating."

And this hack gets to keep his job?

This weekend, when we needed leadership from our President, we got....a tantrum of epic proportion. They've elected a child, and he's given us what they voted for...childish behaviour.

Tax-pro Timmy, "the dog ate my homework" no longer will fly. The stakes are too high....

crookedwren| 8.8.11 @ 8:35AM

Young Timmy was friends with young Barry Soetoro aka Barack Hussein Obama. Tim's Dad and Barry's Mom worked together.

I suspect that has something to do with his job security.

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 1:50PM

Back in April, Geithner had no idea how irresponsible the GOP would prove to be.

Truth to Power| 8.8.11 @ 3:56PM

He wanted a clean debt ceiling bill and Obama'a budget had even more spending. Nobody is buying what you have to sell.

Skippy| 8.8.11 @ 4:07PM

SNORT!

RCV| 8.8.11 @ 6:59PM

Ease up on the coke, Skippy.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 8.8.11 @ 9:09PM

I don't bother with silly, when determining reality from delusion on what is irresponsible, if it is Geithner, or the Tea Party, that is in control of the U.S. Treasury, if it is Geithner, or the Tea Party, that failed to pay the taxes they were responsible for paying, if it is Geithner, or the Tea Party, that not only failed to pay the taxes they were responsible for paying but was also reimbursed for the amount of taxes they were responsible for paying, if it is Geithner, or the Tea Party, that not only received reimbursement for the amount of taxes they were responsible for paying but kept the reimbursed amount for the taxes they were responsible for and failed to pay the taxes they were responsible for paying, on what kind of an idiot would bring up irresponsibility by citing Geithner espousing the irresponsibility of the Tea Party in a one sentence post, as any semi rational person would think that dignity would prevent that idiot from posting so pathetically and despicably, unless of course they had read countless posts of lying stupidity from the idiot matters.

RCV| 8.9.11 @ 1:09AM

zzzzzzzzzzz .......

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 8.9.11 @ 11:30AM

I don't bother with silly - seriously - what kind of an idiot would bring up irresponsibility by citing tax cheat Geithner, on taking into account even the most rabid liberals with their heads jammed impossibly far up their asses would not think to attempt it matters.

RCV| 8.9.11 @ 11:35AM

Skippy, get a life.

Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 8.10.11 @ 2:42PM

I don't bother with silly -seriously - what kind of an idiot would bring up irresponsiblity by citing tax reimbursed yet tax delinquent Geithner, then proceed to sanctimoniously espouse 'get a life' to an individual calling him out on being such an idiot for doing so - and, seriously - how far up that sewer pipe, that homosexuals use for lustful purposes, who you support, as a devout churchgoing expert of real Christian love, is your head, and doesn't the stench cause you to gag at all, even a little - and, seriously - what are you, a sanctimoniously smug shill, wholly lacking in even a shred of dignity, sanctimoniously espousing for reelection, an unaccomplished, self-absorbed, ignorant, mendacious jackass, trainwreck of a global joke, or what, matters?

Conservative View| 8.8.11 @ 8:20AM

"They held a gun to our head!"

The Tea Party made a major mistake, one that will cost them. Their gun was too small.

Perhaps after 2012 we will have a bigger gun. A bigger gun composed of even more Tea Party votes in the Senate.

Gary B| 8.8.11 @ 8:26AM

Yup... the 2012 primary season is our next big opportunity.

Louis Jenkins| 8.8.11 @ 8:27AM

Who is going to bail the US out? China? India? Russia? We're on thin ice here folks. Those guys welcome our demise. And even if they could they don't have enough cash to do it.

The super committee is un-constitutional. Yes, we all know that the public grows tired of political discourse, but that is within the boundaries of government. To eliminate debate, filabustering, or adding something to a piece of legislation is wrong, albeit time consuming and causing the public to puke, but it should be allowed. Once the committee is stacked (against the Conservatives) we will be in a world of difficulty. Obama loves the super committee, and looks forward to using it to his advantage.

Gary B| 8.8.11 @ 8:58AM

The Tea Party is going to "bail us out" by pulling the plug when they increase their numbers in DC. The states are already on the move, but for DC, can anyone point to another group who isn't lying and wants to actually solve the problem? EVERYONE in DC hates the Tea Party. Isn't that the best indicator of where to look for the solution?

Conservative View| 8.8.11 @ 10:15AM

You bet it is!

crookedwren| 8.8.11 @ 9:00AM

Our decline into socialism, moving us away from the free market and our Constitution, has been fairly slow, an "evolution," and one that has taken Time. Our children have been indoctrinated. Even some of us have been partially wounded in our thinking. Dewey had an impact on my learning and I'm headed for 60 here in a few years.

So, as I see it, it's going to take some time to reach the general public.

Second, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME.

If it weren't so heartbreakingly DANGEROUS for the future of the world, I could reflect here for a few moments on how it reflects a life that has been lived according to the wrong principles -- and the individual awakens so late in the day that REGRET is the only thing left.

We have entire generations that have been misled and are spending their personal capital in ways that they will regret. They have been seriously indoctrinated.

And what will be their response when they truly look around because opportunity is gone. Their children will have no future at all, and they'll blame the capitalists for using up all the money and the resources. The media will support such idiocy. The schools will, too.

But it won't be the TRUTH.
We can tell the truth. That is all. And keep fighting with the Truth. Keep saying the truth. Keep educating the public on the truth.

Every time a conservative speaks on tv, he or she should have real facts at hand. I haven't heard anyone telling me on tv (and I listen to FNC) that our corporate tax rate is higher than Canada's (who just lowered there's recently to help their economy). Higher than other European countries. NO ONE IS SAYING THIS. WHY NOT???? It's important! It's reality!

I have heard stats from Rush and from Beck about the taxes paid by the wealthy. I rarely hear the actual numbers being touted on TV. That's criminal neglect these days.

Use the NUMBERS. They're on the side of the conservative and they can help convince at least some of the thinking public. Look, our kids are taught -- as was I -- that corporations pay no taxes but give their execs. millions of dollars. Well, that's a partial reality. But that idea is firmly lodged in the heads of most of our folks -- and they don't see the rest of the story. We've GOT to educate them -- and FAST.

The 2012 election is too far away. Economic realities will not wait that long. And the Republicans -- which are a mixed bunch, which means, folks, that they are not a herd (like the Dems have regrettably become), not slaves, but free to disagree, which means they are "men" (in the larger rather than gender sense) -- do not have enough political power to win the voting battles.

We can't convert the Dems. We don't have the economic time to awaken to reality too many of our younger generations who have been brainwashed or the media.

I think advertising that tells the truth is a good idea. People respond to stories. The Republicans need better "Mad Men" -- and they need them NOW.

POST American| 8.8.11 @ 9:02AM

The self-inflicted, open, seeping wound really is
KEY to understanding the strategy at work in the final stages of the Glow-ball-ist RED China TREASON OP (Katrina, Gulf oil spill, Ground Zero, Abu Gharib, Fukishima, and our ever unfolding economic
collapse, our hemorraging border with Mexico, collapsed Mexico itself, the obviously set up
Freemasonic horror in Norway etc. etc.).

Irresovable, self inficted, infected, seeping wounds to break and
destroy the heart on every level.

"We ARE using MASSIVE third world
immigration to destroy British culture once and for all ---FOREVER,"
Fmr PM TONY BLAIR
(Daily Mai interview)

-In every way, on every level.

Destroy their hearts, The self-inficted, open,infected, seeping wound.

The capstone creeps FINAL strategy.

REALLY

TRULY

Anthony| 8.8.11 @ 9:17AM

We knew Obozo, Reid and the rest of the D whores would blame everybody but themselves, isn't that right little tax cheat Timmy?
But our two morons, Boehner and O'Connell, who claimed to have "changed the debate" are you really that stupid??
What debate did you change, with the Ds and their goons in the LSM and blogs calling this the "Tea Party" downgrade.
Did you fools not think that somewhere, some intelligent non political hacks would call this debt deal the debacle that it is? First S&P, next Moody's. Do you all believe all of America is as corrupt and stupid as you folks are?
All you clowns need to be replaced. If 2012 doesn't become the war to take back America, nothing will.

OldJoe| 8.8.11 @ 9:43AM

Let’s not forget that we didn’t win control of the Senate in 2010 because of the likes of Karl Rove, McCain, and Krauthammer attacking some of the Tea Party candidates in the election cycle. You can hate the Democrat party for very good reasons but they do stick together and speak with one voice. Our Republican party consists of RINOs, moderates, and conservatives. We need to get rid of our RINOs, educate our moderates, and support our conservatives. And whatever we do, we need to replace our party’s leadership in both the House and Senate. We need winners, not surrenders.

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 9:46AM

Let's look at this from a psychological perspective: The left often project their methods and behaviors onto their opponents as a preemptive strike and they get most upset when it happens to be true. When they're lying and blaming their opponents falsely, one can almost see a twinkle in their eye. But when it's true, that's when they're really mad.

In this case, they're seething angry that, gasp, the tea-party aired the dirty laundry of the debt for the world to see and created an economic crisis. That's partly true, at least in the short term. If congress gave Obama a blank check, he might have been able to avoid a crisis (but they fail to realize it didn't buy them all that much time.)

The left loves to create and exploit a crisis and even take down the USA in order to free up the world to adopt Western European Socialism. They're now seething angry that the right isn't helping them slow things down a little for their own political objectives.

Obama is going to live with this debt like an albatross for the next year and a half and they're freaking out about it.

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 1:23PM

You know, PK, PJ O'Rourke came up with the "grandmother rule" for Federal spending. It goes like this: (paraphrase)

Remember that Grandma gets imprisoned if she doesn't pay taxes; if she tries to escape, she gets shot. Therefore, Federal spending should be confined to things that you would shoot Grandma for, if necessary."

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 1:51PM

Pretty funny except that it's no longer true. Grandma is the single biggest, non-discretionary, item in the budget via social security and medicaid (I refer to social security as an income transfer from working class black men liable to die before their mid 60's to elderly white women.)

My mother is a Democrat voter due to cultural influences from the FDR era and that monthly check doesn't help matters.

In the old,old days of FDR, it was about preserving families usually headed by a man and building Hoover dams. Today, it's about both taking away jobs from such men while increasing their tax liability. Even the Republicans don't think twice about throwing more goodies towards unwed mothers and career women while shaming men into "manning up" and paying their taxes and providing for their wife and children but with what?

Occam's Tool| 8.8.11 @ 2:02PM

PK, Very Correct---I stand corrected.

By the way, on the other threat before us---in Des Plaines, IL, where my folks live, huge Mosque recently opened on their street. Thanks, Barry!

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 2:52PM

I still have some old Soviet pins lying around with the symbol of communism: the hammer and sickle which symbolize factory and agricultural workers.

How many leftists are proud factory and agricultural workers?

Heck, even during Soviet times, most commies never got their hands dirty (at least in doing an honest days' work.) They were directors or educated elites whose diplomas were mostly faux history and ideology and how to format government documents (a charming remnant of the era is that commies are so used to red stamps on their documents that they have separate red laser printers to run their documents through.)

Back to Granny: As long as she continues to vote Democrat in sufficient, predictable numbers, those checks will keep flowing until voting becomes irrelevant or a new special interest group (namely, immigrants) kick into gear. Then she'll be tossed off the back of the cart along with the proletariat farmers and factory working men...

Al Adab| 8.8.11 @ 4:02PM

Did anybody see Obama's economic advisor on Cavuto Saturday? He said we need to increase deficit spending to create jobs. Cavuto mentioned that he was using a liberal/left perspective and the man said of course, "I'm a Trotskyite." Does that tell us anything?

Now we see what "fundamentally transform America" really meant when they said it during the campaign.

Dai Alanye| 8.8.11 @ 10:10AM

As usual, Babbin makes a lot of sense.

As for all the pessimists posting here, hope you retain enough energy to crawl to the polls next election.

Gary B| 8.8.11 @ 10:47AM

Yes, please eat your Wheaties and make it to the polls, especially during primay season. That's where the real action is!

Al Adab| 8.8.11 @ 4:03PM

And if ballots fail Gary, then what recourse is there?

jackc| 8.8.11 @ 10:15AM

Obama and his cohorts in a failed government, must be summarily fired and sued for three years of destructive policies towards the demise of America.
S&P has arbitrated effectively, and has highlighted the enormous failure of politicians playing dice, while thriving on tax donations from the few hard-working people in America.
Politicians are irrelevant in a global economy.
Swift change towards an absolute minimum in term of government and widespread privatization is immediately warranted to shift away from the current abyss of political pirates.

martin j smith| 8.8.11 @ 10:48AM

Timothy P another paid operative from Obama we can expect more.

But more to my concern are two issues at least. One is the response of the weak Republican Leadership. My own feeling is if they FAIL in stopping tax hikes and spending cuts and make some sort of "lets all get along" agreement ,I agree we are doomed and the Republican Party will be CAPUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOEHNER AND MCCONNELL join the lines of unemployed. There will be a serious examination if not decsion towards a THIRD PARTY. Maybe that is what they want ? Their motivations will only be guessed at --oh to be the fly on the wall--or will there be a snitch or snoop ?

The second concern is the rise of incidence of violence--some such as SEIU related and others black teen age violent mobs apparently ( and I do say apparently ) without political motives with acts of destruction and harming white people--targeting them--as well. And where are the Jacksons and Sharptons and Obama for that matter? and then there is this: A professor of psychology at Emory University writing diatribe against Obama ( apparently ) who essentially is disappointed that the GREAT ONE is not confrontational enough. There is ahead of us the worst election season of our history certainly worse than any since even FDR perhaps. This letter appears to me top reflect the base of Obama
who want a dictator in chief. Anyway these are issues that should be followed in the coming days and weeks.

Ed| 8.8.11 @ 11:17AM

Most families have at least one member who lives beyond their means, is constantly in debt, and can't support their family (I have two in mine).

Obama is a deadbeat dad, and is sucking the whole country down with him. Will he ever take responsibility for anything? I am not holding my breath.

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 2:07PM

When leftists get wet and shivers down their leg imaging a world like Sweden or the times of FDR (after he made the country into a noble fascist state via a war and buddied up with Josef Stalin), they imagine getting SOMETHING for their money like Hoover Dams, or Disney-like European railroads or Free Healthcare.

Obama has blown trillions of dollars and has nothing to show for it. Zip. Granted, moderate GW blew a substantial amount of cash too but he didn't promise an utopia of Hope and Change.

I'm reminded of the members of cults living in huts eating beans out of a bowl while their leader eats steak off of gold plates when thinking about the typical leftist in the states. How long can they live like that? Ok, a long time.

I Get It!| 8.8.11 @ 12:21PM

Blood.

THE metaphor that I think best illustrates the ever-worsening crisis in America is “killing the golden goose”.

And, for DECADES, the Progressives, aka the Democratic Party, has been the perpetrator of this crime, going from playing a Keynesian “doctor” who bleeds the patient to “heal” them, to nowadays actively shooting, slicing, and amputating wherever they can get away with it.

And, the dying American economy finally has bled enough that even the retarded CW watchers of the bond market had to confess that there’s BLOOD everywhere, and it’s not going to stop, given the status quo INSTITUTIONAL situation in DC.

Also, THE most basic fact to keep in mind is that inflation is a TAX!

Anyone with even an anemic glimmer of sense would realize that the undoubted increase of productivity in the USA SHOULD lead to lowering REAL prices---the price level should be FALLING.

However, the crooks at the Federal Reserve not only get to try to keep the price level “stable”, but accept 2 % growth per year---in effect, they and their pals in the DC spending machine are ripping off the American public, and taking a greater and greater share of the “profits” the American economical “machine” physically and otherwise produces.

Buy gold. The inflation tax MUST only grow, given the spending NOW taking place by the takers in DC, which spending can NOT be stopped!

Anyway, what is the inflation tax, except taxation without representation?

Well, in a cosmic way, the whole situation is a massive JOKE.

All bubbles MUST burst---it’s why they appear and even exist: humans have blind spots, and invariably a way is found to joke; and trick them!

Sometimes the micro can stand in humorous relief to the macro, and I have two examples to give---

Humans STILL have enough riches and free time to “waste” by “running” over a hundred miles through Death Valley, in an over 24 hour race---while the goose bleeds to death!

Also, on Drudge, an item noted that Mexican smugglers almost---ALMOST!---interrupted an American “surf contest”!

Do we live in trivial times, or what?

Bleeding inflation TAXES---and, we PLAY, most of us, oblivious in our navel-gazing self-regarding “Sha, na, na, na, live for today” demeanor!

Illusions are always EVENTUALLY popped by REALITY.

I can’t resist a final thought.

Obama-Pelosi-Reid et al are like a mugger catching their victim in a dark alley, sticking gun in their face, and saying, “This is a stick-up.” And, the still-rich victim, says; “Ha ha! What funny joke!”

Until NOW---the famous O.U.T. principle is beginning to work its magic.

Observe.

Understand.

Transcend.

Most people are not even in the OBSERVE mode, still busy running their races or playing their surf contests.

We’re a LONG WAY from being able to UNDERSTAND, let alone regain the power to disarm the thieves and put them in jail!

Transcend all of it, though---the sun will go out, EVENTUALLY!

Gary B| 8.8.11 @ 1:18PM

"...a Keynesian 'doctor' who bleeds the patient to 'heal' them..."

This is a perfect metaphor!

PolishKnight| 8.8.11 @ 2:11PM

A friend of mine has a joke about The Eating Pig. It goes like this:

A traveling salesman (blah blah blah) comes across a farmer who invites him to dinner. He sits at the table and sees a pig with a golden leg sitting at the table and asks the farmer for details. The farmer explains that this pig saved his son's life by jumping into a burning barn and pulling him out. And the pig saved his daughter from drowning. etc. So the farmer is still puzzled about the golden leg and the farmer replies:

Well, a pig THAT valuable you don't eat ALL at once!

That's the way they view business and even their political opponents: They exploit their opposition as a tool to curry favor with their supporters but if they destroyed their opponents, then they would be out of money for taxes and also someone to blame for their failure of their policies. They can NEVER be rid of the evil capitalists and stoopid opponents because who could they blame and tax?

TheRightIsAnythingBut| 8.8.11 @ 12:38PM

Awe-inspiring and not in a good way: Tea Partiers Cheer the Downgrade of America's Credit Rating:

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/08/video-tea-partiers-cheer-downgrade-americas-credit-rating

Makes me embarrassed to live in Wisconsin (but not enough to stop fighting for it).

Truth to Power| 8.8.11 @ 3:57PM

It is Wisconsin that should be embarrassed, sissy boy.

jackc| 8.8.11 @ 2:10PM

Obama continues with his messianic and lofty cliches that he has been repeating over the last three years.
A smooth talking head.
Obama is desperate to get re-elected.
Net effect: Disastrous economic trajectory for America.
The Obama government must be fired.
Government must reduced to an absolute bare minimum, where the human spirit, and private business are allowed to flourish.

Pecos Pete| 8.8.11 @ 4:16PM

DJIA at the close = down 633 or 5.54%.

martin j smith| 8.8.11 @ 5:37PM

What if Obama does not care about getting re-elected. What if he is purposely doing as much damage to our economy as possible. Both of these propositions are possible but could never be provable even if the first occurs. Never the less.

If they were true then a lot of our talk would be useless would it not ?
When a person of responsibility behaves in manner that continues to bring the same results
the motivation issue must be considered and explored.

BackToBasics| 8.8.11 @ 6:41PM

The White House and Democrats are blaming the downgrade mostly on the Tea Party but threw in a false charge of an accounting error at Standard and Poor's for good measure. Which one is it?

If there had been no debt-ceiling deal and we were subsequently downgraded the White House and Dems would have blamed the Tea Party for that.

So either way, the Tea Party and by extension, the Republicans get the blame. So, this rush by both parties minus the Tea Party but including Boehner on the Republican side to cobble together a bad deal results not only in the downgrade, but blame for the downgrade was put on the Republicans and Tea Party leaders anyway.

Since we would get the blame either way, Boehner and the moderates should have held out for at least the 4 trillion in budget spending "cuts" the rating agencies were calling for.

Will Boehner and other moderate Republicans and RINO's learn from this? Probably not.

tom fitzpatrick| 8.8.11 @ 7:46PM

Please push your ideas re Teaparty TV spots. We need a "truth team" to immediately respond to any Democratic attack. We are not effectively communicating! Also we need to push a pragmatic recovery program right now...right now while the market is going to hell! Show that our program will provide immediate results. This including: an agressive energy plan (drilling, coal, etc.), tax reform (close the loopholes so GE pays etc.), a moritorium on new regulations, cut corporate and individual taxes and other steps that would provide immediate relief. The House (at least the Republicans) should get back in session now. Forget the commissions. Show that we can and will respond to an emergency.

POST American| 8.8.11 @ 11:07PM

"--This is economic warfare.
We ARE being conquered.
The very fraudsters that positioned
us are NOW posing as our saviors.
This is war against the middle class."
-ALEX JONES
(yesterday)

Throw in the usual horrors associated with
the ABOMINATION of USURY such as
institutionalized depravity, and even their
GOD hating 'fave' ---alchemical homunculae (clones/ cross species CHIMERAS/ deadly GM foods etc. etc. ) ---and you know where it's
going.

---------SEE you at HUAC meets NUREMBERG.

REALLY

TRULY

----------------------NOT JOKING-----------------------