The American Spectator : Nothing But a Political Ploy

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Nothing But a Political Ploy

By Peter Ferrara on 10.19.11 @ 6:08AM

His jobs plan is all about how stupid he thinks you -- and the Republicans -- are.

President Obama's so-called Jobs Plan has nothing to do with jobs and economics. On that score, it is already a proven failure. Rather, the plan is pure politics: a ploy to make Republicans bear the responsibility for the President's economic fiasco, with proven to fail policies he knows the Republicans were elected to stop and can't support. The political calculation is that the public is too stupid to figure out both the economic fallacies in the plan, and the dishonesties in the political attack, which accuses Republicans of the exact political cynicism in which the President is engaged.

That is a Saul Alinsky strategy: accuse your opponents of doing what you are doing. Recall that the President previously served as a tutor of Saul Alinsky political tactics.

In the present economic crisis, such cynical political manipulation is a disgraceful abdication of the responsibilities of his office. This is why Congress, rather than pass Obama's phony jobs plan, should be asking him to resign.

Answering the President

In last Saturday's weekly radio address, the President reiterated the political ploy of his jobs plan. If Republicans insist on opposing his jobs plan, Obama demanded an explanation to the public as to why. Then he taunted, if they don't support his plan, where is their plan?

This is where the assumption that the public is stupid begins. The obvious fallacies in Obama's so-called jobs plan have been reiterated over and over, and Republicans have long been advocating far better, more effective job plans.

Obama's jobs plan is about half the size of his nearly one trillion-dollar 2009 so-called stimulus plan, but otherwise contains the same policies. That 2009 stimulus didn't stimulate anything except runaway government spending, deficits, and debt. Unemployment has soared since then, and remained stubbornly high, as Obamanomics, including the so-called stimulus, has short-circuited the traditional American recovery. That recovery is now long overdue, as has been explained in this column numerous times.

Part of the jobs plan is devoted to increased government spending on supposed infrastructure. That recalls the laughable "shovel ready" jobs of Obama's 2009 stimulus. Another part is increased spending to bailout spendthrift Democrat states, which Obama calls hiring more teachers, firemen, and cops (which is a state and local government function).

But economic growth is not based on increased government spending, a fallacy which Wall Street Journal senior economics writer Steve Moore has rightly labeled "tooth fairy" economics. That is because the money for such spending needs to come from somewhere, and so drains the private sector to the extent of such increased government spending, leaving no net effect in any event.

What drives economic growth and prosperity is incentives for increased production, as Reaganomics proved. Obama's assault on such incentives is why trillions are sitting on corporate and bank balance sheets, and America is suffering a capital strike and capital flight. The Occupy Wall Street protestors in threatening property and profits are just further undermining incentives and contributing to that capital strike and capital flight, which only contributes further to extended and increased unemployment.

The other half of the jobs plan includes temporary payroll tax cuts, which are a continuation and expansion of supposed temporary payroll tax cuts already in place. But such temporary tax reductions do not stimulate economic growth and jobs either, as permanent cuts and incentives are necessary for permanent jobs. That was just proved by the previous temporary tax cut that Obama already put in place, which failed to promote the long overdue recovery.

Moreover, as I have previously explained, continuing and expanding that failed temporary payroll tax cut on Obama's grounds that expiration of the "temporary" cut would be a tax increase on the middle class is dangerous because long term it would eviscerate the financing for Social Security. This is why Republicans should not support this component of the "jobs plan" either. Notice that the phony AARP is once again in the tank for Obama and the Democrats, not uttering a peep about this growing fundamental assault on Social Security.

But even worse than the 2009 stimulus is that this current half stimulus echo is accompanied by Obama's proposal for $1.5 trillion in permanent tax increases. That now includes Obama's support for a 5% millionaires' surtax. Those permanent increases only further reduce incentives for increased production, and only contribute further to economic downturn and stagnation under any economic theory.

Those tax increases, moreover, would come on top of all the tax increases Obama has already enacted under current law for 2013, of which major media institutions as well as most of the public are unaware. In that year, again, the Obamacare tax increases go into effect, and the Bush tax cuts expire, which Obama has refused to renew for the nation's job creators, investors, and more significant small businesses. Under those tax increases, the top tax rates for almost every major federal tax will soar, as I explain in a new Encounter Books publication coming out next week, Obama and the Crash of 2013. All except the corporate income tax, which is already virtually the highest in the industrialized world, with no relief in sight under Obama.

That plus another $1.5 trillion tax increase, including a 5 percent millionaires surtax, is just what put the "Great" in the "Great Depression" in the phraseology of Amity Shlaes in her book The Forgotten Man. The Republicans are supposed to support this to create jobs?

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About the Author

Peter Ferrara is Senior Fellow at the Carleson Center for Public Policy, Director of Entitlement and Budget Policy for the Heartland Institute, and General Counsel of the American Civil Rights Union. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush. He is the author of America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, now available from HarperCollins.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (87) | Leave a comment

Darin| 10.19.11 @ 6:22AM

Obama's approval rating is still over 40%. He's right to think the American people as a whole are stupid. They are.

wodiej| 10.19.11 @ 7:46AM

I heard that.

Al Adab| 10.19.11 @ 2:38PM

"You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." A Lincoln

"There's a sucker born evey minute." P. T. Barnum

videos| 2.18.12 @ 9:48PM

Choose this day whom YOU will serve, and leave me out of your phony arguments.

Hank| 10.19.11 @ 8:56AM

You mean the publicans don't want to help teachers and polecemans find work?? Do I have to worry that the bridge I sleep under will fall on me some night?? Help!

Conservative View| 10.19.11 @ 9:36AM

OF TEACHERS COPS FIREMEN AND FISH.

Suppose you were walking beside a lake and saw a man sitting there starving. Why, the right think to do would be to buy him a fish so that he won't starve. So you go into town and buy the man a fish. The next day you walk down the shore of the lake, and there you see the same starving man. So, you do the right thing, you buy him a fish. This works until you run out of money to buy fish. And that's where America is right now. We are out of money to buy fish.

The President wants to help teachers and firemen and the cops find jobs. Gosh knows that in many states they need jobs. The right thing to do is to hand the states the money to give them jobs. Right perhaps, but not correct. After awhile the Country runs out of money to buy the fish.

The liberal agenda is based on a myth, the myth of American inexhaustable wealth. This is the myth that the President is working with. If the states need money to pay for teachers, why the right thing to do is give the states the money. The problem with this plan is that there is no longer any money in America to give. The myth of inexhaustable wealth was exploded 14 trillion dollars ago. It doesn't exist.

So, if the right thing to do is to help, and that doesn't work, what then? What then is the correct thing to do. Back to our starving man sitting by the lake. Time has come (or long sense past) to stop giveing him a fish. Time has come to buy him a fish hook. Let him go fishing.

We can't afford to buy the States any more fish. We need to buy the hook. We need to get people back to work first so that the tax base within the states improves enough to hire more teachers, firemen, and cops. Does this mean that they go hungry? Yes it does. But to continue "doing the right thing" has put us so far in debt that we are all going hungry now, jobs are being lost, money is being frozen in banks, our GDP is stagnate.

So, Hank, get out from under the bridge and ask yourself why you havn't a place to live. Liberal desires to do the right thing have killed the houseing market, thank you Barney Frank.

You want help, learn to fish. Time has come to limit the help of government and to start letting us help ourselves. Helping ourselves is the only way we are going to get out of this mess.

Tim the Enchanter| 10.19.11 @ 12:52PM

"Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll sit on his ass in a boat and drink beer all day."

business| 2.18.12 @ 9:52PM

Not that he has a chance for the nomination.

Mattled| 10.19.11 @ 9:14AM

He is nowhere near 40%. The pollsters are in the tank for him. Rasmussen is most likely the most honest one, but the WH thugs have already threatened him when Odoogie was dropping a little too fast in Rasmussens polls. He is at 30---- or below. They keep calling and calling to keep him at that 40+ threshold. Bet on it!

Shamus| 10.19.11 @ 9:28AM

H. L. Menken had it right.

bebek| 2.18.12 @ 9:53PM

I didn't leave the Republican Party, it left me!

missbosslady| 10.19.11 @ 10:00AM

Darin,

Stupid, is anyone who actually believes the polls.

Carter was polling high before the 1980 elections, too. That should tell you something.

Darin| 10.19.11 @ 11:49AM

Two words: vote fraud. It's Chicago politics 101, there were signs in 2008, and there's every reason to believe it will continue in 2012. Dead people vote Democrat, as do people who vote multiple times and make-believe registered voters like Mickey Mouse. States and local governments are advised to keep a watchful eye (unless the New Black Panthers beat them up).

Boar Hunter| 10.19.11 @ 10:08AM

Agreed, American can survive Obama, we cannot survive people stupid enough to vote for him again.

Aces and Eights| 10.19.11 @ 11:21AM

Agreed. Especially here in California-land. Just take a quick poll of your facebook contacts. I have. You don't have to actually ask anyone anything, just look at their posts and the reactions to them. An alarming number of people who seem otherwise intelligent, simply drool with delight over anything "Obama." The stupidest man to ever set foot in the White House is celebrated as a genius who has ALREADY saved our economy! Facts are simply verboten. Real economics are scoffed at. That 40% poll number for President Bozo is real, make no mistake about it. Americans ARE stupid, and even if President Bozo loses, it will be a close election, and Bozo will poll ABOVE 40%. Remember that AlGore was a hair's breadth away from winning in 2000, polling way above Clinton's election returns in 1992 and 96. I remember people having virtual school girl crushes on AlGore. Women intheir 40's and 50's swearing never to wash their hand again after shaking AlGore's. Americans have become not only stupid, but idolatrous as well, worshipping politicians. Ironic, when one considers that politicians as a group have the lowest character and morals, and Democrats in particular are the lowest of the low.

Teaghan| 10.19.11 @ 12:13PM

It's 'cause he's biracial.

C.K. Amos| 10.19.11 @ 3:06PM

Respectfully, I doubt that he thinks the entire electorate is stupid. He's not that stupid.

But I'm supposing that he counted on in 2008 and, to this day, counts on a near-simple majority to be sheeple--ethnically, socially, morally and intellectually vacant--that are both stupid and ignorant.

The rest of us he gives not a damn about, not that he ever did.

PhilTheCapitalistPig| 10.19.11 @ 4:28PM

Amen!

can bonomo love me back| 2.24.12 @ 4:04AM

sure very very much encouraged utilizing this advice. thank you.

POST American| 10.19.11 @ 6:34AM

-----Over 85% are now awake to the
ILLEGALITY of the private, USURY
mongering FED.

------Over 85% are calling for the abolition
and prosecution of the BOGUS Federal Reserve.

We have yet to see a single piece on this
in the columns of the Rockefeller media.

Tim the Enchanter| 10.19.11 @ 12:54PM

Huh?

Drunken Sailor| 10.19.11 @ 4:17PM

I think he talking about the Germans bombing Pearl harbor.

Mr ED| 10.19.11 @ 6:36AM

Lets face it, the latest Obamesiah "jobs plan" nonsense only sounds reasonable if you have the complicity and cooperation of Big Media treating it as legitimate. This latest example of the Big Lie is a textbook example of Leftist disinformation which works on those who get their news from sound bites and above-the-fold headlines.

This is the real war.

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 7:39AM

If the Marxist proclaimed that tomorrow the sun wasn't coming up, frogs could fly airplanes, and the moon crashed into the sun, the media would report it as fact and rip the republicans for not going along with it. Thats how far the media has gone in the tank. When straight out easily disproven lies aren't even challenged by anything remotely describing itself as the media anymore, brothers, your in a fight to the finish war. This guy can flat out lie about anything and he's not even questioned. Thats the one positive thing, the leftists are out of the closet, their allies in the media, and the rest of the nutjobs on wall street are out in the open for all to see, no more pretenses, no more wolves in sheeps clothing. The enemies are identified, marked and 'membered.

Aces and Eights| 10.19.11 @ 11:24AM

I used to say back in the 1990's that if Dan Rather, on the CBS Evening News Show, held up a chicken and called it a duck, and did this every day, that after a few weeks about 40% of the American public would believe it to be a duck and disbelieve their own eyes. President Bozo's consistent polling above 40% proves this to be correct.

DTOM| 10.19.11 @ 12:31PM

Abraham Lincoln rightly asked, 'If you called a dog's tail a leg, how many legs would a dog have? Four.'

I think that the problem is not that Dan Rather is calling a chicken a duck, it's that nobody hears the people at home watching the TV yelling, 'Dan, you dope, that's a chicken!'

But the good news is that everyday more people are getting their news online, where you CAN hear them yelling back, "It's a damn chicken, you dope!"

Don't give up, we are getting closer all the time because the Silent Majority just keeps getting louder.

Buck Ofama| 10.19.11 @ 1:45PM

A man holding a duck walks into the kitchen where his wife is washing dishes.

Man: "This is the pig I've been fvcking."
Wife: "That's a duck."
Man: "I was talking to the duck."

Trinacria| 10.19.11 @ 6:54PM

I just pissed myself!

Terry J2| 10.19.11 @ 10:22PM

I damn near did to! that caught me by surprise

Buck Ofama| 10.20.11 @ 1:45AM

;-)

Don't piss yourself; piss on Ovomit.

Marty0145| 10.19.11 @ 2:00PM

I had honestly never considered the idea of frogs flying airplanes but after thinking about it, if I were part of the media I would report that they could do it just out of pure hope that they might.

Hey, frogs have a better chance of getting pilots licenses than any of Obama's plans have of actually improving the nation. After daily developments reveal the lack of character of the man in the White House we all need something to look forward to and pilot frogs fill that void.

al| 10.19.11 @ 9:21AM

The real war is in the public school system, where all the would-be marxists and their media enablers in training are first brainwashed

Aces and Eights| 10.19.11 @ 3:01PM

Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it."

As atheistic as the Marxists/Leftists are, this is one Bible lesson they remember well. The Leftists have been controlling primary education for generations, teaching the worship of government, not God.

Anthony| 10.19.11 @ 9:30AM

Indeed it is a real war, and the sooner we acknowledge it, the better off we all will be.
The Obozo Summer of Recovery: 2 M Jobs created..... saved...... discussed......contemplated.... hoped for.
Operation Fast & Furious: Obozo and Holder accessories to murder!!! Hello Patrick Fitzgerald, call your buddy Holder and get your Special Prosecutor appointment now!
First subpoena: Scooter Libby.

Harry Hunter| 10.19.11 @ 7:18AM

Remnember in 1989 the Soviet Union, for all its size and power, simply imploded. Obama is driving America the same way.

Nancy in NC| 10.19.11 @ 7:58AM

Sine Americans are stupid, some are uninformed, and many more just don't give a fig. They either have lost their sense of smell or don't know that smell is the country burning down. And too many are depending on the country to provide their every want or need.

The two entities most responsible are the media and the education system. Occupy Wall St. identifies the fact that a number of people prefer a system that would keep them slaves to the all powerful government. They way we are heading will give them their wish. The current path will end in socialism if not Marxism.

Herman Cain often says "Stay informed, stay inspired and stay involved." Those reading here are probably doing the first two. I hope they are involved at some local level as well.

Timothy L. Pennell| 10.19.11 @ 8:06AM

So, what we are saying, here, is that he will do WHATEVER it takes, to hold on to the reigns.
Agreed.
But, I don't think enough people grasp, just how far he is willing to go. You still DON'T GET IT.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
"WE" will not go quietly.
This Occupation of Capitalism is what "We've been waiting for". The Demonstrations are what "We have been waiting for". The RIOTS, that will soon follow, are what "We have been waiting for".
Marx was willing to KILL 300 Million, to make it easier to implement his Worker's Paradise. The Irish Poet: Robert Frost, suggested using Poisonous Gas, to rid the world of the Undesirables. Mao killed Millions. Stalin killed Millions. Pol Pot killed Millions. They, too, believed that THEY were the ones they were waiting for.
I know what you're thinking: "Obama's not none of them guys. They were MONSTERS."
Okay. He's not one of those guys. Yet.
Everybody knows that The Great Community Organizer is RESPONSIBLE for what is going on in the streets, all over the world. Richard Trumpka, and his Union Scum. Michael Lerner, of SEIU. Code Pink. Moveon.org. These people are ALL on his payroll.
He is out there, now, SUPPORTING THEM. The Veil has been dropped.
Does ANYONE think that he wouldn't BURN these Cities to the ground, if he thought that he could use it to his advantage? Remember who we're talking about:
Barack Hussein Obama PUPOSEFULLY, Armed the Mexican Drug Cartels with high powered Automatic Weapons. Even 50 Caliber Weapons, capable of shooting a plane, out of the sky. Now, we're hearing about GRENADES.
He gave them these weapons because he is a MARXIST IDEOLOGUE, to the core. As I said earlier, Marx was willing to Kill 300 Million, to grease the skids. OBAMA, it would seem, was willing to KILL on a much smaller scale, to get what he desired. But, in the end, like MARX, he was willing to Kill. The Objective of the Operation was to KILL as many innocent Mexican Men, Women, and Children, as possible. Then, as he already has done, use these Murdered people as a "Reason" to pass his Gun Control Initiatives.
These people, in his mind, were ACCEPTABLE LOSSES, in the Battle for The Greater Good.
There wasn't a single weapon that was "Tracked"
So, I'll ask you, again: Does ANYONE think that he wouldn't BURN these Cities to the ground, if he thought that he could use it to his advantage?

Teaghan| 10.19.11 @ 8:51AM

Bill Clinton allowed his DOJ manwoman Janet Reno kill American citizens. Anyone remember Ruby Ridge and Waco? I know those killings were for different reasons, but they were still our government killings our citizens.
I believe as you Tim, that this man is cabable of anything and the OWS campers are nothing more than useful idiots who will be the next group of victims, like the poor mexicans, caught in the crossfire. Why hasn't the Mexican government piped up on this?

Al Adab| 10.19.11 @ 2:06PM

And Teaghan, those citizens had not committed Treason, as Constitutionally defined, against the Republic as had Alwaki.

Stan Redmond| 10.19.11 @ 4:45PM

Ruby Ridge was under George HW Bush.

gueppe barre| 10.23.11 @ 8:47PM

Sorry - the Ruby Ridge folks were shot under Clinton.

Oldefarte| 10.19.11 @ 12:04PM

Pure gold, TLP, as usual! It brightens my day to know that there is at least one other person in the world that GETS IT!!!!!!!!

Timothy L. Pennell| 10.19.11 @ 3:08PM

Thank you, Sir.
I appreciate it, more than you'll ever know.

Boar Hunter| 10.19.11 @ 4:35PM

In response to your, "He's not one of those guys. Yet" comment. I emphatically disagree.

The only difference between "those guys" and Obama is what?

If Obama were re-elected, I believe he would be emboldened to continue ignoring the law and constitution on an even more grand and audacious scale.

Obama's behavior would in fact become so outlandishly defiant and abusive that "violent" chaos would ensue.

The Republicans will do what they have been doing to counter Obama policies, which is to say nothing, and Obama will be forced to put down the uprising, all while a gleeful media looks on and cheers.

Timothy L. Pennell| 10.19.11 @ 6:00PM

I agree.
The only difference, between Obama and "Those Guys" is the NUMBERS.
"And I saw the BEAST rise from the Sea,. and, he was given a MOUTH, to speak Haughty and Blasphemous words. And he was allowed to exercise authority, for forty two months." Revelation 13-5.
If he's DEAD, come June 20 12?
You'll know that it's even WORSE, than you thought.

Mimi| 10.19.11 @ 8:16AM

Thanks Peter for some more...FERRARA ECONOMIC TRUTH !
I like the " resign" part and why he needs to.
Truth is a funny thing no matter what is said to reverse it, demolish it, sly moves to deny it....It always eeks thru the cracks, pops up when least expected into the LIGHT for all to see its SHINE !
These days will end...come Nov.2012!

Teaghan| 10.19.11 @ 8:38AM

"In the present economic crisis, such cynical political manipulation is a disgraceful abdication of the responsibilities of his office. This is why Congress, rather than pass Obama's phony jobs plan, should be asking him to resign."

How about article of impeachment being drawn up? Anyone?

Mattled| 10.19.11 @ 9:11AM

I've said it many many many times----- the media are Obamas fuel. Ridicule them, accuse them, shame them by name face and their own words and Obama fails. Start an ad campaign against the media anchors/ reporters in the tank for Obama, he wilts.

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 10:01AM

Nobody other than a select few has dared shine the light on the media and go after them directly. Just a few on talk radio. But the new media is taking them down one brick at a time so there is hope. Leftist newspapers, magazines are bleeding red(not a pun) and network viewership is nose diving to the ground. They are in their last gasp of desperation defending this usurper in the WH and when its all said and done history will sweep them away as the leftist frauds and schills that they are. This WON'T be their finest hour.

Redstateboy| 10.19.11 @ 9:21AM

As I read this... it occurred to me.., Hussein himself can't possible honestly actually Believe his "jobs' Bill will create Jobs.. It Will funnel funds back to the DNC through public employee union contributions but that's it.. So the only conclusion is.. Hussein is a disengenious Liar who should be ashamed of himself and Resign!

Tim the Enchanter| 10.19.11 @ 12:58PM

He hasn't the character necessary to resign.

Drunken Sailor| 10.19.11 @ 4:20PM

And he damned sure isn't ashamed of himself. One must have a conscience to be shamed.

Boar Hunter| 10.19.11 @ 4:37PM

LOL ashamed? Resign? That was friggin hilarious!

missbosslady| 10.19.11 @ 9:41AM

Personally, I am feeling more optimistic with each passing day. Of course, avoiding the MSM will go a long way to improving one's outlook. Perhaps, I am feeling more upbeat because here in South Florida Obama is toast. I hear daily from my fellow residents the disgust and anger that Obama has engendered.

Our local economy has stagnated. I'm in the construction industry and we have felt the effects in a big way, as there is not one of us who has not been adversely affected and dramatically so.

The mood here is moving from frustration to anger and all of that anger is being directed at Obama and the Democrats. No, we are not stupid and the assumption that we are will turn out to be Obama's worst political calculation.

There is no more foul stench than that of desperation and that stench is wafting down from DC and from the studios of the MSM. Unfortunately, for these players our sense of smell is finely tuned. You cannot sufficiently perfume a turd.

No, we are not stupid. The network news is where I get my weather reports all other news is sourced from the alternative media and in this I am not alone. The internet is our salvation and the single greatest tool in the hands of a free republic.

Every fallacy uttered by Obama and his cabal is instantly refuted all over the internet. Every lie shattered, every tactic revealed to be no more than ideological fakery. The sinister underbelly of the left is revealed for all to see and we are turning away in disgust.

The length and breadth of Obama's failure is breathtaking and no amount of MSM cheerleading can cover for its effects. The Occupy movement is a gift to the American people. Happily, the silliest among us have taken to the streets to give us a visiual of Obama's America. Grievance mongers and spoiled youth zombie chanting and finger wiggling Obama's vision as bizarre street theater. We are not impressed and no, we are not stupid.

Redstateboy| 10.19.11 @ 10:32AM

Here in Tennessee (that'd be East TN.) he's simply referred to mostly as: "Hussein"

Teaghan| 10.19.11 @ 12:18PM

Is there any other Tennessee besides East? Smoky Mountains are the shizzzz!!!!!!!!!

Conserdude| 10.19.11 @ 9:56AM

With each passing week, President Obama's behavior becomes more shrill, divisive and (to put it mildly) unpresidential. If he was remotely serious about his jobs plan, he'd be working the phones, having congressmen to the White House, and traversing to Capitol Hill. Instead, he's on a bus tour to swing states. This man is a contemptible fraud, but the Republicans cannot assume a majority of Americans will get that - they must be told.

Mike D.| 10.19.11 @ 11:36AM

Because when you back a rat into the corner, its gets that way and the farther into that corner the more of what the REAL person comes out. He's being stripped away of any and all pretenses and he's showing exactly what he is by the increasing amount of desperation that he's showing. This is an educational experience, learn it and remember it. The rock has been turned over for ever on these anti-American agendists, take a good look and don't forget it.

Indy| 10.19.11 @ 10:02AM

GOP messaging is poor at best, they need to pick those who can explain this to the public, Rand Paul / Paul Ryan, need to run point on this as an example.

The GOP fails to take the one critical step needed which is to reel in Freddie / Fannie, I support repealing Dodd-Frank but they will lose to the media's drumbeat message which will blast them for letting the banks off the hook. If you are going to repeal Dodd-Frank, make the case because it never addressed the reason for the housing collapse and then offer a solution to address the real problem. We continue to pour taxpayer money to prop up Freddie / Fannie, they have an unlimited bailout. The silence from the GOP on this is disturbing. They should go back to the vault and pull out the C-Span video of the many times the GOP tried to regulate Freddie / Fannie when Democrats controlled Congress and Dodd / Frank told us all was well...and then they wrote the bill to "fix" the problem, are you kidding me?

Minuteman78| 10.19.11 @ 10:17AM

Political calculus is waht Obozo is all about. that's why the DNC will be hosted here in Charlotte (I can hardly keep from throwing up at the thought.) The economy is horrible here, with housing values taking a huge hit, though not quite as bad as FL & NV. The Convention will provide some temporary service jobs for (since our mayor is black) a largely black population, which may be lifted out of their misery just long enough to go pull the "D" lever again. It's just another version of what happens with the Stadiums all over the country so you can pay $8 for a beer.

Indy| 10.19.11 @ 10:55AM

Charlotte is an interesting choice, wonder if the OSW protesters will still be at it, Charlotte is the banking capital of the South. The unions are not happy about the convention choice since NC is a right to work state. POTUS will have to keep his party in line.

No Name| 10.19.11 @ 11:20AM

Someone must have interupted the Great One at one of his golf outtings, Camp David, the Hamptons or one of his many, many other vacations. Maybe one of his 248 Czars happened to remember to remind him he actually had to be RE-ELECTED to serve another term, as he has been too bust to appoint himself King For Life as was his original plan. Anyway now with his shorts all wadded up, and in a panic state that all the valium in DC can't slow all he can say is JOBS JOBS, JOBS.... Pass my bill, passmy bill... Well I belive its too late, looks like obomba care will be his Waterloo. Too bad, but he has acted STUPIDLY!

cicero| 10.19.11 @ 11:30AM

Just what we need. Borrow more money so that we can sustain the idiotic compensation we pay to public workers. Just this morning it was reported that D.C. is the wealthiest area in the country, with the average government worker taking $126,000.00 out of our pockets.
Before we even think of sending more money to anywhere to "hire" anymore teachers, policemen. and firemen, we have to start ratchting back the outrageous pay and pension benefits they presently have. Rather than borrow and spend another half a trillion, we must cut all salaries and benefits by a minimum of 10% a year for the next 5 years. After that, we can take a realistic look at what is there.

Oldefarte| 10.19.11 @ 12:08PM

Peter's article is as usual outstanding truth. I think it was David Limbaugh that recently indicated the possible inability of this country to survive another year of this president, which is a fact that few understand. His socialistic policies are intellectually calculated to brainwash the public into belief of his bullexcrement. The saddest day in this c ountry's history was 11/4/08, and if we survive, the greatest will be 11/4/12!!!!!!!!!!

Wayne| 10.19.11 @ 1:37PM

What was sad was how Republicans fell asleep and allowed a Marxist to become President.

Franco| 10.19.11 @ 12:22PM

I support the President's efforts to help cops and firemen and teachers, by golly! You Reupublicons are just simple and mean and white and male.

I'm going to go out and commit arson, and then father some illegitimate children. This will provide more work for the cops and firemen and teachers too!

signed,

"Clowns and Bunnies United Against Capitalism"

Anthony| 10.19.11 @ 4:17PM

Too late Franco, Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson have those two areas already covered!!!

Trinacria| 10.19.11 @ 12:54PM

With due respect to Mr. Ferrara, perhaps the only thing more insulting than Obama's utterly transparent political ploy is Mr. Ferrara's belief that it needs to be pointed out to us? Really? Is there anyone with an IQ in the triple digits for whom this isn't strikingly obvious?

Wayne| 10.19.11 @ 1:36PM

Unfortunately they exists, but they probably don't read this blog.

Al Adab| 10.19.11 @ 2:12PM

Oh yes guys,
Those people are accupying Wall street as we speak. Try this one. "The (party) political machine was a system of envy and suspicion fueled by a shared desire for power abd maintained by the weak dictator." Christopher Krebs, "A Most Dangerous Book", pg 217

Sound familiar?

Trinacria| 10.19.11 @ 3:13PM

But I said people with triple digit IQs; I don't know that any of the Occupy Wall Street crowd qualifies. Technically, I suspect there are a few, but any sign of intellect has been obscured by a dope-induced fog...

Al Adab| 10.19.11 @ 3:47PM

Well Trini, 100 is considered average. Nonetheless we could state definitivly that half the voters in this country have IQs below the median level. That should get them going. Read carefully.

CopyKatnj| 10.19.11 @ 1:20PM

The jobs bill is political bribery for union jobs. Teachers and Government workers are union workers. Teachers, police and fireman are LOCAL jobs paid for by local taxes that are often supplemented by state governments. Although many local governments have laid off people in these positions it is not the federal governments domain to involved here.

Two states in particular that are financially broke are California and Illinois. Both very blue states too whom I suspect this is aimed at to an extent.

Harry Reid said that this bill is needed because government jobs are not recovering but private sector jobs are doing fine. This jobs bill is a money laundering scheme through unions back to the Democrats.

It should be rejected and buried.

Rmm| 10.19.11 @ 1:24PM

After a non-vote in 08, having the pathetic choice we had , this time around it's going to be Anyone But Obama. May God help us if it doesn't come to pass.

Wayne| 10.19.11 @ 1:34PM

I have to admit, I have lost some friends, because they have failed to do any evaluation of Obama. It makes it hard to be with them, when they just parrot the Obama talking points.

Bob Grant| 10.19.11 @ 7:24PM

I've similarly lost friends. I take it in stride. It's all part of the great shift that's taking place right before our eyes.

Oh what our government has wrought.

Rick| 10.19.11 @ 2:45PM

Theres' NOTHING wrong with Obamas' polices! Its just headwins. Your a bigget and a rasist!

Dan| 10.19.11 @ 3:54PM

Obama knows American voters are stupid. They voted him into office and could possibly do it again.

Typical White Person| 10.19.11 @ 4:28PM

I could have gone without seeing John McCain at the press conference with Rand Paul. As far as I'm concerned, he's part of the problem.

sikiş| 10.19.11 @ 7:09PM

wow go duzu zure modu atzera, I I I

Peter D. Beaulieu| 10.19.11 @ 7:45PM

Concur. But what if the national economic (etc.) issue is only secondarily that of effective economic incentives; what if the issue is ground level confidence regardless of even good incentives?

What if the bank bailout was about something so elementary as restoring cash reserves that were so violated that the FDIC could not have protected against a run on the banks (is this true)? And what if the real issue of auto bailouts was really about national defense, that is, maintaining some ability on the homefront to manufacture something real (is this also true)?

None of these speculations diminish the substance and merit of the Republican proposal, but they do add depth to the need for a real "change" in leadership from longstanding practices under both parties. When will one or two of the Republican candidates clearly claim the moral high ground, and not simply pit technical correctness (now) against political correctness? Please address this ripe opportunity.

POST American| 10.19.11 @ 10:46PM

------------------BOTTOM LINE------------------------

---And speaking of 'ploys' ---and taking in the
co-opting of the ---somewhat--- genuine 'Occupy
Wall Street' thing.

"---Understand, this is the UN --this is
the Banksters --the UN --the Rothchilds and
Rockefellers (ie USURY) ---this is 'Agenda
21' in action ---moving us to a state of
TOTAL chaos and collapse so they can move
in and further consolidate and destroy us.
Same thing's goin' on in Europe. The very
last shreds of sovereignty and freedom
are being attacked. The criminal elites
KNOW they're exposed and that they are
being seen. They are ---PANICKING.
They have to move NOW or they're
finished. ------MAYDAY! ---MAYDAY! ---MAYDAY!"
-ALEX JONES
(yesterday)

--------------------ANY QUESTIONS?-----------------

And once again:

----------HUAC meets NUREMBERG 2012----------

k962| 10.20.11 @ 5:13AM

Obama's rhetoric deteriorates on a daily basis. He treats his audience like as bunch of non thinking drones. "Republicans want dirty water" is an example of the mindless blather this guy throws out there. I would love to debate this guy myself!

pete | 10.23.11 @ 2:06PM

awesome-about time this retard was fully exposed.

sikiş| 2.18.12 @ 9:43PM

Once, in the early 50s, he was working on a pipeline out in the center of Missouri somewhere, and the union was trying to get temps to pay union dues or some other payments (dobie dues? I can't remember that far back) that weren't required. Some guys started raising hell.

can bonomo love me back| 2.24.12 @ 4:05AM

I absolutely reject your request. Let Margie do the requesting, not you.
I have no respect for you or any other Rightist, save for sincere minarchists, and will show you no respect.