On vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, U.S. President Barack Obama used a taped radio address to cast the blame for America’s chronically-high unemployment rate on the ever-unpopular U.S. Congress.
Specifically, Obama blasted Republicans in Congress for refusing to extend payroll tax relief and pass a new infrastructure bill – as if these modest measures (one of which is already in place) were somehow capable of reversing the global economic slowdown his excessive government interventionism has induced.
“These are common-sense ideas — ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans,” Obama said. “The only thing holding them back is politics. The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That’s the problem right now. That’s what’s holding this country back. That’s what we have to change.”
Really?
How in the world this president can say stuff like that without getting struck by lightning is beyond us … but Obama is clearly moving forward with his “blame” strategy regardless.
How’s that strategy going to play?
Not well …
Prior to January, Obama’s party controlled both chambers of Congress and gave him pretty much everything he wanted legislatively – including an economic “stimulus” bill that failed miserably to turn the nation’s economy around (despite Obama’s rhetoric to the contrary).
“We can say beyond a shadow of a doubt today we are headed in the right direction,” Obama said last May. “All those tough steps we took, they’re working, despite all the naysayers who were predicting failure.”
What a difference a year makes, right?
Prior to Obama’s comments, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that America would enjoy a “Summer of Recovery” in 2010 that would include the creation of “between 250,000 jobs a month and 500,000 jobs a month.”
Those jobs never materialized …
In passing the “stimulus,” Obama’s administration pledged that it would keep America’s unemployment rate below 8 percent. Unfortunately, that rate has remained above 8 percent for the last thirty months (and above 9 percent for 25 of the last 30 months).
Also, far from being obstructionists, Republicans (who control only one-half of Congress) caved to Obama during the government shutdown debate and during the recent debt ceiling debacle – much to the chagrin of fiscal conservatives. They’re also poised to give in to Obama’s request that a new Congressional “super-committee” impose tax hikes rather than cut government.
***
By tomstickler August 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Who writes this drivel?
By larrie August 20, 2011 at 3:49 pm
WHERE ARE THE JOBS, BARACK–O KING OF FOOD STAMPS?
By Secret Decoder Ring August 20, 2011 at 5:32 pm
““These are common-sense ideas — ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, the only thing holding them back is politics.”
My secret decoder ring tells me that means the “Tea Party” is to blame….all according to the master propaganda plan.
I hope the “tea party” congressman drag the whole gov’t right down the tubes personally…we need a big ole “reset” button pressed.
The sooner the better…otherwise both parties are going to drag our bankruptcy out for 5 more years of economic misery(my guess) until the dollar collapses.
By L I'll Be August 20, 2011 at 6:41 pm
I am sure you read where the S&P blamed the downgrade on Republicans and their attempt to take the country to default on credit payments.
Or maybe just kinda ignored that part????
By RedTick August 20, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Tomstickler will certainly be the last Obama supporter when Obama asks Tom to turn off the lights next year. Tom along with his liberal friends, naive college students, and the majority of African Americans elected this “Great Black Hope” to make sweeping changes to our government. It is not working. All we have heard is three years of blaming George Bush.
Browsing through many newspapers across the country I’m seeing even hardcore Democrats starting to question their support for this man. Those that continue to support him (like Tom) will only see Obama further compromise on his ideals and Obama will become even more ineffective. I think Obama is way in over his head.
History will reveal that his philosophies were socialistic in nature and that the majority of Americans were unwilling to buy into this European style of socialism.
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent value is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churchill.
By PeeDee August 20, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Obama needs to “man up” and admit he shares the blame for the poor economy. But that isn’t going to happen, especially with the media just repeating everything he says and giving him a pass insofar as him being responsible.
By BradWarthenSucks August 20, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Was Stuttering Jim Clyburn caddying for him today? “YahSa boss”. Actually it’d be more like, “Uh, uh, uh, YaSa, uh, uh boss, uh”.
By Mr. Dixie August 20, 2011 at 10:22 pm
I am glad you Tea Baggers have somebody all preened to take his place. But what are they going to do to straighten things out? All I have heard is give tax breaks to the rich and do away with all regulation. Oh yea, and cut out Medicare and Social Security. I guess that will take us back to the early 1900’s. Anyway, I thought about one of your Tea Bag intellectuals today, Michael Bachmann. Her first order of business is to do away with the EPA; at least that is what she said in one of the debates. The reason I thought of her was because I caught a nice 8 pound catfish today at Lake Wateree. I was so happy because I really love catfish stew. After I got the boat on the trailer my wife showed me a sign the government had put out for everybody to read. It said due to high levels of PCB’s found in the fish in the lake, they were advising that my beloved catfish along with white bass from the lake should only be eaten one meal a month.
Please Mrs. Bachmann, leave enough EPA people to keep the lakes in South Carolina safe. It really doesn’t matter if we can’t breathe the air or drink the water … as long as we can still eat the catfish.
Thank You Mrs. Bachmann …. Now I think I will vote for your crazy ass.
By Joe August 20, 2011 at 11:07 pm
The Obama Scorecard:
Unemployment – up 25%
Debt – up 35%
Gas prices – up 100%
Wars – up 33%
Food prices – up exponentially
Gitmo – still open
Housing market – down 200%
Misery index – highest since Carter administration
How’s that Hope and Change working out for yall?
By RedTick August 20, 2011 at 11:11 pm
You are right Mr. Dixie. With less checks on nuclear power and lax regulations on coal fired plants you can bet the radiation and mercury levels would soar in out waterways. Looking at the bright side an 8 pound catfish would probably be about the smallest catfish you would ever catch. Heavy metals and irradiated water grows ‘em big and fat and they might even glow in the dark!
By Help me! Help me! August 20, 2011 at 11:22 pm
If gov’t isn’t there to test the water I might eat too much catfish and get a tummy ache! Everyone would be too stupid to figure out if the lake is polluted on their own.
If it wasn’t for gov’t all the nuclear reactors would have blown up by now or leaked radiation!
The sky is going to fall without our gov’t masters and “oversight” agencies…help, help!
What a bunch of spoon fed pansies….so much for the independent American spirit.
All you boys have left is fear…cause God knows you can’t try to make any other argument that’s rational.
By Mr. Dixie August 21, 2011 at 1:53 am
Hey Joe, What was the score card when he took office? At least I can go to the bank and borrow some money if I need it. America still has a car industry that is back in the black and paying back their government loans. People aren’t hiding their money under their bed mattress anymore. My 401 K is not as good as it was a couple months ago before the Tea Baggers in Washington screwed everything up, but at least it is better than it was when Bush left.
The change is not as good as I would like to see, but it is a hell of a lot better than it was before Obama took office.
Help Me – I think you really need help.
By larrie August 21, 2011 at 8:12 am
Mr. Dixie, let me kindly remind you that the Democrats held Congress from 2006-2010. From 2008-2010 the Democrats held the presidency, the House, and the Senate. Quit blaming the Republicans for everything…it make you appear intellectually small…
By Mr. Dixie August 21, 2011 at 9:16 am
larrie – It is hard not to blame the Republicans when they are at fault, just to make people like you feel good about themselves. Being intellectually small is a relative thing, but having a memory that goes back more than two years is something you can quantify. Sorry if that hurts larrie
By RedTick August 21, 2011 at 9:59 am
Isn’t 2006 when everything went to sh*t? Mr. Dixie says he can still go the bank and get a loan. He must have a government job and bank at a credit union. I know lots of people, for the first time in their life, who can’t get a loan. Student loans are drying up, too. I have been with my bank for over 35 years and they recently turned me down on an application to refinance my home which I have lived in for over 15 years.
I know several builders here in SC who recently closed up shop because their potential clients are telling them they can’t get loans. One builder tells me that in the last three years “all” of his projects
are from people who borrowed or was given money from their parents or in-laws.
I don’t know who to blame.
By PeeDee August 21, 2011 at 10:50 am
The Teabaggers are at fault because they want to….let’s see…reduce spending and balance the budget. Yep, everyone who maintains the family budget knows that kind of radical thinking won’t work. All of us who maintain the family budget know the way to prosperity is to spend money and if we don’t have the cash, we just put it on the credit card or get a loan. If we spend and borrow enough everyone will have a job and we will live happily for evermore.
Can the liberals really be stupid enough to believe this crap?
By Mr. Dixie August 21, 2011 at 11:13 am
PeeDee
For weeks financial experts tried to tell those idiot TeaBaggers in congress what was going to happen if they tried to hold the Administration hostage with what was really something routine – pay for what you have already spent. And guess what – exactly what they said would happen, happened. Do you have any money in a 401K PeeDee. How’s that looking for you now. If you think those TeaBags are heroes because they caused the working people of this country well over a trillion dollars in their 401K (and it ain’t over yet), then you go ahead and believe that. I just hope enough people that lost money remember what really happened. Where were all you people when Bush was spending all that money? Did you all just wake up? 8 years is a long time to sleep.
By yep August 21, 2011 at 11:30 am
Yes….they actually do believe it…they couch it in intellectual dishonesty reinforced by bogus economics…called “Keyenesianism”.(most promoting it are getting gov’t checks to do so in some way, shape, or form)
In their mind it’s “worked” successfully up until the last few years and prosperity is simply one more stimulus program away….
Depending on your frame of reference it’s “worked” since 1971, or in some cases they claim 1913(ignoring a partial return to the gold standard after WWII).
It’s all supremely bogus and the game is just about up…if monetary expansion was the key to success Zimbabwe would have been filth rich.(among others)
They claim they can “prime the pump” by spending money we don’t have and artificially create demand..and in some cases they can…but it also causes malinvestment and pulls money out of the private sector. The worst of it is with the power of the printing press they never have to balance a budget and get to steal the wealth from most everyone without ever passing a tax…until the dollar finally collapses that is. That time is coming soon.
Thing is, it’s not just the Dems that hate the “Tea party”, it’s the Repubs too…they both want to spend money we don’t have. Welfare for one side…warfare for the other.
That’s the dirty little secret to the whole deal…both sides are that different.
By yep August 21, 2011 at 11:38 am
edit: “both side ARE NOT that different”
By mohanna August 21, 2011 at 12:50 pm
At this point who cares who is to blame. If my future has to be decided by a political party I choose the Democrats. They are more concerned about my standard of living. The Republicans are more concerned about the very wealthy’s standard of living. The Tea Party doesn’t want anyone to live except themselves. Every time a Tea Party Member speaks a dream dies.
By crazyvike August 21, 2011 at 7:19 pm
“Can the liberals really be stupid enough to believe this crap?”
YEP
By BigT August 22, 2011 at 6:15 am
Obama Pelosi and Reid set the demmocrat party back at least 12 years, or three general elections.
They had both Houses and the White House. The Liberal social Utopia got a shot that I’d love the see the Conservatives get.
And ironically, because of their failure, I think we will.
The results will be the exact opposite when Conservatives get our country back. Our nation will be healed. Help is on the way. But be prepared to defend your homeland. These people never have accepted their defeat graciously or w/ dignity.
By Common Sense August 22, 2011 at 9:12 am
little turd the GOP did get that shot..you seem to forget they controlled both houses for twelve years and the presidency as well for 6 years. lets look at what they accomplished …all facts and not just your usual “our country / there country crap” that spews from your pie hole: taking a surplus and turning into a huge deficit, 9/11, two wars paid for with borrowed funds from mainly China and never put on the books, the largest expansion in US govt history (the largest ever) with medicare plan d,deregulation, collapse of financial and real estate industries, yeah bang up job boys..well if you worked for Halliburton it turned out great having the GOP in charge, the rest of us, not so much. Your hyper partisan view point is exactly what is wrong with this country at the moment, you sir, and others of your small minded capacity, are exactly whats wrong with this county, not what we need more of.
By Big John August 22, 2011 at 11:19 am
Can’t we just all agree that everyone is washington is retarded?
By Big John August 22, 2011 at 11:19 am
…in Washington…
By BigT August 22, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Common Sense: In addition to seeing the errors in your manifesto…I’ll say I’d LOVE to go back to the Bush years. Unemployment was very low, salaries were up and we were a proud nation. Bush responded to Clinton’s and Congress’ idle threats that resulted in 9-11.
You can spew lies and rhetoric all you want, but I bet even you KNOW what a Screw Up Obama is compared to the previous years.
PS: Bush did make a couple liberal-based mistakes, But us Conservatives are Honest enough to admit that. We are not dis-honest idiots like the leftwing robots.
By Joe August 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm
It is hilarious watching liberals tie themselves into knots here trying to defend a guy who has failed since day 1. A guy who has taken NO responsibility for everything that has gone wrong on his watch.
Gulf oil spill response – failure. Stimulus packages – failure. Reducing unemployment – failure. Closing Gitmo – failure. Ending wars – failure. Green jobs – failure. Economic growth – failure.
“It’s all (fill in the blank with Bush, Tea Party, Arab spring, tsunamis, ATM fees, Congress, Casey Anthony) fault. Not mine.”
Pathetic.
By RedTick August 22, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Joe is 100% correct.
By Formula51 August 23, 2011 at 11:16 am
Mr. Dixie, DHEC would regulate the water you are so concerned about at a state level, as they do now. The EPA would be dimninished at a federal level and it cannot happen soon enough. They are quite literally out of control with regulation.
Common Sense, as you appear to be a somewhat educated man, surely you must know that the problems of the last few years trace back directly through Clinton/Reno and NINJA loans to Carter and the Community Reinvestment Act (not to mention his ending nuclear power development if you want to talk energy). You can go back further to the creation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Bush’s policies did not help make matters better, but the truth is (whether you choose to believe it or not) it was already too far gone to be saved/reversed at that point. Had Bush passed some different policies, he may have been able to extend the dog and pony show a little longer. In fairness, his tax breaks, which resulted in creased spending, borrowing, tax revenue, etc. did just that.
The wars we fought after 9/11 and the overextension of Fannie/Freddie and the American people were the perfect catalyst to finally end the show. Unfortunately, the stimulus passed by Bush and then exponentially increased (TARP was paid back) by Obama did exactly what you hate Bush for, it extend the show yet again. It prevented an economic “reset”, the unwinding of all the debt, lies, and destruction that caused this mess and the resulting changes in legilsation, regulation, and restructuring of America that would have “healed” us. Instead we proped up AIG, the auto industry, banks, housing and contiue to prop up the insolvent, failed programs of Fannie and Freddie. We have yet to “reset” and we will not grow and be prosperous until we do.
In the end Obama is doing the same thing Bush did, but in a different way: extending the show and praying for the 1% chance that America and private industry somehow rise above all the problems and keep making money and spending money and heal the economy. In Obama’s case, he is dealing with sky high unemployment and debt (much of which is his doing from failed policies from the initial stimulus, to homebuyer tax credits, to the health care bill) and it is increasingly unlikely he can keep the ship afloat much longer.
The only way to save us is to elect someone who will repeal his failed policies, roll back some over-regulation, stimulate growth through taxes (see New Zealand) and then sit back and let the country churn through this mess. What we need now is more hands off, not more hands on leadership.
By Mr. Dixie August 25, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Formula51
DHEC controlling the water at the state level is, I guess, why catfish are now off the menu. It sounds like to me what you are saying is that we need to have another Great Depression to “ reset” and then an administration just like Bush’s and then everyone will be happy and prosperous and big corporations will take care of us.