For quite a while, the notion that Republican policymakers might be trying to hurt the American economy on purpose was a charge too provocative for Democrats to make out loud. It's one thing to say the GOP's economic ideas are wrong; it's something else to ask whether the GOP is waging a deliberate campaign against the nation's wellbeing.
Slowly but surely, though, it appears Democrats are becoming more comfortable broaching this provocative line.
Associated Press
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), for example, argued last fall, "Republicans think that if the economy improves, it might help President Obama. So they root for the economy to fail and oppose every effort to improve it." This week, in reference to the Paycheck Fairness Act, Reid said, "Unfortunately, it seems Paycheck Fairness may have two strikes against it. It would good for women and good for the economy."
And yesterday, referencing the stalled-but-critically-important highway bill, Reid said, "I'm told by others that [House Majority Leader Eric Cantor] wants to not do a bill to make the economy worse, because he feels that's better for them. I hope that's not true."
Republicans aren't pleased.
"Leader Reid's claims are ridiculous and patently false," said Cantor's spokeswoman Laena Fallon via email. "Rather than making up stories that have no basis in reality, Leader Reid should follow the House's example and focus on pro-growth measures that will get the economy going and get people back to work."
Nor was Boehner's office about to let Reid's remark slide. "That's bulls**t," said his spokesman Michael Steel.
Maybe it's time for a larger conversation about this? At a minimum, it's a question quite a few credible observers are asking, whether that infuriates the GOP or not.
Michael Cohen, a fellow at the Century Foundation, apparently following up on a discussion I launched, said last fall, “We’re far past the point where there is reason to doubt that the GOP is purposely trying to harm” the economy.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Conference, believes “some” Republicans “want the economy to actually fail” on purpose. Paul Krugman said in a column, “[I]t’s hard to avoid the suspicion that G.O.P. leaders actually want the economy to perform badly.” Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was asked whether it’s possible Republicans would sabotage the economy. “Well, let me be honest,” he said. “It has occurred to me that this is a possibility.” E.J. Dionne Jr., Dan Gross, David Frum, and Andrew Sullivan have all raised the same concerns.
A while back, Kevin Drum wondered whether this will ever be “a serious talking point,” adding, “No serious person in a position of real influence really wants to accuse an entire party of cynically trying to tank the economy, after all.”
Given the last couple of years -- the debt-ceiling scandal, the death of the American Jobs Act, the Republican rejection of any proposals to boost the economy, the GOP proposals to take capital out of the economy through dangerous austerity measures, the GOP-driven downgrade, the GOP leadership’s demand that the Federal Reserve take no actions to improve the economy, the threats of government shutdowns -- it appears all kinds of serious people are at least entertaining the question.
I still rather doubt we'll see a broader national discussion about Republicans' motivations and whether sabotage is a legitimate possibility. Even as many on the left broach the subject, they do so carefully, with caveats and qualifiers.
But I wonder what the polls would say if the questions were put to the public, and whether the sabotage issue would have any effect on the 2012 elections.
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Its pretty obvious that republicans are willing to put their own political interests above the nations interests, last year's debt-ceiling fight as just one example.
Demonizing half the country is a very bad idea. When you declare yourself in a all or nothing fight, you shouldn't be surprised when you get nothing. Keystone is the sticking point in this. Do you all really think pushing for a job producing project is treasonous? Of course it isn't.
It's no different than WI. The left lost because they were too ideologically stubborn to contribute to their benefits like everyone else does. In tough times elitism doesn't sell well.
Not sure the left lost entirely. Apparently the Dems retook the Senate.
It is treasonous against not only the U.S., but the entire planet and all future generations who will live on it. It will not produce any significant number of jobs -- that has been shown over and over again -- and it is the ONLY idea Republicans have to show for the "jobs, jobs, jobs" 2010 campaign promise. Sad. Very sad.
Keystone XL should be destroyed. Loudly and proudly destroyed. And Democrats should loudly and proudly say why. Leadership would bring voters.
Wisconsin - the unions were willing to give Walker all his concessions for renegotiating and Walker said NO. He said it, he was not interested in anything but divide and conquer, was on Video and one of the members of the Senate admitted that it was the plan to get rid of the Unions not negotiate.
Keystone: There are pros and cons. What was said the project needed further review and they needed more time to complete their investigation and report their findings. Also big controversy over the amount of jobs it would create.
Let's not forget the 1/20/09 dinner at the Caucus Room which 11 elected Republicans attend and the party of "Just Say No" was developed. They never denied it, and I e-mailed Cantor and Ryan and asked if it was true - no answer.
2010 Mitch McConnell stated our goal is to make him a one term President. Amazing the worst financial crisis in 70 years and his first goal was not to help get our country out of this crisis. Party before Country.
Most filibustering in history done by this Republican Party.
Boehner, McConnell, Cantor and others state - We Don't Compromise.
As Hillary Clinton once said, "let the conversation begin".
The only example the Tea Party-controlled House has set, Cantor, is to sabotage the economy, cost the nation more money, embarrass us on the world stage, and while actively seeking to destroy the government, collect government paychecks and the best of "Obamacare."
Thank God the Senate is still controlled by adults - meaning Democrats.
Sorry, Dude. You can't say the Senate is Democratically controlled. Filibusters are now used to dramatic levels never-before seen in the US and have crippled the Senate.
Nothing can pass without 60 votes in the US Senate.
Unlike in the republican-controlled House of Representatives, Democrats can't pass anything in the Senate because we need 60, not 51 votes to pass anything.
Back when we had adults who cared about America and it's governement institutions, you might be able to make that claim.
Don't take my word for it. Prove it to yourself and look it up. It's pathetic and made more pathetic by American's that are confused by this fact of how our government works today.
Republicans should be held responsible. Every filibuster-supporting Republican (that's all of them) should be voted out of the Senate and either replaced with Dems or new Republicans who take their jobs seriously and who will be held accountable for their irresponsible behavior.
First off @TRQE - how many "dudes" do you know named "June."
Secondly, you've told me nothing new. But since you apparently don't do subtlety, what I meant by my remark is that we have still have Majority Leader Reid in the Senate - not a Majority Leader McConnell. If the adults were not in charge in the Senate - meaning Democrats - to put a stop to the utterly ridiculous and disastrous bills passed by the Tea Party-controlled House - this nation would be in a state of utter, utter shambles. By that I mean - go back and look at the completely asinine legislation passed by Boehner et al. and how every bit of it was dead on arrival in the Senate. That's what I meant by the adults are still in charge in the Senate.
Jobs Jobs Jobs....has resulted in .....
plenty of legislation on social issues
I just get so damned depressed when the lazy ass MSM wont get off their stenographer lazy asses and actually report what is going on.
Some people say .....
Democrats say ....
Republicans say....
Start yelling at each other now
This constitutes in depth analysis .
1) It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that the GOP has been trying to cause an economic crisis in this country and 2) why are they pushing back so hard? Mr. Occam on line one for you, sir....
15% of America has half a brain (Dems)
15% of America doesn't have half a brain (Repubs)
65% don't give a crap (ppl who don't vote)
2% have 1/4 a brain (Dem-leaning Independants)
2% have 1/8 a brain (Repub-leaning Independants)
1% have 1/6 a brain and decide based on the plans put forth by the candidates (Independants)
I agree Democrats are half-brained.
There are two components to this:
Example-- In "It's a Wonderful Life", old man Potter buying Savings and Loan "Shares" at 50 cents on the dollar during the 'run on the bank' scene.
The vast majority of the "public" doesn't know/care about what the Republicans have done for the past 4 years (even moreso in the past 2 years). While we political wonks follow this stuff daily and see this as unbridled obstruction, the "public" only cares about getting to work (if they still have one) and putting food on the table.
They don't care whose actual fault it is, either. They don't care about the actual politics of the situation - it makes their eyes glaze over as soon as someone mentions the filibuster or Congress. Because of this, they seem to just blame the person at the top. If it was a business, they would blame the CEO/President (whichever they know the name of). If something happened at work, it is their boss' fault or the most visible person up the ladder. In this case, the President's "Celebrity" a hinderance, because who has been more visible than President Barack Obama?
I'm not sure how visible President Bush was in 2004, but I bet he didn't buy prime-time spots over his first 4 years to promote legislation (that never passed, making him look like a failure). When you pre-empt The Bacchelorette (or whatever reality show was going on), you better have good news or keep it short and sweet. If you talk for more than 5 minutes, you have lost the public at large.
And therein is the problem. WE the people have allowed ourselves to become dumbed down, forget history, loose our "common sense", become hard-hearted against "other", and totally have NO understanding of what the "federal government" is for! We've bought into the "NO TAXES" bs, freedom, liberty and indivuality - are really just buzzwords when you're a serf!
It is the people that I blame for allowing themselves to buy into a rabid orthodox ideology that goes against everything that this country is about, and for voting against their own (& our) best interest. These sheeple give lip-service to their grandchildren's future - yet it is US and our grandchildren that are paying for this ignorance and treason against the very ideals that "we are supposed" to stand for! Shrub was an anathema to thinking people - he should have kept his mouth closed! Look at the messes WE are still going thru!
Sheeple turn off your television - go to the library read, investigate the issues and vote like you know what is really going on!
Well I was gratified today to see that the headlines in all the daily papers were that the GOP blocked the paycheck fairness act, rather than 'the Senate.'
The MSM has got to step up and report accurately, especially in the headline department.
Big Jay is right & it is a very sad state what this this country has become. It seems the show of patriotism is reserved for sports & not much else. We who watch political programs & read political blogs are a very small minority. We, who are older & have seen how hard it was to obtain civil rights, get medical care for the aged, to vote, have systems to help those less fortunate & made this the greatest country on earth, are sick to the core at what is now taking place. Most people have no idea there are people trying to undo all that has been gained. This country knows how to get things done. One party is choosing not to. Far too many don't know or care
Well, except for worthwhile programming like TRMS!
A hundred years ago Oscar Wilde wrote of, "The love that dare not speak its name."
Today they not only speak openly, but marry each other.
It was only last Fall that Benen wrote, “We’re far past the point where there is reason to doubt that the GOP is purposely trying to harm” the economy.
And now elected officials are openly saying the same.
You've come a long way, baby!
"We’re far past the point where there is reason to doubt that the GOP is purposely trying to harm” the economy."
So basically it's treason against the American people for their corporate pay-masters! And that's exactly why they need to voted OUT of OFFICE come NOVEMBER!
Folks, this is the Keystone pipeline act in disguise. Democrats have already lost this argument twice. Once when Obama graciously deigned to give the go ahead on a portion of the pipeline he had no control over. Twice when the Bain attacks bombed.
So who has a compelling argument as to why the whole pipeline shouldn't be built? It's been in review for years, rerouted, and will produce many jobs while it's built. These days we are collectively too desperate for work to pass this up.
Might want to look to the Republican governors of the states that the pipeline goes through for your answer. Look at WHY they opposed it.
And that is the gop jobs plan , the keystone pipe line , then you ask US for a compelling argument lol
Because a few thousand jobs building the pipeline and few dozen after is not worth the risk or the rise in oil prices once the pipeline is built. The pipeline will take refining capacity from our domestic supply chain and may negatively impact our prices at the pump.
Hey Shooter, you might want to put your thinking cap on and follow this:
1) that pipeline isn't going to "create" hundreds of thousands of jobs, more like 3 thousand over the course of the project.
2) for the "benefit" of those hired, should another BP pipeline disaster happen, those states/counties along with the inhabitants will be devastated for generations!
3) The "oil" produced by that pipeline will still go out onto the "open market" to be sold at "market prices" - so there really isn't a "benefit" to US in the long term!
4) By your logic, the money that Scott Walker blew off for "high speed" transit - which would have actually produced jobs not just in his state but in surrounding states - was a "win" for the people of Wisconsin.
5) By any stretch of a logical, thinking person - your argument is intellectually lazy, so do US a favor and go do some research for yourself and stop listening to Rushtard and FAUX NOISE.
The only folks who are screaming for Keystone to be approved are those who 1) stand to profit financially, and 2) those who mistakenly believe it will help make us less dependent on Middle East oil. Our dependence on Middle East oil has declined significantly without Keystone. The majority of the oil from Keystone will be sold to other countries (mainly China), not refined here. That's why the oil companies want the pipeline to go all the way to the Gulf.
And no matter how many jobs the right says Keystone would create, most of those would be temporary only.
I agree, the Republicans don't have a clue about how to fix the economy. What would McCain - Palin have done with the following:
1. Unemployment increasing at 750,000 jobs per month
2. Every bank, broker, AIG and 3 Automakers bankrupt or on the brink.
3. 2 wars raging with lowered taxes so we could not pay for it.
4. Real Estate values decreasing below the mortgage.
5. The opposite party refusing the pass any new legislation to help it.
Conservatives are quite welcome to tell us, even without #5, how to fix this economy.
No, no, no. They know how to do it. And that's precisely why they haven't done it. Because it would be good for Obama.
'ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS'...GOP you want us to BELIEVE you? Then pass legislation that actually helps create the JOBS JOBS JOBS you talk about.
i also get tired of the 'balanced' approach when interviewing - no follow up questions, no facts to confront the fiction. Real journalism/reporting takes hard work - TRMS does it well - pass that message to the morning shows on MSNBC - cynical Chuck Todd in particular!
Who would it benefit? It's the theocracy, stupid.
Hard to follow alliances based on (variously) self-fulfilling, magical, Rorschachian, effervescent, mutating (but almost always) literal readings of (defined by whom? on the basis of what?) scripture -- but this is like old British Civil War dregs resurrected in Zombie form.
Doing research on Bob McDonnell, I couldn't avoid the comparisons:
From the wikipedia: Soli Deo Gloria
Bob McDonnell, my state's governor and (ever) vice presidential hopeful, is a product of (Soli Deo Gloria!) Pat Robertson's Regent University, and he told us all who he is and what he serves in his master's thesis: God guides him. God as defined by his interpretation of God's inerrant scripture. When he was running for office, the Washington Post asked him about what he'd written in his thesis, and he replied that he no longer held those beliefs. But actions speak louder than words, the old saw says. His record in Virginia has been one incessant push to enact those very beliefs.
From the Regent University webpage:
When McD was running for Governor in Virginia, I wrote:
Yes, why does the party of no want to govern? Soli Deo Gloria. Their joy in punishing, the "moral dilemma" they connect to the economy. Just follow it out.
Democrats better, not only keep this up, but do so in ever increasingly strong language. Come out and just flat out call them saboteurs. Call them liars. Point to all the evidence. Point to all the etch-a-sketch'ing going on to attact independents, now. Do it loud. Be harsh.
MAKE REPUBLICANS RESPOND.
Define the argument for once.
And by the way: it would the truth. Not some manufactured nonsense that defines Republican arguments.
"Infuriating Republicans" is the next best thing to poking them in the eye repeatedly with a sharp stick. The nice thing is, going after them on this subject is poking them in the eye repeatedly with a sharp stick.
Rachel is hysterical and her readers are incomprehensible. I've been a union member for the last 30 years. My union gives all of it's money to Democrat politicians. So they say whatever it takes to get their members to vote Democrat. Distortion. Innuendo. Selective reporting. It's offensive. It's no wonder the exit polls did not reflect the true outcome of the election. Scott Walker supporters were genuinely afraid to reveal their support. Afraid for their safety. Unions and the Democrats would like to think of their constituency as idiots. People are on to them. Wisconsin should be proud.
Are you from Wisconsin? With public unions decimated, private unions will be the next to fall.
OK so you didn't like them telling you to vote "Democrat." You didn't have to. But perhaps you care about seniority, your health care plan, your retirement? Good luck holding on to those without your union.
So why not just leave the Union. Karl Rove, Kock Brothers, Addelson and all the other Super Pac ads that have false statements, or dead babies in an ad inferring the Mayor killed babies, Walker providing numbers regarding jobs that did not come from the Department of Labor - where did they come from. Did those numbers include people who worked in other states, but lived in Wisconsin?
No one tells you who to vote for in the privacy of the booth and new one knows who you voted for. If you are not independent enough to vote your conscience that is on you.
Unless you live in a right-to-work state, certain professions may require you to join a union and pay a heft amount of dues. The Unions generally help elect Democrats. So, some people are actually forced to donate a portion of their money to certain Politicians.
John in J. You are a liar. Nothing you said is true. Unions are a democracy and you don't have to donate to dem. politicians. They say the truth...they don't have to lie about having collective bargaining rights taken away. You are a troll trying to change opinion with manufactured outrage which is non sensical, stupid and completely untrue. Go back to HS. Your ideas will get you working for a dollar a day and living in a hut.
As I've said, I've been a union member for 30 years. I'm close to retirement. I've paid my dues. And yes, my union has negotiated the contracts all those years for which I am grateful. But I could have done that myself. I took the easy way. Many of my friends have retirement plans in the private sector better than mine. They took a chance, paid attention to their funds and succeeded. I have one union friend that will retire soon with 100%. But that is a PRIVATE union. Not a public one paid for by tax payers.
Everything I've said is true, but I'm not offended by being called a liar because you're a liberal, and that's what liberals do. You like to make personal attacks on people who don't agree with you. Grow up. P.S. Maybe YOU school go back to school to learn grammar and punctuation.
Instigating derailment. How about we talk about the article?
The question isn't provocative. By both the President and the American Taliban's definition of telling the truth, it's politics and empirical truth-look at the number of ideas the President has proposed that were initiated into the political discussion by the Taliban it is true.
The real issue is why haven't the Dummycrats gone here since 2010 when it was clear the Taliban was not going to act to help the economy except by their definitions. It comes down to political cowardliness and a wholesale desire to hold onto their sinecures because they have no other prospects. It is why third party approaches can not create traction because at the local level(large metropolitan cities) where they historically arise the Dummycrats do everything possible to frustrate or co-opt them. One, only needs to come to Philadelphia where there is no master city plan, no one organization(zoning, licensing, information, property ownership, et al) you can go to to start a business. Then there is the small problem of the unions must do the work with no consideration of modern techniques-did you know that the Comcast center has a dual set of sewage pipes for bathrooms, one is the low use water system for toilets and the other is for the old fashioned five gallons of water flush that was installed simply to create union jobs. the list goes on. Until the dummycrats start acting like a party of political concerns as opposed to an alliance of factions the will continue to prove Mark Twain right.
Why does your system automatically insist you have a face book wall to post to? Shouldn't it be our choice?
The Reps are trying to sabotage the economy. It's not a premise. It's a fact. Screw America; elect us. They are totally unAmerican. THIS IS A FACT! Deny it all you want; it's still a FACT!
This is, admittedly, a futile point, but can anyone else here imagine in 2013, when President Romney is trying to bully the still-barely-controlled-by-Democrats Senate into passing a $3 trillion tax cut, Eric Cantor will be the first one in line to claim that the Democrats are deliberately sabotaging the economy (which will be in freefall after President Romney's first $3 trillion tax cut) to hurt the other party?
Yeah, I know we can all imagine it pretty easily.
He doesn't have balls to bully with.
He won't make a move without Grover's approval.
Remember, he's just a live body with a working hand to operate a pen.
Nothing more.
I'm sure Mitt Romney feels real good about being seen that way by his "peers". He reminds me of the awkward guy so glad to be in the clique, but really, he's just happily blind that he's being used as a tool, and will be discarded as soon as they feel he's outlived his usefulness.
With a Democrat controlled Senate and the filibuster for the next 2 years, nothing will get passed in a Romney Administration.
Our democracy is now a dictatorship having occurred after an effective coo (sp?).
Our supreme court gave permission for the billionaires to select the politicians who would do their bidding.
The dictator –the billionaires
The Army – the conservative right
Money has been used to eliminate our Unions, there by removing any possible funds to the left.
Money has been used to control who votes and within the selected districts as drawn up by the conservatives.
Government stagnation by conservative minority political manipulation with no concern for the people in the country, just the goal of the coo. The 9% favorability is irrelevant to the end game.
Conclusion is obvious. The Supreme Court opens the door, the billionaires select the politicians; the politicians select and pass laws that the billionaires dictate. Restrict the left from being able to acquire money and the country is controlled by the billionaires who can continue to maintain control since it is set up to be perpetual. The rich get richer, the middle class moves into the poor category, and the poor (slaves) suffers even more.
God bless our supreme court. The conservatives in the Supreme Court did their job to let the coo occur and the dictatorship to be put permanently in place as the 99% says –goodie, goodie – yes, yes take over my country)
What a Country. Power corrupts and we better learn it quick or the rich will be on the receiving end of the second amendment.
They no longer deserve the respect as being called the Supreme Court Justices, I find the term "Board of Directors of the Republican Party" much more accurate.
I find the term SCROTUS (Supreme Court Rightwingers Of The US) more pithy still...
Much of what Chuck R. wrote seemed right on to me. What I can't understand is why would a middle class patriotic person vote these republicans into office? Can't they read a graph and see how the economy has improved, and can't they read news stories and separate the hype from fact? I guess they can't or they would. Real patriotic Americans who want jobs, national health care, and prosperity need to work really hard to get good Democrats into office because this country is in serious trouble. The crazy Republican austerity program if followed could propel us into economic free fall along with Greece and Italy.
Rachel--
Did you hear Reince Priebus on Andrea this morning telling her twice that "you can't legislate" equal pay for equal work in reference to the Fair Pay Act?
Take that footage and run with it--please!
It's long overdue for EVERYONE to speak the harsh truth about the GOP. Even further than sabotage.
The word is TREASON.
The other day Thom Hartmann gave 2 documented examples of treason.
One by Nixon, the other by Reagan.
Nixon in 1968, when he convinced the South Vietnam leader to bail on the Paris Peace Treaty. He said he give them a better deal. LBJ knew about it, and confronted him. Nixon knew LBJ wouldn't go public with it.
Nixon got elected, the war went on, thousands of lives destroyed.
Reagan in 1980. He made a deal with those who controlled the hostages. Release them after I get elected, and we'll sell you arms.
I grew up with Race riots in high school. I was small, and only 110 lbs back then, and not tough.
I'm still a small guy, now 55 and an overweight 190 pounds.
But I am "The Baddest Liberal Capitalist in the Land"
Physically, I take on all comers. I Call 'em Cowards to their face, and smile as they crawl away. Online, I give 'em my phone number, and dare them to call.
Business-wise, I've been in the belly of the corporate beast for 25 years,
in one of THE most cut-throat industries.
The richest 1,000 guys in the world and corporation are bank rolling the GOP. Stockholders are behind them. I know how to legally hurt their profits.
But I can't do it alone. My book has the details.
F' the Righties Response. Go ahead, let 'em Hit me with their best shot.
I'm out to bankrupt badly behaving corporations.
Have you got enough fire in your belly to join me?
Bob Oehmen. Chicago 773.206-0008
"PackerBackerBob!'s Guide to Global Prosperity", available free download at
www.natcapclub.org
Henry Wallace may not have been that far off.
It's already started, Union busting, the War on women and minorities, voter suppression, religious ideology infecting legislation, and corporate financing on an exponential level.
Get the message out, then vote these guys out, or you're just as much to blame.
Trite but true, they are leading lambs to slaughter.
I would never have believed america would vote for extremeism.
The enemy isn't Facism. It's not Capitalism either.
The enemy is the richest 1,000 or so a-holes in the World. They are addicted to wealth and power. NO amount is enough for them.
They pound us with effective advertisements that hook our emotional, unconscious and irrational sides
--- for junk we don't need and can't afford. They get our 'buy in'. Literally.
It's a take-over of the worst kind - people participate in their own ruin. They don't have a visible face, nor physical threat. It's not Hitler's tanks rolling over Europe.
I'm fighting them with their own rules. Which is, there are no rules.