At Wall Street Journal:
If a good political compromise is one that has something for everyone to hate, then last night's bipartisan debt-ceiling deal is a triumph. The bargain is nonetheless better than what seemed achievable in recent days, especially given the revolt of some GOP conservatives that gave the White House and Democrats more political leverage.I've been really thinking about that this last few days. So much of current political dealmaking in the end depends on who wins in November 2012 and beyond. Republicans positioned themselves well for the upcoming campaign, and with 1.3 percent GDP growth and unemployment sticky at 9.2 percent, there's lots of reason for the Times to be even more pissed. It's another case of projection, of course. Progressives are mad. So they lash out, despite their own home-grown failures. Keep an eye out this week for more heated rhetoric from the left. Republicans might stock up on some choice quotes to run later in political ads. Democrats are really sore at losing this round, all the more so since their strategy of do-nothing obstructionism turned out to be a disaster. And we've got a presidential election as on the ballot as well. Boy, things are shaping up very well for
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The big picture is that the deal is a victory for the cause of smaller government, arguably the biggest since welfare reform in 1996. Most bipartisan budget deals trade tax increases that are immediate for spending cuts that turn out to be fictional. This one includes no immediate tax increases, despite President Obama's demand as recently as last Monday. The immediate spending cuts are real, if smaller than we'd prefer, and the longer-term cuts could be real if Republicans hold Congress and continue to enforce the deal's spending caps.
3 comments:
When Jefferson assumed the Presidency, the crisis in France had passed. He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson
...lowered taxes, reduced debt, strengthened military....
"How quaint." - NYT
The TEA party must be a real threat to the Left for they are being subjected to the 3 D's of anti-Americanism. They are being Demonized, treated with a Double Standard and the attempt is to Delegitimize the movement. Why would one see so much of the 3 D's coming from the Left and the MSM? The 3 D's are right out of the Leftist/Communist/Anti-Semetic/ Marxist /Obama playbook.
What the Left and Obama did not count on is that the playbook is losing its ability to sway others. I suspect that what the Left and Obama are counting on is that maybe enough 'mud" will stick to the wall so that anything that happens can be used to re-institue the 3 D's at election time. I do not believe that this will keep a downgrade from happening because the Democrats have dragged their feet just enough to make that possible.
The TEA party, Conservatives and Republicans need to be constantly on guard to ensure they keep the momentum moving towards smaller government and to electing more people who will do the same. It took years to get to this point and it will take time to reverse it.
NOTE: I am loosely using the 3 D concept's developed by Natan Sharansky to illustrate the same type of Leftist thought that underpins much of the Anti-Semitism that is extant.
Thank You Professor Douglas!
I had lost track of 'American Power' weblog, and was delighted to
see your comment on our July 1st Post.
Bruce & Dennis are aware folks, and it's my hope that we keep pushing for 'Term Limits' for these congressmen that violate their oath to..."protect & defend" our citizens.
Peace, Through Strength & Intellect.
reb
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