Young Ezra is starting to notice that Obama is in the habit of compromising even when he doesn’t have to. He seems to think the president can simply stop, once Ezra explains it to him:
Getting less attention in the media is the follow-up speech the White House is planning, which will lay out a specific deficit-reduction agenda that not only meets the $1.5 trillion goal of the “supercommittee,” but exceeds it and pays for the new jobs spending. These proposals will look quite similar to the grand bargain the White House offered Speaker John Boehner, and liberal groups are grimly preparing for the administration to call for raising the Medicare eligibility age.
This leaves a couple of questions that keep pinging into my in-box from interested and, more often, angry observers around town: Why not go bigger on jobs given that so little is likely to pass? Why not go smaller on deficit reduction given that Republicans are likely to take the administration’s concessions on policies like the Medicare eligibility age but toss out their preferences on revenues and stimulus? And what evidence is there, anyway, that trying to look like the most reasonable man in the room is actually working with independents?
But my question is a little different: Why stop with a speech? The leverage the White House currently has over this process is that they can veto whatever the supercommittee produces, if it indeed produces anything. If they do that, the trigger gets pulled, and the White House assures us that both parties are terrified of the trigger.
So what I’m waiting to see Thursday is whether the president says he will veto any plan that addresses deficits while ignoring joblessness. If he wants to appeal to the presumed mass of deficit-hating independents, he can also say he will veto any plan that addresses joblessness without dealing with deficits, though no such plan is likely to emerge. Since the twin priorities here are passing something and letting voters know what you stand for, then the way forward would seem clear: Stand firm until something you can support actually passes. A speech — or even two speeches — won’t lead to new legislation, and it won’t command enough sustained public attention or media coverage to make voters of any stripe sit up and notice.
I’m so frightened. Who will lead us?
Raising the Medicare age won’t save money. People will come into it sicker and needing more care and more expensive care.
Head/wall.
So. Harkening back to the beginning of time when we (white folks) callously treated (treat) the humans who were (are) already HERE, but someone, somewhere, wants to wonder what happened to the motherfucking democracy?
Are you people (white) insane?
Grocery checkout chat and telephone rep chat: When I say I’m hoping our leaders will recognize that there are severe problems which have to be addressed and give an example, I get replies like “And how!” or “If only!”
Our leaders simply do not get it, whether about the need to upgrade our infrastructure in so many areas, the need for jobs programs, the need to raise revenue and not stick it all to the non-wealthy, no matter that there are so very many of us.
On NPR’s ATC, our new Secty of Defense Panetta was talking about how he felt it was unfair to subject military personnel who have served overseas in war situations to higher health care costs, to not live up to our agreements with them, to break our promises to them*.
But he clearly indicated he would be able to raise such costs for military personnel who have not/do not serve overseas , in wars.
He is willing to say to new recruits that they can join the military, be on call 24/7, be paid lower wages than possible (if there are jobs, of course) in civilian life, and ask them to pay more for their benefits. Be ready to give up your life, but pay more for health care.
Disgusting beings, these modern Neo-Lib, Corporatist Dems Who Would Govern as Republicans.
But, given how effectively they’re piss their base off, the party is not going to be viable much longer. Not without major, major changes (and not the fake hopey-changes of Obama and his ilk).
*I bet Panetta believes it’s perfectly OK to break promises made to the rest of us.
I’m hoping our leaders will recognize that there are severe problems which have to be addressed and give an example
I’m so sorry. i didn’t finish reading. I just couldn’t get past this particular crap.
Ezra’s just so cute. He wants the president to threaten a veto. That’ll scare ’em.
Thankfully, I’m most gratetful for the percentage of Cherokee that I’ve been told is in my blood.
I don’t identify with my Eastern European side. At all.
Cindy, you already know how the fourth passing takes place. Or is it the sixth (every 26,000 years between visits to the center of the Milky Way). No need to be afraid. Jawbone the game is rigged. Obama is doing what he’s told to do and the next Democratic or Republican president will do the same. The only thing that the oligarchy fears is the Left. You can jump on the Peace Train at any time.