David Harsanyi, Denver Post:
Tax credits? Spending freezes? Deficit commissions? The president is starting to sound a lot like one of those fiscal he- devils the Democrats have been warning the nation about for years.
Not to worry, true believers, Barack Obama only sounds like he’s making sense. The proposed three-year freeze sham accounts for less than a measly one-sixth of the federal budget and the deficit panel already has been voted down in the Senate.
But sounding like you mean it is half the battle — as the Republican Party has learned over the past 15 years. And one of the major political missteps of the Obama administration has been confusing the agenda of the progressive left with that of the American electorate.
A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, for example, finds that over 80 percent of adults believe that jobs and the economy should be the two top priorities of Washington — issues that were used to further the administration’s no-serious-crisis-left-behind project and little else.
To my astonishment, nowhere in the Pew poll could I find the words “Copenhagen,” “worldwide presidential apology tour,” “Chicago Olympic bid,” “social justice,” “bankers make too much dough,” or even “bail out GM, America needs the Acadia.” Still, these subjects were a matter of considerable urgency and expended political capital in Washington this year.
Perhaps it’s self-delusion. After all, the number of times Obama has affixed the word “urgent” to his own agenda is unquantifiable.
[…]
According to Pew, health care reform falls in behind “economy,” “jobs,” “terrorism,” “education,” “deficit reduction,” “Medicare,” “Social Security” and so on. All of them urgent.
You will, almost certainly, not be surprised to learn that a deficit reduction commission, according to the president, is “urgent,” as the country faces a serious fiscal crisis, all of which, even a year later, is the Bush administration’s fault because it failed “to pay for new policies.”
One empathizes. Yet, this grievance would hold more water if the Obama administration hadn’t spent more than any president in history in its first year. Let’s also remember, this dubious feat was accomplished without passing two of the most expensive pieces of legislative items on the statist menu.
Now, with the shadow of Scott Brown descending on D.C., we’re in for a rhetorical recalibration. Obama will sound like an ardent fiscal conservative while simultaneously ratcheting up populist anger regarding banks, risk, profits and make-believe unfettered capitalism.
Do Americans feel an urgent need to stick it to the investor class? Financial regulations rank as the 15th most important concern, behind “helping the poor,” “moral decline” and “crime.” So I doubt it. But we’ll see what happens.
Yet, it is difficult to deny that after only one year in power, the administration has been forced to admit its vision of economic intervention has been soundly rejected. All one needs to do is listen.
Well, not “listen” so much as listen better. Which many of you are failing to do — presumably because you are just not capable of ignoring subtext in the way Obama presumed you would be.
As Jonah Goldberg notes,
What is with all of these people? Forget that Obama already rolled out his own slogan, “Yes We Can!” The idea that Obama’s problems all stem from poor communication skills or practices is absolutely bizarre. The same people who think Obama is the most eloquent speaker since MLK or Cicero or Reagan also think his only problem is that he hasn’t effectively explained himself. Obama himself thinks his only failing was to eschew the cowbell.
So you see? It isn’t so much that you aren’t listening. It’s that you are hearing.
— Which, that’s really just going to fuck things up, what with all the concomitant representative democracy that goes along with such active involvement in the communication process.
After all, how is Obama supposed to govern when all these people keep getting in the way of his designs?
I’ve listened. I’ve heard. I’ve written 99.94% of it off as bullshit. And didn’t much care for the rest. The rest of America seems to be slowly catching up to me. But then again, I’ve always been ahead of the curve.
According to Joe Klein , we’re too stupid to “hear”.
Indeed, damned messy, all those citizens getting in the way of properly running the Republic.
I shan’t watch tonight, but of course, I haven’t watched one since 2002 anyways…
Joe Klein wants us to listen correctly. Which is defined as believing everything we’re told. Only then can we be smart. Smart people are the people who listen to smart people. And the smart people being listened to are smart because smart people listen to them.
It’s a perfect storm of obviousness!
GET WITH THE PROGRAM!
Is that the same Klein that does the Best Week EVAH idiocy on VH1?
infinite do loop the left defined
VH1? JD … I’m ashamed of you.
Sometimes folks leave that crap on at the gym.
If you believe the Epistles of Paul of Tarsus, you’re an easily-duped bitter clinger. If you don’t believe the Gospel of the Won, you’re an ignorant misled benighted Fox-watcher.
No analysis required. Don’t compare-and-contrast the two statements. Just accept it from Your Betters that it is so.
Not when you consider that despite pulling off the most intricate and dastardly conspiracy plot ever (9/11), Bush is the stupidest person ever to have walked the earth.
If Jonah was smart, he would get it.
Don’t know much about his-tor-ee-ee
Obamas pivot to his fake but accurate “freeze” should give the GOP a hole they can drive a huge truck thru … the GOP response should include a laundry list if other things Obama should freeze:
1) the Stimulus …
2) the TARP program
3) the Fannie and Freddie bailout fund
4) federal employees making more than the national average
put to a vote of the American people at least 3 of these would pass …
he’s opened the garage door, drive a truck thru it …
James, you’re a few years to late for the PW discussion of Liberal Fascism.
Doesn’t matter, Carin. He has a bunch of links and he’s not afraid to use them. And because James can cite David Neiwert citing some historians who disagree on Jonah’s history, it must necessarily be Jonah’s history that is at fault, because historians cannot have political agendas of their own.
Just ask Michael Bella-whatever. I hear he once wrote a history book on gun ownership that won him some prizes.
The administration seems hell bent on taking the “let them eat cake” road.
History tells us that didn’t end well.
jonah responds to hnn critics link
My historians can beat up your historians.
Something like that.
Carin – I denounce myself. Having said that, I think it is that same Klein as the douchebag quoted above.
James would do well to read a few books himself, if he’s not too busy picking his nose. He might want to start with Hayek, F.A., 1944. The Road To Serfdom, Routledge, Oxford. 272 pp., ISBN 13: 9780415253895. If James can count that high, he might want to shuffle on through to page 171, where he will find a whole chapter (Chapter 12), in which the socialist origins of nazism are explored. Of course James, being fluent in German, might also avail himself of the references therein, some dating back to the turn of the 20th century, tracing these selfsame origins. James of course reads books himself, and doesn’t rely on the opinions of others to tell him what are in those books.
B-but — JAMES HAS LINKS!
I SAID GOOD DAY, SIR!
Don’t worry – the Democrats will spend as much of the people’s money they need to spend so that they can relieve their ‘urgencies’.
I wonder how many names and/or IP addy’s “James” has posted under … Idle speculation, mind you.
I think we should commend James for his honesty.
How often do we get someone who comes right out and admits he “don’t know much about his-tor-ee-ee?”
James is probably very good at finger painting. And making paperweights.
Pew poll graphic here.
Smart People are throwing haymakers at each other in testimony right now. Turns out stuff isn’t lining up. And there, it appears agendas count.
Now I’m confused. The “Crooks and Liars” link goes to a bunch of historians. The “History News Network” link goes to Goldberg. The “C-SPAN” link goes to a bunch of crooks and liars.
Up is down! Truth is beauty! Charmed is strange!
Recalibration may be imminent, Squid. It may turn out that while we can’t see Smart People stuff, Barry just may not have had the qualifications necessary for the land’s highest office.
The FPiC talking points as distributed, presented by Powerline.
Reading Jonah Goldberg’s response is pretty much in line with the way I feel when Jeff responds to a critical attack. Mainly the next time those who have criticized might want to think again or, at least, reinforce the bunker.
Do you think, JHo, that a Dem from Mass. skewering Geithner and Paulson may be hearing footsteps ..footsteps of a certain former Cosmo centerfold and what his presence means?
Has anyone heard further on the question of the seating of Scott Brown, that is, is the Senate going to go ahead and get it done or is it stalling to the limit end, whatever that may be?
OK, looking for anything in the talking points sdferr linked that mention controlling spending and dealing with our ginormous debt and burgeoning deficits … still looking … still looking … still looking …
You can easily govern with all of those people getting in the way.
Now ruling? That requires a firm stance be taken.
I think his plan tonight (we’ll see) is to try to convince the public that everyone ELSE is on board with healthcare, and it’s just a vocal, extremist minority who are messing it up. He will vow to fight for us in getting it through. This is how I think he plans to “clarify” himself.
If you are not for healthcare, then you are supposed to go away from his speech thinking that you are very much in the minority. (The crazy, extremist minority.)
“…to convince the public that everyone ELSE is on board with healthcare…”
This, however, will be an exceedingly difficult task if a spontaneous uproar of full throated laughter is heard to proceed from the assembled notables, dwelling at high decibels for a time and diminishing gradually into uncontrollable titters and snickers before trailing out.
State of the Union? Some numbers, compiled by the Daily Caller.
Ah, Historians.
Off topic but Dicentra has an interesting post in the pub that Jonah Goldberg must have liked.
Also off topic but any chance we could get some open thread or liveblogging on the SOTU tonight? I won’t be watching it but I’d get a kick out of the writers and/or commenters here making fun of it.
geoffb, Here is a sequel.
Things you won’t hear in the SOTU show tonight, but should:
Geoff, that book you linked at #36 looks interesting. Is it any good?
“…the writers and/or commenters here making fun of it.”
I’m mightily torn bh, Ovie just scored 0:36 into the game. ;-)
bh,
Good so far but I haven’t read past the first chapter or so. I picked up over 20 (used) books in August when I was laid off and since back to work now have little time for them all. I think of them as my retirement savings.
Guh? (Google failed + huh?)
Ovie, as in Oveckin(sp?), as in hockey? Probably a dumb question. I’m a hockey ignoramus.
Thanks, Geoff. Maybe I’ll see if that’s in the library system around here.
Ovechkin, aye-aye cap’n, ice hockey. This is maybe a good year to get yourself familiar with the ‘Hawks (though just as good an excuse to repair to the sportsbar and it beer beer beer), as they float on the top of the pond.
Has Barcky started lying yet?
He stopped when?
It would be so much easier to help the people if they just stopped getting in the way.
Just noticed that a film titled I Was A Communist For The FBI (1951) is showing on TMC at 10:15 tonight. Anybody seen it?
I am really looking forward to Lost. That smoke monster better get explained. I am glad they postponed the opener, although I could have Tivoed it if I had to.
I’d consider being a communist for the FBI. If the pay was good.
I’d never write a book entitled “I was a fascist for the FBI” because the people who would be inclined to read it would probably not actually like it, much less pay for it. and the FBI is apparently not interested in actual fascists much these days.
Is this going to be the official SOTU collective groaning thread?
Dunno Benedick but doubt it. So Howard Zinn died, should Obama honor him tonight and if not, is he gonna catch it from the broheims?
Didn’t hear about Zinn. Damon must be crushed.
obama lied
howard zinn died
Duende. Can someone explain this word or concept to me?
JD, I think that’s kinda like the Spanish version of the French je ne sais quoi? Or our “soul”, like, “that song has soul”.
But, the go to person here would have to be dicentra, obviously.
Wow, I might have actually gotten one right, for once.
More.
phew, finally something gets through J-S Giguere. It was getting to be pretty sketchy for a while there. Ah! Yay, before I can hit say it they scored another, bang 3-1.
Bang again, 4-1, Semin has been on a tear.