teaelle
05-03-2008, 02:04 PM
[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])
By Jim Hoagland ([Only registered and activated users can see links] m%2Bhoagland%2F)
Sunday, May 4, 2008; Page B07
Democratic leaders in Congress are riding to the rescue of an unlikely beneficiary: the reputation of George W. Bush ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FGeorge%2BW.%2BBush%3Ftid%3Dinformline). They seem determined to exacerbate problems that he has created or long ignored.
They would deepen a budget deficit that, on Bush's watch, has lurched out of control. They undermine U.S. leadership in global trade negotiations. They champion politically rewarding but economically damaging agricultural subsidies during a world food crisis. On energy, the congressional Democrats seem intent on battling Bush to a draw on who can accomplish the least.
Okay. So Nancy Pelosi ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FNancy%2BPelosi%3Ftid%3Dinformline), Harry Reid ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FHarry%2BReid%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and colleagues have seized their chance to out-pander the Republicans and are doing well in performing that uphill task. This is not exactly grounds for shock and awe, I hear you muttering.
But their actions allow Bush to pose as a fiscally responsible, veto-wielding leader -- a feat akin to enabling Typhoid Mary to pose as Florence Nightingale. This could help Bush inch up the ladder of the dank cellar of approval ratings expressed by his fellow Americans and much of the rest of the world.
The fallout is actually wider: The Democratic push on Capitol Hill ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FCapitol%2BHill%3Ftid%3Dinformline) for more budget-busting spending and greater protectionism bleeds into the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FHillary%2BClinton%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and Barack Obama ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FBarack%2BObama%3Ftid%3Dinformline), who promise to deconstruct NAFTA ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FNAFTA%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and to avoid almost all new taxes from here to eternity.
Perhaps they dissemble. But even this causes allies and rivals abroad to water down expectations that changing administrations will automatically make for a more reliable and cooperative American partner. A clear advantage that the Democratic Party ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FU.S.%2BDemocratic%2BParty%3Ftid%3Dinformline) had in world opinion is withering, according to foreign officials and professionals I have encountered recently.
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I don't know the writer, but he seems to have a few good points. When are democrats going to start behaving like the good guys?
My (Republican) newspaper today had a withering editorial that criticized both Obama and Clinton for some of their "fiscaly irresponsible" suggestions, but painted Obama as the only one willing to see reason in the gas tax holiday thing and some other more rational spending plans. What really interested me is that they just excoriated McCain for his horrible economic policy!
When dems are labeled "Tax and spend" liberals I always want them to come back with "And John McCain and George Bush are "Spend and spend" conservatives! Which is worse?" But if the dems in congress are aiding and abetting the crime, where's the moral high ground? I know they don't have a big majority, particularly in the senate. Still, it's frustrating.
When is congress going to see that the only thing worse than the Republicans spending all our money is the dems letting them do it?
By Jim Hoagland ([Only registered and activated users can see links] m%2Bhoagland%2F)
Sunday, May 4, 2008; Page B07
Democratic leaders in Congress are riding to the rescue of an unlikely beneficiary: the reputation of George W. Bush ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FGeorge%2BW.%2BBush%3Ftid%3Dinformline). They seem determined to exacerbate problems that he has created or long ignored.
They would deepen a budget deficit that, on Bush's watch, has lurched out of control. They undermine U.S. leadership in global trade negotiations. They champion politically rewarding but economically damaging agricultural subsidies during a world food crisis. On energy, the congressional Democrats seem intent on battling Bush to a draw on who can accomplish the least.
Okay. So Nancy Pelosi ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FNancy%2BPelosi%3Ftid%3Dinformline), Harry Reid ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FHarry%2BReid%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and colleagues have seized their chance to out-pander the Republicans and are doing well in performing that uphill task. This is not exactly grounds for shock and awe, I hear you muttering.
But their actions allow Bush to pose as a fiscally responsible, veto-wielding leader -- a feat akin to enabling Typhoid Mary to pose as Florence Nightingale. This could help Bush inch up the ladder of the dank cellar of approval ratings expressed by his fellow Americans and much of the rest of the world.
The fallout is actually wider: The Democratic push on Capitol Hill ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FCapitol%2BHill%3Ftid%3Dinformline) for more budget-busting spending and greater protectionism bleeds into the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FHillary%2BClinton%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and Barack Obama ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FBarack%2BObama%3Ftid%3Dinformline), who promise to deconstruct NAFTA ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FNAFTA%3Ftid%3Dinformline) and to avoid almost all new taxes from here to eternity.
Perhaps they dissemble. But even this causes allies and rivals abroad to water down expectations that changing administrations will automatically make for a more reliable and cooperative American partner. A clear advantage that the Democratic Party ([Only registered and activated users can see links] FU.S.%2BDemocratic%2BParty%3Ftid%3Dinformline) had in world opinion is withering, according to foreign officials and professionals I have encountered recently.
********
I don't know the writer, but he seems to have a few good points. When are democrats going to start behaving like the good guys?
My (Republican) newspaper today had a withering editorial that criticized both Obama and Clinton for some of their "fiscaly irresponsible" suggestions, but painted Obama as the only one willing to see reason in the gas tax holiday thing and some other more rational spending plans. What really interested me is that they just excoriated McCain for his horrible economic policy!
When dems are labeled "Tax and spend" liberals I always want them to come back with "And John McCain and George Bush are "Spend and spend" conservatives! Which is worse?" But if the dems in congress are aiding and abetting the crime, where's the moral high ground? I know they don't have a big majority, particularly in the senate. Still, it's frustrating.
When is congress going to see that the only thing worse than the Republicans spending all our money is the dems letting them do it?