Blame where blame is due

[babylonsister]

Posted with permission.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/blame_where_blame_is_due031073.php


July 25, 2011 10:40 AM
Blame where blame is due

By Steve Benen



MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough recently surprised me by identifying the culprit for the nation’s fiscal mess. “Let’s make no mistake about it right now: increasing this debt ceiling? This is George W. Bush and the Republican Party’s debt,” the former Republican congressman said. Scarborough added, “This is George W. Bush’s debt…. You can’t just put this on Barack Obama.”

With this in mind, note the chart the New York Times published over the weekend, using data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. It identifies which administration, the current one or its predecessor, is more responsible more of the nation’s debt. (click on the image for a larger view)



In the interest of providing more context, it’s also worth noting that Bush didn’t act alone — Republican lawmakers like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell supported the fiscally-irresponsible policies every step of the way, voting for the agenda that created all that debt. Republicans admit that they saw the entire eight years as a period in which it was “standard practice not to pay for things.”

As a result, Republicans inherited a large surplus and turned it into a massive deficit. GOP officials who were on track to eliminate the debt altogether instead added nearly $5 trillion to the debt.

And now these same Republicans claim the high ground on fiscal issues, and demand that President Obama clean up their mess immediately. Worse, they demand he do so in a way they find pleasing, or next week, they’ll crash the economy on purpose.

Last week, a House Republican said he didn’t feel like allowing the nation to pay its bills, because, as he put it, “Why should we give Barack Obama $2.4 trillion? It’s his debt.”

Maybe someone should pass this chart around to GOP lawmakers. They could apparently benefit from the reminder.

[Lifelong Protester]

1. these points definitely need to get more traction.

I see the chart was from the NYT, the article from the WaPo. Anyone with other ideas for distribution?

[progressoid]

2. Joe?

Are you feeling ok?

:wow:

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. I think he's been hanging around with rational people too much lately. nt

[zalinda]

5. He may be eyeing a run for President

Who will win the Presidency, the person who sounds rational. Obama is failing to deliver the hope and change, and the repubs that we see are sound irrational. If someone talks in good quotable sound bites, that resonates with the working class, whether dem or repub, they will win. An Eisenhower repub would win in a heart beat.

zalinda

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Can Democrats who occasionally get a microphone, please spread this far & wide?

:shrug:

[polichick]

6. The most frustrating thing is how nothing sticks to Republicans...

Republican Club & Fear Voters give them a pass on anything - and many indies vote for the team that seems to be winning, with little thought about who's to blame.

[Wait Wut]

7. Um...thanks, Joe?

As great as this is to hear, it also means Joe has just lost his entire audience. No longer will I hear, "Joe is the ONLY worthwhile show on MSNBC!!"

Good luck with your new job.