Obama Doesn't Want a Progressive Deficit Deal

[ej510]

One expects the debt-ceiling mess to involve a lot of ostentatious chest-pounding on both sides, for despite the fact that this is a deadly serious issue – the fact that we're even considering incurring an intentional catastrophe via a default is incredible, a testament to the bottomless stupidity inherent in our political climate – this whole debate is primarily an exercise in political posturing.

That Republicans are holding up what should be a routine, if unpleasant, decision to raise the debt ceiling in order to portray themselves as the uncompromising defenders of the budget-balancing faith (a howling idiocy in itself, given what went on during the Bush years) is obvious to most rational observers. It's the obvious play for the lame-duck party entering an election year, and they're playing it, with the requisite hysteria.

>snip

Barack Obama wants a right-leaning deficit deal. For months, liberals have expressed frustration with the president’s deficit strategy. The White House made no effort to tie a debt ceiling vote to the extension of the Bush tax cuts last December. It pre-emptively conceded that any increase in the ceiling should be accompanied by spending cuts. And every time Republicans dug in their heels, the administration gave ground.

The not-so-secret secret is that the White House has given ground on purpose. Just as Republicans want to use the debt ceiling to make the president live with bigger spending cuts than he would otherwise support, Obama’s political team wants to use the leverage provided by those cra-a-a-zy Tea Partiers to make Democrats live with bigger spending cuts than they normally would support.

More at the link: http://readersupportednews.org/off-site-opinion-section/72-72/6576-obama-doesnt-want-a-progressive-deficit-deal

[ej510]

1. Self kick!

:kick:

[ClarkUSA]

2. Why are you referring to a conservative's NYT op-ed? From your "source" --->

"the inimitable New York Times conservative Ross Douthat listed Obama's not-so-secret rightward push"

Do you know who you're paraphrasing? Take a look at Douthat's impeccable conservative creds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Douthat

Is this a backdoor way of pushing what is likely an unapproved DU source?

[ej510]

3. I got it from Mark Thompson's Facebook page.

[ClarkUSA]

4. Whoever he is, you may want to read what he writes before posting next time.

Because he's taking talking points from a right wing nut.

[LooseWilly]

6. It's actually a Matt Taibi article from Rolling Stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/obama-doesnt-want-a-progressive-deficit-deal-20110711

And Douthat is quoted specifically to illustrate what the right is thinking of Obama's negotiating tactics, while Krugman is quoted to illustrate the thought of the left.

The irony is that the both sides come to the same conclusion... which is... the title used for the OP.

[ClarkUSA]

10. The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose. Great, it's a circle jerk of op-ed writers!

All of whom just KNOW what President Obama is going to do. :sarcasm:

[LooseWilly]

13. And yet you can't even quote an article thrice linked to? Afraid to argue substance?

Well... here's a little Circle Jerks I'll now dedicate to the Obama of Taibbi's conclusions drawn from right and left sources.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CKlM5iPNK8&feature=related

Maybe it will inspire you to actually craft an opinion of your own, rather than regurgitating trite clichés and glib sarcasm... though I doubt it.

[ClarkUSA]

14. Why should I? They're your all-knowing heroes, not mine.

Time for me to stop kicking this wing nut admiration thread. You carry on.

[LooseWilly]

16. My "all-knowing heroes"?... Are you going to accuse me of being glue and yourself rubber, too?

So you are too intellectually lazy to respond to any of the three opinionators, or myself as a fourth opinionizer?

You're not even going to quote Obama, from his press conference, or Tim Geithner, from Meet the Press, to say something on the order of "I'm not going to debate this with you, though I might really enjoy it..." ?

I guess Obama's got this? You're gonna settle for a :sarcasm: to answer the conclusion that Obama doesn't want a progressive deficit deal?

[ProSense]

5. Well, that's what Ross Douthat says. What does

Obama say.

Not much into RW opinions.

[Dept of Beer]

11. Tell me in your own words what you think of the article.

[KittyWampus]

7. Obama offered what Republicans wanted AND THEY RAN AWAY! There is no deal because Obama knew

they wouldn't accept even the most generous terms.

[LooseWilly]

8. Obama offering Republicans what they wanted is kind of the whole point of the article...

Taibi isn't criticizing Obama for not getting a deal done... he's criticizing him for offering Republicans what they wanted... and joining Krugman and the other dude in the conclusion that having done so only makes sense if... Obama doesn't want a progressive deficit deal... which, wait for it, Is the Title of the OP...

[KittyWampus]

9. FFS, Obama has backed Boehner into a corner. Taibbi should go listen to O'Donnell's explanation

of the strategy. It's working.

[LooseWilly]

12. Well thank you for resisting the urge to post a link or paraphrase for yourself...

I'd hate for you to have to strain yourself.

I guess I'll have to watch the entire O'Donnell show for myself?, to see how Obama's offers to cut... sorry "trim"... Soc. Sec. and Medicare have put Boehner into a corner?

Though... even if it has backed Boehner into some sort of corner, that doesn't indicate to me that Obama didn't choose this tactic because, among other things, Obama doesn't want a progressive deficit deal ... it just makes me think that Boehner probably opened himself up to this "riposte" of Obama's by making the same mistake that much of the public has made... namely that he failed to recognize that Obama doesn't want a progressive deficit deal.

Backing the Republicans into a corner by adopting their batshit crazy right-wing policies out from under them... might be politically sound but it makes for batshit crazy right-wing policy—the avoidance of which many once believed was the point of supporting Democrats.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[somone]

17. RWers are allergic to progressives