Governor O'Malley accuses Republicans of hurting the economy for 2012 political gain

[Samantha]

This was reported on CBS News this evening. I found a link which contains a little context.

http://www.newser.com/article/d9ogtr7g1/democratic-governor-gop-debt-negotiators-want-to-hurt-economy-as-way-as-weaken-obama-in-2012.html

The essence of the story is that Governor O'Malley in an address to the Governors' Conference accused the Republicans of wanting to hurt the economy in order to impact the 2012 Presidential election.

"'I think that there is an extreme wing within their party who have as their primary goal not the jobs recovery, but the defeat of President Obama in 2012,' O'Malley said in an interview. 'They know that their formulations, their policies of less revenues and less regulation badly failed our country and plunged us into this recession. So their only way of evening the playing field is to keep the president from being successful in the jobs recovery.'

He contended that key Republican members of Congress, 'through their intransigence, cleverly set up a situation for America's economy to fail, either by needlessly driving us to default, or needlessly driving us into massive public sector layoffs.'

'I think that they are disgracefully cynical," said O'Malley, who has a prominent profile as head of the Democratic governors' group.'"

I have to agree.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x648006 (Posted April 8, 2011)

"Why do people seem to think this whole shut-down-the-government threat is truly about deficit spending, Planned Parenthood or abortion? President Obama himself said an extended government shutdown can impair our delicate economic recovery. Isn't that truly the Republicans' goal? Let us refresh for a moment. What did Mitch McConnell say was the number one goal for the Republicans? Ah, yes, make Obama a one-term President.

And that I believe is our clue as to what this current controversy is truly about. If there is one thing we learned from eight years of George W. Bush*, Republicans do not truly care about deficits. Remember Cheney's famous "deficits don't matter" comment? Deficits don't matter to Republicans. Elections matter because that is where all of the power and control (read "money") rests.

This shutdown is not about any of the reasons commentators report. It is about the Republicans' Number One Priority. Impede the recovery, further impair the economy, take out Obama in 2012. That is it in a political nutshell."

Republicans have no shame.

[madinmaryland]

1. As a Marylander, I would love to see Governor O'Malley run for President in 2016!

[JaneQPublic]

3. I totally agree.

Barring a change of heart by HRC, O'Malley would be a leading contender. The fact that he was elected to chair the Democratic Governors Association would suggest he's considered a leader among governors.

[Samantha]

4. Hey, I also live in Maryland (College Park) and I totally agree

He does seem more progressive than most Dems.

The Maryland Senate was suppose to have a hearing on the possibility of establishing a Public Option plan for health care. I have not heard the outcome of this, but I am anxiously awaiting. O'Malley is also very responsive to the needs of his constituents as well.

I guess we will see what happens.

Sam

[Samantha]

10. Who would you like to see run on the ticket with him?

Anyone but Michael Steele, right? Were you here in Maryland when Michael Steele was the Lieutenant Governor? I could not stand him then, and my opinion of him since that time has only worsened.

Sam

[madinmaryland]

16. Michael Steele???

:wtf:

What a loser.

[Samantha]

20. He sure is

After experiencing living here while he was Lieutenant Governor, I was trying to say I wouldn't really care who O'Malley chose to run with him as long as it was not Steele. Didn't express myself well, I think.

Sam

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

2. That's MY governor! Give 'em hell, Marty!

He has made some mistakes, and I don't agree with all that he's done, but *in general* the state of Maryland is in fair fiscal health and he's done some good things for us.

Tried to get gay marriage passed, but one bigot stopped progress in the Senate.

[Samantha]

5. Yes, he has made some mistakes but he has done some good things

as well. I believe he has a bright future with the party, and his stepping up at this time to say what we all are thinking is just great. I wish more would join him.

Thanks for your response.

Sam

[LiberalEsto]

11. Mine too

O'Malley rocks!

[Samantha]

12. I think so too!

What part of Maryland are you in?

Sam

[LiberalEsto]

13. Between Gaithersburg & Rockville

in the middle of MoCo

[LiberalEsto]

14. The middle of MoCo

near the Shady Grove Metro station. How about you?

[Samantha]

17. I live in College Park, just a short distance away from the UMD

I love it here. My house is just four short blocks from the back of the metro, and I can walk to MOM's as well as a new Latino store. My street is pretty stable, and my neighbors are just great. I guess this is the biggest element of stability for me in these uncertain times.

Nice to meet you.

Sam

[warrior1]

6. and some how through

all of this, they think that they will not be blamed. Have they looked at the polls. The American people blame's bush and the repubs.

[Samantha]

8. What planet are they from?

I have never seen as many Americans focused on this problem as they are now simply because of the threat of the cuts in Social Security and Medicare. Polls do show, as you suggest, Republicans will be blamed if those checks and benefits are held up by the Republicans playing politics instead of doing what is right for the Country.

Sam

[deacon]

7. Of course they are. No doubt about it. n/t

[Samantha]

9. Why are not more prominent political figures stepping out

as did O'Malley driving this point home? Where are they?

Sam

[BNJMN]

15. They knew without a shadow of doubt that McCanned was toast and allowed economy to nosedive ...

I look at charts like this:
http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z1ebjpgk2654c1_&met_y=unemployment_rate&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=unemployment+chart#ctype=l&strail=false&nselm=h&met_y=unemployment_rate&fdim_y=seasonality:S&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=state&tdim=true&tstart=829803600000&tend=1308373200000&hl=en&dl=en

They knew it'd take AT least 4 years to recover.
They're keeping him busy cleaning up their mess...as opposed to furthering any 'liberal agenda'.

Unfortunately for the rest of us.
:(

Then they take over in a few years and continue to pull the country int the sewer, it's a sad time in America.

[fascisthunter]

18. They aren't just doing it to win an Election

we know from Grover Norquist's own big mouth that bankrupting america to destroy the government was the agenda all along. Fucking wake up!

[Samantha]

21. Hey, my eyes are wide open and I am very well aware of that (n/t)

[fascisthunter]

22. not you

but the media in general...

[Kingofalldems]

19. K and R for Maryland

The filthy repubs tried to steal this last election by suppressing the black vote in Md.