Atlantic’s Sullivan: GOP ‘Trying to Keep This Economy Bad,’ Are ‘Most Irresponsible Political Party’
Appearing as a panel member Sunday on the syndicated Chris Matthews Show, Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic charged that Republicans are "trying to keep this economy bad" to hurt President Obama as the group discussed extension of the Bush tax cuts. He then tagged the GOP as "the most irresponsible political party I’ve seen."
Sullivan began his rant against Republicans as he jumped into the conversation: "Can I just point out the fantastic irony that we’ve just gone through an election in which the Republicans campaigned day in and day out about the debt, and now we find after the election that they’re the least willing to tackle it?"
When host Chris Matthews asked him to "explain," Sullivan continued: "Pure, utter cynicism. All they’re doing is trying to keep this economy bad and keep nailing that in Obama - by the way, who’s not responsible for most of it - and so that they can get back in power. They have no interest in solving this country’s debt problems and fiscal problems. They’re the most irresponsible political party I’ve seen in (INAUDIBLE)."
Moments earlier, John Heilemann of New York magazine had also argued against the extension of the Bush tax cuts. Heilemann:
In Washington, D.C., you have Democrats who are broadly not enthusiastic about deficit reduction, and you have Republicans and conservatives who are not serious about deficit reduction. This tax cut debate that we’re having right now about the Bush increase, about extending the Bush tax cuts is a perfect example of that.
Back when these cuts were passed, in one of the rare examples of any kind of fiscal discipline on the part of the Bush administration, there was a sunset provision. They were supposed to end 10 years from now. Now we are here, 10 years are upon us, this is not about a tax increase, this was built into the legislation. Republicans would say, as they are saying now, that if we raises taxes, it will be bad for a down economy.
He concluded:
I guarantee you if the economy were booming today, these same Republicans would be saying we can’t raise taxes now because it will choke off the boom. And there is no way to deal with the deficit problem without increasing revenue.
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Comments
Sullivan's hissy fit
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:20am.
More astute political analysis from the guy that Matthews once touted as a 'conservative.'
Of course, no one on the Matthews show seems to find it 'irresponsible' that the Democratic Congress has yet to pass the FY 2011 budget even though we're almost through the first fiscal quarter.
He's a perfect fit for the Matthews' panel of idiots.
the Democratic Congress has
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 3:59am.
the Democratic Congress has yet to pass the FY 2011 budget even though we're almost through the first fiscal quarterBecause then people would really know how scewed we are. It would be all down on paper for all to see.
"Irresponsible"...
Submitted by gfrrman on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:23am.
"did the Germans invade Pearl Harbor"......wait, sorry. Who has IRRESPONSIBLY spent Trillions in the last year on social programs, stimI/II and the Repubs are the bad guys? Reality check...here it is in black and white with STUPID LIBERALS:
"I guarantee you if the economy were booming today, these same Republicans would be saying we can’t raise taxes now because it will choke off the boom. And there is no way to deal with the deficit problem without increasing revenue."
The mindset of the STUPID LIBERAL DEMOCRAT NEVER ends. THIS shows the rabid power grab that says all money belongs to the FED first.
G
My god, the go to ,
Submitted by Barack_must_go..... on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 7:35am.
My god, the go to , supposedly in the know movers & shakers of todays liberal elites have been reduced to nothing more than a bunch of 14 year old girls sitting around a table in the local mall's food court, texting one another in what appears to be a BFF turf war.
The fact that these jackasses just sit around, on national TV no less, and whine about Republicans not playing nice is the reason, without any proof, to the Obama Socialist Regime's problems proves just how devastated the democrats, but more so the Ass Clown himself are left from the mid term elections.
They truely are the party of NO. No ideas, no morals, no way out of the unbelievably dire situation they've gotten us all into.
They still haven't figured out that the answer is quite simple. They need to go back under the bed & hide where they belonged all along and the adults ( Republicans ) will clean up after them.....as has been the case forever.
Oh yeah and what's up with Sullivan's look? He appears to be a sort of cartoon character as of late.
Barack_Must_Go.....
I wonder what a guy like
Submitted by Chris Norman on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:45am.
I wonder what a guy like Sullivan thinks of himself when he goes home at night and looks at himself in the mirror. Does he think, "I did an excellent job of honest political analysis that was informative in a positive way to the viewers" or "Excellent job of shoveling the manure for Obama and the Democrats, Andy!". If the former, he's delusional. If the latter, he's a slimy rat.
I vote for "slimy rat".
I suspect that Sullivan is very high on himself
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:24am.
Somebody pays him well to do what he does, so he must believe that he's very good at it.
I've certainly never seen him display any humility, let alone intellectual honesty.
Neither party cuts spending
Submitted by muckdog on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:57am.
The reality is that neither party has a track record of cutting spending. But Sullivan goes over the top as he is ideologically driven rather than rational. There needs to be a firm 20% cut across the board in every department. I don't think it will happen, though. The path we are on is to devalue the currency and hope foreign countries keep lending us money so that we can continue to live our lives.There needs to be a firm 20%
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 4:02am.
There needs to be a firm 20% cut across the board in every department.Except defense, we dont need to cut spending on defense in a war, that is a sure fire recipie for losing. how about reapealing HC, and stop giving away money? We start with that and go onwards.
There's still fat in the defense budget, too
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:35am.
There are plenty of bases we could shut down if the Congress would let us.
The B-1 bomber can go. Mothball the B-2 as well.
I think the Defense Department is expecting to take at least a 5% hit. The Marine Corps is considering a force restructuring.
Its all about the groin.
Submitted by LaVallette on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 2:45am.
Old Sully will never forgive the Republicans and George W. Bush in particular for not recognising gay sex and gay marriage as the highest form of life ever devised by men. Everything else is judged through this perspective.
Bingo
Submitted by Gat New York on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:16am.
That sums up the core of Andrew Sullivan - the once conservative Republican - who turned completely against his party over this issue.
Sullivan---the most grotesque internet thug ever
Submitted by sms5217 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 2:48am.
One person I wish NB would kindly ignore is the chief Obama apologist and cheap internet thug, Andrew Sullivan.
As one who has followed Sullivan's descent into politcal butchery, I find it amazing no true conservative calls his vile opinions out.
Sullivan, plain and simple, is a one-issue voter. He is a radical gay absolutist, and gay rights, marriage, etc., are all that he cares about. Tied into this radical gay dogma is a inane hatred of women. His broadsides against Hillary were atrocious, and since September 2008, his hatred and downright scary gynecological fascination with Sarah Palin is legend.
He simply cares about only one issue--gays--and has tailored his views over the past decade to suit that one issue. This is a idiot who constantly brags how he started as a Thatcherite, was a "Tory" conservative, and so on.
Well, look at him now. He calls Bush every name in the book, constantly harps about torture and Cheney, and rants daily on Palin. Unhinged hatred. Yeah, some "conservative". Yet, idiots like Chris Matthews, Olbermann, and others of this ilk constantly label him as a "conservative". He makes Kathleen Parker and David Frum look like members of Tea Party with his radical hatred and obnoxious Palin obsession. He even has the chutzpah to call Instapundit a "political hack". Guess it takes one to know one, eh Sullivan?!!
So now, he comes on this Sunday flotsam with his fat rear end, his marijuana breath, and his penchant for bare-backing, and spouts his leftist rhetoric about the horrors of tax cuts, how Obama is soooo grand and so "adult" and "we should give this guy a chance". Spare me, Sullivan, YOU are the worst hack on the internet, and you belong in a tin foil hat and a straightjacket shirt, and a room with Olbermann and others to fester your ugly hatreds and psychotic personalities.
Democrat Bull
Submitted by GeneralAl on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 6:44am.
Democrat Line: If we extend the tax cuts, we'll add 750 billion to the defecit.
Meaning: We will be adding 750 billion to the defecit and we want cover.
Can anyone spell "Dream Act", more stimulous, extended unemployment benefits, "Reparations" for black and indian farmers [I'm not politically correct!], more czars [Why do you suppose the Obamessiah uses a term associated with the Soviet Union?], more bailouts, and who can forget "OBAMACARE"?
These idiots on TV are a testimony to the "Brain Washing" skills of American colleges and universaties. They are not very intelligent, they are robots of the "Party" who repeat and defend the "Party" line!
"Old Soldiers never die, they just fade away"!
It's been clear to me for a
Submitted by TCinAZ on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 6:58am.
It's been clear to me for a Long Time now, according to the programs that Sully's being Appearing on, that he's looking Handbags at Dawn, but that there are No Real Conservative or even any RINOs who are willing to waste their Time getting into verbal Slaps fights with that monolithic and misogynist Moron. So his level of Anger and Frustration is Peaking, I think, because he really Believed that with Obama's being POTUS and the Dems 'Owning' the Congress and Senate, that this was gonna be their last chance for a Long Time to get the Gay Agenda (The repeal of DADT etc.) made Law.
Wrong.
I mean, if even California voted No on Gay Marriage? So...
Meanwhile,
Submitted by ThisnThat on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 8:36am.
as the ladies of Hardball are sipping their coffee, obama's administration is setting records. The latest? 19 months of >9% unemployment rate. Not seen since the Great Depression. And obama can't blame this on the "great recession" --the recession's been over since July 2009.
So what does Sullivan have to say about that? Can't be Republicans' fault because the Dims have had super majority control of both Houses and the Presidency over the past 19 months. Hey Sullivan -- it's all about obama's policies. He's determined to kill this country. And if you say he isn't -- then this has to be the most outrageous case of incompetancy since Carter was in the WH.
__________
“Didn't win the Medal of Honor? Didn't even serve? Then lie about it. We'll support you." — 9th Circuit Court
Another record, Soldier deaths in Afghanistan
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:17am.
2009-2010 under Obama, 2 years 786 soldiers.
2001-2008 under Bush, 8 years 630 soldiers.
Guess the MSM is too blinded by Obama love to report on this.
This was supposed to be a
Submitted by Red Jeep on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 9:20am.
This was supposed to be a reply to ThisnThat
Oh Yeah...
Submitted by packman on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 10:45am.
Well, if the GOP is truly trying to keep the economy bad, then we have to really get cracking 'cause the dems have made quite a mess of it and sadly they are so far ahead on this issue we may never catch up.
"...Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread..." ~Thomas Jefferson
Raise taxes on what you don't want more of
Submitted by Cowboy on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 11:42am.
It is a very simple fact that if you want more of something, reduce the taxes on it. Hence the tax benefits for home ownership. If you want less of something, then increase the taxes on it. Hence part of the justification of higher taxes on energy, alcohol and cigarette comsumption as well as other 'sin taxes'.
Do we want more or less business activity? Do we want business to grow and hire, or do we want to punish success with higher taxes? Is it a sin to be successful and create jobs?
President John F. Kennedy knew lower taxes create business and proved it. President Reagan also knew it and proved it.
Just thinking that myself...
Submitted by jimbo297 on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:53pm.
...Up here in VT, our prog AG came up with a surefire, whiz-bang way to generate revenue AND fix the obesity crisis at the same time: tax soda drinks.
All well and good. If the electorate is stupid enough to allow social engineering through taxation, then they probably deserve it.
But it's intereting that these libs will recognize the effect of taxing something they don't like in order to reduce it's use (tobacco, soda, trans-fat, etc.) BUT when it comes to taxing businesses for making money, they just don't seem to understand that the same rules apply.
Jeebus Andy
Submitted by donabernathy on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 1:50pm.
A gubRmint that has money to fund an "Ants on Jesus" art exhibits is taking wayyyyy too much of our money from us.
roflmao
Budget
Submitted by east tennessee john on Mon, 12/06/2010 - 2:50pm.
never is the subject of cutting spending ever seriously addressed. Why not subsidies, worthless bureaucracies like the energy and education departments; decertifying federal unions and restructuring their pay to reflect their bosses, the taxpayers, compensation in the private sector; useless "studies" designed to enrich liberal elite academics. How about, after 45 years of fighting the War on Poverty we take a different approach? Might that save a few bucks over and beyond scaring grandma and her medicare and social security?