Open Thread: Obama's Crisis Factory
As America heads toward the 2012 general elections, it's become quite apparent that with little positive record to run on, President Barack Obama is ramping up a strategy of inspiring anger and fear at conservatives and Republicans. Key to this idea, at least in the view of Investor's Business Daily, is creating a strategy of crisis:
Now, with the economy struggling and 2012 looming, we're "just" $100 billion away from hitting the debt ceiling again, and President Obama wants the OK for another $1.2 trillion in debt, lifting the total to $16.394 trillion.
Coming just after Democrats in Congress threatened to close the government unless Republicans agreed to extend payroll tax cuts for two months, we're beginning to see a pattern: Democrats create a crisis, blame Republicans for it, then reap the political benefits.
Cynical as it sounds, it's working. President Obama's favorability in a recent Gallup Poll showed a hefty 10-point gain from earlier in the year. And many congressional Democrats believe they can win in 2012.
Knowing full well their ideas don't sell, Democrats are intentionally manufacturing these minicrises, using people's fear of chaos and a pliant liberal media to blame the GOP for Democrats' own failures.
Quite a feat, considering how unpopular Democratic policies are. A new Rasmussen Poll shows that 77% of Americans want deficits cut, 71% want spending cut and 59% want taxes cut.
Do you see this strategy being effective for Democrats? Certainly they can count on the media to help them out with it. Or are the mini budget crises we've been seeing more the result of Republicans facing pressure from the right to get serious about fiscal matters?
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Comments
Crises
Submitted by rusino on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:20pm.
I see it working. I perceive that the Republicans have little power to stop him.. Obama has the Media. They invented him and will support him. Obama is going to try and keep his promise to " FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"!
Why do so many not see that there is nothing FUNDAMENTALLY wrong with The United States of America!
"Just like Detroit"
Submitted by adamsmith on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:54pm.
Whoever is chosen to be the Republican candidate should use all commercials showing the shape Detroit is in after the Unions have done their thing there for the last half century or so. "If Obama is re-elected all America will look like Detroit in the next four years." With the number of idiots that voted for this Communist now out of work, "Just like Detroit" is the slogan that will result in CommieObammie losing in a landslide. No matter who says what, this country has always voted with it's wallet.
The Dems who cry, "Wolf!"...
Submitted by Sue963 on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:22pm.
One of the things I wonder is how many times can they do that before the independent voters notice?
The media will help them, of course, but even some of the legacy media seem to be getting a bit uncomfortable being played for fools.
Help me out, Sue.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:26pm.
Which of the "legacy media seem to be getting a bit uncomfortable being played for fools?"
Best I can tell, they are bending over, grabbing their ankles, and loving every minute of what Obama is shoving to them.
How many times?
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:26pm.
At least as many times as they have gotten away with saying that the Republicans are going to allow the old to die, not educate the young and give all the middle class money to the rich. In other words - almost limitless.
dittos agnostic
Submitted by wizardjr on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:12pm.
.
"Do you see this strategy being effective for Democrats?"
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:23pm.
Hell yes!
With the morons who constitute what is comically referred to as the "Republican leadership in Congress," I don't see any way that the democraps can fail.
We are truly blessed with the biggest pack of wimps in the Republican Party that I remember in my lifetime, and that's been a while.
If conservatives don't begin to assert themselves and soon, we will witness the complete destruction of this country in the second Obama regime, and the sad thing is, Congress will merrily go along with it.
wimps in Congress
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:29pm.
Until the last deal I probably would have disagreed with this but after giving up a 2% millionaires tax in order to pass a bill they didn't want in the first place I am not willing to point out the positives any more.
'biggest pack of wimps'
Submitted by nanabanana on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:17pm.
I had been looking forward to November 2012 for three years. Now - I'm losing hope. You're right, they are "the biggest pack of wimps" ever. And God help us if the Dems win!
I have yet to hear an
Submitted by kareling on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:45pm.
I have yet to hear an explanation anywhere as to why the payroll tax cut couldn't be extended for another year; why it absolutely had to be for only two months, and then they'll talk about maybe extending it for another year. The only explanation I can come up with on my own is that it'll give Obama another opportunity to travel around the country smearing Republicans because that's basically his whole policy now. That it's nothing but an excuse to remind everyone (with the help of the MSM) that Republicans are evil.
The first order of business in 2012 ...
Submitted by Bodini on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:44pm.
the House should send over a bill that permanently lowers the income tax-rates and restores the FICA tax (social security funding) rates so "senior citizens" don't have to worry about eating dog-food because of the ill-conceived payroll tax reduction. The lower tax-rates should also come with a like-amount of spending reductions.
The RNC and all conservative members of congress need to ignore the questions of the Marxist-media and take every opportunity to change the narrative by slamming the Demwit lead Senate for their refusal to bring House legislation to the floor. Do-nothing Congress should be replaced by the Do-nothing Senate. Republicans need to get some stones!
That's the "second order of business," Bo.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 2:02pm.
First Boner and Mitchie Mac have to grow a pair, or resign. Throw Cantor's sorry ass in the mix, too.
I disagree with the
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 3:32pm.
I disagree with the like-amount spending reductions. Washington is way beyond bloated. The spending cuts should be done with a chainsaw. Whole Departments and Agency's should be permanently shut down.
And the tax code as it stands now should be scrapped and a FLAT tax instituted. Screw this "progressive" tax the libturds keep spouting about, I have never seen a more regressive POS in my life.
Obama Foreign Policy Victory
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 12/30/2011 - 8:50am.
With little opposition from world leaders the Muslim Brotherhood is getting more comfortable with declaring their association with the militant wing - Hamas. It easy for the right hand to condemn violence while the left hand holds a scimitar.
Added: He (Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie) added that Hamas has served as a role model to the Brotherhood in its reconciliation with the Fatah movement and in closing the recent prisoner swap deal with Israel.
The Brotherhood renounced violence in the 1970s, but it supports Hamas in its "resistance" against Israel.
_____________
After all these years MSNBC has finally found extremist in the Middle East and they are exposing them for the way they treat women and children.
Of course it is the devout Jews and not Moslems
While the article may have merit but the hypocrisy and willing blindness is astounding.
Republicans act like battered spouses
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 12:51pm.
This plan works because the Republicans are deathly afraid to defend themselves. They get called racists, homophobes, sexists, child murderers, war mongers, etc., etc. and never, NEVER speak out against it.
They need to shout, scream, and point fingers at the Democrats (and the sycophantic media) and call them the liars that they are, but they never will.
excellent post
Submitted by grammajane on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:31pm.
Don't feed the trolls!! The more these Republicans don't speak up, the more votes they will loose. During interviews on the media, they sit there and allow the "host/hostess" spew their bias agenda with zero fight back which is a disgrace!!Wish they would interview Rush Limbaugh
Again ... Why don't they call a Marxist spade ...
Submitted by Bodini on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:33pm.
including their Marxist-media shills a Marxist! Get some balls Republican Wimps!
Top gun salesman in the US
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:37pm.
Top gun salesman in the US 2011
Boehner and Cantor are impotent wussies
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 1:37pm.
They need to be run off ASAP.
And send McConnell with them.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Good morning Dave
Submitted by cocodrie on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 2:23pm.
When they were eight days old their mothers took them to be circumcised. When the deed was done the doctor said "I'm sorry, I thought you said eunuchized but they can get jobs in Washington as Republican eunuchs."
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Oh my
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 2:46pm.
: ]
New historic levels of whining
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 2:06pm.
Due to just the numbers it is likely that the Republicans will hold the House and likely take the Senate unless they continue to shoot themselves in the foot.
It is also likely that if Obama can stop trying to do things and remain on the campaign trail that the media can successfully build him a campaign and destroy what the GOP is offering as fodder.
The whining we will hear from the media and from Obama if he has to deal with a fully Republican Congress where the Senate can not protect Obama from having to veto bills that are popular with America will deafening.
There will be instant talk about the 'moral strength' and 'ethical courage' associated with using Executive Orders in the media.
A Christmas Wish
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 3:15pm.
from a second-grader.
Thanks, bk
Submitted by 26CX on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 3:24pm.
That's beautiful.
The so called Santa Killer in
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 3:40pm.
The so called Santa Killer in Texas was a Mooooslem. This was an honor killing.
Non story, in moslem think, it's not murder.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 4:40pm.
Sweet that the MSM complies.
Meanwhile bureaucrats are working overtime...
Tweeting the word 'drill' could mean your Twitter account is read by U.S. government spies
The DHS outlined plans to scans blogs, Twitter and Facebook for words such as 'illegal immigrant', 'outbreak', 'drill', 'strain', 'virus', 'recovery', 'deaths', 'collapse', 'human to animal' and 'trojan', according to an 'impact asssessment' document filed by the agency.
gee honor killing ain't on the list.
You Didn't Build That.
ucw,
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 5:51pm.
Funny that we had to get that story from the UK media.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Big surprise
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 5:37pm.
I don't care if this makes me sound like some kind of hater, but dammit, I'm tired of hearing about these honor killings(they are also executions) and the Muslims(ALL of them) need to be run out of this country as long as they are Islam worshippers. I don't care how fringe some of these might be compared to the over all picture, but Islam has no place anywhere in the world, let alone this country.
There's no such a thing as a non-violent Muslim, it's only a matter of time before something happens, and the victims of Islam are their own daughters and wives, not just other people.
They are a cancer, period! They are a danger to any society! Not enough people realize this!
-Jon
Yeah, Rick.
Submitted by UpNorth on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 8:24pm.
Yet, locally, we've had 5 stories on the home fire that took 5 lives.
On the other hand, not a peep, since it came out that the shooter was a Muslim, honor-killing his daughter and family.
White stuff bringing in the
Submitted by ricklail on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 4:55pm.
White stuff bringing in the green in the NC Mountains.
Hey, that cheating
Submitted by Boudin on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 5:04pm.
And a cure for globull warming
So, I'm reading an article that I'm alerted to by the
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 10:05pm.
@BreakingNews on Twitter wherein the Denver Post reports that Colorado has officially asked the DEA to reclassify marijuana as a Sched 2 drug in lieu of it's current Sched 1 rating. According to the DP:
I highlighted the "home-grown" element ahead of a question that comes to mind: What other prescribed medication is A) allowed to be produced legally on personal property, and B) is unregulated, and known to alter the mind of the user? I'm sure comewhere out there you can find a recipe for acetaminophen, but I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to cook it up in your garage. I'm also pretty sure that the FDA wouldn't be too pleased with reputable pharmaceuticals producing medications that weren't meticulously tested and reviewed prior to uncontrolled use. And were Tylenol found to be only moderately efficacious for treatment of chronic pain, but beneficial effects may be partially (or completely) offset by potentially serious harm, would it still be cleared by the FDA -or even State and Local Governments for use as a medicinal treatment? Not likely.
This seems to me to be the antithesis of progressive thought, and yet it is here that libertarians and progressives share a commonality. Meanwhile, the medicinal aspect of cannibis seems to literally be an Appeal to Popularity rather than an argument based on fact.
Potheads, you're up.
Incredible read- highly recommended
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 10:50pm.
As I'm a financial imbecile, this piece was highly educational. I highly recommend everyone read it through to the finish. Just WOW.
Bk
Submitted by Radical1979 on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 11:04pm.
Great article, but I couldn't finish it. I'd like to be able to sleep tonight. I'll finish reading it tonight.
Top-rated cable news shows
Submitted by bkeyser on Wed, 12/28/2011 - 11:47pm.
as presented by HuffPo.
Maddow is 14th... and the 1st.
Weiners seeking weiners
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 3:08am.
Seems Anthony Weiner was also looking for a hookup with another man, and admitted being turned on by men.
Time for the obligatory: Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The Rockefeller Republicans Will Never Grow a Backbone
Submitted by Avitar on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 4:25am.
That is wwhat the Demoocrats are betting on. That they will turn and run before conflict with the Democrats. Between Ann Coulter and Mark Stein I a\have to bielve that is true. If Romney beats Newt Gingrich it is all over and Obama Wins!!
The Rockefeller Republicans Will Never Grow a Backbone
Submitted by Avitar on Thu, 12/29/2011 - 4:26am.
That is wwhat the Demoocrats are betting on. That they will turn and run before conflict with the Democrats. Between Ann Coulter and Mark Stein I a\have to bielve that is true. If Romney beats Newt Gingrich it is all over and Obama Wins!!