Time's Grunwald Frets That 'Paragon of Fiscal Responsibility' Obama Receives No Credit
Time Magazine senior correspondent Michael Grunwald on Monday lamented the fact that Barack Obama, "a paragon of fiscal responsibility compared to [George W.] Bush," doesn't get accolades for all his successes.
Grunwald's piece, entitled, "The Counterfactual President: Obama Averted Disasters, but Getting Credit Is the Hard Part," sarcastically compared President Obama's record on terrorism with Bush: "Apparently there needs to be a spectacular terrorist attack on U.S. soil during your presidency before you can get credit for preventing another one."
The overall thrust of the article was explaining why, despite all these accomplishments, Obama's actions have not been properly heralded.
At one point, Grunwald touted Obama's economic record, fawning, "He's been a paragon of fiscal responsibility compared with Bush, but he's still blamed for the megadeficits primarily created by Bush's tax cuts and the Great Recession." (Hat tip to the MRC's Kevin Eder for noticing the story.)
It's hard to square that with $9.5 trillions deficits and a CBO prediction that "national debt under Obama's proposals would double by 2021."
He also added more to the debt in 19 months than all Presidents from Washington through Reagan.
With regard to Libya, Grunwald argued that the President should be credited with preventing an atrocity in that country: "It's hard to get credit for avoiding a disaster when it's impossible to prove the disaster would have happened without you." Of course, the Time journalist seemed to accept this idea completely.
Time.com labeld Grunwald's piece opinion, but the reporter has covered straight news for outlets such as the Washington Post, in addition to Time.
- Scott Whitlock's blog
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Comments
Do I smell.......
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:40pm.
another Nobel in the making??????? :-)
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Submitted by IdahoJim on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:47pm.
I just love these Time's April Fools parody columns. So entertaining.
http://idahoandy.net
IdahoJim
http://idahoandy.net
Counterfactual or Cognitive
Submitted by dscott on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:46pm.
Counterfactual or Cognitive Dissonance?
No Terror Attacks?
Submitted by Prowler-Getz on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:52pm.
I guess that someone gunning down dozens of military members on a US base just isn't "spectacular" enough.
...but he's still blamed for
Submitted by Dave. on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:53pm.
...but he's still blamed for the megadeficits primarily created by Bush's tax cuts and the Great Recession.
LOL - I think Grunwald has been smoking out of the same bong as Krugman.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
"motherbelt's axiom" comes
Submitted by motherbelt on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:00pm.
"motherbelt's axiom" comes into play here.....
Nevermind the facts...Mandy "knows" that Obama is more fiscally responsible than Bush ever was.
And yes, please, Mandy...let's talk about Obama's record of thwarting terrorist attacks.
Times Square bomber: bomb failed to detonate.
Christmas Day BVD bomber: Bomb failed to detonate.
Obama did that....How?????
Praying for...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:22pm.
.....human spontaneous combustion.
Oh OUCH.
Submitted by jon_torlin on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:04pm.
Ouch, ouch ouch!
That actually made my head hurt to read.
What a bunch of nonsense.
-Jon
I went an read the article at time.com
Submitted by IdahoJim on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:06pm.
And I am happy to report that out of the dozens of comments attached to it, only two or three were supportive of Obama. One Obama supporter even bashed Obama for making every problem allegedly left to him by Bush even worse. Reading it caused a thrill up my leg.
It is nice to know that so many are willing to combat Time's legacy of lies and leftward spins.
http://idahoandy.net
Now 4 days old!
IdahoJim
http://idahoandy.net
Hey Idaho
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http://blondephotos.org/BlondeGator/
If you have questions, I can maybe help you out, getting your comments active, etc. Hit me at my e-mail addy on my contact page.
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Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Accomplishment????
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:09pm.
Well, let’s be literal and define ‘accomplishment:’
ac•com•plish•ment n.
1. The act of accomplishing or the state of being accomplished; completion.
2. Something completed successfully; an achievement.
3. An acquired skill or expertise:
4. Social poise and grace.
#1 Zero – Even “Obama-care” is still up in the air.
#2 Sorry, no cigar – (Unless you consider massive failure as an accomplishment… Although it could be argued that Obama has made Jimmy Carter look good and that’s an accomplishment in and of itself.)
#3 Afraid not – But don’t worry, he still may “grow-into” the job (choke, cough, gag).
#4 Sure, if you consider physically bowing to dictators and despots graceful.
#2 is the one
Submitted by Order270 on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:23pm.
He's has been a success at being a failure for nearly two and a half years and counting.
#4 - Two words:
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:30pm.
"Beer Summit."
Ummmmm,
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:24pm.
shouldn't the word "intentionally" or "intentional" be in there somewhere to preclude serendipity?
Intentional vs Serendipity ... Good one!
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:35pm.
- Grump :o)
"It's hard to get credit
Submitted by UpNorth on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 5:37pm.
for avoiding a disaster when it's impossible to prove the disaster would have happened without you". WTF???? Oh, never mind, got it. If something never happened, Ears gets the credit for it. If, on the other hand, something never happened, ala the "dynamiting of the dikes in N.O", it's Bush's fault. Right, makes sense to me.
"Counterfactual"? Great Humor!
Submitted by Boil It Down on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 9:50pm.
After reading Gunwald's piece, I was completely stunned. The article is indeed counterfactual and counter to reality as well. When Time magazine offers up something so obviously out of whack, even their articles that might make sense will be looked on with skepticism.
If you were to change or add about a dozen words to Grunwald's fawning treatment of Obama it would read like hilarious sarcasm. If it were presented as is in video form with a laugh track it would probably go viral. As it stands it is a sad commentary of a writer who is obviously too far gone into the Obama cult to adhere to any journalistic integrity. Of course that is why Time has hired him and that for which he is paid. -bidn-
Heavy handed
Submitted by nkviking75 on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 6:01pm.
How heavy handed are these libs? Imagine Godzilla performing brain surgery.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Prevent what??
Submitted by fatboy on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 8:24pm.
I can immediately think of 3 terrorist attacks on American soil under Obama vs. no post- 9/11 attacks under Bush. What is this idiot talking about??
More like "pyramid scheme of financial irresponsibility".
Submitted by drsamherman on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 9:00pm.
Maybe they don't know any solid geometry.
Grunwald's views are too outrageous to be taken seriously.
Submitted by no tingly legs on Thu, 04/07/2011 - 8:42am.
I understand he's now writing a book about the U.S. attack on Japanese Navy planes on December 7, 1941.