Time magazine is clearly dispensing with "news" reporting this week. Michael Grunwald started his article "How to Spend the Stimulus" with this sentence: "It's hard to take Republican leaders too seriously when they criticize the recovery plans for the economy; it's sort of like those geese criticizing the evacuation plans for US Airways Flight 1549."
That would be the geese that were ground into the jet engines of the airliner that crash-landed in the Hudson River.
Clearly impressed with his own comic stylings, Grunwald continued: "Their critiques seem even more comical when you see their alternatives. They warn that President Obama's stimulus package will explode the debt – so they want to make George W. Bush's debt-exploding tax cuts permanent. They say Democratic spending plans are full of pork – then they propose an extra $24 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal equivalent of Oscar Mayer. Let's just say their idea bank could use a bailout."
Before the House GOP voted unanimously against the "stimulus" bill, The Hill newspaper reported that Republican House leaders did insert an amendment calling for more billions for the Army Corps of Engineers and more highway spending while reducing the stimulus size by a net $104 billion, apparently to assuage "centrist GOP legislators, along with other Republicans representing districts especially hard hit by the economic downturn, [who] said they needed to be on record backing increased funding for infrastructure programs."
Grunwald, a former Washington Post reporter, has written extensively on the Army Corps of Engineers and criticized it extensively for wasteful spending and environmental harm.
Later in the article, Grunwald supported some tax cut ideas and dismissed others, and then mocked House minority leader John Boehner on spending:
"What about the spending? Again, there has been an Alice in Wonderland quality to much of the criticism, as if economist John Maynard Keynes were a fraud and government spending couldn't possibly create jobs--especially spending on biomedical research, education about sexually transmitted diseases or other programs that sound vaguely liberal and exotic. Jobs in biomedical research and sex education are real jobs. Granted, some spending proposals would work faster and better than others. But it's telling that House minority leader John Boehner ridicules programs to weatherize low-income homes – which would create jobs in a hurry, save poor people money in the long term and reduce the energy waste that increases carbon emissions and empowers foreign thugs. What's the argument in favor of heating and air-conditioning the outdoors?"
Grunwald concluded that President Obama should ignore "partisan gripes" and press ahead with his spending spree, since he is the "Santa" the people elected:
So it's not clear how hard he'll push to fund his long-term agenda. But he should ignore the partisan gripes that the stimulus is becoming a "Christmas tree." Congress is about to toss almost $1 trillion into the economy, which means that any stimulus is going to be a Christmas tree, no matter where the gifts are hidden. And in November, the U.S. chose its Santa. This is his best chance to decide who gets the goodies and who gets the lump of coal.
Since they’re comparing Republicans to dead geese, Time magazine obviously wants the GOP to get coal in their stocking.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
All 12 of his readers must
February 10, 2009 - 13:19 ET by d1carterAll 12 of his readers must be very amused...
It's hard to take Time
February 10, 2009 - 13:29 ET by ConservativeRexIt's hard to take Time magazine seriously when the few copies that are sold will be used at the bottom of the birdcage.
The comedy stylings of
February 10, 2009 - 13:32 ET by motherbeltThe comedy stylings of Michael Grunwald.....
Wow, Mike....sharp. Mind you don't cut yourself!
Is he claiming that the Republicans are the ones who ruined the economy?
Proof, please????
We don't need no stinking proof!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
I want to be the first to
February 10, 2009 - 13:55 ET by Trix RabbitI want to be the first to congratulate Grunwald on being a first-class, hand-wringing, boorish, and uncomical useful idiot. To wit:
1) as if economist John Maynard Keynes were a fraud and government spending couldn't possibly create jobs
Keynes was a huge fraud and government spending never has nor ever will create jobs.
2) Congress is about to toss almost $1 trillion into the economy,
That's right. Toss being equivalent to flushing it down the toilet.
3) And in November, the U.S. chose its Santa.
Still believing in Santa Claus, Myron? I hope you get a huge lump of coal. It will certainly match the contours and the thickness of your head.
For the MSM: In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me. As you lick the boots of death born out of fear.
Ian Anderson "Wind up"
Not your father's Time Magazine
February 10, 2009 - 14:10 ET by needleElitist Michael Grunwald can make these sweeping pronouncements knowing full well that he is accurately representing the collective wisdom of almost the entire nation. After all, everything he says is fully supported by Grunwald’s careful research and reflects the views of 9 out of 10 carefully selected men (and women, and queers, and lesbians) on the Upper East Side.
Time Magazine: Of the Elite, for the Elite, by the Elite.
Newsweek: Hey, Wait a minute. That's our motto.
Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
The esteemed partisan,
February 10, 2009 - 14:13 ET by lotrThe esteemed partisan, Nancy Pelosi, could not have put it better. This clown would have a bright future in the higher eschelons of the Democratic Party, but for the fact that he probably makes $hitload$ more moolah working his current gig as "Sensationalistic Hip Reporter" for Time.
And one by one dropped the revellers in the blood-bedewed halls of their revel, and died each in the despairing posture of his fall. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Army Corps of Engineers
February 10, 2009 - 14:28 ET by Arminius"They say Democratic spending plans are full of pork – then they propose an extra $24 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal equivalent of Oscar Mayer."
What an ignorant comment. Here in Kansas, the Army Corps of Engineers built several lakes, including Clinton Lake and Perry Lake, that provide drinking water for Kansas. Those lakes were designed to have a lifespan of 100 years and they are now about 50 years old and filling with sediment. Clearly, work has to be done to ensure that drinking water is available in the future.
Are they still printing
February 10, 2009 - 14:33 ET by USA4freedomAre they still printing Time??
Who knew??
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
He look's like John Kerry's
February 10, 2009 - 15:27 ET by obxrayHe look's like John Kerry's lost son with that smug a**hole look.
Do these dinks think that,
February 10, 2009 - 15:51 ET by Chris NormanDo these dinks really think that by putting on a black shirt for a photo, it somehow makes them look sophisticated and cutting edge? It's become so cliched as to be laughable.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Is this the same Grunwald
February 10, 2009 - 15:33 ET by bigtimerIs this the same Grunwald Mandy is married to, from the Clintoon/algore adminstration?
I will look it up later.
If so, I just love the connections all these leftist people have interwoven for decades now....just one more to add to the mix, it is never-ending...the list would be long.
I should have remembered
February 10, 2009 - 20:04 ET by bigtimerI should have remembered that Mandy was married to Matt Cooper from the Judith Miller/Plame BS...they have since divorced.
Nevertheless her father used to be the editor-in-chief of Time, he was a real piece of leftist work.
Michael has to be her brother or very close relation, Michael used to write for WaPo...he didn't fall far from the tree either.
Just love these intertwined connections all...endless.
And what's wrong with that statement?
February 10, 2009 - 15:57 ET byI think, on his "money quote", he's absolutely right. I mean, when this is the position of the Republican Presidential Candidate....Sept. 16 (Bloomberg) --John McCaingot a jump on rival Barack Obama in addressing the Wall Street crisis yesterday, though the Republican presidential candidate may have caused himself political trouble by saying``the fundamentals of our economy are strong.''
The above makes this statement TRUE.
"It's hard to take Republican leaders too seriously when they criticize the recovery plans for the economy; it's sort of like those geese criticizing the evacuation plans for US Airways Flight 1549."
When your leader's don't even know there IS a problem, how on earth can they be the ones to fix it?
All I can say is "We Warned You". The Republican party had better get used to being likened to John the Baptist! Because you are going to be "crying in the wilderness" for many years to come. That's what happens when you nominate a feckless piece of morally relativistic "conservatism" like McCain! NOBODY is going to listen to the people who Presided over the economies doom, on how to fix it. That's just COMMON SENSE. Now, the sad thing is that the demoNcrats don't have any ideas worth a plate of pig spit, which means that the country is going to suffer. But suffer it will. Because you have let down the standards. You have become "fiscal" first and "morally conservative" second. That is the only way that a baby killing piece of CRAP like Obama could have gotten elected. You didn't even have the sense to HIGHLIGHT the fact that he VOTED TO KILL BABIES THAT SURVIVED ABORTION!!! Why not call him a MURDERER, Mr McCain? That's what he IS!
Nooooo because McCain had some STUPID ideas about "comity", civility which his dumb butt never received in kind.
Say what you want about the godless pieces of waste on the other side of the aisle, but at least they PRETEND to care about the common man. Your people don't even make the effort. Unless it's to show that the policies that benefit us at the high end will "trickle down" to the unwashed masses, in some not too distant future. ( and spare me the lesson on stimulating those who make jobs, blah blah blah.) We tried it before, didn't work. Was a temporary solution at best. If something's "trickling down", someone's peeing on your head!
Logic alone would dictate that the public NOT listen to the Republicans.
Why would someone ask the"fundamentals of our economy remain strong" party, for any advice whatsoever, since you were the people most SURPRISED by our present situation?
Independence is the only way to go. I claim no fealty to anyone. BOTH parties SUCK. Which is sad 'cause because the sucking of the Republican party has ledDIRECTLYto the great socialist re-make of the U.S.A.
Grunwald should take a look at the polls - what a goose!
February 10, 2009 - 17:11 ET by Gary HallGrunwald should take a look at the polls - what a goose!
Consider, Mr. Grunwald. Polls are clearly showing that a majority of voters are holding strong doubts about the recovery plans for the economy. They show that, 1.) they don't think that it will do much good, if it works at all (kinda the same view the CBO had, 2.) they'd prefer that there be less spending and more tax cuts, and 3.) they don't like it in the form that it is in. Funny! That's the same view the Republicans seem to have.
Consider your goose cooked.
Gary,What gets me is
February 10, 2009 - 18:08 ET by Chris NormanGary,
What gets me is that Obama gets away with saying to the GOP, "Don't come to me with your old threadbare solutions to this crisis" - as if his bad joke of a "program" of grotesque pork and political payoffs masquerading as "stimulus" is new, revolutionary, and cutting edge.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
When someone makes a joke
February 11, 2009 - 10:12 ET by fitzfongWhen someone makes a joke that bombs, he's often told "don't quit your day job". Unfortunately for Grunwald, he's incorporating his failed comedy stylings into his day job...and seeing as TIME is shrinking at a more alarming rate than Nicole Ritchie, he may not have the opportunity to quit his day job. By the way, since "Santa" was elected in November, I can't think of anyone who got the "goodies". I do know that the American people got the lump of coal.
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill