Is Obama Rope-A-Doping The Anti-Economy GOP?

Obama getting his FDR on!

“Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated…”

-Candidate Obama

I have to say that I am VERY pleasantly surprised by the NEW President / Candidate Obama. Like a phoenix, he has risen from the ashes, at least rhetorically. The above quote is quite famous and even though it didn’t come from President Obama I used it because I think it is an appropriate follow-up to my previous editorial titled, “Mourning The Death Of Candidate Obama”. In it, I pronounced Candidate Obama 2008 dead and outlined the disappointing differences between CANDIDATE Obama and the President we’ve seen in office since January 2009. Like many other Progressives, I have at times been VERY frustrated with Obama, sometimes yelling and ranting. I thought Candidate Obama was dead and we were doomed with President Obama and his capitulating and over-compromising ad nauseum style.

In the last two months, I’ve had some time to reflect and I’ve come up with a few interesting thoughts. What if the moves he’s made were calculated and deliberate? Think about it for a moment. He had nothing to lose by putting entitlements on the table as long as there was no chance of acceptance by the dipsticks on the right. He deals with the three stooges (Boehner, Cantor and McConnell) almost daily so he probably knows better than anyone what the boundaries and possibilities are. By doing that he didn’t really put anything at risk but made them look like the inflexible, uncompromising, unreasonable extremist jerks that they are. He knew they wouldn’t take any deal he had on the table even if it included dissolving the big 3 (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid) if there was ANY type of tax increase involved, including loopholes. That is just one example. Which begs the question, is he rope-a-doping the GOP? I sure hope so.

Unfortunately, a dangerous and likely unintended consequence came from the debt ceiling debate: the base was (and to a degree still is) incensed. I’m not saying that his current demeanor, attitude and fighting spirit can erase the political gaffes and blunders that he has committed during his presidency thus far BUT, it is certainly encouraging. THIS is the President I voted for and hopefully THIS time he’ll keep the pedal to the metal and the action will match the rhetoric. Obama has been known in the past to talk the talk and then fail to walk the walk. He talks a great game but doesn’t play one. I feel there is a distinct difference this time that encourages me – the talk is much different. Obama is becoming more and more combative by the day and FINALLY calling people out by name. This is the champion of the people that I’ve been waiting for since 2009. I guess he finally got to the bottom of the pile of papers on his desk and found the inaugural memo that said “REPUBLICANS WILL NEVER WORK WITH YOU! YOUR FAILURE IS THEIR DELIGHT!”

Speaking of Republicans, why is it that the Republicans, horrible on the economy for the last 20 or so years, have been allowed to remain a prominent and annoying voice in the economic policy conversation? We’re still using many of the same failed Republican economic policies in place during the Bush administration and then wonder why the economy isn’t recovering. I really like hearing Boehner and Cantor talking about how they’ll implement “pro-growth” policies that will grow jobs and the economy. Those policies consist of cutting taxes on the “job creators” (top 2%), eliminating ALL regulations (including pollution control and food inspections) and cutting spending. These guys are so utterly stupid it defies reality. Boehner’s recent comment in response to Obama pressing Congress to pass the American Jobs Act “the president is campaigning and we’re legislating” is proof positive of this. The only thing the GOP is legislating is their dicks. They haven’t created one piece of jobs legislation. History, basic economics and the vast majority of the American people are diametrically opposed to their repeatedly failed economic policies.

Why can’t we try Democratic policies and see how they do? What could it hurt? We certainly couldn’t do any worse than what we’ve had under the curse of Reaganomics.

In 2008 we had George W. Bush behind the wheel of the Titanic (the US Economy) and the Iceberg was approaching but W still had a good amount of alcohol and cocaine pulsing thru his veins from years past. He’s functioning on a partially blown head gasket and not thinking too clearly. Then suddenly the underside of the economy gets gashed wide open by a huge iceberg of stupidity and we bleed trillions of dollars of net worth much of it from people’s 401k and retirement accounts. Life savings gone in the blink of an eye but no Wall St. CEO’s paid a price. Certainly W didn’t. Instead we only heard of golden parachutes and bonuses.  

He’s living post-presidency in a nice posh house in a ritzy Dallas suburb and wrote a book – with a ghost writer. How difficult. Hopefully he’s mastering solitaire and watching game shows while making the world a better place. Dick Cheney wrote a new book and is now on a tour of political destruction and betrayal. They are both making such positive and meaningful contributions to mankind.

On the other hands, Bill Clinton and Al Gore have taken their post-public office lives to soaring heights. Bill Clinton has done some of the most impactful philanthropic work you can think of and Al Gore is trying to keep science and climate change firmly planted in the public eye despite continued politically charged attacks from the right. What’s wrong with this picture? The GOP always claims to have the moral high ground and practice the teachings of the bible and blah blah blah. REALLY? I think the above comparison tells a different story.

It’s a wonder (and a shame) Occupy Wall Street didn’t happen 3 years ago! I’d like to call on all Americans to join the Occupy movement like those brave patriots in New York. Also, Van Jones and his Rebuild The Dream movement are doing amazing things too! With these movements gaining incredible momentum I am VERY optimistic that we can REALLY make a difference in 2012 and beyond.

--Truthteller