On Thursday night I was watching the Packers game when I saw a Tammy Baldwin attack advertisement. Tammy Baldwin, like President Obama, needs to distract from her record to have a shot of winning. A typical strategy for candidates that want to avoid a discussion of issues and their own record would be to paint their opponent as extreme. This is difficult for both Baldwin and Obama as they themselves are on the extreme of a party that has become more extreme in recent years and they face opponents that are moderates. With this option gone they need to find other ways to keep the discussion off their failed policies.
It looks like both are using the same distraction technique and ideas. The advertisement during the game was more whining about getting her opponents tax returns. Somehow we are supposed to more interested in what their opponents do with their money than how Baldwin and Obama have wasted our money. The thought that came to my mind was, maybe if Baldwin and Obama put as much focus and priority on plans to improve the economy and creating jobs, as they have on their opponents tax returns, they would not have to run campaigns to distract people from what they have done in recent years.
In 2009 Democrats chose to focus almost exclusively on ramming through their agenda at the expense of jobs and the economy. This started with the so called “stimulus” plan that did little besides add massive amount of debt. The spending was focused on paying back supporters and furthering their radical agenda rather than jobs or the economy. For example money was given to states to avoid responsible changes that have to come, due the excessive benefits given to public employees. This only increased the magnitude of the issue and delayed fixing the problem. Also, dumping money on government is an ineffective way to stimulate the economy. The money given to private sector was focused on green energy scams and other liberal pet projects, again not useful long term projects or lasting job creation.
After the failed stimulus was passed, Democrats focused on Health Care Reform. We can debate the merits of that reform, but one thing is not debatable it is a major drag on the economy and very negative for job creation. As bad as this law is, Baldwin supported a more extreme version that the house passed that would have been even worse for the economy and the middle class.
Then the focus was on financial reform that will do little to accomplish the goals they publicly claim. Ironically, the law was named for the two people who were most responsible for preventing any attempt to avoid the 2008 crash. Again, we can debate the damage from Dodd-Frank, but again it was clearly negative for jobs and the economy.
It could have been worse at least the Cap & Trade legislation, that Tammy Baldwin voted for and was supported by President Obama, was too radical for many Democrats and failed to get through the Senate. In addition to causing massive utility bill increases it would have been a major job killer.
The reckless spending and making clear they were not interested in the economy or jobs, caused the GOP to ride a wave to take control of the House, many state assemblies, and governorships. This has slowed the relentless assault on the middle class by the Democrats from getting worse. President Obama has continued to use regulatory agencies to kill jobs, such as continuing the gulf drilling moratorium, pushing his war on coal, stopping the Keystone Pipeline, etc., but now Baldwin is powerless to kill more jobs.
The GOP has continued to pass Jobs bills that stall in the Senate and they have many plans to improve the jobs situation. (1) Contrast this with Baldwin and President Obama that have no ideas, besides more of the same failed ideas that expanded the debt without any real lasting value to our economy.
Worse than having no plan, Baldwin and Obama in the name “fairness” want to raise taxes on capital formation, and small business owners. The plan offers no advantage for anyone and will kill jobs, but they want you to support it based on the claim it will hurt the rich even more than you.
It is clear that the economy, jobs, or any of the major issues we face are not high on the priority list for Baldwin or Obama. It would not matter if they were priorities, since it is apparent to all that Obama in over his head in the job he has.(2) They are rigid ideologues incapable of doing what President Clinton did when he embraced many parts of a conservative agenda to win re-election after the mid-term beating. Instead President Obama moved left and refused to work at all with GOP, even when the GOP was mostly caving in to his demands. We need to focus this campaign on the big issues, economy, Jobs, cutting spending, entitlement reform, and deficit reduction. If we do this no rational person would vote for either Baldwin or Obama.
1) http://www.gop.gov/indepth/jobs/tracker
2) http://www.dickmorris.com/obama-is-in-over-his-head-dick-morris-tv-lunch-alert/
But if their paycheck bounces, how many will show up for work next week?
I will also agree spending money we don't have is not a good idea or plan - no matter the circumstance. You are right. We, as a country, need to have a serious conversation about spending. I would also hope my point about a serious conversation about revenues be included in the conversation.
But no - if there is no money, we can't expect these folks to work for free. You are totally right. Hopefully we can all get on the same page, get this economy rolling again and make sure no one's pay checks bounce.
The fact is: we have some serious problems, and one side of the aisle can't fix it.
An Act 10 for the nation would render unions powerless and all the rights and privledges we all enjoy now... they all go away. I have never been a part of a union, either. But I still recognize and appreciate their efforts.
We, in the real world, have to work together to address our problems. It is high time our elected officials took our example. Craig - the two of us may not agree on policy 100%. But I think we agree on the conversation. It's too bad not everyone can shelf their personal business and have an adult conversation. Hint: I'm talking to you, Congress.
I would disagree about the quality of life thing, though. Union workers teach our youth, they put out our fires and save us when we are in danger. Union workers take care of us when we are sick and in need of medical care. I am personally ok with teachers, nurses and fire fighters having more income and benefits than I do. I want these people as happy as possible, because when I need them, I want them totally focused on thier jobs 100%
Fact is: Most of us agree on 90% of the issues, but spend 90% of our time arguing the 10% we do not agree on. If we could force our representatives in Government to fix even half of the issues we agree on- what a great improvement we would have. They prefer to keep us fighting amongst ourselves to detract from their lackluster performance.
Look at thoughts from a Democrat Leaning Cramer before BrRown won.
1/19/2010 Can we just call this session off until we see who wins in Massachusetts? Can we see what will happen in the Senate rather than what will happen with We know that everything ... means nothing if Scott Brown beats Martha Coakley, the woman who called Curt Schilling a Yankees' fan in some gaffe that should cause all of Beantown to switch to the GOP. I can't stress how important this election is because we have a dual-issue president, health care and bank basher, and neither plays out all that well among the investor class. Of course, the president is back with the Wall Street/Main Street thing, oblivious to the fact that the stock market rally has enabled Americans to feel a little better about themselves and spend a little more while they wait for an employment turnaround. Who knows what could happen if they didn't just go after the banks and go after the health care industry? We could, conceivably, be doing things to fix infrastructure, putting people to work or even getting an energy bill that creates jobs through natural gas instead of just stifling industry through cap-and-trade. I know one senator can't mean that much in the long term. But the notion that Washington will always be front and center because of the Democratic agenda could be turned down and Washington could become more of a sideshow which would allow us to focus, once again, on earnings and business and not anger, politics and non-job creation.
In the private sector i have NO collective priviledge to bargain .. why should government workers??
This country provides services for its citizens every day; Military, Infrustructure, etc. It requires us to pay taxes to pay for these services. It's not a knock on the free market. It's a knock on Anarchy. Again, I don't have collective bargaining, either. I do; however, enjoy workers rights unions fought and bled for decades ago. The private sector has unions too. I know it's easy to watch Fox News or listen to Charlie Sykes, get all worked up, post something ignorant and hit submit without thinking it through, but I really wish you would.
Business- To make a product or provide a service at a profit (return on assets). Don't get confused that businesses are there to employ people. They do employ people, but that is not their purpose.