Obama Presser will result in Kick the Deficit Down the Road

President Barack Obama in a press conference today showed a bit of indignation.  He warned that Republicans must cave in and accept tax hikes as part of any deficit deduction. If they did not agree with him and head off a debt default there would be a "significant" blow to the economy. Wow, Mr. “Tough Guy”. Mr. “Take it or Leave it”.  Mr. “Sarcastic”.

It was hard to look at the press clips and not think there is something not genuine here. Maybe it is politics, maybe posturing. The President tried to dismissed criticism that his own leadership was lacking in the showdown over raising the government's $14.29 trillion borrowing authority ahead of an August 2 deadline.

 This is where it gets a bit fuzzy as the President indicated Democrats had accepted tough and painful spending cuts. Whoa, there fella! Have they seen the deficit projections? I have not seen many spending cuts being made by the Democrats. Senate Democrats did not even pass a budget.  All I read about is that “this” and “that” are off limits. We will not cut Medicare, reform Medicaid, and touch Social Security. Won’t do it, no how. No way has become the mantra. I fail to see where this intransigence is any different than Republican’s refusal to even consider raising taxes. The idea of a spending cut by Democrats seems to be something that is 10 years away. In this regard, the President and his no budget passing Democrats have no real credibility.

 The current rumor is the Senate will forgo their July 4^th recess. Fine. Who cares? It is not like the Senate has done anything this year anyway and the rank and file member, regardless of how important they think they are, is not involved in the process. Here is an idea for Majority Leader Reid. Cancel the recess, bring up some real cuts and taxes you want and vote on them.

  So, where does this put things? It would appear both parties are ready to run the country off the cliff. I believe a deal will finally get worked out but it will just kick the can down the road. It will be meaningless except it will allow the government to keep on spending, borrowing and exacerbating the consequences of the inevitable. The real outcome will be known until after the 2012 election.

 

 

 

Comments

[Part D open Enrollment]

America is on a tight spot indeed. But I'd like to remain optimistic and think that we can't get pass this, as we have always in the past. I think what we need right now is for our politicians to forget their individual political agenda, and work for the good of the people instead of doing nothing but trying to promote their political agendas thereby promoting their political standing as well.