Trojan Horse Hope.

Then the conservatives in both parties and the financial elite did their job — they completely screwed average Americans for their own benefit. Congratulations.

what makes economic sense is a total payroll tax holiday (employers and employees) for the duration (until unemployment falls to some predefined low level — or better yet, a counter-cyclical graduated payroll tax holiday dependent on unemployment levels).

as a political matter, pay the $ to the SS trust fund from general revenue.

I simply fail to see how any incumbent could win when nearly half the country rankings the economy, the number one issue with voters, as poor.

And yet, Obama’s poll numbers are OK. We’ve been in a depression for what, four years now? I doubt anyone still expects Mr. Hopey to turn things around.

All the Republicans have to say is the same fairy-tale nonsense they’ve been spewing for 30 years. Their pool of gullible believers is shrinking. They won’t be able to convince anyone new.

So if Tweedle-dee can’t fix it, and Tweedle-dum can’t fix it, people are going to look elsewhere to make their decision.

selise, your comments are very critically important to the ongoing educational opportunity which our time presents us.

I appreciate every single one.

I read your comment about giving up on weekend-warrior “progressives”, but urge you to keep on keepin’ on for as long as you may be willing.

Sometimes “events” and “experience” have to coincide with resonating “thoughts” before the new idea can fully penetrate, and we’re dealing with folks who have years and years of disappointment and manipulation to overcome within themselves.

Thank you, once again, selise, for daring to lead the way in developing some necessary shared understandings … you ARE getting through.

DW

I don’t want the President to blow smoke up the Nation’s ass but it would be nice if we heard some good news from his administration every once in a while … there is some good news to tell.

Americans ‘feeling’ better about the economy actually has real consequences. This administration had better start communicating … forcefully.

Political Malpractice and Policy Losses:

The incoherent whisper that epitomizes ‘messaging’ from the Obama Administration is profound political malpractice. It would not be so remarkable if there were not, on the other side of things, a malignant political force that celebrates greed, ignorance and war …
Article:
http://beeryblog.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/dems-political-malpractice-aids-right-wing-war-on-reason/

**

I read your comment about giving up on weekend-warrior “progressives”,

so sorry. my frustration temporarily got the better of me… and worse, my comment wasn’t limited to any particular subgroup of progressives :(

will try to do better….

Thanks for the post, David.

Hey selise! I have a real bad feeling about a tax holiday. I believe the federal government has a revenue problem and fear that a tax holiday would be devestating. At the same time, I’m willing to admit I am not an economist so possibly am just to ignorant to understand. (I do know the stimulative effect of putting money in lower income pockets is far greater than giving rich people tax cuts)

It is a cruel irony that in America today there exists one party skilled in politics and wretched in government and another party skilled in government and wretched in politics.

i only wish.

please tell me who in a D party leadership position has said anything in the last 3 years that actually makes economic sense.

oldnslow!

thank you so much for having an open mind. i’ve been wrong before and i may be this time (not an economist either, just a kinda geeky person who likes to read)…. but i BEG you to consider that everything we’ve been told about fed govt financing, tax revenues and spending is a big fat lie (or to be generous, a misunderstanding based on no longer applicable gold standard thinking).

i am v strongly persuaded that this is so.

what if the function of taxes is NOT to generate revenue in order for the fed govt to spend?
what if fed govt deficit spending is necessary for the private sector to save?

if you haven’t already and willing to consider that what we’ve been told is down is in reality up….. please consider reading this diary (i only wrote the title, everything else is from the work of really good macroeconomists):

USG deficits: The Economics, the Politics, the Banksters and You

WOW? Who knew none of OBAMA GOP economic ideas would work? Real Progressives knew none of OBAMA GOP economic ideas would get us out of this depression.

The corporate media works overtime lying to people about how OBAMA poll numbers are high.

It is in the best interest of the corporate elite to keep telling lies about OBAMA to keep him from being challenge by a real Democrat.

No president with 9% un-employment is going to get re-elected.

Obama has served his purpose,

Obama kept a real progressive from getting in the WH in 2008.

(I do know the stimulative effect of putting money in lower income pockets is far greater than giving rich people tax cuts)

Actually, money tends to stay in lower income pockets as long as possible for fear it’ll be needed in the future. On the other hand, the rich don’t tend to stimulate the economy with any extra they receive since they already have money to spend, a little extra doesn’t do anything.

It’s the middle that makes the economy work.

I know so little about econ: but on the world stage I think things are very scary. The Black hole and suicide story, now the Pakistanis who have been arrested, a permanent war state….We have lost our way and lost our souls from what I can tell. Is anyone out there, in the governing class, paying attention. And here in TX we have a Gov who is going to inspire and solve things with a big ol’ Fundy revival. A gov taking that role is probably un-Constitutional…maybe not. But smells that way.

I think a wise and articulate peace candidate would have a strong voice and a good chance; is there anyone?

YOU HAD IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME,Trojan horse campaigning & lies paid off for tea pubs not one jobs bill,yet they voted against
HR 2847
HR 5297
S 1470
S 2923
HR 5980
TEAPUBS HAVE ORCHESTRATED THINK SABOTAGE OF THE ECONOMY TO REGAIN POWER
http://www.truth-out.org/making-us-economy-scream/1307728011
NOW ALL THEY OFFER ARE JOB KILLING,WOMEN & CHILDREN KILLING MEDICARE KILLING spending cuts

Thanks for the link. You never have to beg me to consider your positions or assertions. Have long thought you to be one of the finer brains hereabouts.

The only reason OBAMA won in 2008, was because Americans hated George BUSH!!! that is it!

Obama EGO will not let him face this fact!
Obama thinks his lovely speeches which were all lies helped him win in 2008, they did not!

People hate of Bush put OBAMA in the WH in 2008

Now USA citizens hate of OBAMA will put a GOP candidate in the WH.

the GOP Debate the other night had great TV RATINGS! Not good news for the OBAMA WH.

read below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/14/cnn-gop-debate-gets-big-r_n_877053.html

“Monday’s GOP debate netted very good ratings for CNN.

The debate, which featured all of the major (declared) Republican candidates for president, drew 3.162 million viewers and handily winning the the Monday night cable news ratings. The debate also outperformed Fox News’ May get-together in the crucial A25-54 demo, though Fox News’ debate still managed to get slightly more viewers.

Anderson Cooper also benefited from the ratings bump, winning his timeslot over Greta Van Susteren and Ed Schultz.”

it does not take a genius to see that OBAMA is a 1 Termer.

When people are willing to watch crazy people debate that means the person in the WH is crazy and they are looking for someone who is SANE

You are making too much sense.

thanks oldnslow!

imo, we’re all smarter when we think things through together… and i sure would appreciate your opinion and discussion on this.

and here’s a follow on diary (also not my writing):

Stephanie Kelton: What Happens When the Government Tightens its Belt?

imo it takes a few readings… ot at least it has for me…

or as the characters on South Park would say, it’s a choice between a Giant Douche and a Turd Sandwich.

Money doesn’t stay in low-income pockets, because poor people have to spend everything they have just to survive day to day. The easiest and fastest way to boost the economy is to give poor people money.

Middle class people use extra money to pay down debts.

Rich people hoard money.

It could also mean that the electorate has an unconscious collective death wish if they are willing to give Republicans even more power and put them back in the WH. I think it’s the death wish.

This is the economy that The Clown™ will hand off to his Republican successor, starting in January 2013.

That Republican will inherit a terrible situation.

Let’s pray for them now. The Clown™ has certainly done his damndest to FUCK this country over. It will take a lot of work to undo what he has done to this country and its people.

Anyone that thinks the Republicans can do anything for the economy other than crash it reveals who the real clown is.

What I’d like to know is, WHO are the 30% who think the economy is getting better?

I believe the cohort should be more accurately described as, “people who didn’t understand the question”.

But he sure looked good and spoke the part very well, just like reagan.

@selise

So you think the answer is to essentially eliminate all pre-designated SS contributions? That, respectfully, would seem to be a Rethug wet dream. And the death knell of the program.

Gotta give you points for thinking outside the box, though. Seriously.

Americans become more negative about the economy

…as economy becomes more negative about Americans. (Hey, you are either in the top 2% or you are lookin a lot like soylent green.)

ackack – not my idea (although i think it’s a good one). it’s what good macroeconomists have been advocating.

for name recognition see james k. galbraith. someone, i hope, with untarnished progressive progressive credentials (as well as being a much better macroeconomist than krugman and crew).

Mission Accomplished.

I hope you are right that they will make the transfer to the SS fund from General Revenue. Myself I think this the beginning of the end of SS and Medicare through the back door. IMHO

Wait…who is in office right now? Who spent $1 trillion on a phony stimulus as a payback to union goons and thugs which went into Ricky Trumka’s pocket? Who has 9.1% unemployment? Who has spent $1.3 trillion in deficit per year for the past three budgets, adding…wait for it…$5 trillion to the national debt?

Wanna see how bad things are for The Clown™?

Check out what leftist sycophant and Obama asslicker David Gregory said on MTP this past Sunday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81LNYY25A9Y&feature=player_embedded

[OUCH. THAT HURTS.]

Shit…even the Obama asslickers can’t cover for this crooked and incompetent administration any longer without throwing a fit.

“or you are lookin a lot like soylent green.”

Oh…so THAT is what The Clown™ and his “Green Jobs” (which don’t exist any more than his “summer of recovery” or his “economic turnaround” did) program is all about?

THE CLOWN’S™ GREEN JOBS ARE SOYLENT GREEN! SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!! SOYLENT GREEN IS PEOPLE!!

Please add to your reading list, Dean Baker. Since the mid nineties that I’ve been reading him, he’s repeatedly and consistently demonstrated his “untarnished progressive progressive credentials”. He’s the ONE who was vocal and right on Glass-Steagall, the Boskin Commission AND the housing bubble – back when it could have been stopped. He’s the one who’s ALWAYS true to the ideals you casually bestow on Galbraith. And, he gives no Economist (including Galbraith), Politician or Media outlet free passes. It was no accident, he was also the one the Democratic Party saw fit to exclude from its summer ’08 meeting of TOP Economists.

Obama is all about Bush redux posing as a liberal Democrat in terms of his economic priorities. We’re basically f*#ked this election. The Republicans are living in a complete fantasy reality so Obama doesn’t have to do squat, or answer to anyone about his economic policies.

Jon, too many of these Polls seem to correlate to recent stock market performance & media presentation to make me comfortable with them. How about reminding us, once again, how tribal voting patterns are?

He’s already covering his arse by saying his famiily would be happy with one term. Does O even care if he’s re-elected or not ? He’s got lots and lots of money to go make with pretty speeches for the next 10 years…Paid well for a job well done (destroying the democratic party for the rest of my lifetime at least).

No question, odds are with you. I thought that. I also bought “Clarence Thomas” Obama’s preacher-like oratory about “hope” and “change you can believe in”. Sorry, I actually believed this was a once in thirty year opportunity for ideological Dems (with control of the Presidency, the Senate & the House) to right the monumentally destructive wrongs we’ve seen over the last thirty years.
Was I stupid, or what? (That was rhetorical.)

Rush, you’re sounding unhinged.

Actually, money tends to stay in lower income pockets as long as possible for fear it’ll be needed in the future.

I have to disagree. I’m lower income and cannot afford to save because it takes all incoming funds to pay rent, food, gas, and utilities.

The Administration chose not to listen to Jon on HCR when his arguments were clear, easy to grasp & forward, and irrefutable so it’s certainly not likely to listen now. It’s a shame this Administration has chosen from the beginning to ignore so much great advice from so many highly credentialed people. A Chicago politician, that’s the best that can be said of Obama.

I concur with you & will add, it’s a lot more than just those in the lower income group who have nothing left to save after paying the bills.