Did Republicans deliberately crash the US economy?

[kallend 1,623]

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/09/did-republicans-deliberately-crash-us-economy


the most obvious piece of evidence of GOP premeditated malice is the 2010 quote from Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell:

"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

Such words lead some to the conclusion that Republicans will do anything, including short-circuiting the economy, in order to hurt Obama politically. Considering that presidents – and rarely opposition parties – are held electorally responsible for economic calamity, it's not a bad political strategy.

Beyond McConnell's words, though, there is circumstantial evidence to make the case. Republicans have opposed a lion's share of stimulus measures that once they supported, such as a payroll tax break, which they grudgingly embraced earlier this year. Even unemployment insurance, a relatively uncontroversial tool for helping those in an economic downturn, has been consistently held up by Republicans or used as a bargaining chip for more tax cuts. Ten years ago, prominent conservatives were loudly making the case for fiscal stimulus to get the economy going; today, they treat such ideas like they're the plague.

Traditionally, during economic recessions, Republicans have been supportive of loose monetary policy. Not this time. Rather, Republicans have upbraided Ben Bernanke, head of the Federal Reserve, for even considering policies that focus on growing the economy and creating jobs.
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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 2,396]

There are certainly republicans here who rejoice every time a bad economic report comes out.

[kelpdiver 2]

the conspiracy theory loses its credibility given that the GOP owns the House. The Senate can weather a storm, but every seat in the House is up for grabs every election. Winning the Presidency but losing the House doesn't gain them much.

The Tea Party, disorganized as it is, is still a separate entity from the GOP. They have driven much of the obstructions.

[lawrocket 3]

So this statement, which was made during an interview with Major Garrett in October, 2010, was followed with a question by Major Garrett asking whether that statement meant, "endless, or at least frequent, confrontation with the president?"

To which McConnell replied, "If President Obama does a Clintonian backflip, if he’s willing to meet us halfway on some of the biggest issues, it’s not inappropriate for us to do business with him."

So the same interview McConnell said he's willing to compromise is Obama could be a bit more like Clinton. THE SAME INTERVIEW.

Move along, people. Nothing to see here...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[quade 3]

And yet, not ONLY did Obama meet the Republicans half way on almost everything, once he did, they REFUSED to pass things. Those things that by some miraculous event did manage to pass, like healthcare (which is a Republican bastarization of what was originally proposed), they are now trying to overturn any way they can.

It might not be a conspiracy, but it sure as hell smells like one and if anything, this is how the Democrats ought to play up virtually every congressional election seat, "Throw these do nothings and obstructionist Republicans out!"

That ought to be the game plan.

Let's see how they f it up.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[lawrocket 3]

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And yet, not ONLY did Obama meet the Republicans half way on almost everything

Neither the GOP nor Obama nor the Democrats in Congress met halfway on jack shit. Take a look at Harry Reid in the Senate - using whatever procedural maneuvers he could.

Whenever one side bitches about the other side not coming to the table, 90 percent of the time it is that side that is being unreasonable. It takes two to tango. I am READILY familiar with this.

Blaming one side it like one parent blaming the other one for pregnancy.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[quade 3]

Really? You wanna go down that road?

You really want to look at what was proposed in the original health care reform vs what we ended up with?

You really want to tell me again, it wasn't the Democrats who compromised and it's not the Republicans attempting to overthrow it?

Really?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[chriswelker 0]

Typical liberal B. S. Please get over yourselves.

[kelpdiver 2]

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You really want to tell me again, it wasn't the Democrats who compromised and it's not the Republicans attempting to overthrow it?

That Senator from Nebraska was a Democrat.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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And yet, not ONLY did Obama meet the Republicans half way on almost everything, once he did, they REFUSED to pass things. Those things that by some miraculous event did manage to pass, like healthcare (which is a Republican bastarization of what was originally proposed), they are now trying to overturn any way they can.

It might not be a conspiracy, but it sure as hell smells like one and if anything, this is how the Democrats ought to play up virtually every congressional election seat, "Throw these do nothings and obstructionist Republicans out!"

That ought to be the game plan.

Let's see how they f it up.

Are you freakin serious? You have a very short memory of the atmosphere in DC when the Dems controlled the House and Senate the first 2+ years of Obamas Presidency.

Un-freakin-believable

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Really? You wanna go down that road?

You really want to look at what was proposed in the original health care reform vs what we ended up with?

You really want to tell me again, it wasn't the Democrats who compromised and it's not the Republicans attempting to overthrow it?

Really?

The only reason your party ended up compromising is because Scott Brown got elected and the Repubs were able to force a compromise.

[jgoose71 0]

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Really? You wanna go down that road?

You really want to look at what was proposed in the original health care reform vs what we ended up with?

You really want to tell me again, it wasn't the Democrats who compromised and it's not the Republicans attempting to overthrow it?

Really?

The only reason your party ended up compromising is because Scott Brown got elected and the Repubs were able to force a compromise.

Actually, that is not correct either. If you remember correctly, the Dems bought 2 votes with the corn hisker kickback and the Louisiana Purchase. And when Scott Brown was elected, they changed the rules and made the vote a "reconciliation" vote so they didn't need as many votes.

There was no compromise.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Really? You wanna go down that road?

You really want to look at what was proposed in the original health care reform vs what we ended up with?

You really want to tell me again, it wasn't the Democrats who compromised and it's not the Republicans attempting to overthrow it?

Really?

The only reason your party ended up compromising is because Scott Brown got elected and the Repubs were able to force a compromise.

Actually, that is not correct either. If you remember correctly, the Dems bought 2 votes with the corn hisker kickback and the Louisiana Purchase. And when Scott Brown was elected, they changed the rules and made the vote a "reconciliation" vote so they didn't need as many votes.

There was no compromise.

I worded that poorly. I didn't specifically mean Obamacare, My point was that the Dems weren't willing to compromise on anything until they lost their filibuster proof majority. Quade statement is that the Dems have some willingness to reach across the aisle and work with Repubs is ridiculous.They were completely unwilling until forced to.

[funjumper101 15]

Yes, they did. We are all paying the price, even their most ardent supporters.
Aren't traitors supposed to be tried, convicted, and executed?

Begin quoted text >>>

On January 20, 2009 Republican Leaders in Congress literally plotted to sabotage and undermine U.S. Economy during President Obama's Inauguration.

In Robert Draper's book, "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives" Draper wrote that during a four hour, "invitation only" meeting with GOP Hate-Propaganda Minister, Frank Luntz, the below listed Senior GOP Law Writers literally plotted to sabotage, undermine and destroy America's Economy.

The Guest List:
Frank Luntz - GOP Minister of Propaganda
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA),
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX),
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX),
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA),
Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R),
Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ-R),
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R),
Sen. John Ensign (NV-R) and
Sen. Bob Corker (TN-R).

Non-lawmakers present Newt Gingrich

During the four hour meeting:
The senior GOP members plotted to bring Congress to a standstill regardless how much it would hurt the American Economy by pledging to obstruct and block President Obama on all legislation.

These Republican members of Congress were not simply airing their complaints regarding the other party's political platform for four long hours. No, these Republican Congressional Policymakers, who were elected to do 'the People's work' were literally plotting to sabotage, undermine and destroy the U.S. Economy.

Mitt Romney, who has hired most of Bush/Cheney Policy Advisers, and the GOP party believe they can defeat President Obama, take control of the Senate and maintaining control of the House of Representatives so long as the economic recovery stalls. So they are actively trying to make it happen ... and that's what hate-propaganda Minister Frank Luntz had in mind when he organized the January 20, 2009 covert meeting.

Republicans do not pay Frank Luntz to offer ideas for good policy to help America, rather, Republicans pay Luntz' to devise lies that will keep Americans dumb and ignorant to facts on policy. For decades Republicans have paid Frank Luntz to tell them (Republicans) what to say in order to brainwash 'the People' with lies and hate to destroy policy.

Luntz does not use words to merely have Americans "change their minds." Rather, Frank Luntz uses words intentionally to dumb-down Americans and fill them with lies and hate so as to brainwash and program Americans to hate a given policy.

Frank Luntz, like many Hate-Propaganda Ministers, loathes the notion of honesty in debate. Also, like many Hate-Propaganda Ministers, Frank Luntz wants total control ... total control even it if means destroying America. So, Luntz uses the tactics similar to Joseph Goebbels: spread hate, lies and fear in order to gain control. (More on Frank Luntz at the end of this Diary).

Remember, for months prior to January 20, 2009, America had been losing over 750,000 jobs per month because of policies these same elected Republican lawmakers had enacted and their goal, their goal that night, was to plot ways to sabotage and undermine any and all legislation that would pull American families up and out of the economic calamity they [lawmakers] had helped create.

Two months after their covert meeting where they plotted to sabotage the US Economy, in March 2009, Rep. Pete Sessions said Republicans should follow the model of the Taliban in its battles against President Obama.

In the March 2009 interview with National Journal Rep Sessions said:

"Taliban Insurgency, we understand perhaps a little bit more because of the Taliban. Insurgency is the way they went about systematically understanding how to disrupt and change a person's entire processes. And these Taliban -- is an example of how you go about to change a person from their messaging to their operations to their frontline message. And we need to understand that Insurgency may be required when [dealing with] the other side"

~Rep Pete Sessions, March 2009 to National Journal

Rep Pete Sessions went on to say:

"If they [democrats] do not give us those options or opportunities then we will then become Insurgency ... I think Insurgency is a mindset and an attitude that we're going to have to search for and find ways to get our message out and to be prepared to see things for what they are, rather than trying to do something about them"

Also, at their meeting they plotted to suddenly stop supporting any Stimulus Legislation, even though, they all supported Bush/Cheney Stimulus legislation.

At the meeting, Rep Kevin McCarthy said,
"We've gotta challenge them on every single bill."

"Show united and unyielding opposition to the president’s economic policies."

Remember, these same Republican members of Congress supported the very Bush/Cheney policies that caused America to teeter on the brink of the 2nd Great Depression and caused the 2007 US Economic Meltdown.

Here's how they all voted:
-- "Yes" to Bush/Cheney January 2008 Stimulus
-- "Yes" to Bush/Cheney bailing out Bear Stern
-- "Yes" to Bush/Cheney bailing out AIG
-- "Yes" to Bush/Cheney TARP (sept 2008)
-- "Yes" to Bush/Cheney TARP (oct 2008)

And these same Republican members of Congress:

Supported Bush/Cheney keeping cost of two wars out of the Budget.

Supported Bush/Cheney spending $4Trillion while giving Top 1% Tax Cuts; ignoring the fact that taxes pay for wars.

Not only did these Senior members of Congress plot to destroy the American Economy more than it already was destroyed? They actually carried out their mission:

Every one of these Senior members of Congress have threatened Government Shutdown over things like:

- Funding planned parenthood,

- Raising the Debt Ceiling which, in-and-of-itself, would cause US Economic turmoil.

... oh, and stay current, these same House GOP members of Congress are still, today, threatening a Government Shutdown again over the Debt Ceiling.

Last year, during the Debt Ceiling negotiations, Eric Cantor and Sen. Jon Kyl abruptly walked out of negotiations and refused to renew discussions with Democrats. As a result, America's credit rating was lowered which put a smile on Republican's faces.

Senators: Jim DeMint, Jon Kyl, Tom Coburn, John Ensign, and Bob Corker have:

- Filibustered more Bills (over 300) than any Congress combined in US History.
- Voted NO on every single piece of Legislation brought to the Floor including:
NO on Al Franken's Anti-Rape Amendment,
NO on Lilly Ledbetter,
NO on Fair Pay Act,
NO on Anti-Outsourcing Bill (2010)

How in the hell could any thinking American be against those Bills? Seriously?!?

Representatives: Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Pete Sessions, Jeb Hensarling, Pete Hoekstra and Dan Lungren have voted NO on every single piece of Legislation including:

NO on increasing FEMA during natural disasters.

These same failed Congressmen have been on tv constantly chanting the lie that they were guilty of ... the lie that "President Obama's policies undermine the US Economy."

Currently: Republicans Using the Transportation Bill to Sabotage the US Economy:

If the current Transportation Bill expires June 30, there will be no funding for transportation projects and 1.9 million construction workers would lose their jobs. Eric Cantor and Republicans in the House are refusing to act because Republicans would be overjoyed if almost two million Americans were added to the unemployment rolls this summer before the election.

Other Legislation used to sabotage US Economy

Republicans in Congress refused to negotiate or even discuss passing President Obama's American Jobs Act that independent economists claim would create 1.3 million new jobs. God forbid Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan or Kevin McCarthy support an actual Bill that would put people to work building needed infrastructure and provide funds to pay to rehire hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public service workers that have been laid off in droves by cash-starved states.

Republicans are gearing up block President Obama's 2012 Anti-Outsourcing Bill - which is a Bill to discourage the outsourcing of American jobs, which is due to come to the Senate floor around the fourth of July.

The Washington Post reports that Republicans have made it clear that the Federal Reserve would face fierce Republican criticism if it takes further actions to stimulate the economy before the election. The Washington Post wrote that,

Republicans... have expressed deep concern about measures taken by the Fed to support the economy -- and could be doubly upset if new efforts goose the stock market and are perceived to work in favor of President Obama's re-election.

Frank Luntz

Like I said above, Republicans do not pay Luntz to offer ideas for good policy to help America, rather, Republicans pay Luntz' to devise lies will keep Americans dumb and ignorant to facts on policy. For decades Republicans have paid Frank Luntz to tell them (Republicans) what to say in order to brainwash 'the People' with lies and hate to destroy policy.

Luntz is so good at lying, he even lies to himself. In order to blur reality and not take responsibility for his devising the spread of propaganda through hate and lies Luntz told Matt Lauer

"I focus on words that cause people to change their minds, change their behavior even change their attitudes."

~Frank Luntz 3/2011 in interview with Matt Lauer

No, Luntz is not using words to merely have Americans "change their minds" -- Luntz is using words intentionally to dumb-down Americans and fill them with lies and hate so as to brainwash and program Americans to hate a given policy.

Luntz has been the Republican Hate-Propaganda Minister since at least 1993 and his list of words to stop policies that help America are vast:

Don’t say “oil drilling.” Say “energy independence.”

Don’t say “inheritance tax.” Say “death tax.”

Don't say "Capitalism." Say "Economic Freedom."

Don't say that the government 'taxes the rich.' Say Government "takes from the rich."

Don't admit Lobbyists are Collective Bargainers for Corporations. Say "Union Collective Bargaining steals your tax dollars."

Luntz says people hate government so:

Don’t say “healthcare reform.” Say “government takeover.”

Don't say "Public workers." Call them "Government workers."

For the 2012 election, Frank Luntz is training his failed co-harts in the Republican party on what Luntz says are "the three most powerful words to use" to con people is: "I get it."

Luntz says:

Don't tell Occupy Wall Street "you don't give a shit." Say "I get it."

Don't tell struggling Americans "you're on your own." Say "I get it."

Don't tell Occupy Wall Street "you should protest Wall Street." Say "You should occupy the White House."

Yes, it is true, the House Republican Leaders: Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy met in secret and plotted to sabotage and undermine the US Economy ... I call them TRAITORS TO AMERICA.

So, the next time you hear the GOP say "Obama wants to destroy the economy" or "Government Shutdown" ... remember ... as Newt Gingrich said after their four hour dinner on January 20, 2009 "You’ll remember this as the day the seeds of 2012 were sown."

To Translate GINGRICH:
"You'll remember this day as they day we became Traitors to the United States."

My hope is that Americans and all members of Congress are reminded via twitter, facebook and all other forms of media over and over and over:
Republican Leaders in Congress literally plotted to sabotage the US Economy on January 20, 2009.

[Gravitymaster 0]

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Typical liberal B. S. Please get over yourselves.

Oh, the conspiracy runs deeper than even the most enlightened lefty knows.......

What REALLY happened is Bush crashed the economy in order for his oil rich buddies to make $ billions. Then the RNC ran McCain, knowing he would lose and Obama would win. Then the plot was to blame Obama for everything and then run Romney, an obvious Wall Street insider for President in 2012. Pure Genius. Damn Republicans are smart.

[kelpdiver 2]

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Frank Luntz, like many Hate-Propaganda Ministers, loathes the notion of honesty in debate. Also, like many Hate-Propaganda Ministers, Frank Luntz wants total control ... total control even it if means destroying America. So, Luntz uses the tactics similar to Joseph Goebbels: spread hate, lies and fear in order to gain control. (More on Frank Luntz at the end of this Diary).

such dramatics, like he's one of a kind, and only on the GOP side.

We're talking about a spin doctor, and btw, one that has repeatedly appeared on the Colbert Show in the award winning segments around the SuperPac.

[skypuppy 1]

yup -reads like a real un-biased article... Ya gots me convinced....

If some old guy can do it then obviously it can't be very extreme. Otherwise he'd already be dead.
Bruce McConkey 'I thought we were gonna die, and I couldn't think of anyone

[ShcShc11 0]

lol.

All these political fights are so funny.

Cheers!
Shc

[funjumper101 15]

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yup -reads like a real un-biased article... Ya gots me convinced....

As usual with Right Wing Conservatives, the fingers are in the ears and the NANANANNA sounds show the real thought processes - Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!!

[Gravitymaster 0]

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yup -reads like a real un-biased article... Ya gots me convinced....

As usual with Right Wing Conservatives, the fingers are in the ears and the NANANANNA sounds show the real thought processes - Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!!

Sounds to me like a delusional lefty who wrote an article without a shred of evidence nor a fact to back up anything.

[jgoose71 0]

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yup -reads like a real un-biased article... Ya gots me convinced....

As usual with Right Wing Conservatives, the fingers are in the ears and the NANANANNA sounds show the real thought processes - Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!!!

Sounds to me like a delusional lefty who wrote an article without a shred of evidence nor a fact to back up anything.

The funny part is Frank Luntz is one of the few people around that are trying to have an honest debate.

He is the author of the book "What the people really want, really" and has put together many panels of people from the north, south, left, right, democrat, republican, white, black Hispanic, Asian, etc, etc, etc.... Just to ask general questions to poll people on what is actually going through their minds without the media filter.

If you have ever watched him, you would know this is full of crap. Since the article isn't referenced, I can only assume it's more Alternet crap.

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything

[rushmc 18]

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There are certainly republicans here who rejoice every time a bad economic report comes out.

Who?

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[wmw999 2,121]

Now do you understand what some of the BS from-the-right articles sound like too?

A one-sided view can sound reasonable if you look at things from that side, but responsible reading requires that you consider other sides for important issues.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Gravitymaster 0]

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There are certainly republicans here who rejoice every time a bad economic report comes out.

Who?

That's what I'd like to know, too. Most Republicans on here get pissed off the economy isn't doing well. I haven't seen anyone "Rejoicing". That's exactly why we need a change of leadership. I'm not even so convinced that someone like Romney has the answers either but I do know the path we are on isn't working. Obama needs to understand where the Buck stops. Fair or not, it's on him now.

[rushmc 18]

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There are certainly republicans here who rejoice every time a bad economic report comes out.

Who?

That's what I'd like to know, too. Most Republicans on here get pissed off the economy isn't doing well. I haven't seen anyone "Rejoicing". That's exactly why we need a change of leadership. I'm not even so convinced that someone like Romney has the answers either but I do know the path we are on isn't working. Obama needs to understand where the Buck stops. Fair or not, it's on him now.

Democrats can not accept the fact that people may just not agree with them

There must be some evil reason because no one can dare disagree with them because they feel their logic is flawless

So, since no one can honestly disagree with them, there must be some evil reason

And now, this time, that reason (in their minds) is we got to get rid of this democrat that is a black man out of office. Even if it destroys the economy

And everything else is Bush's fault

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln