Meet George W. Obama
President Obama warned voters against "going back to the failed policies of the past decade." Um, as Ted Balaker points out at reason.tv, there's no going back to the failed policies of the Bush-Obama era...because we never left them:
Balaker writes:
Check out the record: George W. Bush backed bank bailouts; Obama backed bank bailouts. Bush bailed out automakers; Obama bailed out automakers. Bush signed a stimulus package; Obama signed a stimulus package. Bush vowed to clean up Wall Street by passing a package of complex financial regulations; So did Obama. Bush championed a massive new health care entitlement; so did Obama. Bush spent like mad, and so did Obama.At a rally in Minnesota President Obama explained that "the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." What's madder still is doing the same thing over and over--and doing it on a bigger scale--and expecting different results. Take spending increases. Obama rips Bush for "turning record surpluses into record deficits," even though Obama's spending record tops Bush who topped every president since Lyndon Johnson. And from stimulus packages to health care entitlements, Obama's strategy is to take a bad Bush policy and make it worse.
Of course, there are areas where the two presidents really have governed differently, and Obama amplifies those while stumping for fellow Democrats (Tax the rich!). Some stump speech applause lines seem to rely mostly on audience ignorance. (Attention rally attendees: Bush did not cut education funding. He increased it by 58 percent.) And from deficits to the drug war to pork politics, you won't find much change to believe in.
That's Einstein's definition of insanity, or a paraphrase of it.
I'd like to remind some of our good friends in Massachusetts of that, since they sent their good ol' boy, Barney Frank[ly disgusting] to do some more damage. At what point do the good people of Newton decide ENOUGH!? How much trouble does he get to cause before they reign him in?
Seriously, is there something in the water of Massachusetts? Something has got to be happening there. I mean, they gave us Ted Kennedy, ad nauseum. As if leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to drown isn't sufficient to warn us that we're dealing with an amoral, self-centered pragmatist, he also chose to give his ringing endorsement to Obama over Hilary. Good job, backstabber.
Patrick at November 3, 2010 4:05 AM
Massachusetts is insane. I don't know if it's the water, but anyone who enthusiastically votes for their own taxation as often as they do has serious mental issues.
momof4 at November 3, 2010 5:56 AM
Wait, is Obama the second coming of Mao or the second coming of Bush? I'm confused.
Christopher at November 3, 2010 9:32 AM
The more I hear Obama talk, the sicker the guy makes me. Last week campaigning for other Democrats he said we must take it to our enemies (Republicans. Remember the guy was suppossed to be a uniter and bipartisan. Today after the landslide Republican/Tea Party victory he was a lot more contrite. Today he said ' We haven't done enough. I've heard the American people and we need to work harder. Also last week people weren't smart enough to understand him.
Sounds like he is starting to understand that the American people aren't that stupid and you can't treat them that way.
David M. at November 3, 2010 2:20 PM
The thing the GOP has to remember, and I say this as someone who identifies with them, is (as I've seen a blogger put it today): It's not so much that you won as it is that the Democrats lost. If we blow this chance, what just happened could happen to us in 2012. And if that happens, it's hello third party! Hell, if that happens, I'll join the third party at that point. Time to put up or shut up.
Cousin Dave at November 3, 2010 6:03 PM
All I want is that Congress and the President be required to fit any legislation, department, etc. they pass into the Constitution before it is passed.
DOMA is not constitutional.
Technically ROE v. Wade isn't a Constitutional issue.
The interstate does not constitute postal roads.
Where is the Dept of Ed in the constitution?
What about the Dept of Energy?
How does Obamacare fit under the 10th -- it is compelling you to buy health insurance -- but I can't buy insurance in California to cover me in Ohio.
What about the national parks -- are they listed?
The steroid inquiry in MLB -- show me that?
Speaking of which -- why does MLB have an anti-trust exemption from the DOJ? If they can't compete -- screw-off!
I won't say that there is no reason for some fed regulation of stuff that isn't in the Constitution. But it then should have been added to the Constitution if they want to regulate it.
We are now at the point that the fall of the republic. We need to get away from the bread and circuses and get to the point that we hold the politicians to the litmus test: Is this in the Constitution? The day that happens I think things will get better -- not great -- but better?
Jim P. at November 3, 2010 8:46 PM
Jim,
I think there should be some kind of mandate, that the President, and members of Congress should also NOT be allowed to be exempt from any legislation passed. Add in 1 item per bill as well.
Steve at November 4, 2010 9:49 AM
I agree with Steve about not allowing Pres and Congress to be exempt from legislation. They should have to live weith their own rules.
KrisL at November 4, 2010 7:33 PM
Steve -- I agree.
Eat your own dog food.
As for one item per bill:
Unfortunately the budget has become a Christmas tree bill.
So many other bills have become multi-item tragedies because of the bureaucracy that has spawned from the legitimate (and over-reaching semi-legitimate) agencies.
I can't argue we need the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in some fashion. (Even transitioned to a total private organization.) But if you make a change to the FAA limits, you also effect the DOT and the NTSB. You can also have effects on the FCC, the EPA, the TSA, the NWS. You can also tweak/twitch the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and NASA as well. Not to mention every single private and public airport in the U.S.
Tweak the U.S. Coast Guard -- a very legitimate Constitutional organization -- you have to also tweak the other armed services (USAF, Army, Navy/Marines). But did you know that there are more uniformed services? Did you know that NOAA, the Border Patrol, the Department of Public Health (i.e. CDC) could drive up to the gate at any military base and just "drive" through? So you may also have to tweak the DHS, CDC and the the rest.
(Check out: Federal law enforcement in the United States.)
This all boils down to the fact that the U.S. Government has become a hydra -- cutting it back to the founders intent will take a generation. Either that or we need to scrap it and start over.
Jim P. at November 4, 2010 8:43 PM
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