What was that $800 Billion for again?

". . . in Brazil, India, China, Japan and much of Continental Europe the recession has ended. In the second quarter this year, both the French and German economies grew by 0.3 percent, while the U.S. economy shrank by 1 percent. How can that be? Unlike America, France and Germany had no government stimulus worth speaking of, the Germans declining to go the Obama route on the quaint grounds that they couldn't afford it . . . And yet their recession has gone away. Of the world's biggest economies, only the U.S., Britain and Italy are still contracting. All three are big stimulators, though Gordon Brown and Silvio Berlusconi can't compete with Obama's $800 billion porkapalooza. The president has borrowed more money to spend to less effect than anybody on the planet."

I got an idea. Maybe tying up $800 Billion in capital on delayed projects, breeding uncertainty with trillion dollar health reforms, proposing tax increases, and massive energy taxes in the form of carbon credit schemes isn't such a great idea to stimulate the economy. You know maybe. I would have more sympathy if the stimulus bill didn't flagrantly violate Obama's own economic adviser's (Larry Summers) stimulus parameters timely, targeted, and temporary.

Horrifyingly bad intervew.

Worst interviewer in the world:



Dan's two cents: Yikes, it's like a liberal Sean Hannity: Typical incendiary political commentator trading content with substance for ratings. This practice of using rhetoric to discredit dissenting points of view is why Washington is so utterly broken. Enough with political posturing, and lets work to find solutions that we can agree on. Say it with me now... COMPROMISE.

Caleb's follow up: Perfect analogy Dan. Unfortunately there are some issues upon which there is no agreement that can be reached. For instance. If the goal is, at least, a first step towards inevitable single payer health coverage (aka the government option) then there can be no compromise. But, if your goal is to improve health coverage then there can be some agreement. If your goal is controlling health care costs then there can be compromise. Clearly as always our political classes goal is not the national good, but the good of the party.