This latest clash between the Democratic Party and the Aristocratic Party is mind boggling. (I call the Republican party that because that is what it has become). Raise the debt ceiling? Of course. Raise taxes on the top? Of course. Like we have a choice.
Read my lips: we are still in this deep hole because of the Bush era tax cuts, Bush era financial deregulation, Bush era warmongering and Bush era warmongering without raising taxes -- something no president, not even George H Bush, had ever done before. Stupid and greedy. Allowing the Bush'-Cheney mistakes to fester is simply no longer an option.
As pointed out by President Obama, spending cuts are necessary. But reversing the Republican mistakes is imperative now. I'm glad Obama is finally framing the debate correctly. Re-instituting the pre Bush era tax bracket for zillionaires is a no brainer and gutting loopholes for oil companies is long overdue. Republican policies caused our dilemma and can't cure our dilemma. Why is there even a debate?
The average American has shouldered the bill for Bush aristocrats, corporate crooks, outsourcing multinationals and government bailout receipients disproportionately for more than a decade. There's nothing left -- no jobs, no equity. The Aristocratic Party is delusional thinking it can extend those tax cuts indefinitely.
And Obama is delusional thinking that cooperation and compromise is possible. The Republican war on the middle class and the poor is getting worse, not better, and will continue unabashed. It is now systemic, and a core principle of the Republican Party. If the U.S. credit rating does in fact get downgraded by Moody's and S&P (whose opinion, by the way, should matter little to anyone paying attention), all of us will pay, but especially the Aristicrats. Are the leading Republicans thinking clearly on this?
Do we know how much money George W Bush and Dick Cheney (and the rest of that 2 percent) personally amassed during the Republican reign? I don't know, but maybe enough to resolve the debt question :) Remember all those no-bid Halliburton contracts? Breaks to big oil? Why are we still debating these matters.
Obama made a big mistake trying to compromise with the Republicans during his first term. He had a clear mandate, and overwhelming power to execute on the wishes of the American people. Now he knows that strategy won't work. And he'll have his second chance. The interests of the Aristocratic party are no longer obscured by plausible rhetoric that once mollified the underlings.
They've attacked the unions, the old, the sick and the poor. Attempting to take away social security benefits from the masses and war weary veterans while insisting on continued tax cuts for the rich? Is Boehner stoned?
The Republican Party spent our nation to ruin. It is true that some of those tea partyers led by Republican lobbyist FreedomWorks will never grasp reality, and will vote for the Aristocrats. But a good number of those fooled before won't be fooled again. Efforts to take away collective bargaining rights, social security and veterans benefits from the real producers of our country makes the Republicans far more transparent and vulnerable.
My bet? The phenomenon of the Reagan Democrat will come to an end and Republicans will pay big in the 2012 elections.
