Video: “Administration’s Mulligan”
posted at 8:16 am on February 11, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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I got a couple of e-mails expressing surprise that Brian Williams would go after Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, but after looking at it, it’s less than you’d think. Williams asks Geithner to respond to the remarks on Capitol Hill that he’s Barack Obama’s Mulligan — the one mistake on which they gave the new administration a pass. He does no follow-up, though, which makes Williams’ next question highly ironic:
Williams wants to know if Geithner — the tax evader! — thinks CEOs should go to jail for their economic choices over the last few years? How can Geithner make that case, after evading taxes for years? If anyone deserves a little time in the cooler, it was the man across from Williams, and the man Williams let off the hook far too easily in this interview.
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Tom-
Your guy won, as he keeps telling us, and as we know (although why he keeps campaigning is another question.) So you must be ecstatic with what’s happening, and the exciting direction in which the country is going. It sounds snarky, but not intended to be. So other than to exercise the old gray cells (which is fine,) what is the point of coming to a righty site to debate these topics? I can understand it if your party is out of power, but now? Truly, what does it matter much what we think of your guy?
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Hahaha…twit? You have no idea, but, at least, I got you off of your wide-eyed innocence act. Kind of makes everything you say meaningless. Pathetic, you don’t even believe the things you say and you can’t come here honestly and say them. I’m happy I’m not you.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 10:15 AM
If genso wanted to argue that the debate over whether an effective fiscal stimulus is even possible still rages, he (she?) would be correct. That’s a fact. Economists still debate these things, with good arguments made on both sides.
My chief qualm has been the unfocused nature of the proposals, and the sense that many in Congress looked at this bill the way the drug-addicted prisoners in “Oz” did when a new shipment arrived: “Everybody’s gonna get healthy.”
It’s tended to the orgiastic rather than the systematic, in other words.
DrSteve on February 11, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Truly, what does it matter much what we think of your guy?
No, not really. And you may have noticed I haven’t been on here much lately. Partly because of being busy and partly because I think there should be criticism of any administration.
I think this whole thing about still going after Geithner is borders more on trying to undermine the administration instead of attempting to work with it.
Tom_Shipley on February 11, 2009 at 10:19 AM
“Higher quality of basic judgement” from the guy who oversaw the banks that melted down….
Epic Fail.
Romeo13 on February 11, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Yeah, I did. You’re right.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I imagine you’d agree, though, that if we observe a consistent trend where the market expresses a lack of confidence in Geithner, he needs to go, right?
DrSteve on February 11, 2009 at 10:23 AM
I (he) am of the same view as espoused by Mark Sanford. More money (their own hard-earned money) given back to the people to decide how to spend it. I also believe that pain will have to come, regardless of the approach. Take the pain and move on. What we have had for the past year or more is ling chi, death by a thousand cuts.
But any thought of the process must take into account the endgame and I believe that Obama does not intend to return this economy to a free, market-based economy. Also, the government can not be the guarantor of success.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 10:26 AM
We’re not Democrats – we won’t try to lose a war in order to harm our political opponents.
I’d be happy as hell if this loopy scheme worked, just like I’d be happy if the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series this year.
But wanting ain’t getting, and I’m thinking the economy is going to perform about as well as the Pirates will this summer, no thanks to this useless Bill.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 10:28 AM
I imagine you’d agree, though, that if we observe a consistent trend where the market expresses a lack of confidence in Geithner, he needs to go, right?
Well, I don’t think we should rely solely on what the markets to on days Geithner speaks to judge his performance (remember, it spiked when he was announced, so he’s even right now, right?), no. And I think we’re what? Three weeks into the new administration? Yes, Obama faces an immediate problem which will accelerate judgment on him, but let’s give them somewhat of a chance to succeed first.
Tom_Shipley on February 11, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Now I get it. I thought that government intervention prolonged the great depression in the 30’s and the lost decade in Japan. But I got it all wrong. The problem in those two instances was that the government did not intervene enough. They needed to intervene more swiftly and more assertively.
These guys are government intervention trooffers!
tommylotto on February 11, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Shush. It’s a secret.
In a capitalist system, no. In a socialist system, it’s not even the goal.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Obama was in Congress for 4 years and running for president for 2. He then surrounded himself, by his description, the smartest people available, including and especially Geithner who has been in the mix for at least 4 years himself. He has a completely compliant Congress to work with and needs bi-partisanship merely to give himself cover. One would think he would be pretty much “up” on everything on Jan 20. He has stumbled and misled from day one. Are you serious?
genso on February 11, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Tom, we don’t share his goals. We don’t trust he wants to “succeed” in the way we define success. I’m sure you could have said very much the same about Bush. You’re asking for people with two competing ideologies to give them up and agree. It’s not logical. To say it’s for the sake of the country doesn’t work either. His failure saves the country imo. I think the wheels were set in motion as a result of the left’s and the media’s never ending opposition to all things Bush. It’s probably too late to stop the train.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:37 AM
In Tom’s world, he will get his revenge by us having to report to him.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 10:39 AM
I think Tom’s world exists in many countries. I suspect he thinks the modern European socialist state is a good idea. I don’t even want to argue whether it’s a good idea or not. I’d just like to know if there’s going to be anyplace left for people like us here who don’t want that?
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I agree. I have been building investments in Asia for many reasons, that among them. I will begin to worry when the talk of closing the borders comes up. Until then, its a good fight to make.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I still want to know if Mr. Shipley is a tax payer…
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 10:54 AM
ditto.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 10:56 AM
Are you from Jiangxi?
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Who’s the guy to Brit’s left, just off most camera angles, but they do catch him once or twice?
Is this tg’s lawyer? Since when do sitting administration officials have their lawyer present for one on one interviews about policy?
Who is that guy, what’s his name, title and portfolio?
Thanks for any info.
Jason Coleman on February 11, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Tom-
All tax cuts are not equal. You’re absolutely right about the tax cuts failing a year ago. This is just more of the same. Rebates for people who dont pay taxes. Theyll blow in on a Wii and that will be that.
What the GOP wants is to inspire investment across the board. Besides $20 billion in corporate tax cuts, the plan offers nothing but welfare and spending projects which wont come in any significant size until 2011.
Thats whats shameful.
Chuck Schick on February 11, 2009 at 11:03 AM
To say it’s for the sake of the country doesn’t work either. His failure saves the country imo.
Fine.
I think the wheels were set in motion as a result of the left’s and the media’s never ending opposition to all things Bush. It’s probably too late to stop the train.
You might want to try going a little further back than that. At least Dems attacked the president for misleading us into an unnecessary war, not for getting a BJ.
And no, I don’t want the US to become a socialist state. I like capitalism. Like the competition and innovation is promotes. But, as I said before and as Obama states, government intervention is probably necessary here (and I say probably only because no one really knows what the answer is) to avoid a long economic downturn that will have real, negative results for millions of Americans.
The idea that this is the first step to turning America into a socialist state. I think this is a extraordinary step need to stave off a deeper economic crisis.
Tom_Shipley on February 11, 2009 at 11:09 AM
My kids were born there :)
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 11:12 AM
At one point, Tom claimed to work as a professional writer. This was just before claiming that how he writes his posts has no importance because “it’s just the internet.” From that point on I decided that WHAT he posts has no importance because he didn’t care enough to construct his posts carefully.
It looks like he’s being a lot more careful to write correctly now. Unfortunately, it hasn’t improved his message.
James on February 11, 2009 at 11:15 AM
At least that’s your talking point and you’re sticking to it. And I don’t believe that you like capitalism. Nothing you’ve said supports that assertion. Also “probably necessary” isn’t good enough. One could equally argue that “probably unnecessary” is more apt and the upside would be an assurance that government would not grow. Give us that and then talk about getting behind your One.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:15 AM
This never stopped the Democrats and liberals from stabbing Bush in the back constantly. Not to be petty, but why should you expect us to “work toward a solution” (which means, go with *your* solution) when your guy is in charge?
The basic principle here is that our ideologies differ. You think that the government **must** provide help for the people, while history has shown NUMEROUS times that this methodology will not only -not- work, but will actually hurt the economy and drag us into a deeper and more prolonged recession/depression. For two notable examples, look at the 1930s in the US and at Japan in recent decades. Obama got it wrong both times, it wasn’t that the “stimulus” packages (or the New Deal) wasn’t aggressive enough or large enough, its that it made things worse and prolonged the economic woes (FDR was lucky we got into WWII or we would have possibly never become the economic super machine that led the world).
When will you Democrats learn (or care?) that socialism is a recipe for failure? Why do you keep espousing big government and government ‘helping’ the people? The free market has shown that it works extraordinarily well on every level especially in an environment of individual rights. Why would you ever *trust* the government (The Man) to do anything well or be efficient or be concerned with the rights of the individual or to even be ethical? It is inevitably inefficient, corrupt and self-serving in not only preserving itself, but in growing to unsustainable limits and removing individual rights in exchange for the “good of all” (fallacy).
– National healthcare
– Nation bailouts (oh, that makes sense, pay money to bailout failed business plans so that they keep doing the same ol’ same ol’ and then debate about it)
– Big Business = evil
– Unions = good
– Help the poor (thereby insuring that they will never “need” to help themselves)
There is just some much that is wrong with American liberalism, that is especially harmful during economic times. The ONLY solution that Democrats have is to spend more money and grow government bigger. We are all doomed with you in charge, we don’t have to “let him have a chance” to know that where we’re going, we’ll never come back from. America as we knew it is going to be gone forever and it will be the fault of RINOs and Liberals…
Congratulations on being on the winning team that took down America. No one else could have done it, it had to be an inside job.
Geministorm on February 11, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Personally(and I’m not trying to impose this on you,) I’m a bit tired of arguing the merits of the competing views and I’m tired of the bickering. I wish we(the collective “we”) could find a way to go our separate ways in peace.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
That’s a damnable lie, they had access to the exact same evidence the President had. Democrats had been blathering about getting rid of Saddam for years due to the danger of his regime to US interests and due to his repeated violation of the cease fire that paused the first Gulf War.
Democrats just never had the testicles to actually do it.
All these calls for “bi-partisanship” are all prefaced with childish, easily disproven slander of the Republicans. Can’t see why that isn’t working.
NoDonkey on February 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Good that you wear that proudly. I’ve only been to Shenzhen and Lijiang, myself. Wouldn’t mind Lijiang if I felt I had to back.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:18 AM
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Yeah… Seriously folks. The fox is in the hen house, now let’s blindly support him… Spits /sarc
RalphyBoy on February 11, 2009 at 11:18 AM
I agree. My blood pressure has gone up over this. I can deal with the market collapse. I just don’t like anyone telling me what to do and stealing my money on top of it. Leave us alone and let us work it out.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:20 AM
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It looks like he is checking off boxes on a checklist.
RalphyBoy on February 11, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Gentelmen, come to Shanghai!
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 11:27 AM
The lights of my life. Lijiang huh. Never been to that part of China, but would like to see the Li River area near Guilin. Would also love to see Burma, but not now. Shenzhen is too crazy. How about Dalian, or Xiamen, or maybe Kaohsiung in Taiwan? Also, know what you mean about the blood pressure.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I have a friend there, in fact and have that invitation. Have the visa restrictions eased? Several years ago, I got one on the Hong Kong border. Last fall, all I could get was a 30 day and then the market collapse forced me to cancel my plans.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Soup dumplings! Yum.
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 11:36 AM
And that is precisely the point. Liberals are free marketing idiots, they just don’t get it. Like Obama just didn’t get it when Clinton explained to him that cutting taxes actually increases tax revenues. To recover, all one needs to do is to do NOTHING. The market is not only self correcting, but fluctuates constantly, just like our climate and we *expect* to have recessions. While there may be down periods, there will also be corresponding up periods. But it is proven that the economy will trend upwards at a very nice pace. Look at the downturn when we had the Dot.com drop in 1999-2000, there was a massive adjustment to the bloat of the market and guess what….IT ADJUSTED ITSELF…which is another point, the free market cannot be *controlled* by government or by definition it is no longer “free”. In this case, the term “free” means “freedom”, as in, its left free to run on its own. Interference (like what the CRA, Fannie & Freddie did to the housing market) is a guarantee that it will disrupt the system negatively. But, liberals either can’t accept that premise or actively pursue its disruption.
American liberals (are they nihilists too?) seem to have a drive to destroy society through the elimination of individual freedoms and liberty. It is as if they are so afraid of individual failure that they want ‘mommy and daddy’ to do all their thinking for them and tell them what to do and then couple that with the belief that no one else should be more successful than them and add a tinge of guilt that someone might be less successful than them…it is an idiot’s viewpoint, and this type of sheeple (sheep+people) deserve to be enslaved (which they are under a socialist state).
But, you go on…keep giving up your freedoms and rights to your beloved leader. In the end, it will be too late to have remorse, because you NEVER gets freedoms back when they are given up, not only freely, but willingly.
God help us.
Geministorm on February 11, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Dalian is a nice place. It’s got clean air and even some green around. Good seafood too. Xiamen can get pretty dusty.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I have a friend in Yangshuo who insists on sending pictures. Really beautiful place.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:41 AM
You know what this whole thing reminds me of?
When my daughter made “friends” with a little girl that I knew was a back stabbing little bee-I-tee-cee-h. I tried to warn my daughter, but she wouldn’t listen to me until she discovered her “friends” making fun of her in the bathroom behind her back for something they talked her into.
Well, I see these socialists in government that are smooth talking the idiots that their liberal education system have dumbed down into accepting giving up their freedoms because of this “emergency”. Its all so very sad.
Exit Question #1 (to liberals): What happens if (when) the “stimulus” package doesn’t work? We’ll be in deeper debt, and no recovery to pay off the “temporary” indebtedness.
Exit Question #2 (to liberals): If this is the only solution that the Democrats have for the current “crisis”, do you believe that the stimulus packages will ever stop being requested? How far into national debt do we need to go before someone finally says, “STOP!”?
.
Geministorm on February 11, 2009 at 11:47 AM
It was adifficult to get visas in the period prior to the Olympics, but shouldn’t be a problem now.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Good to know. I might need one soon. I’d rather go to Japan, but citizenship and long-term visas are a problem. China was always my backup until the visa restrictions last summer. Are you there for the future?
genso on February 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Funny you should mention that. The town was written up in the Saturday, Jan. 31 WSJ in their travel column. I gave it to a friend of mine who is leaving for China soon. They have a folk theater where a cast of 600 appear to be walking on the river(actually on low boats) with 12 illuminated limestone peaks as the backdrop. Is supposed to be quite a sight. I would love to go there. Hope you visit your friend!
JiangxiDad on February 11, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Fair enough. For future reference, what level of criminal activity should be allowed for an incoming administration? Anything under a Felony? Oops, Tax Evasion is a felony… in any crime including a felony? Can we at least make a requirement that the crime be non-violent?
I’m just wondering where the line is supposed to be drawn. If Obama’s next cabinet pick is then shown to have beaten hobos to death, is it allowable to criticize, or is that a distraction?
I wish I were cool enough to be able to willfully commit felonies and never be charged. That would be cool. But at least we know from Obama there aren’t two sets of rules, his cabinet just gets to commit felonies with no charges.
Wait, does that mean I can commit felonies with no charges since we all have the same rules now? Hmm, which one should I try first?
gekkobear on February 11, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Japan is nice, I lived there from ages 22 ~ 30 and my daughter was born there. It really feels like home whenever I visit. But it’s going socialist.
China, while still nominally Communist is generally heading towards capitalism at a fast pace. I’ve been here just over 3 years. I’d like to retire back to the US in 10 ~ 20 years, but for now I’m in China. I enjoy the “living on an alien planet” aspect.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Thanks and good luck to you, too.
You may find the “alien planet” here in 10 years. Sorry to hear that about Japan. From the reports I get, they seem to have learned their lesson over the last 15 years about too much government. Hard to know the truth from here, I suppose.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 12:06 PM
This is the party that thought it was okay for Clinton to grope women uninvited, and then got defensive when he was questioned about it, and then got indignant when he was impeached for lying about it under oath. Nothing new here.
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Side thought… I can’t decide if he reminds me of Pinky… or the Brain. Perhaps a hybrid of both. But it is funnier to think of Obama as Pinky, and this evil wannabe as the Brain… “Same thing we do every day Pinky… Try to take over the world!”
RalphyBoy on February 11, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Right, so can anyone tell me how blowing money on a snow-making machine for northern Minnesota and putting in seven dog parks in the Twin Cities is going to stave off a deeper economic crisis? Tom seems to have this spending thing all figured out so I would really like to know how things like this are going to lift the whole country out of the financial doo-doo we are in. Anyone?
rightthinkr on February 11, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I was in the US for a week in mid-November. It was only my second trip back in 3 years, the first being in May. It still seemed like America to me, and I enjoyed it. Yes, America faces a huge challenge with an Obama presidency, but I believe it will survive. Somehow it always does.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
WOW…Rush is taking it up a notch today.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I know you keep up with whats happening here by your presence on HotAir, still, things are changing in a hurry. I hope you’re right. As in all things, time will tell.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Tuning in the stream – thanks for the hint
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Before you got on, he was ranting about how the conservatives were going to exact revenge against the left when we took back power in government. He said, “we’re taking names” or some thing along those lines. I don’t listen every day, but it surprised me.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I missed that part. I haven’t listened to him regulary since he was on KVI 570 in the Seattle area years ago. I just looked for and found a reliable internet stream after Obama’s recent attacks.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 12:51 PM
I’m a little surprised that Rush, and political talk radio, is not filtered there.
genso on February 11, 2009 at 12:55 PM
The filtering isn’t as extensive or effective as it made out to be. I can hear Rush on 780 KKOH stream no problem. I get on HA without needing proxies or VPN either.
DarkCurrent on February 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM
Let’s face the truth. What Congress is doing right now is mortgaging the future to pay for present sins. Too many of the current crop of Americans have been immoral, selfish and greedy. Too many of them have supported and followed leaders who enabled behavior that screwed the proverbial economic pooch. Now they want to be rescued from their own greed and stupidity. This is a pay me now or pay me later moment in history. Since the current generation doesn’t want to be held responsible for their own sins, they are hoping to transfer accountability to future generations. They figure that they won’t be around when the shit hits the fan. Frankly, I hope that the Democrat/Obama plan totally fails. Most Americans deserve to reap the consequences of their frivolous choices. I realize that many Americans who didn’t participate in the economic orgy will also suffer (me included), but current Americans need to learn something from this debacle. Future Americans should not be required to pay for current sins.
NuclearPhysicist on February 11, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I am left to point out that the “Mulligan” anaolgy doesnt work here.
A Mulligan in golf means that if you screw up a tee shot, you take another one (against the rules) in the hopes of improving it. In my neighborhood, we call these “Goldstiens.” Its a “do-over” not a “get a pass” situation.
Geithner is not a Mulligan. Daschle and Richardson are Mulligans, people who were tee’d up and launched, only to land in the water hazard. Obama’s Mulligans for Daschle and Richardson will be the follow-up nominees for the posts they screwed themselves out of by dint of their corruptocratic ways.
Again, Taxcheat Tim is NOT a Mulligan. He might be an “improve your lie, Judge,” situation, but he aint no mf Mulligan.
And youre only “allowed” one Mulligan per round anyway.
And no its not in the rule book, coz in real golf youre never allowed a Mulligan.
Here endeth the lesson
Mike D. on February 11, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Let’s hope so, Tom. I don’t like their solutions and don’t want them able to implement them.
Alana on February 11, 2009 at 3:09 PM
I’m not the administrations anything, and certainly not Barack Obama’s.
Mulligan on February 11, 2009 at 3:32 PM
This is such a load of crap.
People overborrowed, housing bubble pops.
People can’t pay inflated mortgages, no flips, foreclosure.
Banks out of capital because the houses return to their books.
Foreclosures cause bad credit.
Credit tightens, no loans for houses.
Value tanks.
Tighter credit.
No car buying.
People’s credit gets worse.
Govt ‘infuses’ capital to banks that must increase borrower requirements that people can’t make because they can’t make payments.
Qualified borrowers dry up. No sales. Jobs lost as companies cut back because they work by borrowing money.
NOW: IF the ’stimulus’ is enough to pay 90% of mortgages in US, pay 90% of all the mortgages in the US. Banks get their capital back and can lend, people can sell their houses and buy new ones, and we can start all over and play again in 10-15years.
Stupid, I know.
TinMan13 on February 11, 2009 at 7:03 PM
Did someone Shop that photo of Timmy?
He looks like the very embodiment of a DEMON.
Look at those ears…and the eyebrows. WAY weird.
seejanemom on February 11, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Oh this little weasle is a nice piece of work. He has the look of a sneak and a real crook which he developed over his crooked lifetime. I’d like to see this clown thrown out and put behind bars.
johnnyU on February 12, 2009 at 8:28 AM
The stimulus bill is a Trojan Horse for the Socialist Coup that Barry’s handlers (such as Soros) picked him to carry out…it’s so big that it’s impossible to know what’s in it AND it distracts from things like installing the census in the WH, yet it funds all the things the ruling elite have been slobbering over for years, but haven’t been able to get.
Kiss your country goodbye folks. Not enough people will inform themselves and get proactive to be able to do anything to stop this. The Obama Nation is being installed, forever.
Christine on February 12, 2009 at 12:46 PM
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