Quotes of the day
posted at 10:35 pm on March 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
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“In the midst of this bonfire of inanities, President Obama is pressing ahead with a $3.6 trillion budget, predicated on utterly unrealistic economic growth, even as the Congressional Budget Office is now projecting that this year’s deficit will soar past $1.8 trillion, 13 percent of the US economy. This would amount, as the Washington Post reports, to ‘the deepest well of red ink since the end of World War II.’ According to the Post, the CBO is warning, ominously, that the result of this kind of borrowing and spending could lead to an exponentially expanding national debt that would ‘exceed 82 percent of the overall economy by 2019.’”
President Obama came to office proclaiming that he aims to solve problems, not hand them on to our children. Most presidents say that sort of thing. But now we are in very dire straits, and that being the case, he will be held to account. It’s your legacy, sir, and let’s not hear any more about ‘inheriting the crisis.’ You asked for the job. Meanwhile, let us hope that his talent for mastering a sérieux financial crisis are not on a level with the Special Olympians of Wall Street, and Congress.”
***
“Thus, bipartisanship is of little political use to him now. As a rallying cry against the Bush administration, which pulled the policy needle to the right, it was extremely helpful. However, not any more. When the ‘old categories’ suddenly give you an opening, why ‘transcend’ them? Why court the other side, which will only slow you down and moderate your programs? Instead, the politically savvy move is to do exactly what Obama has done: stuff bipartisanship, see how much you can squeeze out of Congress before the next ‘correction,’ and get your name into the history books.
I expect politicians of both parties to do this. Their commitment to bipartisanship is typically situational: they praise it when they’re in the minority, then forget it when they’re in the majority. Of course, Obama promised to be above politics as usual. That’s why he pursued his party’s nomination against Hillary Clinton, whose experience was greater but who had the ‘taint’ of politics on her. Obama didn’t have the taint, and assured us he never would.
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The independents and other assorted fence-sitters will be ‘turned off’ if the Republicans start being mean to the Democrats and probably vote Democrats back into office.
Funny, but it seems the Leftists can be as evil and vindictive as they want and it doesn’t hurt them among these types. I guess the Communists going after rich people and ‘Christianists’ strikes a positive note with the inbet-weenies.
Dr. ZhivBlago on March 24, 2009 at 12:03 AM
That would be $.55 though TARP funds are loaned to AIG meant to be paid back with interest. I am one of those conservatives not all that worked up about the AIG bonuses.
goat on March 24, 2009 at 12:05 AM
I’ve got an idea……….
……… let’s start loaning money to people who can not pay it back under a Liberal Democratic Socialist Engineering Policy that infests and will eventually destroy the Worlds financial institutions and not hold anyone who forced it on the American Taxpayers without their complete knowledge accountable, resulting in the possible destruction of our own society?
Sounds like fun…………..
……….. who’s in?
Seven Percent Solution on March 24, 2009 at 12:05 AM
When that crisis hits, and I think we’re all in agreement it will, it won’t make any difference because we’re broke and won’t be able to defend ourselves.
Interesting article for ya Terrye
PBS, Bill Moyers, and AIG
Knucklehead on March 24, 2009 at 12:06 AM
What was the Congressional Budget Office estimate last year (2008)? I looked it up and they had it pegged at 694 billion deficit. So some how they now think it’s going to be 3.6 trillion? Well they missed it by a factor of five! Who can trust any thing that comes out of the government.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/89xx/doc8917/01-23-2008_BudgetOutlook.pdf
SocratesShadow on March 24, 2009 at 12:09 AM
The only thing you have ever posted that made sense…When you come up with something that could summarize every post you’ve ever made…something like inane, unhinged,..ummm…something that a 15 year old girl would do??
Then we will be onto something…
BigWyo on March 24, 2009 at 12:17 AM
Really, it is more of a matter that the Dems have the media making the point for them 24/7 whenever a Republican is even remotely tough on Dems. Take Obama’s gaffe with bowling, you know if Bush had said that it would have been covered on MSNBC et al till your ears bled.
I think the point in the RCP article is important though, Obama has limited time to do what he wants here. People won’t admit they were wrong in their decision to vote for Obama and turn on him in 60 days. I think there are huge cracks happening though and that is way earlier than I expected it. I am just going to blow some sunshine here but he has less time than midterms at the rate he is going. His popularity is his ticket to getting what he wants even from a Democratic Congress. They are the ones who get voted on before him. They will be watching the slips in his popularity more closely than we are here. Pelosi wants to keep her power as much as she wants anything. Someone is going to have to get the jaws of life to extract her from that job.
BTW, french for pussy is obtiens une vie.
msmveritas on March 24, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Thanks Goat. I’m not worked up about the bonus crap either, it’s just a smoke screen. I needed that $.55 number so I can offer it to my moonbat friends when they scream their outrage at me over them.
I’ll just hand them $.55 cents and then ask them for a check for $60,000 for the Obama debt he’s laying on me.
Knucklehead on March 24, 2009 at 12:19 AM
OT: China Takes Aim at Dollar, Urges New Global Currency
FloatingRock on March 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM
This “plan” on the banks is Countrywide all over again. In the end all Obama wants is failure, so he can nationalize the banks. That’s why he has timorous Geithner own it, make the announcements, so if it goes sour he can fire him, and then he himself takes over the banks. Think about it – over 400 banks are on the government’s dole. Very few are not. It’s only a matter of time.
Entelechy on March 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM
The Russians proposed this last week, now the Chinese. Why doesn’t Obama express something to the contrary? Because he agrees.
Entelechy on March 24, 2009 at 12:33 AM
It would help if you point out it will affect them by that amount a year as well, that is if they are coworkers or work for a living.
goat on March 24, 2009 at 12:36 AM
Zogby has Obama polls down to 50-50
msmveritas on March 24, 2009 at 12:47 AM
Great points. I wonder how many of these Dem’s who’s jobs are on the line in 2010 will ask the Boy King to stump for them on the campaign trail or will they get the cold should like the GOP did with Bush?
Knucklehead on March 24, 2009 at 12:49 AM
An unConstitutional waste.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 1:14 AM
And at the Boston Herald link you provided, most said BHO is doing a lousy job. In Boston!
jgapinoy on March 24, 2009 at 1:17 AM
I know Palin will be offended and speak fiercely against the author.
radiofreevillage on March 24, 2009 at 1:21 AM
Another QuikTrip story from my drive home…(I know…ho-hum)…
“That’ll be $7.57″ said the clerk.
“&^^%%#&^$&^#%^$^% why?” said the customer in front of me.
“New cigarette taxes”, replied the clerk.
“For what?!!!!”, the customer asked. Then added……
“They just can’t raise taxes for no reason”
THERE is the Barry voter. That was the fella’s come to Jesus momemt…….
“Well they just did” the clerk told him.
I laughed until I paid $8.35 for a six pack.
Limerick on March 24, 2009 at 1:21 AM
I regard this as whacky and always have, but: One of my relatives was a Catholic nun who predicted her own death (and she died just as she said she would, precisely when she said she would). She made other predictions that came true, and steps to sainthood were begun for her. This was in the 1940s or 50s, I think (I didn’t know her – I just knew about her from my mother, and I’ve seen her picture).
One of the things she predicted was that her convent (in Wisconsin) would be turned into a stable, and that the Chinese would run this country.
I always blew it off (and it would take a lot more for me to believe it than what’s going on), but it’s just weird in the context of this conversation.
capitalist piglet on March 24, 2009 at 1:23 AM
Billionaire Big Bird says: put your money in my tin cup and have a free tote-bag, you meanies.
Feedie on March 24, 2009 at 1:27 AM
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/go-back-into-hiding-gop-begs-dick-cheney-2009-03-23_2.html
barkolounger on March 24, 2009 at 1:30 AM
We couldnt even make it past Monday without Obama blowing his weekly trillion dollars in new spending.
Chuck Schick on March 24, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Yeah, sort of like Carter and Clinton.
Johan Klaus on March 24, 2009 at 1:46 AM
Of all the people to choose from, Obama picks this painfully unpleasant to look at, bumbling creep as a press secretary. And he has the nerve to talk about Limbaugh or Cheney. He isn’t fit to kiss their assets.
capitalist piglet on March 24, 2009 at 1:50 AM
Always wonder at what point do the American populus actually take a stand and retake control of the direction of the United States of America.
heshtesh on March 24, 2009 at 1:51 AM
What…………
………. no takers? How about we spend $17 Trillion Dollars at the problem, and not fix the cause,
……… that should make you feel better.
Come on……
……….. who’s in on this bargain, I’ll even throw in open borders, deal of a life time, right?
Seven Percent Solution on March 24, 2009 at 1:54 AM
……….. who’s in on this bargain, I’ll even throw in open borders, deal of a life time, right?
Seven Percent Solution on March 24, 2009 at 1:54 AM
Do i qualify if i change my nationality from Canadian to Mexican.
heshtesh on March 24, 2009 at 1:59 AM
What don’t you understand about 65% approval ratings?
The ‘populous’ is pretty happy with who the elected less than six months ago and the course he promised.
Despite the wishful thinking and prognostication over the past week about buyers remorse and the sagging numbers they remain rock solid.
How long before you keyboard cowboys get real and drop this revolution nonsense and get to work building a coalition that has a chance of winning in the future.
barkolounger on March 24, 2009 at 2:04 AM
I say he’s a lunatic!
With a nervous tic!
But he’s not all that shrewd
Although at least he’s not lewd
He may be a convict run amok
But not the one you may have thunk
PercyB on March 24, 2009 at 2:04 AM
What’s Zogby set to report tomorrow, do you know? I heard Obama’s approval was tanking down to 50/50. I also read that Bush was in the sixties quite some time after being elected.
I wouldn’t buy any foil-wrapped coins just yet.
capitalist piglet on March 24, 2009 at 2:06 AM
Jeebus Keerist, they let Chris Buckley into Alaska for the iditarod? And they let him leave alive?
All that blubber could have fed several good dogs.
funky chicken on March 24, 2009 at 2:10 AM
Americans have a unique opportunity.
They just need a certain awareness to sink in.
Speakup on March 24, 2009 at 2:15 AM
Buckley’s in a tough spot. Conservatives don’t like him because he was wrong about Obama, and liberals don’t like him because he’s now right about Obama. Fortunately, I’m just fine with him being disliked by everyone.
Jim Treacher on March 24, 2009 at 2:30 AM
Obama’s plan seems to be going full steam ahead, doesn’t it?
He set out to destroy all that he hates, and, by golly, he’s doing it!
OldEnglish on March 24, 2009 at 2:42 AM
Depressions and mass unemployment are not caused by the free market but by government interference in the economy. – Ludwig von Mises
Libertarian Joseph on March 24, 2009 at 4:41 AM
Thats the point.
I think him looking shaky now is just a useful tool to the leftists. It gives a false sense of encouragement to conservatives, that people may be ‘waking up’…but it doesn’t matter. Every single one of the policies and economy ruining expenditures to build the socialist nanny state are passing without a single roadblock. Smooth as silk.
Itchee Dryback on March 24, 2009 at 5:59 AM
It was really difficult to read something from a Buckley which included the lines, “I voted for Obama.” How could relative intelligence take such a dramatic nosedive so very, very fast?
I can’t believe this world. I want to kick this man.
Mommypundit on March 24, 2009 at 6:18 AM
Actually, I’m cynical enough to think the long delay in Timmy unfurling his “plan” is nothing more than clever timing. This week Waxy Pelosi will shove another huge expenditure down our throats and will be able to point to the Dow rally as “see, it’s starting to work…just get out of our way, and nod your head every time we point at you. Thanks, now bend over”
Itchee Dryback on March 24, 2009 at 6:20 AM
lol
RobCon on March 24, 2009 at 7:10 AM
barkolounger:
I understand 65% approval. I also understand 56% approval, 50% approval, 62% approval, 59% approval. All these have been attributed to Obama less than two months since he laid his hand on that bible.
People are still in the blame Bush frame of mind. But that will not last forever.
I for one, do not want to see things really bad. I don’t want the country to suffer and truth be told I doubt if most Obamabots will even blame him. It will still be Bush’s fault.
However, if people start to hear grumbling from the high and mighty who helped build Obama up in the first place then there might be some waffling by midterm.
Terrye on March 24, 2009 at 7:14 AM
I agree completely. So many of these “sophisticated” people, Noonan included, seemed to jump on the obama boat without a second thought. Simply because he was so cool, calm and collected.
Now they realize they were wrong??? Too late, as far as I’m concerned. These people lost all credibility with me just before the election. I completely don’t care what they have to say at this “after the fact” hour.
Their words helped sway thousands to vote FOR obama and against Palin (because they opined she was unintelligent). The only way I’ll take the Buckleys and Noonans seriously again is if they publicly come out and apologize to Palin, and come out loud and strong and unapologetically against obama.
ErinF on March 24, 2009 at 7:15 AM
Obama realized bi-partisanship didn’t work when he got zero votes for the stimulus with House gop members.He thought “you wanta play hardball?” So now with his big majorities he will ram his policies thru. As Sean Hanitty has cried for years….elections have consequences. The party of NO has a lower poll rating than the Democrats. But facts don’t matter to conservatives, they just summon up the ghost of Reagan, mention freedom,liberty and tell each OTHER how smart they are. Theres a reason the gop is out of power, their out of ideas.
athensboy on March 24, 2009 at 7:17 AM
Erin:
I am reading Atlas Shrugged right now and one thing Ayn Rand stresses is the need for people to feel popular. Public opinion rules the day. But public opinion is transitory and shallow too. Anything can effect it.
Terrye on March 24, 2009 at 7:19 AM
athensboy:
Oh please. Obama got zero votes for the bill because he refused to even let Republicans in on the planning of the bill. His response to their desire to be part of the process was a snotty I won.
Terrye on March 24, 2009 at 7:23 AM
And speaking of ignoring facts, how about the fact that liberals started turning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into a social engineering project back when Clinton was President?
Terrye on March 24, 2009 at 7:24 AM
I laughed until I paid $8.35 for a six pack.
Limerick on March 24, 2009
Keystone Light. Not great, but at $3.95/sixpack it’s acceptable.
SKYFOX on March 24, 2009 at 7:38 AM
How about an Investigation into the road that led to
Barney Frank,
meanwhile across the ditch,our twin city,Soo Michigan,
just recieved $560,000(if facts are accurate)to renovate
apartment buildings!
canopfor on March 24, 2009 at 7:39 AM
Heh. Indeed.
Weight of Glory on March 24, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Look, the economy will turn around to some extent and Obama will be god and we have to learn to deal with that for a while…maybe, a long long time.
tomas on March 24, 2009 at 7:51 AM
It’s one of the world’s most powerful forces, and it may have caught up with Barack Obama, just two months into his term: tomorrow’s Zogby poll will show the President’s approval/disapproval rating at “about 50-50.”
This will be no surprise to Power Line readers, who have followed Obama’s steady decline to near the break-even point, as recorded by Rasmussen Reports. It’s striking, though, that so far Obama’s return to campaign mode (e.g. his appearance on the Tonight Show) has not arrested the decline that has been precipitated by public alarm over his radical policies.(powerline)
Here in my area (Billings) no Liberal wants to talk about Obama right now; in fact, Obama stickers and sighs have been removed. I don’t know about the rest of the country, but in my area support for Obama and his radical socialist agenda is far below the 50% mark. I will be meeting with others this weekend to organize our first tea party. The people must take peaceful but aggressive action quickly. With Obama’s approval ratings dropping rapidly, the ability to bring his agenda to a halt is becoming possible. The elections of 2010 will be weighing heavily on many shoulders.
Keemo on March 24, 2009 at 8:02 AM
I am going to a tea party somewhere in Virginia, just not sure where yet. Any suggestions for my sign?
kelley in virginia on March 24, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Amen to that… The so called “elites” on our side turned out to be nothing more than suckers, drinking from the DC insiders bowl of koolaid.
Keemo on March 24, 2009 at 8:05 AM
A. Get in line behind me.
and
B. I guess the people that voted for Barry are the same people who think there’s a magic weight loss pill and a bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow. My Grandma used to call them “Rubes”.
anniekc on March 24, 2009 at 8:10 AM
You’re exactly right. It will be manufactured to be on an upturn swing at precisely the most opportune political moment prior to the 2012 campaign. obama’s people control the reins completely.
ErinF on March 24, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto (Hardcover)
by Mark R. Levin (Author)
If you haven’t already started reading this book, do so. Brilliant and timely…
Keemo on March 24, 2009 at 8:13 AM
Let’s not invest too much in Zogby polls, please (the new 50-50 number). His process is a black box.
The media is going to do everything it can to prop Obama up for as long as it can. If we expect his numbers to drop precipitously with that kind of wind at his back we’ll quickly become discouraged.
We need to keep picking at the Dodd-Geithner bonus business, though, because it hammers home what a sham the stimulus process was.
DrSteve on March 24, 2009 at 8:13 AM
maybe the Republicans can embrace the “party of No” theme. the runaway spending by Congress can be cited as their first stand against it (well, some ofthem). but how about the Fed & the FDIC. that is truly taxation without representation though most people tune out before that discussion takes place.
i’m arguing with myself now.
kelley in virginia on March 24, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Grassroots Yankee Know-How: Obamatize Your Hometown
Talk about tossing the baby out with the bath water.
Liberty or Death, New York style.
maverick muse on March 24, 2009 at 8:40 AM
If so this would be the first money flowing into the UP that I am aware of. Our joke of a Dem Congressman has been missing-in-action for a long time. He has been spending all his time courting the green vote to keep his seat.
The UP has always been on the ragged edge of a depression, even in good times. We are already losing some of the few businesses left, and they will not be back. The environmentalists are blocking all attempts at any new resource-based projects. Two-penny Jenny forgot the UP exist during the time she has been such a success for the Michigan economy. Then again, maybe that’s good, or we might have been even worse off.
Yoop on March 24, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Kelley, that is the root to dig out. They’ve been given new shields that not only preserve their existence, but to massively compound the extension of their realm into what to date has been understood as “over-reach”. GWB issued that on his way out; his own progressive gift to Federal Socialism.
Bush’s socialism was a tempered fascism that maneuvered the foundation for Obama’s intemperate augmentation to destroy the sovereign nature of our nation. Though Obama is stuck as a juvenile playing the opposite game, each in their own fashion are globalists, though Obama has absolutely no affection for the USA and exposes HIS antipathy at all times. Obama compulsively eschews the American Dream whereas Bush sought the dream’s transition into the socialist global world holding strong affection for the ideal of democracy though Americans were given no sovereign protection on our borders and in our workplace and communities from massive illegal intrusions. Even Bush held that citizens must resign our American citizenship in favor of internationalism.
Manipulations hit home from the tangible pocket book. When you are hungry, you know it. But the intangible structure of LIBERTY understood and provided by our founding fathers is lost in Socialism. And no matter the good intentions of any leader, their corruption of American Liberty is their own condemnation.
Regardless of who bowled the first socialist ball, the fact of the moment is that statist Socialism is swallowing us whole.
Conservatives FEEL “Liberty or death,” our motivation to preserve our Constitution, our life’s happiness at home in the world.
Statists (Socialists) FEEL “Tyranny or death” motivating their destruction of our Constitution, to rule the world by force.
It doesn’t take intellect to sense hunger. And when deprived of happiness, it doesn’t take intellect to sense depression.
Elitists BELIEVE they can coerce our subjugation.
I bet my mustard seed against coercive destruction of life’s meaning.
maverick muse on March 24, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Massive deficit spending is the ultimate taxation without representation: placing huge tax burdens on people who aren’t even born yet. Your children and grandchildren will come of age to discover Obama has place unbreakable chains on them.
One of the things that most profoundly shaped my worldview was a study performed in the early 90s by a think tank, which computed the average tax burden for young workers in the 2020s, assuming government spending did not increase at all – in other words, the budget was not increased by any new programs for 30 years, and merely kept paying for existing programs such as Medicare and Social Security. The average tax rate for young workers circa 2020 was something like 60%, as they were forced to pay for the ballooning costs of FDR’s dying social programs. That just blew my mind – I could not imagine how a generation would agree to fork over that much of their income, entering the work force to take home two or three adjusted dollars per hour. Even though tax burdens are ratched up slowly by socialists, to keep public outrage from sweeping them out of office, I didn’t see how they’d ever be able to suck sixty percent out of the lower middle class (and vastly more out of the middle and upper classes, of course.)
Now we face a future in which 60% tax rates might seem like a bargain. Deficits can’t continue to mount forever, and the national debt must eventually be paid, or else government could just cut everyone a check for a million dollars and declare us a nation of millionaires. Some enterprising Republican should calculate the estimated tax bill for the poor kids who need to pay for Obama’s madhouse agenda, and start showing it to their parents.
Doctor Zero on March 24, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Have a Twinkie and shut up!
Blake on March 24, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Knucklehead on March 24, 2009 at 12:19 AM
BRILLIANT!
oldleprechaun on March 24, 2009 at 1:20 PM
I’ll just hand them $.55 cents and then ask them for a check for $60,000 for the Obama debt he’s laying on me.
Knucklehead on March 24, 2009
BRILLIANT!
oldleprechaun
An idea good enough to steal. Hope you don’t mind.
SKYFOX on March 25, 2009 at 4:32 AM
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