(a) unbelievable,
(b) frightening,
(c) sickening,
(d) inevitable, given the outright (outed-right; out-wrong?) cynicism and hypocrisy of Republican elected officials and politicos, or
(e) all of the above.
George W, Bush drives the economy off a cliff and elected Republicans throw it an anchor because there's (gasp!) a Democrat in the White House. If this were kindergarten, the Republican report card would read "doesn't play well with others."
Nobel-laureate and New York Times columnist, Paul Krugman, writes a sobering op-ed that clearly sets out how unbelievably frightening and sickening the inevitable Republican "do-nothing" obstructionism has become - and how perilous this is for the country.
"Helicopter Ben" Bernanke - say what you want about the Federal Reserve chairman who shot almost the whole wad of tools available to the Fed in order to turn the 'Great Depression II' into the 'Great Recession'- recommends that the powers-that-be do everything they can to promote consumer spending and kickstart a wallowing economy (including extending $300-a-week unemployment benefits to those of the 8 million Americans that lost their jobs during George W. Shrub's administration who haven't found one of the few jobs created under Obama).
And what's the Republican response?
Former GOP Senator Alan Simpson, Republican co-chair of the President's bi-partisan Federal Debt Commission, chortles, "I can't wait for the blood bath in April" when the Federal government's deficit spending inevitably hits the legislated limit on federal debt?
He "can't wait"? Even on his gold-plated Senatorial pension? What about the poor slob trying to find a replacement gig on $300 week for the manufacturing or back-end clerical job that got outsourced to China, Mexico or India by Shrub's cronies?
The GOPpers won't even move to help small businesses if the mega-rich don't get to continue paying less income tax than they did when the federal budget was last balanced - balanced under the nearly-impeached-by-the-GOP-fanatics, Bill Clinton.
President Clinton balanced the budget, even as the GOP went nuclear under Newt 'Gin-Grinch' and shut down the federal government - a move the Republican congressional majority-to-be-inaugurated has promised not to repeat. Yet, Mr. Simpson "can't wait for the bloodbath" that appears to be all but inevitable when the government hits the debt wall head-on. Never mind what is going on in Mr. Simpson's seemingly Seussian-heart (which is likely "two sizes too small"). What's going on in his head?
Notes the NYT's Paul Krugman:
"Now, you might think that the prospect of this kind of standoff, which might deny many Americans essential services, wreak havoc in financial markets and undermine America’s role in the world, would worry all men of good will. But no, Mr. Simpson “can’t wait.” And he’s what passes, these days, for a reasonable Republican."What's that I hear echoing over the political landscape? "Smithers . . . Loose the hounds!"
Chortle, Chortle, Chortle . . . Gasp, Gasp . . . Choke . . . Gasp, Gasp . . . Choke . . . Gasp, Gasp . . . Croak. . . .
