By Mr. Curmudgeon
With nearly one trillion dollars spent to “stimulate” the economy, and nothing to show for it but a 9.7 percent unemployment rate, the president is suddenly interested in dealing with his massive budget deficit. And President Obama would like Republicans, in the spirit of “reaching across the aisle,” to lend a hand in fleecing the American public for more cash to spread around. “There are some on the right who won’t enter into serious discussions about deficits without preconditions. But those who preach fiscal discipline have to be willing to take the hard steps necessary to achieve it.” That’s Democrat-speak for, “we’ve ordered the meal and finished the dessert, now help us find some poor stiff to stick with the bill.”
Obama found just the Republican to provide cover for big-spending Democrats: accommodationist Alan Simpson, former Republican Senator from Wyoming. Both in 1982 and again in 1990, Simpson joined with Democrats in efforts that were supposed to reduce the federal budget deficit. In the 1990 deal negotiated at Andrews Air Force Base, the agreement called for $2 dollars in spending cuts for every $1 dollar in tax hikes. The Democrats kept the tax hikes and nixed the spending cuts. Simpson is just the kind of Republican Obama needs to co-chair his debt commission. Simpson was easy to distinguish at Obama’s White House ceremony to kick off the creation of the debt commission. He was the guy with the word “chump” written on his forehead with indelible felt marker and a “kick me” sign taped to his back.
Sandra Fabry at Americans for Tax Reform said of the former Senator, “Alan Simpson has a history of walking into a room with the stated goal of reform – and in both cases he voted for higher taxes and higher spending, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. There is no reason to believe that things would be different this time around – when you put everything on the table, including damaging tax hikes, taxpayers will more than likely be sold out.” Fabry is obviously not in tune with Washington terminology. Simpson isn’t “selling out,” he – like Sen. John McCain – just wants to “get things done for the country.” The term selling out sounds so harsh. Obama, Pelosi and Reid would rather we use “bipartisan compromise.” The honeyed words will lesson the sting of the dagger’s blade as they plunge it in our backs.
Gee, I wonder what term Joe-The-Plumber would use to describe Obama’s bipartisan debt commission, and if it’s appropriate to repeat in polite company?
