SALT LAKE CITY – The head of the Democratic Governors Association accused GOP debt negotiators in Washington of trying to undermine the economy so President Barack Obama will lose his re-election bid next year.
Hogwash, responded Republicans.
But the charge from Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is evidence of the political nervousness among Democratic governors looking ahead to 2012 after their ranks were thinned in the last election.
It also hints at the tenuous control the president has over jobs and the economy, the issues certain to dominate the elections.
At this weekend's meeting of the National Governors Association, O'Malley has said Republican governors should urge GOP lawmakers to make a deal with Obama to increase the government's borrowing limit before the Aug. 2 deadline when U.S. faces a financial default.
The Republicans seem to be led by uncompromising hard-liners, he said, singling out House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., for criticism.
"I think that there is an extreme wing within their party who have as their primary goal not the jobs recovery, but the defeat of President Obama in 2012," O'Malley said in an interview. "They know that their formulations, their policies of less revenues and less regulation badly failed our country and plunged us into this recession. So their only way of evening the playing field is to keep the president from being successful in the jobs recovery."
He contended that key Republican members of Congress, "through their intransigence, cleverly set up a situation for America's economy to fail, either by needlessly driving us to default, or needlessly driving us into massive public sector layoffs."
"I think that they are disgracefully cynical," said O'Malley, who has a prominent profile as head of the Democratic governors' group.
The damage that has taken place in the past 2 1/2 years is possibly irreversible.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that the democrats will try to blame this on the republicans. Sorry , it won't work this time around.
Maybe we should approach the election like the last one. We should elect a president because of his color. It's now the time for white leadership.
Well when the ball starts rolling downhill it rolls a LONG DAMN TIME!
ReplyDeleteBush kicked the ball way down the hill with expensive wars, tax cuts for the rich, and unfunded mandates. Obama has tried to turn the tide but with the Republican majority in the house? We are at a standstill. I feel that Obama will overcome this problem because, according to polls, the people are with him.
Take a real long look in the mirror OMally!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnon 1209 -
ReplyDeleteDo you live in some alternate reality? WHO controlled BOTH houses of Congress AND the Presidency from Jan. 2009 - Jan. 2011? Who voted to extend the Bush tax cuts? The Democrats! So ... what was the excuse then?
Before you claim that I'm shilling for the GOP, forget it. I opposed Bush. I opposed the war in Iraq. I oppose unfunded mandates.
The bottom line is that Obama and far too many of the Dem leadership in Congress are socialists. Socialism has been repudiated as a valid ideology.
Now, I will admit that the GOP, through the 2006 elections, spent like a bunch of Democrats. But PLEASE, don't try blaming the GOP for Obama's failures. He' been in office for 2 1/2 years. It's time for Obama to take responsibility for the mess he has added to!
Thanks for posting this-- it is a clear demonstration of what a puppet O'Malley is. He is trying so hard to impress Obama.. "Look! Look!-- I'm just like yeeeewww..."
ReplyDelete"Pick me! Pick me!!!"
Makes me want to barf.
"Do you live in some alternate reality?"
ReplyDelete> Why do you always start your responses with a personal dig? I thought you were supposed to be the good cop. :o)
"don't try blaming the GOP for Obama's failures. He' been in office for 2 1/2 years. It's time for Obama to take responsibility for the mess he has added to!"
Well, Bush was in for 8 years and you can do a lot of damage in that amount of time. I am not trying to say that Obama gets off free as a bird with me though. I have had many moments of frustration with him. Mainly because I voted for him as a Democrat not a "Centrist" which is what he seems to be. The Bush tax cuts are something he should have handled (ended), you're right. I'll even do you one better. . .it pisses me off that he isn't bringing more troops home AND sooner. . .it pisses me off he doesn't have enough balls to stand by the people he claims to support like the homosexual community. I am with you here. . .but I feel he is trying to move us in a positive direction. I never felt that way with Bush. Obama keeps using "half measures" when he should be going all the way. I want to say to him: "be a Democrat or a Damn Republican but BE SOMETHING!!" Trust me I am not really that pleased with him yet. . .I also agree that he should have acted earlier when the Republicans didn't have a majority in the house to get some of his promises completed. I know Republicans aren't shy about getting their legislation passed by ANY means necessary (Wisconsin). But. . .he didn't. He has to accept his share of blame. . .but I do feel. . .and the majority of Americans feel. . .according to polls. . .that Bush is primarily at fault. Thats a fact.
Obama has left nothing in the economy for the GOP to hurt. We are in a depression.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1259 -
ReplyDeleteI don't start EVERY response with a personal dig; only when the commenter deserves it. In this case you deserve it TWICE!
If you believe that Obama is a "centrist" then you obviously don't know the meaning of the word. He is the most left wing president since LBJ.
You also have no idea where I am coming from. What should Obama be doing for the gay community? I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) because I believe it is unconstitutional (marriage is a state-sanctioned civil contract, my wedding in church was a sacrament and the government cannot interfere with that) because the federal government has no power to interfere in what is clearly a state function. Leftists like Obama oppose DOMA because they (mistakenly as usual) consider same-sex marriage a "civil rights" issue.
He's moving us in a "positive" direction? Which direction might that be? I don't want to live in a "workers' paradise". Every attempt has failed. I want the market to dictate our nation's future, not a bunch of bureaucrats.
Your comment about Wisconsin shows that you clearly don't have a clue. The Wisconsin legislature followed the letter of the law. I'll admit that they bruised the spirit, but only a little. Republicans DON'T as a rule abuse the process.
But hey, keep it up! If you think that Obama will win in 2012 by blaming Bush try it. After almost 4 years in the White House, people will see it for the cop out it is.
BTW - I'm not the "good cop". I'm me.
"majority of Americans feel. . .according to polls. . .that Bush is primarily at fault. Thats a fact."
ReplyDeleteThis is the result of a concentrated anti Bush strategy by the Dems and the media over a 4 year period. Yes, some of it continues and some Dems try to keep it alive but people have grown weary of it. I think O'Malley would be ill advised to continue going in this direction because Americans have realized just how little the blame game has helped improve their quality of life.
"I don't start EVERY response with a personal dig; only when the commenter deserves it. In this case you deserve it TWICE!"
ReplyDelete> Whatever, you've punished me, Dad, lets move on.
"If you believe that Obama is a "centrist" then you obviously don't know the meaning of the word. He is the most left wing president since LBJ."
I know your Republican cohorts feel that he is being deceptive in his desire for comprimise. I disagree. In these debt negotiations he is the main person speaking of comprimise. Even Bush couldn't have made speeches talking of cuts to the big three! Pissing off his own party! He certainly is no liberal. There are many who would agree with me so I guess they don't understand the definition either. This is another typical G.A. tactic "oh you just don't understand the definition of the word. . .the subtle nuances of my language. . .read some Aristotle" No I understand that we have a difference of opinion. Thats it. You're not on a higher plane of existence than the rest of us. Sorry to burst your bubble. Obama has been taking centrist stands on some of these issues. That is true. Unless you're a right winger.
"You also have no idea where I am coming from."
Ok, you're a genius. I have no idea what i'm talking about, right? Ok lets move on. You're obviously beyond my comprehension. Why should I bother to question you? :o)
"What should Obama be doing for the gay community?"
>Glad you asked. Backing them in FULL! They are deserving of our full support! They contribute to this country and go to battle for it! He is treating them as a political football. Just the other day his appeal for DADT is going to slow the process for gays in the military to serve openly. Thats a problem. They are part of his base! A vocal part! He should fully support gay civil marriage. They are not afforded the same rights under "civil unions". Its about equal rights for citizens. It parallels the civil rights movement closely. Obama's “constantly evolving" opinion of gay rights needs to fully evolve. Can you really call him liberal? I think that just shows how very right wing you are, G.A.
"He's moving us in a "positive" direction? Which direction might that be? I don't want to live in a "workers' paradise". Every attempt has failed. I want the market to dictate our nation's future, not a bunch of bureaucrats."
Yes, the direction is AWAY FROM BUSH slow but sure. He might not have done much yet, I admit, but he recognizes the problem of rich people getting away with murder in this country. Thats a start. I trust the beaurocrats more than I trust big business. Thats another place we differ. (and im not even going to question your intelligence!) I have seen how the rich man operates and we need government to protect workers. Sorry, but history has shown big business cannot be trusted.
"bruised the spirit"
Yeah, they bruised the spirit. Now THEY get their BUTTS bruised in the recall. . .with all their phony Democratic candidates THAT LOST!!! Americans are waking up the the Republican liars. Mark my words.
"But hey, keep it up! If you think that Obama will win in 2012 by blaming Bush try it. After almost 4 years in the White House, people will see it for the cop out it is."
>In polls people blame Bush 2 to 1 for the state of the economy. Most people also are for the big 3. Republicans are not for the big 3 and have opposed the New Deal since its beginning. The Republicans will lose. Mark my words. The people are with Obama.
"BTW - I'm not the "good cop". I'm me."
> You're condescending, thats what you are.
"This is the result of a concentrated anti Bush strategy by the Dems and the media over a 4 year period."
ReplyDeleteNo, its a result of the fact that Americans REMEMBER how much it sucked under Bush. How he tanked the Clinton surplus with wars, unfunded mandates, and tax cuts for the rich. End of story.
3:30:
ReplyDeleteBush was 2.5 years ago. Clinton was even longer ago. Will you bring up Carter next? Obama hasn't done anything more for your gay agenda so quit complaining. Not all Americans are gay and gay is a minority. Americans want jobs not same sex couples and Obama, through his many attempts, has not improved the jobless situation. America needs to elect someone that can do the job.
Bush was 2.5 years ago. Clinton was even longer ago. Will you bring up Carter next?
ReplyDelete> We had Bush/Cheney for 8 years and they did considerable damage. As I said, Americans to this day look at Bush and Obama and blame Bush 2 to 1 for the state of the economy. Rightfully so. You ARE in the minority here which I am sure you'll have no problem with. We are just supposed to forget about Bush? I don't think so. Most Americans don't.
Obama hasn't done anything more for your gay agenda so quit complaining. Not all Americans are gay and gay is a minority.
> He has done some:
Gay partners of federal workers will now receive long-term health insurance, access to day care and other benefits. Federal Housing Authority loans can no longer consider the sexual orientation of applicants. The Census Bureau plans to report the number of people who report being in a same-sex relationship. Hospitals must allow gays to visit their ill partners. And federal child-care subsidies can be used by the children of same-sex domestic partners.
> But not nearly enough. Yes, gay is a minority. They are good enough to die in the deserts of the middle east for you so they are good enough to be treated as any other man or woman. Thats simple enough isn't it?
Americans want jobs not same sex couples and Obama, through his many attempts, has not improved the jobless situation. America needs to elect someone that can do the job.
> Many Americans want both. Republicans have been failing to pass some of their own bills such as the The Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011 (been around since 1965). All of this is in order to tank the economy to make the outlook poor for Obama. There is no other explanation. Their stated goal is to "make Obama a one term president" NOT job creation. NOT improving the economy. Thats the fact of the matter, sadly. Partisan politics at its worst.
You're like a third grader: If I think it, it must be a fact.
ReplyDeleteWhen Republicans can win in Wisconsin, Ohio, and New Jersey, then you know the Democrats have screwed up and the voters don't like the direction Obama has taken the country.
ReplyDeletedoes this Ranter know what "socialism" actually is?
ReplyDeleteI guess when you're that far left, Obammy looks like a Centrist!
ReplyDelete12:09 The Republican majority is still young, only since last November. The Democrats held the majority IN BOTH HOUSES since 2006. So, how has presbo "turned (or tried to turn) any tides?
ReplyDelete