How did we Republicans allow him to paint us into a corner and label it a "fiscal cliff" with the public and the press observing our dilemma and applauding his artistry?
Go over the cliff rather than raise taxes...GOP to blame.
Tax the rich; sounds wonderful but still a tax...GOP to blame.
Take away some of the baby's candy; entitlements, stimuluses..GOP to blame.
Compromise to prevent a leap into the unknown...GOP to blame.
Refuse to bow to a ruler who claims to have a mandate and refuses to any compromise...GOP to blame.
Inability to paint a recognizable "Big Picture"...GOP to blame.
Norman Rockwell....we need you now.
Bobby Wood
* * *
Of course Mr. Bobby Wood is correct about the Republicans being painted into a corner. He is also right that the President and his advisers are master manipulators. The Republicans have also done some painting by signing pledges. Mr. Wood is also right that the Republicans may be blamed for whatever happens in this situation. Although it may affect some political careers, that will be in the short term.
If a compromise is not reached, it will be under the Obama administration. It will be remembered that he did not have the political skill and flexibility to reach a compromise. If no agreement is reached the Obama administration could be remembered as a failed presidency So, in that respect the President has also painted himself into a corner.
There are serious consequences possible for the country. It behooves both parties to rise above gotcha politics, and reach an agreement.
Don Moon
* * *
The answer to Mr. Wood's question is easy. GOP arrogance and refusal to listen to Joe Sixpack, the common man and woman who put them in office in the first place.
President Obama is no artist, political or otherwise. President Obama isn't even what we in the business world might call smooth. He wouldn't last two days in a straight commission sales job.
President Obama is no "Master Manipulator," or a master at anything else for that matter. He's a baiter. Like so many others we've sent to our various capitals, he's nothing more than a bully in an expensive suit that we've paid for. Neither is he all that smart, if we look at what he does and how he conducts both himself and the people's business. So what does that say for the Republican "leadership" who are opposing him? And they find themselves not making things happen, not watching things happen, but wondering what the heck happened and call him a master?
The problem, sir, is quite simply one of the GOP aristocracy, their so-called pundits and other "experts" believing their own press instead of what their constituents are telling them, believing they know better than their constituents. But what more can we expect from a party that can only field bullies in positions where leaders ought to be, where leaders need to be.
Leaders do not negotiate basic principles, do they. Leaders don't have to threaten, do they. Leaders don't have to spread false, nasty rumors about those who oppose them, do they. Leaders don't have to attempt to browbeat those who don't agree with them, do they. Leaders, true leaders, aren't afraid when others rise up from the ranks, are they. No, they welcome and mentor them instead of trying to stifle and smother rising leaders while attempting to maintain a deathgrip on their perceived power, don't they.
True leaders understand their place is to inspire others to be more than they are at the moment, not to hold them back and keep them down, don't they. Inspire does not mean to bribe or make deals with others in order to gain a position of authority, does it.
Someone who has spent a career making deals and bullying others, calling that "leadership," might wonder why the Republican "leaders" have been such complete and total failures. Those who have witnessed and experienced true leadership understand exactly what the problem is. Inspiration is different than fear and mercenary venality, isn't it.
"Deals" when the futures of our heirs hang in the balance? Phooey.
Jim Earley
Lancaster, S.C.