Karl Rove is getting the message (from polls) that American voters are upset about reckless government spending. I guess he has never heard of Tea Parties. Better late than never.
What seems to concern the president is not the problem runaway spending poses for taxpayers and the economy. Rather, what bothers him is the political problem it poses for Democrats.
Last year, Mr. Obama made fiscal restraint a constant theme of his presidential campaign. "Washington will have to tighten its belt and put off spending," he said back then, while pledging to "go through the federal budget, line by line, ending programs that we don't need." Voters found this fiscal conservatism reassuring.
However, since taking office Mr. Obama pushed through a $787 billion stimulus, a $33 billion expansion of the child health program known as S-chip, a $410 billion omnibus appropriations spending bill, and an $80 billion car company bailout. He also pushed a $821 billion cap-and-trade bill through the House and is now urging Congress to pass a nearly $1 trillion health-care bill.
Obama promised to end programs we didn't need. What are we getting instead? Programs we don't want.
How bad is it according to Rove?
Ominously for Democrats, concerns over spending have recently helped to flip the Gallup generic ballot to now favor Republicans by four points (48% to 44%). Last year, Democrats held a 12-point generic ballot advantage. The change has been driven by independents, who now favor Republicans by 22 points. By comparison, in the run-up to the 1994 congressional elections, Republicans first eclipsed Democrats in March of that year, when they gained a one-point advantage, before falling behind Democrats until the fall.
Mr. Obama's spending choices are dragging congressional Democrats into ugly electoral territory where many are likely to meet a brutal fate next fall.
And if their Republican replacements don't do the right thing they will get replaced.
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." - Ronald Reagan
He was a big part of the problem for the administration. Just when did he ever suggest that GWB shouldn't spend more? Can you say "medicare drug benefit?" Didn't this "stimulus" stuff start under the last administration?
And yes, I know the current administration is even worse.
I guess I must be part of the people he (and you) are talking about.
andrewdb · November 27, 2009 11:32 AM
andrew,
I always thought the Bush spending was a travesty. OTOH he may have used that to buy votes for the war. Which I approve of.
One more time: All revenue bills originate in the Congress. As we have seen, a reliable, committed Senate supermajority is needed to pass anything. The conservatives have never had that. Liberals have.
That leaves the President with one choice: veto and paralyze the government. All parts of the government. With the MSM-DNC making him look like Scrooge for doing so.
SDN · November 29, 2009 9:47 AM
Heh, Minitru is going to make their messiah look like Scrooge?
I take it you're too young to remember the 90s.
When Clinton and the Congress dueled, Clinton won. I know he had a GOP Congress for most of his tenure, but still.
They're not going to bash Obama no matter what.
They're not even bashing the Dems for getting nothing done right now, they're bashing the GOP and Tea Partiers for not letting the Dems pass legislation.
I guess an unstoppable majority in both Houses of Congress isn't enough or something.
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Don?t bang your head!
Karl Rove? Give me a break.
He was a big part of the problem for the administration. Just when did he ever suggest that GWB shouldn't spend more? Can you say "medicare drug benefit?" Didn't this "stimulus" stuff start under the last administration?
And yes, I know the current administration is even worse.
I guess I must be part of the people he (and you) are talking about.