Robert Reich: The president knows how to fix the economy, but is too busy playing political games.

[jwhitesj]

Accoriding to Robert Reich, The President knows how to fix the economy. His top advisors have given him the plan that most economist agree will lead to a recovery, however because of the politics involved, he chooses to focus on the national debt instead of job creation. We are being used as pawns in this political fight

http://robertreich.org/post/8704286098

I think his political advisors are wrong and the President is making a poor decision. If he introduces a plan that the republicans refuse to allow to go through, he can use that as leverage in the next election. A lot of people are suffering, it's time to end the games allready.

[DrDan]

1. this rings true

[KittyWampus]

12. Really? Obama can create a huge Jobs Program without Congress funding it? Do tell.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

17. Of course! You see he just starts screaming on national TV...

...about how evil the GOP is. And this will make them all realize that they are evil, and change their minds and become more liberal than Liberal Democrats. So they'll then outlaw corporations, greed, hate, war, and make unicorns fly on pretty rainbows. But he won't do that because he is an evil corporatist in disguise. And anyone who says this is completely unrealistic hates all Democratic principals and should be driven out of the party, which is basically anyone to the right of Dennis Kucinich. Because that is the way Democrats will build a huge party that will always win elections in the future.

It's all so simple really.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Maven]

21. Yes, if only he were in a LEADERSHIP position that would allow him to BUILD CONSENSUS

Hmm...

:eyes:

[ConservativeDemocrat]

26. Because the GOP is ALL ABOUT consensus, especially about taxes

All we near is someone in a LEADERSHIP position, and they'll fall right in line.

:eyes:

[Maven]

27. Don't be a dolt. Building consensus starts with the people.

It starts with setting the terms of the public debate. He doesn't even try to build such a consensus behind hugely popular priorities like raising taxes on the rich, purportedly because it's too "partisan." More likely he simply doesn't support them.

[yodermon]

2. Yeah but Robert, he's thinking x steps BEYOND you, man.

you know, 11 dimensional whack-a-mole.

[nilram]

10. 13th, even

since the moles got smarter.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. I think he is doing what he wants to do and thinks needs doing.

I disagree with his assement.

[Hydra]

4. That would presuppose all is not going according to plan

The trend since the first day suggests that this was the desired result. Reagan's grand dream(or was it Bush Sr.'s?) is coming to pass.

[Raine]

16. Yeah

it's looking more and more like that's the plan and always has been.

[spanone]

5. i don't think Obama CHOSE to focus on the national debt

he does have opposition

[HereSince1628]

6. With what will he do jobs stimulus? They wasted it on the

Chicago school supply-side bankster/financial bailouts. Now corporations are either sitting on plenty of money or could borrow at historically low rates, but they see no point in expanding production (requiring jobs) as there is no demand.

Gee! Lack of demand, consumers without money to spend...the corporations are looking at the recession as if it should have had a Keynesian solution. Strange that we are still looking to lower barriers (taxes and regulations). Maybe when consumers are forced to consume health insurance things will pick up? Or not.

[valerief]

7. OR he's just not that into us. nt

[TNLib]

8. If he's playing political games. Then he's not very good at it.

His polling numbers don't look so good.

[drm604]

9. What's he supposed to do?

Of course he knows that we need a massive jobs plan, but he also knows that there's no way he's going to get it through this congress. So why give them ammo for their "increasing the debt" meme while accomplishing nothing?

To do it, he needs to survive the coming election, and he needs us to give him a congress that he can work with. THEN he can do what needs to be done.

I don't necessarily agree with this tactic, but it's not a totally unreasonable way to proceed given the current situation.

[KittyWampus]

11. How the fuck is he supposed to magically make a Jobs Program exist? CONGRESS CAN'T DO IT.

Congress would need to fund it.

Reich knows this. What an inane post, and I read the whole damned thing.

[jwhitesj]

13. The point is to make a plan and sell it to the public

Make congress vote on the plan. If they vote yes, economy does good, Obama is seen as hero.
Congress votes No, economy continues to suck, he can blame congress for failing to act.

[Maven]

22. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it?

In fact, it is pretty simple when you aren't twisting the truth into a pretzel to justify one man's total failure to lead.

Oh, and, welcome to DU.

[Raine]

15. Proposing one and promoting it would be a start

doing nothing is not getting him or the people of this country anywhere.

[PVnRT]

19. What happened to "make me do it"?

I thought the whole "yes we can" thing meant that "we" should go sway public opinion. Now I'm told that's a waste of time because poor Obama is held hostage by Congress and can't do anything.

Which is it?

[durablend]

25. By gosh you're right

The president should resign right now since the mean nasty Republicans won't let him do anything. :eyes:

[xchrom]

14. Recommend

[woo me with science]

18. Kicked and strongly recommended. nt

[JoePhilly]

20. Enjoy your stay. nt

[Sheepshank]

23. Maybe Reich could pass on this clever plan to the GOP

..you know, the group that is not playing chicken with the US economy *roll eyes* and make them look lik heros. He certainly doens't give Obama the benefit of knowing what he's doing.

[WillyT]

24. Welcome To DU, jwhitesj !!! - K & R !!!

:bounce::toast::bounce:

Glad ta have ya aboard!!!

:hi:

:kick: & Rec!!!