"Reagan proved that deficits don't matter"

[ochazuke]

This Dick Cheney quote related by Paul O'Neill is certainly a doozy, isn't it?

We can use it as a wedge to separate old-fashioned fiscal conservatives from the neocons who have taken over the Repiglican party.

Or, will Cheney just deny saying any such thing and it's forgotten?

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. It is a huge wedge issue...

Why do you think Dean is running on fiscal conservatism and balancing the budget?

[CMT]

2. there is a difference

Reagan could inspire people and Bush doesn't except extreme right wingers. Also, in '84 the economy was adding lots of jobs which gave the appearance of economic rebound. The job market, as the latest employment reports indicate have not rebounded and Bush has to create lots of jobs in the next eleven months to change the fact that he is the first president since Hoover to preside over a net loss of jobs.

[JHB]

11. ...not to mention that...

...Reagan started off with "only" a $1 trillion national debt, whereas * starts off with over six times that, and he's shooting for nearly doubling the previous record yearly deficit, with no improvement in sight.

[tom_paine]

3. Cheney will deny saying it and tell six more lies

S.O.P for the Imperial Famil and their Stooges.

It has worked thus far every time they have tried. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a moribund and lazy and parasitized Media to deal with.

[lovedems]

4. That is the kind of statement that could divide the republican party

and split them. If there is one thing I know about republicans, it is that they PRIDE themselves on the APPEARANCE of being fiscally conservative. This is a quote from the VP the sect. of treasury. How many rebulicans are going to want to distance themselves from the likes of Cheney, the way many dems did to Clinton? Wishful thinking maybe and it may take a few days, but if this story gets legs and is believable, * and the veep may become a liability to the republican party.

I hope so!

[noonwitch]

5. That's only true if you expect a smart democratic president to clean it up

a few years later, and if no other problems occur.

[Galley_Queen]

8. Clean it Up?

Isn't that a matter of "personal responsibility" according to the Dick? Oh, I forgot. He was talking about the environment.....

[oldcoot]

6. The Administration's Response

I suspect that Cheney will deny saying that "deficits don't matter." The "liberal media" will probably even drop the story.

However, the Bush administration may never forgive O'Neill even if his claims do no damage to Bush's campaign. The administration will work behind the scenes to get even with O'Neill. Someone in the administration will contact members of the press with some "fun facts" about a member of O'Neill's family. One of those reporters will probably run with the story.

[TacticalPeek]

7. The sister quote (next sentence) is just as good re: more tax cuts:

Cheney: "We won the mid-term elections, this is our due."


Ah, how I pray they really get their due.

[Catfish]

9. Yep

This statement outraged me the most. His "due" was another round of tax cuts for his rich buddies. I hope he gets his due but let's remember that Congress went along with this, it's not just the administration that is evil. Every Senate race and congressional race should make this an issue.

[ochazuke]

12. Dick Cheney believes in the power of government

to make rich people richer. That's the essence of the man.

[TacticalPeek]

13. There it is. Unprincipled greedhead.

SEN. LIEBERMAN: Look at the -- look at the 22 million new jobs. Look at the 4
million new businesses. Look at the lower interest rates, low rate of
inflation high rate of growth. I think if you asked most people in
America today that famous question that Ronald Reagan asked, "Are you
better off today than you were eight years ago?" most people would say
yes.

And I'm pleased to say -- see Dick, from the newspapers, that you're
better off than you were eight years ago, too. (Laughter.)

MR. CHENEY: And most of it --

SEN. LIEBERMAN: (Chuckles.)

MR. CHENEY: And I -- I can tell you, Joe, that the government
had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Lieberman-Cheney VP debate 2000

http://www.c-span.org/campaign2000/transcript/debate_10...


I was totally impressed at how quickly Bernie Shaw and scores of reporters jumped on Cheney over the millions of dollars in government contracts Halliburton received due to Cheney's influence, the very reason a man like him with NO prior business experience was hired. (sarcasm)

[chelaque liberal]

10. You're right, that is the most damning part of the quote....

"their due" not what is best for the country.

And I have to take issue with whether they "won" the mid-term elections, considering that the fear that they instilled about Saddam, WMD and mushroom clouds, and un-patriotic Dems controlled the media.

Oh yes, that little incident with the small plane had an impact too.