Clinton Is Baffled By Obama

[Conan71]

"Former President Bill Clinton says Obama's approach to taming the federal deficit "is a little confusing" and suggests that raising taxes would blockade any efforts to revive the stale U.S. economy. During an interview with Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy in New York, where Clinton held the 10th annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, the former President discussed political topics such as climate change, tax policy, and government regulations. He also mentioned the possibility of his wife, Hillary, running for President in 2016, naming her "the ablest person in my generation."

Clinton conceded to Ruddy that he was somewhat baffled with President Obama's newly-announced tax plan — the "Buffett Rule" — which would raise taxes on individuals earning over $1 million. "In the speech that the president gave to Congress, he didn't propose any new taxes. The speech was $250 billion in tax cuts, $250 billion in spending over a period of two to three years. It focused mostly on a rather innovative set of payroll tax cuts and incentives to hire people," Clinton asserted.

Until the economy shows signs of sustainable growth, the former President said raising taxes or boosting spending are not viable solutions to reviving the economy and tempering the relentlessly high unemployment rate. "I personally don't believe we ought to be raising taxes or cutting spending until we get this economy off the ground. If we cut government spending, which I normally would be very inclined to do when the deficit's this big, with interest rates already near zero, you can't get the benefits out of it," Clinton said. "So what I'd like to see them do is come up with a bipartisan approach, starting with the payroll tax cuts because they have the biggest return."

http://www.thenewamerican.com/economy/commentary-mainmenu-43/9089-bill-clinton-rejects-obamas-millionaire-tax-plan

Too bad Bubba couldn't run for a third term.  He gets it. 

[Gaspar]

We are all baffled.

At least Clinton knows a job when he (looks down and) sees one!

[Teatownclown]

He should have just said, "POTUS Obama fell victim to being cuckold and is a weenie."

It's easy for Big Disappointment Bill to Monday morning quarterback, but the fact remains BC did not have the turbulent economy like Bush left BO. Actually, Clinton will slam the Teabagging GOP come erection time.

[we vs us]

It's not so baffling when you consider that any action must be offset by revenue increases or cuts to spending.  Clinton either doesn't admit or doesn't know that any further deficit spending is out of the picture.  The Obama proposal looks like it does for a reason. 

And Clinton sat down for an interview with Newsmax?  Something smells fishy. 

In my opinion, far and away the best part of the article is the second to last paragraph:

On another note, Obama has recently received mounting pressure from Democrats and prominent liberal voices to renounce a second presidential term, as the President's approval numbers continue to plummet. Many on the left are concerned that Obama has moved too quickly, revealing too much of their big-government agenda. Indeed, the President has lost confidence from many liberals and moderate Democrats, and some fear that unless the DNC finds a new candidate, they might lose the executive to one of the many GOP candidates now in the presidential race.

High-larious!

[dbacks fan]

Imagine that, a Democrat revealing their TAX & SPEND policy. Who woulda thunk it?

[we vs us]

Believe me, Obama's problems with Democrats don't stem from him mistakenly revealing the Secret Liberal Agenda.  It's more about how little he's fighting for the Secret Liberal Agenda.  Also:  no one's asking him not to run.  Also: what does Tax and Spend really mean?  I hear that used a lot as part of the conservative code word book but have never been sure exactly what it's supposed to mean. Especially since Conservatives loooooove to spend tax money as much (or more!) than Democrats. 

[Conan71]

Believe me, Obama's problems with Democrats don't stem from him mistakenly revealing the Secret Liberal Agenda.  It's more about how little he's fighting for the Secret Liberal Agenda.  Also:  no one's asking him not to run.  Also: what does Tax and Spend really mean?  I hear that used a lot as part of the conservative code word book but have never been sure exactly what it's supposed to mean. Especially since Conservatives loooooove to spend tax money as much (or more!) than Democrats. 

Repiglicans must think it sounds more diabolical than their M.O. of "borrow and spend".

[nathanm]

Repiglicans must think it sounds more diabolical than their M.O. of "borrow and spend".

That's pretty much what I was thinking. There's little wrong with borrowing to keep the economy afloat for a couple of years. It gets the growth curve positive that much sooner, which is worth a surprisingly large amount of money to both the government and all us plebians. There is a problem with doing the Reagan/Bush/Early Clinton/Bush (and their respective Congresses) thing of borrowing a ton of money when times are good and acting like petulant children in refusing to pay for what they're using on our behalf.

If we had started the crisis with one or two trillion in debt, we could have had 10 stimuluses if we thought it would help and still have been no worse off than we are now even if they hadn't worked at all.

Also, Clinton has apparently gone senile, to my eternal sadness. The economy wasn't doing that great when he and the Democratic Congress of the time raised the income tax rate early in his first term. Seems not to have hurt too badly.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Also: what does Tax and Spend really mean?  I hear that used a lot as part of the conservative code word book but have never been sure exactly what it's supposed to mean. Especially since Conservatives loooooove to spend tax money as much (or more!) than Democrats. 

It's one of those Republicontin redefinitions along the lines of 1984 doublespeak.  It is their attempt to make what they do appear to be a characteristic of the other side.  Like Reagan and Bush tax hikes after initial cut that constitutes the largest tax hikes in the history of the world.

And the spending done by Reagan, Bush, Bush that constitutes the largest spending binges in the history of the world.

If you total up all the deficits in the entire history of the country, they end up being about $3.5 trillion total for Dummycrats, and $12 trillion for Republicontins.  And the residual deficits from the last Bush spending binge that are still racking up debt have gone down every year since "you know who" took office.

It really IS pretty easy math.  Problem is Fox fans can't add or subtract....or even think.  They can only read from The Script.

[Conan71]

And the spending done by Reagan, Bush, Bush that constitutes the largest spending binges in the history of the world.

Actually, I think the largest spending binge in the world was Dennis Rodman when he was hyped up on coke for a few weeks.

[nathanm]

They can only read from The Script.

That's because they're almost all marketers. They believe the script makes reality and therefore is reality.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Actually, I think the largest spending binge in the world was Dennis Rodman when he was hyped up on coke for a few weeks.

Ok, I stand corrected...the SECOND largest spending binge in history!