General Discussion

phantom power

(25,966 posts) Wed Oct 31, 2012, 01:21 PM Oct 2012

Here's a scene I would have loved to see w/ Obama and Christie...

I'd have loved to see Obama tell Christie that if he wanted any federal aid, he would have to publicly announce that he approves of the federal government, and approves of federal government aid, and approves of the taxes we all pay to make it possible. And then furthermore say that the GOP is wrong to bad-mouth govt and taxes.

I'd have loved to see Obama force Christie to say all that, in front of cameras, with Obama at his side, if he wanted to receive a single dime of federal aid for NJ.

Of course, this will never happen. But I sincerely think it would be good for the mental health of our national discourse on taxation and the role of government if it *did* happen. The ability of Conservatives to spend their every waking hour pretending to themselves and others that they don't need no stinking govt or govt aid or govt programs, while in fact being allowed to benefit from those programs whenever it's convenient (which is also every single day), is the root of a lot of evil in this country.

6 replies

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Here's a scene I would have loved to see w/ Obama and Christie... (Original Post) phantom power Oct 2012 OP

hopefully, the sight of them in the wake of the storm will speak volumes. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2012 #1

we can hope, but history suggests it won't speak very loudly... phantom power Oct 2012 #2

I imagine Fox News gave the joint press conference minimul coverage. SleeplessinSoCal Oct 2012 #3

Uh huh... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2012 #4

Both men are acting with total class. The public sees it. stlsaxman Oct 2012 #5

I think what you say is 100% true, but riddle me this... phantom power Nov 2012 #6

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,145 posts)

1. hopefully, the sight of them in the wake of the storm will speak volumes.

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 01:39 PM

Oct 2012

phantom power

(25,966 posts)

2. we can hope, but history suggests it won't speak very loudly...

Reply to SleeplessinSoCal (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 01:54 PM

Oct 2012

I think a big part of the problem is that guys like Christie never have to say "I was wrong. Conservatism and its hatred of government is wrong."

So yeah, it's genuinely nice that today it's all smiles and handshakes between Christie and Obama, but six months from now, you won't see Christie arguing against his fellow republicans about the validity of FEMA, or govt programs in general.

Six months from now, nothing will have changed. The GOP will get to quietly go about pretending like none of this ever happened, and they'll be back to their myths of individualism, self-made men, the soft bigotry of low expectations, etc....

SleeplessinSoCal

(9,145 posts)

3. I imagine Fox News gave the joint press conference minimul coverage.

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 08:54 PM

Oct 2012

I'm happy to have the Hurricane Sandy Information channel. Hopefully, many others are getting news from it as well.

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)

4. Uh huh...

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 08:57 PM

Oct 2012

Because the right wing and its media would just mildly acquiesce in the face of Obama extorting the State of New Jersey for political purposes.

You know Steve King (R-IA)? The asshat who wants "conditions" on federal disaster aid? It's just as despicable when we do it.

stlsaxman

(9,236 posts)

5. Both men are acting with total class. The public sees it.

Reply to phantom power (Original post)

Wed Oct 31, 2012, 08:59 PM

Oct 2012

And Mitt looks like the idiot he is.

phantom power

(25,966 posts)

6. I think what you say is 100% true, but riddle me this...

Reply to stlsaxman (Reply #5)

Thu Nov 1, 2012, 02:41 PM

Nov 2012

six months from now, is Christie going to be publicly advocating for taxation in the name of infrastructure spending, or is he going to be back to the usual GOP hackery in the name of Saint Grover of Norquist?

I'm hardly the first person to wonder how to handle this problem, but the problem remains: GOP politicians never have to suffer the actual consequences of their ideology. And so they continue to win. Meanwhile, the rest of us do suffer the consequences.

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