General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHillary Clinton’s smartest move: Say no to TPP
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For these reasons and others, I think the time is now for Clinton to announce shes against giving the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) the fast-track treatment. In terms of politics and policy, its the right thing to do. And with liberal anger toward Obama at a TPP-induced peak and with Sen. Bernie Sanders challenging her from her left circumstances could hardly be better. She should do it, and she should do it soon.
There are arguments against her reaching and/or announcing a stance of opposition, of course, on grounds of policy as well as politics. Its just that none of them are especially good. Yes, there may be something awkward about a onetime NAFTA champion opposing the TPP. But Clinton has begun walking away from elements of her husbands record already, and its hard to imagine how distancing herself from one of his most controversial and unpopular initiatives will hurt. A willingness to change your mind, provided its for good reasons, can even be a plus.
And, yes, taking a dissenting stance on TPP will no doubt surprise and anger some of her wealthiest donors. Theyll no doubt trash her in the elite press and claim shes just pandering. But Clintons got so much backing from the Democratic 1 percent that shell be in no risk of running out of funding and in the extremely unlikely event that the Forbes 400 stops taking her calls, she can always rely on some of her own vast wealth. (Besides, theres a good chance the rest of the 1 percent will simply follow Wall Streets lead and assume shes full of shit.)
That answers the big questions on the political side, and the policy argument is even easier. President Obama can parse language as much as he likes thats what a law degree is for, after all but Sen. Elizabeth Warren is familiar with the Harvard Law campus, too, and shes not lying when she describes fast-tracking TPP as equivalent to greasing the skids. If fast-track passes and Congress can vote on the deal but not amend it the pressure to approve it will be enormous. Theres a reason the supporters of fast-tracks arguments are so anti-democratic.
The fast-track bill has clearly become a proxy for the entire TPP, so if Clinton opposes it, the political class will no doubt frame it as Clinton acquiescing in the face of a hoi polloi revolt. But although that would be stupid on the merits unless Nobel Prize-winning economists like Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz are now considered to be among the ignorant masses it would frankly be politically advantageous for Clinton. Its the safe bet in reality, upon close inspection. But the political press isnt big on details; theyll say Clintons move was surprisingly bold.
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http://www.salon.com/2015/05/02/hillary_clintons_smartest_move_say_no_to_tpp_and_join_the_warrenkrugman_forces/
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)If she comes out against it now (or soon) it will look like she is scared of his campaign and is flipping just to try and remove the issue.
She is in a Lose-Lose situation on TPP. Odds are she will try to play both sides as long as possible to keep those donations rolling in.
Once it is passed or defeated, she will try to move past it as a non-issue.
I am betting she doesn't take a stand and just keeps basking in the glow of high name recognition poll numbers and loyalists who want a woman president so much they can't see how terribly flawed a candidate she is.
cali
(114,904 posts)if it doesn't.... she'll speak vaguely about fixing it.
Segami
(14,923 posts)....the art of foggy political double-talk.
m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)"I am betting she doesn't take a stand and just keeps basking in the glow of high name recognition poll numbers and loyalists who want a woman president so much they can't see how terribly flawed a candidate she is."