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So Much For Magical Obama Mystery Tour
IBD Editorials ^ | February 6, 2009 | Charles Krauthammer

Posted on 02/07/2009 10:46:47 AM PST by Kaslin

"A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe." —President Obama, Feb. 4

Catastrophe, mind you. So much for the president who in his inaugural address two weeks earlier declared "we have chosen hope over fear." Until, that is, you need fear to pass a bill.

And so much for the promise to banish the money changers and influence peddlers from the temple. An ostentatious executive order banning lobbyists was immediately followed by the nomination of at least a dozen current or former lobbyists to high position.

Followed by a Treasury secretary who allegedly couldn't understand the payroll tax provisions in his 1040. Followed by Tom Daschle, who had to fall on his sword according to the new Washington rule that no Cabinet can have more than one tax delinquent.

The Daschle affair was more serious because his offense involved more than taxes. As Michael Kinsley once observed, in Washington the real scandal isn't what's illegal, but what's legal. Not paying taxes is one thing. But what made this case intolerable was the perfectly legal dealings that amassed Daschle $5.2 million in just two years.

He'd been getting $1 million per year from a law firm. But he's not a lawyer, or a registered lobbyist. You don't get paid this kind of money to instruct partners on the Senate markup process. You get it for picking up the phone and peddling influence.

At least Tim Geithner, the tax-challenged Treasury secretary, had been working for years as a humble international civil servant earning non-stratospheric wages. Daschle, who had made another cool million a year (plus chauffeur and Caddy) for unspecified services to a pal's private equity firm, represented everything Obama said he'd come to Washington to upend.

(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; bho2009; bho44; bhoethics; bhostimulus; daschle; geithner; krauthammer; obama; stimulus
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1 posted on 02/07/2009 10:46:47 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
The catastrophe happened on November 4th.
2 posted on 02/07/2009 10:52:57 AM PST by Abby4116
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To: Abby4116

It did indeed and the catastrophe will get larger ever day


3 posted on 02/07/2009 10:56:37 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Communists will say anything to take over a government...then Look Out! Remember how Fidel got into power? He had the press and TV anchors all tingly legged over him too.


4 posted on 02/07/2009 10:57:08 AM PST by Don Corleone (Leave the gun..take the cannoli now reads "Oil the gun..eat the cannolis.")
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To: Abby4116

“The catastrophe happened on November 4th.”

Yup!


5 posted on 02/07/2009 10:59:32 AM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Abby4116
The catastrophe happened on November 4th.

Increasingly, I begin to think the death of Lee Atwater back in 1991 was the start of the slide into darkness. I miss Lee.

6 posted on 02/07/2009 10:59:56 AM PST by King Moonracer (Bad lighting and cheap fabric, that's how you sell clothing.)
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To: King Moonracer

So do I, but I can’t turn my head from this ever increasing train wreck.


7 posted on 02/07/2009 11:05:35 AM PST by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: Kaslin

I think another great catastrophe was when President Bush took to the cameras pushing his $700 billion bailout bill. If it hadn’t been for that, Democrats wouldn’t have had the nerve to push this trillion dollar pork bill. The bailout bill President Bush signed paved the way for this outrageous slap in the face to taxpayers. AND they’re will be more to come. Meanwhile, America says ho hum. I talk to a friend of mine today who nothing about this bill and could care less after I told her (and said so). That is what we are dealing with.


8 posted on 02/07/2009 11:07:29 AM PST by KansasGirl
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To: KansasGirl

they’re = there


9 posted on 02/07/2009 11:10:03 AM PST by KansasGirl
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To: KansasGirl

You think if President Bush had vetoed it the democrats wouldn’t have tried it later when they had the clear majority?


10 posted on 02/07/2009 11:11:07 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Obama is a vapid fake pile of Chucago thuggery. He will masquerade as president when others are pulling his strings. This economy might be bad now but it will worsen in the long run. Long term recession will rule. Hang on tight.


11 posted on 02/07/2009 11:11:32 AM PST by shankbear (Al-Qaeda grew while Monica blew)
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To: Kaslin
I thought the awakening would take six months. It took 2 1/2 weeks.

Me, too!

His best column in memory. A must-read.

12 posted on 02/07/2009 11:23:16 AM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life Capitalist American Atheist and Free-Speech Junkie)
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To: KansasGirl
I think another great catastrophe was when President Bush took to the cameras pushing his $700 billion bailout bill. If it hadn’t been for that, Democrats wouldn’t have had the nerve to push this trillion dollar pork bill. The bailout bill President Bush signed paved the way for this outrageous slap in the face to taxpayers.

Bush, Bush, Bush, Blah, Blah, Blah. You're going to be begging for Bush when these people get done screwing up this country.

13 posted on 02/07/2009 11:25:30 AM PST by oldbrowser (Nancy Palooza or is it Nancy Palooka?)
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To: Kaslin

The Obamarishi may still have a few more tricks for his cult followers.

14 posted on 02/07/2009 11:27:04 AM PST by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: oldbrowser

Trust me, I already am begging for President Bush (and was never a Bush basher) BUT I will not deny reality. And the reality is our REPUBLICAN President signed a 700 billion Wall Street bailout bill that was incredibly damaging to our party and country. Now we have a Marxist for a President and it sucks a helluva lot worse.


15 posted on 02/07/2009 11:31:39 AM PST by KansasGirl
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To: Kaslin
Never forget the Krauthammer is part of the problem not the solution. As recently as September, he was trying to scare all us, Obama style, Into passing Bush's trillionaire bailout. Here is wha Krauthammer said in September:

Within a few days. Every day that we wait the market is going to be down and people are going to get scared and panicked. You don't want to have a run. That's what happened last week. And the way to stop it is to act now.

16 posted on 02/07/2009 11:45:24 AM PST by Captain Kirk
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To: KansasGirl
they’re = there

Is there any they're there?

(sorry, couldn't resist :)

17 posted on 02/07/2009 11:48:29 AM PST by Mr_Moonlight
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To: KansasGirl
Don't associate this bill with Bush. This bill along with universal health care may well break the back of the American capitalism.

This bill has 4.1 billion for Acorn, many billions more for Democratic operatives such as the unions and others. This bill will dwarf the New Deal and the Great Society programs.

18 posted on 02/07/2009 11:54:56 AM PST by oldbrowser (Nancy Palooza or is it Nancy Palooka?)
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To: Kaslin

….and the Camel he rode in on.

19 posted on 02/07/2009 12:05:58 PM PST by Colonial Warrior (Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.)
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To: KansasGirl
Yes. Breaking the Trillion barrier is a direct effect of Bush letting himself be stampeded. He opened the floodgates, he and The A-Holes from Goldman Sachs.
20 posted on 02/07/2009 12:06:34 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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