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David Plouffe’s Weapons-Grade Horsepuckey
National Review ^ | 1-24-2010 | Jim Geraghty

Posted on 01/24/2010 2:29:03 PM PST by smoothsailing

David Plouffe’s Weapons-Grade Horsepuckey



Jim Geraghty

Sunday, January 24, 2010

David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager, is taking on “expanded role as an outside adviser to the White House.” In Sunday’s Post, he offers an op-ed diagnosis of what Democrats need to do in the coming year.

If his op-ed accurately depicts what the Obama and broader Democratic strategy is going to be, then I think the floor for Republican wins in the House in 2010 will be about 217 seats and the ceiling is… oh, 435?

Plouffe describes the health care bill as “a good plan that has become a demonized caricature.” It seems to him incomprehensible that a majority might genuinely oppose legislation that includes government fees for having too much health insurance – with or without a union exemption – taxpayer funding of abortions, potential coverage of illegal immigrants, special deals for the states of Nebraska and Louisiana because their senators held out, and the government eventually taking some treatments off the table because they’re deemed insufficiently cost-effective.

Strangely, a few paragraphs later, “Voters are always smarter than they are given credit for.” Except when they disagree with you, huh, David?

He says that “politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway, and voters will have no ability to measure its upside. If we do pass it, dozens of protections and benefits take effect this year.” Yes, as do a host of new taxes, and the new marriage penalty. (Some may quibble that since the bill is constantly changing with new special bonus provisions for holdout senators, we don’t actually know which taxes will be in it, but I have a hard time believing that the taxes in it will not kick in quickly.)

He mentions, “millions of jobs created by the president's early efforts to restart the economy.” Where? Where? Show me the numbers. Nobody backs that. If millions of jobs were being created, why is the number of jobless increasing? Why has the number of jobs in construction decreased every month since the stimulus passed, since the one thing that the stimulus was supposed to do was create construction jobs on “shovel-ready” projects?

Plouffe writes, “in future elections, it will be clear to all that instead of another Great Depression, Democrats broke the back of the recession with not a single Republican vote in the House.” If I were the president, anyone caught bragging about economic improvement, and suggesting that the recession was over while unemployment was in double digits would go in the time-out chair.

He continues, “In the long run, [the stimulus vote] will haunt Republicans especially since they made the mess.” Let’s presume for a moment he means “the mess” as the recession. And let’s move beyond the obvious point that a lot of factors converged to create this recession. Let’s just note that inherent in Plouffe’s argument is the contention that the last chance to mitigate any of the recession occurred in the earliest days of 2007, as the GOP relinquished Congress. Otherwise, we might think that the Democrat-controlled House and Senate could have done something about an already-beginning-to-burst housing bubble, risky investment in subprime-mortgage-based derivatives, the ominous clouds gathering around American automakers, government regulations that encouraged mortgage financing to those at risk of default, etc. Since 2007 and 2008 were pretty lousy years for American governance, Democrats want the public to believe their role in government began on January 20, 2009 – the beginning of another lousy year of governance.

He continues, “That's why Democrats must create a strong foundation for long-term growth by addressing health care, energy and education reform.” A foundation for long-term growth by making employees more expensive to employers through health insurance mandates, and energy use more expensive through cap and trade.

Plouffe argues that Democrats “shouldn’t accept any lectures on spending.” Funny, the Republicans heard it from Democrats from 2002 to 2006. If the GOP is deemed an illegitimate critic on runaway spending, where do those who are worried about deficits, waste, irresponsible vote-buying sprees and unsustainable tax burdens go? And while some of the Republican candidates running this cycle are veterans of the Bush era and the GOP congress from the not-too-distant past, how much of the sins of the Bush era can be put on, oh, Marco Rubio, John Hoeven, Gilbert Baker, Chuck DeVore or Carly Fiorina or Tom Campbell, Martha Roby, Van Tran, Charles Djou, Vaughn Ward, Andy Harris, Frank Guinta, Jon Runyan, Lou Barletta, Keith Fimian, etc.?

The recent wins of Bob McDonnell, Chris Christie, and Scott Brown suggest that the voters are very open to new faces in the GOP; the usual Democratic attacks tying these guys to Bush proved pretty ineffective.

Plouffe continues, “If you put the GOP back in charge, lobbyists and huge corporate special interests will be back in the driver’s seat.” Yes, I know administration folks Tim Geithner and Larry Summers have done a bang-up job to stop those lobbyists and corporate interests, and the country faces the crisis of not having Chris Dodd running the Banking Committee. It’s frightening to think we might have special interests in charge, instead of our current situation, where Congress is seriously considering a special tax that would only apply to workers who aren’t union members.

“The Republicans will suggest they have changed their spots, but the GOP cannot hold a candle to us on reform issues.” He says this as part of an effort to save the seats and protect the reputations of John Murtha, Alan Mollohan, Paul Kanjorski, Jim Moran, Charles Rangel, and who knows who else will get caught with their hands in the cookie jar between now and Election Day.  Until recently, this list included Chris Dodd and Roland Burris. This is after the Louisiana Purchase and the Nebraska deal, and after the White House claimed amnesia on then-candidate Obama’s pledges about holding negotiations on C-SPAN. Our ambassador corps are still filled with the party’s most generous donors, often with no diplomatic experience.

“Democratic candidates must do everything well.” Okay, give them credit, they have quite a bit to work with on the campaign trail. They’ve got the casual, laid-back charm of Barbara Boxer in California; the even-tempered verbal delicacy of Jim Moran in Virginia; the raw energetic charisma of Michael Bennet in Colorado; the warm, confidence-inspiring leadership of Harry Reid in Nevada; the cutting-edge style and deeply-held principles of Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, the common people’s touch of Baron Hill in Indiana, the dedication to state values and views of Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas; and the even-tempered, sensible rhetoric of Alan Grayson. Plouffe’s right, it’s hard to see a crew like this making a mistake on the campaign trail and seeming out-of-touch with their constituents.

The short message of the Plouffe op-ed? ‘We’re not doing anything wrong, other than hesitating on health care. We need to insist that we’ve created million of jobs, and then people will start to believe it, even if unemployment is high. We need to insist that stimulus funds were wisely spent, and that if we hadn’t passed it, America would look like “The Book of Eli”, even though our charts from early 2009 suggest we were just guessing about the stimulus’ job-creating abilities. When Americans complain we’re spending too much, say the Republicans are worse, even though we’re spending more than they did. Insist that we’re ethical, and ignore contrary evidence.’

I kept waiting for the paragraph that said, “this administration has done an exceptional job of analyzing terrorist threat intelligence and ensuring that no al-Qaeda members get on planes bound for America, and we should make sure voters know about that.”


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; 2010midterms; bho44; plouffe

1 posted on 01/24/2010 2:29:04 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
If you put the GOP back in charge....

More fear mongering. I guess this is what O wants. They're both still in campaign mode. Bring it on. They'll lose even more seats.

2 posted on 01/24/2010 2:40:53 PM PST by Shannon
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To: smoothsailing

I swear...I look at Plouffe — the squirrelly little ‘tard — and I realize it’s only because John McCain was so godawful as a candidate that his man Barry is now sullying the carpet in the Oval Office. Does he even buy 1/10th of 1 percent of the merde he shoveled in that op-ed? Good Lord...


3 posted on 01/24/2010 2:42:15 PM PST by BigKahuna
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To: smoothsailing
Can you say DNC-PLANNED October Surprise"? Of course you can.

PART 1: - Incredible, proven, systematic, pro-Clinton, pro-Obama, pro-RINO, media Bias.

PART 1: - Endless Loans to Illegal Aliens, and then the Gambling Bankers without Accountability


PART 2: October Surprise to THROW Election2008, driven by Paulson/Geithner/Dodd/Obama and the so-willing MSM.

Rep. Kanjorski: $550 Billion Disappeared in "Electronic Run On the Banks"
"On Thursday Sept 15, 2008 at roughly 11 AM The Federal Reserve
noticed a tremendous draw down of money market accounts in the USA
to the tune of $550 Billion dollars in a matter of an hour or two.
Money was being removed electronically. The treasury tried to help with $150 Billion.
But could not stem the tide. It was an electronic run on the banks
The treasury intervened but had they not closed down the accounts they estimated that by 2 PM that afternoon.
Within 3 hours. $5.5 Trillion would have been withdrawled
and collapsed and within 24 hours the world economy."


FLASHBACK: from 9/15/08:

“U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday he is confident
that the markets are resilient and can deal with the latest financial blows.
“We are working to reduce disruptions and minimize the impact
these financial market developments on the broader economy.” ...

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama
said eight years of Bush “brought us the most serious financial crisis
since the Great Depression.”

His Republican rival said John McCain said he was happy the
federal government decided not to use taxpayer dollars to bail out Lehman Brothers.”

How did Obama know THEN
that we would experience the ‘most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression’
when those who did not plan the takeover would not know for three more months?

4 posted on 01/24/2010 2:48:04 PM PST by Diogenesis ("Those who go below the surface do so at their peril" - Oscar Wilde)
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To: smoothsailing

I think what Plouffe is saying is that, “You’re screwed either way, so if you’re going to go down anyway, go down with us.”

The reason he was brought in was to restore confidence in the Obama machine. Not just so we fear them, but so that Democrats shut up and let the Obama team drive the bus.

Right now, the Dems think that the bus is going in the wrong direction and swerving all over the highway. You can tell because they’re giving the WH all kinds of advice.


5 posted on 01/24/2010 2:53:19 PM PST by AmishDude
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To: AmishDude

That healthcare bill is a poison arrow aimed straight at the heart of the Democratic Party, and the WH expecting career politicians (who love the power and perks of their offices above all else) to willingly drink the Jonestown Kool-Aid Plouffe and others (Axelrod, Pelosi, Reid et al) have served up doesn’t make any sense.

Nobody fears the Obama WH up on Capitol Hill, and as 2010 moves along fewer and fewer congressional Democrats are going to be willing to step up and take a big swig of that blue-flavored concoction. Any Democrat of note since November (incumbent or running for a national office, with the exception of Bill Owens up in NY-23) has bought it when supporting ObamaCare. NO Dem is going to go near it soon.


6 posted on 01/24/2010 3:14:05 PM PST by BigKahuna
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To: smoothsailing
He mentions, “millions of jobs created by the president's early efforts to restart the economy.” Where? Where?

India, mostly.

Oh, you mean in the United States?

Mostly the IRS and poll-watchers:

"I... know what happens once we get... [health care reform] done. The American people will suddenly learn that this bill does things they like."

Just about as pleased as Elie Nordegren was to learn about Rachel Uchitel.

Cheers!

7 posted on 01/24/2010 3:16:00 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: smoothsailing

Thank God these people are INSANE! Winning against SANE people would be so much harder this November.


8 posted on 01/24/2010 3:35:19 PM PST by MrDem (And this is a loyal lifelong Democrat saying this... Democrats for Cheney/Palin 2012)
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To: smoothsailing
"Weapons-grade horsepuckey"

LOL! Very good!

9 posted on 01/24/2010 3:59:47 PM PST by GVnana ("Obama is incredibly naive and grossly egotistical." Sarkozy)
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To: Shannon

The recession started the day that the dems gained control..


10 posted on 01/24/2010 4:08:26 PM PST by richardtavor
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To: smoothsailing

The Easter Bunny. Santa Claus. Bigfoot. The Loch Ness Monster. Leprechauns. Unicorns. Truth from the Obama Administration.

All of these are make-believe.


11 posted on 01/24/2010 4:36:41 PM PST by JewishRighter
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To: Diogenesis

Good post, you’ve laid it out well for all to see.


12 posted on 01/24/2010 5:17:24 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: GVnana
This part is hilarious!

“Democratic candidates must do everything well.” Okay, give them credit, they have quite a bit to work with on the campaign trail. They’ve got the casual, laid-back charm of Barbara Boxer in California; the even-tempered verbal delicacy of Jim Moran in Virginia; the raw energetic charisma of Michael Bennet in Colorado; the warm, confidence-inspiring leadership of Harry Reid in Nevada; the cutting-edge style and deeply-held principles of Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, the common people’s touch of Baron Hill in Indiana, the dedication to state values and views of Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas; and the even-tempered, sensible rhetoric of Alan Grayson. Plouffe’s right, it’s hard to see a crew like this making a mistake on the campaign trail and seeming out-of-touch with their constituents.

13 posted on 01/24/2010 5:20:54 PM PST by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
Plouffe continues, “If you put the GOP back in charge, lobbyists and huge corporate special interests will be back in the driver’s seat.”

Excuse me? This from the guys who came up with the Cornhusker Kickback and the Louisiana Purchase? This from the guys who told the unions that their members wouldn't be taxed on high-end healthcare plans like every non-union worker in the country? This from the guys who subsidized the big banks? This from the guys with the SEIU and ACORN in their back pockets?

I do believe our intelligence has just been insulted.

14 posted on 01/24/2010 5:37:03 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill
I do believe our intelligence has just been insulted.

Sen. Arlen Specter Comments on Scott Brown’s Victory

“All that talk about me switching to the Democratic party — I hope everyone knows that was just a joke. I’m actually the 42nd vote to stop health care reform.”

I think you're on to something there, Billthedrill! :o)

15 posted on 01/24/2010 5:44:04 PM PST by smoothsailing
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