Comments on: Is the Republican Congress a Tool of the President? http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Sat, 07 Apr 2012 09:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: peter http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13929 peter Fri, 10 Mar 2006 01:11:41 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13929 Heraclitus, Heroditus -- it's all Greek to me -- thanks Mason! Heraclitus, Heroditus — it’s all Greek to me — thanks Mason!

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13924 Mark Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:30:40 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13924 You guys are too learned for me...I thought Heraclitus was George Clooney's brother... You guys are too learned for me…I thought Heraclitus was George Clooney’s brother…

]]> By: Mason http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13922 Mason Thu, 09 Mar 2006 20:54:59 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13922 Heraclitus Peter, Heraclitus. (By the way I'm not trying to be an a**hole....I came across the passage that you mentioned just yesterday.) Heraclitus Peter, Heraclitus. (By the way I’m not trying to be an a**hole….I came across the passage that you mentioned just yesterday.)

]]> By: Aaron http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13893 Aaron Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:42:54 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13893 "Maybe we can take some of the $250 billion we are wasting on Iraq and pay for some of my ridiculously expensive “out-of-state” tuition." Maybe we should have taken away some of the support we wasted on Solidarity during the 80's to pay for entitlements, too. “Maybe we can take some of the $250 billion we are wasting on Iraq and pay for some of my ridiculously expensive “out-of-state” tuition.”

Maybe we should have taken away some of the support we wasted on Solidarity during the 80′s to pay for entitlements, too.

]]> By: Aaron http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13892 Aaron Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:39:15 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13892 The Wall Street Journal has released a scholarly ranking of all presidents, best to worst, for at least the last two years. 2005 Rankings: http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007243 James Taranto explains the rankings (link on ratings page), and I'll do my best to summarize it here. W comes in just about dead-center: 19th of 40. William H Harrison and Garfield are excluded. The reason for this, of course, is that with a weighted average, the liberal scholars that give Bush a rating of 1 or 2 and the conservatives that give him a 4 or 5 end up cancelling out, but he probably won't be there in a few decades. What clearly doesn't matter are the current approval ratings. Harry Truman, (7th in 2005 and 5th in 2004) had an approval rating somewhere in the 20's when he left office. Harding, next-to-last, had very high rantings when he retired. One thing that seperates the great and near-great presidents from the others is that they faced unprecedented challenges (W's fulfilled that requirement, clearly enough) AND they overcame them -- FDR and WWII, Reagan and stagflation, etc. Taranto also points out that the above avg. and high avg. presidents' problems aren't that they didn't try. Rather, they had great vision and ambitions, but things just didn't work out -- Wilson and the League of Nations, Johnson and the Great Society. The failures and below-avg. presidents sat back idly during disasters -- Buchanan during the Secession Crisis, Hoover and the Great Depression. I have a feeling (even though I personally believe that the gov. and mayor bear greater responsibility) W will be judged very poorly over Katrina. However, with 9-11 and the War on Terror, he's in at least the above-avg. club. So, if Iraq and Afghanistan grow into stable, liberal democratic countries, like Eastern Europe today, then Bush will be at least above avg. If not, then he'll probably end up average. The Dubai Ports deal, while it is a minor event that will not garner much attention in the context of history (much less significant than 9-11 or Katrina), is an example of Bush being on the right side of an issue, while almost everyone else, including his own party, falls into what can only be described as xenophobia. The Wall Street Journal has released a scholarly ranking of all presidents, best to worst, for at least the last two years.

2005 Rankings: http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007243

James Taranto explains the rankings (link on ratings page), and I’ll do my best to summarize it here.

W comes in just about dead-center: 19th of 40. William H Harrison and Garfield are excluded. The reason for this, of course, is that with a weighted average, the liberal scholars that give Bush a rating of 1 or 2 and the conservatives that give him a 4 or 5 end up cancelling out, but he probably won’t be there in a few decades.

What clearly doesn’t matter are the current approval ratings. Harry Truman, (7th in 2005 and 5th in 2004) had an approval rating somewhere in the 20′s when he left office. Harding, next-to-last, had very high rantings when he retired.

One thing that seperates the great and near-great presidents from the others is that they faced unprecedented challenges (W’s fulfilled that requirement, clearly enough) AND they overcame them — FDR and WWII, Reagan and stagflation, etc.

Taranto also points out that the above avg. and high avg. presidents’ problems aren’t that they didn’t try. Rather, they had great vision and ambitions, but things just didn’t work out — Wilson and the League of Nations, Johnson and the Great Society.

The failures and below-avg. presidents sat back idly during disasters — Buchanan during the Secession Crisis, Hoover and the Great Depression.

I have a feeling (even though I personally believe that the gov. and mayor bear greater responsibility) W will be judged very poorly over Katrina. However, with 9-11 and the War on Terror, he’s in at least the above-avg. club. So, if Iraq and Afghanistan grow into stable, liberal democratic countries, like Eastern Europe today, then Bush will be at least above avg. If not, then he’ll probably end up average.

The Dubai Ports deal, while it is a minor event that will not garner much attention in the context of history (much less significant than 9-11 or Katrina), is an example of Bush being on the right side of an issue, while almost everyone else, including his own party, falls into what can only be described as xenophobia.

]]> By: too many steves http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13891 too many steves Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:35:32 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13891 You can forget about spending cuts in an election year. You can forget about spending cuts in an election year.

]]> By: Hokie Explorer http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13890 Hokie Explorer Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:17:26 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13890 If you think taxes are high here, maybe you should try living in Europe. I thought Republicans were suppose to be the "fiscally responsible" party? You can't cut taxes while increasing spending. The Republican party made a small effort recently to remedy this by cutting entitlement programs. Unfortunately, this action is more than offset by the tax cuts. Meanwhile, I have to pay more for student loans which <strong>pisses me off.</strong> Maybe we can take some of the $250 billion we are <em>wasting</em> on Iraq and pay for some of my ridiculously expensive "out-of-state" tuition. If you think taxes are high here, maybe you should try living in Europe. I thought Republicans were suppose to be the “fiscally responsible” party? You can’t cut taxes while increasing spending.

The Republican party made a small effort recently to remedy this by cutting entitlement programs. Unfortunately, this action is more than offset by the tax cuts. Meanwhile, I have to pay more for student loans which pisses me off. Maybe we can take some of the $250 billion we are wasting on Iraq and pay for some of my ridiculously expensive “out-of-state” tuition.

]]> By: Muffin the Cat http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13889 Muffin the Cat Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:38:35 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13889 I feel George Bush has done a respectable job as President considering the events that have happened in the past 5 years. I will continue to be one of his more ardent supporters. In my opinion, Republicans in Congress have supported him well on most issues and will probably do so in the future. Our two Senators, Bond and Talent, and my representative, Sam Graves, have voted with him on a vast, vast majority of issues and I feel will continue to do so. As for taxes, Bush is correct on that issue also. Raising taxes is just plain wrong. It is not the right "thing" to do. Taxes are already too high in this country. I feel George Bush has done a respectable job as President considering the events that have happened in the past 5 years. I will continue to be one of his more ardent supporters. In my opinion, Republicans in Congress have supported him well on most issues and will probably do so in the future. Our two Senators, Bond and Talent, and my representative, Sam Graves, have voted with him on a vast, vast majority of issues and I feel will continue to do so.

As for taxes, Bush is correct on that issue also. Raising taxes is just plain wrong. It is not the right “thing” to do. Taxes are already too high in this country.

]]> By: Mark http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13888 Mark Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:21:43 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13888 peter, regarding your original three points:...high marks to George H W Bush for raising taxes, Jimmy Carter for boycotting the Olympics, and Bill Clinton for promoting NAFTA...yes, yes, and yes (don't agree with the first one, but yes, took political courage and leadership). None of which detracts from the courage of George W. Bush to invade Iraq when Bill Clinton was more than happy to look the other way on foreign policy - you are wrong that George W. Bush took the easy road on Iraq - the easy road was to attack Afghanistan and then do nothing... It's not always about public opinion - the fact that he was willing to act in the face of UN and European impotence counts for something, as well. peter, regarding your original three points:…high marks to George H W Bush for raising taxes, Jimmy Carter for boycotting the Olympics, and Bill Clinton for promoting NAFTA…yes, yes, and yes (don’t agree with the first one, but yes, took political courage and leadership).

None of which detracts from the courage of George W. Bush to invade Iraq when Bill Clinton was more than happy to look the other way on foreign policy – you are wrong that George W. Bush took the easy road on Iraq – the easy road was to attack Afghanistan and then do nothing…

It’s not always about public opinion – the fact that he was willing to act in the face of UN and European impotence counts for something, as well.

]]> By: peter http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/comment-page-1/#comment-13887 peter Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:05:57 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/08/is-the-republican-congress-a-tool-of-the-president/#comment-13887 The downside to reduced income tax rates is that the government has to borrow the money to pay the bills. In addition to saddling future generations with repayment of the debt, we are now vulnerable to the whims of foreign central bankers. Like a crack addict, we have to pay whatever it takes for to sell government paper. If the foreign banks decide they have enough US government debt – or if the dollar falls substantially – we are without a paddle. Perhaps you do not feel that ~ $450 billion is a huge budget deficit. While it is a record in absolute dollars, it is also near a record for percentage of GDP. The 2004 deficit was 3.6% of GDP, the highest level since 1993 (3.9%). Moreover, “most economists” would tell you that deficit spending typically occurs when an economy is in recession and fiscal policy is designed to stimulate the economy. The problem with deficit spending in an expanding economy is that you don’t have any powder left if the economy tanks. The downside to reduced income tax rates is that the government has to borrow the money to pay the bills. In addition to saddling future generations with repayment of the debt, we are now vulnerable to the whims of foreign central bankers. Like a crack addict, we have to pay whatever it takes for to sell government paper. If the foreign banks decide they have enough US government debt – or if the dollar falls substantially – we are without a paddle.
Perhaps you do not feel that ~ $450 billion is a huge budget deficit. While it is a record in absolute dollars, it is also near a record for percentage of GDP. The 2004 deficit was 3.6% of GDP, the highest level since 1993 (3.9%).

Moreover, “most economists” would tell you that deficit spending typically occurs when an economy is in recession and fiscal policy is designed to stimulate the economy. The problem with deficit spending in an expanding economy is that you don’t have any powder left if the economy tanks.

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