"Denial as a Political Strategy" (thoughtful observation by Josh Marshall)

[KoKo]

Denial As Political Strategy
02.04.09 -- 12:38PM
By Josh Marshall

Behind all the back and forth over the Stimulus Bill is a simple fact: the debate in Washington is rapidly moving away from any recognition that the US economy -- and the global economy, for that matter -- is in free-fall. The range of outcomes stretches from severe recession to something closer to a replay of the Great Depression, though that label is perhaps better seen as a placeholder for 'catastrophic economic collapse' since the underlying place of the US economy in the world economy is very different from what it was in 1929. This reality was palpable in the political debate until as recently as a few weeks ago. But Republicans are using a strategy of conscious denial to push it off the stage.

Take stock of the last few weeks and you can almost visualize the two conversations -- path toward economic calamity and debate over Stimulus Bill -- diverging.

The other key into the current debate is that the Republican position is ominously similar to their position on global warming or, for that matter, evolution. The discussion of what to do on the Democratic side tracks more or less with textbook macroeconomics, while Republican argument track either with tax cut monomania or rhetorical claptrap intended to confuse. It's true that macro-economics doesn't make controlled experiments possible. And economists can't speak to these issues with certainty. But in most areas of our lives, when faced with dire potential consequences, we put our stock with scientific or professional consensus where it exists, as it does here. Only in cases where it goes against Republican political interests or economic interests of money-backers do we prefer the schemes of yahoos and cranks to people who study the stuff for a living.

Of course, at some level, why would Republicans be trying to drive the country off a cliff? Well, not pretty to say, but they see it in their political interests. Yes, the DeMints and Coburns just don't believe in government at all or have genuinely held if crankish economic views. But a successful Stimulus Bill would be devastating politically for the Republican party. And they know it. If the GOP successfully bottles this up or kills it with a death of a thousand cuts, Democrats will have a good argument amongst themselves that Republicans were responsible for creating the carnage that followed. But the satisfaction will have to be amongst themselves since as a political matter it will be irrelevant. The public will be entirely within its rights to blame Democrats for any failure of government action that happened while Democrats held the White House and sizable majorities in both houses of Congress.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/02/dire_news.php

[depakid]

1. "The public will be entirely within its rights to blame Democrats for any failure "

And that's precisely what they will do.

Remember 1994....

[Still Sensible]

3. I think this has an opportunity to be more like 95-96

when Newt and his GOP assholes got blamed for "shutting down the government" twice... leading to Clinton's easy win in 96.

[depakid]

4. Clinton's easy win had nothing to do with Gingrich

and the Republicans retained power despite their appalling behaviors- that would be the lesson.

[Still Sensible]

5. I disagree

Clinton's win was fueled by starting the campaign with a solid spike in his approval ratings thanks to the stunt that Gingrich and friends tried to pull off. When the social security checks didn't get mailed--twice--the general public by and large concluded that Gingrich and friends were obstructionists and Clinton had their interests at heart. One of Clinton's biggest problems was he had no coattails... and it took him nearly his whole first term just to figure out how to fight the GOP.

[depakid]

7. Dole was such a weak candidate that socks the cat could have beaten him

and sorry to tell you, but having lived through it- and been in trenches during the time- the public really didn't give a shit about "obtructionism" -which is one of the major reasons why Republicans retained control of Congres FOR TEN MORE YEARS.

Same type of thing could easily happen again in 2010.

[chill_wind]

2. Kucinich is one who gets it: This Economy is Killing People

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4981512

[corruptmewithpower]

6. The repubs are out of power and out of ideas

They can't stop or screw up the stimulus. They can only make noise, and they aren't coming back in power any time soon. FDR won four terms while the Hoover recession lasted twelve long agonizing years.