Goolsbee: Obama to Make ‘Tough Choices’ on Budget

[somone]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/01/02/goolsbee-obama-to-make-tough-choices-on-budget/

Goolsbee: Obama to Make ‘Tough Choices’ on Budget
By Mary Lu Carnevale

Austan Goolsbee, President Barack Obama’s top economic adviser, said the administration wants to “juice” the economy amid signs that the economic recovery is continuing at a gradual pace.

Mr. Goolsbee, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said on ABC’s “This Week” that the administration is focusing on spurring investment and improving U.S. exports and innovation to boost economic growth. And he said that steps already taken, such as cutting payroll taxes by two percentage points and giving small businesses new tax incentives, should soon provide some economic fuel.

But he suggested budget cuts will also be part of the long-term economic plan. “We are going to have to make, in the medium run, a series of tough choices, and the president’s not afraid to do that, and I think you will see in his budget that he’s willing to,” Mr. Goolsbee said. But he left unclear just how far the White House is willing to go to meet Republicans, who control the House in the new Congress. House Republican leaders have said they want most federal spending pared to 2008 levels.

Mr. Goolsbee’s comments echoed those of Mr. Obama, who said in his weekly address Saturday that he’s willing to do everything possible to create jobs and grow the economy. To meet that New Year’s resolution, Mr. Obama said he is willing to take economic ideas from anyone. “Here’s what I want you to know: I’m willing to work with anyone of either party who’s got a good idea and the commitment to see it through,” the president said.


Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers

[MannyGoldstein]

1. 'tough choices' and 'responsible' are always code words

For moving money from working Americans to the wealthy.

[DJ13]

2. He HAD his chance to make a "tough choice", but he gave the wealthy 2 more years

If he now thinks the people are going to accept LESS just to pay for the continuation of the tax cuts for the wealthy he's being ill advised.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Maybe it's just me, but

"Austan Goolsby" sounds like one of those preppy, rich-fuck characters out of a Scott Fitzgerald novel. The impression is amplified because of Goolsby's apparent Roaring 20's mentality.

[DJ13]

11. Not just you

The few times I've read things about him theres always a subtle undercurrent of elitism behind his ideas.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

It's not just you. (n/t)

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Maybe we need to give Tinkle Down more of a chance to work.

"I’m willing to work with anyone of either party who’s got a good idea and the commitment to see it through,” the president said.

After all, we've only been pouring money in at the top since early in the first Reagan Administration, and these things take time to kick in.

[AzDar]

4. BOHICA, people...

:puke:

[tekisui]

5. I don't like the sounds of that. No doubt, the tough choices usually

fall on the backs of the poor and middle class. The war empire will continue to be the fattest and most sacred cow.

[latebloomer]

6. Exactly

The "tough choices" NEVER include the powering down of the war machine.

[cutlassmama]

18. Exactly.

[Angry Dragon]

7. The tax cuts for the wealthy are suppose to create jobs

we were told. So the government should not have to do anything.
They should be able to sit back and just watch the jobs increase.
If that is not the case then the tax cuts for the wealthy are/were a lie.

[lonestarnot]

9. Were a lie? Are a lie, will continue to be a lie, lie lie lie; that's all they're fit for lying and

stealing.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. You people just don't get it. Tax cuts for the rich are VITAL!

How else is Obama gonna stay on the side of the People United crowd, whose help he will so desperately need for re-election?

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Holy Cow, this looks like a whole thread full of

Moonbats, loony leftists, Obama naysayers, pony hunters, and negativists.

I guess that would explain why I've posted on it 4 times now.

[avaistheone1]

13. "...I’m willing to work with anyone of either party who’s got a good idea and the commitment

to see it through."

The last time I remember the President making a statement like that was his January 27,2010 state of the union message regarding health care reform. However the president was ingenuous about entertaining better ideas for reform then as you will recall from the letter below.


http://www.prosperityagenda.us/node/3271




I suspect this call from the President for good ideas is ingenuous as well.

[alarimer]

26. But Republicans byt definition have no good ideas.

Theirs have been so thoroughly discredited I wonder why anyone even listens to them.

[Better Believe It]

14. "Tough choices" Translation: Big cuts in programs that benefit working people and the elderly.

Higher taxes for working people to fund more tax cuts for the rich, cuts in education, cuts in Medicare/Medicaid, cuts in government workers and their benefits, cuts in Social Security, cuts in any and all programs that benefits working class people.

And a Democratic president with the support of many Democrats in Congress shall lead this bi-partisan attack on us.

[DCKit]

28. But not a word about the MIC, the largest unfunded liability in world history.

Not even in total, but as considered year-by-year.

Shocking.

[fasttense]

15. Code for destroying Social Security.

"But he suggested budget cuts will also be part of the long-term economic plan. “We are going to have to make, in the medium run, a series of tough choices, and the president’s not afraid to do that, and I think you will see in his budget that he’s willing to,” Mr. Goolsbee said."

Those supposed tough choices always means f***ing over the weakest among us. So, he's going to make the choice to privatize Social Security.

They never make the "tough" choices at the expense of the uber rich. Ready for some more trickle down? Get those umbrellas out to protect you from the yellow stream from the rich.

[Better Believe It]

23. They won't propose privatizing Social Security, Just a "bi-partisan "compromise to cut it.

And they will of course proudly proclaim that this is a great, historical victory against those Republicans who wanted to immediately kill the entire program!

That'll be the heart of the political spin and sales pitch used to defend cuts not only in Social Security but even bigger and more immediate cuts in other vital social programs that benefit the working majority.

"It would have been worse with a Republican president".

Sure. But, with a Republican president like George W. Bush, cuts that will be proposed would have been dead on arrival.

Democrats, including a Senator Obama, would have been unified in opposition to them. A Democratic president whose trademark is capitulation and compromise when combined with a bi-partisan Congress make it far more likely that massive cuts in government programs are written into law this year.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Well, they've already made Defense cuts of $50B...

...over ten years.

:rofl:


So that's off the table.

[QC]

17. Is Goolsbee still the DLC's chief economist, or did he

have to give up that gig when he went to work for the president?

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=253912&kaid=85&subid=108

[deminks]

20. + 10,000 nt

[fascisthunter]

36. yes, he's part of the Trojan Horse in the Democratic Party

[deminks]

19. "Tough choices" = "prosperity for me and my BFF's, austerity for you"

How disappointing that all of these brilliant minds can't come up with something new. It's always lay offs and austerity programs, then ask questions later. It's boring really. How much blood can you squeeze out of a turnip?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Tough choice: Which cheek of the elephant's ass to kiss?

[QC]

30. You mean which one to kiss first.

Both will get a good tongue-bath before it's over, along with lord knows what else.

[kentuck]

22. Cut taxes for small businesses 17 times?

How many times before we see it is not working?

Are taxcuts ever the solution?

Maybe it's time to think outside the conservative box?

[neverforget]

24. I bet those "tough choices" don't include the 2 unfunded wars or the Defense

budget....

Talking about budget cuts yet they just negotiated and passed a tax cut. :puke:
Thank GOD the tax cut passed :eyes:

[alarimer]

25. Well the easy choice would be to stop the fucking wars.

And raise the cap on SS. Budget problem solved. But Obama is just another corporate warmonger fighting a useless, illegal war.

[Better Believe It]

27. Austan Goolsbee: A real man of the people and working class hero!

Your role model and mine!

[QC]

31. I remember a photo thread about Goolsbee in which

everyone was giggling and gasping over how dreeeeeeeeamy he was.

[Better Believe It]

38. He's "dreeeeeeeeamy"???!!! As in a nightmare?

:)

[QC]

40. Or, perhaps, one of Milton Friedman's wet dreams. n/t

[jwirr]

29. The only tough cuts that will do us any good are ending the wars

and shrinking the empire. Those are tough cuts. All other cuts are just selfish cuts.

[provis99]

32. Obama to poor people: "Tough!"

[Edweird]

33. "Tough" for who?

[Bluebear]

41. Guess. :(

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. Goolsbee: IChingcarpenter to Make ‘Tough Choices’ on Budget

Don't forget where the real Tough Choices are and who they really hurt.

President Obama.

[fascisthunter]

35. protect the rich and make the rest struggle more

must be a tough choice... we'll see.

[Donnachaidh]

37. do those tough choices involve freezing their wages, or clawing back wages?

No expected shared sacrifice from the *ruling* class.

[Bluebear]

39. bend over. nt