Did Republicans deliberately crash the US economy?

[Swede]

Traditionally, during economic recessions, Republicans have been supportive of loose monetary policy. Not this time. Rather, Republicans have upbraided Ben Bernanke, head of the Federal Reserve, for even considering policies that focus on growing the economy and creating jobs.

And then, there is the fact that since the original stimulus bill passed in February of 2009, Republicans have made practically no effort to draft comprehensive job creation legislation. Instead, they continue to pursue austerity policies, which reams of historical data suggest harms economic recovery and does little to create jobs. In fact, since taking control of the House of Representatives in 2011, Republicans have proposed hardly a single major jobs bill that didn't revolve, in some way, around their one-stop solution for all the nation's economic problems: more tax cuts.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/09/did-republicans-deliberately-crash-us-economy?fb_action_ids=10151014016096789&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=other_multiline

[longship]

1. Pretty much on target read

The big question is how Obama convinces the voters that the Reps are at the root of our economic woes. That's a real tough pull.

Recommended good read.
R&

[warrior1]

2. yes

[SoutherDem]

3. For me without a doubt!!!

But they as much as told us they would do anything and everything to keep Obama from being reelected. This decision was made while Obama was being sworn in. If destroying America in the process is a small price for them to pay to have Obama a one term president.

[coalition_unwilling]

4. Not by a long-shot. The crash began during the latter days of the Bush

presidency, for one thing. A lot of rich people's investment portfolios took serious hits during the crash. I'm not shedding any tears for them, mind you, but just saying that I doubt the Repigs would deliberately undertake policies so injurious to their natural constituency.

[riderinthestorm]

5. I believe the initial crash wasn't planned but the past 4 years of malaise? Definitely!

The Rethugs have done everything they can to ensure Obama fails. The economic front is the most important weak spot for Obama and they know it.

The Rethug leadership said that they would do whatever it took to make him a one-term president. I'm absolutely certain they'd do this.

[coalition_unwilling]

7. Repigs have definitely been 'obstructinist.' And Obama should be

gearing up to run against the 'Do-Nothing Congress' of 2010 (a la Harry S. Truman ca. 1948).

I just don't think the Repigs can 'plan' malaise and reasonably expect their planning to pay off. The global economy does not respond well to such plans other than to illustrate the law of unintended consequences perhaps.

[rurallib]

13. There is little honor among thieves

and the ones in the financial markets could care less about the others if they are about to score a billion $$$$.
Someday these guys will realize what total cutthroats they have for friends.

[lonestarnot]

6. That is what I think. When Mr. President took office, I was very relieved even knowing it would

take at least 20 years to recover from what they have done to us, if ever. Fucking bushitlers!

[tilsammans]

8. They did, and they will attempt to continue

They'd prefer to keep millions of citizens unemployed and suffering if it ensures that the incumbent president loses HIS job.

[Autumn]

9. I wouldn't say they deliberately crashed the US economy

the economy is playing out just like they intended. The wealthy are doing fucking great. So are politicians. The rest of us, not so much. Austerity for us, more tax cuts for them.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

10. Maybe it's time to stop being a "Centrist"?

[RC]

11. "Centrist"?

You mean the real center, way over there to the Left? That Center? Or the current perceived center that only encompasses our 1½ political parties?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

12. The real center, I believe, is represented by the rule of law and the laws adopted as a result of

compromise in a manner consistent with the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

If we start with the Constitution and the Fourth Amendment, the real "centrist" position would be to uphold the rule of law and not vote for immunity for all the telecoms that illegally spied upon all of us for the Bush Administration.

If we recognized that we have protected property rights under the Constitution, the real "centrist" position would have been to not join in transferring billions of dollars to banksters who helped crash the economy instead of giving them de facto-immunity.

Many other Constitutional rights and codified laws have been violated as well. War crimes, including torture, has been overlooked. Reportedly, renditions to "black sites" are still allowed as is the forced-feeding of Gitmo prisoners when then choose to not eat.

No one can define or explain what a "Centrist" is except to suggest that those who want the protection of the rule of law are somehow unreasonable extremists who will not suffciently compromise with those on the right. We've already compromised. We already compromised when we adopted the rule of law.

[magnifisense]

14. It's called obstruction

and they had planned it since the moment the president was sworn in.

[HopeHoops]

15. Clearly.

[cthulu2016]

16. No, but they deliberately retard any recovery

The Guardian's headline is simply an error.

[rhett o rick]

17. Crash is probably not the correct word. The economy consists of bubbles. Big and small bubbles.

To make the most from the economy the pirates need the bubbles to burst once in a while. They control the timing and they profit from the collapse. Did the corp-oligarchs collapse the bubble? Hell yes. Did they make trillions? Hell yes. Did only Republicans profit, not likely.