If Obama meets the GOP even halfway on "deficit reduction" it could go seriously wrong.

[Bluebear]

POTUS SPEECH THIS WEEK ON LONG-TERM DEFICIT REDUCTION.... This has the potential to go badly....

by Steve Benen

Once Democrats commit to systematic debt reduction as policymakers' principal goal -- as opposed to, say, economic growth -- it sets the terms of the debate. The unyielding dynamic locks everyone into answering the same question: how do we tackle the deficit and the debt?

That's the question Republicans (and much of the media) want as the central focus, but there are more pertinent and important questions that should be prioritized, such as, "How about a jobs plan to reduce unemployment?" Or maybe, "How will taking money out of the economy and reducing public investment lead to more growth?"

What's more, it also sets baselines for a "compromise." If Obama presents a credible vision for long-term debt reduction this week, we'll have one pillar, which will serve as a counterweight to Paul Ryan's radical House budget plan presented a few days ago. But a moderate counterweight may not be wise -- if recent history is any guide, negotiations will produce a deal that's somewhere between them.

In this case, that'd be a disaster. Even half-way to Ryan's roadmap would destroy much of the modern American social compact, and prove devastating to the middle class. Assuming that congressional Republicans are interested in a sincere, good-faith discussion about fiscal responsibility is folly. If this week's presidential speech simply presents a sensible answer to a dubious question, without regard for the larger political dynamic, the White House will be making a serious mistake.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_04/028879.php

In July 2009, The Atlantic named Benen one of the top 50 most influential political commentators in the United States. He is a frequent guest on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and an occasional contributor to the New York Daily News.

[Skittles]

1. LOL PT

halfway? he is kissing their ass

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/09/earlyshow/saturday/main20052414.shtml

[Bluebear]

2. Good. Grief!

[neverforget]

3. Not on this side and not on that side, but right in the middle

[rucky]

5. Quoting "Hot Dog" in a political discussion

well done!

[neverforget]

8. thanks! I'm happy that someone knows where that came from.

[TurningPointTime]

4. If he meets him a tenth of the way it would be a disaster,

but as disappointed as I am with our President I can't see him gutting a program before his expansion of it even starts.

[myrna minx]

6. He falls all over himself to accept their framing and therefore

legitimizing their crazy propositions. It's maddening. So, so maddening. And we all lost as a result.

[Siouxmealso]

7. You have to understand

that everything Obama does from here on out is designed to appeal to the moderate and independent voters that he needs for his re-election. He lost those voters in the 2010 elections and he thinks he'll get them back by moving to the right.

[Bluebear]

9. Indeed.

But still pathetic!

[I Drink Water]

11. For a 'politically correct' move, it is rather concerning.

What sort of person would compromise with these thugs? These people are not respectful Republicans who care about their country and fellow citizen where civil discourse could be beneficial. These people are radical ideologues who are a poison on America.

[spanone]

10. dick cheney 'deficits don't matter'...just quote the dick