One of the more comical features of the budget debate is to watch the ways in which Republicans refuse to engage on the issue of economic fairness.
When pressed, they deny, dissemble and throw out poll-tested phrases such as “class warfare” and “opportunity society.” And if that doesn’t work, they begin to spin an elaborate fiction about the absolutely devastating impact that any tax increase will have on international competitiveness and job creation, as if that settles the issue completely.
[….]I don’t know about you, but I’m having trouble deciding whether this neverending budget saga should be filed under comedy, tragedy or farce. It’s looking less and less, however, like Paul Ryan will emerge as the hero.
It’s no accident that the the most shrill criticism of Paul Ryan comes from Pulitzer-prize winning business columnists and Nobel laureate economists, while the most effusive praise comes from Bell Curve believers, high-school math flunkees, and dupes of Pete Hoekstra.
Elizabelle
I love Steve Pearlstein.
Correct me if wrong: is he heading to George Mason U this fall?
I am concerned he may be giving up his column, but not sure.
It’s about the only thing in the WaPost worth reading.
Zifnab
So now the question is whether the Tea Party shows up in 2012 like they did in 2010. I think the Republicans might actually prefer to live in the minority again. Writing legislation is hard. Getting it passed is even harder. Better to just sit on the sidelines and throw spit balls.
The Political Nihilist Formerly Known as Kryptik
Of course not. Everyone knows the former are know-nothing egghead elitists who think they know everything, while the latter are real ‘Mericans whose lack of knowledge gives them unique and necessary insight into the truth.
The Dangerman
Kinda O/T, but after all the political shit coming from one of the reddest of States, now Texas is losing their shit over the perceived political slight of not getting a retired shuttle. Dumbfucks want to take a political crap over their opponents and not have any political consequences (not to mention the fact that the reason there was a Mission Control in Houston was because of political considerations; see Johnson, Lyndon).
I’ll shed some crocodile tears for them.
J
One of the signs of the wrong turn we’ve taken as a society, is the near total disappearance of the word ‘fairness’ from our public discourse and, it seems, of the corresponding idea from our thinking. It should be front and center. I’d like to hear Democrats use it far more often than they do and far more often than the mealy-mouthed terms they tend to favor.
dianne
The Tea Party might not show up but the Independents surely will. The GOP that they all voted for en masse in 2010 has
shown it’s true colors. They will be so afraid of a Republican majority in the House & Senate and a Republican president that they will turn out just to save Medicare and Social Security. I can’t believe the Republicans telegraphed their moves so dramatically now instead of just waiting two more years to really do a number on us all. Thank God for small favors.
Bob
Sully still calling Ryan Plan brave as of like 10 minutes ago.
Sigh.
ET
Wonder how long it will be before he retires? Don’t know that the modern WaPo can tolerate those that don’t tow the conventional wisdom line.
Brachiator
Dude, Sarah Palin proves that you don’t need no egghead edjumakashun to unnerstand economics. You just need to know who is a maker (Real Americans) and who is a taker (Isloomic kummunistic soz isle ists), and you’re all done. And old people on Medicare, apparently, also, too.
Bulworth
A very shrill column indeed. And no words about how Brave and Courageous and Bold the Ryan Plan is.
Bulworth
I love this bit:
I’m starting to have serious doubts that Pearlstein cares what the brilliant writers at Politico think of him.
Martin
Yeah, but which group looks more like the moose-hunting and wetsuit-wearing heart of America? Why should we care about the opinions of the smart people when 99% of America is so very, very dumb?
comrade scott's agenda of rage
For all of Perlstein’s shrillness, he’s also one of the Villagers who thinks public sector employees are making too much money and benefits. In general, he’s never been a fan of organized labor.
slag
Yay! I hope I’m not late. Have we done the Palin/Sullivan 2012! joke yet? An oldie but a goodie.
I kid because I love.
Seriously, this is a good column. But I’d like to see some more innovative snark associated. Especially where Sullivan is concerned. There’s got to be a wealth of possibilities there that has yet to be mined. I’d like us to all start digging just a little deeper. Esp now that Kthug has made you famous and all. Gotta step up the game.
(I’m very demanding of my free services)
Scott Alloway
@Bulworth:
“Brave, courageous and bold…” That description belongs to Wyatt Earp. For the younguns here, the line is part of the theme for a TV program circa 1960.
John PM
I did not realize David Brooks was that dumb in high school, although I should have suspected. There is no way he would have gotten into the University of Chicago today. I feel like I want to go back in time and tell the admissions office to reject his application, sparing us from all his future crap.
Mary Jane
@The Dangerman: Yeah, boofuckinghoo. Must be a twist of the knife that Los Angeles is getting Endeavor.
geg6
OT but related the massive intelligence FAIL of the entire GOP this week:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/poll-donald-trump-leads-gop-primary-by-wide-margin.php?ref=fpblg
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
catclub
I did not read Joe Klein’s review of the Ryan plan, but I read his review of the Obama speech, and THAT was actually good – no claiming both sides do it.
Maybe his review of the Obama speech was a time-shifted both sides do it – maximum ignorance approach.
Paul in KY
@geg6: I haven’t lived a good enough life to be rewarded by Donald Trump as the Republican nominee in 2012. Sigh…
catclub
I just read Joe Klein’s april 5 swampland article.
if you read it, you will realize either Obama read that, or Obama’s speechwriters were spoon feeding Joe Klein.
Either way, in spite of all the hate Joe Klein deserved for being a sucker to Pete Hoekstra’s lies. He is being maligned here.
Of course the more likely explanation is that he is now being spoon fed by Obama’s speechwriters and is still an idiot, just one that is now spouting the Obama line.
High praise indeed!
I hope aimai will forgive me saying so.
jilli
It’s not class warfare, it’s self defense.
Triassic Sands
Hey, don’t count the American people out yet. They’re really, really stupid. They may still decide that it is in their best interests to support a plan that screws them royally. It wouldn’t be the first time.