TIMOTHY NOAH SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
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More from House Speaker John Boehner's jobs speech to the Economic Club of Washington:
"I’m not opposed to responsible spending to repair and improve infrastructure. But if we want to do it in a way that truly supports long-term economic growth and job creation, let’s link the next highway bill to an expansion of American-made energy production.
"Removing some of the unnecessary government barriers that prevent our country from utilizing its vast energy resources could create millions of new jobs.
"There’s a natural link between the two: as we develop new sources of American energy, we’re going to need modern infrastructure to bring that energy to the market."
So the price of passing the long-term highway bill (Boehner called it the "next" bill because the House just passed a short-term funding extension) will be "drill baby, drill." Before what House Republicans wanted was budget cuts. Now they'll settle for more oil drilling. Is it too much to hope that House Republicans are becoming less insistent about cutting domestic discretionary spending to ribbons because their constituents are screaming about unemployment? Or are House Republicans merely increasing their demands?
6 comments
I assume that probably is too much to hope for, although one can always dream, I guess. Those demands to me are a good example of why I keep thinking that the Democratic Party isn't doomed just yet: One never sees any solutions for the economic problems facing the populace beyond "less regulation" and "more domestic energy production" and of course "tax cuts for job creators". If those fail (and I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't), that has to hurt the electoral viability of the party down the road. While I'd imagine that the average Republican voter is considerably better off than the average citizen, they are also hurting.
- SEBASTIANSALING@HOTMAIL.COM
September 15, 2011 at 6:05pm
John Boehner's economic speech part II - Electric Boogaloo... Tim, some things like the first nuggets of wisdom you produced from the good speaker I thought could not be improved on, just like the original classic 1984 movie, "Breakin.'" But that same year they came out with the even more brilliant "Breakin'2 -Electric Boogaloo," and I was wrong. Well the quote from Boehner just keep getting stupider and stupider despite my belief he can't get worse.
- MikeB.
September 15, 2011 at 6:06pm
Well, I didn't read the whole speech yet, just what's posted here, which is bad enough; but, did he somehow to neglect to mention rich people and how they can't pay taxes because rich people create jobs as everybody knows and raising their taxes KILLS JOBS like the EPA, Social Security, Obamacare, and so forth? Because if so he is off his game! We are unimpressed:)
- Sophia
September 15, 2011 at 6:29pm
Any Republican leader who has to cater to the Tea Party probably won't sound like a genius.
- liberalref
September 15, 2011 at 9:04pm
Boehner's advice to fix the lack of consumer demand by drilling for oil reminds me of the expression, "If all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail." Taking Republican advice on what to do with the economy is like trusting the quality of a used car bought from someone who neglects its repair and maintenance. They just don't seem to care.
- Nusholtz
September 15, 2011 at 9:50pm
We are producing more oil and importing less than we were during the last President's term. Everything is easy if you have no concerns about the environment or public health.
- alanwilkov
September 15, 2011 at 11:17pm