Obama's November strategy, his view of who are important voters, his tactics in the primaries, the actions of the media and the actions of the DNC are all of secondary importance now.
We have an economic and financial crisis of such proportions that our country may find itself no longer in control of its destiny. I'm a senior adult and I have never before had to worry about the soundness of my bank. I expect my 401K to vary over time but I didn't expect that savings accumulated over my lifetime might disappear.
Now, because of the actions of the Bush administration and the acquiesce of the Democratic congress I do have to adjust to these realities.
What is of further concern is that people are not aware of what is going on unless they read the good economic blogs, the speeches by Summers, el-Erian, and Roubini, among others. Voters seem to think this is an ordinary financial crisis. There is good reason for these economists to warn that this is the worst crisis since the great depression.
I was a passionate Clinton supporter and I have read and agreed with much that you have written during the last year. However, many of these posts are in a way luxurious in that first we must preserve our economy in order ensure the well being of the middle and lower classes.
If we do not deal with this economic crisis in a wise way, we will be unable to deal with health care, global warming, energy independence, care for our veterans, nor scientific research. As much as we might ignore it, a healthy economy is necessary for all of these endeavors.
I do not think the Republicans are in any way equipped to understand and handle this crisis.
Which bank is next Friday's failure?
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If only that which is implied
in your post were true. That is, while the Republicans are in no way equipped to understand and handle this crisis, that the Democrats, on the other hand, are.
I posted a comment in an earlier thread about Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere, in which I pointed out that Palin was actually a hero of sorts. And the real villains were the Democrats who (as with FISA) had a clear opportunity to do the right thing, and simply chose not to.
What's especially sickening this year is that we've lost a Democratic Party that even has the appearance of being willing to respond to the middle class, the underclass, the elderly. A party that seems to view 'integrity' as either weakness or a dirty word. And Obama and Biden (both as Pols and as individuals) certainly do not care (by their votes and actions, not their words).
If they win the Presidency the Democrats will continue in the same direction, barreling toward the right, aligning with power & wealth, veering further from the New Deal every day. Our only hope is to bring them to their knees, so that they "get" that without us they are powerless. Instead of them believing we have nowhere else to go, let them know that they are the ones who have nowhere else to turn.
To think otherwise is only to invite endless disappointment.
And how's this for a bottom line: Ideology aside - in a real crisis, who would you rather have in your foxhole? Obama or McCain?
I generally agree with makana44
Concerning the implications of your post. Pelosi is, at this very moment, pushing for a bailout of the domestic auto industry headquartered here in my home state. While I'd hate to see those jobs go away, it's just not sound economic policy. So, I'm not convinced Democratic leadership (and it will be only them making the decisions, let's be clear) gets it, either. This is just one of their most recent examples of reacting to something instead of being proactive on the economy. And, if they do happen to get it and are being opportunistic, that's even worse, in my book.
BTW, many of us are still trying to work out vote out for November. I know I've not yet firmly arrived on who I'm supporting, then, and I'd guess that's not too uncommon of the folks, here. So, I'm not sure your implication (that we're all not going to vote for the Democrat) is correct.
I am serious, and I approve this message.
Our Democratic Congress
has fully earned it's sub-20% approval rating. I have no confidence that it's timidity and lack of concern for anyone not in the Village will change if Obama is in the White House.
Does anyone....
....really think that Barack Obama will do the right thing on the economy?
He's still pushing his $1000 middle class tax cut, is now willing to keep the fat cat tax cuts in place, and still is proposing massive new spending programs.
We already have massive new spending programs
for the investment banks and now Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
But I'm not seeing any Keynesian effect, why? The money's going offshore?
[ ] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
"Is there an exit strategy?"
See Kenneth Rogoff here.
When I keep screaming for the Ds to take up the "It's the economy, stupid!" I'm serious as a heart attack, because, as you say, Kate, that's the real issue.
So far, I have no reason to think that the Ds are any more serious than the Rs. Let's remember that it's exactly the parts of the D coalition that FDR built the New Deal on who Obama threw under the bus.
[ ] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
And for "luxurious"
I am not voting for Obama. I want him to lose. I don't really want McCain to win, but I see Obama as a greater danger to the US's long term interests.
I sit on the bottom of the economic ladder. The recent expansion of Ft Knox is the only thing keeping me from homelessness, b/c my fiance was finally able to find a job as a contractor painting the new houses they are building there. I fully understand the financial risk of putting another Republican in office, and I'm willing to take it, b/c I see Obama as the bigger risk.
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.
- Thomas Jefferson