Monday, May 5th, 2008...4:02 pm
Pander Panzer Panda
Do I have to weigh in on this gas tax holiday nonsense?
First off, doesn’t Hillary Clinton notice that she is agreeing with both John McCain and George Bush (who is “entertaining” the idea) on this? Wouldn’t that be an indication that this is not such a great idea? She’s agreeing with McCain, who admits he doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to economic issues fergawdsaik.
Further, wouldn’t the fact that it seems like none of the people who would be responsible for making this idea into law and plugging any budget gaps created by it (id est Members of the House) are in any way enthused to do it be another indication that maybe this ain’t gonna work?
Yeah, I know. I shouldn’t be shocked when bumper sticker slogans replace actual policy proposals in a political campaign. It disappoints me that Clinton is joining in on this. Whatever difficulties I have with her, she is a serious thinker on policy and should know better.
Oh, and another thing, the gas price has gone up by more than twenty cents since McCain first proposed this. If it had been enacted the day he made his pronouncement, the savings would already be gone. Clinton’s proposal of taxing oil companies to make up the shortfall warms the hearts of lefties like me, but I think we all know that the first thing they would do is raise prices so their profits don’t get impacted. So, this will do virtually nothing for consumers.
What it will do is deny local and state governments money to build bridges and freeways. This means jobs for people in the construction industry. This money also means a lot to cash strapped state and local governments, who, if they can’t get money to continue ongoing projects, will take money from elsewhere. Maybe healthcare programs for the indigent, maybe education, who knows?
Of course, the line now is that Barack Obama is some sort of elitist for being against this hare brained scheme, while Clinton and McCain up there with “Sockless Jerry” Simpson in the populist fighting-for-the-little-guy firmament. Amazing how the latte liberal position seems to be the one that involves making sure that working folks stay employed, and families have safe roads to drive on.
3 Comments
May 6th, 2008 at 12:44 am
It is kind of bewildering that Clinton is still pushing the gas tax rollback as hard as she is, even though it doesn’t seem to be helping her and may in fact be hurting her. She just released some last minute attack ads in NC and IN continuing to hammer Obama about this issue. In addition, she said she wants Democrats in Congress to be put on the record as to whether they oppose the tax rollback or not. She even used the “for us or against us” line. The longer this goes on the more damage it does to us lefties.
May 6th, 2008 at 9:41 am
This was the last straw for me. Clinton’s despicable pandering in the face of overwhelming consensus by economists of all political persuasions disqualifies her for the office of President.
May 7th, 2008 at 1:02 am
The main useful purpose which Clinton has served in putting Obama through Republican-type fire is to make him stronger. Otherwise, she has just confirmed to me that ethically she is damaged goods. She has shown that she will do almost anything to win [the Who do you trust to answer the phone at 3AM ad, her stating that Obama wasn’t a Muslim “as far as I know” bullshit, the kitchen sink]–no matter the damage to the Democratic Party (a la Bill) and the likely Democratic nominee. My last straw was the video that she provided the Republicans re she and John McCain being strong candidates whereas Obama just gave a speech [it was something like that]. What is truly ironic is that she says she has already been vetted. Who does she think she’s kidding? While during the last few months Obama has experienced a good amount of what the Republicans/Swiftboaters would throw at him this fall, we’ve barely seen even a glimpse of what they would dump on Clinton this fall–certainly playing up on the pubic’s distrust of her. Her televised admission of having been mistaken [repeating the story numerous times previously] regarding the snipers was telling in that she came off as pissed off for having to admit she made a mistake–no embarrassment/concern that she had made a mistake [assuming it was a mistake…I’m part of that 50% or 60% that does not trust her].
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