Thursday, March 12, 2009

Wise Move

So, Obama gets panned for his decision to sign the final 2009 appropriations bill.  This is that rare situation lately where I know for a fact that he absolutely right and every single media critic is wrong.  The idea that he should get into a big fight with Congress over earmarks at this particular moment is totally crazy.  I'm old enough to remember when Jimmy Carter picked a fight over water projects early in his administration.  It was a disaster and he never recovered.  His relations with Congress sucked and he couldn't get anything done.  People who say Obama should have vetoed that bill are either ignorant of how Congress works or cynical.  Sadly, none of the coverage gives any coverage to Obama's legitimate explanation along these very lines.

The man is disciplined.  He picks his battles.  And can take the heat when he knows he's right.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Any thoughts on the AIG "noise" and the administration's "failure" while President Obama at his town hall meeting in California is responding with ...."And I'm also committed to ensuring that if we ever do have to intervene again to prevent a bankruptcy that could cause catastrophe for the whole financial system, that we have some of the tools that a bankruptcy judge has to help renegotiate contracts, to sell off insolvent parts of an institution, to protect the healthy parts, to protect depositors and creditors and other consumers"....

Taking control while everyone is chasing a red herring?