Onomatopoeia

Taxed Out
Between an aging population and rising health costs, then, preserving anything like the programs for seniors we now have will require a significant increase in spending on these programs as a percentage of G.D.P. And unless we offset that rise with drastic cuts in defense spending — which Republicans, needless to say, oppose — this means a substantial rise in overall spending, which we can afford only if taxes rise. (Thomas Friedman, NYT, 5/12/11)

Friedman’s latest column takes Republicans to task for threatening spending cuts that would put Granny out on the street. Typical of his writing, it is blatantly dishonest. Friedman admits that Social Security and Medicare spending is huge and growing. His answer: raise taxes. The Republican answer is to redesign the programs. RedStateVT has NEVER heard any legitimate Repub suggest that anyone currently receiving benefits should have those benefits cut. All proposals are to adjust the benefits going forward (yes, reduce and push out the eligibility) in order to make them sustainable in the long run. Making the changes now for those not yet receiving benefits will allow these future recipients the time to prepare (yes, save more). Following Friedman’s logic, taxes should just continue to rise in perpetuity to fund the programs. And notwithstanding his comment, Repubs HAVE said that cuts in defense spending should be considered.

Meet the New Ground (Same as the Old Ground)
The El Paso speech is notable not for breaking any new ground on immigration but for perfectly illustrating Obama’s political style: the professorial, almost therapeutic, invitation to civil discourse, wrapped around the basest of rhetorical devices — charges of malice compounded with accusations of bad faith. “They’ll never be satisfied,” said Obama about border control. “And I understand that. That’s politics.”

How understanding. The other side plays “politics,” Obama acts in the public interest. Their eyes are on poll numbers, political power, the next election; Obama’s rest fixedly on the little children. (Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, 5/13/11)

Good capture of the essence of Obama.

Lawful Wars
President Obama and his legal advisers are deliberating about how the United States military may lawfully continue participating in NATO’s’s bombing campaign in Libya after next week, when the air war will reach a legal deadline for terminating combat operations that have not been authorized by Congress. (NYT, 5/13/11)

Like feminists who only object when a Republican acts in a sexist way, the anti-war Left is strangely silent.