"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

It's Starting To Sink In

Steve Benen has a good piece on just what the Republicans are up to with their economic brinksmanship.

Regular readers know that we’ve been keeping an eye on the “sabotage” question, wondering whether congressional Republicans would consider hurting the economy on purpose, for purely partisan reasons.

Just this month, some high-profile, mainstream pundits have begun exploring the issue, and just last week, two of Congress’ most powerful Democrats broached the same subject.

Michael Tomasky went even further the other day, arguing that Democrats should start “saying openly what has been clear for months or even years now — that as long as economic recovery would work to the political benefit of Barack Obama, the Republicans have been, are, and will be in favor of sabotaging the economy.” Tomasky added this is “obvious,” though many consider the question to “impolite” to repeat.


And for an added treat, here's Rachel Maddow's segment on this very question:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that this particular idea is gathering steam. Not that there's anything wrong with the idea that the Republicans, who famously cast their agenda in 2009 as making Obama a one-term president -- their entire agenda, mind you -- would stoop so low. As we've seen again and again from their "social conservative" wing, nothing is too low. What surprises me is simply that "mainstream" commentators are willing to mention it. Maybe "Republican" is finally getting radioactive.

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