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One caller, from Boston, said Republicans like Risch have little room to carp about big spending, after the Bush years. Risch didn’t really dispute the caller’s point, but was quick to point out that he is new to the Senate. Fair enough. But Risch also made what I thought was a veiled criticism of President Obama, who has gone out of his way to paint the current economic crisis as a problem he inherited from the Bush administration. Said Risch: “This is now his problem”/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. More here.
Question: Do you agree with U.S. Sen. Jim Risch that the economy is Obama’s problem now? Or do you agree with Richert that it’s also Risch’s problem?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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JamesBond on February 12 at 12:02 p.m.
The national debt is not Obama’s to blame, but this economy went into the tank under a Democrat-controlled Congress and a Republican President who did not lead on economics and did not know where his Veto Stamp was located. Now, Obama is in charge, making the economy completely in control of the Democrat Party, including this trillion dollar spending bill. So far, the stock market hasn’t liked it much, and polls suggest that Americans are very uncomfortable with it.
thomg57 on February 12 at 1:32 p.m.
So is Risch planning on sitting onhis hands for the next 6 years? If he doesn’t feel any need to help America why did he run for office?
thawtfulreader on February 12 at 1:45 p.m.
“polls suggest that Americans are very uncomfortable with it.”
Incorrect. Except for one outlier, Rasmussen, the polls continue to indicate a majority support for the stimulus plan, and 60+ (minimum) approval ratings for Obama.
Gallup’s latest poll has public support at 59% for the stimulus plan, an increase of 7 points in a week’s time.
Oh and it’s Risch’s and Obama’s problem now.
Sisyphus on February 12 at 1:47 p.m.
Whoa Bondo keeps slipping down the fact free slope into the arms of the trolls.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/114577/Stimulus-Support-Edges-Higher.aspx
And most analysts peg the stock market reaction to the failure of the TARP program as administered by Paulson, not to the legislation that hasn’t been passed yet.
Sisyphus on February 12 at 1:53 p.m.
You know what bugs me about Risch’s stance is that its exactly what we warned about, he’s going to be a flame thrower and he’ll be ineffective. He repeated constantly on the campaign trail that he’s an agent of change but as he demonstrates he brings the same old divisiveness with no solutions.
Speaking of bipartisanship Judd Gregg pulled the plug on taking the appointment to Commerce.
DFO on February 12 at 2:04 p.m.
>You know what bugs me about Risch’s stance is that its exactly what we warned about, he’s going to be a flame thrower and he’ll be ineffective — Sisyphus<
I can’t figure out why a guy in his mid-60s who is the 8th wealthiest senator in a club of wealthy men and women would want to be hanging out in the U.S. Capitol for the next 6 years — in a minority party. Yeah, it’d be thrilling at first. But how you going to keep the juices going as the 60s spills into the 70s and you’re thousands of miles from your beloved Idaho. Mebbe it’s me.
Sisyphus on February 12 at 2:22 p.m.
I think that realization is going to hit him on a personal level Dave. He’s always said he would never go to Washington but his ambition blinded him.
But I guess I’m unclear on your comment. Are you saying whatryagonnado? Ah, plenty, like compromise. You and I both know he has a natural propensity to confront. And like all diplomatic efforts, its only as good as the potential force you can bring to bear. But that’s no good if you are only good at fighting and mediocre at negotiating. Calling this a fraud on America leaves no room for reason and if he makes himself a pariah in the senate it will be bad for Idaho.
Arch_Druid on February 12 at 2:32 p.m.
Risch is supposed to be representing Idaho. Idaho’s GOP are becoming taxers and spenders. I’ll agree, it is indeed Risch’s problem as well as long as he doesn’t want to work with the Democratic party or Obama to come up with something that satisfies a bit of everything. Looks like he’s a 6 year freshman and then out.
And by the way, James Bond, for 6 of 8 years, GW had a majority GOP party and didn’t know where his veto pen was located. Nor were the GOP necessarily opposed to porkulus and earmark spending. At least, not as long as they were in the majority. If they suddenly find their pulse on being “fiscally responsible” as Ed Rollins was prepared to say on CNN recently, or for that matter, Alex Castellanos, it is only because they aren’t in the majority. And they are also partisan opposed to the Dems.