Obama is moving to the center

[Puppycow]

Obama Delivers Bad News To Black Leaders About Expected Budget Cuts

Among the constituencies bracing for deep cuts in the fiscal 2012 federal budget, African-Americans are as worried as anyone. And with good reason, as President Obama explained to a group of black elected officials gathered at the White House Tuesday.

Obama soon will submit to Congress a proposed budget that would slice $300 million from community development block grants, the biggest funding source enabling local governments to deliver everything from economic development to road repairs to law enforcement resources — particularly in communities with heavy concentrations of poor and minority residents.

The administration also wants to slash half the $350 million in annual spending on community service block grants, which aid the poorest children and families. (The change also would convert the program into a competitive grant process.)

Obama To Target Fannie, Freddie For Eventual Death

An administration white paper expected later this week will reportedly call for the two companies to be gradually euthanized.

Obama To Propose Deep Cuts In Home Heating Program

If the Obama White House officials wanted to focus attention on their willingness to take on Democratic Party sacred cows, they could've hardly done better than to reveal that their new budget will propose cutting billions of dollars from the program that helps struggling homeowners provide heat.

Whatever you might think about these things, I don't think you can call it pandering to his base.

 

[dudalb]

He knows his base is safe because however much they might not like these cuts, they know that the GOP will be worse.

 

[Policenaut]

Yes. He's in the ultimate sweet position. He's the default D candidate for 2012 and the R's don't have anyone good enough to beat him right now. So he really cannot lose and basically can do as he pleases (courting people who didn't vote for him in 08 while alienating some of his base) until 2012. Unless something catastrophic happens with the Obama admin he's a lock for 2012.

 

[dudalb]

Particuarly if the GOP does a repeat of going too far to the right in Congress like they did in 1995/96..which seems likely.

 

[Toontown]

I agree that Obama finds himself in the enviable position of not needing to pander much. It's quite fortunate, because some budget trimming is quite necessary. Clearly, trillion + deficits cannot continue indefinitely.

I find it amazing how strong the U.S. position is, to allow it to run such gargantuan deficits. But we gotta get real here.

 

[stokes234]

I agree that Obama finds himself in the enviable position of not needing to pander much. It's quite fortunate, because some budget trimming is quite necessary. Clearly, trillion + deficits cannot continue indefinitely.

I find it amazing how strong the U.S. position is, to allow it to run such gargantuan deficits. But we gotta get real here.

There are other ways of getting real. Doesn't america spend around a trillion on the military every year? And second highest spending is about $100 billion? Seems you could cut down your deficit faster by scrapping Pax Americana.

 

[Tricky]

I always thought Obama was fairly close to the center. I never quite understood the ultra-left's worship of him, and they've certainly become disenchanted about a lot of things.

 

[A Laughing Baby]

I always thought Obama was fairly close to the center. I never quite understood the ultra-left's worship of him, and they've certainly become disenchanted about a lot of things.

As far as I know, the ultra-left has always been disenchanted with him. Unless you're counting college democrats as the ultra-left. They liked him a lot.

 

[Meadmaker]

I always thought Obama was fairly close to the center. I never quite understood the ultra-left's worship of him, and they've certainly become disenchanted about a lot of things.

They worshipped him for the same reason the Nobel Prize committee admired him. He's not George Bush.

 

[Ysidro]

Does this mean Obama is finally moving to the Left!?

 

[Travis]

He did just propose $50 billion for high speed rail which I'm ecstatic about.

 

[Toontown]

There are other ways of getting real. Doesn't america spend around a trillion on the military every year? And second highest spending is about $100 billion? Seems you could cut down your deficit faster by scrapping Pax Americana.

You overstated it by a few Chinas.

Scrap Pax Americana? Sure. You foreigners would like that, wouldn't you. It scares you when we unlimber the heavy metal, doesn't it.

Well, you can forget about it. We're not disarming. If the rest of you want to march empty-handed into this freaking overpopulated hellhole of a century, we'll be right behind you, armed to the teeth.

Sure. We could reduce the military budget, probably all the way down to 400 billion as soon as we finish up in Afghanistan and Iraq. Or perhaps more if the crazed monkeyball begins to show more unprecedented signs of civilizing.

But it's not either slash the military budget or eliminate Fanny and Freddy. We can do both, circumstances permitting. And the circumstances currently favor giving the axe to the systems mentioned in the OP.

If you don't like it, take it up with Obama. He da boss.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

This sucks, and it is going to get passed because both Republicans and Democrats can come together to look like they are making a difference with the deficit. It is a lot like earmarks. They are only a tiny, tiny portion of the problem.

 

[Toontown]

Sure it sucks. It's supposed to suck.

In the best case, it's only the opening salvos in a long, bitter struggle to avoid eventual death by spending disease. That's not going to be fun. If the battle is actually, seriously joined, many a sacred cow will feel the axe.

Alternatively, we could pray in the following manner for another economic boom:

"Dear God, please grant us another economic boom of unprecedented proportions. We promise we won't piss it away this time."