Do Not Ask what Good We Do - Robert Draper's account of how GOP decided to sabotage Obama's admin.

[Bill USA]

Given the tireless efforts of a number of media sycophants to push the trope that Obama hasn't shown good leadership by the likes of toadies such as Charlie Rose and of course FOX - GOP News - I thought it time to reiterate the very important book by Robert Draper which goes into the gathering of GOP heavyweights on the day of Obama's innauguration. The meeting in which the GOP leaders decided on a strategy of all out sabotage of the Obama presidency.

This book should be mentioned frequently by those who comment on other sites such as corporate media sites (e.g. ABC, NBC, CBS), USA Today, Yahoo, and other sites where the blind are being (mis-)lead by the nefarious. All across corporate media they keep talking about how the unemployment rate and the state of the economy is Obama's Albatross. Never a mention is made of the implacable opposition, the record filibustering in which the GOP have been engaged - as if the GOP the last four years has been engaged in the normal political opposition. As if filibustering the ARRA to force a downsizing (through converting expenditures to tax cuts) of the stimulus hasn't had any effect on the recovery. As if legislative terrorism such as threatening a U.S. default on its financial obligations, and a Government shut-down hasn't had an affect on business's confidence in the recovery and willingness to hire on full-time permanent people (see: The $5 Trillion Stash: U.S. Corporations' Money Hoard Is Bigger Than the GDP of Germany:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/07/the-5-trillion-stash-us-corporations-money-hoard-is-bigger-than-the-gdp-of-germany/260006/| ).

Slight media attention is given to harsh criticsms of the GOP tactics by serious, knowledgeabe people. Thomas Mann (Brookings Institute) and Norman Ornstein's (The American Enterpise institute) book: "It's Even Worse than it Looks" also details the GOP all out war against Obama calling the GOP an "insurgent outlier".. Bruce Bartlett, senior advisor to Ronald Reagan, has vigorously criticized the current Tea-Partied GOP, saying it seems like the GOP has been taken over by lunatics (Bill Moyers show appearance). Mike Lofgren, after almost 30 years as a GOP Congressional staffer, retired in disgust saying the GOP had become a 'cult' ("Good-bye to all that": http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/3079:goodbye-to-all-that-reflections-of-a-gop-operative-who-left-the-cult, Bill Moyers show appearance)


from a post on the Daily KOS:

Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan & Kevin McCarthy: Plot To Sabotage US Economy with Frank Luntz

On January 20, 2009 Republican Leaders in Congress literally plotted to sabotage and undermine U.S. Economy during President Obama's Inauguration.

In Robert Draper's book, "Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives" Draper wrote that during a four hour, "invitation only" meeting with GOP Hate-Propaganda Minister, Frank Luntz, the below listed Senior GOP Law Writers literally plotted to sabotage, undermine and destroy America's Economy.

The Guest List:
Frank Luntz - GOP Minister of Propaganda
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA),
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX),
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX),
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA),
Sen. Jim DeMint (SC-R),
Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ-R),
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK-R),
Sen. John Ensign (NV-R) and
Sen. Bob Corker (TN-R).
Non-lawmakers present Newt Gingrich

During the four hour meeting:

The senior GOP members plotted to bring Congress to a standstill regardless how much it would hurt the American Economy by pledging to obstruct and block President Obama on all legislation.

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[monmouth]

1. John Boehner was not there? Surprising...n/t

[freshwest]

2. Thanks for putting this all together here. Will share.

[Bill USA]

7. some more ammo: Moody's Analytics said Obama's Jobs bill would add 1.9 milliion jobs, lower U.R. 1%

(emphases my own)..
Moody's: Obama plan will add 1.9M jobs - Politico 9/9/2011

[font size="+1"]A top economist says President Barack Obama’s job plan will likely add 1.9 million jobs and grow the economy by 2 percent.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, also said Obama’s $447-billion plan would likely cut the unemployment rate by a percentage point, United Press International reported on Friday.[/font]


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In his Thursday night jobs speech, Obama laid out the details of his proposed American Jobs Act and called on Congress to pass it right away.

“There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation,” he said. “Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans – including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything.”
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An Analysis of the Obama Jobs Plan - Moody's Analytics

by Mark Zandi - Sept 9, 2011

> President Obama's jobs proposal would help stabilize confidence and keep the U.S. from sliding back into recession.

> The plan would add 2 percentage points to GDP growth next year, add 1.9 million jobs, and cut the unemployment rate by a percentage point.
> The plan would cost about $450 billion, about $250 billion in tax cuts and $200 billion in spending increases.

> Many of the president's proposals are unlikely to pass Congress, but the most important have a chance of winning bipartisan support.
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Nice thought there Mr. Z ("...but the most important have a chance of winning bipartisan support&quot - but I think your hoping positive thinking will have some effect. But that might be true only if you are dealing with people who place some importance on helping America dig out of the problem - the problem THEY CREATED.

As the ensuing year of legislative obstruction would show, the GOP insurgency had only one priority. As McConnell said, their foremost priority was to make Barack Obama a one term president. In order to do that they had to fight him at every step to minimize any recovery he tried to produce - to the Trickle Down - Deregulation disaster they created. That way, with millions more out of work the GOP could campaign saying: "Look how Obama can't fix the economy. Obama's policies haven't worked". The GOP have demonstrated consummate political cynicism in there war on Obama and America.

When you add the 1% pt drop in unemployment for the American Jobs Act to the 1% point reduction in the unemployment rate that we would have had without the cuts to Government programs mentioned in the Wall Street Journal article (see cmt 4) , we would have been at something more like 6% unemployment by the end of this year.

[julian09]

3. This story should get the same attention as the Romney tape.

If msm doesn't do it we should get it out, soon it will be all about playoffs and series.This is more important than Rmoney, he is only one person that wasn't in on the obstruction. These 12 have caused a lot of people, to not get jobs or anything that would help them, just to defeat Obama. They are rooting for bad economy.

[Bill USA]

4. and nary a word on M$M. They're always echoing GOP propaganda that the economy is all on

Obama and his policies haven't 'worked'. Well, he hasn't been able to fully realize his economic policies because of the unprecendented GOP war on Obama . but nobody on Corporate media will talk about this. that's why the poll numbers are so close (Obama should be about 15% to 20% pts ahead). PBS did interview Mann and Ornstein on their book, but still every time the economy is reported on they sigh and say something like: "Well, more bad news for Obama." BULLSHIT ... if not for the ruthless opposition of the GOP to make Obama a one term president (stated publicly by McConnell) the economy would be a lot better off.

the Wall Street Journal published an article the said that this year. Unemployment Rate Without Government Cuts: 7.1%

[Stuart G]

5. Thank you very much for posting this one...K and R..nt

[Angry Dragon]

6. A list of TRAITORS

they should all be tried for treason
some would say that that can't be done and I say violation of the OAth of Office is treason