President Obama’s poll numbers remain low, which prompts an ongoing, euphoric high among the usual suspects. Those would be the conservative hucksters who prophesy to their acolytes that to-hell-in-a-handcart socialism is on its way and the free enterprise system is on its way out — headed for the ash heap of history thanks to George W. Bush’s successor. And there was the looming, un-American legacy of debt to grandchildren everywhere.
But does context no longer matter?
For the sake of argument, suppose we dispense with the demand-side followers of John Maynard Keynes, who still make a pretty good case for stimulating one’s way out of a recession heading for deflation. Then (metaphorically, alas) eliminate obnoxious liberal pundits such as Keith Olbermann and the right-wing fog horns represented by the self-serving likes of Rush Limbaugh. Presumably, we can agree that America deserves better than conflict-crazed, show-biz jerks and their polarizing jeremiads and snapshot cheap shots.
Focus on this: When President Bush took over in 2001, the country was running a budget surplus of more than $230 billion. When President Barack Obama took over eight years later, that had devolved into a $1.2 trillion deficit.
To be fair, 9/11 happened–but an uber expensive war of choice in Iraq didn’t have to. And recall a costly prescription-drug benefit sans a plan to pay for it. And when things got obscenely dicey on Wall Street, there was another Goldman Sachs alum, Hank Paulson, to the rescue.
But there was no need for tea party inception or histrionic drumbeats. Not until, that is, we elected an “elitist,” African-American activist/law professor with the middle name of Hussein with a mandate for change.
A bit more context. Recall the alternative to the Obama-Biden ticket. It was John “Geez, economics isn’t exactly my strong point” McCain and the certifiably uninformed, platitude harlot Sarah Palin. Former patriot McCain actually put her a heartbeat from his would-be presidency. Mercifully, America was spared electile dysfunction in 2008.