The Senate voted on five budget proposals yesterday. None passed. In fact the President’s budget proposal was defeated by a 99-0 margin. Not one Democrat backed the President. These were symbolic, partisan budget proposals not designed to promote compromise but rather to cover their ass with their constituents. “We’re trying to get things done but we can’t get the other side of the aisle to cooperate.”
The President invited congressional leaders to lunch at the White House to discuss the economy and the debt. Within minutes of adjourning the meeting both sides were telling the press how forceful they had been in making their ideological points to the other side.
We wrote yesterday about the avalanche of critical economic events that are thundering down on Washington. Yesterday’s “show” demonstrated once again that these people, on both sides of the aisle, are not capable of effectively dealing with the serious economic issues facing the country. Instead of having a thoughtful debate and constructive negotiations these people are floating symbolic partisan budget proposals followed by mind numbing recitations of their ideological talking points.
These are not serious people.
The country is in desperate need for leadership; someone with the political courage to put the country first and party second. The President needs to fill that void. He needs to broker an economic solution that causes pain to both sides of the aisle for only then will it be both substantive and fair.
If he is looking for a place to start he might consider the proposal offered by his own debt commission all those many months ago. The one he immediately discarded out of hand.
Simpson-Bowles looks pretty good right now.
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