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Showing Original Post only (View all)So now the talking point is that Obama destroyed chained CPI with his masterful brinksmanship. [View all]
So now the talking point is that Obama destroyed chained CPI with his masterful brinksmanship. You see, he never wanted it in the first place (never mind what he's been saying publicly since at least 2007) but by putting chained CPI in the budget, he got the Republicans to do the heavy lifting for him, and toss one of their favoritest things over the cliff. And all us emo-progs were just too dim to see his brilliant strategy as the most exquisite piece of realpolitik since Otto von Bismarck walked the Earth. Which is just as well, because our shock and horror and outrage were part of Obama's plan all along. Silly emo-progs, don't you know Trix are for grownups?
It's not that the left didn't see what Obama was trying to do, it's just that we were aghast at his willingness to play with millions of people's lives, and his glee in pissing off his base, as well as handing the right a key tactic for 2014: "Obama wanted to cut Social Security!" And then there's the further distortion of reality by continued conflation of Social Security as being part of the budgetary process. The fact that all the 501(c)s were making most of the opportunity to fleece some more cash out of their supporters is beside the point -- when have they ever missed an opportunity to fearmonger up some fresh dough? If Boehner expresses a preference for oatmeal over eggs for breakfast, MoveOn will squirt out an email begging for money to defeat the demonic spawn that wants to put all the chicken farmers in the poorhouse.
You can call it a victory if you want. I'll call it a disgrace -- just another crying shame in a long line of many.