Gingrich’s Economic Recovery Plan: Obama Should Spend At Least 35 Days Talking To Republicans
Gingrich’s Economic Recovery Plan: Obama Should Spend At Least 35 Days Talking To Republicans
This morning on NBC’s Today Show, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich blasted President Obama for not working enough with Republicans on the economic recovery package. He said that Obama was wasting time giving “partisan” speeches to House Democrats, when he should be hosting bipartisan meetings. Gingrich then held himself up as a model:
GINGRICH: I think he is in real danger of becoming Jimmy Carter instead of Ronald Reagan. … What we got last night wasn’t let’s reason together, let’s sit down and negotiate.
You know, when we did the balanced budget bill — which saved $405 billion in federal debt over four years and it’s the only time since the 1920s — President Clinton and I had to negotiate for 35 days in order to work out all the details. [...]
This is more money than the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war have cost in seven years, and you don’t just ram that through unthinkingly. You expect your representatives and senators to try to make the bill work.
Host Matt Lauer pointed out to Gingrich that “the situation is different this time around” than during the Clinton administration. Gingrich responded that if the situation was so grave, Obama shouldn’t be “making partisan speeches in front of a partisan audience.” Watch it:
Gingrich’s comparison of the economic recovery package’s cost to that of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is unfortunate. After all, President Bush did “ram” the Iraq war through Congress and to the American public by lying and presenting false intelligence.
In contrast, Obama has gone out of his way to work with congressional Republicans, meeting with them more than Bush met with Democrats during his entire presidency; he has even held private one-on-one meetings with Republicans.
But as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has made clear, “Being bipartisan does not mean having to lay down and say we’ll do whatever you want.” Gingrich is not interested in a compromise bill; he wants capitulation. From the beginning, he has been urging Republicans to vote against a economic recovery package that has any spending at all — even though spending is more stimulative than tax cuts.
Today’s Labor Department announcement that the U.S. economy lost 598,000 jobs in January alone underscores why Obama can’t sit down and talk with Republicans for 35 days. Today’s Progress Report has more key principles to guide the economic recovery discussion.
Transcript:
LAUER: Let me ask you how you think President Obama has handled this so far. A couple of weeks ago, he went to Capitol Hill, reached out to Republicans, met with them at their caucus. This week, a much tougher stance against Republicans. Last night, you just heard the comments he had to make. He’s angry about this. Is he justified, or is he sending mixed signals?
GINGRICH: I think he is in real danger of becoming Jimmy Carter instead of Ronald Reagan. He’s zig-zagging. He’s not accurate. The fact is, in the House, there were 11 Democrats who voted no. In the Senate, it is a bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans together who are saying this bill’s too expensive. What we got last night wasn’t let’s reason together, let’s sit down and negotiate.
You know, when we did the balanced budget bill — which saved $405 billion in federal debt over four years and it’s the only time since the 1920s — President Clinton and I had to negotiate for 35 days in order to work out all the details.
LAUER: Except, though, Speaker Gingrich, the situation is different this time around, isn’t it? President Obama talks about grave and immediate consequences to the economy if this isn’t passed sooner than later.
GINGRICH: Well, if it’s that great and immediate, why isn’t he calling bipartisan leadership meetings in the White House to work out details instead of making partisan speeches in front of a partisan audience, attacking the people whose votes he’s going to need? I agree this is a very grave situation, but that doesn’t excuse trying to ram through a $920 billion bill.
Think of it — the scale — Matt. Every American could not pay a single penny of income tax or a single penny of Social Security tax from now through August for the amount of money we’re talking about. This is more money than the Iraq war and the Afghanistan war have cost in seven years, and you don’t just ram that through unthinkingly. You expect your representatives and senators to try to make the bill work.
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Were they also talking when the government shut down in 1995?
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
February 6th, 2009 at 4:04 pmObama should give them 35 minutes.
That’s more than W gave Democrats or sane Republicans.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:04 pm35 seconds is more then enough to lay one big FART in thier offices.
Tell them to go f*&^ themselves and leave the room before the smell get to Obamas hight.
Move On Sir.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:06 pmits not a cookie, its a newt-ton.
stfu newt. your party is not needed.
i won.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pmThis “advise” is coming from a man that devastated Congress with his “Compact” and spent $70 MILLION on a BJ investigation WHILE BANGING HIS SECRETARY???? America does not need or desire any “advise” from a has-been disgraced political hack . . . drop dead Newtie . . .
February 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pmHey Newt, you were in the majority obstructing Clinton. Obama won and so did the Democratic Congress. Get a grip you lying, cheating, fat ass.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:08 pmAnd why should he do that?
February 6th, 2009 at 4:09 pmWhy do we still have to listen to what these losers have to say. They have been proven WRONG on absolutely EVERYTHING!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:10 pmAbout a month. That’s how long it takes to fully learn a new bad habbit.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:10 pmhey newtie-pie…how’d that “contract with america” work out for you? now, stfu, you hypocritical loser.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:13 pmHysterical: You know, when we did the balanced budget bill — which saved $405 billion in federal debt over four years and it’s the only time since the 1920s — President Clinton and I had to negotiate for 35 days in order to work out all the details.
Shorter Newt: “I fought the bastid tooth and nail so he couldn’t get what he wanted.”
That’s the Newtonian “bipartisanship” — and no one in the press ever points out that this newfound adoration for bipartisanship only emerged when the Republicans lost their majority status. It never passed their lips, except through a sneer, during the six years they controlled both houses and the White House.
Why is that? Oh, I forgot, it’s the Liberal Media.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:14 pmIf Obama did that, his head would literally explode.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:15 pmOh, right.
Note to Newtie:
WE WON. YOU LOST. GET OVER IT.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:16 pmNewt keeps holding onto the specter of Ronnie R.
What a lame ass.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pmdear newt,
February 6th, 2009 at 4:21 pmplease get back to us when your “party” actually can win an election.
sincerely,
the american people.
Who cares what Gingrich thinks… I though he quit years ago…
February 6th, 2009 at 4:22 pmHe reminds me of that stupid talking fish trophy — Take me to the water… I wish I could pull his batteries out!
The American worker is a prop to the Republicans.
They don’t look at the unemployment statistics, just the X’s in the calendar until Super Tuesday 2010.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:23 pmRepublicans already have an Economic Adviser who is Joe the Plummer. Newt wants in too. The GOP has so many people fighting for the top spot. Rush, Newt, Joe the Plummer and even Steele. Boner Boy is all over the place while saying nothing. Republicans want to stall the recovery until it can’t be fixed. I noticed Newt is now talking about how President Clinton balanced the Budget. Newt quickly forgot about the fake Contract with America that nobody be him knew about. Newt has to do something to make money as he has his former wife, current wife and other woman to pay for. It’s hard out there for a pimp and Newt is an old pimp.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:23 pmsquidbilly Says:
Newt keeps holding onto the specter of Ronnie R.
Isn’t there something in the bible about worshiping false gods?
February 6th, 2009 at 4:26 pmLooks who’s talking, Mr. Partison himself, the Newt. Guess the media still hasn’t come to the reality that Newt lost his seat a long time ago and that Newt knows nothing about economics except withholding child support from his ex wife.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:28 pmThere they go again, comparing everything to their Saint Ronnie, the very person that started this catastrophe.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pmAt this point in time why is Gingrich being booked on the Today Show at all to spew this kind of crap, & to what end?
“Just us folks, we’re so folksy,” the Today Show seems to be not in the corner of the “folks” but have another agenda that’s in the oppo direction of President Obama trying to help the folks.
Where were they when BushCo was raping this country. Bein’ “folksy?”
February 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pmCalendar days, or working days?
February 6th, 2009 at 4:35 pmBig difference to legislators, Nootie.
Good question. My guess is they were too busy chasing Paris Hilton and Britney Spears and the occasional runaway bride.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:35 pmIf the Republicans were truly interested in working with the president that would be one thing. But since all they want to do is obstruct, talking to them is just a giant waste of time.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pmYep, that’s exactly what Obama should do. Empower the Republicans, encourage their obstructionism and bolster big mouth Rush all the better to pump some life into their dying party. When 35 days pass and it’s too late to save what little we have left, Newt will say “I told you so. This Obama fella ain’t up to the job.”
And enough with the comparisons of Obama with Reagan already. It’s so sad when Republicans have to reach back almost 30 years for their presidential ideal. All hagiography aside, Reagan was a sh*t president who set the table for the mess we now find ourselves in.
-AF
February 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
give the dooshbags on the other side of the aisle 35 seconds of obama’s time and call a vote. like right now.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:37 pmNewt was the first guest on Washington Journal this morning, too. At least C-Span put on Michael Ettlinger from the Center for American Progress, in the next segment.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:38 pmSince he is a self-proclaimed historian, Gingrich added, “FDR should have spent at least 35 days talking to Hoover.”
February 6th, 2009 at 4:40 pmIf the situation was so grave..
You can count on a Republican to leave open to question the piss-poor condition of the economy.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:41 pmGINGRICH: I think he is in real danger of becoming Jimmy Carter instead of Ronald Reagan. …
Umm, good.
I think that Gingrich and the rest of the R’s should spend at least 40 years wandering in the desert, and then they can come back and try their hand at actually governing… maybe.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pmAll the republicans care about is funneling as much free money to their rich friends and contributors as possible. Leona Helmsley said once, “only the little people pay taxes.” That’s their attitude. The rich think that they are special and shouldn’t have to pay such an exhorbitant amount of money. They want us to believe so badly that the more they get to keep the more they’ll invest in small businesses so those businesses can expand and hire more people. The last 8 years told us otherwise. The money the rich kept with Bush’s tax cuts went offshore to private, numbered accounts. It went toward new yachts. It went everywhere except where it was supposed to go, into circulation to provide growth for the economy. Republicans don’t want any social services or any government spending unless it directly benefits the military industrial complex or the rich. The republicans have lost their way so badly that they have nothing of substance to offer the citizens of America besides obstruction and the same tired old lies.
I would gladly pay a rich person’s tax rate. That would mean that I was rich. And whatever tax rate I paid, I’d still be rich.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pmAnother hypocrit with diarrhea of the mouth.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:03 pmEvery day the news shows the republicans stone walling the passage of a stimulus bill. And every month about a half million Americans lose their jobs.
That means that every month there’s half a million more people who if they weren’t already, are going to be furious with the republicans for playing politics while the country sinks.
Apparently the republicans are content with their new found underdog status, as this new strategy of stonewalling and playing politics while Americans are losing everything is going to ensure they remain there.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:03 pmBonuses to CEOs who drove their businesses into the ground. Tax cuts for corporations that are sending jobs overseas. Talking to Republicans for 35 days for winning the majority.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:04 pm35 days?
i thought republicans were stupid, but not that slow.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:05 pmObama has given them too much already — time to stop and tell them to suck it up. (What does Newt mean by “35 days?”)
February 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pmThey are demanding that Dems just roll over and die — well, remind them, the election is over – Democrats won — that means the people won. Repugs represent the wealthy fatcats –they lost. To quuote Rush Limbaugh. “YOU LOST. SHUT UP and CRAWL AWAY.” That applies double to Gingrich.
.
Who listens to a man who laments that America has not been attacked, AGAIN!
.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:10 pmYou lost, Newt. How many days did chimpy give the dems in ‘01 or ‘04? Go back to your, what is it, fifth wife, and let the grownups work.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:16 pmIf the repubs were serious and had a reasoned case, they could easily present some major, salient points within an hour.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:17 pmThe Media and the replublicans will ruin this country.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:20 pmBozo The Neoclown Says:
hey newtie-pie…how’d that “contract with america” work out for you? now, stfu, you hypocritical loser.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
_________
Let’s be fair here. That wasn’t Newt’s idea, it was Grover Norquist’s. Newt doesn’t have nearly the brainpower to create something that ingeniously evil.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:22 pmWow it’s a good thing we had that troll show us how there aren’t more Republicans featured in the media on that other thread.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:31 pmYeah, Mr. “it’s all about me!” Gingrich. Does McConnell have to wear a stupid white wig to these “negotiations” so that can be the same too? They got Obama being nice. I’ve got a feeling they’re going to taste his elbow next.
OK, here’s the list of Republican tactics we’ve got so far:
1: Cherry-pick. Find a tiny line-item that you can make sound frivolous and complain about it endlessly. The tough thing for them was that about the only thing they could find to complain about in there was re-seeding the National Mall. Which is some pretty popular real-estate right now anyways.
2: Inflate. Complain about what’s not in the bill. It gives you an excuse to oppose it, and if the Dems cave and put your extra stuff in there you’re even better positioned to complain about the over all size of the bill.
3: Stall. “This is going too fast, make it take way longer!” Because you know that the longer a bill goes through the sausage-grinding process, the uglier it ends up. Waiting only benefits the opposition. Never mind that real people are really suffering.
4: Lie. When 1-3 don’t work, make crap up. There’s a secret CBO analysis that says the opposite of what the CBO’s published report said? Pretend the report doesn’t exist and that the analysis does. National Mall seeding is 1/4 of small business assistance? Flip that number around! Nobody on cable news will challenge you on any of it.
.
Mr. Evil Says:
I would gladly pay a rich person’s tax rate. That would mean that I was rich. And whatever tax rate I paid, I’d still be rich.
Exactly! In related news, the CEO of Netflix wants to pay more in taxes.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:43 pm“Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s recent claim that Obama’s stimulus plan “could create a major electoral advantage for Democrats at taxpayer expense.” “Creating 600,000 new jobs might help cement Virginia in the Democrat column, making it harder for Republicans to retake the White House,” said Blackwell.”
What more needs to be said when attempting to understand why Republicans are so resistant to rescuing the economy that they have spent so much time and effort destroying? We are haunted by Ronny Raygun’s ghost (or rather, the MYTH of Reagan’s “legacy”).
February 6th, 2009 at 5:50 pmThe majority of Americans voted for President Obama, and this is a “center-right” country according to the Republicans. Therefore, it’s Obama’s duty as Chief Executive to now join the Republican Party and preside over another four years of Bush’s failed policies.
Is that basically what they want?
February 6th, 2009 at 5:54 pmRepublicans changed during the Gingrich/Delay years. They rooted out every moderate and anyone willing to compromise in the spirit of statesmanship.
What we have left in Congress are the most strident, the most dig your heels kind of Republican Elephant. They don’t understand compromise, and they have been in Congress since the “Contract ( with )on America”
They aren’t your Dad’s or your granddad’s Republican. They are most vile and have proven that they put party over country.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:55 pmClinton won when he didn’t capitulate to Republican’ts demands and shut down the government.
Obama should not capitulate here either. I worried that Obama wouldn’t stand up to Repubs. Now is the time for him to throw a few elbows on the basketball court.
February 6th, 2009 at 5:59 pmWhy is this man on TV? He isn’t in power.
STFU, you jerk.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:05 pmI sure hope President Obama realizes that winning the Election was the Beginning of the Battle, and not the Victorious END.
This is not Baseball.
I KNOW that the Minute Obama won , the Repblicans began their Planning to ( As ElBruce correctly Suggests) Undermine his Presidency.
A successfull Obama Presidency Strikes FEAR in the hearts of the Republicans, especially after the record of the last 8 Years.
Obama, and those who agree with him Like Paul Krugman, need to SCRUTINIZE the Republican talking points, and show that this all has been tried and tested out by the Republicans & George W….with disasterous consequences.
This is a Clash of Philosophies, a Battle of Ideas…which Obama can win…but he Needs to Make the Case. Over and Over.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:07 pmWhy is he even on TV???
If he must be then let’s get him, Delay and some of the other discredited former GOP together and get it over with in one feel swoop.
Jeez, talking about our media being disproportionately consumed with the food fight for infotainment purposes. This crap is drowning out the legitimate dialogue. It looms over and suffocates what our president is saying.
Has mainstream media lost their minds or are they just partisan.
Maybe we can get Joe McCarthy and Hoover to do some sound bites.
What? Oh, they are dead. Well if they still had a pulse…
February 6th, 2009 at 6:17 pmI saw this this morning. I immediately turned the channel to SpongeBob SquarePants and felt smarter.
Thanks, Patrick!
February 6th, 2009 at 6:21 pmZero Says:
So what’s stopping him? There is no law against overpaying, it’s those cabinet nominees not paying that cause the problem.
The cabinet nominees have paid their back taxes due to the errors uncovered at audit. I’m not going to stop pointing this out, so you might as well stop pretending it isn’t true.
But his point is that if CEO’s paid more taxes (he’s thinking up to 50% instead of the current 33%) then people wouldn’t get so mad at CEO’s who get paid a lot. They’ll realize that half of that amount would be going to fund services we all need.
It’s funny how y’all respond to anyone who suggests that taxes should be higher by saying they should just overpay and leave you alone. Everybody pays the mandated amount. That’s just how it goes. Exhorting people to overpay isn’t going to solve anything.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:35 pmThrough with bi-partisanship…
February 6th, 2009 at 7:12 pmLead, follow or get out of the way Newt….
Second that. Drop dead Newt.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:18 pmGood lord, the stupid things this fool says. Obama should aspire to emulate Reagan as opposed to Carter ?! Let’s see,
Carter promoted energy conservation and alternate fuels. Negotiated peace in the middle-east. Increased pay for mititary service. Was completely honest and sincere. He initiated most of the defense programs that Reagan got credit for.
Can Gingrich name one great thing Reagan did, besides inadvertently inspiring the Brady-bill.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pmhmmm… 35 days…
that’s plenty of time for the “Obama Depression” to kick it… not?
…
i don’t doubt that these ugly people have themselves convinced of their reasoning… the ones they bleat on about…
but you know, deep down, mostly unspoken, it’s all about the bigotry for them, really… ‘who’s that black guy think he is…?
the nerve… we have GOT to show him who’s boss…’
i could be mistaken…
February 6th, 2009 at 8:22 pmReading the two links in the update, I am rather sad that our representatives only understand stimulus and infrastructure in terms of turning dirt over with a shovel.
Good idea for the 1930s. But it misses that we are a knowledge industry society and a global economy. Or, as one book recently proclaimed, The Earth Is Flat.
No wonder India is leaving us in the dust.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:10 pmThe compromise doesn’t look too bad. The original bill was 819 billion. The compromise is 780 billion. It includes more money for infrastructure, water treatment, electrical grid, Medicare, special education, and Pell Grants. If it passes, I can’t see it as a political loss for the Democrats in itself. The proof will be in the pudding. Things that were cut can be added in other bills.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:31 pmRepublicans appear to be all too willing to throw the country into a depression rather than give up on the idea that tax cuts are the only thing that provides the incentives to get the country going again. This stubborn attachment to a horribly failed policy ramrodded through Congress for the last 8 years boggles the mind. How can they be so blind and so selfish? Perhaps losing $3.6 billion will be a wake-up call for Rupert Murdoch, but I doubt it.
February 6th, 2009 at 10:47 pmPhuck Newt!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:01 pmShut. Up. Newt.
Please return to the dustbin of history where you belong. You have already been judged, and been found wanting.
I can’t be the only one to remember that he resigned in disgrace, showing an utter lack of spine and vacancy of strength to face the music he himself penned.
Cockbag.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:30 amZero Says:
You are just a stupid piece of garbage stop wasting out time and STFU
February 7th, 2009 at 7:27 am35 days? Would it really take that long for the Republicans to explain how they f ucked up the economy?
February 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amNewt – isn’t that some kind of slimey lizard? Just asking!
February 7th, 2009 at 9:54 amIn the last 8 liberals and democrats have been convinced it is wrong to call people names. We refer to ad hominen as a strategy for a losing argument…but think of the very descriptive list of words we have been banned from using.
Newt Gingrich is a dickhead!!!
Let us not waste too much time trying to be pc in how we choose to talk about this guy. If he wasn’t shilling for the very wealthy he would never have a job on tv…yet they keep his whiney ass in our faces to discourage us. If you have seen the movie Idiocracy you will understand Newt Gingrich is part of the dumbing-down of America plan. These are the biggest wimps and whiners trying to convince us to cry for the wealthy instead of the poor.
February 7th, 2009 at 11:30 amshould start “in the last 8 years or so…”
February 7th, 2009 at 11:31 amIs Think Progress now one of the cogs in the machine of the MSM???
TP should be letting us air our thoughts on productive things, and take the Rushpuppetcans off the stage. The more we scream about them the more it:
1) Feds their egos
2) makes less time to scream about our issues
3) Gives them relevance to governing
Hang all the muddafugging republicons NOW. EVERY LAST ONE OF THE TRAITOROUS SCUMBAGS.
NOW!!!!!
I am talking about hangings.
February 7th, 2009 at 3:41 pmHang Rove, Yoo, Addington, Bibee, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Bush, Wolfowitz, Feith, Gignrich, Krystol, the whole party.
The entire Repubilcan party must go.
February 7th, 2009 at 3:41 pmThrow Gingrich in jail for his Contract on America and his complicity to the treason and war crimes of Bush and Cheney
February 7th, 2009 at 5:36 pmNewt, how ’bout if you SHUT UP for 35 days–think you can do it?
February 7th, 2009 at 10:42 pmSpeaking of Barack Obama: LONG LIVE PRESIDENT OBAMA!
Obama is a racial-minority individual and does not like racism:
There is bad news about George Herbert Walker Bush.
What if basically all racial-minority people would subscribe to the interpretations that George Herbert Walker Bush committed monstrous, racist, hate crimes while he was the President of the United States?
It will eventually come out: it is only a matter of time.
Respectfully Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang, J.D. Candidate
B.S., With the Highest Level of Academic Honors at Graduation, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
(I can type 90 words per minute, and there are thousands of copies on the Internet indicating the content of this post. And there are thousands of copies in very many countries around the world.)
March 27th, 2009 at 10:38 pm_________________
‘If only there could be a BAN against invention that bottled up memories like scent so they never faded & they never got stale.’ (Once again, please consider an illustrative analogy: like scent that is held in or restrained or inhibited or suppressed or bottled up.) It came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.