Bush Communications Director Admits They Set “Trap” For Obama That “Feels Pretty Good”
Dan Barlett, the communications director in the George W. Bush administration, admitted to Howard Kurtz at The Daily Beast that making tax cuts temporary was a conscious effort to make a problem for the following administration.
“We knew that, politically, once you get it into law, it becomes almost impossible to remove it,” says Dan Bartlett, Bush’s former communications director. “That’s not a bad legacy. The fact that we were able to lay the trap does feel pretty good, to tell you the truth.”
…
…by moving up the expiration date by nine months, the Bush team saved $100 billion and made the bill’s deficit-busting impact appear smaller.
As an added bonus, the “sunset” provision, in Beltway-speak, was a political time bomb: At some point in the way distant future, Democrats could be accused of raising taxes if they tried to undo the Bush breaks and return to Clinton-era levels of taxation.
As David Di Martino at The Hill put it:
Bartlett feels pretty good. Isn’t that terrific? Here we are, dealing with the worst economy in decades, the worst deficits in history, crippling debt to competitors like China — all brought to America under President Bush’s brand of leadership and economic wisdom, and Bartlett feels pretty good about it. Heck, he’s bragging about it!
Hey it’s all politics right? Let’s start two wars and not pay for them, let’s drive millions of Americans out of their jobs, let’s ignore intelligence warnings about terrorist attacks while we clear brush, let’s lie to the world about WMDs so we can go to war and nation-build in Iraq and Afghanistan and send our troops over there to die, and let’s cut taxes and — most importantly — skyrocket spending so our country’s fiscal house collapses under the weight of all this long after we’ve moved out of the White House so that we can win some elections in 2010. Brilliant!
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247 responses to Bush Communications Director Admits They Set “Trap” For Obama That “Feels Pretty Good”
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stourleykracklite May 21st, 2014 at 09:17
As a liberal, I have no problem with these specific tactics. Vegetarians should not take field trips to the sausage factory.
mea_mark May 21st, 2014 at 09:45
You really don’t care if politicians hurt Americans for political gain?
stourleykracklite July 11th, 2014 at 05:45
Conservatives often say the same thing about the gain of our political objectives so such claims have little relevance. I’m actually quite surprised at the number of “up” votes your and other commenters’ posts opposing my point of view have received. After all this time are there still liberals who waste time gnashing their teeth over the success of their opponents?
DJPB May 21st, 2014 at 10:56
That you think dirty politics that harm the populace for personal gain is not a problem gives lie to your claim that you’re a liberal.
stourleykracklite July 11th, 2014 at 05:40
I’m sorry, but understanding that it is hard to repeal a passed law does not qualify as “dirty politics.”
DJPB July 11th, 2014 at 15:05
Doing something to harm the country and the future administration knowingly is dirty politics. “understanding that it is hard to repeal a passed law” doesn’t even come into the equation except that it was used as part of the dirt. But as you’re going around responding to things that are months old I’m thinking you’re not real quick on the uptake anyway.
stourleykracklite July 17th, 2014 at 22:17
Your characterization of what they did is that it is dirty politics, and I understand how you feel. I also understand that conservatives feel the same way about liberals’ tactics and can recollect when Democrats have used “camel’s nose” tactics to advance our agenda. Insulting me hardly advances your point.
Niko Okamoto May 21st, 2014 at 15:56
You’re not a liberal.
stourleykracklite July 11th, 2014 at 05:35
“You’re not a liberal” is not a demonstrable claim.
carowe May 21st, 2014 at 09:23
These turdhumpers don’t give a rat’s ass what is good for the country. They just want to pretend they are morally superior. And stourleykracklite, you are no liberal you’re just an a$$hole.
stourleykracklite July 11th, 2014 at 05:37
I have seen liberals engage in the same techniques so it would be hypocritical of me to decry them. It’s just rhetoric. Like calling someone an a$$hole.
carowe May 21st, 2014 at 09:23
These turdhumpers don’t give a rat’s ass what is good for the country. They just want to pretend they are morally superior. And stourleykracklite, you are no liberal you’re just an a$$hole.
mea_mark May 21st, 2014 at 09:45
You really don’t care if politicians hurt Americans for political gain?
DJPB May 21st, 2014 at 10:56
That you think dirty politics that harm the populace for personal gain is not a problem gives lie to your claim that you’re a liberal.
DJPB July 11th, 2014 at 15:05
Doing something to harm the country and the future administration knowingly is dirty politics. “understanding that it is hard to repeal a passed law” doesn’t even come into the equation except that it was used as part of the dirt. But as you’re going around responding to things that are months old I’m thinking you’re not real quick on the uptake anyway.
Foundryman May 21st, 2014 at 11:26
Most already knew they planned it that way, what we didn’t know was how happy and proud the right would be about throwing the economy into an abyss.
Tax cuts to the wealthy with no way to recoup led to the most dramatic spending cuts that hurt everything and everybody, except of course the rich.
Foundryman May 21st, 2014 at 11:26
Most already knew they planned it that way, what we didn’t know was how happy and proud the right would be about throwing the economy into an abyss.
Tax cuts to the wealthy with no way to recoup led to the most dramatic spending cuts that hurt everything and everybody, except of course the rich.
Tony May 21st, 2014 at 14:08
Since the TEA PARTY think they are SO right and RELEVANT, we should also bring back something from that ERA, TAR AND FEATHERING.. the GOP better by stock in a KEROSENE company, because they will need a LOT of it to clean themselves up !!!
Tony May 21st, 2014 at 14:08
Since the TEA PARTY think they are SO right and RELEVANT, we should also bring back something from that ERA, TAR AND FEATHERING.. the GOP better by stock in a KEROSENE company, because they will need a LOT of it to clean themselves up !!!
dagobarbz May 21st, 2014 at 14:37
It’s all games for them. The real people impacted don’t exist to them.
(((dagobarbz))) May 21st, 2014 at 14:37
It’s all games for them. The real people impacted don’t exist to them.
Niero Gonzalez May 21st, 2014 at 15:44
The hivemind can’t arrive fast enough.
Niero Gonzalez May 21st, 2014 at 15:44
The hivemind can’t arrive fast enough.
Turtle Poser May 21st, 2014 at 15:49
Old news.
Clicky Ta May 21st, 2014 at 15:49
Old news.
Niko Okamoto May 21st, 2014 at 15:56
You’re not a liberal.
JHF May 21st, 2014 at 16:09
Author of this is a complete moron or completely under the Cool Aid spell…. He has absolutely no grasp of reality or facts, past or present.
JHF May 21st, 2014 at 16:09
Author of this is a complete moron or completely under the Cool Aid spell…. He has absolutely no grasp of reality or facts, past or present.
Bob Pineo May 21st, 2014 at 18:09
I would REALLY enjoy removing that smile from his face, with VIGOR !
Bob Pineo May 21st, 2014 at 18:09
I would REALLY enjoy removing that smile from his face, with VIGOR !