So much for “rejecting the politics of fear”

By Michelle Malkin  •  February 5, 2009 09:41 AM

President Obama is losing the stimulus battle. Fiscal conservatives are winning the message war on the Generational Theft Act of 2009. Flailing and desperate, he has resorted to the very “politics of fear” he ran against during the campaign. In a WaPo op-ed this morning, he invokes Chicken Little tactics to scare Washington into ramming his massive, ineffective, debt-stimulating plan through Congress. At least he didn’t use Nan Pelosi’s “500 million” jobs line:

By now, it’s clear to everyone that we have inherited an economic crisis as deep and dire as any since the days of the Great Depression. Millions of jobs that Americans relied on just a year ago are gone; millions more of the nest eggs families worked so hard to build have vanished. People everywhere are worried about what tomorrow will bring.

Because each day we wait to begin the work of turning our economy around, more people lose their jobs, their savings and their homes. And if nothing is done, this recession might linger for years. Our economy will lose 5 million more jobs. Unemployment will approach double digits. Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.

The only thing we have to fear is fear-mongering itself.

If Senate Republicans can hold the line, they can avoid the same head-long rush toward repeat failure that led to bailout-mania and stimulus-palooza last year.

It’s a big “If.”

Do your part. Make a call: 202-224-3121. Go to Congress Whip. Join #TCOT’s campaign.

Kill the bill. Stab it. Stick a fork in it. Then start over from scratch.

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Posted in: fiscal stimulus

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Comments


  1. #101
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, corkie said:

    On February 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm, frostrt said:

    Convince people that they are doomed, economically speaking, and they will be afraid to spend money. Hence, they will stop spending, hence, the economy gets worse – unless people don’t let the fear of the MSM hold them back (and, no, of course they shouln’t live beyond their means; they just shouldn’t be so afraid that they cut back unnecessarily).

    Agreed. And it isn’t just people. Corporate budgets tighten based on MSM generated fear, too.

  2. #102
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm, MtsEdge said:

    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, corkie said:
    On February 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm, frostrt said:

    Convince people that they are doomed, economically speaking, and they will be afraid to spend money. Hence, they will stop spending, hence, the economy gets worse – unless people don’t let the fear of the MSM hold them back (and, no, of course they shouln’t live beyond their means; they just shouldn’t be so afraid that they cut back unnecessarily).
    Agreed. And it isn’t just people. Corporate budgets tighten based on MSM generated fear, too.

    I think that’s why we get back to “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”…our own mental state (panic or calm) will dictate each of our individual responses (and as you noted, corporate responses, too)…not necessarily based on facts, just impulses and impressions…many times generated by the MSM.

  3. #103
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pm, frostrt said:

    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:06 pm, MtsEdge said:
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm, corkie said:
    On February 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm, frostrt said:

    Convince people that they are doomed, economically speaking, and they will be afraid to spend money. Hence, they will stop spending, hence, the economy gets worse – unless people don’t let the fear of the MSM hold them back (and, no, of course they shouln’t live beyond their means; they just shouldn’t be so afraid that they cut back unnecessarily).
    Agreed. And it isn’t just people. Corporate budgets tighten based on MSM generated fear, too.
    I think that’s why we get back to “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”…our own mental state (panic or calm) will dictate each of our individual responses (and as you noted, corporate responses, too)…not necessarily based on facts, just impulses and impressions…many times generated by the MSM.

    —————————————

    Each person should look realistically at his/her own situation, and act accordingly. If you have no good reason to panic, DON’T PANIC because of what you see on the news.

  4. #104
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm, corkie said:

    On February 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm, Mister P said:

    So if a lie is told often enough, in your mind it becomes the truth.

    OK. Ya got me. I’m perpetuating the lie being told by the U.S. government, the fed, and everyone else that discusses the issue.

    I wish I had known that you had some crazy passion for defining inflation as “money supply” – word which you also insist on defining broadly.

    But you sure are in DENIAL about the effects of an increased money supply. You seem to think one could create money out of thin air.

    Paternalism certainly is justified in dealing with you. Reread all my comments. I’m not in denial about the effects of an increased money supply. You just wish I was. We are debating the definition of the term inflation. How many times do I need to repeat that? GROW UP!

    Previously you stated:

    Nope instead we must increase the taxes in order to balance the budget.

    You certainly aren’t a fiscal conservative.

    Did you support Ron Paul? You’re not going to want to debate 9/11 truth next. Are you?

  5. #105
    On February 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm, Speakup said:

    By now, it’s clear to everyone that we have inherited an economic crisis

    What do you mean we..uh..uh..dude!

    The Pres. must have a mouse in his pocket because his economics isn’t exactly a share the pain kind of a moment in history.

    If the Constitution is so much more important to him than the last administration, he can twist his own throttle and leave everybody else’s cycle the hell alone.

  6. #106
    On February 5th, 2009 at 10:16 pm, scottthong said:

    NO!!! NO NO NO NO NO!!!

    Michelle, please refrain from BESMIRCHING the great and well-earned image of the one and only DOOM by linking him with a 143-day amateur!

    DOOM DEMANDS IT!

  7. #107
    On February 5th, 2009 at 10:21 pm, Papa Louie said:

    Our nation will sink deeper into a crisis that, at some point, we may not be able to reverse.

    By all means, then, let’s grease the skids with the stimulus package and slide full speed into the chasm.

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