tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981739266034213538.post5153028036316238626..comments2023-07-25T05:54:36.811-07:00Comments on thaxis: The Big Idea GuysUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981739266034213538.post-63639890381805084502010-03-15T20:50:21.188-07:002010-03-15T20:50:21.188-07:00Yes, I agree with the last comment about the vitri...Yes, I agree with the last comment about the vitriolic climage. This is the sort of thing David Brooks and others point out (Howard Fineman of Newsweek), that distrust of institutions is so pervasive today that it's very difficult to convinced anyone of anything. This, of course, has consequences for bold agendas that seem to involve spending increases (people, for instance, don't trust the CBO when it says that health care will cost only such and such).<br /><br />So without a basic trust in the goodness of government, how do you pass new, expansive government programs? To many Americans today, they simply say "less government means less crooks". And that's a hard place to be for politicians.Erik J. Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992991998553823280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4981739266034213538.post-19126481072069470562010-03-14T18:29:48.600-07:002010-03-14T18:29:48.600-07:00Erik,
Nice rant for a Sunday! Big ideas/agendas f...Erik,<br />Nice rant for a Sunday! Big ideas/agendas for presidents are usually only depicted historically as successes are the ones that come as a circumstance and not as an orginal plan, in my view. For example, FDR's New Deal plan (during his campaign) might be seen in a different light if it weren't for WW2 (the circumstance). Same can be seen for many presidencies--JFK (Cuban Missile Crisis) and Bush Jr, and the reaction to 9/11. I am referring not to his IMMEDIATE non-reaction, I am referring to the cowboy act after. Bush Sr.'s plan of "no new taxes" resulted in a loss for him. And I refuse to give Reagan credit for the end of the Cold War---anyone hear of Gorbachev? Most success legacies of 'big ideas' don't seem to come from domestic agendas, in fact, that seems to be the downfall. So, all of Obama's "big ideas" (and he has plenty) might be determined as successes/failures from looking at what his relationship with Congress is like post mid term elections. Honestly, I don't think it bodes well for Obama. If he takes a cue from Clinton's rule book, he will tone down the "big ideas" and become more centrist, but it may be too late--or the climate is just too vitriolic to do any idea--big or small.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03604907881896956462noreply@blogger.com