“A breathtaking act of economic vandalism”

by David Safier

With all the weak coverage of the Jobs Bill filibuster — I read the bill was "voted down" (No, it had a majority but was filibustered down) and that it was a defeat for Obama (implying Democrats could have drafted a good bill the Republicans would have voted for) — it's nice to read at least one MSM piece, the NY Times editorial, using some appropriate language to describe the situation:

It was all predicted, but the unanimous decision by Senate Republicans on Tuesday to filibuster and thus kill President Obama’s jobs bill was still a breathtaking act of economic vandalism.

Vandalism, as in, the Republicans smashed a reasonable attempt at economic recovery like they were so many hoodlums throwing rocks at our economy, shattering people's hopes of finding their ways out of their financial problems.

To continue:

The bill the Republicans shot down is not a panacea, but independent economists say it would have a significant and swift effect on the current stagnation.

[snip]

The Republicans offer no actual economic plans, only tired slogans about cutting regulations and spending, and ending health care reform. The party seems content to run out the clock on Mr. Obama’s term while doing very little. On Tuesday, Mr. Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, accused Republicans of trying to “suffocate the economy” in hopes that the pain would work to their political advantage. They are doing little to refute that charge.

[snip]

Republican [presidential] candidates fear the Tea Party too much to acknowledge that economists are solidly behind government intervention to awaken growth. The jobs bill rejected by Republican leaders will now be reintroduced piece by piece, and Republicans are not likely to go along with much more than an extension of the payroll tax cut (which is opposed by Mr. Romney). But at least the record is increasingly clear who is advocating real ideas and who is selling an empty vessel.

The Democrats need to keep pushing for legislation to help this country, until either the Republican opposition is worn down enough that a few are willing vote with Democrats to pass the bill (not likely) or the Republicans are unmasked as a party that will do anything to win, no matter what the consequences to the country and its people.