EVEN BUSH IS LAUGHING AT McCAIN'S CYNICAL GAS TAX PROPOSAL

The McBush economic team

When I saw the name on the article I thought it was by John McCain's embedded publicist at the Washington Post. Then I realized it was in the NY Times and saw it was John Broder, not the Post's pathetic old hack with the same last name. The story highlights what Broder calls Democratic division over McCain's cynical summer gas tax holiday. As soon as Obama pointed out that it was a bad idea, Hillary jumped in to support their respective campaign's common enemy: the American people.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton lined up with Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, in endorsing a plan to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for the summer travel season. But Senator Barack Obama, Mrs. Clinton’s Democratic rival, spoke out firmly against the proposal, saying it would save consumers little and do nothing to curtail oil consumption and imports.

While Mr. Obama’s view is shared by environmentalists and many independent energy analysts, his position allowed Mrs. Clinton to draw a contrast with her opponent in appealing to the hard-hit middle-class families and older Americans who have proven to be the bedrock of her support. She has accused Mr. Obama of being out of touch with ordinary Americans who are struggling to meet their mortgages and gas up their cars and trucks.

Mrs. Clinton said at a rally on Monday morning in Graham, N.C., that she would introduce legislation to impose a windfall-profits tax on oil companies and use the revenue to suspend the gasoline tax temporarily.

Above I referred to McCain as cynical, which he certainly is, but in the interest of fair play, I might add that Mrs. Clinton's cynicism is every bit as virulent as his. I'm so sure Miss McConnell, who has obstructed everything the Democrats have tried to do and even every bipartisan proposal to ease the energy crisis, is going to allow a windfall-profit tax on one of the Republican Party's biggest corporate donors, the oil and gas industry. And Bush is just frothing at the mouth to sign it, right? Look, McCain has made a record of not even voting for the most dire national security needs-- like safety in our ports and equipment for our troops in the field-- if it meant closing corporate tax loopholes or doing away with even a fraction of the tax breaks for people making over a $1,000,000 a year. So... this is a total non-starter.

Bush's "economic speech" this morning was one of the most nakedly partisan rants I've heard from the bumbling idiot in months.
"It's a tough time for our economy," he muttered. "Across our country, many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook, from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills. They're looking to their elected leaders in Congress for action. Unfortunately, on many of these issues, all they're getting is delay." The Bush Economic Miracle was replaced by the Bush Recession, in his mind at least, by Democratic foot dragging on his incredibly unsound economic agenda-- an agenda that has been disastrous for the economy and for the American people. But what does this imbecile know? Two weeks ago he seemed flabbergasted when some mentioned that the price of gas was near $4/gallon. [I wish it would go back to that in L.A., where it is heading towards $5/gallon, thanks to the Bush-Cheney Energy Plan to enrich the few at the expense of the rest of us.] Would he like to leave the country with a full fledged Depression instead of a Recession?

But even the doltish Bush isn't stupid enough to buy into McCain's and Hillary's gas price cynicism. When a reporter asked Bush about the McCain-Hillary plan he just smirked, babbled some noncommittal answer-- not wanting to mention that McCain is even more clueless than he is-- and said he didn't want to inject himself into the ongoing presidential race.

The presidential race? McCain and the Hilldog are talking about this summer and this summer, alas, we'll have the same jerk in the White House who first stole the election in 2000. He doesn't want to inject himself? He's the only one who could sign or veto this "proposal," which is strictly campaign fodder, as even Bush recognized.

Meanwhile, not everything is getting more expensive every day. Housing prices dropped in February at the fastest rate ever, a widely watched index showed on Tuesday, reflecting that the housing slump is gaining momentum and showing no signs of letting up.


UPDATE: OBAMA REJECTS THE DC INSIDERS' PERSPECTIVE ON THE ECONOMY

"At a time when so many Americans are struggling, we deserve better than special interest giveaways from the White House and transparent political gimmicks on the campaign trail. George Bush's solution to a recession and an energy crisis of historic proportions is warmed-over Washington proposals that would pad oil company profits and give more tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans who don't need them and didn't ask for them.

"Meanwhile, the two Washington candidates in this race are playing the same old Washington game where you try to distract voters without doing anything to deliver meaningful relief for working families. As President, I'll pursue real change by providing a tax cut of up to $1000 for working families, and investing $150 billion in clean, affordable, renewable sources of energy to create millions of jobs and end our addiction to oil. It's time to stop dusting off tired Washington ideas like gas tax holidays and drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge so that we can finally be honest about the challenges we face, bring this country together, and push back against the special interests that have blocked progress for decades."