At this moment, there is no mention of Representative Michelle Bachmann’s newest legislation on her website, but her plan for a constitutional ammendment to ban the president from making currency issued by any other government legal tender in the United States is briefly noted on CBS and CNN.
The bill is all of 39 words long, in the form of a constitutional amendment:
“The President may not enter into a treaty or other international agreement that would provide for the United States to adopt as legal tender in the United States a currency issued by an entity other than the United States.” (Library of Congress).
What’s most interesting about this bill is not the contents, but rather the timing of their delivery. On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, Bachmann asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake,
“Would you categorically renounce the United States moving away from the dollar and going to a global currency as suggested this morning by China and also by Russia, Mr Secretary?” (Reuters)
To which both men responded yes, as in they would renounce the idea.
Then, on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, Bachmann introduced H. J. RES. 41 to ban the president from accepting foreign currency as legal tender.
This leads me to only two questions: why does Bachmann keep this news off of her website? And possibly answering the first question, why in the world is this necessary? Is Bachmann’s idea of smart legislation and time management in this time of economic crisis introducing bills that are wasteful in nature? For a member of the party that accused President Obama of “distracting” us from the economy by removing Bush-era extreme bans on stem cell research (see our Take on the Republican Reaction Distraction), this seems like a silly diversion.
Bachmann already seems a bit unhinded, based on her comments on Hardball (see the Huffington Post coverage) about “un-American” members of Congress. Now she wants a constitutional amendment to ban something no one wants to do? How about Representative Bachmann and her staff start thinking about things that matter right now to the Congress and to the country. If not, stop wasting our time and get a radio show or something for these lunatic rants and accusations.
McCain’s spending freeze isn’t breaking news, but it’s one of his scariest proposals. He’s right about one thing: drastically increases taxes will further damage our economy. Fortunately, no one is proposing across the board tax increases. In fact, Obama–the usual target of McCain’s “tax and spend” lies–is proposing a tax cut for 95% of American workers. And that would be on top of household savings from health care costs, better health, and higher wages from a stimulated economy.
McCain is wrong about another fundamental part of the economy; government spending. His blunt force government spending freeze would eliminate jobs and drive the economy into a complete recession, if we’re not there already. It’s a dangerous proposal, and foresight into McCain’s governing style of zero attention to detail, no fact-based solutions, and policies that politically sound good, but fail to deliver.
In addition, this overzealous measure is confusing when stacked next to McCain’s plans to spend billions in Iraq and in new programs. In Governor Palin’s first “major policy address” (the week before the election) she promised to fully fund research into Autism, among other diseases. Would that fall under McCain’s own spending freeze? Who knows. These policies are only based on politics. We need strong politics for four more days to pick a winner in this race. Then, we need strong policies for four more years. If the last twenty months are any indication of what’s to come, Obama is the only candidate in this race with the ability to lead.
Obama: So we’re going to have to make some investments, but we’ve also got to make spending cuts. And what I’ve proposed, you’ll hear Sen. McCain say, well, he’s proposing a whole bunch of new spending, but actually I’m cutting more than I’m spending so that it will be a net spending cut. […]
McCain: Do you know that Sen. Obama has voted for — is proposing $860 billion of new spending now? New spending.
That’s right, Senator Obama and Democrats are now used to the Republican rhetoric enough to accurately predict the upcoming lies and offer the Republican a chance to say something else–or at least phrase it in a different way. Yet McCain proved once again in this statement that he’s all systematic rhetoric programmed at the Republican National Committee headquarters. How is this even considered civil discourse or productive debate in choosing a president?
McCain’s best argument for the presidency is that Obama is proposing new spending, an untruthful and boring Republican standard. Of course he’s proposing new spending. McCain is too! Every candidate for every office promises new programs, new tax cuts, or maybe even both. All involve new spending.
Obama specifically said yes to new spending, including investments in infrastructure and energy jobs across the country. Then he stated in unequivocal terms that his plans involve more cuts then spending, leading to, wait for it, a “net spending cut.”
Senator McCain’s programmed statements are an insult to the American voter. Please, Senator McCain, have some respect; don’t spew Republican rhetoric at us, when we all know its absolutely false. You’re better than that, but you haven’t shown in in a long, long time.
Take Back the Flag’s Take on the second presidential debate is based on direct language from the CNN transcript.
Part two of Take Back the Flag’s cartoon series. We’re a little behind schedule posting this right after the Obama-McCain debate, but we’ll get back on track. Click the cartoon for the full size, and please share your comments and suggestions below.
John McCain’s distinguished public service career spans 26 years. In a sense, its very honorable. But looking at the character of Senator McCain revealed in the current campaign, his service looks more like a power grab to benefit himself and his friends. Now, in the midst of another financial crisis stemming from industry deregulation, McCain is trying to distance himself from Washington. One minute he’s the experience leader putting country first, the next, he’s a reforming maverick who’s ready to change Washington. 26 years later? Its about time.
The only mavericky thing McCain did was pick Sarah Palin. McCain must have felt like such an insider that he needed to bring in an extreme outsider who has no Washington experience, no credibility, and no understanding of the world around her.
Senator Obama, on McCain’s sudden reach for the outsider status:
Take Back the Flag 