Advice to Republicans, The Nation, Newt Gingrich, President Obama and Others

It’s Unsolicited, But Take It Anyway

[Editor’s Note:  As an opinionated author The Dismal Political Economist is more than ready to offer advice on politics and economics even when (and particularly when)  it is unasked for.  Here is some of that unasked for advice.]

To Republicans:  Go ahead and refuse to raise the debt ceiling and shut down the federal government and cause the U. S. to default on its sovereign debt.  You know you want to, you know you cannot resist doing so for much longer, you know you have to.  So Republicans, go ahead and do it now. You will get it out of your system, the rest of us can deal with it, and all of us can then move on.

To the Nation:  It is not too late to enroll in a summer school class in Macro Economic Policy 101.  There you will learn that economic policy designed to contract the economy will contract the economy.  This will prepare you for the fall class in Reality Economics 101.

To Newt Gingrich:  Quit.  You know you are going to sooner or later, and in politics as in investing, your first loss is your best loss.  If you quit now you can go back to Fox News, push your latest book (whatever it is), comment on the other candidates and continue to look for some “great ideas” to at least give minimal credence to you self-proclaimed aura of the “person of great ideas”.

To President Obama:  Take a firm stand, on something, on anything.  If you would veto an extension of the Bush tax cuts that continue tax cuts for the wealthy, say so.  If you are no longer concerned about unemployment, make that clear.  Go ahead and identify the $300 billion  a year in cuts to government programs you are proposing, you know, the cuts to education, health care, transportation funding etc. and tell everyone how and why they will make America better.   If Herbert Hoover is really your idea of a great President, hang his picture in the oval office and let everyone know.

To House Majority Leader Eric Cantor:  Finalize your plans to replace John Boehner as Speaker of the House and go ahead with them.  We all know you are planning to do so just as soon as he reaches a deal, any deal on the debt ceiling.  Go ahead and stick the proverbial “knife in the back” of the Speaker.  Don’t wait until the Ides of March.

 Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

[Editor’s note:  The Dismal Political Economist has been warned about the Shakespeare references, apparently to no avail.]

To Fox News:  Go ahead and develop that plan to recruit Michelle Bachmann as a commentator.  You  know you are going to and when you put your budget together for next year go ahead and pencil her in.  Note:  Forget the Palin/Bachmann News Hour, you can only push the envelope so far before it crumbles.

To Sarah Palin:  We all know you are not going to run for President, so start making plans for what you are going to do when the word gets out and you are out of the limelight.  Think about reading a book, any book, spend some time with your young child Trig, and enjoy the life your celebrity status has brought you.  Become a private person, which will please both your family and the rest of us.

And finally

To Mitt Romney:  Just keep doing what you are doing, it’s working great. Apparently you have learned that just standing next to people like Michelle Bachmann and saying little makes you look sane and rational.  As long as you have that secret plan on how to campaign against Texas Gov. Rick Perry in your back pocket ready to go, you will be fine.