Mr. Obama Wants to Do Big Things, Greeks Find a Big New Use for Greek Yogurt, Tim Pawlenty Doesn’t Understand Big Accomplishments. . .

And Other News that Needs Commenting On

Just how difficult is it for President Obama to get the message?   That message being that the Republicans will not vote to raise taxes for any reason at any time, and that any agreement on deficit reduction will come from spending only.

 The White House chief of staff, William M. Daley, said on “This Week” on ABC that Mr. Obama would continue to push for a major deal to reduce the deficit. “Everyone agrees that a number around $4 trillion is the number that will make a serious dent in our deficit,” Mr. Daley said. “He didn’t come to this town to do little things. He came to do big things.”

Not to worry Mr. Daley, if things continue Mr. Obama will have done big things, like big cuts to social welfare programs, like big cuts to Medicare and Social Security, like preservation of big tax cuts for the wealthy (already been there and done that) and like big damage to the economy. Provide details on some of those cuts Mr. Daley, and see what a big reaction you get.  

Also, implement these $4 trillion cuts and as an extra bonus there will also be big dents in Mr. Obama’s re-election chances.

Is that big enough for you?  No?  Well how about policy to make a big reduction in unemployment, would that be ok, or is that not part of the big things Mr. Obama wants to do?

Mrs. Dismal Political Economist likes Greek Yogurt and so was interested in a recent report in the Financial Times that the Greeks had found a new use for Greek yogurt.  Unfortunately she learned that the new use for Greek Yogurt is to hurl the product at politicians.

“One reason for this situation is that politicians haven’t managed to rebut the populist claim that they have stolen from the people and driven Greece into bankruptcy,” said Takis Michas, a social commentator

Of course, one reason why politicians haven’t been able to rebut the populist claim is that it may be true.

Every Saturday the Financial Times has an excellent in-depth report on lunch with a famous or influential person.  The week is no exception, as the FT interviewed Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and now serving in a key role with the U. N.  Ms. Bachelet seems like a wonderful person who has lead a difficult and accomplished life, and reading the article is well worth the time.  Also of interest to the Dismal Political Economist was the lunch, at a place described as

charming, but basic, with dog-eared menus. Bachelet says she selected it for convenience and I observe that it is also cheap. “Well, I haven’t noticed that,” she admits, surprised. “But it’s OK. It’s a normal restaurant, it’s nice, the food is good.

Cheap in Manhattan is lunch for two, no alcohol, only appetizers for one diner at a cost with tax and tip of $88.73.  Is there a disconnect here?

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty’s campaign style seems to be to bash his opponents when they are not present, and to be nice to them when they are present,  like at a debate.  That was his strategy with Mitt Romney and now he has gone after fellow Minnesotan candidate Michelle Bachmann, saying that her accomplishments are “non-existent”.

Now that is probably true, but given Mr. Pawlenty’s record contains  leaving the office of the Governor of Minnesota a deficit of $5 billion, leading to a shutdown of state government, Mr. Pawlenty may need to think on whether his accomplishments are something that are better left unsaid.