The Bush-era loans were not a blank check, and not a “straightforward bailout.” President Obama was wrong when he said they were.
President Obama’s decision to waste (at least) $60 B
Posted January 24, 2012 • 
If Mr. Lizza’s reporting is correct, over the objection of his economic advisors President Obama replaced $60 B of “highly stimulative spending” with a slow-spending but “inspiring” $20 B for high-speed trains and $40 B in pork for his Senate Democratic allies.
President Obama’s changing economic problem definition & deficit strategy
Posted January 23, 2012 •
President Obama’s primary economic problem definition has varied widely over time, and his deficit message has changed even more.
Fannie & Freddie in the payroll tax cut bill
Posted December 17, 2011 •
The payroll tax cut bill that will soon become law takes a small step in the right direction on policy toward the Government-Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Congratulations to Congress for this small step; they still have a long way to go.
Free trade voting patterns in Congress
Posted December 12, 2011 •
In the U.S. free trade agreements pass the Congress with a broad center-right legislative alliance that includes almost all Republicans and splits Democrats roughly one-third for free trade and two-thirds against it.
Three layers of the European debt crisis
Posted December 7, 2011 •
This is why American policymakers should care deeply about Europe — because if the Europeans screw it up badly, it could do serious damage to the American economy, transmitted through still flawed and vulnerable banking systems.
Congressional Republicans’ strategic shift on taxes
Posted November 22, 2011 •
The most significant element of the failed Super Committee negotiations is that Republicans offered to cross the no-net-tax-increase line in exchange for structural entitlement reform or structural tax reform and a permanent answer on tax rates.
The President’s missed opportunities for deficit reduction
Posted November 21, 2011 •
Q: In a politically balanced Congress, is significant deficit reduction possible without Presidential leadership or even involvement?
The political risks of targeted mortgage subsidies
Posted October 25, 2011 •
A program like this is not all political upside for the President. Don’t forget that the original February 2009 Rick Santelli explosion, which launched the Tea Party, was a reaction to an Obama Administration proposal to use taxpayer funds to subsidize targeted mortgage relief.
Democracy is SO inconvenient
Posted October 24, 2011 •
I am not surprised that the President is using the legislative flexibility he has to maximum effect. I am a bit surprised that he sees a political benefit in framing himself as an Imperial leader who can and should ignore democratic processes.
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