On the eve of President Barack Obama's first, live press conference warning of the dire consequences of inaction in the face of the economic crisis, The UK's Independent is reporting that PM Gordon Brown's closest ally, Ed Balls says:
This is the worst recession for over 100 years.
Republican response here in the US is expected to be: Bloviate even more on cable tee-vee, in between cries of "More tax cuts!"
A bit more below the imaginary crease...
And here's a bit more from The Independent:
Britain is facing its worst financial crisis for more than a century, surpassing even the Great Depression of the 1930s, one of Gordon Brown's most senior ministers and confidants has admitted.
In an extraordinary admission about the severity of the economic downturn, Ed Balls even predicted that its effects would still be felt 15 years from now. The Schools Secretary's comments carry added weight because he is a former chief economic adviser to the Treasury and regarded as one of the Prime Ministers's closest allies.
Mr Balls said yesterday: "The reality is that this is becoming the most serious global recession for, I'm sure, over 100 years, as it will turn out."
Meanwhile, back on this side of the pond, let's see... "the most serious global recession for over 100 years" and the Republican party's twofold "plan" is: 1) Obstructionism and 2) Tax cuts... because both have worked so well for us in the past.
President Obama was absolutely right tonight. We have a raging fire that needs to be put out and the opposition party is whining about the water being too cold. We need to get this bill passed. It can be fine-tuned later. If ever there was a time for the Republicans to heed the old adage "Lead, follow or get out of the way", now is that time.
When will the Republicans wake up and smell the coffee? The American people realize that their party is largely responsible for the mess we're in. They would also do well to finally acknowledge - after the past two weeks of bullshit they've put us through - that getting in the way of a solution is not a politically smart thing to do.
I hope for the sake of us all, that they get a clue very soon.
They've really begun to look an awful lot like this guy here: