The once great, but now declining into corporate mouthpiece, Des Moines Register has come out endorsing Mitt Romney for President because he provides "fresh economic ideas".
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That's right, the Gannet owned Register thinks trickle down economics is a "fresh idea". The paper goes on to fall for the "confidence fairy" that Paul Krugman has written about...
Consumers must feel more confident about their own economic futures to begin spending on the products and services that power the economy. A renewed sense of confidence will spark renewed investment by American companies. Industry will return to full production and hiring will begin again.
That should come with Mitt Romney in the White House.
Follow for more foolishness....
The paper's editors then seem to think that there is not a dimes worth of difference between the two candidates economic plans and seem to think Romney has given plenty of details on his plan....
There is not a lot of difference between the two candidates’ short-term economic plans, as both are heavy on a promise of tax cuts for the middle class but short on details. Romney’s plan, however, goes beyond helping the middle class with tax breaks.
Throughout the campaign, he has expressed faith in the private sector to fuel a more robust economic recovery if it has more confidence that the federal government will not be an obstacle. Romney has a strategy for job growth through tax and regulatory relief for small businesses, encouraging all forms of domestic energy production, education that prepares graduates with job skills, expanding foreign trade and reducing the burden of federal deficits.
That formula, coupled with his business acumen, should unlock this nation’s economic potential.
That's right..."business acumen" which I guess means gutting companies to make investors lots of money.
Then the paper goes for the homerun by admitting that Obama has been held back by partisan gridlock (Republican intransigence and full on hostility) but somehow Mittens will bring everyone together for a big old kumbaya circle in the Capitol rotunda...
Early in his administration, President Obama reached out to Republicans but was rebuffed. Since then, he has abandoned the effort, and the partisan divide has hardened. That has hampered not only the economy, but the entire country. We remain a nation of red states and blue states.
Romney had to tack to the right during the primary season. Since then, he has recalibrated his campaign to focus on his concern for the middle class, and that is believable if the real Mitt Romney is the one on display as governor of Massachusetts who passed a health care reform plan that became the model for the one passed by Congress.
Yep, they truly believe that the real Romney is some doe-eyed post partisan wonderchild.
To take the cake the paper then reads off a laundry list of ideas that they hope Romney will take care of...even though the Romney of 2012 has NO INTENTION AT ALL of following these priorities....
Romney should not squander an opportunity to build consensus in Washington by wasting time on issues that animate many in his party. We cannot rewind the clock on progress for minorities, women, gays and lesbians. We must make it easier for immigrants to come here to live and work legally and stop making criminals of those who are living here lawfully, paying taxes and raising families. The federal government must continue to insist on clean air and water and encourage clean and renewable energy.
What an amazing pretzel twist! The paper, earlier in the week had a bit of a tussle with Obama about an "off the record" interview that they then wanted to publish the transcript of. So Obama released the transcript and the Register stabbed him in the back with an inexplicable endorsement of Romney.
Fortunately, the Register has not fired all of the open minded on their staff. Opinion columnist Rekha Basu had this piece in today's paper, her own endorsement of Obama for a second term.
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In the end however, I would not sweat it too much. Locally and statewide the Register has been declining in influence as it becomes a corporate rag rather than an independent news source. The impact on this endorsement is marginal compared to the awesome work of the Democrats in getting out the early vote.