A Final Dem-Fucking?

So Bush had his final State of the Union Address and used it to talk more fear and panic about the economy. Not enough to "expand" the stimulus package like the Democrats say they would like. Because, gosh-darnit, $150 billion pissed away, I mean "rebated" is just exactly the right amount.

But still panicky.

Why all the hubbub? Yeah, it doesn't look particularly good for us right now. But not significantly worse than a month ago, when it was all sunshine and cookies talk from the administration. And this is not a guy who has let reality ever force him to admit anything he didn't want to admit before.

And it's not like he, or anyone who advises him gives a fuck about the people suffering in the economic downturn. The top 1% is doing just fine, thanks, and in fact will use this little downturn to pick up some valuable assets on the cheap.

And he's not running for reelection.

And I think I know what it is. It's those tax cuts. He, or rather his puppetmasters, want those tax cuts to go permanent. Never mind that they've been an economic disaster for everyone but corporations. They're expiring now, and it's his job to stop that.

Screaming about a recession is the easiest way to do it. Nobody thinks it's a good idea to raise taxes during a recession. Even if doing so is necessary to get back into some sort of rational, realistic, balanced-ish budget.

It's like exercise, I guess. Something that is normally good, and necessary, but might need to be skipped when someone is down with the flu or otherwise really sick.

So get ready to hear a lot of squealing and whining about how these tax cuts are about to sunset, and how our economy will be devastated if that happens. And watch our pussy Democratic Congress fall all over themselves to pass legislation to keep them cut for a while longer, maybe even permanently, to avoid having an ad run against them someday saying that they (cue ominous music) "raised taxes during a recession." I've got no doubt that he's capable. This is, after all, not something inconsequential like running the country or delivering services to U.S. taxpayers. This is important. It's helping rich people get and stay richer. Something he, and any Republican, can do in their sleep.

Half a million Iraqi dead, 3,000 U.S. dead. Record Debt.

If Bush can only destroy our ability to ever dig ourselves out of the fiscal hole he's plowed us into, then his legacy will be complete.