OPINION: [The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.]
By Chris Kelly, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
His trip here also telegraphs that his campaign staff sees
Like every other scribbler on the
THE
My speechwriters wanted me to start off with the "Joe Biden, Scrappy Kid from
Also, some locals told me the Biden name isn't as magical here as outsiders think. They said I'd be better off highlighting Hillary's similarly sketchy ties to
Beaten down
Back to Joe Biden, but just for a minute. As you no doubt know, Joe loves to tell the story about when his dad told him, "When you get knocked down, you get back up and fight." It's a good story, but I doubt it has much punch in a town that's been down for decades and beats itself up every chance it gets.
This morning, I was briefed on the 29 percent property tax increase the mayor wants to impose on top of the county's 38 percent hike. I'm told you also have to find some way to pay
Wow. Just. Wow.
Like any Democrat, I need the support of organized labor to get re-elected, but if I were advising the unions, I'd suggest a compromise that honors their victory in court without breaking the backs of taxpayers. Even Scrappy Joe Biden would have a hard time getting back up with all that dead weight hanging around his neck.
Did I mention that he was born here in
The unions won't like me saying they should consider cutting the taxpayers a break, but I came here today to tell you the truth, which is dangerous for any politician who wants to keep his job. I hope to win a second term, but if it doesn't work out, I'm sure I'll get another gig.
The truth I came here to tell is that government has failed you at every level, from your local school boards and governments all the way up to
Judging by your reaction, this is not news.
I inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression from a president who turned a
I inherited those wars, and I have done my best to end them. Most of our troops will be out of
I made killing
On the economy
That didn't surprise me. I could cure cancer, and they would blast me for putting millions of doctors, hospital employees and undertakers out of work. Unfair criticism comes with the job, though. My predecessor couldn't do anything right in the eyes of his detractors, either.
He signed the
It's well-documented that I like a game of poker every now and then, but there was no way in good conscience that I could roll the dice on the chance that the economy would crater to a depth that would make the Great Depression seem like a pothole. The stakes were just too high to sit back and let it ride.
Despite the "certainty" of my critics, there is no empirical evidence to say whether the bailouts and stimulus worked or were a colossal waste of resources. The national unemployment rate is at 9 percent. In
What is not debatable, however, is that I should have spent the past two years focused on the economy, getting people back to work and protecting the middle class. Instead, I spent my enormous and unique political capital on a health care reform crusade that sucked the wind out of my fledgling presidency and allowed the Republicans to build the momentum they are still using to block just about everything I propose.
Some advisers warned me that the economy needed my undivided attention, but I didn't want my agenda derailed. I had a very specific plan of action, and I didn't want it scuttled by circumstances.
While it isn't perfect, passing the Affordable Care Act was a historic achievement. I am proud of it and believe it is a step in the right direction. In hindsight, however, it could have waited.
From this moment forward, I promise to work tirelessly to get the economy going again and earn a second term. In all honesty, though, there may not be a lot I can do. I am not a savior, a miracle worker or a magician. I am a mere mortal, with all the faults, fears and failings the human condition imposes. To make the hope and change I promised more than just campaign rhetoric, I will need help.
The Republicans have made it abundantly clear I will not get any from them. They are focused on one thing only -- getting rid of me. If some innocent folks are hurt in the process, so be it.
The truth is that very few people in
I'm not struggling, either. I came from a humble home, but it's been a long time since I've been hungry. I am a millionaire many times over, and I'm all but guaranteed to make millions more in speaking fees and book deals down the road. After I leave here today, I'm going to
The truth is that money is both the lifeblood and deadly poison of our political system. I wish that wasn't so, but wishes don't buy TV time.
That's about all I have to say today. Sorry I couldn't be more uplifting, but the truth isn't always or even often pretty.
I don't want to leave you nice folks on a gloomy note, so I will close by saying that while I am not a savior, miracle worker or magician, I am also not
Whenever I'm feeling down, I remind myself of that, and it picks me right up.
God bless America.
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