# How long will republicans play chicken with the economy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 26, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873 "2011-06-26T01:25:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873/181 "2011-07-21T18:12:03Z")
The Republicans are only seeking to drive the economy in what they see as the proper direction. Unfortunately for the REST of us, their ideal destination for the economy is upside-down in a ditch with its wheels spinning aimlessly. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlecCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SmartAlecCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlecCat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873/182 "2011-07-21T21:21:19Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > The Republicans are only seeking to drive the economy in what they see as the proper direction. Unfortunately for the REST of us, their ideal destination for the economy is upside-down in a ditch with its wheels spinning aimlessly. Their stated position is that their number 1 priority is making Obama a 1 term president. That means higher than the economy or anything else. If they can sacrifice the economy to ensure that, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873/183 "2011-07-21T22:08:29Z")
> [@SmartAlecCat](#): > > Their stated position is that their number 1 priority is making Obama a 1 term president. That means higher than the economy or anything else. If they can sacrifice the economy to ensure that, so be it. The trick is making Obama look like the killer. Right now they’re stabbing the victim over and over while screaming, “OH GOD HE’S KILLING HER” ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873/184 "2011-07-21T22:13:21Z")
> [@Bloodless\_Turnip](#): > > Amusing how Obama voted against raising the debt limit while a Senator. I guess maybe he wasn’t as “knowledgeable” about these things back then. There’s a difference between a protest vote where passage is a foregone conclusion and taking the economy hostage. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873/185 "2011-07-21T22:17:58Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Life must be good in Fantasy Land… > > Let’s just look back at a little timeline… > > Democrats controlled congress and the checkbook from 2007 to Jan 2011. Obama take office in 2008 and you not only have complete control of Congress, but the Senate & the White House as well. Pray tell, what happened to the deficit during this period? Obama was ELECTED in 2008. He took office in 2009. The federal government budget does not operate on a calendar year. I think their fiscal year starts in September. The 2008 and 2009 budgets were signed by George W Bush. > [@](#): > > [According to the GAO](http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/longterm/deficit/) > > According to their simple chart > > 2007: -$275.5 B > 2008: -$1,009.1 TRILLION > 2009: -$1,253.7 TRILLION > Probably a good thing 2010 wasn’t included > > Instead of paying for those programs, looks to me like the controlling Democrats walked the check and left the US taxpayers holding the tab. If you take a closer look. the 2008 and 2009 budgets reflect teh effects of teh recession and the first stimulus package passed by Bush. Of course 2010 and 2011 are every bit as bad as 2008 and 2009 were but the recession didn’t go away either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-republicans-play-chicken-with-the-economy/586873.md?page=9)