More forum fun
The coverage for the economic “forum” contines to drift negative. Here’s a piece by the WaPo. This article dredges up the following tidbit:
In December 1992, as the economy limped out of recession and a new government faced widening budget deficits and growing pessimism, Paul H. O’Neill stood up at a presidential economic forum to challenge his leaders to raise gas taxes, be bold, even risk reelection on a new economic vision.
“FRANKLY,” the Alcoa Inc. chief executive grumbled after President-elect Bill Clinton’s Little Rock forum ended, “I think if these kinds of things are done again, it would be good to structure some sharp elbows, so that there’s more heat of battle and conflict.”
I guess he didn’t take his own advice. O’Neill was the moderator of Bush’s economic tea party yesterday. He had this to say afterwards:
“We heard a lot of really challenging ideas today,” O’Neill insisted after the forum. “We had several people in my session tell us that not only should we make the tax cuts permanent, but we ought to accelerate the ones that are delayed.”
I wonder when O’Neill had his spine-ectomy?
My guess would be about the time he became the Sec. Treas. designate.
Or am I just being cynical again?
Comment by TC MITS | 8/14/2002
Close, TC, but not quite right… O’Neill was still speaking the truth — or “gaffing” — during his confirmation hearings. He even got into a bit of trouble for “gaffing” after he was confirmed and securely ensconced next door to 1600 Penn…
O’Neill didn’t get a spine-ectomy — he got his spine crushed by the Bush White House political staff… can’t have an opinion theat conflicts with the Prez, especially when the conflicting opinion makes the Prez’s team look pretty stupid…
Comment by Tony Adragna | 8/16/2002