'Idiot' jab lobbed at Perry
(CNN) - Former Treasury official Bruce Bartlett labeled newly-minted Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry "an idiot" Friday.
Bartlett, who served at Treasury under former President George H.W. Bush and as a domestic policy adviser to the late President Ronald Reagan, delivered the choice words to the Texas Gov. in reference to his recent comments about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
"Rick Perry's an idiot, and I don't think anyone would disagree with that," Bartlett said Friday on CNN's "American Morning."
Perry sparked controversy when he said Bernanke would be "treasonous" if he printed more money to stimulate the economy before the 2012 election.
"I mean, printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous, or treasonous, in my opinion," Perry said Monday in Iowa. He stood by his comments Tuesday.
Bartlett said the politics at the Federal Reserve are a serious problem and in part blamed U.S. presidents, who he said have historically not focused their energies on the bank.
"He [Obama] has had open seats on the fed almost his entire presidency and I think that this sends a signal that he just doesn't care very much about what the fed does," Bartlett said.
Despite serving in Republican administrations, Bartlett is no stranger to GOP criticism, particularly of former President George W. Bush.
Bartlett's 2006 book "Imposter: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy" accused the administration of departing from conservative economic principles. More recently he attributed the economic recession to the former president and Republican Party.
Team Perry did not immediately respond for a request for comment.
From CNN Politics
- Your Trump questions answered. Yes, he can still run for president if indicted
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- 'This is ridiculous': Congress and White House careen toward default deadline as standoff grows
- Trump's intensifying legal drama could drag America closer to historic precipice
- Untitled
- Supreme Court humors itself as it considers whether Jack Daniel's can stop a dog toy company from parodying its brand
An idiot indeed,.. a puppet president much like George W. Bush was,.. to serve only as a figurehead,.. and manipulated by the Koch Bothers,.. big oil, Halliburton , and the likes. Be careful America,.. don't make the same mistake over again,.. at least Obama , can think for himself, and is not in bed with the special interest crowd.
"He [Obama] has had open seats on the fed almost his entire presidency and I think that this sends a signal that he just doesn't care very much about what the fed does,"
I'd be very curious to see if these unfilled seats are appointments that can/are being held up in Congress.
Well, Texas politicans have not been a lot of help. Think maybe another Texan as President would not be a good idea. Then, again, choices must be made. When you have a boat full of idiots, the choices are limited. Looks like the boat may sink in 2012!?
If all the idiots who vote in Republican primaries vote for Perry as one of their own, he wins the nomination in a walk.
Once upon a time when I was a Republican, people like Mr. Barlett were people to admire. They were gentlemen, they were willing to cross the aisle and work with the Democrats for the good of our Nation.
The Teapublicans (aka GOP) have turned into extremists, of a kind that would destroy our Nation so they can score political points with the Teabaggers!
BRAVO to Mr. Barlett for calling-out Perry! Perry IS an idiot, a very dangerous one!
PS. America, reject FEAR! Wall Street IS making a boat-load of money on YOUR FEAR! STOP IT!
Obama has open seats on the Fed (and Treasury) because the GOP-bullied congress can't confirm anyone! There hasn't been a head of the ATF confirmed since 2006 because of Congress's stalemate. Absurd.
the leaders we elect reflect the level of education of a nation. If you elect idiots, dont blame the candidates, the real idiots might be the voters!
There are open sets on the Fed because the GOP won't approve any of Obama's appointments.
Idiot or not.
Unless the economy turns on a dime (and it won't, because it's both TOO BIG and being steered to make the incumbent look as BAD as possible so they can get the "Friends" who will set them up at the U.S. Gov't feeding trough and let them eat till their fat and not make them pay even a TIP on the BILL)
In 2020, you and I (the Class formerly known as Middle) will be broke, starving, and homeless because the Class formerly known as Middle got lined up and robbed by the EXTREMELY RICH.
And the IDIOTS will be the ones who elected the guys who held the door for the robbers.
Well, all I know is that the Harvard educated self proclaimed "genius" in the Whitehouse has been nothing but an unmitigated DISASTER in just about every way. given his track record for the last 3 years, I'd swap him out for this "idiot" ANY DAY of the year!!!
Nice to know that the old GOP isn't completely dead or silent! They used to be respectable. Their opinions used to be worth considering, and every once in a while, they were actually right about something. It's sad to see what they've become. My father, a lifelong republican, voted for his first democrat before he died and was proud to help elect Obama.
We in Texas who didn't vote for Perry (or Shrub) have known that for years.
@ Rick McDaniel
While his choice of words could have been less controversial, the message was that the US should NOT print money, as a short term fix of the economy, because.........there is no long term benefit to doing so.........quite the contrary.......devaluation of the dollar, would be the result, and that would be damaging in the long term.
I totally agree with that, and anyone who truly thinks this economy is going away any time soon, is going to be the idiot.
______________________________________
Devaluation of the dollar would be devastating, but so is rabidly partisan politics, and we are experiencing the consequences of that right now with the comments Perry is making. What is he is saying is obvious, but to suggest the Fed is committing treason is the kind of polical theater that led to the downgrade. Perry has got to act like an adult, or he won't be taken seriously, either as a candidate or as president.
He's an idiot in my opinion, but not THAT stupid. If the Fed stimulates the economy Pres, Obama's a slam dunk despite the right's strategy. Perry knows that his only and lonely shot is a bad economy. What would you do if you had a shot, however remote, to become President and that shot was tied to getting whatever money he would get in CORP America, Founding fathers be damned! They're dead and we want to change the constitution for our own social and fiscal reasons
If anyone wants to get a good idea of the kind of person Rick Perry is, just go down to the Texas A&M Campus, where he went to college and was a member of their Corps of Cadets. Just stand around campus and watch these moronic, jack-booted, brown-shirts strut around campus, promoting & controlling the university's military, Christian-fundmentalist agenda. This weird little subculture on the A&Mcampus is the laughingstock of other universities everywhere, including West Point. With a few exceptions, most of the products of this odd ROTC cult are certainly not fit to be president of the United States. Mr. Perry, BTW, is NOT one of the few exceptions.
Michelle Obama and President Obama traveled to Martha’s Vineyard just hours apart, costing taxpayers thousands in additional expenses so she could have just a bit of extra vacation time.
Mrs. Obama and her daughters arrived just before 2 pm Thursday on a U.S. government jet, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Times, which got its information from the local airport. The first lady’s office has been silent on her travel. President Obama arrived in the evening along with the family dog Bo.
The extra costs related to Mrs. Obama’s solo trip mainly include the flight on a specially designed military aircraft she took instead of Air Force One, as well as any extra staff and Secret Service that had to be enlisted to go with her. She would also have had her own motorcade from the airport to her vacation residence.
Mrs. Obama’s separate jet travel sends the wrong message on a host of issues, from global warming to the budget deficit to the economy – in which currently so many people can’t afford to take a vacation at all.
This is not the first time Michelle has gone on vacation ahead of the president on the taxpayers’ tab. Last December, she racked up what was likely more than $100,000 in expenses leaving early for their Hawaii vacation.
Thanks to one of our readers, who goes by Lizzy, for noting the double dip.
*****************************************************************
Blah, Blah, Blah. Whatever. Mrs. Obama and her daughters will get to go on more trips adhead of the President when he's re-elected in November 2012. So eat your hateful heart out!
OBAMA 2012!
"More recently he attributed the economic recession to the former president and Republican Party."
I don't even know why anyone would be stupid enough to debate that fact. OH WAIT MR. PERRY......
If the Fed stimulates the economy Pres, Obama's a slam dunk
=================================================
Because it worked so well the first TWO TIMES!!! Leave to Obama and his lackeys at the Fed to triple down on stupidity, while WE pay the price with high inflation. But what the heck, Obama will do what ever it takes to get re-elected. He's still hoping to put the final nails in this country's coffin during a second term.
@ Brian:
I agree wholeheartedly. Where are the good minds that once filled the GOP ranks, people who knew the policies inside and out, knew their pros and cons, and were willing to work with Democrats for the good of the nation? They are gone, as extinct as the Dodo, forced out like driftwood in a rip tide. What is left behind? People who question science, ridicule bipartisanship, who respond to only lobbyists for multinationals and megachurches, and bow to the whims and ravings of radio talk show hosts who babble the sort of nonsense you only used to hear in a dive bar at closing time. This is so sad, that someone who speaks out is blasted as a RINO, a traitor, someone who has "...strayed off the reservation", etc. I truly fear for this nation when this level of ignorance is viewed with respect and admiration rather than the disdain it deserves. Since when did real Americans celebrate mediocrity on this scale?
Objectivity....Gates may have dropped out of school but he did not have pathetic grades like Perry. I keep hearing uneducated people keep throwing that up but they keep forgetting that a dunce would not be accepted into Harvard nor would they have the foresight and ideas to start their own companies!!!
Unfortunately, as much as I wanted Perry to be a viable Republican candidate, I have to agree. Perry is an idiot. *Sigh*
Just one more in the string.
Aren't there ANY level-headed responsible Republicans we can run for President next year?
Like Lee Iaccocca said: "Where have all the leaders gone?"
He should be used to getting called that by now anyway.
Rick Perry an idiot. Don't you love how stating the obvious becomes a news item?
Of course he is an idiot. That's why he is a tea bagger.
Real AMERICANS know the GOP is full of selfish prostitutes who will do anything and everything for a buck. The Dems are not perfect and some of them have been bought by the Koch Bros, etc., but at least most have a conscience and a work ethic. The Speaker of the House Boner set up Congress to be in session two weeks and then off for one week. You won't hear that fact on fox TV or the Jabba-the-butt (Limpball) hate radio show.
They Repubs keep putting up the lowest of lowest freaks knowing that Obama will win – that’s why we are continually plagued with narcissistic imbeciles like Parry, Palin, Bawckman, Santanourum, O’Donnell, etc.