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Rock, Meet Hard Place. Hard Place, Rock
Mexico appears to be poised to enter a trade war with the US. The cause? Democrats allowed a "pilot program" which enabled Mexican trucks to drive on US roads to lapse. The problem? This is an absolute darling issue with a very powerful core Democratic constituency (Teamsters), the pleasing of which runs right into our tough economic times. So, do you scoff at losing some or all of $151bn worth of trade, as well as the efficiencies of a free market, or do you engage in a bit of realpolitik and jettison a loyal cadre of voters?
To be fair, we wouldn't lose the trade - just see an increase in prices. Not that this is a good thing when the economy's tight, but that's the worst of it.
Honestly, I don't see this causing to much of a problem for the Obamessiah. Since people aren't questioning why his administration approved $30B in AIG bailout without restricting bonuses after Bush got called on the same thing - then has the audacity to go with the "every legal recourse" to force non-payment of said bonuses, I don't see why they'd call him on this.
Or the whole exact same troop strengths, permanent US presence in Iraq, etc.
Posted by: ronaprhys on March 17, 2009 02:55 PM