Too Big?

                            Too Big?

     “Folks, this government isn’t too big to fail, it’s too big to succeed.”  With this catchy little phrase, Sarah Palin endorsed her pal, (apparently) Rand Paul, as presidential candidate. I'll, come back to this statement when we discuss an interesting chart that is of interest later in this discussion, but, while we're on Stupid Palin tricks, let's look at some of the post 2008 campaign quotes, which you may have missed, hoping as I did that the Wasilla Nitwit would just go home and shut up.

        "He who warned, uh, the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh, by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed."  (2011) Of course she was referring to Paul Revere, who would have been chagrined to realize that he was "warning the British" - mega-"duh"

       "We used to hustle over the border for health care we received in Canada. And I think now, isn't that ironic?" (2010)--Yes, Sarah it's also an endorsement of single payer national medical care - remember - that which you and your Tea Bagger buddies hate because you think that's what the Affordable Care Act is? Ironic, huh?

        "Because of that one episode, that one episode, that would turn an issue into what it has become over the last two years. I think that's ridiculous. That's one of those things, where that issue...that I don't read, or that I'm not informed, it's one of those questions where I like to turn that around and ask the reporters, 'Why would it be that there is that perception that I don't read?'" (2010) I'm literate and I do read, and this is ludicrous.

        "But obviously, we've got to stand with our North Korean allies." (2010) Any questions?

        “Look, the perception of Obama, of him and his potency across the world is one of such weakness … People are looking at Putin as one who wrestles bears and drills for oil. They look at our president as one who wears mom jeans and equivocates and bloviates.” (2011)  And she can see his fiefdom from her house!

       Now that we have established the               "not-so-bona fides" of Ms. Palin, let's examine further the  opening statement (I'll repeat it so you don't have to page up)    “Folks, this government isn’t too big to fail, it’s too big to succeed.”   This is a very recent statement, having spewed from her mouth just after Rand Paul announced his candidacy.   Of course her claim is aimed at convincing the great unwashed that are so much of the Tea Bagger clan that the Republicans represent  less spending, smaller government and increased growth.  The  truth is reflected in the chart/graphs below which reflect just how diametrically incorrect her assertions are.

Let's start with growth: The GDP (Gross Domestic Product, for the less economically inclined - is " "an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident institutional units engaged in production (plus any taxes, and minus any subsidies, on products not included in the value of their outputs). A simpler and essentially correct definition is "the measure of total national goods and services production, minus  Government spending to produce them")  

        The brown line represents Government spending and shows that in both  the Clinton and Obama  administrations federal spending as a % of GDP was lower than in either Bush administration!  Even more interesting is the fact that the largest gaps between federal spending and growth in private sector GDP occur in Clinton's second and Obama's first terms. 

      In other words, while carping about the size of federal government spending when the Democrats have the White House, the Republicans actually have increased Government spending (and size) significantly more with Bush 42 and 44, then handed the mess back to President Obama. This makes Ms. Palin and her comments seem ignorant and undereducated, especially for one who had aspirations to national power.  When will we be rid of this poseur's, unwise, untrue and unwanted misinformation? The answer to that lies in the fact that a significant number of her fans, as well as the entire Faux News team are just as ignorant.