"Past Time for a New Agenda": The Political Agenda of The New York Times

In a less than remarkable opinion piece entitled "Past Time for a New Agenda" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/opinion/past-time-for-a-new-agenda.html?_r=1&hp), the editorial board of The New York Times purportedly calls upon President Obama to shift his apparently limited attention span from curbing debt to job growth. The editorial mentions the proposals for job growth proffered by the president on Monday:

"Increased investment in infrastructure, renewing the payroll tax cut and extending jobless benefits are vital to prevent further backsliding. Inaction on the payroll tax and unemployment benefits could cost nearly a full percentage point in growth next year."

But does the editorial board have any novel suggestions to spur employment? Obviously not. In fact, the overwhelming bulk of this epistle was devoted to partisan politics (Italics added):

• "In the defective logic of the Republican machine, that was Mr. Obama’s fault because it occurred on his watch. (That’s a breathtaking bit of hypocrisy, by the way, from the party that fabricated the debt-ceiling crisis.)"
• "The credit decision put a price tag on the agenda of dysfunction that Republicans brought to Washington, in which unnecessary crises are created to achieve their goals of shrinking government and bringing down Mr. Obama. When one of the two political parties announces its willingness to let the nation default, S.& P. essentially said, those who lend it money can no longer trust it to act rationally."
• "But having spent far too long haggling over the margins of the Republican agenda to reduce the deficit with only spending cuts, the president needs to move to a very different set of priorities. He should start making the case that it is foolish to focus the nation’s attention solely on debt, where the Republicans want it, and instead shift every available resource toward jobs."
• "If he stays locked into the arid agenda of the Republicans, the economy will remain as dormant as his speech on Monday, which is just where his rivals hope it will be in November 2012."
• "Defeatists may say that it is impossible to consider programs like these at a time when Republicans will find a way to kill any worthy idea from the White House, especially those that might require some short-term spending. But the shackles forged by Republican lawmakers can only be broken with the power of good ideas."
• "He is now free to move past that deal, to outline much bolder plans for a turnaround. Then he could defy Republicans — with their crabbed vision of government’s role — to stand in his way."

Query: Is this editorial about job creation or an obsessive campaign manifesto?

Given the chaos in world financial markets, I am astounded by such partisan tripe. If Obama is finally able to rise to the occasion and pull the US out of this morass, he will be reelected. If he and the subservient editorial board of The New York Times pursue the blame game, Obama and friends should get an early start on packing prior to January 2013.