Obama takes a step — a small step — toward deficit cuts
President Obama is set to announce a three-year freeze in discretionary non-defense spending. The problem is, that’s not where the problem is. Those programs total $447 billion; the deficit this year is $1.4 trillion. In other words, you could eliminate those programs three times over and still face a deficit.
But it’s a start, a gesture. A lot of the current-year deficit is not caused by increased spending, but by collapsed federal revenues. Total federal revenue last year was just 15.1 percent of gross domestic product, a sharp drop from its average level of above 18 percent. In dollar terms, revenue isn’t projected to return to 2007 levels until at least 2011, and in the meantime the government is incurring additional expenses such as extended unemployment and aid to state budgets. Folks at the state Capitol are already in a panic over how to balance their own budget; ask them how many teachers and prison guards they would have to lay off without the federal stimulus money and they’ll turn pale in the face.
Obama is also pushing plans for a bipartisan deficit-reduction commission that by the end of the year would present Congress with a program on how to move us back toward fiscal reality. Congress would have to vote up or down on that package — no amendments. But that isn’t likely to pass. As the Washington Post notes, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “has turned against (the) proposal after endorsing it in Senate speeches last year. The reversal … coincided with word that anti-tax activists such as Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist was opposed.”
In other words, if deficit reduction requires tax increases as part of the package — which it will — the GOP wants no part of it. Of course, liberal Democrats also aren’t eager to swallow the other part of the required package, which would be cuts in entitlement programs. So congressional approval of that approach is unlikely.
As an alternative, President Obama may try to achieve the same goal by executive order, creating a bipartisan commission on his own to come up with a plan for a vote later this year. But House Minority Leader John Boehner has suggested that Republicans named to that commission might refuse to serve.
So there we are. Stuck with minor steps such as the spending freeze.
“Given Washington Democrats’ unprecedented spending binge, this is like announcing you’re going on a diet after winning a pie-eating contest,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in response to the freeze idea. “Will the budget still double the debt over five years and triple it over 10? That’s the bottom line.”
For the record, the national debt more than doubled under President George W. Bush. And it more than tripled in the 10-year period beginning in 1982, when Ronald Reagan took office, and 1991, when the elder President Bush sat in the White House.
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594 comments Add your comment
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:25 am
“I was pointing out that Bush blamed Clinton – and the republicans accepted it.”
Do you have proof that Bush blamed Clinton for 911 etc?
FrankLeeDarling
January 26th, 2010
9:25 am
No ,Bob I do not think Brown stole the election,nor do I believe a majority of Americans oppose healthcare reform.
Thanks for the info Jennifer I had no idea members of congress could receive benefits after only one term,no wonder they are so out of touch
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:26 am
“Jennifer – You do realize that when you ask tea partiers and republicans to “do your research” all they will do is turn on FOX TV. Do you really think that this will help them?”
Nah, but I had fun typing it.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:26 am
“You do realize that when you ask tea partiers and republicans to “do your research” all they will do is turn on FOX TV.”
Well, you gals always turn to fake news, John Stewart, DailyKos and MediaMatters, for your news.
Pot meet kettle.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:27 am
Its past time for these entitlement programs and free govt giveaways to end.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:28 am
“nor do I believe a majority of Americans oppose healthcare reform.”
If that is true then why are democrats not supporting it, why are democrats losing their seats, and why are the anti-government controlled health care advocates winning the debate?
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:29 am
“Its past time for these entitlement programs and free govt giveaways to end.”
Yep!
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:31 am
It just keeps getting better!!!! HURRAAAAYY!!!
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Bob
January 26th, 2010
9:32 am
… Tip Oneal spent taxpayer money to have an Metro DC Ambulance drive the Budget to the Captial hill and they stood over Reagan’s Budgets and said “This Budget is DOA … Ron Ramsey …
politics.nashvillepost.com/2009/10/01/did-reaganomics-encourage-folks-not-to-save
Reality, what does this mean, if dems always went with Reagan, why would any budget be DOA. You stating dems always sided with Reagan is just wrong.
Matilda
January 26th, 2010
9:33 am
Congressional Republicans preaching about fiscal responsibility remind me of alcoholics in AA. They’re against irresponsible borrowing and spending NOW. Why? “It’s bad. It’s bad.” When presented years ago with the idea of pay-as-you-go (collect taxes to be spent instead of borrowing), they INSISTED on running a tab their children would have to pay. Now that the drunkenness of unchecked power has worn off, their heads are pounding, and they’ve tasted the embarrassment and consequences of their own bad behavior, they’re singing a different song. “Spending is BAD, and we won’t do it!” Funny that they think we’ve forgotten all times someone else had to go in after their adventures and clean up the vomit, pay for broken glasses, tables, and chairs, post bond, and hire a lawyer. But sure, they’re totally against it NOW. They’ve got a “higher power.” Heh.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:33 am
“You stating dems always sided with Reagan is just wrong.”
She has no proof that democrats always sided with Reagan. THAT is a pile of crap.
Another lie from a lying liar.
Jimmy Carter
January 26th, 2010
9:34 am
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:20 am
Let me guess, it was Coakley’s fault, right?
If it wasn’t due to a very unpopular health care package, then why is Obama so concerned about the loss to the point that he is now assembling his campaign team to help weaker democrat candidates in the 2010 elections?
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:34 am
“Congressional Republicans preaching about fiscal responsibility remind me of alcoholics in AA. ”
Did you make it through all of your AA classes?
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2010
9:35 am
RIP, “Adam”. Pernell Roberts Jr. was born in 1928 in Waycross, Ga.
lmno
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
“My taxes are low? How in the world would you know? You pay as much as you want, there, homey. I’m tired of working 65 hours a week to watch 40% of my income dissappear into Federal smoke.”
I wrote that your income taxes are low comparatively to historic levels in this country.
The HIGHEST marginal tax bracket in this country is currently 35%, so I assume you are adding sales, property, and state income tax to your 40% rate you quote.
I will also have to assume that you are in the highest bracket, making over $337,000 a year. Lets assume for arguments sake that you make $500,000 a year and have no deductions or credits. Your effective Federal Income Tax rate is currently around 30%. Only the last $75K you made was at 35%.
Now, if we assume a 3% inflation rate and take your money backwards, it would be equivalent to making to making about $165,000 in 1980. Your marginal bracket then would have been 68% and your efective rate around 50%.
Taking it back to 20 more years to 1955, you would have been earning about $90,000. Your marginal rate would have been 72%, and your effective rate around 55%.
So, I will write it again, your taxes are comparatively very low.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
Massive denial here. The dummycrats boy, Obama, is swirling and tumbling in the ever so Stinky waters of the almightly toilet, with no saviour in sight.
The presidential coconut is about to go under and that will be that.
Jimmy Carter
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2010
9:35 am
On that we agree. I loved Bonanza.
Donovan
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
Bookman, Tucker, Luckovich, Obama, and all the other Democrat posse just don’t seem to get it. They all come riding into town on their tax and spend horses and put together monster spending packages with all the monster debt involved. Now that they have raised the debt to an all time high of triple the previous figure, they realize that they need to lower it. So what do they suggest? That’s right…cut defense spending and start taxing. We shall revisit the wisdom of this philosophy in November.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
Jimmy Carter
You gotta understand liberals. They ALWAYS blame other people for their problems and faults. It’s never their fault something happens because of their insane bills etc….
These are the same people who said that George Bush caused Hurricane Katrina. Same people that said Bush created 911 to get re-elected.
Bottom line: Their days in power is numbered. November is going to be a slaughter.
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:37 am
Tea Party Disputes Take Toll On Convention
Critics say $549 per ticket event is out of reach for many supporters.
First it was Rupert and Faux making a killing off the conservatives. Now we can add the “For Profit” organizers of the Tea Partiers. The cattle are herded… move ‘em up, move’em out, Rawhide!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35074233/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:37 am
“So, I will write it again, your taxes are comparatively very low.”
Thanks Joe Biden!
lmno
January 26th, 2010
9:38 am
“Its past time for these entitlement programs and free govt giveaways to end.”
OK, so lets say you wave your wand and do that. Now you have reduced spending by 1%! Way to go!
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2010
9:39 am
Congressional Republicans preaching fiscal responsibility reminds me of Congression Republicans preaching family values or ethics reform or transparency… A lot of pulpit. No pulp. Just watered down sweet talk. Grape flavor-aid.
Gordon
January 26th, 2010
9:39 am
I applaud Obama for starting this. But as Jay wrote, entitlements are where the money is. I would recommend eliminating the payroll tax (FICA) and bringing that into the general income tax which would need to be raised. But the majority of this will have to be cuts in entitlement programs. Taxes cannot be raised high enough to pay for the massive amount of money that is owed. Remember, the problem isn’t just the deficit (1.7T) or the debt (12T), but the unfunded liability of the the big 3 (100T between Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security). That isn’t counted as official debt because the federal government isn’t legally required to pay it, but obviously most of those obligations will have to be paid to avoid a meltdown. High inflation will have to pay for part of this as well, which has the same effect as a tax increase.
Republicans better understand that a lot of people understand this issue better than they think. If they play around with this they will pay for it.
Matilda
January 26th, 2010
9:39 am
LA, sorry to disappoint you, but I was always the one picking up the pieces, not the drunk one. I’m sure you’ll think of some other way to wound me with an insanely clever personal insult, though, sparky.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:39 am
“Tea Party Disputes Take Toll On Convention”
LOLOL!!!!!!
Keep on dreamin’.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:40 am
“I’m sure you’ll think of some other way to wound me with an insanely clever personal insult, though, sparky.”
Personal insult? You mean like when bloggers call someone a dick or an idiot?
thomas
January 26th, 2010
9:40 am
Granny Godzilla,
I understand you do not agree with me nor like my opinions or views.
However please try to read what I actually write instead of seeing what you wish.
I said the pieces written were that of opinion. Just like jay’s pieces are opinion. That does not mean the piece includes no facts. Just like the cases you mentioned are indeed fact.
But apparently the part you didn’t see or didn’t want to see was my comment about how his actions have not helped American people only his political captial and adventure.
None of those programs significantly improved the economy, jobs situation or the deficit.
In my opinion they were nothing more than pandering to the base.
Does outlawing those interrogation techniques, does that fall into the catagory of GITMO, you know say one thing for support then only do it when it is convienent?
Gordon
January 26th, 2010
9:41 am
Imno at 9:38,
You are confusing welfare (about 1 or 2 percent of the budget) with entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which along with interest will consume the entire revenue of the U.S. government in a few years.
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:42 am
“Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:20 am
Let me guess, it was Coakley’s fault, right?
If it wasn’t due to a very unpopular health care package, then why is Obama so concerned about the loss to the point that he is now assembling his campaign team to help weaker democrat candidates in the 2010 elections?”
JC,
The questions was:
What did Scott Brown do when in the state legislature to get rid of Massachusetts’ health care?
Take your time, do your research, and get back to me.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:45 am
It simply doesnt matter. The dummycrat party is in full meltdown with very little chance of stopping it. These Dems who are retiring understand which way the wind is blowing, hence, the “rats jumping ship”.
After the 2010 elections the presidential coconut will be a castaway…he and his ideological nightmares.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:46 am
Liberals are in total denial that America hates government controlled health care. They are also in total denial that the backlash is against Democrats.
BOO HOO!
FrankLeeDarling
January 26th, 2010
9:47 am
Let’s stop funding private military contractors like blackwater and give the money to REAL soldiers.
thomas
January 26th, 2010
9:47 am
jenifer,
Any idea why Coakley held a near 20 point lead according to some polls as late as mid december,
Only to lose in a landslide a few short weeks later.
Alot had to do with the Kennedy, low tax ad produced by Brown and alot had to do with the fact Mass. doesn’t want to pay for the rest of the country’s HC when their state already has their HC covered.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:48 am
I’m going to take a guess and say that the libs on this blog would be all for this forum.
Capitalism’s woes cheered at World Social Forum
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil – Leftists are pouring into town to rail against freewheeling capitalism during the World Social Forum, gleefully cheering the humbling of bankers and business titans by the global economic meltdown.
At the opening of the five-day event, some 25,000 activists paraded exuberantly through Porto Alegre on Monday, serenaded by the pounding of drums and salsa blared from sound trucks as they waved communist flags and shouted slogans against corporate greed.
The 10-year-old conference is the left’s counter to the World Economic Forum at Davos, a Swiss ski resort where presidents, corporate leaders and others gather annually to discuss international issues. It is also being held this week.
Gustavo de Biase, a 22-year-old Brazilian wearing a shirt proclaiming “Socialism is Liberty,” said the world’s leftists are convinced they can get presidents from the U.S. to Brazil to embrace policies “of respect and equality aimed at lifting the poor out of misery.”
“We want to distribute the riches to people,” he said. “We’re fighting for a more equal society and we’re saying ‘Down with hunger’ and ‘Down with war.’”
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:49 am
“Let’s stop funding private military contractors like blackwater and give the money to REAL soldiers.”
Let’s also stop funding Acorn and Planned Parenthood and give money to REAL soldiers.
LA
January 26th, 2010
9:51 am
thomas,
Jennifer is in denial. This same person claimed that Bush killed 3000 people on 911. She’s insane.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:52 am
I hope and pray that Arlen Spector will be tossed in the garbage pail of history.
PS…I guess his switching party idea is gonna bite him in his old, saggy rear-end.
AHH HAHAHAAA!~
Mark
January 26th, 2010
9:52 am
People like LA are inn total denial of the fact that a majority of Americans are in favir of the “public option,” – the closest that the health care reform has come to “government controlled health care.” (It still would be no government control.)
FrankLeeDarling
January 26th, 2010
9:52 am
You beat me to it Jennifer,healthcare is a non issue in Mass. they already have it and nobody wants to change it.
Matilda
January 26th, 2010
9:52 am
FrankLD at 9:47, YES! Why is it groups back home (like the GVVA) are scrambling for donations to help soldiers and their families scrape by, (please give!) while private contractors (paid for by our tax dollars as well) are raking in upward of $100K apiece? Also, who’s auditing Halliburton since they moved their HQ to Dubai? Anyone?
Man behind curtain: “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! LOOK! Over there! It’s a poor family whose kid needs to see a doctor! THEY are the cause of all our financial problems!”
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:52 am
Universal health insurance now!
jconservative
January 26th, 2010
9:53 am
Have our cake and eat it too! That is what we, as a country, decided we could do during the Reagan administration. We decided that it was OK to cut taxes but not cut spending. And we have done that every year
since, cut taxes and increase spending. The money to pay for the tax cuts and the increased spending would come from some vaporous pie in the sky. But we had more money in our pockets to help pay the interest on our credit cards. And that made it OK.
Lets see, if I remember correctly, the idea was if we cut taxes, people with a lot of money would create/expand businesses, more people would work for higher wages/salaries, pay more taxes, and the deficit would disappear. So that is what we decided to do. And we did it.
But no one thought that those people with a lot of money would use the tax savings and move companies and plants to locations in other countries. But that is what happened isn’t it? Move production to Mexico, Indonesia, India & China. And US citizens working for higher wages/salaries? Actually the opposite happened. Wages/salaries for the vast majority flattened and then decreased. Not for everyone, but for most.
The bottom line? Well, in January 1981 when Reagan was sworn in as the
40th president, the national debt was $934 billion. Today, January 26, 2010 the national debt is $12.3 trillion.
So our experiment in cutting taxes and increasing spending failed.
Failed miserably.
Now we have 75% of the electorate up in arms wanting something done about the increasing debt. What to do, what to do? I know! Lets get rid of those who got us into this mess. We will vote out those who cut taxes and increased spending and replace them with people who will cut taxes and increase spending. See this is so simple.
My apology for the length of this but the soapbox was there & I have 28 years of frustration built up.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
9:55 am
Save money you say? Lettuce start with State issued cell phones, credit cards, company cars etc. Lettuce have some accountability with regard to State employees reimbursement and begin the old fashioned firings.
Private industry must layoff/fire employees, take company cars, withdrase ee perks (401k company match as an example)…its time PUBLIC entities do the same.
El Jefe
January 26th, 2010
9:56 am
By freezing the budget in 2011, it appears that with the extra deficits imposed by a possible healthcare “reform” and all the other grand spending schemes, seems there will not be much discretionary spending – most will go to debt maintenance.
The plan to help the middle class is laughable at best and shows the skewed view this administration has of what the middle class needs.
DAVID:AJC Truth Detector
January 26th, 2010
9:56 am
OBAMA:……………Quit the massive irresponsible borrowing….& spending……..
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2010
9:56 am
thomas
equal pay for women does not help people?
curbing emissions does not help people?
let’s go back to your original statement shall we. posted in it’s entirety so as to prevent “out of context” accusations:
***************
Why are you all calling for the republicans to do something?
Democrats had the house, senate and oval office all under their control and all they did was pass a stimulus bill that as of yet has provided little relief and tried to pass other numerous spending bills, with little success.
You had 60 votes and a super majority. Anything you wanted to do you could have, except you allowed the far left factions to control what was done and weild their power with a no give attitude.
So please save the republican party of no and any other request of republicans until you are able to honestly acknowledfge the failure to produce anything in the 12 months and 5 days since gaining total control of the government.
But the GOP does make a good boogie man scapegoat.
****************
This is what you wrote and it remains disingenous. Any attempt to qualify your statement after the fact is too.
Oh, and I and economists from both sides of the political divide would disagree that he has not impacted the economy signifigantly. Another 9 minute project for you.
Best Wishes.
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:57 am
“You beat me to it Jennifer,healthcare is a non issue in Mass. they already have it and nobody wants to change it.”
Damn straight they don’t want to change it.
DAVID:AJC Truth Detector
January 26th, 2010
9:57 am
AJC readers::::::Beward of ELLIE LIGHT…….she is on the move for the White House…as a member of the Obama propaganda machine.
Normal
January 26th, 2010
9:59 am
jconservative
January 26th, 2010
9:53 am
Well, said…you can use that soap box anytime…
DAVID:AJC Truth Detector
January 26th, 2010
10:00 am
ELLIE LIGHT::::::::::::Where are you today…Reveal yourself..Come out of the closet…….Elllie Light
Sam
January 26th, 2010
10:00 am
i love grape kool aid..
Astonished
January 26th, 2010
10:01 am
Obama is truly an embicile. What does that say about those who continue to try and justify his every dumb idea? How did you feel about your brilliant leader when he used his teleprompter to speak to a grade school classroom last week? That sets a presidential low not seen since old Jimmy Carter. Hopefully, we can survive the remaining three years of this clown’s term in office. How’s that “hope and change” working for you? Enjoy your tax increases.
First Sergeant
January 26th, 2010
10:03 am
JD at 8:19, I ask this very question everyday, particularly, when I read Jay and Cynthia’s Opinion pages. The GOP party posters here and there act as though the 8 years of mismanagement by the Bush administration never happened. They flat-out refused to speak out in opposition to the 8 years preceding President Obama, but quick to judge as he works to fix this mess. The GOP party posters did not hold their elected representatives accountable during the Bush years, while the world in and around us collapsed and today, they are still not holding them accountable, as the GOP party is doing nothing to help America recover.
lmno
January 26th, 2010
10:03 am
“You are confusing welfare (about 1 or 2 percent of the budget) with entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which along with interest will consume the entire revenue of the U.S. government in a few years.”
You’re right. I suppose I didn’t think anyone was insane enough to propose doing away with those programs altogether.
There is no private pension program in this country anymore. There is only defined contribution plans and even they aren’t universal. And they are drastically underfunded. If we were to do away with Social Security, we’d be totally screwed.
Medicare is a tougher nut to crack, but Social Security can be “fixed” simply by raising the retirment age to 70 and lifting the cap to 200,000 from 100,000. Done and done.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:06 am
Its about to become a “pile-on” situation for Barry and his party as the in-fighting begins to accelerate…AHH HAHAHAHAA!!
Chief of Staff Draws Fire From Left as Obama Falters
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/26/chief-staff-draws-left-obama-falters/
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
10:07 am
First Sergeant, 10:03,
You nailed it.
Normal
January 26th, 2010
10:07 am
First Sergeant
January 26th, 2010
10:03 am
Well said also, and very true…
FrankLeeDarling
January 26th, 2010
10:07 am
Not only do we overpay military contractors many are not even worthy to serve in the armed services some have dishonorable discharges.
Sam
January 26th, 2010
10:08 am
jCon, reagan tripled the national debt to pay for those wonderful tax cuts, just like Bush 1 and Bush 2…why is the debt/deficit only an issue when a democrat is in office?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Well, seems to me there’s only one thing that can take care of this budget mess. Forget freezing spending. What we need is another big Tax Cut.
All the real smart Republicans say that the more you cut taxes the more income the guvmint takes in. So let’s just get rid of all the taxes. The guvmint will be rolling in so much money it’ll need a bulldozer to shove it out the door and into peoples hands.
That’s my opinion and old Grover and all the other Republicans say it’s true. Have a good day everybody.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:09 am
First Sergeant
January 26th, 2010
10:03 am
Ah yes…the ole blamegame…sorry kiddys, Barry owns it!
thomas
January 26th, 2010
10:10 am
Really, Granny
When does that act go into effect? Cause my wife and most her friends still make less.
BTW just because you say so does not make something disingenous, I know its hard for us all too.
Not all economist and any representaion is nothing short of a lie, something you would never do.
How is that over 10% unemployment doing?
We won’t agree you are uncaple of admitting fault by Obama, as I know you put alot of you personally at stake during the campaign. Its tough saying i’m wrong.
And me i am for limited government. I feel if you want to succedd there is nothing STOPPING any of us or any American citizen from success, except ourselves.
Its easy to blame others for our faults and that is why we will most likely forever disagree, and i will not be bullied as you have so many others here.
Sam
January 26th, 2010
10:10 am
and one more thing, when reagan took office the debt was approx 700b, when he left it was approx 3t..
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2010
10:11 am
FrankLeeDarling
Seen this on contractors?
Not Few. Not Proud
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/01/not_few_not_proud.php?ref=fpblg
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2010
10:13 am
thomas
thanks for your opinion and best wishes.
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
10:14 am
“jCon, reagan tripled the national debt to pay for those wonderful tax cuts, just like Bush 1 and Bush 2…why is the debt/deficit only an issue when a democrat is in office?”
I would be interested to read your answer to this question as well.
thomas
January 26th, 2010
10:14 am
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
9:57 am
“You beat me to it Jennifer,healthcare is a non issue in Mass. they already have it and nobody wants to change it.”
Damn straight they don’t want to change it.
So why not let ALL state decide the Health Care issue for the members of its own state?
People would move if they didn’t like it. Or would that be too much of a limit to Federal gov’t power for you to accept?
thomas
January 26th, 2010
10:15 am
Granny, you too and best luck w/ grandbaby.
I hope its for limited gov. though!
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
10:16 am
“thomas
thanks for your opinion and best wishes.”
LMAO, Good one, GG.
Doggone/GA
January 26th, 2010
10:16 am
“Obama is truly an embicile”
If you’re going to call someone an imbecile…it’s a good idea to be sure you know how to spell it first. Otherwise, you know, someone might think YOU are an imbecile.
Mick
January 26th, 2010
10:17 am
Obama bashing continues it crescendo but can someone please tell me what the republican plan is besides saying no?
getalife
January 26th, 2010
10:18 am
” * OpenLeft: “This is Bush-style idiocy.”
* Americablog: “I guess Evan Bayh and Ben Nelson will think it’s a good idea.”
* 538: “…on par with John McCain’s “suspending my campaign” gaffe.”
* Orange Satan: “…unalloyed idiocy.”
* MyDD: “Barack Obama may as well hold up a big sign that says, “I want Democrats to lose Congress.”
* Atrios: “We are ruled by idiots.”
* DeLong: “…a perfect example of the fundamental unseriousness of Barack Obama and his administration.”
* Digby: “We are all neo-Hooverists now.”
* Yglesias: “I suspect this initiative was deliberately leaked to progressive bloggers in an effort to get denounced by the left and I don’t want to give them the satisfaction.”
Jay does not get the memos?
Whacks Eloquent
January 26th, 2010
10:19 am
thomas,
“And me i am for limited government. I feel if you want to succedd there is nothing STOPPING any of us or any American citizen from success, except ourselves.
Its easy to blame others for our faults and that is why we will most likely forever disagree, and i will not be bullied as you have so many others here”
Well put, and may I add there is no Constitutional promise that success will be easy. To the contrary, most American success stories are the direct result of hard work. That is an endangered quality in this day and age…
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:19 am
“So why not let ALL state decide the Health Care issue for the members of its own state?”
Thats just good common sense! But no…the dims and Barry want to force HCare on everyone. Let them continue to try as it will seal their fate. And even if OboboCare were to pass there are any number of State Attorneys General ready to file lawsuits. Smart policitians will move away from this OboboCare debacle and possibly save their careers.
Cuba Libre
January 26th, 2010
10:19 am
As always Mr. Bookman, in typical counter fashion your a misleading bleeding die-hard leftist Democrat, your article was actually good until the very end. You had to chime in your liberal agenda at the end of the article, I see you didn’t mention your other demi-god Bill Clinton just the past Republican Presidents with semi-accurate dialogue. I don’t see what that those people have to do in today’s terms. In typical Democrat tactical rhetoric, Bush did this, Bush did that, etc. Clinton, Reagan, and the Bush’s are no longer President your, poor little lost empty suit savior is. What you purposely omit by not mentioning former President Clinton with those other former Presidents as if Billy took all the credit, c’mon on now. Mr. Bookman I don’t need to remind you how the federal Government works and who holds real power for policies and legislation. The fact was Republicans controlled congress from 1994-2000 and were responsible for keeping Mr. Clinton in check by cutting spending and making deficit cuts during those lovely Clinton years, funny you don’t mention that. I need also remind you that the Democrats controlled the Senate from 1986-1994 during Reagan’s second term and all of the first George Bush’s 4-year term which coincide with your hidden transgressions against those two other former Presidents during the period you mentioned. Oh by the way you didn’t mention the financial mess good Ole Jimmy created & left from 1976-1980 that Mr. Reagan had to clean up and actually turn around. You see Mr. Bookman, your article is Swiss Cheese…lots of holes !! Spoken like a true Democrat, I’m proud of ya kid !!
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
10:20 am
“Obama bashing continues it crescendo but can someone please tell me what the republican plan is besides saying no?”
As near as I can tell, there isn’t one.
LA
January 26th, 2010
10:21 am
“People like LA are inn total denial of the fact that a majority of Americans are in favir of the “public option,””
That MUST be why they have not passed the bill.
LOL!
stands for decibels
January 26th, 2010
10:22 am
Jay does not get the memos?
Alas, Jay’s never been a dirty effing hippie.
thomas
January 26th, 2010
10:22 am
Jenifer have you even looked for any republican plans.
Seems they propsed quite a few but the Democrats rejected and oppossed them ALL.
Then they held secret meeting to make their lil deals, so how would you or any elected democrats know what any republican ideas are.
Mick
January 26th, 2010
10:22 am
**Then they held secret meeting to make their lil deals, so how would you or any elected democrats know what any republican ideas are**
We know what their idea is tax cuts! See how well that worked out.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:22 am
Rep plan? We will let you know when we are ready. For now lettuce all bask in the glow of “The Shooting Star” aka Barack Obama.
How sweet it is!
Sunny Daze
January 26th, 2010
10:25 am
It’s as if we have created a monster called big government spending and now we are unable to bring it under control. The monster now has a mind of it’s own with a focus on destroying us. Bringing down the monster ,although not out of the realm of possibility, is highly unlikely. The monster has grown extremely large and has unseen momentum in it’s quest to bring down the greatest country on this planet. Will the destruction of America happen without firing a single shot? Our children could face unimaginable hardships at the hands of this monster if it is not brought under control. The collapse of our government and society will result in immense lawlessness, extreme panic, and widespread death which will be of biblical proportion. Perhaps our demise is foretold because we have determined the identity of our greatest enemy.We now see it as a reflection in our mirror. Should we not all do our part to destroy the monster, then may God help us all.
El Jefe
January 26th, 2010
10:25 am
First Sergeant,
Sorry to disappoint you, but a lot of us were very disappointed and expressed this to our elected representatives.
I, for one, protested Medicare part D, the border problem, spending, No Child left behind and a host of others –
What the left forgets, this isn’t a left or right problem. It is a fight between the one that think only government can solve any problem and those that think government is the problem.
FrankLeeDarling
January 26th, 2010
10:25 am
Great link GG,coked out alcoholic losers getting paid from taxpayer money, sounds like a certain ex president.
Meanwhile I have friends in Afghanistan welding scrap to their vehicles while these scumbags drive by in multimillion dollar vehicles.
samuel
January 26th, 2010
10:26 am
Actually, the national debt more than quadupled ( from $995 billion to $4.3 trillion) from Fiscal Year 1981 (Jimmy Carter’s last budget) to FY 1993 (George H.W. Bush’s last budget).
Whacks Eloquent
January 26th, 2010
10:27 am
“So why not let ALL state decide the Health Care issue for the members of its own state?”
Funny, I do believe that falls under the Constitution? Maybe? Oh yeah, that nifty little 10th Amendment! In case you are not familiar, here ya go:
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Of course, that only means something if you respect the Constitution as it was framed…but then again, this amendment in particular gets peed on a lot, by both major parties.
Road Scholar
January 26th, 2010
10:30 am
Thomas: “So why not let ALL state decide the Health Care issue for the members of its own state?”
Interesting concept! Didn’t one of the bills now dead have a provision that encouraged interstate commerce that allowed insurance companies to cross state lines, and to allow for non-profits to form insurance coops?
Like the federal insurance options available to congress, they have an oversight department, but do not have a healthcare administration office.
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2010
10:32 am
GOP Healthcare plan here
http://www.gop.gov/solutions/healthcare
CBO score on GOP Healthcare Plan
http://cbo.gov/ftpdocs/107xx/doc10705/hr3962amendmentBoehner.pdf
Posted without comment…..
Cuba Libre
January 26th, 2010
10:34 am
Jenifer, you must be another government educated hypocritical Democrat. It was OK for the left-wing media, congress, the senate, Hollywood and every liberal socialist in between to bash, insult and tear apart Bush for 8 years but it’s not OK to make comments on Obama, I get it. Oh by the way, all those tax-cuts you enjoyed over the Bush years end Dec. 31st 2010, your party wants to raise them and then some in the middle of economic crisis with no jobs. Mental midget.
Hard Right Hook
January 26th, 2010
10:35 am
lmno
January 26th, 2010
9:36 am
“My taxes are low? How in the world would you know? You pay as much as you want, there, homey. I’m tired of working 65 hours a week to watch 40% of my income dissappear into Federal smoke.”
I wrote that your income taxes are low comparatively to historic levels in this country.
Really?
The HIGHEST marginal tax bracket in this country is currently 35%, so I assume you are adding sales, property, and state income tax to your 40% rate you quote.
You can “assume” anything you want. You have no knowledge whatsoever of my tax burden. Your job at the drive-thru at Wendy’s means you probably don’t pay ANY federal income taxes. But you act like you’ve been appointed as the spokesman for the taxcode. We already have one tax-cheat/moron doing that job; his name is Charlie Rangle.
And this ain’t 1955, in case you hadn’t noticed. See what happens when you assume?
thomas
January 26th, 2010
10:35 am
Mick,
Funny that one of the saints of the democratic party felt the same way and felt one should NEVER raise taxes in times of tough economics.
Do you remember John F. Kennedy?
Strange we were never taught in history that he was a republican.
BTW no republican has ever said anything about control entitilement spending, and what for it cutting some of the massive pork in these bills.
But hey its a good line so tick with it.
Me Again
January 26th, 2010
10:36 am
Line Item Veto…the only true way to prove you are serious about cutting spending. Anything else is political conjecture and window dressing from both sides of the aisle.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:36 am
Lettuce hope DJ bounces up from the 10,000/10,200 levels with nice volume or its hello DJ 9400’s.
Barry needs a basic understanding of economics since the crash course seems to be failing him.
Outhouse GoKart
January 26th, 2010
10:38 am
Line Item Veto…Absolutely!
TaxPayer
January 26th, 2010
10:38 am
Well, I got my tax cuts. Some of y’all apparently did not get your tax cuts though. Too bad.
Jenifer
January 26th, 2010
10:38 am
GG, 10:32,
I read them both. Now I’m nauseous as hell.
Normal
January 26th, 2010
10:39 am
Me Again
January 26th, 2010
10:36 am
Absolutely!
Mick
January 26th, 2010
10:39 am
As for entitlements, they should never be cut but strengthened. Full retirement benefits for social security and medicare at 62.5.
Granny Godzilla
January 26th, 2010
10:41 am
Me Again
we’d all love line item veto, SCOTUS says no.