A lot of posturing, little action on deficit challenge
In his State of the Union speech tonight, President Obama is expected to announce an executive order creating a bipartisan commission to recommend solutions to the deficit. As part of that speech, he will probably point out in that in a vote yesterday, the Senate killed a proposal to create such a commission through congressional action.
The vote on that measure was 53-46, which in most sane systems would be a passing vote. Under the Senate’s 60-vote supermajority rule, it was seven votes short. Only 16 of those 53 positive votes came from Republicans, even though the bill was a bipartisan effort cosponsored by Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. (Both of Georgia’s senators were among those 16 Republican supporters.)
What’s interesting, though, is that six Republicans who a month ago were listed as cosponsors of the bill turned around and voted against it when the time came. A seventh GOP senator, Lisa Murkowski, was also listed as a cosponsor but missed the vote.as Politico reports. (I haven’t been able to determine the names of those six.)
Had those seven Republicans stuck with the bill, it would have had the required 60 votes to pass. President Obama was already on record as supporting it, which combined with the Senate vote might have given it enough momentum to pass the House as well. When the commission issued its recommendations by the end of the year, Congress would have been forced to vote up or down on a deficit-cutting program that both cut spending and raised taxes, which is the only means possible to address that problem.
And that’s exactly why the Republicans backed out. Their bluff got called, and they folded and walked away.
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196 comments Add your comment
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:50 pm
Yes we will!
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:51 pm
You better believe it!
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:51 pm
With or without the republicants!
Granny Godzilla
January 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
hoping for waterloo may be their waterloo.
Ah, political Karma.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:52 pm
We’re with you, Mr. President!
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
1:53 pm
Perhaps if there were more spending cuts, pork cuts, welfare cuts, food stamp cuts, EPA cuts, Fed govt department cuts AND some minimal tax cuts the Reps wouldve joined in…
Other than that Im sure the Reps and Dems had good reason to vote as they did.
Then again the Dems, as a majority, needed only one Rep vote for this issue to pass.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
Lauer Calls Out Cantor’s Claim That The GOP Stood ‘Ready & Willing’ To Work With Obama On The Stimulus
Last month, when asked by the Economist to name a republicant “big idea” for job creation, Cantor couldn’t come up with a single idea.
Of course he couldn’t, because the republicants are bereft of ideas, and their only purpose is to make sure that this country fails.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/cantor-jobs-plan/
Jefferson
January 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
If you want a drink of water, you have to get it from the well.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
I see the cheerleading squad has taken the field.
“Rah Rah Ree
Kick Obama in the knee
Rah Rah Raz
Kick Obama in the other knee”
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
“make sure that this country fails.”
Make sure Obama doesnt cause this Country to fail. There…I corrected that for you. No need to thank me.
kayaker 71
January 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
Why would it require a commission to determine that we are spending too much money on all of the wrong things? It is not creating jobs, the economy has not improved much and we are still in the throes of a recession, even after a year of pouring money down a hole in the ground. Sort of like giving Washington DC more money to fix their school system. We don’t need more spending, we need better leadership.
RW-(the original)
January 27th, 2010
1:57 pm
So 22 Democrats voted no and it’s the Republicans fault the bill didn’t pass. Got it.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
1:59 pm
Last month, when asked by the Economist to name a republicant “big idea” for job creation, Cantor couldn’t come up with a single idea.
I wonder if Cantor told the reporter that he would go see if he could find some ideas, and bring them back to him/her.
That’s known as “pulling a Palin.”
Joey
January 27th, 2010
1:59 pm
What about the dozen or so Democrats? Who were they? Did they vote no for the same reason as the Republicans?
wet wiccan
January 27th, 2010
2:01 pm
Wake up and smell the coffee.
The rich get richer . . . the poor get poorer.
Eff it, I’m moving to Canada.
If you had to write the State of the Union Address in 6 words, what would you say?
http://www.thetakeaway.org/blogs/takeaway/2010/jan/25/tell-us-state-union/
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:02 pm
kayaker 71
January 27th, 2010
1:56 pm
Agreed…perhaps Im missing something here butt if ones bank account is Zero and credit card bills remain unpaid with an ever increasing balance why does one need, other than Obama is out of touch, a blue ribbon commission to point out the obvious?
WyldByllHyltnyr
January 27th, 2010
2:03 pm
Reality must be faced, Obama is a dimwitted ideologue who is total bereft of any leadership skills. His is a failed Presidency and he, a mistake the nation wishes it could take back. Thank the good Lord that people of intelect and ideas such as Sarah Palin, Paul Ryan, and Scott “Brownie” Brown stand ready to take the reins of this nation.
Granny Godzilla
January 27th, 2010
2:04 pm
Joey
the dozen or so democrats need to look for another career.
Jefferson
January 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
If I was stupid, I would just blame the president and call him childish names.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:09 pm
Live poor and vote rich.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:09 pm
Let me see if I have this correct.
There are 59 Dems in the Senate so had they voted as a block they would need only 1 REP to push this thing thru…Am I correct on this?
And if not how is this the fault of the Reps. Sounds as if Obama or the Dems didnt court that one needed Rep OR Reid and Pelosi are tossing their boy under the bus…lol it makes for great afternoon soap opera!
BUUUWWWWAAAAAHAhahHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!~
Balance Our Budget
January 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Jim Abrams, Associated Press Writer – Tue Jan 26, 3:49 pm ET
WASHINGTON – Thinking of counting to a trillion one second per number? Better get started. It will take 31,688 years.
And tack on a few more years if you want to go for 1.35 trillion, the dollar estimate for the federal deficit in the current budget year.
The whole sum could be taken care of if every American, all 300 million of them, forked over $4,500.
Back in 1981, President Ronald Reagan, characterizing the national debt as it approached $1 trillion, commented that “a trillion dollars would be a stack of $1,000 bills 67 miles high.” The debt, the accumulation of annual deficits, now stands at more than $12 trillion
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
Well, my first post was lost in the mystery mist of mismanagement here. So I’ll say it again.
Doesn’t Obama know that to decrease a deficit YOU STOP SPENDING MONEY?
Somebody please tell him. Quick… before tonight’s speech! He’ll be promising somebody else another trillion or two we don’t have.
Other than that, I suggest Obama raise taxes on all Democrats who voted for him. They are the ones who like to raise taxes. Keep ‘em happy.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:10 pm
Jen you are really out of touch…Pepto Bismal, honey?
wet wiccan
January 27th, 2010
2:11 pm
Sorry, my second example had 8 words. I should have left out “the” and “the”
joan
January 27th, 2010
2:11 pm
I can recommend a solution to the deficit, stop the government spending. Make people work for a living, producing products that sell in international markets. Who needs a commission to figure this stuff out? Obama and ilk have done everything they can to scare the heck out of small businessmen, investors, and any who believe in working for a living. No surprise they aren’t backing the bozo.
RW-(the original)
January 27th, 2010
2:12 pm
If Lisa Murkowski missed the vote and Scott Brown hasn’t been sworn in yet how did they get 99 votes?
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
2:12 pm
Jay,
You didn’t really expect the Republicans to do anything other than just say no. Did you. I mean, come on, they’re Republicans. They’re in this for themselves — not we the people.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:15 pm
Pawlenty Falsely Claims ‘Most Credible Economists Say’ Stimulus Is ‘Not Working’
All of the GOP are on this talking point now; that the stimulus hasn’t worked. They’re embarking upon their classic propaganda strategy: repeat the lie often enough and people will believe it.
Sigh.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/pawlenty-economists-stimulus/
RW-(the original)
January 27th, 2010
2:17 pm
Here’s the roll call. Why are they still letting Kirk vote
retiredds
January 27th, 2010
2:19 pm
A deficit cutting commission should have gotten a 100-0 vote. That is one of, if not THE, most important issues facing ALL Senators and Representatives and the American people. I don’t much care how the bill is written, to vote against it is reprehensible. I am very happy that our two Senators voted in favor (probably will get them roasted by some of their more far right leaning comrades).
NJ
January 27th, 2010
2:20 pm
There are going to be several tens of people on the stage with Obama tonight. All have benefited directly from his stimulus package. Everything from small start up businesses which have created permanent jobs for 50 to 100 employees in green energy companies to an 18 year old student who created a revolutionary method of detecting whether water is safe to drink or not as a high school science project. Basically American ingenuity at work.
The environment in America for such innovation is so great that European companies are coming to the U.S. to buy closed down manufacturing plants and retooling them to make renewable energy products.
Case in point is a Spanish Windmill energy company that is snapping up old steel mills in Pittsburgh and retooling them to make windmills that generate electricity because it is cheaper to do it in the US buying up factories in the rust belt than to open new ones in Europe.:
Wind turbine maker plants firm foot in state
Larry Stupi worked as a banker for 32 years, holding a number of positions, the last one as a commercial lending officer.
Three years ago, the Johnstown, Cambria County, resident, looking for a new challenge, went from making loans to making windmill blades.
“My boss gives me what I need to do for the day, then lets me do it,” said Stupi, 56. “It’s less money than I was making, but also a lot less pressure — it’s super.”
Stupi is one of 300 employees at a windmill blade factory operated in Ebensburg by Spain’s Gamesa SA, one of the world’s five largest windmill turbine makers. Its primary competitors include GE Energy, Denmark’s Vestas, Germany’s Siemens and India’s Suzlon.
Three years ago, Gamesa opened this 142,000-square-foot plant in Cambria County as part of its entry to both Pennsylvania and the United States.
The move gave the company a leg up on competitors in a wind-energy market that experts predicted a decade ago would take off.
President Obama’s backing for alternative energy projects and billions of dollars of incentives in a stimulus package passed by Congress has positioned Gamesa and others to capitalize on expanding demand for electricity generated by the wind.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_628426.html
Republicans blocking the “renewable energy” efforts of Democrats are making a fortune for Europeans.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:23 pm
wet wiccan
January 27th, 2010
2:01 pm
Buh Bye!
Ragnar Danneskjöld
January 27th, 2010
2:23 pm
Three people created the spending debacle. Three people could undo the damage. But won’t – the crooks want someone from the party of intelligence to blame for the consequences of their waste.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
January 27th, 2010
2:23 pm
Dear Jenifer @ 2:15, I don’t need “experts” to inform me. The stimulus was a total bust, the greatest waste-binge by wild-spending drones in the history of the world.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:25 pm
Party of NO? NO! Party of NObama? YES!
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:26 pm
Kinda like the Blue-Dogs who would’ve voted NO to OboboCare had the vote came up for the Senate version?
kayaker 71
January 27th, 2010
2:27 pm
Maybe we can send Bozo on another Hawaii vacation and perhaps the Congress will take another break. You know, it’s pathetic when you wish your so called leaders would just do nothing, as opposed to just doing their job. If Bozo and his gang of thieves would just stop chasing their tail and settle into some good leadership decisions, maybe the 52% of the electorate that voted this clown into office would feel a little better about their vote.
He appears to be Obama 1 on the campaign trail, Obama 2 during his first six months and Obama 3 just one year after being sworn in. Who is the guy, anyway?
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:29 pm
NJ,
Welcome, glad you’re here. You always have the facts that are so desperately needed.
NJ
January 27th, 2010
2:29 pm
The worse thing to do in a recession is for the government to “stop spending money”
There are only TWO ways to end a recession. One is to artificially create a huge amount of unemployment. The other is for the government to spend money when no one else is. There are no other methods.
The majority of the world’s economists are praising Obama’s stimulus efforts. The majority of American economists cited it as slowing the recession. Without it, unemployment would be about 30 percent higher than it is today. The range of additional lost jobs is between 1.2 and 3 million MORE unemployed than are currently unemployed.
The entire Republican argument is an attempt to do what any student of logic will tell you is not possible. To PROVE a negative.
Basically the assertion that the recession would not be happening now if NOTHING was done is such an attempt.
The economists, virtually all of them, disagree.
As I said, the Europeans are coming here, buying up American factories and making fortunes exporting what they make here back to Europe. Its only the Republicans who are making it impossible for Americans to do the same.
FrankLeeDarling
January 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
looks like we have a anti business temperance judge in Snellville.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
2:33 pm
Oh brother. Right, blame the republicans.
What about the sham of a spending freeze on non-military programs? Just last month Congress voted in HUGE increases in spending programs. I believe the average was roughly 12-14%, however, the EPA alone got a nice fat 30%+ increase. So one month later Barry is posturing about his tough fiscal policies on spending. What a shell game. Sad thing is that some are so gullible that they’ll believe his rhetoric.
“Please, Br’er Fox, don’t through me in the briar patch” said Br’er Rabbit.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:33 pm
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:29 pm
You are gonna need more than this blog and NJ to save the Coconut!
wet wiccan
January 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
Outhouse – that is only 2 words. Math challenged?
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
FrankLeeDarling
January 27th, 2010
2:32 pm
I saw that…wow!
Normal
January 27th, 2010
2:34 pm
Sounds to me like Lucy pulled away the football from Charlie Brown again. Lucy is a good republican…
FrankLeeDarling
January 27th, 2010
2:35 pm
Obama better make it a good one tonight.
Dave R.
January 27th, 2010
2:35 pm
“Congress would have been forced to vote up or down on a deficit-cutting program that both cut spending and raised taxes”
And this is why it didn’t pass the Senate. It was a sucker bet from the beginning. Unfortunately, our two senators in Ga. are too stupid to realize this.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:35 pm
Salt Lake City GOP Cancels Keynote Speech By Inspirational Speaker ACORN Pimp James O’Keefe
Have you all noticed the scant attention this has received in the MSM?
The media doesn’t seem to want to inform the public on the attempted wiretap (felony) in contrast with the wall-to-wall coverage of the ACORN sting by the same criminal.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/salt-lake-gop-okeefe/
jconservative
January 27th, 2010
2:36 pm
“I can recommend a solution to the deficit, stop the government spending.”
OK. I am sure everyone will agree this is the solution. Now where do we cut?
First defense. Pull all troops out of Iraq immediately, 30 days. Savings $250 billion annually. Cut all funding new weapon research,
$150 billion a year.
Second Medicare. Change the eligibility age from 65 to 67.
Savings $150 a year (estimated).
There. That is $550 billion savings immediately. Is there anyone who would not support this 100%? If not, why not.
Dave R.
January 27th, 2010
2:37 pm
Jenifer, you obviously either don’t watch Fox News, or you don’t consider them mainstream. Also covered on MSNBC last night.
Bosch
January 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
jconservative,
I wouldn’t cut new weapon research (and development) – we have to be one up on the evil terrist.
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
The only thing a commission will do is throw more non-transparency issues into the mess.
This Commission, behind closed doors, would determine what could be cut to solve the deficit problems.
It takes a commission? For starters – The Dept. of Education – Clearly a 10th amendment issue – get rid of it and one of the largest special interest groups.
Merge the Interior Dept and the Department of Energy – a duplication of responsibilities
Ditto for HUD and HHS – a duplication of responsibilities.
And this if from an amateur.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
Well, I’m against this commission. The last big budget commission I recall was the one on Social Security and Medicare. They come out with recommendations for all kinds of tax increases that Congress voted in lickety-split. And they all said, “We had to do it because the commission said that’s what we needed to do.”
Well, this time I want people in Congress to have the guts to come up with tax increases on their own. I double-dog dare them, and I don’t want no commission for them to point to. Us people in the Tea Party will be ready to vote them out of office the next election.
That’s my opinion and it’s very true. Have a good p.m. everybody.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
2:38 pm
NJ
January 27th, 2010
2:29 pm
“As I said, the Europeans are coming here, buying up American factories and making fortunes exporting what they make here back to Europe. Its only the Republicans who are making it impossible for Americans to do the same.”
So what you’re saying is that American companies should go to other countries, produce products, and export them back to America. DUH!! What do you think American companies are doing?!? Mexico, India, China, etc. etc. And I thought the libs were all against that.
Care to try again?
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:39 pm
Stimulus working, Fed spending freeze…all smoke and mirrors, dog and pony show. The presidential coconut is a one trick pony and unfortunately for the dims his one trick was used to get him elected.
Bosch
January 27th, 2010
2:40 pm
Dang, hit submit button too soon –
jconservative,
But everything else – I’m with you dude.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
Fox News Executive Attacks Rival Networks For Focusing Too Much On Haiti
Can Faux News sink any lower? Thousands have died and it is still all about them? Billo didn’t even show the benefit, for God’s sake. Damn… These people are a disgrace.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/fox-haiti-shine/
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
2:42 pm
jconservative,
I would not pull any troops out of Iraq or Afghanistan. Bring our troops home from the major bases in Europe and Asia. – or just from the countries that are not friendly.
Just one question, Why would you saddle the military with old weapons systems? We ran into this at the start of WWII, we were so far behind the Germans and Japanese in weapons systems that it costs us too many dead and wounded.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:43 pm
Pull Iraq troops…agreed.
Stop Weapons research…disagree.
Medicare eligibility…66.
For starters – The Dept. of Education – Clearly a 10th amendment issue –
get rid of it and one of the largest special interest groups.
YES.
Merge the Interior Dept and the Department of Energy – a duplication of responsibilities.
YES.
Ditto for HUD and HHS – a duplication of responsibilities.
YES.
Dismantle USAID…let the military handle crisis issues
Merge ATF and DEA
Merge EPA and EPD
Yosarian
January 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
I look forward to hearing the State of our Venezuelean-like Union under progressive-liberal management. Seeing Obama parrot, perfectly, the philosophy of Hugo Chavez is always inspiring.
Don’t miss the U.S. president channeling the spirit of Hugo Chavez tonight!
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
NJ has his facts correct, keep spending to create jobs then tackle the deficit. Jobs, jobs, jobs thats the most pressing issue.
Joey
January 27th, 2010
2:44 pm
I like the headline: “A lot of posturing, little action on deficit challenge.”
That is exactly what I expect we will see tonight, regarding every issue.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
2:46 pm
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
No, the disgrace is waiting for a tragedy before one gets involved with those in need. Do I see an A-list of Hollywood “celebrities” and musicians holding telethons to help the illiterate and poor living within 5 miles of where they live? Nah, not enough publicity and TV cameras to make that happen. Helping out a foreign country is fine, and Haiti deserves our support, but I tell you this, you can fly over a lot of mission fields getting to a foreign mission field.
NJ
January 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
When it comes to dealing with facts, Republicans tend to be brain dead. I have heard the same old “tax cut” solutions from them over and over again, though there is not a whit of empirical evidence that they work. There is NO evidence that tax cuts result in significant creation of new businesses and new jobs. None. Republicans repeat this theory and then when it fails, simply state that it did not work THIS TIME BECAUSE….(fill in the blank) But basically even Bush started altering his speeches when talking about tax cuts late in his presidency. He started out with “if you give tax cuts people WILL use the money to create new businesses and jobs” His LAST speech when he gave his last tax cut changes to “They MIGHT use the money to create new jobs and businesses”
The Republicans have built a party that is based on two pillars. One is tax cuts as a form of “Faith Based Economics” the other is Social Conservatism. Any SANE economist will tell you that tax cuts only work in extremely limited conditions. Cutting government spending also only works in certain situations and a recession is not one of them. This is why in spite of FDR’s huge government spending, which did not occur until WWII started, In his last months in office and Truman’s first few years, the the national debt was reduced by 99.5 percent between 1945 and 1948.
In fact one can state with absolute accuracy that all presidents since Truman have REDUCED the national debt except for three. Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only presidents who not only failed to do so, but who massively increased the national debt.
Democrats have often increased the debt at the start of their administrations and eliminated huge amounts of it before the end of their administrations. IN fact all presidents between WWII and Reagan contributed NOTHING to the national debt.
Strangely enough Democrats have managed to INCREASE defense spending and still add NOTHING to the national debt.
Right now, 900,000 dollars of the supposed “Obama deficit” is the result of obligations created by Bush. That is the additional defense spending for Iraq and Afghanistan. If these two wars did not exist, Obama’s deficit would be a little lower than the deficits that Bush ran every year for his entire eight years. Then an additional 200 billion of Obama’s deficit are from the Bush tax cuts. That is Bush borrowed 2.1 trillion dollars over ten years to give tax cuts. Thats a little over 200 billion a year.
So now we have about 1.1 trillion dollars in budget deficits that are Bush legacies. Had Obama voted to cancel the remainder of the Bush tax cuts for 2009 and 2010, that would be 400 billion dollars knocked off the deficit alone. It would NOT effect the middle class at all because their tax cuts stopped in 2005. The small business “accelerated depreciation” ended in 2006. The only people still collecting on the Bush tax cut are the wealthiest two percent.
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
2:47 pm
NJ,
Spending cuts will end a recession – if the government spends less, it has to borrow less, leaving funds available for private and commercial lending. You know – make it easier for business to do business.
Business expands with this lending and hire more workers, reducing unemployment and increasing tax revenues.
If government spends too much (like now) the opposite happens as we have all seen.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
Maybe Sean Penn will fly to haiti and become a fatality of the next after-shock. Lettuce hope he isnt too late.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
January 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
Congress would have been forced to vote up or down on a deficit-cutting program that both cut spending and raised taxes, which is the only means possible to address that problem.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, raising taxes in the face of the Great Recession would give us………….the Great Depression, or the Coup de Grace as the socialists call it.
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
**Second Medicare. Change the eligibility age from 65 to 67.
Savings $150 a year (estimated).**
I suggest we lower the age to 60 for medicare, take more out of my paycheck – I’m OK with it.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
2:50 pm
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:48 pm
How old are you Mick, 60?
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
2:50 pm
Hi Ragnar,
Love that last line of yours.
“Stimulus was a total bust, the greatest waste-binge by wild spending drones in the history of the world.”
And ….Democrats still haven’t caught on about the “deficit”!! Not a clue!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
January 27th, 2010
2:50 pm
A Public Policy Polling nationwide survey of 1,151 registered voters Jan. 18-19 found that 49 percent of Americans trusted Fox News, 10 percentage points more than any other network.
Just sayin….
MAC
January 27th, 2010
2:51 pm
Freeze the spending at pre-Obama levels and the Republicans will come on board.
And for Obama and Congress (and the last year of Bush) to spend like drunken sailors to take advantage of a crisis and then propose a freeze at the inflated levels is disingenuous at best.
MAC
January 27th, 2010
2:52 pm
Also, have a commission on spending cuts ONLY that isn’t a ruse for tax increases under the political cover of a “bi-partisan” commission and the Republicans will come on board.
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:53 pm
**How old are you Mick, 60?**
No, but I’m getting there.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
2:53 pm
“That’s known as “pulling a Palin.””
Please, whatever benevolent entity is in that great big sky that may exist, do NOT let this enter the lexicon.
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
NJ
Either you are ignorant or stupid – I hope ignorant
http://www.briefing.com/Investor/Public/Calendars/EconomicReleases/budget.htm
As you will see, in the 2001-2002 resession, government outlays remained steady, while receipts dropped, in 2005, the receipts were greater than the outlays. So much for the Bush recovery – another progressive myth busted.
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
**A Public Policy Polling nationwide survey of 1,151 registered voters Jan. 18-19 found that 49 percent of Americans trusted Fox News, 10 percentage points more than any other network.**
Absolutely meaningless.
AmVet
January 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
A bipartisan commission to recommend solutions to the deficit?
What next, a commission of hardened criminals to recommend solutions to high prison rates?
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Mick
January 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
But 52% for Brown, 48% for Coakley. Meaningful!
Ragnar Danneskjöld
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Dear Dusty, thanks. Long time no chat. My fault, hiding out of state. Keep ‘em straight here.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
In times of trouble an expense ratio reduction is always the first alternative.
Perhaps a Federal employees salary cut of say 5 to 10% might help.
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Windbagger!! aka NJ
Do you realize that it took you six long paragraphs just to say “Bush did it.”
Cut it short, sir/mam. We know you don’t like Bush and you don’t like wealthy people. So sorry you didn’t know how to get rich. Keep trying! But complaining and blaming does not help.
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Micky,
Just how does government spending create private sector jobs?
Yosarian
January 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Amvet -
LOL !!!!
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
2:59 pm
Has anyone an explanation, official or otherwise, for why the six GOP senators who co-sponsored the bill, changed their stance and voted against it?
(I admit to only skimming the linked politico piece, but I didn’t see anything there.)
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Godfather, voted 2nd best movie of the century – more meaningful
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Have you all noticed the scant attention this has received in the MSM?
Much as it pains me to have to agree with Dave R… it probably received about the attention it deserved–it was a lead story on the Google news page for awhile yesterday; I noticed that it was among the main stories on All Things Considered; presumably the other major TeeVee outlets found it worth at least a mention; but at the end of the day (literally) unless this thing reaches well beyond the four guys who were nailed, it’s probably going to end in a plea deal, no jail time.
It’s a curiosity to most casual political observers; one fallen star, a guy who the right wing probably can’t use as a resource any more.
The problem isn’t that this story isn’t getting enough attention. The problem is that the MSM allowed themselves to be goaded into over-covering that stupid ACORN story after relentless whining from the usual right wing echo chamber. Happens all the time, I expect it will happen again.
Atrios used to say that “Matt Drudge is the MSM’s assignment editor.” Hyperbole, but not that far off, really. It’s due to a lot of things, not the least of which is a very successful campaign by the right to convince people that corporate for-profit media conglomerates are somehow a bunch of bleeding-heart liberals.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:01 pm
MAC
January 27th, 2010
2:51 pm
I saw that also. More of Obama and his stupid parlor games.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
3:01 pm
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Godfather just #2? What does your source say is #1?
jconservative
January 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
From the CBO directors report.
“CBO projects, that if current laws and policies remained unchanged, the federal budget would show a deficit of $1.3 trillion for fiscal year 2010. At 9.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), that deficit would be slightly smaller than the shortfall of 9.9 percent of GDP ($1.4 trillion) posted in 2009. Last year’s deficit was the largest as a share of GDP since the end of World War II, and the deficit expected for 2010 would be the second largest. Moreover, if legislation is enacted in the next several months that either boosts spending or reduces revenues, the 2010 deficit could equal or exceed last year’s shortfall.”
Bosch
January 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
Hey Dusty!
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
**Just how does government spending create private sector jobs?**
Let’s count the ways:
1. Gov’t builds highways
2. Gov’t hires contractors
3. Contractors need heavy ewquipment
4. Contractors hire labor
5. Contractors buy materials
Get it?
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
3:03 pm
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
Har!!
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
#1 was Red Dawn.
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
3:05 pm
in 2005, the receipts were greater than the outlays.
Including the Excellent Eye-Rack adventure? You know, the one that was going to be self-financing from oil revenues generated by a grateful liberated nation, after we’d finished spreadin’ Peeance Freeance all around?
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:05 pm
**Godfather just #2? What does your source say is #1?**
Citizen Kane – never liked it.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
“When it comes to dealing with facts, Republicans tend to be brain dead.”
NJ,
Keep those facts coming!
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:12 pm
“**Just how does government spending create private sector jobs?**
Let’s count the ways:
1. Gov’t builds highways
2. Gov’t hires contractors
3. Contractors need heavy ewquipment
4. Contractors hire labor
5. Contractors buy materials
Get it?”
OMG! I can’t believe this question! On second thought, yes I can.
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:13 pm
Not so. Clinton already showed us how to do it. In fact, once Bush’s irresponsible changes expire the Clinton revenue will start to flow and the deficit will quickly narrow. The GOP is just against everything Obama proposes, even if it was their idea originally. We don’t need any more feel good commissions to waste time and accomplish absolutely nothing. Freeze spending and bring the troops home. We can’t afford to prop up other economies at the expense of our own. We restored Germany and Japan, and lifted South Korea. Enough is enough.
NJ
January 27th, 2010
3:15 pm
And of course it depends on what the government is spending on. Economists have researched until they are blue in the face and have determined that 10 billion dollars spent on defense creates 40,000 less jobs than 10 billion spent by government in the commercial sector.
here are a number of studies showing that high levels of military spending are associated with low rates of economic growth. British economist Ron Smith, after analyzing data for the United States and other advanced capitalist countries, concluded that there is a direct effect whereby countries that maintain large military establishments also have low rates of investment. This is because military spending can push civilian investment aside. Military industry firms outbid civilian companies for engineers, skilled workers, key materials, and even loans. Military firms use these resources less efficiently than would civilian ones because they are less concerned about controlling their costs. They know the Pentagon will foot the bill.
The larger the portion of government spending in the defense arena, the more negative the effect on the economy. Every day there are people simply sitting around drawing salaries, making nothing until an order comes in from the DoD.
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:15 pm
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:12 pm
Thanks. Like it or not, government spending is a big part of our economy.
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:13 pm
“We can’t afford to prop up other economies at the expense of our own.”
Agreed. And we can’t always be expected to take care of the poor in other countries at the expense of our own.
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:18 pm
jconservative
January 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
But what happens if you reduce spending and increase revenues? Consider the possibilities.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:18 pm
“Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:12 pm
Thanks. Like it or not, government spending is a big part of our economy.”
?
getalife
January 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
The state of the corporate union is strong.
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
Micky,
Gov’t builds highways – no, never – they let contracts to build highways – at greatly inflated costs – if the private sector built a road without government influence, it would be under budget and on time – no overruns.
Government spending impacts private sector jobs – as we have seen today – big deficit – big unemployment.
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
What with Steve Jobs? Appears to have one foot in the grave…Cancer?
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:20 pm
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
3:17 pm
Agreed. What’s it going to take for Congress and the WH to understand we’re broke?
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:23 pm
Govt loves to inflate the cost of road construction in order to obtain public outcry. The solution is of course high speed rail, light rail, buses and all the other dumbshyt!
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
3:24 pm
“A Public Policy Polling nationwide survey of 1,151 registered voters Jan. 18-19 found that 49 percent of Americans trusted Fox News, 10 percentage points more than any other network.”
50% of the population can’t smell that their pee smells like asparagus after eating it.
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
3:19 pm
I’ve worked in all sectors. It depends on who the workers are, not where they are working. There are good and bad in all. The military is the most efficient because they put the most time into evaluation and training. And you’re held accountable. If you don’t produce, you don’t get promoted and eventually are discharged.
MAC
January 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
Mick, The Godfather rules.
Only sissies, a/k/a movie critics, would vote for Citizen Kane.
retiredds
January 27th, 2010
3:26 pm
here is my solution to the deficit and tax problem. do away with all deductions (oops sorry homeowners, business owners, farmers, etc. etc. anyone who gets a deduction from his or her taxes). the IRS sends you a card in the mail each year: you made x your tax is y. i.e. if you made 100,000 and the tax rate is 15%, you owe 15,000. The budget of the US would be a rolling 5-year budget. Expenditures by Constitutional amendment could not exceed the average of the last five years, and/or MUST be balanced. Won’t happen so don’t worry as there are too many Americans who benefit from deductions of all sorts (including me).
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:27 pm
About entitlements – no cuts only improvements. I’m in my low 50’s and have been working since my first paper route at 10. I’ve prepared for retirement but I still wouldn’t mind having medicare and social security at 60, full benefits. I’ve served in the military and never collected welfare but would have if I needed to. What’s so bad about taking care of our own people? Some freak out and call it socialism, whats the big fuss? You can still get richer than ever if you can build that better mouse trap.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:27 pm
Lobbyists For Foreign Corporations Begin Fight To Ensure Foreign Money Can Influence American Elections
Ironic that the wingnuts think we have a U.S. president from Kenya, NOW.
HA! Now they REALLY CAN be afraid of being dictated to by a foreigner.
I’m still waiting on the tea partiers to get up in arms about this.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/foreign-lobbying-elections/
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:28 pm
Boschie!! ”Howya doing??
I was wondering the other day if you had finished your tree house in the living room? I knew you had to do something with that nubby knot of nature that fell on your house. Aren’t you a bit of an arteest & archeetec??
MAC
January 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
Only 1,089 days until Obama is out of office.
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
What with Steve Jobs?
Huh? He looks ok to me. Might have the munchies, is all.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
“50% of the population can’t smell that their pee smells like asparagus after eating it.”
After eating asparagus that is, not their pee.
getalife
January 27th, 2010
3:30 pm
Obama will ask the corrupt pols to “curb” foreign donations. Weak.
Who got the AIG bailouts:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/5272/000095012309004681/y75292aexv10w1.htm
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:30 pm
Johnny Weir…Ice skater extraordinaire and avant-garde fashion bug!
Mick
January 27th, 2010
3:30 pm
**Gov’t builds highways – no, never – they let contracts to build highways – at greatly inflated costs**
My friend take a trip to key west and go over the seven mile bridge built on time and UNDER budget. Sure there is waste, haliburton anyone?
NJ
January 27th, 2010
3:32 pm
Simply put, no recession or depression has been ended by cutting government spending. The Great Depression was ended by a HUGE amount of government spending that took almost fifty years to pay off. The recession of the early 1980’s was done on purpose, to lower inflation caused by the Vietnam War, and two OPEC oil embargoes one in 1973, the largest and the second in 1979. The Fed tightened up the money supply causing a huge amount of unemployment, and when inflation went down enough, the Fed loosened the money supply and employment started going up again, but remained at an average of 7.5 percent throughout the 1980’s. Another recession bookended the 1980’s and started in the 1990’s. Clinton ended it, Not by cutting government spending but by raising the top marginal tax rate from 28 percent to 39.5 percent. It was a REAGAN appointee, Charles Bowsher, an extremely conservative head of the GAO who recommended an increase in government spending on domestic programs, a reduction of Defense spending and an INCREASE in the top marginal tax rate to end the recession of the 1990’s. Bush 41 refused to listen to his advice. Clinton did. Which was why Bush lost in 1992 and Clinton was able to reduce the deficit to the lowest since WWII, less than a quarter of a trillion dollars.
If Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 were simply able to do what all past presidents had done and add NOTHING to the national debt, there would be no national debt and no annual budgetary deficits. The budget would be balanced and the debt gone.
Again Republicans pick and choose from an a comprehensivce
Outhouse GoKart
January 27th, 2010
3:35 pm
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
3:29 pm
LOL…he and The Waz…
Jimmy Carter
January 27th, 2010
3:35 pm
TnGelding
January 27th, 2010
3:20 pm
I really like the article in the link I’ve provided. I would truly say it is bipartisan. Let me know what you think.
http://gulfshoreslife.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/545-people-by-charlie-reese/
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:35 pm
Dear Jenifer,
We realilze that you took over Mz Godzie’s old job of stuffing us with DNC highlights every few minutes. She gave it up (the pay wasn’t good) and it got tiresome.
That’s the word, Jenifer TIRESOME! Go have a cup of tea. Relax. Refrain. The strain is beginning to show.. It is all for your own good (and ours).
Disgusted
January 27th, 2010
3:36 pm
What with Steve Jobs?
The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Jobs underwent a liver transplant. I don’t imagine that any of us would look terribly healthy if we had such a procedure.
Number1ninja
January 27th, 2010
3:38 pm
Conservatives’ main objection to Keynsian economics is that it crowds out private investment, but that’s putting the cart before the horse in a recession. Recession is occuring because the private parties took their money and went home, so there’s not going to be crowding out.
And when they tell you the stimulus was a failure, they’re shooting themselves in the foot because the majority of the money has not been spent. But the REPUBLICAN DEMANDED TAX CUTS certainly crashed and burned, if their own words are to be believed.
@@
January 27th, 2010
3:42 pm
Another slight-of-hand game by the devious dems. Getting Republicans to agree to a tax increase is tantamount to saying they support this administrations excessive spending.
I don’t blame the Republicans for walking away.
Let the dems pull their paultry 3% from the pot and wave it over their heads hoping for a big hand from the voters.
The American people can spot a rigged game when they see one. Not all of us are as stoopid as Rahm’s f—-ing (liberal) retards. His words!
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
3:44 pm
NJ,
Experts agree, the build up to WWII ended the great depression. They also report that the FDR programs extended the duration of the great depression.
http://www.museum.siu.edu/museum_classroom_grant/Museum_Explorers/school_pages/bourbonnais/page6.htm
The suffering American economy was given a boost when the fighting countries needed supplies and looked to America to make them. After Pearl Harbor was bombed on December 7, 1941, America entered the war. The U.S. enlisted more than 10 million men and women into the military. Since so many were fighting in the war, it was left for those left at home to work in the factories to make supplies for the war effort.
The desperate need for soldiers, pilots, and workers to make ammunition, weaponry, and air/sea craft all contributed to the end of the Great Depression. The economy of America skyrocketed and was on the road to restoration.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_World_War_2_help_end_the_Great_Depression
Stop reading the progressive talking points and try to learn something about this country.
Jenifer
January 27th, 2010
3:44 pm
King And Bachmann Hatch Plan To ‘Foment Revolution’ With Declaration Of Health Care Independence.’
What is it with these jerks and only embracing “revolution” when it’s politically suitable?
One must wonder whether they are just using rhetoric like “founding fathers” “constitution” and “declaration of independence” to stir up hatred and foment insurrection among the masses for personal/political gain…or if they actually believe the unhinged bullsh*t psychobabble they engage in?
Either way, these people belong in counseling. Not Congress.
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/bachmann-king-plot/
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:45 pm
jewcowboy,
As you like to say, please give us the facts that prove that statement.
So I would like to see your facts on your post as to how many can smell you-know-what after eating you-knopw-what. You have presented vegatarian politics at it’s smelliest! Now that’s foul!!!
Dave R.
January 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
Uh, Jenifer?
You DO know that Think Progress is a liberally-slanted website, don’t you?
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
3:48 pm
Jenifer,
I can tell that you are doing a great job here. Keep up the good work.
Sam
January 27th, 2010
3:49 pm
i’d be curious to hear the explanation of the 6 co-sponsors who voted against their own bill…
Dave R.
January 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
“or if they actually believe the unhinged bullsh*t psychobabble”
I didn’t know that Bachmann and King read your posts on this blog, Jenifer . . .
stands for decibels
January 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
El Jefe @ 3.44, this the best you can do?
from his cited source’s homepage:
This site was created by the combined history/language arts classes of eighth grade teachers Mrs. Tricia Rezba and Mrs. Helen Warke from Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center.
whoa–there’s some serious cred!
Number1ninja
January 27th, 2010
3:51 pm
“The desperate need for soldiers, pilots, and workers to make ammunition, weaponry, and air/sea craft all contributed to the end of the Great Depression. The economy of America skyrocketed and was on the road to restoration.”
And who payed for all that?
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:53 pm
Loooo…Jenifer,
“Either way, these people belong in counseling…”
Yes, indeed, Jenifer. When is your first therapy session?
“
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
3:54 pm
Micky,
The old bridge or the new one?
The older bridge, originally known as the Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge, was constructed from 1909-1912 under the direction of Henry Flagler as part of the Florida East Coast Railway’s Key West Extension, also known as the Overseas Railroad.
Private enterprise – If profitable, the private sector will reign supreme.
Yes, it was rebuilt after the ‘35 hurricane by the Feds. Damaged again in the 1960’s and rebuilt in the ’70’s and ’80’s by the Feds
Pogo
January 27th, 2010
3:55 pm
On the other side of the coin Jay, we have seen a lot of posturing from the Democrats and a lot of bad results for this nations deficit as a result of them. I wonder sometimes if it is not to our advantage when our “leaders” do nothing.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
3:55 pm
Dusty,
“As you like to say, please give us the facts that prove that statement.”
Surely:
Mitchell & Waring – Odorous
urine following asparagus ingestion in man.
International Congress of Pharmacology – 1987
RH White – Occurence of S-methyl thioesters
in urines of humans after they have eaten asparagus.
Science – 1975
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
3:57 pm
Number1ninja,
The US Government has only two projects that actually worked,
The race for the moon and the build up for WWII. – both highly successful.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
3:58 pm
Dusty,
“Asparagus “…transforms my chamber-pot into a flask of perfume.” ~ Marcel Proust (1871-1922)
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:59 pm
Attaboy, TaxPayer,
“Jenifer, I can tell you are doing a great job here.”
Are you trading your white flag for pompoms, Tax?
Pogo
January 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
It’s all about the sulfur, jewcowboy, as so much is.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
“The US Government has only two projects that actually worked”
Yeah…that whole internet thing…total crap.
Sam
January 27th, 2010
4:03 pm
how about the parks, highways, bridges, military, etc….
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
4:03 pm
jewcowboy, & Proust,
Go flush it and forget it. Keep the air freshner handy, ’specially with “pot”.
Number1ninja
January 27th, 2010
4:04 pm
Holy hyperole Batman!
NJ
January 27th, 2010
4:04 pm
You are forgetting another. The interstate highway system caused explosive economic growth. This was in fact the single factor which caused the huge growth of American business after WWII. Populations were basically confined to urban areas or isolated in rural areas. Where the people moved along the highway networks, business followed. Truman’s idea as a Senator in 1944 after he got a peek at Europe.
With regard to health reform, a poll taken of those in Massachusetts with regard to health reform:
“The poll results were that even Scott Brown voters wanted Democrats to be bolder, and they want health care reform that includes a public option. By a margin of 3-2, former Obama voters who voted for Brown said the Senate health care bill “doesn’t go far enough.”
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
4:04 pm
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
3:59 pm
Attaboy, TaxPayer,
“Jenifer, I can tell you are doing a great job here.”
Are you trading your white flag for pompoms, Tax?
You’re just too easy. By the way, Bush is an idiot. Jr. and Sr. in case you were concerned which one.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:06 pm
Dusty,
“Go flush it and forget it. Keep the air freshner handy, ’specially with “pot”.”
My cup runneth over. ~ Psalms 23:5
Linda
January 27th, 2010
4:07 pm
We don’t need a bipartisan commission to recommend solutions to the deficit. Try finally listening to the American people who have been trying to express their wishes for months and months with tea parties, town hall meetings, polls & the elections in VA, NJ & Mass.
* Stop spending money we don’t have for junk we don’t need.
* Stop raising taxes. Extend the tax cuts.
* Stop trying to convince us how great socialized health care will be & how you can insure millions more people without increasing the deficit, with the same number of physicians & without rationing.
* Stop trying to convince us that we are causing the globe to warm & you can control it with a few more trillions of dollars.
* Stop taking incentives away from private businesses. Give them confidence & help them determine what an additional employee will cost them in 2010 & 2011. Tell them their expenses will not increase as a result of health care tax hikes, cap & trade energy tax hikes, any other tax hikes, card check, bank tax fees, etc. Repeal the minimum wage hike until unemployment decreases. Understand that all of the unemployed don’t want government jobs, green jobs, union jobs or bridge & road jobs. We want to continue to have real private sector permanent jobs created by successful, dependable, employers who achieved the American Dream through hard work & capitalism & who will help us achieve ours.
* Stop trying to grow the federal government. Cut it in half!
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:07 pm
I see RW-(the original) offered, in response to Jay’s lamenting ‘if only 6 more Republicans had joined in’ that “22 Democrats voted no and it’s the Republicans fault the bill didn’t pass. Got it.” Then AmVet followed with “A bipartisan commission to recommend solutions to the deficit? What next, a commission of hardened criminals to recommend solutions to high prison rates?“
From a political standpoint, I can understand Republicans backing out. As the LA Times noted, “The Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposal to establish a potentially powerful commission to reduce the federal budget deficit, despite President Obama’s endorsement and swelling voter anger about government spending and debt.” Who’s the Party that controls the Executive and Legislative? Democrats. Who’s the anger primarily focused against? The party in power. Who won’t follow the lead of the President who’s of their party? Congressional Democrats. Do Republicans want to act as a shield for Democrats? Not hardly.
Regarding AmVet’s comment: yeah, the people who got us there are out to fix it? Yeah, right. Pitiful leadership by Democrats – they own the Legislative process, yet they need the President to appoint a commission? If this was still the Bush presidency you’d hear howls of protest about the usurper trying to take over power from Congress.
And for the record – hasn’t anyone explored just why it is so many Democrats rejected the President’s plea? Because the Party of Entitlements doesn’t want to be forced into going on record for any modifications to Social Security and Medicare.
Personally, I don’t see why it’s a problem. They’re already on record as voting for cutting hundreds of millions from Medicare.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
“Stop trying to grow the federal government. Cut it in half”
Which half? I vote to cut Social Security, Corporate Welfare and Crown Victoria’s for Federal marshals…but I think they really should add more to the shoe horn budget for TSA.
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
4:12 pm
Dear jewcowboy,
You need a new pharmacist. The only sniffing around pharmacists do now is “Where’d you get this prescription, huhhhh?”
Your facts are unfounded. my friend. But…may I suggest you skip asparagus on the menu?
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:12 pm
“Understand that all of the unemployed don’t want government jobs, green jobs, union jobs or bridge & road jobs.”
YEA! Sweat shop jobs for $.25 an hour for all… Who hooo!
Pogo
January 27th, 2010
4:14 pm
Ever noticed that the really rabid progressives here inevitably become more and more vindictive and unhinged as they see their political world falling apart around them (as has happened in the last few days)? What I find most puzzling is why the liberals can’t understand that the American people, for the most part, do not share in their Socialist/Collective dreamworld. I guess they haven’t grasped the fact that most of us out here have to work to pay for their liberal magical mystery tours (such as Obama, Pelosi and Reid have been on) and that all of us can’t sit on a blog all day in some meaningless idealogical quest to convince the rest of us that we should embrace their progressive utopian dreams. The disconnect is unbelievable.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:15 pm
Dusty Dusty Dusty,
“Your facts are unfounded. my friend.”
I provided you with 2 sources for my facts. More sources than most on here. From scientific journals. Do you have evidence to disprove Mitchell, Waring and White?
Or are you just feeling a little pissed?
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
Dear jewcowboy,
“My cup runneth over….Psalm 23.5″
Use the camode……your Plumber
MAC
January 27th, 2010
4:19 pm
Even though I consider myself a fiscal conservative, I would have supported a stimulus to improve specific targeted long-term infrastructure. Unfortunately, though it was sold through the media as primarily for “shovel-ready projects”, less than 10% of the $700+ billion Obama stimulus has been spent on infrastrucure, the rest on soft one-time programs and political pork, so why would I support this ruse again?
All you spend it on infrastructure people need to look at the results not the rhetoric. There’s no commitment by our President to take control, direct Congress and tell the voters IN ADVANCE what specific projects are proposed and to eliminate all the amendments and earmarks for other B.S. spending through veto power and a bully pulpit. Until he does that, his speeches are nothing but hollow words.
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:20 pm
Any bets on if we hear this at least once tonight?
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/PhotoPopup.aspx?id=519241
Disgusted
January 27th, 2010
4:20 pm
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:00 pm
“The US Government has only two projects that actually worked”
Yeah…that whole internet thing…total crap.
And the first large-scale computer–ENIAC or something like that. What a ripoff! Some guys are funded to build something to target artillery shells, and what do we get? Something that keeps people wasting their time on blogs all day. Who needs government boondoggles like that?
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
4:22 pm
Or are you just feeling a little pissed?
Well played, jewcowboy. Bravo.
AmVet
January 27th, 2010
4:22 pm
And the portfolio-obsessed fools never learned…
For the love of money
People will lie, rob, they will cheat
For the love of money
People don’t care who they hurt or beat
For the love of money
A woman will sell her precious body
For a small piece of paper it carries a lot of weight
Oh, that mean, mean, mean, mean, mean green
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCkLEo-DT1Q
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:23 pm
Dusty,
“Use the camode……your Plumber”
Ahhh…so that is what that’s for…thanks!
Curious Observer
January 27th, 2010
4:24 pm
Even though I consider myself a fiscal conservative, I would have supported a stimulus to improve specific targeted long-term infrastructure.
Yea, I’m sick of states like Georgia and South Carolina using stimulus money to avoid a tax increase. So take the stimulus money away, raise taxes, and let these Jeebus people pay for the stuff they want out of their own pockets.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:24 pm
Disgusted,
“Who needs government boondoggles like that?”
Certainly not El Jefe.
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
4:24 pm
Transparency. That’s the ticket. Just start up some talks and take a roll call – D or R. No Rs participating in government! What a non-shocker. Perhaps they simply Object to doing their job, earning their keep. Then again, they do know how to just say no.
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:28 pm
AmVet
From Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
“This planet has – or rather had – a problem, which was this: most of the people living on it were unhappy for pretty much all of the time. Many solutions were suggested for this problem, but most of these were largely concerned with the movement of small green pieces of paper, which was odd because on the whole it wasn’t the small green pieces of paper that were unhappy.”
And in their unhappiness in moving about little pieces of paper they destroy lives, cause untold misery, all the while saying “but it was all legal” as they give their political contributions to make sure it stays that way.
Just how much campaign reform legislation (let alone walls between donors and legislators) has the Democratic Congress proposed?
danjonglee
January 27th, 2010
4:29 pm
Bu$$ fault…….
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:29 pm
Paul,
“From Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:”
That is, perhaps, my favortie book of all time.
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
4:29 pm
Can anyone imagine Georgia trying to survive without Fed stimulus money. What, with its 10.3 percent unemployment and one of the nation’s highest foreclosure rates and the most failed banks and what was that you say, Republican majority throughout it all. Wow! That has to be a real letdown for all those out there that thought the Republicans knew what they were doing. Well, they did know what they were doing. It’s just the folks that voted for them that didn’t know. They kept all sorts of things from the voters like Richardson’s shenanigans, amongst others, even though they knew all about it. Fambly values. There’s your ticket.
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
4:32 pm
Dear jewcowboy,
In the furor of facts & fancy, I have CHECKED with my formidable PHARMACIST. Soooo…
Mitchell, Waring & White were dismissed from the Auspicious Annals of Pharmacology long ago.
They were caught sniffing… gummy bears! Disgraced, I tell you. Disgraced. Fooey on your facts!!
Crenshaw8
January 27th, 2010
4:33 pm
*let these Jeebus people pay for the stuff they want out of their own pockets.*
Curious, can we exclude your upkeep?
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:33 pm
TaxPayer,
“That has to be a real letdown for all those out there that thought the Republicans knew what they were doing.”
Well, the gays still can’t get married right? Then all is right with the world.
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:33 pm
jewcowboy
I was living over there when the BBC first broadcast it. My kids still quote from it.
Ya gotta love it when a guy wakes up drunk in a field in the middle of the night and has the inspiration for a book that goes on to sell millions.
Curious Observer
January 27th, 2010
4:34 pm
UN human rights experts warned on Wednesday that “widespread and systematic” secret detention of terror suspects could pave the way for charges of crimes against humanity.
In their first in-depth global study on the practice, the experts said the practice had spread to almost all regions of the world and was continuing.
The study, which is due to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in March, listed 66 states that have been involved in secret detentions, mainly over the past nine years.
Rut-roh! The United States is one of those 66.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:35 pm
Dusty,
“They were caught sniffing… gummy bears”
Funny..I’d heard it was free-basing big league chew.
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:36 pm
Paul,
“Ya gotta love it when a guy wakes up drunk in a field in the middle of the night and has the inspiration for a book that goes on to sell millions.”
Why don’t these things happen to me…as many times as I’ve woken up drunk in the middle of field
Crenshaw8
January 27th, 2010
4:38 pm
In case no one has noticed, the U.N. is a toothless tiger.
retiredds
January 27th, 2010
4:38 pm
I pass this on to all the Republican conservatives (an oxymorn if there was one) for your bed time reading.
Republicans and the national debt:
The obvious thorn in the side of Republicans — who’ve made a habit of blasting the Democratic majority under President Obama for deficit spending — is that the GOP majority under President George W. Bush never once balanced its annual budgets. As a result, the national debt jumped from $5.7 trillion in 2000, when Bush was elected, to $10 trillion eight years later. The GOP controlled both chambers of Congress for six years of that span, during which time they not only cut taxes in the middle of two wars, but also passed the largest Medicare expansion since the program’s founding — an unfunded prescription drug benefit that former comptroller general David Walker has called “the most fiscally irresponsible piece of legislation since the 1960s.”
Today, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was asked point-blank how Republicans, given their track record, can criticize others for fiscal irresponsibility.
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:40 pm
jewcowboy
And to think Adams wrote this before bloggers. Now he might write about exercising fingers instead of lips:
“One of the things Ford Prefect had always found hardest to understand about humans was their habit of continually stating and repeating the very very obvious, as in It’s a nice day, or You’re very tall, or Oh dear you seem to have fallen down a thirty-foot well, are you alright? At first Ford had formed a theory to account for this strange behaviour. If human beings don’t keep exercising their lips, he thought, their mouths probably seize up. After a few months’ consideration and observation he abandoned this theory in favour of a new one. If they don’t keep on exercising their lips, he thought, their brains start working. After a while he abandoned this one as well as being obstructively cynical.”
larry
January 27th, 2010
4:41 pm
I am wondering what would happen to a certain plant in Marietta if there wasnt government spending. It would be a layoff of epic proportions. Also, since we are cutting spending , lets just close down all of the military bases here in the state and get rid of all those jobs related to those bases.
Its funny, Clinton raised the top tax rate, and the economy expanded for 8 years. Bush cut it and we had two recessions, including the worst one since the Great Depression.
Paul
January 27th, 2010
4:43 pm
jewcowboy
On second thought, that quote works better in reference to Congress -
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
4:46 pm
Oh poor Taxpayer,
He can hardly tolerate life in Georgia with all those terrible Republicans and fambly values and who knows what and Bush did it and they don’t want to raise taxes and soldiers won’t quit protecting the USA and …..what’s this world coming to?????!
Try Wheaties for breakfast, TaxPayer. It’s the breakfast of Champions. You might be transformed!! Worth a try…
jewcowboy
January 27th, 2010
4:46 pm
Paul,
“After a while he abandoned this one as well as being obstructively cynical.”
THAT is why it is one of my favorite books. Gotta go…but thanks for the reminder to re-read it. Have a good night.
“Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
Linda
January 27th, 2010
4:48 pm
Eleven months ago, the war in Afghanistan for 8 yrs. & in Iraq for 7 yrs., a total of 15 yrs. of war, cost almost the same amount as the Economic Stimulus Bill, $787,000,000,000.00, that was passed less than a month after the inauguration, unread, as an emergency, promised to prevent our unemployment rate which was about 7.4% at the time from exceeding 8%, & which is now at least 10%, unless you count those who are under-employed or who are no longer looking for work, in which case it’s over 17%, maybe close to 20%. This was the most expensive single piece of legislation passed in the history of our country.
When it became apparent that no jobs were CREATED, the rhetoric focused on jobs that were SAVED. That’s hooey. Last Wed., Scott Brown said that not one job was created.
The CBO announced yesterday that, as usual, it was another underestimated govt. program to the tune of $75 Billion, the total cost closer to $862,000,000,000.00, give or take a few billions here or there.
Every day there’s dry humor on the news with the outrageous projects included in this bill. It’s also evident that they are located in blue states or in blue districts in red states, some in districts that don’t exist, sort of a Dem. celebration & payback at taxpayer expense.
This was the beginning of this adm. & legislature spending our way into prosperity. A year & a few more trillion dollars later, they need a group to explain how to cut the deficit?
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
5:00 pm
Oh my..LARRY, Curly & Moe
So “Bush cut it (tax rate) and we had two recessions., including the worst one since the Great Depression.”
I tell you, that Bush was one influential man. He has caused EVERYTHING that happened in the last fifty years. Truly amazing and all while the Democrats were tending to their knitting. Way to go, Bush!! Here’s a valentine hug for ya…(**)
@@
January 27th, 2010
5:04 pm
Do any of the Kossacks here recall blogging with someone named Winston Steward at DailyKos?
Turns out he’s the infamous Ellie Light, 51y.o. health care worker out of California.
TaxPayer
January 27th, 2010
5:14 pm
retiredds
January 27th, 2010
4:38 pm
Haven’t you heard. It’s Obama’s fault. Just ask any Republican.
Dusty
January 27th, 2010
5:16 pm
Dear RetreDDS,
I notice that you wrote up how Democrats in Congress asked Republican Boehner how could Republicans, given their track record, criticize anyone of fiscal irresposibility?
Well, for one thing, Republicans pay their taxes. Seems Democrats are a bit negligent about making their payments to the IRS. Just ask Geithner(D), Sibelius(D) etc . That’s a bit irresponsible on fiscal ethics, don’t you think?
El Jefe
January 27th, 2010
5:55 pm
larry,
I guess it was that spending on new weapon platforms?
Regarding Clinton, check out how the government spending was held in check – that is what helped grow the economy during the Clinton years.
HSR0601
January 28th, 2010
3:42 am
As it is, the recovered value on the stock market after the stimulus package could add up to as much as over $ 1trillion, far greater than the total of bold move, other positives aside.
With the same truth, the two prospective principal bills before Congress are sure to realize the equal benefits as a whole. Let’s see the woods, in place of a tree.