‘Let’s get fiscal, fiscal — let me hear your lobby talk’
Source: Zfacts.com
Democrats and Republicans agree that we have to address the nation’s long-term fiscal stability. Beyond that point, though, there’s little common ground.
So let’s try to keep this discussion grounded in political reality. Does anybody SERIOUSLY believe that a problem this large can be addressed solely through spending cuts? Raise your hands out there if you believe that …
I do see a few hands raised out there. In fact, looking over to the right, I see quite a few. Well, you’re not taking the problem seriously then. You may claim to believe that this issue threatens the nation’s future, but your actions say otherwise. Forced to choose between fiscal insolvency and tax hikes, you are choosing fiscal insolvency, and to hell with the country.
In the real political world in which votes have to be cast and deals have to be made, you cannot do it solely through spending cuts. The numbers involved are much too large. You would have to go to where the money really is, the major programs from the Pentagon budget to Social Security to Medicare, and the cuts in those programs would have to be so large and so deep as to politically unsustainable. If Republicans actually tried to implement the solution they claim to want, it would be political suicide and they know it.
Now, I’m sure there are a few Democrats in Congress who would like to pretend the opposite, that the budget can be balanced exclusively through tax hikes, particularly on the rich, with no real spending cuts. That position is just as much of a fantasy as its counterpart on the right, the no-new-taxes approach. But the good news is, the relatively few Democrats who take that position do not lead the party. President Obama, Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi, among others, recognize that any solution will have to require both tax increases and spending cuts. When Obama’s bipartisan commission on the budget makes its report to Congress, it is expected to include both approaches.
But the problem is, Obama and the Democrats have no partners on the Republican side. The ongoing purge of any Republican who might think or say something reasonable on the issues of taxes has so terrified the Washington GOP that it has ensured that no negotiation, and no solution, will be possible.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
Take, for example, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. Next year he’s scheduled to become ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee, which means he will be committee chairman if the Republicans get control of the Senate.
Hatch has watched Republicans back home oust his longtime conservative colleague, Bob Bennett, because Bennett only toed the conservative line 99 times out of 100. He’s scared about his own future, eager to placate the mob back home.
According to The Hill, conservative pressure groups are pushing Hatch to promise that when the budget commission reports, he will rule out any consideration of tax hikes whatsoever.
“We’d like to get a commitment from all Republicans on the Finance panel to oppose new taxes,” said Andrew Roth, vice president for government affairs at the Club for Growth. “It would be political suicide for Orrin Hatch to not do so.”
Hatch says he will not make any commitment to block proposals from Obama’s deficit commission before he has a chance to review specific policy changes.
But Hatch says the Club for Growth can rest assured.
“I like the Club for Growth,” he said. “I don’t make commitments in advance until I see all the facts. I think they can pretty well rely that I don’t believe in increasing taxes at this time. I think we should reduce taxes.”
He thinks we should reduce taxes.
I have my differences with Hatch, but I’ve never thought him to be a stupid man. He knows better than that; he knows that would be disastrous for this country. But he’s doing what he thinks is necessary to save his political career. Some patriot, huh?
Conservatives love to point to the example of Greece, warning that the United States could end up in that position unless we change our ways. They conveniently forget that Greece’s problems have two major components. Yes, their social programs became too generous and their public bureaucracies too fat and lazy. But the Greeks also refused to tax themselves at a reasonable level, pretending they could get all these benefits for free. With collapse staring them in the face, they are being forced to slash government spending AND get serious about improving the revenue side of the ledger.
Anybody who complains about the debt but goes onto to oppose any tax increase — or to advocate further tax cuts — is a hypocrite more devoted to a precious political theory than to the country they claim to love.
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399 comments Add your comment
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
2:43 pm
TAxPayer
“That bugatti fellow is a real bad arse. Better not cross him or he might say something mean.”
Just following the precedent set by folks like you. First comment you made today and that was it. LOL!! Too easy.
Kamchak
May 28th, 2010
2:44 pm
She’s German. However, the best thing that ever happened to me.
Ummm…not sure I would describe my wife as “thing.” I think what you mean to say is that your marriage to her is the best thing….
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
2:48 pm
Just following the precedent set by folks like you. First comment you made today and that was it. LOL!! Too easy.
And what precedent would that be that I set for the likes of you with my first comment to you today, buggati.
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
2:49 pm
bugatti,
Thanks, but I don’t need a history lesson from you. I’m well aware of the split that occurred among Southern Democrats during the civil rights era. In fact, as someone who is actually from Atlanta and descendent from generations of old-school southerners, I would like to remind people that not alll Southern Dems made the switch to the GOP when baited with racism and fear. MANY Southerners, including most members of my own family (I was a mere tot in those days) realized that the civil rights movement was both right and necessary, and actively supported and participated in the progression from 18th-century thinking into the 21st-century logic.
(Glad to see you backed off Jimi before I had to go all Voodoo child on your azz.)
Mick
May 28th, 2010
2:49 pm
Not too many mea culpa’s in the blogosphere, just opining..
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
2:50 pm
RIP Gary “what u tawkin bout willis” Coleman.
Mick
May 28th, 2010
2:51 pm
Matilda @ 2:49
Right on…………
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
2:52 pm
TaxPayer
Ahhh. These debates poking others about who said what. And I’ve been told that liberals don’t ever want to actually debate, just gossip and complain.
Do you have anything you want to talk about other than your obvious problem with me, personally?
Scout
May 28th, 2010
2:52 pm
“OFF TOPIC #2″
This is what I am flying this weekend ………………
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag
Mick
May 28th, 2010
2:53 pm
ogk
Another one bites the dust…
JohnnyReb
May 28th, 2010
2:55 pm
Kamchak, when I tell my wife she is the best thing that has ever happened to me, she likes it. That’s all that really matters.
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
2:56 pm
Using that ole Gladys Knight and the Pips routine eh?
Mick
May 28th, 2010
2:57 pm
bug
Do you have a superiority complex?
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
Matilda
Hendrix, like all Black artists of the day were fighting Jim Crow and the Democrats from both the North and the South. South Boston is still one of the most racist parts of the country and the location of the bloodiest and longest lasting race riots in the country. Not Macon, not Selma, but South Boston. I’m pretty sure that was Fat Teddy’s supporters.
But before you start preaching about how the South went GOP because the racism lingers, you might want to observe the race of most locally elected Southern officials compared with the race of most locally elected Northern officials.
Racism, like the DNC went north where it still lingers.
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
bugatti,
I commented on your rather mean comment to Jay by stating the obvious — that make mean comments to others. You commented that you were simply following a precedent set by folks like me. I then asked “what precedent?’ You replied, “These debates poking others about who said what.” To that, I say, what debate. There is no debate. I merely made an observation and you commented on it. That does not constitute debate. Of course, if you think it does, then you can debate yourself on that matter. As for having an obvious problem with you personally, I have no idea how you managed to reach such a conclusion since we obviously do not know each other on a personal level. Now, THAT was too easy but nothing worth an LOL.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:00 pm
The music of that era was what it was – pretty damn good, experimental and may I dare even say progressive?
Since you bring it up.
I go through these phases where I have to hear one (1) tune entirely too many times to get thoroughly sick of it, of late that tune’s been a live, 1968, Fillmore East recording of Procol Harum doing Repent Walpurgis.
I would be hard pressed to find a better example of what was both mind-blowingly engaging and ridiculously excessive about late-60s rock than that track. I mean, it is four chords, over and freaking over again, with a Bach concerto slipped in for a little major-chord relief from the minor chords.
And yet it’s so riveting and powerful, I just wish I could’ve been there, on my feet and screaming “Encore!” at the end, instead of the wee elementary school lad I actually was at the time.
If you don’t know the track, here’s a live 1971 version—even longer than the one on my mp3 player!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQC7Kk4WOPU
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:03 pm
Obama is blah blah blahing about the oil leak…Basically he is saying…”Never fear Reggie is here…”
Kamchak
May 28th, 2010
3:03 pm
Kamchak, when I tell my wife she is the best thing that has ever happened to me, she likes it. That’s all that really matters.
Just so.
The last woman in my life gave me the ol’ raised eyebrow look and said “Thing?” the last time I used that line.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:03 pm
Jay has done it again.
Some People are stupid
May 28th, 2010
3:04 pm
I just read 2 pages of comments that said absolutely nothing
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:04 pm
SFD…is that the Procal Harun with Robin Trower or Post Robin?
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:04 pm
More than one line and I can’t post it.
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:05 pm
Mick…Robin Tower “Bridge of Sighs”, “For Earth Below” and “Victims of the Fury” worth picking up and in that order…
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
3:06 pm
Outhouse: “I know you will!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRjfrj0N7eY
Bugatti, yes, I am aware of this as well. It’s one reason I try to reject stereotypes. I have visited parts of this country where there is very little racial diversity. It took a few days, but then I was like, “What’s wrong with this picture?” I’m happy here in my ethnically and culturally diverse hometown, despite all our troubles, and will keep working to bring the holdouts into the 21st Century. Basically, the “us vs. them” garbage isn’t working for anyone who chooses to use it as a substitute for thinking, and I’m tired of hearing it.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:07 pm
Matilda
I was tired of hearing it for the past ten years.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:07 pm
SFD…is that the Procal Harun with Robin Trower or Post Robin?
PRetty sure that’s still Robin in 1971. Wiki sez he left in ‘72.
Definitely Robin on the live track I’ve been obsessing over.
And the funny thing is, the other evening I was playing it at home, trying to get my kid to dig it, and Mrs. sfd walks in midway through. It’s just after the Bach bit, and Robin’s just bending the livin’ hell out of those strings, and I’m having another religious experience all over again hearing this cranked up to 11, and what does the love of my life say?
“well that’s… REALLY annoying.”
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
3:08 pm
Ahhhh! Trower!
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:08 pm
Amtilda
It is amazing to me that this “us vs them” argument that so many liberals now claim to believe, never came up during the Bush years.
Any explanation?
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:09 pm
Nice one Mati…not only can she sing but she is hot as red coals.
“Whenever he takes that ride
Guess who’s gonna be right by his side
I know you will
Leaving on a midnight train to GA
WOO WOOOO!!
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
3:14 pm
bugatti,
You’re not stereotyping me, are you? I hated it then, too. After the attacks on our citizens, we were all one.. for a little while it seemed. We still had disagreements, but they were in perspective. I’m not sure exactly how it happened that we all seemed to turn on each other so viciously again, and so quickly — though I’m certain the tone of our “leadership” under a constant Rovian stream of advice played a large role — but that has been a great source of sadness for me ever since.
hmmm
May 28th, 2010
3:17 pm
Lame heading, Bookman. Really lame!
Mick
May 28th, 2010
3:21 pm
Matilda
Good point, after nine one one, we all pulled together and felt unified. Our leadership squandered this opportunity bigtime. Instead, arrogance (bring em on) and hubris turned the world against us. Not only that but we were tricked into a war that brought great loss of life and treasure. Now the other side has said they want this president to fail and are working at everything they do to gum up the works. its both pathetic and sad…
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:24 pm
Matilda
I can’t disagree with any of that. I see the big differences as the alternate media that challenged the mainstream. Before Limbaugh, no one had really had the power or audience to do what he did. Of course FOX followed suite and a conservative media was born.
But you have to admit, information is a good thing. Giving people both sides of stories opened the one-party controlled Congress to both parties and now we have a much more informed electorate.
I think that information tends to polarize people and I hate the fact that we spend much more time arguing than solving problems.
BTW. Gladys Knight is one of my favorites, but that version that you played is more modern and played too fast. And there are four pips.
I like this one, even though the quality isn’t as good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge6QTtg8cCY&feature=related
Gladys looks like she’s about 18 year old.
Jay
May 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
Bugatti, quit blaming your problems on me.
There is no button I can push that would limit someone to a one-line post. Besides, if I wanted to ban you altogether, I could do that easily. No one else has ever complained about the problem you claim to have. Only you.
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
The oil leak. They cant seem to stop it…
Jay
May 28th, 2010
3:27 pm
Reggie. OGK?
Gale
May 28th, 2010
3:27 pm
Matilda @3:06 “What’s wrong with this picture?” I’ve been there. When I visited Ohio a few years ago, I noticed it pretty quickly. It was so white it felt really weird.
hmmm
May 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
After 9/11?
Does anyone (left) want to talk about Bush’s reception immediately following the SCOTUS election ruling. You leftists never accepted him, and had no intentions of ever accepting him.
So it’s bullsh*t on the let’s get along garbage. You’ll get as good as you gave.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
Mick
Face reality buddy. Do you really think that the Arab world loved us before Bush?
And I really love it when liberals claim that the dumbest man (according to every lib I have ever talked to) to ever occupy the White House was able to trick all those Democrat Rhodes Scholars into voting to go to war.
So if Bush was that dumb and able to trick the Democrats, how dumb were the Democrats?
Kamchak
May 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
There is no button I can push that would limit someone to a one-line post.
But we all know that you can take over our computers, if not our minds and only post what you want us to.
Outhouse GoKart
May 28th, 2010
3:37 pm
Reggie from the Archie show…Archie, Veronica, Betty, Reggie, Jughead, and Hot dog…showing my age…lol.
jewcowboy
May 28th, 2010
3:39 pm
Seriously though, what is it about the intellectual property rights of musicians that Republicans can’t wrap their head around?
It started in 1984 with Reagan using “Born in the USA” and Springsteen having to threaten to sue if they didn’t stop playing it and continued to this week with Charlie Crist. It’s been 26 freakin’ years and Republicans just can’t seem to learn they need to get permission before they use an artists’ music.
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
That one trillion dollar annual DoD budget would sure go a long way toward paying down that debt. Of course, making this country’s multi-millionaires start paying more in taxes would also help. But giving more tax cuts to the nation’s wealthiest will do nothing good for the US. If they were going to trickle down anything of value, they should have already done it.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
jewcowboy,
Or they need to use artists who like them, like Ted Nuggent.
Glad your back and refreshed.
TGT
May 28th, 2010
3:43 pm
Better charts/graphs are here: http://www.heritage.org/budgetchartbook/national-debt-skyrocket
You can scroll to other charts/graphs using the arrows on the right and left.
jewcowboy
May 28th, 2010
3:43 pm
Of course you had Lieberman using “Still the One” without permission. And to add fuel to the fire John Hall, the songwriter, was a Ned Lamont fan.
Of course Lieberman and Crist are Independents now…so maybe only Democrats understand you have to pay an artist for the right to use their songs.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:45 pm
Does anyone (left) want to talk about Bush’s reception immediately following the SCOTUS election ruling. You leftists never accepted him, and had no intentions of ever accepting him.
91% of people polled immediately after 9/11 said they approved of the PResident. That’d include plenty of “we leftists” (I’m assuming anyone to the left of Zell Miller qualifies, here.)
As for how we felt after the SCOTUS ruling, kindly consider how your side would’ve taken if if the shoe was on the other foot.
5-4 ruling in favor of a guy who’d lost the popular vote, who was well within the machine-reader margin of error on the vote count in a state headed by the candidate’s brother.
Yeah, I’m sure you’d handle that one real well.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:47 pm
Hey, Bosch, sorry I’m late to note this, but I’m glad you liked the Shell Oil exec interview I’d linked yesterday.
Weird, huh, hearing an oil company kingpin propose the sort of thing (an Energy Reserve Board) that’d get Obama called “Socialist! Sooper Sooper Double-Plus Socialist” by the usual suspects were he to propose it himself?
jewcowboy
May 28th, 2010
3:48 pm
Bosch,
“Or they need to use artists who like them, like Ted Nuggent. ”
That narrows the potential list of songs down considerably to Ned Nuggent, Johnny Ramone, Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood, Alice Cooper, Amy Grant, Pat Boone, Lee Ann Womack and Reba McEntire.
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
Even betterer charts and graphs are here.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
stands for decibels
Bush’s Approval Ratings:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/custom/2006/02/02/CU2006020201345.html
You may notice that it took the second year in his second term before his ratings dropped to where Obama is now.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:53 pm
You may notice that it took the second year in his second term before his ratings dropped to where Obama is now.
And? so? If you’re trying to make the point that Obama’s ratings are extra sucky, have you checked where Reagan’s were midway through his first term?
Chris D.
May 28th, 2010
3:53 pm
If we want to get “Fiscal” the VERY first thing we should address are some of these OUTLANDISH Union cotracts and jobs within… Here’s a brief example:
•Overtime kicks in by eight-hour day rather than 40-hour week. So employees earn full pay while working less by calling out sick and then making up the lost wages through (premium) overtime.
•Many bus drivers clock a 12-hour shift for driving four hours in the morning rush and four in the evening rush. For the four hours in between, they’re paid for being available — but with no work to do.
•Whenever crew members of the Long Island Rail Road are switched from one train to another, they get another day’s full pay.
•Real-time bus arrival information is finally being tested on Manhattan’s 34th Street — more than a decade after technology had made it possible. Union drivers didn’t want to be tracked, so union bus mechanics refused to service wheels with the rotation-counting device needed to supplement GPS in its early days.
•While the new system on the Canarsie line can run trains with no crew aboard, L trains still operate with crews of two — thanks to union work rules.
•The union representing crane operators insists on having full-time “oilers” at construction sites every day. But unlike the steam-driven equipment of old, modern cranes don’t need constant lubrication.
•On building sites across the city, union operators must staff elevators — even when they have normal push-buttons for each floor.
•Told it would cost $1,000 to have a union electrician plug a laptop into the wall of a Midtown hotel, one smart customer ran out and bought a spare battery for $70 instead — and then noted it would be cheaper to buy a whole new computer than to pay the hotel electrician.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
3:53 pm
sfd,
Yeah, I enjoyed it – he had alot of good ideas which I’m sure most of the wingnuts here would soil their Depends if they heard. It’s funny when you hear people out in the real world who actually know what they are talking about. After reading through the posts here it’s enough to make you realize that humanity doesn’t suck after all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
jewcowboy,
I knew there were others but couldn’t come up with any off the top of my head — Johnny Ramone? Really? And Alice Cooper is just a freak.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
TaxPayer
“The Center conducts research and analysis to help shape public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that policymakers consider the needs of low-income families and individuals in these debates. We also develop policy options to alleviate poverty.”
Those are you “better charts”. They are only better if you agree with the center’s obvious bias. They admit that they do the research to develop policy opinions. Not exactly fair and balanced.
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
3:54 pm
“So if Bush was that dumb and able to trick the Democrats, how dumb were the Democrats?”
More spineless than brainless, I’d say. Sadly, that’s one stereotype that is too often difficult to refute.
stands for decibels
May 28th, 2010
3:56 pm
Johnny Ramone? Really?
yeah, he made Joey change a song title from “Bonzo goes to Bitburg” to “My brain is hanging upside down.”
Of course the two hated each other for reasons that went beyond politics.
back later…
Kamchak
May 28th, 2010
3:57 pm
Unions—SQUIRREL!
TGT
May 28th, 2010
3:58 pm
A significant part of the solution: a federal balanced budget amendment. Just like fiscally responsible families, government must be required to live on what it has.
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
3:59 pm
bugatti,
Merely proclaiming the link that I provided to be biased does not make it so. If you care to pick out some specific numbers from their presentations and show the bias, go ahead. I’ll wait.
jewcowboy
May 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
Bosch,
“I knew there were others but couldn’t come up with any off the top of my head — Johnny Ramone? Really? And Alice Cooper is just a freak.”
Johnny…but not Joey..so I’m guessing “Swallow my pride” will not be played at any Republican rallies in the future.
All in all a pretty weak set list…no wonder Republicans steal music rights.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
OK, Blog God – I’ll change that word.
sfd,
Sort of like the Gallagher bros (Oasis)? But, I think their biggest problem is that they are just complete asses.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
stands for decibels
Perhaps Obama will pull it out.
he probably should stop with the parties and fund raisers and start paying attention.
Today, 5 weeks after the Deepwater Horizon disaster he visits the coast. That is the same coast where the ragin cagin was begging him to do something, anything.
Even though Nashville had the worst flood in the city’s history, he has yet to mention it and he certainly hasn’t visited.
He’s just not much of a president, Pal.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:02 pm
CNN’s ratings continue to fall; Fox News has best quarter in network history
AmVet
May 28th, 2010
4:02 pm
Chris, union employment is now less than 8% of the total in America.
Eight percent. Union busters have done their job well. And the unions have shot themselves in the feet repeatedly to boot.
But for the sake of punditry, lets focus on that 8% rather than the equally outlandish, fraudulent and wasteful 92% of non-union shops shall we?
That way, scumbags like Don Blankenship keep flying under the radar…
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
4:03 pm
Taxpayer
I posted a line from their own site describing themselves as being unfair and wanting to shape the debate. That’s enough to convince me.
bugatti
May 28th, 2010
4:04 pm
AmVet
Got any figures as to how many government jobs are union? We all pick up that tab.
Kamchak
May 28th, 2010
4:06 pm
Today, 5 weeks after the Deepwater Horizon disaster he visits the coast.
Are you saying that Obama hasn’t been to the gulf coast since this incident?
jewcowboy
May 28th, 2010
4:06 pm
“Even though Nashville had the worst flood in the city’s history, he has yet to mention it and he certainly hasn’t visited.”
Why should the Federal Government become involved…it’s a local issue right? Let the state of TN handle it.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:07 pm
Come on libs. The union is a thing of the past. We have government regulators now. The union has run its course. It is now just one, big stinking turd pulling down the American economy.
AmVet
May 28th, 2010
4:07 pm
BMDPD, I call Fox News the pornography of cable television.
Enormously popular with lonely old white guys!
bug, no idea. I suppose the first “mission” is to break those unions as well. And then ultimately “privatize” the entire US government.
(In an effort to accelerate the ongoing corporate destruction of capitalism.)
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:08 pm
jewcowboy, OOOOOh I know, because he knows he won’t win TN anyways!
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:10 pm
“Fox News has best quarter in network history”
All that does is confirm to me that there are alot of dumbasses out there. Plus CNN has like Bill Nye the Science Guy reporting now, so…………
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
4:10 pm
bugatti,
You posted a line from their site and claimed bias based on that. I don’t think you know the definition of bias, based on your post. Of course, feel free to prove me wrong. I suggest starting with the definition of bias. I’ll continue to wait.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:10 pm
AmVet, why does Fox continually get better ratings? To hear you libs talk. The population of lonely old white guys is declining.
AmVet
May 28th, 2010
4:10 pm
BMDPD, 8% pulls down the entire US economy? Methinks you give them WAY too much credit.
And purposely avoid looking at the factor that is nearly ten times more relevant…
BTW, I think you are dead wrong.
Americans organizing to protect their interests is not dead. It is as American as apple pie. Look at the Tea Party.
To crush that effort is just communistic in my view.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:11 pm
Changing Bosch’s and AmVet’s handle to Cleopatra.
AmVet
May 28th, 2010
4:11 pm
“…why does Fox continually get better ratings?”
Can’t say. I suppose because it is all they watch…
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:16 pm
AmVet, let me ask you a question. What do these three industries have in common?
Airlines
US Automakers
US Teachers
I will answer it for you. They are all heavily unionized and in financial trouble. Union = big stinking turd.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:17 pm
I have talked to three former plant managers in the last 6 months. They are all out of a job. Why? Mexico, China and Union! Union = big stinking turd.
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
Ratings? Really? I’m sorry, were we supposed to find that stuff important? Like American Karaoke, or Dancing with the B-Listers?
Here’s a thought: Perhaps the most accurate, in-depth, least-biased reporting doesn’t come from the News McNuggets on any of the giant, for-profit cable corporations. Perhaps it doesn’t come from a store. Maybe NEWS…. means a little bit more.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:18 pm
The union would rather watch a business go under than concede. Union = big stinking turd. I should add sinking too! It pulls the rest down with it!
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:20 pm
Where does ‘accurate’ news come from, Matilda? Maddow, Olberman?
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
BMDPD,
I watch BBC America. They don’t go all slobbering on the sensationalism.
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
Good question, BMDPD! IMO, here’s the tricky part: it’s up to us. See, if you become monogamous with one stream or source, then you’re just trusting what they tell you, regardless of its origin. Only by varying our sources and thinking critically and objectively about all of them, can we begin to have any real sense of what’s going on. That would be easier for all of us, I think, if we could also give up the fantasies that our heroes are perfect and that our foes are all completely satanic.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:25 pm
BMDPD,
And what Matilda wrote – yeah, I like that.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
I go to cnn and fox on the internet. I do think Fox has a slant towards the right, but they will put up stories that other sites will not.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:26 pm
Matilda,
“and that our foes are all completely satanic.”
I had to say something good about Saxby today and it made me feel all icky inside.
Bosch
May 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
“a slant towards the right”
Slant? For real? Ya’ think?
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
BBC is a good source too.
Matilda
May 28th, 2010
4:29 pm
Bosch,
Trader Joe’s has some awesome flavored sparkling water. That and a single malt should fix the icky right up.
BMDPD
May 28th, 2010
4:30 pm
CNN is the most neutral. The do slant slightly to the left.
TGT
May 28th, 2010
4:41 pm
But those who try to blame it exclusively or even largely on the left have no factual basis for that effort, as the chart above documents quite well.
Well over half of the current federal budget (see here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Fy2010_spending_by_category.jpg) involve social programs that were instituted by liberals and liberal administrations. These are areas that the federal govt. has no business being involved in.
TaxPayer
May 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
Did someone say budget. Perhapsthis will help.
Union
May 28th, 2010
5:53 pm
Don’t forget to add 200 billion to pay off the democratic union buddies..
theyeshaveit
May 28th, 2010
6:15 pm
bugatti said, And I really love it when liberals claim that the dumbest man (according to every lib I have ever talked to) to ever occupy the White House was able to trick all those Democrat Rhodes Scholars into voting to go to war.
So if Bush was that dumb and able to trick the Democrats, how dumb were the Democrats?”
And Bugatti was not tricked I suppose. He knew that Iraq did not weapons of mass destruction all along, and Bugatti still thought it was a good idea to invade Iraq. Right. And how smart was that?
TGT
May 28th, 2010
9:09 pm
Relying On Government Coming to a Tipping Point
Lil' Barry Bailout
May 31st, 2010
7:26 pm
Forced to choose between fiscal insolvency and tax hikes, you are choosing fiscal insolvency, and to hell with the country.
Socialists have a mental disorder which prevents them from even considering a “third way”…spending cuts. Cut off the parasites, government union thugs, and wealthy old folks still on the dole and we can balance that budget right quick.
Or, we can follow the Idiot Messiah and add another trillion or so to the national debt, borrowed from the Chinese.
TGT
June 1st, 2010
6:15 pm
A parenthesis messed my link up again: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Fy2010_spending_by_category.jpg