A little sympathy for Boehner? OK, but just a little
You have to feel a least a little sorry for John Boehner.
In fact, I wouldn’t blame the speaker of the House for wondering what terrible thing he did in some previous life to deserve being handed this budget mess. He finds himself under siege not just by his opponents, which is to be expected, but by his supposed friends as well.
And despite what some of those “friends” would like to believe, this is a battle that Boehner cannot fight and win, and he knows it. The issues at stake in the budget standoff are essentially the same issues fought out during the presidential campaign, and as speaker, Boehner has neither the pulpit nor the firepower to win against Obama where Mitt Romney failed.
That was confirmed by a new poll released Tuesday in which just 27 percent of Americans said they would blame President Obama if budget negotiations fail and the country is forced off the so-called fiscal cliff. Almost twice as many — 53 percent — would blame congressional Republicans. And yes, while Boehner deserves some of the blame for that situation, it is shared by the entire Republican Party. For years, they have celebrated themselves as unbending and uncompromising, making stubborn intransigence a point of party pride.
So they have no right to be dismayed that that’s how the American public has come to see them.
In a belated effort to try to dispel that image, Boehner proposed a budget package Monday that included $800 billion in increased taxes, a step that he and his fellow Republicans had long insisted they would never take. If you overlook the fact that the math doesn’t work — it is impossible to raise the $800 billion in promised revenue through the tax changes offered by Boehner — the proposal does represents a welcome step toward reality.
And for taking that step, Boehner has of course been hammered by those who are supposedly on his side. Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican, said that “Speaker Boehner’s $800 billion tax hike will destroy American jobs and allow politicians in Washington to spend even more, while not reducing our $16 trillion debt by a single penny.” The conservative Heritage Foundation followed suit, calling the Boehner plan “little more than categorical, pre-emptive capitulation.”
And of course, the proposal that conservatives saw as “capitulation” was rejected by Obama as far short of what will be needed in a final deal. The president noted that he ran for re-election on a promise to end the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans, and he repeated his insistence that it be included as part of any final package.
Clearly, after years of GOP obstruction, Obama isn’t in the mood to let Boehner off lightly.
In his package, Boehner did make at least two proposals that ought to be seriously considered:
— The speaker advocated a slight change in how future cost-of-living adjustments are made to Social Security benefits, a reform that would affect mainly Social Security recipients who have other sources of income. It’s a change that Obama tentatively agreed to more than a year ago, before negotiations failed. Including it in the final deal would give Boehner political cover as an entitlement reform and would also be good fiscal policy.
— Boehner also proposed saving money by delaying Medicare eligibility from age 65 to age 67. It’s a popular proposal among Republicans, who justify it by pointing out that people are now living longer. However, that isn’t true across the board. Among upper-income, presumably white-collar Americans, the average lifespan of a 60-year-old male has indeed increased by more than six years since 1972. But among lower-income males, it increased by only two years. For those in more physically demanding, lower-income jobs, delaying Medicare coverage would be a real hardship.
Given that increasing lifespan differential, however, it would be perfectly reasonable to charge wealthier Americans slightly higher monthly Medicare premiums, as Boehner proposes. Because that would be scored as an entitlement cut, it would also help Boehner fend off those in his own party who are going to be very unhappy with the deal that is eventually reached.
That too is something Obama has to keep in mind.
– Jay Bookman
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433 comments Add your comment
Doggone/GA
December 5th, 2012
11:51 am
“Us in UK, please provide specfics of spending cuts that were voted for, thanks”
Hate to break it to you, but Google still works
Matti
December 5th, 2012
11:52 am
DannyX @ 11:49,
Y’all are on a roll today!
Doggone/GA
December 5th, 2012
11:53 am
“you vote for people who (theoretically) agree with your pov – therefore, (as long as what they are proposing is constitutional), they should listen to the people who put them into office”
There’s a disconnect here: “in this case – the people have spoken – they want tax increases as well as spending cuts. Boehner will ignore that desire at his peril”
I doubt Boehner was voted into office by the people described in your sedond sentence. So maybe he IS “listening to the people” who put HIM in office.
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
11:55 am
It may be but that’s why we need to fight for it. We are screwed if we keep up this partisan bickering on the budget.
That’s where you and I differ. I want them to continue this bickering all the way to Jan 2nd. Then, America will have to wake up to the fact that we have collectively gotten exactly what we asked for.
The people making these decisions did not win the lottery to get those positions. They were elected by voters. Congress has a popularity rating worse than the rug on Donald Trump’s head, yet the re-election rate for that same group hovers between 80% and 90%. The disconnect is not with the elected officials. The disconnect rests squarely on the shoulders of the American voter.
This is nothing more than the seeds of our labor coming to harvest.
Fly-On-The-Wall
December 5th, 2012
11:55 am
I think the Republicans should just give in and pass everything the President asks for. If things don’t improve then they get to say we told you so and if they do improve then they can say they should be equal credit for the improvements.
I know that’s a pipe dream but hey, why not. If things go as badly as all the righties here and in Congress say they will then it won’t take too long to find out. My guess is the right is afraid that Obama’s plans will work and in fact they know they will. That is why they are blocking everything.
getalife
December 5th, 2012
11:57 am
I have no pity for the cons or their failed party.
They built this self inflicted bs.
Deal with your self inflicted damage gop and stop crying about it.
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
11:57 am
Let the tax cuts expire as planned and then put in a middle class tax cut in January.
easy peasy nice and squeezy
Mr. Snarky
December 5th, 2012
11:58 am
I love it when the cons complain that Obama doesn’t fold like a house of cards after winning the election. “Hey, he’s using our negotiating tactics against us! No fair!”
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
11:59 am
Bookman,along with most liberals,understands how this country has become the richest most powerful country in history they just can’t face the fact that government had nothing to do with this amazing success.
Boy is the stoopids strong there…
I’m sure Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen are just poised to explode onto the world economic scene as they have that same 19th Century look and feel that the US had right before our industrial revolution.
alex
December 5th, 2012
11:59 am
@ Doggone/ga…don’t understand your response to my question to USinUK
?to USin UK: What cuts where voted on, please be specific, thanks…
Peadawg
December 5th, 2012
12:00 pm
“However, that isn’t true across the board”
Has life expectancy gone down for anyone? Right after that sentence, Jay, you said 1 group went up 6 and one group went up 2. They both went up. So how is it not true across the board?
Medicare age from 65 -> 67 is a no-brainer.
TaxPayer
December 5th, 2012
12:00 pm
Let the fiscal cliffs begin! But not before I buy stock in The Fainting Couch Co. Republicans are gonna need a lot of them.
CJ
December 5th, 2012
12:00 pm
So let’s be sure we give both parties their deserved credit for the coming additional revenue and reduced spending.
jconservative,
Let’s not. If you paid attention, then you would know that both the tax extension for the top rates and the Budget Control Act were ransom paid by the Democrats to Republicans. The hostage for the tax extension for the rich was tax extensions for everybody else, the START (nuclear reduction) Treaty, ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, payroll tax cuts, unemployment extensions and host of other legislation that Republicans promised to block up-or-down votes on unless they got an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. The hostage for the Budget Control Act was the debt ceiling (i.e., the world economy).
Context matters.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:02 pm
CJ — “Is Jay talking about going to a chained CPI? If so, then Bernie Sanders lays out the effects on his site”
Thank you very much for this. I’m deeply interested in veterans’ issues (full disclosure: I’m a disabled Army veteran, but I don’t take compensation for my disability), but I was completely unaware of this. I appreciate you posting it, CJ.
St Simons - aboriginal BOOTAKOOK 2014
December 5th, 2012
12:02 pm
Let’s be clear.
Barack Obama can destroy the Repunklican pahhty in 4 weeks,
if they don’t “Darwin” themselves out first.
And after the way those party-first treasonous punks have treated
him (and us) I hope he does. It would be a just, deserved karma.
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
Boehner hasn’t turned on the waterworks in a while. He needs to explore that tool a bit.
Mr Right
December 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
The tax increases Obama wants would fund the Dems thirst for spending for what, about eight days? Them big bad rich people just need to pay their fair share is just a class warfare thing and not a thing about solving our money problems! Obama thinks he can continue to drive a wedge between the American people but inspite of his succes so far in the end it will backfire. One can’t continue to point fingers at others when the problems continue to grow and expect the people to believe you.
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
Because the cultures of Somalia, Yemen,.and afg. lend themselves so well to a prosperous economy. Geez.
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
alex –
teh goog is your friend …
here’s just one example of the budget cuts that Obama has already made
http://www.govtech.com/policy-management/Obamas-Budget-Cuts-Fed-IT-586-Million.html
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
government had nothing to do with this amazing success.
Cause capitalism works so well without personal property laws and a patent system!
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:05 pm
I see that Tweedledum was lecturing on stupidity. Oh but the irony…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:07 pm
Breaking: Jazz legend Dave Brubeck dead at 91.
CJ
December 5th, 2012
12:07 pm
Joe Hussein Mama,
No problem. You might enjoy this video on the subject too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWiSJVtTZ8Q
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
12:08 pm
One can’t continue to point fingers at others when the problems continue to grow and expect the people to believe you.
oh, the irony…..
TaxPayer
December 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
The 2% were overheard exclaiming, “If I have to go down then I’m taking the poor people down with me!” To which the poor exclaimed, “Hey you idiots, we’re already down here!” Anyway, if Republicans want a sustainable reduction in their tax burden, the answer is actually quite simple–create jobs. Preferably ones that pay better than poverty wage though. Which reminds me, whatever became of that Republican 2010 jobs campaign. Did it just sorta fizzle.
Old Goober
December 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
Let’s go off the cliff. Maybe people will discover that doing so isn’t as bad as people think. And let’s face it, the revenue from an increase in taxes on the wealthy alone won’t come close to closing the deficit. Now that it’s been proven that lowering tax rates doesn’t even come close to paying for the tax break, let alone the fiction that lowering taxes creates jobs, we need a dose of reality. And we don’t need to be stealing even more from Social Security contributions. Let everybody pay the full rate.
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
Dave Brubeck
Time Out is a good album
Jefferson
December 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
I see no reason to belive the GOP approach would work anyway, has everyone forgot what a mess 2008 was after they ran the gov’t for 8 years.
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:11 pm
JHM
Wow…
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:12 pm
CJ — “No problem. You might enjoy this video on the subject too.”
I can’t watch it here due to network security restrictions, but I’ll be sure to view it tonight. Thanks much!
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 5th, 2012
12:13 pm
“Jazz legend Dave Brubeck dead at 91.”
91 – wow … he had good innings …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faJE92phKzI
TaxPayer
December 5th, 2012
12:13 pm
I see no reason to belive the GOP approach would work anyway, has everyone forgot what a mess 2008 was after they ran the gov’t for 8 years.
Not everyone, just the Republicans.
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:14 pm
“Take Five”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLF46JKkCNg
Rockerbabe
December 5th, 2012
12:18 pm
Nancy Pelosi where are you?
alex
December 5th, 2012
12:19 pm
@UKinUS in my field 90-95% of the information is incorrect when searched on the internet
600 million is not peanuts to any single person or state ,but interms of the deficeit, it is, reference Krugman on the proposed Medicare cuts that are in the 1000’s of Billion and are inadequate to meet the need ( see npr interview). These cuts don’t do a thing and are not serious . Please reference Billions of $ cuts proposed, then we’re talking and NO , I’m not letting the repubs off the hook, tax increases will have to occur. You want to fall off the cliff, march forward like lemmings, I have saved, my job, after 17 years of education and training is secure , I don’t like it-but I can cover increased taxes without much pain, I hope the same can be said for all you with the cute,empty remarks,..FORWARD….
USinUK - not very ladylike (and former Girl Scout)
December 5th, 2012
12:20 pm
beat ya bro!!!
appleseed
December 5th, 2012
12:20 pm
Bush-whacked and pushed over the cliff.Remember who voted for it.Not Dems.
nobodyyouknow
December 5th, 2012
12:22 pm
who my baby’s daddy mothers. Come on folks I wish we could help EVERYBODY that needs help, but we don’t have the money. And JAY I have asked you before “can you tell us one government entitle-ment program that is NOT BROKE?” You never reply. Those politicians in Washington live like KINGS on our money. But just as long as they give handouts to some needy people they will always get re-elected. And America falls off the CLIFF. GOD HELP US ALL!
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:23 pm
Brosephus — “Take Five”
So simple and yet so complex. No wonder it’s an international jazz classic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Five
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:25 pm
USinner
alex
December 5th, 2012
12:25 pm
oops, 100’s of billions, ……….1000’s of Billions would be trillions (THE defiect)
Recon 0311 2533
December 5th, 2012
12:26 pm
Jay and his fellow Democrats are correct that going off the fiscal cliff will make the Republicans very unpopular with a large segment of voters. What Obama and all of his followers seemingly fail to understand is that when the financial pain hits everyone the focus will start making the president and the entire congress very unpopular. The president who enjoyed strong support from the uninformed voters that the Democrats succeeded in transporting to the polls will begin to be extremely unhappy when they feel declining federal government assistance. Hopefully the Republicans will have the necessary courage to not give in to Obama and let him make the choice between disapproval from his radical left wing base or share with the Republicans along with his fellow Democrats the wrath of the greater American public. Maybe a little taste of Greece might be the wake up call for the public to fully understand the financial mess this country is really in.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 5th, 2012
12:27 pm
But just as long as they give handouts to some needy people they will always get re-elected
Hmmm… I know corporations are people but now the military complex and big corps are “needy people”?
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:28 pm
Finn,
I see that scope and perspective still escapes some libs. Nobody is saying we don’t need any gubment. We have to have govt for defense, police, judiciary, and other essential functions. What we don’t need is a bloated federal gubment that now is 25% of gdp. The bigger it gets the less prosperous we are. And yes. Unbridled capitalism combined with strong personal property rights and liberty is what rocketed this country into being the worlds greatest power in a mere 150 years our so. That and a limited govt. Seems libs haven’t the foggiest damn clue what made this nation great. They seem to have some sort of twisted mental notion that gubment is what made this nation great. Go figure.
Flag
December 5th, 2012
12:29 pm
Look at all the Liberal NUTS coming out. Another example of why this country is so screwed up! Give me, Give me, Give me
getalife
December 5th, 2012
12:29 pm
I tried to help the kooks from the right so I don’t feel guilty about their demise.
The can commit political suicide if they want to, it is a free country.
Let them self destruct and move on.
e11iswyatt
December 5th, 2012
12:29 pm
You folks just don’t get it. Can you guess whom said this only six years ago?
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies… That is money that we have borrowed from the Social Security trust fund, borrowed from China and Japan, borrowed from American taxpayers. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on. Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to investment in America’s priorities.”
Turn off DWTS and pay attention. This isn’t a Red problem or a Blue problem. Reap what you sow, folks.
μολὼν λαβέ
Flag
December 5th, 2012
12:32 pm
Where can I get my Obumma phone?!?!?! Entittlements!!!! I want free guberment stuff too!
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:33 pm
Doom — “Unbridled capitalism combined with strong personal property rights and liberty is what”
Caused the Great Depression.
You can look at the last 150 years if you want. I prefer to look at the 35 years between 1930 and 1965, which is when government stepped in to do what society and business couldn’t or wouldn’t do on their own. THAT’S when we *truly* became great, moving up from an also-ran regional power in WWI to one of the unquestioned great world powers in WWII.
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:34 pm
What Obama and all of his followers seemingly fail to understand is that when the financial pain hits everyone the focus will start making the president and the entire congress very unpopular.
Congress is already very unpopular. There isn’t much room for them to get any worse…
http://www.gallup.com/poll/159035/congress-retains-low-honesty-rating.aspx
Congress rates 2% better than used car salesmen in the department of high honesty and ethics 10% to 8%. When it comes to low honesty and ethics, Congress betters used car salesmen 54% to 49%.
Mr Right
December 5th, 2012
12:34 pm
I see no reason to belive the GOP approach would work anyway, has everyone forgot what a mess 2008 was after they ran the gov’t for 8 years.
Has the Dems approach worked the last four years? We are going into debt faster than ever,unemployment sky high, etc. But that is Bushs fault or the rich’s fault blah blah always somebody else’s fault! Is the mess really better than four years ago?
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:34 pm
Well now apparently some of the kooks think corporations are people. Ya see we know this cause one of the idiots posted an article yesterday stating that Walmart was the nations biggest welfare recipient. Well now that would only be true if corps were in fact people. So which is it kooks? Are corps people? Or are they only people when it suits your infantile, simpleton arguments?
B
O
O
M
!
JohnnyReb
December 5th, 2012
12:36 pm
I wonder the extent of Boehner’s headache as Obama is playing him like a drum.
Obama’s insistence on raising tax rates for those making over 250K is nothing, and I mean nothing more than politics. The expected revenue is not a drop in the bucket toward deficit reduction. However, Obama is winning the propaganda war, again. Associated are reports that Rachel, Al, and others from MSNBC visited the WH. Wonder why; just tune in if you can stand them.
House Conservatives need to hold steady to their guns. Let little Barry take us over the cliff. If they do not, this time next year we will be discussing how powerful the Tea Party has become.
getalife
December 5th, 2012
12:37 pm
doomy made boom in his diapers.
Don’t you have some crappy health insurance to pimp.
Matt P.
December 5th, 2012
12:38 pm
Jay – means testing Medicare turns it from a social contract to care for the health of the elderly into a welfare program for the poor. It’s downhill from there – Republicans can attack welfare all day, every day. Medicare the way it is now is a third rail.
This is one area where the Simpson-Bowles commission came up with a sensible plan – allow younger people to buy into Medicare. I think they recommended 55, but the younger you make the buy in, the more you increase the fiscal sustainability of the program. Why not go for 50?
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:40 pm
Seems libs haven’t the foggiest damn clue what made this nation great. They seem to have some sort of twisted mental notion that gubment is what made this nation great. Go figure.
Geez… Seems as though somebody’s trying to think for others when he can’t think for himself. If that barb as well as your earlier ones @ 12:04 and 12:05 were directed in part to my post at 11:59, why don’t you be a grown man and address it directly? If not, then why not address the poster(s) who you claim think in that manner instead of your generic finger pointing?
I haven’t seen a single post that claims that government made this country great, nor have I seen anybody insinuate that. What I stated, and others have pointed out, is that government has a PART in making a country great. Otherwise, free marketeers, such as yourself, could go to Somalia, Afghanistan, or Yemen and prosper just as you could here. Am I right if government has nothing to do with it?
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:41 pm
Joe mama,
Nope. Gubment action such as smoot hawley and other gubment interventions is what triggered the great depression. Go back and research it. The economy, unemployment, all were ok after the 29 market crash. It was when the govt started intervening that we slid into depression. Even Keynes reserved special criticism of govt actions.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:43 pm
Doom — “Ya see we know this cause one of the idiots posted an article yesterday stating that Walmart was the nations biggest welfare recipient.”
Really? Post it for us again and let’s see what it *really* says.
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:43 pm
Bro,
My barb was simply to make the point that there is no comparison between the US and those culturally bankrupt nations. For you to do so was ludicrous.
Finn de Siècle (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
December 5th, 2012
12:45 pm
The president who enjoyed strong support from the uninformed voters…
More Con predictions! Oh Goody!
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:45 pm
Joe mama,
google is your friend. As is yesterdays blog.
Mick
December 5th, 2012
12:45 pm
**strong support from the uninformed voters that the Democrats succeeded in transporting to the polls**
As if all the water carriers of the republican party are “informed”? The republican base, afraid of the UN, climate change deniers, firm believers that the earth is a mere 9,000 years old, and my favorite – noah had room for dinosaurs on his ark, very informed, indeed…
ITS ALL BUSHS FAULT
December 5th, 2012
12:46 pm
Get the popcorn ready the GOP and Boner are going to get there collective a@!#%sses handed to them by the President…LOL
Tom Middleton
December 5th, 2012
12:46 pm
Jay, I could have sworn from discussions past that the Tea Party base was hands-off in love with their Social Security and Medicare. I mean, didn’t we learn from studies that most are male, roughly retirement age, and in love with their social programs? So why are their Republican representatives in Washington trying to hands-on change them both against their base’s wishes?
And then there’s Grover Norquist and his threats of a Tea Party 2 if we don’t do what he says. Me thinks he’s going to be surprised, and then it’s goodbye Grover for good!. I mean, pssssst, Grover, we’ve got the young people!
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:46 pm
Doom — “Nope. Gubment action such as smoot hawley and other gubment interventions is what triggered the great depression. Go back and research it.”
I have. Smoot-Hawley didn’t *force* brokers and investors to do all that borrowing and concomitant buying on margin. Not even you could be clueless enough to think that government intervention *forced* people to borrow and invest beyond their means.
“The economy, unemployment, all were ok after the 29 market crash. It was when the govt started intervening that we slid into depression. Even Keynes reserved special criticism of govt actions.”
As I said, I focus on 1930-1965 as the period when we catapulted into greatness. Maybe you could do a little research yourself.
Georgia
December 5th, 2012
12:47 pm
Why paint it so black? Boehner may have a heart of stone, but even he knows he cants always gits what he wa-ants. They are predicting a thousand point dow rally when the street fighting men in congress (somebody grab a hose) stand down and a deal is announced. Just hope Boehner isn’t going to be just waiting on a friend too long.
stands for decibels
December 5th, 2012
12:47 pm
Medicare age from 65 -> 67 is a no-brainer.
Easily said–when you can’t visualize being 65 and expected to be dependent upon the tender mercies of the private health insurance racket, at the very time when one’s premiums will be at their very highest.
For anyone who can, it’s a yes-let’s-use-our-brainer.
See also:
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2012/11/28/americans-overwhelming-oppose-raising-the-medicare-retirement-age/
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:47 pm
Doom
You still didn’t answer my question as culture had absolutely nothing to do with what the original poster said nor my response. If capitalism is all you make it out to be, you should be prospserous anywhere by your statement, correct? You and the original poster are the ones asserting that government has nothing to do with success. Contrary to what you THINK about the cultures of those countries, there are businesspeople in those countries that prosper using capitalism as their means to an end. Maybe you should get your head out of your ass sometimes and quit being so damned judgmental of people without actually knowing them. For you to do that is ludicrous, but then again, you have shown yourself to be that way numerous times here, both sober and drunk.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:48 pm
Doom — “Joe mama, google is your friend. As is yesterdays blog.”
Well, of *course* you won’t post it again, because it doesn’t actually say what you claim it did.
stands for decibels
December 5th, 2012
12:48 pm
Why paint it so black? Boehner may have a heart of stone, but even he knows he cants always gits what he wa-ants. They are predicting a thousand point dow rally when the street fighting men in congress (somebody grab a hose) stand down and a deal is announced. Just hope Boehner isn’t going to be just waiting on a friend too long.
You only get your rocks off when you’re dreamin’, I see.
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
Bro,
The culture of the people who founded this country had more to do with its astounding success than mere gubment. Govt and other institutions and things such as the constitution, the bill of rights, respect for property rights, the individual, etc. All that stems from culture.
alex
December 5th, 2012
12:50 pm
@ Joe, unfortunately there are other, possibly more accurate historical appraisals of how this country escaped the grips of the Depression,with THE major player being WW-2 followed by the destruction of Europe requiring U.S. support, A nice run and now with globalization, that has run it’s course…
Mick
December 5th, 2012
12:51 pm
doom
You know what is ludicrous? The republicans running up the debt by the previous president and rubber stamp congress, then having the economy collapse, lose power, then have the mitagated gall to demand that it all be fixed in a four year term?
You know the truth, that was the game plan, starve the beast and drown it in a bathtub.
Just remember, both party’s contributed to this hypocrisy but the republicans seem to think that they cast no image in the mirror…
Brad Steel
December 5th, 2012
12:51 pm
r.i.p. dave brubeck. hope jay’s friday post recognizes his gifts.
moonbat betty
December 5th, 2012
12:51 pm
I would like to thank Jay and his band of marionettes for their sypathy toward “Boner” and their “kinder more gentler” war on conservatives.
And to Thulsa for the BOOM!
Keep bustin’ chops Doomy!
Erwin's cat
December 5th, 2012
12:52 pm
RIP Dave Burbeck
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:53 pm
Joe mama,
Sure it does. And I’m not posting it because I’m on my Droid anyway. Quite a bit more cumbersome. It’s not add if i can easily and quickly search, copy and paste.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
alex — “@ Joe, unfortunately there are other, possibly more accurate historical appraisals of how this country escaped the grips of the Depression”
Wasn’t my point.
Doom points to a 150-year period as being when we ‘became great’ as a nation. I think it can be narrowed down to a much shorter period than that.
Success Hating Liberal
December 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
Typical Democrat….. I’m a loser in life so you should pay my way cause you worker harder then I do, your smarter then i am…and you take more risks then I do….Therefore you need to pay my way Im a slacker and without your handout I will never amount to anytiung more then the LOSER I am
JohnnyReb
December 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
Here’s an example of why Conservatives do not want to yield to Obama. A salesman at Latham Ford in San Diego posted this on Facebook.
The salesmen had a woman in his office wanting to lease a brand new Focus. As he reviewed her credit application he noticed she was on social security disability. He told her she did not look disabled. She replied that she could work if she wanted but that she gets more now than when she was working. She further explained she was making about $330 per week when working but now she gets a $1500 disability check and $700.00 EBT card (food stamps) each month plus $800.00 a month for rent. Oh yeah, don’t forget the 250 minutes free cell phone.
That is $3000 a month not counting the cell phone ripped from wages of people who work hard for a living – you know, the middle class everyone seems so worried about.
Multiply the above by millions and then deny we don’t drastically need revision of entitlements?
Congratulations bleeding hearts. Please tell us your plan for when the money is gone?
alex
December 5th, 2012
12:54 pm
@ stands, what I don’t understand is the problem with raising the medicare age , as the ACA will act as a safety net for those with problems, NO?
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
Laying down the boom on the kooks. It’s how I roll. Got em all worked up already.
Brosephus™
December 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
The culture of the people who founded this country had more to do with its astounding success than mere gubment.
Yeah, and it seems as though y’all conservatives are pining for the days of the wealthy landowners/business owners squeezing every single penny of productivity and wealth from their workers and not even giving them enough pay to pour piss from a boot. The culture of this country is a hodge podge mixture of cultures that each wave of immigrants brought with them. The one common theme from American culture is the incessant need to exploit the sh*t out of people for personal gain. And you’re right, that comes regardless of the government.
Steve
December 5th, 2012
12:56 pm
This is so boring. Let’s just go over the “cliff,” which is really just a slope…enact tax changes for the middle class so we aren’t hammered while trying to rebuild the economy, and reform middle class tax code when the economy is doing better.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 5th, 2012
12:57 pm
Boom apparently means “Here’s a really stupid claim”
What makes this country great is the combination of capitalism with appropriate government. See Teddy Roosevelt unless you are some idiot child going boom boom and spouting nonsense and stupidity. Its no wonder our host ignores the child.
Joe Hussein Mama
December 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Doom — “Joe mama, Sure it does.”
Good. Then you’ll have no problem *showing* us evidence of your claim, to wit: “we know this cause one of the idiots posted an article yesterday stating that Walmart was the nations biggest welfare recipient.”
“And I’m not posting it because I’m on my Droid anyway. Quite a bit more cumbersome. It’s not add if i can easily and quickly search, copy and paste.”
Then perhaps someone might come to your rescue by posting it.
My recollection is that the article stated that Wal-Mart *employees* — not Wal-Mart *itself* — were the recipients in question. And that would invalidate the point you were apparently trying to make.
alex
December 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Not following every thread, still goovt stepped in because of WAR, up to that point the GOVT was ineffective, but let’s be intellectually Honest. B. Bernacke has spent a lifetime studying that era and can’t figure out what worked…..
Tom Middleton
December 5th, 2012
12:58 pm
Take Five, Dave…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1S_vA0ougg
Steve
December 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
JohnnyReb – wow, one example of small chump change coming out of our taxes. Yet you could care less that your taxes are really going, and at 10 times the amount, to corporate welfare. Hell, we even pay milk farmers with our tax money so milk doesn’t go up to $8/gallon.
Choose your battles – not the racist tinged lesser important ones, please.
getalife
December 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
reb,
Now attacking the disabled like your party did with
Bob Dole yesterday.
How low can you go reb.
Thulsa Doom
December 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
Bro,
The exploitation crap again coupled with a dose of class warfare. You can only be exploited if you let yourself be so in America today. Are you not the captain of your own destiny? Speaking of the exploitation nonsense is that why millions of messicans brave death to come to a strange land with a language they don’t even speak. Cause they so exploited?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 5th, 2012
1:01 pm
Now attacking the disabled like your party did with
Bob Dole yesterday.
How low can you go reb.
They are a sickening group.
moonbat betty
December 5th, 2012
1:02 pm
Keep, here’s what it looks like: BOOM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMzuzMD6eF4
getalife
December 5th, 2012
1:03 pm
Do you cons actually believe Americans still listen to you after being dead wrong for a decade?
No, they don’t .
Find a hobby cons, you are done in American politics.
stands for decibels
December 5th, 2012
1:03 pm
as the ACA will act as a safety net for those with problems, NO?
No, not especially.
Bottom line, what would be happening with this age eligibility change, is that we take a step back for a specific demographic, from a successful single-payer insurance program to the private insurance industry, which will be MORE costly to Americans, and why?
All because it might clear some bean-counter’s ledger in a book somewhere and the Very Serious People can claim some “cost savings” that really aren’t.
Pardon me if I go on thinking that’s pretty effin’ stupid, on many layers.
Fly-On-The-Wall
December 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
Cheesy,
They can go pretty low. Heck I’ll bet that many of them don’t think of themselves as citizens of this country anymore given the number of them that want to secede.
guy
December 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
Raise my taxes but don’t ask for more stimulus spending which is being done.That’s not mentioned.Both elephants and donkeys are dumber than dirt and could care les about any of us.We make smartass remarks to each other,we ridicule each other,and the ones we should be saying these things to are the politicians. We are the fools for not demanding common sense reasoning. We asked for it and we got it!!!!!
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
December 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
Laying down the boom on the kooks. It’s how I roll. Got em all worked up already.
LOL.
Steve
December 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
The reason people like “JohnnyReb” are still wailing about people scamming the safety net systems has been studied. It has been shown that white people who are poor are scared of those below them on the social ladder (poor minorities) could someone be elevated to or above their level via the safety net systems. Nobody wants to be at the bottom of the ladder. Yet, poor whites, and mostly in our red states, use the safety net programs more than anyone else. The irony is astounding.
guy
December 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
less,not les