Sequester will test GOP’s cut/cut/cut strategy

Unless Congress comes to an unlikely and very quick agreement, most domestic federal spending must by law be slashed by an immediate 8.2 percent on March 1, with only Social Security, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits exempted.

According to estimated from the Office of Management and Budget, defense spending will have to be cut by 9.4 to 10 percent, depending on the category. Payments to Medicare providers — doctors, hospitals, etc. — will be cut by 2 percent.

And because the law dictates that the cuts be across-the-board, rather than targeted, the impact is some areas could be severe. Agency directors have very little if any leeway in trying to protect particular programs.

James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, has warned that “the sheer size of the cut will create an immediate national security crisis situation” in the CIA, FBI and other agencies. Border Patrol agents will be laid off, as will federal prosecutors and airline security officers. (If you’re flying, you might want to double the time needed to get through security.)

On the social-spending side, to cite just a few specific examples, some 10,000 Americans will be cut off from the AIDS drugs that keep them alive; 70,000 children will be pushed off Head Start; 373,000 seriously mentally ill people will no longer have a means of treatment. The list goes on and on.

The overall economy will likely suffer as well. According to the Congressional Budget Office, that reduced federal spending will dampen growth and cut job creation by some 750,000 through the end of the year.

Unfortunately, there appears to be little to no hope in Washington that such cuts can be avoided, at least at first. Our leaders have come to the conclusion that no matter how much pain these reductions cause the American people, the political pain they themselves would suffer by having to compromise would be greater still. So instead of acting, they are preparing to blame each other when the outcries come.

The Republicans are basing their PR strategy on the claim that the sequester was actually President Obama’s idea, and they are correct: The Obama White House did propose the idea of a sequester back in 2011, believing that if the required budget cuts were painful enough, both sides would be compelled to compromise in order to avoid them.

However, the sequester — or “Obamaquester”, in the GOP’s strained terminology — was made necessary in the first place because House Republicans had made it quite clear that without a mandatory mechanism to slash spending, they would refuse to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, potentially sending the country into a disastrous default. That was back before the election, when House Republicans were so full of themselves that they seemed fully capable of doing just that.

(Just to refresh your memory — these artificial fiscal crises do tend to blur into one another by now — this particular confrontation in 2011 is the one that convinced Standard & Poors to lower the nation’s bond rating.)

In other words, the record shows that Republicans forced the crisis, and now want to blame Obama for proposing an escape hatch. I don’t believe the tactic is going to work, in large part because once again, the GOP has put itself into a position of trying to sell a hard argument. In this case, after stomping their feet, holding their breath and generally making public fools of themselves demanding harsh spending cuts, they are going to try to put the blame for spending cuts on Obama?

Good luck with that.

Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee and the GOP’s spending guru, is on record back in 2011 as lauding the sequester, and his fellow House Republicans voted 174-66 in favor of it. (House Democrats split right down the middle, with 95 supporting it and 95 voting against it). In addition, Ryan has promised House conservatives that he will soon produce a budget that will balance the budget within 10 years, and do it without new taxes. The magnitude of spending cuts required to make that happen will dwarf those being implemented under the sequester.

The sequester, in other words, can be seen as a mini test drive for the GOP’s overall fiscal policy. What happens to government services when we implement just a fraction of the massive spending cuts that the GOP is demanding? What happens to the economy when federal spending falls by a relatively minor $85 billion between March and the end of the fiscal year in October?

By already trying to put the blame on Obama, the GOP is in effect predicting that the results won’t be pretty.

– Jay Bookman

897 comments Add your comment

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

WRONG. We live in a nation where man Americans choose to be Christians but that is all.

Exactly right JamVet.

The founding fathers were liberals and weren’t all that religious.

Washington rarely attended Church and Jefferson …. please.

They saw an opportunity to create a new democratic nation and where did most of thier inspiration come from.

Not the bible but ancient Republics of Rome and Greece.

You can even see it in the architecture in DC. Its everywhere.

I always though libs were delusional and didn’t understand the ways of the world but this is laughable. You people won’t even acknowledge history.

RB from Gwinnett

February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

“Has he objected?”

Has it ever occured to you all these storms are actually God’s wrath trying to get our attention? If you read the Bible, it’s full of examples of God using things we would call “natural disasters” to steer his people in the right direction. Floods, earthquakes, plagues. It’s all in there.

Do you think all the people who died in the great flood blamed Bush for all that rain like you libs do these days?

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
2:58 pm

JamVet:

You can try and change the meaning of what our nation was founded on. Its the liberal way… But it won’t work. This is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values… Get over it.. Its history sport…
.
.
.
.
Founded on? Nope.

Observant of? I could say yes to that.

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

This is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values… Get over it.. Its history sport…

It most certainly is not.

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:02 pm

Has it ever occured to you all these storms are actually God’s wrath trying to get our attention?

And the crazy begins.

Let me guess 9/11 was because of the homos in NYC

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:02 pm

Granny, what type of “world class service”, and what do you train, e.g. It, or customer service or health mangement…

getalife

February 19th, 2013
3:02 pm

“Tea Party Portrays Karl Rove As A Nazi” HP

gop civil war is raising and they want to split the party.

msnbc hired Axe to counter rove is a smart move.

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:03 pm

RB from Gwinnett

February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

“Has he objected?”

Has it ever occured to you all these storms are actually God’s wrath trying to get our attention? If you read the Bible, it’s full of examples of God using things we would call “natural disasters” to steer his people in the right direction. Floods, earthquakes, plagues. It’s all in there.

Do you think all the people who died in the great flood blamed Bush for all that rain like you libs do these days?
.
.
.
.
Could be, but if so, they are meant for YOU.

Common Sense isn't very Common

February 19th, 2013
3:03 pm

P’Dawg

Like I have said before. You have come a long way.

:-)

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:04 pm

If you read the Bible

The bible was written by men to promote Christianity

Nothing more.

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:04 pm

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:02 pm

Granny, what type of “world class service”, and what do you train, e.g. It, or customer service or health mangement…
.
.
.
.
it matters not what industry…..

Peadawg

February 19th, 2013
3:05 pm

This ended up at the end of page 7. I’m re-posting it to make sure the self-righteous little pr*k called “Christian” Conservative sees this:

“We should value life and the sanctity of marriage”

Translation: We should be able to tell women what to do and discriminate against homosexuals.

F’ing Bible thumpers…

Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 19th, 2013
3:05 pm

Cheesy, now now…. when God sent that storm to try to wipe of the RNC convention, he was steering people away from attending, right?

Brosephus™

February 19th, 2013
3:05 pm

NoCom @ 2:40

That’s why you’re supposed to use permanent marker. That sh*t never comes off!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

getalife

February 19th, 2013
3:05 pm

alex,

Mind your own business con.

комиссар (Occupation)

February 19th, 2013
3:06 pm

Itchy Finger: “Only in the world of liberals is this possible….”

Oh, and what world is that?

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:06 pm

Cheesy, now now…. when God sent that storm to try to wipe of the RNC convention, he was steering people away from attending, right?

I guess so.

He does work in mysterious ways LOLOL

Jayne Cobb

February 19th, 2013
3:07 pm

Peadawg

February 19th, 2013
3:07 pm

RB from Gwinnett
February 19th, 2013
3:01 pm

What’s your opinion on the hurricane that almost wiped out the RNC last Summer? :lol:

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:07 pm

C. Conservative — “Simple. We should value life and the sanctity of marriage… Something your party does not…”

B. Obama — still on first wife

N. Gingrich — on third wife and counting.

“You can try and change the meaning of what our nation was founded on. Its the liberal way… But it won’t work. This is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values…”

Fortunately, there’s no mention of that in the Constitution, which is the foundation of all law in this nation. If we *were* founded on such values, it’d be mentioned in the Constitution, but it’s not.

So we aren’t. Too bad for you.

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:07 pm

Granny Godzilla

Founded on? Nope.

Observant of? I could say yes to that.

That’s your opinion. I don’t agree….

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:08 pm

If the Bible is true and all the people on the Ark were Jews
then we are all Jews.

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:09 pm

Here’s a list of numerous references of GOD and Christianity by our founders… But they weren’t religious according to libs…

http://christianity.about.com/od/independenceday/a/foundingfathers.htm

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:09 pm

Yes it does, don’t think “world class service” in burger making is equivalent to let’s say heart transplantation. No Granny, not all jobs are equal, some are more important.

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:09 pm

That’s your opinion. I don’t agree….

Your wrong.

I think we all agree on that.

Butch Cassidy (I)

February 19th, 2013
3:10 pm

Christian Conservative – “That’s your opinion. I don’t agree….”

SHOCKER!!!!!

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:10 pm

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:07 pm

Granny Godzilla

Founded on? Nope.

Observant of? I could say yes to that.

That’s your opinion. I don’t agree….
.
.
.
.
I’ll alert the media.

God already knows.

snicker

Thomas

February 19th, 2013
3:10 pm

I miss Cynthia Tucker- where is she?

Does she ever blog here?

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:11 pm

Blog threats via an opinion column, getalife–thanks for the humor…..

DebbieDoRight - Minister Of Propaganda

February 19th, 2013
3:11 pm

SoCoBro: I’m so tired of this sh*t, I wish they would just go ahead and completely f**k up the country already. Maybe then we can rid ourselves of the rigid ideologues who can’t seem to understand they don’t have all the correct answers all the time.

Bro – The GOP is committing suicide via a slow tortuous method.

“It’s like they have a loaded gun in their mouths, and they like the taste of metal.” (a la RD Jr.)

The only problem with their slow painful demise is the fact that they’re trying to take the whole country with them.

A murder / suicide in the making.

JamVet

February 19th, 2013
3:11 pm

Your always fact-devoid opinions, though interesting, are useless,non-sport.

But as it is a free country, I very much encourage you to continue to pollute and pervert your religion as much as you choose. And given the precipitous drop in church attendance, you are doing a great job.

At one time it was thought that this right merely proscribed the preference of one Christian sect over another, but would not require equal respect for the conscience of the infidel, the atheist, or the adherent of a non-Christian faith such as Mohammedism or Judaism. But when the underlying principle has been examined in the crucible of litigation, the Court has unambiguously concluded that the individual freedom of conscience protected by the First Amendment embraces the right to select any religious faith or none at all. ~Justice John Paul Stevens, 1985, Wallace v. Jaffree

Bad news for you, we have a democracy, not a theocracy…

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:12 pm

C. Conservative — “Here’s a list of numerous references of GOD and Christianity by our founders… But they weren’t religious according to libs…”

Lies make baby jebus cry.

Many of them were religious. Some were even christian. But they didn’t found a christian nation, or even a judeo-christian one.

Ever wonder why the words “god” and “jesus” can’t be found in the Constitution, pal?

Paul

February 19th, 2013
3:12 pm

Christian Conservative

““We should value life and the sanctity of marriage””

What does that mean as far as

- the death penalty, especially given the numbers of people released from prison because DNA evidence showed them as ‘not guilty’?

- providing health care for infants and children, many with debilitating conditions, with parents unable to afford treatment?

Two’s enough for now.

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:12 pm

Thomas
I miss Cynthia Tucker- where is she?
………………………………………………………..
google Cynthia tucker blog….

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

February 19th, 2013
3:12 pm

But they weren’t religious according to libs…

Oh they were.

They just didn’t found the country on Christianity. Their ancestors had to escape from the Church of England.

They knew all too well the dangers of mixing Religion and Government.

And so they kept it out.

And yes some of the founding fathers weren’t very Religious at all.

Ive read a lot more on this subject than you I can assure you of that.

And people who believe this country was founded on Christian beliefs are doing so for two reasons.

1. It promotes their own Religion
2. They dont know any better.

Class dismissed.

RB from Gwinnett

February 19th, 2013
3:13 pm

“What’s your opinion on the hurricane that almost wiped out the RNC last Summer? ”

It blows.

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:13 pm

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

That’s your opinion. I don’t agree….

Your wrong.

I think we all agree on that.

No your wrong. I’m with CC even though I not that big of a church goer. You fruits are idiots…

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:14 pm

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:09 pm

Yes it does, don’t think “world class service” in burger making is equivalent to let’s say heart transplantation. No Granny, not all jobs are equal, some are more important.
.
.
.
.Correct – not all jobs are as important as others,

but world class service can be found

in the lowliest burger shack
or the Ritz
or Apple
or Johns Hopkins…..

The basics are the same, only the budgets differ.

Peadawg

February 19th, 2013
3:15 pm

“Does she ever blog here?”

No, thank goodness. I don’t have to see her on AJC anymore.

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:16 pm

I. Finger — “You fruits are idiots…”

I LOVE that voter outreach program of yours.

Pleasepleaseplease tell me the GOP is running with that for 2014. :D

DebbieDoRight - Minister Of Propaganda

February 19th, 2013
3:16 pm

If the Bible is true and all the people on the Ark were Jews
then we are all Jews.

Interesting. I’ve never thought of that angle.

Check out the big brains on der frog!!

Sending you some Ribbit Love there froggie! **Ribbit love is like Muskrat love but with, you know, frogs.

schumpeter

February 19th, 2013
3:17 pm

I see getalife is a financial advisor, for me I don’t see how the fed can get any easier ( not like that little viennese tart sitting next to me)….Easy money,easy life—I’ve got one…..

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:18 pm

DDR
frog love involves a lot of tongue….

bulls_eye

February 19th, 2013
3:19 pm

Perfect golf pair; Tiger and Obama. One screws around with bimbos while the other screws the middle class…

Ozzy Osbourne

February 19th, 2013
3:20 pm

I just talked to Jesus, man, and he said somebody’s
goin off the rails on a crazy train.
Roight. Sounds like a song, mate.
Play it backwards and you get gay married
SHA-A-A-RON

Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 19th, 2013
3:21 pm

Why Pea does not realize that we have been informed numerous times that Granny is CT. Are you suggesting she may not be. Some heads are gonna splode, so think before answering. :lol:

Thulsa Doom

February 19th, 2013
3:22 pm

“Really??? That 2:22 post of yours sound an awful lot like you think it’s all about race. You’re the one that made the proclamation: “

Brocephus,

You didn’t read back far enough. My response there was to Uh huh’s post at 2:01 who started into all the racial bit about there being more whites on food stamps than blacks and that blacks couldn’t get jobs because whites won’t hire them and yadda yadda yadda- that crap from him was just some crazy stuff that came out of left field. It had nothing to do with anything. Regardless though lets just be done with it already. Its just a waste of time.

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:22 pm

Keep Up
Granny may only be a clone…..

levels of blackness

February 19th, 2013
3:24 pm

Not when the puppet master pulls the heart strings of
the stuck on stupid masses (ie. Lefty)

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:25 pm

Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten

But they weren’t religious according to libs…

Oh they were.

They just didn’t found the country on Christianity. Their ancestors had to escape from the Church of England.

They knew all too well the dangers of mixing Religion and Government.

And so they kept it out.

And yes some of the founding fathers weren’t very Religious at all.

Ive read a lot more on this subject than you I can assure you of that.

And people who believe this country was founded on Christian beliefs are doing so for two reasons.

1. It promotes their own Religion
2. They dont know any better.

Class dismissed.

Obviously you didn’t read the many comments of our religious founders. Its obvious that this country and its origins come form Christianity. I realize you people on the secular left won’t admit it or simply ignore facts but reality is right there to see… If you honestly believe the way you do why haven’t you removed any reference of GOD from all government buildings and documents? It’s a simple question which I’m sure you can’t answer…

Now put some more cheese in them grits…

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:28 pm

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:22 pm

Keep Up
Granny may only be a clone…..
.
.
.
.
More than one of me?

Good Lord….Don’t tell Mr.G.

He’s good but he ain’t THAT good!

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:28 pm

You may not have cheesy grits but instead, gritty cheese,
depending on how you cut the cheese……

Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 19th, 2013
3:30 pm

Granny, he may want one of the younger versions too. :P I’d like a younger version of me but gotta keep the knowledge and experience.

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:31 pm

Granny Godzilla
I believe Mr G would put forth his best effort…..

Conservative Christian

February 19th, 2013
3:32 pm

Ok I, am ashamed. I just re-looked at my bible and it teaches not to judge others. And here I am judging liberals, acting pious, and not acting Christ like.

I am truly sorry, I am a hypocrite.

Krystal'sBalls

February 19th, 2013
3:33 pm

Funny how those who claim the president only wants to SPEND, spend, spend are the same ones that want to now try to bash him for now ultimately doing a massive CUT, CUT, CUT (by proxy).

Make up your damned minds. I say at this point as the king of funk George Clinton did

“Two tears in a bucket, F-it! Let’s take it to the stage.”

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:33 pm

Granny Godzilla

February 19th, 2013
3:34 pm

Keep Up the Good Fight!

February 19th, 2013
3:30 pm

Granny, he may want one of the younger versions too. I’d like a younger version of me but gotta keep the knowledge and experience.
.
.
Shhhhh…don’t tell him that….I was pretty cute when I was younger

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:31 pm

Granny Godzilla
I believe Mr G would put forth his best effort…..
.
.
.
Yessir yabetcha!

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:35 pm

Conservative Christian
I am truly sorry, I am a hypocrite
………………………………..
Now go and sin no more….

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:35 pm

The thing with libs and religion is that I don’t understand what they see wrong with it. I mean if you can live your life believing that life is a gift from GOD and that homo marriage is repulsive then whats wrong with that. Why do libs want to do away with it when the Constitution clearly states people have a right to it….

Steve

February 19th, 2013
3:35 pm

Brosephus™

February 19th, 2013
3:36 pm

Doom

I read that post. He’s factually correct on more Whites being on welfare than Blacks. I disagree with the hiring crap that he said, but that’s his view. Your response, regardless, still makes it sound as though you think Black people are in desperate or dire need for Obama to save them.

What’s different from Obama when compared to Bush, Clinton, HW Bush, or Reagan? Blacks were in the same situation under those presidents as they are under Obama. I have no problem with dropping the topic. I’m just curious as to why people think that Obama is supposed to be “Capt. Save-the-Blacks” when his job is to be president for all of America.

Steve

February 19th, 2013
3:36 pm

When someone posts something as ludicrous as “we are a Christian nation,” well – you lost that smidgeon of credibility you had. You have none now.

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:39 pm

itchy finger
believe what you want but problems arise when you
try to force those beliefs on others….

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:39 pm

Ok I, am ashamed. I just re-looked at my bible and it teaches not to judge others. And here I am judging liberals, acting pious, and not acting Christ like.

I am truly sorry, I am a hypocrite.

Just like a lib… Stealing someone’s handle all to make themselves feel good….

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:40 pm

barking frog

itchy finger
believe what you want but problems arise when you
try to force those beliefs on others….

Inform me where that has happened. I’d like to know….

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:40 pm

C. Conservative — “Obviously you didn’t read the many comments of our religious founders.”

It’s pretty clear that you haven’t, either.

“Its obvious that this country and its origins come form Christianity.”

And it’s just as obvious, if you read a different set of comments from the Founders, that you’re completely wrong.

“I realize you people on the secular left won’t admit it or simply ignore facts but reality is right there to see…”

It certainly is; such as Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Danbury Baptists. There are plenty of counter-examples to the ones you’d no doubt like to cite; I’ve been through them over and over in the last 35+ years.

“If you honestly believe the way you do why haven’t you removed any reference of GOD from all government buildings and documents? It’s a simple question which I’m sure you can’t answer…”

It’s a simple question with several simple answers, which ought to appeal to simple you.

One, it’s not worth the trouble or the cost. Two, the presence or absence of magic words like ‘jebus’ doesn’t prove or substantiate anything. Three, whenever anyone expresses an interest in removing those words, people on your side screech like burned chimpanzees about it.

Then again, John Ashcrofs wasted no time spending gubmint munneez to cover up Justice’s nekkid ta-tas, did he? :D

But here are some simple questions which I’m sure *you* can’t answer. If money with the word ‘god’ on it and courthouses depicting angels make us a judeo-christian nation, then why aren’t you eating your meals from plates labeled ‘jesus’ or driving a car with a giant cross painted on it? And why haven’t your credit and debit cards been consecrated to christian service?

Surely your diabolical oversights mean that you’re irrevocably damned to party with the rest of us in the Underworld. Have a drink on me.

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:40 pm

Itchy Finger: The thing with libs and religion is that I don’t understand what they see wrong with it. I mean if you can live your life believing that life is a gift from GOD and that homo marriage is repulsive then whats wrong with that.

Missing context here entirely, but liberals do not have a problem with you having a religion (you’re thinking of militant atheists who think you’re stupid). What they have a problem with is you forcing everyone ELSE to act and speak in a way that enforces religious beliefs, by creating laws against same-sex marriage or “don’t say gay” laws. Or if you say that a fetus or zygote equals a “person” in legal terms.

All of those are hypocritical, btw, as any time a religious person wants to defend their religious “rights” they do so by arguing for equal treatment or free speech – the same arguments used to stop the forcing of the laws I mentioned above.

Erwin's cat

February 19th, 2013
3:40 pm

JHM – Were you doing much air travel around 9/11? I was, and I can assure you that there was security at just about every domestic airport I visited in the 2-3 years before 9/11.

so for the late reply…busy day..Yes I was..actually went international the month before and about a month after 9/11. My point is/was that the security before 9/11 was jr league compared to today. I can’t remember when they started to ask for ID’s (unless international because they always asked for your passport at check in)…but I do remember when they didn’t…and if you saw a dog…it was a drug dog, not a bomb dog

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:41 pm

Steve

When someone posts something as ludicrous as “we are a Christian nation,” well – you lost that smidgeon of credibility you had. You have none now.

When someone refutes it, well – you lost all resemblance of a sane informed person….

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:42 pm

I. Finger — “Why do libs want to do away with it when the Constitution clearly states people have a right to it…”

What makes you think we want to do away with it?

I’m as atheist as they come on this board and I’ve never said or thought such a thing.

Maybe you don’t know as much as you think you do about atheists.

Paul

February 19th, 2013
3:42 pm

Christian Conservative

“Just like a lib… Stealing someone’s handle all to make themselves feel good….”

He didn’t steal your handle.

He reversed it.

Kinda like you do with the Bible. ( :-) )

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:43 pm

Brosephus: I’m just curious as to why people think that Obama is supposed to be “Capt. Save-the-Blacks” when his job is to be president for all of America.

This one always puzzled me as well. To me, it seems as though white people are trying to stoke black people into more racial resentment by trying to convince them that Obama is betraying black people, and because he’s black, any black person should be monumentally upset that he isn’t specifically targeting black people to help at all times. Nevermind that if he DID do that, that ALSO stokes racial resentment.

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:43 pm

Adam:

Please give me some examples of Christians trying to force their beliefs on the people…

barking frog

February 19th, 2013
3:43 pm

itchy finger
see Adam 3:40

Steve

February 19th, 2013
3:44 pm

LMAO!!

Christian Conservative – where is Jesus in the Constitution? I’m all ears, man.

Erwin's cat

February 19th, 2013
3:45 pm

Adam – What they have a problem with is you forcing everyone ELSE to act and speak in a way that enforces religious beliefs

same could be said about those easily offended atheists that demand that a cross be covered up in the middle of the dessert etc etc…the ones that force their lack of faith on everyone else…that pendulum certainly swings both ways

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:45 pm

barking frog:

That’s his opinion without relevant facts….

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:45 pm

E. Cat — “My point is/was that the security before 9/11 was jr league compared to today.”

True, but it’s also true that private industry did a s*itty job of it, too. Otherwise, 9/11 would have been balked or detected.

“I can’t remember when they started to ask for ID’s (unless international because they always asked for your passport at check in)…but I do remember when they didn’t…”

TBH, if you were a Delta Platinum back then (I was, and this was long before Delta had a Diamond level), you didn’t even need an ID to board the plane. Just wave the back of your DL Platinum Medallion card under the boarding gate scanner, and it would spit your boarding pass out and check you in without you even having to SPEAK to a DL employee.

That went RIGHT out the window on 9/12.

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:46 pm

Christian Conservative: When someone refutes it, well – you lost all resemblance of a sane informed person…

Uh, no. We are not and never have been a “Christian Nation.” Even the founding fathers said so in the Treaty of Tripoli.

And by the way, do you think government should be a vehicle from which we help poor people or not? Because if you don’t, you better start admitting that you don’t even WANT us to be a “Christian Nation.”

alex

February 19th, 2013
3:46 pm

Granny, no need to be defensive..your explanation is superfilous…e.G any significance to world class service of say, marketing speedos to the antartica scientist, pretty damn ridiculous, really, unless of course they have monthy “south pole plunge”….Come on granny, service is too banal.

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:46 pm

Erwin’s Cat: same could be said about those easily offended atheists that demand that a cross be covered up in the middle of the dessert etc etc…the ones that force their lack of faith on everyone else…that pendulum certainly swings both ways

Sure. If it’s private land the government has no business telling people that they can’t have religious imagery on it.

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:47 pm

Steve

Christian Conservative – where is Jesus in the Constitution? I’m all ears, man.

Look at the bottom where they referred to the year of our Lord…

http://constitutionus.com/

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:48 pm

Itchy Finger: Please give me some examples of Christians trying to force their beliefs on the people…

I already gave you examples of what is being attempted in law that enforces ACTION based on religious belief.

josef

February 19th, 2013
3:48 pm

I see DDR and FROG are here, so at least there’ll be some smiles….

And you blithering dingbats and the Judeo-Christian founding of our nation. Of course it has those foundations. It’s a part of Western Civilization. Jeeze. Is it based in/on doctrinaire, narrow and theological principals? L-rd, G-d, no.

A lot of folks would flunk my Granddaddy’s history course the first week in! :-)

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:48 pm

I. Finger — “Please give me some examples of Christians trying to force their beliefs on the people…”

Uh, dude, you’re kind of under *orders* to do it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_commission

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:50 pm

Adam — “Sure. If it’s private land the government has no business telling people that they can’t have religious imagery on it.”

And I’ve said as much here several times.

Erwin's cat

February 19th, 2013
3:51 pm

JHM – True, but it’s also true that private industry did a s*itty job of it, too.

well, there is that!

Jay

February 19th, 2013
3:51 pm

blog-keeping sheets upstairs

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:51 pm

Steve

February 19th, 2013
3:51 pm

CC, really? Try again sparky.

Peadawg

February 19th, 2013
3:52 pm

“Please give me some examples of Christians trying to force their beliefs on the people…”

Discriminating against homosexuals. Trying to control a woman’s uterus. 2 biggies right there.

Christian Conservative

February 19th, 2013
3:52 pm

Steve

CC, really? Try again sparky.

Ignore.. That’s just what you people do….

Steve

February 19th, 2013
3:52 pm

Wow – our founding fathers were Deists, Jesus is not mentioned in our Constitution, a plethora of documentation and writing from the founding fathers extollling the separation of church and state…no state religion. And somehow, some way, Christians proclaim we are a “Christian” nation.
ah,yeah – right.

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:53 pm

Christian Conservative: That’s your interpretation Adam. Its simply not mine…..

I have two quotes for you that work well in response:

1) “You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.”
2) “Yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but your opinion is wrong.”

Joe Hussein Mama

February 19th, 2013
3:53 pm

C. Conservative — “Look at the bottom where they referred to the year of our Lord…”

What makes you think they meant jebus? :D

Conservative Christian

February 19th, 2013
3:54 pm

Oh gosh, wrong again. I just read some of Jefferson’s writings to the Danbury Baptists, and yeah – he did say that separation of church and state thing. So, my bad. I was wrong. Jesus teaches humility and that pride is a sin, so I’m going to follow those teachings now and stop being a hypocrite and admit when wrong. My bad, guys.

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:56 pm

The strongest historical influence of our Constitution was a combination of the Roman Republic and the English legal system which relied heavily on precedent and common law. It is still unique in many ways, but it is not “founded” on the Christian religion, and the Treaty of Tripoli wasn’t the founding fathers LYING, as is implied by any rebuttal to the Treaty of Tripoli.

Itchy Finger

February 19th, 2013
3:56 pm

Peadawg

“Please give me some examples of Christians trying to force their beliefs on the people…”

Discriminating against homosexuals. Trying to control a woman’s uterus. 2 biggies right there.

Where? You mean by redefining the meaning of marriage so homo’s could be happy. Now who is exactly forcing their beliefs upon people? You mean by protecting the sanctity of life instead of destroying it for inconvenience. Ok man you got me there….

Adam

February 19th, 2013
3:58 pm

JHM: What makes you think they meant jebus? :D

Let’s be fair, “year of our Lord” is definitely a reference to Jesus. Of course, by that time it was just standard numerical measurement and still is today. Interesting still is the fact that we no longer say “year of our Lord.” That phrase after about 1750 or so was merely a way of stating the year formally, which is why we eventually dispensed with it.