Obama has the authority to ensure sequester cuts don’t bite
Facts 1, Democratic Scare Stories of All the Carnage to Result From Cutting $85 Billion Out of a $4 Trillion in Spending 0. From the Wall Street Journal:
[I]f any of these cataclysms [mentioned by President Obama and congressional Democrats] do come to pass, then they will be mostly Mr. Obama’s own creation. The truth is that the sequester already gives the White House the legal flexibility to avoid doom, if a 5% cut to programs that have increased more than 17% on average over the Obama Presidency counts as doom.
According to Mr. Obama and his budget office, the sequester cuts are indiscriminate and spell out specific percentages that will be subtracted from federal “projects, programs and activities,” or PPAs. Except for the exemptions in the 2011 budget deal, the White House says it must now cut across the board regardless of how important a given PPA is. Food inspectors, say, will be treated the same as subsidies for millionaire farmers.
Not so fast. Programs, projects and activities are a technical category of the federal budget, but the sequester actually occurs at the roughly 1,200 broader units known as budget accounts. Some accounts are small, but others contain hundreds of PPAs and the larger accounts run to billions of dollars. For the Pentagon in particular, the distinction between PPAs and accounts is huge. This means in most cases the President has the room to protect his “investments” while managing the fiscal transition over time.
The explanation for this unrealized distinction, the Journal continues, is that the bill hastily passed in 2011 took its language from the 1985 Gramm-Rudman Deficit Control Act. When the federal government is operating under continuing budget resolutions rather than a normal budget, as it has been for a few years now, the 1985 bill (and thus the 2011 bill) provides that cuts can be made at the broader level. Finally, Senate Democrats’ dereliction of duty, in refusing to pass a budget, comes with a benefit.
With the claim that he has no discretion in making budget cuts now disproved, Obama’s case rests on the highly dubious proposition that any cuts of $85 billion out of nearly $4 trillion in spending would be disastrous. No reasonable person can possibly believe the federal government spends every last billion efficiently; it’s why majorities of the public continue to tell pollsters they think spending cuts should be the priority in reducing the deficit, even if they disagree about which particular spending programs should be affected.
Of course, it’s also a dubious proposition that sequestration would lead to unbearable outcomes even absent this flexibility. If the president truly believes that the last $85 billion of federal spending is the difference between order and chaos, then he can’t possibly be believed when he says he’s in favor of cutting any spending at all.
That’s all the more true if the Obama administration really has the flexibility to make cuts in the most prudent fashion possible — and the entire Journal editorial is worth reading to get a full grasp of why that’s true. Any slowing of services from airport security to weather forecasting, or the loss of jobs for teachers and police officers, will be because the cuts weren’t managed properly.
Or, as the Journal puts it: “The real revelation is that if the world does end, it will be Mr. Obama’s choice.”
– By Kyle Wingfield
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222 comments Add your comment
Bullseye
February 27th, 2013
9:31 am
Wingfield hates America.
interested observer
February 27th, 2013
9:33 am
I’m generally an Obama supporter, but Wingfield is right. If we can’t cut $85 billion without chaos, we’re in worse trouble than I imagined.
Deep Cover
February 27th, 2013
9:40 am
I am a HUGE Obama supporter. But I blame the GOP for playing these games (with someone that is obviously MUCH SMARTER than them). When the GOP passed the sequester bill they should have included in the DETAILS the EXACT ACCOUNTS they wanted cut. That way Obama would not be able to run roughshod over them and free undocumented immigrants, furlough TSA frontline workers, cut children from HeadStart, end meal-for-wheels for seniors, and furlough air traffic controllers.
The GOP brought a knife to a gunfight. If they were going to INSIST on these cuts, they should have detailed IN THE LEGISLATION exactly where the cuts are going to come from. The GOP DESERVES the blame for the sequester due to their shear stupidity.
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
9:40 am
The Senate is off their “ass”, a balanced approach.
Cherokee
February 27th, 2013
9:40 am
Kyle the Republican mantra for years has been that draconian cuts to the federal government are the solution to all our economic woes.
It’s about to happen; you should be celebrating, not criticizing the President for how he chooses to make those cuts. Your wish is coming true, and assuming that Republican economic theory is correct, Republicans will be seen as the saviors of our country.
Right?
django
February 27th, 2013
9:41 am
I sure hope the Republicans stand firm. This is a drop in the bucket for our almost $4 trillion budget.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
9:41 am
Not only should the 85 billion be cut because of waste fraud and abuse, it should be cut because we can’t continue to add over a trillion dollars each year to the credit card. Our Congress and President need to re-read the Constitution again to ensure they understand what is a responsibility of the federal government and what is a responsibility of state and local government. If the federal government would restrict spending to areas the Constitution mandates and we reform medicare and social security to the 21st century reality we could end the deficit spending and begin retiring our debt.
Whirled Peas
February 27th, 2013
9:42 am
Obama should be impeached for releasing illegal alien criminals to scare people.
It is Obama’s sequester. He proposed it. Let him deal with it.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
9:42 am
Deep Cover-
When the GOP passed? What about the Senate and the President?
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
9:46 am
More “R’s” voted for it than “D’s”, fact.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
9:49 am
More democrat presidents signed the bill, fact.
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
10:00 am
So everyone is happy, right. RT, all laws work like that, that a dumb point.
Aynie Sue
February 27th, 2013
10:02 am
The Congress is responsible for federal budgeting, and all spending and revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives. So, why should President Obama decide the actual spending cuts, or be criticized for his decisions?
The Republican-dominated House of Representatives has reneged on its Constitutional duties. It is the sole creator of all the manufactured financial crises of the federal government.
You Republicans are criticizing the President for following the law (or lack of it) by doing what you so foolishly advocate: cutting federal expenses before economic recovery.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:03 am
Of course it is a dumb point Jefferson, that why I mocked your point.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:05 am
Sue-
How has the House “reneged” on its constitutional duties? It has passed a budget every year, the Senate has refused to consider it, much less amend it. Your answer ought to be interesting.
Ben the Independent
February 27th, 2013
10:06 am
The Obama machine has brought out all the guns to prevent his sequester solution to a deadlock he caused with his ‘my way or the highway’. A new argument to prevent his sequester is reported to be his ‘release of illegal aliens’ now when a 30 day notice is required before a government employee can be furloughed. His skillful handling of the GOP may come back to bite him as he will be selecting the cuts to be made and uninformed voters can see the results of Mr Obama’s actions.
Matt321
February 27th, 2013
10:08 am
This blog would be worth something more than nothing if it provided even one concrete example of what the President could do with this flexibility. From the Wall Street Journal editorial (hilarious that you use them as an authority, btw – has any editorial board been more consistently wrong over the years? But I digress):
“Not so fast. Programs, projects and activities are a technical category of the federal budget, but the sequester actually occurs at the roughly 1,200 broader units known as budget accounts. Some accounts are small, but others contain hundreds of PPAs and the larger accounts run to billions of dollars. ”
So there are 1200 budget accounts, each of which face an across the board cut. Please explain how, using these 1200 accounts, the President can avoid furloughing Pentagon contracts, for example, or avoid furloughing air traffic controllers. You’re the one making the argument that the President can just make it all better, so the burden’s on you to actually prove that. You’re not there yet.
Jerry Eads
February 27th, 2013
10:08 am
Thanks Kyle. (I know it worries you when I appreciate your efforts
)
Very interesting.
Centrist
February 27th, 2013
10:10 am
The point is that Obama and other Democrats want the sequester cuts to bite, and bite hard enough that the public demands fewer or no real cuts be made. They intend to cut meat first to save the fat they use to buy votes.
Their plan may at least partially work as Republicans cave under constituent pressure of those feeling the pain, and the general media hyperbole (ignoring that fat could be cut instead) continues.
Aynie Sue
February 27th, 2013
10:13 am
The Wall Street Journal … that’s a Rupert Murdoch propaganda rag, isn’t it? Murdoch, the Australian magnate of FoxNews and tabloid infamy, has trashed two of the world’s great newspapers: the Wall Street Journal and the Times of London.
Where is all that “waste and fraud” that Obama should cut? So far, Republicans have cited only Big Bird!
django
February 27th, 2013
10:16 am
It will be interesting the dog and pony show obama and Congress is about to have. I hope Boehner don’t give in. He did last time.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:17 am
Sue-
If you have to ask where is the waste fraud and abuse in a 3.6 trillion dollare budget, then this discussion isn’t for you. I also noticed you failed to answer my question of how the House “reneged” on its duties. Typical.
Good point Centrist.
Deep Cover
February 27th, 2013
10:20 am
Retired Soldier @ 9:42
“When the GOP passed? What about the Senate and the President?”
…uhhh…what about it???
It’s the GOP that wanted to play this game. I don’t recall the deficit EVER being a problem from 2001-2009. As a matter of fact a remember the VP of the United States in 2003 saying that “Deficits DO NOT MATTER.” So now, all of a sudden, in 2009, deficits suddenly “matter.”
The GOP decided to play this game and I am very AMUSED to see that the POTUS is working them over.
It is clearly evident that the GOP just isn’t SMART enough to beat the POTUS. They are LOSING on every issue…BAD. Look at VAWA. The the House just agreed to let the Senate bill stand for an up-and-down vote after the House version FAILS b/c they can’t get enough votes to pass the House watered down version. Every single issue from VAWA, to the sequester, to the fiscal cliff, to health care, to the ELECTION, the GOP seems to get worked over by Obama…and the GOP doesn’t just LOSE, they seem to get embarrassed.
It is obvious that the GOP just isn’t smart enough to deal with this guy. Once again, the GOP is bringing a knife to a gunfight and is getting slaughtered.
1961_Xer
February 27th, 2013
10:21 am
I’m generally an Obama supporter, but Wingfield is right. If we can’t cut $85 billion without chaos, we’re in worse trouble than I imagined.
Bingo. Further, this should be a wakeup call to everyone in the U.S.
Lets suppose that Obama is correct.. that these cuts will cause chaos. That is all the more reason to draw the line against ANY new spending whatsoever (except for, perhaps, true emergencies). It is an admission on behalf of the Obama and the Democrats that we HAVE EXCEEDED our limit.
An aside: in recent days, Obama has been campaigning that we could cut other wasteful programs rather than the sequester cuts. Why has no one asked the obvious question: what wasteful programs? Why haven’t the ALREADY been cut if even Obama thinks they are wasteful?
NoBodyYouKnow
February 27th, 2013
10:22 am
NEVER, in my 70 yrs. have I seen a president who absoluty would not sit down and solve a serious problem in the country as this one. Which proves the arrrogance, stubborness, and my way or no way attitude of O’bama. I garantee my friends history will show this was his failure and his fault. It is surely a lack of leadership.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
10:26 am
Kyle, honestly, it’s disingenuous to speak of $85B from a $4T budget, when you’re perfectly aware that:
-Most of the $4T budget is protected, the cuts come from the remaining budget.
-Because of agreed delays, the cuts are over a 7 month period, rather than a full 12 month fiscal year.
Conservative perspective is one thing.
Deliberate slanting of facts is beneath the McGill-Patterson legacy an AJC columnist should honor.
1961_Xer
February 27th, 2013
10:28 am
As a matter of fact a remember the VP of the United States in 2003 saying that “Deficits DO NOT MATTER.” So now, all of a sudden, in 2009, deficits suddenly “matter.”
If you exceeded your monthy budget by $10, that wouldn’t matter. If you exceeded your monthy budget by 10,000 , that would matter.
In 2003, the budget deficit was $377 billion and the national debt was $6.7 trillion
in 20012, the budget deficit was $1.1 TRILLION and the national debt was $16 trillion.,
What didn’t matter (much) in 2003 matters a helluva lot in 2013.
Deep Cover
February 27th, 2013
10:29 am
Retired Soldier @ 9:42
The POTUS is getting what he wants. He has the “best” of both worlds.
He is able to claim that he has seriously addressed deficit reduction (for the fiscal conservative/socially moderate crowd) while beginning to chip away at the GOP notion that government does not matter and needs to get smaller.
That is the reason why he is furloughing air traffic controllers, TSA staff, delaying the opening of Federal parks, releasing undocumented immigrants, slowing the issuance of gun permits, cutting enrollment for Head Start, and ending the senior Meals-for-Wheels program. He is trying to prove a point that government “does” matter.
I agree with Kyle Wingfield’s take. The reduction can me made with absolutely NO EFFECT on essential services. However, the GOP should have been smart enough to specify which accounts should be reduced. Instead they have set themselves up to get worked over by Obama by playing this stupid deficit game…and it serves them right.
indigo
February 27th, 2013
10:33 am
Kyle, I’m not quite clear on this.
Are you saying that Obama, by himself, has to power to decide what is cut and what is not?
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:33 am
Deep Cover-
There is no question republicans did not address the debt and deficit as they should have in 2001-2009. That is in part why they lost the Senate and House in 2006 and they should have lost it. They became democrats.
But you can’t compare the deficits and added debt between Obama and Bush, if Bush was “unpatriotic” for his deficits, what is Obama? We are close to default and action must be taken. Obama has the opportunity to be a hero, think what history would say about him if he solved the financial crisis we are in? Imstead, he palys politics and spends faster than a drunken sailor.
Did you listen to the State of the Union speech? I think the number was 29 new programs Obama proposed. Do you really think he wants to “draw the line” on spending? Not a chance.
Why has no one asked? Because the press is in bed with him.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
10:37 am
“We are close to default…”
The US is nowhere close to default. Other countries are lining up to lend money to the US, at historically low rates of interest.
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
10:41 am
Kyle, You should be as mad as a hatter this morning. The things going on in Washington today are far beyond legal. The Wall Street Journal is beginning to catch on but the AJC is still tip toeing around.
The President is watzling around with politics like it is his right to change laws, spend or cut money and do what he likes. And if we don’t like it, then he punishes the states ( which did not vote for him) as a result. He’s found every loophole to justify his “right to do anything he likes”.It is not the upcominig sequester. It is the president.
It is a procedure quite familiar to those with any familiarity of tyrants who want more power. Grab for more and more power while blaming others for the loss of freedom..
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
10:43 am
Obama should be impeached for releasing illegal alien criminals to scare people.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
obozo knows everything that Kyle reported is true but yet still chooses to lie in our face and commit felonies upon us. The American people are rewuired by the Constitution to be protected from law breakers, it’s one of the bare minimum requirements of the government, but obozo unleashes criminals upon us for bald faced political gain.
This is fascism, threaten us, threaten businesses, threaten employment using the power of government to get your way.
Our founding fathers would vomit on obama.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:44 am
Just saying-
Keep believing that. Why are our interest rates low? Because the Fed controls the strings. I guess you beleive, like was pointed out above, with VP in 2003 that “deficits don’t matter”. Strange bedfellows.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
10:46 am
The job of our government and all these little blog fascists running their mouths in support of this illegal government is to threaten us, not to protect us.
Attack Dog
February 27th, 2013
10:49 am
Here is a little known secret for Dixiecans. The House has not only the ability, but thr constitutional mandate to ensure that the sequester doesn’t happen.
Centrist
February 27th, 2013
10:51 am
There is now a meeting of government leadership Friday after sequestration starts. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will not discuss more taxes or reducing the sequestration amount:
“We can either secure those reductions more intelligently, or we can do it the president’s way with across-the board cuts. But one thing Americans simply will not accept is another tax increase to replace spending reductions we already agreed to.”
Personally, while I agree with this stance – but maybe there will eventually be some wiggle room. So far Democrats refuse to address the elephant in the room of Social Security and Medicare spending, but possibly they would in exchange for closing tax loopholes and deductions – or better yet expanding the tax base to cover the underground economy. Not expecting that for at least weeks or months, though, if ever.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
10:53 am
More signs of the Cons getting sanity back:
After proposing a non-starter version of the Violence Against Women Act, House Republicans are backing down and signaling that they will clear the way for a vote on the bipartisan Senate version of the bill, which includes expanded protections for LGBT women, Native Americans, and undocumented immigrants.
Aquagirl
February 27th, 2013
10:54 am
I see y’all learned from the last election—-don’t wait until you get torpedoed to start the Republican maths. Get those excuses in early!
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
10:54 am
Attack Dog-
Please expand, I would be interested.
Matt321
February 27th, 2013
10:55 am
@Retired Soldier
Please explain how the Fed forces institutional investors and foreign countries to loan money to the United States at extremely low rates of interest. The fact is that rational investors, who are actually putting their money with their mouth is, believe that the United States is no where close to default. And of course, it isn’t. We are a sovereign country. If we absolutely needed more money, a) taxes are at an all time low (yes, you read that right – we are now at historically low tax levels, and compared to the rest of the world, we have very low tax levels as well), and b) we can always print money. The only way the United States could fail to honor its obligations would be if a band of lunatics somehow got elected to Congress, and threatened to arbitrarily stop paying our debts to make a political point. Oh, wait…
GDRLA
February 27th, 2013
10:55 am
“…clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right & I’m stuck in the middle…” Problem lies w/both sides – is going to take a combination of less spending (cuts, sequester, etc) & more $$ (revenue = TAX INCREASES). Not sure which side is the clown &/or which side is the idiot but the labels fit & appear to be interchangeable…Modify the sequester proposal so that SPECIFIC cuts can be made & then get down to the nitty gritty of serious governing. And yes, I am ENTITLED – started working @ 14 & have just become eligible for early SS – so I paid my dues & BOUGHT my ENTITLEMENT – don’t even think about changing that part of the equation.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
10:56 am
“Keep believing that. Why are our interest rates low? ”
Thought you were all about basic economics.
Interest rates reflect the degree of risk in any given investment. Countries invest in US instruments because they rate the risk of default as very low.
Despite how much they’d prefer to support your ideologically defined positions…
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
February 27th, 2013
10:56 am
GOP should pass bill allowing the cabinet secretaries to take the cuts from whatever bucket they choose and then hold hearings for those that follow Obama’s lead and try and inflict the most pain. Some will choose to cut air traffic controllers rather than cut back the geese mitigation program, they should be held accountable for the harm they inflict in the name of getting their way.
Gov Spending is like oxycontin addiction, the more the addict takes, the less effect it has, so the dose has to continue to be increased. When you cut a small amount from the dosage, the addict goes into withdrawal. The same thing happens, when government is faced with a 2.4% cut in the rate of growth. This is a manufactured crisis ginned up by the Obama regime, who just wants more and more money to spend.
The regime wants to take just a little from “those who can afford it”. Is their ever an end, when they stop taking? The taxes the Senate is considering against evil Big Oil and the millionaire farmers, make the Dems hearts grow warm, but their wallets will grow lighter, as those taxes are ultimately passed on to the consumer.
Now, the sycophants can come forward and say oh no, these corporations will absorb these taxes, because they are making so much money, and they realize this is their “fair share”. Yeah, right! Tax yourselves and grin about how you stuck it to the wealthy corporations and executives!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
10:58 am
Pres O has the upper hand again? LOL
In about 10 or 20 years from now you Cons will realize you’ve been getting schooled by this guy all along.
mwuahahahahahahahahahaha
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
10:59 am
“The President is watzling around with politics like it is his right to change laws, spend or cut money and do what he likes”
OMG!!
You mean like, say, 200+ Signing Statements?
You are so right to be concerned.
Depending on which President is doing it…
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:00 am
the Republican maths
An extension of the Karl Rove Election Night Maths.
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
11:00 am
Kyle: “ …majorities of the public continue to tell pollsters they think spending cuts should be the priority in reducing the deficit, …”
Gallup poll today:
Mostly spending cuts (“priority for spending cuts”): 28%
Is 28% “majority of the public?
Only spending cuts (20%) + Mostly spending cuts (28%) = 48%
Spending cuts AND tax increases (37%) + Mostly with tax increases (9%) + Only with tax increases (2%) = 48%
http://www.gallup.com/poll/147626/federal-budget-deficit.aspx
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:01 am
Remember, even before the election we libs were on here saying all the cuts could be avoided. Three months later and the news is getting through the thick skullz….
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
11:02 am
Nat and Just saying-
I did not say anyone was forcing anyone to buy U.S. debt. I did say the Fed was keeping interest rates unusally low. Why would anyone buy our debt when it exceeds GNP? I haven’t a clue. But you know, people were still giving Bernie Madoff (sp) millions right up to the end. There is no accounting for stupid.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
11:03 am
“This is fascism”
To the barricades, Fables!
So many will follow you…
Deep Cover
February 27th, 2013
11:03 am
Aesop–
“Obama should be impeached for releasing illegal alien criminals to scare people.
Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
This is more stupidity. Exactly WHAT are you suppose to be impeaching the president for???
Just because the GOP gets a hard-on every time the POTUS mentions the immigration does not reach the threshold of a high crime or misdemeanor.
Once again, what HIGH crime or misdemeanor has the POTUS committed.
Here is what is going on. When you do a “raid” an pick up an undocumented immigrant you have to get travel papers/visas in order to ship them back to their country. There are some court rulings/treaties that place hurdles to deporting certain classes of immigrants. For instance, it is damn near IMPOSSIBLE to deport immigrants from El Salvador. Middle Easterners are difficult to deport (the Iran/Iraq appeals process is very lengthy…about 2-3 years). It is difficult to deport anyone from China (once again at least a 2 year process). It is difficult to deport Nigerians (another 2 year exercise). So basically we have to warehouse people for 2-3 years for getting picked up for illegally working as a short order cook in a restaurant or working in a chicken processing plant???
All Obama did was release these nonviolent offenders and put them on “house arrest”. Now, I have zero confidence in the US being able to “find” these people b/c they WILL jump ship and enter into the “shadows” of the United States.
But once again, the GOP wanted $85 billion in spending cuts and didn’t specify what accounts they should come out of. So since the Pentagon wants to keep the F-35 program (a plane that we won’t ever use…I don’t remember us getting into any dogfights in Iraq or Afghanistan), the cuts have to come from somewhere. So Obama is just to piss-off the GOP by placing these undocumented immigrants under “house arrest” so he can furlough the detention officers to “save” the sequester money.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:05 am
the Fed was keeping interest rates unusally low.
Because banks still won’t lend money. This is also a reason why companies are hoarding cash. When it is time to invest, they can’t count on the banks.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:08 am
releasing illegal alien criminals to scare people.
I think you be scared of the wrong people. I mean, these aren’t eh people shooting up our schools and doing mass killings. Or threatening to kill many people if we put in gun control laws.
Mike
February 27th, 2013
11:08 am
smoke and mirrors and a President and Congress that act like a children.
Our country is in a mess folks.
jconservative
February 27th, 2013
11:09 am
I have been trying to get spending cuts since Reagan and a Democratic House and a Republican Senate decided that cutting revenue and increasing spending was the ticket to a balanced budget.
And except for the 4 years of a Republican Congress and a Clinton presidency that is what we have done every year since 1981, reduce revenue and increase spending.
So I welcome the sequester with open, grateful arms. I love it! Just wish it were bigger.
td
February 27th, 2013
11:10 am
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
10:53 am
More signs of the Cons getting sanity back:
After proposing a non-starter version of the Violence Against Women Act, House Republicans are backing down and signaling that they will clear the way for a vote on the bipartisan Senate version of the bill, which includes expanded protections for LGBT women, Native Americans, and undocumented immigrants.
We just decided that women can now serve in combat roles and are equal to men on every front so why do they need special protections with this act?
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
February 27th, 2013
11:10 am
Dems are right that we can borrow money at almost zero interest. So what do we do, borrow as much as we can. This is a suckers bet. At some point we will be forced to refinance that debt and the interest rate may be 6-7%, what then? We are insolvent.
I saw this on a smaller scale in the 60’s and 70’s in S GA when the Feds got totally crazy with making money available for farmers. Some could see the downside, but others took the money while they could and bought new cars, tractors, and condo’s on the beach. ALL of the takers are now working for someone else now, having lost everything their family had accumulated for generations. Debt has a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.
Mike
February 27th, 2013
11:11 am
Finn are these the “people” you mean who shoot thousands every year and are completely ignored?
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/student-wounded-at-grady-high/nWbhG/
td
February 27th, 2013
11:12 am
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:05 am
the Fed was keeping interest rates unusally low.
Because banks still won’t lend money. This is also a reason why companies are hoarding cash. When it is time to invest, they can’t count on the banks.
Are you going to lend your money to people or companies that can not pay it back and when the bill is due will run to court and ask for protections against you from collecting your money?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
11:13 am
To the barricades, Fables!
So many will follow you…
You might want to pop your head out of that bubble, or where ever it is you have it stuck, and take a look around here on planet Earth.
You’ll find it quite hilarious to see that under obozo the belligerent, the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer.
And believe me, I fully understand where you are coming from, even Mussolini had his supporters.
Mike
February 27th, 2013
11:14 am
or perhaps these fine citizens popping off a few rounds at each other…..
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/shots-fired-between-family-members-after-funeral/nWZ8w/
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:14 am
We have the administration releasing illegals and cancelling the deployment of an aircraft carrier to further scare the public even Bob Woodward has had enough of this blithering idiot in the oval office.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bob-woodward-tears-into-obama-with-veiled-nixonian-criticism-madness-that-i-havent-seen-in-a-long-time/
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:16 am
Our country is in a mess folks.
I’m not happy. Boo hooo hooo hoooo
Want some cheese with that whine?
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
11:17 am
Dusty @ 10:41 am
My, my, Dusty, you are fired up today. Did you have a bad dream about “tyrant Obama?”
Just a couple of days ago, Sen. McCain asked for the President “to lead,” a demand and complaint we have heard many times from the Republicans. They should get their act together and decide which nonsense they prefer – that Obama “is not a leader,” or that he “is a tyrant.”
TBone
February 27th, 2013
11:18 am
These cuts won’t amount to a pinch of poodle poop in the snow bank and our campaigner in chief knows damn well but he has to feed the underinformed their gruel so they can get on blogs like this and espouse the party line. You guys ain’t quite as smart as you think you are, FYI.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:18 am
cancelling the deployment of an aircraft carrier
oh…my…god
How many aircraft carriers do we currently have? Now, how many aircraft carriers do the next 30 countries COMBINED have? People, grow a pair….ALREADY
Mike
February 27th, 2013
11:21 am
That’s where you are wrong Finn, my dear. I live up in the mountains and I am very happy. I spent the first 25 years of my life down there in that jungle you call Atlanta, and the last 25 as far away from it as I could get.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
11:22 am
“Why would anyone buy our debt when it exceeds GNP? I haven’t a clue. But you know, people were still giving Bernie Madoff (sp) millions right up to the end.”
Retired Soldier, too prideful to re-examine the logic corner he’s chosen, now seeks cover by comparing US debt instruments to investments with a criminal Ponzi fraud artist.
Soldier, even Generals are obligated to acknowledge when their battlefield position is untenable.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:23 am
We just decided that women can now serve in combat roles and are equal to men on every front so why do they need special protections with this act?
umm, try reading sometime? Are you even aware of the rape problem in the military or that if a non-indian goes onto an indian reservation and rapes an indian woman, they can’t prosecute them in a normal sense?
We just decided that women can now serve in combat roles and are equal to men on every front
yeah, and I suppose you think we’ve successfully made it so that blacks are equal to whites on every front?
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:29 am
How many aircraft carriers do we currently have? Now, how many aircraft carriers do the next 30 countries COMBINED have? People, grow a pair….ALREADY –
What are you stupid don’t follow the news reports. Obama cancelled that deployment and publicly announced he had to because of the pending sequestration. Geez grow up.
Aquagirl
February 27th, 2013
11:29 am
I live up in the mountains and I am very happy.
Ah, complaining about the city via his Obamanet connection. They grow lots of irony up there.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
February 27th, 2013
11:30 am
http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2012/07/17/why-does-the-united-states-only-have-eleven-aircraft-carriers/
Finn, we currently have 11. In 2003, we had 6 in the middle east region, so Obama is lying again, when he says we can’t have 2 over there. If half are in for repairs, that means we have 6 available, so how many hot spots are out there, that would prevent us from putting two in the ME?
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
11:33 am
“And believe me, I fully understand where you are coming from, even Mussolini had his supporters.
And Romney.
And Santorum.
And Cain.
And Paul.
And Bachman.
And Trump.
And Palin.
And Gingrich.
But thankfully, never enough supporters. In America…
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
11:33 am
Just Saying-
Wasn’t a general, but would have liked to have been one. That aside, I am just agreeing with our President that the deficit and debt levels are unpatriotic. Don’t you agree with the President?
BTW, do you know who is the largest puechaser of our debt? Hint, it isn’t China.
td
February 27th, 2013
11:34 am
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
11:23 am
We just decided that women can now serve in combat roles and are equal to men on every front so why do they need special protections with this act?
umm, try reading sometime? Are you even aware of the rape problem in the military or that if a non-indian goes onto an indian reservation and rapes an indian woman, they can’t prosecute them in a normal sense?
We just decided that women can now serve in combat roles and are equal to men on every front
yeah, and I suppose you think we’ve successfully made it so that blacks are equal to whites on every front?
Everyone in this nation was equal before the law before progressives decided that certain groups should have special rights. It is time for all those special rights to be done away with (VAWA, Voting rights act, Civil rights act…) and let us get back to the concept that everyone is equal before the law.
td
February 27th, 2013
11:38 am
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:29 am
How many aircraft carriers do we currently have? Now, how many aircraft carriers do the next 30 countries COMBINED have? People, grow a pair….ALREADY –
We need as many as it takes to make sure no nation or no terrorist even considers attacking this nation because of the total hell we would bring down on their heads immediately. 9-11, Iraq, N. Korea and Iran are proving right now that we do not have enough yet.
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
11:43 am
Dear MarkV
No I did not have a bad dream about Presdient Obama being a “tyrant”. I simply read the news. The members of his cabinet are now releasing federal prisoners from jail and blaming cost cuts which are not even in force yet. So this great power to change the law as is convenient is justifiable? I don’t think so.
Sure, there will be “loopholes” cited which give “power” to do what anyone likes and on and on. So “tyrant” does come to mind although you named it. Perhaps that drift has entered your mind. It should have.
PS: I am keeping Ken Follet in mind at book sales. I haven’t found any detective stories I like. And Marguerite de Valois, last of a 200 year rule! If she wrote something still remembered after 500 years, she must have been good! You are going way back. What next? “All Gaul is divided into three parts…etc.!”? Not familiar with Dana Stabenow but will keep her in mind too. Any story with a “Mutt” should be good.
Aquagirl
February 27th, 2013
11:47 am
We need as many as it takes to make sure no nation or no terrorist even considers attacking this nation because of the total hell we would bring down on their heads immediately
People who fly planes into buildings are probably not scared of an airplane with a bomb, no matter how fancy we make them.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
11:50 am
“Don’t you agree with the President?”
Not always. Ethanol subsidies are a hustle. Increasing ethanol content in gasoline from 10% to 15% is the wrong direction. And many other disagreements.
But to your point, I agree with our two term President, and the majority of Americans, that the deficits and our debt need to be addressed by a combination of cuts to entitlement programs, tax reform (primarily deductions to you,loopholes to another), and tax rate increases. None of which serve my personal self interest.
A balanced approach. Just cuts will never get us there.
Enjoyed it, but gotta go. Packing for a few weeks of Spring Training.
But I’ll look in between innings…
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
February 27th, 2013
11:50 am
From the Boston Herald’s Howie Carr:
“Here’s how absurd these scare tactics are. Over the weekend the semi-official Associated Press breathlessly reported in a story on the National Park Service: “3,500 volunteers who provide 40,000 hours on resource management duties would be eliminated.”
They’re eliminating … volunteers? How does this save money?”
Oh, the humanity!
1961_Xer
February 27th, 2013
11:51 am
How many aircraft carriers do we currently have? Now, how many aircraft carriers do the next 30 countries COMBINED have? People, grow a pair….ALREADY
EXACTLY, Finn, why the sequester should be allowed to happen. To hear the DOD whine, you would think that we were down to a single lifeboat and a case of MREs. I am a fiscal conservative. The DOD budget could be cut in HALF, and we would still be the most militarily powerful country in the world. Now, we would not want that kind of a cut all at once… it would devastate the economy. But these and all of the rest of the cuts are needed, overdue, and will ultimately have little impact.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
11:52 am
AQ-
You are correct, but hopefully the nationstate that harbours them will be scared of the reponse we would give.
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:53 am
td@11:38, I was replying to Finn McTool’s 11:18
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
February 27th, 2013
11:55 am
I doubt this will happen, but at some point MarkV will need to learn the difference between what constitutes a leader vs. a tyrant.
Most people who have served in the military have observed the difference in real time.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
11:55 am
JUst Saying-
OK, now you have done it. Using Spring Training as an excuse. I am sooooo, envious! Increase tax rates? OK, as long as they are increased on everyone and everyone pays income tax for what the federal government spends.
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:57 am
People who fly planes into buildings are probably not scared of an airplane with a bomb, no matter how fancy we make them.
No but their state enablers are.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
12:01 pm
The new splinter group party of the GOP can be called the CGSBTSMFK Party:
“Continuously Getting Schooled by the Socialist Muslim from Kenya”
1961_Xer
February 27th, 2013
12:02 pm
We need as many as it takes to make sure no nation or no terrorist even considers attacking this nation because of the total hell we would bring down on their heads immediately. 9-11, Iraq, N. Korea and Iran are proving right now that we do not have enough yet
The list of countries trying to gain/maintain military control of the world stage is long. Nearly all of them ended in huge debt and/or bankruptcy. The list includes: The Roman Empire, Portugal, Spain, Great Britain, France , the Monguls, the Moors, the Ottoman Empire, Germany, the Soviet Union, China (various dynasties).
If we continue on the path of trillion dollar deficits, why do you think that this will end differently for the U.S?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
12:04 pm
9-11, Iraq, N. Korea and Iran are proving right now that we do not have enough yet.
10 drones can probably do enough damage. Why do you need 50 aircraft with 50 Americans (at risk of dying, mind you) flying off an aircraft carrier?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
12:06 pm
Britain once ruled the seas and it was said “the sun never sets on the British empire.”
And it hasn’t been that long since that was true. Military might is no longer the main tool to stay on top.
keith
February 27th, 2013
12:06 pm
obama has decided to release illegal criminals in this country. no leadership from the WH. Put peoples lives in danger to make political hay.
Aquagirl
February 27th, 2013
12:07 pm
You are correct, but hopefully the nationstate that harbours them will be scared of the reponse we would give.
A pointless decade+ war that will drain our resources? What a terrifying response.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
12:08 pm
Rome lasted 500 years. We are in our 237th year. We can’t rely on military might any more.
Just Saying..
February 27th, 2013
12:13 pm
“OK, now you have done it.”
)
If you’ve ever thought about it, go, even just a long weekend. Everybody is smiling, especially NE and upper Midwest folks. From St. Pete, Blue Jays, Phillies, Tigers, Pirates, Yankees and Oriole stadiums are all within a 45 minute drive. And people sing the words to the national anthem. Add in beaches, Tampa Bay Downs, grouper sandwiches…
“everyone pays”
We’re in agreement. But remember FICA, Medicare, and sales taxes are hard to avoid.
Income? If it takes that to make a compromise, ok. Everybody needs to have skin in the game.
And we’ll take up universal service next time. Later…
td
February 27th, 2013
12:21 pm
Del
February 27th, 2013
11:53 am
td@11:38, I was replying to Finn McTool’s 11:18
My apologies. I meant to delete your screen name from the top prior to posting the crazy statement Finn made.
indigo
February 27th, 2013
12:25 pm
Aesop – 11:13 “under obozo…the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer”
And, the EXACT same thing happened under eight years of George W.
Just can’t bring yourself to admit that can you toolie?
td
February 27th, 2013
12:27 pm
I am sure you leftest are going to call Woodward a extreme right wing Republican now or even better a racist.
“The Washington Post’s Bob Woodward ripped into President Barack Obama on “Morning Joe” today, saying he’s exhibiting a “kind of madness I haven’t seen in a long time” for a decision not to deploy an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf because of budget concerns.
“Can you imagine Ronald Reagan sitting there and saying, ‘Oh, by the way, I can’t do this because of some budget document?’” Woodward said.
“Or George W. Bush saying, ‘You know, I’m not going to invade Iraq because I can’t get the aircraft carriers I need?’” Or even Bill Clinton saying, ‘You know, I’m not going to attack Saddam Hussein’s intelligence headquarters,’ … because of some budget document?”
The Defense Department said in early February that it would not deploy the U.S.S. Harry Truman to the Persian Gulf, citing budget concerns relating to the looming cuts known as the sequester.
“Under the Constitution, the President is commander-in-chief and employs the force. And so we now have the President going out because of this piece of paper and this agreement. ‘I can’t do what I need to do to protect the country,’” Woodward said.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/bob-woodward-obama-sequester-republicans-2013-2#ixzz2M7aiK1pG
Matt321
February 27th, 2013
12:30 pm
@Finn – you are correct in saying that military over-extension and empire building broke the Roman empire, but I was curious as to your timeline of how long Rome lasted. The Roman Republic lasted roughly 500 years, until it was replaced by the Empire, which was headed by whoever could get the Roman Army to back them. The Empire then developed two centers – Rome in the West, and Byzantium in the East. The Western Roman Empire lasted roughly 500 years. The Eastern Empire lasted another thousand or so. In a sense, Rome had a good 2000 year run. However, as a place where men believed in self-government, yeah, 500.
Scooter
February 27th, 2013
12:32 pm
But politically The Obama needs to make the cuts harsh, so he can demonize republicrats and further divide the nation. He is fundamentally transforming the country and we can either acquiesce or be portrayed as the scourge of the earth. There is nothing bipartisan about this President, it’s Chicago politics all the way for him.
Don't Tread
February 27th, 2013
12:35 pm
I’m sure the rapists and murderers will be released from prison next due to “budget issues”.
Hopefully the next crime these people (and their illegal buddies) commit will be against a liberal. Poetic justice indeed.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
12:36 pm
first on the 3rd?
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
12:43 pm
AQ-
Don’t lay that at my doorstep. I have been advocating for a long time to get the heck out of Afghanistan. This president has no intention of winning and we are supporting a corrupt government. It’s your guy that is keeping us there.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
12:45 pm
People who fly planes into buildings are probably not scared of an airplane with a bomb, no matter how fancy we make them. – See more at: http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2013/02/27/obama-has-the-authority-to-ensure-sequester-cuts-dont-bite/?cp=2#comment-188711
Is there any doubt that these mealy mouthed liberals would strap on the suicide vest if the dummycrat party told them to? The have no compunctions brutalizing our economy and future generations for them, so would blowing themselves up really be a stretch?
django
February 27th, 2013
12:45 pm
The sky is falling mentality of the obama and the dems should be an insult to every American family with a budget. Cutting 2% from a almost $4 trillion budget is a drop in the bucket and will have absolutely no impact on working people.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
12:45 pm
Just Saying-
Have a great trip.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
12:47 pm
Aesop – 11:13 “under obozo…the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer”
And, the EXACT same thing happened under eight years of George W.
Just can’t bring yourself to admit that can you toolie?
– See more at: http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2013/02/27/obama-has-the-authority-to-ensure-sequester-cuts-dont-bite/?cp=2#sthash.vzi1QRjZ.dpuf
Um, did Bushie campaign against this?
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
12:50 pm
AQ-
And BTW it was also your guy that took almost 4 years to get out of Iraq and has kept Gitmo open and expanded drone strikes. I do believe the ball is in your court.
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
12:56 pm
Dear Dusty,
I have this tiny little question I would like to ask you. What freedom have you, personally, lost because of anything president Obama has done in those five years of his presidency?
As for the whether he uses “great power to change the law as is convenient ,” I am sure you have a great faith in our Constitution, and that you are familiar with it. If the President does anything that is inconsistent with the Constitution, why don’t those who are in opposition use the proper constitutional way, which is to let the Supreme Court to decide? We have seen that with ObamaCare, where the court found some of the provision unconstitutional, and that is being corrected. It is hardly the task for those posting comments on this blog to make that determination.
———————–
PS: As I mentioned before, I have a liking for historical fiction, and I have had my reading spells of American history, English history, French history and others. Ken Follett’s Century trilogy I have read on Kindle and enjoyed very much. The latest about Marguerite de Valois has been something of an accident after I came across her name somewhere else and realized I did not really know much about her. It is not something I would necessarily recommend. Dana Stabenow I can heartily recommend at least to try. The protagonist, Kate Shugak is a young Aleut, 5 ft tall but quite a force of nature, Mutt is a dog you cannot fail to fall in love with, and much of each book are interesting things about the life of native Alaskans.
Aynie Sue
February 27th, 2013
1:04 pm
Retired Soldier .. respectfully, I can’t keep up with you today; you’re all over the place!
About that constitutional responsibility of Congress to budget and control federal expenditures. The Constitution doesn’t sanction “take it or leave it” dictates on the part of one branch of the Congress; it suggests that our elected representatives get the job done, whatever it takes. This has worked for a hundred years or so, before Boehner and the Tea Party set about to sabotage the American government and economy with their misguided notions and slavish support of detrimental special interests.
The Ryanesque budget that the House persists in passing every week or so is totally unacceptable to rational people and cannot be taken seriously. It was rejected by the voters in the last general election, when Romney/Ryan went down in flames.
The faults are too numerous for my tired fingers to list, but the obvious, most serious flaw is that it would cut government spending and jobs in a sluggish economy, without providing any offsetting revenue. The biggest fallacy is assuming that private investment would offset cuts to government spending. Turns out that private capital is not attracted to an economy with a shortage of good jobs and plenty of unsold goods on the shelves at Walmart. And there is no cadre of billionaires waiting for their next big tax cut or tax dodge before making risky investments in a sluggish economy. There is plenty of capital available, but it’s parked in financial instruments that create no jobs, or used in corporate mergers, buy-outs, buy-backs, and buy-offs that kill jobs and reduce competition. Just take a look at the Romney tax returns to see how that works.
The great opportunity that is being missed in all the political bickering is the building of a physical and cultural infrastructure to promote prosperity. Interest rates are at a record low, almost 0% for the federal government. We should borrow every cent available to spend on projects that prepare the nation for the future. If our economy returns to Clintonesque prosperity, we’ll be able to repay the debt without a sweat. If our economy never gets out of the doldrums, we won’t be able to pay off the present debt anyhow. One way, we may succeed, the other way we’re sure to lose.
Great nations build, not sit idle. Victorious armies advance, not retreat!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
1:11 pm
I guess those broad cuts are a bit too broad?
Republicans are condemning the Obama administration’s decision to release several hundred illegal immigrants from detention facilities because of possible funding cuts from the sequester.
whaaaaaaaaa
Aquagirl
February 27th, 2013
1:12 pm
Don’t lay that at my doorstep. I have been advocating for a long time to get the heck out of Afghanistan.
RS, I am not hanging any war on you, I pointed out commissioning more aircraft carriers would not do jack crap to make us safer.
If you think we are still in Afghanistan because we don’t have enough aircraft carriers, or we ended up there because we only had 12 aircraft carriers instead of 18, feel free to share the thought process which led you to this conclusion.
If you want to mumble and complain because you disagree with the current CIC, your 1st Amendment rights are unchallenged. There’s plenty of kindred spirits here, and I will be free to do something else instead of wandering down Tangent Trail to Obamabites Park with you.
TheDixieDove.com
February 27th, 2013
1:14 pm
You are re-telling a popular lie Kyle! It is a FACT that president-O DOES NOT have the power to pick the cuts. YES congress COULD vote to give him that control…BUT THEY HAVEN’T so stop lying and saying they have. Thanks, and…
——Sequester The Rich
The Republicans are marching us off a cliff…. wake up America, make some damn noise!!!
Stop Sequester Tax the Rich-
During America’s hay-day (from 1937 to 1980) our tax rates on the wealthiest citizens were double and triple what they are today! How did we afford to build all of our highways, electrical grid, dams and bridges and tunnels and the American Dream! Those tax policies are what made America great!
http://TheDixieDove.com/
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
1:14 pm
Cutting 2% from a almost $4 trillion budget is a drop in the bucket
Yeah, cause 0% of anything is better than 2% of the same!
I bet when your boss could only offer you a 2% raise you turned that down cause, hey, it’s only a drop in the bucket, right?
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
1:20 pm
Like the Braves and the Bulldogs, can’t win the big one.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
1:21 pm
Sue-
I agree and the House passed a budget that the Senate didn’t even hold committee hearings. Now who is at fault? How do you negoiate with a body that won’t do their job?
So the Senate gets a pass because you don’t like the budget the House passed? Please. Then the Senate should have amended it and sent it back to the House. I get, the problem is not enough spending and no new taxes. Brother we are done with that. Obama got his tax hike and there isn’t anymore coming. When all the leading Democrats deny our country has a spending problem, we are all screwed, blued and tattooed.
How much of the debt was paid off when Clinton was president? Exactly. You madam and your never ending thrist to spend, expand government and put off ever getting our fiscal house in order is exactly why we are in such deep trouble. God save us because we are headed done the path of certain destruction.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
1:22 pm
Deep Cover: I agree with Kyle Wingfield’s take. The reduction can me made with absolutely NO EFFECT on essential services. However, the GOP should have been smart enough to specify which accounts should be reduced. Instead they have set themselves up to get worked over by Obama by playing this stupid deficit game…and it serves them right.
Finn: Pres O has the upper hand again? LOL In about 10 or 20 years from now you Cons will realize you’ve been getting schooled by this guy all along. mwuahahahahahahahahahaha
Dusty: No I did not have a bad dream about Presdient Obama being a “tyrant”. I simply read the news. The members of his cabinet are now releasing federal prisoners from jail and blaming cost cuts which are not even in force yet. So this great power to change the law as is convenient is justifiable? I don’t think so.
It’s pretty sad that our country is so divided right now. In one corner you have decent people like Dusty who are concerned about the future of our great nation and the amount of debt that we will be passing on to our children and grandchildren. In the other corner, you have PsOS like Deep Cover and Finn who really don’t give a crap about anything as long as their guy keeps winning popularity polls.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
1:25 pm
AQ-
Think you misunderstood me, many liberals complain about Bush and the two “unfunded” wars yet Obama has done the exact same thing and he gets a pass from them. Right is right and wrong is wrong regardless of party. It just is unexplainable to me why liberals and the media have given Obama such a pass.
splavistic
February 27th, 2013
1:28 pm
Kyle, You are your own sound-chamber. A majority blame the GOP. A majority will CONTINUE to blame the GOP. There’s no wiggling out of the fact that you guys just don’t want to play ball. You only want to play by your rules. Thanks. Thanks for throwing our country under the bus, AGAIN!
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
1:31 pm
splavistic-
You are absolutely correct. The rules a republican house passed, a democrat senate passed and a democrat president signed into law. Remember what Obama said about sequester, “there are no easy off ramps with this one” The republicans agree with him.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
1:44 pm
The great opportunity that is being missed in all the political bickering is the building of a physical and cultural infrastructure to promote prosperity. Interest rates are at a record low, almost 0% for the federal government. We should borrow every cent available to spend on projects that prepare the nation for the future. If our economy returns to Clintonesque prosperity, we’ll be able to repay the debt without a sweat. If our economy never gets out of the doldrums, we won’t be able to pay off the present debt anyhow. One way, we may succeed, the other way we’re sure to lose.
Aynie Sue–Your economic “plan” would merely be laughable if we weren’t in such dire economic straits. In case you didn’t know, a significant portion of our current budget goes toward paying interest on the money that has already been borrowed. In 2011, for example, interest payments alone totaled more than $450 B.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
Here’s the bottom line for you: Federal revenue has been a little more than $2 T per year on average in the last decade. With that level of revenue, it will never be possible to pay down our $16 T debt, especially considering the fact that we’re now adding $1 T more each year to that debt. In fact, even if all of the “sock-it-to-the-rich” schemes proposed by the Dems were enacted, we still would be adding to the debt every year, so that your dream of “Clintonesque prosperity” is just that–a dream.
I’m hoping that some of you Libs will grow up one day and accept basic financial truths, such as you can’t spend significantly more than you take in each year without consequences. As we stand, the only possible way out of this mess is for hyper-inflation to occur, so that we’re paying our debs back with greatly devalued currency. Great plan, except for those who have saved their entire lives for retirement.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
1:50 pm
Well said Bruno.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
1:51 pm
A majority blame the GOP. A majority will CONTINUE to blame the GOP.
splavistic–Out of curiosity, what’s the difference which majority blames who?? It doesn’t matter how “popular” Obama and the Dems are if we’re heading straight for the toilet. If Obama and the Dems truly loved our country, they would be committed to solving our budget crisis. But, as has been shown time and time again, their only interest lies in winning popularity contests. Is that really enough for you??
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
1:57 pm
Well said Bruno.
Retired Soldier: I get so frustrated with these intelligence-challenged Libs who refuse to take a realistic look at our budget problems. As the chart below shows, our highest revenue collection years were in 2005 and 2006, in which we collected a little more than $2.5 T per year. Right now, we’re spending more than $3.6 T per year. The numbers don’t even remotely match up, yet all the Libs can do is point to popularity polls and gloat that their guy won the last election. I generally like to feel proud of my fellow Americans, but all I have is disgust for the Libs right now.
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
1:59 pm
MarkV
You want a personal story about the loss of freedom in the last four plus years. Ok. It’s in my family. MY son-in-law has been taking all the legal steps to become an American citizen. He spent time and money and bad jobs so he could do it right to become a citizen. Now he IS a legal citizen and very proud to be an American. It took TEN years to accomplish this legal step .He would not break the law. He did not come here illegally.
Now, illegal people who have broken Federal laws are dismissed from jail because the Obama administration has found loopholes to let prisoners like this out on the streets. Then this administration claims they can’t afford it because of cuts that have not even been passed yet, i. e. the sequester.
The loss of fairness is but one step in loss of freedom. It seems our government can now find some way to do almost anything they wish and say it is OK. If you want to call it something else, go ahead but you certainly are ignoring a world of down grades on our freedom. .
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:00 pm
Here are the raw numbers:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=200
So how about it, Libs?? Any of you willing to look at the hard numbers, or are you too busy gloating about who won the last election?? Do any of you even remotely care about the financial health of our country??
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
2:04 pm
Bruno
So glad to read your clear sensible voice. .Keep up the good work..
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:05 pm
You want a personal story about the loss of freedom in the last four plus years.
Dusty–Don’t forget that Obama and the Dems doubled down on the Patriot Act. Now, not only can the govt spy on you without any kind of warrant or judicial oversight, they can kill you without any kind of trial as long as they deem you to be an “enemy”. Starting next year, we will no longer have the right to oversee paying our own health care expenses without being fined a significant amount of money.
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
2:08 pm
All levels of taxes will have to be raised to solve the debt problem, like it or not. Whoever cut them back did their kids a injustice.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
2:09 pm
Bruno-
I agree, but we (the collective we) as a nation are allowing this. Republicans are felons in this matter just as democrats are. In fact I blame republicans more than democrats. At least democrats are honest about spending and the debt and deficit. Dems don’t care and are willing to say so. Reps say they want to fix the deficit and debt, then go along with it. Why our Speaker hasn’t been fired is beyond me. Plus the Ryan budget doesn’t balance for 20 years and we “conservatives” sing its praises, 20 years!
We need tough love and we need it right now. No one is exempt and it will hurt everyone. But the pain of doing it today is far less than when we go bust.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:12 pm
So glad to read your clear sensible voice. .Keep up the good work..
Dusty–Thus far, the Libs’ only response to our budget woes seems to be that “normal business principles don’t apply to government spending.” While there is a kernel of truth to that statement, it’s not true across the board. As history has clearly demonstrated, including recent history in Greece, Ireland, etc., there is a limit to how far in debt you can go at the federal level before facing tangible consequences.
It’s very discouraging that love for our country has now been replaced by the ugliest sort of selfishness as demonstrated by the Libs.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
2:13 pm
Jefferson-
The answer is Obama, remember the 2010 Obama tax cut extention? Remember the Obama tax cut extention of 2013, except for those making over 450k?
Next question?
NoBodyYouKnow
February 27th, 2013
2:13 pm
Does anyone ever interpet what “just saying” is saying?
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
2:17 pm
Bruno-
You are correct and generally it is when National debt exceeds GNP. Opps, we have already passed that point.
What these guys don’t realize is American national debt as a percentage of GNP is higher here than in Greece. So why are we “suffering” like Greece? We are the world’s reserve currency. We make the rules. Sad.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:23 pm
I agree, but we (the collective we) as a nation are allowing this. Republicans are felons in this matter just as democrats are. In fact I blame republicans more than democrats. At least democrats are honest about spending and the debt and deficit. Dems don’t care and are willing to say so. Reps say they want to fix the deficit and debt, then go along with it.
RS–I hope that I didn’t give any impression that I’m letting the Repubs off the hook by any stretch of the imagination. In terms of raw hypocrisy, you’re right that the Repubs are likely more to blame than the Dems. However, the fact is that the Republicans have been pretty much marginalized the past 6 years or so, when the crisis has been at its worst.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774721.html
I save my greatest contempt for the voters, who refuse to elect responsible people into office. If you look back through the blog today, the irresponsible ones stick out like a sore thumb. There is no Free Lunch, not now, or ever. We must pay for the services we use, period.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:33 pm
We need tough love and we need it right now. No one is exempt and it will hurt everyone. But the pain of doing it today is far less than when we go bust.
RS–All I can say is that I’ve always taken the responsible path in life. As a kid, my family refused govt assistance even though we qualified for it, and chose to work our way out of poverty instead. As such, I’ve held full-time jobs since age 11. I financed my own way through college without any family help, and paid off my student loans, business loans, and mortgages all ahead of schedule. I still live way below my means because I hope to retire at a reasonable age–e.g. I still have a 27″ tube TV, and pay only $3 per month for my cell phone.
In the meantime, I look around and see people who are receiving govt assistance driving luxury cars, using expensive cell phones, with more than one big screen TV in the house. Yet, according to the Libs, I’m supposed to feel sorry for these folks and be willing to support their lifestyles through my tax dollars.
I put this up in the last thread, but here’s the story of a family of 4 which is living on around $14,000 per year.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-a-family-of-four-manages-to-live-well-on-just–14-000-per-year-174803218.html
Georgia, The "New Mississippi"
February 27th, 2013
2:38 pm
Our government is broken. What time does the government shut down start next month ? Whenever J-Bo and Team GOP can pass some legislation supported by someone else on American soil besides Fox News watchers , it will be repaired ( overnight).
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
2:44 pm
Whenever J-Bo and Team GOP can pass some legislation supported by someone else on American soil besides Fox News watchers , it will be repaired ( overnight).
Any realistic suggestions, New Mississippi?? Just sock it to the rich some more?? Unfortunately, your Lib buddies have no plan at all, and keep counting on brain-dead voters like yourself to keep putting them back in office.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
2:44 pm
“If the president’s idea of how to manage our federal government is to release 6,000-10,000 people who have been detained, and most of the people who have been detained are not just illegally present in the united states but they’ve committed some kind of a criminal act in addition to that, that seems to me to be a pretty misguided approach to how you save money in that agency,” Mr. Goodlatte, Virginia Republican, told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.
Impeachment now!
Matz
February 27th, 2013
2:46 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8H-CTeX2-4
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
2:46 pm
Bruno-
I guess the Libs have flown the coop. They don’t want the facts to interfere with their version of the truth. Congrats on your life story, you are a prime example of the opportunity we all have, if we choose to take and not be a ward of the state. You see what Libs don’t understand is conservatives have a big heart, for those that are truly needy, we don’t do enough. For those who chose to be needy we do way to much.
Failure in life is only an opportunity to win at something else. Anyone that has never failed, has never been in the game. One of the favorite sayings in the Army was “self help is the best help”. So get off your duff, get to work and climb the ladder.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
2:48 pm
RS
The US Debt is @ 170% or so of GDP? That is about where Greece is currently.
I’m with you about the need to get debt down and either party has done good with it over the last 40 yrs, but your numbers are suspect.
Maybe you have some information I can’t find.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/greece/government-debt-to-gdp
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
2:54 pm
Politico-
Admittedly I was going off of numbers some months old. I believe we went past 100% of GDP last spring or early summer. When we did Greece was then in the mid 90’s.
None the less the point is, if we were talking about a business or a family it would be bankrupt.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
2:58 pm
RS
You are incorrect again. Yes we went past 100% last year, however if you take time to look at the link it will show you that Greece hit 100% and has been going up since 2006.
I know it makes for a great talking point, but it is incorrect. You are free to say it over and over, but it will not make it any more true than the first time you stated it.
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
2:58 pm
Bruno,
The thrifty family item you gave us was fun to read. I’ve been on the thrifty track a long time not necessarily by necessity but just the general joy of keeping adeaqute money on hand for all needs. ( Some say it comes from my tight-wad Scottish ancestry. Maybe. I like to save.)
Anyway, it is good to read that some Americans still know how to manage on their own even during “tight times’. I wish others could get THAT feeling.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:02 pm
Politico-
OK, and you say the U.S. debt ratio is 170% of GDP? Where does that number come from?
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
3:04 pm
Anyway, it is good to read that some Americans still know how to manage on their own even during “tight times’. I wish others could get THAT feeling.
For me, Dusty, my greatest satisfaction in life is to be self-sufficient, to be self-reliant. My greatest fear in life would be to be dependent on someone else. But, mention “self-reliance” in a crowd of Libs, and get ready for some cussing.
Some say it comes from my tight-wad Scottish ancestry.
Q: How was copper wire invented??
A: Two Scotsmen found the same penny.
Matz
February 27th, 2013
3:05 pm
“Anyway, it is good to read that some Americans still know how to manage on their own even during “tight times’. I wish others could get THAT feeling.”
I think the reality is that more Americans DO this than brag, boast, and whine about it, or use it to make a point. Yeah, I’ve been through some tough times, as have most people I know, but most of us are not asking to have a medal pinned on our chest, or using it as a reason to demean others who were not as blessed with the gift of resiliency or resourcefulness as we were.
Georgia, The "New Mississippi"
February 27th, 2013
3:07 pm
@ Bruno , “Any realistic suggestions, New Mississippi?? ”
Come on man…… they pay J-BO 176k to come up with realistic suggestions. If he stopped signing pledges with people that do live in his state, can not vote in his district , and pays no taxes in his state he would be able to come up with a lot of realistic suggestions.
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
3:07 pm
Dusty @ 1:59 pm
Dusty
I am sorry, but you have not provided what I asked you about. Your son-in-law has not suffered any loss of freedom because of anything Obama has done. And it is rather strange to hear you complain about fairness, the one thing the conservatives mock when the liberals call for it.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:08 pm
Politico-
I did a bit of research and you are correct, Greece is about 170%. Thank you for the correction.
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
3:09 pm
RS, no president has that power. Congress did it and it started in the 80s.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
3:09 pm
RS: you words below
“What these guys don’t realize is American national debt as a percentage of GNP is higher here than in Greece. ”
I knew that was incorrect, so I asked the question. If the answer is (and it is) that the US Debt to GDP is not 170% as it is in Greece then your statement above is incorrect.
It was a set up question. I already knew the answer and knew what you were saying was wrong.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
3:11 pm
RS
No problem. We can disagree on politics, however I do like for people to at least debate from real statistics and not made up ones that many on both sides love to do when attempting to prove a point.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:12 pm
GA-
I can do you one better, the President makes 400k, were are his solutions. Those in written form are all that count.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:14 pm
Politico-
Got it.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
3:16 pm
RS
And before I forget; thanks for your service to our country.
have a good one
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:20 pm
Politico-
I assure it was a pleasure. I always say the Army was better to me than I was for the Army. I am blessed. You have a good one too.
Georgia, The "New Mississippi"
February 27th, 2013
3:29 pm
@ Retired Soldier
We all can agree that Team GOP is not loaded with intellectual heavy weights. The President was elected by the majority of American voters. He campaigned on a platform of proposed solutions that are well known. He represents the general population. J-Bo was elected by the voters in the eighth district of Ohio. J-BO is the Speaker of the House that is suppose to write, introduce, debate and vote on legislation that when passed becomes a Bill. The President signs a Bill into law after it passes the House and Senate. He tells the House what his bottom line is ( something to do with veto power ). If the majority of the Congress and Senate disagrees with him they can override his veto and force him to sign it the Bill into law. Our government is broken. When J-BO and team GOP can pass Bills that someone else on American soil supports besides Fox News watchers it will be repaired ( overnight )
BlahBlahBlah
February 27th, 2013
3:41 pm
These pending cuts are so horrible for the country that the Dow Jones is a whisker away from it’s all time high close.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:46 pm
GA-
1.”We all can agree that Team GOP is not loaded with intellectual heavy weights” – We can? Have you listened to Joe “shotgun” Biden lately? How about Nancy “you have to pass it before you will know whats in it” Pelosi. Both parties are challenged.
2. “J-BO is the Speaker of the House that is suppose to write, introduce, debate and vote on legislation that when passed becomes a Bill” – That is what the the House does, the republican members were also elected and are doing what their voters elected them to do. O-BO can propose any legislation he wants, but then O-BO needs to convince a majority of Congress to support the legislation.
3. “When J-BO and team GOP can pass Bills that someone else on American soil supports besides Fox News watchers it will be repaired ( overnight )” – When O-BO and team Reid/Pelosi can pass bills taht someone else on American soil supports besides MSNBC watchers it will be repaired ( overnight )
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
3:56 pm
Jefferson-
I missed your response. Of course both Congress and the president have to agree, the point is they did agree. So if you don’t like the result, blame the democrat Congress and Democrat president in 2010 and blame the republican House and Democrat Senate and democrat president in 2013.
Lynnie Gal
February 27th, 2013
4:22 pm
GOP can’t have it both ways–going on vacation and not negotiating a way out of this nightmare of their, yes, THE GOP creation. They held US hostage in 2011 and then the R’s voted FOR sequester, not against it. Now, they say it’s not so bad–but if it IS bad, it’s not our fault. It’s Obama’s fault. You cons are losing the argument and nobody’s buying this explanation. Everyone except your base knows that cons are responsible for these self-inflicted economic wounds. You lied us into war, refused to stop funding the war when Americans discovered they were lied to, deregulated Wall Street and then allowed Bush/Cheney & Co to rob our treasury in the final months of their administration. Then when Obama was elected, you suddenly get “religion” and try to blame the whole economic mess on Obama. Anybody stupid enough to believe you guys now deserves the consequences of sequester–which will be grim. This is why nobody likes Republicans anymore. Nobody. Not even Republicans like Republicans.
Jefferson
February 27th, 2013
4:31 pm
Wrong again, but not in your mind RS.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
4:32 pm
You lied us into war, refused to stop funding the war when Americans discovered they were lied to, deregulated Wall Street and then allowed Bush/Cheney & Co to rob our treasury in the final months of their administration.
I see that it’s whackjob day at the Wingnut blog.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
4:33 pm
Jefferson-
Really? I have a M.A. in political science, please tell me where I am wrong. Specifics please.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
February 27th, 2013
4:37 pm
Apparentky lynnie gal forgot to read Bob Woodward’s account on who is responsible for the sequester.
Hint: it ain’t Republicans.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
February 27th, 2013
4:40 pm
Retired soldier, you must remember that most liberals can’t fathom the possibility that their Messiah might have made a mistake.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
4:44 pm
Gal-
1. “GOP can’t have it both ways–going on vacation and not negotiating a way out of this nightmare”- Where was Obama, opps, playing golf with Tiger. Where was Reid’s senate? Opps, on vacation. When did Obama finally agree to meet? Opps, after the sequester brings. Have it both ways? Please.
2. “refused to stop funding the war when Americans discovered they were lied to” – You mean the war that Obama didn’t stop for 3.5 years? You mean the war in Afghanistan that continues today? You mean the drone war that has expanded under Obama? You mean Gitmo that Obama never closed.
3. “then allowed Bush/Cheney & Co to rob our treasury in the final months of their administration” – I beleive all the silver, dishes and furniture remained at the White House when Bush left, that can’t be said for the Clinton’s.
4. “Not even Republicans like Republicans”- My wife is a republican and I like her very much.
Retired Soldier
February 27th, 2013
4:45 pm
Tiberius-
Amen brother.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
5:13 pm
Instead of protecting civilian defense workers, the president will continue to force the Pentagon to buy biofuels at $27 per gallon to promote his green agenda. Instead of protecting children from cuts in nutrition programs, the president will continue to allow $2.7 billion of fraud and mismanagement he has identified in the food-stamp program. Instead of protecting Medicare from a 2% cut, the president will ignore $62 billion in annual waste that his administration has identified in Medicare and Medicaid. – Phil Gramm, WSJ
Get Real
February 27th, 2013
5:44 pm
Obama should be impeached for releasing illegal immigtrants currently in prison. He does have the power to determine the impact of 2% cuts to an already bloated federal budget.
Anyone, I mean anyone, that supports this move is a complete and total idiot and could give a crap about the future of America…PERIOD
wallbanger
February 27th, 2013
5:47 pm
One great place for cutting, would be to require those who are faking disability to continue to be paid for living after their unemployment insurance runs out, to have to prove their disability in a meaningful way, rather than the sloppy way it is now handled. I know lots of very able people who are on disability and have been for years. Some of them are relatives. Will I report them? No. Why? Cause nothing would be done about it anyway. We have government workers crawling all over each other and they tend to be very unproductive. They don’t have to work hard. They have affirmative action going for them.
Michael H. Smith
February 27th, 2013
5:57 pm
“The real revelation is that if the world does end, it will be Mr. Obama’s choice.”
You sure about that Kyle? The liberals on your blog keep blaming the GOP and Bush for everything that is bad or goes wrong; and we know liberals don’t lie.
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
6:24 pm
MarkV
Fairness and equality go “hand in hand” with freedom.. Sorry if you don’t get that. May be a stretch. Think about a dictator and then decide if you get fairness or equality. But no, I haven’t been put in chains by the government. I suppose that is the example you want.
As for liberals asking for fairness, I hadn’t noticed that. In fact, most are so busy still shifting the blame for problems to George W. Bush when it has been Obama for four years. Four whole years with the greatest deficit ever seen in our history!
You seem to believe that nirvana is here in the governance of Obama. I hope you are not rich as that” fairness” will hit you very soon as the answer to debt, one that coldn’t be paid if the USA was turned over to a pawn shop. (Did you enjoy that bit of extravaganza?)
Enjoy your dinner. I shall do the same.
Hillbilly D
February 27th, 2013
6:43 pm
Anybody got a spare crash helmet? Mine’s at the cleaners.
saywhat?
February 27th, 2013
6:47 pm
aesop- “I see that it’s whackjob day at the Wingnut blog.”
—————————————————
Every day you are here is whackjob day.
___________________________________________________
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right
“…you must remember that most liberals can’t fathom the possibility that their Messiah might have made a mistake.”
—————————————————-
You must actually remember that most “conservatives” (who only call themselves that, or “libertarians”, or “teapartiers”, or “independent” because “Republican” is so toxic after the W debacle) can’t fathom the possibility that their Messiah might have made a mistake, not once in 8 years. In other words, the claim by Tiberius is pure projection, with no basis in fact.
saywhat?
February 27th, 2013
6:49 pm
That completes my dip into the kiddie pool for the day.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 27th, 2013
6:59 pm
most liberals can’t fathom the possibility that their Messiah might have made a mistake.
O’s mistakes are bad but not as bad as the endless pant-wetting of the Cons. You guys need to learn how to aim.
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
7:07 pm
Dusty @ 6:24 pm
Dusty,
No evasion or logical acrobatics can save your answers. I asked you to tell me about the loss of freedom YOU suffered because of Obama. I am perfectly willing to enlarge that “You” to your family. But there is no way you can show that your son-in-law’s problems meant a loss of freedom caused by Obama because of what you call unfairness of Obama’s other actions. You can criticize the difficulties your son-in-law has suffered, and you can criticize what Obama is doing now, but you cannot retroactively call the former a loss of freedom because of the latter. Sorry if you don’t get that, it just does not work that way.
You have not noticed the “fairness” Obama asked for, and was mocked for? Each time he asked for fairness in taxes, the answer of the conservatives has been calls of “envy” or ”class warfare.”
And please let’s not get into the your usual accusations about what I “believe.” I thought we have gotten beyond that.
I hope you have enjoyed your dinner.
Decatur Guy
February 27th, 2013
7:18 pm
The White House just made a direct threat against Bob Woodward.
Decatur Guy
February 27th, 2013
7:20 pm
The man-child Obama is playing a very dangerous game with the sequester. He’s threatening to cut military personel all because he wants to make the GOP look bad. I hope this disaster of a president goes down in flames. I’d love to see his arrogance destroy his crappy presidency. I’d also love to see the left wet their diapers.
Decatur Guy
February 27th, 2013
7:21 pm
BTW, I just exercised my 2nd amendment right for the 10th time in five years. Anything I can do to piss off a left winger is going to be my new mantra.
Rockerbabe
February 27th, 2013
7:23 pm
President Obama should make it as hard on the GOP as humanly possible; afterall, they have done absolutely nothing to make government work for anyone but themselves and their rich friends.
Decatur Guy
February 27th, 2013
7:34 pm
“they have done absolutely nothing to make government work for anyone but themselves and their rich friends. ”
Obama is a millionaire as are most of the Democrats in office. You’re ignorance is laughable and sad. BTW, maybe if you worked hard you could be rich. Instead, you’re a whiney kid who can’t stand the fact that other folks know how to make money.
Educate yourself.
Dave
February 27th, 2013
7:38 pm
I’d like to see some vetting of this from a source other than WSJ and you. That said, wasn’t the purpose of this stupid deal to force the parties to deal? Why should Obama blink if Boehner and his buddies aren’t blinking?. And I may misunderstand how this works; but, why don’t the House Republicans pass a bill that says what you say Obama should do and force him and the Senate Dems to say no? Oh, they don’t have a clue what to do to ameliorate the cuts other than dump it all on domestic and leave defense alone? They don’t have any common ground in their own party? Bad deal, let them all play table stake poker and see who comes out ahead in the eyes of us.
bluecoat
February 27th, 2013
7:49 pm
Guam going to tilt,dump all those snakes in the ocean,ST.Patrick no where around.No available hedgehogs,all reserved for trip to mars.And all you want to talk about Teaquesters.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:07 pm
And I may misunderstand how this works; but, why don’t the House Republicans pass a bill that says what you say Obama should do and force him and the Senate Dems to say no? Oh, they don’t have a clue what to do to ameliorate the cuts other than dump it all on domestic and leave defense alone?
Dave–From what I can see, the Republican Party isn’t speaking with one voice right now. Normally, there’s nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t appear that the Dems have any plan at all to address the runaway spending, so any and all ideas will have to come from the Repubs.
Per your poker analogy, yes, people will make their own judgments as to who plays their hand better, but personally, I’m tired of the posturing and bluffing. I think both sides should put all their cards on the table and work together right now. The stakes are too high for anything less.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:13 pm
Anybody got a spare crash helmet? Mine’s at the cleaners.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z55Qd4hNnA
Dave
February 27th, 2013
8:13 pm
I don’t disagree with you Bruno. I’m just tired of it’s Obama’s fault because, pick the reason of the day. It’s his fault, his party’s fault and whatever flavor of Republican you want to pick’s fault.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:18 pm
Still so true……
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcG47CpsU6c
clem
February 27th, 2013
8:19 pm
just do what the guy at genuine parts did, cut thousands of employees and get you salary/comp nearly doubled since 2008, with just announced 30% increase
MarkV
February 27th, 2013
8:19 pm
Dusty @ 6:24 pm
Dusty,
Having a little more time, here is an additional answer to your post. I am always rather skeptical about lofty phrases and generalities about freedom and a loss of it. Most of the time they are just attempts to cover the lack of reason.
If we wanted to list all the theoretical losses of freedom, we would never have time for anything else. Life in a civilized society always involves endless compromises of “freedom.” Can you go anywhere, do anything? You cannot, because there are other people and their desires to consider. To call any rule, any law, any action you disagree with a “loss of freedom” does nothing but make it silly.
For instance, when I wrote some time ago that I liked a government agency to deliver my mail, you accused me of wanting to be “controlled by government.” You never explained how using a government service was being controlled or “losing freedom,” and using a private company was not.
Rightwing troll
February 27th, 2013
8:19 pm
“But you can’t compare the deficits and added debt between Obama and Bush, if Bush was “unpatriotic” for his deficits, what is Obama? We are close to default and action must be taken. Obama has the opportunity to be a hero, think what history would say about him if he solved the financial crisis we are in? Imstead, he palys politics and spends faster than a drunken ”
What wingnuts choose to ignore is a lot of that debt is W’s credit cards coming due…
Ray
February 27th, 2013
8:21 pm
This sequestration was always part of the plan. So it is silly looking for someone to blame, both parties have decided it is the best thing to do, apparently. States that heavily invested in military industrial complexes were already looking for alternative uses for their plants; between wars they need to do something else to partially make up the difference. We all need to diversify.
Rightwing troll
February 27th, 2013
8:23 pm
It ain’t the left wetting themselves about most anything these days… If I had a swooning couch factory you wing nuts would make me rich these days…
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:29 pm
I’m not sure what the impact will be or not be, but seems the Republicans are as worried as the President is with his campaigning for a last minute deal.
If it were not true, they could have already walked away and washed their hands.
Seems that both sides are wanting changes and it is nothing more than a public relations battle at this time.
I’m sure a “deal” will be made and they both will take credit and blame the other side. Nothing new.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:31 pm
I’m just tired of it’s Obama’s fault because, pick the reason of the day. It’s his fault, his party’s fault and whatever flavor of Republican you want to pick’s fault.
To be honest, Dave, I think a lot of the hyper-criticism of Obama from the righties is in response to hearing nothing but hatred from the lefties during Bush’s years. So, part of the criticism is likely overblown. At the same time, however, I think that Obama set a divisive tone from Day 1, and hasn’t made any legitimate efforts to bring folks together since. He’s getting too much political mileage from trying to humiliate his opponents instead of putting the welfare of the country first and reaching across the political aisle. And, sadly, his base is eating it up, as witnessed by the idiotic comments from the Libs posted here on a daily basis. “We won, nyah, nyah, nyah, nhay.”
getalife
February 27th, 2013
8:31 pm
gramm is a disaster and should never be in politics.
He deregulated the banks and invented sequestration.
The fed said we might reach 6 % in 2016.
We can cut then but not too much to make unemployment rise.
The gop are job killers so they don’t care about unemployment.
independent thinker
February 27th, 2013
8:32 pm
What’s with the $85 billion Kyle???????????- According to Repubs during the election campaign Obama yanked $716 billion dollars from granny and medicare putting all the elderly in jeopardy of early death.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:35 pm
“And, sadly, his base is eating it up, as witnessed by the idiotic comments from the Libs posted here on a daily basis. “We won, nyah, nyah, nyah, nhay.” – ”
Let’s just overlook the number of conservatives who were spiking the ball before the Obamacare ruling and talking about President Romney for months before the election.
The selective and feigned outrage is oozing from your pores.
No side has a corner on the boasting and bragging market. Granted one side has boasted a little before the game was over, but bragging and boasting for sure.
Oh well, do carry on.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:40 pm
Some rare Floyd, “Country Song”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqvTIZGRxDg
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:41 pm
Maybe you were not one of the ones doing either of those, maybe you were, put you get the point.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
8:41 pm
obozo the belligerent jets around the country in his gilded carriage brutalizing the economy with his high hysteria and lying freakshow and the libs have the nerve to say the Republicans are acting out of sorts?
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:45 pm
Aesop
For all of Obama’s crap, Republicans can walk away and be done with it. Obama can’t stop what he signed into law.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:45 pm
Politico–I can only hope that you graduate from middle school one of these days. Seriously.
In the meantime, your party had a full majority in government for 2 years, and has had a partial majority for another 2+ years, and what do we have to show for it other than skyrocketing deficits and debt?? But I won’t hold my breath waiting for any of you Libs to take responsibility for anything.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
8:45 pm
obozo is a fascist in the truest sense of the word; if you don’t comply with his diktats he will use his office and government power to maim you.
What a wonderful country we’ve become.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
8:48 pm
p-lo : I’m pretty sure that’s the plan.
Either that or this will be boehner’s last decision.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:50 pm
“I can only hope that you graduate from middle school one of these days. Seriously. – ”
This from the guy who cries about others insulting, calling names and ball spiking, yet he calls names insults and is a notorious ball spiker
Time for you to look in the mirror and take a little of the medicine you are so quick to prescribe to others. “Seriously”
Politico
February 27th, 2013
8:53 pm
Aesop
That might be the best plan. They both signed off on it. Now let’s do it.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:54 pm
Personally, I’m not sure if going the sequestration route is the most intelligent way to address our budget problems, but any cut in spending is a step in the right direction IMO.
I still can’t figure out why entitlement spending is so sacred in the eyes of the Left, while military spending is protected by the Right. Nothing is sacred right now. Our rate of debt accumulation is way too great to leave anything off the table.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
8:57 pm
Politico–You spend more than half your time here trying to conjure up previous blog incidents about which your recollection doesn’t seem to be very accurate. Is your life really that empty?? Are you just as unlikable away from the blog??
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
February 27th, 2013
9:02 pm
There are many options available to the Repugs to steer the cuts away from obozo’s preferred method of flooding the streets of America with criminals.
Politico
February 27th, 2013
9:04 pm
Bruno
Look in the mirror dude. When you stop being the hypocrite you are in terms of being a name caller and ball spiker you might have a point about someone else. Since you continue to cry about those things while you are doing the same, that is your problem not mine or any other blogger.
You think you are above your on retribution; think again. Maybe you are in your own mind and that is fine, but if you are going to talk the talk…….. try walking it for a change.
Are you this big of a hypocrite away from the blog?
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
9:06 pm
I got to see “The Wall” in LA in 1979, though it never became one of my favorite Floyd albums.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HrrR9QDQU
getalife
February 27th, 2013
9:42 pm
“Cantor Warns of ‘Civil War’ In Republican Party…” drudgey.
They are even out of touch with their own party.
Was he over in Europe on the taxpayers dime?
Dusty
February 27th, 2013
9:46 pm
Dear MarkV
Once again you have returned to your circular thinking on President Obama. If you find any fault with him or his administration, I must have missed it.
Most people realize that this country has even more problems since he became president. Things are worse. but I won’t even mention what comes out daily in the news because you will make an excuse for it or deny that it is a problem.
Sorry but I don’t even remember discussing who delivers your mail. I really don’t care. As to what defines freedom, I shall continue to decide for myself on that subject. So no need for you to decide for me. Thank you but I shall continue to present my own opinion. That’s part of my freedom.
Getting late. G’nite. . .
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
10:15 pm
Are you this big of a hypocrite away from the blog?
Away from the blog, I’m King of the World.
Bruno
February 27th, 2013
10:24 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A5Tbh_cCSU
td
February 27th, 2013
10:46 pm
Bob Woodward called a senior White House official last week to tell him that in a piece in that weekend’s Washington Post, he was going to question President Barack Obama’s account of how sequestration came about – and got a major-league brushback. The Obama aide “yelled at me for about a half hour,” Woodward told us in an hour-long interview yesterday around the Georgetown dining room table where so many generations of Washington’s powerful have spilled their secrets.
Digging into one of his famous folders, Woodward said the tirade was followed by a page-long email from the aide, one of the four or five administration officials most closely involved in the fiscal negotiations with the Hill. “I apologize for raising my voice in our conversation today,” the official typed. “You’re focusing on a few specific trees that give a very wrong impression of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here. … I think you will regret staking out that claim.”
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Woodward: Extended interview
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Woodward repeated the last sentence, making clear he saw it as a veiled threat. “ ‘You’ll regret.’ Come on,” he said. “I think if Obama himself saw the way they’re dealing with some of this, he would say, ‘Whoa, we don’t tell any reporter ‘you’re going to regret challenging us.’ ”
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/woodward-at-war-88212.html#ixzz2MA5hYRwh
So Woodword feels threatened by aides. I wonder what this administration has done to conservative journalist.
md
February 27th, 2013
10:53 pm
Obama would have nothing to do if he couldn’t put on a show for the masses. I’ve been on the planet for awhile and never seen anything quite like it. It’s perpetual theater, and the scary part is the masses can’t see through it.
Chavez played the same part on his way to being an elected dictator…..makes one wonder what was in that little book passed from one to the other. Could it have been…………….nah.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
February 28th, 2013
12:17 am
@jamiedupree: Congressional Budget Office says Senate Democratic sequester plan increases federal budget deficit $7.2 billion
———-
Uh, isn’t a sequester supposed to LOWER the deficit?
You really do have to be mentally retarded to be a Democrat.