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Sunday, March 17, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
President Barack Obama seems much less concerned about the deficits and debt than I am.
I am 60 years old and have some money saved, but if the deficits and debt eventually result in hyperinflation, I will be ruined financially and my anticipated retirement will disappear. I also have a granddaughter, and I worry about her future.
I find it surprising that so many people feel like we can continue on this path and never suffer any consequences. That just doesn’t seem logical to me.
Michael says "President Barack Obama seems much less concerned about the deficits and debt than I am."
So is 75% of America
The fundamental difference between the Obama, Reid, Murray Democrat's Senate budget and the Republican House proposal is do we grow the federal government spending at 5% a year or 3.4% a year.
- The Obama-Patty Murray Senate budget increases spending at more then 5.0% annually,
- Democrats want to spend $46 trillion over the next 10 years.
- Democrats want to raise middle class taxes $1.5 trillion by closing deduction like charities and home interest.
- Murray increases National Debt by $5 trillion.
Democrats flamethrowers call the Republican budget increase of 3.4% per year unconscionable cruel austerity which would drive the economy into another recession and ruin.
The Murray Senate budget reverses $1.2 trillion in budget controls put in place by the Obama 2011 Budget Control Act, it make vague promises of savings due to price controls, increases Dependency benefits, eliminates $1 trillion in middle class tax deductions like charities and home interest, it does not reform taxes, it does not reform entitlements, it does not reform work-to-welfare, and never - ever balances the budget. Murray laughingly said "there are no sacred cows. We put everything we [Democrats] can put on the table." REALLY!
The Republican House budget increases spending at 3.4% annually and reforms taxes, reforms work-for-welfare, and reforms entitlements to balance the budget in 10 years.
Republicans are controlling spending at $41 trillion over the next 10 years.
Spending from 2011 through 2014 is about the same at $3.6 trillion - so there is "NO SPENDING CUT" year over year. While spending is still up a trillion dollars per year from 2007 to 2011 - it is flat since Republicans took the House January 2011.
I agree with the letter writer. It is morally reprehensible to pass huge debts and deficits onto future generations of Americans. In 2008 candidate Obama accused the existing President of being un-American for allowing a debt of $6 Trillion. Today it is at $16.5 Trillion, and climbing. With predictions of $20 Trillion by 2016. What does President Obama call this? The US debt is approaching 25 percent of GDP. The Republicans have a plan to reduce it to 19 percent over 10 years. What do the President and the Democrats have?
Carmine D
Future gives details about the budget presented by each side. It looks like a choice between 'terrible' and 'really bad'.
One side won't consider any revenue increases via higher rates or closing loopholes and eliminating deductions. The other side pretty much removes any changes to entitlements, even for future recipients of the programs.
Neither side offers a plan to seriously attack all the fraud, waste and duplication in government programs and neither side offers a serious attempt to re-write the Federal Income Tax Code.
I find it odd that Americans take Patty Murray or Paul Ryan or most other members of Congress seriously when they offer these proposals. The differences between the budgets is 1.4 trillion dollars over 10 years. One budget basically never balances and one 'possibly' balances at the 10 year mark. We are already more than 16 trillion dollars in debt.... and that is the best our President and our Congress can come up with...And they cannot even agree on any of what each side propose.
Americans can and probably will continue to support one or the other of these sad sack parties and our present elected representatives... but they shouldn't.
Michael
There are two major problems in this country that we need to solve or else budget and debt problems will never be solved. One is the exorbitant cost of our healthcare system that consumes 6% more of GDP than it should. The other is a tax system that has been designed to encourage certain economic activites and give tax breaks to narrow and special interests rather than to provide the revenue the Federal Government needs to operate.
As for your retirement Michael, your choices might be between possible hyperinflation or inadequate "premium support" for your healthcare costs. If either happens, you're screwed.
Jim:
For a liberal you're very pessimistic.
Carmine D
CarmineD
Not everyone would describe me as a liberal. I'll plead guilty to being a populist and a realist. Besides that, cheering up Michael is a tough chore.
Michael says "One side won't consider any revenue increases via higher rates or closing loopholes and eliminating....and neither side offers a serious attempt to re-write the Federal Income Tax Code."
Not true
Keep you eye on the House committee that is deeply engage in a rewrite of the tax code. Their job is to produce a revenue neutral bill by eliminating/capping deductions balanced by a reduction of tax rates. This effort is based on a STATIC CBO analysis.
However when a dynamic analysis is applied federal revenues will go up.
Once this is done - the political theater can begin and as part of a grand bargain Obama, Reid and Murray can argue for higher tax rates on everybody.
Let the reform happen and then decide to raise rates again
Listen to Bill Maher - enough is enough taxes
Camp is working on tax reforms
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/taxreform/...
Obama and the Democrats use to say, "Let's balance the budget."
Then they could not do that and then would say, "Let's cut the annual budget deficit in-half."
They can't do that.
Now they are saying, "Debt is good. Let's try to keep in a level that is OK but let's don't try to do that until 20 years from now."
Democrats are a joke.
Some even want the annual deficit to go up.
Jim,
I am pessimistic about the future and that will not change unless our useless representatives do more than offer plans that don't go far enough and yet always contain 'poison pills' the other side will never agree to.
Each side shows no real interest in solving problems. Their only interest appears to be to convince enough Americans that they are doing 'something' that they are allowed to retain their office..... Unfortunately, that strategy is working ... to the detriment of us all.
Michael
As a foreigner, I wholeheartedly agree with Michael Casler. Deficits and accumulated debt matter greatly.
For the life of me, I can't comprehend exactly what the Republicans actually want, but I think they genuinely want to reduce spending in order to get the annual deficit under control. My problem is that the Republicans really are the party of the rich, and I suspect most of the cutbacks will hurt ordinary Americans terribly and barely affect the wealthy.
The Democrats under President Obama appear to have bigger hearts than their Republican counterparts, but Obama obviously follows the teachings of economists such as Paul Krugman who believe that deficits don't matter and that government stimulus is the cure-all for the American economy. I find that philosophy totally ludicrous.
America as a viable country is treading in treacherous waters. Canada also overspends and has scary deficits and accumulated debt, but at least our system of government seems much better equipped to deal with political gridlock. Your system, as Mr. Casler continually tries to hammer home, is broken at this point in its history.
Donald W. Desaulniers
We (Obama and company) should be figuring out how to PAY OFF THE DEBT. Cutting spending is absolutely essential. The federal government is not big daddy or sugar daddy. It is past time for tax cuts but FIRST we need to eliminate massive amounts of spending. Even the "defense" department can handle serious funding cuts. There is absolutely no reason the government is funding social welfare programs. SS and Medicare are insurance programs and those who paid the premiums are entitled to coverage. Disabled, deformed, deranged people (at least citizens) qualify for SSI and SSDI--and in Nevada that means essentially no other coverage other than food stamps and state-paid Medicare premiums. ALL welfare programs (at local levels) should be limited to 2/5 years (consecutive/lifetime). If whatever is preventing you from supporting yourself is NOT a disability or similar, YOU need to deal with it, not me. Five years is more than enough.
I too am age 60, with some savings and investments. The Federal Reserve is DELAYING the hyper-inflation MKC mentioned but the inflation will arrive (if our economy/nation survives) sooner rather than later. We need to start "evasive" action NOW. We need to cut spending down to absolutely essential federal necessities. Sure people have needs. People also have rights, responsibilities, abilities, freedom to chose. So get with it and STOP encouraging teens to drop out of school "because" of pregnancy. Stop providing young parents with social welfare. If they're adult enough to have (and keep) kids, they're adult enough to provide for them. Can you just imagine how our economy would REBOUND as we pay down the debt after demanding balanced budgets? Now that'd be America.
Belleville: I don't know about the "party of the rich." Tune in and note that many to almost all "celebrities" with mega-million incomes are Dems. Looks like they want things to stay the same--because THEY do well when we deficit-spend. Perhaps they do well financially because the masses of us buy movie tickets to mindless violence rather than deal with the world around us.
Rockie: O. has been quoted and on video saying he's passed on the idea of a "balanced" approach. Now he want increased revenue and will not consider spending cuts.
Donald stated "My problem is that the Republicans really are the party of the rich"
Wow! And to think states with the most millionaires in the USA such as New York, Massachusetts, California, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and New Jersey voted for Obama. Sorry, I'm not buying what your selling Donald.
Michael,
Paul Ryan's offering of a nonsense budget contributes to your fear and add to the uncertainty. All created by the party in control of the House of Representative.
What is certain, the rich are getting richer. Maybe, you have your investment(s) in the wrong financial instrument(s). Or, is Wall Street the play ground for the corporations and the One-Percent only?
It is clear to many (those in touch with reality) that the country is improving. To hear people say the country is heading for failure shows a lack of belief in America and lack of knowledge of what is fact and what is fiction.
I am of the belief, if you don't believe in America, leave! Go! Go somewhere you can have the security and freedom you think you don't have here in America. I say stop complaining, do something about your situation and your insecurities.
Being an American in not a spectator sport, you can be a participant. You can make a difference. You do have choices. Stop being part of the problem, stop being uncertain...being scared, in fear.
We don't quit in America. You have choices. Ninety percent of the problems you others are experiencing are self created. If you are in this 90%, this shows you are creative by the fact you created your own problems. Which means you can create a positive situation for yourself.
Donald W. Desaulniers is 100% correct with his statement saying:
"My problem is that the Republicans really are the party of the rich, and I suspect most of the cutbacks will hurt ordinary Americans terribly and barely affect the wealthy."
It's time to close many of the loop holes in the tax code. Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. If it does happens look for the closing of those loop holes to hurt mainly middle America.... That seems to be the present plan being put together by the GOP. The Democrats, on the other hand, will work to close loop holes that mainly benefits the rich.
I continue to be amazed at the fact that a huge majority of the "pay check to pay check Republicans" (many on this board) continue to vote for a party that looks down on them & could care less about what is best for America as a whole...
In other words, "pay check to pay check Republicans" love to vote against their own best interests...
As we all know, but most right-wingers refuse to admit, the Bush tax cuts for the rich did NOTHING for middle America. In other words, "trickle down economics" doesn't work and never will....
Obama's main goal is to see the economy grow which will bring in much needed revenue and work toward reducing the deficit. That's what was happening under Bill Clinton, but that came to a halt as soon as the Republicans took over in 2001....
I have a two part question for my little buddy Carmine. Carmine, who was the last president to produce a balanced budget? Was he a Democrat or a Republican?
Every now and then people feels The uncertain future is now. This characteristic nature of life has been written by many writers/books. If we think bad is not so bad and horrible after all, we are forgivin' politicians and the Stone Age is to be found again.
70% of inflation is wages. When you start seeing double-digit wage increases year after year you can start worrying about hyperinflation. As it is wages have been stagnant for decades. You can't raise prices with wages dropping in real terms.
The future of this country has always been uncertain. Slavery, civil war, race riots, labor riots, inflation/ deflation have been part of the American way of life.
Michael,
Have you watched the recent circus at CPAC? You can't possibly blame Obama for a party that isn't willing to work with him. Obama is correct, the deficit can be dealt with down the road, but you need a willing dancer. Misleading the public to believe that cutting taxes for the wealthiest create jobs is nonsense. We've done that since the Reagan administration with "trickle down" economics and income for the working class has stagnated. The top one percent took 93% of the wealth gained in the recent recovery. It's time they paid for their own yachts and private jets instead of the working class. It's time their offshore accounts were closed along with their loopholes.
As far as your granddaughter, you should really worry about the planet we are leaving our future generations. The is no doubt that over the last ten years we've recorded the highest temperatures. Ice caps and glaciers are melting, deserts are increasing in size, drought has stricken every continent, and storms have been greater.
Denying the fact we need increased taxes, that climate change is some sort of conspiracy, and believing our resources are infinite is foolish, if not completely stupid.
The GOP should have gotten a wake up call in the November elections after their myopic fixation on deficit reduction was thoroughly rejected by a majority of voters. But not a chance. On the other hand, when has reality ever intruded on the GOP's alternate universe, that strange dimension where tax cuts for the rich create jobs and 47% of the citizens can't even tie their own shoe laces without help from Big Government?
Their bunker was left untouched by the votes of millions who handed the president his reelection with 332 electoral votes vs. 206 for the Etch A Sketch candidate.
The world has moved on but some things never change.
"Denying the fact we need increased taxes, that climate change is some sort of conspiracy, and believing our resources are infinite is foolish, if not completely stupid."
Vernos, GOP circle jerkers have an agenda that doesn't include logic and common sense. There's no way to reason with them, but I'm sure you know that.
Obama is reducing the deficit at the fastest rate ever. If this keeps up (and it likely will due to his stock market boom), who knows, we may start paying off the national debt some before his tenure is completed. Then Clinton will take over and really take the debt down a notch. Remember, historically, DEMOCRATS are better in terms of government finances that Republicans. The Republicans talk a good game, but its not backed by facts.
In reply to Michael Casler; while I am surprised at myself being in agreement in whole on your letter to the editor entitled, "An Uncertain Future For Us All", I am not surprised by your political obliviousness in blaming the debt on President Barack Obama.
Since North Korea has threatened the United States with a preemptive nuclear attack, make sure you don't forget to blame Obama for adding another billion to the debt by upgrading our western missile defense systems. How dare our commander-in-chief do something like this!
Since you are relentless in bad-mouthing President Obama, I hereby promise, Michael Casler, to never let you forget how much of an autocrat George W. Bush and his Republican cronies were in spending trillions of dollars on meaningless wars and placing our entire American financial infrastructure in positions of inevitable demise.
Since you claim to have common sense in saving money for you retirement years, but see the insecurity, how is it you lack the capability to see Republicans for what they truly are?
FromBellevilleCanada (Donald W. Desaulniers) commented at 7:57 a.m. that " My problem is that the Republicans really are the party of the rich,..."
Roslenda (Roberta Anderson) promptly countered with "Tune in and note that many to almost all 'celebrities' with mega-million incomes are Dems." And shortly thereafter BoliBlingBling (Jeff Garner) added "Wow! And to think states with the most millionaires in the USA such as New York, Massachusetts, California, DC, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and New Jersey voted for Obama."
Neither recognizes the truth of Mr Desaulniers's comment. One party, Democratic, generally favors the idea that government should work to the benefit of the the majority, the common people. The other party, Republican, generally favors the idea that government should work to the benefit of the elite. The wealth of an individual does not necessarily necessarily control that individual's philosophy of government.
The former idea is very recent in human history, the latter is traditional: very much by definition liberals want to change tradition, conservatives want to go back to it.
Brad, I don't think anyone ever spoke a truth with more conviction, more accuracy and more relevance.
Sure Casler has a point, and he makes it well from my perspective too, especially as i am looking retirement squarely in the eyes at 65 as my health fails, my vigor softens and my productivity wanes.
About the most awful thing i could conjure would be to see what tiny humps I have mounded up and all my friends' little mounds and Michael's and Brad's and everybody i forget turn into a worthless alluvial plane somewhere in a downstream wash-up.
Certainty has value when these tsunamis wreak their havoc. Unfortunately, what we will be looking at is more of a civil war under the veil of a bastardized democracy where the wealthy live on one side of the chasm, making the rules and almost all the money while the rest of us eat each other.
The quality of certainty is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;...
Certainty eats what it wants and moves on, eating high and low and sometimes right in the middle.
Of our unsustainable future, Michael, I am certain you are are absolutely spot on. BBQ in the bario.
Jeff (BoliBlingBling): you miss the fact that the wealthy are relatively few in number and tend to live in enclaves. Since voting districts are easily manipulated at the local level, gerrymandered..., you end with such interesting data as more Democrats nation-wide voting for Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives, yet the majority of the candidates elected were Republicans.
Vernos Branco's mention of the long-term issues is quite relevant.
In my business of upgrading homes, retrieving them from the anals of history, what we run into is more of the mistakes from earlier generations - mistakes like asbestos and knob-and-tube wiring, Zinsco panels, things that were created as solutions that became problems because of short-sighted idiots making long-term impacts.
The combustion slave that replaced the human slave has gone and trashed the sky, oiled the beaches, wiped out coral, melted ice caps and is moving up the coast-line inundating coastal towns and certainty.
What's food got to do with it, got to do with it?
What's air but a second class erosion?
A fine letter. The American standard of living will go down, the country is in crisis, I fear it will end badly. I am now looking abroad, why stay here if you can escape. I am getting tired of being robbed by uncle.
"Carmine, who was the last president to produce a balanced budget? Was he a Democrat or a Republican?" El Lobo
The answer didn't change from the last time I provided it to you.
President Clinton, thanks to a GOP Congress! And Clinton himself will tell you that then and now! Recall after the 1996 mid term defeat in the House, Clinton was forced to move to the center. Think GOP Contract with America and Newt Gingrich, the Republican Speaker of the House.
Before him, it was President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
It's a moot point now. The issue NOW is who will balance it again and how long will it take to do it. GOP has a plan to do it in 10 years. Dems in 20 years, which was Rep. Ryan's time frame in the Nov 2012 election. Maybe they can meet in between.
Carmine D
robert 12:37: YOU MISS the point. Repubs and the rest of the world KNOW that the greater benefit is SELF RELIANCE, not reliance on a sugar daddy government.
Bradley,
You try to make me into something I am not. Yes, I voted for Bush twice, once against Gore and again against Kerry. I made a choice and it did not work out great. Would Gore or Kerry have been better. Maybe, maybe not.
I have not and do not blame Obama alone for the debt, but he is in office. Bush royally screwed up but he isn't in office. Do I blame him? Yes I do. Do I think Obama is taking the tough necessary steps? No I don't.
I see both parties as a bunch of people who want to spend to keep their supporters happy and are not really that concerned about the future of the country.
Michael
Vernos,
Yes, I saw of the reporting on CPAC. It is what it is and it's pretty right wing. Does CPAC have to mean that the entire R party is completely nuts? I don't think so.
Let's talk global warming. As I have said in the past, I have no problem with government investing in clean energy 'research' but they are investing in green energy 'retail'. Once the subsidies end, many of these companies won't be viable. China is an energy monster and if global warming is 'largely' a product of fossil fuel burning, one country, even if it is us, cannot stop it from happening. We need to have government invest in green energy research, develop and the use the cleanest fossil fuels we can and try to get our economy back on track.
My granddaughter might live a horrific life 'if' global warming is indeed being caused mostly by fossil fuels, and if the warming happens quickly enough and on a large enough scale within her lifetime. She also might lead a horrible life if we so damage our economy by foolish spending that our people cannot afford to live a decent life.
Either way, it would not be pretty and that's why I worry.
Michael
In reply to Joe Lamy and Michael Casler;
I liked it when the commentaries of you, Michael, were of the middle ground. I would think that many of your personal attributes would disqualify you as a Republican. Most times, Michael, you do claim to be in the middle-ground when it comes to politics. Your commentaries are practical, reasonable, and truly righteous.
I, myself, on occasion, strongly criticize President Obama on a few issues. But, inside, it hurts me to do so. However, the falsity of your Obama statements rest on the verge of being just another rant. This really disappointments me that such an intelligent and well-meaning man would resort to these sporadic political phraseologies that would normally come from people who lean to the extreme side.
I remember Joe Lamy saying to me once in this Sun discussion room that he was disappointed in some commentaries that I made. He left a strong impression on me when he ended his comment; "I look forward to the time when you, (meaning me) come back to being the person I know you to be."
I did come back, and I hope you do too, Michael, I miss reading all the commentaries from "Middle of the Ground" Michael.
I do not believe that we can or will address the debt until the Republican Party goes through a shake out. Too many factions are fighting for control....internationalist v. isolationist, corporatist v. populist, business v. social reactionary, etc. No one faction has enough clout to risk accommodation with BO and the Democrats so no quarter is given. No one speaks for the Party. Boehner attempts to please everyone and McConnell stays conveniently in the background. Paul Ryan has become a convenient foil, trotting out ideas which were rejected at the polls while Eric Cantor plots and sharpens knives...et tu Brutus. I suspect that the next generation of Republican leadership will come from the ranks of governors....Christie, Martinez, maybe even Sandoval.
Bradley,
Too many people, me included, gave former President Bush and Congress way too much leeway because of 9/11 and the war on terror. Shame on us. That's on me and I am willing to admit that.
However, when I criticize President Obama, I am attacked as if I just give Bush a 'pass'. That's just not so, but Obama is the President now and if I don't agree with action he either does or doesn't take, I am unwilling to give him a 'pass' because Bush left him a mess. Just like Bush, he wanted the BIG job, campaigned for it and got it. Bush handled alot of the job poorly and that made Obama's task very tough indeed. I expect Obama to tell Americans the truth. I don't care if he bashes and blames Bush because that doesn't change a thing. If he thinks I'll give him a break because of what Bush did, that would be a mistake. I won't.
Obama needs to tell Americans he understands that we are borrowing and printing 40 % of everything we spend. He understands that we only contribute 30 % of what we use in Medicare benefits. He understands how much waste, duplication and fraud there is in the Federal government .... and then he needs to enlist the American people to pressure Congress to act in these areas and others.
He isn't doing that and he needs to... for the good of the nation.
Michael
Michael,
Maybe Pres.Obama is taking some of V.P.Dick Cheney's advice in which the V.P. said,DEFICITS DON'T MATTER.
Sam,
Cheney was wrong and so is Obama.
Michael
In reply to Michael Casler;
What a huge difference between your wordings referring to President Obama in your letter to the letter and your 4:21PM post.
You repositioned yourself in the middle, and you made your point in that classic style of yours. Although I still somewhat disagree with you Michael, your latest post was back to your original classy, intelligent, and respectful mannerisms. Believe it or not, I admire this Mr. Casler style of writing. I look forward to your opinions in your next commentary or your letters to the editor.
In reply to Pat Hayes;
Your 4:18PM post was splendidly "spot-on". Another name that I would add on to the next generation of Republican leadership would be Marco Rubio. While I still disagree with a good bit of Republican philosophy, these new leaders are seemingly good heated politicians who do not panic the political opposition with threats and intimidation.
The right has moved so far right it's impossible to work with them. Mainstream GOP members have allowed the extremist "we hate everything" people to take control. Even those who are on the inside are asking WTF? Some are saying the whack jobs have taken control of the asylum. Until rational leaders take charge again, don't expect anything to be accomplished by this congress.
Republicans are a clown party even that deficit whining is a scam.
@ HackDelahunts....I'm not sure where you have been the past 35 years but the standard of living has been declining for that long. Used to be a family could buy a home, a car, pay their bills and send the kiddos to college on the wages of one worker. Now it takes at least two along with massive consumer debt. granted that some of that is for toys....a 4X, couple of ATV's or SeaSleds, a 72" TV plus TVs and cable in every room but most is from stagnated wages.
Carmine....
Are you saying that Dick Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush & George W Bush NEVER produced a balanced budget???
That was approximately 24 years of Republican control of the White House, and yet, the party that pretends to be fiscal conservatives weren't fiscal conservatives at all... WOW!
Doesn't that say loads about the Republican Party? How about "all talk and NO action?"
Michael Casler.......
How many times do we Democrats need to explain to
you republicans that debt and deficit are not the
immediate problem?
First, we need to sustain the economic recovery.
PRESIDENT OBAMA and the entire Democratic Party
have already turned around our ecomony from the
mess Bush and Cheney created.
MUCH IMPROVEMENT already.
You need to stop watching fox and stop letting
other republicans scare you.
Average and low income Americans cannot handle
any cuts at this time.
We need to consentrate on more jobs, better
education and improvement in our infrastructure.
Then my kids and your kids won't have anything to
worry about.
And if you had a union job, you wouldn't have to
worry about your retirement.
LIVE BETTER/WORK UNION!
El_Lobo.......
Carmine is still crying in his soup.
Republicans still don't get it.
Everything that republicans ran on was soundly
rejected by the majority of Americans.
And that will continue in the future.
The cpac clowns pvoved that the other day.
republicans have still learned nothing from their
huge loss.
And DEMOCRATS will win the White House again in
2016.
Either Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton will be
president with Bill Clinton or Barack Obama as
their vice president.
DEMOCRATS FOREVER!
Pay attention to this man:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/intervie...
Rosienda - "Repubs and the rest of the world KNOW that the greater benefit is SELF RELIANCE, not reliance on a sugar daddy government."
If that were true, why aren't private firms repairing our bridges and tunnels or rebuilding our roads? Companies use our infrastructure to ship and move products over land. Why are our power lines and gas pipe feeds in need of repair? The answer is, these private corporations want government funds (some skimmed off the top) to do the work.
Teamster,
I have nothing against unions, as long as they are in the private sector only and they continue to be formed by secret ballot.
I also agree that we need to rebuild infrastructure and fund education.
Where you and I part ways is that it appears that you wish to ignore the fact that there is huge waste, fraud and duplication in the Federal government and nothing is ever done about it, that Americans are taking out much more from some programs than is going in to fund them, and that economics tells us that inflation and a devaluing of currency often happens when borrowing and printing of money reaches a certain level.
I am not knee jerk on cuts and realize they must be implemented slowly and carefully and I don't favor decimating infrastructure and education spending, but I am worried that we don't appear to be willing to make much of a start.
Michael
"That was approximately 24 years of Republican control of the White House, and yet, the party that pretends to be fiscal conservatives weren't fiscal conservatives at all... WOW! Doesn't that say loads about the Republican Party? How about "all talk and NO action?" El Lobo
If you understood the answer I provided to your original question, you wouldn't have to ask. But since you did, the answer is the same as I provided before. Balancing the budget is a bipartisan effort with the President and Congress both willing and able to tackle the problem. Right now President Obama is unwilling and unable.
Carmine D
"Everything that republicans ran on was soundly
rejected by the majority of Americans." Teamster
Really? Tell me are the President's approval ratings dropping to below 50 percent AND all polls indicate that Americans believe the Republican Congress is better suited to deal with debts, deficits and budgets then the President. Do you think the American voters finally figured out that the President is playing them and not telling them the truth?
Carmine D
"And DEMOCRATS will win the White House again in
2016.
Either Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton will be
president with Bill Clinton or Barack Obama as
their vice president." Teamster
A rather small, old, and tired stable of presidential and vice presidential hopefuls for the race. With lots of heavy baggage.
Carmine D
Casler said:
"President Barack Obama seems much less concerned about the deficits and debt than I am."
I say:
Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish.
From Steve Been at the MaddowBlog:
"But there was one question in the poll (February 21st, 2013 Bloomberg News) that struck me as especially important: "Let's turn to the federal budget deficit. This is the amount the government spends that is more than the amount it takes in from taxes and other revenue. Is it your sense that this year the deficit is getting bigger or getting smaller, or is it staying about the same as last year?
I put together this chart to help highlight the Bloomberg results. A 62% majority believe the deficit is getting bigger, 28% believe the deficit is staying roughly the same, and only 6% believe the deficit is shrinking.
In other words, in the midst of a major national debate over America's finances, 90% of Americans are wrong about the one basic detail that probably matters most in the conversation, while only 6% -- 6%! -- are correct.
For the record, last year, over President Obama's first four years, the deficit shrunk by about $300 billion. This year, the deficit is projected to be about $600 billion smaller than when the president took office. We are, in reality, currently seeing the fastest deficit reduction in several generations.
And yet, 90% of Americans don't believe the demonstrable, incontrovertible, entirely objective truth. It's worth pondering why.
Public ignorance on this scale is, to my mind, understandable given the political conversation. Literally every day, Republican officials proclaim that the deficit is spiraling out of control, threatening the fate of Western Civilization As We Know It. The media often fails to play a constructive role, with news organizations playing along, telling the public that the deficit is necessarily a bad thing, and that policymakers have a responsibility to address it immediately.
Indeed, for the typical American news consumer, I imagine there's an assumption that comes alongside the fiscal debate: "The deficit must be getting bigger in a hurry, otherwise it'd be stupid for Washington to invest so much time and energy on this issue, instead of other pressing matters."
But the facts are the facts, even if only 6% of the country is aware of them.
Pointing figures at "parties" and PAC's while the boat is taking on water and sinking is like..... Totally irrelevant at who is to "blame." Who will take steps to fix it. Steps of solvency, stewardship, reasonableness, speed, common sense, NOW.
Jeff,
Some people prefer to believe in fiction.
Numbers, no matter how compelling, will not change the minds of the people living in the Bubble.
It comes down to one simple answer. That is, anything President Obama proposes, or is for, even if it is an item or issue that others like the Republicans once cherishes and championed, then they are all against it.
Look, not everthing the President has done is good. What is clear, the opposition to the President is deep rooted in bias and prejudice. Let's call it for what it is...Racism.
All evidence points to this conclusion. In a court of law, this would the finding.
Hmmmmmm....somethings never change. Take the attitude of Carmine for example.
Despite the fact that his beloved Republicans got their butt kicked big time this past November, and the election was a mandate for President Obama's policies, Carmine continues to live in his bubble and say things that simply aren't true...
His statement saying the following is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.
Carmine said:
"Really? Tell me are the President's approval ratings dropping to below 50 percent AND all polls indicate that Americans believe the Republican Congress is better suited to deal with debts, deficits and budgets then the President."
The last time I looked, Congress had approval ratings under 20%....
The last time I looked, the American voters had given President Obama a vote of confidence by re-electing him for another term...that was a mere 4+ months ago!
Actually, the last time Congress had ratings as low as they currently are, Harry Truman was president.
In short, Carmine is living in denial. He's not alone, however. There's a lot of Republicans out there who are doing the same thing....
I think that's great, particularly for the Democrats. Look for the Democrats to take back control of the House in 2014 and pick-up a few seats in the Senate.
It isn't logical, dear Michael. Ponzi scams are not logical. It is good that you feel fearful for our future and your grandkids too. You need to prepare for that time when the wheels come off the wagon. To be able to protect yourself and what is yours.
The only ones who don't live in fear are those who are willfully ignorant or the entirely apathetic. No brains. No headaches.
El Lobo:
Here's your assignment.
Research and ask any historian, politician and pollster, past present and future of whatever political party and persuasion, [and as many as you possibly can] what it means when a sitting President's approval rating drops by 7-10 points immediately following his reelection. To the 40's percentile. BTW, a reelection won by the slimmest of margins of popular votes by an incumbent president. Then ask what are the chances of the ratings going back up and under what circumstances?
When you get your answers, please post them here if you have the guts to admit and accept the truth.
Carmine D
CPAC is a collection of freaks and misfits having a circle j**k. It should be embarrasing for any respectable candidate to grovel before them. When Donald Trump is considered a credible candidate, you know you are running a freak show!
Carmine bullied:
"When you get your answers, please post them here if you have the guts to admit and accept the truth."
I say:
After all of the tortured logic you have used for your 8,000 or so posts, it is the opinion of the preponderance of people with an IQ above the Fox News threshold that you are the one who refuses to see the truth (Carmine, repeat after me "I was wrong about my 100% GUARANTEE of a Romney victory in the 2012 election), and when confronted with it, rather that display humbly, and yes, admit the truth, the whole truth, nothin but the truth, you pivot to another quasi-related footnote worthy subject and attack, like you did, the courage and intelligence of people who as noted above, are lightyears smarter that you currently are.
I believe you were a bright little boy, but someone turned the lights off and the library closed permanently and you have been stuck on the 13th floor ever since.
Jeff:
You're irrelevant and verbose in the process. A combination which often goes hand in hand with you and your posts. Except on rare occasions when you have the wherewithal, maturity, and wisdom to agree with me.
Carmine D
From the self-important, condescending Carmine:
"El Lobo: Here's your assignment.
...Ask any historian, politician and pollster ... what it means when a sitting President's approval rating drops by 7-10 points immediately following his reelection."
Well, there you have it, courtesy of prolific commenter Carmine; After his extreme rightwing party got stomped in the November elections in the ONLY POLL that actually matters, the latest empty spin from teabaggers is that the President Obama is unpopular.
That's the pathetic rhetoric of a loser. If they can't beat the Democrats at the ballot box, they'll try to tear them down in any manner possible.
Once more, time for another reality check:
PRESIDENT OBAMA -- 332 Electoral Votes
ETCH A SKETCH - 206 EV
Read it and weep again and again, baggers.
It would be interesting to see what Romney's popularity is now!! HAHAHAHA!!
Carmine, repeat after me "I was wrong about my 100% GUARANTEE of a Romney victory in the 2012 election".
Carmine.......
I repeat what I said earlier:
"The last time I looked, Congress had approval ratings under 20%....
The last time I looked, the American voters had given President Obama a vote of confidence by re-electing him for another term...that was a mere 4+ months ago!
Actually, the last time Congress had ratings as low as they currently are, Harry Truman was president.
In short, Carmine is living in denial. He's not alone, however. There's a lot of Republicans out there who are doing the same thing....
I think that's great, particularly for the Democrats. Look for the Democrats to take back control of the House in 2014 and pick-up a few seats in the Senate."
Carmine, spin it anyway you wish but Obama is still very popular among a majority of Americans.
Your statement saying that Obama won "reelection by the slimmest of margins of popular vote" is very funny and is a perfect example of how you attempt to "cherry pick" information to try and convince people that you actually know what your talking about.......
The last time I looked, the election of the president is determined by the electoral vote and not the popular vote. If the popular vote is what counts, then "clueless George" would NEVER have become the president....
Al Gore had more popular vote than junior did in 2000....I guess you are ignoring that fact or maybe you simply didn't know that? The latter is probably where the truth is...
The economy continues to improve and most people give President Obama credit for that happening, not the "party of NO" who have refused to work with the president on anything and everything....
A word of advice.....get out of that bubble that you live in. Find out what going on in the world and recognize the fact that your beloved Republican Party is in big, big trouble & may cease to exist as a party if it doesn't change its ways...
CarmineD: At 4:46 a.m. you commented "Tell me are the President's approval ratings dropping to below 50 percent AND all polls indicate that Americans believe the Republican Congress is better suited to deal with debts, deficits and budgets then the President."
You didn't give your source and I could not find anything specifically addressing "debts, deficits and budgets." What I DID find is data about general job performance - of which debts, deficits and budgets are a major part right now.
Per Quinnipiac University's poll released Feb 8,46% approved Obama's performance, 19% approved the performance of Congressional Republicans, 33% approved the performance of Congressional Democrats. More recently, The most recent Gallup poll, released March 11, shows that 48% approved Obama's job performance, and 13% approve Congress's performance. This is a trend that has been evident since well before the election.
I think the American voters figured out some time ago just who is playing them and not telling them the truth.
Roslenda: Ref your 7:56 a.m. You say "Pointing figures at "parties" and PAC's while the boat is taking on water and sinking is like..... Totally irrelevant at who is to "blame." Who will take steps to fix it. Steps of solvency, stewardship, reasonableness, speed, common sense, NOW."
I suggest that you look at the employment data for many months now and at the actual annual deficit figures for the last few years. The appropriate question is not "Who will..." but "Who IS taking steps to fix that sinking boat.
Right now, the Republican'ts can't be bothered about our sinking. They are too busy trying, yet AGAIN, to repeal Obamacare. This is, what, their 33rd or 34th attempt?
Robert:
Latest McClatchy-Marist polls to start. And a host of others.
Carmine D
El Lobo:
You get a zero for your last assignment. Now for extra credit tell us what liberal Bill Maher said about Iraq and taxes.
Carmine D
"Carmine, repeat after me "I was wrong about my 100% GUARANTEE of a Romney victory in the 2012 election"."
Jeff: That's a learning technique that best serves you and parrots.
Carmine D
"He's still vastly more popular than Congress, particularly congressional Republicans. But in the biggest political clash of the year -- over the federal budget and how to curb deficits -- voters split 44 percent to 42 percent between preferring Congress or Obama."
Carmine D
"The national survey, conducted four months after Obama was re-elected with 51 percent of the popular vote, found 45 percent of voters approving of the way he's handling his job and 48 percent disapproving."
Carmine D
"Obama's personal popularity also has declined, with 48 percent of voters having favorable impressions of him and 48 percent having unfavorable impressions. That was down from 53-44 in December. It also was the lowest since November 2011, when it was 47-49."
Carmine D
Carmine, repeat after me "I was wrong about my 100% GUARANTEE of a Romney victory in the 2012 election and I have been COMPLETELY wrong about Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi".
"The RealClearPolitics rolling average of Obama's approval polls peaked at 53.8 percent on Christmas Day. Since then it's steadily fallen to 48.8 percent, with 45.3 percent of respondents disapproving of the presidential performance."
Carmine D
Robert: the Obama administration keeps interfering with the recovery of our economy. We'd have double or triple the jobs created if they'd stay out of it--stay out of doom and gloom threats of more interference.
"Carmine, repeat after me "I was wrong about my 100% GUARANTEE of a Romney victory in the 2012 election and I have been COMPLETELY wrong about Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi"."
Jeff:
You don't even want to go there. I said on 9-12 here it was a terrorist attack. You like the White House said it was the video.
Diminish, delay, blame. 3 features of a cover up.
Jay Carney said today that 6 months after Benghazi President Obama has not met, talked with, or followed up, through his intermediaries, with any survivors of Benghazi. And quite likely, neither has former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. BUT the current Secretary of State, John Kerry has.
Carmine D
"A Reuters/Ipsos online poll released on Wednesday showed 43 percent of people approve of Obama's handling of his job, down 7 percentage points from Feb. 19."
Carmine D
Poor Carmine, after the GOP was thoroughly beatdown in November all that's left for him to hold onto is something about Obama's current poll numbers.
But that's what happens when republicans lose to a black Kenyon-born Muslim Marxist socialist who was reelected despite 8 percent unemployment and continuing gridlock by the Teabag-controlled House.
Personally, if I were a losing Teabagger I'd be focused on trying to fix the many positions ny party has taken that give voters the heebeegeebees.
"Barack Obama's approval rating started sliding in Gallup, and last week Reuters had him at 43%. Today, the Washington Post reports that Obama has lost five points in approval in their latest poll, with the most significant decline in his economic policies..."
Carmine D
Robert: Do you need more?
Carmine D
"Poor Carmine, after the GOP was thoroughly beatdown in November all that's left for him to hold onto is something about Obama's current poll numbers."
Not me Last Throes. President Obama. After 4 years of "up yours" and "I don't need you" to the GOP, he's now making romance with them. Why? Three words: Declining poll numbers.
Carmine D
Carmine you and Jeff from vegas should do a political routine together. I have thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth.
Oh Jeff, Carmine is not wrong on Benghazi. You should want answers too but I guess you feel the murder of Americans is OK.
Carmine, what is Romney's popularity is now!! HAHAHAHA!!
The Republicans had 4 years of "up yours black man" to Obama, and guess what, he got re-elected EASILY! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Carmine said:
"Robert: Do you need more?
Carmine D"
I say:
Please, continue typing till your fingers shrivel like the organ in your head has.
Chuck333 said:
"Oh Jeff, Carmine is not wrong on Benghazi. You should want answers too but I guess you feel the murder of Americans is OK'.
I say:
Ooooooooooooooooooooo
You caught me, do you want to know where I am placing my bets for the next set of US consular employees to be whacked?
We have a fight song too over here at the Murder Americans treehouse.
Die die die
Americans must die
Never in Jersey
only in the Arab lands
So we can kill them too!
As the entire free world knows, Obama was reelected with over 51% of the popular vote and 332 electoral votes. So the question is, what went wrong for republicans in the November elections? Was it their anti-science, faith-based dogma that says the earth is 6000-years-old and that Jesus rode around on his favorite dinosaur, preaching the gospel?
No one can say for certain, but one thing is clear; if the GOP stays the course with their current anti-gay, anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-government, anti-environment, anti-everything agenda -- they'll end up like their dead sisters, the Whigs.
LastThroes commented:
"No one can say for certain, but one thing is clear; if the GOP stays the course with their current anti-gay, anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-government, anti-environment, anti-everything agenda -- they'll end up like their dead sisters, the Whigs.
I say:
Or even worse, a MODERN WHIG!
Michael Casler....
I don't ignore the fact that there is waste in
certain areas of our economy but I don't believe
in cutting programs that help average and low
income Americans.
We need to focus on finding waste without hurting
average Americans.
A major problem that effects all Americans is the
outrageous charges by hospitals, doctors and
and dentists.
Insurance companies pay the bills but have to
raise their rates because of this.
Some hospitals and doctors use different codes so
they can get away with double charging insurance
companies.
This needs to be fixed too.
Much work still needs to be done.
Carmine......
Paul Ryan and John Bohner now agree with PRESIDENT
OBAMA that debt and deficit are not the immediate
problem.
You need to keep up with the news.
And our old DEMOCRATS are light years ahead of
republicans, young and old.
The new young republicans already created enough
baggage to lose the next several elections.
republicans fool no one.
Jeff.....
Great comment.
YES, the deficit shrank under Obama and will
continue to do so.
And only 6% of Americans know this.
Good work.
El_Lobo.....
YES, Carmine still lives in the bubble.
And Bill Maher said that the CPAC is a convention
for republicans with the hoods off.
I wonder what he ment by that?
"Carmine......
Paul Ryan and John Boehner now agree with PRESIDENT
OBAMA that debt and deficit are not the immediate
problem."
Teamster: "The" immediate problem is J-O-B-S. Second immediate problem is out of control government spending.
We have to fix both to fix debt and deficits.
Carmine D
"Carmine you and Jeff from vegas should do a political routine together."
Thank you Future333. But Jeff can't afford me!
Carmine D
"And Bill Maher said that the CPAC is a convention
for republicans with the hoods off.
I wonder what he ment by that?"
Wrong Teamster: My question was clear: "tell us what liberal Bill Maher said about Iraq and taxes/"
Lest you forget it is the Democratic party that was the party of slavery and the KKK!
Carmine D
Carmine did you really expect teamster to know anything about history when you asked about what party the KKK was part of? He probably thinks Kennedy freed the slaves. LOL
Carmine:
What Maher said about Iraq is he expected it do have disintegrated but that he was surprised it still existed. That is praise for the Iraqi people, not for Bush and his co-conspirators. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-de... watch the whole clip.
Regarding taxes. "I just want to say liberals, you could actually lose me. It's outrageous what we're paying. Over 50 percent -- I'm willing to pay my share but yeah, it's ridiculous." So yes Carmine, even liberals don't like paying taxes, but here you will get educated as to what he really thinks. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/17...
As usual you are slanting what people say to fit your agenda, you are a propagandist. I am presenting you with the truth, the whole truth, nothin but the truth. And I am now awaiting your next set of weasel words.
Carmine said:
""Carmine you and Jeff from vegas should do a political routine together."
Thank you Future333. But Jeff can't afford me!
Carmine D"
I say:
You are eminently replaceable -- I would have hired one of Ref's sweatshop employees from his outsource America company and replaced you with a non English speaking China-man.
He would have made more sense than you in the first 15 minutes than you have in 3 years here.
Carmine said:
"Lest you forget it is the Democratic party that was the party of slavery and the KKK!"
I Say:
And as we have matured as a country the republicans have switched places in the natural progression of what should have been apparent from day one here.
The same way democrats have a chequered past, the republicans have a chequered recent past and present.
I would have stood shoulder to shoulder with Abraham and Theodore, but with Reagan and Bush the dumber I want as much daylight as possible between us.
"Carmine did you really expect teamster to know anything about history when you asked about what party the KKK was part of? He probably thinks Kennedy freed the slaves. LOL"
Future333:
What the Kennedy's did was to put James R. Hoffa, Teamster's hero [and mine I might add] in jail for 13 years. President Nixon, a Republican, pardoned him after 11. I've told this to Teamster as many times as the number in your name above. Teamster refuses to comment on it.
Carmine D
President Nixon, a Republican committed treason to get elected, and it's on tape and confessed to by his emissary http://msnbcpod.vo.llnwd.net/l1/video/po...
Pssst
c'mere old timer.
I wanna whisper this to you...
There is "future" and there is "chuck333"
There is no "future333" (Thank goodness).
We know how your thoughts run together and you need to make 7 posts when 1 would suffice, but now you are combining people.
Time to increase the meds...
"There is "future" and there is "chuck333"
I like and respect both, even if I confuse their posts here. As the saying goes: Great minds travel in similar paths. And theirs' do.
Carmine D
Hey Jeff be glad I'm around at least this way I/we can straighten you out when you're history gets mixed up.
It is more akin to the blind following the oldest blind guy...
"There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See."
Jeff, take your bow.
Carmine D
Carmine said:
"There Are None So Blind As Those Who Will Not See."
I say:
If you are talking about the American Catholic Cardinals - you've got a point - there are a lot of people who have been abused by the attitudes of hear no evil, etc. practiced by generations of Catholics.
The Catholic Church is right behind (no pun intended) Walmart as America's second largest employer. If Walmart had buggered half the little boys the Catholics have no one would shop there, they'd be out of business.
No Jeff, I was talking specifically about and to you. There is and has been no discussion at all here about the Catholic Church and Cardinals. Different thread altogether. Try and keep up here. You're falling way behind.
Carmine D
Carmine said:
"There is and has been no discussion at all here about the Catholic Church and Cardinals. Different thread altogether. Try and keep up here. You're falling way behind."
I say:
You've got a big mouth on everything else, why so quiet on priestly child abuse? Every time a new priest gets sent into a parish, gotta get some chastity butt belts for the alter boys. Messy, messy, messy if mommy loses the key...
The only time I am anywhere near behind you is when I am lapping you, AGAIN.
As usual Jeff, you are irrelevant. At least you took the hint on your verbosity. Hope it lasts but I'm not optimistic. You like to prove me wrong, please do so.
Carmine D
Carmine:
You are telegraphing when you lose an argument with me, you hit me with the "You are Irrelevant" line.
Just wanted to let you know I see right through it.
The only difference between arguing with you and a rock is that the rock has enough sense to know when it's wrong.
Carmine D
Carmine -- I don't argue with you at all. I give you rehabilitation therapy and correct your gross inaccuracies.
Heal thyself first!
Carmine D