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Subscribe to RSSIf there's a government shutdown, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that there will be enough blame to go around.
A plurality of 37 percent say they would blame congressional Republicans if the current budget disagreement leads to a shutdown of the federal government, while 20 percent say they would blame President Obama and another 20 percent would blame congressional Democrats.
Seventeen percent say they would blame everyone, and another 2 percent say they would blame both Obama and congressional Democrats.
The full NBC/WSJ poll -- which was conducted March 31 to April 4, 2011, and which has a margin of error of plus-minus 3.1 percentage points -- will be released at 6:30 pm ET.
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What can be said . . . this is another shining example of the failure of the 2-party system. Everyone slings blame and NO ONE will take responsibility and represent their constituents (instead of just their party). Why is everyone still "married" to this 2-party system? Neither party ever does what they claim they will do (except cause this country heartaches), and they continue to divide a very fragile country.
I don't know how you can argue that the 2-party system has failed. We've had a 2-party system since the US was founded and it's worked about as well as any could be expected to. You're right that neither party does what they claim they will do. They can't. Campaign promises are always "goals", not really promises in the usual sense. And I can't agree that they continue to divide a very fragile country. It's not the "party", it's the character of the people elected who are currently making extreme demands. Ultimately -- since the ideologues ARE elected -- a lot of the responsibility must rest with the electorate and the campaign contributors who allowed them to take office. "People get the government they deserve." Many Americans right now seem possessed by an unfocused rage that is aimed at everyone except themselves. It wouldn't make much difference if you had 3 parties -- or 4 or 5. The ultimate cause of our distress is our own anger and our own ignorance of the cause of that anger.
"Must a government be too strong for the liberties of its people or too weak to maintain its own existence."
-Abraham Lincoln
first, the people who really want to turn this country around have got to get it thru their heads that they are not going to get any help from the right.
it's pathetic, but the respectable, intelligent and responsible right wing has disappeared in this country. the rite has degenerated into a gang of irresponsible liars and cowards. it pains me to say it, but it must be said. and that said, the left has got to get it out of their head that we can deal w/ the right any more through dialog and debate.
they do not want or care about debate - they care about hate and power. they are willing to bring down the country to maintain power - they use the power to cut off any help to anyone they view as getting something for nothing. is a more irresponsible attitude possible. i am 53 years old and i have yet to see a republican do anything for the good of the country if it cost them in terms of power.
liars. the democrats tried to submit a budget all last fall, and the repub's kept filibustering not allowing it to even come to the floor. in sept, the demo leadership came to them and asked them,"ok, what's your number?" - boner told them $32m. a month later the dem's accepted their offer and the repub's still refused to make a deal (also read "keep their word"). they just moved the goal post to $60m. i guarantee you, if reid agreed to $60m it'll go to $100m.
we've all seen it over and over - when their over the top, irresponsible b/s backfires in their faces, they just lie about it and keep going. i don't mind their having their own opinion - it's them having their own (changing) version of reality i object to.
cowards. cowards b/c every single cut they have proposed comes from the weakest among us... kids, the sick, the unemployed and the elderly. not a dime from corporate hand-outs or the $70 odd billion that was identified just last week in a study of the dod. just take it from the the kids, the sick, the elderly and unemployed. cowards.
i have said all of the above to say this : it is time for the left to recognise the real nature of the enemy, take off the white gloves and get down in the gutter with him. that is where the fight is going to take place and there is nothing we can do to change that. they don't care about you, your kids, the weakest among us, the country or anything else.... they care about power, the holding on to power, and getting their way. and they sure as hell don't care about the weak and helpless. they hate them b/c they preceive them as the ones getting something for nothing... especially if their skin is a little daker than theirs.
wake up, smell the coffee.
You couldn't help yourself, could you? You had to play the race card.
As a White American Brotha!..I have seen the Race Card is actually a Full Deck...I cannot believe the ignorance in this country that people would wreck a country for selfish desires and Fear a Black Man or Muslim Or Whtever those in the Southern Ignorant states want to claim...The Race Card is not Neary as Overt..as the NAZI card is for These Republicans..who are Overqualified to be sent to Hell...with a Budget!
rog,,,wake up and smell the coffee?? You should put down that crackpipe and 40ozer.
TESTER...
I see you picked up on my location. But let me assure you that just because I live in the South doesn't automatically make me stupid or a racist. I was educated in the Northeast in some of the oldest institutions in this country. And if you haven't been to Houston let me tell you it is one of the most racially diverse and peaceful places in the country. I am not afraid of 'Black Men or Muslim Or Whatever' and don't quite know what you are talking about there. My point was simple... when libs can't think of anything better to say they throw out the race card. It's their ace in the hole and you demonstrated it perfectly.
You continue to accuse the poster of playing the race card (without ever addressing the issue). I'd be curious to know what people think about Glenn Beck's TV claim that Obama has a deep-seated hatred for the white race -- or Donald Trumps argument that he is not an American -- or the roughly half of Republicans who believe he is not a legitimate president because he was born elsewhere.
He can't respond because, when it's obvious that they're racist based on their comments and you you call them on it, they fall back on your using the race card. They then cry foul, hoping they will get away with it.
They are arguing over semantics and technicalities. It budgeting, numbers, figures and estimates. We may not know exactly what GDP will be in the future, but we can get close.
Spending is 40% of GDP. Set taxes across the board at that level. Balanced budget.
After that, start cutting spending and see how much you can reduce the tax rate. Cut more, reduce more.
When you can't possibly cut any more, thats the final tax rate, PERIOD!
After that maybe you can argue about which sectors pay which portion of that final tax rate, but you can't lower the overall tax rate or else you unbalance the budget.
No body wants to talk about the tax rate that will save us. Repubs only want to talk about cuts cuts cuts, when they don't actually know what level of taxes are needed to balance the budget.
Wether you belive me or not..or you care..I feel special because I know that when Obama Was elected I was not on the bandwagon,I don't watch American Idol,it was getting ridiculous seeing how much of a Rock Star" GOD" Obama was praised to be. So I sat and began to watch very intensely how this Experiment in American Politics was gonna go down...Non Biased and Un-affected I was Lucky to be able to watch a Episode of a Great or Terrible TV show...
After 2 years and 2 months...I have watched this Ganeunfold and Have sadly discovered that The American Public is Completely Unaware of Reality..is easily fooled and BLEW IT! when it came to possibly having had a Great President..who from the moment he entered office was the Target of a Furiously Angry FACTION called the Republicans..I saw Blame placed at him when it was a Set Up..Lies told to the Public and Voters somehow unaware the traps set and a Abandonment of a President..I have seen a group of individuals who are clearly Very well Versed in psychological manipulation and propaganda. I had the Free Time to Study Facts..history and My God!..It does not matter what your views are politically, The Methods!..I repeat ""The Methods" in which the Reoublicans who are in fact Totally accountable for the Deficit,For prolonging the Recession and un my Honest opinion a enemy to the U.S. as a WHOLE. Clearly Lying about Job Creation..and being believed..even still...When you ask people Why they Did or Did Not Vote..and you ask them what the Issues are...They Fail Miserably..This has been a topic of Many intellectual Reports."The Republican victories in November were ill legit. The Deficit is not even close to being of Concern..Obama was elected to Face Against the Very People many voted in, undisclised to them was the Bait and Switch trickery. Even on the day after the election The GOP boldly announced "This is not about Jobs it is about making Obama a One Term Ptresident"..and Everyonre stood IDLE..I was stunned at the Arrogant Swagger of a PArty on Parole..and 12 hours earlier Denouncing the Lack of Accomplishments and now admitting they must Undo All this Man had Done...ad people believed that...I even have pondered notions like BrainWashing or some sort of Bizare zonw in which Obama was seen as aLiar and in fact he is a victim...I do not ant to hear any Comparisons that "Dems and Republicans are equaly evil...I have yet to see a single prediction of the Right Wing come true,Communist?No Birth Certificate....I WISH I could see what the World would be like had Obama been allowed to deliver us th Dream promised.Even I was fooled thinking Obama had Anything to do with The Wsll Street Bailout..its a MYTH.GM bailout rarely mentioned and Stimuls are Successes..and the Fact some people..TOO MANY people are blind to how The Republicans Roll..
Again..I was just a observer 2 years ago..Now as f inpired by a greater
power..I feel this is so Severe a an Issue I openly challnge any Consrvative ....If this country ends up any better I would be Shicked..So far Every Target of The Defacto Reublicans has enraged Americans..Americans were led into a Zombie Atate..For they have the innocent Guilty and Cheering like Drunk Raiders Fans for a Smaller Goverment..! LMAO..They give Obama a Massive Debt...Terribleneed for Gvt Assistance...YET STILL SAY he cannot spend a Dime..Rather he must waste time paying the republican Accrued Deftl
tester,,,ANYTIME you want to pick out one subject and debate it on obama instead of throwing out muiltipal one line bullcrap statements then you will be worth listening to! As of now, I feel you are lieing only to yourself when you say you were nonbiased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tester's not too articulate but he has a point. And you're statement doesn't improve on his by saying that all his arguments are nothing more than "bullcrap statements." That's just name calling.
It is sad to see no one with the courage to take on the billions in tax give-a-way that go to foreign own mines, corporate farm, waste full military projects that the military doesn't want. The saving there would more than bridge the 7 billion dollar gap. Instead we get riders with social agendas. What a crule joke.
None of the parties are not looking out for the average american. They let ego and pride dictate their actions. They put out false info on unemployment numbers, they allow false reporting on the nuclear disaster in Japan and how it will effect us, they falsly report global warming to save space programs ect. For eachh satelite it took rocket fuel to get there, The shuttle going in and out our ozone burning rocket fuel burning holes in our atmosphere. They want to cut proograms cut the space programs for a few years We wont have government shut down, schools could upgrade teaching , try and catch up to other nations that put all in to education.
A nation of LOTTERIES and schools shutting down, wheres that money. They want to fix a budget, quit sending billions to other countries .When your family(United States) is strong in every way then you can help others, instead of shutting down our government. Quit paying all congress ect. I know if at anytime I did not do my job Not only would I not get paid I would get fired. What makes them special ?
Douglas (Doug E) Brafford says : Shut it down now and leave it shut down forever. It's the only chance this Republic has.
Douglas E (Doug E) Brafford says "The extent to which the ignorant masses (including, particularly, the ignorant politicians) still point the finger at the other party, is absolutely hilarious. The truth has been, is now, and will always remain that THE REAL POWER BROKERS (BIG BANKS, ECT) control both parties and all politicians.
Of course the American people again are about as intelligent as a rock. How about we look at the bigger picture, rather then who is to blame for a government shutdown. If they do agree, what will happen? Do you think they will go into the rich and vast USA vault and scoop up billions of dollars to keep America chugging? Reality check! All they will/can do is dig our debt grave a little deeper. Which is something we should fear a hundred times more then a government shutdown. The US dollar is becoming worth less and less and eventually you wont be able to give it away.
A lot of attention is understandably being directed at very minor (but strongly symbolic) issues like cutting funding for Planned Parenthood (even though no tax money pays for abortion and even though eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood would unquestionably result in higher rates of expensive illnesses among poor women). NPR gets its pink slip too. So does the EPA because, after all, who needs the government to monitor the amount of arsenic in our drinking water? Bush's EPA raised the tolerance limits for arsenic. And do we see people dropping dead all over the place from arsenic poisoning? No, we don't. The EPA is also full of egghead scientists who "believe in" anthropogenic global warming, just like the egghead AMA, the egghead American Meteorological Society, and the egghead National Academy of Sciences. Too many eggheads around, if you ask us ordinary folks, proud of the fact that we don't know which country we won our independence from.
What doesn't get addressed in this silly argument is enhanced revenue. That's one of the two ways you balance any budget when you're spending too much. You can cut spending and/or bring in more money.
Nobody seems to care that major companies like BofA pay no taxes, or that ExxonMobil, which has made record profits, not only pays no federal taxes but gets over a hundred million in refunds. GE pays no taxes either. And why not?
GE's tax return was 27,000 pages long, full of addenda and footnotes, assembled by an army of expensive lawyers and tax consultants. This is far beyond the capacity of the IRS to manage. They don't have the personnel because they don't have the money to hire them. The GOP are demanding still further cuts in the IRS budget.
How can they make their agenda clearer than they already have? Do they need to put an animated cartoon on YouTube, as they do for children? The A,B,Cs of working for corporations and blaming the poor?
I really appreciate the poll takers and the writer of this article spelling out the numbers so clearly so we know who is to blame.
37 percent believe Republicans are to blame - Clearly, the Republicans are the losers here
Only 20 percent believe Democrats are to blame - WOW, dodged that bullet!
20 percent for the President
Wait a Second! Let me get my calculator... + - / x = OH! 20+20=40
SO, 40 percent think the Democrats are to blame. But wait, there's more! 2 percent thing BOTH Democrats AND the President are to blame.
That equals a total of 42 Percent that believe Democrats are to blame. WOW, sounds different when it's written that way huh?
Kinda seems like a David Copperfield kinda way of writing and taking polls... Almost pulled the wool over my eyes.
A good guess is that, like the health care fiasco, about half the people who were polled -- regardless of who they blamed -- didn't know what the hell they were talking about.