Deb not surprised because like WI, MI, OH this is not about the budget either. It is about circumventing an economy that is recovering. The GOP would rather tank the economy than have the Obama administration succeed at anything. Why else would the GOP continue to refuse every concession to their demands?

beccajean, you are so right! The Teapublicans will bring this country to it's knees before letting the Dems claim a victory on anything. The Teapublicans should all be tried for Treason!

The economy is recovering because the Republicans held the line of extending ALL the "Bush Era" tax cuts. It's preposterous to even contemplate the concept that Obama's "deliberative" inaction has anything to do with the economy recovering. Wake Up People!

We have a $1.6 TRILLION deficit just for this year alone and we are struggling to cut $20-$30 or even $60 Billion from the budget. Our debt will NEVER be repaid and in 10 years the US will pay about $1 TRILLION in interest expense per year, remember this will never go away and it will in fact get worse by the minute. At what point do we realize that the US IS BANKRUPT AND WE SHOULD ACT LIKE ONE. Sad to say but our only solution to our deficit/debt problem is to have the whole system collapse so we can start all over because we don't have the decency to live within our means. How do we motivate the future generation when we have destroyed it for them because of our own GREED.

Your facts are a little wrong.

They couldn't pass a budget when they controlled all of DC, because they did not have a Filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Republicans put secret anonymous holds and filibusters on each budget proposal.

So while its nice to say "Democrats couldn't pass a budget", it goes right back to the Republicans delaying any bill from passing.

Actually not true the Dems passed a budget bill in November and The Republicants blocked the Budget from coming to the floor so get your facts right....LIAR I love the way these dummy Repubs write there own history to everything...

Tom Bru the Democrats need to be charged with dereliction of duty for failing to pass a budget last year, when this budget should have been passed. They did not try to debate nor negotiate, they just cut and ran to the campaign trail.

The budget should been passed before the current fiscal year started last Oct. 1 which is the potus responsibility. Why no outrage by the extremist then? BO talks about political posturing by the GOP but it's all he has done since taking the WH which he and the left wing extreme radicals plan on buying again.

The teabaggers are a bunch of runny nosed little first termers who believe in the toothfairy and santa claus..they think if they make a wish they will have their way. They havent taken into consideration the ramifications of their actions on real people and they dont care. They only want their way...this could be disasterous for the rest of us. Someone needs to sit them down and give them some history lessons. I think anyone who runs for office should be required to take a test on economics and history.

folks-- the democrats did pass a budget in the house last year-- it was filibustered in the senate and never got passed... that is not the fault of the house democrats that McConnell and the party of NO didn't want to get anything accomplished. McConnell is even more useless than Boehner -- at least Boehner knows he needs to get something passed... hes just not willing to stand up to the tea party.

Why, why, why was Feisty's post deleted??????

There was NOTHING deflammatory in her post and it was pertinent to the blog topic. This is outrageous.

TO: Longhair who wrote:

“The Democrats were the ones who couldn't put a budget out last year…”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

So, what has that got to do with Republicans forcing a government shut down?

With your comment, I can absolutely see why most say this all about politics and nothing more.

Is it all about Republicans trying to make a moot point? That’s called “politics.”

If the republicans get all that they want people will suffer. I hope Obama and Reid hold I do not want a shut down but to close down these essential agencies is criminal.

Good to know that when the facts aren't on the Republican side, they can continue to just make up their own revisionist history again. This country is screwed. Thanks Tea Party.

Beccajean is so right. This is due to the teapublicans!

There was NOTHING deflammatory in her post and it was pertinent to the blog topic. This is outrageous.

Goes to show that CENSORSHIP is ALIVE & kicking here, compliments of ComCast!

IntheMiddle, TX

Look it's the Tea kettle calling the pot black.

tontosh-2444879

“…our only solution to our deficit/debt problem is to have the whole system collapse…”

^^^^^^^^^^^^

That makes about as much sense as saying get hit by terrorists made you feel more “safe”.

The last time the government shut down (1995-1996?) the economy did not suffer in fact the economy was much better for it because it forced then President Clinton to compromise, cut spending and work toward reducing the deficit. Unfortunately much was left undone then by both parties and as the economy improved uncontrolled spending was again the way of Washington.

Either we control spending, stick to a plan to reduce and finally eliminate the tremendous burden (deficit), including entitlements, or we continue on this path right off the cliff and into financial pergutory. Polititians of both parties need to take a stand, have some balls, and do what is right for the long term future of this country. We cannot tax or government spend our way out of this economic malase both political parties have created.

Ok Feisty, now what are you going to do about it? Is this Feisty moniker a charade? You are not going to stand for such rank mistreatment, right?

So the way I figure it you have to stand up for yourself.

Do it, or from here on in you will have absolutely no cred ability.

The democrats controlled the house and the senate last year and passed Obamacare which was the worst piece of legislation ever bamboozeled on the public and you lie through your tonsils by stating to the world that the republicans blocked a budget legislation bill. Not one republican was needed to pass anything in the 111th Congress because of the Democratic super majority. As much as your prevaricator-in-chief hides more truth than fiction its unbelievable that someone out there is actually that clueless. We are a year from financially tanking as a nation and if these politicians don't get serious about making deep cuts in the budget we will be scuffling to eat. The Chinese are not too worried about our ability to pay our debt, but they will require our language to change from English to Chinese. Man, get engaged, our country may not be tailor made for you, but I guarantee you that you won't like whats coming. I spent lots of years in the military in lots of countries and I wouldn't trade the whole bunch of them for what we got, even with our social problems, because we always have hope and opportunity many of these other countries have nothing, that's why there is so many countries fighting and why there is so many deadly ideologies that believe they should be a martyr.

I'm fed up with both sides worrying about themselves than worrying about the citizens who will ultimately pay the price. The games have to stop. We need to get these rich and arrogant full of hot air politicians out and have real people who represent the majority of citizens, not the rich who have no clue as to how the average citizen is hurting due to their inaction and incompetence.

So many of you crack me up! America has a debt issue (helloooooooo) and we need to do something about it. Dem this, Tea that, Rep this.... when will we realize our account is overdrawn and "you can't always get what you want"! The solution will result in suffering MORE if we do not do something soon.

Too many posters only attach the rich, business, old, youngg and claim that the poor and middle class should not have to play any part of the solution- EVERYONE should have to pay to resolve this debt issue. The reality is the only reason one would argue this is due to their personal GREED.

No loopholes or deductions for business, rich, middle class or poor- flat tax everyone.

Dan H,

Pass it in the House and hand it to Reid. Then it will be on him if the shut down happens.

They already did that in January - February. Harry hasn't done CRAP in the Senate since! NOT EVEN A FLOOR VOTE!

“It’s not realistic to shut down the government on a debate dealing with abortion,” the Nevada lawmaker said. “It’s not realistic and it’s not fair to the American people.”

At least some of the government is defending the unborn murdered children. Reid says it's not fair to the American people. What about the aborted Americans who had no say? What about the 1000's who don't want their TAX DOLLARS going to Planned Unparenthood?? Reid, you are despicable!

beccajean, you are so wrong! If you lived in one of those states you mentioned, (I live in Ohio,) you would know the truth of it. Ohio is languishing from heavy job losses. The 2 principle reasons for this? Taxes and the Unions. We want to have some of the recovery others keep claiming is happening in the US. If we don't change those things that have encouraged jobs to leave the State, nothing will change for us. In the case of the Federal Govt., they have spent WAY, WAY, WAY beyond their budget. This needs to stop. We need to stop raising the debt ceiling and getting loans from China to pay for this.

Oh and to the FiestyRedhead groupies.... most of those comments are inflammatory and worthy to be collapsed. Today's must of been a doozie since it was deleted so quickly. No loss for the rest of us.

Feisty, Sorry you got deleted I usually read your post even if they are collapsed. How do you get deleted?

Here's an idea, List all the things that each side wants to fully cut that differs from the other side, and cut all of them by half of what they want.

The Democrats didn't get a budget done in Oct. because there were alot of seats up for election and the democrats knew they would take a beating on the spending in the budget if it was put together at that time.

Instead they lost the house anyway and now want to blame Republicans AGAIN for their incompetence. Did they ever accomplish a single thing while in complete control?

When will you Democrats learn that 1) you're as smart as you think and 2) you can't spend what you don't have? For a group of people who claim to be so smart all the time why can't you figure out that basic principle of finance?

House Republicans are lobbying for some “policy riders” – attachments to the budget bill – including ones that would defund the president’s health care plan, cut all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, and target EPA greenhouse gas rules.

Those riders, particularly those relating to abortion, have no place in a budget bill, an exasperated Reid argued.

Hey Mr. Reid.....why were the issues in the budget the FIRST PLACE ? Who drafted and submitted the 2011 National Budget ? Why wasn't the 2011 budget finalized ? Oh, the Democratic President, the Democratic controlled House, and the Democratic controlled Senate didn't get the 2011 budget secured in the first place since they were ALL working behind closed doors to get votes for the Unconstitutional Mandated Universal Health Care Reform legislation !!!

Now you are saying the government is heading for a "shutdown" based upon you, the President and Senator Pelosi, lack of attention to detail. And mudslinging at the "other" party ? Put the blame where it belongs....in your lap.

Wow, such vision for an intellectual leader from the Ultra Liberal Progressive Democratic Party.

If they pass the medicare/medicade cuts, I would call that breech of contract... we all paid into that from our paychecks and will continue to have to with no benefits for ourselves!!

How many furlough days do members of the House and Senate need to take to balance the budget? What is good for the goose ...

I can't understand the lies from the left. Please show us the proposed budget bill that the republicans filibustered last year. The dems didn't even try to get one to a vote. You lefties are telling stories again.

The democrats were afraid to talk about the budget before the elections because they had screwed everything up so much. Now the republicans want to get started fixing things and all we have is the dem party of NO. We are broke. If Harry doesn't like some of the things in the republicans budget he should propose different cuts. But all he does is say NO.

What's with all this comment collapsing and deletions? Where's the freedom of speech. This is the worst thread I've ever been on for this crap! You don't like a comment, speak to it, but leave it alone! Where are the grownups here? Silly.

LOL, Feisty's post was deleted. I have no idea why, but I am not surprised.

Feisty would probably hate to admit it, but the only difference between Feisty and Glen Beck is the party they each support. Having a point of view is one thing. Incessantly bombarding the airwaves with blabber and zero debate is pointless. I don't mind someone being 'Feisty' and sometimes the stuff is entertaining. But let's face it, at this point, Feisty's posts are propaganda, and Feisty has more in common with the 700 club than any actual debator from the left, right or center.

Doesn't mean I think the comment should have been deleted, but well, I'm sure the spew will be forthcoming anyway.

JH.....they didn't pass it because the Republicans "threatened" to filibuster it until AFTER the elections. You know, you need to educate yourself before you enter your comments. The Democrats were all set to finalize a budget that would have worked, but it was blocked AGAIN by the "Party of No," and it's still blocked.

As for the abortion question...whatever happened to Roe vs Wade? Until ONE man gets pregnant and is forced to have a baby.....any man who is against abortion doesn't have a right to make ANY comments! Sorry, but that's my opinion only. I don't expect everyone to agree, so you don't need to respond with your asnine comments.

If a comment is collapsed you can still read it by clicking on the "collapsed by community" line. But if your comment is DELETED, then you must have pissed off the pope or somebody important. Way to go Fiesty!

Astonished and other flighty righties: The Democratic Congress DID pass a budget - it was sent to the Senate where the Democrats held a majority - that's a fact. Why didn't it pass the Senate? Not Harry Reid's fault - your fearless Republican leaders, who, despite being in the minority - defeated it. Because the Democrats in the Senate did not hold a FILIBUSTER-proof majority. It was the Republicans who, by filibustering, refused to allow the budget to come to the floor to even be DISCUSSED. Nice job of forcing minority rule, Publicans!! But maybe you righties should do a fact check so you know who to blame. The current dysfunction is caused by right-wingers who want to control every woman's ovaries and make us all breathe the crap their corporate friends spew into the air - while preserving and ADDING to the tax breaks for their uber-wealthy friends. PLEASE learn to be curious and READ - rather than vomiting the same sputum you are receiving from morons who have an interest in manipulating you.

Jimboinatlanta,

They have agreed on a budget cut but the republicans are trying to pu in riders such as not funding the heath care bill and other politically mmotivated items. So get off of the amount and discuss whether this is the right time to have a battle over ideology.

Right back at cha'

You can collapse it again, still will not change anything.

Comment collapsed by the community

• Amy:
• Maybe it was deleted because people are tired of hearing her BS. You're right there was nothing "DEFLAMMATORY" , it ws INflammatory and basically advertisement of an ideology no one but idiots prescribe to....

• • 8
• !

#2.23 - Thu Apr 7, 2011 10:46 AM CDT

I love how every Republican here completely ignores the main point of the article.

Both parties AGREE on the amount of cuts . . . and you Republicans STILL say the Dems only want to spend more money. They agreed on the cuts, and you interpret that as "spend more". Learn to read.

The ONLY thing holding this up is the Republicans insisting on pushing their social agenda items. Not one of your Repubs will admit to this . . . NOT ONE. These items should not even be on the budget, and you know that.

So instead of trying to defend your current actions, the Repubs desperately try to shift the conversation towards "well the budget should have been done earlier" . . . a pathetic attempt to avoid discussing the current issue of social agenda vs. budget plan.

Lucy, Putting the abortion issue on to a bill trying to reduce a lot of debt is just stupid. In the first place fetuses are not babies. They cannot live outside of the woman's body. You and the other anti-abortion idiots need to keep your hands out of other women's vaginals and quiet feeling up their ovaries.

And, Lucy, you are probably against welfare, food stamps, etc. So what would happen if all these fetuses came to full term. Who is going to raise these little people. You people don't even want to take care of the little ones that are here.

And can you quote me the verse in the Bible that says that abortions are against God's word. No one has been able to yet. And not out of context. Remember, the Catholics have rewritten the Bible several times.

I specifically recall the dems stating that they would wait until after the elections to tackle the budget. Democrats had filibuster-proof control of congress until that MA Republican Senator won. Democrats had virtually no problem passing bills that Republicans disagreed with. However, I've never seen a politician ever worry about future generations, have you? Case in point: Almost 40 years ago, there was an oil embargo that produced an oil crisis and nothing has been done in all those years to help this nation become energy independent. Though in the last 40 years, every politician has declared we must and will do something. They are all bags of wind. The only thing they focus on is themselves, how many perks they can get from the lobbyists, and getting elected and re-elected.

This is how the budget process normally works;

The President proposes a Budget, usually in March, for the next fiscal year that begins on October 1, which is typically ignored by Congress.

The House proposes, debates and passes a Budget for the next fiscal year.

The Senate then proposes, debates and passes a Budget for the next fiscal year.

Then a Joint Conference Committee of Representatives and Senators meet to reconcile any differences, and then a reconciled bill is sent to the President for his signature.

In this case, the House, under Nancy Pelosi, refused to present and debate a bill for the 9 months they were in control, and left it to the RePublicans to pass a Budget, which they did within weeks of taking over.

They have now waited for over a year for Harry Reid to pass a Budget in his Senate, and he won't even propose one for debate (Probably because many of his Democratic Senators might side with Republicans), so we are now at an standstill.

If the Republicans were smart, they would say "Give us a Budget to debate, Harry", but good ole Harry just sits on his hands and say "I don't want to cut anything".

Pass a BUDGET, Harry Reid, not the BUCK.

The GOP has their whole economic theory UPSIDE DOWN and DEAD WRONG. The reason tax revenues have plummeted is NOT because America is broke. Both corporate profits and GDP are ABOVE where they were in 2007.

So why is there no tax revenue coming in? Because the money isn't going to WAGES, it's being siphoned off by the investor class. (See the chart)

When workers are paid wages, 100% of that money goes back into the economy. They pay both income taxes and payroll taxes (which account for 36% of U.S. tax revenue), and they spend the rest on goods and services right here in America.

But when the money earned for corporations by their workers is instead diverted to corporate profits and the investor class, tax revenues plummet (NOT grow, as Paul Ryan so history-blindedly predicts). Despite their vastly higher income levels, corporations' share of the tax burden is only 12% due to their vast amounts of tax writeoffs, credits and creative accounting. Both investors and corporations are more likely to move their earnings overseas (into either tax shelters or foreign investments). And foreign entities also hold a big share of the stock market, diverting corporate profits abroad before the American tax system gets a penny.

The investor class also pays an historically low tax rate of 15% on their earnings, as most are capital gains. And neither corporations nor investors pay payroll taxes, a factor which alone knocks a huge hole in the tax rolls. Even when investors do pay earned income tax rates on a portion of their income, those top tax rates are at their lowest since the 1930's. U.S. tax revenues as a percentage of GDP are far lower than many countries whose economies are recovering faster than ours.

The GOP solution? Cut off all the remaining government services that benefit the working class. Cut the top tax rate even lower. Drive wages down even further.

Then pray the fat cats grow a heretofore unseen conscience and give a little of it back.

Are we really that stupid????

The majority of the folks discussing this topic should do some research. Learn the difference between mandatory spending and discretionary spending. Mandatory spending includes programs, mostly entitlement programs, which are funded by eligibility rules or payment rules. Congress decides to create a program, for example, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamps program. Medicare and SS fall into this category. Unlike discretionary spending, the Congress does not decide each year to increase or decrease the Food Stamp budget; instead, it periodically reviews the eligibility rules and may change them in order to exclude or include more people. Mandatory spending makes up about two-thirds of the total federal budget. By far the largest mandatory program is Social Security which makes up one-third of mandatory spending and continues to grow as the age demographic of the country shifts towards an older population. Let us discuss issues by first knowing the facts.

Cali

The democrats agreeing on the amount of the cuts but saying we can't cut some of the things doesn't sound like an agreement to me. Why don't they switch the cuts to some other budget item? If you agree to a cut but don't cut it you are SPENDING. that is pathetic.

Didi - you are just wrong. Please show me the budget that the dems proposed last October. If they had one but were too afraid to bring it to a vote because the repubs "threatened" them then they are chickens and they have failed at their job.

For lots of really good charts that show the story in pictures, just click on the links in my post above. They're all to major sites like the Tax Policy Center and OMB, no trojans or spam.

JH -

They agreed on the amount but said to leave the social agenda out of it. The Repubs are trying to force 65 riders into it . . . that's right, 65 RIDERS!!!!

Ironically the Repubs were AGAINST riders just a few months ago, now they are throwing them on everything. Make up your damn mind, are you against riders or in favor of them? Seriously, why are you such a hypocrite?

Leave your ideology at home, and just work on the budget. This is ridiculous. And trust me, the American public is seeing you push your social agenda on us . . . it will not bode well for you.

Just to let you know. I'm against abortion but thats your choice. I'm against using tax payer dollars to get an abortion. which most people do

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL "There was NOTHING deflammatory in her post and it was pertinent to the blog topic. This is outrageous."

In this case, I have to agree - your comments were not in violation of the Code. The 'comment police' are getting too 'feisty'.

Besides, a lively debate is half of the fun - or more.

Memo to those that think cutting abortion funding and budgets do not go together.

Abortion funding has no place in a federal or state or local budget. The idea that it is somehow OK to confiscate my taxes and use them to pay for something I am so opposed to is ridiculous. De-funding abortion has every right to be in this debate because it should never have been funded by government in the first place. Nothing is stopping any of the pro abortion crowd from setting up their own charity and using their own money to fund abortions. But to force many millions of Americans that are opposed to abortion to fund it is dictatorial at best.

This is just more of the brainwash brought to us by the Liberals (that have nothing to do with Liberty), the Progressives (that have nothing to do with progress) and even Planned Parenthood (that is all about non-parenthood through abortion). I am so fed up with all the strained word twisting from the "Liberal" side that I wish for them a Long Life and Health (that has nothing to do with long life nor health). These "Liberals" are monsters among us and it is time to stand up and fight them in the streets if necessary. Shut down the damn government if you have to. Rise up against the government if you have to. The time is now. Stop the slaughter of innocence by abortion funded with government taxation. This is the epitomy of evel and we allow it? Government funded abortion is just another style of race supremecy where you weed out the undesired through abortion. It is racist at best. It is evil. I believe it is long past the time to throw of this "Liberal" tyranny at any cost, money or otherwise. Fire politicians that support government funded abortion. Any supporter of this evil should never get relected.

zenman and Glenn-

Are you really THAT uneducated? REALLY?

Tax dollars CAN NOT be used to pay for abortions unless it is an EXTREME circumstance . . . and when I say extreme, I mean EXTREME!!!!!!!

Do you know how many tax dollars were used on abortions last year? All of last year, across the ENTIRE country. Guess? . . . Go on, guess?

Around 180 . . . THAT'S IT. Do you know what the costs equal? That comes out to 1/8 of a PENNY per tax payer . . . 1/8 of a PENNY.

You said "most people" use tax payer money . . . "MOST PEOPLE". Is 180 cases "most people"? Come on, I'm calling you out. Out of the thousands upon thousands of abortions last year, is 180 considered most?

Let me repeat this for you.

TAX DOLLARS ARE NOT USED TO FUND ABORTIONS. (Except in very extreme situations . . . like life-threatening conditions)

Educate yourself.

RealAmericansFirst "The GOP has their whole economic theory UPSIDE DOWN and DEAD WRONG. The reason tax revenues have plummeted is NOT because America is broke. Both corporate profits and GDP are ABOVE where they were in 2007."

Nice liberal rant, but the reality is that the vast majority of government revenues have always come from individuals, not businesses. For example, about 80% of current federal revenues come from payroll and personal income taxes, while only 15% come from corporations. If we confiscated ALL of the business profits (and closed all businesses down), it still wouldn't come close to closing the deficit shortfall. Raising taxes on American businesses would accomplish one thing, though - drive more businesses out of the country, where they could still compete with the rest of the world.

Why do you think so many jobs are going out of the country? It's because they can't compete with the high corporate taxes (highest in the World) and all of the costly 'regulations' in this country, which make producing things here cost prohibitive.

And your answer is to "Raise the cost of doing business even more". Real smart.

Whether you like businesses or not, they ARE the 'goose that lays the golden eggs' for our economy and for jobs. More and more of these 'geese' have been flying to greener pastures because we've made life hard for them.

Essentially, the two-party system in the United States has forced a conflict management style that often obfuscates the facts and does not allow constructive arguments to support changes without ad hominem attacks and emotional arguments that are based on terminology such as right-wing and left-wing or conservative and liberal. For example, there have been some positive aspects to the health care bill, but, as opposed to examining the disadvantages and advantages of the bill, some individuals would rather speak in absolutes and discussed the bill as an either or proposition. Any discussion of the stimulus package is often reduced to an emotional argument, but fails to recognize that the stimulus did have some positive effects in some areas and not in other areas. As a country, to view our political system as a competition and a battle with only winners and losers, prevents us from also building on the strengths that made our country rebel against tyranny, create a democratic republic, and continue to revise the Constitution as a living document that addresses the growing diversity and needs of its citizens. When I have watched the unfolding of the political debate that does not allow individuals from different parties to openly discuss their agreement with another party's view without fear of censure, then I recognize why it has become so easy to support putting a social issue into a budget bill, are to use expressions such as "the American people have spoken" as if to infer that any political party speaks for all American people. the current fiscal crisis demands that we utilize our creativity as collaborators for the welfare of the United States. I personally pray that we move from the level of the bitterness of our current discourse and start examining our teamwork, as well as the facts, and reduce the "spin" that interferes with problem solving.

Why do you think so many jobs are going out of the country? It's because they can't compete with the high corporate taxes (highest in the World) and all of the costly 'regulations' in this country, which make producing things here cost prohibitive.

ROY -

You think taxes are the reason? Are you THAT uneducated?

First, every corporation has access to tax loopholes that help them pay VERY little in taxes. If you run a small business and are NOT using these loopholes, you are a moron.

Second, the jobs are outsourced because the labor is cheaper. It has NOTHING to do with taxes. Why would a company keep a job here when they can pay 1/10 of the salary to a outsourced person?

You can lower the taxes to ZERO and companies will STILL outsource because the labor is cheaper. For the love of Christ, educate yourself.

No one is talking about the VAST sums of corporate money that are being used to lobby for legislation to increase their profits and to run "grass-roots" campaigns to get what they want.

And, guess what? ALL that spending is tax free! Corporations deduct all their lobbying and "charitable contributions" from their profit numbers. You and I and all the other little American workers, though, have to take our costs of contacting our legislators and going to rallies OUT OF OUR AFTER-TAX INCOME.

Does that seem right? I'd like to see how fast the American political landscape would change if lobbying expenses and think-tank funding could no longer be deducted.

The Republicans have been obstructionists since the health care reform law of last year; why stop now? While Dems have been repeatedly willing to act like legislators and compromise, believing that as a minority they are entitled to act as a super-majority.

Let's not forget liberals originally wanted a public option, but instead, Obama compromised with a public mandate--a long way from perfect for most liberals. Essentially, he passed a REPUBLICAN plan (very similar to the one Mitt Romney pushed through). Republicans though were too busy trying to discredit Obama after a sweeping defeat in the '08 election and felt it would better serve their needs to mis-cast (remember the death panel lies?) and object to EVERYTHING Obama put forward, rather than allow him to be seen as a fair leader, capable of compromise, who could unite people. Polarizing the electorate and trying to gain back votes was far more important than coming to the table and talking (which they finally offered to do, but so late in the game Democrats just wanted to get something passed). Essentially, anything that didn't constitute a TOTAL and ABSOLUTE victory for Republicans was unacceptable.

The same thing happened in Wisconsin. The unions caved to every demand Walker made. They agreed to ALL the cuts Walker proposed. Walker though, unwilling to compromise, took even more. He was incapable of compromise, and he's now paying the price.

Now, congressional Republicans are doing the same. Unwilling to compromise or meet in the middle over a fraction of a percent of the budget (read: not going to make a dent in the deficit), they are willing to hold 800,000 Americans captive to their stubborn unwillingness to cooperate. Remember, a Democrat (Obama) proposed the budget. Senate Republicans proposed $60 Billion in cuts. Senate Democrats are willing to meet just past the middle.... Sounds like a compromise.

Instead though, Republicans aren't only standing firm, they're threatening to shut down the government unless Democrats will agree to defund NPR, Planned Parenthood, limit the EPA (to the economic benefit of guys like Koch), etc. They are going to hold 800,000 peoples' jobs (and families, homes, etc) hostage until Democrats agree to their demands--which, aside from the $60B number, should probably go to a vote (which they know they would lose...) instead of being a budget rider.

tanainkc

Please give me H-# of the Nancy bill. HB-1 (passed in Feb) was passed by the Republican Congress this year.

ROY -

Why do you think so many jobs are going out of the country? It's because they can't compete with the high corporate taxes (highest in the World) and all of the costly 'regulations' in this country, which make producing things here cost prohibitive.

The EFFECTIVE U.S. corporate tax rate (what they actually pay) is only 17%. That's nowhere near the highest in the world. Stop buying BS and fix the real problems.

Revenue from the corporate income tax fell from between 5 and 6 percent of GDP in the early 1950s to 2.1 percent of GDP in 2008.  Tax Policy Center

Thoughts from Cali

Are you really this uhhh, hmmm, well, um, ignorant?

Do you have any idea how high the probability is that when you enter a Planned parenthood facility, you will be presented with abortion as the solution. Why should taxpayers pay for a middleman to recommend abortion (and pay for it) at all? It is like funding ACORN so they can work their misdeeds. Why do taxpayers have to pay for this stuff? Oh yeah. Because the Liberals don't want to fund their pet projects with their own money. We should stop all of this crap including corporate welfare, agri welfare to large corporate farming operations, welfare to oil giants, etc. Stop it all. We are stealing money from the generations to come so we can give it to ACORN? Planned Parenthood? GE? Are you kidding me? Maybe it is you that needs a wee bit of education?

Well said Dragon.

Ever actually been to Planned Parenthood, Glenn?

Thought not.

Glenn -

Have you been to Planned Parenthood yourself? Do you know first hand? I do.

Do you know what they said?

They told me that it is illegal to use government funds to pay for abortions, so the individual needs to pay for the ENTIRE procedure themselves. They offer contraception for free, medical exams, etc. But you HAVE TO PAY for the abortion yourself. And they DO NOT push for abortions . . . in fact, they basically have no opinion. They leave it completely up to you. Imagine that, someone NOT pushing their morals on you . . . that must sound like a fairy-tale to people like you.

I was curious about this, because, like you, I thought the government paid for them. So I looked it up and did the research myself. Tax funds DO NOT go to abortions. That is a FACT. Look it up.

Go on, look it up. I dare you. I know you won't because you are a coward, afraid of the truth. But it is right there, for everyone to see.

Until the Republicans talk about cutting the defense budget, they're liars, hippocrates and slim.

ROY -

the reality is that the vast majority of government revenues have always come from individuals, not businesses.

WRONG.  The percentage of federal revenues that come from corporate taxes has STEADILY DECLINED since the 1950's:

Revenue from the corporate income tax fell from between 5 and 6 percent of GDP in the early 1950s to 2.1 percent of GDP in 2008.  Tax Policy Center

See the pictures. I wouldn't mind your crowd being so ignorant if you weren't taking all the rest of us down with you.

Republicans have the right to cut abortion funds to Planned Parenthood or any other organization that practice abortion. Abortion is a right but is not a right to have the abortion paid for the government. I have the right to bear my guns but i have no right to ask the government pay for it. It is simple like that. And it applies to public media as well.

I wonder who on the Left came up with the idea of trying to tie the Tea Party with the Republicans? I don't understand how anybody but those on the Left would think this was a bad thing. The Republicans, if they know what it good for them, will jump on board with the tea party and its position on smaller, smarter, and fiscally responsible government. If there are some Republicans who resist the Tea Party then they will be replaced. The Left makes me chuckle when I see and hear people like Pelosi talking about how Republicans want to starve old people and wack jobs like Florida Rep Alan Grayson for anything that comes out of his mouth. For the first time in a long while a grass roots organization is taking over a political party for the good of the United States. For now and its future. The Tea Party will grow and expand all the while the Radical Left Wing Liberal Wack Jobs and their supporters will circle the drain of history all the while spewing their angry venom. Taaaa!

The GOP in the House does not have the right to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. It isn't law yet. They may have the power, through terrorist like threats of shutting down the government, to attempt cram a point of view down the rest of the country's throat, but not the legal right, at least not yet, and I hope not ever. Find out how planned parenthood works, before you speak of what they do and the services they render to women. You speak from ignorance, not fact.

Let's repeat this one more time S-L-O-W-L-Y - tax money already cannot be used to fund abortions except in very limited circumstances to save the life of the mother.

Defunding Planned Parenthood does NOTHING to change this.

Repeat 100 times until clear.

ATC333,

The GOP in the House does not have the right to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. It isn't law yet. They may have the power, through terrorist like threats of shutting down the government, to attempt cram a point of view down the rest of the country's throat, but not the legal right, at least not yet, and I hope not ever. Find out how planned parenthood works, before you speak of what they do and the services they render to women. You speak from ignorance, not fact.

Why so angry? I can almost smell the bile coming from your post. oskar is right. Even though you may not like it. He makes a great point. If abortion is such a right that the government should pay for it then I believe a right actually spelled out in the Constitution, as the 2nd Amendment, should also require the government to buy me a firearm of my choice. See how I snuck in "choice"? :) oskar is on way more solid ground, Constitutionally speaking, than the Left Wing Liberal/Progressive Wack Jobs are with their argument that abortion is a Constitutional right the government should be required to pay for. I've come to understand that I have to deal with the simple minded individuals in this country who are so easily swayed by ideology with no attempt at their own original thoughts. I have to put up with them because they make up 97% of the population who's sole purpose for being is to consume products to keep the economy going. Now ATC333 if you're done with your nonsensical blathering comments please go out and buy something! Thanks in advance.

Hey Glen, I find it much more upsetting knowing my tax dollars are going into the pockets of Illegals. What right do they have to my money?

Also, most Planned Parenthood facilities don't even offer abortions, but all provide free or extremely low cost medical care and contraceptives to poor women. If you're not pregnant, you don't ever need an abortion.

RealAmericanFirst,

Let's repeat this one more time S-L-O-W-L-Y - tax money already cannot be used to fund abortions except in very limited circumstances to save the life of the mother.

Defunding Planned Parenthood does NOTHING to change this.

Repeat 100 times until clear.

I see we have another shopper. No, federal funds can't directly fund abortions but they can indirectly fund abortions, can they not? Money that would normally be used for other services or administrative functions are now freed up to pay for abortions. I see no reason not to cut off all funding to Planned Parenthood. Can you please show me the legislation that chartered Planned Parenthood as a government agency? Let's speak plainly. If abortions are so important to you than have a bunch of fund raisers for them. I can see it now. You can go around to people's houses with little cans asking for money for abortions, sorry, reproductive planning. You can have bake sales, car washes, 3 day walks like they do for Breast Cancer, even celebrity auctions! There is no limit to how creative you can get if you believe in something so strongly.

Thank you, RealAmericans

This is just ridiculous. I wonder if Republicans feel pain being this stupid. I mean, seriously . . . they are arguing about something that does not exist.

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

Taxes DO NOT fund abortions

How many times do we have to say this? The policy has been in effect for years. Do I need to get out the finger puppets? Ok, fine . . . here are the puppets.

Finger Puppet 1: "Hi, I'm sally. I am going to planned parenthood to get an abortion."

Finger Puppet 2: "Hi, I'm planned parenthood. How may I help you?"

Puppet 1: "Hi, I want an abortion, but I don't have any money. I want the government to pay for it."

Puppet 2: "Sorry, we can not use government funds to pay for abortions. That is the law. You must pay for it yourself."

Puppet 1: "But these angry Republicans on TV said that the government does pay for them."

Puppet 2: "I'm sorry, but they need to read the laws and policies regarding funding for planned parenthood. No government funds can be used for abortions. But we can give you free contraceptive, information and medical exams to keep you healthy."

Puppet 1: "But they said so."

Puppet 2: "I'm sorry, but the people who say that are stupid and need to check their FACTS."

Puppet 1: "Whaaaaaa . . . now I have to pay for this myself."

And scene . . .

Do you understand now, Republicans? Or are you still confused? This is not a hard concept. Look at the policy . . . watch the puppet show again. Let me reiterate.

TAXES . . . DO . . . NOT . . . FUND . . . ABORTIONS

No, federal funds can't directly fund abortions but they can indirectly fund abortions, can they not? Money that would normally be used for other services or administrative functions are now freed up to pay for abortions.

You can apply that retarded, failed logic to EVERYTHING. Every single fund indirectly frees up money to be used on everything.

Please, you are grasping at straws in a desperate and pathetic attempt to prove your point.

Roads indirectly lead to car accidents . . . AND people drive on roads to get to abortion clinics.

The fire department indirectly allows clinics to exist by saving them if they catch fire . . . from people like you who attack them.

See how stupid that logic is? You can say funds "indirectly" apply to ANYTHING by just twisting the words around.

RealAmericansFirst "ROY - the reality is that the vast majority of government revenues have always come from individuals, not businesses.
WRONG. The percentage of federal revenues that come from corporate taxes has STEADILY DECLINED since the 1950's: I wouldn't mind your crowd being so ignorant if you weren't taking all the rest of us down with you"

Your post link agrees with my statement, so who's 'ignorant'?

PS - If you want to see how 'ignorant' I am, just click my 'moniker', and then 'Read more'.

No, Roy, you just seem to be unable to read the chart. The percentage of total taxes from corporate taxes has steadily declined since the 1950's. Despite the fact that corporate revenues compared to wages have steadily INCREASED over that same period.

Bottom line: They're not paying their fair share. And they're using the Tea Party to cut that share even more.

Wise up.

Thoughts from Cali,

You can apply that retarded, failed logic to EVERYTHING. Every single fund indirectly frees up money to be used on everything.

You might want to get a kleenex or paper towel or hankie or something and wipe your mouth.

Thoughts to everyone re: abortions. NO, government funds DO NOT pay for abortions. Secondly, Planned Parenthood is an excellent program....it offers information on contraception, etc. It does NOT "push" abortions!

Secondly, I think I'd rather see some of these "welfare" mommies having several children out of wedlock and expecting ME to pay for it with my tax dollars have an abortion. Do you realize how much of YOURS and MY money goes to support those welfare children (and their later offspring since it seems to be genetic), in lieu of a one-time cost of abortion. My theory is IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD A CHILD, DON'T SCREW AROUND WITHOUT CONTRACEPTION!!! It annoys me that so many of you are SO against Planned Parenthood and abortion, but you can't seem to get it through your thick skulls that the government DOES NOT fund abortions, but OUR TAX MONEY DOES PAY FOR THE ONGOING CARE OF THESE CHILDREN!!! Why isn't anyone complaining about that? If you want to cut money somewhere, cut the money going to Welfare.......come up with a program to STOP these women from having more and more babies and expecting the American taxpayer to support them!!

As much as I do not really agree with abortion and would probably NOT choose it for myself, there are those out there that should NOT be allowed to have children and we should NOT have to pay for them over and over and over again!!!

As for the Republicans holding the ENTIRE government up because of ideologies....what a bunch of ridiculousness! They are going to put the lives of 800,000 people in jeopardy just because of some stupid riders that don't even BELONG in the budget to begin with. If they have a problem with Planned Parenthood, etc., debate it later and get the damned budget passed!!!

The percentage of federal revenues that come from corporate taxes has STEADILY DECLINED.

You are right Roy Wilson, corporate taxes decline GE the Obama protegee did pay ZERO taxes . That is the example of a real American Corporation. GE outsource thousend of jobs and move manufactures plants overseas. Paul Ryan's plan cut many loops used for greedy corporation to evade taxes.

So, Feisty 's comment was deleted. Well, so have other posters who offer opinion, not hate as the Red Head often spouts.

But, I agree with others who may disagree with her posts, why limit freedom of the press? Or in this case, freedom of the internet.

Everyone who disagrees with Feisty and Bev know they are both full of themselves, but give them the opportunity to show others just how funny libbies can be.

Hey RealAmerican - of the top 14 contributers to campaigns in the last 20 years. I believe 11 of the 14 were Unions who contributed in excess of 90% of the funds given to Democrats. Stop making things up.

Yes, hold your ground Harry! Continue to make Cowboy Poetry accessible to everyone!

You do realize that the ground Harry is holding has been mortgaged and foreclosed on 3x's over.

Hold that Chinese ground, or give them some more of America.

It's not the Democrats giving America away...it's your corporate masters.

Amy B. Portland, ME

"Hold your ground Harry!" I agree with Feisty!

So, let me get this straight, There were $60 Billion in cuts requested by the house (you know, the body responsible for passing fiscal legislation) and The democrats came back with a plan for $6 Billion in cuts crying and whining all the way; is that the picture you see too? If you don't like the $60 Billion that is proposed and what was being cut, come up with $60 Billion of your own and then split where the the pain gets spread, not just say that all we will agree to is 10% of what you want. This is a $3700 Billion budget for Christ Sake, why can't they (Harry and the Dems) cut just 1.5 % of the bloody thing??!! The person that I just helped send to Washington (and retired an old school Tax and Spend Democrat) is doing exactly what I told her to do ... CUT SPENDING.

What I don't think you and yours grasp is that this is a train-wreck on the way. Right now, according to the debt clock, if you add the US Debt per taxpayer to the Unfunded Liabilities (Social Security, Prescription Drugs, Medicare/ Medicaid) each TAXPAYER owes almost $1.2 Million. We have to get this train under control before it hits the wall. Sooner or later, the Treasury will hold a Debt Auction and nobody will come. When that happens, we will have no choice but to print money with both hands. Then we will get to see what the Weimar Republic looked like in the 1930's; up close and personal. When it collapsed, things took a decided turn toward the terrible for about 50 million people . That type of thing could be coming to a city near you. Perhaps, that is what the Mayans really meant regarding the 2012 Winter Solstice; Who Knows?

When people can't feed their kids, and it takes a wheelbarrow full of money to buy a loaf of bread, these same people will start doing some really crazy things. It won't be very pretty thing because, unlike the Weimar Republic in the 1930's , there are about 150 million guns in this country. Can you spell Mad Max in real life? Is that what you want? That's exactly where we're headed if we don't do something about this out of control spending.

The time to worry is when the Chinese WON'T buy any more U.S. debt.

Yes hold your ground Dingy. Your ideology damn near cost you an election a few months back. Frankly you should not even be in D.C. anymore. Just like a Democrat, run to the mike and blame Republicans for having an ideology. I'm sure glad Democrats don't have an ideology that comes into play with everything.....(rolling eyes)

Ol Doc:

Name a Democrat Congressman/women that do not benefit from corporations..... Giving America away....lol.. man go back to sleep.

Is it okay for the Chinese to have all the jobs that the corps get tax breaks for, to keep them here in our country.

Give them hell Harry. If you give these Tea Baggers an inch, they will take a mile.

All of you advocating huge cuts to the safety net for the elderly, poor, and disabled--the social programs are a drop in the bucket compared to corporate welfare, tax cuts for the uberwealthy, foreign aid, military spending. If you all are so "fiscally responsible" and "conservative", why are cuts to these not on the table? I know the answer--it is because this is political and NONE of you are really serious about cutting the budget! It is all about maintaining power and control over the "small people". This really is about politics and destruction of the middle class. You all need to wake up and see--you are voting against your own best interests. The uberwealthy/corporations know this and will continue to blow smoke to keep us divided...and divided we WILL fall! We are certainly on the precipice now.

Nurse, agree wholeheartedly. Why is no one advocating stripping the Oil company Subsidies and Big Farm ethanol producers to the tune of the $28 Billion to make up the difference to get to $61 Billion? I'll tell you why, because that is who is funding this insurgence by the tea party and some of the republicans. They refuse to bite the hand that feeds them, all the while having no issue with taking food from those who are poor or middle class. Show me compromise there and my faith in some goodness on their side will be renewed but for right now they are just giant hypocrites who bow to their masters and beg for more allowance from the dirty piggy banks that they worship.

It is possible to balance some modest social cuts along with cutting big business subsidy give aways in order to get some of the needed spending cuts in order to start getting our house in order, but right now all the righties want to do is to push their misguided morality and ideology on the rest of us.

nurse-1006475

If you all are so "fiscally responsible" and "conservative", why are cuts to these not on the table?

I'm all for cuts to all of those programs as well as raising taxes on EVERYONE. Just get rid of the loopholes, tax credits, deductions and every other damned thing that lets both people and corporations get away without paying taxes. That is, after all, what the Deficit Commission suggested and the elected officials rejected (from both parties). I also believe that EVERYONE needs to pay some taxes even if it only a minute amount; there is no reason for you to want to change the game if you don't have a "dog" in the fight. Currently, 50% of the people pay 98% of the taxes because of these loopholes, credits, and deductions. Please tell me THAT is fair.

But, I just don't want to give Washington any more until they can prove that they can be responsible. But first you have to stop the bleeding; we will never do anything to fill in the deficit hole until we first stop digging the hole deeper. For 50 years they have used every dime that we have given them in taxes, squandered every dime in the Social Security Trust fund and replaced it with IOUs, and run up a debt of $14 Trillion while underfunding another $100 Trillion to buy favor with voters, corporations, and lobbyist. They spend like Drunk Sailors in a whorehouse with no Accountability or Responsibility for their actions.

They have proven beyond reasonable doubt that their re-election campaign chests and favors to supporters are far more important than being either frugal, responsible, or honest stewards of the taxpayer's purse. If I were able to give them enough money, in the form of Gold Bullion, to completely erase the deficit and all of the underfunded promises, the bastards would spend it all and be back in the same shape as we are right now in just 20 years. Why is that? It is because they have found that they can keep their jobs by promising what anyone wants out of the public treasury.

As long as it's 'politics as usual' in our country we will never resolve our financial crisis. Forget about Democrats versus Republicans. Our debt is over 14 trillion dollars. Every year (for the foreseeable future) we add over 1 trillion dollars to the debt. Eventually, all of the tax dollars collected will be used to pay for interest - so what happens to Medicare, Social Security, etc.?

Doesn't it bother anyone that Americans have paid into Social Security for over 70 years, annual distributions are LESS than taxes collected, any yet the Social Security fund is EMPTY? Our politicians have spent it! What company in American could raid it's employee's pension plan, spend all the money, and not go to jail?

Doesn't it bother anyone that our government is using our current tax dollars to fulfill the annual Social Security responsibilities? YOUR PAYING TWICE!

Chris

Big Farm ethanol producers to the tune of the $28 Billion to make up the difference to get to $61 Billion? I'll tell you why, because that is who is funding this insurgence by the tea party and some of the republicans

Your what hurts???????? The ethonol guys are as Blue as they come!

But heck ... put it on the table! I'm OK with cutting it!

ol doc...corporate masters? You mean like the insurance company CEOs that are going to get wealthy off of the dems healthcare plan with no public option? Those corporations? Google how much insurance corporations contributed to the presidential campaigns. Google how much they dontated to our reps and sens during the healthcare debate. Then tell me why there is no public option included in the plan? EVERYONE of our reps and sens KNEW there was going to be no public option. Pelosi, Reid and Obama were just beating their chests to impress voters...."It's not our fault there is no public option" When the dems had complete control of our gvt during the whole healthcare process tell me why THEY left out the public option. Yeah, it's not the dems giving it away. Right. They just passed a healthcare bill that states we HAVE to buy healthcare insurance from privately held insurance companies. Way to go dems.

Over and over you people chew this bone. You do not understand that running the world's largest economy is not like balancing your personal check book. Not a single person on this group has the faintest whit about the world economy and how it is run.

You CANNOT BALANCE THE BUDGET in the midst of one of the worst recessions this planet has ever seen.

You must leave off until the recovery is well underway. The patient is just starting to breathe on his own and you all want to bleed him within an inch of his life. Big Business doesn't mind because they're getting all the blood.

YOU should mind. It's your jobs and homes that are at stake with this approach.

Turn off the tube. Stop listening to Glen Beck and Ed Shultz. Get a few books on World Economics then come back when you have something intelligent to say.

Too many ridiculously worded, rhetorical arguments, posted as comments. Anybody who can claim one or the other side, exclusively, is brain dead. I can't help but notice the duplicity of the 'republican/conservative/right' pundits, and the naivety and spineless conviction of the ''democratic/liberal/ left' experts... both whine like victims, finger point at the other, quote phony and vitriolic talking points, and, provide the grassroots shut-down, insuring the victory to tyranny. The Dems appear guilty of trying to promise too much... Lower costs... higher wages... more coverage and security for the bucks already spent... the Republicans appear guilty of breaking their promise, riding ideology, slashing, cutting and burning their way through jobs, security, and taking out a jihad, on social programs, and the middle class... For the most part, Republicans have endorsed protecting 'BIG' money and themselves, while elimninating protections for the porr and middle-class... and Democrats still promote the concepts of the Constitution, in re:The government shall derive it's power by consent... Provide for the GENERAL WELFARE... etc... they just aren't 'efficient' enough at this, as their opponents point out. And the Republicans, while they rant on about supporting the Constitution, really act to protect CORPORATE INTERESTS, big money, slash/burn any social programs, while ignoring campaign promises... and intend to close down whatever they don't like, themselves. More perfect UNION...? ...ANYONE?

Hate to say it but, massive government spending, has always been then way out of recessions. For examples see WWII and Reagan's complete modernization of the US Armed Forces (M1 Tank, M2 IFV, Blackhawk and Apache helicopters, the Hummvee and the 600 ship Navy) were all bought in the 80's to get us out of that Recession

RWH - Well exactly what do you think the Democrats have been doing for the last 4 years????? They controlled the House and Senate the last 2 years of Bush and now for the last 2 years the Democrats have controlled the House, Seante and the White House. And look where we are now!!! Problems, Problems, Problems and nothing worth while is being accomplished.

AMEN! Donna!!!! excellent response!

Where were you RWH when the Dem Congress was running over ME? Stimulus? Auto Bailout? Health Care Ramming Home?

We've HAD ONE PARTY RULE for the last two years! How'd that work for you? 9-10% unemployement?

Donna, The dems have accomplished more in the first two years of this prescidency than any other administration--in spite of the monumental and destructive resistance of the minority party based on pure propaganda and lies designed to instill fear and anger. The only problem is that since that fear and anger based on lies was propagated throughout the country by the virtually unlimited funding provided by the unnamed corporations through their corporate political front organization, the Chamber of Commerce, they were able to gain the House. So, is it any wonder, now that we have the repugs in control, that the destruction and obstruction perpetrated by the repugs is continuing even more so, with greater destruction to America-economic, social, and political? The repugs, as usual, ignore the forcasts by the CBO, forcasts that have proved to be true. Now, the CBO, unbiased, non-partisan, says a shutdown will harm the economy. The repug response? "No compromise" (the basis of American system of governance), "Shut it down!" This is the response from the party that claims patriotism as an ideal? This GOP openly claims to be anti-government. They bring guns to political demonstrations. Their proposals favor corporations over individuals. The GOP by their actions have amply demonstrated their willingness to throw the medical and economic health of the American people away in order to have a new corporatist government that will allow the corporations to abuse Americans as they have in the past (think Valentines Day Massacre). That's what the GOP stands for. A government shut down that hurts the fragile recovery this country is currently experiencing and the people who need that recovery just confirms the fact that the GOP is more anti-American than the communists were during the Cold War. Throw the GOP out before it's too late, America!

well said

The greatest lie in history. The country is broke and we must starve the poor and the the elderly. We must deny healthcare to those in critical need if they can no longer afford top tier insurance. Preventive care for the poor is out of the question. Let 'em all die, we don't have the money. Cripple Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Once we cripple these "entitlement" programs, it will be so much easier to kill these programs forever. Starve the public education system with vouchers to the wealthy that already send their progeny to private schools. Further starve that system by condemning it and paying teachers less than the pittance they already receive.Dumbing down America will result in cheaper labor. Only the elite should have a quality education. These are just a handful of the disastrous results of massive wealth distribution to the top 5% in the last 40 years.

The United States of America is still the wealthiest nation on Earth by far. We have long been and remain the breadbasket of the world. The Middle East can't eat their oil. China and India can't possibly feed their own people. All of that wealth is still here. It's simply been transferred into the hands of the few that invent crisis after crisis to keep it that way. They have foolishly bled us dry in hopes of taking the very last drop. They are rapidly killing the goose that laid the golden egg. The American consumer. Who will buy all of their cheap goods produced overseas once we are no longer able to do so? Not the Chinese or the Indians. They work for slave wages.

Such unmitigated greed has destroyed the world's greatest civilizations in the past. Our own American Revolution was born to fight such greed from the mighty British Empire. I have faith that our brave forefather's blood still runs strong thru our veins. I have faith that a second American Revolution is in our immediate future if balance is not quickly restored. I have faith that we will rise once again to free ourselves from those that wish to enslave us no matter the amount of bloodshed or the fact that our greatest enemies today pretend to be one of our own.

Most of these moronic and misinformed partisan posts highlight what the real problem in America is today. As Lincoln feared we have become so divided on every issue-even those that helped found this nation-that we and our representatives are incapable of agreeing on anything or governing ourselves. We are a "house divided" and we will fall as a result. The fact is we have way more debt and mandated and unfunded liabilities than we have income. With over 130 trillion un unfunded liabilities and entitlement programs and only 2.4 trillion in total yearly revenues-we are way beyond broke. As the Fed purchases more bonds and artificially keeps interest rates low-it only worsens the debt problem and increases the odds of hyperinflation. The crisis that 45+years of deficit spending and creation of unsustainable government entitlement programs has created is upon us. We will have to implement unprecedented reforms, cuts and austerity measeures just like Europe is doing. Everyone will suffer as never before-it is that or total collapse and default-resulting in a worldwide depression that will make 1929 look like an economic boom era!!!!

jpecore

... right just keep on spending spending spending borrowing borrowing borrowing printing printing printing

What the heck ... it's not real money anyway

So where is Obama's birth certificate? Transparency. .. where? Pelosi, are you nuts!!!! At least Boehner is willing to stand up for what is right and correct, the good old American way. Like a parent is to a child, doesn't Obama and all his croonies know that when you don't have the money, you quit spending? This is not a difficult decision. I'm tired of working hard for those who have a 'hand out' and are the people and the "have nots" behind Obama. Let them go and get a job and pay taxes. I'm sick and tired of this. Get out of the welfare line and work. But then again, they don't know what work means. . . so Obama and his 'followers' always have their hand out for free government programs. . . . them and all the illegals. I cann't believe that I'm living in this world.

Astonished-655682

AMEN! Donna!!!! excellent response!

Stupid response from both of you. You think someone in congress does something and it immediately impacts the world economy? It can take years for the effects of policy to play out.

I don't condone some of the things the Democrats have done(or not done for that matter) but the mess you're looking at today belongs squarely on the shoulders of George Bush and the Republicans -- actually the Democrats too because they let them get away with it.

Our government is crap and I'm quite sure the founding fathers never envisioned for us to be the United States of Corporate America

It seems to me that this discussion has totally missed the point of the real problem. Large corporations have given money to representatives that they think will support their agenda and those representatives are making laws to help those who have contributed monies to them. The Tea Party is not much better than those individuals from the east who think we should all convert to their religion. Whether abortion should be legal or not is a direct result of "YOUR" religious beliefs. So..........getting a budget passed is like getting a jihadist to convert to Catholicism. The Republicans forget that the swing vote is 13% women who don't want the Republicans/Tea Parties personal religious values crammed down their throat....The Republicans don't mind giving tax breaks in the bazillion dollar range to their cronies who contribute to their re-election campaigns but if one woman stands up and disagrees with their "moral standards" they get all tight fisted with the big bucks. Give me a break, Republican House of Representatives don't give a rats pa-tutti about the budget, they are all about controlling our lives...

Lucinda....I couldn't have said it any better myself!!! They are frittering away on ridiculous ideologies that have NOTHING to do with the budget (or very little). I also agree that all of today's politicians don't give a rat's pa-tutti about you or I.....they are ALL in the pockets of big business. Do you think any one of us could run for office without being sponsored and "bought" by some big business corporation? Hell no!! Unless you're a multi-billionaire and can afford to run your own campaign....good luck with getting elected! Until we do away with lobbyists and allowing corporations to "buy" our politicians (on both sides), we'll NEVER have the government that our Founding Fathers wanted us to have. And, until BOTH sides can sit down and intelligently negotiate for YOU AND I and NOT for their "masters," we will NEVER have a balanced budget! I can't tell you how enraged I am about this whole thing.....the only good thing I see out of this is that enough people will also feel the same rage and vote these idiots out of office come 2012!! I just hope we can stay afloat until then, but if the Republicans have their way, the poor, the disabled, and the young will not be around to vote them out!! And, I can only hope that the 800,000 of Federal employees who will not be paid if the government shuts down (isn't it amazing, tho', that the House will get their full pay??? The Senate voted NOT to take a paycheck if government shut down) are as enraged as the rest of us!!

"there budget"

Where budget?

And when they tried last year, the Party of No said No..They filibustered everything trying to make Obama a 1 term President. You've conveniently forgotten that fact..

"their" Yes, it was the incorrect usage, automatic spell checking is not always right. But the thought is.

Oh, make no mistake, he is a one term president.

Brad Cantor: They filibustered everything

There is no filibuster rule in the House. Please quote the HR bill number and the vote results of the 2011 budget legislation for the House. Don't try too hard, this is a trick question, because it doesn't exist.

because Obama has been spending since he got in office.

Ron---It would have been the same repub bull that they are pulling now. The repubs didn't want a budget then either. Both sides layed low because of the election. Who do think your kidding.

Brad Canter

And when they tried last year, the Party of No said No

Great talking point Brad ... but Nancy never brought a Budget resolution OUT of committee let alone a floor vote. Give Harry a little credit, he at least had one that passed committee but was never brought to a floor vote.

Try? ... Try? ... Breathing was an effort for the Dems from a budget POV they only know how to spend ... They couldn't even put one on paper let alone TRY!

Astonished,

You are dead wrong. The budget passed by Pelosi and the House last spring. Reid kept getting filibustered on it. Then he gave in in September. What did the Republican Senators do? Move the goal post farther. Blame them for no budget! It is all in writing. It is all recorded. Cannot deny this one no matter how hard to you try. You own this failure! Your constituency will reap the reward from your inability to govern since red states rely on the government teat the most.

Joannasmith1

There is a filibuster rule in the senate though and thats where most to all the bills got hung up. Seems you conviently forgot that lil fact.

Republicans vowed when Obama came into office to make him a one term president at all cost .. They said this and it was played back by every cable news outlet. After which they filibustered every budget or any bill period that made it to the senate.

America is country that has selective memory and reading and comprehension issues ( last line not directed at you but as a general statement)

Right on!. Lauritz

look in the mirror, blame your self. weak responses always blame others, CRAP

So unwanted pregnancies are Republican's fault? Heaven Forbid we assign responsibility to the people who are old enough to know that sex leads to kids, but to brainwashed to do anything to stop it. It's that entitlement mentality coming back to haunt us. "It's OK Johnny, you just go hammer Suzie every night and if she gets knocked up, well Barack will make it all better.". How many condoms can you buy for the price of one 16 year old's abortion?

"look in the mirror, blame your self. weak responses always blame others, CRAP"

Exactly the response from the party of "It's not my responsibility to govern!" It's only yours.

Pelosi had a budget pass the house last Spring for 2011. Reid was filibustered on it by the Republicans in the Senate. He gave in to all their demands in September and what did McConnell do in response to getting everything they asked for? Move the goal posts farther. Just like Boehner and the Tea Party is doing now. Wake up America. Vote. Vote 2012 and get these lazy uncaring inhumaine monsters out of government.

The voters you're appealing to will be too busy getting abortions, picketing government, and lining up for their free government handouts to bother voting. Remember it takes responsibility to vote too, and unless commanded by the unions, they aren't going to bother accepting even that level of responsibility.

Ana, I think you are a little confused yes the red states receive federal funds (as do all states) but in a far smaller amount than the blue states, and do I need to remind you California, New York, Illinois, are all blue states which receive a majority of the federal funding and are in the most financial trouble of all. It is no coincidence that all of these blue states believe in the big government. This is why we are in the financial trouble we are in. It is time to blow up the budget and start from scratch, only essential programs should be supplied by the government and NPR, Planned Parenthood, Cowboy poetry and any other unnecessary program should find their own funding or charge for their services. Reduce the taxes and make it a flat tax so I will actually have money to live on or to be able to donate to the charity of my choice rather than to some worthless program where my money is spent on a program I may not wish to support but am forced to contribute to under the current system.

Is it okay to perform an abortion on a kid who has been date raped. I am sick to death of the self righteous crap that some people believe, but when their so called leaders the spewers of hate get caught cheating on their spouse, they jump to his defense. I applaud Crystal Palen for keeping her child and I know she will be fine, but she is a rich kid and has a lot of support. Many kids in our society do not. The programs that you wish to cut help those kids that wish to keep their kids. You can not have it both ways.

You know, that's just exactly the Dems strategy. They think it's 1995 all over again and they will come out of this stronger! Wrong! What they don't get, and never will get, is that it's a different climate now...people are angry and are paying more attention to what's going on in the government and are speaking out. What does it take to get you Dems to wake up to Obozo's real agenda...to bring America to it's knees! Remember, we have to apologize to the rest of the world!!!!

So the people with money can choose who gets help and who does not. How is that fair? So many will get nothing. You can still give to whom you wish and get a tax deduction but a portion of your taxes is for the good of everyone. That is what made America great and it should continue. We may all fall someday or we may have a loved one fall it`s up to us all to pick them up.

So why is everyone still pretending this is about the budget. Dems say budget is a go, but it is the POLICY RIDERS that are a problem. This is the Cock (intentional mispelling) brothers trying to get their agenda regardless of the cost to us average Americans. The only reason I can see to defund EPA is to avoid the costs associated with environmentally safe practices......BS!

Fritzy,

You know nothing about where the revenue to the federal government comes from and what states use more than they pay to the federal government. So I'm giving you a source. I assumed most people posting know what they are talking about but I guess some, like you, just watch Fox News, and believe all the lies they feed you. Educate yourself. You seem clueless on this post! A great big thank you is in order to all the states you mentioned for providing for the majority of red states that survive on the government teat.

http://www.visualeconomics.com/united-states-federal-tax-dollars/

shut the whole thing down and stop the spending

God what a short sighted idiot.

thats all BS.

like all republicians you live in a fantasy world

you are absolutely correct, no doubt

This is their evil plan to defund the healtcare bill. It's political BS.

obamacare is what drained it dry.

How is it Obama care that drained it. Where I am in Wa. state I was told it wouldn`t go into effect until 2012 They only give indigent children health care are you apposed to that too.

Yep. Newt Gingrich and the Republican Congress left Bush a good budget surplus. To bad the economy had started a downturn at the end of 1999.

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

old news, stupid argument. How much longer is this Bozo of a President getting a free ride from all you pinko liberals. He has been running for reelection since he was elected. How about doing the job you were hired for first and worry about getting reelected later. Come on. Now go ahead and bash Bush some more.

ok shark u ask for it here it is ...his names not bozo,find out an then comment. 1st hes not y the country is inthe shap its in bush is ,u no him the thief who stole al the money alocated for the shock an awe,program,welll we all know who got payed on that deal.oh dosent he own construction co,s.yup shoooo do,so does his 2nd,in command,an so does the guy he said hed follow into any cave ,btw what ever happend to that plan, rttt thay were to busy spliting up the cash that was approved to rebuild the country thay bombed all the hel, an for what not 1 ov the guys got hit,sadum an his 2 sons ,big waste if u ask me but i for got u probly live in a bar........?

The most reprehensible part of the mess is the Democrats neglecting their duty and trying to pass a budget last year instead of running off to campaign.

Gary, the party of no said "no" last year, remember?

That is so true Linda, I say if they can't get the budget done then they are fired and out all of them go! Then get rid of the two party system favoritism. The one we should all back are our Veterans no matter what. At the very least Congress should get no pay if this happens, But I see they won't go for that! We need to march on Washington D.C and get our point across... we are their Bosses not them ours!

The Democrats, the party with the voting majority did not try to debate nor try to negotiate. Please find a better excuse for the failure of the Democrats. That one is very weak.

Blatent Fox News Robot Response...how many times can you say the same bull#$%t thing? Did Beck give you this talking point to use at the end of last year...and now that's all you have to say...cause the blubbering idiot is going away...

I don't see any democrats giving up their pay or benefits either. Why doesn't the president, as a gesture to show the seriousness of the situation, refuse his own pay? It's not like he'll be sleeping in a cardboard box because he can't pay his mortgage. Some military families on the other hand, may end up not being able to make a mortgage payment because of this possible shutdown. Why are we blaming any side? No one seems to want to take the higher ground.

The GOP is bringing a bill to the floor today to fund the military thru Sept. The President has said he would veto it.

I was in the military during the last 2 shutdowns and WE GOT PAID. You guys are putting out false information and I know it has become a talking point because every Liberal politicians that speaks, it is the first thing that comes out of their mouth.

Everyone in the government that is declared essential will be paid. Every agency can basically name everyone essential.

My sister-in-law worked for the Federal Government for 41 years and is retired. She told us that during the other Government shutdowns they may have not gotten a pay check - but when they all came back to work they all got their back pay in one lump sum. So then I ask - whatever happened to people having a savings account with at least 3 months pay for emergencies? Guess what people do not save and have a back up.

Disabled Veterans: The Senate voted NOT to take a paycheck if the government shut down; but (and wonders will NEVER cease) the House wouldn't vote for that bill. So, the Senate will go without their checks, but the House members will get paid full pay and benefits. Boo hoo for the 800,000 others in Federal government that will NOT get paid! It's very sad!!

As a note, I'm also a veteran....U.S. Army Major (RET). I feel very bad for the military who HAVE to stay in the trenches but are being told they won't get a full paycheck on the 15th. It's disgraceful!

@Donna-367223 "So then I ask - whatever happened to people having a savings account with at least 3 months pay for emergencies?"

We have been doing our Dave Ramsey financial money makeover. We are on baby step 3 to save for our 3-6 month emergency fund, but how long do you thing it takes to accumulate that amount of money? We are talking $9,000-18,000 for our household income. It doesn't happen overnight, especially when you're newly married and in your mid 20s.

Majority rules? Last I checked, the Dems still have a MAJORITY in the senate. Since both parties have majorities, it means that neither has a mandate to go it alone, and that means they need to compromise.

amphiox,

You are so right, the dems do still have the majority. That is the thing about government, there are many different elected officials representing their constituents. Not every group wants or needs the same policies....hence the need for compromise. These tea party people don't represent a majority of the people, and should therefor not force their ideologies on the rest of us! They need to start their own libertarian party and stop highjacking the republicans party. I'll never vote for a republican again if I can't trust them to represent me!~

As a fiscal conservative/reduce the deficit/cut or eliminate government spending (waste) /constitutional advocate/libertarian leaning/ tea party supporter/capitalist/independent politically, what the hell does religion have to do with the budget? Let the god damn government shut down then we won't be wasting any money. It shut down for 21 days during the Clinton Administration and what we got out of that was nearly 10 years of some of the greatest prosperity in our country's history. The Democratic liberal,tax and waste (DLTW) bigger government we know better than you elitist group is destroying America and would rather we be more Eurocentric and lose our American ideals and ingenuity that made this the land of opportunity and the envy of the world.

One word. Filibuster.

Some quick research will confirm that the Democrats tried to pass an annual budget. Obviously, the Democrats were very interested in passing the 2011 budget while they still controlled both the House and the Senate. That's just common sense.

Unfortunately, the minority GOP wanted the budget to wait until they had control of the House. Remember how 60% became the new majority vote for the last two years?

So the Democrats found it was easier to cut and run then to debate the budget and negotiate when they had the voting majority? Please, you will have to do better then that.

Gary, the party of no said "no", remember?

Brad, LOL, you have to be kidding? Please tell me you are kidding? The party in the majority backed down from the party in the minority?

You dont think it was those Dem riders that caused the Reps to block their bills that were introduced after the Oct 1st 2010 deadline for having the 2011 budget done do ya? You remember DADT, The Dream Act, etc... Now the Dems are saying they are blocking the budget bills because of Rep riders. This is still the Dems Budget because it was supposed to have been done in 2010. Go ahead Dems keep blocking the budget you were supposed to have passed Before Oct 2010.

Brad, we heard you...several times already. There's a reason you're being ignored. Unless you care to expound on your claim, you'll continue to be considered a know-nothing parrot.

Brad, keep it up! If they had really heard you, they would realize that their statements are not correct.

Don't believe Brad or me? Look at:

www.ombwatch.org/node/11580

National debt dictated frugality that"s what the republicans are practicing..Do without for a little while ,get well, and regroupe. Retired USAF

amphiox LOL. The Democrats did not push the budget because they did not want to have a Nancy Pelosi budget tied to them when they went out to try to save their jobs. If they wanted the budget to pass they would have stayed and debated the budget, but they where to busy running off.

When was that?

Funny because the time this budget was being pushed through, the democrats had more seats in the senate. Why didnt it get passed then?????????? IF you read the news you will see that the senate admitted to not having the time because of all the bull crap that obama was trying to push through. Obama only caired about certain things at the time that he wanted to pass because congress had more democratic seats at the time!!!!!!!! The budget wasnt as important as allowing gays to be in the military that we can not pay to run now!!!

amphiox,

You know Republicans hate it when you give them facts that contradict their talking points!

Democrats proposed, Republicans blocked. Look at:

www.ombwatch.org/node/11580

Facts don't matter here! If it doesn't agree with the talking points that these tea partiers have memorized than it is obviously biased! You can't rationalize with the ignorant or the insane.

Cuba? Really? I'm getting a little tired of ignorant statements regarding Cuban healthcare. Trust me, I'm from Cuba, I know.

Prescriptions are cheap, but unavailable unless you are a tourist. Yes; ironically the "workers paradise" caters to the rich! Additionally in Cuba the most lucrative positions pay the equivalent of about $50.00 a month so relatively, not so cheap.

There is only one party in Cuba. There is no debate. There is no free speach unless you speak to further the government agenda.

There is no freedom to keep and bear arms unless you use those arms to suppress any dissent.

There is no protection from quartering troops. No protection from unreasonable search and seizure, no due process, eminent domain... You see my point.

Comparing this country to others must take all facets into account. So the comparison constitutes a non sequitor at best.

Back to the issue at hand: I've read most posts here and they consist of something along the lines of; "it's the republicans' fault" or "it's the democrats' fault". It is neither. It is the fault of our elected officials to see beyond their desire for re-election and by extension their profiting from the people's hard earned money. This is all about power and money for both parties. Our elected officials have slowly become a plutocracy while we sit here and argue with each other. Divide and conquer; it's not just a cool saying, it's the law!

When a political position stops being profitable and officials are incentivized to work for the people's interest and not their own, this issue will be resolved. Until then, good luck.

Didn't the head of GE just thank Obama for sending Obama Stimulus money to them for "Green Energy" programs, then GE turned around and paid no taxes? Do you you thing Obama is planning on going to work as a GE spokesman when he is out of office? Sure seems like it.

So this justifies holding an entire nation hostage? Sigh.

Kaizaro, If the government is shut down for a short time blame it on the democrats in congress and President Obama. Sigh

Democrats proposed a budget, Republicans blocked it. Look at:

www.ombwatch.org/node/11580

The party of no said no, remember?

OK, the dems didn't pass a budget. So now the GOP's fix is, let's NOT pass this budget. Sigh.

Hi, guy, I am new on this subject, and here is my understanding. Seemingly the Dem controlled both house and senate last year, they could've passed the budget easily. However, remember that Dem didn't have the super majority and the GOP could block it with filibuster, because for the budgetary bill, without super-majority, it can be blocked by filibuster. Please correct me if I am wrong.

googoo,

You are wrong. How did the Republicans successfully block a budget when they were unable to block Health Care Rip-Off, The stimulus bill and all of Nancy's pet projects that the American people were against. As soon as they passed their legislation the DEMS took off for vacation.

Maybe you can help me though? How did GE Financial, which was non-existent three years ago, suddenly become the largest financial concern in the country in less than three years? Howe does GE bypass paying any taxes? Why did Obama pledge 20 billion ( with 2 billion immediately given) to Petragast to develop gulf oil fields for Brazil. Who recently bought controlling shares of the company 2 months before Obama made the gift?

navydude~

GE Financial has had an office near me for many many years. That three stuff is horse droppings

googoo,

Please do some research, you can't take what your told here for anything other than opinion. As I've said before, facts don't matter on this forum. Just blame the other side and ignore reason and sensibility. Extremism is going to devastate us all, regardless of what religion or political party it is coming from!

Partisan politics... wrong... The government has locked itself up, already... and now it is neither one or the other... it is both. When it comes to the blame game: Dems promise too much? Republicans, promise to destroy anything they don't like, and promise NOTHING...? And yet, we have party 'experts', rationalizing all that away, with spin, talking points, rhetoric and vitriol... while seldom if ever, venturing beyond pulp, always trying to connect phony factoids. to explain their logic