Look...I don't care about any of the this party and that party. Get off the party thing. If you spend a million times more than you make....something really bad is going to happen. Quit spinning the rhetoric about party affiliations. This country is doomed unless somebody gets responsible about simple economic principles. There is nothing else to think about. Don't be a sheep and vomit the propaganda of the parties. Please get a brain cell. Or....keep doing it, because everything will be fine. We will all work for the government soon. Oh yeah....somebody has to actually work and pay for everything..

"Prepare for the shut down, the new recession, and the loss of international confidence in the USA. We're being driven into oblivion by extremists who hate the USA."

_________________________________________

And to think that if Pelosi/Reid and the majority Dems had done what they were elected to do and passed a 2010-11 budget last year, NONE of this would be happening!!!!!

Spanky:

Naaa, you are right - it totally just those nasty "extremists who hate the USA."

And thanks for finally admitting it.

Otherwise, let's just test it. Find the same money and take it away from ... say, the Chamber of Commerce and Blackwater.

And then see what the Tea Party says.

Paul: This country is doomed unless somebody gets responsible about simple economic principles

Exactly the point. There is apparent agreement on the money. The fight is about ideology. Which has no place in a budget discussion.

biwheeler,

You are so right "extremists" they are. Why care for planned parenthood? Why care for anything? Give universal healthcare to everyone and defund planned parenthood all you want. without it everyone women in America is probably on the "pre-existing" condition list and pays three times the regular rate for insurance. Since we are already terribly underpaid, compared to our male counterparts, that means we can't afford insurance either so UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE is the answer. Put that in the bill for the next five months instead of funding for PP. I'll vote for that!

Fielden...

It's a shell game. Idealogy is the shell. The money is the ball. Keep your eye on the ball....not the shell.

It is the "real" reality. The parties are insanity. What are you smoking??? We should just accept the reality of BS...huh? Sounds great. Exactly the problem.

Here are the riders the GOP put on the continuing resolution bill:

• Prohibits funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
• Prohibits funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program or the State Energy Program.
• Prohibits funding for various environmental projects in California.
• Prohibits funding for a climate change czar in the White House.
• Prohibits funding for EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases.
• Prohibits funding for the EPA to change a rule regulating water.
• Prohibits funds for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Prohibits funds for the EPA to implement regulations to designate coal ash residue as hazardous waste.
• Prohibits funding for the IRS to implement health care reform.
• Prohibits funds for a White House Director of Health Care reform.
• Prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own, non-federal funds to pay for abortions beyond the very limited circumstances in which federal funds are currently available (in circumstances of rape or incest and to save the life of a pregnant woman).
• Prohibits funding for needle-exchange programs.
• Prohibits funding for sections of the Public Health Service Act.
• Prohibits funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates.
• Prohibits funds to pay any employee, officer or contractor to implement the provisions of the health care reform law.
• Strips funding for any provision of the health care reform law.
• Prohibits funding for the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, UN Population Fund, or for foreign NGOs that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services.

How much of this has ANYTHING to do with the budget? How much is just cramming a right-wing social agenda down the throats of the American people? We need to put the blame where it's due and quit putting up with this crap. Get to work!

The Republicans have proven to be: Pro Republicans above all, and pro rich. At the same time, anti-middle class and anti-poor people. They want to cut expending for social benefits for middle class and poor people, but have no objection in cutting taxes for the big corporations and the rich people of America.

Spanky-

Psssst bilweeler. Take a look at how the dollar has faired lately. There already isn't much confidence in the dollar.

Say, you think it has anything to do with the fact that $.43 of every dollar spent by the Feds is borrowed?

Cause you know, the fact that we are in for $14 Trillion might be driving us into oblivion, right?

Naaa, you are right - it totally just those nasty "extremists who hate the USA."

This isn't about the budget. The separation is less than 1%. This is about the party of "small government" controlling the lives of Americans. This is about the party of "Lincoln" selling America to corporations. Are they "extremists who hate the USA"? No, they are business men who consider the American people a commodity. Have you noticed American Citizens are usually referred to as American Consumers? Cattle are consumers, sheep are consumers...I for one am an American Citizen and I for one will not stand by passively while the corporate elite end democracy in America.

This political extremism in DC as well as across America is going to implode this nation...We need to realize that we have a significant debt and prioritize where dollars are spent...Programs need to be cut and some people will be impacted, but we need to look at this situation from a 10 thousand view and not from a microscope...This has everything to do with MONEY...that's what talks...everything is BS and is reflected by the games being played in DC at our expense...You want to get change, hit the pockets of those A-holes in Washington that are playing schoolyard politics, again at our expense and realize we are living in a different time and world..Also, start thinking about our children's future for a change and not a self-serving agenda

For those of you who claim the impartiality of blaming both party's you are either misinformed swing voters (for God sake form an opinion predicated on facts or stop being so lazy about getting the facts in first place) or you are Republicans soft shoeing your real intent. The Tea Party is fighting the Culture Wars where and when not appropriate. These ideological driven political riders have no business being in a budget reduction bill. And killing funding for the EPA is insane. These people are radical ideologues frothing at the mouth for a Government shutdown. When the Republican Speaker of the House mentioned in passing to a closed door meeting of his Caucasus - he got a thunderous standing ovation from the Tea Party!

As pointed out by many, It's all about planned parenthood and womens health. When will these Teatards keep there noise out of a womens body. The Republicans-Tea Baggers say it's the money.

An F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet costs $150 million. So, problem solved. Cut out two of these jets. $300

ctdad....

Amen to that. Exactly. The rest is nonsense.

What ever happend to a goverment by the people for the people, We the people need to take action against the republicans and democrats that don't help the people that they were swarn to help and protect.I guess they figure that shutting the goverment down is a solution to get what they want. To me it is like a child taking a tantrum, I also suspect that if they do sit out then they also will get paid if it were the general public that did this we would be fired!!!! i think that the same should apply to them.We the people what ever side you may sit on should take a stand enough is enough!!!!

Paul is right - this is about party politics. Both parties are at fault and neither party seems capable of proposing bipartisan solutions. We can't keep spending money we don't have - it is going to hurt all of us (rich and poor) if we don't start making some significant changes.

Republicans need to pull the policy riders - I'm fine with debating them, but that needs to be done as part of the 2012 and beyond budgets.

Democrats need to either agree to the Republican cuts or offer viable alternatives - I don't care which, but whining about the last $6 billion of cuts in a multi-trillion dollar budget is nothing but politics.

Tank Carson...

Fiscal responsibility IS the most and ONLY position. Party rhetoric or program debates are nonsense. We are not politicians. We are citizens. I am not voting on the budget. I am looking for individuals to vote for that see this priority. It is not Non-committal to reject the status quo of the current situation. It is what needs to happen with the general public. If not we have little hope. It is lazy to follow the renderings of an irresponsible government.

Funny how farming subsidies aren't on the table for cutting, where are the massive cuts to the defense budget? Why is it that none of the GOP-spending programs are presented for cutting under the GOP's cutting-measures? Big shocker...

The GOP is so full of it. I cannot stand the Democrats, don't get me wrong, but the holier-than-thou attitude of the GOP is ridiculous. They are liars and hypocrites just like the Left.

Nearly all of the cuts to the budget that the Republicans are pushing for have to do with attacking the Left's legislation.

I'm so sick of the party-politics in Washington, all of these dregs have to go, the system is so incredibly corrupt and inept, neither established party wants to fix things, just find new creative ways to shovel taxpayer dollars into their constituent's pockets!

Joe in Albany

And to think that if Pelosi/Reid and the majority Dems had done what they were elected to do and passed a 2010-11 budget last year, NONE of this would be happening!!!!!

If Boner, McConnell and the Teabags, collectively AKA the Party of NO, hadn't FILIBUSTERED the budget Democrats proposed, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING. Tell the damned truth for a change. Republicans NEVER wanted to make a deal on a budget. This showdown is intentional and it's owned lock, stock and barrel by the Tea-OP.

Look, Mom, I said that without five exclamation points, too.

How much of this has ANYTHING to do with the budget?

I'd guess that every one of the items that starts with "prohibits funding for..." has to do with the budget. See, they're going to cut spending on those items, since we cannot afford them. Individuals are still free to spend their own money on any of those things if they choose, but they are proposing that our government stop paying for them (again, since we cannot afford them).

The United States primarily does not have a spending problem. Sure, there is some waste, but it's not the biggest issue. We have a revenue (income) problem. We rescinded a vast amount of our income (massive tax cuts to the rich, huge tax breaks for big corporations, extreme subsidies to wealthy, profitable oil companies) and now we are not bringing in enough to pay our bills. If everyone paid their fair share, the problem would diminish. Besides, President Obama did not create this problem. Republicans, with their idiotic large tax breaks, two wars not paid for, bailout of large banks, and shipping jobs overseas put us in a bad fix. Now the GOP want the poor and middle class to pay to bail us out. Now Republicans want to shutter services and agencies that are of benefit to millions of Americans, especially now when the economy is down and they need these services.

Carl:

A Socialist US is his and the First Monkey's preference.

Wow. If I would have implied (and I didn't) that Obama's opponents are racists, I would have been vilified. Then you go and call him the "First Monkey."

Guess that tells us a lot about YOU. Thanks for saving me the trouble of pointing out that some posters don't care for a black President.

Break down that 14 trillion Spanky and name who we owe. Bandying about 14 trillion sounds scary until you break it down. Officially, public debt is about 60 percent of GDP hardly enough to get panicky over.

PS show me a powerful nation with no debt or deficit spending in all of human history and I'll show you my latest fiction novel.

Seriously? No...Really?! - Funny how farming subsidies aren't on the table for cutting

So have Harry and/or Barack put them on the table. They can do that you know. Lets have an up/down vote of them in the Senate, and once the legislation is passed, Harry can go negotiate it with Speaker Boehner in a Conference Committee meeting.

But that would require Obama and Reid to go on the record with something, wouldn't it? Something they obviously do not want to do.

sfcret - I'm fine with debating the usefulness of these items, but I think this should be done as part of the 2012 budget. Let's do the easy cuts (ex: consolidating duplicate programs) now, and do the heavy lifting in a few months.

Tank Carson - while I respect your opinion, I disagree. I'm an independent voter and I think both parties are to blame, and both parties are still mainly playing politics. I think this country is looking at a real financial breakdown if we don't make significant deficit spending reductions in the near future (much worse than the "great recession" we just went through). We can't afford to wait until we are prosperous again to start because by then the required medicine will be much, much worse.

Rachael Maddow said it best, "this about Authoritarian Conservatism", not "small government conservatism". There is nothing small government about trying to ruin women's lives and health, that is intrusion of the greatest magnitude. And people's bedrooms, and the safety of our waters and air. They believe this is bad for big corps., and that's where there true alliegence is, not to the people.

GOP/TP Dismantle and Privatize Agenda:

Part I: Trash America.

Part II: Corporations to the Rescue.

Part III: Run the country for short-term profit at the expense of everything to do with human and civil rights.

Part IV: Return to the late nineteenth century of an industrial elite and a deeply impoverished working class.

RealAmericansFirst

Thanks for the Rider list. Great to see the full array of ideological nonsense that's being bundled in with this bill. For reference:

Planned Parenthood Funding: about $75M. That's less than a dollar per year per taxpayer to provide a huge array of women's health services.

They're trying roll back 50 years of social and environmental legislation. I really hope the Dems don't cave.

All of the ideology debate is tied directly to spending money on programs and thus does belong in the budget debate. The Republicans despise abortion so they seek to strip out all tax dollar funding for it. I'd say that we should only fund programs that everyone can agree on, but the simple fact is that Republicans want very few programs and the Democrats want tons. In my opinion, the Republicans should pull back the EPA defunding in exchange for stripping the Planned Parenthood funding. That way both sides get what they want most. Abortion is still legal, but tax dollars don't go to perform it or recommend it and we continue to investigate and preserve nature.

"Boehner isn't in control. He can't come to an agreement unless he gets everything the TParty wants. He's not really a negotiator; he's just a TParty puppet."

No, I think Boehner has resolved himself to letting the Tea Party get smacked down by the public as an object lesson before they take up more serious issues. It's too bad the reasonable Republicans are going to get drug down with them.

Then once the dust settles he'll be in a position to tell them to sit down, shut the @!$%# up, and learn how it's done.

Have you noticed he gave signals that there is willingness to compromise that changes after he gets back from talking to the rest of the Republicans, and the Democrats are carefully framing it as a problem with the Tea Party, not Boehner?

I think Obama, Reid and Boehner are in this one together to help Boehner get his hose in order.

The rider excuse is just a political smokescreen. To get around it all the Democrats would need to do is propose non-controversial cuts such as duplicate program consolidations.

Including the riders is also just politics by the Republicans. They could also go for the easy cuts first and worry about policy decisions in the 2012 budget debate.

Both parties are more concerned with the party over the country, and both need to be blamed. As long as we voters continue to support either parties position we just continue to reinforce their bad behavior.

Of course us liberals understand we have no money and why there was a surplus when Bush came into office and with 8 years of him and crew overspending and wars we shouldnt of been in he is the blame for a large part of the mess this country is in what short memorys you all have. There is a lots to worry about in this country and one of them is our goverment dictating how much a person can make i work in the mortgage industry and this week our goverment has limited loan orginator on how much they can make. This is just a FYI if they can do it to one industry nobody is safe from our people in goverment. Who will be next Real Estate Sale People, Car sale people, Free Country??? only if your a coperation or a friend of a congressman or senator. We all better take stock of what is going on and demand they do what they are hired to do or kick them out of office

As an evil Pro-Abortion Libtard I want Planned Parenthood defunded and closed so that all those low income women will not have access to cheap contraceptives. They will then have more unplanned pregnancies leading to more abortions. Yea!

I am as open minded as the next liberal when it comes to the rights of conservatives to have a say in how our country is run, but honestly, this sort of penny-wise/dollar-foolish nonsense from the Right make it hard. Any principle that cannot be backed up with pragmatic reality is inherently FALSE. You can say a tadpole sized fetus has an immortal soul, given at conception by Yahweh, but that is a religious doctrine unsupported by either scriptural text or scientific evidence. I know that to Catholics, every aborted fetus, or miscarriage for that matter, is an un-baptized human soul headed straight to the Devil's Nursery in Hell. But that is, to be honest, stupid.

All you posters who think the Tea Party's budget bill riders are just A-okay:

Would you mind going down to Clinch River, Tennessee and explaining to those nice people who had 500 million gallons of coal ash residue dumped on their homes that Congress says it's not hazardous?

Tennessee sludge spill runs over homes, water

Who do you think paid to have that rider put in the budget bill, hmmm? Maybe one of your friends in Corporate America?

sname1 is right, i don't want my money going to michelle bachman and the other tea baggers and republicons getting welfare in the form of "farm subsidies". the queen is driving around in a cadillac while getting millions in welfare. now they can't afford to protect my kids from pollution. and my widowed sister with three kids who works at walmart and can't afford insurance, can't get a health exam.

dosh27935 - I won't even go into where Boehner's "hose" is now. Maybe Planned Parenthood could provide him with a prophylactic before they're shut down?

I'd want one before I got near the Koch Brothers. Safe Tea Partyin', ya'll!

Longhair

"When obama threatens a veto over a bill that keeps the government from shutting down another week, why are the Republicans being blamed for everything?"

Because they wrote a bill that President Obama and many other Americans find unacceptable?

"I won't even go into where Boehner's "hose" is now"

That should have been house.

Boehner's not that bad of a guy. If he has some slack he can get stuff done.

dosh27935 - I agree, Boehner is a heck of a lot better than Eric Cantor, who is just huffing in the wings waiting to jump into the Speaker's chair first chance he gets.

But, admit it, that was too good to pass up :)

"

sfcret

Realamericansfirst - The riders mentioned above seem like programs that are non-essential and should not be funded, especially when the government is so far in debt. Why pay for continuing implementation of Obamacare when we don't even know if it will be proven to be constitutional. Lets use Supreme Court Rule 11, and ask the court to take the case without going through the appeals process, since is will end up in the SCOTUS anyway. Why does the WH need a climate change czar. Why is the Federal government paying for needle exchanges or winterizing homes? We don't have the money, can't you liberals understand that?"

We have the money. It is a matter of what we deem essential and what we don't. We could get the f... out of a no-win war in Afghanistan and pay for most of those items. Maybe we could do some pretty large cuts to defense, since we have a far larger military budget than is "essential". Maybe we should fund a law that IS the law until someone deems it otherwise.

We have the money, it is just a matter of priorities. Why can't you conservatives understand that? Stop saying we can't afford it and start telling the truth. The truth is you don't want to fund anything you disagree with.

Spanky, et al...all the other GOP/Baggers...

You truely are clueless...its like trying to rationalize with a spoiled teenager...enjoy your "moment" while you can...the GOP and its little sibling Teabaggers are doomed in 2012. You'll be lucky to be elected dog catcher!

Here's a thought; add Prohibit funding for "faith based" charities to the list, and I'll be a big supporter of it. Or maybe add Prohibit subsidities for ethanol refineries. Isn't it amazing that all the items listed attack programs and policies that tend to get support from liberals, and nothing at all on the list that cuts funding to programs that conservatives support.

It seems that not only do the Tea Party Republicans want a smaller budget, they want a budget that only spends money on programs that agree with their philosophy. If they were truely trying to fix the budget, they'd share part of the pain with programs they support.

Bilweeler....So just why should the Government of the United States pay for abortions? The Government is not compelling people to have unprotected sex. Planned Parenthood is not a Government organization. Like every other non-profit in this country they have become a very big lobby force in Washington, which is why I stopped donating to them personally.

Yes I am a pro-choice Republican. But if a young woman and a young man choose to have unprotected sex they should also pay for their choice moving forward together.

Until Planned Parenthood gets out of the lobbying Washington business and back to the Community based health, education and choice business I won't donate.

Like everyone else they are looking for their personal due from the taxpayers. Time to get back to the purpose that Margaret Sanger went to jail to protect. Time for Planned Parenthood to become and independent entity and free themselves from the Federal Government.

@Tank Carson (Post#1.18) - You are completely off base....Paul-2596597 hit the nail on the head...It's all about fiscal responsibility and prioritization...Your overzealous political position has caused you to resort to immediate presumptions against those who simply have a differing viewpoint. There are political games being played in Washington and you're simply taking a side based on your party affiliation. I'm not sure of Paul's party of choice, but I'm an IND for the simple reason that I see the rhetoric on both sides and refuse to follow every position they choose...so what does that make me, A Liberal one day and a Neocon the next....That's utterly ridiculous....If you take this approach in discussing politics then I suggest you stop sniffing your own farts...

Why in the H--- don't both parties put this abortion thing on the back burner so they can get a bill through to keep the damn government doors open? They can cut each others throats about this later. How about they start thinking about the people instead of their party rhetoric? This is nothing but the same old same old...........party garbage, from both sides.

This is just Republican political agenda disguised as deficit control. Where was the deficit concern when they pushed through the extension for the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy? Restore the more historically appropriate 35% tax on capital gains instead of the 15% today and the Investment Bankers will pay their fair share and you will seriously address the deficit. Punish the GOP at the polls and demand serious banking reforms that will curtail the real fiscal raping of our country. See "Inside Job".

Because for the GOP its all about the POLITICS and not the budget!!!! The government (GOP/Baggers)has no right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body...period. If it takes a shutdown to maintain that right via Planned Parenthood...then so be it! The majority and the Supreme Court has spoken...just deal with it!!

"And killing funding for the EPA is insane."

I agree. It amazes me that folks who pull out the argument that we're burdening future generations with debt are willing to bequeath them polluted air, earth and water to save a few bucks today.

I sincerely hope the Democrats don't cave-in on this. This is really an affront to the people of this nation. The Republican extremists are using a low form of extortion, i.e. putting hundreds of thousands of families at risk, to advance an ideological agenda. The two parties have agreed on the spending reductions, it is purely ideology differences that divide them. This is no longer a budget debate.

John Boehner is lying to make us think it is about spending, when it is not, because he knows how bad it looks for the Republicans to be engaging in such juvenile behavior.

The problem in America?

Go around your house and make a list of where everything is made! Made In?

Kiss (keep it simple stupid!)

realamericansfirst - thanks for the list, Didn't realize that the federal government was wasting so much federal taxpayer $$$ on funding projects that should have been fundedat the state or local levels. In the case of planned parenthood where was United way or salvation army?? Hope these cuts all come through as "mission accomplished"

Only in america - because reid wants it to be an issue.

reid holds up agreeing to republican cuts because...

"The issue is ideology, not numbers," he said.

He criticized Republican proposals to limit the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency and prohibit the use of federal or local funds to pay for most abortions in the District of Columbia.

"These matters have no place on a budget bill," he said

Gee senator reid, with a growing national debt, the issue IS about numbers, ideology be damned!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42467884/ns/politics-capitol_hill/?gt1=43001

One thing is very clear, obama and company wants to show us all on how little the scalpel really is in addressing our ever mounting debt. Looks like the washington politicians thinks that they can restructure our debt latter on either by printing more money or by America. becoming insolvent when no more buyers of our debt can be found.

And the parade of naivete and willful ignorance just goes on and on.

I am astonished at the number of people who think politics and budget are separate.

Or that the act of funding something is just as political as de-funding something.

Or that economics don't matter. As long as "you" get your payday from the government, somebody else can get the shaft.

The founding fathers of this country were quite vocal in their opposition to a "democracy". That is why they created a republic.

For the study of history presented by the first Americans was once society realizes that they can "vote" themselves a bigger share of the pie than what the "other" guy gets, it all starts going down hill fast.

Very well put Marv! Dems don't cave in...this is a budget debate...the majority of people in this country support funding for Planned Parenthood and are Pro Choice. This issue has no place in a budget debate. Take it up with the Supreme Court and lose again if you want. Go away Teabaggers!

Paul: I'm glad there's someone here that has a clue!

When are people going to wake up and realize this is no longer a two-party system! The end-game for everyone in Congress is to get their hands on as much of OUR, the tax payers, hard earned money as they can. All the 'issues' that they bicker over are designed to keep the public arguing with one another so no one realizes they've got their hands in our pockets.

And you IDIOTS in Nevada...YOU kept dippy Reid!

If republicans weren't fielding such idiotic candidates like that moron Angle and pandering to the teabaggers it would be easier to seriously consider republicans, but not a chance in hell with the idiots they put up.

no man should be debating over womens rights. a womens body is thiers and men should not dictate what they can or can not do with thier own bodys! go fight over something else.

All of this has nothing to do with women's issues or any other issues except organizations that tend to advocate for the Democratic Party. Planned Parenthood conducts abortions through another sub-organization that is privately funded; as noted, the Hyde Amendment prohibits public funding of abortions and this is strictly adhered to. Planned Parenthood also conducts health screening and treatment for women's diseases, a very noteworthy cause if you are a woman, need medical care, and cannot afford it. However, there is another part of Planned Parenthood that is very reprehensible to Republicans, and that is the advocacy of woman's rights and those who support those rights (which many Republicans do not). Get rid of the organization; get rid of the issue. It is a dirty and underhanded way to trying to make one's point (which, unfortunately, seems par for the Republican course these days).

I see again where the vast majority of postings that are censored by collapse are postings that prove the Left is again wrong. Howerver, I did find a post that really has me scratching my head, and the Left is blaming the RIGHT over these issues, which BTW, are NOT part of any form, revised or not, of the Constitution, but rather, each program is a Democrat/Socialist/Communist Proggram NOT instituted by the Right.

RealAmericansFirst

Here are the riders the GOP put on the continuing resolution bill:

• Prohibits funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
• Prohibits funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program or the State Energy Program.
• Prohibits funding for various environmental projects in California.
• Prohibits funding for a climate change czar in the White House.
• Prohibits funding for EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases.
• Prohibits funding for the EPA to change a rule regulating water.
• Prohibits funds for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Prohibits funds for the EPA to implement regulations to designate coal ash residue as hazardous waste.
• Prohibits funding for the IRS to implement health care reform.
• Prohibits funds for a White House Director of Health Care reform.
• Prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own, non-federal funds to pay for abortions beyond the very limited circumstances in which federal funds are currently available (in circumstances of rape or incest and to save the life of a pregnant woman).
• Prohibits funding for needle-exchange programs.
• Prohibits funding for sections of the Public Health Service Act.
• Prohibits funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates.
• Prohibits funds to pay any employee, officer or contractor to implement the provisions of the health care reform law.
• Strips funding for any provision of the health care reform law.
• Prohibits funding for the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, UN Population Fund, or for foreign NGOs that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services.

How much of this has ANYTHING to do with the budget? How much is just cramming a right-wing social agenda down the throats of the American people? We need to put the blame where it's due and quit putting up with this crap. Get to work!

#1.13 - Fri Apr 8, 2011 12:02 PM EDT

Number one in my mind is that the DEMOCRATS, while the Majority (that is, they ran things until about Jan 5, 2011, until the Right ran them out), didn't/couldn't/wouldn't pass any form of Budget, other than "continuing resolutions," for an entire year. Why?? Simple, it was an Election year, the Left was on the way out, and they weren't going to be blamed for ANY money prior to November. They were Cowards, and now, they want to say the Right is causing a shutdown? Not working here. The Democrats have , in 6 years in the Majority of both houses, run this Government into deeper debt that at any other time in our History. The Republicans promised to fix it. The Republicans got elected. The Democrats, acting as the spoiled children they are, now want to blame them for the shutdown????

I'm gonna stop here, except for one last truth, anyone that still wants to claim "Illegal, lies, or deception" for Bush acting with the Congresses APPROVAL to go to Iraq, explain what part of Vietnam wasn't created with LIES, deception, or Illegality? Kennedy and Johnson did that. Murdered over 58,000 American Soldiers and Citizens. Some of them my good friends. All of them my colleagues. And I did watch some die as I fought next to them, while becoming totally Disaabled, as countless of our era are, because of the DEMOCRATS Illegal war. Ramped up on the lie of the Gulf of Tonkin.

My comments will again be "collapsed/deleted" because I tell verifiable truths and facts, do not revise history, and I vehemently disagree with EVERY program on the list posted above. Notice that the "writer" of the list left out that nearly each are illegal, and unconstitutional. They also left out that these force us to give up a right or two for each one, mainly OUR money in OUR pockets to use as we wish. He also left out any violation of the 1st and Second Amendments, and the Lefts very nasty habit of loading the Controversial bills with their Pork and unConstitutional riders.

If you can agree to $38 billion in cuts without cutting funding for the health centers, then you probably haven't cut enough.

Over a trillion a year shortfall and they are dickering over 33 billion??? Absurd! About as absurd as the Repugs saying "jobs, jobs, jobs" last election and then aiming to put public sector workers on the unemployment rolls! Absurd as deferring checks to soldiers putting their heads on the line in far away countries but making sure they get their own paychecks safely behind their oak tables in a marble edifice! I think it is time for the average stressed-out working family to take time and dismantle this government that is run by the wealthiest 5% of this country! It is obvious all of them (Tea Baggers, Democrats and Republicans) ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR!!! When the likes of GE (who paid ZERO taxes this year!) and Bank of America make BILLIONS in profits while millions are on the verge of losing their homes and millions holding on to underwater mortgages, it is time to say "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this @!$%# any longer!!!" It is time for people to unite and throw out these selfish and arrogant parrots who are taking up valuable space in our public servant buildings!!!

I've largely stayed out of this whole issue because it truly is nothing more than ideological bickering by people we have entrusted to represent the needs of ALL Americans.

It is sad, it is farcical, and relatively soon we will ALL face the hardships and consequences of our national apathy.

I am truly surprised that many of you here feel this is a ideological battle of wills. True, our "leaders" are fighting along entrenched party lines, and their rampant idiocy has been looming, but WE AMERICANS do not need to be drawn into this petulant, decisive argument over their actions! Our national fiscal problems are not a function of our political ideology, but rather a function of the intrinsic penchant of our "leaders" to only provide for the needs of the big money interests that really control this country.

Look at it this way- The elephant in the room is our defense/security budget. We spend more funds on Pentagon allocations and our 'necessary' security apparatus than the rest of the world COMBINED! We have 700+ bases (more, depending upon who you talk to) in 130 countries, on every continent. And this is during a time when we have no real enemies! Terrorism is a joke, people! It's a hoax! We do not need to spend $1.1T dollars every year to go kill a handful of "islamic fundamentalists". Our wars are futile and illegal, and they are destroying our nation from within. The only way to aptly change our exposure to any terrorism is by revamping our foreign policy away from the fraudulent exploitation of 3rd world resources. "Terrorists" do not "hate" us because we are free, or rich....they hate us because we blow up their children whenever the smell of oil comes wafting into the Capitol building. Our government has been using this excuse for ten years to rape our country of its blood and treasure in order to fund the gigantic military-industrial complex and oil industries. It's about MONEY, not terrorism! Follow the money, and you will see exactly why our foreign policy has been enacted the way it is.

The other major issue concerns the entire fiat monetary system in our nation. This giant pyramid scheme of credit/debt is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme on a scale so large and entrenched into our banking industry most Americans do not even understand it is there! As someone stated earlier, our $14T national debt may "only" be 60% of our GDP (though I will have to check that figure! I believe it is higher), but remember you are talking about 60% of the world's largest economy, by far! Anyway you look at it, $14T is nothing to shake a stick at! The cliff of interest default is right around the corner, and if drastic measures are not taken soon, we will be at the mercy of hyperinflationary policies coming straight out of the criminal Federal Reserve. You WILL see your wealth destroyed, and the implosion of our standard of living, should this occur. And to the naysayers who think it cannot happen, or is too far away to bother with any sense of urgency, I say to you: go and read up on the effects of similar fiscal policies in the Weimar Republic, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Yugoslavia, Nigeria, and the USSR!!

Do you folks realize that our politicians are bickering over 0.83% of the national annual budget? 0.83%!! They (all of them!) are cutting programs that directly ease the lives of our downtrodden neighbors and loved ones, while paying no heed to the bloated Pentagon budgets and fraudulent misappropriations. In fact, the latest GOP budget seeks to increase military funding this year compared to last.

The Holy Roman Empire lasted for hundreds of years. It was one of the greatest and most powerful empires in history. It was said to be formidable. But, alas, Rome fell with a vengeance. In the last days, Rome was busy fighting on multiple fronts at its distant borders while the empire crumbled at home. The similarities between Rome and our nation are rampant. Read into this what you may.

I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican. I am certainly not optimistic in any way. But I am a cynic, and I can read enough to satiate my own curiosity as to the future of our great nation. God bless us all.

No one is reading this, and its already over. You know alot work gets done out on the lawn doing interviews??? fire them all ,president on down ,vote on that?

mucker:

the majority of people in this country support funding for Planned Parenthood and are Pro Choice. This issue has no place in a budget debate.

Which is it? If the issue is about support for government funding, how does it have no place in the government budget debate? Doesn't the government's funding come out of the government's budget (the one that is upside down by about 1.5 trillion)?

Mark:

a womens body is thiers and men should not dictate what they can or can not do with thier own bodys!

Is the proposal to change laws and dictate what women can or cannot do with their own bodies, or is it just to stop direct federal funding to a particular organizaton? Sounds like you and I read two different proposals...

Have to agree 100% with you on your statement about the Founding Fathers. They also didn't like "Big Business, Religion, or any group that wanted to push their opinions or ideas off on anyone else. This country was based on the freedom to allow everybody to do as they wished, unless it caused harm on another citizen of the Republic.

This crap needs to stop and we need to create a single payer Universal health care system for the entire nation and have it provide HEALTH SERVICES to who needs them, no matter what someone else has an opinion of. I don't need someone else making my medical choices for me, I am well over the age of consent/contacting.

The GOP (I don't even call them Republicans anymore because it is an INSULT to Mr. Nixon, Mr. Lincoln and any other old school folks I may have had just a teaspoon of respect for in the past) are nothing but Pitchmen for the NEW Corporate Order, and the rest of America, has become the new slave class.

Watch how our next election is stolen by them....even when everybody goes to vote them all out of office, all of a sudden it's the Supreme Court that will "decide" the election just like in 2000.

We are already totally screwed as a populace, just watch how they nail the coffin lid closed shut over the next year or two. Get your popcorn ready, the Circus is coming to town (and about as friendly as the one in R. Bradberry's October People, or "Something wicked this way comes.."

The Dems don't have an issue with withholding funds from our troops, but screw with Abortion and they will shut the government down.

Pathetic!! Shame on you dems!!

Lots of opinions posted. I wonder how many have actually contacted their Senator or Representative and expressed their opinion. Actually being involved in your community, working for a candidate or being one and voting still work I believe. Too bad a large percentage of American citizens don't do anything but talk about it

Phil Heim-

97% of Americans were against the TARP bailouts before they were passed in Congress.

Please tell me how our "voice" is really affecting anything in our Legislature.

Go ahead, I would love a lecture on the wonders of our 'freedom to petition the government'.

Yeah, all we do is talk. Because sooner or later, our nation will self-destruct, and THEN maybe our "leaders" will actually listen.

Oh, and let's not forget that 90% of the time when a politican campaigns with more money, he wins. So please don't sit at your computer and pull the "contact your senator" BS. No offense, but while your comment is noble, it is entirely futile in this day and age.

What possesses you folks to collapse a thread because through the conversation you seem to be loosing the argument.

Truly....We don't live in Iran....We are in America.

Michelle..

There is nothing small government about trying to ruin women's lives and health, that is intrusion of the greatest magnitude.

Planned Parenthood is not a department of the United States. It is a non-profit organization that provides a service. They do require some to pay and those who cannot pay can receive procedures, tests and education for free. That is good and reasonable even commendable. But again they are a non-profit organization not a department of our Government.

It isn't about trying to ruin any woman's life or health. There is no intrusion and there are generally many other options in communities across our country for women to receive the same services: well woman's check-ups, breast screening, education can all be received through other avenues. Even abortions can be received through other avenues. It is about the fact that this organization provides abortions with money provided by the citizens of the Unites States. Now, regarding "ruining" a woman's life...Who compels the average woman to get pregnant? I certainly have not, my legislators certainly have not. I would believe you certainly have not. If a woman sees the pregnancy as ruining her life then well, I suppose that is a consequence of her actions beyond rape. I believe most hospitals are equip to offer rape victims a morning after pill, but the rape has to be reported. I would actually support Federal Funding in that event.

If a woman gets pregnant and does not wish to continue her pregnancy then she can still go to Planned Parenthood and terminate the pregnancy. It may actually cost her money. But then if she had used their education or birth control options prior to getting pregnant her life would be cruising along as if nothing happened. Why should the men and women of America be responsible for the outcome of two consenting adults indiscretion? Their actions alone chose to create a fetus and in our country they have the right to choose to end the pregnancy. They should also share the burden of the cost for the procedure. It may not be cheap but it is a pittance compared to the cost of raising an unwanted child.

As for Planned Parenthood in general....Our Government is working off of borrowed money. Why are they supporting outside efforts with funding that we will ultimately have to pay interest on? That makes no sense regardless of the Non-Profit they are supporting.

Now, If Planned Parenthood would spend more on their community efforts and less on lobbying then they would probably be able to serve their communities with the donations they receive rather than spending big bucks to lawyers, PR firms and lobbyist.

The money going to Planned Parenthood from the US government is non-essential. The DNC would have our service members go without pay in an effort to support a non-profit organization.

First of all, Indy Patriot, I can't agree with you more. You have hit the nail on the head!! The GOP panders to big business and wants to let corporations take over our government and take it away from the people! This enrages me; and, yes, I HAVE contacted my representatives, but all I get back are their stupid "run of the mill" responses.

Secondly, for those of you who are uneducated about Planned Parenthood.....this group does NOT advocate abortion. They counsel people, provide information on contraceptives and birth control, provide check-ups for women to see if they have any communicable diseases, and try to help people....they are NOT an abortion clinic!

Thirdly, I don't think many of you remember the days when a women had to go to a backstreet abortionist when they got pregnant (from rape, abuse, etc.) and ended up dying a horrendous death. Although I probably would not choose abortion for myself, this is a private matter between a woman and a man....it does NOT belong in the government! I can pretty much guarantee you if ONE man ever got pregnant and had to have a child......the whole mantra would change. As far as I'm concerned NO man has the right to say anything about abortion until they've walked in a woman's shoes! From what I understand, it's NOT an easy decision, but it's HER decision to make. As an added note, the Government does NOT fund abortions as it is now! De-funding Planned Parenthood will do more harm than good, but apparently the GOP and it's Tea Party puppeteer masters don't seem to understand this and will hold up an ENTIRE government for this ridiculous ideology!

Lastly....until we stop the lobbyists, the Tea Baggers, and big corporations from funding campaigns, we will NEVER have an honest government that cares about you and me! The Supreme Court was entirely wrong in saying a "corporation" is a "person." That's the most ridiculous thing I've EVER heard (and I've heard some goodies lately)! Big Business has NO business interfering in our political campaigns....but, as you know, they are seemingly running the show through their GOP puppets.

Enough said.....I just wish BOTH parties would get off their duffs and get this settled....the reasonings on BOTH sides for not getting this done are pitiful!

This budget is so easy to resolve it is stupid. Every agency, every budget, every service, every department WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS, gets a 10% reduction in funding. 130 billion reduction done and done. Leave it up to the departments to find the place they need to cut to deal with the reduction. That is what they get paid to do!

Stop with the targetted defunding. If they are serious about the budget and reducing it, all they need to do is agree on the percent across the board and pass a one page bill that says everybody shares a reduction equally with NO EXCEPTIONS.

Smyth...

It appears you may live under a rock...FYI...abortion is not illegal according to the US Supreme Court. Therefore, public funding for information, education, and the practice of abortion can be funded with public money. Until it is deemed illegal...you have no say in the matter. Funding to Planned Parenthood is legal. If you or anyone else has an issue with this...feel free to take it up with the Supreme Court and you will surely lose. Keep you petty social issues out of my federal budget discussions. The freedom of choice is worth far more than the almighty dollar any day. End of freakin story!

I hear all this screaming about defunding Planned Parenthood and how the government needs to "stay out of a woman's body" (pro-choice people) and the impact it will have on women's health. Well, you can't have it both ways - by the government funding Planned Parenthood, you are allowing them into your body. Oh, never mind, you want their money but you don't want them to tell you what to do with it. I get it now - the whole "have you cake and eat it too" mentality.

With that out of the way, let me just say, as far as women's health, most counties across the nation have county health facilities that provide women's health services at no cost or reduced costs based on income. These facilities are funded by the county and/or the state, not the federal government. So even if PP is defunded, women can get basic healthcare if they do not have insurance. This includes pregnancy tests and tests for STD's and subsequent treatment. The problem comes in that they will not treat minors without parental consent which means teens will have to confess to mommy and daddy that they have been playing grown-up and got into a little trouble - sorry, I know that sounds like personal responsibility and there are some that just can't handle that. These county facilities also do not perform abortions, for that you would have to find another clinic and actually pay for it (sorry, again personal responsibility kicks in). Besides, rubbers are cheap and there are privately operated counselling centers, churches, etc. that will provide those for free. You may just have to listen to some free education regarding sexual responsibilities (dang, there it is again, that responsibility thing)! Okay I have rambled on about this enough. The point being that the federal government (aka taxpayers) should not have to fund these types of programs. If PP wants additional funding to continue to operate, they should do like these other private, non-profits do and solicit funding from those that want these programs to remain. I don't support it and should not have to pay for it.

The same could be said about several of the other programs on the list of "Republican cuts". Cut them from the budget, if they want to continue to operate, let them come up with the funding somewhere else. The government should provide essential services first and foremost and these ancillary programs only, and that is a big ONLY, if there are surplus funds. In other words, they have no place in the budget anyway!

Didi....

Lastly....until we stop the lobbyists, the Tea Baggers, and big corporations from funding campaigns, we will NEVER have an honest government that cares about you and me! The Supreme Court was entirely wrong in saying a "corporation" is a "person."

Here are your tax dollars at work.

http://umfem.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/planned-parenthood-rally-and-lobby-day-in-d-c-april-7th-free/

http://www.prochoicewashington.org/assets/files/lobbydayfaqs.pdf

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/04/ceo-4-5-2011.html

The following is from the last link

While Planned Parenthood has always maintained a strong lobbying and political influence presence among lawmakers, groups opposing abortion rights have also bolstered their efforts.

I highly doubt that the groups opposing abortion rights are receiving federal funding.

By comparison, Planned Parenthood's political action committee made dozens of contributions almost exclusively to Democratic candidates during the same period.

Based on your statement you might just reconsider your position on Federal Funding of Planned Parenthood. No one is trying to shut them down.

It appears you may live under a rock...FYI...abortion is not illegal according to the US Supreme Court. Therefore, public funding for information, education, and the practice of abortion can be funded with public money.

Just because it is legal and we can fund Planned Parenthood or abortions does not mean we must spend tax dollars to this or any organization that perform abortions. Young people do stupid, thoughtless things...this is how they learn there are consequences to their actions. Fortunately, abortion is legal in this country leaving a young woman or young couple with at least three choices: abortion, adoption, or to assume the responsibility of parenthood.

Women have the right to do with their bodies what they wish. This is America, God Bless Her. But, just because it is legal does not make this everyone's responsibility to support through tax dollars. Actions have their consequences.

Yeah, that's a good one there DBO.

Look Sport, we get it that you hate the Israelis, but see Schumer, Weiner and several more are pretty hardcore 'bout the whole Israel thing, so it ain't never going to happen.

It's really a shame too. I agree, let's stop funding all this crap, including Israel. We need to do EVERYTHING we can to fix our little $.43 problem, right Drive By?

Bob: What womens' issues can't be taken care of by the women themselves?

It's not the issues themselves, Bob. It's a question of the RIGHT, the freedom, to take care of them.

And not the certificates and crap - you need to get and keep the actual gold.

Boy, that's no kidding. Because when health insurance fails and plastics disappear because oil runs out, you'll still have a supply available for your dental fillings. You'll probably need it to pay for the office visit, too.

That's really what we mean by back to the "gold" standard.

Here we go again. Anything goes wrong… whose gilt is it?! Oh, Jews of course!!

Take a look at the political map, USA has the only one stable partner (economical and political ) in this region. Think before you talk.USA interest in this region as much vital as like you would have an electricity tomorrow in your house. Everything is involved, including your good sleep at night.
These 2 countries (US and Israel) are the only 2 ones whom the Arab extremists wish a death, don't forget it…


This isn't about the budget. It is about ego! Both parties are acting like babies. It is time to grow up and really listen to what the American people want. WE WANT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO USE THEIR BRAINS WORK TOGETHER AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. Stop thinking because you got elected that all the people in your political party agree with you. You may have been the lesser evil that was on the ballot.

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 money is already there to hire our unemployed workers back - corporations are sitting on over $1 TRILLION in cash right now. But they've chosen instead to boost dividends, CEO compensation and overseas infrastructure investments instead.

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????

Bob:

What womens' issues can't be taken care of by the women themselves?

If they don't have health insurance (and we know approximately 30 million Americans DON'T), they would not have access to:

1. family planning

2. breast cancer screening

3. pap tests

4. cervical cancer screening

5. STD testing

Oh...just check it out for yourself.

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/womens-health-4284.htm

The Republicans are accused of letting an ideological point stand in the way over Planned Parenthood funding. Hasn't Planned Parenthood been funded at increasing levels over the years because of the Democrats' and Progressives' ideological point of view? So, to quote that fine American, Barack Obama, "Elections matter", and an equally fine American, Nancy Pelosi, "We won" when the Democrats explained why they were muscling through their own agenda after the '08 elections, and, since Republicans won this time, why is their ideological point of view the one they have to give up? Why don't the Democrats give up their ideological point of view, get this deal done, and fight the Planned Parenthood funding battle in the next round. If they lose, there is another election next year. isn't that how this works?

You are 100% correct.

Also, An F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet costs $150 million. So, problem solved. Cut out two of these jets. $300

Bob R-773084

What women's issues can't be taken care of by the women themselves? Try basic screenings for cancers, pregnancy testing (I think they also provide prenatal care), STD testing, birth control (to prevent the abortions that are causing all this hoopla), couseling on how to use birth control properly, etc., etc., etc.

Regular insurance may or may not cover these things. Some refuse to cover either abortions or birth control (kind of dumb, since the one can be prevented by the other). The disgusting thing is that they'll still cover Viagra AND all of men's testing (prostate cancer) and health care.

It also assumes the women in question have insurance. Most of those who use PP don't (and can't get it, either due to cost or pre-existing conditions).

Sheesh. Leave it to a man to come up with a question like that. Walk a mile in my shoes before you try to talk intelligently about that subject.

Yes, I'm female. Yes, I have insurance (now). I didn't for several years. I'm WAY behind on cancer screenings (including mammograms) because I just couldn't afford it. Do you have any idea how much a mammogram costs??!?!?

Orlando - and you can't dispute the fact that the top tax rates are already their lowest since the 1930's, and the ratio of corporate taxes to GDP its lowest since the 1950's. And NONE of those tax gifts from the American public have done ONE DAMN THING to create jobs.

You believe a fairy tale - "Cut my taxes and maybe I'll give you a job". "Maybe" being the operative word.

And I don't know if corporations are "rolling around naked" in that $1 TRILLION in cash they're sitting on. Maybe we should be asking them what they're doing with it?

If planned parenthood/birth control isn't funded, then insurance co. should be prohibited from covering viraga. See how far that flies, gentlemen.

If the goal of Planned Parenthood actually included helping women to not get pregnant until they were ready for families, I would be all for it. I draw the line at tax payers paying for women to kill unborn children. It is time for women to exercise their rights. We have the right to abstain. We have the right to use birth control. We have the right to give the child up for adoption. Why is it the exercising of women's rights isn't used until after they are pregnant?

Nothing in your rant even remotely sounds patriotic, Orlando.

VA Ind said:

the reason tax revenues are down is due to high un-employment and the fact that our country, private companies as well as our own federal and state governments, keep outsourcing so many good paying jobs to foreign companies and countries. People who are losing these jobs are being forced into lower paying jobs, if they can find them.

This is the idea behind free markets: to make you eventually bow down to the overlords who will send your job to China or India, because those people have already been forced into indentured servitude by this system which only benefits the greedy. It's an attempt to return to feudalism, where you only have serfs and nobles.

Money and greed do not = noble.

nsummers:

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.

"You believe a fairy tale - "Cut my taxes and maybe I'll give you a job". "Maybe" being the operative word."

Exactly. If I own a business, I'm not adding personnel because you give me a bigger tax refund. I'm going to add personnel if/when demand calls for the added capacity to produce. Sheesh- and I'm only a high school graduate.

And as to the Israeli statement- let me take it back, and insert some other target of our largess. I've seen some suggestions about less planes or other military hardware. That might work. How about shaving the needed amount off government employee salaries? Hell, I don't know- there HAS to be some painless cuts that could offset what PP is getting. Maybe disengage from Iraq 3 months earlier than planned?

No- Spankie- I don't hate Israelis. I was just trying to illustrate a point. But thanks for the effort to put words in my mouth.

" I draw the line at tax payers paying for women to kill unborn children"

SO do I. That's why you and I are thankful for the Hyde ammendment.

Tax payers are not paying for abortions at Planned Parenthood. The law (Title 10) prohibits paying for abortions with tax payer funds. Get your facts straight.

The Brits implemented austerity measures and their GDP went negative. Ireland has almost no corporate tax, corporations are flocking there, but the economy sucks there and they have negative GDP.

The Repugs want to do the same.

Austerity measures are a suckers game.

Orlando - cutting corporate and high-income taxes have NEVER lead to economic expansion. Do some research before you buy into BS ideologies.

America's economy is driven by working people. And when they suffer, the economy suffers. If your "I'm too scared to spend these piles of cash" friends can't figure that out for themselves, our government needs to put policies in place to make it happen. Period. I for one am not willing to wait on the good graces of the Koch Brothers to get us out of the ditch your "supply-side" voodoo economics ran us into.

If your economic theory works so well, the Bush years should have seen the biggest job and wage growth in the history of this country. Did that happen? And please explain why the best-off economies in the world are Brazil, Norway, Germany, Sweden and France? None of them use your voodoo economics.

I suspect more unwanted pregnancies are prevented by Planned Parenthood than aborted by them. Lots of uneducated and poor women rely on them for women's health, education, and birth control. Law doesn't allow government funds to be used for abortion, but true, the money does support an organization that performs abortions. But let's consider this for a minute, how much education and birth control does 300 million pay for? Seems to me that if Planned Parenthood's grant is cut, they'll have less money for woment's health and birth control, so more women will have abortions. Seems to me you're thinking you'll cut off abortions, but really what you will do is increase unplanned pregnancy. Guess how a lot of those end?

RAF- your wasting your breath. Orlando is brainwashed in an economic system that is non-sustainable. He thinks only those with a lot of cash and capital are smart enough to understand social constructs. He forgets one thing basic human fact: If you don't have happy workers, YOU HAVE NO COMPANY! Pretty simple really. Right now the money class have it great. They have a world full of cheap labor. They don't have to deal with the "bargaining" of American workers anymore. So what do they do with their billions of profits from cheap labor???

Oh, Orlando says they create jobs with those tax benefits and profits. LOL. Oh yeah, since 1980 we are just swimming in "good paying jobs" Reagan always touted! Don't you see them? They are everywhere! As you state, history since 1980 and G.H.W. Bush's analysis of Supply Side economics as "Voodoo Economics" has proven to be true! Facts are facts.

Now we get a second "trickle down" economy in the Trillion dollar bailout. Guess what? Same result: no jobs, stagnant wages. Again, facts are facts.

The rich get bailed out for blowing a whole in the economy and the average tax payer is not only paying for it, but losing social programs for those at the bottom of the food chain to boot! Works out great.

The banks and investment firms are BIGGER than before the crash as a result of merging and bailout. Go figure. Are they still "too big to fail" again? Of course not. Orlando, don't let history get in the way of your failed economic system that enriches the rich and makes the average worker more stressed and on the brink of losing everything.

We have yet to see the bottom of the housing crisis started by these same Trickle Down economists! Oh, I get it, they blame poor people for devising their own loans for houses they couldn't afford! HAHA! Whatever. I guess they told Goldman Sachs to invest their mortgages in Credit Default Swaps too, eh Orlando???

JOBS?!

No abortion, entitlements and gays? If the government doesn't create jobs than how does any of these create JOBS?

Opinions are like butt holes everyone has one, but not everyone has a job. America Made in China!

I wonder how much money the govt would have if tax REFUNDs weren't given out? Just leave it at whatever is paid in over the course of the year. And maybe if some of the various loopholes were closed that legally allow individuals and corporations to avoid paying a bit more.

I actually considered "cheating" on my taxes this year.....to reduce what I'm going to get. It's my year to claim my daughter of divorce and wasn't going to claim her just to "do my little part". Then all this mess with the shutdowm started and since I'm in the military and potentially will get a delay in my pay (but still have to go to work) I think I'll do my taxes honestly.

I believe there are many things that need to go but I have to wonder if all these riders were there for the last two CRs. My last thought on budgeting: instead of worrying about cuts why don't they simply figure out we NEED/want and figure out how get those revenues instead of deadlocking us.

I just can't fathom the idea that those Republican Tea Party types think they can just run roughshod over the electorial process by putting everything we americans work so hard to provide for all americans and that includes women to have a better quality of life through Planned Parenhood at risk. The sheer audacity of those conservative hypocrites. Whoever voted those ao's in office should have their heads examined. The Republicans have now shown their true colors. They tricked voters into believing they were about job creation. What a BIG FAT LIE! If the voters don't step up and vote these tea party phonies out I'm going to shout from the roof top how stupid american voters are. People need to start doing a lil research for themselves instead of taking the word of some anti-government rhetoric spewing from the orifices of some conservative think tank like america for posperity. Posperity my ass. Whose posperity? Only one group is faring well and thats the rich in this economical/social nightmare. When will hard working americans realize the republicans party is not a party for the american workers' of this great land. When people are you going to wake up to this simple reality?

The anti-abortion crowd is a misleading and deceitfully wicked bunch...

They want to force the poor to give birth then kick them off welfare, there by dooming one to a life of hunger and misery (a living hell, if you will)

Since they (for the most part) don’t adopt; they prove themselves to be hypocrites, whose concerns stop at birth

I think these people who support abortion are self haters. If every white girl were to abort pregnancy we will be run over by migrants and this country will go sheet. I am not white yet I think abortion should be restricted unless it is incest or rape. We need more babies.

RealAmericanFirst: You probably don't know it but you actually said something that is correct. You didn't mean to but you did and that is the assumption that tax cuts will ALWAYS pay for themselves is false (look up Laffer Curve named after famed economist Arthur Laffer. There is an EXCELLENT YouTube video. Type in "Laffer Curve Part 1"). The Laffer Curve basically says that there are some cases where tax cuts will INCREASE tax revenues and other cases where tax cuts will DECREASE tax revenue. You have to be knowledgeable in economics to understand that but you did accidently touch on a valid point.

When Reagan lowered the highest marginal tax rates from 70% to 50% (initially then lowered to 35% over the next several years) tax revenues increased DRAMATICALLY!! Now, people don't know that because of additional debt added but that was because Congress (and Reagan approved) borrowed MORE than the increase in tax revenues. So you understand how that is possible let's say a person making $20,000 a year gets a $10,000 raise but goes out and buys a new $30,000 BMW. The increases wages (or revenues) increased but their debt increased. Same type of thing but more detail can be saved for a future debate.

However, tax cuts (or increases) are not the ONLY variable regarding how the economy grows. Other factors are included like global economies, what is the Fed doing with the money supply, how gvmt is spending, and regulations. So your comment that "Bush had tax cuts so..........". First, if it wasn't for the tax cuts and pro-business policies in late 2001 and early 2002 we would not have gotten out of the recession as quick as we did. Also remember that in 2006 this economy was still STRIVING but the House and Senate was turned over to the Democrats. Promises of future tax increases and constant fighting of Bush policies by a Democrat Congress that, up to that point worked fairly well, had their effect and by 2008 the economy was callapsing. Bush's fault? Maybe some but majority was because CONGRESS had stopped supporting pro-business policies.

You don't know it but I actually TEACH college Economics. I can speak this topic all day long and can explain each and every one of these points in detail if you considered listening. You won't listen so it doesn't much matter anymore. However, I want to leave you one final point: On the first day of class in every semester I ALWAYS discuss why do we study economics and what does it tell us. The one MAJOR point that you ALSO need to recognize, and I stress in my classes, is that "Economics is NOT the study of what people (or business) SHOULD do but rather what they ACTUALLY will do". In other words you (or I) might think that the "rich" SHOULD pay more in taxes. And maybe they should. However, to not recognize that there WILL be an effect is naive. Maybe the negative effect is minor as compared to what gvmt could do with the additional tax dollars. Maybe the increased tax revenues is worth more from a "social" point of view or maybe the effect will be "major" and the cost of a tax increase will be significantly more than the benefit of the additional tax revenue. But to think you can simply "take" from the "rich" with this illogical and rational point of view that there will NOT be any effect at all shows lack of knowledge in how business or economics works.

What a stupid comment.

Here are the riders the GOP put on the continuing resolution bill:

• Prohibits funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Conservation Stewardship Program.
• Prohibits funding for the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.
• Prohibits funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program or the State Energy Program.
• Prohibits funding for various environmental projects in California.
• Prohibits funding for a climate change czar in the White House.
• Prohibits funding for EPA efforts to regulate greenhouse gases.
• Prohibits funding for the EPA to change a rule regulating water.
• Prohibits funds for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
• Prohibits funds for the EPA to implement regulations to designate coal ash residue as hazardous waste.
• Prohibits funding for the IRS to implement health care reform.
• Prohibits funds for a White House Director of Health Care reform.
• Prohibits the District of Columbia from using its own, non-federal funds to pay for abortions beyond the very limited circumstances in which federal funds are currently available (in circumstances of rape or incest and to save the life of a pregnant woman).
• Prohibits funding for needle-exchange programs.
• Prohibits funding for sections of the Public Health Service Act.
• Prohibits funds to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., or any of its affiliates.
• Prohibits funds to pay any employee, officer or contractor to implement the provisions of the health care reform law.
• Strips funding for any provision of the health care reform law.
• Prohibits funding for the US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation, UN Population Fund, or for foreign NGOs that use their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services.

How much of this has ANYTHING to do with the budget? How much is just cramming a right-wing social agenda down the throats of the American people? We need to put the blame where it's due and quit putting up with this crap. Get to work!

they are all idiots

RealAmericansFirst,

Not everyone believes that we should borrow more money from China to pay for the services you listed.

Congress, along with the rest of us, is being teabagged. And so are the REAL Republicans - and they're the ones, along with the baggers, who will feel the wrath of REAL Americans in 2012. So, a little note of thanks to the idiots . . .

Real Americans first:

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.

LOL... your logic is laughable. That is like you handing your kid one dollar and telling him not to buy candy with that particular dollar and then handling him another dollar and telling him not to buy a soda with that particular dollar and then sending him over to the vending machine where he buys candy with the non-soda dollar and a soda with the non-candy dollar.

Kid gets his candy and soda and you get to tell people how you controlled his spending....

Onlyfactsmatter - I guess its ok to borrow from China to pay for your tax cuts for the wealthiest, though, huh? Nice priorities. The budget to be introduced by the baggers in 2012 includes decreasing the tax burden on millionaires from 35% to 25% - saving the rich $100,000 on every $1M of profit. And each dollar bill they save will be stamped "Made in China."

Nsummers,

Quit listening to those lying Republicans. The govenment is NOT funding abortions through Planned Parenthood. That's what the jackrod Republicans are saying and it's not true. that's what this is about. they are using that to get to people just like you who believe their pile of steaming crap.

RAF and Brad...You guys need to go teach those evil rich people a lesson and find a poor person to work for. That will teach them by golly. Don't offer them rich sob's any of your cheap labor. The Snob's...who do they think they are? To think that they know what to do with their money better than the government. Unbelievable! The audacity of those that worked and earned their own money. Makes me sick to my stomach...(not for any of the reasons you've bloviated about I promise you). Scorn-full and jealous people should be allowed to steal their money at will. Then just dare them to complain, or send their money overseas, or try to hang on to any money they managed to put aside. Well I say...I DON"T WANT TO WORK HARD!! I just want their money...gimme, gimme, gimme!!!

Or...You could say, I want to stick my neck out and start my own business. I'll put my house up for collateral and split the money evenly with all of my employees. Then when those that have no risk involved see the business fail they can laugh at me because I lost my house, find another job and off they go again. Been there, done that. Do you think they would start their own business? Heck no...to risky. You have to have money to lose in order to start a business these days. Too much regulation...too much risk.

I've had a business for 25 years. I've had over 150 people work for me over that time and about 8 were worth anything. Five of them still work for me and they worked so hard and with such commitment, I made them partners. Now we all do well. The other 150 were thieves, liars, lazy or just didn't care. I had a welder that said "I don't care, It isn't mine". He lost his job on the spot. Ignorant isn't any way to go through life. Start and run your own business then come back and contribute to this blog. Then you might have something intelligent to say, maybe. Do it...go start your own company then when you come back with your story...I'll listen...I'll bet it sounds much different than what you posted earlier!

Yes, it's exactly like that, except that if he's caught with the candy and soda he goes to jail.

Hey Orlando, I have no doubts you "teach" economics. Problem is, you teach an economic system that is no longer sustainable. It is a FACT that Trickle Down Economics has FAILED, not "hiccuped" or "corrective," but FAILED. The "guru" Greenspan has all but admitted it in a congressional hearing a few years back. I understand, you have to teach what you know. Duh. But you are a big part of the problem by not going beyond your ideological box for possible solutions. Of course, admitting something is broken would be to question your own job....literally. We have, by all definitions, a plutocracy. I know you know what that means. Prove me/it wrong. Don't bother, facts are facts. The sky is blue on a sunny day and Voodoo Economics is a failed system.

Try Re-educating your self (perhaps you could use some continuing ed credits). Go to Richard Wollf, Professor of Economics, Amherst, University of Massachusetts.

Don't let his advanced degrees from both Harvard and Yale throw you. I'm sure you are just as credentialed as he. I would love to hear your rebuttal on his eloquent way with REAL history in American economics!

More babies = more spending on diapers, formula, baby clothes, cribs, toys, etc.

Babies become children = more spending on clothes, toys, private education, food, etc.

Children become teens = more spending on clothes, food, jewelry, cosmetics, cars, gas, cell phones, private education, sports equipment, music, movies, video games, coffee, ipods, etc

Some teens become college students = more spending on everything from the teen category, plus college education, books, etc

Other teens enter workforce. College gradates enter workforce either during college part-time or after college. Cycle restarts as they become parents.

Basically, more children means more spending. More spending means more taxes for the government and more profits for the companies. More taxes mean more government programs and government jobs, while more profits lead to expanded business growth and more jobs. I know this is all ridiculously basic, but it seems that many of us have forgotten this. I don't think it is a coincidence that the generation that brought about abortion into our country is now the generation that will break social security, medicare, etc bank. These programs were instituted in an age where there were eighteen workers for every senior citizen. Now, entitlements for one senior citizen are paid for by two workers. These programs were also made at a time when people rarely lived to seventy. Eighty years is now the normal life span, so not only do we have more people living off of government entitlements, they now live longer. The result is that there aren't enough people giving and there are too many people taking. Less babies leads to a broken economy.

As far as PP goes - watch this

The manager encourages a pimp to lie about the ages of his prostitutes when they come in for testing. Then she points them to a center that will do abortions for underage girls without asking questions. On top of that, she tells him to make sure none of his girls say anything that would be marked as a red flag to help cover up abuse. Regardless of your take an abortion, this is not the kind of institution we want our government dollars to pay for. I'm in full support of women's rights. I'm also in full support of women's protection against sex trafficking and abuse, which PP is obviously not accomplishing.

Jim. I have done you one better. I am SELF EMPLOYED and a NONPROFIT. So don't blow any of your self righteous BS my way....please. My guess is, given your self righteous rant, that you paid the LEAST amount to your workers with no REAL incentives (share in profits, other growth incentive benefits, etc). The fact is, your size company is NOT what the problems are in this country! You are not even a blip on the economic landscape. Sorry to blow your ego with that dose of reality. What I am referring to is the conglomeration of Corporations and Banking/Investments that make up the top 5% of earners in this country. Sorry, thanks for playing and, again, stop with your arrogant presumptions......

Next election gets all the bums out lets clean the house for a change... we need some young ideas in there ... old stuff doesn't get it done anymore...

I have no problem with my tax dollars going to pay for; breast cancer screening, pap tests, cervical cancer screening, std testing even contraceptives. I have no problem with tax dollars paying for an abortion when it is needed to save the life of a pregnant woman.

There are reports that cite one million abortions performed every year! With every "right" comes responsibility, and I do not want to foot the bill for any women who will not bother to protect themselves (nor do I feel it is right to support them and their offspring). I think we also need to redo the welfare system, which would save MILLIONS!

While I am at it, we need to investigate many of the people living off disability. I am willing to bet less than 40% of the people on disability are actually unable to work, the other 60% only suffer from chronic laziness. This would keep the social security system from going under as well.

Tanainke,

I only commented on the list. I didn't resort to name calling, or blaming. I just pointed out the fact that a lot of people would not want to provide those services with borrowed money.

Its only my opinion, but I think that if you listed ALL of the spending items and prioritized them, most people would not fund the ones listed.

It is also only my opinion, but I think that most people would agree to increased taxes to help achieve a balanced budget as long as only the most necessary programs get funded.

One thing I know for sure, we cannot continue to spend at the rate we are spending. No amount of tax increases can cover deficits like these without serious negative consequences.

All you posters who think the Tea Party's budget bill riders are just A-okay:

Would you mind going down to Clinch River, Tennessee and explaining to those nice people who had 500 million gallons of coal ash residue dumped on their homes that Congress says it's not hazardous?

Tennessee sludge spill runs over homes, water

Who do you think paid to have that rider put in the budget bill, hmmm? Maybe one of your friends in Corporate America?

hours
ago

"A shutdown over spending or abortion? Two sides disagree"

I have a very simple question.

If the Democrats say that no federal funds can be used for abortions, then why do they have a problem with a Republican 'rider' to the bill that says 'No federal funds can be used for abortions'?

Support Communism through Capitalism. Buy Made In China!

Stick your parties where your opinions come from.

nsummers,

If the goal of Planned Parenthood actually included helping women to not get pregnant until they were ready for families, I would be all for it. I draw the line at tax payers paying for women to kill unborn children.

In that case you should be all for planned parenthood! What they do is exactly what you claim to support. They provide health care and services to women INCLUDING BIRTH CONTROL, then prenatal care, they do also offer abortions, that by LAW CANNOT BE FUNDED BY TAXES.

So what were you complaining about again?

Oh that's right, you bought into the LIE that the GOP is pushing lately, their goal is NOT saving our economy, it is NOT putting our people back to work.

The GOP has one agenda, and that is to pass and enforce Old Testament Biblical Law. Period. The GOP would force every American to live by their Christian Morality. And for some strange reason, this country has not revolted to eliminate the GOP.

This is the EXACT SAME BEHAVIOR that led to Sharia Law in the Mid-East.

The GOP is hell bent on enacting the Christian version of Sharia Law, yet the same people who freak out over fears of Muslim rule here, (Republicans,) are all set to see Christian Sharia take over.

Am I the only one who realizes how insane that thinking is?

No Joe, please explain your junkie analogy...it makes no sense to me.....

Bravo Brad,

Good job...Self employed...hire someone. Non profit...nice tax shelter dude, I've used them myself. Your right about me...I'm retired, I don't want to be a blip anymore. Your presumptions about me speaks volumes about your character.

Here is an idea...contribute to your society young man...start a company, stick your neck out a little. Come up with a great idea like post-it notes and make a couple of million. You will be amazed how easy it is. No long hours, take days off whenever you want, money all over the place. I started out of my shed in the back of my house. It should be a breeze for a smart young man like yourself.

Did let you out this weekend unsupervised? You are an idiot.

We can't even keep murderes in jail due to cost constraints and over crowding.

Obie3: I hate to burst your bubble but Social Security is NOT a "government entitlement." I've been involuntarily paying into Social Security since I was 17 and got my first job (I'm 65 now and still working). This is MY money, and I earned it fair and square.....the government isn't "giving it to me" for free!! Unfortunately, that's the problem with the GOP -- they seem to want to think that Social Security and Medicare are "entitlements" when we have been paying into both of these out of our paychecks each payday! The problem is that our government has seen fit to "borrow" from these accounts and give back IOU's that they now will not or cannot pay back. If they would have kept their dirty mitts off the Social Security and Medicare accounts, this particular problem would not BE a problem!

I just get really mad when people call Social Security an "entitlement." Yes, it's an entitlement -- and I'm the one who is entitled to it because I paid it for over 40+ years!

Roy, your comment was farcical (sp). De-funding Planned Parenthood would have NOTHING to do with stopping abortions (something the GOP and the Tea Baggers don't understand), but it would stop education on contraceptions, as well as extremely important and necessary medical testing; i.e., pap smears, HPV testing, breast exams, etc. So, de-funding Planned Parenthood would do more harm than good! I don't know about you, but I prefer a woman learn about contraception and keep from having unwanted children rather than MY tax dollars paying for their welfare AFTER they have these children!

Didi

So typical- I want the goverment to pay for all the programs but don't take any money out of my check, right?

Hard Worker: This isn't even CLOSE to what I was saying. The government ISN'T paying for my Social Security.....I paid into it for years so, in reality, it's my money. Granted, what I paid in the 40+ years I worked went to pay for an even more senior citizen's retirement, and what the younger generation is paying into now will go for MY retirement -- but I paid for it in the long run.

And, I never said anything whatsoever about the government paying for other programs but "don't take money out of my check." I pay taxes each and every year out of my paycheck also....along with the Social Security money coming out of it.....I have no qualms paying those other taxes to the Federal government because I realize that it takes money to run our country.

You need to read my comment a little more....you've taken it completely out of context. My big gripe are people who call Social Security and Medicare "government entitlements" when the money is paid by you and I out of our paychecks. Another gripe is that the government just willy nilly "borrows" money from these accounts and gives us IOU's back; then has the audacity to tell us that Social Security is running out of money. Of course it is....if you keep taking money out of your piggy bank and leaving worthless IOU's that you have no intention of paying back.....of course it's going to run out of money. But, it isn't the government's money.....it's OUR money that we paid in so that we'd have a couple bucks for our retirement. Do you understand what I'm saying???

Jim- little sarcasm there buddy? Character? Integrity? Sounds like you are FULL of arrogant bs to me....nice try. By the way, try rebutting the points he made without resorting to personal attacks, but I guess being the "guy in charge" puts you above that sort of equal dialog....

I don't know about you, but I prefer a woman learn about contraception and keep from having unwanted children rather than MY tax dollars paying for their welfare AFTER they have these children!

It is an interesting little Paradox the GOP has painted for themselves is it not?

They Don't want to have to feed all those Welfare Babies, but they Want to shut down one of the biggest solutions to that problem, Birth control, and counselling for women, then the GOP would take away the option of abortion, And then piss and moan about all of those unwanted welfare Babies again.

A rather circular piece of GOP logic. They want the unborn, then they don't give a damn about about the LIVING HUMAN BEINGS that are born. (Until they reach Military Service Age, of course)

I agree with chilled...Congressmen and women are really looking out for themselves as always. Like the congressman who says shut the government down, but I bet he will still be paid.

You betcha', Ely!

A bill was put forward that if the Government shuts down, Congress should not get paid, not even retroactively!

The bill failed!......guess they all are just too essential!

The GOP has made SURE they will still be paid.

The House has deep-sixed the bill passed by the Senate that prevented Congress and the President from being paid if the government goes into shutdown.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously on March 1st, but it's been referred to committee in the House - so THEY STILL GET THEIR CHECKS!

If you don't like your Congressman getting paid while he shuts down the rest of the government, please contact the members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (23 Republicans, 17 Democrats).

What is boils down to is they cannot do their jobs, that they are way over paid and over Compensated Benefits. Second they only benefit Lobbyist of Corporations, Insurance companies, big business, oil, drugs, etc., there is no people or Constituents in their actions other than take away from them and keep their fat pockets full. Terminate them all and appoint all new.

In case you didn't see this, there was a freshman Congressman from the Tea Party (I don't remember which one) who when asked about a government shutdown and Congressmen not getting paid said Congress should continue to draw its salaries even if the government shuts down because "I've got more bills than most of you and I can't afford not to have a paycheck." What about all those other government workers who won't get a check? Do you care at all about them? It seems to me that the attitude of most of the Tea Partiers is "Here's what I want and to hell with everybody else."

Rand Paul just admitted on CNN that he realizes that it is against the law if PP uses any of its federal funding for abortions, but since they do abortions there, they should not get any federal funding.

..Does anyone remember when the GOP made every attempt to stop extended unemployment benefits, called the unemployed lazy, and called the unemployment benefits that hard working Americans put money into welfare? Does anyone remember when the GOP voted against government backed loans for small businesses then had the audacity to rally in a warehouse, donned with flannel shirts and work boots. AS IF... Does anyone remember the Chief Chairperson from Texas(R) who apologized to Hayward(BP) for the "shake-down" that he suffered, while BP's bounty spooged all over us. I think I even got some in my eye. This is what is going on here people. GOP is trying so hard to take control and will do anything for it. Their constituents are high rolling, and they will pay for the GOP's services despite what the voice of America wants. It's like a short man complex. Or the other complex that I am too much of a lady to mention. Not having the skills to pay the bills you know what I mean. Well maybe we should tell the GOP to buy a fast car or a penis pump, I'm just saying.

I think that most of the GOP should be jailed and some DEMs too. I know I am going back a ways but when the GOP took over back then we had a balanced budget with a surplus. Then comes Bush with his unlawful wars and under the table deals for his buddies like the oil industries, car industries, banks who gave themselves ridiculous bonuses. The rich are getting richer on the backs of the middle class. Congress votes themselves raises; they have unprecedented health care not like Federal workers or even civilian works. Their retirement is the same, the top of the line for them not like the average American. Let us not forget that most of these people in Congress are independently wealthy to begin with, most of them don’t need the money it is the power they seek.

The GOP manipulate statistics to push their agenda. When they talk about the high paid feds, technically they may be right because the reason there are high paid feds is because Bush contracted out half the government and a lot of the Feds that remain are higher paid, like lawyers, doctors and air traffic controllers. Half the Fed jobs are contracted out and if you look closely you will find at a higher cost to the American people. If you looked into the contracting out piece you would find that some of those services have been contracted out overseas. It is dangerous and appalling what has happened to America. The middle class are moving into poverty level.

By the way another manipulation that the GOP is pushing is Planned Parenthood, abortion money comes out of a different pot and never the two shall mix. But the GOP anf the Tea party wants to force the American people into their religious view. The reason why there is separation of state and church is because our country was founded by people who were fleeing religious persecution. The federal funded money that goes to Planned Parenthood goes to pap tests, breast cancer screening and health care for people who have been put out of work by corporations who can get cheap labor in third world countries and no longer have loyalty to America except when they want our money to buy their products.

Obama inherited a mess that it took us years to get into and even though I don't agree with some of the things he is doing, why do people expect him to pull a rabbit out of his hat to fix something overnight that to a decade to get into. Especially when we sabotage him and ourselves by making sure that the majority of people that are supposed to work with him are vehemently opposed to his views and agenda. It is a mess, we gave the GOP eight years and this is where we are now. We are sabotaging the DEMs so they can't fix it either.

Did you see the reports that NATO bomb the wrong side?

Oh My!

And good god, but why does he refuse to classify the troops as essential?

Yo Navy - why is obama playing politics with the troops?

Navy, that ain't right, is it?

Spanky, it's the Rep's that attached the Planned Parenthood to the troops pay.... talk about pushing ideology over common sense. Ideology has NO place in trying to fix out dept.

JoAnnaSmith1

And just where did that noose go?

You whine when he didnt get involved - you whine when he did. You whine that there should be no boots on the ground and whine that we should go to war with them.

Flip flopping whiners. About sums you up.

Mike: Flip flopping whiners. About sums you up.

How does it make you feel that the US, the UN, the Arab League, and the NATO have lost the war to a two-bit dictator in Libya? When Obama says "Gaddafi must go", when the UN passes resolutions, when the Arab League turns on their own and does nothing, and when NATO kills the rebels fighting Gaddafi with friendly fire, does that install any confidence in you for these organizations?

Typical right wing tactic: when you have nothing to bring to the discussion, change the subject.

There are plenty of stories that are actually related to Libya where you could spew your venom. Why don't you go to one of those?

If congress was serious about reducing the deficit, they would not have extended tax cuts period. Democrats caved into the Republicans in bipartisan effort and they get stabbed in the back. We have had these tax cuts for over 10 years, so where are all the jobs? CEO's are making 300% more than their employees for running companies into the ground, while average worker's wages have stagnated, during a time when prices of everything from fuel, medicine and housing has soared. For all that are saying No federal funding for abortions, there is a law against it, the Hyde amendment. And as for cutting all the environmental programs, Do you really want us to be like China?

tlb1974 - What part of the Hyde Amendment don't you understand. Do you know that the abortion services performed by Planned Parenthood are in separate buildings and have separate accounting and have been that way for the 20 odd years that the Hyde Amendment has been in existence. This is a red herring. It's not about abortion and these wing nuts know that. It's about controlling women's lives and denying them access to birth control as well as health services for cervical and breast cancer screenings.

tlb1974-Check your facts. No federal money is being used for abortions nor will they be no matter where this all goes.

There is already a law on the bokk that federal money can't be used to fund abortions. It is used for other services for women (such as birth control) if that funding stops your going to pay dearly in unwanted kids top support. Its pay now or pay alot more later but we will pay.

Ummm, PP already acknowledged that the money is co-mingled.

Why is refusing to allow Federal Money to pay for killing babies a religious issue?

true that fed money isnt being used for abortions but money is fungable (sic) which means fed money is freeing up PPs other money to pay for abortions so taking away fed money means PPs overall pot is smaller. Since PP arranges a disportional amt of abortions, that makes them a politican football. Funding them isnt worth the divisiveness it causes and if obama believed his own crap about wanting to be bipartisan, he'd kill the funds and take this divisive issue off the table for both sides to play with.

PP is actually a very economical provider of general health services but the abortion issue taints everything else they do.

To Old Me:

That kind of thinking is part of the damn problem. So I pay for her birth control pills or I pay for her kids? Do you know how cheap a pack of condoms is? Go buy some. I've paid for my own birth control and I'll pay for my own kids. In my state, I technically qualify for food stamps, but I don't file for them. You know why? Because I can feed myself just fine without them. I budget my money so I can eat, and pay my mortgage, and keep my heat and lights on. And guess what? I still have some left over to pay for TV and internet! Holy smokes!! Fiscal responsibility is not just the responsibility of our government. Too many adults in this country don't act like one. Grow up and pay your own bills. It's not my responsibility to feed you or your unwanted children. If you can't afford kids, Trojan made it cheap and easy to prevent them.

Hey Adam, what about those of us who are morally opposed to the government spending TRILLIONS of our dollars to go to war with whatever random country in the middle east strikes the current politico fancy? I'd rather make sure American women aren't forced to ignore possible breast cancer and die a horrible, prolonged, painful death because they don't have the cash to see a doctor than to bomb some more random middle-easterners whose oil we don't even get to keep.

Congress could pay for women's issues for the cost of a few Tammohawk missiles, but their priorities are messed up. It is more important to politicians on EITHER side to submit to the commands of their real bosses, the multi-billion dollar corporations, than to make sure real, hard-working Americans are safe, secure, and healthy here at home...

Unfortunately, all the Federal Planned Parenthood money goes into one pot. There is nothing to stop them from pulling Federal money to pay for abortions other than a law. Coincidentally, their accounting department can't disclose where 100's of millions of dollars were spent. Supposedly they lost some documentation. Hmmmmmm. The FACT is, Planned Parenthood uses Federal money to perform abortions, either directly or indirectly. So if you think we should stick to the arguement of "If you are against abortion, don't have one" that is fine with me. Why doesn't everyone who wants an abortion pay for it out of their own pocket? I'd be fine with that. Oh, they can't afford to, you say? Then they should stop asking everyone else to pay for it.

You do not have the right to use my money for something I do not believe in and am morally opposed to.

So let's end these wars which are spending my money to kill people. We'd save a lot more money. Every one of your arguments has multiple points which could be debated.

RealAmericansFirst

I hope all of your list is passed

realamericansfirsts - i'm looking for a job, do you know of any poor people hiring?

You said it like it is Mar30. Why should our government use our tax dollars to support unresponsible people. Live within your means, if you can't afford it don't buy it. If you want something, save for it. If you can't afford children, protect yourself. It is about money, our money.

Planned Parenthood helped me when I was young, sick and had no insurance. Since then I've been a tax paying citizen for 30 years. It breaks my heart to think that it might not be there to help someone else.

Adam-I hate my tax dollars going to Gitmo, can we shut it down?

Barb,

Nsummers,

Quit listening to those lying Republicans. The govenment is NOT funding abortions through Planned Parenthood. That's what the jackrod Republicans are saying and it's not true. that's what this is about. they are using that to get to people just like you who believe their pile of steaming crap.

seattle - Do you know of any rich people hiring?

fairy,

I'm sorry, but it is not the responsilility of the government to fund any of this.

Oh, really? I don't think it's the government's responsibility to help other nations, but we seem do that all the time. What about the men and women in the U.S.? Why can't they be helped?

@ Bob R --

Just like it's not the responsibility of the federal government to provide subsidies for oil companies or the Chamber of Commerce, or guarantee small business loans, or subsidize farmers for not growing things.

If that's your issue, I suspect we might be able to find a few extra dollars lurking in those places, just to name a few.

Or is your issue really ideology?

Red Fox:

The federal government should never use tax payer money to fund abortion clinics. Let the states handle that and fund them if they chose to do so and their constituents want that, but not federal money.

Okay. I'll go along with that if you agree that federal money should never be used to subsidize oil companies, give small business loans, or fund the US Chamber of Commerce. What business does federal government have there? Let the states do it. Better yet, get government out of the hair of business altogether.

Be honest with yourself. It all depends on whose ideology is involved, doesn't it?

What happened to women having the right to their own body? Just because abortions would be funded doesn't necessarily mean that every pregnant woman is going to go out and get them.

Bob R open your eyes fella either we pay now for planned parenting or we pay a whole lot more down the road in caring for all those kids that were not wanted. Then the cost will go through the roof as the teenage preganacies will go through the roof & the welfare rolls will climb dramatically to support these babies and their mothers. Its time to pick your poison and either way it is going to cost taxpayers like it or not.

Bob: it is not the responsilility of the government to fund any of this

It is the responsibility of the government to "promote the general welfare".

Welfare is defined as " the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity".

promote it, not provide it.

Sorry, PP is a private organization that makes alot of money.

They don't need taxpayer money.

Defund it.

@Anna Molly I am in agreement with you and Bob. The government should not pay for any of those things. Health care, subsidies, Chamber of Commerce. Yes we could find that budget deficit really fast.

People need to understand that we have had it too good for too long. We are going to have to sacrifice to get this country in order and its going to hurt everyone.

Personal Welfare has taken precedence over general welfare for so long that now we can have neither.

If I understand it correctly, the proposal is to remove the direct federal funding of PP, but allow states to make the decisions regarding where the money goes. So, if the state feels that PP is important and valuable, they would still receive funding through the state. However, if the state feels there are better places to spend that money, PP would not get the funding.

Assuming my understanding is accurate, how is this a bad thing? In locations where PP is providing a valuable service, they'd likely still receive funding. However, if PP is not provide a valuable service, they'd likely have their funding reduced or cut.

I, as a woman, have utilized the free pap smears, health care and birth control my state provides for free, as I don't make much money,so I don't end up pregnant. I am pro choice as I do not belive anyones beliefs of any kind, mine included, should be forced on another. Stating that, I do not belive taxpayer funds should go to abortions. I am all for funds being used for public health in the scope of education, prevention and screenings but I feel that the money that is funneld into programs that allow for people to make uneducated choices because there's a "quick fix" solution just around the corner shouldn't be allowed. If you feel you want/need an abortion then find a way to fund it yourself. It's a lot less expensive to educate yourself in the use of contraceptives. Hell, when I go to the clinic to recieve a refill on my birth control they hand me a bagful of condoms. You can walk into most clinics and request condoms if you can't afford them. People don't know this cause people are so afraid of educating people on how to PREVENT pregnancy, something that has been going on historically for thousands of years through herbal medicins and other ways, based on fear that it will "encourage teenagers to have sex." I firmly belive in teaching teenagers in their manditory health class, barring those who's parents object based on religious reasons cause that is their right, about sex and contraception. Kids aren't as stupid as we think they are and, having once been a teenager myself, it wasn't knowing how to use a condom or what a birth control pill was that spurred me into having sex, it was I thought I was in love and my raging hormones! I was lucky enough to have parents, though they are Catholic, who taught me what the hell to do cause for as straight laced as my mother is she'd rather me know how to use a condom than end up with a gaggle of kids to take care of! Divert any funding used or whatnot at the federal level that is being fed into Planned Parenthood and put it into the coffers of clinics who advocate EDUCATION, BIRTH CONTROL and COMMON SENSE to their patients. If you want an abortion that is NOT for a medical reason, meaning the child and/or monther would die if the child was carried to full term, then fund it yourself.

Abortion issue aside for a moment, the other services that PP provides, condom's, PAPs, birth control pills, etc, I used to get those at the State Health Department. For free. I have not lived in every state, so I don't know if this is standard procedure, but, if so, why pay for both? Does this not fall under consolidating duplicates as was mentioned earlier? I'm sure someone more qualified than I am could figure out which one would be better to get rid of - but if we fund the same services in two different places, I would think one is redundant.

Laura - no, the Health Department does not provide those services where I live. How old are you? I'd be willing to bet that yours probably does not still provide them either.

Granted, that was over 20 years ago that I recieved those services. I don't live in the same state anymore either, so I didn't realize that services like that were no longer available. Maybe the government should consider putting that back into place since it resolves the issue of women's healthcare availabilty vs. using a private company like PP. Although I'm sure there are downsides to that I'm not yet seeing. I do know though, that when I went to the health department all those years ago, I was glad I could get free birth control and condoms, education materials and one-on-one consultations with a nurse any time I needed it. It kept me, and probably many others, from having kids before we were ready.

The problem isn't women's health care, birth control, consultations, ext. It's Abortions. This wouldn't be an issue if giving money to Planned Parenthood didn't help them also provide abortions.

Many people have expressed concern that removing funding from PP would remove their women's healthcare options. If there was still this sort of healthcare available at the health department, then funding could be removed from PP and there would be no loss of the other services. That's all I meant.

We do not currently have a leader in America, the White House might as well be empty, Obummer is a clueless bastard and our Congress and Senate are trying to take advantage of the current void in leadership from the Oval Office to play their games, Planned Parenthood is a bottomless pit where the Liberals keep throwing money at a problem the are not equipped to do anything with.

What will the Liberals do when they run out of other peoples money? I hope and pray the Obummer is a one term Marxist-Socialist President, he is no good for America and the mindless throng of Liberals just aren't smart enough to get it. We need leadership, not a clueless ass wipe from Chicago.

Congratulations. Of all the ignorant things the TP folks are putting out on this vine yours is hands down the most offensive and ignorant of the whole lot. You have managed to become the worst of the worst. You have won the race to the bottom.

I suggest that you slink back to the Fox discussion boards where your particular brand of ignorant would be very welcome. Please do not return here. You have officially worn out your welcome.

Well weknow our president is not from Chicago (Hawaii). When people like you have so much to say and say nothing. when you talk like that hold up a mirror and you see yourself thats who you talking about. he do wipe his ass i smell yours from here.

Hell of a lot betterr than what the other side has to offer. the tea party are a bunch of nuts only think of the rich and dont give a damn about anybody any body else. the republicans of today arenot any better. its all about power and dont give a darn a bout the good and welfare of our great country'

Well if Pelosi had done her job back in October we wouldn't have this problem and don't blame it on republicans even Charlie Rangle said they didn't bother back in October and they should have.

tlb: Well if Pelosi had done her job

tlb, you are misinformed. Look at:

www.ombwatch.org/node/11580

We're well past the woulda shoulda couldas. The repubs are actively creating chaos at the expense of the American people, and they're doing it now. They're squawbling over ideology, not finance. You need a new talking point, tlb.

How can you keep hammering Boehner when it is that useless Reid that is holding this up.

I particularly object to the horrible impact to Military families. Reid should understand he is affecting a lot of heavily armed trained men who are giving the most to allow Reid to pander to the Democrats.

He makes me sick.

Well we DID fire a bunch of them in the last election. Unfortunately, there just were not enough senators up for reelection at that time.

I do not want 38 Billion in cuts, I do not want 60 Billion in cuts, even 600 BILLION is not enough.

I WANT THE FREAKING BUDGET BALANCED!!!!!

we can argue about want nice caring downtrodden people to help, but we can NOT spend more money that we have. We can not do it in our homes, and we can not let Congress keep doing it in our country.

Adam - you're not going to make back $1 trillion in unfunded wars, $1 trillion for Medicare Part D and $2 trillion for the Bush tax cuts in ONE YEAR.

Do you like it in pie charts?:

What caused the budget deficit?

Or graphs?:

Chart Showing Clear Cause for Current Federal Budget Deficit

If you don't like the deficits you created, you should have stopped your party from passing the bills that created the problem in the first place.

But cutting spending on the things that actually benefit 90% of Americans is not only counter-productive, it won't fix the deficit you boys ran up. Man up and accept responsibility, then fix the REAL problems. (Hint: It's not Planned Parenthood and NPR)

Real - I agree with most of what you said, but your first chart is almost 2 years old, and your second chart almost a year old. I can give some points for validity on the second, but the first is far too old to be accurate.

I do not believe that ANYONE is trying to say that we should spend more money than we have, but if we can not make sustainable cuts without sacrificing the future, then we are all doomed anyway. We need to stop spending more than we take in and get our outstanding debt under control, if we want this country to persist for the sake of our progeny. The real question is how do we accomplish that goal? Do we do it by making sure than only big business and the wealthy prosper, or do we do our best to spread the burden out, possibly in a manner that asks those most capable of paying to pay a little more?

I found myself in a situation where my income did not meet my financial needs. I am a single mother who has never gotten a penny of child support. The ONLY public assistance of any sort that I receive is our State's Health Insurance for my son and I, for which I pay a premium determined by my income, in other words, I pay what I can. I took a look at my expenses and decided what we were willing to live without. I determined that I was not prepared to cut my expenses enough to make cuts alone a viable option, so I got a second job. I now work an average of 50 hours per week, but I am able to provide a decent life for my son and I. I also had to trade in my SUV for a vehicle that I can afford the gas to drive.

My state is now facing funding shortfalls, and the Republican solution is to cut the state subsidized health care program which allows my son and I to remain healthy so that I am able work the 50 hours per week that I put in to sustain our current standard of living. Does this seem fair to anyone out there? While Exxon Mobile pays no taxes and in fact, receives subsidies in the billions of dollars per year from our government, using the dollars that I and every other working American out there spend our lives working for? Is it possible that EVERYONE, the rich and corporations included, should have to pay their fair share? I agree that we ALL need to make sacrifices. The real question is what sacrifices are we all willing to make? After all, it is all our money, and all our debt, for that matter.

I would also submit that we cannot continue to subsidize the rest of the world. We cannot build arms to give away freely to the rest of the world. We cannot feed and protect the entire globe, when we have to face cutting off food support to women and children. If we cannot affort to fund WIC, we cannot afford to feed Africa or anywhere else, for that matter. We need to get our own house in order before we worry about anyone else.

At the same time, we have to stop allowing the rich and powerful to rape the remaining 95% plus of us. How does corporate America expect us sheep to buy enough goods and services to support them if we cannot afford to sustain ourselves? How can we continue to buy, Buy, BUY, I-Pods and 4G phones and cable television and, and, and, when we cannot afford to eat? Do they realize that without a thriving middle class who can afford the relative luxury of spending money on anything other than the bare neccessities, most of them will go extinct, anyway? Maybe they intend to bleed us dry and then move on to greener pastures. Where oh where will they ever find enough sheep with enough resources to replace us, though? Not on this planet.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!! And that includes corporate America and the rich and powerfull. You need us worse than we need you. After all, thanks to you, you have sooooo much more to lose than we do!

I find it discussing when you see Government cars going by with only one person in it. See that all the time here. Put a stop to that crap all over the US. Planned Parenthood, You not going to like it but, why should they have to pay for people to kill babies just because they won't use protection? There is no excuse to get pregnant with all thats out there any more. Even stores in bath rooms sell them. I said one child and that's what I had. They didn't have these kind of things then and they don't need them now. Use your heads not whats your itch is. Libya don't even need to go there at all but we are this is a very stupid move. Afghan bring our troops home from all over like he promised and has not done one yet. This will save Trillions and Trillions plus so many precious lives which is so most inporant to me. If they can't keep parks open then so be it, If they can't compleate some of the roads there again bear with it. Also a little info the BLM they are taking our tax money you, mine, every one thats reading this rounding up our and they are wild horses Mustangs and Burroes and shipping them to Mexico and Canada to slaughter its our money there doing this Ken Zalazar and Obama both know it and so many people are dipping there fingers in it. They are almost gone. 33,000 in one year. Thats a lot of money people!!! Our money they can stop that crap too. Let Congress take a cut in pay and the President too as a matter of fact. He put us in this stinking debt and and he can not say he didn't. I'm not a Demo. Or a Repb. I'm netiher of these evil money grabbing jerks. Just plain ticked off for getting our Country in the mess its in. Whatch out he will take another vacation when things get tough.

Doing It Solo, well put!

In reading I can identify most of the idiot Liberals since they don't have a clue about any of which you spoke. The thing that the Liberals need to begin understanding is there is no such thing as a "free lunch" no matter how they seen it. I have read all this garbage about Plannned Parenthood. While I have never had need to use thier services, I do object to abortion or to put it more bluntly "MURDER!" All you Liberals should be thinking more about the idea of abortion. There is a day coming where you will be held accountable for your actions and your support for murder of those unable to defend themselves or not being responsible for your behavior, that killing a child because it interferes with your personal choices about living is a problem.

The whole laugher here is that the Dems want to cut 3% and the Rups want to cut 4% of a 1.6 TRILLION dollar deficit.

Were you in the back room?

Bob - it's a symbolic gesture! Don't you get it? Enough of these and we'll be rid of our national debt in ... never.

I don't understand why you feel the need to rag on the tea parties. What is your solution? How should we pay for all the entitlements you want? We already borrow 40 cents for every dollar spent. When will that be enough? When do you finally wake up and say holy sh!t, we can't do this anymore?

Bob do you paln on partaking in the largest entitlements in the US SS Medicare? If you do you should have no complaints. Oh thats right only the entitlements you do not use are to be taken away huh?

If the de

I need a bumper sticker that says "Tea parties are for little girls"

Nah, Tea Parties are after little girls.

That whole "Jobs, Jobs Jobs" thing was obviously a bunch of hooey.

Have we not just experienced the best several months of job increases that we've seen in years? Why do people keep using the "where are the jobs" approach, when we're seeing some of the best improvements in jobs that we've had in years? Sorry, off-topic, but I'm amazed that people still use that talking point even after the jobs reports continue to get better each month...

Smyth, that jobs growth had been inching up for awhile. However, are those good jobs, or menial minimum wage jobs?

Yeah, I figured that the GOP would start using the "HERE are the jobs!" mantra pretty soon.

Tell me one thing the Repubs have done to encourage jobs. It's all been abortion, abortion, unions, unions. Fire public workers -- that's creating jobs how?

The truth is that we all knew it would be a slow crawl back into some solvency. Best guess was that jobs would slowly start returning right about this time. So this is the GOP plan -- saying "Here's the jobs!" to get credit for something that had nothing to do with them, they fought every job-creating bill for the last 2 years -- and now craft legislation to kill any kind of job growth and economic viability so that the jobs are down again just before the 2012 election. Not smart, but shrewd. Dontcha love being gamed by the best and the brightest? Think what they could do if they loved the people of this country as much as they say they love this country.

Some believe that recent tax and spending cuts are helping to foster job growth. Some believe that "jobs would slowly start returning right about this time". Regardless of your belief as to why they're coming back, the fact is that we're seeing more jobs than we have in years. Using that same old talking point about "where are the jobs" is no longer valid, at least if you're paying any attention to the recent job trends...

Reb: If your granny pinned her hopes on the guv'ment takin' care of her, and you think thats good, then you need to change your nick, cause a "RebelYell", you aint.

She is YOUR granny, not mine. She is YOUR responsibility, not mine. I got my own granny to take care of.

Adam= I LOVE your compassion. Many of our Seniors that are dependent on their SS and Medicare paid into the system for 60+years and maybe they don't have a son like you to take care of them. All they have is that small SS check each month and maybe a second job at walmart or McDonalds to help make ends meet. Look in the mirror and see if you like what you see before your spout.

How does that kool-aide taste? like it a bunch, I don't.

1: SocSec and Medicare are a HUGE fraud. NO ONE "pays into it" I pay into my 401k, Unions "pay into" their pension plans. School teachers "pay into" their 403B. Really smart people "pay into" their Roth IRAs. No one pays into Social (in)Security. yours (and mine) current contributions pay for current benefits. IT IS A PONZI SCHEME and illegal for anyone but the federal government.

2: Am I "responsible" for the drunk on the interstate off-ramp? Am I responsible for the unwed teen mother? Is is my obligation to take care of either of them? I have compassion, I do help people when I have the money to do so. If someone elses life choices put them in a bad position, it is NOT my responsibility to solve their problems.

3: Unless you work with the indigent elderly on a daily basis, I GAURENTEE I have been exposed to more poor elderly than you. I gaurentee, I have shed more tears over their individual plights than you. None of that makes it MY responsibility.

You can only help someone from a position of strength. You can only give to another person, if you have something to give. The US government is trying to give what it does NOT have, we can not continue.

It SUCKS, but it is the truth. We can (and I hope will) try to mitigate the pain that people who have learned to rely on the federal governemnt instead of themselves, will feel when they start receiveing less (or none) of MY tax dollars, but it just has to stop.

Wow, Adam, those poor old people sure are lucky to have a compassionate caregiver like you. I'm sure you're helping to reduce the number of those tax-sucking leeches - they're probably being driven to suicide by your compassionate attitude.

You do realize that American GDP is currently ABOVE where it was before the recession, right? As are corporate profits? And you're going to let the top 5% keep all that instead of helping the indigent seniors you care so much about?

Well, I guess that about sums it up.

WOW Adam your Compassionate Conservative slip is showing!

• Congratulations on winning "BIGGEST HUMAN (?) OXYMORON JOKE" AND "THE BIGGEST JERK OF THE DAY"!!!!!



• You really should get some Anger Management Help, you are sick.

So, is is safe to assume that when you leave work today, you are going to go down to the bank and take a cash advance on all your credit cards to the tune of about 5 or 10 times the amount of money that you will make this month and then wander around your local downtown giving away money? That is what our government has been doing.

Your spurrious comments about the earnings and GDP are absolutely freaking meaningless. Untill you are ready to dip into your own pockets stay out of mine. It does NOT matter how much money a company makes. It does not matter how much money some CEO makes. Economics is NOT a zero-sum calculation. Just because someone else makes more money, it does not mean you make less. The "greedy rich" are not keeping you down. The big corporations are not stealing mother from your granny. Until you are willing to take responsibility for yourself, you will achieve nothing.

You can call that heartless if you want, I call it the truth. If you would rather just be lied to and told "You are special here is your check, now go vote for me." just keep listening to the politicians. The bottom line is that both parties have spent this country into near oblivion, it must stop.

Adam,

Yes, money paid to CEO's is money that comes out of our pockets. Money that corporations funnel to offshore accounts and into foreign infrastructure is money that comes out of our pockets. Money that is paid to lobbyists to buy legislation is money that comes out of our pockets.

Just as surely as the taxes you pay.

Adam --

The big corporations stole money from my granny. It was 2008. 90% of a pension fund gone into which she had paid much of her adult working life. The greedy rich you so love to defend ended up with bonuses, she has nothing to show for 30 years of saving, doing everything right, thinking she was safe. Now you begrudge her the one small check per month out of which she supports her local businesses, creating jobs.

What must stop is the hatred the right has for the people who actually live in this country.

Ornery: What happened to her pension sucked. That is only one of the many reasons why pensions were a crap idea then and are a crap idea now that have mostly gone away. You misunderstand though, I do not begrudge her getting that crappy Soc Sec check. I don't even mind that much contributing to the money she is getting out of it. I do mind the rampant ignorance that is spouted about how the system works. I do mind being forced to continue it. The Soc Sec isystem s a worse deal than a pension ever dreamed of being. Combine all the money she paid in, andcompare it to what she will get out of it and you will see. It is a bad system. If I tried to offer the current Social Security system as a "retirement plan" in the open market, I would be put in jail.

I do not "love to defend" anyone. I do continue to point out that we are responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for the choices we make. Your gran is responsible for the choice to trust that pension. The company that mismanaged it, and the individuals that made the decisions to do so are responsible for what they did. Using lazy lables like Big Business, Mainstreet/Wall Street, Union Thug, Big Oil aids NOTHING. You say she did "everything right" I'm sorry, she did not. She did almost everything right. She saved. She lived on less than she earned. She apparently raised her family in a caring and loving way. These things she did right. Then she turned her financial security over to others (a pension manager). She did not have to. She should not have, it was a poor financial decision on many, many differnt levels. It was a mistake. She listened to the wrong advice, and she got burned in about the worst way a person could. Stop searching for someone to blame and try to FIX THE FREAKING PROBLEM.

TO THE GOVERNMENT: Grow up and quit acting like you are in kindergarten trying to choose the color of a crayon. You are grown adults messing with something very serious, but you dont care you and your children are taken care of by your salary. The real Americans that live in the real world are suffering.

Oh, and Real American, just so you won't think I am ignoring you are you deserve, your argument is complete nonsense. Yeah, a CEO's pay comes from the pockets of whoever purchases whatever product the business makes. So does the janitor's. What is your point. Economics 101, find a copy and read it before you talk about it. It does not matter what a CEO makes. It does not matter what a company pays its employees. It does not matter where they keep their bank account. It does not matter.

You want to talk about corporate loopholes (like the lovely ones John kerry enacted tht benifited his wife's Heinz corporation) we can do that. I don't like them, you don't like them, short conversation. You don't like companies moving jobs overseas? OK. I don't like it, you don't like it, short conversation. You want to point the finger of blame at teh republicans for it, you're an idiot. Do you remember NAFTA? Do you remember the ONLY voice that rose up against it? IT wasn't a Dem, It wasn't a republican, It was nutty Ross Perot. Everyone laughed at his big ears. The man was nuttier than a snickers bar, but he was right about NAFTA.

Everyone needs to get over their party idiologies. Get over their envy of people who have more than they do, and deal with the problems we have NOW. Don't hate rich people, BECOME ONE. Let historians point fingers of blame, we can't afford it any more.

Poor poor Adam,

He's whining because the government dips into his salary for their 10%, and complains when they help the poor, or whatever I couldn't figure out from his mindless rant. But for every one Adam, there are two other taxpaying citizens of the good ole USA that approve of their money being used in such a fashion. So Adam if it makes you happy, and after all that's what I'm truely concerned with your happiness, your money went to buy 1/10000000th of one bomb that Obama dropped on Qadaffy's army last week, which I guarentee I could find at least 2 or 3 taxpaying citizens tired of the US being the world policeman. Or you can say your taxes went to homeland security to build that virtual fence to keep those dirty Mexicans from coming over the border and ruining our country. But that is what being a citizen in a democracy is. Government has to work for everyone and someone has to pay for it, and by most standards we pay a fraction of what most countries do. But in a democracy you have to give and take, so buck up Adam "REAL AMERICAN PATRIOTS pay their taxes to support their country and they are damn proud to do it!

Well Mr Pathetic, thank you for your $.02 worth, now that you have formed an opinion, how about you actually put some facts behind it. Until then, you can enjoy your position with the rest of the trolls.

Fact: Our county is broke (broken can be debated in another forum).

Fact: Our country is broke due to domestic social spending (look at the breakdown of tax dollars are spent).

Fact: The 60 Billion, 40 Billion, 30Billion squabble that our elexted "leaders" are dithering over is not even the TIP of the iceberg that is this problem.

It is not about bombs. It is not about abortion. It is about spending 1,700 BILLION more than our government brought in. You can not use the European model as a comparrison. It can not be compared, for a really simple reason. The European model can ONLY exist with a strong American millitary acting as a deterrant. Yeah, that statement is arrogent, so what. It is also true. Your silly "dirty Mexican" commetn tells us exactly which bodily orifice your head resides in. However, I will respond to it, but only this once. I don't care if they are clean or dirty. I don't care if they are Mexican, Canadian, Martian, or Japanese. I care if they came to this country in accordance to our laws, just like my ancesters did. If you don't think that 10,000,000 illegal aliens living in our country is a problem you are a fool. 10,000,000 individuals that are not properly contributing to ouir tax base, yet consuming governmenal services (food stamps, schools, medicaid, etc) is a problem, then you are a complete unrecoverable moron.

Bottom line: You want to spend lots of money to help the poor and downtrodden. GREAT! I do to, but WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY

You're dilusional.

Don't forget Iraq and Libya. Spending money trying to fix other countries when ours is broke is ridiculous.

Let me see, where to start?

2.19 nsummers--Please read Before you post your pre-concieved, ill-thought out rants. The feds do not fund abortions through PP.

2.25 no joe... Were you a female in another life? Yes, abortions do occur @ PP--THEY are not funded by feds. (see above)... How the hell do you know what exams are done after an abortion? You would not perform a PAP smear do to the risk of infection--STUPID! There is a follow-up exam to determine if there is an infection, or excessive bleeding, or left-over tissue. Stick to what you know, which is NOT A DAMNED THING!

2.36 imperial... self-hate? you should know... ONLY natives in America are the indigenous people that have been named NATIVE AMERICANS.

2.49 I didn't catch your name because you made such an idiotic comment about pimps that I thought I would puke... please stick to your day job--picking up trash.

That was tried last election. It got us the TEA PARTY and the current stalemate we are experiencing. Want to try that one again do ya?

Libya

Both parties suck.

A pox on all of their houses.

If you look at these posts, with the toxic crap being spewed at one another, its no wonder Congress is full of diconnected idiots! They are all freakin crooks and con artists. They have demostrated that they dont give a damn for the American public! This is so scary that Americans are sitting by and allowing these weiners to run the country into the ground.

Welcome back Rick! They will see Obama and the people go down the tubes, then spin some lie to win 2012. BULL@!$%#TERS

Hallelujah!!! And now the blind see! John Boehner makes my blood boil! Grrrrrrrr.....

These politicians need to be put in a time out!

Typical dems...you believe the scare tactics your leaders force feed you. Reid says it's about abortion, planned parenthood, etc. and it excites the masses mostly those who expect everyone else to pay for their mistakes. Boehner said "there is only one reason that we do not have an agreement as yet and that issue is spending". He didn't single anything out...spending is spending. Let me ask you, what good would it do for us to have a White House Climate Change Czar, programs for Wetlands Reserve, Watershed Flood, Weatherization projects, etc. if we are a bankrupt country...heading toward's being a third world country.

Bilwheeler - Answering Point. Probably just like with everything else, you mistook/misread my comment. It was HER not HIM...and it's just her look. Have no problem with race, but do have a problem with the President of the United States and his wife openly apologizing for and making disparaging remarks about the country he was voted in to lead. I don't know about you, but I find it very threatening!

The complete ignorance amazes me. Why in the hell didn't the democrats pass the budget back in October? Because they knew that Americans are on to them and they wouldn't be elected in. This is all playing out the way they wanted it to... Blame the republicans.. How can you NOT be pissed off about the way the last 3 years have gone????

We tried to tell you...

Its about time that we get some politicians in office that actually vote for what's best for the government and not whats best for the party, the two parties are ruining our whole way of life!! If the government shuts down we as citizens of this great country shouldnt have to pay taxes! Wonder what they'd think of that?

Glad you brought up Wisconsin. Just watch what we'll still do here. All those with entitlements cry when its their turn to make some sacrifices...oh, its good to get our economic house in order (as long as it doesn't affect me). HA! Hypocrites. Go Walker!

Wasn't it Rick Santorum who just the other day was saying the other day that we need more babies to support the old people on Social Security? (He said he himself was doing his part to support Social Security because he has 7 children. No mention of the fact that all 7 of those are supported by taxpayer money.)

Santorum blames abortion culture for Social Security woes

Maybe that's why they want to defund Planned Parenthood?

They want to defund Planned Parenthood because it's illegal to provide federal funding for abortions. They just get around it funding other aspects of Planned Parenthood. Not that there's any real difference.

Shut it down! The prez needs another vacation anyway. Been at least two weeks since he's had one!

Chris - There's no difference between funding abortions and providing information and birth control to young men and women in an effort to prevent them?

It has finally come to pass, the pro-lifers are going to start arguing that the use of birth control itself is a for of abortion in and of itself because the POTENTIAL for a life was destroyed. I am a single mother, and I suppose I could have had an abortion, but I decided that was not the right choice for me. Rather, I do my best to raise my son by myself, with never a penny of child support received and the only assistance I get is my son and I participate in our state's medical insurance in which our premium is determined by my income.

I would NEVER try to tell another person that they could not make that choice for themselves, and I will fight for their right to do so each and every time!!!

In my opinion, it's not about limiting a woman's decision about her health and reproductive rights, it's about making ME pay for them.

I'm 50, have never made more than $45K a year (last year I made $14K), work in an industry where I don't get health insurance or cost of living raises ... yet I own my house, own my truck and my car, have only one child and have never gone to Planned Parenthood for my "health choices". I don't get tested for STD's because I've never slept around so it's not a concern. I had one child by choice. I pay for my pap smears and mammograms.

Silly me, I expect others to act responsibly or pay for the consequences.

Ever use the V.A.?

look no further than what is happening in Europe. Countries are failing due to the debt run up for social programs. This country WILL fail if the debt is not addressed. This is not about anything other than pure politics. The entire system of government has failed. Ideology has no place in Government. Is it not WE THE PEOPLE.

Is there a provision in the budget making abortion illegal? Or just saying if you want to murder your baby, cause it will give you stretch marks or inconvenience you in some way, you have to pay for it yourself and you can't use tax payer money? Sounds like a budget issue, not a policy issue. The budget is simply retracting funds that could be better allocated, not telling anyone what they can or can't do with their body.

Uhhhh, okay-- the fact is our spending is unsustainable. Regardless of party, that is a fact. The Democrats want MORE spending, MORE programs, MORE, MORE, MORE... it isn't going to work because, as I just stated, our spending is unsustainable. So forget party, i.e. forget Republican, forget Democrat and start thinking about whet we need to do to get the spending under control. That IS the issue.

I have said this many times, but just look how nasty people get when you take away the funding for their programs, their "right" to "free" money, the "entitlement" to have someone else pay for their benefits etc. Try working hard, try working more efficiently, try contributing a bit more... some people get it, and some people just don't understand that "free" money comes from somewhere and eventually you find that someone has to pay for it! It seems like a simple concept, but I guess when you are used to holding your hand out you feel entitled after a while...

Sorry, you have no clue. I'm a registered Democrat, I DON'T BELIEVE IN ABORTION, BUT EVERY WOMAN MUST MAKE HER OWN CHOICE. BUT, DON'T ASK ME TO PAY FOR IT. I make about $20K per year, my husband is retired and we pay $360 monthly for insurance. If you want an abortion, YOU, not me pay for it. You cannot continue to spend over 125% of what you bring in.You've robbed Peter to pay Paul so much that Peter i.e. Social Security & Medicare is broke. When SS was not part of the general fund there was no problem, as soon as it became part of the general fund it was easier to loot and easier to say look SS & Medicare are broke. One question, if Medicare is broke, how are you going to borrow 600 Billion from it like O'Bama wants to do?

It's all mute anyway. NO government funds are allowed to be used to provide abortions. This is the law. Some planned parenthood facilities provide abortion services but they can not be payed for with government funds.

When will they start talking about cutting corporate entitlement programs like those that allow us to pay GE $4.3 million in benefits and receive absolutely no tax revenues on over $4 Billion in PROFITS earned in the US? Or, the oil companies that are exempt from paying royalties when drilling on Government land?

jo7747 - What part of "American GDP and corporate profits are at their highest levels ever" don't you understand?

The truth is that there is the same or more money in the American economy as there ever was. The difference is where it's going:

http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2011/inequality-p25_averagehouseholdincom.png

There's a class war on, all right, and people like you are fighting like mercenaries for those who are decimating America. The difference is, mercenaries usually get paid.

(If you like those charts, here's a whole article full of them: It's the Inequality, Stupid. Read it and weep.)

There's not a spending problem. There's a revenue problem. All of you who are so afraid of one of your dollars going to some poor person, somewhere, why don't you see that we should both be going after some of the revenue that the wealthy of this country are hoarding in offshore accounts and the 3oth Rolls Royce in their garage? It's not "hard-earned" money -- who in this world works hard enough to actually EARN tens of thousands of dollars a day, even as CEO -- especially when the workers actually creating a product or providing a service make hundreds of times less? All we need to do is return tax levels to what they were 20 years ago -- those were pretty good times -- largest expansion of growth in history, after 12 years of "trickle down" failure. Why do you think trickle down would work now, when it never has?

This is about the greater good of the American people. Not democrats or republicans. The small-mindedness of the elected have totally shut themselves off from the people who got them there and are now corporate puppets-They pay; doing the right thing doesn't. The working class will only continue to bear more and more of the burden and receive the worst of government actions. Why? BIG BUSINESS RUNS THE WORLD. Go to school, get degrees, join the rat race OR be even more miserable and stay working class and complain. That, my friends is the honest truth. The arguing I see here is the same that's about to shut the gov't down. No one cares about the greater good or country...just big business agenda. The priority is the greater good of keeping the gov't working...so it can keep being influenced by corporate world agenda. It's a lose lose if you don't have the silver spoon my friends. Stop fighting for people who arent' fighting for you.