Feisty---my secret Republican decoder ring translates Boehner's statements: "Yesterday I talked tough to shore up my base and to curry favor with Romney by echoing his message. Shockingly, people paid attention and thought I would start another debt crisis. My bad."

I never liked the (over)use of LOL, you're use of it is completely ridiculous. What does that even mean?

bigbenalaska - your one-liners are stale and don't say a darned thing.

Feisty - but of course Boehner was threatening default. He just wasn't expecting to get called out on it! Now he'll retreat just like Romney. I'm surprised he didn't use the "I don't remember that," excuse! Please Ohio - vote this moron out!!!!

Are you kidding me? Then what WAS that, anyway, if not a threat?

Weeping Liar Boner 'encouraging people to be honest'......ROFLMAS!

And White Collar Auto has the audacity to accuse US of not thinking for ourselves. Sheesh.

And White Collar Auto has the audacity to accuse US of not thinking for ourselves. Sheesh.

Who?

Oh, you mean the guy who loses sleep over me.. lol

I am still on restriction from a week and a half ago. When i said i cant see Romney "a prancing french poodle as president "

White Collar Auto,

And why are you so sure Fiesty is a woman?

LL

BOEHNER: "Let's remember something, the issue here is the debt, almost $16 trillion dollars worth of debt, $1.3 trillion dollar budget deficit this year

I remember! I remember 8 years of out of control spending by Bush and Cheney with Republican majorities in both houses of Congress for 6 of those 8 years. I remember Boehner voting for a higher debt ceiling 7 times in 8 years with nary a peep. I remember Bush's last budget, signed off in Oct, 2008, had a $1.9T deficit. And I remember that $12T of that $16T debt is due to Bush, Boehner and other Republicans, not Democrats!

Republican hypocrite!

The statistic on Romney over Obama are true, but, they like Obama a whole lot more and in fact most of those questioned thought the economy would be better next year under either guy. It boggles my mind that Romney would have that big a lead on the economy thing. How do any of us know he would have done better, quicker, or if his leadership would have failed.

I wish we all had a little better way of talking to each other instead of all the name calling by both sides. Is this an adult conversation we are having? If we expect our leaders to do a better job; we must raise the quality of conversation ourselves and offer ideals and solutions that might work. I do not know any of you enough to dislike you personally.

Pretty sure MasterQ.

But then again she lies about everything else, so.......???????

LOL

There are 39 different deficit reduction plans on the table.

http://crfb.org/compare/

Which one of these plans will Romney be - for - against - for - against - for - against?

--------------------------

Boehner wants to be honest with the American people????? Then maybe Boehner can explain why the Republicans are scrambling to find a way out of the LAST spending cut deal. The TEA Party cannot even keep the promises they already made - why should we believe any new promises?

The problem with Boehner is that he says something when he's completely plastered and then can't remember what he said the next day after he sobers up (slightly).

I do take some issue with the comparison of this creep to the male genitalia. First of all, calling him "boner" implies that he functions correctly. He has been too drunk for too long to function in the literal sense and, metaphorically, this guy is incapable of managing a McDonald's, let alone the House. Let's not forget the two "wild and crazy" GOP idiots that couldn't be bothered to put down their drinks and leave the party to be sworn in on Boehner's FIRST DAY!!...and it's been downhill since.

Literally and metaphorically, Boehner is the poster child for slobbering impotence.

White Collar Auto - You are saying that us in the real world go back and read previous threads? That is the real world? No in the real world you do not have time to go back and read previous threads, you, read some during your break at work or what ever and then go about the rest of your day.

You seem to be one of the orneriest people on this site, and, yet seem to get offended so easy.

Offended Bill? Me?

Not possible. Nobody can offend me. I won't give anyone that power.

Ornery? Not a chance. This site is pure Comedy Gold and I have a lot of fun here.

But, maybe I wasn't clear. A poster implied that I was so worried about her posts from the previous day that I had lost sleep over them. I stated that sometimes when I have free time, I go back and check out the threads that look interesting and that I may have missed from the previous few days because most of us (unlike said poster) don't sit on this site from 9am to 9pm all day. All you have to do is hit the "OlderPosts" link at the bottom of the page.

Kind of like picking up an old magazine and finding an interesting article.

You ought to try it and I hope you have a great day.

"Us who live outside the beltway aren't real good at decoding your GNOP double speak!"

No Fiesty, its not you don't understand GNOP double speak, it's you don't understand marble mouth Boehner. Maybe if he cried it would be easier to decipher his nonsense. Maybe.

What a stupid time to pick a fight on this subject. Thank you GOP.

"If everyone does like we tell them to no one has to get hurt." -- John Boehner

Hey Boner! How about some defense contractor cuts . . . you know . . . them guys who keep you in D.C., pay for your apartment, and send around some promiscuous eye candy several times a week. Didn't anyone tell you that they were contract hookers and that when you bone them you might catch something?

The people who just scream to cut spending really don't understand how the economy works. If you cut spending, you are cutting GDP and cutting jobs. The debt will have to be addressed in a responsible manner and it will take time. I am not giving either side a pass on this debate. Neither side has proven they are willing to make the necessary changes. They like to grandstand and give the public lots of sound bites, but neither side has shown any real attempt to fix our problems. At the end of the day, they fall in line with whatever their party currently stands for.

"...be honest with the American people and to be honest with ourselves to begin to tackle this problem in an adult manner..." [John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the House]

Really Mr. Speaker, if you truly wanted to be honest, you'd admit that you can't pay ANYTHING with tax cuts, or taking the food out of poor children's mouths. You MUST have revenue in order to "pay" ANYTHING.

Boehner doesn't want to be "honest" because he'll have those Teabaggers all in his stuff, and he darn sure doesn't want to deal with those freaking knuckle-head Teagaggers.

The way I see it, it's Boehner's problem, and if I were him, I'd use this moment to advise the Congressional GOP Members, that "compromise is a must" and if they don't believe it, fine.

This is an election year, and maybe it's high time for Republicans to see first hand what actually happens when they "get what they wish for."

Hold on to your seats, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Obama/Biden 2012

He learned his lesson last summer...sort of. Now he'll avoid the word like it's the plague, but that's still exactly what he's threatening. We so need to vote every Republican out of office until the learn (and not just say for political expedienc that they've learned) that they were elected to represent the American people, NOT just the rich ones. As an Independent voter I intend to vote Democrat straight across every ballot in every national and local election in the forseeable future.

Bigbenalaska,

If my memory serves me correctly (and it does), it was Obama who pushed for $4 trillion in deficit cuts over the next decade last summer and it was Republican leadership that stalled the talks, held us hostage for an entire month so taxes wouldn't go up for the very wealthiest, and in the end forced us to settle for one fourth the cuts that Obama wanted. So why the pathological Obama finger pointing?

Get your claws trimmed a bit?

Nah - just waiting for my little bitch to arrive...

You never fail to disappoint! ;o)

You sure got yourself a severe case of Feisty Fever there pal!

Like I said, I have been smiling all day knowing I got under that thin skin of yours!

you, read some during your break at work or what ever and then go about the rest of your day.

Are you kidding me?

My little buddy is here all day long ripping off his bosses time!

TO: Ed McT-2404427 who wrote:

"He learned his lesson last summer...sort of. Now he'll avoid the word like it's the plague, but that's still exactly what he's threatening. We so need to vote every Republican out of office until the learn (and not just say for political expedienc that they've learned) that they were elected to represent the American people, NOT just the rich ones. As an Independent voter I intend to vote Democrat straight across every ballot in every national and local election in the forseeable future."

Bingo!

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

TO: bigbenalaska who wrote:

"Don't worry...Obama will ensure that the debt crisis continues longer and stronger than ever .... "LOL""

It's Congress that has to act, not the President.

We've seen this before, but this time, I know what's coming and I don't care.

Let the Teagaggers deal with Boehner, and when they're ready sign, let us know.

Obama/Biden 2012

Tan man – you don’t know what you threatening, what you’re for, what you’re against, who is with you, who is against you – you’re lost and you have been ever since you took over as Speaker. You’re a joke. You can’t even lead your own people. You are simply the most incompetent Speaker in the last 100 years or longer.

TO: JH-479998 who wrote:

"...American Girl- you are exactly right, it is Congress that has to act, not the President. Who controlled Congress in 2008 when everything went to hell?"

Question: Have you ever heard of guy named George "Curveball" Bush who used to call himself "The Decider"?

I didn't think so, or you wouldn't have asked me who screwed everything up.

Obama/Biden 2012

American Girl

Bush was not a member of Congress. And just because progressive/liberals blame Bush for everything doesn't make it true. Congress was totally controlled by democrats starting in January 2007. The downfall started in 2008. Why can't the libs accept some blame? Because they are liars. All we heard in the run up to the 2006 elections was "elect democrats to fix everything". Didn't quite work out, did it?

Obama/Biden - out the door in 2012

1/20/2013 - the end of an error

Give Boehner another glass of wine after he's out of the tanning booth.

@JH tell me were when you told American Girl that Bush wasn't a member of Congress which Bush were you referring to?

Like children, most people are pointing fingers and insulting another instead of focusing on the real problem- too much debt and a huge federal deficit.

I can't wait.

The house majority leader is basically posing the question, "Will we learn from our last disasterous line-in-the-sand position of default vs debt ceiling raise?"

"HELL NO WE WON'T!"

Should go over really big in November.

If you cant afford it find another way do what you gotta do

Way to go Mr. Speaker Boehner !!! At this rate, you will drive the markets into the ground before not being reelected again. There is nothing Wall Street likes more than the person in charge of dealing with the level of government debt to signal that he plans to default. Investors are funny beings, they actually do pay attention to what is said and written.

I guess driving the US to an A minus rating is not enough for the Republicans, they want to go for a full default rating, like Greece. Stupid idiots.

Mr. Boehner you said what you meant and you meant what you said. "If you don't give millionaires and Billionaires ANOTHER taxcut and extend the Bush taxcuts and INCREASE student loan rates, I will shut the Government down.

We know austerity is what's causing the problems in Europe. With Germany's Merkel still saying that even more severe austerity is the only way Greece can receive further assistance, Greece may be better off in the long run leaving the EU, and after biting the bullet rebuild their country by requiring the 4 out of 5 people still employed--and especially the rich--to pay some friggin' taxes, and if it takes a revolution so be it.

The French have elected a socialist, and my guess is Merkel will be replaced in a similar fashion. So why are folks still stuck on "starve the beast" and "eating the corn seed" here in the US?

This is the main faultiness of Boehner's statements. He and the Teapublicans NEVER discuss revenues in regard to the debt ceiling. Yes, we need to stop deficit spending, and once again the cuts agreed to last time to cut defense spending need to be made first. Paul Ryan and the Attila the Hun hoards -- Stop trying to renege by attacking the least among us! These ignorant sluts in the GOP/TP like Teabagger candidate Richard Mourdock in Indiana -- Government is not the problem -- YOU and Norquist are!

What we can't sustain ever, but especially at this time is Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette the Romneys' in the White House. What we can't sustain ever, but especially at this time are Teabag ignoramuses like Mourdock in Congress. The rightwing claims to be all about the Constitution -- how the heck do they think the Constitution was created? Not with the "inflict my views" and "come to my position" and "no compromise" mentality. The Constitution and our entire republic form of democracy is dependent upon a give and take tradition.

Throw the Tea Party out, and do not vote for Romney the plutocrat. Be patriotic and write in Jeb Bush if you have to, but there isn't any assurance that Romney would "do no harm" let alone do nothing for the nation. He would bail-out Wall Street with tax-payer money in a heart beat.

Speaker Boehner, just go find your bottle of booze and back to hiding on a binge.

TO: JH-479998 who wrote:

"American Girl...Bush was not a member of Congress. And just because progressive/liberals blame Bush for everything doesn't make it true. Congress was totally controlled by democrats starting in January 2007. The downfall started in 2008. Why can't the libs accept some blame?..."

According to you, Democrats controlled Congress for only 1 of the 8 years Bush was in office, but nothing at all happened the first 7 years. The only time, in your mind, that ANYTHING took place wasn't until Democrats came into the room. Sorry, but your story makes no sense to me. Probably because I was there.

"...Why can't the libs accept some blame?..."

Where were you while Bush was in office that you don't know a darn thing that happened that entire time?

Bush and Bush alone is totally at fault because, for one reason, HE LIED HIS A$$ OFF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE and second, BUSH PROCLAIMED HIMSELF "THE DECIDER" and no one, but no one, was going to make ANY decisions EXCEPT for Bush, and that is how Bush handled his "presidency".

I can't see any reason why Democrats should take any of the blame for something they could not control, namely, George "Curveball" Bush.

Obama/Biden 2012

Austerity measures in Greece affected primarily the lower and middle classes. It is not surprising where this has led to.

I only hope the republicans in congress learn from this.

If the right-wing doesn't finally get this and they win in November, then good-bye to the great experiment.

"What I'm trying to do is encourage people on both sides of the aisle on both sides of the Capitol and on both ends of Pennsylvania Ave to be honest with the American people and to be honest with ourselves to begin to tackle this problem in an adult manner."

And....in order to do this, Mr. Speaker....you drop a drop-dead, hard-line, no-movement, statement? It reminds me of an old saying, "Physician, heal thyself!"

I can't wait till this piece of crap Boner loses controll of the house. Gonna be a big party at my house that night!

TO: grumpy_jon who wrote:

"What I'm trying to do is encourage people on both sides of the aisle on both sides of the Capitol and on both ends of Pennsylvania Ave to be honest with the American people and to be honest with ourselves to begin to tackle this problem in an adult manner."

And....in order to do this, Mr. Speaker....you drop a drop-dead, hard-line, no-movement, statement? It reminds me of an old saying, "Physician, heal thyself!"

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

You hit the nail on the head Grump!

I'm pretty sure Boehner knows that the Teabaggers have no respect for him and will not allow Boehner to tell them how to vote, which used to be "business as usual" for the GOP.

Mijnordna

I never liked the (over)use of LOL, you're use of it is completely ridiculous.

That's why he does it, he's a troll. Don't feed the troll.

EEngineer

BOEHNER: "Let's remember something, the issue here is the debt, almost $16 trillion dollars worth of debt, $1.3 trillion dollar budget deficit this year

I remember! I remember 8 years of out of control spending by Bush and Cheney with Republican majorities in both houses of Congress for 6 of those 8 years. I remember Boehner voting for a higher debt ceiling 7 times in 8 years with nary a peep. I remember Bush's last budget, signed off in Oct, 2008, had a $1.9T deficit. And I remember that $12T of that $16T debt is due to Bush, Boehner and other Republicans, not Democrats!

Republican hypocrite!

Excellent post! I remember they promised JOBS too. Where are the jobs?!

John B, Des Moines, IA

"If everyone does like we tell them to no one has to get hurt." -- John Boehner

HI-larious, thanks for the good laugh John. The Teabag Thugs have got to go.

There seems to be majority support now to let all the Bush tax cuts expire. If the GOP/TP want to negotiate to keep tax cuts for those earning less than a quarter millions ($250k), they will have to come to the Dem's position. NO MORE TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH!

The GOP/TP should have supported the Buffet Rule and ending tax expenditure subsidies for Big Oil, etc. This crock of crap about spending cuts only, and then of all things trying to renege on cuts in defense, their treason becomes more and more apparent with every passing day.

But I was even more appalled when the RNC Chair, Reince Priebus was questioned on Meet The Press about the JP Morgan losses of 2 billion and counting. Priebus, like Romney still advocates no regulations. The illogical conclusion made by Priebus was that this proved Dodd-Frank doesn't work (gees if only the Volcker Rule had been enforced), so therefore we should not regulate financial institutions at all. If these idiots are allowed a majority in Congress, they will "eat the corn seed" and it will only be a matter of time before banks collapse the economy again.

Let's hope Congress will reinstate Glass-Steagall, let's hope President Obama is reelected and a Jobs Bill and other investment is passed, and let's hope the tax code could then be reformed so that everyone pays their fair share. The stimulus in the US is what has saved our nation from the double-dip recession that Europe is now suffering. Asking the rich to pay their fair share will not balance the budget, but it WILL provide revenue to create jobs and investment needed for recovery.

Stop This Depression Now! Obama/Biden & Democratic Congress - 2012!

JH - regarding your post #1.40.

I'd like to introduce two words to you that became VERY common among Republicans after 2006. Filibuster and veto.

Blame whoever you need to blame to make yourself feel better. It's not helping Republicans at all when their defenders either can't remember or are lying about what happened in 2007/2008. Those of us who do not live in a vortex of Fox and Limbaugh will not forget.

Quote: Boner says -: 'I'm not threatening default'

Yes you are, if uninformed voters would give you more seats in 2012 as they did in November 2010.

See how LOL superior I LOL am LOL? I LOL at you so you LOL know that LOL I am LOL smarter and LOL to prove LOL that you LOL can't beat LOL me at LOL being LOL a keyboard LOL warrior! Everyone knows LOL whoever has the most LOLs is bestest! I LOL win! All my LOLs prove it! LOL. Face! ...... LOL.

If Bohner sticks to his hold America hostage plan no matter what happens to the country .. he is advocateing not just default but a total collapse of the U S Government

Shut your trap Boner.

This takes serious guts.

The GOP hands us crap... no economy, no income, massive debt, and debt obligations that would kill any other country and that will last at least a decade (Afghanistan - unfunded, Iraq - unfunded AND unnecessary, the massive Homeland Security expansion - unfunded, Medicaid - unfunded, and Bush tax cuts - right to the debt bottom line)

They then block every attempt to recover the economy in the name of their f%^&ked up voodoo trickle-me-down economic theory of self-fulfillment... when the best and foremost economists on earth disagree with them.

They then use the debt... the very debt THEY created... to campaign against Obama and for their company-killing-machine candidate that thinks he knows how to create jobs.

They already almost caused default once... that virtually halted any gains we were making... and now they threaten it again... if we don't address the debt on the backs of the middle class and this economic recovery.

Ya gotta give it to them... they got balls.

A$$holes, but ballsy.

Let the Republicans go ahead and default. It will ensure Obama gets re-elected. It should also ensure that the house turns blue and the senate turns darker blue.

Call his bluff.....

I see that it is being pointed out that President Obama is being blamed for extending the Bush tax presents to the rich 1%. and that is true.He was blackmailed into doing that by the Reps. and their masters the T.P. would not extend unemployment benefits to the long time unemployed who had used up all of their unemployment benefits and no longer could see how they could survive and the only one who had pity for their plight was our President .The Republican house should never point out this ,because it is ,in my opinion their lasting shame and should never be forgotten. More and more the Reps. and those disgraceful excuses for a political party the teabaggers should get what they have earned, to be unemployed.

"Conservatives remind me of Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote, and Elmer Fudd.
They bring the guns, the stupidity, and of course, the failure."

With the amount of alcohol he drinks a day, a "boner" is probably the last thing he has.

Old twitchy lip is at it again. It always twitches when he's lying and obfuscating. A sick man, an alcoholic, most likely, insane by all evidence before us from the HUGE gavel to the tears of drunken emotion, to his utter ineptitude as Speaker. Nevermind the skin color........... He should be impeached for dereliction of duty.

Trying to avoid the mud-slinging here...

The Republicans want to cut social spending, including medical treatment, extended unemployment *most of which has already expired), and Social Security disability. And then extend taxes on the poor (that 49-55% who "pay no taxes" which is correct in narrow definition, but not in broad fact) who have little money to tax. But would preserve tax shelters for the oil industry, raise a pittance by leasing more land and off-shore areas decades away from actual drilling, and cut corporate taxes even further, despite the fact that many top corporate earners )some of whom I hold stock in) paid no US income tax for the last several profitable years. This includes a strictly hands-off policy toward Defense Department spending.

The Democrats would cut Defense Department spending and raise taxes on the "uber-rich", singles making over $250k, couples and families making over $500k.

There are flaws in this pot. Not all DoD projects return gains in the first 10 years, witness: the B-29 (initially a WWII failure which was fast-tracked to remedy since it was the ONLY bomber capable of delivering the A-bomb), The SR-71 (not a Polaroid camera, but perhaps the best aircraft ever produced), the P-51Mustang (another WWII aircraft that only worked right when fitted with an English engine), the USS Nautilus (though wildly successful, it would be ten years before another nuclear submarine was built), and even today's ubiquitous drones (which started out as more or less toys for only tactical observation).

And not all social policies reap real rewards, especially those which either cement people in a position or displace them physically. The old urban renewal projects and Interstate Highway system displaced many and marginalized others. A highway by-pass not only by-passes local traffic, but by-passes local business, almost ALL local business.

So both parties have presented plans. Neither party seems to really address the debt issue, only the deficit issue.

In the 1950's, America faced a staggerring debt from fighting WWII and rebuilding Europe, with little European support (in fact, France demanded its gold back). Tax rates were double to triple current rates on low and moderate earners today, and the top was taxed between 90% and 95% depending on the year. The WWII debt was fully repaid, except for some War Bond hold-outs by the time Johnson took office. And the Federal government built much of the Interstate system, financed massive low-income housing blocks and urban renewal (money perhaps poorly spent in history's 20/20 vision) and saw huge demands on the GI-Bill program as well as huge expenditures on defense, including the start of NASA.

But then again, Eisenhower supposedly had problems deciding on which party he would run for, and two veteran opposing Senators routinely appeared together on that new-fangled device, television, to argue but frequently agree on the issues of the day. Then again, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, even Nixon (West Coast supply officer for three years during WWII), Carter (Cold War submarine commander with a "NUKE-EM" button) and HW Bush were all veterans; if not heroes (Ike and Kennedy).

Obama is a hero to the minorities, but to whom is Mitt a hero? To the villified Wall Street, or the self-proclaimed disefranchished and disaffected Tea Party? To the truly conservative Republican, or to the conservative religious activist? To the moderate Republican or -- what meaningful moderate Republican is left on today's scene. Likewise Democrats can also afford to rein in certain attacks.

But, the whole problem really devolves to unaccountable single issue PAC's and SuperPAC's with no limits on money or honesty. Goebbels must be applauding the "Citizens United ruling" from his unmarked grave. Now, neither side need retreat to truth or logic, just blast the BIG LIE louder and more often than your opponent. FOX has done this for several years, but I occasionally see cracks like their new wise-ass commentator (a droll-looking fellow) who seems to snipe both sides with equal vigor. CNN seems to be shifting right, which is ironic after it canned its right, center and left announcers; to move to an all fluff with pretty people (mostly female airheads) all the time format.

Time will see if Obama's supporters or the money behind limited interests which will fund the Tea Party and Romney will prevail.

Ji(G) and NC open heart,

Before you make claims that Speaker Boehner is a drunk, you had better have better evidence than your limited opinion. Have you ever seen the man drunk, on the job, personally? I mean YOU actually seeing this, not a "commentator" on the radio or the internet.

I personally do not agree with the Speaker's views or politics. But I'll be damned if I see legitimate debate, or even the fairie stories we have seen lately debased by groundless accusations. Tell the truth or admit you're lying.

Bonner: "I m not threatening default (burp) excuse me. Me and my republican colleagues are just unwilling to provide a balanced approach for the good of our country."

Aide: "Excuse me sir! Mr. Norquist is on the line. He says--"

Bonner: "Excuse me everyone, I must take the call."

Bill Marvell

A reasoned post, thanks.

You are correct, in my opinion, when you state that neither party addresses the debt, only the deficit.

It doesn't take much math to realize that, at our current income, neither the deficit or the debt can be seriously managed with spending cuts... we'd have to cut to Greece levels or worse.

As per every economist thinking past the next year or two, the debt can only be managed in a vibrant economy. That is the only real way to raise the income level of our government to any level that will touch the debt.

And that is where the real debate begins. The Republican plan consists of high risk bets to recover from losses from the high risk bets... a gambler's logic and illness. But the Democrat results from the last 3 years is tantamount to throwing all our money in a CD earning 1/2 of 1 percent... safe, but we'll never get to the levels we need to get to.

Instead, we need to be both bold and smart. The original unfettered plan put forth by economists and partially adopted by Obama is our only way out. It's the only solution offered that is both bold and safe and that has a long term plan to address the debt. We need to stimulate smartly (no, not spend like a drunken sailor) by investing in the future... education, training, infrastructure... while stimulating jobs... oil, weatherization, infrastructure (in both categories).

But most importantly, we need to find a way to stop the hate and the determination to fail. In many ways, or negativity is what is holding us back. I blame Murdoch and the likes for sabotaging our recovery and virtually any other progress. It's become clear he did it in the U.K. It's been going on here... a 24 by 7 all media barrage aimed at Obama and armed with detailed twisted facts and logic... very effective.

If we don't find middle ground and start working together we haven't a prayer.

And Boehner has to go to even begin that process.

Congress was totally controlled by democrats starting in January 2007. The downfall started in 2008. Why can't the libs accept some blame?..."

Here we go again. Listen slowly and maybe you'll understand the question this time;

What Democratic bills did President GW Bush sign into law that caused the economy to crash?

Now I'm going to try to give you a clue as to why the question is important. Without some action by Congress the Democrats COULD NOT HAVE MADE ANY CHANGE IN POLICY. Period. Without the President's signature there was no change in policy. Period.

It didn't happen. If you're not lying about it you're totally ignorant of how government actually works. Period.

Boehner: "I'm not threatening default."

But, umm, John, that's pretty much EXACTLY what you ARE threatening when you threaten not to pay the countries bills (many of which were incurred by YOU and YOUR party).

You know, if the Republicans had a history of running balanced budgets and surpluses, I'd wholeheartedly listen and agree with the budget concerns they voice in these times. They'd sound like a principled, responsible party.

But seeing as how the Republican party has been spending like drunken sailors for 30+ years now and only cry about deficits when they're NOT the controlling party, it all just sounds like whining and sore-loserdom. STFU and pay your bills John...

Bill Marvell- The only way to address the deficit is by growing the economy and that cannot be accomplished by cutting spending now. The time to do that (cut spending) is when we have a healthy and vibrant economy which is never easy for politicians of either party. But if we citizens are smart enough to reject those calling for extreme austerity measures now maybe they'll get the idea that we are paying attention and act in a reasonable and responsible manor regarding spending when the time is appropriate. LMarcT's post is spot on.

It would help a lot if the Republicans would stop kicking all the grown ups out of the party and stop nominating all of these lunatics from the extreme fringes of the party.

Really Mr. Speaker, if you truly wanted to be honest, you'd admit that you can't pay ANYTHING with tax cuts, or taking the food out of poor children's mouths. You MUST have revenue in order to "pay" ANYTHING.

You cannot have revenue without working persons to pay out that revenue. Tax increases cause businesses to holdover the moneys that would ordinarily be used to hire new workers and create jobs to pay those new and increased taxes and bulk of insurance benefits. The majority of small business owners are refusing to hire new workers and expand business enough to create new jobs precisely because of the uncertainty of the economic situation under Obama and clan.

Merely taxing the rich will not clean up this mess. A lot more needs to be done but curtailing debt-spending needs to be the first thing to be done. You cannot continue to pay debt with debt and not face the real prospect of bankruptcy. It is the same for both individual borrowers and government. Look at Greece. They have tried for years to pay down debt with more debt and their economy is in the crapper. The same will come to this nation if Congress keeps raising the debt ceiling.

And, not raising the debt ceiling will not cause the failure of Social Security (it already is header there before 2036, anyway, because the system will go insolvent because Democrats fight any and all attempts to save the program). Payment of Social Security payments is mandated to be paid out before all else by Federal law.

The majority of small business owners are refusing to hire new workers and expand business enough to create new jobs precisely because of the uncertainty of the economic situation under Obama and clan.

BS.

The majority of small business owners are refusing to hire new workers because there is NO DEMAND for the products and services they render.

I would love to sit down for a game of poker with Mr. Boehner. I could count on hm to ovrplay his cards on every hand.

Well said, DrowningGrover.

The entire Conservative thought experiment falls apart on one simple question -- how did we end up in the worst recession since the Great Depression when effective tax rates are the lowest they've been in 60 years? Quite simply tax rates in and of themselves are not the be all and end all that Norquist and his puppets proclaim.

LOL in this case stands for Loser Offering Lies. right Bigben and auto?

BS.

The majority of small business owners are refusing to hire new workers because there is NO DEMAND for the products and services they render.

Wrong! This is responsible for job losses and company closures. To be fair, there are some that are using this as a reason. But, this also goes right back to lack of jobs. No decents jobs, no income to pay for goods and services, less demand for said goods and services. It is a vicious cycle that feeds itself. The ball must be set rolling and that means less taxes, more available jobs, and less business liabilities.

Looks like you failed the follow up quiz on the thought experiment.

We've been on a steady trajectory of deregulation and declining taxes for 30+ years, yet somehow we ended up in the worst recession since the Great Depression...the LAST TIME Laissez Faire economics dominated our policy.

More trickle down and deregulation isn't the cure for the slow disintegration of our economy, it's the cause.

No, it isn't the cause or the economy would have been destroyed from the beginning. The business world needs to take the risks and hire new workers in order to create an economic base that will create more demand. Worrying about new taxes and new business liabilities, mixed with uncertainty, causes the business world and the investors feeding into it to hoard money rather than trickle it down to feed a growing economy by creating more jobs and spending on products to justify creation of said jobs.

Isn't it funny that conservaterds want to reduce spending, but defense cuts and raising taxes on oil companies and other large corporations like GE are not an option. Instead they want to do away with social security, department of education, EPA, Medicare.

Trickle down economics is a huge failure and a scam and the Fox watchin crowd are brainwashed into thinking that it is the only way for the United States to prosper. The only ones that prosper is the one percent and if this theory continues it will be the downfall of this country. It is that simple!!

Republicans have backed themselves into a corner by signing the no-tax pledge and none of them have balls to say it was a bad idea. This would be admitting the the Republican economic policy is a failure.

Complete and utter BS, dcpyle. There is ALWAYS uncertainty in the business world...conditions are ALWAYS subject to change. Here's what experienced and respected business analyst Yves Smith has to say on the matter;

Businesses have had at least 25 to 30 years near complete certainty -- certainty that they will pay lower and lower taxes, that they' will face less and less regulation, that they can outsource to their hearts' content (which when it does produce savings, comes at a loss of control, increased business system rigidity, and loss of critical know how). They have also been certain that unions will be weak to powerless, that states and municipalities will give them huge subsidies to relocate, that boards of directors will put top executives on the up escalator for more and more compensation because director pay benefits from this cozy collusion, that the financial markets will always look to short term earnings no matter how dodgy the accounting, that the accounting firms will provide plenty of cover, that the SEC will never investigate anything more serious than insider trading (Enron being the exception that proved the rule).

So this haranguing about certainty simply reveals how warped big commerce has become in the US. Top management of supposedly capitalist enterprises want a high degree of certainty in their own profits and pay. Rather than earn their returns the old fashioned way, by serving customers well, by innovating, by expanding into new markets, their 'certainty' amounts to being paid handsomely for doing things that carry no risk. But since risk and uncertainty are inherent to the human condition, what they instead have engaged in is a massive scheme of risk transfer, of increasing rewards to themselves to the long term detriment of their enterprises and ultimately society as a whole.

Got the original, real source for that quote???

Amen - Boston!

Boston, you know KING GOVER won't go for that, even a penny in tax increase on the rich will NEVER happen under the GOP. Did you hear about the president of France saying he was going to increase the taxes on the rich in his country by 95%. They tried just cutting, didn't work, so NOW they are planning to raise taxes on the rich. Also heard Greece is in the same boat.

bigben - FOR THE RICH ONLY!!!!!

I think some here would be surprised to know that the Speaker is doing what those who voted for him and republicans to do. I wanted my reps to stop the progressive agenda. I want my reps to stop spending. Don't raise the debt ceiling, we are broke. It can not be cured by handouts and tax the wealthy. This is just my opinion. I am a member of the Tea Party and realize that may cause some problems for some of you.

Obama was the one promoting an extension of the tax cuts

Uh, no, no he wasn't! Unemployment benefits were held hostage by Republicans to get the tax cuts extended. But, then, I guess facts don't matter to you!

@EEngineer: shhh .. don't confuse the lemmings with your pesky facts; you might impede their march to the sea.

EE,

Yes they were, but they were the benefits to those who have been on them 2 years. Read it more carefully. At what point do we stop paying for them. Is two years not enough time? Held it hostage, that is the pot calling the kettle black. Watch your statements because the true libreal so easliy forgets their own demons.

I agree Boston... when are the deadbeats paying no Federal taxes going to pay THEIR fair share???

In a November 1983 letter to then-Senate Majority Leader Howard H. Baker Jr. (R-Tenn.), Reagan warned that without a higher debt ceiling, the country could be forced to default for the first time in its history.

Reagan wrote: “The full consequences of a default – or even the serious prospect of default – by the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate. Denigration of the full faith and credit of the United States would have substantial effects on the domestic financial markets and the value of the dollar.”

From letter that Reagan wrote to Howard Baker - it seems everything is different when the other party is in control.

Elise,

Different times. Was ok with the first couple, but we have got to do something to offset the raise. Tip O'Neal said he would, he lied. But glad you can dig up a letter that takes everything out of context and what was promised to him and what followed.

" I am not threatening?".......If it walks like a duck.............................................

If the only option for an agreement to raise the debt ceiling is extended tax cuts for the rich, it is a threat.....It is attempted strong armed robbery to suggest the only way to pay for a higher debt ceiling is by cutting social programs that benefit education, safety, the poor, elderly or the sick . We simply cannot continue to reduce revenue and take care of obligations to less fortunate Americans.

The rich are doing just fine and will not suffer a catastrophe by paying a little more taxes

MRWSR - you probably don't pay your bills either.

In reality arguing over the debt ceiling is essentially arguing over whether to pay the bills the country has already incurred.

First couple - you mean George and Martha?????

Elise,

Sorry to disappoint you but pay more than you might think.

First coulple of debt ceiling raises. But we can't just keep doing that. Default is an option. Would like to see that no, not at all. But if I can't pay my water bill, they cut if off.

You know the Bonerhead will never raise taxes, he's too indebted to the teabagger repugnants for his job, he craps in his pants and caves into them everytime they comes after him. Boehner is a spineless pile of garbage.

TO: MRWSR. who wrote:

"I think some here would be surprised to know that the Speaker is doing what those who voted for him and republicans to do. I wanted my reps to stop the progressive agenda. I want my reps to stop spending. Don't raise the debt ceiling, we are broke. It can not be cured by handouts and tax the wealthy. This is just my opinion. I am a member of the Tea Party and realize that may cause some problems for some of you."

Where'd you get those ideas, off of "Bazooka" comic inserts?

Obama/Biden 2012

Well MRWSR - I don't want what happened the last time we almost defaulted - do you remember that fiasco. I am in the finance world and our clients and myself can not put up with another roller coaster ride on the market if we default. And it will be absolutely a mess.

We agree.

But how to not do that is the debate and I stand with the Speaker.

Get rid of the tax loop holes and tax breaks for personal and corporate taxes.

When congress and the president just, "say no," this time to your cuts, what's your or else? If it isn't default, I guess it's retreat.

Norquist,Rove,Limbaugh, Beck, wow those Republicans really have it together

What I do not understand is that my daughter, a teacher, had to take a 20% pay cut from $50,000 to

keep her job, but it is not OK for the super rich to pay 3% more in taxes

TO: MRWSR who wrote:

"We agree. But how to not do that is the debate and I stand with the Speaker."

The Speaker is not "standing" with you, he told you and the Teabaggers before the importance or raising the Debt Ceiling and there you've gone for forgot again!

I can tell you unequivocally, that Speaker Boehner is favor of raising the Debt Limit.

Obama/Biden 2012

you just have to hammer home the issue it's about us not the Republicans.The Democrats aren't perfect but at least you know you stand a chance. The Republicans are telling you straight out there going to give you a fu..ing

When congress and the president just, "say no," this time to your cuts, what's your or else? If it isn't default, I guess it's retreat.

The "or else" will be "reload". This time we will be able to shoot back. Self defense.

MRWSR,

From what I understand, Tip O'Neill spent much more time in the Reagan White House than Senator Baker. Seems the Senator was a bit stuffy and business minded. The Speaker was an Irishman, like Reagan, who delighted in stories, jokes and a nip (now and then). And yes, They talked business and made deals, often around Baker or other Republicans (and Democrats). Politics from the old days, figure out where your true principles are, compromise everything else, and then go have a drink together. Something to which MOST of our fore-fathers could relate.

Blaming the current administration for the national debt is like blaming hens for getting eaten by the fox. John 'I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a scotch and soda today' Boehner is in fact setting the stage for another self-inflicted crisis.

The inmates are in control of the asylum! When will 'We the People' put a stop to this cyclical game, of my team is better than your team?

Yes they were, but they were the benefits to those who have been on them 2 years. Read it more carefully. At what point do we stop paying for them. Is two years not enough time? Held it hostage, that is the pot calling the kettle black. Watch your statements because the true libreal so easliy forgets their own demons.

MRWSR, you do know that the unemployment extension wasn't to extend folks beyond the 99 weeks of unemployment insurance, but rather to ensure that NEWLY unemployed people were also eligible for a total of 99 weeks, right? I mean, you DO know this, right?

If you can't get this right, i'm not sure one can trust anything else you have to say on the matter...

Are you kidding me? Our government does not have a revenue problem. Our governemt has a SPENDING problem. Giving them more money to piss away will only perpetuate the problem. Sad truth is they have more money than ever it just still isn't enough.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pES9C7fX_Co

Are you kidding me? Our government does not have a revenue problem. hOur governemt has a SPENDING problem.

you can say that, but it doesn't make it true. Loss of tax revenue due to reduced economic activity (due to the recession) is one of the primary drivers of the $1T+ deficits we've run the last four years.

This is also why the scheduled deficit in 2009 (a Bush budget mind you) was $400B, but came in as $1.4T at the end of the year. Some of the added deficit was new spending (e.g., TARP, AIG bailouts, GM bailout, and a small part of the stimulus) but much of it was lower-than-expected revenue.

In reality, we currently have both a spending AND a revenue problem.

Our revenue still outpaces past revenue even when adjusted for inflation and inflation per capita population...TODAY even with "reduced economic activity". Ignoring the facts does not change them.

Our revenue still outpaces past revenue even when adjusted for inflation and inflation per capita population.

really? http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=200

Wow, brilliant find DG! Proof that in constant dollars revenue has fallen by $415B since 2007! That's a really dramatic difference that by itself makes up over 1/3 of our deficit.

Watch your statements because the true libreal so easliy forgets their own demons.

Now that's funny! Like conservatives don't forget their demons! Let us not forget WHY unemployment benefits are such a big issue - were it not for the Republican mismanagement of the economy for 8 years under Bush et al we wouldn't even be having this conversation about unemployment benefits, would we?

Such cogent thoughts and lucid comments... NOT

Once again, leftist handlers have found something to rile the masses and take the focus away from solutions and put it on people.

It's incredible that many who oppose bullying and champion tolerance post some of the meanest, most unhelpful things.

What's with that?!

Have any of you read that George W. Bush is writing a book on how to get the economic recovery underway? How about that for "the fox guarding the chicken house"?

Have any of you read that George W. Bush is writing a book on how to get the economic recovery underway? How about that for "the fox guarding the chicken house"?

I heard it was a comic book that you can read upside down Or right side up.

The Democrats control 2/3 of Washington, and all they want to do is borrow, print, and spend more money. No one in the Democratic Party or President Obama has offered so much as one single solution to our fiscal nightmare. Letting the Bush tax cuts expire won't put a dent in our annual deficit, and no one in the Democratic Party can find so much as a dime of spending to cut. But the Federal government did pay out more then 400 million in bonuses in 2011, and haven't the Democrats been screaming about Wall Street bonuses for years?

What's really funny is that Boehner and his conservative clown posse had the same opportunities and ability to fix this problem last year and didn't/wouldn't/couldn't! Hey John, just put off till tomorrow what you can do today. It's not like the American people (voters) are waiting for better economic times, a better standard of living, the recovery of their investments and retirement/pensions, improved housing market, an end to the socializing of the financial sector and corporate welfare/subsidies, and the Conservative's plan for making the middle/lower classes and seniors pay for both your privatized profits and socialized losses/debt!

Too late for that one ....

Obama already tanked our economy with his disastrous massive crushing debt and deficit .... "LOL"

Big ben, OMG, WTF is with your (over)use of 'LOL'? It's just ridiculous. What does it even mean? Oh, Yeah, you're a right-winger. Tend to be a little undereducated.

bigbenalaska

Too late for that one ....

Obama already tanked our economy with his disastrous massive crushing debt and deficit .... "LOL"

A massive crushing debt incurred by Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43. Somehow this part always seems to slip the "mind" of the uber right

johndevine - the operative word here would be "mind." Now, see why bigbenalaska doesn't understand? But don't worry - he's easily amused as the "LOL" after every post shows!

The debt includes debt from George Washington's administration as well. We are all to blame for this. It's time for the country to grow up and learn how to compromise. Last time around I recall Obama negotiating in good faith to reduce the deficit by 4 trillion with a combo of tax increases and spending cuts. Boehner reneged on the deal. People need to get real and understand that just tax increases won't work. Spending cuts alone will not work. It will have to be a combination of the two. Everyone needs to pay their fair share. Not just the rich, the other 50% of the country that pay NOTHING because they can squirt out children need to pay as well. This country is in dire need of a dictator because nobody can stand up and do the right thing anymore.

Oh yeah: Cheney: "deficits don't matter". Guess the GOP flip flopped on this one too.

daryl - and here I was thinking that it meant 'little old liar"...

Hate to sound like an old man or woman here, BUT...

Shouldn't government take steam out of a run-away economy through taxes and boost a damaged economy by spending money? I see all Presidents, since FDR following Keynes, until GW Bush. Who neither took the overheat out of the economy and was tragically late in spending to refuel it. In his defence, I don't believe he was told how bad things were more than a few days before we were told. And he did react, in what I have labeled the "SnoBlower of $100 bills" parked in the Rose Garden. No records, no accountancy, no responsibilty' just take the $800million and fix it. But $800m couldn't fix it, as Obama found out. It took more money to plug the leaks and save the auto industry (without vultures looking to piece out GM and Chrysler, as Bain Capital envisaged bankruptcy). But now, Obama is guilty of all sins, both of commission (the two funded but off-budget wars, which means yes the money was spent - but no government income was created to balance the expenditures) and ommision (the failure to capture for the government, the wild rise in defense and real estate incomes and profits). Thus the Federal government was caught flat-footed and leading with its chin in 2008.

Too late for that one ....

Obama already tanked our economy with his disastrous massive crushing debt and deficit .... "LOL"

you can "LOL" all you want, but it still doesn't make you correct.

We were doomed to crushing debt and deficit long before Obama came to the White House, thanks to GWB and the Republican leadership that preceded Obama. Obama can't just stop paying for things Bush signed into law when he takes office, and much of the current deficit is directly attributable to legislation passed from 2000 to 2008 (notably two wars and massive tax cuts).

Bill Marvel, your post (#4.8) is spot on.

Basically, rather than handing out the surplus in the form of ludicrous unneeded tax cuts (to all Americans, not just the rich, but favored towards the rich) Bush should have tucked that money away to either continue paying down the national debt (and/or pay for the two wars he started). Keeping taxes slightly higher might have dampened the speculative housing bubble as well, as you suggest.

Then, if the economy HAD faltered, we'd at least have tons of money and good balanced budgets to go an attack the recession with stimulus spending.

Instead, what we got was bank-busting during the boom (stupid stupid stupid) and then "hey, we're broke, what can we do about it" when the recession hit. One might say this is by design (i.e., "starve the beast.").

No doubt we can print, borrow, and spend our way out of this mess. No need for any fiscal plan, just crank up the printing presses. Solutions, cuts in spending, no need when the can is there for the kicking. Besides, as long as we can blame the Republicans we can bankrupt this country without concern. Pretty much sums up the Democratic Party stance on our debt.

Pretty much sums up the Democratic Party stance on our debt.

or the Republican stance if you're willing to consider the last 30+ years of history...

Gee Rick, your hearing aids must have been turned off when all of Washington with the exception of the Conservative Movement was talking about the necessity for a balanced solution comprised of spending reductions as well as revenue increases.

Sorry Deborah, unfortunately the Duke of Orange is from an area of Ohio that is VERY Red and too stoopid to do what is right...He probably won't be speaker but he'll still be there...

Dragon - I think you're much too free in your use of the word "man" in this sense!

seeking: LOL....you are right....

It's his yellow belly reflecting off his flushed, drunk face.

"We pledge allegiance to Grover Norqueist..."

Damn! It looks like I've been missing out on all the fun, here! Damn full time job! LOL(for Benny!) :0)

Obama/Biden 2012 FORWARD!

The interesting thing is that MOST Tea Party members are I wannabe 1%'ers, not true 1%'ers. So they are actively working to screw themselves with an all or nothing approach. They, as small business owners are going to be the first (or at least second) hurt by most government cut-backs. Either they will suffer directly from reduced or cancelled contracts, or they will suffer customer losses as offices, plants and bases close. Perhaps they haven't realized where their customers, like farmers, get a large part of their income. Or maybe, they haven't paid attention to what has happened to family values in North Dakota, as the elderly are forced out of family homes and apartments to make space for "immigrant" (wildcat) oil and gas drillers with $1k's to spend for a warm, quiet place to sleep. Or don't realize that future contracts will be placed on the basis of "support" (i.e. money, not work). Does the Tea Party naively think that PAC and SuperPAC money comes without a price? Candidates who do will not have to worry about term limits, they will only serve one term and have their family slandered in the process.

Good, I hope the tea party folks screw themselves right into oblivion! What they are trying to do to this country is astonishing.

Problem is neither side will stand up to their base for the good of the country. It's easy to agree with your side on cutting spending, or on the other side raising taxes. Republicans have to agree to increases in revenue, please close the loopholes, and Democrats have to agree to real (not smaller increases) cuts.

I truly can't not understand why any one in their right minds refuses to balance a budget by just spending cuts and LESS REGULATIONS, with NO increase in revenue. ALL budgets grew over time. Four years ago when the budget was about 1.2 trillion dollars or what ever it was. Today it increased. No matter how you try and balance it, without MORE input(REVENUE, INCREASE IN PAY, TAXES, ANOTHER JOB) you can't do it. Everything is going up in price, gas, food, mortgages, rent, clothes, education, etc. So how can you cut back on increases you can't really control. Drive less, tell that to the government, eat less, go on a diet, tell your bank not to increase their fees, HA HA. You need more income. PERIOD.

Because, Derf - that would mean cutting programs that are keeping people alive and working right now. Cutting education that means our students will be even less prepared to enter the workforce, cutting childcare that means women won't be able to bring home a paycheck, cutting medicare so that elderly won't be able to get treatment. Cutting spending during a recession is the worst possible thing you could do - increasing revenue until the recovery is solid would be the best way at this stage to make a dent in the deficit.

I truly can't not understand why any one in their right minds refuses to balance a budget by just spending cuts and LESS REGULATIONS, with NO increase in revenue.

Because the more taxes you take in, it will most likely be spent, not saved. If you habitually spend more than you have, you do the same thing until you can't do it anymore. You have a spending problem not an income problem.

You don't balance your household budget by making more money. You cut cable TV and other non-essential expenses so you live within the means of the money you already make.

Raising taxes discourages the govt from spending wisely and does nothing to discourage them from raising taxes again to do the same foolish things.

I'm astounded such a basic principle goes over so many heads.

Oy-vay. You may recall that when Republicans last had the majority in Congress and the Presidency, taxes were cut to a bare minimum and spending increased.

Republicans simply know how to spend like drunken frat boys and then leave it up to the next administration to pay for it. Lowering taxes did not in any way, shape or form discourage the Republicans from over spending. "Pay as you go" is a Democratic policy, if you recall.

Your "basic principle" only goes over the heads of the irresponsible Republicans.

AlanNJ,

Your observation is correct in every detail except one, neither side would actually balance the budget, but actually would increase the debt. Not me speaking, but the CBO and the Parties themselves. They are only reducing the rate of debt growth. AND the automatic sequestration will only limt debt growth, not balance the budget...

oy-vay,

Raising or lowering Federal revenue does NOT make Congress any smarter, nor does it improve Congress's spending habits. Not even constraints like the sequester bill, or "balanced budget bills" improve their judgement. And the states have already proven that balanced buget amendments don't work (typically do not allow enough reserve for depressions, nor limit growth in bubbles).

If you want smarter spending, stop hiring (electing) good looking idiots and party tit-sucking hacks. Find a centrist from either party who will actually ask "What am I buying here?" If you elect a far-winger of either (or any) stripe, you'll get the last 12 years, "As long as I look good back home."

Nicely said, Bill.

Four years ago when the budget was about 1.2 trillion dollars or what ever it was.

You need to get your facts straight! The budget 4 years ago, Bush's last budget - signed off in October, 2008, was $3.5T!

There was a very large jump in spending - it increased more than 17 percent in one year from $2.9 trillion to $3.5 trillion. Since 1971, this rate of increase has only been surpassed once: in 1975 when outlays increased 23 percent over the previous year.

This was a last gift from the Bush administration - a huge increase in spending that Republicans have been blaming Obama for ever since. All Republican rhetoric about being fiscally responsible is denied by this one fact!

Oh and Boehner is the only one doing this. I am not a great fan of either party in Washington right now however to blame one side for everything is nuts. I am I disappointed in Obama, the people he surrounds himself with, yes, can I say I told you so, Yes! The American people need a shovel ready project and that is to shovel every last one of them to the curb.

But no one who can produce crocodile tears on a moments notice like Boehner.

Better get used to Tea Party candidates winning... the 60% who work and carry the rest of you deadbeats along are pretty tired of that "gubment check" entitlement attitude. Tea Party candidates are being sent to Washington by their constituents because they see that this "punish success and reward the lazy" anti-American paradigm is dragging our great country into third-worlddom. Obama is a conman, a flimflam artist. He wouldn't know an honest days work if it bit him on the a$$, and we can't wait to put him in the unemployment line.

Oh, right, the Tea Party--"Keep your government hands off my Medicare!"

If you guys were actually 60% of the population, we'd be bankrupt already.

Surprised that socialized medicine isn't a national defense issue, since so many would-be recruits can't pass the medical.

But then, the country's welfare means nothing to the Tea Party--only the entitlements that they themselves get do.

Fed up...Just like the KKK, the Moral Majority, the Aryan Nations, and every other evangelical political movement, the "tea" party will flop.

After what the teabaggers have been doing for the last year and a half, the fact that you would still attempt to disguise the "tea" party as a a fiscal movement as opposed to a fascist religious organization means that you are either a liar or you are completely duped. Like most evangelicals, I'm sorry to say that you are probably both.

By the way - calling the "tea" party a "party" is a lie. The "tea" party is nothing but a minority parasite sucking the life out of what used to be a legitimate political party.

excessivelyperky,

First a lesson in terms: Medicare, a Federal government backed basic health and accident insurance for individuals age 65 and older, supported by mandatory payroll taxes for those under 65 and premiums for those over 65. Designed to be supplemented by private insurance riders. Medicaid, a State administered, Federally sponsored insurance program for resident indigent families and children (will not cover able-bodied adults without dependents), basic insurance only, but accepts all clients including pre-existing conditions not covered by Social Security Disability (typically, not in every case).

The Tea Party is likely to support/attack Medicare just as it does Social Security. But Medicaid (unless they personally know and care about a recipient) is like raw hamburger thrown into a pit bull's pen.

No, we realize Obama isn't solely responsible for the National Debt. Obama just doubled it in less than 4 years!

Michael wrote: Obama isn't solely responsible for the National Debt. Obama just doubled it in less than 4 years!

You should be ashamed of yourself. The only possible reasons for that statement are that you are a complete moron or a liar. Perhaps both.

The willingness of the ultra right wing to lie and lie and lie is staggering to me and I'm sick of it. Grow up people. When you have to lie to convince people, your argument is toast before it begins.

upset - that would be "both" for Michael.

Michael Haluska- You watch too much Fox News

http://www.skymachines.com/US-National-Debt-Per-Capita-Percent-of-GDP-and-by-Presidental-Term.htm

I do have to say that the right has tended to do a lot more lying than the left on these matters; because they at least say you have to do both. Cut spending and raise taxes, both have to be done and it will probably fall on all of us not just the top earners, the middle class might have to give back their $40-$50 dollar week payroll taxes too.

One thing, how can we believe that the rich cannot afford to be taxed more but so many of them have millions of dollars to give to PACs. It is incredulous at times; that they would throw millions at a candidate so that their money does not go to the elderly, the poor, the working poor, and especially young mothers. If you are pro-life than you need to worry about what happens to those babies after they leave the womb.

Agree, the math doesn't add up. Obama's really only added 60% more to the national debt (in a paltry three and a half years). But if he gets another four years, he'll have made it two and a third times bigger that it was when he took over... in excess of $21 Trillion (or a $63,600 bill for every man, woman, and child in the country). BTW, we fiscal conservatives aren't too happy with Bush's spending track record either. Hence the cleaning out of RINOs like Richard Lugar and the Nebraska GOP primary upset (that's filling the seat of the Nebraska Kick-back recipient Ben Nelson).

It still baffles me why Republicans are labeled as "fiscal conservatives."

The last 3 democrats have added less than half to the national debt in comparison to the last 3 Republicans, and before Obama it was even less than that.

I hear conservatives call Clinton a terrible president, when he raised the national debt by 36%, while those same people hail Reagan as the second coming, and he riased the debt by 189%

Its like im taking crazy pills.

@Fedup

So tell us, how much of that is what was added to the debt that Bush was running off the books. You know, 2 wars, huge tax cuts, Medicare Part D. President Obama put those costs where they belonged. Bush and the Republicans tried to pretend the debt didn't exist. Of course, Cheney did say "deficits don't matter", so I guess it was OK then. I guess it was since there wasn't a peep out of your side while this was going on.

Agree, the math doesn't add up.

Well, your math doesn't add up. Bush went from $5.8T to $11.9T - an increase of $6.1T over 8 years. He more than doubled the debt!

Obama went from $11.9T to $15.5T in 3 1/2 years. Nowhere near doubling it. And nowhere near your 60% figure. By my math, that's only a 30% increase - in troubled economic times with decreased revenue and increased unemployment payments due to the previous Republican administration tanking the economy!

Great post EEngineer, and don't forget that the Bush tax cuts, Medicare Part D, and other fiscal malfeasance created an enormous structural deficit that has no connection to President Obama.

This has been a public anouncement by Fox Radio.

... and he was born in Kenya.

Idiot.

willeried - do you even know what european socialist economics is? There is no country on earth that is all of one and none of the other; if it were not for social security and unemployment checks this country would have been completely in the crapper.

You tell me which era in american history where we were better off because we did not have any social protections? Outside of this glitch our country has become much more prosperous with very few long down trends is in fact protected by theses social programs.

Please tell me when we were so much better off as a country? You give me the year or presidency and I will be able to point out some real problems. Have you seen the size of houses today? 30 years ago if you were not rich, you certainly did not own a $400,000 mansion unless you were rich.

I'm positive that "williered" thinks that a "socialist" is someone that attends a lot of cocktail parties....and he's in a tizzy because he never gets invited.

Brainwashed teabaggers.

Funny... Tea Bagging is a name given to a sexual act that was coined by male homosexuals... there are certainly not too many Tea Party members that fall into that community. However, it's telling that you use that term to try to insult fiscal conservatives. You must not think too much of Gays Shocked... are you homophobic???

That's funny...one doesn't have to be any particular gender to get tea-bagged. Your homophobia shows in that you attribute an act you find abhorrent to gay men only. Rest assured, they are not the only ones getting tea-bagged.

Teabaggers named THEMSELVES teabaggers first...and only back-tracked when they figured out why everyone else was laughing at them.

Thank you for reiterating that male homosexuals are not a part of the "tea" movement....but, again, we already know. I'm sure they are content being with the racial minorities and non-christians that are also not part of the klan...er...movement.

First- the leftist obsession with 'tea bagging' is perverse and curious to say the least.

Second- it is AMAZING how riled up people get as soon as you talk about cuts.

No salient arguments for or against, just irrational hate-mongering. Such a juvenile approach won't solve the debt problem.

@Fedup

Ahhhh, you do know that the tea party folks were to ones to start calling themselves teabaggers don't you? When somebody explained it to them they tried to pretend they didn't do that. Well, they did. Not our fault they're not too bright and out of touch. Try to get at least something straight.

@Shockedanddisgusted

You beat me to it. You put it much better then I did. Thanks. We did have a great laugh at their expense, well worth it too.

Oy-vay?? Are you calling Fed-up a leftist? Fed-up was the one that brought up the sexual connotations...I was merely calling them by the name they gave themselves. I found it more curious that Fed-up attributed the sexual actions to gay men only...like straight people have done nothing but stand 4 feet apart and wink at each other since the dawn of time.

Dennis - isn't it amazing to have to re-educate these people of their own history? A history that is only two years old?!?!? It sure doesn't make them look like deep thinkers.

Oh - and, by the way, oy-vay. You can call me whatever you want - I am first and foremost an American. What are you?

TO: williered who wrote:

"It is amazing how many left wing socialists still believe Barry is capable of achieving anything of any value after 3.5 years of failed programs and policies..."

I have to say that Republicans have failed us 1,000 times more than President Obama. At least President Obama has tried to fix our problems while Republicans have done nothing at all to get our economy moving again.

Obama/Biden 2012

Michael Haluska- You are not serious are you? You do know that government jobs are jobs and really one of the few remaining jobs that have real benefits. This is a big country and we really need a big government, not our of control but there is so much done by the Government that no one else would do, like reaction to natural disasters, wars, the highways and bridges, enforcing the laws (even the ones against the big banks.) I do not want government telling me how to live my private life (which for some reason, you big government haters do not seem to mind.) but I do want it out there getting things done, that are not done by anyone else.

I'll be right there , smalltown . I been looking for a place to pour my used motor oil . You wont mind if i use your back yard will ya ?

Well your statement might be true if the EPA was actually efficient and were as good at enforing the laws as making them.

You first UAW. Show us your light

Tis the Season - well we both know that's not gonna happen!

SmalltownintheUSA - of course the EPA is a joke. Most of us don't need to breathe, have clean water, etc. As each of those species of animals is dying off just remember that they don't matter - until it gets to the BIG animals - us - who were too damned stupid to do anything about destroying everything. Tell the truth - you're John Boehner, right? Mitt Romney???

Live Science 5/14/12

"The world's biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit. And if humanity continues as it has been, the picture could get bleaker.

Humanity is outstripping the Earth's resources by 50 percent — essentially using the resources of one and a half Earths every year, according to the 2012 Living Planet Report, produced by conservation agency the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)."

_________

Seeking Sanity - Unfortunately some in the GOP seem destined to look past the outcome of their desire for lessened regulations. We need to strike a balance between business' economic growth and our environment because right now for all of the rhetoric, business is winning.

If the Liberal News had any interest in actually reporting the news. They should be asking Obama why he hasnt put his focus on coming up with a budget in the last 3.5 years? How did ok'ing gay pride for a few people in the military become more important than our national budget?

Instead they "bait" a stupid question to the House leader:

NBC News: Speaker Boehner? Why are you threatening default on the debt limit in May of 2012?

Yellowdog - true. And, we are all - no matter what party - losing. If we don't wake up soon, recovery will be impossible.

UAW

Do us all a favor and go read up on how a budget is written.After you do, get back to us. Read a book, please.

Dennis, Maybe you can explain this chapter on Obama's budget to us. Thanks

Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget proposal was defeated Wednesday night in the House of Representatives by a vote of 414-0. Not a single Democrat supported it. This vote was reminiscent of the defeat of Obama’s budget last year in the Senate, by a vote of 97-0. No Democrats would put their name to that budget, either.

Clearly, considering that we are now 1065 days without a budget is result of the lack of any substantive and serious thought coming from the White House. Two years, two unanimous defeats in two different parts of Congress can only lead to one conclusion: Barack Obama’s economic ideas on taxes and deficit reduction are so vastly out of touch with both Republicans and Democrats that no one is willing to back them.

"Balancing the debt", UAW?

Some of us remember when the budget had no deficit to deal with. Back when America ran on a budget Surplus and not a Deficit.

I guess you were screaming at the top of your lungs in dismay when the lying drunken little bush put an end to that, right?

Not to worry. Like The Big Dick cheney says: "Ronald Reagan PROVED deficits don't matter".

UAW

And right afterwards the Republican plans were sent to the same early grave. This was nothing more then a show put on by the Republicans. They just didn't expect their bills to get voted down so they couldn't go to the floor. Sucks to be them. They keep pretending that a deal wasn't struck last summer for cuts that now they're trying to walk back. Really sucks to be them.

Come on Dennis. Obama can't even get a sympathy vote from one of the liberals? 0-414 is what really sucks... Let vote for a better leader in 2012. The country deserves better....

Revenue requirements are what needs adjusting.

We need to prioritize what gets paid first and foremost, then prioritize from there. We must quit putting the cart before the horse.

Oy-vay...raising the debt ceiling deals with the bills we are already obligated to pay. The right-wing posters on here love to call anyone who supports the President of the United States of America a "deadbeat" and now you guys are saying that it is OK to run up the bills as high as we can and when the bills come due, refuse to pay them.

Someone that runs up their bills and then refuses to pay the bills is what I call a deadbeat. You want to prioritize what we pay? We owe them ALL, my dear. If you wish to support a political party or movement that screws the people that lend us money, then go ahead. Don't be surprised if people look down on you.

All spending comes from the House. The GOP controls the House now, and has for a year and a half.

You didn't know that, now you do.

Therman,

Thank you for explaining the rapid increases in debt during Bush's last 2 years in office !

The House has passed budgets in the last two years genius. Last year's version was voted down in the Senate 97 to 0 ... without even one Democrat voting for Obama's ridiculous offering. This year's version from Obama calls for even MORE spending increases, and Harry Reid is sitting on it .... maybe he thinks it will hatch into some kind of life form.

Obama and Reid oppose a budget because it would expose them for having no intent to spend within our country's income !

Exactly! Boehner: One and Done!

Typical Obama supporter comment. Ignore the issue and make fun of the people bringing the message. Can you comprehend 15 trillion? that is 15 million million and they want to borrow and spend more? It is crazy. The Obama error is costing your children a better future. Something has to be done to stop the spending and shift of money to place everyone on government support.

The Speakers next honest statement will be his first.