"In line with our underlying principles for legislation, the House will move forward this summer with a number of proposals aimed at addressing job creation and the economy, reducing spending, and shrinking the size of the federal government while protecting and expanding liberty," Cantor wrote.

Sounds good doesn't it? The only problem is, the republicans should have been trying to work with democrats since their election in 2010. Instead they have done everything in their power to thwart the efforts of the democrats and what would help the majority of Americans instead of a select few wealthy individuals, Wall Street and oil conglomerates.

The TP folks and their republican allies have done little more than obstruct what the United States needs to promote job growth, financial stability, equal rights for women and the gay community and affordable health care for all. And now they ask to be re-elected. This is a bad joke at our expense.

UAW: did the GOP ever start being a partner in the government, or from day one were they campaigning to make him a one term president?

This is the age of endless electioneering. There is no difference anymore. Every vote that is taken, every position that is taken, is done in the shadow of big money and high stakes. It cannot reasonably be called "lawmaking" when most days it comes down to trying NOT to make laws and to escape for long weekends in order to raise campaign funds.

i would dearly love to see Cantor voted out this November. Cantor is one of the most aggressive and destructive people in Congress today. Eric wants the orangeman's job, and it would be sweet to see him reach for the torch only to see it slip through his fingers.

We need a tax increase badly. republicans made the deficit and harp on it all of the time. They created it, and now they want to make it worse with extra defense funds spent on things like missle sites the military doesn't want. We need to be honest. If you love your country, you need to pay taxes. Let's vote out folks like Cantor and let the Bush tax cuts expire.

It was those cursed tax cuts that swept that idiot into office.

UAW --

Did Obama ever stop campaigning from 2008?

Has Romney ever stopped campaigning since, oh, say .... 2002?

After all, by his own admission, he has no other job.

Your memory is indeed short. Yes, the Obama guys did try very hard to work with republicans, even though they had a near filibuster proof majority. On the health care law alone, they gave up the public option over republican objections, they funneled the health care monies through private insurance companies at republican insistence, and they even led with Gingrich's 'Contract with America' plan to have an 'individual mandate'.

Beyond that, he cut taxes, expanded gun rights, and generally has taken a center-right approach to policies - so much so that he has lost quite a lot of support from the center-left and the left. Yet in this bizarre through-the-looking-glass culture, the extreme right seemed to get angrier the more Obama compromised with them.

I think they've proven that their problem is with Obama himself, not his policies.

Snakebone - the GOP's problem is with anyone who isn't as demented as their leadership. In other words, they hate everyone with intelligence and integrity!

Obama/Biden 2012

The Democrats and Republicans just represent the 1%

The distinction between legislating and politicking will blur this summer on Capitol Hill

I wasn't aware that there was a distinction. Everything that is legislated is "politicked".

Right True Patriot.

The "liberal" media fox always talks about seems more often than not to reflect the views of the corporations that own them. ABC is clearly more conservative every year, and their business is more about plugging new Disney films than about fair news reporting. You just can't trust them. The true gaffe master is Mitt Romney. You would never know it though by watching network news.

So...better to have no government than one you don't like, huh? How very Taliban of you. Thanks for that.

They have finnally come out and said it

ROMNEY IS THEIR RUBBER STAMP AS PER ERIC CANTOR

That is all Obama knows is campaining. He doe's not know how to govern or lead or come up with a plan or even vote.

rukidding...

Ok, where are Romney's Solutions? What are the Romney policies for JOb Creation, or reducing the debt, or Iran, or Afghanistan, or Energy.or....anything? Ill be waiting for your reply, although you wonm beable to answer my post. WHy? Because Romney has NO SOLUTIONS

All we get from Romney is flip-flps and broad policy generalizations that he cant explain...to anyone. Mitt Romney has no Core.

Mitt Romney....eventually, he will agree with you (chuckle)

Totally off subject but I SOOOOOOO miss Jody's wrap up!

Neither side tried to work with the other the kept sending proposals that they knew would fail. It was all a sham. Both sides of congress are to blame on this one. None of them deserve to stay.

2-Lane Gypsy -- It's simple. First Romney tried to run on his business experience as qualification for POTUS, Commander in Chief and leader of the free world, thinking the president wouldn't want to run on the economy. But the president most certainly has economic success to tout and welcomes the debate about vulture capitalism.

And the "strategery" of trying to say the president is anti-free market (we hear your socialist/communist dog whistle Mitt, and it sucks right along with the Nazi whistle of "appeasement"), but this won't get traction. So Romney pivots to education. What a disaster!

We see the common thread, Romney's answer to everything is a private equity approach of privatizing profit and socializing debt.

rukidding47 -- Turn off Limbaugh and Hannity for a moment. Think about who benefits from the value of the dollar being low -- Export of goods, manufacturing, etc., JOBS! The only people who benefit from a strong dollar are the 1% who make money off money and travel around the world wanting a good currency exchange. This is why the oligarchy masters of the GOP/TP want to focus exclusively on the debt/deficits. Rather I should say pretend to be about the debt/deficits. Don't be played.

SeekingSanity -- Foreplinger posted an excellent substitute on behalf of Jody. I'll try to re-post it.

Both sides to blame, huh? Yet only one side sent a bunch of ideological zealots to Washington with the express orders to shut it down by any means necessary. Only one side voted against legislation when it gave them 95% of what they wanted, according to their own leadership. Only one side was willing to hold the entire economy hostage to their demands.

I didn't see dems giving up on compromise until it became clear that there was no hope of compromise. Did you?

We The People will show up at voting booths in November to -

Vote their (GOP) bums out, vote our (Dem) bums in.

rukidding47

UAW

That is all Obama knows is campaining. He doe's not know how to govern or lead or come up with a plan or even vote.

Now that's funny. A Republican claiming that a Democrat doesn't know how to govern. Who left office with a surplus and who crashed the economy? Republicans haven't had a candidate that know how to govern since Dwight David Eisenhower. Don't even mention St. Reagan, he was the "great communicator" but didn't know how to govern...at least not for the people.

I'll take that back. There was Nixon, only he was a crook. And there was Gerald Ford. At least he did no harm.

True - thank you for re-posting the EXCELLENT of ForePlinger's post! How did I ever miss that?

Have a great weekend!

I thought Cantor and Schumer were Israeli politicians on loan, for all the good, or should I say, harm, they've done the USA.

STAND up LIBERALS the REPUBLICANS HAVE put AMERICA UP FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER pay atention or pay with your future

So the Democrats can't even get their own members to go along with their proposals but criticize the republicans when they actually pass something because they do not like it. I am sick to death of Obama and the Democrats constantly trying to promote class warfare and blaming every problem in this country on the rich. Even if you passed every tax initiative the Democrats have put forth on tax increases on the rich it would not even cover 0.1% of the current budget deficit. They are blowing smoke to try and get votes blaming the financial problems on the rich not paying enough taxes when the reality is that the problem is out of control spending. When the democrats own proposals would not even make a minor dent in the deficit, how can they blame the problems on the Republicans not wanting to tax the rich.

every bill the republicans propose has a provision in it that make it impossible to pass ...the bills proposed all have a provison to cut away a part of the affordable health care act .. most of the bills proposed are for show only ... republicans dont really want them ... especially student loan legislation .. they want this bill to fail so the banks can raise interest rates on students ...they know the bills will never pass that is why they propose these bills

Snakebone:

Beyond that, he cut taxes,

When? Do not even try to slip in the FICA contributions deductions of 2% by the individual. That is NOT a tax. Plus, it has resulted in a quicker death of the SSA.

uaw-779887:

STAND up LIBERALS the REPUBLICANS HAVE put AMERICA UP FOR SALE TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER pay atention or pay with your future

That was done decades ago by the Democrats. Where have you been? Delaware...

Let me see. The republithugs rode into congress on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. Where are the jobs? Shut down Planned Parenthood, a loss of thounds of jobs. Close the Post Office, a loss of thousands of jobs.

The Republican Party is the party of RICH BICHES.

Come November, I am going to help to rid the country of the rich biches-- starting with Mutt Robme.

Hey Trolls (repugs) You clowns are only fooling yourselves..like nobody on this site seen what has gone down over the last 3.5 years from day one? DUH. Does the RNC give you freaks scripts or something because there is nothing yall can say to change TRUTH AND FACTS. Talk to the hand fools. I guess if you keep saying something over and over it becomes fact? Is that how the GOP got you all suckered? I always knew it didnt take much to fool a fool but yall took it bait line and sinker.

Obvious to me the republicans have completely lost their honor. Honorable people do not electioneer as they do. They simply don't. Unbelievable the higher degree of dysfunction they have brought to congress and american politics. If Walker is elected in Wisconsin, working people and their children across the country will start paying a price. One that will EVENTUALLY take blood and sacrifice (just like our fathers) to remedy. Why do not voters realize these basic truths? HOW do voters become so polarized ... they become sheep? I've seen through the gop agenda from day one and knew it was unhonorable. Being an independent political junkie all my life, I've come to the conclusion that if honor no longer resides within the gop, why let them have the future? WHY?

So hateful...just hateful all of the comments I'm reading...and slanted in both directions. All of you are so passionate about proving your point that you forget it's not about OBAMA or ROMNEY! It's about all of US...US...the United States Citizens and our country! This isn't about my party vs. your party. It's about the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

That being said, they both have good points.

1. Obama wants everyone to have support. That's wonderful, but where does that support come from when the solution in his eyes is to bleed the job providers and make it more difficult for them to create jobs in the US.

2. Romney wants to create jobs by creating a more attractive place for business in the US, which absolutely will work, however, his approach isn't definitive yet. After all, our country DOES have one of the highest tax rates for corporations in the world, and this is certainly a global economy thanks to the internet, and we DO have to compete or fall behind.

As far as the tax system, my answer:

Leave the capital gains tax exactly where it is, 15%.

Lower the corporate tax rate to 25%, allow corporations to expense research and development costs in the current year (the year they paid the expense instead of having to write it off over years). I know I'm going to get some kick back on the 179 Expense from accountants for this one, but if you invest in the future of your company...you pay for it....you should be able to expense it.

Get rid of the Earned Income Credit....if you didn't really earn the income, you should not be able to get money back on everyone else's back in society, just because you decided to have kids and don't have the income to support them. Nobody should get money back from the government just because they made poor choices.

Taxes should be a percentage of income, no matter the level of income, with tax breaks only going to those who increase prosperity in this country. Child tax credit...gone (and I have kids). It's a personal choice, not a government tax write off. Mortgage tax credit...should be kept. The market needs it right now, but eventually should be faded out (and that would hurt me). I say eventually, because the middle class set up their finances to take advantage of those breaks. Health care....whomevers lame idea it was to limit your deductions to 7.5% of your income...I would love a debate with him. Talk about screwing the sick and disabled.

Anyways, just a few of my thoughts. However, if all of us keep picking sides and not really looking at the issues at hand...our nation is lost. This is not about Obama or Romney, this is about us. Where do we want to be in 10 years? Our kids to be in 20 years?

One man's failed president is another man's successful president.

http://pleasecutthecrap.typepad.com/main/what-has-obama-done-since-january-20-2009.html

Of course, if you don't think any of the policies are to your liking, the president failed you.

To those the president directly helped in a personal way, he's done more for them than any other president.

To other, more conservative thinkers, any help a president gives to anyone is socialism and welfare. God forbid the government help anyone with their tax dollars.

ROY WILSON-336103

Did you read any of those 30 bills?

Every one of them was toxic.

The parties have a plan? Where the hell where your precious parties 6 years ago? 5 years ago, 4 years ago, 3 years ago, 2 years ago, 1 year ago? Ooooo it's election season!

Fire all of them.

Vote of confidence of congress! Referendum vote! Send a message incompetence is unacceptable! It's you government not a parties government!

What gets me is the fact that Republicans keep saying they want to "shrink the size of goverment". Millions of goverment workers jobs (teachers, police, fire etc.) have been elimnated, and goverment institutions have been shrunk to bare bones or worse.

Education in California has been gutted. Social programs for the poor and ill have been slashed. Republicans, you've already won .... GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN SHRUNK !!!!

I think that is why so many Republicans don't care we have been in an economic DEPRESSION since 2008 when your guy, "Bush W", was in office. You've got the American people just where you wanted them: downsized, outsourced, school slashed, poor, and stupid. You want America to be a 3rd world, money speaks, ruled country, and we are pretty much there .... congratulations, you won !!!

lets write in bill shatner for president

Aside from the large photo of Cantor at the top (hurp), the Teapublicans have a laundry list of priorities, supposedly of substance? Really?

And then you read on and it's just more of the same crap about austerity (cutting spending), creating jobs by further reducing the public sector -- riiight, and ending regulations so we can all enjoy "Too Big to Fail" again! As for small business, and breaks already provided by the president and the Dems:

Nick Hanauer excerpt:

I'm a very rich person. As an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, I've started or helped get off the ground dozens of companies in industries including manufacturing, retail, medical services, the Internet and software. I founded the Internet media company aQuantive Inc., which was acquired by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) in 2007 for $6.4 billion. I was also the first non-family investor inAmazon.com Inc. (AMZN)

Even so, I've never been a "job creator." I can start a business based on a great idea, and initially hire dozens or hundreds of people. But if no one can afford to buy what I have to sell, my business will soon fail and all those jobs will evaporate.

That's why I can say with confidence that rich people don't create jobs, nor do businesses, large or small. What does lead to moreemployment is the feedback loop between customers and businesses. And only consumers can set in motion a virtuous cycle that allows companies to survive and thrive and business owners to hire. An ordinary middle-class consumer is far more of a job creator than I ever have been or ever will be.

Go here to read the full text: http://nick-hanauer.com/

One thing that really struck me is his point that small businesses don't create jobs any more than big businesses (or rich entrepreneurs like him), and that people, including Dems need to stop this myth as well.

How about just getting behind the president's 5-point plan? Oh, that's right, the Party of No must maintain a united front to obstruct any success by the president.

Cantor, where are the JOBS?

@Snakebone

So...better to have no government than one you don't like, huh? How very Taliban of you. Thanks for that.

No government? Wow, what a ludicrous analogy. How about this one- better to step on the brakes before the car drives over the cliff.

Backcountry please tell me you're not saying that the republican party plans on improving our economy and fixing bushes mess. And for the person who asked what taxes have been lowered. I can actually buy a tank of gas again and feed my kid at the same time. I also pay less for my house but I guess you don't want to admit Obamas brought good change to the us.

shrinking the size of the Federal government

Does that include giving themselves at least a 50% PAY CUT?

Evertytime I look at Cantor I see the face of the devil. Nasty, sneering scumbag.He can barely control his hatred in public.

They want to go ahead with the Keystone pipeline of course without any thought of environmental affects. The oil would be exported out of this country anyway. Other than that, they have no jobs plan and never have.

Anna molly - there is a difference between an incumbent and a wannabee. I must admit that obama is a defacto incumbent but is still a wannabee POTUS. Rhetoric alone will never carry the day without followthrough.

Thanks. I like the devil analogy. To me he always looks like he wants to spit in my face.

NWnative, better review the facts on the keystone pipeline.

Obama and company were ready to approve it last september and with it being in process for over 3 years prior (by obama and company + bush2) any argument for environmental studies is moot. You don't get to the final approval without them. Just because nebraska had 2nd thoughts didn't mean that alternate routes weren't studied for environmental and economic impact.

Obama says he wants to create infrastructure jobs. Do you want to say the pipeline wouldn't create jobs? BTW - we are talking construction jobs, jobs which by their very nature are always temporary. What about the permanent jobs created just for maintaining the pipeline?

You do realize that oil is also being pumped out of the ground in ND and surrounding areas. This oil is currently being shipped by rail to points south for refining. This is more expensive than using a pipeline. Perhaps pump prices mean nothing to you? Naturally there are never rail derailments...

What difference is it if the crude or refined oil is sent overseas? American jobs are still created to do so. Perhaps you forgot that obama also once said that we need to export more to have a more balanced trade.

BTW - obama continues to show us his penchant for kicking the economic can down the road until after the election with his decisions. Interesting on how even the democrat controlled snate has a problem with implimenting obamas demands.

@TheWhiteJudge

Backcountry please tell me you're not saying that the republican party plans on improving our economy and fixing bushes mess.

Well I don't have much faith in that but at least they are putting forward plans that would do so. What I am sure of is that the current administration will double down on their failed policies of the last 4 years. Perhaps you have failed to notice somehow but Obama has taken the Bush mess and made it far, far worse. Bush increased the debt by an average of 11% each year he was in office, the increase under Obama has been nearly 14% per year. So you guys can bitch about Bush until you're blue in the face but the facts show quite clearly that Obama has been even worse.

BACKCOUNTRY -IDIOT. Get a clew. Failed Bush=ed war and a trillions dollars. Bush=ed Loss of industry in the U.S. And cost america jobs. Republicans= loss of jobs in America by lying and saying they would cut government . Government would have and should have meant people like them. Not educators ,police ,fireman and all the other many people that help a nation to grow and stay in check. Republicans = less jobs because they believe that funding the military is more important then building a bridge that will create a job and help to bolster the ability to add to taxes that are revenue that help pay down the deficit. You can't cut your way to paying your bills if you don't have income.

IM SORRY BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN BRAINLESS! Stop supporting people who don't care about anything but their rich buddies and stop being a fool thinking they care about you. They wanted to let the auto industry fail so they could ship it off shore and not pay the taxes while screwing the american worker out of his money and job. ARE YOU STUPID. Im sorry but at a certain point you just have to start to loose respect for people who refuse to look any further then their faith or party loyalty.

I know I will catch hell for this but sometimes I think we need a republican cleaning of the shoot and burn type. Make the world safe agin. You know for the good of all man kind.

If you rightwingers don't like government, and specifically government debt, then you should detest private equity and much of what goes on in Wall Street and to some extent Corporate America. At least stop the hypocrisy, because YOU the tax payer subsidize risk via FDIC-insured money for banks, and subsidize the debt that private equity firms generate for their own profit.

We as a nation are at a crossroad in which if we don't stop the current trends on Wall Street, banking, vulture capitalism, etc., Greece (which has an economy only the size of Rhode Island) will look attractive. You people, and I'm hoping many of you who have seen your 401k's flat-line and many of you who lost your shirt to the rigged Facebook IPO, will wise up!

And as we go into yet another debt ceiling fight, why Romney's argument that big spending cuts (austerity) would cause a "Depression" -- a position contrary to Tea Party activists -- isn't bigger news is mind-bending.

"When the time comes, I will again insist on my simple principle of cuts and reforms greater than the debt limit increase," Boehner said.

...Romney, however, said that pushing drastic spending cuts during shaky economic times is a prescription for "recession or depression."

Asked by Time's Mark Halperin Wednesday why he wouldn't push major cuts in his first year, Romney responded with reasoning that would be largely uncontroversial if not for the past two years' mainstreaming of an economic philosophy that insists government spending actually costs jobs, rather than creates job.

"Well because, if you take a trillion dollars for instance, out of the first year of the federal budget, that would shrink GDP over 5 percent. That is by definition throwing us into recession or depression. So I'm not going to do that, of course," Romney said.

Just as Gingrich slipped and said something honest about right-wing social engineering, Romney's brief moment of honesty should spark some critical thinking from Teabaggers (if that's possible). Either educate yourselves or STFU.

@mine718-3072802

IM SORRY BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST PLAIN BRAINLESS!

I'm sure you are sorry since you are one of those people. Replace failed war with failed stimulus and everything you've said can be attributed to the democrats equally. The idea that the democrats have done better is laughable, all of your ranting and raving is nothing more than the same sort of BS rhetoric that both sides use to con their sheeple into pointing their fingers at the other guys and ignoring what their own party is fcking up. Obama has equalled Bush's failure in half the time. Hardly a reason to support dems over republicans, both of which care for nothing more than conning their base of which you are clearly one. Time to wake up and realize you are the pot; calling the kettle black makes you look foolish.

So you guys can bitch about Bush until you're blue in the face but the facts show quite clearly that Obama has been even worse

Where did you get your "facts" and your percentage? If you say Fox news you are one of the most immature, ignorant lazy idiotic @!$%#s I've met.

No offence

@TheWhiteJudge

Where did you get your "facts" and your percentage? If you say Fox news you are one of the most immature, ignorant lazy idiotic @!$%#s I've met.

First I'll point out that people who gets their news from one source are the immature, ignorant lazy idiotic @!$%#s. The actual news programs on Fox show stories the other outlets pass over, I don't watch any of the opinion garbage on any station. Second, you haven't met me and if you'd so easily form an opinion from such a narrow perspective on who I might be you should hardly be calling anyone immature, ignorant, lazy or idiotic.

Facts are not hard to come by and you certainly don't need to watch tv to get them. I already posted one fact and it's a simple matter of numbers that can't be skewed by any bias here is the source-http://www.skymachines.com/US-National-Debt-Per-Capita-Percent-of-GDP-and-by-Presidental-Term.htm. You can check the debt numbers by fiscal year at the Treasury department here-http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt.htm Another fact is that Obama's signature legislation is on the verge of being overturned by the Supreme Court, hardly a sign of success. His stimulus didn't stimulate anything, this has been the worst recovery from a depression since the Great Depression, another fact based on simple numbers. And then there is simply the BS. This is a man who campaigned on the promise that he'd bring the nation together, instead he's been one of the most divisive Presidents in our history. He was going to change the way government is run, then he filled his administration with the lobbyists. He blasts Romney for his work in private equity while taking money from the very same people.

I'll give George Bush credit for this one thing, when he said something you could be sure he believed it. It may have been wrong, it may have even been idiotic but at least he was being honest. Obama will say anything to get re-elected, there is so much BS I don't even listen to his speeches anymore. Why on Earth would anyone elect any politician at any level who is so full of sht? The man is no idiot, he knows when he says he "cut" the budget by 2 trillion dollars most people don't have a clue that there were and will be no actual cuts in anything. Turns out that "hope and change" was just code for "you can hope for a change". Well I can see now that hope was unfounded, as they say "fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me" I suspect there will be a lot of fools come November but I certainly won't be one of them.

If a country borrows more money than they can pay back in a reasonable time the interest keeps going higher.That should be obvious to anyone.We are unable to pay for our police actions and wars throughout the planet, and yet we are still Business as usual.We allow the rich to increase their wealth to an unreasonable degree.We give bribes to other countries that are ridiculous,hoping that they will like us and do what we want, Get real! We believe the flunkies of the 1% when they state that giving them all that they want without any controls is the way to go, The Republican party block all attempts to provide a sensible health program for the nation .We allow the employers to outsource jobs to the extent that we don't have enough workers to pay taxes ,that we must have to pay off our debts. We have the nation's representatives becoming rich and having the Medical coverages that we should all enjoy and believe them when they say "don't have what we have,because you wouldn't like it." I am amazed that so many of us do agree that we would not like the social programs that our representatives, political and federal have. I truly don't understand.

Okay So those numbers are off but not by much. Still doesn't fare well for obama.

Tropical storm "Bery" is coming up the coast hunting down Romney, National hurricane center said "Bery" could blow Mitt the flip flopper out to sea with Bin !!!

@TheWhiteJudge

Okay So those numbers are off but not by much. Still doesn't fare well for obama.

Sadly the alternative isn't much better, if it were Obama wouldn't have a chance. The really scary thing is that when you look at the numbers most Presidents crank it up a notch in their second term and go into overdrive their last year in office. If Obama wins and follows suit, and there's every indication that he would, we'll be in a Greece level debt crisis.

I'll likely vote for Gary Johnson even though he doesn't have a chance of winning; I can proudly say I've never voted for the eventual POTUS. This two party system has reached the point where choosing between the lesser of two evils has become the only option for most people.

I'm still voting the word "ME" this year. Romney can bite my ass and obama should just give up. But still you have to admit. Obama wasn't without the control freaks that are in congress. He may be able to pass things or give a veto but that was and will stay in the past. It's all up to congress anymore. Fact we still elect a president is still a miracle. Soon we'll end up turning into a country that's known for poverty and crime. If people actually voted people who took lie detector tests (and made sure there was no way to cheat) then voted we might have a better government....Dear lord sorry for rambling my opinion.

"white Judge": Congress "control freaks" are better known as "Norquist Pledge" signers?? These "so-called Tax Reform", 41 Senators and 238 Congressmen have ground this Country's Lawmaking to a hostage Gridlock. For TRUE Tax Reform, just grab your "Tea Party namesakes" axes & "AX THE TAX CODE"?? With the Codes' $1.1TRILLION in "breaks"; Plus allowing 45% to pay NOTHING; there is your "DEFICIT"?? Owe your allegiance to your Country, NOT to ONE Man or Idea?? Thats almost "Treasonable"??

I'm insulted that you think I'm part of one of the political parties donny. I simply use the facts I have to make a conclusion. Nothing more.

Phine,

I hope you feel better and things turn around for you.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Yes Phine, I am looking every day to see that you have written a post. Please keep us up on how things are going.

I just hope the good folks of Wisconsin replace Walker. That would be a GREAT start.

GoJoBiden

The polls did not look good for Barrett and they are getting worse.........

Excuse me, being down by 2 points is within the margin of error. Are you just watching Fox Noise?

Factor in the lying Scott Walker has outspent the Dems 25-1 means Walker should be blowing Barret away.

What that says is things are getting worst for Walker!!!

More independents are swinging Barrets way.

FYI: People vote; money doesn't.

From NPR:

—A Marquette Law School poll had Walker improving his lead over Barrett to 6 percentage points, 50-44 percent. The school's poll last month had Walker up by 1 point.

—A St. Norbert College/Wisconsin Public Radio poll showed Walker with a 50-45 percent lead over Barrett. Of Walker supporters surveyed, half said his greatest success has been budget and deficit control

Walker wins. It's so in the bag the DNC pulled their money out. They knew it was futile.

Phine,

I always look forward to your comments. You are one of the few that really tries to keep it neutral.

Think small - as in your own backyard politics. The minute I saw your post, I thought of this song by Carly Simon

Take a look around now
Change the direction
Adjust the tuning
Try a new translation.

Wouldn't it be nice to restart with a blank slate.

You take care.

The DNC needs their money to back a failed President.

Wow, no matter how much money and lies Scott Walker throws out there, he never gets above 50%.

But that's still too close for comfort. The DNC is encouraging folks around the nation to contribute to Tom Barrett's campaign. It is very important to send a message to the Teapublicans in all states of our nation -- If you try to copy Scott Walker's Divide and Conquer "strategery," you and/or your bill(s) will be recalled (we're talking to you Nikki Haley, et al).

Go Barrett!

Same here in Michigan, (not Detroit) We are now running a surplus. Detroit wants the state to give them the money, to get them out of debt. The Gov. wants to pump up education.

Wall Street
Journal – Market Watch

May 22, 2012

Obama spending binge never happened

Rex Nutting

Commentary: Government outlays rising
at slowest pace since 1950s

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Of all the falsehoods told about President Barack Obama, the biggest whopper is the one about his reckless spending spree.

As would-be president Mitt Romney tells it: “I will lead us out of this debt and spending inferno.”

Almost everyone believes that Obama has presided over a massive increase in federal spending, an “inferno” of spending that threatens our jobs, our businesses and our children’s future. Even Democrats seem to think it’s true.

But it didn’t happen. Although there was a big stimulus bill under Obama, federal spending is rising at the slowest pace since Dwight Eisenhower brought the Korean War to an end in the 1950s.

Even hapless Herbert Hoover managed to increase spending more than Obama has.

Here are the facts, according to the official government statistics:

• In the 2009 fiscal year — the last of George W. Bush’s
presidency — federal spending rose by 17.9% from $2.98 trillion to $3.52
trillion. Check the official numbers at the Office of Management and
Budget.

• In fiscal 2010 — the first budget under Obama — spending fell 1.8% to $3.46 trillion.

• In fiscal 2011, spending rose 4.3% to $3.60 trillion.

• In fiscal 2012, spending is set to rise 0.7% to $3.63 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of the budget that was agreed to last August.

• Finally in fiscal 2013 — the final budget of Obama’s term — spending is scheduled to fall 1.3% to $3.58 trillion. Read the CBO’s latest budget outlook.

Over Obama’s four budget years, federal spending is on track to rise from $3.52 trillion to $3.58 trillion, an annualized increase of just 0.4%.

There has been no huge increase in spending under the current president, despite what you hear.

Why do people think Obama has spent like a drunken sailor? It’s in part because of a fundamental misunderstanding of the federal budget.

What people forget (or never knew) is that the first year of every presidential term starts with a budget approved by the previous administration and Congress. The president only begins to shape the budget in his second year. It takes time to develop a budget and steer it through Congress — especially in these days of congressional gridlock.

The 2009 fiscal year, which Republicans count as part of Obama’s legacy, began four months before Obama moved into the White House. The major spending decisions in the 2009 fiscal year were made by George W. Bush and the previous Congress.

Like a relief pitcher who comes into the game with the bases loaded, Obama came in with a budget in place that called for spending to increase by hundreds of billions of dollars in response to the worst economic and financial calamity in
generations.

Oh, and he further ruined our economy by saving 1,000,000 jobs in the auto industry. Lucky for us the repubs sent a bunch of ideological rookies in to save us from destruction!

Politics.

Everyone thinks they can do a better job. But no one ever gets off their a** and runs for office.

Free Market is what should be attacked.

By the numbers.

California, alone, imported 422 Billion from China in the last 4 years.

It exported 88 Billion to China.

That's a -334 Billion balance.

Or, in laymen's terms, because we globalized we have exported approximately 1.67 million jobs. ((334 Billion / 50K)/4)

That's that free-market globalization. If that means I pay 20 bucks for a t-shirt, instead of 12, in order for my state to cut down to 4%...

Guess which one is healthy for the citizenry?

Now guess which one is most profitable for business?

The two rarely coincide.

And that's why I'll never vote Romney. He'll always choose option B, and I care about option A.

proposals aimed at addressing job creation and the economy, reducing spending, and shrinking the size of the federal government while protecting and expanding liberty,"

1. Job Creation====where are the jobs since the TeaPeople arrived

2. Reducing Spending ======guess the taxes will be going up and loop holes eliminated

3. Shrinking the size of the Fed======Yeah! The part-time US House will be eliminated

4. Protecting and expanding liberty======WTF?

GoJoBiden

Oh Bev......here is some more information that is less than an hour old that may prove helpful for your "edification" purposes.......have a nice day!

The Reason Foundation is funded, in part, by what are known as the "Koch Family Foundations,"[3] and David Koch serves as a Reason trustee.
Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

Dr. Adrian Moore, Vice President of Public Policy of the Reason Foundation, is an Advisor to the American Legislative Exchange (ALEC) Council's Commerce, Insurance & Economic Development Task Force.[6]

Reason Foundation representatives have also advised ALEC Task Forces on issues such as state budgets [7], and health reform. [8]

About ALEC

ALEC is corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. ALEC legislative leaders are tasked with a duty to get the bills introduced and passed; ALEC members introduce the bills in statehouses as their own brilliant ideas—without disclosing that corporations pre-voted on them with politicians behind closed doors at ALEC resort meetings.

ALEC boasts that it has over 1,000 of these bills introduced by legislative members every year, and more than 20% become legally binding. ALEC describes itself as a “unique,” “unparalleled” and “unmatched” organization. It might be right. It is as if a state legislature had been reconstituted, yet corporations had pushed the people out the door. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org.

The Reason Foundation's Director of Government Affairs, Mike Flynn, was previously policy director for ALEC. [9]

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Reason_Foundation

You do know crosstabs can be generated based on any demographic information.

In this case who were the people? Were they all republicans. Certainly, they couldn't be since independents and Dems are voting Barret.

Friday's (tonight) debate in Milwaukee will expose Walker's Legal Defense fund and his lie about the jobs he created.

I wouldn't be so confident if I were Walker. The ongoing John Doe investigation in Milwaukee is likely to result in an indictment, and if it happens before the recall election, he is finished.

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/jah/43313/lies-damned-lies-statistics-and-scott-walker

In the case of Governor Walker taking credit for creating jobs, another question is raised by using an inflated sampling method.

He [Walker]actually can be blamed for real job losses, though, because employment is for real growing in neighboring states and nationwide.

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/jah/43313/lies-damned-lies-statistics-and-scott-walker

Recent polls have shown Walker with a narrow lead heading into the election, which has attracted national attention given the high profile fight over union rights that triggered the recall effort.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/May/25/

walker__barrett_to_meet_for_first_debate.html

Oh, and GoJoBiden, let us not forget the NRA lies on Barret.

Tonight and Dems around the nation's contribution ought put another nail in Walker's coffin.

I wish you too a nice wekend.

Why do people think Obama has spent like a drunken sailor? It’s in part because of a fundamental misunderstanding of the federal budget.

And because the media isn't attacking the GOP when they do it. Only liberally biased stations like MSNBC are doing it. For once, it seems, the least biased media centers are the ones who are usually biased.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

GoJoBiden

WISCONSIN RECALL UPDATE: NEW POLLS SHOW DEAD HEAT, JUNK PUBLIC POLLING CONTINUES

• May 25, 2012

A series of new polls released this week shows the Wisconsin recall to be a dead heat between Tom Barrett and Scott Walker: LINK, LINK, LINK. These polls all show the race deadlocked within the margin of error, with Walker failing to crack the critical 50% threshold in the most recent Mellman poll released today. In addition, every single legitimate public poll also continues to show the Walker-Barrett matchup within the margin of error.

Yet despite this substantial evidence the recall sits at the same dead heat amongst a highly-polarized electorate that has been predicted all along, Republicans and some members of the pundit class continue to propagate a pro-Walker narrative based on flawed public polling.

This week’s installment of public polling is especially absurd, with new data being pushed by Walker and friends from an “independent nonpartisan” firm called We Ask America, libertarian Reason Magazine, and St. Norbert’s University. Let’s take these public polls one at a time.

1) We Ask America. Coming out of nowhere two weeks ago and offering results giving Walker his widest leads on record, this firm claims to be independent and nonpartisan. The reality is that We Ask America is a subsidiary of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. They donate almost exclusively to Republicans, and refuse to release any detail regarding the sample or crosstabs of their single-night robo-polling.

2) Reason Magazine. This poll is a week old, and was first reported by Breitbart News as breaking news late Wednesday night. The libertarian Reason poll is particularly amusing, both in the phrasing of its survey questions and its sample.

In addition to using a sample in which 20% of respondents self-identify as 50-50 or less to actually vote, the so-called Independents in the survey break 70-30 for Walker. (Yeah, right.) Right-wing spinners have argued a 10 point Obama lead in the presidential horserace shows this sample to be unbiased, but that includes Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson getting 6% of the presidential vote – need anything more be said about this poll?

3) St. Norbert’s. While the result is within the margin of error and shows a 5-point Walker lead, this poll is actually great news for Tom Barrett—it’s the sample that’s the key. Notice the survey breaks out the sample as including 52% Walker 2010 voters and 38% Barrett 2010 voters. Think about that for a moment: the inputs in the survey are +14 for Walker in terms of their 2010 vote, and the result is Walker +5. That means many self-identifying Walker supporters back Barrett, nevermind the fact that a 52-38 Walker-Barrett 2010 split on June 5^th isn’t even in the same time zone as the likely electorate.

The bottom line is simple: Not a single legitimate public poll has shown the Walker-Barrett matchup to be outside the margin of error, and yet the effort of pro-Walker forces to field and release polls based on faulty inputs and assumptions about the electorate to drive the “it’s over” meme continues unabated, with no virtually no criticism of these highly-suspect polls from the media regurgitating them in print.

There are 12 days left in a 28-day general election, and this race remains a dead heat. It will remain a dead heat through Election Day. And as much as Scott Walker’s operatives or the DC pundit class want to declare this race over, nothing could be further from the truth. This race was always going to come down to a base-versus-base battle of turnout for which our movement has been building and organizing for 15 months. On Election Day, it’s that very turnout that will determine the outcome, and we remain confident in our trajectory and continue to execute our program as planned.

http://www.wearewisconsin.org/uncategorized/wisconsin-recall-update-new-polls-show-dead-heat-junk-public-polling-continues/

for once im going to vote for someone id like to see win instead of the lesser of 2 evils.im writing in bill shatner.

Freshieee, the demo's did attack Bush for spending and it was a bad situation. I think you may be somewhat correct in the the republicans did not WANT to give Obama a full chance to help, but I also think they all started out on the wrong foot together trying to pass a healthcare bill so FAST. A bill such as that should have taken a few years to really work out and get the public opinion. That bill Obama passed is being boasted as the greatest thing a potus has done since s.s and medicare, yet those thing took years to even get a proposal together and they still had unexpected flaws. Obamacare should never have been passed until it was fully inspected by the people and with NO RIDERS!!!! It should not even be called Obamacare bc our governing parties should have all AGREED it was the BEST course, it should have been called Americancare. But I bet you that if Obama had not been pushing for something so drastic that perhaps the repubs would not have gotten their panties in a twist so fast. You sneak up, have a very well publicly received bill in hand that they have no choice but to see ALL of AMERICA can agree is for the best. I still think a smarter person would have just bitten the bullet and controlled the cost of services rather than the insurance needed afford the services.

Did you ever look into that car insurance company I told you about, Amica? They are one of the few remaining carriers that will cover up to 100k per person, per vehicle, per accident in medical expenses. We have two cars fully covered, 500 ded and PIP for 134.00 a month!!! Most carriers will only allow 10k pip and will charge you closer to 50 a month extra for pip, we pay 25 a month and have 10x the coverage. thats closer to how health insurance should be. And office visit should be like an oil change, no big deal, no massive cost, just regular maintenance. Insurance should only be an "in case of emergency" thing and the price should reflect that. It should not be necessary to have insurance just to get a healthy visit check up or even a flu check up, etc. sewing a few stitches should not cost you over $1,000, having a baby naturally should not cost you 5 to 8k and a darn ibuprofen should not cost 20 per pill. A roll of gauze should not cost $40.

P.S even if your parents are still paying for your car insurance, just try checking the site out and seeing if you could save them some money!!! My sis in law works for a massive insurance carrier and stopped using her companies insurance once she found out how much they could save. And she has had an accident and had NO problems getting the vehicle fixed, zero problems!!! Sorry its the financial consultant in me that wants people to have decent products and still have cash left over. Habit :)

Elise-SF...

Would you say that the dept of treasury is under control of barrack obama?

Would you say that the treasury dept releases annual, if not monthly data on our public debt?

Would you say that barrack obama has approved annual budget plans since his inaugeration or that the FY 2011 plan had to be generated after the fact by the republican controlled house in 2011? That FY2010 and 2011 were done mainly by continuing resolutions, not by a budget? Damn, whatever happened to FY2012? The house passed a budget, yet where is the senates for reconciliation?

You can talk all you want about % deficit increases being small but the treasury department still reports that our national debt limit required an increase in 2011 and is likely to require another 4Q 2012. All this from obama who said that he would half the deficit before a second term attempt. By obamas own mouth he is going in the wrong way And adding to our debt. Good thing the FED has kept interest rates so low.

Actually, while you are correct on how budget years lap election terms, it makes little difference in the scheme of things if the new administration didn't follow the budget guidelines of the old. ie you can't attribute increased spending by the new administration to the old one just because it occured in the lapping fiscal year. You seem to be asserting that the FY2009 budget plan included spending allocations for events not planned for or even happening. You can hang the TARP bailout on the bush2 administration, but any spending outside the FY2009 budget plan once obama took office goes to him, not the previous administration..

BTW - The potus can suggest a budget plan but it is still up to both the senate and house to create one to pass onto the president for approval. Interesting on how obama has yet to chastise the senate and house for not doing so for FY 2010 and 2011, or the senate for FY 2012 or 2013.

Yes, the CBO made the call for a slowing increase in obama's FY2013's obamas deficit/budget plan for FY2013. A plan by the way, that was based on some optimistic projections by obama. Projections that already appear to be falling by the wayside based on current employment and economic growth reports.

Like the old computer saying goes... "garbage in, garbage out". Projections from either side should always be viewed with a degree of skepticism.

The GOP TeaBaggers are electioneering Americas down fall with their dirty laundry list to set stage for the fall election, there agenda is to destroy this Nation to make President Obama look bad. This party is destroying our Country, wake up America !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GoJoBiden: And What OVERWHELMING % of ALL Voters want to see the TAX CODE revamped, eliminate "Cuts" & "Caps', letting 45% pay NOTHING?? There is your "DEFICIT"?? Refuse to VOTE for "Norquist Pledge" signers??

Elise, SF @2.15 -

I'd like to adress that reprint of the article from Marketwatch in which Nutting attempts to say that "Obama's spending spree never happened."

THE ARTICLE LIES.

See, the part that says

" In the 2009 fiscal year — the last of George W. Bush's
presidency — federal spending rose by 17.9% from $2.98 trillion to $3.52
trillion."

Well the truth of the matter is, fiscal year 2009 was NOT Bush. See, Bush never passed a budget that year. He proposed one, but the dems, who held majorities in the Senate and the House, wanted to wait for Obama to be sworn in, then they would do the budget together.

Lol. Still waiting.....

Anyways, what they did was they passed a continuing resolution to fund the govt thru March 6 of 2009. Bush did sign the continuing resolution, but they had enough votes to overide a veto in any case. At the very least, even if you blame 100% of the continuing resolution spending on Bush, all spending after March 6 2009 was on Obama's watch.

Once the statement about fiscal year 2009 is proven false, all the other calculations are based on a lie, and therefore inaccurate.

I know at LEAST one poster on this thread knows this to be true, but has chosen to remain silent. Lol at intellectual dishonesty.

Here's a link to the continuing resolution:

http://www.opencongress.org/wiki/Consolidated_Security,_Disaster_Assistance,_and_Continuing_Appropriations_Act_of_2008

SO lets become like Greece and vote Obama. I am sure that we will never run out of money. Use some common sense.

Just the facts

equal pay for women, NO

Maybe the White House should pay their women employees the same as their male employees. The White House is paying the women employees about 18% less than their male employees.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/annual-records/2011

We never seem to run out of money to support the military, war or to bail out the already wealthy. Then it seems that 'deficits don't matter'.

PutAmericaFirst

SO lets become like Greece and vote Obama. I am sure that we will never run out of money. Use some common sense

Austerity does not work. So vote Obama.

Austerity has hobbled economic growth in even some core European states, which has exacerbated the debt problems that forced them into austerity in the first place.

Austerity didn't work in Greece and France and they voted out those politicians.

Obama/ Biden 2012

Valhalla Phil - Critical thinking would mean you would NEVER vote for Romney!

Obama/Biden 2012

Austerity is the ONLY thing that can work! Try using a little critical thinking.

Austerity is the cause of a double dip recession in England. Who would critically think that a recession in the USA is a good thing?

Bev..Austerity does work and it is needed. Please use some common sense.

Raise taxes on the rich get that drop in the bucket, then don't cut spending or push through another failed stimulus plan and see what happens. It will be one more failure to add to obama's list.

Rasmussen Poll (May 22, 2012): 73% Say Men, Women Earn Equal Pay At Their Workplace



http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/business/jobs_employment/may_2012/73_say_men_women_earn_equal_pay_at_their_workplace

73% Say Men, Women Earn Equal Pay At Their Workplace

Not in imaginary dividing la-la lib land

You expect people to respect a Rassmussen poll? Really?

Rasmussen has a 5.2pt Republican bias. On average.

Some are higher, some are lower.

They are rated one of the least accurate pollsters. Feeling lucky?

That's all you libs do is whine and whine and whine. The fact is your boy odumbo and the dems didn't need a single repub. vote the first 25 months of his presidency to get whatever they wanted passed. Duh,does Obamacare ring a bell in your thick dense heads? It passed without a single repub. vote! Quit blaming everyone else for your own party's failures. What a sorry bunch of FN losers, starting with that stupid FN community organizer you dumbasses voted for.

Ick, by 25 months you really mean 6 weeks right? Because that was the only time the Democratic Party had a super majority. I know facts are the bane of then rightwingers, but try to tell the truth once in a while. Just Saying!

Austerity really only works if tax increases are used in combination of budget cuts. GOP austerity only cuts social programs, does not include any tax increases.

Thank goodness the GOP won't get to enact their evil plans to steal from the poor and give to the rich, because President Obama will veto any attempt to do so.

It's so wonderful to see that President Obama is already polling well enough in the right states to secure more than the 270 needed to win.

Even while they were impeaching Bill Clinton, the country's work got done. But Newt's first Congress, the one with the government shutdown, has to rank right up there. And the last Congress of George W. Bush's administration (2007-2008) with a split house and senate and change so clearly on the horizon, also qualifies.

If the President is re-elected, and if Congress goes Republican, just imagine the gridlock we will see then. We'll finally get to see if the veto pen is mightier than the budget-slashing sword.

I like how you despise the congress that brought us the balanced budget. Why do liberals love debt so much and despise responsibility? Don't they care about our children?

I like how you despise the congress that brought us the balanced budget. Why do liberals love debt so much and despise responsibility? Don't they care about our children?

Well, then, if you care about your children's future, you must be against the Ryan budget, which doesn't balance until sometime around 2040, and cuts the heck out of all kinds of programs designed to HELP children.

But my real question is "care about our children" HOW?

Because caring whether they get a good head start in life, get decent health care, are able to get an affordable education that will actually lead to a decent job, and inherit a reasonably decent infrastructure -- more than we care about bloated defense spending, unnecessary wars, tax breaks for billionaires, and tax subsidies for oil companies -- is an entirely different, but equally legitimate, way of "caring about our children."

We can balance the budget without bludgeoning our baby harp seals.

But that's exactly what conservatives are trying to do.

NoLimitSoldier50 --

Things would not stalemate. They would get rammed through, just like healthcare and all of that other mess Pelosi rammed through.

Thank your lucky stars, soldier, that it was not NEARLY so easy as you try to say it was. Otherwise, we'd probably have commie-pinko-socialist single-payer by now.

I don't like the Ryan plan either. It doesn't go far enough. We need to balance the budget within 5 years. Having programs for children are great......so long as you can afford them. We have to live within our means.

Anna Molly - well you're not being fair. You're talking logically and the Republicans don't know how to counter that way of thinking! Why would you go that route?

Good post by the way!

You can't cut spending without raising revenues. That is plain and simple math.

While Nancy Pelosi was Speaker, the House passed (on average) 62 bills. Last year, with Boehner as Speaker, the House passed 72 bills and is on pace to pass 64 this year. So much for that theory.

The reason legislation is not passing is due to the Reid (D) Senate that tables almost everything.

liberals love debt? Sure. That's why we became a debtor nation under Reagan, whose policies undercut the middle class to such a degree that he had to loosen the debt market, just to maintain some semblance of a middle class at all.

The last republican to balance the budget was Dwight D. Eisenhower in the period 1956-57. Reagan oversaw the greatest percentage increase in the Federal debt of any president before or since in the period 1983-86.

JOb.....Plain and simple math? Sure you can cut spending without raising revenues. It is easy. You spend less than the year before.

Snake....you are right and do you knwo who wroe those bills under Reagan? Democrats.

Job1, I am sure the government can find lots of ways to cut spending. The truth is the governmentis bloated and inefficient. Its time to modernize the way they do business.

This has to be the biggest, do-nothing congress ever!

Just the way it should be. Based on the recent history of congress the more they do the more money we hemorrhage. Congress doing nothing by default is a win for all of us.

So you're saying that dems wrote those bills that Reagan championed? Is your point that dems - as always - compromised with republicans, or that Reagan was really a liberal?

Bill -

The House passed bills with "poison bills" that they knew would never make it in the Senate, then refused to compromise. How many of Pelosi's bills passed in the Senate?

And if I remember correctly, the last time we had a balanced budget and an annual surplus it was through a combination of tax increases, spending cuts and economic expansion. Why do the Republicans refuse to consider anything other than spending cuts?

.

Tax increases mean that their corporate masters won't make the billions that they made the year before and have to settle for making multimillions instead.

No, We need to raise revenue in order to cut spending. It can't be done without recking the lives of millions.

Read PAUL KRUGMAN Myths of Austerity.

Hey PutAmericaFirst... Stop listening to Rush and Fox. I'm a democrat/Liberal and I DON'T love debt.. it seems that the conservatives are the ones who keep running up that tab... AND I believe in personal responsibility... again unlike conservatives...

Only millions? Small price to pay for repubs to get their way. Last summer they proved they were willing to bring down our entire economy to get their way. I'm glad they are looking out for the American people.

How about we go by the John Kerry school of tax revenue avoidance.

So I need a raise to cut my spending Job1?

You are such a marooon.

Cut the spending. It is the ONLY way.

NO, Raise Revenue.

We can raise revenue and cut spending both. With the added benefit of forcing businesses to hire new employees, to keep up with the increased demand for goods and services. Just double the minimum wage.

1. 47% of the country doesn't earn enough to owe any taxes. This would bump them into a higher tax bracket. Increasing tax revenue.

2. 100,000,000 people who are eligible for food stamps and subsidized housing, because their POS employers don't pay them enough to feed themselves and put a roof over their heads, would no longer be eligible for social programs. Thereby reducing spending.

3. Putting money in the pockets of people who don't already own everything, would send them out to buy those things. Businesses would have to hire to restock the shelves, whether they want to or not. This is how you create jobs, not by cutting taxes for millionaires who aren't going to buy anymore than they already do, because they already own everything.

PutAmericaFirst

JOb.....Plain and simple math? Sure you can cut spending without raising revenues. It is easy. You spend less than the year before.

How can you cut $1.2 trillion in one year??? You'd need to hit defense, as that is 25% of the budget. You'd be axing one third of the budget when we need government spending now more than ever (spending creates jobs, which creates demand, which creates jobs, etc). You'd send the economy into a recession. We could easily reduce our deficits to roughly $2 trillion over the next decade by repealing the Bush tax cuts and cutting spending by $2.2 trillion. But, if you want to keep the economy sound, how about we cut the Bush tax cuts for those who make $250k or above ($800 billion in savings), repealing the Bush tax cuts for the middle class in 2016 ($1.86 trillion in savings), reforming the tax code and eliminate half of all tax expenditures (~$4 trillion in savings), cutting spending by approximately $3 trillion, and reforming entitlements via the Bowles-Simpson commission's recommendations, and we would save at least $10 trillion over the next decade. That way you cut spending, reduce debt, AND show a bipartisan flavor. How about that Republicans???

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

As a republican I am all for cutting our defense budget but to the extent of closing bases we do not need anymore. Any extra in the budget can go towards defense of OUR nation FROM HERE!!! I like the deflector shield idea! :)

I say to the tax cuts, to any and all corporations who bring manufacturing back to America, you may keep the tax cuts. To those not wishing to return the jobs to America you will get a tax hike and a very hefty hike, somewhere closer to say 50% and a price freeze on all your products sold in the U.S.

Think that might be nasty enough to work Freshieee? Simple enough?

I realize those may not be ideal for all republicans, however I am America and Americans FIRST!!!

Job1

No, We need to raise revenue in order to cut spending. It can't be done without recking the lives of millions.

Read PAUL KRUGMAN Myths of Austerity.

Paul Krugman is a dyed in the wool democrat. Do you really think he is going to wright an unbiased article. And remember that he got his inspiration to be an economist from reading a work of science fiction.

You homers keeping saying that austerity doesn't work after Greece tried it for about six months while continuously rioting and striking public services which cost the government billions of dollars. KEEP IN MIND THAT ONE MEASURE OF AUSTERITY WAS TO RAISE TAXES ON CORPORATIONS. So are you liberals going to change your story on that particular item?

Read Ann Coulter's "Demonic"

Sorry snakebone , reagan understood compromise and growth based on current events just like every POTUS up until obama has.

Rick-312...

What many fail to realize about the greek austerity riots are that the greeks brought it on themselves by ignoring that their policies were not sustainable and then just waiting until the tipping point occured.

America is following the same path, but we have the time to change direction with smart spending cuts (austerity) to sustain the policies we deem most valuable. Liberals want to declare that all current programs/policies are important and must be maintained. They aren't and shouldn't.

btw - the obama tax cuts should be allowed to expire across the board, if not jan 2013 then with no exceptions by 2015. If congress and the new potus can't create a new reformed tax plan by then, we will all be doomed.

As far as krugman is concerned, he is definitely on the side of obama because he supports the old political adage of "deficits don't matter". Probably why obama has flip flopped on reducing the deficit by half for FY2013. On an interview recently on bloombergTV we have a ways to go before spending has a serious imopact on the economy.

Texas fighter gal and others. Keep in mind a very simple aspect of a global economy. Manufacturers will always want to manufacture close to where their customers are or will be to contain costs.

Right now, some companies are returning to the states because of productivity gains here that offset lower labor costs overseas. Other than that, there will be little incentive for these corporations to incur higher costs at less competiveness by returning stateside, when the growth is overseas.

TexasFighterGal

As a republican I am all for cutting our defense budget but to the extent of closing bases we do not need anymore. Any extra in the budget can go towards defense of OUR nation FROM HERE!!! I like the deflector shield idea! :)

The only problem I have with that plan is the overseas problem. I personally think that we are too stretched overseas (who needs a base in Germany?). However, to be practical, I would keep the majority of our overseas bases intact, while eliminating somewhere in the range of 100 to 200 bases, all of which will be overseas. Their deployments will be either put on reserve or stationed in the US, creating economic growth in local communities. Call me a lackey for the military industrial complex, but I don't think withdrawing the bulk of our overseas deployment is practical.

I say to the tax cuts, to any and all corporations who bring manufacturing back to America, you may keep the tax cuts. To those not wishing to return the jobs to America you will get a tax hike and a very hefty hike, somewhere closer to say 50% and a price freeze on all your products sold in the U.S.

Think that might be nasty enough to work Freshieee? Simple enough?

Well, considering what American said above, that may not be the best incentive, but it would at least make us a bit more economical. Never thought a Republican (or anyone, for that matter) would ever advocate for price freeze, at least not after Nixon used price controls in the 70s.

I realize those may not be ideal for all republicans, however I am America and Americans FIRST!!!

Alright, alright, I'll consider it. You rope together some of your fellow Republicans, and I'll manage to get some Democrats around to our side.

American, In order for America to succeed we must have jobs and as much as I hate to say this bc I personally run 3 businesses, we do not ,at this time, have enough small businesses to accommodate the workforce. We must get the manufacturing back here and it needs to be a massive growth within the next 5 years. I am very proud of the companies returning the manufacturing back to U.S soil and we need to create such a massive incentive to obtain more that a corporation would have to be out of it mind to ship products overseas to sell to us.

Freshieee, I only advocate a price freeze on American corporations not wishing to join America in the fight for OUR prosperity. The penalty for tax fraud and evasion should be no less than a seizure of all assets once convicted and the assets disbursed back into the population and a minimum of 10 years in prison. The loss of money into the greedy hands is doing nothing but leading us into a depression and impending war, therefore any acts to cheat the American people should be seen as terrorism. People forget that bombs are but one way to hurt people, the other is to starve them of vital necessities, the exact way the North won the civil war. It is as the old saying goes " if you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out immediately, however if you place it a pot of cool water and slowly turn up the heat, the frog will slowly boil to death."

I will clarify if this seems to be far fetched!! It is however true in most history of wars. The worst wars are those that people refused to accept were possible or impending! Many refused to believe a man named Hitler was killing women and children in gas chambers bc the idea was so barbaric that it could not possibly be happening. And we know how well that ignorance turned out!!!

As to the bases, I would say if we are allies with them and they do not need our help anymore or even in the near future, we need to close the base, I would even take a skeleton crew, lease/flop out the beds to any needy in the country it occupies. Let the nation rent the base as a job training center for their homeless people,etc.

Actually, I am not alone in my quasi/ political un-party. Many of the people I debate with on here seem to be of like opinions, be they repub or demo. Most just get sick of the fanatics spewing hatred CONSTANTLY!! It is ,at times, a rather depressing display of our lack of intelligence and evolution still deeply seeded within our society!

Amy B. Portland, ME

Doesn't this photo look like the face of political gridlock?

Yes, that's way I said the Kantor needs to chill out with some Kool-aide.

http://www.politifake.org/image/political/small/1108/keep-drinking-the-kool-aid-obama-liberals-demecrats-koolaid-politics-1314709326.jpg

That photo sure made me recoil .. I initially thought it was a viper ready to strike.

The face of a snake.

When democrats are systematically destroying our economy, gridlock IS in the best interests of the country.

Republicans ran on blocking further destruction, they are doing exactly what they were elected to do. Get over it.

As Krouthammer said of the 2010 election, "It wasn't so much an election as it was a restraining order".

Republicans ran on blocking further destruction, they are doing exactly what they were elected to do. Get over it.

Funny, because America still thinks congress sucks. You also said you were running on 'JObs'......where are the Teabagger Jobs bills? (chuckle) I guess we are not going to be 'getting over it' anytime soon.

Congressional Approval would have risen from its 13% approval rating if everyone thought you were 'doing what you were elected to do'. But intead, it went down to 9%, right after you held the debt limit increase hostage. But nice try, sport

Its the Teabaggers and GOP that THINK they were doing America a favor by their obstruction. Turns out they are the only ones that do. The rest of us wanted compromise, and jobn creation proposals, not flat out obstruction and sabotage.

And the GOP/Teaturd coalition is suffering. Look at any poll about support for the Teaparty or GOP...its worse than the Dems. SO much for your little impotent theory.

The GOP has destroyed our country, Valhalla. They can kiss my ass and burn in hell for that. But for causing gridlock???? They ought to suffer a fate worse than death; defeat. Kick out all those right-wing bastards and send them back to the depths of hell where they belong!

Oh, and glad to see that you righties are now admitting that the GOP are causing the gridlock.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

KICK THE FASCIST GOP OUT 2012

What did Nancy ( we've got to pass the bill to see what's in it ) Pelosi do?

we've got to pass the bill to see what's in it

That line has misquoted so many times, it is old. It seems that no matter how many times you point this out, thick headed conservatives refuse to let it go .. much like those birther comments. Gad, they are probably still sucking on their pacifiers.

The policies that put this country in such economically dire straights were put in place by Bill Clinton and his cronies. You liberal sycophants raise hell about the republicans being obstructionists now and raise hell about them not being obstructionists then

YOU LIBERALS DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU ARE PISSED AT THE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THEY WON'T GIVE IT TO YOU.

RedDevPOS - LMAO... You mean like it is all bush2's fault? Sounds like you are denying that pelosi said it or that obama and company are still trying to embrace that type of policy. After all it did work in 2009 and 2010 for them, and obama has been trying hard to make it work again after the 2010 midterms.

How about actual facts. Obama does not beleive in everyone, just a select few. The mess we have now is because of mismangement from both parties and the democrats often end up giving more away to the top 1% than republicans.

PutAmericaFirst - no facts at all in your diatribe. You were sayin......?

Liberals can repeat lies till the cows come home, it doesn't make it true. The collapse happened on their watch, they owned congress, they passed budgets, they enacted laws. The dozen years before that, when republicans ran congress, the economy thrived.

Those balanced budgets of Clinton's were done with a republican congress. It is republicans like Gingrich that balanced the budget by slashing the size of government. All Clinton did was sign the document.

You are right....that was an opinion based on facts. Why are you complaining about my lack of facts, yet seem fine with your own lack of facts.

Valhalla Phil - your post would be funny if it wasn't so sad. The GOP does nothing but lie and you buy into their lies. Unfortunately that makes you nothing but a simpleton.

And, your assessment of the Clinton Presidency shows you don't have a clue. Stick to your day job - you know nothing about government.

Put America First - your opinions are based on nothing - not a fact in anything you say.

Seeking.....I take it you are pretty blind to the truth and believe all the cow pies sent your way by the left. Open your eyes and admit the faults in your own party and don't be such a partisan. The democrats lie just as much, if not more tha the republicans, but you can't see through their lies.

What type of facts would you like? Democrats giving to the 1%? What do you think the bailouts were? How about all those corporate welfare bills that they wrote? You do know that most corporate loopholes were written by democrats. Maybe we could talk about Solyndra or any of a number of green energy companies which serve to line the pockets of the rich.

SeekingSanity,

Liberals don't lie they just don't tell the truth.

lahater - I have yet to read anything from you to indicate you have any concept of truth. So, I suppose we could write off your lies as pure ignorance.

Put America First is great at posting a lot or words and circular questions...without really saying anything at all. Just like Romney. I guess he cant go off script from the GOP deflection talking points.

What type of facts would you like? Democrats giving to the 1%? What do you think the bailouts were? How about all those corporate welfare bills that they wrote? You do know that most corporate loopholes were written by democrats. Maybe we could talk about Solyndra or any of a number of green energy companies which serve to line the pockets of the rich

HOw about we forget the weak attempt at the historical aspevcts of how things the way they are, lets talk the root of your many asertions. Lets get you on the record here:

Should we get rid of Corporate tax loopholes or Not? Yes or No? And if so, which ones?

Should 'corporate welfare' be elminated or preserved? Yes or No?

SHould Green Energy be something we invest in for our future? Yes or No?

Nuclear Energy took several decades to generate more energy than it took to produce it. When the government invested BILLIONS in those early Nuclear facilities, should they have pulled their investment because they didnt get immediate marketable energy return? Yes or No?

Which bailout are you referring to? Banks or Auto Companies? You need to be more specific.

Was the Auto bailout a sucess or failure? And if a faloure, please explain why.

WHich of the 'rich' got a Windfall from Solyndra's failure? There is a fact you can provide us with.

If you need to check FOX for the talking points, Ill wait....

2 lane,

I think you'll be waiting for a long time, unfortunately arguing with the tards is a fool's errand

RedDevPS

we've got to pass the bill to see what's in it

That line has misquoted so many times, it is old. It seems that no matter how many times you point this out, thick headed conservatives refuse to let it go .. much like those birther comments. Gad, they are probably still sucking on their pacifiers.

#5.10

Here is a video of what Pelosi said so we don't have to argue about it anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU

marklepew

2 lane,

I think you'll be waiting for a long time, unfortunately arguing with the tards is a fool's errand

I created this file back in April and posted it several times. I got one response after shaming several liberal posters. The only thing is that the response did not address any of what I posted.

NOW IT IS YOUR TURN.

Do you think it is even slightly possible that an unregulated derivatives market had anything to do with the credit crisis that caused the economic collapse. A market that reached 680 trillion dollars in notational value in 2008 which is more than 10 times the gdp of every country on the planet. And why do you think that went unregulated. See the following link to an interview with Brooksley Born, chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under Bill Clinton:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/interviews/born.html
And many of you liberals keep on about the Bill Clinton budget surplus and what good shape we would be in if Bush had not squandered it. Check this out and tell me again how Bush squandered it:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/24/the-dot-com-bubble-how-to-lose-5-trillion/
What about what Barney Frank was doing with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. You got an opinion on this:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2011/07/joseph-stiglitz-barney-frank-r.html
What do our European friends think
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/26/road-ruin-recession-individuals-economy
Do you think there could have been a conflict of interest with Herb Moses at Fannie Mae?
http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Massachusetts/Barney_Frank/Scandals/Relationship_with_Herb_Moses/
Do you think you can refute what this economist at San Jose State University has to say:
http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/subprime.htm
Whose best interest did Barney have in mind when he shot down Bush's efforts to regulate Fannie Mae:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQWk1Wp3L4
There ya go. You have plenty to check out there. None and I do mean none of your liberal compatriots have had the balls to address those issues. How about you.

Those of of you that are bitching about letting the Bush Tax Cuts expire need to have a talk with President Obama. He is the one that signed the two year extension.

The Bush signed tax cuts expired in December, 2010

Valleygirl Phil, I believe are problems are from two unfunded wars, tax breaks, unfunded medicare part d. Correct me if I am wrong, those were Bush policies therefore GOP policies. Your argument fails, so sorry.

Rick, I do seem to remember that the GOP held hostage the extension of unemployment benefits if those tax cuts were not extended. Unemployment benefits for those who were affected by the collapse of our economy by the GOP economic policies. Your argument fails, so sorry.

the fact that you wingnuts will vote against your self-interest baffles me. This Country had ten years to experience what Romney wants to do and like lemmings the GOP wants to rush headlong over the cliff. Wow, I guess that report that those who hold conservative values have lower I.Q.'s. Just Saying!

Rick 312/ Yes President Obama extended the former President's gifts to the 1% , but you fail to mention why he did that. He had to buy the Republicans agreement to continued coverage of the long time unemployed,which,to their shame ,the Republican,s were holding as blackmail to force him to extend the gifts that they insisted should be continued to the 1% of the population that need it the least

Those who benefit more from the system need to contribute more to the system!

No offense, but that logic isn't exactly the best.

In many cases (see Defense, highways, schools) we all benefit equally. In other cases (see many entitlements) the poor benefit more than the rich.

You know me, I'm just sayin'.

Don't tell me that Halliburton and Dick the' Waterboarder' have benefitted from defense the same way as Regular Joe has.

Yes, Let the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

Are we going to keep the massive tax cuts that for the middle class and the poor that Bush gave out?

Liberal hero Clinton said ALL tax cuts should stay in place until the economy has mended. The head of the CBO said, if they weren't extended we'd double dip.

You can't expect consumers to buy more when you steal more out of their paycheck. That's the stupidity of tax hikes, they do just the opposite of what they intend to do.

It's also why tax cuts work, if our economy is consumer driven, let them keep more of their money.

Yes, Let the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

Yes give the goverment more taxpayer money to waste in Vegas.

lahater - I believe Romney/Donald Trump are in Vegas and no doubt wasting all the money they are spending!

Waaaaaaaa, sniffle sniffle.......waaaaaaaaaaaa!

SeekingSanity, maybe so, but it's not taxpayer money.

jolly,

Did the wife leave you again? Cheer up she was probably tired of you treating her like chattel. Maybe you can ask Mitt how he keeps Ann in line. I know Newt just runs down to tiffanys when he needs to get back in the house.

lahater

Yes, Let the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

Yes give the goverment more taxpayer money to waste in Vegas.

You do realize that we could just cut out the tax cuts for the rich and leave the rest until the economy recovers??? Obama tried to do that, but you righties kept on bitching about it so he gave in.

And by the way, does the taxpayer invest their tax dollars in defense, environmental protection, economic aid, and support to those who need it most??? No they don't; that's the government's job. I'd say that both the government AND the taxpayer spend their money in the same way; some for good, some for bad. They know equally how to spend the money.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

In that case we need a flat sales tax so even the 49% who pay nothing will have to pay something. A penny on every dollar would be good. When people buy anything they would pay the tax. Dope dealers, illegals,welfare receipients, people working for cash, retirees. middle class, rich would all be paying. Later you might could extend it to businesses. Then you might could do away with a lot of IRS deductions. Revamp the whole system slowly. If rich people buy a couple of million dollar houses, just think of the tax they would pay but someone living on $800 a month wouldn't pay much at all. But EVERYONE would be paying something because everyone has to buy food, clothes, etc.

Alan, what on earth is wrong with you. In any case, it is unconstitutional for this nation not to pay its debts. I guess you would enjoy the ruin that such a juvenile move would make of this country.

Where in the constitution does it say that?

I think that Alan's point is that like a lot of us he is sick of the argument coming up all the time. Just getting it over with would be preferable to many than to have to listen to all this garbage again.

It's the "full faith and credit" clause. Google it.

Oh Pigotry - Republicans do not want an educated society. For if society were educated, there would be no one left to vote for the GOP/TP candidates. As proof, look at what they want for POTUS, a puppet master with a working hand that can autograph the legislation Norquist shoves under their nose.

As Santorum said, education leads to snobs and athiests.

Clearly it to go. Everyone grab a club.

" Republicans do not want an educated society"

That's a pathetic lie. Public schools are run by liberals and our world standing has dropped to 32nd, below some third world countries. Republicans want an end to tenure and pay for performance as well as school vouchers to stir competition and reward good teachers while being able to fire bad ones. It is liberals that are fighting these proven methods.

Charter schools regularly outperform public schools at a lower cost yet liberals fight to keep them out or hobble them in other ways.

Valhalla Phil -

Charter schools regularly outperform public schools at a lower cost yet liberals fight to keep them out or hobble them in other ways.

Do you have facts to support that claim, or just opinion? Here in Ohio charter schools have been busted for stealing funds or charging huge "consulting" fees that go to affiliated companies. And the latest studies I have seen show charter schools do about the same as public schools at a greater cost.

A new national study re-ignites the debate over the promise and limitations of charter schools. Created as alternatives to failing public schools, charter schools were supposed to offer more innovation and less bureaucracy. But what about academic achievement?

A new AFT study came out: Charter Schools Underperforming, Results Repeatedly Delayed

The study argues that IN THE WHOLE public schools are doing very well compared to charter schools.

Official NAEP Results on Charter Schools Mirror Earlier Reports' Results

Charter schools mostly trail in student achievement when compared to other public schools

Washington, D.C. — The American Federation of Teachers welcomed today's long-delayed official release of the results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) pilot study on charter schools students' achievement. At the heart of the results, the study reveals that in most cases, charter school students are not performing as well as other public school students.

Valhalla Phil,

Dumping a ton of money on the corrupted out dated education system is a great way to make it better. Then all those teachers that are blowing the schools money will have more to spend on stupid stuff. Like taking the staff out to lunch, charting bus's, buy electronics for them selfs. School systems have become corrupted and filled with Scandels. Time for a change there to. By the way I can't think of any way the federal goverment really contributes to education. Most taxpayer contribution are local and state.

Then all those teachers that are blowing the schools money will have more to spend on stupid stuff.

Enough with blaming the teachers. They aren't the ones who have to deal with the wild and savage hooligans in their classes. I should know; I am one of them. My classmates were idiots, interrupting the teacher, calling her names, not doing work. It's time for basic education reform. Here would be my plan:

Establish a salary floor for teachers at $40,000 and issue merit-based pay to encourage well-educated people to become teachers.

Train teachers for rowdy kids, restore discipline (hopefully not spanking), and hold parents instead of teachers responsible for their children's behavior.

Offer a premium or "violence insurance" bonus of 15% for any qualified teacher with a good record who wants to work in a community rife with high crime rates.

Increase the budget of education by 75%, and institute a national standard that takes into account the standards of the states.

If schools are acting below standard, increase school funding but send a team of state and federal professionals to assess the situation and make necessary improvements.

If schools are performing above average, increase their funding but only to expand on their progress. Have the school post their improvements and their successful practices on a website forum so that other schools can copy.

Encourage parents to take a larger role in their children's education via incentives and a closer connection between educators, students, and parents.

Limit any and all funding for charter schools to institutions with above-average performance and with non-profit institutions.

Increase the school year by 60 days over the next 5 years.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

There are mostly liberals and Democrats in education. Back in the 1940s and 50s we had much better education with less supplies and money. Teachers that took pride in their job and taught pride in America, If you constantly hear what a horrible country we are and how we have taken advantage of everyone, why would you even want to study? That and trying to take God out of everything. The children have nothing to believe in.

If you constantly hear what a horrible country we are

What public school teaches we are a horrible country and what is the name of the class? Not even sure how you fit that subject matter into a math class.

That and trying to take God out of everything. The children have nothing to believe in.

The parents should teach their children about God, if they believe in a God. If we had to teach God in public schools, we'd have to teach them about every other religion out there, and then there would be no time for other subjects.

Back in the 1940s and 50s we had much better education with less supplies and money. Teachers that took pride in their job and taught pride in America, If you constantly hear what a horrible country we are and how we have taken advantage of everyone, why would you even want to study?

America isn't as innocent as it was in the 40s and 50s. We've stolen, lied, cheated, plundered, and invaded without mercy and without reason. That's nothing to be proud about. And the teachers now don't have to worry about being called a traitor or anti-American. Now they are telling kids the truth. And you know what??? The truth hurts. And back in the 40s and 50s, we invested much of our budget for education, could raise taxes to fund those schools without legislative barriers like Prop 13 in California, and had the best teachers in the world. Same in the 1970s. Most of them were women. We also paid our teachers well. Now we don't. The best and brightest don't think teaching pays, and it doesn't. We need reform, and we need more funding. Schools have been cut the bone, budgets have been slashed, and class sizes have mushroomed. You want to help education?? Stop whining about your taxes and pay them, teach your kids to work hard, and protest against education cuts.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

I might slap myself later for this, but taxes need to be cut from a national level and raised on a state level. Texas has no income taxes and if we implemented them, effectively, we could have more control over education spending, once someone like Ron Paul gave us the power back. No money from federal funds should be given to education and it should all be on a states head. The fed could however set up a minimum percentage of collected state taxes that must go toward education and when I went to school my parents bought my books, there were funds for those who could not afford them and it worked out very well. or we try and follow Chinas example and start moving toward e-books that update as needed for say $10 a year. No more heavy books to cart around ruining the backs of our youths, no more excuses for not doing homework bc you could log onto your schools website and get the pertinent parts to do your work. The possibilities for such a program are awesome and just about every single home has a computer and internet and if they didn't, all that money saved on paper books each year could provide them. Aww to actually be a technologically advanced society that could share education on such a grand scale would all but end illiteracy and the vast differences between state to state education. No more pencils to carry except in your writing classes where you learn to write legibly and in good form. But even that could be eliminated, no more sharp pencils to stab people with, Lol!!! I honestly thought 15 years ago that we would have already moved beyond text books and onto e-books. You still have libraries bc lets face it, there is something great about holding a book in your hands and smelling the pages as they turn. But schools could have more funds to dedicate to real books, the ones that do not change through time and are the examples of one of mans greatest accomplishments, the written word!!! There is even a program in the works for teachers to check for plagiarism simply by entering the file of a word document and this program could check every known website for exact duplicates, that match anything in the paper not credited.

Sorry I am a tech geek and a librarian at heart!! Though it works well!!

Pigotry,

Where's my relief from my college loans? As a percentage of pay mine were just as big in 1980 as anyone's today, and the job market was more bleak. I paid them back.

You state that the rich should pay their fair share in taxes? I read awhile back that 80% of the dollars paid into the treasury come from the top 10% of taxpayers. You'll note that I didn't say wage earners because the really, really rich don't work 8-5 type jobs. Under the Bush tax cuts they pay 15% on their capital gains, but before you say they should pay more under the Buffet Rule. Please realize that 15% of realized capital gains is much, much more than 0% of unrealized capital gains. The Bush Tax cuts actually get more tax revenue from this group of americans than ever before. Even at the pre Reagan 71% tax rate. Where we are really falling down is the 0% federal tax revenue paid by 51% of americans and the payroll tax holiday for social security and medicaid realized by all workers. How do you intend to pay for that?

I understand your want for social equality and fiscal equity, but it does not exist, anywhere. Somebody's always going to have more than you, always!

Lastly, before you accuse me of being a rich as_hole, I am unemployed for over a year now. Turns out that a government and it's people can't falsely accuse even a great american industry forever without severe consequences for someone in that industry. I am referring to the once, great R&D based U.S, Pharmaceutical Industry which has been decimated in the last 3.5 years. I'm too well educated for just any job, I was previously paid too much for just any job, I'm 54 and in better shape than most 40 year olds, but I'm too old for just any job. I could retrain, but the same factors would still apply.

Get government out of my way, and I will make my own living!

Shifting Gears:
You are right in some aspects, only from your vantage point. Many others may see the other side of the coin which is as true as your side.

But politics should be a pendulum swinging left - center- right, taking care of all along the way. You can't have all policies just taking care of the rich who have wanted more and more hand-outs after some of them (bankers) caused the recession but got bailed out. The wage earners did not do anything wrong, but have been squeezed most. So far, Obama mostly has continued Bush's policies, continuing to take care of the rich mostly.

America should be a land of opportunity for ALL, not just the rich.

So apparently you have a relative that is a government bureaucrat in the Dept. of Education or you are one yourself. And now you are concerned that somebody is going to lose their cushy, overpaid position with the Dept. of Education.

How about those government employees that are double dipping by taking retirement from one government job and working at another and suddenly they have two retirement checks coming in while they spend their winters on South Padre Island

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/08/17/Unemployed-and-Retired-You-too-Can-Double-Dip.aspx#page1

Rick, you have made a very good point - that applies to a few crooks among our ranks. But when the Wall Street caused the worldwide recession, trillions of dollars disappeared, and people's hope is dashed - such a crime! Yet no criminal prosecutions at all against those criminals! With such recession, all the retirement funds have lost value - so Wall Street crooks inadvertently hurt public sector crooks, but those hurt most are hard working people who see their retirement fund shrinking in vaue.

We need to clean up the system and send to jail all those crooks, no matter where you find them.

TexasFighterGal

I might slap myself later for this, but taxes need to be cut from a national level and raised on a state level. Texas has no income taxes and if we implemented them, effectively, we could have more control over education spending, once someone like Ron Paul gave us the power back. No money from federal funds should be given to education and it should all be on a states head.

The main problem that I see with that is that states, in my opinion, are too fiscally volatile to be completely in charge of education. Say what you may about states' rights and the benefits of local administration, but states periodically have budget crises due to the fact that most of them have to balance their budgets every year. If revenues go down, you cannot leave the deficit there' you must balance the budget, and much of the time that means cutting education. California cut 30,000 teachers last year, and we still have a budget crisis. This is why I believe that the federal government should have a large role in education, as it is the only stable entity that can fund the schools. I would prefer an education model based off of the top nations of the world in education, especially from the centralized systems in Europe.

The fed could however set up a minimum percentage of collected state taxes that must go toward education and when I went to school my parents bought my books, there were funds for those who could not afford them and it worked out very well. or we try and follow Chinas example and start moving toward e-books that update as needed for say $10 a year.

That does sound like a good idea, as it would cut costs significantly and free up money for both low income households and cash-strapped schools. Yet I still believe that we must continue to use books, if only to give students a look at the past and have them enjoy the texture of a good book. But computerizing our reading system does sound practical....

No, it just means that Cantor wants to give the impression that they are working.

I think both Republicans and Democrats agree that job creation is important at this point. The problem is that they can't agree on how to go about that.

There are valid arguments on both sides, but neither side is willing to compromise and they both demand the sacrifice of the others sacred cows.

Don't forget that they did manage to get pizza reclassified as a vegetable.

tsmalletz

"There is nothing inherently wrong with a do-nothing Congress. In fact, we would all be better off if the Congress in 2009 and 2010 had done nothing, rather than spend enormous amounts of money we do not have on policies that have crippled the normally robust rebound we should have gotten from the deep recession we went through.

As far as the current Congress is concerned, the House has done a lot, but nearly all of the bills passed die in the Senate. The Senate has really done nothing over the last two years, not even passing a budget."

Well folks, the sh*t doesn't get any deeper than the above post.

I love how some folks allow themselves to simply rewrite historical facts. Well, when you go away with facts and math, you can say anything, anything at all.

My goodness.

The truth hurts doesn't it. The fact is, the house has passed many bills while the senate sits on most of them. The house has passed a budget every year while the senate hasn't passed one in over three years even thought it's their duty to do so.

It is you that are trying to rewrite history.

Iowa - Guy,

Now all we need to do is get Libs declared vegetables.

lahaters - we already have Republicans declared as root vegetables!

Valhalla Phil...

Take a close look at your glorious "bills" there philibuster! There is not one that does not contain riders which have nothing to do with the true intent of the proposed bill!

kardy

Valhalla Phil...

Take a close look at your glorious "bills" there philibuster! There is not one that does not contain riders which have nothing to do with the true intent of the proposed bill!

That just might carry some weight if the Senate would bring those bills to the floor so they could be discussed otherwise you lying liberals are just politicking.

More lies. Republicans have done everything they can to stop the democrat destruction but as long as they control the do nothing senate and the anti business white house, republicans have no responsibility in job loss.

When republicans take back the senate and kick Obama to the curb you will see real economic growth.

Phil,

I am just a lowly lib, if there are jobs out there does that mean I will have to work? Oh dear, can I still collect my food stamps? Whats gonna happen to m free stuff?

The 'democrat destruction'... oh, do you mean the economic recovery the president has presided over? Gotcha. Too bad the repubs weren't around to stop us from saving the auto industry. Those 1,000,000 jobs sure do hurt America, don't they?

Snakebone,

Are you saying them dems created a 1,000,000 jobs or just saved 1,000,000 jobs? How do you know they would had been lost in the first place. A job saved is not a job created.

Saved 1,000,000 jobs. How do I know they would have been lost in the first place? Because the auto industry was going under, the banks had shut down credit, and there was no private capital ready to stand up and invest in them. This is really not news, nor is it controversial.

More controversial would be the statement that a job saved is not a job created. Is that the best you got?

After two years of your fascist regime voters decided they couldn't take any more of your business as usual and handed you the worst defeat in 70 years.

So did you listen to voters? No, not one single change in your direction. You are going to deserve what happens to you this Nov.

Oh, the voters asked for politicians to reject legislation when they only get 95% of what they want (according to Boener)? I see.

Phil,

Are you old enough to remember the 64 Goldwater landslide? If not the landslide was the democrats taking the white house and congress in unprecedented numbers due to the sheer inept handling of politics by Republicans. The things that quite a few republicans say today remind me of the Goldwater comments and how backward his policies were toward minorities and the disadvantaged

They were better then current.

We actually had a leader with ideas and a love of country.

Yes they were better days.

Yes, he had ideas, which came to fruition in september, 2008, with the collapse of the American economy. I'm glad he loved the country he ruined, that makes everything so much better.

Snakebone, are you sure is wasn't the real estate bubble that didn't cause the collapse of the economy? If bush is responsible for the economoy of past then Oboma is responsible for the economy of present. Libs love to blame bush, but there was plenty of blame to go around, and dems were just as reponsible.

actually, I agree with you to some degree. Reagan started the process by undercutting the middle class so severely that the only way they could afford homes was by replacing the real money they used to earn with credit, which Reagan happily loosened, thereby making everybody happy (and his reelection a shoo-in). He began to deregulate the market, causing the first big market upheavals in fifty years. And he backed investment banks with federal guarantees, leading to the S&L crisis, and the first of a series of really big taxpayer bailouts.

But Clinton, rather than learning the big picture lessons of his predecessor, followed right along and put the nail in the coffin with his 1999 repeal of Glass-Steagal, which was probably the worst thing he could have done to our economy. Bush did not kill our economy, he simply did nothing to fix the damage done by Reagan and Clinton.

Obama certainly is responsible for the economic recovery of the present. But if he is unsuccessful in re-regulating wall street, then all roads lead eventually to another crash.

Snakebone

Yes, he had ideas, which came to fruition in september, 2008, with the collapse of the American economy. I'm glad he loved the country he ruined, that makes everything so much better.

What happened to the economy was massive defaults and a credit crisis brought on by the unregulated derivatives market. Apparently you liberals are too dumb to see that.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/warning/interviews/born.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_Futures_Modernization_Act_of_2000

sonmanvb

Figures don't lie: Democrats do

by Ann Coulter
05/23/2012

It turns out Rex Nutting, author of the phony Marketwatch chart, attributes all spending during Obama's entire first year, up to Oct. 1, to President Bush.

That's not a joke.

That means, for example, the $825 billion stimulus bill, proposed, lobbied for, signed and spent by Obama, goes in ... Bush's column. (And if we attribute all of Bush's spending for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and No Child Left Behind to William Howard Taft, Bush didn't spend much either.)

Nutting's "analysis" is so dishonest, even The New York Times has ignored it. He includes only the $140 billion of stimulus money spent after Oct. 1, 2009, as Obama's spending.

Chris Gilliard

So you are angry with republicans for pushing the democrat installed policies that caused the economic crisis we are in now?

Rick.. you keep talking that trash, maybe one day someone will actually believe what you're spouting. Oh, they believe Rompey, why not you? LOL... sorry, sorry GOPnuts!

Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are the three stooges of this country.

Valhalla Phil,

They are better known as "HARRY", "BO" and "SQUIRRELLY".

VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT!!!!!

Greece here we come.

Down with corporate welfare,,,VOTE STRAIGHT DEMOCRAT!!!!!

That is the most ignorant statement I have read in some time. If you don't think the dems play the "corporate welfare" thingy, you should never be allowed to vote.

Mr. Obama, our president, loves him some of that Corporate "Big Money" now don't he?

No guilt, no shame just the finger of blame in the other direction.

"Ya'll do as I say now, not as I do" (followed by a Big Al Green smile) :)

Yes, Mr. Obama, our president, is America's poster child for Hipocrisy! :)

Democrats controlled congress before, during, and after the collapse, it's on their watch.

Phil, this is MSNBC (MSDNC) and you are not allowed to come on here and throw facts around.

So when the President is a Democrat it's always the President's fault. But when the President is a Republican, it's always Congress' fault.

Got it. Eight years of the Bush disaster, none of it his fault.

Great Post. . .

All4reason - stupid post but we expect no better from you. I see you wrote NOTHING of what do-nothing, know-nothing Romney would bring to the country. And, that's a smart move since there is nothing you can hang your hat on with Romney. See we all know he is an empty suit - nothing!

I have never mentioned the Republican primary candidate...never will.

The liberal left seems fixated on him however.

It's apparent the left needs a target for distraction.

With our president, Mr. Obama's record, that's understandable.

I'm focused on our president, Mr. Obama who can't get the job done after 3 plus years.

Nothing more, nothing less.

4 more years of this......................... No thanks :)

The most idiotic statement yet today. Obama is being blamed for the mess the republicans made, and are now doing their best to obstruct progress on now, because they think if they can keep the gridlock going it will sweep them back into power. McConnell and GOP leadership proclaimed loudly and often that their no.1 priority was to make Obama a one term president. Now they want you to believe they are out there trying to get the economy moving. Some people will believe any lies, like "we have to fight them over there, or else will be fighting them here" as if the Islamic extremist had a navy>

When all's said and done, if he can't produce a winner, the coach get's fired. :)

You're bring more of the same "Blame Game" being pushed by the Whitehouse, the DNC and the liberal left.

It is what it is Steve.....ask George W. :)

I'd say economic recovery is a winner.

Couldn't have said it any better. The democrats in congress caused this depressions and blame Bush, Obama makes things worse and he blames Bush. He as yet to keep any of the promises he made when he was elected. It is time to retire mr. disapointment .

Cantor is indeed doing something, in fact, he is doing precisely what he was sent to Washington to do. He is shutting down the government in order to prevent it from dealing with the economic crisis.

He represents the roughly 33% of Americans who demand ideological purity over the welfare of the Nation. They would rather see economic catastrophe than watch a democrat (and in many cases, a black man) succeed in the white house.

Divided, we are falling. I'd like to thank the extreme right for their patriotism and their blind faith in principles they don't seem to understand.

The economic crisis was caused by massive spending the Democrats have been doing for the past 5 years. Cantor was sent there to stop the reckless spending. I just wish they were doing a better job, as spending 1.3 Trillion dollars more then you take in is not a good sign. Although better then the 1.7 trillion before the tea party went in there. Forget about the Social programs and start doing your Constitutional mandated jobs. This idea that the welfare of the country requires the US to bail out every group that gets it self in dept. and forces the Grandchildren to pay for the luxurys of the current generation is A Real lack of Concern for the Nation. If they had concern we would not be growing this deficet like we have. It took nearly the first 43 presidents to get to 10 trillion debt, Obama will do an additional 10 trillion in dept, in 6 years if he gets the chance

Talk about a bill that will not pass. Obama's budget bill didn't get a single vote, from either the Democrats or the Republicans. What does that tell you. Even his own party will not back him.

And Cantor is still going to create legislation he knows will not get enacted. Whats the difference btwn him and Obama.

Cantor is creating Legilation that will pass the house, Reed is the only one stopping the legistation from comming to the floor for a vote.

luckily, this president created jobs, so I guess you'll be voting for him this November, huh?

Obama 'drove up debt' at a pace of .4% per year. Compare that to Reagan, who drove up debt by double digits (12% - 15%) each year from 1983 - 1986.

Obama seems to be blaming others for THEIR failures, which seems appropriate. Obama himself seems comfortable with his handling of the economic recovery.

LOL. What Regan did to increase the Debt in 8 years, Obama did in 8 months. I like the way you used percentages of growth. If a president increased the Dept from 1 to 2 Billion,as you say, he increased it by 100%. If President #2 incrased the Debt from 10 to 20 Billion he also increased it by 100% the same according to you. But #2 increased it 10 times what #1 did. You could take the Regan, Bush's, and Clinton's deficets and Obama's 3.5 years is still larger then the other 24+ years of the others. The only problem is we have less workers now then when Obama took over. He did increase the number of food stampers Unemployment workers, Govenment assistance check recieptiants. But as a leader of this country a dismal failure. He is in good company with his Senate leader (Reed) who has done nothing in getting any of the bills passed that the House has given them (over 25 are still waiting to be voted on) and still no Budget as mandated by the Constution. I thought he was swarn in to uphold the Constitution. I guess not.

Reading that post, guess it's clear why the tag Snake is attached?

The numbers tossed fictional. Tax dollars $$ spent are real.

Mr. Obama can get credit for two things, that's for sure.

1. Broken Promises

2. Bring American families together...literally...........

More adult children are living with their parents due to the Obama Economy catastrophy today after 3 plus years of his presidency than ever before!

I thought the biggest theft of money by wall street and putting us in a depression is the reason more adult children are living with their parents

ALL, Are you Blaming the recession on Obama? We would actually have a higher job growth if it wasnt for all the lost Govt jobs. The rep party is killing everything they can just to rid us of a president. They are not putting policies in place to help the common person. they are protecting the very Rich and that is it.Ii understand that many of you have problem with who the president is. That is fine. But why not try to work with him instead of fight everything that he does.

We elect our Govt to make sure that when the @!$%# hits the fan, they can take care of us. Their Job is to make sure the people have the opportunity to get a job. this party is doing the same thing that was done at the beginning of the 1st great depression. (nothing) it took more than 3 yrs for them to start to come out. I just don't understand how so many of you can fight for a party that is not fighting for you. If you make less then a million a yr then you don't matter to the GOP.