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Senate Democratic leaders urged President Barack Obama to act to increase the nation's debt limit, even without congressional approval, in order to avoid a standoff with Republicans over the nation's borrowing authority.
The top four Democrats wrote Obama on Friday to urge him against allowing the debt ceiling becoming a bargaining chip with Republicans, who might threaten to vote against any increase in the debt limit without new spending cuts or entitlement reforms from the administration.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and three other Democrats wrote:
In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis -- without Congressional approval, if necessary.
The White House has been loath to assert the type of broad executive privileges that would allow the president to unilaterally increase the amount of money the government is able to borrow in order to cover its obligations. Traditionally, approval of an increase in the debt ceiling has been the province of Congress.
Insisting that America is not a "deadbeat nation," President Obama demanded Congress authorize the U.S. to pay its bills lest the country default on its debts. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
But the 2011 fight over increasing the debt limit almost produced a default. Obama's agreement with Republicans at that time produced the spending cuts that make up the recent "fiscal cliff," which the president and lawmakers didn't fully solve. Obama warned after reaching an agreement with Republicans on taxes earlier this month that he wouldn't bargain over the debt limit, but some GOP lawmakers have begun to speak more openly about using that moment as a point of leverage.
It's not clear what authority Obama would invoke to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling. Popular theories argue he could invoke the 14th Amendment (which says the "validity of the public debt of the U.S. ... shall not be questioned"), invoke an obscure provision allowing the government to mint a $1 trillion coin to pay for the debt, or even issue I.O.U.s.
"We support your view that an extension of the debt limit is not something for which Democrats should have to negotiate," the Democratic leaders wrote. "At the same time, as a separate matter, we agree about the importance of developing a broad, bipartisan agreement on fiscal policy that strengthens our economy and reduces our long-term budget deficit."
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President Obama had better stand firm on his NON-negotiable position!
You were given a mandate in the election, it's time to start to enact it!
The country is exhausted from the "hostage taking" games played by the right...
The ironic thing is, over half of the RWNJ's who comment here don't have any idea what the difference between "deficit" and "debt" is... lol
Feisty . . .
Ruh roh! I can already hear all the regular RWNJ's heads spinning!!! There comments, I'm sure, will be full of the usual BS.
Happy Friday!
Right Feisty! You'd think they'd be able to tell them apart when debt shows up in their bank account while deficit only appears in their political savvy!
Life could be a dream if we could take all the republicans in the house and round them up into one room and fill it with laughing gas. Instead of the foul odor from their own gas which is a natural occurrence when things back up and are spewed out without being digested.
Oh Johntho, I'm sure that a lot of conservative Dems gather with GOP conservatives to laugh at the Clown in the White House.
The only gas that's funny is the gas expelled by you libs with your funny quotes.
Layton,
Ruh Roh is right! You can set your watch by those ass-clowns! lol
Happy Friday to you too & hope you get shoveled out soon!
Monitor cleanup at Feisty's house! LMAO
Kind of like a kid calling in his parents credit card to "up the limit"...
Speaking of getting shoveled...what happend to those shovel ready jobs?
Feisty . . .
I've YET to see a plow! 2 feet in the yard and it's still coming down!
Non-negotioable position ? Yeah, right ! Congress has sole authority to raise the debt limit. Ant attempt to bypass thast authority would be yet another POWER GRAB by Obama ... nothing new there !
Only a lib would consider a small 3% or so popular vote margin to be a mandate ! Obama was elected President, he was not elected DICTATOR !
I'm sure Senator Obama in 2008 would have had a different opinion...
Obama contradicting Obama ! Where are the film clips ... they show his massive hypocrisy.
He should extend the debt limit on his own if congress does not act to. He should also, with an executive order, end the gun show loop hole and start putting away gun dealers or owners who habitually lose custody of guns (straw purchase laws should apply to them). Also mandate storage requirements. Track sales by ID for guns and ammo and fully fund the ATF so they can secure the crazies in Wyoming and Arizona and fund mental health. Register everything. No exceptions.
Ana,
Why don't we just throw out the Constitution? Why don't we just get rid of Congress and while we are at it, get rid of the Supreme Court. Heck, while we are at it, why doesn't he just give every citizen a million dollars by executive order and then everyone can live happily ever after!!
Feisty, your mandate rhetoric is getting old. There are over 150 million registered voters in the United States and President Obama received 43% of their vote. There are another 50 million who are eligible but not registered. His vote only represents 32% of the potential voting public. Hardly a number that represents a mandate. He was elected by his ability to motivate self interest groups (minorities and women); deflect the real issues that plague this country (jobs and economy); divide the people based on race, gender and class; and finally, count on the fact that almost 40% of the people in this country are disillusioned, disenfranchised and apathetic. He is and will be know as the GREAT DIVIDER. That will be his legacy. This is a strong and resourceful country that, with time and strong leadership, will overcome the failures of this current President.
AnaBanana - you state ".... start putting away gun dealers or owners who habitually lose custody of guns....". Would you agree that we should start with Government agents that use straw purchasers and then lose custody of guns that are later used to kill Americans, you do remember the ATF and Fast & Furious, and how about Ruby Ridge and WACO?
Ana, this "crazy" in Arizona would not hesitate to defend even you if the need ever arises.
it's a better idea to go through congress..first it's in the constitution that President needs to work with Congress. Second, if the GOP refuses to work with the President, then more self-destruction by the GOP. In the end, a deal will squeak by, but the GOP brand is further damaged. The same story line in the last couple of years.
It's a win-win.
The country wins, Dem wins, and GOP loses.
"start putting away gun dealers or owners who habitually lose custody of guns"
True, Eric Holder a prison cell is waiting for you.
Pig,
I'm sure when it comes to a vote, you will see alot of moderate Democrats have issues with it if it's too extreme... Just remember 2 years is long way off, and the public's opinioni for one party or the other changes like the wind...
Feisty, "deficit" is the difference between the revenues the government takes in in a fiscal year versus the money it spends in the same time period. (We are running a deficit). "Deficit spending" is the amount of spending that exceeds revenues, (we have alot of this too, and Obama wants more of this). "Debt" is an obligation to repay, (we have alot of this as well), like the Chinese to the tune of the most part of $16 trillion plus about $100 Trillion in entitlements to Americans like medicare and social security.
Our government has been lucky that lately interest rates have been extremely low, (and we are still having trouble just paying the interest on our debt), just wait until rates start to rise. With all of the worthless dollars flooding the economy from QE excessive printing with no backing rates will go up.
Obama's treasure secretary nominee, and now let me get the spelling of his name correct, "OOOOOOOOO" thinks not only are we not "deficit spending" to the point that we can actually pay down the "debt." Now, with that being said, "Hey China, can you give us an increased limit on our credit card?"
So with a total DEBT of about $116 Trillion, the president wants to increse this number?!?!?!
So, Feisty, again I ask you HOW is this a GOOD thing? Please enlighten me.
The "over the top" gun enthusiasts are out in full force. As are the Fast and Furious conspiracy theorists that haven't paid an ounce of attention to the investigation of Fast and Furious. Only the Republican talking points on the subject. It makes you look foolish when you don't know what you are talking about. On the matter of your enthusiasm for guns, the fact that you and your loved ones are 22 times more likely to die as a result of your own weapons than I am from a gun toting criminal, gives me hope that the earth will soon be inhabited with level headed human beings.
This may be the Republican strategy. Be so unaccommodating that the risk of imminent economic collapse forces the White House to make an unconstitutional overreach of executive power so that they can take the President to court over it, and maybe even impeach him.
The thing is this: Congress ALREADY Voted for that amount of spending, for them to hold the President hostage over the debt limit means that they, intentionally, spent more than they had to spend, for them to NOT raise the debt limit, to accommodate the spending that THEY Authorized is just plain stupid, non-sensical and in all likely hood, treasonous. They refuse to raise taxes, they refuse to allow money to be borrowed to accommodate the spending that THEY set into law and ONLY want to cut the very things that The People have already, individually paid into......They, the Repubs/TPers in Congress are waging an economic war of financial terrorism and hostage taking against the majority of The People in the US. And the right wing posters here SUPPORT this?
If the GOP/TPers want to try to hold our Nation hostage for the purpose of cutting our safety net and give the Uber Rich even more tax cuts, I would say let them try and then arrest them all for Domestic, Economic Terrorism and Treason. The President would have every right to do so, seeing as how the right wing in Congress is aiding and abetting foreigners, Multi-Nationals and Domestic Financial Terrorists.
If they are trying to make Obama do something unconstitutional, they had better be watching their own arses, because they have been treading that fine line for far too long and the President has given them all the rope that they need to hang themselves very thoroughly. They probably do not even realize that their heads are already passed through the noose and the hand is on the hatch lever!
Ana,
You are the type that consistently wants to limit our rights....You will be screwed if you are ever confronted by a criminal with a gun. I suppose you would be shaking your finger at him asking if he'd have it registered or not... Typical liberals... Fast and Furious?? Really you want to go there and speak about why Holder withheld information? Talk about being a hypocrite about gun control...
B. Honest... Care to explain Senator Obama's stance back in 2008 when he voted not to raise the debt ceiling? You can be a hypocrite all day long when Obama already made a position about the debt ceiling...
JK, I have a serious question for you, when does your right to own a weapon of war stop and my rights to be safe in society start? Did any of those kids killed in New Town have any rights in your world? Typical conservative thinks they are the only ones with "rights." The fact is the NRA has 4 million members and there are over 300 million of us here in this country. Gun nuts like yourself are not a majority.
"allowing the government to mint a $1 trillion coin to pay for the debt"
The idea of a "$1 Trillion Platinum Coin' is just nonsense. If it's that simple, just mint 16 of them and pay off the entire National Debt.
But what are the consequences? Does anyone think that ANY investor anywhere in the World would ever loan the Federal government any more money if we just paid them with a 'Platinum Coin'?
Just 'printing money' has been tried numerous times in the past - for example;
In 1923, the German Weimar Republic tried it to pay off war debts, and the resulting inflation quickly turned the exchange rate from 4.2 Marks to the dollar to 4,200,000,000 Marks to the dollar, and the result was a devastating depression for Germany that eventually led to the rise of Adolf Hitler as a 'savior of Germany'.
More recently, in Zimbabwe in Africa, the government also turned loose the printing presses, and here's a quote: "Prof. Hanke’s HHIZ measure indicated that the inflation peaked at an annual rate of 89.7 sextillion percent (89,700,000,000,000,000,000,000%) in mid-November 2008." Their economy quickly changed to an inefficient 'barter economy' when citizens refused to accept the worthless paper money.
I doubt that those people who scrimped and saved for their entire lives would appreciate learning that their life savings are now worth the equivalent of only 2 cents.
"We support your view that an extension of the debt limit is not something for which Democrats should have to negotiate," the Democratic leaders wrote. "At the same time, as a separate matter, we agree about the importance of developing a broad, bipartisan agreement on fiscal policy that strengthens our economy and reduces our long-term budget deficit."
I got a good laugh on that one. In other words, the Democrats will 'talk' about the need for a 'bipartisan' agreement, but they won't actually try to discuss it with the Republicans.
That's like saying "We agree that we need a 'balanced' approach to Deficit reduction, so long as it doesn't involve any spending cuts".
lol
Severe Weather Warning....
I am worried about the right-wing freak out. Seriously, it is hysteria. A client went on a rant about how she thought Clinton was bad, but now in comparison we have President Obama -- a Muslim, who won this last election with fraud, and is trying to change the Constitution to run for a third term. And my neighbor was running all over town yesterday trying to buy ammunition.
These people live in an Echo Chamber where everyone they talk to think and talk the same way, so how could it be that the president was re-elected with a 51% majority if not fraud? And though the ammo shortage is due in part to low production, my neighbor says it's because the government buys it all. Hmm, so why are police departments having a hard time buying it too?
Also, according to these rightwingers, now the economy is going to tank because of President Obama -- Interest rates will go back up. But the Feds clearly stated rates wouldn't go back up until unemployment came back down to at least 6% (predicted to happen in the next 10 months). So that means the economy is expected to improve, not tank -- right?
I can't wait until the debt ceiling (which I predict the GOP/TP won't block because financial donors will be pissed) and sequester are behind us. I can't wait for rules to be put back in place for the filibuster and nominations of quality people can be confirmed, and legislation like election reform can be passed. I can't wait until Obamacare goes into full effect.
This right-wing ignorance and fear-mongering has to be shut down. I'm talking about the religious radicals -- not just Todd Akin, and now Phil Gingrey -- but also Paul Ryan and his "personhood" bill, and Michele Bachmann, Sweet Jeebus take her off the Intelligence Committee -- Minnesota's 6th congressional district, please rid us of this ditz! She is wasting your tax dollars trying to overturn Obamacare for the gazillionth time!
It's WAY past time for commonsense control of gun violence, Roe v Wade (with the Hyde Amendment) is settled -- you misogynistic men who should be passing equal pay legislation and other protections for women instead! And it's 30-40 years past time to restore the American Dream for the middle class with fair tax reforms, strengthening trust funds like Social Security, and investing in education and other things to improve upward mobility.
Teapublicans have gone right back to obstruction and attacking women and seniors and just about every group they need to win national elections. They are going down and it's high time! They should freak out but it should be about their own craziness. Enough with the destructive forces of right-wing radicals. Progressives, prepare...
TruePatriot-445959 "you misogynistic men who should be..........."
And you call others 'radical'?
Thanks for the laugh.
Layton, agreed, but it's far worse than that. The rightwing is straight out f'd in the head!
My client who believes all the conspiracy theories gets her information from her husband who has a Masters in business. Most of these folks should know better, but they don't.
I responded to her with a couple of remarks like "his information is only as good as his source" that "voting is a responsibility and not just a privilege" -- people shouldn't vote if they aren't properly educated on the issues and candidates (i.e. you don't vote however your husband tells you to vote), and the crap about being a mother who fears for her children, so what killed all those children in Connecticut? But I assure you, these were completely lost on her.
I'm telling you, its beyond the lack of Rule of Reason, these people have gone into meltdown mode. Do not underestimate the power of fear and ignorance. Gawd, we have to do something about the fear and ignorance (e.g., ROY WILSON-336103 who can't respond with anything of merit)!
Do it Mr. President.
Put a footprint on the forehead of the fascist's foreheads.
"Obama contradicting Obama ! Where are the film clips ... they show his massive hypocrisy."
Did you think the same thing about Romney --- the grand champion of massive flip-flopping and hypocrisy??
BHonest (post 1.23) "The thing is this: Congress ALREADY Voted for that amount of spending..."
When in the last four years did the democratic controlled Senate vote for and pass a budget? The House (republican controlled) voted for and passed one but not the Senate. Therefore your statement is false. Sorry dude.
Right, the Clown of the White House circumvents the rule of law with a broad opinion of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. The rule of law states only Congress can make laws.
But then again, when is the Constitution a worthy document for this president and his progressive party?
This will make an interesting case for SCOTUS.
The Constitution is clear about the province of the House of Representatives. The President will evoke untold lawsuits, and the grinding halt of government, acting as a dictator in defiance of the Constitution of the United States. It's not poker. Games of chicken at this level are appalling.
So when George W Bush and his side kick Dastardly Dick Cheney and their motley crew said that the Constitution is just a God D*mn piece of paper they were being patriots? But someone dares to disagree with YOU they are somehow traitors, being unconstitutional or a clown? Please spare us the BS.
http://factcheck.org/2007/12/bush-the-constitution-a-goddamned-piece-of-paper/
Bush never did say that.
Q: Did President Bush call the Constitution a "goddamned piece of paper"?
A: Extremely unlikely. The Web site that reported those words has a history of quoting phony sources and retracting bogus stories.
What could possibly be more unreasonable than letting Democrats uncontrollably raise our debt ceiling yet again? My 8 month old son already owes the government $45,000, so what's another $200 for him...right? He has the rest of his life to work like a dog and be part of the 50% that actually pays taxes. Surely one day our government will stop approving spending increases, right??
Fight for spending cuts where that debate belongs … in the Budget CR that expires on March 27, 2013.
Congress already wrote and mailed the checks to our creditors and the creditors have deposited the checks and are now waiting for the check to clear so they can pay their employees and creditors. To not pay is to default causing economic distress around the world.
The only legitimate purpose for a Debt Ceiling in the current process is to create a discussion that allows politicians make points about the size of our debt but since the money has already been spent it should not be an excuse to deny an increase of the debt ceiling.
It is not used by most other countries – The U.S. and Denmark are the only democratic countries in which Congress has to approve borrowing separately from spending. In most other countries the authority to borrow money is tied to the authority to spend money.
Solution: Change the process so the authority to borrow is part of every spending bill. Using that method will force Congress to address the amount of spending for each and every spending bill. Or use a less full-proof method by voting to increase the debt ceiling at the same time as final passage of the budget.
Budget? "We don't need no stinking budget?" I don't see them doing that since a budget would add more accountability and spending limitations, which appear to be things this administration and congress doesn't want or believe in.
If there is no budget then there is must be a Budget Continuing Resolution.
Budgets do not control spending … spending bill control spending … which must originate in the House, controlled by Republicans for the last 2 years – why do they approve spending that is greater than our expected revenues?
Dennis; Another solution might be to sop spending so much?
Dennis - You know better than that, but still you constantly place blame on the Republican Controlled House, you know very well that if the Senate does not concur in a spending bill, and if the Senate would by chance occur, it still takes the President's signature to spend even one dime. The fact that we have not had a FY Budget for the past 3 yrs is strictly on the Democratic controlled Senate and you know it. The President has always submitted his Budget Request and the House has always passed their Budget Resolution, it is the Senate, under Harry Reid, that refuses to write a Senate Budget Resolution and bring it to a vote.
dennis -- the law of the land says: It is required by law. Under the 1974 Congressional Budget Act, the Senate must move a budget out of the Budget Committee by April 1 of every year and adopt a budget resolution on the floor by April 15.
why are you so accepting of the senate leadership's refusal to follow this law? do you believe we should all ignore laws of which we are not fond?
and with the whole debt ceiling thing -- i guess the evolution from the days when bush 43 was reamed for asking congress to raise the ceiling is also just no longer relevant for democrats
of course the senate is controlled by democrats who have also approved spending greater than our expected tax intake. why do you say revenue?
The fact is stupid, er truth hurts if you knew the truth, the debt ceiling only allows the government to borrow in order to pay the bills they already made. If you are serious about cutting spending you will need to elect enough democrats to control both houses in congress. The republicans are the borrow and spend party, not the democrats.
Sfcret, B.S. Billybob, see answer to Sfcret. ditto to you.
johntho -- tax and spend is truly the mantra of washington and to think only republicans do so is so naive.
should harry reid be arrested for breaking the law or is he above the law?
billybob,
I know what is required and just where did I say that what the Senate has done is acceptable?
All I said that if there is no budget passed then a CR must be passes to allow the government to continue to operate.
As for your Bush 43 comment, I addressed it.
Johntho - What part of my post don't you agree with? If you can't prove or refute something you just say BS, which only shows your lack of knowledge or understanding of the Budget process.
Tax and spend cannot be pushed on democrats anymore, republicans was in control of congress in the 90's and most of W.'s reign of terror and it was borrow and spend enough to double the national debt at that time. So stuff it, billy bob. Last time a budget was balanced and matter of fact there was a surplus there was a democratic president riding herd on the congress. So stuff it again until you like it, because you are not going to get nothing from me. The crappy budget that this republican controlled house sent to Harry Reid is not worthy of a vote nor even consideration, It cut but not the places that need to be cut. And you know that. So stuff it one more time. Freaking fascist.
Edit, and your next post, B. S. is all you deserve other then stuff it.
oh john -- the national debt has increased every year since 1958 according to treasury.
so "i am not going to get nothing from me" and "Freaking Fascist" says it all; welcome to ignore.
thanks for playing and have a nice weekend
billybob,
[the national debt has increased every year since 1958 according to treasury]
But not as a percent of our GDP which is the best method to measure it that accounts for inflation.
http://zfacts.com/p/318.html
Thanks Dennis I'm on ignore. Thank dog. Its what conservative fascist do when they got no real argument they either make stuff up, or they put you on ignore. Nobody, thats right no president nor congress has doubled the debt except for Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush and Bush had a republican congress. Run and hide little billybob, your presence is not welcome and neither is your fascism in America. Buh bye.
By the way don't tell me what kind of weekend to have, its my weekend and I will have any kind weekend I please.
right, but the number gets bigger every year. but if we have no intention of ever paying it down it doesn't matter except maybe for the hundreds of billions of interest every year or can that be softened with some other financial gimmick?
billybob,
See my reply to your comment below @ 6.1
John,
What a typical liberal... You do remember who held the majority when we did have a balanced budget, right? You "claim" that it was Clinton also belies the fact that he had a Republican controlled House and Senate. It's obviously clear that you are deluded by your liberal left talking points...
JK, yeah it was a republican majority in the congress, Clinton shut government down twice to get spending under control and you know that. It was Clinton and Al Gore that shrunk government, and it was Clinton and a democratic congress that raised taxes on those that could afford it. But of course you will never admit that it was Clinton policy's that actually had us going in the right direction. You would rather make stuff up. What a typical right wing fascist. Anything but the truth about anything.
Johntho "Clinton shut government down twice to get spending under control and you know that."
What is Obama going to do to get spending under control?
Where were you when Bush and Cheney put two wars under an obfuscating "emergency budget" title so that the country would not see it and freak at the cost? Did that register with the republicans AT ALL? Maybe President Obama should give the GOP led congress back the "emergency budget" to go manage off in a corner somewhere so they would do more than sit around throwing spit-balls like misbehaving, ill-mannered teen-age snots....
The problem with the Progressive Spending Party is spending, not additional borrowing or taxes.
Progressives want to keep everyone on the Progressive Plantation from birth to grave, without regard to spending. By giving out the dole, the Progressives stay in office.
Without additional borrowing, big government cannot meet its entitlements.
What ever happened to the Simpson-Bowles consultation?
When the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (Simpson-Bowles) issued their recommendations, they needed approval of 14 of the 18 members of the committee in order to force consideration by Congress. The final recommendations were endorsed by 11 of 18.
Representing House Republicans on the committee were Paul Ryan, Dave Camp and Jeb Hensarling. They all voted "no". All 3 Senate Republicans on the committee (Judd Gregg, Tom Coburn and Mike Crapo) voted yes.
So, can you tell me what happened?
"Force consideration" ? You mean Obama couldn't take their recommendations and bring about spending reductions without being "FORCED" ? Whatever happened to leadership ?
As for Ryan, he is on record saying he voted "No" because he felt the proposals were not strong enogh in some areas.
It won't be "without Congress." The Congress passed a law authorizing the administration to mint platinum coins, and if they do it then the Congress will have given its prior approval.
If the Congress wants to stop it, they can change the law. Otherwise they are agreeing to the action.
dennis -- i am asking if you think it is acceptable for the senate to ignore the law. i would appreciate your view.
in a roundabout way maybe -- do you believe the debt ceiling stuff was ever important?
are you worried about our debt? do you believe we will ever again see it go down? i am worried and i believe we never do anything to reduce it so long as our politicians worry more about their jobs than the future of the country
billybob,
No it is not acceptable for the Senate to ignore their duty to try to work with the House for forge a Congressional budget.
The debt ceiling is important but the way it is placed in the process (after the spending was approved and spent) is not where it belongs. If any spending bill is expected to exceed projected revenues then the approval to increase the debt ceiling should be debated then before the spending is approved.
I am somewhat concerned but it can be paid down to an acceptable level in about 20 years and paid off in about 70 years. We are not in as bad a shape as Japan where their debt is over 200% of their GDP. As for the politicians they listen to Wall Street and Wall Street will DEMANT that the debt is paid down.
I agree with the Democrats. If it were a Republican President working with a Political Party holding the whole Country Hostage and OBSTRUCT SOMETHING THAT IS ROUTINE GOVT. BUSINESS on something that will CRASH MARKETS ALL OVER THE WORLD, he would do it.
I want to see Republican/Tea Bagger Heads EXPLODE ALL OVER THE PLANET. I hope the President shows them he has a pair against their SCORCHED EARTH RHETORIC.
The Public would be behind him 100%, especially if it is explained properly by the President, Sane People what the Republicans are actually threatening to do. They have to make SURE THEY CAN BE HEARD OVER THE FOX NEWS PROPAGANDA MACHINE OF LIES AND DISTORTIONS OF THE TRUTH.
How much better is a political party "holding the whole country hostage" compared to a political party spending the whole country into oblivion?
"Talkingpoints" is an appropriate name for you, perhaps you should change it to "MSNBC'sLeftistsTalkingpoints"
So Toxic, what was your thought about Cheney stating that "Deficits do not matter" while the Bush II Admin not only spent $6TRILLION, cut taxes, started 2 wars 'off the books' and added the Medicare Part D without funding it at all...BORROWING money at the very highest rate ever in our history....AND crashed the economy to boot.
Now, would you still say that Cheney was right? Consider that nearly ALL of the spending that the right wing complains about so loudly happens to be the result of GOP Platform Spending in the Bush years and the programs are still ongoing...meaning money is still being spent on Iraq, Afghanistan, Medicare Part D etc AND the extra spending (unemployment for the most part) and reduced income due to the economic crash (unemployed people do not pay taxes)....how can you sit there and say that this is all Pres. Obama and the Liberal's fault?
BUSH, CHENEY and the GOP are the ones that spent us into financial ruin and all you can do is point fingers at the guy and party that are trying to clean up the mess while the very people and party that Caused the mess cry out that they will take the Nation hostage unless their demands are met. They have caused Enough Damage as it is, it is time for them to step aside or be removed so that we can get this Nation back to functioning properly and be ABLE to pay down our debt.
First we have to get the economy back going well enough to do so, and, yes, that means spending some money. Once the economy is rolling again, THEN is the time to work on paying down the debt.
Bush screwed up, very badly, in calling for tax cuts just because we had a small surplus. That money should have been used to pay down the Debt, instead, he went and blew the debt up like a kid's balloon and NOW the right wing cries about it, after THEY are the ones who did the damage, now they want to make the damage even deeper.
B. Honest,
Honest? Really? With that nonsense you spew? Spend more money? Really? And what about Obama's tax cuts? (yes, they are his now that he voted to extend them back in 2010...). And now what? Those temporary cuts are now permanent cuts now, right? I wish the left would make up it's mind. And also don't forget that Republicans AND Democrats were in both houses during the Bush years, so to only blame one party is about as stupid as you saying that the Republicans caused all this... Gee...how many times do logical people have to remind you of reality?
Feisty, keeping the dumb in dumb whore
I would prefer Congress do their job but if they won't the President may have to do it for them.
Whatever it takes Mr. Obama if the Rethuglicans want to play hardball,play ball with them then stick the bat up their a$$. They have been screwing you over the last four years so all is fair. Paybacks are a bit@#.
Rich,
Sure...and while we are at it...why don't we just rip up that piece of paper called the Constitution. I know you have probably never heard of it, but it is kinda of important. It keeps people like Obama from being a dictator...
So do you think the Senate Dems would have been saying the same thing if George W. Bush had tried something like they are suggesting now? Oh, I don't think so.
How many violations of the Constitution is Obama going to be allowed before impeachment proceeding begin? How many more guns can he give to the Meskins before we do something? Are we never going to have a budget during his two terms in office? We havent' had one ye
After the supreme court's Obama 4 plus 1 decision on Obamacare it has been full speed ahead with the communist take over. What are the working people of the US to do, just let Obama inflate our currency down to 1 penny in 1960 value (it's now at 6 cents)?
What most people don't realize is that the federal reserve hasn't been passing out 'freshly printed' money as previously thought. All they do is "put more money on their computers" says a congressman interviewed on talk radio this week. Now that's frightening.
So Obama is going to cash in on that multi-quadrillion dollar bonanza? You bet and it's going to take a civil war to stop him.
If harry Reid supports president Obama involving presidential authority to by-pass the Combative and confrontational TEA-types in Congress, it has to be good. If the Republicans won't do their jobs and protect the full faith and credit of the USA, then the President, the Treasury Secretary and the Democrats have (permission) find some way to pay the nation's debts. Any Senator or congress-person who openly criticizes, helps or aids to not implement and/or shut down passed legislation have violated their fiduciary function for and to the people of the USA. McConnell. Boehner, Joe Walsh, Ken Cuccinelli or anyone who openly defies congressional actions, legislation or acts should be held to a much higher standard, charged with contempt and set upon to make examples of them for the rest of the country. Passed and signed congressional legislation should be enacted over contemptuous bigotry. Do not sit on the sidelines and allow others to make decisions that will effect you, or your family directly, without your input. Get active in local, state and national politics and keep your selves informed. The 2014 Mid-term election is a-coming! Get prepared to vote out the combative and confrontational TEA-Types.
Rudy,
It's too bad you couldn't use that same argument back in 2008, when Senator Obama voted not to raise the debt ceiling. So which is it?? It should be fun to watch you defend his position then (or now)...
You Libs are unbelievable, the ends always justifies the means. Instead of acting responsively to do something about runaway spending, you support the President breaking the law in raising the debt ceiling just to keep your gravy train running. Keep sticking your heads in the sand or up your *****, there will come a day of financial reckoning when our debt rating will continue to degrade and our deficit continues to increase where not even the Chinese will continue to loan us money. We will have another depression the likes you've haven't seen yet.
The only ones in Congress trying to act like responsible adults are the Repubs by saying we need to reduce spending and limit our borrowing before its too late. You Libs are like spoiled children, spend spend spend without regards on how to pay for it all. You never do anything about reducing spending, just finding ways to continue to spend and borrow. When the next depression hits, the Libs will be responsible for it and the consequences for everyone.
Unable to make a persons mortgage payment is not the same of me questioning the validity of the debt. Where did Democraps go to school?
There are approximately 116,011,000 households in the United States It's simple math therefore that each household will have to pony up an average of $135,471 to pay the current $15.716 trillion debt. That is real money that the government has already spent on real things: bureaucrats' salaries, earmarks, subsidies, military, welfare, foreign aid … whatever has been the current whim of Congress and the President. In theory, that is money that has been spent for the American people. So ask yourself: What has the government given me that I would be willing to go another $135,471 in debt for?
And Obama just wants to make it worse.
sure.....let's eliminate Congress. Hey, let's also eliminate voters!! Democrats do realize that we aren't dictatorship, don't they?? ...wait, don't they!!???
Why not spin your lie about MLKjr being a "life-long Republican" despite his son and biography saying he was a Democrat? Snopes and Politifact also say the claim he was Republican is FALSE
The current crisis will eclipse the Great Depression. This follows from the analysis of the Bible. An ancient vision says: "And [the king of the north] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act [it means activity in the international arena]; and turned back to his own land [1991-1993. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Russian troops returned to their country]. At the appointed time [he] will return back." (Daniel 11:28, 29a) The return of Russia in this context means crisis, which will eclipse the Great Depression. Not only the eurozone will break up, but also the European Union and NATO. Then many countries of the former Eastern block will return to Russia's zone of influence. Russian troops will be stationed here again.
All the details of this vision are being fulfilled from the time of ancient Persia, in chronological order. It is true that this vision is variously interpreted. As one can see, it has a lot of details. Therefore the insightful person is able to detect any error or sophistry.
In 1882 British troops occupied Egypt. Great Britain then took the role of "the king of the south". Around the same time, Russia expanded its influence in the region, which previously belonged to Seleucus I Nicator, and took the role of "the king of the north". (Daniel 11:27)
It's not sophistry. I say this since 1998, when Russia was almost bankrupt.
Debt limit ? Like that means a damm thing! Obama is just as bad as the republicans,there all property of INC. USA . Arguing about some meaningless number like thats going to make it all better! WAKE UP! Fellow Americans! You want the REAL truth??? If you have direct tv or if your friend has it! On Link TV a public station. Find out when they will be airing a film by the name of Ethos and watch it ! And find out just how bad thing Really are!
First, statistics show that Obama has spent less than most presidents in recent history even the demigod Ronnie Reagan spent more. Secondly, Borrow and spend (Republicans) seems worse than the Tax and Spend (Democrats). While neither is particularly a good thing at least those being taxed under the latter are the ones directly benefitting from the spending. In the former we benefit now but our kids pay for it later. It has been like that for decades. It only came to a head with the neocon movement, trickle down economics (voodoo economics according to George HW Bush) and two unfunded, unnecessary wars. What is done is done and now we gotta pay for it. Snuff it up and pay your share as you "benefitted" from it.
Adler- two unnecessary wars?
Iraq: Saddam Hussein had gone into Kuwiat to annex it- against that sovereign country's will..would he have stopped there? If he got away with it, there were plenty more vulnerable states with oil he could invade
Afghanistan: Have you forgotten 9/11 already? Seems most Libs have.How would you have felt if Bush did nothing (like your demigod, Clinton) and the next attack was, say, LA, Chicago, Walt Disney World? Oh, right, unnecessary wars is easy to say in hindsight,, could have made the same argument for WWI and WWII (Pearl Harbor- NYC 9/11)
Get off that stupid soapbox.. tired of Libs fomenting at the mouth for the freedoms and security that only our involvement provides.
Never mind that Reid and Pelosi's congress voted to fund both of them... duh, do Liberals have short term memory disorder???
debt ceiling, deficit, spending, tax, GDP, politicians,
16.? trillion and rising? Yes, morE moRE MORE!
Never mind? Yes, why worry? kick the can----------->
.46 cents of every dollar borrowed? Yes, what difference does that make?
Americans into poverty? Yes we Can!
Gross Domestic Product? Pathetically Dismal growth...........
Criminals? absolutely, no hope for change 4ward----->ho
Dem's Logic: Not my money and I have palms to grease. No one will remember my name when the sh__t hits the fan- I plan to be out of office living off my tidy govt. pension enjoying the sun in the Caymans with my stash.
Would LOVE to see Obama try to end run Congress on either gun control, or the debt limit, with EOs. Then the Supreme Court could bitchslap him....
A debt free America would be good for every. Dems, Repubs, black, white, Christian, atheists,....
So what do we have to do to get there
1. Pay our bills
2. Reduce our bills
3. Get jobs back
How do we do that
And please folks - stop think all dems or repubs are evil stupid etc... some folks that disagree with you are wonderful folks....
how about honest dialog and respect...
What is wrong with the media? They were concerned that Obama and the GOP do not get along and suggested that it was Obama's fault because they don't play together. Please I could care less fix the problems of this nation,you don't have to like each other to do what is right. It's ideology and money that keep you apart.