1 The first rule of political fight club:  know your constituencies.

2 The question is moot.  WE.DON"T.HAVE.THE.MONEY.

3

The democrats are out to bleed everyone dry - and give it all to their cronies, benefactors, donors, union bed buddies, and fellow corrupt travelers on the take. 

 DEMCORATS SUCK BUTT JUICE. 

 

4 Democrats to lobbyists: If you hold them down you can have sloppy seconds.

5 "Believe it or not but getting the GOP elected was the easy part. It's forcing them to live up to what they said they would do that will be hard"

This has been the case ever since Reagan. The last true conservative President. Ever since, it's been the March of the Country Club. I'll never give another dime to a National Republican organization. I'll keep on giving money to any conservative candidate.

6 One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats

Tom Harkin quoting Reagan to justify more welfare spending. The whole world has gone mad.

7

Regardless of his wacky foreign policy positions and those of his dad, the Pauls are spot-on. Once again:

Where the Paulians Rule: Domestic policy and spending

Where the Paulians Suck: Foreign policy

8 I can't believe ABC is reporting this. There must be some ulterior motive. As for the Republican cuts, remember we are still only talking about the continuing resolution.

They are not going to be able to cut as much of that as they would like. it is last year's budget. I will give them a break until the write THIS year's budget. And they better do that split department thing that Boner campaigned on.

9

$32 billion is the GOP's idea of cuts.  That's like Derek Jeter dropping a quarter on the ground.

10 A rising tide lifts all Democrats.

Toby928 is right. All this yapping by union thugs and lobbyists means nothing -- the damage has been done.

Someone should mention to the fatcat Repub royalty in Congress that they, too, will be crushed when the economy finally comes to a shuddering halt.

Oh, BTW: Fucks News is pimping the "hey, the economy is improving, yowza!" line for Osama Obama. Austan Goolsbee seems to think the bad news comes from snow, and the good news (what good news?) is the result of our Dear Leader.

11 And they better do that split department thing that Boner campaigned on. Posted by: Vic at February 04, 2011 11:07 AM (M9Ie6) Vic, I've never heard of this. Can you explain?

12 I can't believe ABC is reporting this. There must be some ulterior motive.

"evil House Republicans are here and they're going to kill all these programs that support little kids, senior citizens, and health care"

The more they repeat that, the more people believe "Republicans want to kill little kids and old people."

13

Believe it or not but getting the GOP elected was the easy part. It's forcing them to live up to what they said they would do that will be hard.

True. They must feel the eyes of the TEAparty boring into their backs at every turn, or they will lose their way like they soon did with the Contract With America. BTW, fuck Newt and the Pelosi he rode in on.

14

Contrast and honesty

Thievery! Laziness!

15 Bison furious over lifestyle intervention by government attempt walkout, Obama kills 'em

They KNOW!

16 Slightly O/T:  This from the WSJ -  "Last year, a federal court ruled that the FCC lacked the authority from Congress to regulate Internet service providers. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and two fellow Democrats on the five-member panel ignored the court decision and adopted the new rules anyway. Ms. Blackburn said it's important that the FCC doesn't get away with this power grab."

How the hell do these people get away with this shit.  Why doesn't the judge send the federal marshalls to the FCC and have these people arrested for contempt of court.  God what have we become?

17 A call to arms?

I thought we were supposed to tone down this violent, eliminationist rhetoric.

18 Expect the Democrats in Washington and other places (like the soon-to-be-bankrupt California) to start looking to aggressively use SEIU workers and other government employees as their point people in efforts to intimidating House Republicans to give in on their budget cut proposals and keep up the $$$ flow to keep the public sector jobs, benefits and retirement fund pipelines going.

Also -- How do you have a far-ranging interview on the Capitol Subway? It's two blocks long.

19 Paul's plan would impose deep across-the-board spending cuts -- including a reduction of 83 percent from the Department of Education, 6 percent from the Department of Defense and the elimination all foreign aid. He considers it just a start.

It shocks me that that with a $1.4T deficit that the we are still talking about Paul's cut off a mere third of that as radical.

Or, to put it another way - if we passed Paul's "radical" spending proposal, the deficit would still be twice the highest it reached under a Republican congress, and higher then any deficit before Obama became president.

20 Vic, I've never heard of this. Can you explain?

Posted by: joncelli at February 04, 2011 11:09 AM (RD7QR)

The idea was to split the budget up into smaller chunks by department. If the Senate Dems kill it or OBama vetoes it they get nothing.

21 How the hell do these people get away with this shit.  Why doesn't the judge send the federal marshalls to the FCC and have these people arrested for contempt of court.  God what have we become?

Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:20 AM (MPtFW)

As I suspected Someone has already taken this second one to court. This one will not take long and I expect another contempt charge.

22

The idea was to split the budget up into smaller chunks by department. If the Senate Dems kill it or OBama vetoes it they get nothing.

Posted by: Vic at February 04, 2011 11:23 AM (M9Ie6)

If played right that could work wonders.

Get Obama to sign off on the stuff we actually need - DoD, Veterans benefits, etc, and let him veto the HHS budget if he doesn't like the defunding of Obamacare.

23

How the hell do these people get away with this shit.  Why doesn't the judge send the federal marshalls to the FCC and have these people arrested for contempt of court.  God what have we become?

Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:20 AM (MPtFW)

Barack is praying for just such a showdown.

You think the MFM freaked out when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers? You ain't seen nothing yet. Then Obama would play the race card and there'd be riots in the streets.

24 a higher allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding,

And that right there is the problem and will be the downfall of the US.

PS - You are not a stakeholder, you are a taxpayer.

25 How the hell do these people get away with this shit.  Why doesn't the judge send the federal marshalls to the FCC and have these people arrested for contempt of court.  God what have we become?
Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:20 AM

For a reason why laws and regulations are regularly ignored, see: Obama, Osama.

The Traitor-in-Chief has been doing the exact same thing by continuing the Gulf drilling ban. It's a near certainty that he'll do exactly the same thing if the Supremes have the balls to acknowledge that OsamaObamaScare is an unconstitutional POS.

The days when government actually followed the law and lived up to the oaths they took died on Jan 20, 2009.

Any Republican president -- or, for that matter, any non-melanin-enriched president -- would have had his worthless ass impeached for the things the Mohammedan Mouthpiece (ours, that is) does on a daily basis.

His flunkies are merely following orders.

26 "Paul's plan is politically untenable on its own but it's very useful in dragging the GOP to the right before the inevitable compromise is struck. Yes, there will be a compromise, it's called politics."

Bullshit!!!!  You're not a Tea Partier.  Paul isn't throwing our a clever compromise.  What he says is EXACTLY what the TP believes and wants.  Compromising with Marxists is NOT on the horizon, so please stop acting like it is.

27 I expect another contempt charge.
Posted by: Vic at February 04, 2011 11:25 AM

Do you expect the second contempt citation to have any more effect than the first one?

Time for impeachment, morons. Or should we follow "Poppin Fresh's" lead and, to be fair,  give the Most Notorious Liar in America the benefit of the doubt?

28 The only thing that will stop these fools is a credit collapse. Then they will have to set priorities - "Heather Has Two Daddies" or keeping the lights on.

My guess is they choose the first one.

29

"One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that a higher [Labor, Health & Human Services] allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding,"

Meh...McCarthy was right.

30 OT: so the unemployment rate somehow, magically, dropped to 9.0% for January.

Or did it?

31 Oh, BTW: Fucks News is pimping the "hey, the economy is improving, yowza!" line for Osama Obama.

Posted by: MrScribbler©, yelling "Free Nickless!!eleventy!!" at February 04, 2011 11:09 AM (Ulu3i)

They're lubing up for O'Reilly's interview on Sunday, which you couldn't get me to watch if you paid me.

32 One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that a higher [Labor, Health & Human Services] allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding.

I so want to punch someone for them even having said this ...

33 32 OT: so the unemployment rate somehow, magically, dropped to 9.0% for January.

Or did it?

Posted by: blue star at February 04, 2011 11:35 AM (nsRBU)

Shenanigans, pulling 504,000 people out of the work force.

34 One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that a higher [Labor, Health & Human Services] allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding

A rising tide of freeloaders, hangers-on and barnacles will swamp a boat ...but these parasites willfully refuse to see and consider that.

35 Bullshit!!!!  You're not a Tea Partier.  Paul isn't throwing our a clever compromise.  What he says is EXACTLY what the TP believes and wants. 
Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:29 AM (MPtFW)

You're suffering under the delusion that what the "tea party wants" commands a majority of support with the public or in Congress.

Yes, the idea of the tea party has a lot of support. So does the idea of cutting spending. Now it's showtime and we aren't talking about vague notions of 'cutting', we're talking about real programs, that real people like and want money from. Those are very different things.

Imma gonna need you to show me some evidence that there's a majority in Congress or with the public to cut the Department of Education by 83% (to take but one example). Now, I'm okay with cutting the whole damn thing and not handing out its work to other departments. Of course, you could cut it 100% and not make a dent in the deficit or debt. So again, Imma goona need you to show me the proof that there's a majority for slashing "entitlements" within the tea part, the public at large or in Congress.

I have to run out for a bit but I'll check back later.

36 36 One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that a higher [Labor, Health & Human Services] allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding

A rising tide of freeloaders, hangers-on and barnacles will swamp a boat ...but these parasites willfully refuse to see and consider that.

Posted by: ya2daup at February 04, 2011 11:39 AM (HmCnI)

So, if I own a big boat and the water drops so I am stuck in the mud...

37 Compromising with Marxists is NOT on the horizon, so please stop acting like it is.
Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:29 AM (MPtFW

It's a frog in the pot and it always has been and will be.

38 Actually, it originated from a  JFK speech in 1963, youngster. Now get off my lawn.

*hangs head in shame*

So, if I own a big boat and the water drops so I am stuck in the mud...

The zombies can climb right up and eat your brains.

39 Compromising with Marxists is NOT on the horizon, so please stop acting like it is.
Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:29 AM (MPtFW

It's a frog in the pot and it always has been and will be.
Posted by: Lotte Lenya at February 04, 2011 11:44 AM

Girl-fight!

40 I'd like to take the Vinny and Guido approach and give them cement waders.

Convenient facts like the Democrat Party supports increased unsustainable levels of funding for societal leaches, slush funds for their pals and union buddies will make for interesting campaign commercials.

Hoist the bastards on their words and deeds, then sink them into the river on Nov 2nd, 2012.

41

So, if I own a big boat and the water drops so I am stuck in the mud...

Posted by: The Robot Devil at February 04, 2011 11:41 AM (LdYLm)

Yeah but if you register it in Rhode Island you can save a ton in taxes!

42 I'm not as concerned about this as I am about the budget to be written in April and delivered in May. That's where the real test comes, to see what they cut there.

Another thing-- the complete total in terms of cuts (or "savings" versus Obama's budget) is $74 billion.

43 Here are the 6-month price percentage moves in some of the things people need to live with: Cotton = +125.7% Sugar = +82.6% Corn = +59.0% Coffee = +41.4% Rice = +40.5% Oats = +36.6% Copper = +36.1% Lumber = +33.8% Oil = +25.1%

Yep, rising... water.... and the boats got a serious leak...

44 Hoist the bastards on their words and deeds, then sink them into the river on Nov 2nd, 2012.
Posted by: Gmac at February 04, 2011 11:48 AM

Leaving us with a bunch of squish Republicans who are willing to "compromise" and "reach across the aisle?"

I'm not buyin' it. Congress is the biggest "No Labels" group of all, a bunch of pampered thieves who don't have the Dangling Courage Units to face reality. So far, no one has made them face it.

I suppose it's difficult to give up that massive checkbook filled with other people's money. But just because the drug makes them feel good doesn't mean it's not destructive.

45 Oh, Sweet Lord Above.

One dem praises another.

The president has become more centrist, which makes him easier to work with, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday.

Can't we force McCain to run for election every year, so he could be a conservative more than 2 months?  Calling Osocialist centrist?  Really?

46 If only Rand Paul had the voice of Jesse Ventura and the body of Arnold Shwartzenegger in his best days. Might give his words more weight.

47

Here are the 6-month price percentage moves in some of the things people need to live with:

Cotton = +125.7%

Sugar = +82.6%

Corn = +59.0%

Coffee = +41.4%

Rice = +40.5%

Oats = +36.6%

Copper = +36.1%

Lumber = +33.8%

Oil = +25.1%

Edited for format error...

48 Rising sewage lifts all turds.

49 Some cheery news for your FIAF.  DCCC's Bad Financials Could Doom 2012 Candidates.  They make the RNC look like Bernie Madoff (pre-arrest).  So that's why the dems announced their 2012 targets so early. 

50 As a TEApartier, I agree with Suki Tawdry. What Paul is advancing is what the TEAparty wants. And also the elimination of the Dept. of Diseducation. Not everyone wants to eliminate useless government spending, and they are called RINO's, Democrats, and (this may well be redundant) fools.

51 OT: House planning to investigate ObamaCare waivers

52 Cotton = +125.7%

I knew I could justify my fabric stash!  Hah!

53 You know how hard it is for a lobbyist to feed his family with inflation at 50% per six months? (That sidebar article...Man, de - press - ing)

54 Grow your own! I did!

My copper crop is blooming.

55 59 Grow your own! I did!

My copper crop is blooming.

So is my lead crop (or tungsten, if you're trying to be "green"). 

56

Drew thinks he is being reasonable. I think he is a GOP operative sent to pussify us all.

First sentence after the Paul block, Drew gives up. Concedes the arguement at the first. 

Reminds me of 32Bil worth of cuts. Fucking insulting.

57 OK, Drew.  Challenge accepted.  Actually I heard Rush mention a poll a few days ago that said over 70% of Americans either (memory here) strongly supported the TPiers or somewhat supported them.

This is a strong enough number for me to assume that the word "compromise" should be left off the table with the Marxists, considering they view that word as "capitulation."

Anyway, I'm going to try to hunt down his source.  Back when I find them.

58 Here are the 6-month price percentage moves in some of the things people need to live with: Cotton = +125.7% Sugar = +82.6% Corn = +59.0% Coffee = +41.4% Rice = +40.5% Oats = +36.6% Copper = +36.1% Lumber = +33.8% Oil = +25.1% Oh, my God, taxes are falling behind! We must raise them!

59 How the hell do these people get away with this shit.  Why doesn't the judge send the federal marshalls to the FCC and have these people arrested for contempt of court.  God what have we become?

Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 11:20 AM (MPtFW)

Excellent reminder.  This needs to go viral.  Does anyone know the name of the judge(s) who ruled?  Boehner, are you listening?  Marsha Blackburn, helllloooooo?  Sen. McConnell?  Is anybody in there? 

I would pay to see this, not only to see the all-omnipotent Julius frogmarched before FOX and Breitbart cameras, but to also see Jim's little girl Mignon Clyburn hauled off.  She's a professional regulator, you know.

60 This is what bugs me about centrist and self-described realist Republicans.  They're really not as smart as they think they are.  Particularly on strategy, they give away the farm, endorse a ratchet effect ever left-ward on spending and size of government, then congratulate themselves on their wisdom and statesmanship.

But its a false premise.  They are the suckers; they're the ones getting played.  And ultimately they're colluding in a hard crash later when the money flatly cannot be found rather than a politically difficult but relatively soft crash now.

61 I would pay to see this, not only to see the all-omnipotent Julius frogmarched before FOX and Breitbart cameras

Bonus decadence points if Breitbart has Hannah Giles waving a microphone at the perps for comment.  I'm just sayin'.

62 Jim's little girl Mignon Clyburn He named his daughter after a cut of meat? Is her sister named RumpRoast?

63 (Yes, I know it means "cute" or some such. I just couldn't resist.)

64 Did everybody go out for ice cream and leave me here?

65 ECHOechoechoecho.

66 Can't we force McCain to run for election every year, so he could be a conservative more than 2 months?  Calling Osocialist centrist?  Really?

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at February 04, 2011 11:55 AM (xdHzq)

He has certainly overstayed his welcome. Afterall, he gave us Obama and now he is giving Obama cover. Someone needs to put a muzzle on this putz. If I was him I would be spending my days popping Cialis and chasing my hot wife around the pool and spending her millions on golf, cigars and whiskey like any self respecting wealthy, American man should.

    

67 It's also called "reality" because the Democrats still have control of 2 of the 3 other institutions that need to sign off on a budget plan.

I believe you mean 2 of the 3 branches of government.

68 67 Jim's little girl Mignon Clyburn

He named his daughter after a cut of meat? Is her sister named RumpRoast?

Posted by: joncelli at February 04, 2011 12:08 PM (RD7QR)

Have you ever seen her? She's nice yams...I mean gams.

 

69 Believe it or not but getting the GOP elected was the easy part. It's forcing them to live up to what they said they would do that will be hard.

As Milton Friedman put it

People have a great misconception in this way, they think way they solve things by electing the right people. Its nice to elect the right people, but that isnÂ’t the way you solve them. The way you solve things is by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things!

Link to youtube of the interview this is lifted from

70 Here are the 6-month price percentage moves in some of the things people need to live with:

Cotton = +125.7%
Sugar = +82.6%
Corn = +59.0%
Coffee = +41.4%
Rice = +40.5%
Oats = +36.6%
Copper = +36.1%
Lumber = +33.8%
Oil = +25.1%

I've been heeding Beck's advice for months and stocking up on things. The clown is rather prophetic. I'm just hoping my oil cans will sprout this spring.

71

"Jim's little girl Mignon Clyburn

He named his daughter after a cut of meat? Is her sister named RumpRoast? "

I don't like names that sound horrible with the surname. Like Soizic McKonky or Fantasia Butts.

72 Breaking news from the Middle East: Bearded men throwing rocks, yelling.

73 Reaction to the Dems' plan above via The Corner:

“' The spending special interests are coming out of the seams. They are activating K Street to work on their behalf.'....Indeed, the Harkin aide’s e-mail, Ryan concludes, is indicative of how Democrats handle debates on the Hill. 'It’s another chapter in the same old story,' he sighs. “As with how they passed health care, they are relying on backroom deals, getting lobbyists to carry their water, demagoguery — it’s another example of how they think that the end justifies the means.' ”

74

Here in the balmy people's gulag of northern Illinois, gassed up the car Monday night pre-blizzard & paid $3.24 per gallon.  Ventured out today and the price is now $3.49 per gallon.  Geez it's the same gas that was in the tanks earlier in the week, what with the blizzard shutting down truck traffic & all.

The things we little people need to buy keep going up.  Gasoline, food, electricity, all going up.   Meanwhile the locusts in DC are scheming how to take even more of our money and give it to their friends.  This really ticks me off.

75 Has Anderson Cooper had is ass kicked today?

76 Drew, here you go:  http://tinyurl.com/4qns2lx

Only 29% of Americans want "compromise" on the table.  Now is NOT the time to give the Marxists one of their favorite tools.

77 They are not lobbyists!! They are a coalition of concerned citizens and citizen activists!!
Mothers and fathers of families who have suffered the most from the Bush Recession who see a Republican party intent on throwing them out in the street.

78 Yes, there will be a compromise, it's called politics

Which has gotten us into the current position. I'll pass on the politics in lieu taking action NOW in an attempt to prevent that collapse that WILL occur if the status quo is maintained.

We can feel pain now, or we can watch as people riot in the streets and kill their neighbors for food when the currency collapses. After which the government rolls tanks and turns us all into slaves; at least those of us it doesn't outright kill or send to 're-education camps.'

79 More and more from the demacRATS what other nasty ways will the demacRAT party pull off to prove their a bunch of lowlife vermin

80 "One thing everyone should be able to agree on now is that a rising tide lifts all boats, and that a higher [Labor, Health & Human Services] allocation improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding," the committee staffer for Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, wrote in an e-mail inviting people to the meeting.

Weird.

When I first read this, I saw the words, "special-interest group" instead...

81 O/T I don't know if I can take too many more Reagan tributes on the radio or net. I've been teared up this entire day. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if we weren't confronted with his complete and utter opposite. It's depressing.

82 In a few million years, people will spend 80,000 quatloos for the oil which I will hopefully convert in to.  Perhaps I can get an advance on this.   

83 78 Breaking news from the Middle East: Bearded men throwing rocks, yelling.

Posted by: dagny at February 04, 2011 12:22 PM (7oMSd)

But they are civilized, well educated, middleclass bearded men so its very patriotic; not like those whacky teabaggers.

//

 

84 From the ABC link:

Another source familiar with the meeting said Democrats used the meeting as "an attack on House Republicans."

"They said these evil House Republicans are here and they're going to kill all these programs that support little kids, senior citizens, and health care," the source said. "They're trying to instill the fear of God that Republicans are basically going to blow up all these programs, kill these programs, defund them."

Anonymous (aide, perhaps?) seems to understand Dems.

85 Notice how Larry King had the sense to get off CNN before they sent him to Egypt.  That Magnificent Bastard! 

86

But they are civilized, well educated, middleclass bearded men so its very patriotic; not like those whacky teabaggers.

yeah, caliphate/constitution, what's the difference?

87 91 Notice how Larry King had the sense to get off CNN before they sent him to Egypt.  That Magnificent Bastard! 

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at February 04, 2011 12:36 PM (DPM1U)

Now that is some forsight...must be some sort of jewish voodoo!

King/Christie 2012

 

88  Notice how Larry King had the sense to get off CNN before they sent him to Egypt.  That Magnificent Bastard! 

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at February 04, 2011 12:36 PM

I don't think that Larry has been back to Egypt since Moses led him out of there.

89 NRO has some outstanding Reagan tributes. They have also posted a number of interviews with people who met or knew Reagan.

90 66
Bonus decadence points if Breitbart has Hannah Giles waving a microphone at the perps for comment.  I'm just sayin'.
Posted by: Ian S. at February 04, 2011 12:07 PM (p05LM)

Speaking of Hannah Giles, did that mentally-challenged, pre-pubescent putz, Ezra Klein, ever take up her challenge to prepare her dinner? (Oh, Hannah, how could you sink so low?)

91 Dangling Courage Units

I like that one, I'll have to steal it.

We know breathing constitutes High Crimes and Misdemeanors for a Republican President.  What counts for TOTUS?  Comedy entries only MrScribbler, reality is to damn depressing for a Friday.

I'll try...
Fucking that Chicken with a Petroleum based lube.

92 So the Republicans want to cut 58 billion, Obama wants to freeze spending and the compromise is somewhere in between. So why didn't the Republicans say they want to cut 500 billion and compromise on that?

93 Yes, there will be a compromise, it's called politics.

No.  Politics is called "politics".  Compromise is called "appeasement", especially when we are running right up to the debt limit.

Where did this idea that 'politics is compromise' come from?  If you really want to adopt that sort of view then every single thing on Earth is "compromise".

94

I don't think that Larry has been back to Egypt since Moses led him out of there.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 04, 2011 12:39 PM (yQWNf)

Larry King was the wicked son.  He was left in Egypt.

95 Posted by: Sukie Tawdry at February 04, 2011 12:04 PM (MPtFW)

As I said, people support the idea of the tea party. The tea party itself is an idea. Unless I've missed it, there's no official Tea Party (note the caps) platform outlining specific policy ideas members agree on like major organized parties have.

My challenge was to find majority support for specific policy ideas like slashing the Department of Ed by 83% (again, I'm good with that but I see zero proof the majority of voters are), not generic support for considering (which isn't the same as adopting) tea party ideas.

The poll you cite? Here's the quote: "71 percent of the respondents say they want GOP leaders to look at tea party positions when developing policy".

"Look at" positions does not equal "adopt". And again, it's a question about nebulous, unnamed positions. Show me a poll where a majority support that specific type of cut (using DoE by name will suffice) that has anything approaching majority support with the public.

I wish it were so, but I don't think it is.

96 Now this really pisses me off to no end!

97 98 So the Republicans want to cut 58 billion, Obama wants to freeze spending and the compromise is somewhere in between. So why didn't the Republicans say they want to cut 500 billion and compromise on that?

Did Obama say that for this fiscal year or next? This measure also only deals with the CR, which lasts until March 4. The budget the Republicans actually have more control over is the one that's due in May.

Because five months of the fiscal year will have passed by March 4, 2011, Congress has an increasingly shorter window of time to achieve savings in this fiscal year. House Democrats unfortunately rejected House RepublicansÂ’ repeated calls to cut spending last year.

As directed by H.Res. 38, the Budget Committee Chairman will file an allocation to ensure that non-security spending will be reduced to 2008 levels for the remainder of the year.

98 As I said, people support the idea of the tea party. The tea party itself is an idea. Unless I've missed it, there's no official Tea Party (note the caps) platform outlining specific policy ideas members agree on like major organized parties have.


Actually, the Tea Party has a more well-defined set of policies than the GOP has, and more Tea Partiers subscribe to those policies than Republicans subscribe to the few policies that the GOP actually works to implement (though many Republicans support policies that the GOP caves on and betrays all the time).

The Dems, of course, have very well-defined policy aims - pervert America until there's nothing left of value and support every alien in the world, since American citizens are the cause of all problems in the world.

99 Unless I've missed it, there's no official Tea Party (note the caps) platform outlining specific policy ideas members agree on like major organized parties have.


It's called the US Constitution, read like a normal person with a brain, not like an America-hating lefty or a lawyer who can't understand what the meaning of 'is' is.

100

Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 12:59 PM (N49h9)

True, dat.

101 It's called the US Constitution, read like a normal person with a brain, not like an America-hating lefty or a lawyer who can't understand what the meaning of 'is' is.
Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 01:03 PM (N49h9)

I'm sorry but that's simply idiotic.

The US Constitution is a marvelous, almost miraculous, document for establishing the framework of a government. But within that framework there are, and always have been, myrid legitimate and contradictory policy options. Part of the genius of the Constitution is that it allows for that and sets up a system to accommodate their consideration and implimentation.

You do know that the founders were not monolithic in their politics or policy preferences, right?

102 We can feel pain now, or we can watch as people riot in the streets and kill their neighbors for food when the currency collapses. After which the government rolls tanks and turns us all into slaves; at least those of us it doesn't outright kill or send to 're-education camps.'

Posted by: blindside at February 04, 2011 12:30 PM (x7g7t) 

This^^.

This normalcy bias is going to get us all killed.  People don't think we will really run out of money. They don't think the dollar will be devalued, that it will become worthless, that we will lose currency reserve status. This will happen.  It is not different this time, we are not special.  

What is going on at the moment is that our politicians and the politically connected are looting America before the ships sinks.  It is burning down before our very eyes, and it is sad that vast majority will not look.

103 56
Cotton = +125.7%
I knew I could justify my fabric stash!  Hah!
Posted by: HeatherRadish at February 04, 2011 12:00 PM (TUpD9)

We're keeping our eyes on you and your fellow cotton hoarders, young lady ...

104 --I'm sorry but that's simply idiotic.

Don't be sorry, because you're just wrong.

--The US Constitution is a marvelous, almost miraculous, document for establishing the framework of a government. But within that framework there are, and always have been, myrid legitimate and contradictory policy options. Part of the genius of the Constitution is that it allows for that and sets up a system to accommodate their consideration and implimentation.

So ... you're saying that the Constitution is great, but contradictory?  Really?

The basic limits of the branches of the US federal government are laid out in the Constitution, along with the responsibilities and powers of the States.  People argue exact details at the edges, but don't make a huge mistake and think that arguing over a photo finish is the same as someone who was lapped claiming that the race was close.  The federal government allying with an invading enemy (Mexico) in suing a US State (Arizona) in order to stop that State from protecting its own citizenry, as is clearly laid out in the Constitution, is not a matter of debate for anyone with a brain.

The Tea Party wants the federal government returned to its basic limits.  They are detailed pretty specifically in the Constitution.  Are there minor arguments as to implementation details and varying boundaries?  Sure.  But you don't seem able to understand the difference between qualitative distinctions and quantitative ones.

--You do know that the founders were not monolithic in their politics or policy preferences, right?

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 01:11 PM (HicGG)

You do know that you don't wear attempts at condescension well, right?

105 My challenge was to find majority support for specific policy ideas like slashing the Department of Ed by 83% (again, I'm good with that but I see zero proof the majority of voters are), not generic support for considering (which isn't the same as adopting) tea party ideas.

71% of the public oppose raising the debt limit, which would mean massive across the board cuts. You are correct that most people don't support targeted cuts to specific programs while other wasteful spending is allowed to continue. Nor should they.

106 The original Constitution as written was NEVER contradictory. It is the stupid and contradictory interpretations made by stupid and contradictory liberal lawyers that have made things contradictory.

That along with some stupid and contradictory amendments made by the progressives since the mid 19th century.

107 My challenge was to find majority support for specific policy ideas like slashing the Department of Ed by 83%

Tell them the money will be used to preserve Medicare.  See what they say about that.

108 Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 01:23 PM (N49h9)

Look at it this way...

The US Constitution provides for the raising of an Army and a Navy. Those are legitimate actions under the Constitution.

If I ask someone like Bill Kristol how much of federal budget should be spent on defense he might say, 22%. If I ask Keith Olbermann he might say, 15%. Those answers reflect a difference in policy preferences that are both within the bounds of the Constitution.

According to what you wrote, if I ask you,, you're answer would be, "The US Constitution".

Policy platforms simply aren't addressed by the Constitution.

109 71% of the public oppose raising the debt limit, which would mean massive across the board cuts. You are correct that most people don't support targeted cuts to specific programs while other wasteful spending is allowed to continue. Nor should they.
Posted by: schizoid at February 04, 2011 01:42 PM (lvJyq)

It wouldn't be the first time "the public" wants contradictory things.

Two things about "wasteful spending"...

First...one's man's waste is another man's necessity. Obama called the the F-22 'wasteful' when he killed it. There's no simple and objective definition that people have for the term.

Second...you and I could probably agree on a lot of items that we'd call "wasteful" in discretionary budgets. We could then eliminate it all and we'd have a drop in the bucket. We should do that because it's right and will shrink the reach of government but we still need to go after the big ticket entitlements if we are going to save our asses.

110 So ... you're saying that the Constitution is great, but contradictory?  Really?
Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 01:23 PM (N49h9)

I said no such thing.

What I said is, contrary to what you said the Constitution is not the same as a policy platform. They are different things.

111 It wouldn't be the first time "the public" wants contradictory things.

It's not contradictory. Keeping the debt limit where it is will solve the problem. Any cuts negotiated by Congress will do nothing but buy time and be used as an excuse to increase spending elsewhere.

Second...you and I could probably agree on a lot of items that we'd call "wasteful" in discretionary budgets. We could then eliminate it all and we'd have a drop in the bucket. We should do that because it's right and will shrink the reach of government but we still need to go after the big ticket entitlements if we are going to save our asses.

We need to throw out the entire budget and start over. The question isn't "what should we cut?" but "given that we only have $X to spend, what should we spend it on?"

112 First...one's man's waste is another man's necessity. Obama called the the F-22 'wasteful' when he killed it. There's no simple and objective definition that people have for the term.

Actually there is: spending on other people is wasteful; spending on me is a necessity. My point is that people shouldn't be expected to give up their own goodies unless everyone else is being forced to give up their goodies too.

113 Posted by: schizoid at February 04, 2011 04:28 PM (lvJyq)

It's contradictory to not want to raise debt limit but not " support targeted cuts to specific programs".

I'm all for zero base budgeting but a-not going to happen and b-lower spending levels will still be cuts.

114 According to what you wrote, if I ask you,, you're answer would be, "The US Constitution".

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 04:12 PM (HicGG)

No.  If you mention federal Medicaid and ask how much the federal government should be spending on it, my answer would be, "The US Constitution - $0."  You see?  Social expenditures are state issues, not federal ones ... as per The US Constitution.

You can go through a whole list of federal departments and expenditures and have the same conversation with me, or most other Tea Partiers, because our platform with respect to the federal government is the US Constitution.

If you ask me whose interests the federal government should consider in any policies, then my answer would be, "The US Constitution - to 'secure the Blessings of Liberty to OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY;'".  Etc.

115 My point is that people shouldn't be expected to give up their own goodies unless everyone else is being forced to give up their goodies too.
Posted by: schizoid at February 04, 2011 04:44 PM (lvJyq)

That's why it never gets cut. Everyone trades off their stuff for the other guy's stuff. No one ever goes first, nothing ever gets done.

116 It's contradictory to not want to raise debt limit but not " support targeted cuts to specific programs".

No it isn't. The cuts can be across the board.

I'm all for zero base budgeting but a-not going to happen and b-lower spending levels will still be cuts.

It will happen when inflation gets bad enough to become a political issue. We can't keep funding half the budget with printed money forever.

117 That's why it never gets cut. Everyone trades off their stuff for the other guy's stuff. No one ever goes first, nothing ever gets done.

Which is why everything needs to be cut at the same time.

118 Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 04:49 PM (N49h9)

The Constitution puts somethings beyond the grasp and power of the government. People of good will can and do disagree with what those limits are. Even if something is clearly constitutional, that doesn't do much to tell you what the right policy choice is.

The Constitution is a starting point...is something a legitimate function or not? After that, saying, "the Constitution", tells people nothing about what you and/or the tea party believes.

119 First...one's man's waste is another man's necessity. Obama called the the F-22 'wasteful' when he killed it. There's no simple and objective definition that people have for the term.

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 04:18 PM (HicGG)

Poor example.  Obama's a lying sack of shit who doesn't have two brain cells to rub together.  His only desire is to destroy America - and that is not hyperbole.  It is his aim and what his every policy has been directed towards.  And why would you even bother quoting a guy who thinks that helath insurance premiums can be reduced by 3000%?  You didn't consider that example.

You cannot pull out lunatics, retards, and America-haters and claim that their views alter what normal people would consider objective or reasonable.

Alan Colmes just claimed to Megyn Kelly that defense was half of the federal budget.  How do you hold any sort of reasonable debate with an idiot like that?  You can't.  And Megyn Kelly let that little bit slide right by, as if there was some truth to it.

Don't confuse stupid opposition with reasoned difference.  This is what I was trying to get across in one of my earlier responses to you about the qualitative and quantitative distinctions.

120 The Constitution is a starting point...is something a legitimate function or not? After that, saying, "the Constitution", tells people nothing about what you and/or the tea party believes.

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 04:57 PM (HicGG)

It goes a very long way.  Very, very long.

Of course there are differences in the detailed implementation, but it is the main restrictions and limits that are most important.  As it is, now, our federal government has gone feral and is just running amok.  You don't end that by details.  You end that by strict confinement.

Can Tea Partiers disagree on foreign policy?  Sure.  But that isn't the problem.

Just restoring the sanctity of private property rights and contract rights - the absolute Constitutional foundations - is sorely needed and are major policy points, these days.

You seem to be requiring a Tea Party handbook that addresses every single situation and the exact participation in it.  That's not how things work.

121 Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 04:57 PM (N49h9)

You do know that Obama got 52% of the vote, right?

Stop pretending that everyone who voted for Obama is a lunatic, retard or hates America. Some of them are, a lot of them are just people who disagree with you and even more of them voted on a different set of issues/factors.

We have to convince some of these people to win elections.

122 You seem to be requiring a Tea Party handbook that addresses every single situation and the exact participation in it.  That's not how things work.
Posted by: iknowtheleft at February 04, 2011 05:03 PM (N49h9)

The tea party is like any mass movement...it's has some broad principles that define it but there are a lot of variations within it about how to impliment them.

Let me ask you this...what's the official tea party position on defense spending? Increase or decrease?

123 --You do know that Obama got 52% of the vote, right?

--Stop pretending that everyone who voted for Obama is a lunatic, retard or hates America. Some of them are, a lot of them are just people who disagree with you and even more of them voted on a different set of issues/factors.

I wasn't referring to the voters - most of whom just don't know much of anything.  I was referring to leaders of that group (and some of the GOP) who babble all the time about stupid things, like Barky's claim to reduce health insurance premiums by 3000%.  I only said that because you presented other idiocy of the Indonesian as some sort of argument that reasonable people can disagree.  The Indonesian, and his ilk, are not reasonable people.  They also hold our nation and our institutions in contempt, which pretty much makes sense, since they are out to kill those things.  Barky's voters don't make coherent arguments about anything.  Shit, they voted for a guy whose biggest campaign rally was in Germany, for Germans!  That happens to be illegal, BTW, and the most un-American, stupid, retarded sort of political act one can even think of.  Those sort of people cannot be reasoned with.

And reasoning with them, or anyone else, was not your question.  You were asking about the Tea Party stance/platform, which I was explaining.  The disagreement was over what is a reasonable Constitutional interpretation, and Barky's twisted and insane arguments certainly don't qualify.

We have to convince some of these people to win elections.

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 05:12 PM (HicGG)

As I wrote, that's a different issue from a platform.  Luckily, many of those idiots only voted for the Indonesian because the US was in the throes of a psychotic break, brought on by the credit crisis, and much of America decided to just throw in the towel.  They couldn't take the pressure and decided to alleviate their imaginary guilt along with ending it all by voting for Suicide by Indonesian.  And that is not a joke.

--The tea party is like any mass movement...it's has some broad principles that define it but there are a lot of variations within it about how to impliment them.

The Tea Party is not like "any mass movement".  It is a very specific one built about the rejection of Constitutional principles and limits that has taken this nation into the ground.

--Let me ask you this...what's the official tea party position on defense spending? Increase or decrease?

Posted by: DrewM. at February 04, 2011 05:22 PM (HicGG)

Defense spending is just about right.  Historically, it's a bit low.  Tell me, leftists love to yammer on about all the great things government "investment" has brought to the world.  They do this whenever they want to spend more.  But, they always cite defense projects (since no other government spending ever returns anything).  Do you ever ask them if they want to increase defense spending?  Of course, they don't.  After they tell you all the good that has flowed from defense and defense research, they turn around and the only thing they want to cut is defense spending.  Just something for you to keep in the back of your mind. This doesn't really matter, because these leftists are, like I said, lunatics, retards and America-haters, and to even try to engage them in reasoned debate is an exercise in futility.

124 Tell me, leftists love to yammer on about all the great things government "investment" has brought to the world.  They do this whenever they want to spend more.  But, they always cite defense projects (since no other government spending ever returns anything).

They love to cite the interstate highway system while calling every new freeway a sin against Gaia.

125 Defense spending...Halliburton went up over 700 percent under Bush. I thought war profiteering was illegal? Not to mention unethical.

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