I just love it....another chance for the BAGGERS to show just exactly how much they hate government and America.

Just as this post shows how ignorant of the workings of Government and Government finance that this "dragynwolfe" is, so goes the future of the TEAPUBLICANS.... The freshman TEA POT TALIBAN elected in 2010 will continue to show America how much they want to burn down the House and how little they want to do to GOVERN AMERICA FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED THEM.

TeoPotMorons WILL PAY THE PRICE in 2012...guaranteed.

What savings? I lost all mine in the market every time it dropped 600 pts. in one day this past 10 years. You make us sound like we haven't a clue and just want to spend. I hate to inform you... we know how we got into this mess... we are not stupid people. We also know things have to take place in order to hold up our Nation and if that includes increasing the debt limit to keep the majority of our people out of soup lines so be it. Straight Dem 2012 first time in my life.

You certainly are not talking about Iraq? I guess you think this is when all of this started? Try to think back a little farther into history when the Yemen's attacked the USS Cole. That is when the terrorists picked up their game because our President at the time bent over and asked for another ass whopping from the terrorist in which case we received that next lashing in the form of 9-11. We only have your boy Billy to thank for this.

iheardthisbefore:
BAGGERS...TEAPUBLICANS.... The freshman TEA POT TALIBAN.....TeoPotMorons

Great post...no ideas or thoughts of your own just the same old tired name calling from the "progressive left".

@Dragynwolfe - this was all pre-arranged, so if you don't like it, talk to your party as well.

What got us into this mess was 8 year of "trickle down" economics and "starving the beast" policies of the Republican party.

The Amazing Story of the Debt - http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

Seems like the big O is asking for a debt increase every few months.. Its rather shocking that he was the one, that said the president is a failure, if he has to ask for a debt increase.. By his own words, he is a failure, yet the liberals keep touting him has better than George Washington Himself.

Let's have the P-party play their games again and we can have our credit rating lowered again.

Let's have the P-party play their games again and we can have our credit rating lowered again.

Now now, dont be trying to change Obamas legacy now. I just love how you fanatics blame everything on Bush and say how he was the all mighty powerful force and no one was able to stop him. Yet in the same breath, say Obama has absolutely no power what so ever.. Hint hint get out of the cult mindset. Open your eyes and see that both parties have faults, instead of blindly blundering on..

At least the tea party is attempting to change the repubs, for better or worse. What are you dems doing about your gross incompetence? Thats right nothing..

You have got to be kidding me! He wants to raise the debt ceiling again??? Doesn't he get it? WE ARE BROKE. Stop the spending. The Federal government is like an alcoholic with a bad liver. Heaven forbid he stops drinking to save his own life.

Vote for Ron Paul. He will balance the budget and reduce the debt. People need to realize until the debt comes down the economy will be stuck in the mud.

All we are going to hear from the Left from now through November is "name-calling." They have nothing positive to say about Obama so all they are left with is the attempt to demonize the Right. Meanwhile they wallow in ignorance as the country digs the debt hole deeper and kills all opportunity for the young and the children. Any person under 40 who votes for Obama is either on the federal payroll - workking for them or receiving welfare - or just stupid and uncaring about their own lives and that of their children.

It is quite obvious that Obama has no intention of ever even ATTEMPTING to live within a budget for the U.S. of America. He is leading our country on a clear and steady path to financial destruction. The so called "Progressives" do not have the foresight to see the long-term detriment to our country.

"GET BACK TO BASICS" Yes, Yes, now you are saying what Thomas Kipley DuGan has been using for his platform. He is President nominated through his party 'Peoples Party.' John McCain let it slip out; "The System is broken." A third party will be formed regardless; and a third party is being formed at this time. Learn more! Go to facebook type; 'Peoples Party' click on a topis you like, or ones you don't. Ask a question, send your signature to be the growing number of people becoming Peoples Party. Go register as Peoples Party and vote 2012 for Thomas Kipley DuGan. You don't have to vote for your dog this time.

JRH 'PEOPLES PARTY'

The war did not get us in trouble. Obama's out of control spending. In his 4 years as President, we will have borrowed more than all other President's combined. That is not Bush's problem, it is obama's. When will the libs understand this. Bush is not President and out current President is tanking our country with his debt. I hope the Republicans hold firm and actually make obama and his do nothing senate to actually cut this time.

Good points, Russell. In addition to "civics", they might add courses in "critical reasoning", otherwise what they learn about governance in civics is likely to be misused. We like to think of ourselves as reasonable. We like to think we reason inductively. Thus, if Obama does this wrong, that wrong, and the other thing wrong, then he's a bad president, based on the evidence.

But now that we know something about the unconscious we know that often the reasoning is deductive. Obama is a bad president, therefore he does everything wrong. (The same goes for the other side.)

And since these pre-formed judgments are based on morality, they can't be challenged.

But you're dead right about our needing mandatory civics course. Nearly half of Americans can't name the Vice President of the US. The majority can't name a single Supreme Court case except Roe v. Wade, and they don't know any justices on the court. They don't know their own congressmen or what their jobs are. More than half of us don't know even the fundamentals of the Health Care Reform Act, although they may oppose it fiercely.

Every day, the U.S. government takes in $6 billion and spends $10 billion.

This means that every day the federal government spends $4 billion more dollars than it has.

Under Obama, every fifth child in America now lives in poverty.

I don't understand why so many of these commenters act as if Obama is the one who is spending the money. Isn't it congress that determines how much money is spent and what it is spent on? Congress is the one that racks up the charges on the credit card. The President needs to make sure the bill gets paid. Obama is not spending more money, he is asking for money to pay for what congress has already spent. I guess this kind of commentary is what we get when people don't understand how their government works. You guys are correct. We need better education in the area of civics and government.

The day before George W. Bush took the oath of office which was January 19, 2001 the national debt was 5.27 trillion dollars. When Barack Obama took office on January 20, 2009 the National Debt was 10,62 trillion. Now it is 15,128 trillion. So in 36 months the present administration has added as much debt as the previous administration did in 96 months. AND THAT INCLUDES THE WARS. So will someone please explain how this is a good thing?

Give it a rest, Give It A Rest!, you're dealing with some sort of quasi-Socialist group here. They want healthcare and peace and love to all UNTIL you disagree with them, and then you're a fanatical (insert whatever you've been called for your views here).

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/27/pelosi-spends-christmas-at-posh-hawaiian-hotel/?test=latestnews

Remember the Democrats care.

For the third year in a row, the California Democrat shacked up in a sun-drenched, beachside hotel at Historic Ka'upulehu in Kona on the island of Hawaii, the Hawaii Reporter reported this week. For the past two years, Pelosi reserved a posh suite that fetches $10,000 a night.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/27/pelosi-spends-christmas-at-posh-hawaiian-hotel/?test=latestnews#ixzz1hlyiOZBX

I wonder why this news never makes it to msnbc ?

John O-Bayner, you are just so in love with Obama that you cannot even see that HE is the one that took an 8.4 Trillion Dollar debt that was accrued over 232 years and increased it to a 14.8 Trillion Dollar debt in just 2 years. THE CURRENT, NOT THE PAST, PRESIDENT INCREASED THIS NATIONS DEBT TO AN UN-SUSTAINABLE LEVEL. Obama WILL HAVE successfully doubled the National Debt in just 3 of HIS 4 years in office. What is even more disturbing than that is the fact that SO MANY people in this country just DO NOT REALIZE THAT FACT.

You know, if Obama had a plan, and backed it up by setting a good example, he could turn this mess around and guarantee himself a spot in history as a great president.

Instead, he has had no budget for more than 1,000 days. The budget he did present was voted down 97-0. 

He plays like the economy is good(all the while knowing what a disaster he has only made worse, while we are fighting through this mess out here in real-world), parties on our dime, and spends our money extravagantly when he could set an example and stay home, keep his spending and ours under control, and encourage personal responsibility.

Instead, he plays class warfare, ridicules good Americans who happen to think differently, and attract rabid knuckleheads to his hyper-partisan childish screed. 

What a complete disappointment. 

RICK because Obama has to pay for all the mess that Bush made in the 96 months he was in charge. Two wars, yes and a tax cut that the rich and wealthy got away with of paying. All the billions of dollars add up after 96 months of NO or LITTLE revenue. And then Obama tried to help the country recover with his stimulus plan but was both to little to late to do any good, except keep us out of a depression. Plus having to ball out the auto industry and the banks. Everything added up and still NO tax increases to help with the budget. Cutting spending will only add to the unemployment and debt.

Derf, Revenue has never been the problem....it the stupid spending. Granted we need to have half of it and 40% more of it is comforting. But every time the people ask their government to cut like they are having to in their own homes, they can't.

That is the sad truth. But if a snowstorm or hurricane heads towards DC, the reports are for all "non essential" employees to stay home and the town is empty. How is that possible when we can't live without these people if congress and the POTUS are talking about the Federal Govt. machine that can't take any cuts.

I am not knocking the debt increase, the snakes on all sides all settled that last summer. Funny how fast the money runs out when the faucett never gets turned off though. As for all of you still blaming Bush, I think that ones is soured because BHO has about $6T added under him.

A trillion here a trillion there , after awhile you are talking about a real amount of money, O hell, just crank up the printing press.

Who's to blame for the debt is completely irrelevant to this request. This money has already been spent. Even if they cut every single program tomorrow, it wouldn't change a thing regarding this debt ceiling increase. It's interest and mandatory spending. So just calm yourselves down.

The health of a person or of a country is measured by the trends. What is obama doing to reverse the downhill trend?????? Nothing

On vacation in Hawaii & asking for more credit.

Shuter down..!!

More than half of us don't know even the fundamentals of the Health Care Reform Act....

I know I don't. It's changed so often I finally gave up.

Insight Iowa #1.3

Now I can understand why so many farmers lost their farms of the years. Don't get me wrong, the debt limit has to be raised, the problem is little real cutting has occured, which means the can is still being kicked down the road.

Voting straight democrat would be the last thing I would do. Listen carefully, they don't want to cut a nickel other than defences. They just want to raise taxes. The economy isn't moving effectively because all the regulatory increase that has started and is coming takes away more money than any one year tax break will ever cover. You could make those tax breaks Obama gives permanent, and they still won't cover the regulatory increases.

Here's something amazing: Find a website of your choice that reports financial status of congress. There are many on both political sides. Please notice that very few members of congress lost any money on their investments. The combined government agencies' (judicial, executive and legislative) employees have increased their wealth by more than $1 billion. How is this possible that they can make money with their money but only lose ours (taxes)? This is clearly BOTH SIDES. Those of you who take a side and blame the opposition are just playing into their game. A divided country has no strength to change itself.

Some great post here, thanks to you all!! I agree that as it stands we have no choice but to raise the debt limit bc we have in fact already spent the money and it must be paid. We can not get around that fact but what we can get around is sending some of the borrowed money to foreign nations. We have a U.N folks and they need to be a collective piggy bank trying to get equal donations by any and all nations capable of donating and its people! Ron Paul (though crazy to most) has a good idea of putting a $3 donation to help pay off our debt box on the 1040 tax sheets. Something is better than nothing.

WOW What a shocker! The hood with a stolen credit card wants to run up our debt even more. He just can't help himself. He and his ilk have been a parasites on society their whole lives. Nothing new here.

It amazes me that liberals suck so bad at math. Yes, we are all aware that Bush added trillions to the debt. News flash: Bush hasn't been president for over three years now. GET OVER IT. Anybody who can do BASIC MATH can see that Obama has added as much to the debt in just THREE YEARS than Bush did over the entire EIGHT YEARS of both of his terms.

Did not take Dumbama long to ask for more debt ceiling increase, eh?! Keep on going you useless moron, we will be in the dumps very soon with your politics.

He will probably go back to Kenya after the landslide falls on him next year!

AND with all the money he is hoarding!

The time has long come and passed for Mr. Obama to start proposing was to decrease the debt and eliminate deficit spending. For all the liberals on here, can you please tell us what Mr. Obama's plan is to stop deficit spending and pay off the debt? And if your answer is raise taxes, please give the amount of the raise and the revenue expected to be generated from the raise and how that revenue will be used to pay off the debt and eliminate deficit spending (as opposed to simply being used to for more increased spending). Because , so far, Mr. Obama and his fellow Dems have failed to set forth any plan that will stop deficit spending and debt creation. So if you have an answer, I suggest you send it to Mr. Obama, because he has none.

BTW, an additional question for all you liberals out there that like to blame Bush for everything. Can you please tell us how Mr. Obama engaging in even greater deficit spending and debt building than ever dreamed of under the Bush era is somehow solving the problem you say Bush created by engaging in deficit spending and debt creation? Stop making lame excuses for Mr Obama's failed policies/practices and start demanding concrete answer from Mr. Obama on how he plans to stop deficit spending and debt creation. Bush is gone, Obama is still here for another 12 months.

The following is what Obama said in his previous speeches before Congress. Apparently his fear of what other Dems may think about him and, of course, the impact on his ability to get reelected, instead of what is actually needed to be done, are now causing him to turn away from his promise not to kick the can down the road. But when the general election starts and the ads showing the comparisons between what he says and what he does start running, it will be all over for Mr. Obama.

To kick these problems down the road for another four years or another eight years would be to continue the same irresponsibility that led us to this point. That's not why I ran for this office. I didn't come here to pass on our problems to the next President or the next generation

We are living with a legacy of deficit spending that began almost a decade ago. And in the wake of the financial crisis, some of that was necessary to keep credit flowing, save jobs, and put money in people's pockets.

But now that the worst of the recession is over, we have to confront the fact that our government spends more than it takes in. That is not sustainable. Every day, families sacrifice to live within their means. They deserve a government that does the same.

Now, even after paying for what we spent on my watch{cough, cough}, we will still face the massive deficit we had when I took office. More importantly, the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will continue to skyrocket. That's why I've called for a bipartisan, Fiscal Commission, modeled on a proposal by Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Kent Conrad. This can't be one of those Washington gimmicks that lets us pretend we solved a problem. The Commission will have to provide a specific set of solutions by a certain deadline

Yet, despite all of his promises and rhetoric, he has failed to propose any significant cuts or reforms, in any of those programs, that will eliminate defict spending, pay down the debt and balance of the budget. Choosing instead to demagogue and fear monger the issue, in an attempt to score cheap political points against his opposition, while knowing full well that failing to bite the bullet, and do what he himself has recognized needs to be done, will lead country into financial ruin. He appointed a Commission, on his own, and then ignored what they told him needed to be done. Yes, it was a gimmick to make Obama look serious about cutting the deficit, but the bills he has proposed continue massive deficit spending and make no meaningful cuts. And despite the language quoted above, he has failed to propose cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Soc Sec. Choosing instead to act like a child by chiding those adults that are willing to bite the bullet and do what's neded so to save the country from financial ruin.

Yes we can, blame Mr. Obama for his failure to lead!

Simply amazing. No debt is too high for leftists, as long as someone else is paying the bill.

Has anyone noticed the symbols for republicans and democrat? One is an elephant that is extremely intelligent, cares for its own, is extremely independent, lives about 60 years, doesn't over populate its habitat, aka pachyderm. The other is a stubborn braying donkey, that destroys its habitat when it goes wild, might live to 40, Not really interested in its offspring, though it can sometimes be trained, aka ass.

I didn't make it up. Google both if you think I did.

KingK, boy you are going to piss the left off with the truth. Watch the denials come. Debt up more in 3 years than 8 with the Bush. The left and O won't stop taking away from those who earn and redistribute to those who don't.

I have been paying taxes for 42 years and now unemployed for over 2 1/2 years. No one will hire me because of my age. I saved for long term hardship and when it came, I was thrown under a bus. My taxes paid for others med insurance/billsfor 4 decades. Now that I can't afford it, I am denied because I saved to get by when time were bad. Can't afford med insurance and pay rest of bills, but because I was somewhat smart with my life I can't get what I paid for others to get because I have assets.

So, I have to live lose everything to get something I already paid for others to get who earned nothing. Baby makers, drug addicts, self incurred HIV people. I can only assume, at this point, that those who think they deserve something they never earned will witness the collapse of America due to "their greed" to get something for nothing from the sweat of others.

The wealthy are not the problem, lazy leftists are the problem.

jim-1455434It is quite obvious that Obama has no intention of ever even ATTEMPTING to live within a budget for the U.S. of America.

In order to live within a budget one has to first have a budget. This administration hasn't had a budget passed since taking office. Anyone in Congress that passes a raise in the debt ceiling again, without a budget & cuts should be voted out of office in November. I don't care if they are Dem or Rep, they need to go. It's time the American people to send a very clear message.

Under Obama, it is trickle up poverty. His "leadership" of this country reminds me of someone trying to fly an airplane backwards ....... it just doesn't get off the ground !

In today's political era, our elected officials will do whatever they can to increase their own personal wealth, that of their friends and the corporations that continue to line their pockets. It's not a Republican or Democratic thing either as both parties are guilty. Of the 15 richest members of Congress 8 are Republican and 7 Are Democrat, and their wealth continues to grow. For years they've been allowed to take advantage of information that they have gained as a part of their official duties and gain from them in the trading of stocks. For every other American, this is called insider trading and leads to significant fines and time in prison, just ask Martha Stewart. But, for them, it's legal. They live by a different set of rules, just as the rich and celebrates do. Our society has allowed this to happen. Our society has been ruined by greed and corruption.

A great majority of the people of the United States have paid for the inept practices of our government and we all know that it isn't the 3%. That is what has led to a reduction in the size of the middle class and the fact that 1 in 2 Americans are now a part of the lower class or living in poverty.

Government spending is out of control and all this spending hasn't done anything to reduce unemployment or the standard of living for those who are suffering the most. Instead the want to shove a pipeline down the throats of the America, which will belong to another foreign corporation and won't even benefit that many people, and will create only a small amount of jobs. Once again big oil is reaping its giant head in the destruction of our nation.

We don't need to raise the debt ceiling anymore, we are destroying our nation even more every time we do this. What we need to do is put this nation back to work or capitalize on the jobs that have been taken from this nation. We need:

Tax Reform for individuals and corporations

Removal of Free Trade Agreements that are leading corporations to move jobs overseas

Politicians that do what is best for the United States and not just a few businesses or people

Reestablish the priorities of our nation

To bond together, as one nation to resolve the situation we are in. As long as we continue to bash each other and what one believes, only the politicians and a few will benefit; and we will do nothing to get our nation started down the path it needs to, in order to resolve our current problems.

We all need each other. If we have jobs in this nation, there will be less need for people to rely on programs that help them to put food on the table or to keep a roof over their head. If people have jobs, they will continue to put money in the economy and increase the demand for products, which helps businesses to grow, which leads to more jobs being created. If people have jobs, they pay more in taxes, and what is needed for our government to function is spread across the board and not just at those who have and those who don't. All we are getting now is deeper in debt and more tied to nations that could care less about our survival.

Our nation grew to become the greatest nation on this Earth by the people working together. We grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools and believed there was nothing that we couldn't do. We need that back. We need to reclaim our nation and not allow a small fraction of greedy politicians, CEOs, and other nations from taking everything we built, since the founding of our nation. As things are going now, all that's happening is we are just dying a very slow death.

WWW FREEDOMISNTFREE2012 COM

United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Very nice post Greg! Brava!!

WOW What a shocker! The hood with a stolen credit card wants to run up our debt even more. He just can't help himself. He and his ilk have been a parasites on society their whole lives. Nothing new here.

Jim-372206

Got OBL,,,,Got Gadhafi,,,, cleaned up the banks & market,,,; kept us out of a depression,,, stopped future federal bail outs,,,,; brought us back from Iraq

Got Gadahafi?

brought us back from Iraq?

Rewriting history or taking fictional liberties for a future made for TV movie?

So now we are demonizing over half of America? So just who is American anymore to you guys?

A large part of what is wrong with America is a huge national debt. How do the simpleton's eat? Oh yeah........the "evil" rich feed them.

I think we should start by kicking the idiots to the curb.

Next downgrade's rapidly approaching. Your dollar continues to decline. Perhaps it is time to start cutting programs.

The 1% continue to wage war on the middle class. Yet Republicans continue to protect the rich and corporations.

Social Security is NOT an entitlement, people pay into that. Medicaid and Medicare are means tested. Republicans are out of touch when they say to end entitlements.

Keep trying to end Medicare, Republicans, and see what happens in 2012.

All three of those programs are doomed. 70-100 trillion in unfunded mandates. We cannot create enough wealth to pay for them. Thanks for pointing out how shortsighted and destructive the policies from the left are.

Open your eyes Eric, the dems are as much to blames as the repubs.

Eric, do you realize that 90% of all millionaires and a huge majority of corporations donated to the democrats? Which is the party for the rich?

Mark, not sure where you got that 90%, but would be interested to see that. I will agree that the Dems are just as rich as the republicans though. All of the comments about the 1% and the Republicans is such idiocy. In 2008, Goldman Sachs was Obamas largest donor for his campaign. It is not a Democrat or Republican issue! It is a political issue.

Instead of figuring out how to save money and audit useless programs, it is easier to borrow it!

The Dems may be just as rich as the Republicans, but at least the Dems are willing to pay more taxes to help their country. They think they should pay at least the same percentage of their income to taxes as the middle class.

Heartlight3..(#3.12)..."They think they should pay at least the same percentage of their income to taxes as the middle class"....

Then why don't they "Just Do It" ???....Why do they need a change in the Tax Code to make them Do It ???....Warren Buffet needs to pay up the Billion In back taxes he owes before he spews anymore fiscal advice to anyone else.....Just a bunch of Hot Air Blowhards.....

"There are two ways for you to make a contribution to reduce the debt:

• You can make a contribution online either by credit card, checking or savings account at Pay.gov
• You can write a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it's a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public. Mail your check to:

  Attn Dept G
  Bureau of the Public Debt
  P. O. Box 2188
  Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188"

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/resources/faq/faq_publicdebt.htm#DebtFinance

Only $3,277,369.23 was gifted to the Treasury in 2011 by all these Billionaire and Millionaire's...I wonder how much came from Democrats ???.....Pony up or Shut up

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/gift/gift.htm

Heartlight3

The dems think they should pay as much and that is the problem. The republicans think they should pay more. The dems have resisted any attempt to reform the tax code and remove loopholes. All they want is to raise taxes which will mean that the middle class will end up paying more

Eric NO ONE is trying to END medicare....that's only a democratic talking point....even YOUR BELOVED FACTCHECK.ORG SAID so......

Democrats always try to drive the same old drivel....maybe you should come up with something new.

People need to put down the DNC newsletter. Eric why don't you ask your party why they haven't passed a budget. Obama could be the first president to have his legacy say "Obama: Budget? Let them eat cake"

And since you liberals love drumming up Bush administration stuff all the time, this is now the 2nd time in 3 years that the Obama administration needed a debt ceiling increase. Congress and Senate should not be paid until they pass a budget for a YEAR not this stupid 2 mos crap because they spend more time fighting over the budget than anything else

In today's political era, our elected officials will do whatever they can to increase their own personal wealth, that of their friends and the corporations that continue to line their pockets. It's not a Republican or Democratic thing either as both parties are guilty. Of the 15 richest members of Congress 8 are Republican and 7 Are Democrat, and their wealth continues to grow. For years they've been allowed to take advantage of information that they have gained as a part of their official duties and gain from them in the trading of stocks. For every other American, this is called insider trading and leads to significant fines and time in prison, just ask Martha Stewart. But, for them, it's legal. They live by a different set of rules, just as the rich and celebrates do. Our society has allowed this to happen. Our society has been ruined by greed and corruption.

A great majority of the people of the United States have paid for the inept practices of our government and we all know that it isn't the 3%. That is what has led to a reduction in the size of the middle class and the fact that 1 in 2 Americans are now a part of the lower class or living in poverty. Yes, there are those who are a part of the 3% that say tax us more but, to believe that they will just go out and write a check is ridiculous. They didn't get where they are at by doing foolish things.

Government spending is out of control, and all this spending hasn't done anything to reduce unemployment or the standard of living for those who are suffering the most. Instead Congress wants to shove a pipeline down the throats of the America, which will belong to another foreign corporation and won't even benefit that many people, and will create only a small amount of jobs. Once again big oil is reaping its giant head in the destruction of our nation. The law states that nothing can be done until an environmental impact study is complete and that should be the end of it instead of politicians playing their games.

We don't need to raise the debt ceiling anymore, we are destroying our nation even more every time we do this. What we need to do is put this nation back to work or capitalize on the jobs that have been taken from this nation. We need:

Tax Reform for individuals and corporations

Removal of Free Trade Agreements that are leading corporations to move jobs overseas

Politicians that do what is best for the United States and not just a few businesses or people

Reestablish the priorities of our nation

Cut the size of all government agencies

Reform Congressional Rules

To bond together, as one nation to resolve the situation we are in. As long as we continue to bash each other and what one believes, only the politicians and a few will benefit; and we will do nothing to get our nation started down the path it needs to, in order to resolve our current problems.

We all need each other. If we have jobs in this nation, there will be less need for people to rely on programs that help them to put food on the table or to keep a roof over their head. If people have jobs, they will continue to put money in the economy and increase the demand for products, which helps businesses to grow, which leads to more jobs being created. If people have jobs, they pay more in taxes, and what is needed for our government to function is spread across the board and not just at those who have and those who don't. All we are getting now is deeper in debt and more tied to nations that could care less about our survival.

Our nation grew to become the greatest nation on this Earth by the people working together. We grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools and believed there was nothing that we couldn't do. We need that back. We need to reclaim our nation and not allow a small fraction of greedy politicians, CEOs, and other nations from taking everything we built, since the founding of our nation. As things are going now, all that's happening is we are just dying a very slow death.

WWW FREEDOMISNTFREE2012 COM

United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

Note: The Republican House passed a budget - the Senate (held by Democrats) refuses to bring ANY budget to the floor.

DB Akron.....And don't forget......

"Zero Senate Democrats voted to move forward on President Obama's 2012 budget proposal, and the motion to proceed on it failed by a unanimous 0-97 vote.

What this means is that thus far, no Senate Democrat has voted in favor of any budget plan.

As Guy Benson notes, this was the same Obama budget that Democrats effusively praised when it was released in February."

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/05/zero-democrats-vote-proceed-obama-budget-fails-0-97#ixzz1hmnZvrEP

Eric-913730

"The 1% continue to wage war on the middle class. Yet Republicans continue to protect the rich and corporations."

Actually, it is welfare recipients waging war on taxpayers.

"Social Security is NOT an entitlement, people pay into that. Medicaid and Medicare are means tested. Republicans are out of touch when they say to end entitlements."

Wrong on 2 out of three. Medicaid is means tested and only those on welfare get it. Those who usually haven't paid ant taxes. SSI and Medicare are the only entitlements. They are entitlements to those who paid for them and no one else.

"Keep trying to end Medicare, Republicans, and see what happens in 2012."

Yada yada to the leftist Seinfeld crowd. Once upon a time it was standard if you don't work you don't eat. The leftist crowd thinks it is a right not to work, yet still get supported by those who do. That is why America is sinking so fast. YOU want something for nothing. Socialism only works until you run out of other peoples money. And once you make it easier not to work, and everyone is on welfare, society collapses.

Those who forget history repeat it. Google Argentina's fall.

Btw, why do government retirees deserve more than other retirees? Please explain, Eric, if you can.

Look at what happens when dems control congress

http://factreal.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/budget-deficit-democrats-vs-republicans-graph-historical-data/

Hawker-Beechcraft Denied Big Air Force Contract in Favor of Brazilian Company With Soros Connections

Medicaid is means tested and only those on welfare get it. Those who usually haven't paid ant taxes

It is incorrect to assume that people who receive medicaid benefits haven't paid taxes. Medicaid is available to people at a certain point in their lives when they need the assistance. Most will pay taxes before and after they experience a need for medicaid. Especially in these times, people should remember that those citizens once able to take care of themselves are more dependent on assistance and as the economy improves, they will be able to take care of themselves again. And people who are working also get medicaid when they do not have access to and do not earn enough to purchase private insurance.

Finally, medicaid eligibility is determined by the states. Eligibility is not consistent across the country.

WOW What a shocker! The hood with a stolen credit card wants to run up our debt even more. He just can't help himself. He and his ilk have been a parasites on society their whole lives. Nothing new here.

@Downtownjuliebrown, Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare, ends medicare as we know it and straps the elderly with $8000 a year in health expenses.

If that's not ending Medicare, I don't know what is.

If this comment by the most stupid president in AMERICAN HISTORY does not get you democrats upset then you deserve exactly what you voted in office and you sure can't fix STUPID. If there is one and only one thing this idiot prez knows is that no one can relate to trillions of dollars. He and all of his puppetmaster parasites depend on the stupidity of america. Anybody want to tell us where the next trillion is coming from other than its just counterfeit money to try and prop up an economy thats already been sold out and is now dead thanks to this moron of a prez. I already know BUSH DID IT AGAIN, of course I thought he was voted out but thats one sneaky guy.

Matt-3015949 "Bottom line is when over 50% of America are ok with doing nothing and demonizing those who work hard then this country will always vote for whoever will give them the most free stuff. It's not FREE!. It's being TAKEN by someone who has worked for it. You are responsible for YOU. Deal with it. When we get to that place then this country will be truly great again."

Amen to that. All Obama knows is "Spend, spend, spend" and 'hope' that things get better.

What people don't realize is that we are not borrowing from the Chinese, but from "OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE". We have become incredibly selfish by putting them in hopeless debt. When you look in your children's eyes, you should be ashamed of the legacy you are leaving them.

History has called the generation that fought in World War 2 "The Greatest Generation" because of the legacy of peace and prosperity, but history will remember this generation as "The Selfish Generation" because it spent it's children's future - all with simple votes.

It used to be that parents sacrificed FOR their children, not forced them to sacrifice for their selfish means.

If they cut social systems then what happens to all the money deducted from my pay checks for the last 46 years? You may have never thought of all the people that have payed in all their life only to collect a few SS checks before dying. Every one of you know a few of these people. So now after this they say that the Social Security fund is going broke? I say the fund is being SYSTEMATICALLY STOLEN!

Only the ignorant believe medicaid was paid for by those who earned it. I have been unemployed for 2 1/2 years. I paid taxes yet can't get the free stuff losers get for not paying taxes.

You leftists never wanted to support yourselves, yet you want everyone else to pay your way. You are what makes America bad. Too lazy to fend for yourselves and want others to pay your way.

It really amazes me how stupid the leftist want something for nothing no clue crowd is. They vote. That is scary. They vote for idiots like Obama. That is scarier.

Eric-913730

"@Downtownjuliebrown, Ryan's plan to privatize Medicare, ends medicare as we know it and straps the elderly with $8000 a year in health expenses.

If that's not ending Medicare, I don't know what is."

Then you don't know what is. Even Politifact said your statement is false and they tend to be a bit on the left of center.

IfearGovernmentMoreThanTerrorism

"If they cut social systems then what happens to all the money deducted from my pay checks for the last 46 years? You may have never thought of all the people that have payed in all their life only to collect a few SS checks before dying. Every one of you know a few of these people. So now after this they say that the Social Security fund is going broke? I say the fund is being SYSTEMATICALLY STOLEN!"

It has already been stolen, starting with the Johnson admin to use the funds to pay for the VN war. It is all a pile of IOU's meaning the government borrowed against what we paid into the fund and now we have to pay for it again thru general fund taxes.

Reducing the payroll tax will will just make it worse. Those who actually paid into the system should be first in line to get anything out of it. Those who didn't pay into it should be at the bottom of the list.

Actually, it will be the Chinese....ever thought of opening a laundry in your garage? In the old days we called it 'indentured servitude'....will have to come up with a new, catchier name for our collective futures.

True, true.

That's certainly a good start Eric. I propose, for members of congress, we slash their pay and put the remaining money back into the economy. Congress gets paid way too much, especially for the work they do, or lack of in this day and age.

Eric -

ending the bush tax cuts would be a tax increase on the middle class considering 88% of the tax cuts from the bush tax cuts are directed at the middle class.

im all for everyone paying more, repeal bush tax cuts for everyone, not just the rich. also cut spending by 1 trillion on year 1 like ron pauls plan.

considering the millionaires tax raises a whopping 11 billion dollars, your class warfare has a long way to go toward solving our problem

End the Bush Tax cuts?

So.......you mean raise taxes on everyone?

We could solve it all by returning our govt to the restrictions of the Constitution. If you wish to live under a govt which tells you how successful you can be then all you have to do is leave. There are plenty of those types of govt out there.

@ Doug

I would rather raise taxes on anyone that unfairly target a section of income because you are successful. If we are to be fair about it, let them expire for everyone. Im all for returning the restrictions of government to the constitution and cutting spending accordingly. I personally don't think taxes need to up for anyone, we need to reassess what we want the role of government to truely be.

Thats why im voting ron paul, Doug.

Eric, the bush tax cuts would raise taxes on everybody, which I have no issue with. The question is do YOU have an issue with this, does your personal greed get int he way???????????

Have a good week.

Jwright, do you really think no one is "implementing any policies to lower our debt." ? Have you been paying any attention at all? Have you noticed all the spending cuts that have been made over the past couple of years? Why do you think our economy is having so much trouble recovering? It's because of all the austerity measures that we have been trying. It is not possible to cut everything at once. I would like to see some longer term strategic planning that would produce a steady reduction in spending along with a plan to increase taxes and jobs so that the economy gets boosted from both the revenue side and the spending side at the same time. But every time the President proposes something like that, he gets shot down because the Republicans can only see the short term and they want to cut everything in the next year or two. That's like cutting off your arms and legs to lose some weight. Doesn't really help in the long term. That is what you all are seeing and continuously whining about.

Hey Heartlight. I got the plan right here. Been thinking about it and posting it for weeks. I guess I'm a bit too preoccupied with this stuff. Well, either way I've got a plan to cut the deficit by $9 trillion over 12 years, and its gonna be BALANCED. Not all spending cuts, not all revenue increases, a bit of both. Plus I've added a way to grow the economy to reduce the deficit even further. Check it out and tell me what you think:

1. Deficit Reduction Package over 12 years:

• Cut defense by $800 billion. Prioritize spending to match the investments made by the Chinese, install cyber-defense system to defend American projects and info. Close 74 bases (mostly in Europe and US).
• $1.2 trillion in savings from entitlement reform: increase cap on payroll tax cut to $250,000 or $500,000; remove waste; raise retirement age to 67, and make them SOLVENT.
• Remove Bush tax cuts except $1.2 trillion for middle/lower class earners= $3.2-3.6 trillion savings.
• Gradually increase taxes on the highest income bracket to 47.4% from 39.6% after repeal of Bush tax cuts=$1.2 trillion
• Reform tax code, eliminate loopholes and most tax expenditures.
• Lower corporate tax rate to competitive 17.5% BUT no loopholes and ALL corporations pay 17.5%. NO TAX REFUNDS for corporations.
• Eliminate $100 billion in subsidies for oil/gas, ethanol, and farms. Use $60 billion for deficit and the rest for incentives in clean energy.
• Reform government departments, agencies. Place Dept. of Homeland Security under Defense Department.
• Cut $2.1 trillion from the rest of discretionary spending EXCEPT NASA and Education.
• Total savings=~$9 trillion over 12 years including lower interest.
• Install progressive tax rate to balance ownership of national wealth.
• Wealth tax to discourage hoarding of money.

2. Economic Plan (paid for by a 4% surtax on people who make over $1 million).

• $60 billion in infrastructure bank.
• $40 billion in incentives for clean energy, plus increases in subsidies and new projects to construct solar power plants, wind farms, nuclear power plants, hydroelectric dams, etc.
• 100% duty on goods from nations that manipulate trade markets (China, Russia, etc).
• $50 billion for innovation.
• Education reform along lines of Obey Porter model. Also investing into Head Start education program.
• Immigration reform. Sponsor immigration of those excelling in science, math, technology, etc and offer them government jobs if they can't get them in the private sector.
• $200 billion in plan to rebuild America using underemployed and unemployed people.
• $50 billion to upgrade U.S. airports, refineries, oil rigs, and harbors.
• Help housing market by speeding up foreclosure time, destroying old houses for new projects, writing off underwater mortgages, and having the feds and state and local govts buy houses and teaming up with private sector to rent out homes and split profits until market fully recovers (nice revenue stream; less foreclosures; win-win).
• Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act.
• Reform Wall Street.
• Full employment policies.
• Living wages and higher minimum wage.
• Low-cost higher education.
• Employee Ownership Programs.
• Creation of a Pacific trade zone area open to all nations THAT WILL OBEY TRADE LAWS. China will not be initially invited until they cooperate with the WTO.
• Decrease inequality by promoting education, strong safety nets for the unemployed, and pro-growth policies from both the left AND the right.
• $50 billion for domestic energy exploration.
• $40 billion for Department of Tourism and 200,000 embassy workers to speed up time to get a visa to visit the US. Increase tourism, create jobs, and allow people to spend money in America.
• Broad national regulatory overview: cut wasteful regulations in some sectors (energy infrastructure, etc) and install new regulations in others (financial markets, housing, etc).
• New regulation: all companies must increase their employees salaries at least once every two to five years and must adjust those pay increases for inflation (allows middle and lower class income to increase steadily).

3. Reform Government.

• Government funded campaigns.
• Proportional representation.
• Filibuster reform. Limit amount per year and make certain bills immune.
• Cut salaries for officials by 35%.
• Ban any lobbyists from Capitol Hill.
• NO VACATIONS OR PAY when deadlock is in government.
• Congress can no longer vote to increase their own pay. That occurs automatically when national standard of living rises.

@Freshiee

I applaud your clear and rational thinking in actually defining a plan. I don't really agree with having a 47.7% tax bracked on high income earners + 4% surtax to pay for additional things. That pushes the highest earners over 60% in some cases including local and state taxes. If i was a high income earner, why in the world would you work to keep 40% of what you make?

Sorry but your plan unfairly burdens the highest earners and penalizes them for being sucessful.

Not a fan.

Nothing new, mostly regurgitation of liberal bovine excrement.

Alright then, brendan. Thanks for the comment. What rate would you put for the highest income bracket?

Remember, the current rate is 35% for the highest earners.

But then again, what about during the Reagan years, when the federal tax rate was nearly 50%???

It averaged around 50% under Reagan, and a bit over 90% under Eisenhower -- and still the rich managed somehow to stay rich.

Of course, today they pay nothing near 35%. That's what the tax loopholes and the armies of tax lawyers and consultants are for. The richest 400 Americans paid 18% of their income in federal income tax last year, according to the easily Googled IRS data.

And besides; the highest income bracket earners make $317,000. I'm not sure, however, if those who make roughly that amount pay 35% with the loopholes in them. Then again, if I remove most of the loopholes and raise them up even more then what would happen to them and to our economy? The rates should probably go to just 45.4%. But the four percent surtax would be a temporary one year tax (and I mean it, although that may mean little if anything).

brendan

Let's say you buy 52 cases of beer in a year @ $15.00 per case. The government gets 5% tax on that case making each case actually cost $15.75 or your budget for the year of $819 per year. For the next year you don't get a pay increase, but government moves the tax to 10% Making a case cost you $16.50 per case. That means you only have enough money to buy 49 cases of beer. Because everyone is buying 3 less cases of beer a year, the brewer cuts production, lowering wages paid to people or lays off people he doesn't need if he shuts down a production line.

But the politicians aren't normally stupid enough to raise taxes on the poor people - but raise the taxes on the business. So the beer people are already charging $15.75 start charging $16.50 to pay for the new taxes. The same effect occurs except for one thing. Chinese beer is still $15.75 and you really don't want to decrease how much beer you drink so you buy the Chinese instead of the American Beer.

The American Beer wanting to compete then moves production to China so they can American beer made in china to you for $15.75. Worse yet, you cousin lost his job when American beer moved production to china.

And that is why you don't tax anyone more than necessary.

Then you tarriff(tax) the imports,to make them higher,giving the American made beer a competitive edge.What has happened is,Bill Clinton's administration gave favoured trade status to the Chinese permanently.They can import their cheap made(near slave labor)products,while passing laws that make it nearly impossible to send our products over there.The only major exception is food,which they have a problem raising enough.They also love American scrap iron,copper,and lead.Also,our technology.

Obama is a puppet and he is taking steps to bankrupt this country.This has nothing to do with entitlements.It about these secret societies that are made up of multi billionaires trying to bankrupt our country so they can take everything of value this country owns and give us barely enough to survive on.There a war going on financialy and we are intended to be the losers.Wake America.

Akron, of course, if not taxing the corporations because they simply pass on the increase to consumers constitutes an argument against raising taxes, then it qualifies as an argument against any corporate taxes at all. After all, why not just tax the consumer directly?

That's silly. All of us -- corporations and consumers alike -- owe something to the social and economic arrangement that has made it possible for us to consumer beer at a reasonable price, to the pleasure of the consumer and the profit of the manufacturer. (Try doing it in North Korea.) We have a combination of socialism and capitalism -- you might call it tempered capitalism -- and we always have.

The use of the word "necessary", as in "you don't tax anyone more than necessary", is where the problem is. What's necessary?

Freshiee's suggestion of 45.4% (?) sounds like a reasonable average but the rates should probably be flexible so that we can adapt to changing economic circumstances. When everyone is prospering, the rates ought to go up, though nobody will like it. It's like saving for that rainy day.

Currently we seem to be stuck because we had about five boom years under Bush and yet the tax cuts of 2001 were not rescinded. We were even fighting two wars while cutting taxes. It was a blunder that shouldn't be repeated.

As it stands now, a surcharge on the wealthy wouldn't hurt them beyond their endurance. Of all the income growth between 1979 and 2007, more than 63.7% went to the upper ten percent. The bottom 90% saw its income increase by 36.3%, most of that going to those near the upper end of the ladder, not the lowest. That strikes me as unfair, especially in view of so many people arguing that the wealthy shouldn't be "punished" for being successful. (What have Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian succeeded at, beyond being born rich?)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/09/the_rich_getting_richer_in_one.html

I think the real problem is that nobody and I do mean nobody wants to pay taxes. So everybody wants to have breaks in order to decrease their taxes owed. Everyone!!!!! rich,middle, otherwise or poor, nobody wants to pay taxes! hell i would rather donate to my local food bank and unemployment offices than pay income taxes to the federal govt'. They can not be trusted to spend our money wisely and they have multiple times over been shown to be corruptible, but that's our very human nature, sadly.

So now that I have said that, would someone please explain why 50% should work and pay taxes while the other 50% do not work and basically receive those taxes I paid plus borrowed govt' money? Yes the rich are just as liable as middle class for taxes but why does the fed govt' not address the real issue of needing more manufacturing in our nation to create jobs and get folks off welfare. why is the federal govt' slamming the states who are trying to protect its citizens from undocumented job theft? Any company who hires illegals and does not pay taxes is stealing from you and I. Why does the federal govt' wish to make this a free safe haven for individuals not wishing to renounce their national birth country and to pledge allegiance to the U.S? Why do we pay for their children to be born here and allow our hospitals to close for non-payment by the said illegals/undocumented? Why would a president tell his people their borders are safe when less have died in the war zones of Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran combined than those surrounding the border states trying to prevent drug runners from bringing illegal substances into our nation? Why would we continue to allow representatives who clearly have not read the constitution and have forgotten all who died to free us from an oppressive govt'?

I am not concerned with the rich, never have been and in fact would Love to be rich someday, but I am concerned with abuse of our systems, undocumented aliens receiving S.S benefits they never paid into( have one next door who brags about it constantly), welfare recipients buying a new caddy SUV every year wearing REAL diamond earrings, rings and necklaces, who buy groceries with EBT, food stamps and have their 4-5 kids in daycare being paid for with my tax dollars. I scrimp and saved to put my kids in daycare programs and I had to cut grocery budgets to pay utilities, while these folks have their lives completely paid for rent, phones, electricity, water and somehow also receive a tax rebate after buying their new caddy SUV. They are the ones who live off disability bc they are over weight or claim back ailments or leg issues or heck even migraines caused by lights in offices. Yes that has been used and somehow approved as a real disability. LMBO even had an employee whose dr signed a note stating they needed to have a break every hour of 10 minutes bc the lights hurt their eyes and caused headches. so 10 minute smoke break(somehow I pay for those cigs too) every hour.

Yeah liberal agenda at its best!!

I do not mind helping those that wish to better themselves, in fact I love'em!!! But I can not stand by and vote to tax the rich more just so the supposed poor can keep up with or exceed the jones's!

Get the stupid corporations to bring manufacturing back over here by any means necessary, then get all these suckers off govt' programs by getting them jobs. Stop talking about cutting planned parenthood bc its the only thing keeping some of them from having more govt' funded babies paid for with my tax dollars. I don't like abortion but I do like the pill, shot or whatever keeps idiot welfare suckers from sucking more out of the govt'. Heck pay for 2 kids and no more!!! NO MORE!!!!

Don't raise the debt ceiling until you cut all of the senseless suckers out of the equation. There are real people who actually have use for those programs for a short time, who actually paid into them and HAVE to use them until they find something to replace them. But the point is those people are out everyday looking for work, looking to get off govt' assistance! Those are the deserving, those are the ones who need and deserve the tax breaks! I will gladly pay for them and even hire them until they find something better.

And if you are sick of corporate greed stop shopping at major companies, support your small town businesses. That means no wal-mart, no target, no sams club, no out of country manufactured cars ( if you can find one).

Stop complaining about the corporate greed and start giving it to those middle class businesses! Stop blaming the rich, we do not need them to prosper, they got rich by starting small and getting big, so get back to basics, buy small. And leave the stupid silver spoon babies out of this bc every nation has them and every nation loves to hate them! And besides they spend, spend, spend and thats not bad for an economy!

But we have to raise the debt ceiling to pay for things already spent but they need to seriously stop throwing money away and then asking for more. The rich will never be taxed enough to make everybody happy and that is also part of our human nature! We can not have a Utopian society bc there will always be other views and ideas of how things should be done! Its a myth!!!

@Brendan, It's very clear that the rich and corporations do not pay as much tax as those in the middle class, via loopholes etc.

It's also very clear that the GOP is waging war on the middle class, NOT the middle class waging war on the rich.

Thus, the class warfare is coming from the GOP and not the Democrats.

Class warfare, of course. This is the answer that conservatives have when Democrats try to propose reducing the deficit in part by raising taxes on the wealthy. And I have an answer for those conservatives: THERE HAS BEEN CLASS WARFARE FOR 40 years. EVER SINCE WE TOOK ON DEREGULATION AND LOW TAXES THE RICH HAVE BEEN GETTING RICHER WHILE THE REST OF US ARE LEFT IN THE DUST. And FWI: wars include fighting from both sides. And by calling Democrats mongers of class warfare against the wealthy, aren't you pointing out that the Democrats are backing the middle class, or at least those at the bottom of the American class system???????

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

DEMOCRATS BEAT GOP 2012

AMERICA 2012

TEA PARTY/GOP EXTINCT 2012

insight, you are a very missinformed dem tool. obama's first 2 years in office, he had a majority and did nothing except obamacare. Obama has been in office now 3 years and has spent $5T and now wants to spend $1.2 more instead of cutting spending.

If you don't care about the future of America, then you continue to vote dem accross the board.

insight--how many years does it take before Obama takes ownership of this mess? And just as a reminder, he had a filibuster proof senate and a majority in the house. He could have passed every transparency and debt reduction bill he wanted. ANYTHING HE WANTED, and all that happened was bickering on a health care bill and blaming the republicans because the democrats couldn't work together and get it passed. I repeat....They had 2 years to pass anything they wanted!!

You both are misinformed. Nice try. House claimed they would filibustered everything sent over, so Senate said why bother. And, No... I was a Republican until this past 2 years... I'm going Independent and voting Obama. The Health Care Bill has not even come into effect for you to go stupid over it... and most people know that when new bills are put into play they will need adjustments made. No bill is a perfect bill. So, yes, I'm now drinking the Koolaid and proud to do so. I have never been more ashamed of a party then I am of the Republican Party this past 12 years. Oh, I was totally against W's war. Really who walks into a church and come out and tells the world that God told him to go to war... He lost me from that point on.

you are absolutely right....we have to raise the debt ceiling in the short run. Problem is, nobody is doing anything about the long run....if we think things are bad now, just wait a few years....we ain't seen nothing yet.

This is WH the Republicans did this. To allow the Tea Party to grab on and shout. It's all a big stunt. Congress is the one that makes the budget. Congress set it up so that the President has to ask for the increase to pay for the budget Congress approved.

@Eric

the insane spending of both parties with little to no accountability go us to where we are, not one single party.

you guys spouting party-line rhetoric with no solutions are what is wrong with this country.. pathetic is what you are

It looks like Eric got his bonus check from Mr. Soros ..... he is back playing the party line again.

I laugh to think he claimed once to have a business.

OBAMA continues his quest to spend our country into bankruptcy !

@ Brendan Your comment is the most common sense post I have seen on this blog in a long time. Both parties have been at fault and yet the American people naively continue to buy into party line bs.

Insight - your understanding of government is extremely limited

House claimed they would filibustered everything sent over

There is no filibuster in the house. There is in the Senate. A filibuster threat only exists in the senate if the minority holds 41 seats. From the beginning January 2009 to the end of january 2010 The republicans had 40 seats. If anything in that time was fillibustered, at least one democrat had to not be present or defect.

Now, there was a problem in the House. There were 40 or 45 democrats called blue-dogs who on one issue in particular were siding with republicans over abortion in the health care bill and the government option. The Senate did stall over that, but dropped those two items from the bill.

Your lack of understanding some of these things is causing you to vote for the wrong people. Don't worry, the democrats don't care who votes for them or for what fouled up reason you vote for them, just as long as they get your vote.

If you don't believe me, check out the vine section on Senator Bill Nelson not running. See how awful the treat the guy that got them the one of the last three votes they needed to pass Obamacare?

Giving the control back to the democrats in Congress? They had it for 2 straight years and gave us spending spending Obamacare spending. You seriously think the Democrats will ever CUT spending? I need to drink your Kool Aid

Insight,you are good for insighting riots.Obammy is NOT a leader,unfortunately,most of the other choices are not,either.If the U.S. does not want deficits,then why do they vote for deficits?Good question.Appearantly,we want to spend until we're broke.It looks as if we're getting real good at it!God help us.

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/09/about-filibuster-proof-majority

"Well, let's at least get our history straight. Until Al Franken was sworn in on July 7, the Democratic caucus in the Senate stood at 59. After that it was technically up to 60, but Ted Kennedy hadn't cast a vote in months and was housebound due to illness. He died a few weeks later and was replaced by Paul Kirk on September 24, finally bringing the Democratic majority up to 60 in practice as well as theory. After that the Senate was in session for 11 weeks before taking its winter recess, followed by three weeks until Scott Brown won Kennedy's seat in the Massachusetts special election.

So that means Democrats had an effective filibuster-proof majority for about 14 weeks. Did they squander it? I guess you can make that case, but there's a very limited amount you can do in the Senate in 14 weeks. Given the reality of what it takes to move legislation through committee and onto the floor (keeping in mind that the filibuster isn't the minority party's only way to slow things down), I think you might make the case, at most, that a single additional piece of legislation could have been forced through during that period. But probably not much more than that. Democrats basically had a filibuster-proof majority for about three months. That's just not very long."

Here is another, http://www.mediaite.com/tv/morning-doh-chris-christie-falsely-claims-president-obama-had-filibuster-proof-majority-for-2-years/

one more, http://southernbeale.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/the-democrats-filibuster-proof-majority-other-wingnut-myths/

And don't forget Lieberman caucuses with Dems., but supported McCain in 2008 and is a independent.

So let's get real about the "two year theory", many people know the Dems. are a group of varying opinion, and represent more of the differences we have.

Here is another tid bit on the first bill passed in 2009, http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2009/01/28/35404/cantors-stimulus-lies/

Yes, not one Republican voted for the bill in the House.http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2009/01/28/35462/stimulus-house-vote/

talk about facist, communist, socialist thinking, I see it in the Republican Congress.

Yes, there is no dissension in the Republican Congress, because they are for the good of every one of their constituents. LOL.

@Brendan, Bush cut taxes and went to war twice which caused deficit spending.

That is the first step in "starving the beast".

""Starving the beast" is a fiscal-political strategy of some American conservatives^[1][2][3] to cut taxes in order to deprive the government of revenue in a deliberate effort to create a fiscal budget crisis that would then force the federal government to reduce spending. The short and medium term effect of the strategy has been increased United States public debt rather than reduced spending." - Wikipedia

After the financial crisis, then its not a surprise that all Republicans are calling for an end to entitlements.

Vote out Republicans in 2012 and their "starving the beast" policies.

Eric - Remember the tears running down your cheeks after the November 2010 med-terms and you felt your beloved "free" Democrat vote-buying handouts become jeopardized?

Buy some tissues because 2012 and 2014 and going to see a continued return of responsibility to American government and that means the complete removal of pandering, vote-buying, Mexicrats from our political system. You may even have to get a job instead of being a leech on society.

Look, Obama had to raise the debt ceiling whether he wanted to or not. Our debt is a problem, but it can be solved by using bipartisan strategies. Take reforming the tax code, for example. The Dems want revenue increases, while the GOP want lower rates. Give'em want they want, HOWEVER, the wealthy don't get a lower rate (sorry, but its time they pay 45%, not 18%). As for entitlements, reform them, raise the cap on the payroll tax, impose a mandatory retirement age limit at 67, and work to make them solvent. Spending; Dems want defense cuts; GOP wants discretionary cuts. Dems can cut $700-800 billion TOTAL from defense over 12 years, while GOP can cut approx. $2.1 trillion from anywhere EXCEPT Education and NASA. Bush tax cuts REPEAL; costs too much. HOWEVER, $1.2 trillion will be reserved for the REAL job creators, middle and lower class, just so we don't hurt any economic growth over the next 12 years. But those remaining tax breaks will be repealed in about 2015. Corporate tax rates: lower them to 17.5% to placate the GOP BUT remove every corporate welfare program, loophole, or tax expenditure to please the Dems. If the Tea Party would be willing to allow revenue increases and the Dems would lower their stance on not touching entitlements we could have gotten a deal weeks ago. But thanks to partisan gridlock (mostly on the side of the right, but also prevalent on the left), we need to visit this case AGAIN. Come on, Congress. Get off your lazy ass and get to work FOR ONCE. And work for the AMERICAN people, not the special interests.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

And starving the beast DOES NOT WORK. The government will simply borrow to pay for its spending. That is why we have a huge debt, that is why we shouldn't implement it. Anybody who still believes that starving the beast will work is either an idiot or an uncompromising fool.

First things first! We HAVE to cut foreign aid! It is probably nearly equal to our national debt. Do YOU donate to charities when you are having personal financial difficulties? I doubt it!

Like they always said "Charity starts at home!"

IfearGovernment, you are as stupid as your name suggests. The Federal budget is about $3.7 trillion a year; the debt is $15 trillion. What is bigger?? And if you answered correctly, how can you fit $15 trillion of foreign aid into a $3.7 trillion budget??

Typical starve the beast ignorance. RESEARCH BEFORE YOU COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Government isn't structured like that. Most who make comments really need to read on how politics work. Money is put into accounts and can only be used for that account. Example: Road work... 1 million in the account vs. Schools... 0 in that account. You can't take from one and give to the other even if its just setting there doing nothing because it was issued for road work. Period.

All we have to do is ride out the aftermath of the Great Recession. Once things recover far enough, revenue will go up, costs will go down as more people become employed, and fewer people need help. It's not that hard to figure out.

We still gotta worry about our entitlements, as the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing. I'd say lets go to universal healthcare. They have it in Europe and although they are in a recession (mostly caused by debt and low credit-status), they have a higher life expectancy than over here. Plus I'm not gonna trust the private health industry to control this nation's healthcare costs; they go for PROFIT.

Bob, thanks for the quote from Mother Jones. A few more facts and a lot less name calling would clear the air a bit.

Freshieee, while I agree that the theory of universal healthcare is a great idea, it is not practical. Take the nurses I know for example, many of them contracted for a few months in Europe and not a single one said the quality of care was even slightly decent. The pay for non-contract was miserable and most good nurses and doctors came here to work bc the working conditions are better regulated and the pay is ridiculously more substantial. In a universal healthcare system you can have a universally Great system but probable says it will be universally Bad! The best all around thing the govt' could do if you want some regulation is to regulate the cost of certain services similar to what they do with medicare and medicaid. But the problem prevalent there is that only so many doctors accept those programs and they are always full so your elderly and very young have extremely long waits to see the dr. And you have multiple cases of fraud by dr's who were charging the govt' for services never rendered or services rendered to a deceased patient! So the best offer I can come up with is a universal cost for a general practioner visit of say $35 dollars and lab fees not to exceed $25. Some such thing wold be the safest and less corruptible way to equalize the health services industry. But it is somewhat radical, I know! But then people could just buy catastrophic insurance to pay for more costly things, heart surgeries, etc. What happened to the good old days when if you broke your arm, they set it in the er and had you come back the next day for a cast and it all cost $75 dollars. (or so my mother said it did when she was a child)

Maybe, due to the size of the American private healthcare industry, we could have universal healthcare in a more privatized manner. The government could manage the healthcare and fund it through healthcare taxes, and the private companies are contracted to do the work. It would probably look more like a federal-mandated healthcare system, where the government controls the cost while private companies do the work, get paid for contracts, and payments could be the form of a single-payer system. But all I know is that the government has to control healthcare costs WHILE improving the quality of our system. And TexasFighterGal, if the quality of the service is bad in Europe then why do they have some of the top qualities of healthcare in organized surveys, like in this website: http://lauraschneider.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/where-does-america-rank-in-healthcare-quality-and-efficiency/

Maybe, due to the size of the American private healthcare industry, we could have universal healthcare in a more privatized manner. The government could manage the healthcare and fund it through healthcare taxes, and the private companies are contracted to do the work. It would probably look more like a federal-mandated healthcare system, where the government controls the cost while private companies do the work, get paid for contracts, and payments could be the form of a single-payer system. But all I know is that the government has to control healthcare costs WHILE improving the quality of our system. And TexasFighterGal, if the quality of the service is bad in Europe then why do they have some of the top qualities of healthcare in organized surveys, like in this website: http://lauraschneider.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/where-does-america-rank-in-healthcare-quality-and-efficiency/

Just passing on the word, oh dr's and nurses and some of my own experiences with national healthcare. Like I said it is a great idea, but well so was S.S and somehow that got messed with, so was medicare and see where thats been going. So many good ideas and so many bad corruptible folks just looking to get rich and take advantage. Freshiee, you would have to have some serious block to prevent theft and even then is that really possible.? Our govt' can do some pretty creative things to make it all look good on paper when in fact they are hiding secrets! The one thing I can say is good about national healthcare is that nurses are not in it for the money and neither are doctors, so you have a better chance of having one who really care about you and wants to in fact do their job. We have plenty of folks here whose sole reason for getting into medicine is to make money not to help people! we have all seen those types and maybe even been cared for by them!

"You said fault" - Like two unfunded Wars dumped on Obama. You want to talk about fault, talk about "W" the guy that got us into this mess.

Yea, yea, yea...blah, blah, blah....easy to blame someone for the problems we face...what difference does it make now?....what is your solution? We've got plenty of "blamers" - - everybody in DC is a blamer....we need solutions. So, Partiotic American USA....follow John F. Kennedy's challenge at his inauguration..."Ask not....." you know the rest.

Very well, Grandfather - so why are you not chastising Cranewalker, as well? Seems he/she is guilty of playing the blame game also, no? Or do you only intervene in said game when left blames right, not when right blames left?

If we don't identify who did what that got us into this mess, we are unlikely to be able to figure out how to undo what was done in order to get ourselves out. You can't just ignore what caused a problem and expect to resolve it. It seems to me that is what is being attempted here, and what everyone is whining about. That only results in piling more and more band aids over an infection and hoping that somehow it will heal itself. You need to get in there and clean the infection out before it can heal. Sitting around whining that it's not getting better while continuing to do the same thing doesn't help.

Band aids would be nice, but what is being done to us is more like rubbing salt in the wounds.

heartlight - " while continuing to do the same thing doesn't help."

3 years of "stimulus" after "stimulus" (aka jobs bills) and you think more wasteful spending is somehow a solution?

Alan let's not forget the spending of TWO Bush war's that were not included in the total debt until Obama took office and HE corrected the books. Of course Faux News didn't tell you that one.

Yes I DO drink the DEm Kool Aid, my favorite flavor: REALITY mmmmmm sssooooo goooood!

Reality? Really? We spend $147 for every $100 we take in. How long do you think that can go on? Obama seems to think it can pretty much go on for another 10 years or so....if so, his grandchildren will spit on his grave for the world he will leave them (yours too, and mine). If the folks that fought WWII were the "Greatest Generation" how do you suppose the current generation will be remembered? Something to think about.....

meh... the WW2 generation will be revised to the selfish generation. always voting in politicians that promise the world with no way to pay for it.

the last 30 years have been disasterous in terms of politicians being elected by your so called "greatest generation"

if anything they are the generation of "give it to me now, screw the future"

@ Brendan The WW2 generation is not the cause of this mess. If anything is the problem it is the children of the WW2 generation. They are at fault for raising children who do not know what hard work and sacrifice is, they want instant gratification. I am not sure what will happen to them once mommy and daddy's checkbook dries up.

Brendon, do you realize that WW2 folks fought to keep you from speaking Japanese? You wouldn't have the freedom that you now have if many hadn't died for this cause.My Dad was one that served during the war.He is 85 years old.Our nation's economy was given away to China,and imports are far greater than what we export,thus creating less revenue,which affects our jobs and the well being of our nation.Don't blame the WW2 generation,blame greedy corporations and Congress,who love to screw us good.If politicians don't vote for deficits,their won't be deficits!So,Brendon,what are you doing to make America better?Why don't you get off your lazy,cigarette smoking ass and get a job?Happy New Year!

cranewalker, here is a "reminder" for you about "control"of the Senate. A party majority does not give you control when it comes to the Senate rules of filibuster.

President Obama spoke about collective amnesia and rightly so. Apparently, there is an epidemic of selective amnesia concerning the 2009 and 2010 Senate "Super Majority".

For those who persist in the Senate Super majority lie of the 111th Congress and the continuing obstruction of the 112th Congress. So,how did anything get passed?( ie. Healthcare Reform, unemployment benefit extensions, payroll tax cuts) Ah, that dirty word -compromise. Even then and today, every bill needed votes from the Independents, Blue dog Dems and Republicans.

No matter how many times you repeat that Super Majority lie it is still a lie. Did everyone forget the Blue Dog Dems (ie. Evan Bayh, and others?) In fact, they never had a Democratic super majority because of Leiberman(I. Conn), just another pissed off Independent that consistently votes with the Republicans even though he will caucus with the Dems. He backed McCain, didn't he?

There was never a "Senate Super Majority" for any length of time. The GOP/TP has set a historical record for the number of filibusters in this administration and it still continues to obstruct any bills to move us forward.

The Senate Super majority myth

January 3, 2009 - 111th Congress sworn in. 55 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents, 2 vacant.

January 15, 2009 - Roland Burris sworn in to Barack Obama's seat. 56 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents, 2 vacant.

April 30, 2009 – Arlen Specter changes parties. 57 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

July 7, 2009 – Al Franken seated. 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE DEMOCRATS HAD A SHOT AT A
60-VOTE MAJORITY AND STILL NEEDED BOTH INDEPENDENTS.

August 25, 2009 – Teddy Kennedy dies. Kennedy had missed 97% of the votes in 2009 and over 90% in the last half of 2008. 57 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

September 25, 2009 – Paul Kirk appointed to Teddy Kennedy's seat. 58 Democrats, 40 Republicans, 2 Independents.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE DEMOCRATS HAD A SHOT AT A 60-VOTE MAJORITY AND STILL NEEDED THE INDEPENDENTS.

February 4, 2010 – Scott Brown sworn in to replace Paul Kirk. 57 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents.

June 28, 2010 – Robert Byrd dies. Byrd had missed over 90% of the votes in 2010 and almost 50% in 2009 due to illness. 56 Democrats, 41 Republicans, 2 Independents, 1 vacant.

November 29, 2010 - Mark Kirk sworn in to replace Roland Burris. 56 Democrats, 42 Republicans, 2 Independents.

Super-majority? It never really existed because during
two periods when Teddy Kennedy and/or Robert Byrd were unable to vote they still needed to get the votes of every Democrat plus BOTH independents.

FACT: The "Democrat supermajority" is a G.O.P. lie.

FACT: The GOP used every roadblock, filibuster, and secret hold they could think of so that EVERY bill had to have a 60-vote margin to pass.

Cynthia, thank you. That was very clear, and something that is all too often overlooked.

Yep, democrats are pretty good at over looking. I'm sure the "we won, you lost, you all move to the back of the bus" comments did a lot to promote compromise. Remember there was a republican congress Bill Clinton's last 4 years in office. Clinton was able to work with a republican congress to show a budget surplus, I wonder why Obama can't?

Cynthia - let me describe those two independents.

Independent #1

Lieberman was a democrat before become the "independent" democrat. The only reason he was the "Independent democrat" was because his own party wanted to dump him because he was not liberal enought. He by agreement with the democrats was permitted keep his committee chairmanships provide he voted with them. Despite the agreement, Lieberman held out for more goodies for his state to make up for him voting for the HCL.

Independent #2

Barry Sanders. Barry is a socialist. Yes that is correct. He is far left and independent because the democrats don't do enough in governmental control of the society. They didn't have to buy off Sanders, he was in all the way, even if it didn't go far enough.

As far as the democrats not having the super Majority until July. Didn't matter, the bill wasn't going to be ready until at least september. And the big truth is, The democrats did what Obama wanted to focus on health care.

Like most people try to tell you DB, you can spin it any way you want.

Again if there is "not liberal enough" and "socialists" in the Democratic caucus, in your opinion. Where is the dissension in the Republican caucus? Tit for a Tat, as the saying goes. The amount of votes that go strictly by party caucus surely favors the Republicans.

Another question, what do you think of the constituents who elected Sen.Sanders into the U.S. Senate.

Let's dig a little deeper into your comments, if you wish.

DB, and as far as the constituants who did not vote for the Republicans in caucus. How are their values represented by the Republicans, who you have to admit filibuster and one-party vote more than the opposing Democrats? Surely the theory you support would have a answer for that.

And greedy people who wanted it all without having the money to pay for it. I for one am tired of no personal responsibility. I agree the banks should not have loaned the money, but I know several people who upgraded to 5 bedroom homes knowing it would mean they would be living paycheck to paycheck. At the same time they were charging their credit cards to the max to furnish them. They then went upside down when the real estate market bottomed out. I have no sympathy for them, it was their own "keeping up with the Joneses that got them in to their financial mess".

...and the lenders and mortgage brokers who wrote and issued these loans shoulder none of the responsibility????

@ DCW both should bear responsibility, old fashion greed and love of material things and today's society of instant gratification made this situation what it is.

You forgot to mention the fact that wages did not keep up with prices, so many people were forced into debt just to maintain the lifestyle they had.

Heartlight we have raised a generation of people who do not accept responsibility for their situations and spend way beyond their means. Their lifestyle includes big house, cable, internet, 2 or more new cars in the driveway, iphones for everyone in the family, big screen tv's, etc... or heaven forbid they feel deprived..

Olrockcandymtnroustabout

But the debt is directly due to a democrat President. It has been shown over and over. Why must you liberals continue to lie about that fact?

You guys ever wonder what happened to war bonds? I mean come on we really wanted revenge for 9-11 and bush listened. He did what we asked, mostly. So he did not make Osama a martyr the minute we stepped foot over there, he wanted to dis-empower Osama. I get that, mostly! And yes Bush did allow us to demand payback withtout fully explaining to the people just how much it would cost. And yes he did go over and above what we wanted by trying to give the peoples back their nation and a right to vote on how to govern themselves. Yes that should have been a U.N issue, but the U.N said we needed to sit back and lick our wounds and talk peace. theres a lot of funny little blames to be placed. A major one is we were in fact attacked and not one of our true allies supported us getting rid of the problem. they might have sent one troop to our 10000 and thats not an allegiance or support thats passing the buck, AGAIN!!

The blame rest on everybody, myself included who allowed anger to cloud our judgment and stopped WATCHING our govt'. We need to stop allowing our children to be raised without any self reliance, earned self respect and we need to start teaching them to lose again, so they will fight back to better themselves. No child left behind is just a tool used by the politicians to tell you its okay to not work hard, we will support you. Parents need to start taking more responsibility for their children. Kids over weight and its not caused by anything other than laziness, remove the tv and video games. Kids ignoring you in favor of Fbook and texting friends, remove the phones and computers. Chores were good enough for me and my bros, and they are sure as heck good enough for my kids. Your kids friends live too far away join a church group or some other local group and teach them to talk to people face to face. we r slowly but surely losing our humanity to technology!

I think 70% or more of the blame is on the lenders, they literally sought out people, almost going door to door to make these risky loans. They took people with loans and conned them into doing more. How many advertisements did you see (and still do) to refinance, or get a FREE consultation (where they wheel and deal you like a used car salesman basically promising the world, and convincing you this bad idea is a good idea)?

Its the same scan as debt consolidators, they promise you lower payments and faster pay offs but what they don't tell you is how much you end up paying them or how absurd the idea really is.

Yes, these people should never have said yes, but they trusted their banks. Their banks made promises and told them about how great a deal it was and they listened. Most of americans aren't as bright as bankers, they should have read the fine print, but even then they probably wouldn't have understood it (its like 10 pages of 9 pt font in archaic language that most lawyers look at and can't understand, and those are TRAINED professionals, it was meant to never be read). When a ponzi scheme falls through you accept that those people weren't thinking, you accept that it was a bad idea, but you don't throw the people who paid into it in jail, you throw the perpetrator, because he took advantage of the simple bell curve of human intellect and that is bad for society (and its basically stealing).

You forgot to mention all the people that refinanced their homes to full equity meaning that their cars, boats, campers, and anything else they wanted paid off WAS paid for. Do you think it was easy for someone to buy a house that secretly contained the expenses of the previous owner?

How about There is enuff blame to go around! Every one of you have valid points, now put them all together. That is who is to blame!

Rick-312779

But the debt is directly due to a democrat President. It has been shown over and over. Why must you liberals continue to lie about that fact?

After eight years of Bush Jr. you can stomach that lie?

Sad, but true....no stomach for the hard decisions needed to bring spending down to within our means (or increasing our means to match our spending appetite)...inflation is the easy way out (just keep printing that money at the Fed!)....it'll start in about two years....read up on 1979-1981 when inflation was double digits....I was there...it was a lot of fun....can hardly wait to do it again....the purchasing power of a dollar dropped by 1/3rd in just under 3 years (to look at it another way: prices of everything doubled in just under 3 years)......and wages? not so much. Save up your money now 'cuz you'll be spending it as fast as you can later on, as prices rocket up, and up, and up. Oh, and what did the Gov't do? Well, we tried 'price controls'.....that worked really well....stuff just disappeared from the shelves (medicine, milk, that sort of thing) when suppliers found out that it was not longer profitable to make stuff....Look up Jimmy Carter....he had a lot to do with that.

..ohhhh yea. That is why Gerald Ford was re-elected, because his WIN (Whip Inflation Now) program worked so well....

Grand Dad, why would you save it up now if it is going to buy less tomorrow?LOL.

STTP, can anyone really be stupid enough to allow themselves to get dragged down the bull$hit path as far as you have? You have to be a Democrat plant who's paid to write drivel like that. Go cash that check and take your significant other to supper, no one is going to bite. Nice try though.

Actually, he is making some sense. Even though I can tell that this guy is being a bit biased to the left (surprise surprise, a lefty just pointed out bias against the righties!!), Bush II did have a chance to decrease the debt. In fact, he had the best chance that anybody had except maybe Clinton, but then again there was only a surplus during his last years in office. Bush could have made a true surplus without having to borrow from SS by simply revising the tax code and making a surplus then and there. He could have just paid down the debt until the recession and then hand the govt credit card to Obama so he could start spending this nation back to economic health, just like in the New Deal and WWII without having to worry about a huge debt. But he actually lowered taxes, spent like a drunken sailor, and nobody protested. Even when the deficit hit over $450 billion and the debt went to $8 trillion nobody said anything. But when Obama comes saddled with a $10 trillion debt and a $1.3 trillion deficit people come and blame him. And the debt would have continued to go up even if Obama had done nothing, maybe even more due to a lengthened recession. The debt would have hit $15 trillion about now either way, maybe even higher had the recession been extended. Thank Obama for the stimulus and lets cut the chatter and get to work cutting the debt and rebuilding America. That is the ONLY way that our nation is gonna get itself out of this mess.

AMERICA 2012

Hey dummie, the Tea Party did not form until George Bush decided to spend almost a trillion dollars in bailouts. That was in 2008 , the Tea Party did not form until 2009.

They formed after a Democrat was elected Pres. and the Dems gained seats in the Congress. The T.P could have started anytime during a Republican Pres. or Congress in the past 20 years, before the wars, and before Medicare PartD, both budget deficits authored by Republicans in majority, during Pres. Bush's years. It will explain why they have 'a moment 'at times.LOL.

When someone talks like a right winger but then tries to deny being a right winger - and then adds the cherry on top by saying "all politicians are bad" that is the surest sign there is that the person is a bagger.

I do agree we should stop spending. Cut the military budget by 90%. Stop the funding of religious organizations through tax breaks. Stop enforcing archaic laws written by corrupt preachers in the 1800s. Stop locking up people for victimless crimes thereby cutting law enforcement budgets. These are the kinds of cuts we really need and that most baggers rail against. I.e., the baggers are against spending - except when they are for it.

you make some good points, but I would suggest we think of the problem like this: We ought to spend money on anything we are willing to pay for. So, we now spend $147 for every $100 of income (taxes)....we either reduce the outflow or increase the inflow, or some of both....some of both is probably the best answer. But, we must bring them into resonable balance....like spening cannot be more than 110% of income (run a 10% deficit) and when we do run a deficit, we must have some offsetting years of surplus to get back to even at a point in time in the future. There are any number of ways to approach this, but so far none of our leaders (including Obama) are doing so. We're not even having the conversation.....

@StopTheTeaParty,

I didn't even continue to read past 'Cut the military budget by 90%'.

Do humanity a favor and go play in traffic.

Grandfather welcome back. Here is a link to a bill passed in 2010 that did exactly as you say, the site is very good in analyzing Congress. http://crfb.org/blogs/finally-deficit-neutral-stimulus.

You see their is some action in Congress that is reducing the deficit. It is up to you to choose which party/ congressperson has done the right thing.I try not to listen to the rhetoric also, and find the sites that have the most informative content. Good Luck in your travels, Regards.

So can anyone tell me whats so wrong with Perry's idea of stopping all funding to other nations until they come here and make a case for us to continue funding and when we do we start out in small amounts? Not a Perry fan but that idea did have some merit! I personally find it insane to continue borrowing money and paying interest in order to give it away to other nations, It's just crazy!!! Many of you might say its not a large enough amount to count but hey a dollar saved is a dollar earned.

Not much against it, but then again there is the theory that if we stop giving aid to other nations, then they will oppose us, or that our rivals (China, Russia) will pick up our slack to gain allies. They may not be true, but there is always the possibility. I like that proposal, but then again there is the chance that the nations that we cut funding to will just ask our rivals to do so. Instead of cutting the funding, I would look at the books, see what each country does, and make a decision set for the next year and tell everyone in advance. Whoever will want our aid can ask for it and make a case, whoever doesn't can just stay at home.

Thats a good idea too and I have one problem with what you said.....lol, r we really paying people to pretend to be our allies, LMBO!!! That is sooo wrong!!!! Thats like paying for protection from the school yard bully when your thought to be the biggest bully!!! Geez we pay for friends,....sad, sad, sad!!!

Technically we don't pay for our friends, but they like us for doing that. That, plus policies that can benefit both nations creates mutual bonds. If we don't pay the people might not hate us, but they definitely won't support us. And much of our aid is in the form of food and military equipment to allies like Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Israel. There is a slight possibility that without our aid these nations will collapse to their enemies (Iran, North Korea, and Syria/Iran, respectively), which is highly unlikely. But then again, the military aid does create jobs, like the billions in F-15s that are being sent to Saudi Arabia; they create manufacturing jobs. We ought to prioritize who we give aid to. Personally, I'd like to do away with giving Pakistan money and ally with the Indians: they like us (people and government), they can serve as a counterbalance against China, and are a large nation capable of maintaining good trade deals (fair trade). Plus I don't know of many Indian terrorist groups and whether or not they steal technology. But if we abandon Pakistan, they might intensify their support of the Taliban, and compromise our entire operation in Afghanistan. Foreign policy is a tough field.

Enodot

You are a liar and a threat to society. Why don't you crawl back under your rock?

Endot

Read up on Overseas Contingency Operations. That is how the Wars were paid for. The Democrats could have STOPPED the FUNDING ANYTIME they wanted. Either by the Filibuster or from 2007-2010 just by not letting the Bills get out of Committee.

Endot - How do you think that the wars didn't go against the National Debt?

The wars weren't in the general budget and consequently the published Deficit. Maybe you should learn the difference between the Deficit and the National Debt.

Do you understand how incredibly stupid you appear when you co-join the first lady's vacation with 14t in national debt?

mark, as an obama troll you are aware that the national debt has bee over 15 trillion for some time now.

Imagine an anti-American progressive lying even trying to make a nonsensical point, Hmmm.

BTW: vote voros, van jones and obama out in 2012!!!!

Mark-

Sadly, the answer is NO....these 8-balls don't understand how they look. (nor, do they care either)

The good thing for all sane individuals in the U.S. is that the tea party zealots talk to nobody outside of their silly group of friends, therefore, are actually surprised that Obama polls at over triple what the tea party polls at now (at almost 5 times the tea party in congress).

These tea party folks are genuinely stupid people....and hold their stupidity as some sort of virtue.

Gosh...that was helpful....

What is so humorous is how the phrase "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was kicked around frequently by Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright ...... LONG,LONG BEFORE the younger Bush took office !!

Still, they babble incoherently about this "phony war" .... even though it was approved by Congress, including "Yea" votes from John Kerry and Hillary Clinton ! Forrest Gump had an expression for comments like #60 !

Well lets learn something from that mess and not be so gullable when the politicians go to warmongering and preparing us to invade another country without knowing up front the facts instead of fiction. Lives are at stake here.

Rigggghhhtt.....Obama is the only President to ever raise the debt limit....gimme a break.

Take away the credit card and the keys to the jet.

Matthew, No he is not the only prez to raise the debt but he sure seems to have more trouble doing it than previous presidents!!! Any ideas why? Could it be that the amount owed has just gotten plain ridiculous?

Texas- its probably because you all hate him so much that everytime he does something you jump against him or start calling his wife Moochelle or whatever clever names you've come up with today... no that can't be it, it must be that its a bad idea, not that he gets opposition for everything (How else do you explain a rep proposing a bill with the same name as Obama's bill simply to take the name away from Obama, I mean seriously?).

Hey all I am saying is that nevermind who made it, he is the current man in charge and has quite a few obstacles to overcome but if he is as strong as we need, then he can both cut the frivolous budgets and pay off our debt. That would be the most awesome president. But tough cuts include getting leeches off welfare and getting illegals out of our tax payer paid for prisons and jails, etc frivolous spending. And if the republicans do not like it, too bad sooo sad, bc he is the man in charge. But i do not call raising revenue by taxing the rich more and NOT cutting out frivolous welfare spending. There are too many 1%'ers not paying their correct share and there are too many on the welfare system who either A-never paid a dime to those systems in their undocumented lives or b- choose not to work at jobs they find beneath themselves and keep reproducing to get bigger checks.

Moochelle? Really? LOL thats awful, but very imaginative! wonder what they called the bush wives!!!???

I don't know of their nicknames but all you need to do is scroll up to find Moochelle or some retarded name.

I think we are on the same page, its just that while I'd love to kick some freeloaders off the answer isn't random drug screening or just gutting the program and hoping we get some of the bad ones. I agree we need to take a long hard look at it, though. But we need to increase revenue and decrease spending.

We don't need to just cut everything and hope it all works out, and we don't need to privatize it all. There's a reason government handles some things and thats because Govt doesn't run on profit, if it started running on pure profit we wouldn't have research that hopes to solve some problems, we wouldn't spend money on kids (the profit margin can be substantial IF they are successful), or numerous other areas.

He would be great if he could pull all that off, but thats basically saying it would be great if he could start lifting cars off people in car accidents... that WOULD be great, but is it feasible? I don't think he's done a TERRIFIC job but don't tell me he's an utter failure or the most dangerous man in the US because you'd be wrong.

Same page on the important issues!!! My big problem with the large debt and fed gov't, is that in normal historical cases of say a company going bankrupt (such as where we are headed if we keep spending more than we bring in) you will usually find out as they are closing their doors or maybe even years later, that someone somewhere within the company, usually higher ups, were scamming the company and found ways to make things look good on paper and then crap hits the fan. Most people shook their heads and said "wow can't people add and figure out where the money went?". Well what we have here is a govt' that does not comprehend the word budget and what an equal revenue and spending nation looks like or how they function. Most of us think that if we can't afford to be at war, then we should not be at war, if we can not afford to keep giving Africa money every month, then we need to stop that, if we can not afford our defense budget then maybe we need to re-evaluate how much we are paying china for guns(just saying). Why is it that I can honestly say that each and every person on here could probably develop a budget for their home and with a little bit of self control stick to the budget. So why can't our govt', who is filled with well and expensively educated people, figure out the meaning of BUDGET.

They know what the meaning of budget is, but they don't want to compromise. I don't want to sound partisan, but the GOP has gone too far to the right for most Americans. I mean, Americans want tax increases on the rich, the GOP say no, and then they say that they speak for the people. Hey TexasFighterGal, you seem like a very intelligent person. Do you mind checking out my plan on comment # 4.10 and giving me some feedback??

The Democrats aren't Jesus, but well, if they compromise then I'll give in a good word for them. The GOP hasn't done that in a long while, and the Democrats aren't necessarily drinking the compromise kool-aid. Well you vote for extremists, and this is what you get for it.

Long as Bush was buying Bombs it was O K to Rise it to Hell. Just don't do it to feed the poor or take care of Grandma. Love the Naztea Party, and so does Satan.

Don't forget their doggy and his private flights for photo ops.

Don't forget their doggy and his private flights for photo ops.

You actually believe this...

Why should they care? After all. Your footing the bill arent you? Cripes get an education.

I dont care if the doggy thing is true or not, its funny and ludicrous!!! Just like political comics are funny, even when they are about my party!! I have a sense of humor!!!

Nah Obama has shifted the burden onto the rich!!! Even though he himself released a statement stating that it would not help in paying off our debts merely get us closer to a balanced budget. I don't want a balanced budget only, I want a payoff plan too!! Guess I will be donating to the pay off our national debt website in order to get'er done!! LOL Sorry Sorry, bad moment. But I will not donate until they start cutting funding from the leeches of our society. ALL OF THEM!!! there are many deserving of assistance bc they are truly trying to find work and get off of the govt programs, but get the undeserving off my tax dollars.

Taxing the rich won't solve the problem, but it'll help. Just like that plan that you support where Perry wants to prioritize foreign aid. So when a GOP candidate offers a plan to help the problem its okay, but when a Dem does it it's plain wrong?? And taxing the rich would go A LOT farther than the foreign aid deal. I mean, the wealthy can afford to have their loopholes removed and their rates raised, or at least kept constant. What about those millionaires who literally begged the government to tax them??? I remember earlier this year or even last year that if the government raised taxes on the top 1%, they would raise $150 billion. I doubt it would be that high, but still. If we raised tax rates and eliminated most tax expenditures for the top 15% of Americans, we could make hundreds of billions of dollars. And mike, next time you try to criticize the president, try using his real name. Saying words like Oblunder and Oblather just makes you sound like an idiot.

I agree that the loopholes need to be removed, but I would remove those before raising the %. Cut the loopholes and see where you are at and then raise the % they pay, if necessary. I mean how many demos have said that if it wasnt for the loopholes and cut the rich get then the govt' would be fine. So cut those not raise the %. That should be a 2nd step to increase revenue from the rich!

Ya think? [I vote for the no brain]

Debt will never be paid. Money supply is created by borrowing. If it is paid, money supply would disappear. There will always be national and individual debt in our debt based monetary system and it will always expand if we want happy days to continue. This is because existing debt can only be paid with further borrowing (aka further money creation). Google for "How do banks create money" to understand how deep the rabbit hole goes.

I think it's a combo of both in this case. Then again, i really don't think anybody in Washington has a clue.