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Subscribe to RSSThe House member representing Newport News, Republican Rep. Randy Forbes, said Thursday, "I knew over 17 months ago how devastating sequestration would be to our nation and our region. When it came for a vote, I voted no. The President, on the other hand, signed sequestration into law." Forbes said he hoped Obama would work “to overturn the bill that he signed into law.”
The tax hikes Obama is seeking would be part of a deal to avert the spending cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act, which Congress passed and Obama signed into law in 2011 as part an agreement to raise the government’s borrowing limit.
RELATED: GOP could pay political price on sequester
As part of that sequestration plan, $1.2 trillion in federal spending will be cut over 10 years, totaling $44 billion for the period beginning March 1 and ending in October.
How that amount will be cut from federal spending this fiscal year is both a question of practical governance -- which workers will be furloughed and for how long -- and a matter of political spectacle -- how the president and his allies use those furloughs, canceled Navy deployments, or other actions to shape the American people’s views of the spending cuts.
Obama implied Tuesday that Americans’ physical safety would be in jeopardy if the spending reductions occur: “Federal prosecutors will have to close cases and let criminals go.”
And on Wednesday, Obama spokesman Jay Carney cited another potential danger of the spending cuts: more illegal immigrants slipping into the United States. Americans, Carney said, who “understandably worry about our border being protected,” would “see a reduction in the Border Patrol because the sequester goes into effect.”
President Barack Obama voices harsh words toward Republican lawmakers Tuesday while speaking about looming budget cuts.
Even if they aren’t endangered by a freed criminal or an illegal immigrant, Americans may be delayed on their next trip: “Air traffic controllers and airport security will see cutbacks, which means more delays at airports across the country,” Obama predicted Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said for more than a year that defense spending reductions would impair the readiness of U.S. forces. Last week Admiral Mark Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, supplied some specifics for the Senate Armed Services Committee: “We (will) shut down four air wings on March 1. After 90 days, those pilots lose their certification, and now it takes six to nine months to retrain them at a much higher cost.”
He also said the Navy would need to cancel deployments, defer maintenance on ships and aircraft, and suspend most non-deployed operations, such as training.
But at least one federal agency said it would not furlough its workers.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, joined by emergency responders on February 19, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Jim Dyer, Chief Financial Officer of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission -- which licenses and inspects the nation’s 104 nuclear power plants -- said Thursday, “The NRC has reviewed its budget in light of the sequestration and we will continue to accomplish our core safety and security mission. The NRC’s strategy is to minimize the impact of the sequestration on the agency’s ability to successfully accomplish its critical safety and security mission activities for existing licensees. The NRC does not plan to furlough any employees and we are developing a list of impacts to specific contracts should a sequestration occur.”
As Jeffrey Zients, the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, indicated in a memo last month, furloughs of Border Patrol agents or other federal workers are not the only option if the spending cuts occur.
Federal agency heads should, Zients said, “identify the most appropriate means to reduce civilian workforce costs” with steps that include not only furloughs but hiring freezes, layoffs of temporary employees and early retirement incentives.
In his battle to convince the American people to pressure Congress to again postpone the cuts, Obama might have more leverage if the law didn’t exempt most Americans who receive benefit payments from the federal government, for example, the 55 million who get Social Security payments.
Perhaps the president can focus his attention on House Republicans in swing districts and make sure that their voters know the federal facilities in that district might be closed. But as political analyst Charlie Cook noted this week, there are few swing districts left.
At this point, the Cook Political Report lists only one House Republican, Rep. Gary Miller of California, as facing a toss-up race in 2014.
As members of Congress and their constituents wait to see what effects the cuts might have, some Republicans are taking steps to show that they’re making their own sacrifices in the cause of deficit reduction. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., announced Thursday that he has returned more than $160,000 from his office account.
In an interview Thursday, Mulvaney said there are four major federal facilities in his district as well as an Army Reserve base. Shaw Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force bases on the East Coast, is in his district.
In meetings with his constituents, Mulvaney said, “What I’ve heard about is businesses in the area around the base – the town of Sumter, the county of Sumter, the restaurants down there, the car dealerships. Nothing specifically directed toward furloughs of civilian employees (of the Defense Department) but there is a concern about the impact” on the local economy.
But on the other hand, he said, “I just did a town hall meeting the other night in my largest city. We took three-and-a-half hours of questions and I did not get a single question about the sequester’s impact.”
Mulvaney was one of 66 House Republicans to vote against the Budget Control Act; 174 voted for it. House Democrats split on the Budget Control Act, 95 to 95.
As for Obama controlling the way in which the spending cuts will hit, Mulvaney said, “I think the president gets to do his job. As much as I don’t like the outcome of the election, the American people wanted this gentleman to be the chief executive and if he wants to close this particular (national) park and not that one, I think that’s his obligation and his right by virtue of his office.”
He added, “Is it politically disadvantageous (to Republicans to have Obama and his aides controlling how the cuts hit)? Probably -- but we’ve got bigger political disadvantages right now than him closing one national park instead of another.”
House Republicans argue that they have already passed alternative spending cut bills to avoid the sequester, but Carney told reporters Wednesday that Obama thinks “we ought to continue seeking and striving for completion of the so-called grand bargain” in which Republicans would agree to more tax increases and Obama would agree to reductions in the growth rate of Medicare and other benefit programs.
While that “grand bargain” was being pursued, Carney suggested, Congress should again delay the spending cuts. And he indicated that Obama views the Republican vows to not agree to another tax increase as mere bluff.
“We hear these declarative statements from Capitol Hill and also from the press about what can and cannot pass,” he said. “We heard them last year about how revenue would never be allowed” and that Republicans “would never allow tax rates to go up.”
And yet in the end, Carney said, Republicans caved in and voted for a $700 billion tax increase as part of the year-end fiscal cliff accord. He implied Republicans would fold again this year as they did last year.
Mulvaney disagrees: “I think the president has probably gotten all the tax increases he’s going to get.”
Leave a Comment:
yes obama does not need to say a thing...America knows whats up
... well U R right. Everything is looking up...the economic boom is already here
.
Republicans...U R grounded...I mean..sequestered.
The GOP has been thinking that by destroying the US economy, they could destroy Obama's re-election chances. In the end, the GOP destroyed itself. Then this GOP coyote is thinking another strategy to catch that run-away emu, a sequester-one stone two birds (emus). The result? more self-destruction.
Republican do not hear him anyway..America does
All the polls are showing that the American people are sick of having to deal with one GOP manufactured crisis after another.
The GOP is a party in crisis, soon to go the way of the Whiggs and the sooner the better. The numbers are all against them. That's why they use tactics of desperation. They can't win an honest election anymore. If not for Gerrymandering the Democrats would have all three branches right now.
yes indeed.some of the tea party have gone liberal
pig and owen you nailed it
owencoffin and what polls are these again cough NBC cough NBC!
Republicans are doing what they do best: block, stall, obstruct.
Otherwise they: never shift positions, compromise, have new ideas.
Boehner walked away from the 4 trillion dollar deal twice, and Obama is still offering it.
I'm beginning to think that the Republicans need the economy to be in a jam so they have an excuse to cut entitlements.
yes they are holding off..just to get our entitlements..more debt..benefits gone
Just. Repeal. It. no bickering, no negotiating. Just get rid of the bloody thing.
Nancy Pelosi: can you do a Discharge Petition on this??
.
PLEASE: JUST REPEAL THE STUPID THING - NOBODY WANTS IT!
.
FORWARD! :-)
The crazy rights do
Obama Still Lyin.....
President Obama is setting a new standard for a second-term President. It doesn't hurt that Republicans have bungled virtually every negotiation along the way. Boehner brags he got 98% of what he wanted and then blames the President for the deal.
Obviously, given the election results, a majority of Americans are not as easily fooled as Republicans. Regardless, arithmetic is going to be the issue. If the budget is to be balanced, revenues MUST be increased. That means a combination of ending tax loopholes, and increasing tax rates. Social Security and Medicare must be overhauled. There are no alternatives.
When this latest disaster perpetrated by Republicans is resolved, the deficit will have shrunk, only because President Obama has out-negotiated them.
A tip of the hat to a very sharp President, and a reminder that there is still a lot to be done.
Not exactly a spectacle I would want to be in control of. What's painfully apparent is that Obama doesn't have the leadership or respect of the opposing party as Reagan and Clinton did.
I think it is a good thing. I also think we should put another one in its place once the sequester happens. Seems to be the only way to get things done in Congress since the House GOP won't play ball anymore. Once a year a sequester will happen if the House does not cooperate and start doing their job instead of obstructing it.
Rob he won???how is that
Jeez........85 Billion in cuts per year pales in comparison to the 85 Billion the Federal Reserve is printing each month for QE3. And I support Obama's position......well his position he articulated and crafted so carefully for the press and sheeple in 2006. Chew on this miss piggy!!!
Sen. Obama’s Floor Speech, March 20, 2006:
The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that “the buck stops here.” Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.
Blah Blah Blah
There's actually a simple response to this if anybody in the administration has the nuts; make the cuts first in the districts of the GOP congressmen who don't want to negoiate. After all, they're for 'less government' aren't they? And in a lot of cases, they get more back from the feds than they pay in ('takers'), so make the cuts 'neutral' i.e. receive no more than what you pay.
Give 'em what they want.... and let their local voters see just what they mean.
Stand your ground.!! Do not compromise.!! You won the election.!! You are what the American voters want.!!
We are standing outside on a nice sunny day and out on the horizon a very large storm is brewing, and we're living in the trailer park.
Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money.
Many Republicans fit the profile of psychopaths. They have absolutely no empathy for the poor and the middle class and they have absolutely no guilt for their destruction. It is on us to bum-rush their whole decadent system and overturn it. If you are not running at them with weapons and fighting them, then you are part of the problem, and you are not part of the solution. Send these clowns to hell and make America beautiful.
Hello folks, we have gone beyond the point of no return. They will keep the Democrat Republican blame game sheeple fighting while they crash the economy to try and create a global financial system.
Obama and the presidents before him who's failed leadership allowed our debt to get out of control are the spectacle! Both parties are equally complicit. The debt and bond bubbles will soon burst as do all bubbles.
Our National debt which is at 16.5 Trillion will soon be going up in May, by how much, who knows pick a number. The president is pushing for an open ended debt ceiling. The fact of the matter is that we can never ever pay off our debt it is systematically impossible under a fractional reserve banking system.
Our National debt is higher than our Gross Domestic Product (GDP 15.6 trillion). Debt per US citizen is at 52k and rising and the debt per tax payer is at 146k and rising. We are spending 5 billion per day for fiscal year 2013.
If you include Medicare/Medicaid, Defense, Wars, Social Security, Income Security, Net Interest on Debt, Federal Pensions our debt is at 55 Trillion and climbing.
If you include all unfunded liabilities, Social Security, Prescription drug and Medicare it is at 122 Trillion and climbing. It averages to1.1 million per taxpayer and rising.
These aren’t signs of a healthy economy.
If our economy was recovering we wouldn't have to inject 85 billion dollars a month through QE (3) to infinity and Operation Twist III to prop up the economy and Stock Market. This is all open ended.
Interest rates wouldn't be at near zero, but they have to be or we couldn't service our debt and the bond market would collapse.
It's all a house of cards folks and when the debt and bond bubbles burst and all bubbles burst, it is going to be spectacular. If you really want to see how our economy is doing take 30 seconds out of your day to visit:
www.usdebtclock.org
I still wonder when Democrats will start to evaluate the true results of Obama's policies and appointees. The level of hypocrisy is incredible!
Did you know that during the recovery the top 1% incomes grew 11% while the remaining 99% saw declines in income?
Did you know that at one time Democrats championed reducing money spent on the military yet now they fight against such cuts?
Did you know that then Senator Obama fought against raising the debt ceiling when doing so worked in his favor?
Did you know that I only cited absolute facts but most likely will be called names for doing so by my fellow Democrats. Yep, a Democrat that can read and who thinks robotic support for either party is just stupid!!
And the media helps Obama with his theatrics. The American people are clueless and Obama knows this.
When people blame Congress because Obama says so, well, no wonder America is in the state its in.
I'm surprised MSNBC even reported on how bad the housing recovery is and then later they reported on the rising gas prices.
Then the media reported on Obama's Walmart buddies internal e-mails complaining about low sales, asking where are the customers???
Maybe the media is finally getting the message that covering up needs to stop.
Righties are running like hamsters on a wheel: Going nowhere fast and still inside a cage after they finally get there.
Dems own the country through 2024. Thank God.
Why we need the GOP beats me..nothing but a waste for last few decades. (Party of NO..on everything).
Doom time for GOP now..start another party if possible.
I'll be calling them the GOPNO's for now on!
And their Mr Bonehead leader is a waste!
I'm busy now tanning..DC problems can wait!
President Obuthead is designing the sequester to his advantage. Any manager with an ounce of intelligence would start cuts from the bottom not the top! As always Obuthead is using the SCARE tatics to get the uninformed American public to see things his way. WAKE UP America and get your brain out of the TV and video games and start thinking for yourselves.
Yes, Americans ( the ones a bit slow on the up-take) are figuring out they have an incompetent in the White House.
Yep!
We've got you Republicans, Teabaggers, NRA and Ted Nugent "Gun-Nut" types,
begging for mercy and crying like little-girls.
What with the Re-instatement of the President's infamous "Obama Snitch Line" and the
threat of Drone attacks on any and all of you Domestic Terrorists right-wing militia groups
you Neandrethal knuckle-dragging "Gun-Nut" types, better Not "get out of line",
if you know what I mean.
Now be "Good little Frogs", and hop back into that slowly heating-up Pot of Warm Water,
you won't even Notice when we turn up the Heat, and finally Take away your Guns and Bibles.
Viva la France!
All Hail Obama!
Ain't Life Grand?
oh yes, the economy's booming- meanwhile the national debt continually reaches a new record hight, each second of each day. To the tune of $16.54 trillion. Yep, we're heading in the right direction! Go team!
Can't get this ditty out of my head
Our new DNC anthem will be the following:
♫ GOP, You keep saying you've got something for US.
♫ something you call love, but confess.
♫ You've been messin' where you shouldn't have been a messin'
♫ and now someone else is gettin' all your best.
♫ These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
♫ the day have come and these boots are walking all over you.
♫ GOP, You keep lying, when you oughta be truthin'
♫ and you keep losin' when you oughta not bet.
♫ You keep samin' when you oughta be changin'.
♫ Now what's right is right, but you ain't been right yet.
♫ These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do
♫ the day has come and these boots are walking all over you.
♫ GOP, You keep playin' where you shouldn't be playin
♫ and you keep thinkin' that you´ll never get burnt.
♫ Ha! We just found US a brand new box of matches yeah
♫ and what Liberals know you ain't HAD time to learn.
♫ Are you ready boots? START WALKING.
Does any one ever read the whole story? Not just this one but previous stories about the cuts that are coming? I.f these "cuts" go into effect they will make no difference and no one needs to get pink slips. That's right all the first responders should keep their jobs and everybody else too. The cuts are only cuts to the automatic percentage of increase to their budgets. If they received only what they received last year and they did fine then just why can they not get by on the same money this year? Ask your selves that question. Also ask your self why is the president always in campaign mode with back drops of us the people and spouting fear mongering? I find that beneath the dignity of the office. He created this mess now he doesn't like it. He wants more revenue (taxes) so he can spend more. I say bull crap. Cut and cut the debt now.
Yep, it is a Progressive "spectacle" alright.
Needless to say, Mr. Obama has to go on a "campaign trip" to garnish public opinion and show the "Unions" support for his agenda since he said "I can't get anything done in the Oval office."
Yep, "START WALKING"....."My way or the highway" attitude. Bi-partisan my foot !
It's all going "According to Plan".
Soon our Socialist Utopia Paradise will finally be realized on the Planet you once called Earth,
in the Country you once called America.
It was really quite Easy to get our stealth Muslim-Marxist candidate on in for that 2nd term.
All we had to do was spread all those Lies that Mitt Romney had secret Swiss Bank accounts where he
hid all the ill-gotten loot of all those Pension Funds he stoled from hard-working American factory workers,
of course after Laundering all that money through his phony Cayman Island "shell-companies".
They were all Lies, everyone of them!
But the American Voters "fell for it" and Romney was "Political Toast", metaphorically speaking of course!
Hey Teabaggers and NRA and Ted Nugent Neandrethal knuckle-dragging "Gun-Nut" types!
Want to know "One more Secret"?
Of course you do!
Obama really was born in Kenya!
Donald Trump was right about that one!
Too late now!
We got our Black President, once again, into your once precious White House!
Hah! Hah.
Get it?
All Hail Obama!
Viva la France!
Can't wait till Obama stacks the Supreme Court with as many Socialists aka Dems,
Marxists, Leninists, and some good-old fashion, old-style Soviet Commies as he can,
and those judges have Life time appointments!
This is a very correct story. The President does have a strong PR advantage. His team has been successful at PR for 5 years now. It is how the election was won. You would think the conservatives would learn a different approach. The President is walking all over them.
This, of course, has nothing to do with what our country needs and what the President should be doing.
One reason is NBC is lying and will not tell the truth Obama wanted sequestration but you will not read that here. Watch the link below
Where was all the concern for the national debt when Bush/ Cheney were at the helm spending like drunken sailors and giving away enormous tax cuts to their wealthy friends for 8 years? Remember when deficits didn't matter?
Where were all of these Chicken Littles shortly after the 2010 midterm elections. Remember they chanted jobs, jobs, jobs until a few days after they were elected? They had no plan for jobs. Their only plan was to obstruct the President in every way to assure his defeat in 2012. The utter failure of our economy was merely collateral damage. All of a sudden, jobs, jobs, jobs no longer mattered.
Now it was all about the deficit and the debt, debt, debt. Screw the jobs. Our massive debt would be the ruination of America as we know it. Geez guys, did the cat have your tongues just a few years ago when your party busily destroyed the robust economy they inherited from a brilliant democrat? Excuse me all to hell. I seem to have implicated the Bush administration. I understand that is a big no no for those of you hiding in the "Bush".
Face the facts. You voted for Howdy Doody not once, but twice. All of this mess is directly on your shoulders. Your never faltering defense of the incompetent boob and his puppeteer(Cheney) is easily understood. Pardon Bush and you pardon your own cowardly and foolish butts. Yet you dare preach to others about personal responsibility? Disgusting hypocrites! Shame on you.
ALL of you Owebama voters when the sheet goes down hill, and it will, I hope you have good relationships with your neighbors or your neighbors are progressive lefties like yourself because you will need them or be out in the cold Birds of a feather flock together. It's all peaches and cream now because the media is on his side, but when the people realize the truth you folks with your half truth utopian ideologies is all you will have left.
YOU DEMOCRAT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, PELOSI, REED LOVING ANTI-AMERICANS ARE MORE PART OF THE PROBLEM THEN THE SOLUTION, BUT YOUR BRAINWASHED AND JUST CANT SEE THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES...I feel very sorry for you...you are like the Nazi party now, but look what happened to them.....SHAME ON YOU!!!!
p.s. Clinton, Bush, Obama are all on the same time the manipulators are making you think they aren't they are all globalist NWO losers so keep your facts straight...we are all screwed no matter what party we pretend to be a part of...all of us in the sinking ship TOGETHER...get over it and swim.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-20086598/boehner-i-got-98-percent-of-what-i-wanted/http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/boehner-got-98-percent-of-what-he-wanted-in-debt-deal/
http://www.politicususa.com/tag/boehner-got-98-of-what-he-wanted
The sequester is boehner's idea and 98% his construction. Simply see the above, all containing video evidence of this.
I'd just like to know where Obama's got that upper hand placed and does he even know what to do with that upper hand? When he's got it figured out, let me know I'd like to watch. He brings a whole new dimension to voyeurism.
Everything he says is obvious and expected: If you are broke and cannot pay the bills, everything across the board hurts. Americans will just have to take care of themselves more, and travel less, and rely on government services less. In reality it will be more of a return to what we came from and how we originated: The federal government collects taxes for the roads and the military. That's it and that's all we should expect. Everything else is up to the individual or at the local town level, as it should be. Curious as to the replies to this...however...what I am saying is pretty much how the country was intended: with a small Fed Government.
President Obama has 60% support of the American people and the only thing the Republican party has is wishing harm on our Nation, this is something to remember in 2014 and 2016 !!!
for all you stupid amerians who voted this dumb@ss back in, i hope you and your childern get what you deserve!
lightning, and romney was such a better choice? Until americans wake up and realize true conservatives left the republican party a decade ago after the gingrich mutiny, they're not going to get the old america back. Vote indy or don't vote. You merely perpetuate the problem.
“Already some in Congress are trying to undo these automatic spending cuts (sequestration). My message to them is simple: No, I will veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts to domestic and defense spending. There will be no easy off ramps on this one” - Barack Obama, Nov. 21, 2012
"President Obama has 60% support of the American people..."
Strange, I agree with about 50% of what he says and disagree with maybe 40% and I am not a Democrat, but an independent. Of course, there is only a 65% chance of that half the time.
The bottom line is: Who cares about party lines and statistics. Both parties failed to do their jobs and pass the budget nearly 2 years ago and instead waited for the election and played politics and stuck with party ideals and party lines, both of which are obsolete and outdated for both parties in the 21st century. Now there is a mess and MSNBC is messing up the story and making a stand along party lines, which got us into this mess in the first place.
Wow lightning, that was a very enlightening statement! Kudos!!!!
Once again, as always, everything Barrack Obama saya is a straight out LIE. The sequester is no cuts atall in current spending, but only a cut in future increases. Everything Barrack Obama says is full of lies and hypocrisy. As a human being, Barrack Obama is a totally worthless , useless little pile of waste.
Of course, MSN is purposely messing up the story. We all know how they reported when it came to the Benghazi incident. While all the other stations were talking about it, MSN DID NOT WANT TO COVER IT until early evening. It would have been bad publicity for the Prez.
We all knew that when he campaigned he didn't have a clue about the economy. Anyone who saw the debates knew that.
Even now, he still doesn't know how to deal with people.
If Obama does have the upper hand it's because 1) Obama is a liar, not a masterful one but since no one in the mainstream media questions him, well you get the picture, 2) all of the mainstream media is still in love with him since they love socialist ideas too, 3) most of the people who are polled are ignorant parrots that believe everything that Obama and the mainstream media spew, and 5) Obama really doesn't do anything except campaign, I think he believes that he will be able to circumvent the constitution (again) and run for a third term.
Well, Piggy, we know from experience that you're capable of writing some really silly sh*t, but this one takes the cake. If you care to check someplace other than MSNBC, or moveon.org, you'll find that we're only one more month of negative GDP growth away from being officially back into recession. But never fear, if that happens, we know that you and your fellow ObamaLemmings will simply blame it on the GOP and continue your mission of demonstrating that the 60% who approve of him are hopeless dupes.
Pigotry, your avatar and moniker say it all, you are a puppet and a sow.
Unhappy-1583758....."He [Obama] still doesn't know how to deal with people."
Apparently he still doesn't know how to deal with his wife since she continuously takes a separate vacation (at an additional cost to the taxpayers).
Another news piece is just out...what? you haven't noticed? So slow, my fellow Snow White:
see the link:
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/21/17049138-obama-reaches-out-to-republican-leaders-as-budget-cuts-loom?lite
.
I am so lonely by myself on that new stream. I am so disappointed in you - the low information rwnjs
Pigotry: You got your news from NBC? The same liberal media that we keep warning you about?
Didn't you read my post about how MSNBC is orchestrated news?
Enough said!
Lightening-7239544, I pity you as I wish the best for your children.
Well, Unhappy-1583758 (#1.55):
My advice to you? Don't worry, be happy!
...and there is no more MsNBC, and there is still FOX ... I think FOX should follow in the steps of MsNBC and just fold.
As the saying goes, Old Fox don't die, they just fold away.
http://www.dropshots.com/GCaplan#date/2013-02-19/21:24:57
The "sequester" is part of the stage-managed campaign by the two big-business parties to impose unpopular policies through manufactured crises. The first installment was made in the aftermath of the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis.
Obama's opposition to the sequestration cuts has nothing to do with any real opposition to cuts to social spending. Obama has called for $1.5 trillion in additional "deficit reduction" on top of the roughly $2.5 trillion that has already been passed. While both parties agree to this ballpark figure in principle, Obama is insisting that that spending cuts be associated with increases in revenues, much of which will come through the elimination of tax benefits that benefit broader sections of the working class.
Obama has been pushing for this measure as part of a so-called "grand bargain" that would lower corporate taxes from the current rate of 35 percent to 28 percent, while including trillions of dollars in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Earlier Tuesday, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the former co-chairmen of the White Houses's bipartisan deficit-reduction commission, held a press conference to propose a set of budget cuts along similar lines to Obama's comprehensive proposal, although at a slightly larger in size: $2.4 trillion over 10 years, compared to the White House's proposed $1.5 trillion.
The Simpson-Bowles proposal would cut $600 billion from federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, while Obama has proposed an additional $400 billion on top of the cuts that have already been imposed. Commentators were quick to point out that the proposal was far more similar to Obama's plan than that of the Republicans, since it included a mixture of spending cuts and revenue increases.
The next stage in the process was the so-called fiscal cliff, which was resolved through an agreement to increase taxes on workers, as well as a token increase in taxes on the rich, to be compensated by planned cuts to corporate taxes that both parties have in principle agreed to.
The attempt by the Obama administration to posture as an opponent of budget cuts is cynical. Obama has overseen an austerity program unprecedented in postwar US history. The number of layoffs of public sector workers during the first term of the Obama administration is twice that of any other presidency.
The so-called Obama recovery has been nothing but the recovery of corporate profits, which have set records three years in a row, at the expense of workers' wages and working conditions.
This was amply demonstrated in data released last month by Emmanuel Saez, which found that between 2009 and 2011—the first two years of the "recovery"—the "Top 1 percent incomes grew by 11.2 percent while bottom 99 percent incomes shrunk by 0.4 percent. Hence, the top 1 percent captured 121 percent of the income gains in the first two years of the recovery."
While it is impossible to predict the immediate outcome of the sequestration debate, the end result will be the same: both parties are committed to trillions in spending cuts, whether piecemeal, as has been the case up to now, or in one large agreement.
Where did all the money go?
Pig- You sure are stupid. This is nbc, hence everyone who is commenting on this is reading liberal media, ie. NBC News. On another note. Is it wrong to be told "NO" sometimes? Maybe all you democrats didn't get told that phrase by your parents. You probably thought your parents were repressive and obstructionists. They just wanted to ruin your life. I have only heard from all my reading of your comments of <5 democrats that are logical and make sense. Maybe you should learn from your childhood experiences of being told "No" or you can just continue on your current path and reap the whirlwind.
Pigotry and other PAID MSNBC trolls: Pathetic you and your libby followers are so ignorant about history in constantly blaming the GOP for ALL Obama's messes, and giving him a blank card to do everything HIS way.
CHECKS AND BALANCES via compromises are always what's worked for this country...and ONLY what's worked. You only want it ONE WAY....how has THAT been working for all of us? Prices of food, gas unemployment, national debt? YOUSER... we're doing just GREAT!!!
I SO resent your stupidity and LAZINESS in not doing more research about what has been going on, and enabling this FAILED LEADERSHIP to get back in office to finish us off!
Wow, the ego masturbation by the left has reached new levels here on the blog. Just one question if the economy is so great how come the unemployment figures went up again and the participation rate has fallen lower again? How is that housing recovery going? Not to well in our area...I work in residential and commercial construction...and it is the worst in my lifetime. Keep stroking each other as you help your elected representatives destroy the nations economy. Wait lets just keep talking about guns and illegal immigrants so the debt can grow even higher. You are getting exactly what you voted for...just wait until your health insurance premiums hit $20,000.00 per year for less coverage. It is part of what your party voted for to find out what is inside.
You guys deserve a king...since you are to lazy to tackle the real issues with real solutions. I know let them eat cake.
Next
You people are all IDIOTS. This is nothing but a scripted plan and you are all buying it HOOK, LINE and SINKER. All they care about is themselves and getting COMPLETE CONTROL of you. The last piece is GUN CONTROL. The even YOU REGRESSIVES will be in their power and you will say, "How did THIS happen?"
That's as right as I've heard it stated, Annie. All we have to do is look at the RESULTS of the Bozobama's policies and nonleadership and incompetence to know we can't keep doing it this socialist's way. Republicans, keep fighting this bozo at every turn and DO not give up the country to socialism Bozobama-style!
Obama wants to raise taxes and continue his spending spree. How is that helping the middle class or getting us out of debt? Hey Obama; if you tax the middle class less and quit your wasteful spending, you will actually help us out.
"Why Obama has the PR upper hand in sequestration battle"
Because he has the media in his pocket.
The Republicans should just stick to two simple messages and keep repeating them;
1 - The skyrocketing Debt will be devastating to the future of our children.
2 - The massive increases in the money supply to fund the Deficits will result in massive Inflation, high Interest Rates, and more Unemployment.
These are simple messages that even the 'low information voters' will understand, and there is no doubt that we will have to deal with these problems in the near future.
Obama's own 2013 Budget projections show that the National Debt will increase from $9.986 Trillion at the end of fiscal 2008 to $20.392 Trillion at the end of 2016 (Obama's last year) - but President's budget projections are notoriously 'optimistic' - it will likely be closer to $25 Trillion in 2016. The Interest cost alone will be devastating.
The Chinese are no longer buying our Debt - in fact, they have quietly 'cashed in' about $200 Billion of their loans to us over the last year (they know inflation is coming), and the Federal Reserve has had to replace that money by effectively 'printing new money' - along with about $1 Trillion in new money to finance the Deficit. The money supply (M1) has increased from about $1.4 Trillion in 2009 to about $2.5 Trillion now. Every responsible economist will tell you that this is highly "INFLATIONARY" - ala the 14% Inflation and 18% Interest Rates under Jimmy Carter in 1980.
Even the far-left Liberal outlet The Huffington Post recognized this;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sheldon-filger/federal-reserve-begins-ma_b_677483.html
"He (Obama) can design the spectacle in a way that could inflict political embarrassment and damage on Republicans..."
What would be the point of such an effort when the Republicans' have done it so well all by themselves?
I have been printing out these MSNBC articles for a while now, and this one I will be leaving on top.
That way, when the shyt hits the fan, there will be no way for them to hide from this. The proof is in the pudding.
Do not pass the Sequester we will blame Obama and the Democrats.....
I have yet to see ANY plan that brings down the annual deficit numbers and the national debt THIS YEAR < AND ALL FOLLOWING YEARS !!! That is a spending cut , everything else is lies ...
RepublicansForObama-6186389
So we got this clown faced idiot and some Republicans for Obama , lol Wow heyu Idiots. We don't care. We aren't running, or crying, or backing down from Satan ever. Not only that but you 2 fat tubbies couldn't back up a word of that garbage your spewing and in fact and since you were the one that implied it chubby when you said; all of the threats on your posts there RepublicansForObama-6186389. Here's the deal you idiot. We're just waiting..... And when or if we choose to stand you'd better keep your fat azs in your chair and cower down like the freaking coward that you really are, because no one that has any real balls at all would ever post the threats that you've posted. What, you think the military is going to protect you for running your mouth you arrogant piece of trash? I don't think so. It isn't in their policy or their rules of engagement to defend cowards that draw out violence by placing threats and you sir need to be arrested for trying to incite violence by way of a worldwide forum.
Nice to know Obama has a laser focus on the economy and the federal budget. After all, I only hear nothing but gun control, illegals getting citizen ship, gun control, assault bans, gays in military, women in combat zones... and oh forgot, gun control ...... out of Obama's mouth.
I'm not even going to bother with ms. Piggy,
That photo and screename says everything that needs to be said.
All I know is that the last time there was a republican majority in both houses and a republican in the white house, two wars were started without funding, they cut taxes in a time of war (something that no administration had ever done), they created a whole new government agency that costs 78 billion/year (Homeland Security) introduced a new entitlement plan Medicare-D, and Dick Cheney's Halliburton stock took off in 2005 by over 3000%, yep that's right folks, Cheney's stock went from a little over 1million to $120,000,000. Finally and not least, all their deregulation led to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, which by the way was caused by deregulation. Public service is certainly enriching when you're a republican handing out no bid contracts.
David Walker
"Obviously,given the election results, a majority of Americans are not easily fooled "
I say given the results of the election just the opposite is true. The majority is,was and are fooled it seems if you actually think this President can accomplish anything.
We actually need the sequester. We don't need more spending. The President is nothing less than a professional campainer. The problem is he can talk the talk but he can't walk the walk. he has no clue how to accomplish all the sugar and spice he yaks about. His record proves that. The only thing he can say he got done is Obama care. When this little multi hundred billion dollar tax increase hits we ALL will be hurting, and not just for a little while but for a decade or more.
You all can kneel at the feet of your great President now. By the end of this term you will begin too ask why did we ever re-elect this man?
The sequester doesn't cut a red cent from govt spending. It decreases the proposed increases, that's it.
Only in Orwellian America could people call this decrease in future proposed increases in spending "Draconian" or "cuts".
If I told you I was spending more than I made, would you...:
1. ...call it a "cut" to spend the same or more than I do now, because it was less than I planned on increasing my spending?
2. ...call such a small decrease to my future increases in spending "Draconian"?
3. ...suggest I go to my more successful boss at work with some thugs and demand more money or I'll kidnap him?
Because that's what the media would have you think is a good idea or the right description. They want to act as if this is a "cut" when it logically is not. They want you to think it's "Draconian" when it's as mild as you can get. They want you to think the solution is extorting (taxing) your more successful neighbors in a childish fit of populism (a precursor to fascism) on the threat of kidnapping them (arrest and jail if they won't pay).
If you spent $100 more a week than you make at work, and then say you plan on spending $200 more a week than you earn next month, but then decide to only spend $150 more than you earn next month instead, that IS NOT a $50 cut. It is not "Draconian". The solution is not to go and demand $50 more week from your boss on the threat of kidnapping him and putting him in a cage in chains.
The logical answer is to cut spending by $100 a week instead of increasing it to $200 a week overspending next month. That's how you balance a budget that is clearly out of control. You ACTUALLY make REAL cuts.
The RepubliBloods lie when they say we are hurting defense. Real DEFENSE isn't policing the world...that's offense, occupation, and welfaring our military might out to weaker nations for free. The DemoCrips lie when they suggest any single service needs to be cut...logically since they aren't cutting a darn thing they don't need to cut any programs. All they need to do is stop increases to spending they were planning. They don't need to lay-off a single govt worker...all the need to do is let govt workers retire when they decide to and not replace them with new workers. We don't need a post office...we have email, FedEx, and UPS. It's not surprise the federal mail system loses money - they are sending packages across vast distances for pennies! That's an idiotic business model! We don't need a Drug War, which is 50% of our prison system spending, police spending, and clogging of our court system preventing us from putting REAL violent criminals in jail. We don't need foreign aid...if you have to pay them to be your friend they aren't your friend. Nowhere in the Constitution is foreign aid authorized. It's taking from our poor and giving to their rich. We don't need farm subsidies or any other corporate welfare...and that includes "clean" energy technologies that the market is telling you suck or aren't ready for public consumption without socializing the costs.
I have had enough of socializing the costs/losses and privatizing the gains! That isn't capitalism, it isn't socialism, and it isn't communism. It's Third Way economics...the stuff used in Germany and Italy before and during WW2! Fascist economics...corporatocracy!
Enough already! Both sides are habitual liars and con artists, and I'm suck of most of you sheep acting like your side isn't full of crap but the other side is. THEY ARE BOTH FULL OF CRAP! If you can't see that you're either brainwashed, a sheep, or a moron.
It's the law of the land, and O'Bamma owns it. Plenty of video of your boy king O'Bamma out there & it all goes back to the White House! With the media bias you will need to view Fox News for the truth!!! SAVAGES on the left.
As more & more young Americans realize O'Bama has lied about raising taxes on the middle class & the young paying for Obamacare they just don't believe the loser in the white house? Obama, Menendez, & Jackson Jr., a liar, a pedophile, & a thief the new Dem. Party, What a joke.............
No, people blame Congress because controls spending and taxes, not the President. The President can present plans and requests, but that's it. The "sequester" may been approved by the President, but it was conceived and PASSED by Congress as a way to satisfy the tea party no-nothings that have no problem with destroying our country to get their way. When it comes to spending and taxes, Congress and ONLY Congress is to blame.
Savage!!!!! O'Bagger owns the "sequester".
Obama signs bills passed by congress----he is supposed to be a stop gap just as the other 3 branches. Go back to high school and LEARN. If the leader, which he is not, signs bad legislation then he is to blame and the final blame is on him. By the way, hope you are backing in the glow of your taxes recently going up, signed into law by OBAMA when he said he would NOT raise your taxes. What a demigod! Did you miss government class in high school or were you too busy with OWS smoking dope and defecating on cop cars? Past articles said Obama got 97 percent of everything he wanted in the sequester, he OWNS it. Even funnier, saying Obama has the upper hand by the media that worships him is about as sad a statement as possible. This whole sequester is rope a dope, if congress opposes he is seen as the victim, if they pass legislation he is the victor even when it hurts the country and YET he is never held accountable for anything he signs into law, he's just there surrounded by pasty morons from academia who clap like circus seals along with the media who can't even ask the simple questions of why MINE AND YOUR taxes increased when HE promised they would NOT.
This whole sequestration thing was Obama's idea in the first place. Now, as usual, the Obama bait and switch and pointing fingers.
Thats right you F__ing lib Basturds, lets just tax our a$$'s more and not do any cuts to spending, since mrs piglosi said we dont have a spending problem, frocking dumbocrats.........................
Nailed it, as usual Pro Individual. Great post. Thank you.
The "cutting" is illusionary. We're being taxed MORE for Social Insecurity and MediScam - I see it in my paycheck EVERY week! That's an INCREASE in spending!!!!
If I was a libtard, yes. But I'm not - so instead I'd tell you to:
4. Take a damn course in household budget management and start living within your means! Leave MY wallet alone!
(My tone is in jest, Pro individual, but my message is NOT!)
;)
RepublicansForObama-6186389
you need to get help, when you get it take your pills and smile it will all be good.
NBC has now covered their politically-spun aspects of Owebama's sequester with more intensity than they even covered the Benghazi debacle. No wonder NBC came in last place in Feb Sweeps month... this on the heels of coming in last place in a poll of those who were asked who the most trusted news network was. O
k libs - spin your way out of this one! The reality is that NBC is no longer a news network, but rather a network for liberal political commentary. NBC tried to succeed based on the stupidity of the sheep, and while there are certainly some stupid sheep in the herd (based on this message board alone), NBC's non-journalistic approach isn't working.
First of all,,,THERE ARE NO SPENDING CUTS!!!!!!!
They are simply decreases in the prior spending increases. None of them are Draconian to reduce overall spending, only slow down the massive growth of our corrupt governments spending.
Despite the fact that government auditors spent five years, between 2003 and 2008, examining all federal programs and found that 22 percent of them–costing taxpayers a total of $123 billion annually–fail to show any positive impact on the populations they serve! You would think that this evidence would outrage even the biggest government worshipping Liberals/Progressives. But it doesn’t. Why would it? Most Libbies don’t contribute anything to our nations prosperity, they only bleed as much as they can in free handouts and then demand even more from us real Americans who actually work for a living. But I digress.
Of course the Liberals/Progressives have no idea what that means. They have been so indoctrinated in their social and economic justice nonsense they only see what they want to promote their irrational campaign of tax (revenue) and spend (investment).
I’ll post the FACTS again.
For the past 55 years we have collected total federal revenues, on average, of about 18.1% of GDP. This is regardless of the tax rates we have used. From 91% on upper income earners in 1960 to our current rates. The range is between about 15% and 20% depending on the health of the economy. Obviously when we have full employment, which is between 4% and 5% unemployment, and a vibrant export based economy, this increases.
According to the Office of Management and Budget we are on course to create revenues as a percentage of GDP of 17.8% even with the Bush tax cuts. Unfortunately we are spending 22.6% of GDP! Even the most uninformed Liberal voter should be able to understand this. Unfortunately they can’t. Their indoctrination by their dysfunctional parents, peers and educators has been complete.
According to this it is simple to see that we need, at least, a ratio of 4.8:1 of cuts to revenue. The simplest way to increase revenue is to expand the taxable base, which means create real jobs that all the under/unemployed Americans can benefit from. So far the 6 million jobs “created” are low-wage/low to no benefit retail, food service and hospitality sectors. These will NEVER create the revenues we need to eliminate the mountain of debt we have.
Imagine the revenues we could be generating if the convoluted Barrack Hussein Keynesian economic model was replaced with true free-market principles to allow the genius of the American entrepreneur was unleashed. Imagine if we had a taxation system that was based on true “fairness” instead of the redistributive nonsense of our current progressive tax system. Imagine if we reformed the 156,000 pages, and growing, regulations the government keeps burdening our economy with. Imagine the prosperity we could create if unions were more industry supportive rather than adversarial. Imagine if we had a real “all the above” energy policy that promoted affordable gas prices instead of nearly $4 a gallon. Imagine if we had a president that promoted success instead of mediocrity.
When all Barrack Hussein does is promote everyone being “middle class”, the results are what we see today. The middle class can only flourish when we have a vibrant private sector unencumbered by mountains of regulations, taxes and demonization. The greatest economy in history was not built on the shoulders of government, unions or class-warfare. It was built on the shoulders of men and women willing to take a chance and unleash their dreams to create American exceptionalism.
Today we still have 23 million Americans under/unemployed. Instead of creating an atmosphere of prosperity and freedom in the private sector, we have massive uncertainty going on 5 years.
We STILL don’t have a budget after 1,395 days! Of course the Libbies love this as it allows them to waste our tax dollars and the unwashed masses have no idea how their hard earned money is spent. This has been the greatest crime committed by our Incompetent-in-Chief Barrack Hussein. No business, and yes, as difficult as it is for you Libbies to comprehend, our government IS A BUSINESS, would survive with this business model! It is the biggest service sector industry business in the world.
One of the biggest advantages our government has is that it isn’t expected to make a profit. Its purpose, as mandated by the Constitution, is to just use the money we pay in taxes and spend it wisely to maintain its responsibilities as directed in the Enumerated Powers in Article 1, Section 8. There are 18 simple functions of our federal government, the rest is to be taken up by the States according to the 10th amendment. Of course the Progressive movement, bastardized by the likes of Wilson, FDR and LBJ, have expanded its power to the point we find ourselves today. This must be reversed in order for our great Republic to become prosperous once again.
Ronald Reagan stated it eloquently, “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.”
Obviously some citizens need help and should be afforded that, by the States. Perfect examples of this corruption are the federal government created “social wars” against crime, drugs, poverty and illiteracy.
All of these have been abject failures.
Especially our convoluted “war on poverty”. Since its inception in 1965 by Johnson when the poverty rate was 14%, we have spent over $17 trillion dollars and our current poverty rate is 14.3% (15.1% due to recessionary effects). Only the simple-minded and fiscally irresponsible Liberals/Progressives can see this as beneficial.
This is proof positive that Liberalism is a mental disease.
We must allow “sequestration” to happen. This typical “dog and pony show” Barrack Hussein put on with the “first responders” is ridiculous. The vast majority of these services are paid for at the state level. But it does offer another tantalizing photo-op for the uninformed Libbies. This is just more “Bread and Circuses” from one of the best ring-leaders, Barrack Hussein.
O'Bama created the "sequester" and related reductions. Justas he has "always" done, he not blames others for his creation. O'Bama is using is standard threats of "impending doom and destruction" and aims these threats at the most "vulnerable", the Aging and children. Who is paying the salary of the Federal/State/County employees he uses as a backdrop? They should be doing the job they are getting paid to do and not being used as "window dressing" for O'Bama total failure as President. O'Bama is selecting what programs get reduced and he is picking those groups that have no alternatives. Of course, he is ignoring cuts to his increased Federal Welfare Programs. So he will continue to send out the Welfare Checks. The "sequester" cuts NEW SPENDING it does not "gut" and Federal Program -- it CUTS OR REDUCES NEW SPENDING. O'Bama's tax increases affect EVERYONE because EVERYONE is deraling with State/County/City tax increases on top of Federal Tax increases. YOU CAN NOT TAX YOURSELF OUT OF DEBT -- TO ONLY WAY OUT OF DEBT IS TO CUT SPENDING. Like any other good Socialist Dictator, it is my way or nothing. The people that pay the bills in this country are telling O'Bama to hit the road or suffer the same fate that Socialist Dictators from history have suffered. O"BAMA, PELOSI AND REID CREATED THE "sequester", AND THEY HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. O'BAMA HAS STARTED A REVOLUTION THAT HAS BECOME VERY WELL ARMED AND HE IS THE TARGET. The only people supporting the President are the deadbeats and likes of Buffett (who is under Federal indictment for Income Tax Evasion). Deadbeats, your free ride is coming to an abrupt end, LIVE WITH IT and hold O'Bama responsible for his own total failures.
Translation: Obama can lie until he is blue in the face and main stream media outlets, like NBC and ABC, will give him all the support he wants in passing off the lies to the American people.
"...and as the man who dominates media coverage"
Boy, they said a mouth full.
It's a cult like worship.
I read Obama worshiper posts and can't believe the ignorance. You folks are just fat,dumb and happy, and ignore any of the realities of this.......If I were a democrat party advocate [I'm not] I could find within myself--because I'm educated, informed, and relatively fair minded--a tendency to have a lot to criticize the actions/behavior of both parties. To think we have no problems and that the republicans should just get out of the way is just flat stupid. I'm left to conclude that you folks actually believe Bloated ED, Bloated Mathews, and Bloated Maddow. You know, the shows that never have an opposing view represented. Am I right....or is this just a matter of party affiliation based on freebies promised. Is this thing that simple?
The 'the world is ending cuts' amount to 20B this year of more than 3T projected to be spent. And +15B, even with the cuts [what a joke], more in spending this year. DO you worshipers really believe your bloated TV talking heads that things will shut down? If so, we have so many stupid voters that it's plain pathetic. All workers lost 2% in pay when the payroll tax reduction expired [remember the 2% that the democrats forgot to tell all you folks and you let them get away with it without a peep because they are democrats] and the 2013 federal cuts are about 2%. Why can households handle the 2%, but you Maddow minions don't think the federal government can. WHat a bunch of stupid idiots.
He can design the spectacle in a way that could inflict political embarrassment and damage on Republicans, with the goal being to pressure them to agree to another round of tax increases.
Members of the press ( no Fox News ) repeat after me.
It is Republicans fault
It is Republicans fault
It is Republicans fault
It is Republicans fault
It is Republicans fault
It is Republicans fault
Now go and publish it.
Yes my lord.
When Obama suppoorts post icons of themselves that depict pigs from Sesame Street, that should tell you all you need to know about the mentailty of the Obama bum kissers that post on here
Without such an accommodating and compliant press the PR advantage would be with the republicans. If we had a competent press and we would be having an honest debate about the sequester that would be as embarrassing to Obama as his debates with Romney. Instead we get a press parroting Obamas chicken little warnings of impending catastrophe.
The truth is the impact of the so called “cuts” the president finds so “catastrophic” will be minuscule. The fact that Obama can’t manage to reduce the INCREASE in government spending a mere $85 billion from the $3.6 TRILLION he wants to spend is pathetic and demonstrates the depth of his incompetence and narcissism.
Guess we’ll have to wait for March 2, 2013 to prove that despite the sequester, the sun has risen again and will be shining brightly enough for Obama and the main stream press to collectively wipe the egg off their faces.
Why is it that for 8 years everything was Bush's fault, but NOW all those blames placed on Bush are being shoved to Congress and no Obama. Could it because ppl just dont like the GOP idea of smaller centralized defense-spending governments? You know, the kind that built this country?
And for all the crying about how fear-mongering the GOP is, I guess saying everything will devastate this and devestate that isnt fear-mongering. Here's a news flash: this recent recession was a joke by comparison to the Great Depression and likely those people who lived it are rolling in their graves. When NJ was hit with the recession, they forced furloughs at all levels of government. Why should the Federal government be saved from that. And another thing: this president was so worried about universal healthcare (which the Philly Inquirer just published an article about suporters backpedaling on that) and defict reduction, yet Obamacare still isnt fully in effect and defict reductions are on 10 year projections. Does anybody see this as a problem?
Let the sequester happen. Its a hard lesson in managing one's house. A lesson Washington should be taught quarterly.
ProIndividual, so you think we don't need a post office, because we have Fed Ex and UPS? Wow! I had a package that I had to send to Scotland last month - UPS wanted $325 to ship - I shipped it for $87. I also live on a mountain, which neither FedEx nor UPS will deliver to, so I have to go to - yep, the Post Office! If we lose the Post Office, get ready to pay TRIPLE what we spend now. And get poorer service. We just need to get SOMEONE who can manage it properly. Everything else you state I agree 100%.
I'm really worried about the state of our country. We have a president who campaigns constantly, but can't lead, a congress who can't work together, no budget, too many government organizations not accomplishing much, illegals demanding their "rights", too much emphasis on "gun control", making illegals legal, homosexuals be allowed to marry, yet little attention to all the millions of Americans out of work, out of homes, disintegrating family unit, our national debt, ridiculous government spending.
Social Security is not the problem - our government stealing all the surplus funds out of it is the problem. I paid into SS for fifty years now, and some government officials are thinking of changing it - no, what they need to change is HOW GOVERNMENT SPENDS. You are right on, about sending all our money, weapons to these countries - we should put that money into our own coffers - those countries don't seem to be able to stop fighting, no matter how much we send them. It looks like there will be a third world war, no matter what we do.
Obama owns Boner and Myrtle McConnell.
I bet Obama even beats Boner at golf.
Boner looks like he has gotten used to being beaten.
Question;.....Controlling the message: Why Obama has the PR upper hand in sequestration battle
Answer;.....Because the media in this country never calls him out when he's dead assed wrong, never challenges him on anything, and generally speaking gives him a free pass on all things in such a fashion that we have never seen before with any sitting president.
I wonder how history would have changed if the press treated Nixon, and Clinton that way.
GET ON THE STICK MAIN STREAM MEDIA AND START DOING YOUR FREAKING JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Raise taxes and keep spending and see what happens this seems to be the plan of the winner, it seems we as a nation are satisfied some are even calling the present situation a booming economy, if things are going well lets ride it out.
Who is the fool that does not think the Media is left wing based. We have known this for years. That is why they slaughtered Bush but will not tell the truth about Osama.
The fact that he is president and is trying to enact something that will forgive people for breaking the law should OUTRAGE everyone. Democrats and republicans the same.
When does Osama finally get the blame for EVERYTHING he has done. Liberals are sheep.
Liberals are just beyond stupid about Washington politics. Obama came up with the sequester, and he demanded it be included in the bill. So he got what he wanted. Has Obama or the Senate Democrats put any proposal on the table that everyone can read to stop the sequester. No. Why? Simple, Obama does not want to cut any spending, and Obama loves the blame game.
What liberals never mention is that this year the federal government will spend over 3.5 trillion, which is an increase over the year before. So as if this paltry sum of 85 billion is really going to be much more then a blip. Unless of course Obama wants it to be as painful as possible. So all Republicans need to do is pass a bill that allows Obama to pick and choose within each department where the cuts will take place. That way sequester will only be an across the board cut if Obama wants it that way. Sure Obama will gut some of the programs Republicans like, but that is what Congressional oversight is all about. Simple solution, and it puts the ball back in Obama's court.
BO has the PR advantage just like he does on every issue....... The state run media! It is a rare instance indeed when they ever question him on anything. Example...He put forth lots of new spending programs in his state of the union address, yet said he wouldn't add one dime to the deficit. How does that work???? Had a half dozen interviews and NOT ONCE did anyone ask him how he would pay for it. HELLO??? Just hard questions about Tiger and golf.
Sequester is only a "doomsday" to those that believe government is their "savior".
Oh the hysteria! Many republicans are your friends, your neighbors, your family. All of them are your countrymen - nearly 50% of them at that. Having to read the opinions of those here who seem to form their opinions based on watching Hollywood movies featuring Gordon Gekko types rather than reading the news and getting the FULL picture, is truly disconcerting.
typical libtard media biased BS .. what do you expect from a site like this?
Rather interesting his latest version of "the blame game". First he is blaming the republicans for something that was his idea. That in and of itself is funny. Second the republicans have passed 2 bills in the house to change it but Reid refuses to take up either and do ammendmants if he likes. Reid also hasn't passed his own version if he wants.
So its Obamas idea. He wants it changed and the republicans have passed 2 bills to do that. And Reid as usual does nothing. But somehow this is the Republicans fault. LOL I can't even fathom how someone could reach that conclusion????
Rick, if you add the trillion in FED printing there is 4.5 Trillion spent in the economy.
Tokenflame "All I know is that the last time there was a republican majority in both houses and a republican in the white house............"
All I know is the last time there was a REPUBLICAN majority in both houses and a Democrat in the White House (1995-2000), the economy (GDP) grew by 41% in 6 years (7% per year), we added a net of 17,494,000 net new jobs (almost 3 million new jobs per year), and we had Budget SURPLUSES in 3 of those 6 years (1998-2000).
By the way - It's the Congress that sets the spending Budget (and is responsible for Budget Deficits and Surpluses), not the President. It appears that a Republican Congress is pretty darn good at passing laws that encourage economic growth, creates jobs, and controls the Debt - when given the chance.
lol
A thing the dems don't like to hear is the Clinton tax CUT in 1997 (or1996?) that preceded the good years. Out of all the tax cuts that are bemoaned one constantly hears Reagan and Bush. But i have NEVER heard one liberal critisize the Clinton tax cut. Wonder why they don't? Any liberals want to chime in as to why you don't bemoan Clinton for cutting taxes? One might check out cap gains revenue after that and how it went UP.
Some of you are getting two or three entities and combining them. Makes me think you only respond and do not pay attention. The Sequester was 0bama's idea. He is the one that pushed it. None of you remember that? It cannot be repealed as it is not a bill or a law. All the Democrats voted for it. 0bama signed off on it. Keep up. And even if it happens none of the horror stories you are spreading will happen. Do you not remember when Bill Clinton shutdown the government? Some people got furloughs but in the end everyone got all the pay they missed. With a trillion budget so to speak, this is a drop in the bucket. Unless you are afraid your welfare check will not come. In case of that get another job.
mary p
Conveniently forgotten during the recounting of the sequester history is the fact that it had enough votes to pass the Republican run House.
Why are both sides of this discussion so ardently stuck on "it's your side's fault!" rather than looking at the whole situation and realizing this screwup took over 500 people to make.
I see more articles and discussions about who's fault it is rather than actual plans to fix it in a way that we all like.
"Oh but Obama said..." give me a break. If a President uses the veto, it can still pass. It would just mean that Congress would have to do their job and pass bills that work for everyone.
Harry Reid and Boehner are both idiots, but like lemmings we keep sending them back to the Senate and House - respectively - and then wonder why absolutely nothing changes. I honestly think it's because people prefer to complain about it rather than try to do something.
Here's a question I'll ask honestly: For those of you who are foaming at the mouth during your posts, have you contacted your House Representative or Senators (or all of the above) and told them how you feel about this and how you would like for them to represent you? Or perhaps you're just hoping that they'll log in to the First Read and see which way the vocal minority is bellowing?
Or are you doing NOTHING about it?
The real problem is the complete lack of knowledge and awareness of the American People - All aboard on the Cruise Ship Obamanation - living blind - until the power dies and the ship is a drift - with sewage filling the cabins and passageways
Barack Obama and the liberal media are presiding over the death of a once great nation - with sheep in tow
BigATC
I'm good with a return to the Clinton era tax levels. I do believe though that would be seen as a tax increase and likely wouldn't gain much traction - particularly with the Republican party. I'm not under the illusion that we can solve the debt issue long term by getting everyone together for another session of "kick the can" every other month that stars each party blaming the other for the situation rather than sitting down to resolve the situation like adults.
It will likely require tax increases and reduction in spending. We all hear that we like a reduction in spending until it comes to a representatives district. Then they are more than happy to load the wheelbarrow with cash and send it home and decide it is "necessary".
"Controlling the message: Why Obama has the PR upper hand in sequestration battle."
That is simple - because of the Obama sycophants in the media.
"The sequester doesn't cut a red cent from govt spending. It decreases the proposed increases, that's it."
Pro... you got it... And if you think its not, go do your own looking.
Our President may lie about his dooms day views and he may even act on some for political reasons... but our government is the ones hurting the American public.
Repo i'm sure nobody forgets the house passed it as it is already law. These discussions keep coming up because our president keeps running around saying its the republicans fault all these terrible things are going to happen. As always the media runs with it. And i would guess most people listening to the news, but don't follow politics closely, believe it. Thats why he keeps doing it. The media just doesn't challenge him on it.
It's like me talking a friend into sledding down a hill. Pond with thin ice at the bottom and i say its ok. We sled down and fall into the ice and then i blame my friend for what was my idea.
A lot of people here start in with "its the republicans fault", as did the people that started this thread. Although they are the hyper-partisans and do that regardless of what comes up. I'm sure there are people reading here also that dont know BO started it, which is why i will continue to post as such. Polls showed only about a 3rd of the people actually know what "sequester" is. But i agree, neither side can place blame as they all passed it.
Repo we're actually ABOVE the Clinton tax levels now. Add in the increase 3 weeks into his 1st term, the 23 or so taxes in Obamacare, and the tax increases a few months ago we are above. If you want to duplicate the Clinton era then you also have to match the SPENDING levels ... in the 18% Spending/GDP range. That was the lowest spending by congress since the 70's
Tell me were I'm wrong : Sequester does NOT mean CUT — it means SLOWED GROWTH IN SPENDING. We will have the SAME AMOUNT of SPENDING PLUS MORE with or without sequester.
Obama and the democrats have put us in this situation with their spending and the only way out is to cut spending... And for anyone here that thinks more spending is the cure then you are IDIOTS....... We have to make cuts and then cut our spending.................. What fools we have here posting!!!!!!
PR is all he has for the stupid uninformed Americans.
BigATC
Exclusive of Obamacare, which has yet to be fully implemented, I mean the original tax rates rather than the lowered ones during his second term. I should have initially clarified that. Corporate taxes were also higher under Clinton than they are at their current rate. Some of the taxes that are to take effect this year, but won't be fully realized until we pay taxes for the 2013 rate which we will do next year. The payroll tax holiday being over will be the one we see first, assuming you are actually earning a paycheck rather than income in another fashion. This will likely result in a higher tax rate during Clinton's second term but still lower than his first if my understanding is correct even after full implementation of Obamacare.
Unfortunately as we have a true spending problem which translates to deficit problem, I'm not about to suggest we can just tax or cut. Both will have to be done in order to truly get the deficit under control. I would gladly accept returning to 18% spending on the GDP, however to realize that we'll have go to after the sacred cow of defense as we did during the Clinton era which we all know that people are loathe to touch along with entitlements which carries the same stigma. Without adjustments to those two, which I can't seriously see being done, it's going to leave us looking for other methods of attempting to find a way to figure out our deficit outside of the accounting tricks we used to show the surplus.
This article headline says it all in a nutshell. The press and Obama think this is all about a PR campaign. Its all about popularity... That is where we are all doomed... This is about facts and data, not about wishful thinking and Obama growing government... We can not pay our debt - the Feds are a run away train wreck.
I will say the sequester is the only good legislative idea Obama has had. As Obama stated when it was passed and the Republicans offered an alternative, "No we are not going to eliminate the sequester, it is the only alternative." My my how times have changed and how Obama spins your little brains...
Obama is the epitome of the Dem party symbol, an economic jackass and you lemmings along with the media will be waiting for your checks to come in the future, and guess what, the well is running dry and the fool in the WH mortgaged your future. He wouldn't even rate as a mid level executive much less this charade as commander in chief, what a fraud but with the dolts in the media, also with no comprehension of economics drool all over themselves at his presence and of course, the over the top love affair with the "fashion sense" of Michelle, in true Marie Antoinette style, "let them eat cake". Charlatans one and all and both parties need to send these entrenched pols HOME and find some real leadership.
Lets track some of the hypocrisy in this thread. The sequester had to pass a Republican House, which is true. But why then is Bush solely blamed for massive spending when the two biggest budgets passed during his terms were by a Democrat House and Senate? Seems as if liberals can insist Republicans share the blame for passing the sequester, then Democrats that passed the two biggest budgets in US history ought to share that same blame. Republicans in the House have passed two bills to try and avoid the sequester, and so far the Democrats and Obama have done nothing. BigATC makes a great point about the Clinton tax cuts, and the fact liberals said nothing. Yet liberals blame Republicans endlessly, they have a double standard for accountability, which is why Washington fails.
In Nov 2011 presser, BO said he would veto any attempt to eliminate "sequester". Hmmmmm.
Repo i think we are waaaaaaaay past any cut or tax increase doing much to the deficit, much less the debt. Both sides are so bad now at getting things done we are in a really bad place. The 2 trillion dollars we are pumping into the economy at a yearly rate that we don't have (deficit spending and FED printing) is going to absolutely blow up the economy at some point. When we start paying normal rates on what will soon be 20 Trillion in debt this sequester amount will look like chump change.
BigATC
If the House and Senate could come to a real agreement to move forward that was good enough, they could always override the veto. Sad that we have to hope for something that won't happen.
We are likely very far past a one or the other approach. We will have to likely cut spending and raise taxes and slowly dig our way out of the debt if we ever hope to approach becoming as fiscally responsible as people say they would like for us to be while we slowly dig our way out of this and wait for a better economic climate. I don't want to be in a situation similar to Japan (or even worse, countries slowly spiraling in the Eurozone) with 200% debt to GDP. Even though Japan doesn't feel they are in the midst of a fiscal crisis, situations there and here don't match up and us being that deep into debt would be a problem unless we don't care about the US dollar being the world reserve currency.
I think the issue is that it's hard to sit down and have an honest look, let alone an honest plan, about how to dig any way out of this. It seems that the best plan of action is just blame someone else and stick our heads in the sand, if we're taking our cues from our leadership.
Yep, and nobody wants to do what needs to be done now as it will be painful to a lot of people. But either we do it now under some pain on our terms, or market forces will do it for us when we get to the point of paying a trillion dollars a year in interest. And thats not a long way in the future. And that my friend will be disastrous, mostly for the poor.
Sorry thing is their still scratching their heads wondering why their #5 in the ratings? Wondering why Fow News is #1..............You can't make this up..
The republicans passed HR5652 last summer to deal with this. Still sits on Reids desk. So since Reid won't even bring it up for a discussion or send the house an original Senate version what are the republicans to do? There isn't anything they can do until they get something from Reid to take to committee. Reid is the one holding up the process, wonder why we don't hear that in the media? Haha
"American knows what's up?" Actually, they don't. If they did, they never would have given Obama a second term. Who's telling America what's up? Certainly not Pravda, aka NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, etc. Heck, not even FOX. How many people really understand that the sequestration doesn't do anything to reduce the deficit? How many people understand that the sequestration doesn't reduce federal spending? How many people understand that Obama is a pathological liar and that none of the things that he claims will occur will in fact occur unless Obama wants them to occur? I suspect very few. Probably about the same number of people who understand that spending more than you make is not a good idea. Heck, even if they understand that it is not a good idea, they couldn't tell you why. And, they also think that what applies to us, in terms of economics, doesn't apply to the government.
The "Stupid Party" could never figure this out for themselves, but I guess that's why, they are, what they are!!!!
Recent reports forecast lower spending for this year, anticipating that the restored payroll tax will impact consumers' wallets, especially low-income earners. Wal-Mart is adjusting its strategy.Retailers are preparing for a triple whammy as the restoration of the payroll tax, surging gas prices, and stagnant employment and wages take a bite out of consumers' disposable income, leaving them with less cash to spend on clothing, groceries, and eating out.
Wal-Mart's profits can indicate how the nation's economy is doing. Recent reports forecast lower spending at the retail giant this year. As a result, more than three years after the recession officially ended, American consumers might be preparing to downshift again, if only slightly, with low-income consumers hit the hardest. Sensing consumer trepidation, retailers are scrambling to adjust.
Retailers, restaurants, and consumer goods companies like Wal-Mart are lowering sales forecasts and adjusting marketing campaigns ahead of expectations that consumers will slash spending, the Wall Street Journal reports.
In a survey released Thursday, the National Retail Federation (NRF) said some 46 percent of consumers plan to spend less as a result of the payroll tax increase. One-third said they will reduce dining out and one-quarter will spend less on "little luxuries," like manicures and trips to coffee shops.
"A smaller paycheck due to the fiscal cliff deal early last month, higher gas prices, low consumer confidence and ongoing uncertainty about our nation's fiscal health is negatively impacting consumers and businesses across the country," Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the NRF, said in a statement.
Originally enacted in December 2010 to help taxpayers weather the recession and to spur economic activity, the payroll tax cut expired Jan. 1 of this year. The restoration of the tax effectively raised the rate from 4.2 percent in 2012 to 6.2 percent in 2013, shaving 2 percent from consumers' take-home pay.
That means Americans making $50,000 a year will pay $83 more in taxes each month, almost $1,000 more each year. Those making $75,000 will pay $125 more each month, or $1,500 more each year. As retailers see it, that's $1,500 less a consumer has to spend on groceries, household goods, and dining out.
Multiply that by 153.6 million people in the labor force and retailers start to panic. According to an estimate by Citigroup, the expiration of the payroll tax cut will move $110 billion out of consumers' pockets.
For high-end consumers, the payroll tax may not change a thing, and for many middle-income consumers, it will likely result in only a subtle shift. But the impact is most likely to be felt among low-income consumers and the businesses they tend to frequent, like Wal-Mart.
"It's a big deal," says Morgan Housley, a macroeconomic analyst with Motley Fool, an online financial education website. "The biggest impact is on lower-income households since the payroll tax is regressive, only applying to the first $113,000 of income. Wealthier households don't feel the same pinch because the tax doesn't hit all of their income. Lower-income households also spend a larger share of their income than wealthier consumers.… Low-income families are in one of the toughest spots they've been in since 2009."
Why is Wal-Mart worried? Payroll tax could cut consumer spending. (+video)
Recent reports forecast lower spending for this year, anticipating that the restored payroll tax will impact consumers' wallets, especially low-income earners. Wal-Mart is adjusting its strategy.
that with stagnant employment and wages, as well as soaring gas prices – gas is up 50 cents a gallon in the past month alone – and consumers start to feel the pinch, says Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org, a consumer information service.
"Those who are living paycheck-to-paycheck, spending all they've got, those are the folks who are going to be hit the most," Mr. Dworsky says.
Retailers are also bracing for the hit, says Mr. Housel.
"The big retailers like Wal-Mart are very good at reading customers' shopping habits and adjusting quickly," he says. "You'll see stores adjusting inventory toward lower-price items and smaller-packaged goods."
Case in point: McDonald's is promoting its Dollar Menu, Burger King slashed its Whopper Jr. burger from $2 to $1.29, Tyson Foods is ordering more budget-friendly chicken and lower-priced cuts of meat, and Wal-Mart is stocking shelves with cheaper goods and smaller packages of bulk items, reports the Wall Street Journal.
"Any industry that focuses on low-income consumers starved for value will see the biggest hit – discount retail and dollar stores, for example," adds Housel.
Already, Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, had the worst start to a month in seven years and described February sales as "a total disaster," according to internal company e-mails obtained by Bloomberg News.
Despite the doom-and-gloom predictions, however, some analysts say it's unlikely the restoration of the payroll tax will wreak havoc on the economy. After all, retail sales inched up 0.1 percent in January in spite of the tax restoration.
"Although the payroll tax hike has taken a chunk out of wages across the country and sent the retail sector into a panic, it doesn't look like the tax will hurt all that bad in the end," says analyst Dan Carroll in a recent Motley Fool column. "With consumers spending much of the payroll tax holiday's two years getting a handle on debt and auto sales continuing to shine despite the tax holiday's expiration, the payroll tax hike won't be able to kill the economy's momentum."
But Dworsky still expects consumers and retailers will be negatively affected.
"Consumers may cut back and buy less, eat out less, buy one less dress, one fewer pair of shoes, maybe join Costco," says Dworsky.
If there is a negative impact, it is likely to be long-lasting.
"It's safe to say that whatever negative impact the restoration of the tax has on consumer spending will be permanent," says Housel. "There's nothing consumers can do to avoid it, and without leveraging back up on debt, it will be a permanent impact on spending."
obama is a master at blaming others (republicans) for his screw ups and having his liberal zombies eat it up as truth. 4 more yrs. to end his miserable, pathetic and destructive presidency can't come quick enough!
I guess the real question is are libs stupid or pathological liars? I suspect that most are either stupid or ignorant (and that may be by choice). With the sequestration, spending will increase by $15 billion. So, by spending more the sky is going to fall! This is getting so old, the big question is: Why does anyone believe anything Obama or his PR machine says? I realize a lot of people do, otherwise this liar-in-chief would never have been re-elected. Has our educational system really failed us this badly? I guess so.
http://www.dropshots.com/zoom.html?large=http://media100.dropshots.com/photos/1055507/20130223/b_185406.jpg
The “sequester” is part of the stage-managed campaign by the two big-business parties to impose unpopular policies through manufactured crises. The first installment was made in the aftermath of the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis.
Obama’s opposition to the sequestration cuts has nothing to do with any real opposition to cuts to social spending. Obama has called for $1.5 trillion in additional “deficit reduction” on top of the roughly $2.5 trillion that has already been passed. While both parties agree to this ballpark figure in principle, Obama is insisting that that spending cuts be associated with increases in revenues, much of which will come through the elimination of tax benefits that benefit broader sections of the middle class and working poor.
Obama has been pushing for this measure as part of a so-called “grand bargain” that would lower corporate taxes from the current rate of 35 percent to 28 percent, while including trillions of dollars in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Earlier Tuesday, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the former co-chairmen of the White Houses’s bipartisan deficit-reduction commission, held a press conference to propose a set of budget cuts along similar lines to Obama’s comprehensive proposal, although at a slightly larger in size: $2.4 trillion over 10 years, compared to the White House’s proposed $1.5 trillion.
The Simpson-Bowles proposal would cut $600 billion from federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, while Obama has proposed an additional $400 billion on top of the cuts that have already been imposed. Commentators were quick to point out that the proposal was far more similar to Obama’s plan than that of the Republicans, since it included a mixture of spending cuts and revenue increases.
The “sequester” is part of the stage-managed campaign by the two big-business parties to impose unpopular policies through manufactured crises. The first installment was made in the aftermath of the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis.
The next stage in the process was the so-called fiscal cliff, which was resolved through an agreement to increase taxes on workers, as well as a token increase in taxes on the rich, to be compensated by planned cuts to corporate taxes that both parties have in principle agreed to.
The attempt by the Obama administration to posture as an opponent of budget cuts is cynical. Obama has overseen an austerity program unprecedented in postwar US history. The number of layoffs of public sector workers during the first term of the Obama administration is twice that of any other presidency.
The so-called Obama recovery has been nothing but the recovery of corporate profits, which have set records three years in a row, at the expense of workers’ wages and working conditions.
This was amply demonstrated in data released last month by Emmanuel Saez, which found that between 2009 and 2011—the first two years of the “recovery”—the “Top 1 percent incomes grew by 11.2 percent while bottom 99 percent incomes shrunk by 0.4 percent. Hence, the top 1 percent captured 121 percent of the income gains in the first two years of the recovery.”
While it is impossible to predict the immediate outcome of the sequestration debate, the end result will be the same: both parties are committed to trillions in spending cuts, whether piecemeal, as has been the case up to now, or in one large agreement.
The “sequester” is part of the stage-managed campaign by the two big-business parties to impose unpopular policies through manufactured crises. The first installment was made in the aftermath of the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis.
Obama’s opposition to the sequestration cuts has nothing to do with any real opposition to cuts to social spending. Obama has called for $1.5 trillion in additional “deficit reduction” on top of the roughly $2.5 trillion that has already been passed. While both parties agree to this ballpark figure in principle, Obama is insisting that that spending cuts be associated with increases in revenues, much of which will come through the elimination of tax benefits that benefit broader sections of the middle class and working poor.
Obama has been pushing for this measure as part of a so-called “grand bargain” that would lower corporate taxes from the current rate of 35 percent to 28 percent, while including trillions of dollars in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Earlier Tuesday, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, the former co-chairmen of the White Houses’s bipartisan deficit-reduction commission, held a press conference to propose a set of budget cuts along similar lines to Obama’s comprehensive proposal, although at a slightly larger in size: $2.4 trillion over 10 years, compared to the White House’s proposed $1.5 trillion.
The Simpson-Bowles proposal would cut $600 billion from federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid, while Obama has proposed an additional $400 billion on top of the cuts that have already been imposed. Commentators were quick to point out that the proposal was far more similar to Obama’s plan than that of the Republicans, since it included a mixture of spending cuts and revenue increases.
The next stage in the process was the so-called fiscal cliff, which was resolved through an agreement to increase taxes on workers, as well as a token increase in taxes on the rich, to be compensated by planned cuts to corporate taxes that both parties have in principle agreed to.
The attempt by the Obama administration to posture as an opponent of budget cuts is cynical. Obama has overseen an austerity program unprecedented in postwar US history. The number of layoffs of public sector workers during the first term of the Obama administration is twice that of any other presidency.
The so-called Obama recovery has been nothing but the recovery of corporate profits, which have set records three years in a row, at the expense of workers’ wages and working conditions.
This was amply demonstrated in data released last month by Emmanuel Saez, which found that between 2009 and 2011—the first two years of the “recovery”—the “Top 1 percent incomes grew by 11.2 percent while bottom 99 percent incomes shrunk by 0.4 percent. Hence, the top 1 percent captured 121 percent of the income gains in the first two years of the recovery.”
While it is impossible to predict the immediate outcome of the sequestration debate, the end result will be the same: both parties are committed to trillions in spending cuts, whether piecemeal, as has been the case up to now, or in one large agreement.
Our politicians and the media tell us we need to follow the example of Europe and cut spending significantly. The Obama administration's Simpson Bowles commission advised the U.S. to do this to save or improve our economy.
This is what the "Fiscal Cliff" and "Sequester" legislation is all about. Trying to force the public into accepting big cuts to popular and successful government programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Both Democrats and Republicans say we need to do it.
REALLY?
Then how do you explain this?
Japan's Debt to GDP ratio is over 200% and has been over 150% for 12 years.
Here's the graph:
http://www.financialsense.com/sites/default/files/users/u121/images/2012/japanese-debt-gdp-1980-2010.jpg
So if deficits are so destructive to the economy why didn't their economy collapse years ago?
And why is the Japanese Unemployment rate so low? It's about half of the U.S. unemployment rate and their Debt to GDP ratio is over twice ours:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B7bSes0OqMM/SZJV8R2tjvI/AAAAAAAABIs/lavboWFIPIw/s400/Japan+unemployment+rate+since+1999.png
Neither has the value of their currency suffered. As a matter of fact they are trying to DEVALUE it to get an edge on international trade:
LAST UPDATED AT 12:17 ON Mon 24 Oct 2011
JAPAN may be forced to devalue its currency after the yen hit a record high of 75.78 against the US dollar on Friday. The Foreign Minister Jun Azumi has warned that "decisive action" might be needed to avoid damaging export figures, after which the yen fell in Monday trading.
http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-business/35517/japan's-foreign-minister-ready-devalue-yen
On the other hand we have the Eurozone which has been forcing it's members to cut government spending, especially social programs (health, pensions, unemployment insurance, etc).
Wikipedia: During the European sovereign-debt crisis, many countries embarked on austerity programs, reducing their budget deficits relative to GDP from 2010 to 2011. For example, according to the CIA World Factbook Greece improved its budget deficit from 10.4% GDP in 2010 to 9.6% in 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austerity
Here's their unemployment rate as a result of cutting government spending (This is an average, some countries like Greece and Spain have over 20% unemployment):
Read more: http://www.theweek.co.uk/world-business/35517/japan%25E2%2580%2599s-foreign-minister-ready-devalue-yen#ixzz2LVhcSxuf
Come on Obama, stand up to them.
A clown? hahahah - oh from Pigs to clowns you idiots can't stop making fools of yourselves.
He is, and they aren't liking it at all.
Gun control and immigration reform are coming. So far, in their opposition, Republicans are ensuring Obama gets his legacy.
yeah ... President O is standing tall and standing up to GOP nonsense.
The GOP lacks any wisdom or good strategy ... crumbling like ice cream under the bright sunlight. The President has taken over many GOP proposals and made into his own and thrown back as his own proposals to the GOP, and have been amazed and amused when the GOP has shot all these proposals down. The American people have seen everything unfolding, and will punish the recalcitrant GOP again in November 2014. The Democratic party will be a majority for a long time in the future. Just as Gingrich and Dole had predicted when they jointly blocked Pres. Clinton's healthcare reform initiative led by Hillary. Gingrich and Dole predicted that if the Democrats got their universal healthcare law, the DEMs will be majority in US federal government for a long time to come. And Obama got the healthcare reform done, and the DEMs will be the majority for a long time, and the GOP is desperate.
Hey, Both parties are corrupt (#2.1) who writes:
What...why would you have problems with cute little pigs like me (iPIG - the official alias of Pigotry)?
P.S. (pig shit): elephants are the real problem! It's as obvious as elephants in the room.
Seems to me the President will come out smelling like roses no matter what happens. House GOP will look like obstructionists since they are the only reason nothing is getting done in Congress. Win win for the big guy in the oval office. Boener, your days are numbered, can you say 2014?
yeah stand up and tell more lies. How soon you all forget this mess came directly from the white house and wasn't it only a few months ago that some charlatan went on national TV and said this would never happen and therefor he was not legally obligated to follow the law and give notice to all the potential layoffs????
If any of you loons followed the demoncrat advice and maxed out your credit cards and then quit your job to go one the public dole then maybe I would understand your expecting the rest of the nation to do the same. Oh wait!!! You are all on the dole and that is why you come here to collectively find a bigger trough to eat out of.
Ayn Rand applied for and then got Medicare, when she got cancer in her old age. The old witch sold her soul out, completely. Republicans are disgusting jokes.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-20086598/boehner-i-got-98-percent-of-what-i-wanted/http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/boehner-got-98-percent-of-what-he-wanted-in-debt-deal/
http://www.politicususa.com/tag/boehner-got-98-of-what-he-wanted
The sequester is boehner's idea and 98% his construction. Simply see the above, all containing video evidence of this.
Everything he says is obvious and expected: If you are broke and cannot pay the bills, everything across the board hurts. Americans will just have to take care of themselves more, and travel less, and rely on government services less. In reality it will be more of a return to what we came from and how we originated: The federal government collects taxes for the roads and the military. That's it and that's all we should expect. Everything else is up to the individual or at the local town level, as it should be: the country was founded on the premise of having a small Federal Government. Yes it's modern times, but that is how it was set up and founded. It was not until after WWII that it ballooned and we turned from a Republic to A Democracy. Curious as the comments on this statement!
Democrats really just repeat what the news says...do you NOT see what is actually going in the US?? We are more divided, more corrosive, more manipulative than ever before...why the sheets over your eyes?? This is crazy I can truly see how brainwashed these people are and Piggy your leading the way.
Public Relations is the new GoD??? WOW...a lot of uneducated so easily manipulated people out there these days.
Jedi, the will of the people trumps the will of individual politicians, especially when those politicians campaign on one idea and then do another completely. Republicans are getting destroyed by their own disillusioned constituents now. I'm an independent and don't like either of the two big parties, but this is the most beautifully orchestrated destruction of a political party ever.
What immigration reform? He is basically telling people to cut in line, all the while they are still picking up their free govt. aid. How is that different than before? When is he going to deal with those who want to come here legally so the wait in line isn't 10 years or more?
Gun control reform? Yeah, we have Chicago to know how that turned out.
You know one of the most well known political philosophers said that Democracy is one step from Tyranny. Maybe all you democrats should read "The Republic" by Plato. Interesting read maybe you might become a little more educated. A complete Democracy was what the founding fathers were trying to avoid, but we are well on our way from a republic to a democracy.
Punk, come get it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFlFdiATHP0
And here, I thought jedi utahn and pigatory were like, lifemates living off somewhere in the land of delusions, guess the divorce settlement must be closing in. Left, Right, punch comes straight through the middle and both those eyes will be shinning soon. Follow either party, or any of their idiots, and all you get is acidic language unsupported from the other side. I love you guys for always making your points off New's sources that is tailored ... to your side.
The hypocrisy of the media and the Obama Administration is just plain embarrassing. This is MS/NBC where if President Obama said, "We need to start killing all Christian Asians" the headline would read, "This could be the way to get Christian Asians from destroying America?".
Nothing but Socialist Agenda pushing here.....and never the truth unfortunately.
Hmm, Democrats just repeat what the news says.... where do you get your information? Do you go out to every state in the Union and see everything for yourself? Nope, you listen to fox news. I would rather listen to NBCnews then fox news any day. Fox news said that Mitt was going to win by a landslide.... we see how that went. Obama was the one who won by a landslide. Fox said he would be a one term President, lol, that was a lie too. Now fox is trying to blame the President for the sequester. Yes Obama put forth the sequester, but the majority of the Republicans, including Boehner voted yes for it. Also the idea of the sequester was to force Congress to work together. Republicans shot that down and now that the sequester is going to happen because the GOP could not work with the Democrats, they want to stop it or blame the President for it. I am glad the President is saying no, the sequester will happen if you do not work together. Means there is a punishment for the Congress GOP children that don't behave. They need a slap on the wrist and maybe when the rest of us suffer enough and finally fire them, then we can get something done.
Only 20% of Americans think that spending cuts alone is the proper approach to reducing the deficit. So who the heck is the GOP representing?
They are holding the country hostage over ideology. They seem willing to destroy the countries economy in order to make political points against Obama. And even when the poles show that most Americans are on to their game, they still seem determined to take the country instead of compromise.
Unfortunately, no one is surprise and their party before people tactics.
Just like a good Republican Nazi, fear mongering, racist, hypocrite. Your people came to this country and took it from the Native Americans and now you are upset someone is doing what you did. Hypocrite! It's not your land either.
Yes America does hear the President, Cuts? we don't need no stinking cuts, we'll just keep on spending the people's money that will fix everything. And yes, the President has set a new standard for 2nd term Presidents, it just happens to be a new low standard.
Mexico's Communist: didn't think it was possible, but you managed to set a new low for online discussion postings.
Don't get me wrong, I hope you keep up the rants; you're the best poster child for all that is wrong with the rightwingnut conspiracy theorists. Keep 'em coming.
Pigotry You have the perfect picture for you ideations.
Ashley you do not really know what you are talking about do you?
Just before you libtards start tapping each other on the back, just remember who you are.....
President Obama ordered the cabinet to cut $100,000,000.00 ($100 million) from the $3,500,000,000,000.00 ($3.5 trillion) federal budget.
I'm so impressed by this sacrifice that I have decided to do the same thing with my personal budget. I spend about $2,000 a month on groceries, household expenses, medicine, utilities, etc., but it's time to get out the budget cutting axe, go through my expenses, and cut back.
I'm going to cut my spending at exactly the same ratio (1/35,000) of my total budget. After doing the math, it looks like instead of spending $2,000 a month, I'm going to have to cut that number by six cents. Yes, I'm going to have to get by with $1999.94, but that's what sacrifice is all about.
I'll just have to do without some things, that are, frankly, luxuries, six cents worth.
Did this President actually think no one would do the math?
This is what you libtards are all about....and you whine, kick, and scream like children when Republicans ACTUALLY talk about reducing deficit and accuse them of being "out of touch with reality" when they want to do actual spending cuts.
The logic of a libtard. A person with a brain will never figure it out.
Yea obummer, stand up and fight for your "100% my way or the highway" poilicies .. good job!!! /sarcasm off /rolls eyes
The CBO projects 750,000 jobs will be lost as of the result of the sequester kicking in, and not counting the splash damage to consumer confidence which will reduce spending as they think their jobs will be next just like last time. No confidence means hoarding money instead of spending and restarting the cycle of less spending = job losses = less spending = job losses, etc.
I guess only the Democrats are worried about the economy and jobs while the Republicans are only worried about the debt.
And maybe would have been better off without a machine to type on. Anything is better then having a Country over run with Republican obstructionists only out for the rich and screw the poor. Republicans that think they are Christians, but do everything opposite of what the bible teaches about helping the poor. Giving the shirt off your back. Instead they want to crush them under foot and then have a party praising themselves for their good deeds of wiping out the poor and sick just like they think God wants them to. Republicans make me sick.
Funny thing Mexico, it's wasn't here, the US, where the computer was "born". Imagine that.
Oh No that means, tax the wealthy!
You, democratics are being played by Obama!
And you Republicans are being played by Rush and fox news. I would rather be played by President Obama then by someone for the Rich.
President’s plan only saves 1800 billion over 10 years. (180 billion per year in savings). The
DEFICIT is over 1300 billion per year.
1300 -180 = 1120 in DEFICIT spending per year. WHAT A JOKE.
Whitehouse dot gov/sites/default/files/docs/deficit_reduction_table_bucketed_r8.pdf
Obama needs Jesus!
the tea party needs jesus
Obama needs Republicans that know how to compromise.
Jesus is on Obama's side. Jesus needs Obama
Before his second coming, Jesus needs to select the best messenger of his, and Jesus has set his sights on Obama and picked Obama long ago.
Pig--you certainly meant Allah and not Jesus, in regards to Obama---right?
Wow, now you've elevated him to being akin to Jesus! The pathology of your zombified state reveals how hypnotized and delusional you really are! Just... wow!
haven't republicans always claimed god is almighty and has control over the world? That means god picked obama, plain and simple.
Pigotry, so now you think you speak for Jesus Christ? Please take your meds and see your vet in the morning.
Patrick: Haven't you heard?
A lot of democrats seem to do this.
God let you have Obama because of your depraved mind. Sounds a lot like the world God warned us about.
Unhappy,
Only a fool uses out of context exceprts to proove a point and only a someone who is religiously ignorant uses their holy word to defame others. God doesn't care about you or Obama, mortals and their ever present fears creating a God that serves them, what begets a fool is a fool's share of nothing. See you in Hell! :-)
The GOP will need resurrection.
Pigotry, do you ever say anything without praise for the worst president in history? Look at our economy, THIS IS GOOD? Your very very sad. God needs Obama....like a hemorrhoid. Drone on bacon fat, drone on! One sick little piggy.
I think pigotry is a young person who has no clue of what is occurring in the America. This is a person who accepts style over substance. Obama offers something for nothing and pigotry eats at the trough. Enjoy your degrees in Bitterness Studies & Givemeology.
Patrick, according to religious rightwingnut fanatics, a Republican president is picked by God. Democratic presidents are sent to test the faith of the righteous or punish the wicked. Twisted, I know. Example in point: Unhappy's response; somehow "god let us have Obama because of your depraved mind". Actually, free elections gave us Obama, but that seems mute to some.
GOP is in a state of Lazarus.
Lore and Wisdom and Jimsepa: These verses are not out of context, You are just ignorant of what the bible says.
I am just describing a world to you that Obama has created. You think this is the first time God saw this happening? Hahahaha....... History repeats itself. The book of Romans shows this has happened before. There is no difference between now (2013) and then.
( A LOT OF DEMOCRATS DO THIS)
( A LOT OF DEMOCRATS DO THIS TOO)
( OBAMA FOR GAY RIGHTS?)
(SOUNDS A LOT LIKE WHAT MOST DEMOCRATS ARE ADVOCATING)
@TrollHarder
Racial Jokes will get you no where. Just ask Bannor
Time for your burn in hell moment of the day Unhappy. What does god say about whom created the world? And now you are trieng to give a mortal the credit? Hope you like it with a dash of flameful warmth.
Oh the elite make works program with great bennies and 401k's and great vacation and sick days called the US Gov may have to take a little medicine? Tough @!$%#e. Tell it to us contractors whom receive zero paid holidays/Vacation/Sick nor any other benefits.
What they don't what you to know is they are paid back furlough days.
Do the math and look it up. Don't listen to redhead nor pigs. Pig - fits perfect.
have you notice the tea party has been on vaction..on our dime
And you have the ability to make 4 and 5 and 6 times as much as those who serve - SERVE - in a fixed salary job. That's why they get some "bennies" to make up for the salary they could make in the private sector. They SERVE!
If you are a decent self employed individual you can have a 401k and vacation time and sick time.
I do.
I do agree. Its time for washington to squirm and take a hair cut. This aint even big enough as far as I am concerned.
The sequester is not near enough, it is merely chump change, it only cuts 1 trillion in 10 years when the Gov is spending a trillion and a 1/2 a year more than it brings in. It is just a party to party bashing point. I'm curious for all that want the loop holes cut out, is that just for the rich ? or is that for everybody ? I wonder when they cut them and you can't write your interest off, a small business can't write their losses off, can't write repairs off, travel expenses off, supplies off, etc. etc. what kind of effect this would have on our economy, because it would effect everyone from rich to poor. President Obama's only legacy will be that he redefined the expression N*GG*R RICH.
Lib in Oklahoma,
Mother Theresa served honey... these a-holes are laughing at all of us.
tea, subtract 700 billion from the deficit from those new revenues and then subtract 90 billion per year in addition to spending caps, and add new revenues from more created jobs and the deficit erases itself in 3.2 years.
The US is about to go bankrupt I wonder if the left be ranting about their GoD Owebama when they have to write a sign begging for food as the Gov won't be able to give it to them.
The Gov. doesn't care about you only your vote and that is three very long years away...you'll all die in a month when the Gov. fails...who will save you then??
bankrupt? With federal land assets we're soluble up to 71 trillion. This is another fabricated crisis.
JediUtahn,
You have such a fragile ego and such a terrible sense of history. You remind me of the majority of youth today who live in absolute fear their internet will be shut off or worse, their parents money will dry up and all the toys will have to be sold to pay for a life. Even if this country's economy tanked, in retrospect to the Great Depression, it would only mena one car per house, minimum cable, and perhaps less expensive coffee. You fools who call yourselves proud americans make me laugh, proud american cinch the belt, shave the extras and teach each other how share and concern profit best in the long haul. Many may die if they are forced to eat at home as I imagine no one you know can cook without a microwave and you may not be able to afford that particular triviality.
America and Americans will survive, just as they did at Valley Forge just as they did during the Great Depression, the Civil War (which if compared to todays economy, a half dozen eggs would cost int he rnage of $300.00), only weak people who believe wanting absolute lazy luxery is the same as having all an individual needs to live and survive will really fall apart. You jedi utahn, already show obvious signs of having come unglued and the fall has not even happened yet.
When you read anything that JediUtahn writes, remember that what you read was written by someone wearing magic underwear.
Patrick -
That $700 billion is over a 10 year span. Look it up!
Geez! Liberals sure are dumb for claiming to be so intelligent!
@ Elvis--- you want to change the subject like a good libbie, lets talk about vacations. Your guy and gal just took another vacation. The big O to Florida, and Mrs. O to Colorado. What about their trips that cost the American Middle Class Taxpayer HMMMMMMMMMMMMM. Heard a rumor that in order to fire up air force 1 , it costs $180,000 per hour, Security an all. Nice isn't it. 2 jets once again for two separate vacations. And heres your guy and gal-- PROUDLY STATING " WE' RE ALL FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS TAXPAYER" . These two Dont NEED to do us any favors! All they NEED to do is get their f-in hands out of our pockets, instead of saying ( everything is fine ) B.S. It isn't, nor will it be --not for us, our kids, or our grandkids.
The truth be known all the knuckleheads in this country who spout off about spending and debt and the need to cut everything would scream bloody murder if this - the sequester - happened because of their favorite goodies, services, reassurances, pet peeves, would not longer to addressed. We don't pay nearly the taxes that some countries do and the government services it buys - from the military to the NHSA - are so much better than any place else in the world. Maybe it would take the sequester to teach the grumpy gus Teapartiers and Republican rumnuts that!
Oh they are whinning already. Read a VA paper. The Republicans in the Hampton Roads area are crying. Of course it wasn't that long ago that they were all crying about how much money that big bad government was spending. Now they are crying because the government is going to stop spending some money. Seems there is just no pleasing a Republican.
Since the Republicans hate the debt so much (but not so much when they were in charge), you would think they would be rejoicing and back slapping each other for getting the debt down. Instead they try to blame the Democrats? Make up your mind. Do you want the debt to go down or don't you? If you do, then you shouldn't mind a little unemployment and cuts in defense. Isn't that what you been crying about for the last 4 years? Uncontrolled spending? Running up the debt? OK, so now you'll get what you've been demanding, so stop whining about the consequences. Or didn't you THINK about that?
Psyched: what part of politican did you miss? This is the same tactic used by Dems after they voted to go to Iraq right alongside every other republican, but then used the good ole "we didnt actually read the intel" line to get out of it.
Plus, im pretty sure this little game of defense chicken looked good at the time because the Obama admin thought the GOP would never stand for defense cuts. Now the GOP has no choice but to defend themselves because Obama continually campaigns to public opinion through charisma and not knowledge. He took credit for Osama and ending Iraq (which was Bush) hes taken credit for renewable energy and theTARP program (also Bush). But he hasnt taken credit for anything else that went wrong. Politics.
The CBO projects 750,000 jobs will be lost as of the result of the sequester kicking in, and not counting the splash damage to consumer confidence which will reduce spending as they think their jobs will be next just like last time. No confidence means hoarding money instead of spending and restarting the cycle of less spending = job losses = less spending = job losses, etc.
I hope you like another recession. Hopefully your job won't be on the line.
Why are you even comparing the US to other countries? where is it written that all countries should be the same - oh yea in our constitution - you know that piece of paper that allows to run that gap between your nose and chin
you know crap of what is going on in the REAL world
Repubs. Just shut up and let this guy whine - that's all he is good for anyway. He is gonna do his badmouthing whatever you say, so don't say anything. Let him come to you with the exact increases, or just go over the cliff and let all these dems just do their illogical vitriol. Its coming anyway so no need to impress anyone. As a conservative, I would find this cutting - the first rational thing the government has done in 5 plus years.
True that!
hahah
funny thing is when this happens and anything positive comes of it he will be the first to take credit
Yes. The President should have the upper hand. Speaker Boehner stated he got 98% of what he wanted in this sequester. This is the Republican's sequester and anyone who watched this happen knows as much. Own it Speaker Boehner. It is yours front and center to sink or swim with. I think sink is the more probable outcome of this stuff that is 98% yours. Congratulations on the birth of YOUR earned upcoming recession. Wear it proudly around your neck. I know I plan on reminding everyone about your 98% comment when they suffer through it.
Outside of propping up the economy with 3.8 trillion per year or 25% of gdp, this county would be in a continuous recession. Maybe its time that america stands on its own two feet.
jollyjoker,
what's your point? You run deficits fighting wars and hiding their costs. You run deficits rescuing greedy bankers from themselves and refusing to regulate them. All Bush's fault. The lagging revenues because of this heavy recession is all Bush's fault. I'd say Bush W. was the worst President in our entire history. Worse than Hoover. Hoover allowed our economy to fall into a great depression which is what I think you may be advocating with austerity. However he did not fight two unnecessary wars and hide their costs from us. He was not responsible for sleeping through 9/11 or 8000 American deaths because of said wars and terrorist actions on his watch so I'd give Hoover a pass. Anyone worse than W.?
@AnaBanana
Absolutely false.
The cost of wars were not hidden, or is it that you cannot accept just how much this empty suit has added to our debt since 2008? In 4 years as much as Bush Jr in 8. Fact.
www. forbes. com/sites/jamesglassman/2012/07/11/the-facts-about-budget-deficits-how-the-presidents-truly-rank/
The author had to deal with the same responses in regards to the cost of wars being "hidden" (untrue) so he posted this comment in the comment section of his own article!
As others have pointed out below, Mr. Skipper is dead wrong in his contention that my deficit-to-GDP and spending-to-GDP ratios omit costs of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is true that some of those costs were included in supplementals — a time-honored tradition — but ALL government expenses are subsumed under the heading "outlays," and these are the figures I used, from Table B-79 of the Economic Report of the President from 2012. In other words, in figuring deficits, I used the dollars the government actually spent and received. What is particularly disturbing about Mr. Skipper's comment is that he writes that he "suspects that Mr. Glassman knows this" (that is, that I am a premeditated liar). This nasty remark unfortunately is typical of much of what we hear in policy discussions today: an impugning of motives or a character attack. What I tried to do in this piece was lay out the facts. The large number of viewers and responses indicates that Americans actually WANT to engage on the real numbers and the real issues.
Would you like to see how many other sites has Obama topping the lists for adding debt to America in regards to Presidents?
JustAnotherGuy,
Your sources are bad sources. I recommend you hit credible ones to get your facts straight and yes Bush hid the war costs. Well documented. And Bush cost the majority of the deficits, well documented. Any reputable site will do.
another, not one dime of war expenditure was put on the national budget until the democrats retook the house near the end of bush's second term. Of course, then there was medicare part D also on the chinese credit card, and then the chinese called in their debt...wonderful how history finds you to be a liar with his pants literally on fire.
Conniving, two-faced lying son-of-a-bitch!
That's our "leader."
Taken straight from another post here.
Ana,
The Sequester is a bi-partisan agreement that Obama signed into law mere months ago. Now he has the audacity to make it sound as if he and the other Dems had nothing to do with it. What a joke of a leader.
This needs to happen and it will be a non-event. It is a good start to getting a bit of crideibility back to the government being able to actually sort of cut some budget (remember, it is not actually a REAL reduction. Rather, it is a reduction in the RATE of the increase. ONly in Washington is this catastrophic.....well, on MSNBC also. LOL).
We start here and then next year cut more. Taxes going up ain't going to happen. I could care less where the cuts come from. Obama can cut $85 billion from where ever he wants as far as I am concerned. But the bottom line is that this is legislation that he recently signed into law. He needs to be held accountable for the results of the Sequester. Which, btw I think will be a good thing for him as it will surely help with the deficit.
Four years cannot come soon enough as clearly Obama is in over his head as a POTUS. We've shifted from one Obama made crises to another during his tenure. He has been a horrible POTUS, simply horribel.
AnaBanana when Obama is done trashing our country in four years you will still blame Bush. All this Pres. is about is trashing the Repubs. He is not a leader. He is good about golfing and rubbing elbows with the rich and famous. When they asked Tiger about Obama's golfing and his handicap, Tiger said Obama has some game and his only handicap was the economy!
justanotherliar, you forgot to reference the quotes. like the first quote was about the republicans trying to exempt the military from the sequester and place the cost of the sequester elsewhere.
the 2nd one was president Obama trying to explain the results of the sequester to the t-party ppl that want this.
nice selective use of quotes to make something appear different than what was actually said. its like you are intentionally trying to mislead ppl. its like you work for fox or some rightwing talking head organization.
All y'all,
I still blame the american people for sitting on their asses being awed by little chat boxes that make them feel as if their opinion in those little fields will actually matter rather then gathering together and making the goverment do as it is supposed to. You can blame left and right and yet your still sitting fat and lazy, a dead eye target clear int he middle of the mess we all let happen. Our politicians certainly will not owe up to their crimes so long as we people do not owe up to our responsibilities.
@AnaBanana-1782128
You are absolutely correct! This is indeed one of the many recent GOP manufactured crisis!
You liberals live in a fantasy land. Republicans COMPROMISED by voting for tax increases on those making over 450,000. When is Oblahblah going to compromise and get serious about cutting spending? Obama is trying to scare the American people. Fact is, Americans want the sequester and prefer it over Oblahblah's non-existent plan. Oblahblah needs to stop campaigning and start working. Read it and weep Demofrauds!
Itis about Time the President started using the bully pulpit. He needs to nail Boehner all day every day . One of these days Boehner may even look sober if the President keeps the pressure on Washingtons no one clown.In addition Boehners shadow Cantor needs to be put in his place.Those two need to get kicked out in their next election.
No, he needs to resign, and take that buffooon Biden with him
ED, I used to think like you then I started reading the whole story in stead of the first paragraph. Try getting a little more informed and you might see what's really going on. The first clue would be don't believe what you see on the TV without following up on it.
Not to worry, a deal with be made at the last minute, as in the past. The republicans are not that stupid.
I hope it goes through, then you can see how Obama lies and take us for a fool. There is no cut, just a deduction in the increase!! If you spend 200 this year and budget 400 for the next year then only get 300 they call that a cut!!! Obama has you people wrapped around his finger, if he tells you to crap, not only do you do it but you ask him what color! Losers , I think this is what they call LIV's "low information voters"
Agreed-Nothing more than more Obama Drama...Shameful
As usual, Obama is trying to do what is politically expedient for himself than what is right for the country.
It's unusual for NBC to bring this to our attention.
The bottom line is that cutting $0.024 out of every dollar that is planned to be spent this year should not cause a doomsday scenario. But since Obama can decide the details on what gets cut, he has the power to make this a blip on the radar or a mountain of hurt for those he is trying to sway against the GOP.
If he follows the political path as usual then it will only harden the resolve of his opposition. A REAL leader would find enough room for his adversaries to be able to claim a few small victories too.
But Obama is NOT a real leader. He is a charlatan!
The tea party has had the GOP dancing to their tune for long enough to prove they have zero inclination to compromise or work for the good of the nation. Treasonous obstruction has been their sole agenda, from the leaders to the grass-roots supporters, and as such deserve no victory at all, with overwhelming defeat being the only acceptable outcome.
can you reason with a crazy party
No, the dems are unreasonable by spending the country into oblivion. I do agree.
crazy .means a sequester..of religious zealots
3.8 trillion per year and 700 billion dollar defense budget that is bigger than the next 20 countries combined. Oh, the heavens are going to open via the gates of hell if this slush fund goes down 10%
elvis payne, you do realize that the sequester was Obama's idea? You also are aware that the "crazy party" is the Democratic party?
3thirty3,
The crazy party is made up of both republicans and democrats as you would have to be treasonous, stupid or crazy (or any combination there-of) to be either. Anyone who follows a party follows a pack of actors whose soul purposse is to gain money and fame with the clever use of mirrors lies and gaudy make-up. So which crazy are you calling the other crazy, as they say, it takes a fool to know a fool.
With Boehner and Canter speaking for the republicans Obama should just keep his month shut. At least it would keep me from using my mute button so much.
Obama is an outright liar. There is no other name for it. I am so sick of his scare tactics and lies that I turn the sound down when he speaks on TV.
Good luck on getting more taxes.
let the sequester Begin
Anyone that loks at the situation in a rational manner, knows that all the big talk is about a 2.3% across the board budget reduction. Every housewife knows that while that could be slightly painfully, it can also be easily done.
This s also only about a quarter of the cut that needs to be made, to start bringing done the debt ceiling. We have all seen how the WH says they have cut $2.5T off the deficit, yet the deficit continues to grow by almost $1T per year, and with all the new programs requested by Obama, plus ObamacAre just starting to kick in, the problem will only grow worse.
how about cutting corporate welfare and removing the tax exempt status from churches?
Slowshot,
As much as I would like to see the church forced to pay taxes, or at elast be answerable for how and where that 'donation' money is collected and spent as any other nonprofit must I am not so short lived to think taxing churches or not taxing them is a fix or root of the problem. It would seem you have no grasp on history of the church nor any concept of economics, the church can claim 80% of it's income as donations, pay a gift tax and still only pay 3% of all it takes in. Alot of goverment to go after a small amount of money as churches know better then you how to play the game, having at least a thousand years of modern history under their collective belts.
The idea of cutting coperate incentives is good, as long as it targets companies who do more then 20% of their trade in foreign countries, and by trade I mean the craft there-of not the selling. Exemptions and incentives should be freely given to any company that does at least 80% of their trade in america while also employing americans as their work force. So, as we see, you seem to be a hot button topic type and not one who actually cares about this country 50years from now, and, if I am mistaken on that, a simple way to proove it would be to know what you are talking about rather then slamming a subqualified phrase containing no information and utilizing well known hot button que-statements.
really with the likes of facebook/ge/linkedin that made record profits and paid 0 taxes where is your outrage @ least churches help the misfortunate and not pad the dem political PACs
I say let it happen. It'll go down in history as Obama's big fail. A health plan that failed, and the biggest recession since 1930. It was his watch and he couldn't get it done.
al red states are taking Obama care...hahahahahaha..tell Rick perry thanks..hahahaha
Elvis, of course they are going to take obama care. Its like the highway funds to raise the drinking age in each state. Take that away, and the age would be 18 as there is profit in booze and bars would hire more waitresses ......Likewise, This is no different, obama is going to pay 100% of the cost for up to 3 years. Too bad that a big chuck of medical device manufactures are going to lay off by the thousands as 2% of gross revenue gets put into place. Its gonna wipe out entire industries in my state. Thousands are gonna be on the soup line. .....ALso, The deficit is going to likely be 500 billion more once this kicks in . Government is picking winners and losers-- the market adapts. . Its just how it works. Its a concept dems have not concept of.
nah remember we wont take obama care...the retards
The chunks of sky falling are getting bigger.
Jim they will blame Bush
jolly joker... you are correct. And who are these little voices yelling go team? I never cease to be amazed by how gullable people can be. They do not do their homework. Instead, they listen to the editorial pages, err, excuse me, the media. More like tweets.
Yeah, sure, blame it on the Repubs if that works for ya. In the mean time, the IMF will be laughing all the way to work with a bonus. You think your taxes are high now? Bwhaaaa!
Jolly,
If you dislike this turn, then get out and work to change the people around you and get rid fo the old stump rhetoric. Wouldn't it be nice if more of us, as I do, got out and actually met with other people and helped to make changes rather then sitting here mopping about the things you want changed while doing ... nothing?
If your state is going to loss jobs, find out why, odds are it is because companies make far more money and get far more breaks economically (in revenue and taxes) if they manufacture overseas using non-american employees. Change that and your jobs will come back, si around complaining or acting like some gun totting memebrs of our society playing at lets have us a war and you'll only have you to blame. It is, after all, what being an American is all about, hands on, not just hands in.
Jim ..
A health plan that has failed? You mean the one that is not actually implemented in full yet? There are those who know and those who lick the boot, will not have to work hard to figure which you are.
The republicans are going to keep going for short term agreements until they get Americas benefits...Republicans and independents..benefits..are for you also...tell your party thanks i don't need that..SS medicaid medicare..who needs that those are for liberals only
Liberalism is a sickness of the mind. Very sick mind. Paint the moon purple and you create unlimited amounts of jobs as the more government spends, the more it invests. Its pretty silly really. Heck, lets just let the fed print away and give to the government . We are the worlds base currency. Ben B, I need 15 trillion. Okay, let me get my check book. See deficit is all gone. That is how liberals think.
wall street is where the tea party thinks....look what that got us into..fake capitalism..i wont build a damn thing..but make sure that building goes under
Jolly, a sickness of the mind is the party that drug us into two large scale wars, one lasting over ten years. Sickness is spending our treasury broke, then borrowing from the Chinese. No bid Halliburton contracts.. bloated Homeland Security. The REPUBLICANS did all of this to our nation...
The tea party was fiscal conservatism. Basically, romney and the rest of the dregs like palin tried to hijack it. That is why they lost. I don't know why the other side thinks they are the enemy. You either are conservative or you are not. I do agree with you bruce. Republicans have not practiced their dogma.....Their is no I will not cut anything like defense or streamline medicare ....but I am fiscally conservative. That is liberalism in disguise. Its like wearing a red shirt and telling someone its yellow. You cant spend 200 billion more per year on and on and on. Then claim you want to cut. It doesnt jive.
so you do agree in the two headed elephant
Bruce...do some research on Dodd and Frank and the housing industry. Typical liberal thinking everybody deserves a house whether they can afford it or not and they will reward the liberals with their votes....same as all the other free stuff the left hands out in exchange for votes...shameful because it is destroying our Country...no accountability anymore. Reward bad choices over and over again while the working class pays...
watt..he is telling the truth
Elvis Bush is no longer President and always comparing Obama to Bush is really setting the bar low....when is our current President going to be accountable and quit whining and pointing fingers and be a leader? Our government is destroying our Country...both sides!
Oh course I agree that republcians are two headed. They are not conservative although they talk it but don't walk it. ......ALso, Elvis you can't come to grips with the reality that the mouth and chief has been in office for 4 years. Blamed everyone else for his failures. Bailed out the banks - bushes failure. No jobs - bushes failure. That's what happens when you put in a 100% political horse in when you need someone that is capable of doing the legistlative lifting.
"Basically, romney and the rest of the dregs like palin tried to hijack it."
Excuse me, but those 'dregs' were the very best you had to offer.
Elvis, have you any idea what you are talking about? You think the Republicans are after our retirement funds? Have you even heard of QE-1 through QE -4? Do you really think the Frank/Dodd bill fixed ANYTHING? You do get that we, as a nation, are INSOLVANT now, don't you? Sure, pass Obama Care... it can't happen, our country doesn't have ANY MONEY because we are up to our ears in debt. Promise those suckers anything, they'll bite. There's a sucker born every second. So, the feds are gonna print some more funny money and give it to each state that accepts it, and of course, they are gonna take it because the states are broke too and there are real people living in these states that need work. But, there isn't any money! The government doesn't make money, it spends it. The government isn't going to offer any health care, they're just going to control the MONEY! But the money is worthless! And with each Federal QE go round, it becomes more and more transparent.
Health care will be administered via the private sector (well, at least for now). The money will be doled out by the government as they see fit. After all, they've done such a good job of that so far, right? Ya all want something for nothing... there is no such thing. Yet another tier of political plurocrats to feed. Have you ANY IDEA of what you are tossing away with both hands? No, I don't think you do.
Oh, I disagreed, I must be a racist, right? I hear President Obama is the new Lincoln now. Of course, we could have had H.Clinton, she promised every child born in America would recieve $5,000 if she were to become President. Can't help but wonder how that was going to happen. Ya just can't see that the beads and blankets being offered are simply a way to buy your vote? You bet I'm upset... read your history! Do the hard work and read the damned fine print.
And don't even begin to question why Hillary backed down from the Presidential race. And there's absolutely no need to question how a man who didn't even vote the whole time he was a Senator became President. I knew he was being set up to become the next President the first time I laid eyes on him, didn't you? Do ya really think it was all a happy accident? Do you really fall for the fairy tale on this one, or the one who came before him (Bush) for that matter?
Please, this is a dog an pony show; it has been for years and years. And by the way, your money is manipulated, we aren't even capitalists. Place your bet, go ahead. And we lost everything the minute the Bush administration tied our savings into the stock market. What a long and crooked sham its been. If it weren't so fricking tragic, it would be funny. Some people have to laugh cause it beats crying. The picture is bigger than this.
All this fear mongering.... and it is all Obamastalins doing. He has gone competely power hungry mad. If I see him paying one more group of police, military, black group of somebodies, or bunch of kiddies to stand behind him while he is telling his lies and screwing them over out the backside of his mouth... I think I'll puke.
Gofigureit... your espousing a bigoted comment. It's racism. 'Obamastalin'. 'Power Hungry mad'. Your whipped up in this hatred mode that is irrational. Its grounded in fear and racism. Lose it, read his book, read his positions. You may not agree with his politics, but all the other slander is the sign of an unbalanced mind.
Racism?? Now that is unbalanced. I just think the dude is a complete liar and a jerk.... I don't like his politics or him... and I am happy to type it.
Racist? Is that the only word you people know other than "Bush"?
bruce -
I just knew a liberal would bring in the race card.
What's the matter? Can't stand the truth about your idol?
You can't debate with facts, so you start calling names. Typical!
Yes, I'm so glad he has the upper hand! King of the hill of BS, hoooooooray.
The President has said if the $85 billion in cuts take place our military will fall apart, no more cops on the street, schools will close, elderly will be tossed in the streets, an so on. Truth is the cuts represent about 2% of the nation budget (of course he hasn't a budget, just continues to spend money).
The present administration spent a trillion on a stimulus package which has had questionable at best results. Why can't all government spending be cut by 2% across the board. Any person on the government payroll takes a 2% cut in pay. E.g. a Congressman receives at least $174000 per year - slice $3480 off it and they just have to get along.
Most Americans have seen their income slashed by far more in the past 4 years... yet government employees are seeing increases in pay or at least staying even. The F-22 Raptor/F-25 Lightening (which still don't seem to work correctly) has cost almost $400 billion - about the GDP of South America.
Yet, we're being told we don't spend enough? Can't cut a few billion out of the military budget? In Minneapolis, they spend about $23000/year per student and has a graduation rate of approximately 50%. Throw more money at the school board?
2% - across the board. It's not too much to ask.
Thats the argument they all make. All heck is going to break lose unless they get their big increase. IN mn, the budget went up to 37 billion from 33 in two bienniums and they will all pat themselves on their back on how they were fiscally responsible. Pretty nutso really.
Quick! Lock the doors under Martial Law! And don't let anyone come out of congressional meeting until taxes are increased inside 7,000 pages of legal whip whop. You want time to read this? No time, trust me and sign. You just saved the country. Now, who's got a metal?
Ummm, what happened to that?
You're absolutely on to something sygh. Increase taxes. Increase them more and more. Where else can the FEDs get new money. The FEDs have already robbed the poor peasants of China and India. Japan is going broke in debt. Why? because little para sites like you need more and more government teat for your ever increacing narcissistic, self-righteous, world devouring greed.
On the issue of revenue. Obama allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire on the top one percent of the population and settled for less revenue than he ran on. To characterize allowing a republican tax cut that was designed to expire as Obama getting his revenue is a real stretch. We are back to close to even but now have to pay for two wars and a major entitlement expansion. Sorry guys you authorized this now it needs to be paid for and not by gutting medicare and social security. Let's be hones. Social Security and Medicare are the last big pots of money available to funnel to the one percent and fund the forever wars. We need to get America of a war footing and back to rebuilding an infrastructure that has been neglected for 30 years. That position used to be conservative, so let's cut all the bull and get down to real issues.
I agree.
Hey Numnuts, Did taxes just go up on EVERYBODY, NUMNUTS??????
President Obama is schooling these guys and it's great to watch. The bigotry and hatred and lies didn't work.
I was once a republican, but now they are on the 'crazy train'. The idea that they could put Sarah Palin up as the VP... or flip flopping Romney with his 47% attitude... AMAZING! The republicans need to dump the radicals, and talk about being fiscal conservatives (not dragging us into wars). Listen to BOBBY JINDAL already... he has it right.
I'm glad you agree that congress needs return the $3,000,000,000,000 that it stole from SS.
agree, agree. but don't you two know that this has all been purposeful? We all know there are better Presidential hopefuls in the Republican party than what's been put on the table. Bush wanted to bring yin the NWO. He couldn't do it, it wasn't popular with the Republican party AT ALL! So, they did a flip-flop and now the democratic party is going to bring it to you and they might be able to get away with it cause we all wanted to see a black man in office because that was frickin' way past due. Nothing is left to chance. Ultimately, this country doesn't get run by a bunch of people we vote into office every 2 to 4 years, it used to be but that was bought out a long time ago. Think about continuity and consistency. No business is run that way. Think about the media for a moment too. Have you really listened to their dogma?
Ask a couple of hard questions at this administration and we get double-speak. I happen to think double-speak is worse than the out and out lies the Bush admin told because its mixed with partial truths in some cases. But I'll be darned if McCain has ever once reminded men of McCarthy but there's Chris Mathews trying to make some sort of connection between the two. It makes me sick to hear what's being said in the news media right now, I think I'm going to puke. I don't think Obama has the upper hand at all. I think he's making some huge mistakes... huge. Too many executive orders on totally the wrong things. I think he's asking for civil war and I think he'll get it, unfortunately. BUt it won't be because of race.
Sygh,
Elections for the president have been bought out since Lincoln ran. I am glad to see you see 'through' all this, however the only reason you do is because of socialmedia and the itnernet bringing you the garbage at twice light speed. Republican or Democrat, same rabbid mite infested beast that the beloved whiners of 'humane treatment' can't bear to put down. Our current existence is the absolute epitome of what it means to be anything but humane and the politicians are only the tip of that spear.
alot of koolaid drinkers, guess they havent seen the real polls that 75% of Obamas policies are on the neg, they are quoting his message that the majority like. this is Obamas idea and mess and he owns it, Speaker just needs to refer to Obama to why this is happening.
Are those the same polls that show Romney still in the lead?
Nope. Obama got 85% of the vote the first go round. How quickly you forget Romney almost beat Obama, and the Repubs didn't even want him. Strong win for Obama? I think not. What does that really mean though? What do you think?
The sky is falling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sky is falling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sky is falling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The President's constant mantra and MSM's screaming headlines.
I think you're confused...
Can't hear the truth can't speake the truth for the truth shall CAUSE YOU TO BURST INTO FLAMES>
Wow, $0.024 out of every dollar ( & over 10 years too). Greece, listen up, the US can show you a way out of the budget crisis...
Please let BIG Sequestration begin... Blame game to follow, the Bravo network will have a new reality show, better then anything they have or could dream up...
Seriously, the private sector saw a 30% contraction on 2007 and a contraction in the housing market of 90%... 2.5% contraction in growth of 10 years, seriously, end of the world? Unless the Government consumption is 100 fold larger then the private sector, I don't think so and if I'm wrong, then we have a must larger issue and will make the Greek economy but a blip.
It is time to live within our means and our elected leaders have ignored the problem for this for far too long, this will be a hard lessons as now they are going to trim the pork and appointments that go to friends or family... Oh wait, I'm sorry that will not happen, they will just kick the federal employees who are not politically connected to the curb to keep family and friends feeding at the federal trough
Illinois leads the nation in the role model for responsible, efficient and effective government!
Good point the private sector saw a 30% contraction in 2007. Oddly the democrats took over Congress in 2006 and George Bush became a lame duck President. Gee 2006 that was a major mistake the public made. It only took the democrats 2 years to destroy the economy, blame the Republicans and get a communist in the White House. Better wake up America. The wolf is taking care of the sheep.
I was going to respond (to Frank)...but this is sheer idiocy. As Obama said about Tiger Woods..."you're on another planet." Back to reality...this is what leadership looks like. Obama is just warming up for a strong 4 years...forget lame duck...this is going to be fun and full term. And...watch the economy start moving again. I'll be very surprised if jobs numbers don't turn around over the next year. My 2 cents...but I'm already seeing it in my own business.
Frank is right. Look who passed the housing bill, Look who went to court to sue the banks, for the right of the poor to buy homes they couldn't afford. Obama owns this economy, the problem is he doesn't want to take ownership of it. He is great at spending money, but has nothing to show for it. After 4 years you think we would see something. He can raise speniding by 10% each year, but can't cut it by 2% in one year. If this is what leadership is, we are doomed.
Michael and Frank; Please stop making your observations. Sweet Equity and his ilk are only confused by it.
It is a shame but I guess 49% of voters (I consider that number inflated due to the gross voter fraud) are slurping down the koolaid as they call themselves on their obama-phones before dashing off to the mini mart to use their EBT card to buy another quart of malt liquor. They smugly recycle CNN/Obama statements that everything is fine and dandy as long as you love little barry. You can't reach these people and it is pointless to try. Sad but true.
ok heres what i have say, if they furlough all federal employees now more people cant pay their bills ,more people get laid off ,more people are out of work ,more people lose their homes ,more people cant pay their heating bills ,so they freeze and of course since food prices are the highest people wont be able to feed their families so here comes more welfare that will come out of hard working americans pay checks and everyone will be in debt good idea NOT......... enough is enough my husband goes towork everyday as a fed correction officerand has nothing to do with this so why should he pay the price and i work hard everyday for what you ask , for us to lose everything we worked hard for our entire life and my daughter graduates in 2 years we wont be able to said her to college so she can get a good job to take care of her self so shell probably be in debt one day as prices continue to rise and again for what someone to have a childish tantrum and stop paying people to get their way now thats american lets give them an , applause for a job well done NOT.......
Barry owns the Sequester.
how many people think that...2
3
4
Voodo and Will. How did it pass the US House? How many GOP votes vs dem votes?
What difference does that make? Barry asked for it, got it and signed it. Now you tell me who should own up to it?
Herron: "Voodo and Will. How did it pass the US House? How many GOP votes vs dem votes?"
Well actually 95 Democrats and 174 Republicans vote in favor of it, 95 Democrats and 66 Republicans voted against it and 3 Democrats failed to vote. Seems fairly bipartisan to me. What was your point?
He is a liar, changes his position when it benefits him. He does not care about the American people.
http://youtu.be/kj1y3q92sog