Americans Deserve Better

[native]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kalm]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006



Finding Obama hypocrisy is now so easy to do it's sad.'

BTW, the debt ceiling was raised 18 times under Reagan's "leadership" and 7 times under Bush's.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[native]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006



Finding Obama hypocrisy is now so easy to do it's sad.'

BTW, the debt ceiling was raised 18 times under Reagan's "leadership" and 7 times under Bush's.

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The daily increase in national debt - DAILY - was about a half $billion under Clinton, a $billion and a half under GW, and MORE THAN FOUR $BILLION UNDER OBAMA.

Reagan gets a pass because he was dismantling the Evil Empire with only conditional (i.e., spending) help from Congressional Democrats.

[kalm]

The daily increase in national debt - DAILY - was about a half $billion under Clinton, a $billion and a half under GW, and MORE THAN FOUR $BILLION UNDER OBAMA.

When the economy hits the crapper, you're losing 700,000 jobs per month, and becoming the lender and insurer of last resort then yes, the debt is going to increase.

Reagan always gets a pass. Meanwhile, Obama is busy simultaneously dismantling the muslim and American empires.

[Bronco]

Flashback: Every Dem Senator Including Obama Voted Against Raising Debt Limit In 2006…


It must have been because Bush is white.

[Skjellyfetti]

Reagan gets a pass

[blueballs]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm a pretty busy guy and don't follow the media nearly as close as I should but has anybody in the "elite" media- AP, CBS, NBC, ABC, NYT, WP, LAT, CNN- asked the President why only 5 years later he has completely flipped on this issue, and why his raising the deficit by more than double in a year and a half isn't reckless?

I think I know the answer but I'm posing the questions anyway...

[grizzaholic]

I just hate your polls.


also sodomy

[ASUG8]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm a pretty busy guy and don't follow the media nearly as close as I should but has anybody in the "elite" media- AP, CBS, NBC, ABC, NYT, WP, LAT, CNN- asked the President why only 5 years later he has completely flipped on this issue, and why his raising the deficit by more than double in a year and a half isn't reckless?

I think I know the answer but I'm posing the questions anyway...

That's treason talk, bb. Have fun in Guantanamo (which is supposed to be closed, right?).

[Skjellyfetti]

Does this thread title wreak of entitlement to anyone?

[Ibanez]

From the National Review and numerous other sources:

"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 US Government can
not 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."

-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/25 ... ina-trinko" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm positive, that on many points, you can find articles where politicians contradict themselves. This is not news.

[native]

Does this thread title wreak of entitlement to anyone?

The difference between you and me is that you think entitlements are something to take from productive people who earn their pay to give out to unproductive people who do not earn their so-called entitlements.

There is such a thing as an earned entitlement, such as veteran's benefits and the social security payments that workers have paid into for many years. Medicare is theoretically an earned entitlement, but is so underfunded that beneficiaries receive many times the benefit more than they put into the system. It is essentially a Ponzi Scheme.

All Americans are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

By the way, the title wording comes straight from Obama's words.

[TheDancinMonarch]

Trying to justify O'Bamas bad behavior, raising the debt ceiling, by saying that Bush and Reagan did the same, only ensures that we will get more bad behavior in the future. What Bush and Reagan did, with the help of enabling Congresses is now beyond our control. We live here today and it is time to stop the madness. We cannot tax our way out of this. If we liquidated Buffett, Gates, Walton and Ellison we could cover the deficit, and just the deficit, for about 40 days. They are the richest Americans. So how does "taxing millonaires and billionaires" work? We will run out of them pretty quick. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!

[Ivytalk]

Does this thread title wreak of entitlement to anyone?

Reek, Jellybelly, reek. You can wreak havoc. But your pits reek!

[youngterrier]

I don't think it's a sign of a lack of leadership. Definitely a sign of fiscal irresponsibility and hypocrisy though

[UNHWildCats]

The daily increase in national debt - DAILY - was about a half $billion under Clinton, a $billion and a half under GW, and MORE THAN FOUR $BILLION UNDER OBAMA.

Reagan gets a pass because he was dismantling the Evil Empire with only conditional (i.e., spending) help from Congressional Democrats.

Total debt limit increases by past 3 Presidents

Clinton $1.805 Trillion
Bush II $5.365 Trillion
Obama $2.979 Trillion

Obviously Obama's number will increase once the latest increase goes through.

[Bronco]

The daily increase in national debt - DAILY - was about a half $billion under Clinton, a $billion and a half under GW, and MORE THAN FOUR $BILLION UNDER OBAMA.

Reagan gets a pass because he was dismantling the Evil Empire with only conditional (i.e., spending) help from Congressional Democrats.

Total debt limit increases by past 3 Presidents

Clinton $1.805 Trillion
Bush II $5.365 Trillion
Obama $2.979 Trillion

Obviously Obama's number will increase once the latest increase goes through.

(CNSNews.com) - In the 1,461 days that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) served as speaker of the House, the national debt increased by a total of $5.343 trillion ($5,343,452,800,321.37) or $3.66 billion per day ($3.657,394,113.84), according to official debt numbers published by the U.S. Treasury.

Pelosi was the 52nd speaker of the House. During her tenure, she amassed more debt than the first 49 speakers combined.

[blueballs]

Total debt limit increases by past 3 Presidents

Clinton $1.805 Trillion
Bush II $5.365 Trillion
Obama $2.979 Trillion

Obviously Obama's number will increase once the latest increase goes through.

(CNSNews.com) - In the 1,461 days that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D.-Calif.) served as speaker of the House, the national debt increased by a total of $5.343 trillion ($5,343,452,800,321.37) or $3.66 billion per day ($3.657,394,113.84), according to official debt numbers published by the U.S. Treasury.

Pelosi was the 52nd speaker of the House. During her tenure, she amassed more debt than the first 49 speakers combined.

yet the people from her district in frisco send her back to washington virtually unopposed to continue to WREAK her havoc on our country.

Again, why can't democrats see the long term damage Pelosi and Obama have done to our country and put forth challengers from within their own party to debate the issues and hold these charletains accountable for their pathetic records?

[LeadBolt]

I propose we disallow Congressional, Presidential, Vice Presidential, Cabinet member, Czar and Lt. Gen. and above pension credit for any year that the Federal Government has a deficit. There will be no need for a balanced budget amendment...

[biobengal]

The daily increase in national debt - DAILY - was about a half $billion under Clinton, a $billion and a half under GW, and MORE THAN FOUR $BILLION UNDER OBAMA.

Reagan gets a pass because he was dismantling the Evil Empire with only conditional (i.e., spending) help from Congressional Democrats.

Yeah, I saw that on Fox News as well. Of course, toward the end of the Bush persidency the daily increase was far beyond the number quoted here. Similarly, I would suspect the daily increase in debt was greatest for Clinton after he took over for Bush 1.

Reagan gets a pass? That's funny... and so consistent with the way conservatives see the man. Conservatives like to call Obama the messiah.... Reagan is becoming the Holy Trinity.

[kalm]

Trying to justify O'Bamas bad behavior, raising the debt ceiling, by saying that Bush and Reagan did the same, only ensures that we will get more bad behavior in the future. What Bush and Reagan did, with the help of enabling Congresses is now beyond our control. We live here today and it is time to stop the madness. We cannot tax our way out of this. If we liquidated Buffett, Gates, Walton and Ellison we could cover the deficit, and just the deficit, for about 40 days. They are the richest Americans. So how does "taxing millonaires and billionaires" work? We will run out of them pretty quick. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! STOP THE MADNESS!!!

Reagan taxed and spent his way out of a recession.

[kalm]

It's really a simple debate. Increase taxes on those that can afford it or cut granny's standard of living. I read somewhere the other day that social security is the sole or major source of income to 1/3 of its recipients. The problem is that these pesky old people tend to vote and their kids aren't ready to take care of them just yet. As this article suggests, Boehner is in a very tight corner here and this could be disastrous for the conks.

Obama has a right to be annoyed. As he said, "I have been left at the altar now a couple of times. The Republican Party is going to have to ask themselves, can they say yes to anything?"

The answer to that is obviously no, if what House Republicans are being asked to agree to includes any semblance of a compromise with Democrats. Let's be clear here -- the Cut, Cap & Balance bill is not a compromise. It is far more extreme than the Paul Ryan budget, which proved to be hugely unpopular with the general public. It would force massive cuts in government programs that are enduringly popular. Enacting it would turn into a sure political disaster for the Republican Party.

John Boehner has been around the block. He has to know that. But what has been established beyond all doubt in the last two weeks is that Boehner cannot deliver his caucus. After Obama finished speaking, Boehner addressed the nation and repeated the boilerplate from his letter: "The White House won't get serious. We will." But to anyone who has followed the ins and outs of the last few weeks of negotiation, his stance is nonsense. The truth is that Boehner simply cannot make a deal. His caucus forbids it. Compromise with Obama would mean the end of his political career.

What's all the more amazing about this denouement is that Boehner's decision to bail on negotiations gave Obama an opportunity to deliver the kind of defense of the social welfare state that his supporters have been hungering for. He worked himself practically into a lather as he explained why Democrats were insisting that some revenues be part of any deal.

"If you do not have any revenues, if you have no revenues at all, what that means is more of a burden on seniors, more drastic cuts to education, more drastic cuts to research, bigger cuts to services for the middle class. It doesn't ask anything of corporate jet owners, oil and gas companies, and people like me, who've done very well." Republicans, he said, were demanding "a package that would effectively require massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and domestic spending, while not asking anything from the wealthiest of this country."

"If that's their only answer it's going to be pretty difficult to figure out where to go."

http://www.salon.com/news/budget_showdo ... a_gets_mad" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BlueHen86]

American's DON'T deserve better should have been one of the voting options.

We enable our politians to perform poorly because we don't hold them accountable. Dems blame Bush for everything, Reps blame Obama (and sometimes Clinton).

The government spends money that it doesn't have because the politicians in office at the time can just pass the debt down to future office holders. The voters seem okay with this as well since the debt will likely become the problem of future generations. We (the American people) should insist on a balanced budget, and we should all be prepared to make some sacrifices along the way. That means cutting spending (everything must be on the table) and possibly raising taxes if needed.

[kalm]

American's DON'T deserve better should have been one of the voting options.

We enable our politians to perform poorly because we don't hold them accountable. Dems blame Bush for everything, Reps blame Obama (and sometimes Clinton).

The government spends money that it doesn't have because the politicians in office at the time can just pass the debt down to future office holders. The voters seem okay with this as well since the debt will likely become the problem of future generations. We (the American people) should insist on a balanced budget, and we should all be prepared to make some sacrifices along the way. That means cutting spending (everything must be on the table) and possibly raising taxes if needed.

Conks take note:

That right there is as good an argument as you will ever see for limiting governement.

[Ivytalk]

Nobody thinks long-term in the USA. Corporations think in terms of the next quarter's numbers. Politicians live for short 2-year election cycles, and we get the perpetual campaign. People think only of the next weekend and the next paycheck.

My view weeks ago -- too lazy to look up the post -- was that this mess will be "solved" at the very last minute -- before the credit agencies lower the boom -- by some combination of eliminating tax expenditures (but not changing rates) and spending cuts across the board. And then we'll revisit it next year.

Hell, kalm and I could fix this over a few beers in a back room by tomorrow.