President Obama held another White House press conference this morning, and fielded seven reporters' questions -- four of them about the debt ceiling.
By the time the president was making his case for the fourth time, the responses started getting a little repetitious, but Obama's line didn't change: we've already made enormous progress on debt reduction, he's willing to do more, but a hostage strategy based on the debt ceiling isn't acceptable.
In fact, the president spent a fair amount of time trying to explain to the public what some reporters occasionally overlook:
"The debt ceiling is not a question of authorizing more spending. Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize more spending. It simply allows the country to pay for spending that Congress has already committed to.
"These are bills that have already been racked up, and we need to pay them. So while I'm willing to compromise and find common ground over how to reduce our deficits, America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they've already racked up. [...]
"So to even entertain the idea of this happening, of the United States of America not paying its bills, is irresponsible. It's absurd.... And Republicans in Congress have two choices here: They can act responsibly and pay America's bills or they can act irresponsibly and put America through another economic crisis. But they will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy. The financial well-being of the American people is not leverage to be used. The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip."
It doesn't sound like he's ready to cave. On the contrary, it sounds like the president is issuing a not-so-subtle challenge to congressional Republicans: do your duty or we'll all suffer the consequences.
The president went on to say:
"[T]he issue here is whether or not America pays its bills. We are not a deadbeat nation. And so there's a very simple solution to this. Congress authorizes us to pay our bills.
"Now if the House and the Senate want to give me the authority so that they don't have to take these tough votes, if they want to put the responsibility on me to raise the debt ceiling, I'm happy to take it. Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, had a proposal like that last year, and I'm happy to accept it.
"But if they want to keep this responsibility, then they need to go ahead and get it done. And you know, there are no magic tricks here. There are no loopholes. There are no, you know, easy outs. This is a matter of Congress authorizes spending. They order me to spend. They tell me: You need to fund our Defense Department at such-and-such a level. You need to send Social Security checks. You need to make sure that you are paying to care for our veterans.
"They lay all this out for me, and -- because they have the spending power. And so I am required by law to go ahead and pay these bills.
"Separately, they also have to authorize a raising of the debt ceiling in order to make sure that those bills are paid. And so what Congress can't do is tell me to spend X and then say, but we're not going to give you the authority to go ahead and pay the bills."
Obama added that he's ready to negotiate on debt reduction, and he's even open to entitlement changes, but he doesn't intend to reward Congress for doing what it must do anyway.
What's more, of particular interest was the president highlighting Republicans' philosophical goals, which have less to do with debt reduction, and more to do with undermining public institutions.
"[I]t seems as if what's motivating and propelling at this point some of the House Republicans is more than simply deficit reduction. They have a particular vision about what government should and should not do. So they are suspicious about government's commitments, for example, to make sure that seniors have decent health care as they get older. They have suspicions about Social Security. They have suspicions about whether government should make sure that kids in poverty are getting enough to eat or whether we should be spending money on medical research. So they've got a particular view of what government should do and should be.
"And that view was rejected by the American people when it was debated during the presidential campaign. I think every poll that's out there indicates that the American people actually think our commitment to Medicare or to education is really important, and that's something that we should look at as a last resort in terms of reducing the deficit, and it makes a lot more sense for us to close, for example, corporate loopholes before we go to putting a bigger burden on students or seniors."
I'm glad Obama reminded the political world of this basic truth; I get the sense folks sometimes forget what the driving motivations are behind many of our ongoing partisan fights.
Leave a Comment:
And our President or his staff needs to be out there doing just this- educating as many people as they can about the truth of this- until it is taken care of.
I have to admit I am still afraid of him capitulating like last term, though. Sadly enough.
Just What is stopping the gop/tp from helping to move our country forward every step of the way ? Is it ;
1) Money
2) Greed
3) Their personal Investments
4) Selfishness
5) Orders from their Financial Gods
6) Plain Stupidity and Ignorance
7) Total Control of the U.S.A.
8) Their Inability to face-up to their responsibilities that they have placed America into
Please Add to this list and Vent your opinions !
1) Racism
2) Racism
3) Racism
There, fixed that for ya.
#1 (should be) Fealty to the mask of God...
Thor- could you let us know which personal investments will increase if we don't pass the debt limit and go into default? Seems to be the focus of your top three reasons- I'd like to know so I can leverage them as well. Or- maybe you're just silly...
call Eric Cantor he can tell you.
SS #1.2 - I was hoping for someone to state that ~ Perfect ! Thank You !
Fear of being primaried in their gerrymandered district by someone who has managed to fling themselves even further to the right.
Ninz, #1.7,
Here is what is hardest to swallow: These House GOP obstructionists, who will stop at nothing, nothing, nothing to tear down the president, are firmly in place in their little inbred districts till.......are ya ready?
2020! Eight more years, folks. EIGHT more years. Think Obama's gonna have a good second term?
Think again.
Here's what's left for reasonable people who care about a safe, productive, humane, compassionate country: The second coming.
We are a deadbeat nation. Consider that the national debt will never be repaid.
Well we know that the GOP has never paid back anything they borrowed since Nixon was in office.
No matter how anyone feels about either side or who to blame the US citizen got exactly as voted.
Gridlock
"We are not a deadbeat nation. "
Two words - Joe Walsh
And Thor, from what I gather the orders from their Financial Gods (5) is to pass the rise. Their financial gods don't want to have their cushions ripped apart, but the tea cup party that does the voting during the primaries is bound and determined to destroy the country. Therefore, the repubs aren't about to do what it takes for the country and for our economy. The average Tea Cup partier doesn't have the mental capacity to understand the difference between paying for debts already incurred and authorizing future spending. See Annie Oakley above.
Good speech. He covered every angle of "quit screwing with the economy" and pass the debt ceiling. He needs to do this many times, I guess. We are over spending, but first close those loopholes. Please.
The only problem with President Obama patiently explaining what the debt ceiling.... TEA Partiers have been brainwashed to believe that Every Word out of the President's mouth is a LIE (echoes of Jim Wilson here)... Even if he got down on his knees and begged them, they wouldn't believe him...
Just in case you all have forgotten Obama was in Congress making sure LOTS and lots of money was being spent. Now he is going to try to save the day? I don't think so.
Let's hope he is finally going to step up and take some responsibility for this debt and move heaven and earth to end it.
"TEA Partiers have been brainwashed to believe that Every Word out of the President's mouth is a LIE"
that's why you don't even try with idiots. and most all of the teapublicans are just that. but you speak to all the Americans that are smart enough to understand who we are and where we come from and what it will take to get back in track to get there.
now i am betting the first response to this will be from an troll belonging to the S.T.U.I.P.D project.
You would lose...
You know, of course, I HAD to answer that... ;-Þ>
smiling.
how are you? been a while and happy new year.
For once I concur with Shooter!?! Though not just on the debt...if you look at the data for which states are deadbeats you will see predominantly the red ones receive more in federal spending than they contribute in federal taxes. With predominantly the blue states paying for it. Ironic that the very locations that seek to destroy a big federal government benefit most from a government policy that redistributes the wealth. Somehow this information gets lost in all the ballyho and only by some form of painful awakening will it sink in. In seeking out and finding the deadbeats in our society, most red states need only look in the mirror.
All political media wants a big fight, lets face it. This sells, and I am a buyer. MSNBC is enjoying a big surge in viewership and ratings in key catagories from the election, and the conservative media machine is going full bore against gun control and the safety net.
Excellent point. The news media has a huge stake in controversy. Imagine if the report was "everyone got a long today and got a few more things...details at five." Now, the unlikely novelty of that headline might startle folks at first, but over time it would turn away viewers.
Too bad this is unscripted reality TV with the stake of a nation full of people and their lives in the balance.
it's a feedback loop. The politicians fight so they can be on TV and TV people put them on because they are fighting...
The problem with total continual war is that sooner or later you run out of honest things to fight over so you have to start making crap up
Next it will be
"We object to the executive branch"
"What about it do you object to?"
"That It exists"
Maybe if Americans just turned off the tube for awhile they'd get the message, no?
Media corporations do whatever it is that will maximize profit no matter what, morals and ethics and all else be damned.
The only way to get to them is through the pocket book.
But can Americans show enough solidarity for long enough to make a difference? Can we turn off the tube long enough to make a point?
Inquiring minds want to know...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yq7043awb4
Nailed it Dude!
Citizen, Haven't heard that song in ages. Thanks.
The President sounded good.
So right Citizen!!! MSNBC anchors used to rail against Exxon/Mobil's quarterly profits and you'd see stories about fracking...until a couple of years ago when these companies started paying for advertising during the very shows that reported such things. I've only seen one peep in the last couple of years and not surprising, it was on TRMS.
Mr. President. As you say, these are bills that have already been racked up by Congress. Since that's the case, what does FUTURE spending have to do with any of this?
That's the type of thing that keeps getting Washington into trouble. Both parties are always trying to bundle unlike things together, which if brought up separately would never have any chance of passing.
Imagine the defense budget if all those separate spending requests were handled separately.
Actually, it isn't really that different. My take is that the Republican's are basically saying we will raise the debt ceiling on what we already spent, but we want concrete promises to spend less in the future so that we will not have to raise the ceiling as often.
Re: #3.1
We need to have debate on how to address the deficit/debt.
But we can't have a reasoned debate when one side is willing to harm the country if they don't get their way. "Concrete promises" = "my way or I shoot the hostage".
By the way, one of the best ways to fix the deficit problem is getting people back to work - into jobs that pay a living wage. They then pay income tax and don't need the safety-net spending.
That is fine maphi. But there never really seems to be a real debate on fixing the deficit/debt. All the compromise did recently is bring in around $60 Billion a year ($600 Billion over 10 years). $60 Billion to knock off of $1.2 Trillion. That still leaves us with deficits over $1 Trillion. Oh and yeah we supposedly have $1.2 Trillion in cuts (not so sure they are really cuts), so that is another $120 Billion a year (again the 1.2 T is over 10yrs). Still not nearly enough. At that pace we will add $8 - 10 Trillion in deficits/debt over the next decade. Sorry, but I have no faith that either party will ever really address this. They are too afraid of losing their precious jobs. They will never tackle any of the hard stuff. Never.
Tell me, Skip, why is debt more important than putting people back to work so that there is sufficient revenue to pay down the debt as happened during the Clinton administration? Do you not understand the purpose of borrowing money? Why do you think that corporations issue bonds? The whole aim is to invest in something that not only will pay back the investment, but also return interest on the investment.
The fact is, Republicans only worry about the debt ceiling when there's a Democratic president. When it's a Republican, they never even mention it.
Actually dkm nomally debt would not be a problem, I just think we have too much. Sorry, but to me having $16 Trillion in debt and adding another Trilliom per year is excessive. I did not like it going up so fast a decade ago and I don't like it now. Even the increased revenues from any new jobs would still not make it up at this point - IMO.
How much of that $1 Trillion deficit each year, is payment of interest on the ALREADY OUTSTANDING DEBT? Interest on the loans for the two wars, the two tax cuts, the prescription plan? Interest that Must be paid, over and over again, while the debt keeps going up because Republicans keep wanting to cut taxes?...
They are insane...
skips is always trying to present the gop as some how being reasonable on this issue , when facts prove just the opposite
and please stick the THEY NEVER PAY THE DEBT OFF bull @!$%# down your pie hole for the 1000th time , we have paid the debt down before , it is just another example of GOP HARPY , that you always try and claim " your party does not ever present HARPY on the subject "
as mr obama just pointed out , the skip gop present smoke and mirrors for the most part on this subject , so they can drowned our constitutional gov in the bath tub , no matter how much you poseur moderates whine " THAT IS NOT TRUE EITHER " , obama nailed that one
LOL i see skip is still straw-manning things.
you think the sock group would have gotten new points and straw for the up coming 4 years of moving forward.
but guess the tea AstroTurf party lost to much money on their top puppet candidates.
where they got such a Return on investment.
David
2012 interest on the national debt was in round numbers $360 Billion or roughly one third of a trillion.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm
I've been waiting to see some eveidence of education on the matter. a lot of people i know have no idea how it really works but i think if Obama comes out and explains what has to be explained then no one can say that he's in the wrong. just keep getting more exposure
I am so glad to see Obama put this is such simple terms. Obama would be in violation of the law if he did not spend the money that congress has allocated and approved. This is why this debt ceiling is such nonsense from the get go. My hopes are that he does not have to invoke the 14th admendment, but if the full faith and credit of the United States is at stake, he must do what he need to do. This is another perfect example of this congress fishing behind the net
I wish Obama's Secretary of Explaining Stuff would get half an hour on prime time to explain to the people what the debt ceiling is.
I wish Obama would- without the use of a teleprompter. Jon Stewart and Leno would have material for a month.
LMAO
Really???
LOL some more.
Pilotshark, I see Rusty is back, spouting his hatred and ignorance. I've had him on ignore for 6 months. I don't want to know what nonsense he is talking these days.
The trolls are still babbling about teleprompters!
Well, he did stumble abit today responding to John Roberts during the presser. The silence was awkward to say the least and did not instill confidence in his position. Just saying.
Rusty, my boy, Obama did very well in the debates without a teleprompter and the time that the repubs invited him to address them, he ate them alive without a teleprompter. You'll remember that your former hero whose name you seem to have forgotten needed a wire during the debates in order to not seem so much of a fool.
Rusty's thinking is, well, rusty from lack of use.
stand obama next to bush , and bush would still be on vacation
JUST SAYIN
FLOP!!!
dkm- lol- is that medical marijuana you're on? Debate 1 was a thing of beauty for our silver tongue beast- lol
Patango- I would agree with you that Obama is a better public speaker than Bush II. Not by a lot- they both mangle everything, but Obama magles less.
Well, there were two more debates, and look who was elected President. That's what those on the right just can't accept, so they continue spouting hogwash like the "teleprompter" stuff.
Proceed Governor
Only a truly naive or stupid person would think Obama got reelected based upon his debate performance. Which camp shall we assign you to?
If it were up with Congress to say whether or not the sun comes up in the morning, House Republicans would say, "We'll let the sun come up, but only if you cut Social Security"
lol- good one. And Obama would counter that we'll let the sun come up, but we'll need to tax anyone who would dare let it shine on him / her.
Republican ----Teapublican-----DEADBEAT party!!!!!
Nothing in Washington is going to make ANY of the politicians make the tough long term calls that need to be made to move our country away from the abysmal financial situation we continue to move towards. Sixteen trillion dollars of debt and growing is the reality, regardless of who bares the most blame, both sides continue to contribute to the problem instead of addressing real long term solution.
I'm not sure that blanket terms against Washington is justified, RobDon. There are good people up there.
It's plain that the Republicans won't compromise, the very thing our government is built on, the act of which carves off the wacky fringe groups and allows the more centrist minds to sensibly address critical issues...we don't have compromise anymore, thus the fringe groups are invading our politics and we stand at stalmate.
Stalmate isn't meeting the Republicans either, what have they done for anyone lately... but if they have wants, they gonna have to give too. We don't see that. Obama has proven (too much for many) that he can give. You tell me why the Republicans won't compromise.
No, it's not the reality. There were large cuts in spending last year, and tax increases in the end-of-year negotiations, so the reality is that fiscally we're in much better shape than we were. The biggest remaining problem for both the country and the deficit is the sluggish economy. Cutting spending will make that worse, and stimulating the economy will (through increased tax revenue) do more to improve the deficit in the medium to long-term than spending cuts will, not to mention ending completely unnecessary suffering for many of our fellow citizens.
The long-term changes we need are not voting spending cuts, they are reforming our health care system to be more efficient. The Affordable Care Act was a good start on this, and contrary to your rant against "ANY of the politicians," Democrats fought hard for it and Republicans fought tooth and nail against it. We don't have a long-term problem with Medicare, we have a long-term problem with health care costs, and addressing it by cutting Medicare will actually make it worse by dumping seniors into less efficient private insurance (or much less efficient emergency rooms.)
In short, the deficit is not at all our most pressing short-term problem (our borrowing rate is less than the rate of inflation, so borrowing is effectively free), and trying to address it as a short-term problem will actually make it worse in the long term.
NeedMoreCoffee, without entering into who is or isn't doing what (because we will probably just disagree and that was not my intent), I agree we need to have cooperation and compromise. I used the term "politician" and should have clarified I was not trying to insult public "servants," which you are correct do exist in Washington albeit in way too few numbers.
Earned benefit cuts == cave.
Whoever penned 'We are not a deadbeat nation' deserves a prize!
It's pathetic that the President not only has to do his difficult job, but has to do the media's as well, in addition to babysitting and coddling our precious Congress.
It's amazing what Obama has been asked to carry on his singular shoulders...
#12
It is, and they re going to keep him from having a good and productive second term, too. Count on them continuing to destroy him, and the rest of us will have to go along for the ride.
The shame is that he really has good ideas and plans to help the people of this country. But they will never let him do it. Never.
How evil and cold hearted are this bunch? They even refuse to give hurricane Sandy much needed aid. Why? Because they hate the East coast.
We 'assume' that few, if any, representatives in national office want a government shut down - Wrong!
Texas's newly elected Senator, Ted Cruz claimed, on PBS, that the 1994 government shut down created the prosperity of the late 1990's. The shut down, in his thinking, forced Pres. Clinton to accept Republican economic ideas. Therefore, forcing a government shut down in 2013 is a goal to be pursued and not one to be avoided. How many US House members think the same way? Are we in trouble): Mint the 'coin' or change the 14th.!
All of those on this blog who borrow more money to pay the debts that you have already incurred, please raise your hands...
Most of the rest of us have to find a way to cut expenses elsewhere in our budget in order to pay bills. Too bad our government cant operate in a manner to how its citizens have to every day...
just saying...
All those who have a standing army raise your hands...
""Too bad our government cant operate in a manner to how its citizens have to every day.."
well seeing we the people (citizens) are the government we the people (citizens) seem to be doing as we do every day. its just to bad that theirs few who don't really want to help. but complain about themselves (government).
Stormgoof , Why weren't you gop/tp'ers bringing this up and whinning about debts and spending during the years of 2000-2008 ? None of you gop/tp'ers can answer this question with any validity , you all just Avoid these facts and truth's , WHY ? Still waiting for a justified answer ! Oh , That's Right , Its President Obama's Fault ? Was Pres.Obama in office during those years ?
Thor,
So continuing the practice of Trillion dollar deficits is justified by the fact that the right never complained when Bush was in office? Ok...totally logical. They did it, so now "we" are gonna keep on doing it. Real constructive.
so...in other words, you approve of what Bush did?
just saying...
No...do you approve what Obama is doing - pretty much the same thing deficit wise? Just saying...
since I didnt approve of it before, I am being consistent by saying that I am not in favor of it for either administration...
just saying...
Skip: The deficit problem is long term. You seem so short term about it, some might call it fearmongering. Much better to get our unemployment problem under control.
Stormguy,
Congress sets the levels of spending, the levels of taxation, and sets the debt limit. The Administration is constitutionally limited to vetoing actions by Congress, but it is Congress and particularly the House of Representatives in the drivers seat.
The House under its current leadership insists on spending far more money on discretionary spending than the same House authorizes be collected in taxes. Then they complain about the debt.
The House needs to either drastically cut defense and other discretionary spending while markedly raising taxes, or they need to raise the debt limit. Instead, they blame the Administration and entitlement programs, both of which are minor players in this year's deficit.
John, #14.9
Exactly. Anyone who knows how it works knows the GOP is full of ...it with all the concern about the debt/deficit. It is just their way of trying to make the president look bad and to get their talons on the entitlements. It's never been about the deficit with these obstructionists. They know exactly what they are doing: Starving government, and making Obama look like a fool, like it is his fault the deficit/debt is rising.
Fox "news" and Rush Limbaugh have managed to be partners in this big lie they keep perpetrating on the American people.
John: - when was the last budget passed? Sure seems to me that this problem goes back well past the "current leadership". As a matter of fact, which party has had control of the HOR for the vast majority of the last 30 years? 60 years?
India...Do you borrow money to pay off your current debt and for your current living expenses? Starving government isnt necessarily a bad thing...
It is okay for any person (company, country) to have a credit card and borrow some money. However, when you get to the point that you are asking for credit limit increases time and time again, and you are not doing enough to reduce your spending habits, there is a serious problem.
just saying...
Just LOL
I have a question:
Why do individuals complain bitterly about our 16T dollar debt without making allowances for everything that We the People own? We bitch endlessly about our Liabilities without even attempting to examine all of our Assets.
How much are our assets (acquired since the beginning of our Republic) worth? Our National Parks, Monuments, government buildings, military bases (especially the property they sit on), fed. government lands, military equipment, gold in Fort Knox, Oil Reserves, etc.
Over the years, the USA has invested trillions in genuine assets; but those are never mentioned, or even tracked, on a National balance sheet.
It's like the 16T was just flushed down the toilet.
Well, maybe someday someone will come by and reposess all the things we spent on. :) Your argument is just like saying you made a profit on a stock when it when up one day. If you don't cash it out, you really didn't make any real money. It's just on paper. You won't realize that profit unless you sell it...before it goes back down.
A Big republican LIE that has been debunked more times than Ronnie I'm a demented fool Reagan said it. The 126 trill flushed down the drain has been caused by republican tax cuts with borrow and spend policies since 1981.
borrow and spend policies
Kinda like now??? Or is that a big republican lie? We are actually operating with surpluses the past 4 years OR of course you can always say it is still Bush's fault.
Wrong again but then you refuse to research rather you just repeat Fox noise. Here is a clue spending has decreased every year Obama has been in office to bad for you that you believe the party of deadbeat Mitt lovers and you live in a bubble that no information can penetrate.
OK whom...spending has decreased....from what, $1.6 Trillion down to 1.2 or ...I'll be generous $1 Trillion even? That's like saving 2 cents on a $40 meal. Apparently you are believing that those savings will really make a difference. Must be the new math.
Obama spending binge never happened
Rex Nutting
Commentary: Government outlays rising at slowest pace since 1950s
May 22, 2012|Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Of all the falsehoods told about President Barack Obama, the biggest whopper is the one about his reckless spending spree.
As would-be president Mitt Romney tells it: “I will lead us out of this debt and spending inferno.”
Almost everyone believes that Obama has presided over a massive increase in federal spending, an “inferno” of spending that threatens our jobs, our businesses and our children’s future. Even Democrats seem to think it’s true.
But it didn’t happen. Although there was a big stimulus bill under Obama, federal spending is rising at the slowest pace since Dwight Eisenhower brought the Korean War to an end in the 1950s.
Even hapless Herbert Hoover managed to increase spending more than Obama has.
Here are the facts, according to the official government statistics:
• In the 2009 fiscal year — the last of George W. Bush’s presidency — federal spending rose by 17.9% from $2.98 trillion to $3.52 trillion. Check the official numbers at the Office of Management and Budget.
• In fiscal 2010 — the first budget under Obama — spending fell 1.8% to $3.46 trillion.
• In fiscal 2011, spending rose 4.3% to $3.60 trillion.
• In fiscal 2012, spending is set to rise 0.7% to $3.63 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of the budget that was agreed to last August.
• Finally in fiscal 2013 — the final budget of Obama’s term — spending is scheduled to fall 1.3% to $3.58 trillion. Read the CBO’s latest budget outlook.
Over Obama’s four budget years, federal spending is on track to rise from $3.52 trillion to $3.58 trillion, an annualized increase of just 0.4%.
There has been no huge increase in spending under the current president, despite what you hear.
Why do people think Obama has spent like a drunken sailor? It’s in part because of a fundamental misunderstanding of the federal budget.
What people forget (or never knew) is that the first year of every presidential term starts with a budget approved by the previous administration and Congress. The president only begins to shape the budget in his second year. It takes time to develop a budget and steer it through Congress — especially in these days of congressional gridlock.
The 2009 fiscal year, which Republicans count as part of Obama’s legacy, began four months before Obama moved into the White House. The major spending decisions in the 2009 fiscal year were made by George W. Bush and the previous Congress.
Like a relief pitcher who comes into the game with the bases loaded, Obama came in with a budget in place that called for spending to increase by hundreds of billions of dollars in response to the worst economic and financial calamity in generations.
http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-05-22/commentary/31802270_1_spending-federal-budget-drunken-sailor
#16.7
Thank you Chris!
when all you have is lies and hate for america , just get the floke out , that goes for you 2 skip , you are basically saying the same thing as shiiter , america is a dead beat nation, your party needs to go screw its self real hard , and preferably some where else , where you never have to pay one bill , ever
Marco is a shill, a troll... He may even be an automated program, designed to respond as if it were a living person...
Talking to him is useless... His sole, soulless purpose is to stir up aggravation...
The only logical response is to ignore 'him'... so I will... I suggest everyone else do the same...
Confessions of a Paid Internet Shill
Astroturfing the Internet with False Personas
kind of like some not so open paid troll. we have a few running around here in the last few days and hours.
this one is in BTT basic troll training. the others have reach the level of some what free trolling able to deter a little on their basic scripts.
Hit you where you live, eh?
Once again the Hypocrisy of the Liberal Democrats and the F.O.S. President Obama!!!
On Friday the Democratic leadership of the Senate — Majority Leader Harry Reid, Assistant Majority Leader Richard Durbin, Conference Chair Charles Schumer, and Conference Secretary Patty Murray —wrote to President Obama urging him to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling in the event that Republicans either block such an increase or attempt to pass one "as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation."
"We believe that you must make clear that you will never allow our nation's economy and reputation to be held hostage," the Democrats wrote. "We believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis — without congressional approval, if necessary."
What is striking about the letter is that every one of its signers — Reid, Durbin, Schumer, and Murray — voted against raising the nation's debt ceiling just seven years ago.
On March 16, 2006, the Senate held a vote on a measure to raise the debt ceiling by $781 billion — the fourth such vote of George W. Bush's presidency. Republicans controlled the Senate, and Democrats spent much of the debate railing against Bush's spending. "When it comes to deficits, this president owns all the records," said Reid. "The three largest deficits in our nation's history have all occurred under this administration's watch."
Declaring themselves outraged by such spending, Reid, Durbin, Schumer, and Murray all voted against raising the debt limit. So did every other Democrat — including Sen. Barack Obama.
Excellent. Just shows that all politicians are just mediocre used car salesmen. Ah, politics as usual. The names/parties may change, but the game is the same.
This goes way over the heads of the Hypocrisy of the Liberal Democrats and F.O.S. President Obama
In 2011, the federal government reported owing “$10.2 trillion in public debt, accrued federal employee pension and other retirement benefits of $5.8 trillion, and other federal liabilities of $1.5 trillion,” the report states, totaling $17.5 trillion in liabilities — or more than 117 percent of GDP.
When Social Security and Medicare payments owed to current retirees are counted, $12.8 trillion is added to federal liabilities, bringing the total to $30.3 trillion — or a whopping 200 percent of GDP.
Add in the remaining expected obligations to non-retirees for Social Security and Medicare, along with other federal obligations, and the tally rises to nearly $84 trillion.
More debunked right wing lies. But hey what can the GOP do except point fingers and lie, after all they refuse to admit that they created all of the problems we face today with their stupidity
Prove it wrong whomitmay. How bout I just type "left wing lies" after someone's comment. Doesn't hold much weight. Both left and right wing sites have died in the wool partisans that will say the other side is 100% wrong and to blame for all the bad things while their side is 100% right and responsible for all things good. No real surprise and really pretty boring. And then there is of course the ol' Troll moniker for anyone that dares to disagree with the sites normal mantra.
Right because you are so in the middle of the road just ignore the GOP stickers on your vehicles. Really repeating long dead Reagan BS no longer works it is not the lefts fault that the GOP hasn't had an original thought since man first fell out of trees.
First I am Libertarian leaning and second no one in DC comes up with much of a good idea anymore. I will say some have good intentions when they get there, but after a little baptism under fire....
Both sides have plenty of BS to go around. That is why I try to vote third party as much as I can - as long as the third party is in line with my political views.
BTW, political bumber stickers are the stupidest thing I have ever seen on a car.
Or to put simply you are a republican voter that whines about everything under the sun the same way as the rest of the republicans whine, you just don't want to be held responsible for putting GWB into office. Really all you are doing is repeating Reagans lies about democrats which are true because you believe they are true and you will go out and find proof to fit your preconceived beliefs.
Honestly whom...you are my hero!
magnolia
you set your bar very very low
"Honestly whom...you are my hero!"
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/federalbudgetprocess/a/Budget-Deficit-History.htm
NLM,
The Democrats gained control of the House and Senate on January 3, 2007.
Also, the deficits from 2008 on are primarily due to decreased tax revenue due to the financial crisis of 2008. If you are looking for someone to pin that on, you should research Phil and Wendy Gramm of Texas.
aww Phil america is a bunch of whinny a$$es Gramm.
his wife she belong to HSBC? the bank of choice for the drug cartels.
duplicate
This is simple post a map showing which states are going to vote to crash the country. Then ask them if the know it. And tell them how to contact their representatives.
Oh goodie. The right wing trolls are having a circle jerk on the MaddowBlog without having a clue how Social Security works. We aren't able to talk about how the deficit got so large. We aren't able to talk about how we are whittling it down without taking away Social Security because ALL LIBRULS ARE LIARS AND HYPOCRITES.
Congressional Republicans have the President right where they want him: if he continues spending beyond the debt ceiling, they will impeach him; if he refuses to continue with already-authorized spending to avoid the debt ceiling, they will impeach him.
And all this is to cover up the real reason that they want to impeach President Obama: Governing While Black.
i hope mr obama will not cave in and it will be the fault of the republicans if there is no agreement,,hopefully it will be the end of the republicans party for ever,,,and ever,,,they are so different from the republicans of 20 years ago,,now those repukes are bad peoples,,,and mr obama can not cave in to those renegates,,the republicans do not care for the citizens,,and mr obama unfortunately has to work with them, they have him waste his time when so many things need his attention,,,bush 's war brought shame on us,they were not justified,he attacked the wrong country''irak''spend billions for his own personal reason because his daddy''the old bush'' had problem with hussain,,it was not the jobs of our soldiers to risk their life for bush personal reason,,,so our money is gone,our young men are dead,,and mr obama is stuck with the debt and the stupidity of the repukes congress,,we look like fool to the rest of the world,,,2 more years of boehner,cantor,ryan,,,it is a disgrace to have them there those scums of the earth
Say what? Don't you remember Madeleine Albright? "Half a million dead Iraqi children are a worthwhile price to pay." Granted, I wouldn't call her a liberal, but I think you would.
Do you think Obama will even consider cutting even $1 if something is not held over his head to try to force him to do so? Sad that republicans have to resort to tactics like this to even gain the ear of a President who wants to spend us into oblivion.
Ah yes...the old 'we wouldn't be such DHeads if Obama didn't FORCE us to' argument.
LOL, you go meg!
Jes,
The President cannot spend a dime without a spending bill originating in the House of Representatives.
Our deficits are due the the House GOP spending more than our tax revenue.
john time to be enlightened
http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/federalbudgetprocess/a/Budget-Deficit-History.htm
And where is the Senates budget for the last 4 years????
jes33, You're just the type of idiot who is about to try to take down the country. You are ignorant and delusional and unAmerican. You are doing great harm to the country because FACTS don't penetrate your closed minds. Fact is, Obama has cut spending a great deal. But of course, to as$$holes like you, facts do not matter. In any case, you ignorant jerk, CONGRESS controls the spending. The president is required to pay the bills congress allocates.
Get a damn education.
You belong in an asylum, along with Boehner's crazy caucus. You make me sick.
People like YOU are what is destroying this country.
repeating 17.11 above, since NLM is repeating here:
NLM,
The Democrats gained control of the House and Senate on January 3, 2007. The GOP last controlled both the Senate and House in 2006.
Also, the deficits from 2008 on are primarily due to decreased tax revenue due to the financial crisis of 2008. If you are looking for someone to pin that on, you should research Phil and Wendy Gramm of Texas...
...and Alan Greenspan. Of course there are more, but those three did more to set the conditions for the collapse than anyone else.
The thing is, a lot of money has to be spent by the government to run the country, and for years, through two, long, unfunded wars (and other disasters) and the Bush tax cuts, we were not getting enough revenue in to fund things, hence the deficit rose.
It's arithmetic. Obama was not able to stop the bleeding.
NLM,
If you wish to address the lack productivity in the Senate, you should lobby Republican Leader McConnell to stop filibustering all routine business.
Or lobby your own Senators to drastically restrict or eliminate the filibuster in the Senate. I have already lobbied mine.
"Or lobby your own Senators to drastically restrict or eliminate the filibuster in the Senate. I have already lobbied mine."
I have as well, but i am one who has to help as i can in other places. as one of my Senators is Markley and well he his co- sponsor bills and is a leading voice in filibuster reform.
Couldn't the Attorney General CRIMINALLY CHARGE the individual Republicans who are threatening further OBSTRUCTION of Justice and circumventing their duty under our Constitution? Doesn't the Executive Branch have the authority and power to stop those who could initiate a GLOBAL FINANCIAL DISASTER if the United States were to default and send the world economy in a tailspin? This isn't fun and games. The Republicans who are leading this charge to default and shut down the government are teetering on TREASON and criminal liability!
#24 Jon Rae Future,
Yes, they are determined to do just that. I hope to God they can be stopped, but don't know how the president can stop them.
Phooey! As Charlie Pierce puts is, "Fk the deficit. People got no jobs. People got no money." How can we get them to stop this idiocy and concentrate of real important matters?
If we have a spending problem, it begins and ends with the Department of Defense. But, that's not what I am hearing when I hear about cutting spending. I suppose cutting the DoD's budget would impact too many Southern States and too many of the big GOP donors to be really considered an option. As a Veteran and a citizen, I want our troops to be the best equipped and best trained in the world, however much of the money being spent by the DoD's pure pork, intended to prop up failing companies or failing states. In short, it's welfare and should be eliminated.