:o Can the Republicans hold the line?
Will thay do what they said they would?
Hmmm...77% of the people say cut!!
By TOM RAUM, AP
Record $14 trillion-plus debt weighs on Congress.
Snip
WASHINGTON — The United States just passed a dubious milestone: Government debt surged to an all-time high, topping $14 trillion — $45,300 for each and everyone in the country.
That means Congress soon will have to lift the legal debt limit to give the nearly maxed-out government an even higher credit limit or dramatically cut spending to stay within the current cap. Either way, a fight is ahead on Capitol Hill, inflamed by the passions of tea party activists and deficit hawks.
Already, both sides are blaming each other for an approaching economic train wreck as Washington wrestles over how to keep the government in business and avoid default on global financial obligations.
More (http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20110115/US.Debt.Wars/?cid=NET_SZHeadlineRSSLinks&attr=article_news_general_US.Debt.Wars)
Congress could start with cutting the U.N. off 100% ;D
Quote from: walkstall on January 15, 2011, 08:12:36 PM
Congress could start with cutting the U.N. off 100% ;D
I would love to see that
BUT I'M not holding my breath
Quote from: REDWHITEBLUE2 on January 15, 2011, 08:53:27 PM
I would love to see that BUT I'M not holding my breath
My advice is not to hold your breath on Congress making any serious cuts.
Bachman said she will vote against raising the debt limit.
If she see potential, then I'm with her, and she isn't alone.
I see a fight brewing for the values of the GOP, and I see RINO season opening early.... 8)
Quote from: Solar on January 16, 2011, 08:03:31 AM
Bachman said she will vote against raising the debt limit.
If she see potential, then I'm with her, and she isn't alone.
I see a fight brewing for the values of the GOP, and I see RINO season opening early.... 8)
We will see who can walk the talk and not just talk the talk.
Quote from: walkstall on January 16, 2011, 08:50:39 AM
We will see who can walk the talk and not just talk the talk.
Yep, I see a battle for the very heart and soul of the GOP, and there will be no compromises, I honestly believe the RINO are soon to be an endangered specie in the GOP.
Quote from: Solar on January 16, 2011, 09:09:05 AM
Yep, I see a battle for the very heart and soul of the GOP, and there will be no compromises, I honestly believe the RINO are soon to be an endangered specie in the GOP.
I think you're a little late to the game.
Some of the big-name RINOs like Arlen Specter are gone. The reason he's gone was clear enough to cause Specter to change parties two years ago, effectively ending his political career. The reason's been building for some time and there are other telltale signs as well. Lots of them as I've been saying for some time.
Look at the public's response to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Lefties tried briefly to restart the anti-Vietnam War movement put that went flatter then a punctured party balloon just about instantly, much to the disappointment of lefties about my age.
Then there's the total collapse of the lefties efforts to try to get some political mileage out of the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords. Even Obama realized that was a loser and made sure he wouldn't get splashed by the sewage the likes of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews were throwing around even going so far as to delicately chide them. Lefties telling lefties to tone it down? Man, if that isn't evidence of the approach of the end times I don't know what is.
With all that out of the way, it remains to be seen what the congressional Repubs will/can do.
Politics is called "the art of the possible" and I always had a tough time understanding what that meant. I think now I do.
When you aren't on the hook to pass the law it's easy to be true to your beliefs and never waver. But when you're the one trying to get the law passed things are different. You can't just get angry and take your toys and go home. You're there to do a job and sometimes jobs make demands that aren't very pleasant.
If we really, as a nation, want limited government, lower taxes, less government intrusion we've got to elect people of that persuasion and keep electing people of that persuasion until the number of people elected to office who think as we think is great enough to effect the choices we believe are necessary.
That isn't an easy task because not only are there Americans who
don't believe as we believe but the inclination of politicians, like their constituents, is to believe that more power in their hands is always a good thing. What conservatives are asking politicians to do is to give up power. Ask yourself how easy it would be to, in some aspect of your life, to give up power?
It's obviously a tough sell which is what makes democracy, and more specifically a constitutionally-limited republic, such a tough sell. It doesn't take any imagination to see the possibilities if only you could tell other people what to do. Imagine what a wonderful world it would be if someone as smart as me were in charge!
That's what, as conservatives, we're fighting against. That very human, very understandable conceit that somone's got to be in charge and that someone ought to be me.
To get back to the new congressional Repubs, I'd be happy to see some significant spending
cuts - not reductions in the rate of increase but cuts - and to see some of the departments have their wings trimmed. Most urgently the EPA which seems to have taken in upon itself to try to impose cap-and-trade on the U.S. by bureaucratic fiat. I'd also like some forceful symbolic victories like zeroing out various enviro-subsidies like those for alternative energy, electric vehicles and ethanol.
Oh yeah, and a big, noisy, embarrassing effort to repeal Obamacare. Hopefully successful but even if not, enough to keep the pot boiling vigorously.
If the Repubs manage that I'll call them successful.
Quote from: arpad on January 16, 2011, 11:35:32 AM
I think you're a little late to the game.
No, the battle has only just begun, the party is still full of hacks/RINO.
QuoteSome of the big-name RINOs like Arlen Specter are gone. The reason he's gone was clear enough to cause Specter to change parties two years ago, effectively ending his political career. The reason's been building for some time and there are other telltale signs as well. Lots of them as I've been saying for some time.
It's a good start.
QuoteLook at the public's response to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Lefties tried briefly to restart the anti-Vietnam War movement put that went flatter then a punctured party balloon just about instantly, much to the disappointment of lefties about my age.
Then there's the total collapse of the lefties efforts to try to get some political mileage out of the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords. Even Obama realized that was a loser and made sure he wouldn't get splashed by the sewage the likes of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews were throwing around even going so far as to delicately chide them. Lefties telling lefties to tone it down? Man, if that isn't evidence of the approach of the end times I don't know what is.
Just more proof that the leftists message is a dying one.
QuoteWith all that out of the way, it remains to be seen what the congressional Repubs will/can do.
Which is my point, there is a battle for the heart and soul of the party.
QuotePolitics is called "the art of the possible" and I always had a tough time understanding what that meant. I think now I do.
When you aren't on the hook to pass the law it's easy to be true to your beliefs and never waver. But when you're the one trying to get the law passed things are different. You can't just get angry and take your toys and go home. You're there to do a job and sometimes jobs make demands that aren't very pleasant.
If we really, as a nation, want limited government, lower taxes, less government intrusion we've got to elect people of that persuasion and keep electing people of that persuasion until the number of people elected to office who think as we think is great enough to effect the choices we believe are necessary.
That isn't an easy task because not only are there Americans who don't believe as we believe but the inclination of politicians, like their constituents, is to believe that more power in their hands is always a good thing. What conservatives are asking politicians to do is to give up power. Ask yourself how easy it would be to, in some aspect of your life, to give up power?
Give up power? No way, we are demanding they weild it like a sword, and slash the wasteful spending.
QuoteIt's obviously a tough sell which is what makes democracy, and more specifically a constitutionally-limited republic, such a tough sell. It doesn't take any imagination to see the possibilities if only you could tell other people what to do. Imagine what a wonderful world it would be if someone as smart as me were in charge!
That's what, as conservatives, we're fighting against. That very human, very understandable conceit that somone's got to be in charge and that someone ought to be me.
:D 8)
QuoteTo get back to the new congressional Repubs, I'd be happy to see some significant spending cuts - not reductions in the rate of increase but cuts - and to see some of the departments have their wings trimmed. Most urgently the EPA which seems to have taken in upon itself to try to impose cap-and-trade on the U.S. by bureaucratic fiat. I'd also like some forceful symbolic victories like zeroing out various enviro-subsidies like those for alternative energy, electric vehicles and ethanol.
Couldn't agree more.
QuoteOh yeah, and a big, noisy, embarrassing effort to repeal Obamacare. Hopefully successful but even if not, enough to keep the pot boiling vigorously.
The vote is coming up next week, I think.
QuoteIf the Repubs manage that I'll call them successful.
I would call it a very good start, and yes, a successful start.
Quote from: walkstall on January 15, 2011, 08:12:36 PM
Congress could start with cutting the U.N. off 100% ;D
SECOND!!!!!!!
Billy
Quote from: BILLY-bONNEY on January 16, 2011, 03:26:38 PM
SECOND!!!!!!!
Billy
Then cut Congress pay in ½ and do away with all perks.
Remember all they do is spend our money, they do not
make us 1 ¢ for us. This does not count all the perks. :o
Salaries for Federal Officials 2011
Legislative BranchSpeaker of the House $223,500
Majority and minority leaders of both chambers
and Senate president pro temporare. $193,400
Senators and Representatives. $174,000
Judicial BranchChief Justice $223,500
Associate Justices $213,900
US Courts of Appeals judges $184,500
Federal District judges $174,000
Executive BranchPresident $400,000
Vice President $230,700
Cabinet Officers $199,700
Some Perks- Health and Life Insurance Provisions
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Retirement Provisions
- Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Representatives
- House Allowance System
- Personnel Allowance Component of the MRA
- Official Office Expenses Allowance Component of the MRA
- Official Mail Allowance (Franking Privilege) Component of the MRA
- Other Allowances
- Government Publications
- Travel Allowance for Organizational Caucuses or Conferences
- Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Senators
- Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account
- Official Office Expense Allowance
- Personnel Allowances: Administrative and Clerical Assistance and Legislative Assistance
- Official Mail Allowance
- Other Allowances
- Senate Interns
- Office Space in States
- Mobile Office Space for Senators
- Furniture and Furnishings in Washington, DC
- Furniture and Furnishings in State Offices
- Office Equipment in Washington, DC, and State Offices
- Government Publications
Nothing will be cut. The requested adjustment to the debt ceiling will be made. The budget will be expanded but not by as much as "predicted." Thus, can the Democrats say that the Republicans cut program "so needed" by the people; and the Republicans can say to the fools who believe them that they cut the budget. To believe otherwise is to be naive at best.
I know it is early, but I am not feeling very confident of the GOP at all so far.
Quote from: Solar on January 16, 2011, 12:30:21 PM
Give up power? No way, we are demanding they weild it like a sword, and slash the wasteful spending.
:D
I think the point arpad was making is that asking Congress to make significant cuts in spending IS asking them to give up power. Look at it from THEIR point of view, and you'll see what he's talking about. Wasteful spending = buying votes = power.
I've been a supporter of the Fair Tax for years, and that's always been recognized as THE stumbling block that would have to be overcome. In its pure form the Fair Tax would completely eliminate the federal tax code, payroll taxes, withholding taxes, and the IRS, along with most lobbyists and a shitpot of DC attorneys. But it would also eliminate oh... maybe 80% of the power that Congress wields over the people today. This is why there may never be a way to get it through Congress. Also, the Fair Tax is an astoundingly good idea, the sort of thing that has never been much favored by Congress under any circumstances.
There ya go. Tbone gets it.
Yeah, getting Congress to reduce the power they wield, by reducing their degree of control over the populace will be tough but I think it can be done. I think that's the direction we're headed in although we've got a very long way to go to take back even half of what's been thrown away.
But I think there's evidence that, given some time to consider and weigh the options, we make the right and just choice. That's why lefties have to govern by crisis. When we have time to mull things over we don't choose the course lefties want so they have to use tricks and lies to get us to choose what they want.
Well, I believe we will see a lot of compromise. That's obvious and expected as we do not have the majority. From my point of view it the issue is how will they compromise and will they use their leverage to keep their promise. A lot of Democrats are up for election in 2012 and they will be more willing to work with the GOP and pursue a more moderate agenda.
I'm not sure who "we do not have the majority" refers too. Conservatives maybe?
In any case, sure we'll see compromises. That's how politics in a representative form of government works. The trick is to get half of what you want instead of giving your opponent half of what they want; to make the compromises on your terms. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but the conservative message is a tough one to get across to politicians just as it's a tough one to get across to the folks who are in the middle. The "undecided"s.
One thing I'm pretty sure won't work and that's to tell people who are a bit hesitant to sign on to conservative policies that they're stupid for not seeing the good sense and justice in conservative ideas.