Congress 2010 Thread
- Thread starter Omnis
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- 24,553
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- GTP_FoolKiller
- FoolKiller1979
I have never seen a politician call out an interviewer in that way and then just continue to refuse to answer them like that.
Spitzer must be angry with that. Whether he thinks his agenda makes him a bad broadcaster or not, he lost control of the interview, which is bad broadcasting. Within ten minutes he had his past prostitution violations used as a counterpoint and was accused of being too biased to be a journalist.
Yes, it's awesome to see Rand Paul EXPOSED as the uppity doctor-type of person that he is: that he can't answer a direct question with a direct answer. But hey, what do you expect from a teabagger type like him? Oh, and we (meaning common-sense Americans) will NOT be getting rid of the new Healthcare law anytime soon: so wipe that off of your petty agenda.
- 40,885
I remember a few years ago Bill Clinton did an interview on Fox News. It was obvious from the second the first question was asked that the intention of the interview was to make Clinton look like an idiot, but Clinton turned the interview around on the Fox News guy so quickly that interviewer probably got whiplash. It was absolutely hilarious to watch. But, for consistency, I'll put the transcript in more familiar words for you:
Yes, it's awesome to see Bill Clinton EXPOSED as the uppity lawyer-type of person that he is: that he can't answer a direct question with a direct answer. But hey, what do you expect from a Communist type like him?
It passed by seven votes, after being plowed through Congress so fast and so secretly that most people didn't even know what it did until long after it was passed. Even assuming it doesn't get repealed (and I will say that your sense of self-importance is rather funny based on the rest of your post), any attempt to actually enforce certain parts of it will be blocked by years of court maneuvering.
- 24,553
- Frankfort, KY
- GTP_FoolKiller
- FoolKiller1979
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I've seen both of the Pauls on Rachel Maddow's show several times, and I'm always surprised by the civility of the conversation. Despite the polar opposite views on a lot of things, they agree on plenty as well. Liberals love Libertarians, because it is a legitimate challenge to what we think is right. That, and we actually talk about it, not yell about it.
Dotini
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- CR80_Shifty
I'm intrigued by this comment.
Some of the points of commonality among liberals and libertarians:
-Emphasis on personal liberties to include drug use.
-Anti-war views prominent
Points of serious disagreement:
-Liberals sanction of authoritarian government practices.
-Views on abortion wildly divergent.
Readers could perhaps add other points of commonality and divergence.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
It's more of a thing where we agree on some of the ends, but rarely the means. In my mind, that is a good and healthy thing.
Either way, on both ends of the political spectrum, we've got crazies that we don't like. For every Tea Party person, we've got one of those Herp-Derp Rage Against the Machine kids (I don't know of an accurate way to categorize them. Whoops!). I think the more reasonable people just sit there and [/facepalm].
Keef
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- 25,166
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
Classical liberalism as seen in early America was basically what libertarianism is today. Bot political parties back then were "liberal", as in supporting liberty. Somewhere along the trail the word became associated with a more socialistic view instead of libertarian, the complete opposite of what it used to mean. Like how modern democrats and republicans generally don't resemble their classical roots in the slightest.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Hey kids! Do you want to do Congress' job for them? How 'bout we play...
Though magic clicks of the mouse, I was able to get rid of the deficit through a couple of tax increases and budget cuts. They should just make it this easy every time...
Though magic clicks of the mouse, I was able to get rid of the deficit through a couple of tax increases and budget cuts. They should just make it this easy every time...
Keef
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Tax increases in a recession? Really? Did they teach you that in Economics or Political Science?
I managed to cut the 2015 deficit of $418 Billion by $248 Billion - over half - and the 2030 deficit of $1,355 Billion by $1,231 Billion - almost the whole thing - without a single tax increase or federal employee pay cut or reduction in contractors.
I don't exactly like their options though. I'm cool with gradually reducing the Medicare and Social Security burden, but where is my option to eventually eliminate these programs? I like the idea of reducing the number of troops we have overseas, but where is my option to completely shut down half or more of our foreign bases and bring home half or more of our foreign troops and equipment? Where is my option to eliminate the Federal Reserve? The Department of Education? The EPA? If options like those were on the table I'd have created a surplus by 2030, without increasing any taxes or cutting employee pay.
That surplus I'd have created would make room for further tax cuts, including thedeath tax estate tax that apparently some people in Congress want to increase. Taxing dead people? The good lord hopes you're joking.
I managed to cut the 2015 deficit of $418 Billion by $248 Billion - over half - and the 2030 deficit of $1,355 Billion by $1,231 Billion - almost the whole thing - without a single tax increase or federal employee pay cut or reduction in contractors.
I don't exactly like their options though. I'm cool with gradually reducing the Medicare and Social Security burden, but where is my option to eventually eliminate these programs? I like the idea of reducing the number of troops we have overseas, but where is my option to completely shut down half or more of our foreign bases and bring home half or more of our foreign troops and equipment? Where is my option to eliminate the Federal Reserve? The Department of Education? The EPA? If options like those were on the table I'd have created a surplus by 2030, without increasing any taxes or cutting employee pay.
That surplus I'd have created would make room for further tax cuts, including the
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- 40,885
I support the idea tossed around for the New York State Assembly a couple of months ago (somewhat seriously, believe it or not) about withholding representative pay unless they are actually doing something. Imagine how much money that would save, or how much more efficient the government would become!
On a more serious note, I managed to near-as-makes-no-difference meet the 2030 levels, but only accomplished about 2/3rds of the 2015 levels.
On a more serious note, I managed to near-as-makes-no-difference meet the 2030 levels, but only accomplished about 2/3rds of the 2015 levels.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
As someone on the left, would you really expect anything different? It had more to do with letting the Bush tax cuts expire for those making $250K or more, closing corporate tax loopholes, and returning some figures to Clinton-era levels (capital gains and estate taxes, as I recall). Otherwise, most of my gains came from cutting the military and bumping Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security age requirements to 68.
In my mind, they are all reasonable, and should be on the table if we want to be serious about avoiding a debt crisis.
Dotini
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- 15,742
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- CR80_Shifty
At present our government is in the hands of those who believe that growth through stimulation (spending) is the only way to go. In order to spend, we must either borrow or print (debase) more money.
Traditionally, this has been the Keynesian nostrum. But Keynes himself assumed that budgets would be balanced and debts paid down in good times, which our pols have consistently avoided doing.
The other basic approach is the path of austerity -paying off debt while growth is stilled.
Our politicians are obsessed with the idea that wealthy private investors will come to the rescue with expanded factories and jobs, but will do so only if they are pre-rewarded with tax benefits before the fact.
Obviously, our economic ideas are not working and our politics are in flux. I can see 5 to 10 more years of going nowhere.
Traditionally, this has been the Keynesian nostrum. But Keynes himself assumed that budgets would be balanced and debts paid down in good times, which our pols have consistently avoided doing.
The other basic approach is the path of austerity -paying off debt while growth is stilled.
Our politicians are obsessed with the idea that wealthy private investors will come to the rescue with expanded factories and jobs, but will do so only if they are pre-rewarded with tax benefits before the fact.
Obviously, our economic ideas are not working and our politics are in flux. I can see 5 to 10 more years of going nowhere.
Dotini
(Banned)
- 15,742
- Seattle
- CR80_Shifty
In the glorious history of England, King Henry VIII leveled the Catholic church to the ground whilst seizing its assets to build cannons and ships.
Perhaps a similar visionary leader can now be found who will seize the assets of a prominent institution to pay off crushing debt?
Which institution? Where is the money? Ask Willy Sutton.
Perhaps a similar visionary leader can now be found who will seize the assets of a prominent institution to pay off crushing debt?
Which institution? Where is the money? Ask Willy Sutton.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
- 38,956
- Application hell
- MP-Omnis
Actually, the only thing the country can do is to pay back the debt the old fashioned way. The Fed is out of options as far as all of its monetary manipulations is concerned. If they proceed with QE2, the People's Bank of China could easily sink our dollar. If the Chinese are smart, they'd just match any injection the Fed makes, thereby cancelling its effect and alleviating its looking-like-they-could-be-toxic dollar holdings. If they are really smart, they'll do this until they get the fed or treasury or whatever to buy the debt directly from them. If that happens, say goodbye to the dollar. We're already under their thumb.
Keef
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- GTP Keef
There's your cataclysmic event, YSSMAN. Complete financial ruin. Saying "unless it happens" isn't even an option - the fact is that it is currently happening, and will continue to play out. The cataclysmic event is rounding the corner as we speak, will be knocking momentarily, and if that isn't motivation enough to break this deadlock then we're all in for a rough future.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
It's either that or a zombie outbreak. And we can only count on Frank Grimes for so long!
Next year will be interesting. I've yet to figure out how the Republicans, with those Tea Party folks, are going to be able to handle raising the debt celling. I understand sticking to your principles and so on, but it is going to be political suicide to have the government shut down for any time at all. Good luck to all of them.
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- FoolKiller1979
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