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6/9/2010 9:23:10 AM

White House is directing agencies to cut budgets

Quote :

"Previous administrations have asked agency heads to justify programs, but budget analysts said they could not recall a time when agencies had been ordered to volunteer programs for elimination. To encourage cooperation, Obama also will ask Congress for new authority to let agencies keep half the savings they identify, administration officials said. The agencies could then put the cash toward higher priorities rather than surrendering it all for deficit reduction, as is typical."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/07/AR2010060704832.html?hpid=topnews

Once again, democrats > republicans when it comes to actual fiscal responsibility

6/9/2010 10:55:40 AM

^sounds good. But so did pay-go.

6/9/2010 12:36:33 PM

It's VERY FAR from where we need to be, but it's a good first step, and still better than the previous administration did.

6/9/2010 12:42:39 PM

^^ RABBLE RABBLE DEBT RABBLE RABBLE

6/9/2010 6:25:51 PM

I'd say right now we need deficit reduction more than we need some agency's priorities.

6/10/2010 1:13:01 AM

^^ Look Mommy, the Rhino's getting too close to the car.

6/10/2010 8:39:54 AM

6/16/2010 9:54:41 PM

Quote :

""Previous administrations have asked agency heads to justify programs, but budget analysts said they could not recall a time when agencies had been ordered to volunteer programs for elimination. To encourage cooperation, Obama also will ask Congress for new authority to let agencies keep half the savings they identify, administration officials said. The agencies could then put the cash toward higher priorities rather than surrendering it all for deficit reduction, as is typical.""

I'm confused as to how letting them keep half the money they cut will encourage cooperation. Sure if an agency finds 20k in cuts, they get to keep 10k, but if they lie and say they can only cut 10k, they get to keep 15k. Or is it one of those things where if the department comes up with the cuts, they get to keep half, but if Obama's budget cutting teams come up with the cuts, the department keeps none of it?

^ I can't tell if that's being critical of Obama, or critical of all the idiots who want him to "lead" this oil disaster.

6/16/2010 11:17:55 PM

Quote :

"RABBLE RABBLE DEBT RABBLE RABBLE"

I think you mean RABBLE RABBLE *checks to make sure it's not a Republican in office* DEFICIT OMG SPENDING RABBLE RABBLE.

If there IS a Repub in office people just claim that deficits don't matter.

6/19/2010 8:22:30 AM

^thats a great point. I mean bush was wildly popular towards the end when he started record deficits....oh wait...he wasnt. So rabble rabble rabble when obama decides to double those record deficits that people were already pissed about. Its really not hard to see the logic behind the anger.

6/20/2010 12:29:42 AM

i guess that's why republicans have been pushing to get rid of medicare advantage all these years (or at least to pay for it somehow)

6/20/2010 12:31:43 PM

most republicans I know felt the medicare drug plan was totally irresponsible.

Remeber how low his approval rate was. He had lost all the fiscal conservatives.

He did try to privatize SS, he just didnt push it through. (sadly)

6/20/2010 12:44:11 PM

Quote :

"I mean bush was wildly popular towards the end when he started record deficits....oh wait...he wasnt."

Most people would argue that was more do to him leading us into a useless war, his mishandling of several issues, and all around incompetence.

No one gave a shit about the debt until the republicans started astroturfing the "Tea Party", which is about either taxes or the debt or obama being a muslim terrorist, I forget which.

6/20/2010 12:57:24 PM

^^gwb's approval rating among republicans:



note that the prescription drug plan was passed in 03

6/20/2010 2:30:11 PM

According to GOP senator Kyl, Pres. Obama told him this:

"If we secure the border, then you all won't have a reason to support comprehensive immigration reform"

This is incredible. Obama holds border security hostage, until he can get an amnesty bill. I suspect this may be the same reason Bush refused to secure the border as well.

YouTube video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6qOtpNochU

6/21/2010 11:02:17 AM

^^you have to realize most of the republicans I know arent ones on medicare. Surely they would support getting more stuff. So he went from around 90% approval to 60%. Thanks for the chart though, interesting.

6/21/2010 11:17:32 AM

clearly you don't know most republicans, since old people are traditionally conservative-leaning

6/21/2010 12:19:30 PM

Quote :

"clearly you don't know most republicans"

Clearly, I do not know most of the 55 million, great point.

6/21/2010 3:28:49 PM

This is wonderful. I almost want to print this out and keep it in my wallet for all the nouveau-fiscally-conservative Republicans I encounter.

6/21/2010 4:10:37 PM

^
Won't work on Libertarians, though. We loathe the Bush administration.

6/21/2010 4:14:41 PM

Quote :

"Libertarians"

96% of whom were registered Republicans as of Nov.3rd, 2008.

6/21/2010 4:21:26 PM

Not sure if you're aware of this, but you can be registered with a party and not support many or all of their candidates. At one time, Republicans were for limited government and anti-war. The party was commandeered by neo-conservatives.

At this point, the rules keep third parties and independents from really having a fighting chance. For that reason, you kind of have to work within a party to get anything done. The Democratic party is not friendly to libertarians, and while the Republican establishment is generally opposed to libertarianism (that is to say, real freedom, even when it's considered bad behavior), there are many registered Republicans that are libertarians.

You also need to take into consideration that there are many former Bush supporters that have since changed their mind. That's right - people discover that they were wrong sometimes and change their mind. Call it flip flopping, or whatever...I call it learning from your mistakes and not being a dumbass.

[Edited on June 21, 2010 at 4:41 PM. Reason : ]

6/21/2010 4:39:51 PM

"Registered Republicans" can be used interchangeably with "Bush loyalists" in my previous post.

6/21/2010 4:41:00 PM

Quote :

"I almost want to print this out and keep it in my wallet for all the nouveau-fiscally-conservative Republicans I encounter. "

LOL, what exactly do you think this represents? Bush lost over 30 points in his own party. There are plenty of people who thought he did a good job on certain things, but most people disapproved of his spending.

Now lets contrast that with democrats. Who were up in arms over the wasteful, wreckless spending during bush years. now that Obama has tripled it... where has his numbers gone? He is down to 79 from 84 in jan. But he was at 82 last month so the majority of that has to be his handling of the oil spill.

And if the dems were so upset about the wars, why isnt that reflective in the numbers now?

Or, could it be that there are plenty of partisan people out there? Maybe? And a growing number of people are getting really really pissed about the level of spending. Hopefully that will lead us to more fiscal conservatives. Remember the "plan" for republicans to win prior was to act more like democrats before 2007-08 when spending/deficit really became a main issue.

6/21/2010 4:44:39 PM

sarijoul could you please post the democrats approval of bush over that same period?


http://www.gallup.com/poll/140738/Obama-Weekly-Job-Approval-Rating-46.aspx

6/21/2010 4:53:24 PM

Quote :

"Bush lost over 30 points in his own party"

From lol99%. And from the looks of that graph, it looks like the Iraq War (went sour in 2005) had a whole lot more to do with his popularity among Republicans than this fiscal discipline (went sour in 2001).

Quote :

"Now lets contrast that with democrats. Who were up in arms over the wasteful, wreckless spending during bush years. "

"Wasteful" and "reckless" is a matter of perspective. We're Keynesians, remember?

Quote :

"And a growing number of people are getting really really pissed about the level of spending"

That's exactly my point. The number of people who cared about fiscal responsibility spiked just after their party was out of office.

6/21/2010 4:54:30 PM

^or when deficit spending tripled. Im not saying there certainly isnt a degree of partisanship, that will always be the case.

Obama didnt lose his base when he brought in more troops did he?

99% is bc of 9/11. Dems support jumped there too. THen went down into single digits.

06 is when he lost congress, guess what spending did?

6/21/2010 5:01:02 PM

Quote :

"Who were up in arms over the wasteful, wreckless spending during bush years."

WE WERENT. We just thought the money could be spent on something much better than going out an killing brown people.

Quote :

"when deficit spending tripled"

You're still back on that? I thought it was proven wrong like a day after it was all over fox news?

Now stop being a faggot.

6/21/2010 7:16:18 PM

Quote :

"We just thought the money could be spent on something much better than going out an killing brown people. "

Bush spent more domestically than clinton right? Are you still upset we are still spending money "killing brown people?" I dont hear as much anger from the left anymore about it.

Deficit for 2009 1.4 Trillion, the previous record a year prior about 480B.

6/21/2010 8:11:36 PM

Quote :

"Bush spent more domestically than clinton right?"

Clinton didn't sacrifice the lives of americans for no reason. When he wanted to kill some muslims, he just flew over and dropped some bombs.

Quote :

"Are you still upset we are still spending money "killing brown people?" I dont hear as much anger from the left anymore about it."

We're kind of passed the point of no return.

Quote :

"Deficit for 2009 1.4 Trillion, the previous record a year prior about 480B."

How much of that is Obama responsible for? Is he to blame for interest on the debt? Future spending due to previous administration's policies, for example, the war?

6/21/2010 10:36:02 PM

He is responsible for at least the $700 billion in stimulus he passed and the $200 billion supplemental spending bill, both he passed within a month of becoming President. Also all the tarp money he spent (sure, congress said to spend it, but he could have easily not done so). Sure, some of that wasn't spent that first year, but I digress.

6/21/2010 11:01:32 PM

lol, what the fuck is Boone talking about?
HEY BOONE, REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
"LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS... LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS... LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS..."
KEEP SAYING IT. DON'T STOP! IF YOU SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES, IT MIGHT ACTUALLY COME TRUE.
(no, it won't)

You fucking idiot.

6/21/2010 11:25:47 PM

Quote :

""Registered Republicans" can be used interchangeably with "Bush loyalists" in my previous post."

It's all about context. Do you really think I don't know the difference between a libertarian and a Republican, or were you just looking for an excuse to hit the caps lock?


You people are like all the Nirvana fans that popped up after Cobain's suicide, who claimed that they were totally into Nirvana waaay before his death.

Between the pundits to whom I paid attention, my personal acquaintances, and TWW, I knew about a half-dozen libertarians. Obama gets elected, and magically everyone has been a lifetime libertarian. AND DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION IT YOU FUCKING IDIOT.

6/22/2010 6:58:01 AM

someone's touchy

6/22/2010 7:30:33 AM

And the poster child for the nouveau-libertarians chimes in.

6/22/2010 7:35:26 AM

Next they'll be telling you that libertarians own the Internet.

6/22/2010 7:53:13 AM

Quote :

"Clinton didn't sacrifice the lives of americans for no reason."

REALLY selective memory huh. Somali was important to our national security im sure.

Quote :

"Future spending due to previous administration's policies, for example, the war? "

Didnt he ADD more troops? And if the war was unjust and immoral what prevents him from sending them home? Are you saying Bush is still in control over what obama does?

Dont forget Lonesnark, Obama was in the Senate..so he IS responsible for the spending he voted for. That is kinda how it works.

6/22/2010 9:08:45 AM

Quote :

"It's all about context. Do you really think I don't know the difference between a libertarian and a Republican, or were you just looking for an excuse to hit the caps lock? You people are like all the Nirvana fans that popped up after Cobain's suicide, who claimed that they were totally into Nirvana waaay before his death. Between the pundits to whom I paid attention, my personal acquaintances, and TWW, I knew about a half-dozen libertarians. Obama gets elected, and magically everyone has been a lifetime libertarian. AND DON'T YOU DARE QUESTION IT YOU FUCKING IDIOT."

Wow, you're a stupid fucking idiot.
You said that 96% of libertarians are republicans, or vote republican, or whatever.
That's complete bullshit. Every one of the many libertarians I know loathe the republicans and would never vote for [a real] one. (see, I can cite anecdotal "evidence", too...) I've been a libertarian since i registered to vote at 18.

And what the fuck's up with 'you people'? I mean, there you go again -- it has nothing to do with context. You're a stupid fucking liberal that wants very badly to believe that libertarians are nothing but republicans -- and you want others to think that to. You are a total fool to think that Obama being elected has anything to do with this. You must have seen a couple republicans flip-flop from supporting the big-spending Bush administration to opposing the big-spending Obama one, but those are just a couple of loser republicans -- and has nothing to do with libertarians. Libertarians hate ALL unnecessary spending, NO MATTER WHO DOES IT.
Quit trying to defame libertarians, you liberal douchebag.

Quote :

"HEY BOONE, REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN: "LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS... LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS... LIBERTARIANS ARE REPUBLICANS..." KEEP SAYING IT. DON'T STOP! IF YOU SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES, IT MIGHT ACTUALLY COME TRUE. (no, it won't) You fucking idiot."

Quote :

"I knew about a half-dozen libertarians. Obama gets elected, and magically everyone has been a lifetime libertarian"

Right here. Here. This is where you basically admit that you're basing everything you claim with your handful of anecdotal data points. You are a stupid fucking idiot. Go to hell.

Quote :

"libertarians own the internet"

(unless Lieberman gets his cyber-fascism bill passed )

[Edited on June 22, 2010 at 9:19 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2010 9:11:21 AM

Most libertarians really are just republicans. It’s pretty obvious.

You may not like it, but that’s reality.

6/22/2010 9:28:38 AM

^^^ Somalia was Bush

^^ Welcome back, hooksaw

^ Well, sort of. Most Republicans are identifying themselves as libertarians.

[Edited on June 22, 2010 at 9:34 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2010 9:33:31 AM

Quote :

"Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian. We owe a special debt of gratitude for those parents serving in the United States Armed Forces and their families, whose sacrifices protect the lives and liberties of all American children. For the character they build, the doors they open, and the love they provide over our lifetimes, all our fathers deserve our unending appreciation and admiration. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 20, 2010, as Father's Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Let us honor our fathers, living and deceased, with all the love and gratitude they deserve."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37837927/ns/business-careers/?ocid=twitter

Quote :

"Source: Obama to extend family leave to gays WASHINGTON - The Labor Department intends to issue regulations this week ordering businesses to give gay employees equal treatment under a law permitting workers unpaid time off to care for newborns or loved ones. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis planned to announce Wednesday that the government would require employers to extend the option that has been available to heterosexual workers for almost two decades, two officials briefed on the plan said Monday."

6/22/2010 9:41:15 AM

Somalia was 92-94.

Battle of Mogadishu Oct 3-4 1993.

After that he did pretty much just bomb different countries. (which apparently doesnt put americans at risk)

6/22/2010 9:58:43 AM

Quote :

"Most libertarians really are just republicans. It’s pretty obvious."

No. 100% wrong. To that I reply with the equally invalid statement:
Most democrats really are just socialists. It's pretty obvious.

Quote :

"Well, sort of. Most Republicans are identifying themselves as libertarians."

Well, that's different. And shame on y'all for blurring the line, whether intentional or not.
A bunch of republicans claiming to be libertarians is one thing, but that doesn't actually have anything to do with actual libertarians. Those are republicans... your point is about republicans pretending to be libertarians, not libertarians actually being republicans, right?

summary:
Calling yourself something doesn't actually make you that something... A republican by any other name smells just as foul.

[Edited on June 22, 2010 at 10:10 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2010 10:09:10 AM

^^ Given that Clinton entered office in '93, you're blaming Clinton for not leaving Somalia quickly enough?

I thought conservatives hated him for backing down in Somalia? ( http://www.nationalreview.com/media-blog/37274/murtha-change-directions-clinton-did-somalia/stephen-spruiell )

6/22/2010 10:37:21 AM

Quote :

"Between the pundits to whom I paid attention, my personal acquaintances, and TWW, I knew about a half-dozen libertarians. Obama gets elected, and magically everyone has been a lifetime libertarian."

Quote :

"Most libertarians really are just republicans. It’s pretty obvious. You may not like it, but that’s reality."

This is why the Soap Box is a joke. The only thing that's "pretty obvious" is the tactic you guys are using here: purposefully spreading misinformation to confuse people on the issues. It's completely deliberate.

6/22/2010 11:31:20 AM

Quote :

"Clinton didn't sacrifice the lives of americans for no reason. When he wanted to kill some muslims, he just flew over and dropped some bombs."

Or he was like "What? You have UBL in your sights? Nah, don't take the shot, he's probably not a threat to us"

6/22/2010 11:35:58 AM

Quote :

"He is responsible for at least the $700 billion in stimulus he passed and the $200 billion supplemental spending bill, both he passed within a month of becoming President. Also all the tarp money he spent (sure, congress said to spend it, but he could have easily not done so). Sure, some of that wasn't spent that first year, but I digress."

Thank you captain irrelevant, but this is about the debt "tripling", I never implied he didn't spend any money.

Quote :

"REALLY selective memory huh. Somali was important to our national security im sure."

It's not selective, we never launched a full scale invasion there.

Quote :

"Didnt he ADD more troops?"

Again, point of no return.

Quote :

"And if the war was unjust and immoral what prevents him from sending them home?"

First, I never said it was unjust or immoral, just unnecessary and not worth the cost. What prevents us from sending them all home immediately is logistics.

Quote :

"Or he was like "What? You have UBL in your sights? Nah, don't take the shot, he's probably not a threat to us""

Well at least he wasn't like "You have some crazy muslim fighting those dirty communists? hell yeah give him money guns and training!"

[Edited on June 22, 2010 at 11:49 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2010 11:48:05 AM

Quote :

"What prevents us from sending them all home immediately is logistics. "

LOL, you really have it buried way up there huh.

So he really wants to get them all home immediately, but LOGISTICS is keeping them there and in fact adding more troops. Bravo

6/22/2010 11:57:00 AM

Quote :

"Again, point of no return."

There is no point of no return. We can still get the troops out. A lot of the same liberals that were saying "bring the troops home" during Bush's reign sacrificed their principles once Obama got elected, because they didn't want to undermine his efforts. Kudos to the Democrats and liberals that stayed true to their anti-war roots, and shame on the ones that suddenly changed their mind once Bush was out of office.

6/22/2010 1:26:17 PM