Posted on 12/19/2004 11:26:56 AM PST by Willie Green
The numbers are jarring: Fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004 under Republican leadership represent three of the five biggest annual increases in discretionary spending in the last four decades.
Republicans cannot pin this on defense appropriations or the war on terror. Figures compiled by the Cato Institute show nondefense discretionary outlays jumped 36 percent in President Bush's first term. If the course is not reversed, President Bush will go down in history as one of the biggest spendthrifts of all time.
Now's the time to take a page from President Reagan, who increased defense appropriations by 26 percent during his first term but also cut nondefense spending by 10 percent. Mr. Bush has cut nothing of significance.
Instead, he went off on an entitlement binge with a 10-year, $534 billion Medicare prescription drug bill -- the biggest expansion of Medicare since its inception.
(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning?
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Shave his belly with a rusty razor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Put him the back of the paddy wagon,
Put him the back of the paddy wagon,
Put him the back of the paddy wagon,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober,
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober,
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im.
Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im.
Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im.
Earl-eye in the morning!
Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers,
Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers,
Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers,
Earl-eye in the morning!
That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor,
That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor,
That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor
Earl-eye in the morning!
One of the greatest myths in recent years is that the GOP is the party of "fiscal responsibility." The reality is that Republicans are no more fiscally responsible than Democrats -- and the single biggest contributor to fiscal irresponsibility at any level of government is one-party (EITHER party) rule.
As far as anyone can tell, the $534 billion Medicare prescription drug program is nothing more than a giant federal employment deal. The is no evidence that anyone in the taxpaying public has benefitted from it.
Good idea - bad implementation. How about privatizing the program so seniors will really be able to shop for affordable prescription drugs without busting the federal budget? Now there's an idea worth pursuing.
Some folks here try to argue that Bush might be bad but the Democrats are worse on the spending issue. The cold hard facts don't bear them out.
The trouble with "privatization" is that the scoundrels never actually privatize anything.
Invariably, they merely leave the government program intact and allow their politically-connected cronies to get in on the scam.
You're wrong in the assessment of the modern political language. Privatizing means retaining government control while making the citizen believe he is in control. Since our government went socialist anything less than total control is privatizing. Are your investments private, your money in the bank, your telephone bill, etc.? Not by a long shot. Big brother is watching you in many nefarious ways.
Big vision requires big money. Deal with it, tightwads.
"I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together."
~ George W. Bush
LOL. I have heard that the GOP has a "secret plan" to cut government when the achieve 90 percent control of the House and Senate. Until then, we should shut up and send them our money.
Not to nit-pick, but since this IS the media and they claim to know all, the term "spendthrift" refers to someone who 'spends thriftily' as in is fiscally conscientious. The word the author is looking for is "wastrel", one who 'wastes'. Perhaps a little better fact checking next time may help, Trib?
Shave his belly with a rusty razor, Shave his belly with a rusty razor, Shave his belly with a rusty razor, Earl-eye in the morning!
Put him the back of the paddy wagon, Put him the back of the paddy wagon, Put him the back of the paddy wagon, Earl-eye in the morning!
Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Throw him in the lock-up 'til he's sober, Earl-eye in the morning!
Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im. Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im. Take 'im and shake 'im, try an' wake 'im. Earl-eye in the morning!
Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers, Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers, Soak 'im in oil till he sprouts flippers, Earl-eye in the morning!
That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor, That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor, That's what we'll do with the drunken sailor Earl-eye in the morning!
You don't hold a high opinion of our Commander in Chief do you Willie.
I'm shocked!
Bush-is-going-through-government-money-like-a-drunken-sailor bump.
From the article:
>>>"And whereas Republicans once sought to dismantle the federal Department of Education, Bush has reinvigorated it, increasing education spending from $36 billion in 2001 to an estimated $63 billion in 2004."
I guess we need to increase their budget before we decrease it. As I recall, increasing the Dept. of Education was one of the first things "the Republican mandate" did on its first watch.
Years from now, I hope I don't have to explain to people that I voted for Bush to keep the country safe from terrorism so he could bankrupt it.
Argentina here we come.
Hoppy
American Heritage: "One who squanders wealth". [SPEND + THRIFT (accumulated wealth).
Well let's give credit where credit is due...
Afterall, Dubya has worked his tail off to lose my respect...
Thus his reelection.
((((sigh)))) yeah, I suppose so....
There was a time, not long ago, when I had to admit that Dubya was an affable guy who I wouldn't mind having for a neighbor at a backyard barbecue... and he'd probably make a great Little League coach...
But it's becoming apparent that, instead of teaching the kids how to play baseball, he'd have the little tykes holding fundraising car washes so that THEY could subsidize the local merchant advertising at the ballfield. He just keeps getting sleezier and sleezier... What an embarassment to the GOP. Any REAL conservative shoulda beat Kerry in a landslide.
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