The 2010 budget was 3.5 trillion. The 2011 budget, which became Boehner's budget because the Democrats never passed one, will now be 3.6 trillion.
That's an increase compared to the stimulus loaded budget of 2010.
That's "good" in your view?
Unbelievable.
Thanks for reinforcing my point ... For you anything that does not immediately and in one fell swoop achieve the final objective is a failure. That is the clear inference drawn from your line of reasoning.
If instead of writing the first thing that comes to your mind and posting it, you read the headlines, you would discover that the ink is not yet even dry on this first battle, and we are on to the next of what will surely be multiple rounds. From Fox News:
“Despite Congress averting a shutdown, the epic clash between Republicans and Democrats was just the first of a series of fights with debates on the national debt ceiling and 2012 budget looming.”
You have written that the only satisfactory outcome is one that immediately and completely resolves the deficit problem. It’s not even so much that I disagree with you and others who are always, always, always on this site angry as all get out. Truly, I am happy to discuss differences of opinion and approach.
What bugs me is how mean and bitter you all are about anyone who would want to take a different strategy. You impugn their motives. You degrade their efforts and intelligence. You call them names.
We’re all on the same side. We can differ in our approaches and we can and should be frustrated at the slow path toward better days. But there is no cause for the kind of hate-filled nonsense that has come to characterize Free Republic these days — and directed at allies no less. Can’t you all at least train your words on our adversaries??????
By the way, you are all boring. I was once quite impressed by the level of discourse here. I think the thoughtful, contemplative, and well-reasoned posters all got bored and moved on.
Below is a small sample of the bile that appears just in this thread. This shouting does us no good. Nor does the sense of panic that comes through clearly from these people - and you included. Two facts are worth keeping in mind. FIRST, along the present path, we will soon be bankrupt. This is well understood. SECOND, with reasonable cuts that will NOT cut disenfranchise or make vulnerable any constituency, we can restore fiscal sanity. This is what Paul Ryan, Mitch Daniels, and others are saying. We need to calm down, realize that there are both short-term battles (which we are now regularly winning) and a longer term war (with victory spelled out by Ryan, Daniels, and others). We need first and foremost to win the war of ideas. If conservatives can’t convince voters to come along for the long war, then there is no point to winning the short-term battles.
A significant fraction of the current deficit comes from the deep recession and the toll it has taken on tax receipts. A permanent reduction in annual spending of the order that the Republicans secured is quite significant. If we can overturn Obamacare, put in pro-growth tax policies (so that the economy improves and receipts rise even as rates fall), and introduce second and third installments on spending reductions ... then we can make significant progress toward the Ryan plan, which of course I endorse.
What we want and need is a calm, reasoned, common sense stance that does not give the appearance of panic or despair. We have great leadership right now. Great. We need to give them a bit of time and trust. They will deliver, because public opinion has moved overwhelmingly in our direction, and we are right objectively and morally.
Here’s what should stop ...
Still cheering on the Republican party I see. After they’ve lied, caved, compromised, and cheated over and over and over and over and over and over, you’re still running around beating your drum for them... Boehner caved. The Republicans cowered and ran - again. Time for a new speaker. This one isn’t working for our side. It’s all talk - like always. The spenders whoomped us. The Republicans caved in. The Tea Party is betrayed. Boehner should have held out for 100 billion. The Young GOP Turks, need to have a rebellion NOW. Demand no raising any debt ceiling, unless Jesus comes down from Heaven and orders it in writting. Boehner has no gonads. Boner is a spineless, gutless eunuch. He cultivates that forced resonance, uses spray tan, lacks the character to quit smoking, and plays hardball with conservatives while bending over for leftists. Many more victories like today and China will own us. … the hollow men are patting each others’ straw-filled backs over a few tens of billions. Why must we continuously remind you that without a spine you all are worthless. Thanks Bonehead for continuing to allow the EPA to destroy our nation and CPB to brainwash our kids. /sarc The RINOs are in charge and will fold like a cheap suit. FUJB. He disgusts me and he needs to be on some kind of meds. Come on, WTF? What man cries that much over nothing? Sissya$$. The scumbag House Republicans have just brushed off the tea party like dandruff.