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 Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault

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Artie60438




Posts : 9728

Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/28/2010, 3:27 pm

Reminder, The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault
President Obama's administration has been blamed for reckless spending that has put America into its debt hole. But in reality, much of that spending emanates from policies of President Bush,according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
They argue that Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Bush tax cuts (along with the economic downturn) are what is driving the U.S. deficit, not stimulus spending.

The chart presents the ugly truth.
Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Chart-of-the-day-bush-policies-deficits-june-2010
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UrRight




Posts : 3993

Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/28/2010, 6:56 pm

Alright Artie. If Bush "caused it," why did Obama triple it, after Bush left?

Why did our POTUS not reverse it, instead of making it much worse? Just asking.

I don't like either of them...except Obama does make things look normal when they are not normal.

He is not a leader, nor was Bush, in the same sense.

I just don't like the direction Bush took us, and I don't see things improving with how Obama is leading us NOT in the opposite direction.

It's like we never had a leader with Bush, and not with Obama either. They both were and was always relying on aides to tell them what to do or say.

Even with Monica, I still loved Clinton. He was the real white/black POTUS - he lead our country out of a deficit....only to be destroyed by Bush and now Obama is making it worse.

Of course you can blame it on political campaign donations.

I believe if they eliminated them all together and ran on merit, paying out of their own pocket, no lobbyists, no big donations from oil firms, for example, we would NOT be where we are today.

Especially with the war in Iraq. You know it was all about oil and the threat against George Bush's dad...that's all it was about.

He sleeps soundly now, "Mission Accomplished!" while nothing has changed since then.

We will be the new, "low class nation".
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Artie60438




Posts : 9728

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/28/2010, 9:02 pm

UrRight wrote:
Alright Artie. If Bush "caused it," why did Obama triple it, after Bush left?
That's simply not even close to being true. The day Bush left office the debt was 10,626,877,048,913.08. As of last Friday the debt was 13,038,305,786,811.25 My figures come from http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np

Quote :
Why did our POTUS not reverse it, instead of making it much worse? Just asking.
How was he supposed to do that? Just off the top of my head you had the economy which was on the brink of a total collapse and needed a stimulus. The Bush tax cuts don't expire until the end of the year. Then you've got the 2 wars,one being the unnecessary Iraq war that Bush is responsible for. Finally you've got Medicare Part D that was passed without being funded.

The unemployment extension was just shot down by the GOP even though it only added 33 billion. Now watch the Republicans fight like hell to keep the Bush tax cuts,even though they'll add 7 trillion over the next 10 years according to the CBO.



Last edited by Artie60438 on 6/28/2010, 9:03 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Wrong link to the Treasury)
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Scorpion

Scorpion


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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:42 am

Artie60438 wrote:
UrRight wrote:
Alright Artie. If Bush "caused it," why did Obama triple it, after Bush left?
That's simply not even close to being true. The day Bush left office the debt was 10,626,877,048,913.08. As of last Friday the debt was 13,038,305,786,811.25 My figures come from http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np


Yeah, well for the record, it's not correct to calculate the debt based upon the "day that Bush left office."

The US fiscal year ends on September 30. So any calculation that takes into account the final year of the Bush Administration must extend to September 30, 2009. That was Bush's last budget year.

There was absolutely nothing that Obama could do about the final Bush budget. Those monies were allocated when Bush was President.

So the correct figure, using the calculator that you referenced is 11,909,829,003,511.75 as of September 30, 2009 , which is 1.3 trillion more... which I think you'll agree is significantly higher.

Obama's first budget year started on October 1, 2009 and ends on September 30, 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_year

Quote :
The U.S. government's fiscal year begins on October 1 of the previous calendar year and ends on September 30 of the year with which it is numbered.
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BigWhiteGuy

BigWhiteGuy


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Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 6:56 am

Scorpion wrote:
There was absolutely nothing that Obama could do about the final Bush budget. Those monies were allocated when Bush was President.
Obama voted YEA for George W. Bush's final budget. (Remember? He was a U.S. Senator.)
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UrRight




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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:05 pm

After Obama was elected, and before Bush left in January, didn't Obama ask Bush to leave stimulous money up for when he would take office? Can't remember what kind of money he asked for, perhaps for bank bailouts? Wall Street?

Bush passed his wish before leaving office.
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UrRight




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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:17 pm

I beg you to read the following article, and the new article that follows showing readers' comments.

It just goes to show you even though the clout is in IL, it the same old finger-pointing. I felt exactly what the second article exposed about how readers felt about the Democrats pointing and blaming the Republicans...when in fact they are both responsible for the terrible shape we are in.

May I add another footnote that has nothing but something to do with how Obama annoints people to the Supreme Court? The new candidate being vetted today never held a job as a judge but, hails from Chicago... go figure.

Read this exclusive from the KING of Springfield, no matter who is gov:

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/2435108,062710Kadner.article

Now, read the new article devoted exclusively from readers' viewpoints:

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/kadner/2443884,062910madiganresponse.article
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UrRight




Posts : 3993

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:20 pm

To entertain people, I went ahead and posted the responses:

Editor's note: Phil Kadner is taking the next couple of weeks off. But on Sunday, he turned over his column space to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to explain his views on the state budget crisis. Madigan's piece generated a number of responses, which we're printing here:

Illinois needs leadership, not 'blame game'

After reading Speaker Michael Madigan's response in Phil Kadner's column in Sunday's SouthtownStar, I can only say, enough with the "blame game."

After waiting six weeks, Madigan's comments and complaints only confirm that he definitely is the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time.

What Illinois needs right now is leadership, and it is obvious to me the Democratic Party does not possess nor have they shown the voters a person who has the foresight and ability to begin to resolve the problems that have been inflicted on the citizens by poor political leadership (mostly Democratic) in Illinois for years.

And sadly, the GOP has not positioned itself to respond to the current crisis.

Apparently Madigan has decided that all of our problems are the result of the Republicans - so come Election Day we should vote Democratic - certainly that will preclude any possibility of a repeat performance.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

R.M. Dziallo

Hickory Hills

Time to consider sainthood for Democratic politicians?

Thank you, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan for straightening out my confused thinking on just why Illinois is $13-plus billion in debt and so many critical functions like schools and health care are being forced to make huge cuts.

It's the Republicans that are to blame! Here, all along, I thought that the Democrats controlled the House, Senate and governor's mansion in Illinois, as well as Congress and the presidency. No sir, my thinking was clouded - it's those low-life Republicans that somehow have stifled all the wonderful Democratic initiatives both here in Illinois and in the Congress.

I wonder if the Catholic Church can perform a mass beatification and make all the Democratic politicians in the whole U . S . A . all saints? After reading Mike's two-page speech, nothing short of sainthood would be ample reward for all of our Democratic politicians. But, as Mike says, we need to put aside partisan politics to move this state and country ahead . Right! They will all do just that right after the Cubs win the World Series.

Michael D. Turay

Crete

Give Republicans equal time

After reading Mike Madigan's unedited illogical political rant, I think it would be only fair to allow an elected local Republican to do the same.

Tim Luzzo

Crestwood

Madigan, Democrats need to share blame for state's mess

Just read Madigan's statement in today's SouthtownStar. Absolutely unbelievable! He has been a powerhouse in the state Capitol for about 30 years. He - and he alone - in many instances decides what will be allowed to be discussed and/or voted upon. He blames the Republicans, federal and state, for all the problems facing Illinois, even though he has been the one constant all these years. He suggests Republicans prevent him from solving problems just because they are Republicans.

I may have missed something , but nowhere do I see him blame himself or his fellow Democrats for any of this mess. They can't always be right. Can they?

Jack Seguin

Orland Park

Governments must reduce benefits they cannot afford

The Democrats have controlled the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago but they never have enough money.

Why?

Too many benefits the state cannot afford, so the first thing they do is raise taxes or sell parking meters, bridges or maybe Michigan Avenue to raise money.

They must start reducing benefits the state and city governments cannot afford. The party is over; business as usual must end, whether Madigan or Daley like it or not.

They must first take all state, county and city workers off the pension plans and pay into Social Security like the rest of us do. Cut pension pay by as much as 50 percent or recalculate what they would get if they had worked under Social Security.

If the present employees want a pension plan, then they can contribute their own money to a 401(k) in addition to the Social Security benefits they now receive.

School lunch programs should be eliminated. Most of these kids are not starving and a lot of them get the lunch who do not qualify. If their parents can gamble on the gambling boats, they can afford to feed their kids.

The politicians need to cut programs that are not needed or wasteful.

George W. Ferenzi, CPA

Tinley Park

Madigan correctly states reasons for state's fiscal woes

Thanks for offering the opportunity for Mr. Madigan to state his position. I do believe he has been in office too long, but he does present a correct presentation of why we are in the mess we are in.

The Washington Republicans are in lockstep with the state Republicans with few exceptions. They cannot see the benefit of looking objectively at a state income tax which, hopefully, if passed, would help equalize income to schools throughout the state.

Thank you, Mr. Kadner, for your insight into many local and national problems and remedies.

Mary Lillie
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UrRight




Posts : 3993

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:28 pm

That last post by Mary Lillie, I want to know why we need to grab more taxpayers' money (pass a higher state income tax), which only puts a bandaid on the problem.

Make them pay social security and sock part of their own paycheck in the 401K, like the rest of the bleeding private employees, and make them live on minimum wage, then you will see results.

Keep raising taxes when unemployment is over 10% in IL, and the silly tobacco taxes, but no belt tightening for any politicians?

6,400 layers of gov't in Springfield alone? One guy on top of another guy, on top of another guy watching the guy over "there", so that guy has a reason to have a state job? Repo or Demo, Liberal or not, our country is going down...we will head for a depression at this rate.

Mark my words. They will run out of ink.
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Scorpion

Scorpion


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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 12:57 pm

UrRight wrote:

May I add another footnote that has nothing but something to do with how Obama annoints people to the Supreme Court? The new candidate being vetted today never held a job as a judge but, hails from Chicago... go figure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kagan

Quote :
Kagan was born and raised in New York City. After attending Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard Law School, she completed federal Court of Appeals and Supreme Court clerkships. She began her career as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, leaving to serve as an Associate White House Counsel and later policy adviser under President Bill Clinton. After a nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which expired without action, she became a professor at Harvard Law School and was later named its Dean.

I see. So you think that since Ms Kagan was a professor at the University of Chicago for 4 years in the early 90's, then that means that she "hails from Chicago? Give us a frickin' break...

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UrRight




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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 2:08 pm

They'd rather tax and spend then help people who are mentally challenged, that work for pennies, right?

Right? Like they care if those mentally challenged even come near having a normal life even as a low class citizen...as least they are human beings.

Doesn't that count for the 200,000 plus dollars they make a year, the pensions, the free healthcare, the incompentency, who are we thinking of? Ourselves?

NO, they only think of THEMSELVES.


In my world, I worrry what will happen to the elderly and the disadvantaged after their parents are no longer there to care for them and allow them to function in society.

To hell with the illegals...these people that are mentally challenged get tossed aside to make room for illegals that vote for the idiots that have no clue how to run their own lives without bargaining for more campaign money, as BLAGO and his circus pointing directly to Washington, who brought the mob with Obama to Washington. Daley and his cronies? I could go on, but it makes me sick.





Now we have Russian spys. What does it take to knock Obama's head to a wall to tell him we are serious about closing the borders?

We can't take care of our own...now we have Al Queda following the guy that got caught trying to capture him dead or alive...which is a threat to the US as well as him, the taliban vows to take HIM dead or alive, risking further our lives.

We have to close the borders, to close the deficit, or to start the reducing of spending. What's the POTUS do to AZ? Threatens to sue our own country's state for following federal or enforcing federal law...and yet, the borders are welcomed to Russian spies. Go figure.

I know you like him because of his color, so does my daughter but not based on color. He led a campaign of false hopes.

She makes good money in CA, but is already bitching about how much they take out of her check while she works so darn hard to support the gangs and illegals. Her words. I think she woke up, but then again, ARNOLD is Republican...so who do you want to blame for the nation's woes?

The party or the persons who hold the R or D? The liberals, left or right?

I blame all of them for lack of ethics to uphold our Contitution that our forefathers wrote so brilliantly.

Even the hand-writing can't be topped by doctors or politicians today.

They were educated and their writing style showed it. See Obama's signature? Another Blago.

It's all a dog and pony show in Washington. Who lets a 92 year old serve for 58 years when he can barely stay awake and talk? Term limits, please, and quit the patronage. Don't you think that Byrd, 92 years old served way past his time where educated kids from college don't hold the same old 1902 ideas this idiot got. Sorry he died, what life did he lead serving til death?

He had NO LIFE.

NO more career politicians, no political campaign donations whatsoever, no lobbyists whatsoever to make a quick start to where we used to be. NO union influence, no appointed seats, (elections only, the people own the seats, remember?)

Kennedy thought Caroline Kennedy would carry on. Just by the name. That's where the bubble burst, but the same should go for all you politicians!

His own son would not run. Those days are over.

As politicians limited to 2 year or 4 year terms should be in every sector of gov't.
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UrRight




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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 2:24 pm

Scorpion wrote:
UrRight wrote:

May I add another footnote that has nothing but something to do with how Obama annoints people to the Supreme Court? The new candidate being vetted today never held a job as a judge but, hails from Chicago... go figure.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kagan

Quote :
Kagan was born and raised in New York City. After attending Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard Law School, she completed federal Court of Appeals and Supreme Court clerkships. She began her career as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, leaving to serve as an Associate White House Counsel and later policy adviser under President Bill Clinton. After a nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which expired without action, she became a professor at Harvard Law School and was later named its Dean.

I see. So you think that since Ms Kagan was a professor at the University of Chicago for 4 years in the early 90's, then that means that she "hails from Chicago? Give us a frickin' break...


From what the press said...but the main point is...no experience as a judge and another friend of Obama, demeaning the highest court in the U.S. Why not three or more candidates? Why always just ONE he recommends? Just like the last one....
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UrRight




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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 2:28 pm

All his staff hails from Chicago and are family friends...why stop there? He goes on up to the supreme court.

He ALSO wanted Valarie to fill his seat, made the suggestion, with no promises to Blago, and to avoid any commotion, he simply invited her to come to the White House. Chicago politics runs Washington.

The Washington he promised us would never exist as it did before. He's right...it's worse.
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Scorpion

Scorpion


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Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 2:41 pm

UrRight wrote:

I know you like him because of his color, so does my daughter but not based on color. He led a campaign of false hopes.

Who the hell are you talking about? I know that I didn't vote for Barack "because of his color."

That's really an insulting accusation. What in the hell makes you think that anyone who posts here voted for Barack "because of his color?"
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Artie60438




Posts : 9728

Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 4:04 pm

UrRight wrote:

From what the press said...but the main point is...no experience as a judge and another friend of Obama, demeaning the highest court in the U.S. Why not three or more candidates? Why always just ONE he recommends? Just like the last one....
There is a long and very distinguished list of SCOTUS justices that never had judicial experience. I suggest you take a look.
Supreme Court Justices Without Prior Judicial Experience Before Becoming Justices
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Artie60438




Posts : 9728

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/29/2010, 4:10 pm

Scorpion wrote:
UrRight wrote:

I know you like him because of his color, so does my daughter but not based on color. He led a campaign of false hopes.

Who the hell are you talking about? I know that I didn't vote for Barack "because of his color."

That's really an insulting accusation. What in the hell makes you think that anyone who posts here voted for Barack "because of his color?"
So true! In fact,I was a Hillary supporter until at least mid-2008 when I switched to Obama.
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UrRight




Posts : 3993

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/30/2010, 3:39 am

U r Right, I am sorry. Accept my apology, Scorp. Voted for the inspiring aspirations to live our lives to higher expections.

End the war.

Washington will not be the same "old Washington".

Restore the economy

Restore jobs....

End the immigration problem...

Yes WE CAN...YES WE DID...NO THEY DID NOT.

He's half white/black...that's where I apologize. He was to represent both of the blacks/whites. I was for Hillary but almost voted for Obama. It sounded too good to be true.

Weighing the options, the war was on my mind, that to me is the basis of why our country is in the "hole" economically. I felt McCain was too old, but had more experience to end the war that is the major drain on our country, voted McCain. Didn't look at the Demo or Repo letter next to their names.

Actually non of the candidates appealed to me. I decided on McCain, and wish I just would not have voted at all, because each candidate had their drawbacks.

I feel guilty voting on those basis, so in the future, if I feel the same way, I will refrain from voting for the lesser of all evils, and vote for no one.

I apologize for jumping to the conclusion that you voted based on race. I wish if Obama could have carried out what he campaigned for, my guilt would be regret that I did not vote for him.

I forget he represents white/black voters, cuz color does not have no meaning.

What I am disappointed in is that he does not jump in and forget about parties, golfing....vacations, campaigning and depending on "AIDS" to clue him in during a crisis.

Getting back to the candidate for the Supreme Court: let's forget Obama knows her personally.

Let's focus on the fact she has no track record of ever being a "JUDGE". That's my only beef. She has never ruled in any case.

Like I told my nephew who partied during college, having to stay in for 5 years or more to obtain two different degrees: "I don't care how much education you have, nor how many degrees. Nothing takes the place of common sense and experience, utilizing your degrees."


Majored in business, and communications. Calls himself a businessman selling ice cream at festivals, and kows to the penny how much each cone costs....yeah, those five years in college made some business man out of him.


Have to give hinm some credit now; he is selling green energy and travels a lot...but up until this summer, dumber than bricks lacking common sense.


Oh, lest we not forget the house mama and dada bought him...he rents it out during the summer...and calls himself a "business man". Choke me a river.

I told him he should run for Obama's bid in 2012. It doesn't take degrees or common sense. He qualifies. All talk, no action.
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Heretic

Heretic


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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/30/2010, 8:26 am

The Daily Show's take on "the Blame Game".

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Blame
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorTea Party

Oh, hypocrisy... So, so sweet this early in the morning.
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UrRight




Posts : 3993

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PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/30/2010, 8:48 pm

After Michael Madigan was left to answer why IL is to blame the Republicans for the deficit, the Washington DC to blame...here's the other side (Republian) expressing the Republican's side view:

I posted the link to Phl KIadner asking Mike Madigan why IL is in such bad, financial state. Mike Madigan blamed the Republicans. Now a republican replies. Who the heck are the republicans pointing to? The Democrats.

Lots of choices to pick out there betwee Republicans and Democrats....one continues to blame the other, so who do YOU BELIEVE?

I feel this is a national topic, not just an IL topic, so I posted it in this forum..I would love to hear your input.

_________________________________________________________________________

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/opinion/guests/2447404,063010guestcrosscol.article

GOP leader responds, calls for an end to Madigan's blame game
Comments

June 30, 2010

By Tom Cross

Editor's note: This response follows House Speaker Michael Madigan's remarks on the state of the state in Sunday's SouthtownStar.

Illinoisans are tired of the partisan blame game and they deserve better. In his recent column, Speaker Michael Madigan calls for an end to "partisan games," all the while attempting to shift blame for Illinois' fiscal crisis to Republicans at the state and federal level. Engaging in partisan finger-pointing serves no purpose, I will simply explain factually why Speaker Madigan's arguments are not valid.

What we can all agree upon is that our state's fiscal crisis is one of the most severe in the nation. Speaker Madigan tries to make the case that Illinois' fiscal difficulties are due to a poor national economy, and are no different from those faced by other states. The problem is that a number of independent rating agencies that review finances for all 50 states to determine their stability and credit-worthiness don't share this view. In fact, Illinois is tied with California as the worst-rated state in the nation by Moody's Investor Service and is the second-lowest-rated state in the U.S. by the influential Fitch Ratings.

In a glaring example of our financial disarray, Illinois is one of only three states to be downgraded in the past 1 1 / 2 years, 47 other states have either retained the same ratings or have been upgraded. Almost all other states have shown these rating agencies that they are attempting to cope with the challenging economy by making sound financial decisions. Illinois has fallen woefully short.

Since Democrats took total control of Illinois government in 2003, our credit ratings have been downgraded 11 times, the most in Illinois history. A report released recently by CMA Datavision identified Illinois as one of 10 sovereign governments most at risk of default. We are ahead of California and the nation of Portugal. Our financial woes extend beyond the borders of the U.S.A.

All of these indicators by these respected rating agencies are independent "report cards" on Illinois' financial troubles, and they point to the state's fiscal mismanagement as the root cause of our problems - not the national economic downturn.

If Illinois is ever to regain its financial footing, it must get a handle on its penchant to spend more money than it takes in. According to Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes' Traditional Budgetary Financial Report for 2009, Illinois state government spending has increased by more than $10 billion, from $24.8 billion in 2003 to $34.9 billion in 2009 - a 41 percent increase. Even the fiscal year 2011 state budget passed in May increases spending by more nearly $4 billion over FY 2010 when all expenditures are taken into account.

Illinois' deficit for FY 2011 stands at $13 billion, which, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is the highest in the nation - higher than California, New York and New Jersey and astronomically higher than all of our neighboring states, including Indiana, whose budget deficit is projected to be $1.3 billion.

Since 2003, Illinois general bond obligation debt has tripled to more than $20 billion, and we have the dubious distinction of having the worst funded pension system in the nation with unfunded liabilities totaling $62.4 billion in FY 2009. To make matters worse, Illinois has a $6 billion backlog of unpaid bills for services rendered by providers.

Enough is enough. Blame will not solve the problems. We need ideas and solutions. And we must understand that it will take years of exercising fiscal discipline to repair the damage of years of reckless spending. We must start with some straightforward solutions:

Reform and Restructure Spending. It is not complicated - we must spend less money than we take in. If Republicans win control of the Illinois House, we will work with the governor to reform, restructure and reduce spending.

Create Jobs and Increase Revenues. We have more than 720,000 people out of work in Illinois. We can put t housands back to work quickly by removing unnecessary regulation and bureaucratic red tape that creates roadblocks to hiring them. By putting our citizens back to work, not only do their lives improve, but it creates more taxpayers, which increases government revenues, without raising taxes. This is how we begin to rebuild the Illinois fiscal and economic house - without raising taxes.

Reinvent Illinois Government. We need to make government more efficient and effective. Transparency is a key tool to making this happen, which is why Illinois House Republicans support efforts such as the Government Sunshine Commission and a forensic audit of state spending. These measures open the books and let everyone review and analyze government to identify areas of waste, inefficiency, fraud and mismanagement.

Hold the Line on Taxes. Families are struggling to make ends meet and businesses are fleeing our state for greener pastures in states such as Indiana. We must stop penalizing employers - they are our job creators - and begin helping families keep more money for their own households.

House Republicans have proposed hundreds of bills to fundamentally change Illinois' culture of spending and get our economy back on track. Many of these ideas were included in two separate letters we sent to the governor this spring, which can be viewed at www.ilhousegop.org.

Speaker Madigan criticizes Republicans for not being "bipartisan" and embracing his path for solving our state's fiscal crisis. His solutions focus on raising revenues and feeding an ever-expanding state government.

House Republicans see a different set of solutions. We see a new era of responsibility, accountability and opportunity in Illinois. Our state can be a vibrant, energetic and growing state again. But it will take innovation, action and a determination to achieve results. The time for blame is over. It is time for action.

jim from ol wrote:
Not to defend the Republicans, but Madigan does deserve grief for playing the blame. The Democrats have controlled the state legislature for a long time.

State Republicans are no better than the Democrats in that anything can be bought from them as well.
6/30/2010 3:36 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
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reformer wrote:
I can't believe Cross criticized Madigan for engaging in the "partisan blame game" and in "partisan finger pointing" when the House Republicans have been engaged in exactly that for years! When Madigan gives a little blaming back, Cross takes offense and insists "blame will not solve problems."

Cross calls for reduced spending, but doesn't or can't explain why his whole caucus voted against Madigan's bill to cut nearly $4 billion. And Republicans call Democrats hypocrits.
6/30/2010 3:07 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
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oakparklady wrote:
Oh come on Tom Cross, why don't you just admit you have no idea what you're doing. You voted for Blago's 300 tax and fee increases when he first came into office. You kept enabling your friend Blago long after Madigan said Blago was finished. For example you tried to help Blago triple the amount of gambling in Illinois with new land based casinos in order to give Blago billions more of our money to spend.

Admit it Tom Cross, you have no serious plans and no clue. You are completely over your head. Plus you lie as much as Mark Kirk.

Resign Tom Cross and give the GOP in Illinois a fighting chance. You're too incompetent to ever beat Madigan on anything. The GOP needs a leader, not a joke.
6/30/2010 1:36 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
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GOP leader responds, calls for an end to Madigan's blame game
Comments

June 30, 2010

By Tom Cross

Editor's note: This response follows House Speaker Michael Madigan's remarks on the state of the state in Sunday's SouthtownStar.

Illinoisans are tired of the partisan blame game and they deserve better. In his recent column, Speaker Michael Madigan calls for an end to "partisan games," all the while attempting to shift blame for Illinois' fiscal crisis to Republicans at the state and federal level. Engaging in partisan finger-pointing serves no purpose, I will simply explain factually why Speaker Madigan's arguments are not valid.

What we can all agree upon is that our state's fiscal crisis is one of the most severe in the nation. Speaker Madigan tries to make the case that Illinois' fiscal difficulties are due to a poor national economy, and are no different from those faced by other states. The problem is that a number of independent rating agencies that review finances for all 50 states to determine their stability and credit-worthiness don't share this view. In fact, Illinois is tied with California as the worst-rated state in the nation by Moody's Investor Service and is the second-lowest-rated state in the U.S. by the influential Fitch Ratings.

In a glaring example of our financial disarray, Illinois is one of only three states to be downgraded in the past 1 1 / 2 years, 47 other states have either retained the same ratings or have been upgraded. Almost all other states have shown these rating agencies that they are attempting to cope with the challenging economy by making sound financial decisions. Illinois has fallen woefully short.

Since Democrats took total control of Illinois government in 2003, our credit ratings have been downgraded 11 times, the most in Illinois history. A report released recently by CMA Datavision identified Illinois as one of 10 sovereign governments most at risk of default. We are ahead of California and the nation of Portugal. Our financial woes extend beyond the borders of the U.S.A.

All of these indicators by these respected rating agencies are independent "report cards" on Illinois' financial troubles, and they point to the state's fiscal mismanagement as the root cause of our problems - not the national economic downturn.

If Illinois is ever to regain its financial footing, it must get a handle on its penchant to spend more money than it takes in. According to Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes' Traditional Budgetary Financial Report for 2009, Illinois state government spending has increased by more than $10 billion, from $24.8 billion in 2003 to $34.9 billion in 2009 - a 41 percent increase. Even the fiscal year 2011 state budget passed in May increases spending by more nearly $4 billion over FY 2010 when all expenditures are taken into account.

Illinois' deficit for FY 2011 stands at $13 billion, which, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is the highest in the nation - higher than California, New York and New Jersey and astronomically higher than all of our neighboring states, including Indiana, whose budget deficit is projected to be $1.3 billion.

Since 2003, Illinois general bond obligation debt has tripled to more than $20 billion, and we have the dubious distinction of having the worst funded pension system in the nation with unfunded liabilities totaling $62.4 billion in FY 2009. To make matters worse, Illinois has a $6 billion backlog of unpaid bills for services rendered by providers.

Enough is enough. Blame will not solve the problems. We need ideas and solutions. And we must understand that it will take years of exercising fiscal discipline to repair the damage of years of reckless spending. We must start with some straightforward solutions:

Reform and Restructure Spending. It is not complicated - we must spend less money than we take in. If Republicans win control of the Illinois House, we will work with the governor to reform, restructure and reduce spending.

Create Jobs and Increase Revenues. We have more than 720,000 people out of work in Illinois. We can put t housands back to work quickly by removing unnecessary regulation and bureaucratic red tape that creates roadblocks to hiring them. By putting our citizens back to work, not only do their lives improve, but it creates more taxpayers, which increases government revenues, without raising taxes. This is how we begin to rebuild the Illinois fiscal and economic house - without raising taxes.

Reinvent Illinois Government. We need to make government more efficient and effective. Transparency is a key tool to making this happen, which is why Illinois House Republicans support efforts such as the Government Sunshine Commission and a forensic audit of state spending. These measures open the books and let everyone review and analyze government to identify areas of waste, inefficiency, fraud and mismanagement.

Hold the Line on Taxes. Families are struggling to make ends meet and businesses are fleeing our state for greener pastures in states such as Indiana. We must stop penalizing employers - they are our job creators - and begin helping families keep more money for their own households.

House Republicans have proposed hundreds of bills to fundamentally change Illinois' culture of spending and get our economy back on track. Many of these ideas were included in two separate letters we sent to the governor this spring, which can be viewed at www.ilhousegop.org.

Speaker Madigan criticizes Republicans for not being "bipartisan" and embracing his path for solving our state's fiscal crisis. His solutions focus on raising revenues and feeding an ever-expanding state government.

House Republicans see a different set of solutions. We see a new era of responsibility, accountability and opportunity in Illinois. Our state can be a vibrant, energetic and growing state again. But it will take innovation, action and a determination to achieve results. The time for blame is over. It is time for action.


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The views expressed in these blog posts are those of the author and not of the SouthtownStar.



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jim from ol wrote:
Not to defend the Republicans, but Madigan does deserve grief for playing the blame. The Democrats have controlled the state legislature for a long time.

State Republicans are no better than the Democrats in that anything can be bought from them as well.
6/30/2010 3:36 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
Recommend Report Abuse


reformer wrote:
I can't believe Cross criticized Madigan for engaging in the "partisan blame game" and in "partisan finger pointing" when the House Republicans have been engaged in exactly that for years! When Madigan gives a little blaming back, Cross takes offense and insists "blame will not solve problems."

Cross calls for reduced spending, but doesn't or can't explain why his whole caucus voted against Madigan's bill to cut nearly $4 billion. And Republicans call Democrats hypocrits.
6/30/2010 3:07 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
Recommend Report Abuse


oakparklady wrote:
Oh come on Tom Cross, why don't you just admit you have no idea what you're doing. You voted for Blago's 300 tax and fee increases when he first came into office. You kept enabling your friend Blago long after Madigan said Blago was finished. For example you tried to help Blago triple the amount of gambling in Illinois with new land based casinos in order to give Blago billions more of our money to spend.

Admit it Tom Cross, you have no serious plans and no clue. You are completely over your head. Plus you lie as much as Mark Kirk.

Resign Tom Cross and give the GOP in Illinois a fighting chance. You're too incompetent to ever beat Madigan on anything. The GOP needs a leader, not a joke.
6/30/2010 1:36 PM CDT on southtownstar.com
Recommend Report Abuse



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Artie60438




Posts : 9728

Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty6/30/2010, 8:59 pm

UrRight wrote:

I feel this is a national topic, not just an IL topic, so I posted it in this forum..I would love to hear your input.
:offtopic:
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Scorpion

Scorpion


Posts : 2141

Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty7/1/2010, 1:37 am

Artie60438 wrote:
UrRight wrote:

I feel this is a national topic, not just an IL topic, so I posted it in this forum..I would love to hear your input.
:offtopic:

Yeah. I agree. This has no place on the National Forum. And as I've said before, it's flat out ridiculous to post the crap from "commenters."
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Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty
PostSubject: Re: Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault   Reminder:The Deficit You're Freaking Out About Is Bush's Fault Empty

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