Bow Before the Limbaugh!

[Felch]

2008 budget = $2.9 trillion
2009 budget = $3.1 trillion
increase of 6.8%

...and remember, the 2009 budget was submitted by the Bush administration.

Source: Wikipedia

I'm not certain, but he may have been talking about non-discretionary spending. Do your totals include Social Security, Medicare, etc.?

[Ramo]

As Ross Douthat of The Atlantic pointed out today, Obama's plan seems to be the exact opposite of the "starve the beast" theory. Basically, have so much new social spending and social programs that you will be forced to raise taxes on everyone in order to pay for them to have some semblance of a balanced budget (which was something that Matt Yglesias of Think Progress, no right winger, agreed with).

I like Douthat, but why the hell would he want a balanced budget during what appears to be the most severe recession in decades?

And lot of the impetus behind health care reform is to arrest some long-term sinks in the economy (and government outlays). The rapid increase in health costs will lead to fiscal disaster unless we try to control it (since Medicare and Medicaid costs are rising along with the private market). You can say the same thing about energy policy.

[Naked Gents Rut]

I like Douthat, but why the hell would he want a balanced budget during what appears to be the most severe recession in decades?

I think Douthat cares more about balanced budgets in five years, which won't be possible if Obama's budget passes unless there are large tax increases on everyone, not just the rich.

[Whoha]

Just to be contrarian: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla...sion-5409.aspx

So then if we allow price collusion and get rid of mark-to-market accounting that will really fix our economy.

[DaShi]

Why is hoping a political philosophy of your opponent fails that bad?

Did liberals really hope that Bush would succeed in his conservative plans?

Yes, many of them did.

[Ramo]

I think Douthat cares more about balanced budgets in five years, which won't be possible if Obama's budget passes unless there are large tax increases on everyone, not just the rich.

Sure, taxes are probably going to increase at some point. My point is that this isn't some secret plan, but common sense fiscal policy. You don't raise middle class taxes during a recession. But there's a nice trick here called a carbon auction, which presumably would start making serious money in a few years.

And Douthat appears not to give a **** about the budget deficit ten years after that when Medicare and Medicaid would start becoming untenable absent comprehensive health care reform.

[Naked Gents Rut]

My point is that this isn't some secret plan, but common sense fiscal policy.

If it's not secret, I'm sure you'll be able to find me a quote from Obama outlining his plans to tax the middle-class in the future.

But there's a nice trick here called a carbon auction, which presumably would start making serious money in a few years.

While raising prices throughout the economy.

[Ramo]

Uh, yeah. The money actually doesn't appear out of thin area. Where were you going with that?

The carbon auction revenue is in his budget proposal. It's not a secret.

[DinoDoc]

First, that he hoped Obama would fail.

So the wide ranging attacks on Bush from the start of his presidency were well wishes from liberal supporters?

[Naked Gents Rut]

Obama's rhetoric is fundamentally dishonest. He blathers on about tax cuts for 95% of Americans while proposing a budget that will ensure large increases in taxes on Americans in future years.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I like Douthat, but why the hell would he want a balanced budget during what appears to be the most severe recession in decades?

As stated, he not only wants, but think it is necessary to have somewhat more of a balanced budget in 5-10 years. A massive deficit leaves little room to work with when things like this happen. Especially when we've been funding it by having China buy up our debt and they are deep **** these days.

And his point is what NGR just said, Obama talks about tax cuts for 95% of Americans, while realizing that soon in the future, he'll have to get some money from the middle class to pay for the increased spending.

[DaShi]

So the wide ranging attacks on Bush from the start of his presidency were well wishes from liberal supporters?

Well, at least you agree that he hopes Obama fails.

[Ramo]

As stated, he not only wants, but think it is necessary to have somewhat more of a balanced budget in 5-10 years. A massive deficit leaves little room to work with when things like this happen. Especially when we've been funding it by having China buy up our debt and they are deep **** these days.

And his point is what NGR just said, Obama talks about tax cuts for 95% of Americans, while realizing that soon in the future, he'll have to get some money from the middle class to pay for the increased spending.

Again, my point is that without a large upfront investment in health care and energy, we're going to face a far bleaker fiscal crisis in the long term. And the real expenditure sinks in the short term are the banks, and we're pretty much ****ed if we can't get a handle on them.

[Naked Gents Rut]

If that's what Obama thinks, he should be honest and say it. Right now he's misleading the American public to gain support for his policies. Just another similarity between Obama and Bush, I guess.

[Imran Siddiqui]

As stated, he not only wants, but think it is necessary to have somewhat more of a balanced budget in 5-10 years. A massive deficit leaves little room to work with when things like this happen. Especially when we've been funding it by having China buy up our debt and they are deep **** these days.

And his point is what NGR just said, Obama talks about tax cuts for 95% of Americans, while realizing that soon in the future, he'll have to get some money from the middle class to pay for the increased spending.

Again, my point is that without a large upfront investment in health care and energy, we're going to face a far bleaker fiscal crisis in the long term. And the real expenditure sinks in the short term are the banks, and we're pretty much ****ed if we can't get a handle on them.

Isn't health care supposed to be tackled later with his comprehensive health plan? And weren't energy investments in the surplus? The budget bill has far more than simply more investments in health care and energy in it.