Bob Woodward: Yes, the sequester was totally the White House's idea

[kentonio]

No, that is a different reason. Many Republicans see some of the leadership as caving in to Obama on taxes. Different reason than why the general polling of Congress performance as a whole is bad. Many different reasons to loathe this Congress, but it all comes down to one thing. We have a $16 trillion debt and Republicans are trying to quit spending (very unpopular when your pet programs are on the block) and democrats want more taxes (very popular when you are taxing someone else). Until we can get to a balanced budget we need to do what most people do in that situation...quit spending...not try to extort a raise from the boss (particularly right after they gave you one).

Sorry, but you just summed up the basic misunderstanding of the current GOP, and the reason it's polling so terribly badly. Although Republicans are historically anti-tax, there is a huge difference between being for tax cuts and being for tax cuts at all costs. Although the numbers of Republicans self describing as 'Tea Party' was at one point quite high, there isn't a majority of Republicans even now who would happily self destruct the economy over the deficit. The only reason the number is as high as it is is because there's been a lot of bull**** talked about how apocalyptic it all is.

The key though is that Republican voters are by nature, well.. conservative. Conservative people start getting seriously uncomfortable when their 'leaders' say they're considering setting radical precendents like not paying the countries bills.

[PLATO]

Sorry, but you just summed up the basic misunderstanding of the current GOP, and the reason it's polling so terribly badly. Although Republicans are historically anti-tax, there is a huge difference between being for tax cuts and being for tax cuts at all costs. Although the numbers of Republicans self describing as 'Tea Party' was at one point quite high, there isn't a majority of Republicans even now who would happily self destruct the economy over the deficit. The only reason the number is as high as it is is because there's been a lot of bull**** talked about how apocalyptic it all is.

The key though is that Republican voters are by nature, well.. conservative. Conservative people start getting seriously uncomfortable when their 'leaders' say they're considering setting radical precendents like not paying the countries bills.

I do not support tax cuts as long as we are in deficiet spending. I also do not support tax increases in a soft economy. What we need is gradual spending cuts until we balance the budget.

There is a lot more to it however. The key is to grow revenue through economic growth and to get entitlement spending under control. The first can be accomplished through adopting a pro growth regulatory environment and the second through the democrats accepting that these programs must change or go broke.

[DinoDoc]

If Obama really wants to avoid sequester rather than campaigning for yet another tax increase, why hasn't he proposed taking action on this report from the GAO?

[kentonio]

I do not support tax cuts as long as we are in deficiet spending. I also do not support tax increases in a soft economy. What we need is gradual spending cuts until we balance the budget.

That's basically what we're trying in the UK currently. I fully supported it at the start but I'm starting to have doubts recently I must admit.

There is a lot more to it however. The key is to grow revenue through economic growth and to get entitlement spending under control. The first can be accomplished through adopting a pro growth regulatory environment and the second through the democrats accepting that these programs must change or go broke.

Define a 'pro growth regulatory environment' though. Are we talking cutting down on completely unnecessary red tape, or are we talking about stripping away things like EPA regulations that stop polluters from polluting?

[PLATO]

Define a 'pro growth regulatory environment' though. Are we talking cutting down on completely unnecessary red tape, or are we talking about stripping away things like EPA regulations that stop polluters from polluting?

While I do think that the EPA does sometimes go a bit over the top, this is not where I am primarily talking. I will give you a quick example of what I am very familiar with....

Part of the reason for the very slow recovery in the U.S. is the housing market. Mortgages are basically controlled by the government now with greater than 90% of all new mortgages being purchased by or insured by the government. Certainly, and without any doubt, their was need for additional regulation. However, the pendulum, as it often does, has swung to far in the opposite direction. No longer are mortgages being made to qualified individuals, but now only to "highly qualified" individuals. The new Consumer Finance Protrection Bureau kicks in this year bringing most of the functions of HUD, FTC, and the Federal Reserve (wrt mortgages) under one umbrela. Not a bad idea...except...along with this will come 147 new regulations to further tighten lending criteria.

Here's the problem...there are still millions of homeowners stuck in subprime loans. Many because they had subprime credit and still do. At this point, most are paying their mortgages and have been for years. Not only can they not take advantage of historically low rates, but they are closed out of the housing market should they need to move. These people, while they do represent a marginally higher risk, are qualified borrowers from nearly any historical measure.

Some estimates put this at 40% of the population. Most economist will agree that the housing market is the most important driver of consumer spending with literally hundreds of business lines dependent on housing. Simple solution? A comprehensive review of regulations to eliminate those that are business restrictive and do little to protect the actual homeowner. Why isn't this happening? Banks are happy with the situation as their balance sheets become solid and their profits soar...they are happy to deal with a selective portion of the market. Banks would be happy to price risk into this market, but again we run into the regulatory wall with cumbersome "high priced" mortgages.

Bottom line is this...economic growth would explode with common sense regulations and the consumer could still be protected from the predatory lending practices of the past

[MichaeltheGreat]

It's easy to disapprove of a vague amorphous entity like "Congress." Most people approve of their reps and senators. Pay attention to the fact that they get routinely re-elected. And approval of the leadership isn't a huge deal either. We don't elect party leaders.

They routinely get elected because the party machinery has made it so. Pick your party and try running for the house if you're old enough, and see just how far you get. Name recognition and access to tons of money and party machinery are the ticket, nothing else.

[Hauldren Collider]

That explains why so many are scared of primary challenges

It takes more than that, MtG. Particularly Senators.

[Dinner]

If Obama really wants to avoid sequester rather than campaigning for yet another tax increase, why hasn't he proposed taking action on this report from the GAO?

Ahh, yes, the liar Coburn. The very same guy who claims climate change is just a hoax by scientists to get more grant money, that satan put fossils in the ground to test people's faith, that angels supposedly speak to Coburn telling him how to vote on congressional bills, that evolution is a lie, that creationism not only should be taught in schools but should be the only thing taught in life sciences classes... Yeah, that Coburn. In short he's a disingenuous liar for world class renown and absolutely NOTHING he says can ever remotely be taken to be true.

If Coburn claims he's found "the mother load of waste" then he probably means the oil industry regulators need to all be fired since he's in the pocket of big oil. In fact, the man is so corrupt (he's frequently listed as the single most corrupt public official in Congress: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/page...y/c/tom-coburn) he'd probably open an auction selling what gets cut to the highest bidder; I.E. who ever bribes him the most. I'm currently pointing and laughing at DD for being gullible enough to believe anything Colburn says.

[DinoDoc]

Ahh, yes, the liar Coburn.

Well feel free to point out the lies in the GAO report or his interpretation of it. Or has MSNBC and the Daily Kos not given you an answer to this question yet?

[Sava]

The key is to grow revenue through economic growth and to get entitlement spending under control. The first can be accomplished through adopting a pro growth regulatory environment and the second through the democrats accepting that these programs must change or go broke.

None of your suggestions work in reality. Corporations and so called "job creators" are sitting on many trillions of dollars. This economic problem is in demand, not supply. Repeating bull**** talking points like "pro growth regulatory environment" doesn't help your cause either. Name one regulation that is preventing a job from being created. If anything, regulations promote innovation and efficiency in the economy... in addition to preventing an immeasurable amount of harm to individuals, property and the economy in general.

Right-wing fantasy land is just as crazy a place as commie utopia land.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Ahh, yes, the liar Coburn. The very same guy who claims climate change is just a hoax by scientists to get more grant money, that satan put fossils in the ground to test people's faith, that angels supposedly speak to Coburn telling him how to vote on congressional bills, that evolution is a lie, that creationism not only should be taught in schools but should be the only thing taught in life sciences classes... Yeah, that Coburn. In short he's a disingenuous liar for world class renown and absolutely NOTHING he says can ever remotely be taken to be true.

Can't you get even your own political hackery right? You are speaking of the other OK Senator, Inhofe not Coburn.

Inhofe - Many hits on Global Warming Hoax and scientists in it for grant money
Coburn - "No hard evidence for Global warming" but no claims of hoax or sceintists in it for grant money

Inhofe - Made the infamous claim that fossils were planted by Satan when talking to Kerry in 2009
Coburn has never made any mention of this.

I find it hard to beleive that Coburn given the requisite biology couses required to be a doctor holds much stock in disavowing evolution.
Meanwhile, Inhofe is on record as such


As for his Coburn's inclusion into the CREW dishonorable halls of fame, the only thing he seriously got dinged for was his invovlement with Ensign and trying to bail out his close personal friend. He has never been on the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, or 2012 lists of most dishonorable despite your claims that he "he's frequently listed as the single most corrupt public official in Congress". In fact most of the links on the page you cite give credit to Coburn for his support of IG investigation into Education Department corruption as well as his endorsement of various CREW intitiatives.

[PLATO]

None of your suggestions work in reality. Corporations and so called "job creators" are sitting on many trillions of dollars. This economic problem is in demand, not supply. Repeating bull**** talking points like "pro growth regulatory environment" doesn't help your cause either. Name one regulation that is preventing a job from being created. If anything, regulations promote innovation and efficiency in the economy... in addition to preventing an immeasurable amount of harm to individuals, property and the economy in general.

Right-wing fantasy land is just as crazy a place as commie utopia land.

Sorry Man, but you really do not have an idea of what drives this economy or what is needed to fix it. There are serious regulatory impediments to growth and most of them have come as an over reaction to the housing crisis. Not that housing didn't need some regulation, but the environment now is definately not pro growth. That's just a fact no matter what "land" you live in.

[MrFun]

Plato is right. We should embrace smog, toxic water sources, contaminated soil run-off, environmental degradation, and get rid of the other "ridiculous" regulations to foster greater economic growth.

[Felch]

If Coburn claims he's found "the mother load of waste" then he probably means the oil industry regulators need to all be fired since he's in the pocket of big oil. In fact, the man is so corrupt (he's frequently listed as the single most corrupt public official in Congress: http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/page...y/c/tom-coburn) he'd probably open an auction selling what gets cut to the highest bidder; I.E. who ever bribes him the most. I'm currently pointing and laughing at DD for being gullible enough to believe anything Colburn says.

Did you even look at your own link? The worst thing he did was help a guy start a lobbying business. There are a couple stories in there that clearly show Coburn to be an ally of CREW. Here he's praising them for their work, and here CREW says, "We are not the only ones disappointed by the IG’s report. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Tom A. Coburn R-OK) sent the IG a letter on Friday identifying several weaknesses in her report." Maybe next time read what you're linking us all to, so you don't come across as a rabid illiterate.

[Tupac Shakur]

House Speaker John Boehner told Republicans in a closed-door meeting Tuesday that the House doesn’t need to pass a third sequester replacement bill before the “Senate gets off their ass and passes it once.”

John Boehner: Let Senate get 'off their ass' this time - Politico