Bush: Congress like 'teenager with a credit card'

Speaking of teenagers with credit cards, aren't we using today's teenager's credit cards to finance the war in Iraq?

1.6 trillion for his wars, and he's calling them irresponsible.

Can we please impeach him now?

Bush is like a teenager with an Uzi

At townhall.com, columnist Donald Lambro exposes some of the pork in this bill:

"Despite the Democrats’ pledge to get control of their addiction to wasteful spending, their mountain of pork-barrel provisions has prevented Congress from passing its appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008. Exhibit A is a Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill taken up by the Senate last week that was filled to the brim with pork (also known as earmarks). This “minibus” bill was engineered by Democrats attempting to draw just enough votes to make it veto-proof.

Last week, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., one of the stellar anti-pork warriors in Congress, said this about the bill: “The Democrats have made a joke of the ethics bill as they packed this ‘minibus’ with thousands of pet projects. They have shown their (so-called anti-pork) rules to be laughable and ineffective, as they continue to spend millions on secret earmarks and hide their pork from public scrutiny.”

All told, this spending package contained at least 2,200 earmarks worth more than $1 billion. Among them, a $1 million earmark for the Thomas Daschle Center for Public Service and Representative Democracy at South Dakota State University, named for the former Senate Democratic leader.

Democrats often go to great lengths to disguise what their earmarks are actually for, making their intentions sound far more important than they are. A $300,000 item that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., inserted into the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill for a museum called Exploratorium, which promotes “teacher recruitment, retention, and improvement initiative” (http://www.exploratorium.edu/).

But the Exploratorium’s Web site describes the museum as “a collage of hundreds of interactive exhibits in the areas of science, art, and human perception” Its mission is “to create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs and tools that help people nurture their curiosity about the world around them.”

Pelosi’s pet project has been given more than $33 million in federal-funding earmarks and grants over the past six years. “Should federal taxpayers be subsidizing a wealthy city’s museum during a time of deficit spending?” asked the Senate Republican Conference’s Pork Report?"

Wasteful spending like this SHOULD be vetoed.

CONGRESS is like a teenager with a credit card? CONGRESS????????? After the spending his administration has done since 2001, and this -- BEING -- has the nerve to complain about Congress spending? Nothing whatsoever when it was a Republican rubber-stamp on his monetary demands, sending the national debt through the ceiling but NOW he's upset at the bill??

Bush complaining about spending: that is funny.

I am not a fan of Bush but he is right on this issue. Congress is dying to increase taxes and every Dem presidential candidate has said as much. You can pretend that a gov mandated health insurance program wont cost much but in reality it will cost every taxpayer a tax increase of over $500 per month. SO unless you are willing to pay 50% of your income to the gov then do not vote for a Gov run health insurance that insures everyone. Once again those of us who have done our part hav to pay for those who have not. I was a Marine and I work hard, all I want is to be able to keep more of my paycheck. I am a middle class AMerican and regardless what the pols say WE always end up paying for everything. A tax increase on the wealthy will be passed down to us, and we already pay for everything that the non-working poor get. I am still looking for the pol that will make it all about the Middle Class. So far Hillary is the only one who has even mentioned us. I am not a huge fan of hers but I will be voting my pocketbook this year because other than taht there really is no diff between the candidates. Its either Guliani or Clinton for me so far. If ROn Paul were a viable candidate I would probably vote for him.

like he's got room to talk.

Its OK to spend a lot of $$$ on my project, but God forbid spend a penny on someone else's - that would be very wasteful :)

I would like to ask Bush what his spending on the Iraq war is considered? How about the money given to Pakistan? Mexico? Why is it NOT wasteful to spend BILLIONS of dollars on foreign nations while our economy is teetering on the edge? How did we go from a balanced budget in 2000 to owing trillions all over the world? who was responsible for that? Certainly not the democratic congress! And now he threatens to veto the budget because of the pork? I'm sick....

Bush is doing his job as a lame duck president. The only legacy he has time to leave is one of further shame and irresponsibility. I'm not sure he's even relevant enough anymore to bother talking about. I'm thinking that if he tries hard enough he just might be able to wrap up "worst president of the 21st century" before we even get to the second candidate.

We all know what Bush's agenda is: is states it quite clearly in the above article. Basically, Domestic United States can wallow in poverty until the military continues to get a blank cheque and calendar.

I wouldnt personally mind giving the troops everything they needed but the people in charge arent having them do whats required.

I also dont approve of 'pet projects' but to be fair, thats all the current Conflict is: a pet project of the Bush Family.

If you cant take care of your house, you have no business being outside.

I'm a Canadian.
We have healthcare.
It does NOT cost us $500 per month. I pay $108 per month to cover all the expenses of my family (2 adults + 2 kids). That INCLUDES the birth of my 2 kids.. all that hospital time.. Covered.

I also work hard... like the Marine named Vinny. I keep a lot of my paycheques. And I am only an average Canadian and not a rich one.

I am glad to live in a country with healthcare. I have seen the benifits of it first had numerous times. It works.
I would be scared to live in the USA and have to pay companies to cover medical costs.

And, as for BUSH and his nay-saying over your senate wanting to spend money on Health and other things on your own home soil... and him wanting you to spend TONS of money on the war he started overseas? Wow. I can't believe you people fell for his lies.
But, then again, your media spread the propoganda well. I know... because, being outside of your country, I could see what the world was saying versus what CNN, FOX and your "news" media were feeding you.

Bush is a chicken-hawk with a credit card.

Bush makes the Democrats look thrifty.

Bruce:

Try looking in the mirror. Especially with Townhall.

Do the Democrats have the Robert Byrds of the world? Yes.

Now look at the BIGGEST, and proud of it, porkers for the last decade. Ted Stevens and Don Young. You remember the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere".

And then we have the President and his TRILLIONS for a war that should have never happened.

Hell. We have the money for these bills. Just find all of the money that has simply been "lost" in Iraq.

"It should not go home for the Christmas holidays without giving our troops on the frontlines the funds they need to succeed."

What is success? They need to be home with their families.

Bruce;
You are right about the pork. I don't think the Democrats are the only hog farmers in Washington though.
It seems both parties use earmarks to entice our representatives to vote for their bills. A system designed to make bacon.
I would like to see our representatives, both sides of the aisle, start authoring single item bills. I would vote for just about anyone for Congress who would swear to never author or vote for a bill that contained earmarks.
Put the earmarks into bills of their own and we would all be better off.

Bush has the smallest intellect in the world and he got elected PRESIDENT of this country? What the heck is going on here? He vetoes a budget after spending billions on an unwarranted war??? As someone else said earlier - can we please impeach this moron NOW???

The number one waste in government spending is of course the war. That said, the Congress is passing a ridiculous budget that deserves to be vetoed. Bush needs to veto any unbalanced budget. Show some fiscal conservatism please.

An article about Congress spending (that means passing legislation/laws for spending)is met with comments castigating the President. Some how or other I think the comments are misdirected, aren't they? Surely the call for impeachment and analogies of an "uzi" would make better sense if directed at those that want to "spend" without any "plan" for paying it back. How can that make any better sense than the war "they didn't plan" for. Congress is the culprit; make no mistake they want you to focus on the president, but don't forget who makes the rules/laws. They are totally unaccountable unless you start holding them accountable.

Like a few of you that have posted I'm not a Bush fan by any means. Bush is adamant to veto any bill sent to him until he gets his money for this pointless war. The fact that he's going on a tangent about Congress not doing their job is ridiculous. They ARE sending the bills he wants but he's vetoing every single one of them. He claims its because its not what we want but he's so far past losing touch with the american people that he's in his own dimension.

He's the president of a country that supports his every move and hates congress. Unfortunately the reality check thats long overdue for our leader probably will never happen. I find it astounding that after everything this man has done there has not been one attemtpt to impeach him. Clinton has a sexual relationship with a woman in the office that in no way affects how he ran the country but they try to get rid of him.

But Bush runs our countries reputation into the ground, threatens nuclear war with half the world and yet we allow him to remain in office...mind boggling

Bush is like a teenager with 67 million other teenagers who will go to war for him.

I love the characterization of the "Dems": They just want to tax ya! That's all they want! Like people are sitting around figuring out how to raise taxes, like raising taxes is the goal itself. The sad thing is that people buy that rhetoric.

"Teenager with a credit card"?

I'd rather have that than a 2-year-old as President.

Where is the cost/benefit analysis of the Iraq war? What is the benefit to the US people? It is Bush's, Cheney's, and Rumsfield's "pet project". At least the Democrats will spend money on the US. The whole system is out of control. Maybe it's time to formally end the Democratic and Republican parties as we know them in politics.

While there is alot of pork in most congessional bills, one could argue it'd at least be American money spent ON Americans.

A few months ago the President authorized some major spending in aid to poor children in foreign countries.

What about the millions of children and their families in THIS country living well below the proverty level, starving and living in squalor?

The President seems fit to deny poor Americans, especially children, proper medical and financial aid by cutting back or eliminating programs for helth care and jobs reforms while using that "saved" money to fund his wars in the Middle East and rebuild the countries which HE has ruined.

Trillions of dollars that could have saved American lives on American soil, rebuilt US infrstructure, provided for better education and job opportunities, all spent on foreign soil.

I'm not against giving but when do we as a society take care of our own before burdening ourselves with the ills of the world?

In short order the question will be who will be supporting us ;-)

Do they actually pay Mark Silva for something like this? If the sun is going to just run excerpts of Bush's speech, don't the speech writers deserve more credit than the guy hitting copy and paste? If you're going to write for a blog, actually write something.

Bush has zero credibility on fiscal restraint. Maybe Bruce will address his own credibility gap and dive with equal vigor into the war spending, which of course is "off the books". How about that $9 billion that was reported as "unaccounted for" during a 2005 US audit of reconstruction spending? I am sure he's deeply immersed in breaking those capers wide open, in the interest of a balanced prespective.

George Bush giving lectures on fiscal responsibility is like Jeffrey Dahmer giving lectures on the benefits of vegetarianism.

maybe if he hadn't pushed and passed the tax break for the rich, we would have enough money for his illegal and prolonged war, AND domestic issues.

Oh, grow up.

Yeah, Bush has no room to talk, but he IS right. We don't need to be paying higher taxes.

The Reps want you to think the poor will bear the brunt of new taxes, and the Dems want you to think the rich will bear the brunt of new taxes.

But, the problem is that everyone bears the brunt of new taxes, and personally I'm kind of sick of paying them.

Aren't you?

Pot...meet kettle. Kettle, pot.

Oh,boy! This is what my grandmum used to refer to as "the pot calling the kettle black". Bush calling the congress spendthrift- he's kidding, right?
Otto of Canada, you have it correct, Sir. This is exactly what my friends and acquaintances in Europe think also-how could we have believed his lies- twice?
When I am introduced to people in Europe, one of the first things I am asked is did I vote for Bush? We are the joke of the world, people! when will we develop the intestinal fortitude to impeach him and his cabal? hmmm?

Bush: Congress like 'teenager with a credit card'

What is this idiot talking about?
From 2000-2006 the Draftdodger in Chief and his Republican Congress nearly doubled our National debt.
We're already in debt up to our eyeballs to China because this idiot keeps borrowing money from them for his wars.

The Republicans don't want to raise your taxes, they want to continue to put it on your maxed out credit card so that your grandkids will have to worry about it later.
http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000322.htm

Otto,

I understand that Canadians have health care. I also know that many of your fellow countryman cross the boarder each year seeking medical attention the government of Canada won't provide. These are the lucky ones who can afford to find the treatment they need here rather than suffer and/or dying in Canada.

I have lived in Europe where the same kind of system has made a choice between the old and young. If an older person goes to a doctor with an advanced illness that requires extensive medical expenditures they are probably not going to receive health care. They will be made comfortable until they die. It's simple math, a limited amount of resources have to be distributed. These governments have generally choosen to cover the younger, healthier in that society rather than expend these assets on the old.

I for one don't want government deciding for me who lives and dies!

Typically Bush's family and all his greed driven cronies and oil buddies are making huge profits from their defence investments for the war in Iraq.They don't make any real money investing in the desperate needs of the American people.That is the real reason Mr. Bush is upset.He is uncomfortable that money is being directed away from anything that will be of direct benefit to the most self centered administration this country has ever seen.
Sadly no administration from either side of the fence will ever be of any benefit to "all" of the American people until politicians are held accountable for their profligate spending and reckless adventures.As long as they can throw our hard earned money around as if it were confetti they will continue to run this nation and all it's future generations into the ground without a blush.
This country deserves leadership that has a broader focus than just feathering their own nests and I don't see a single person out their that is capable of doing that job.
Also, how come no-one ever asks the question as to why there are so many presidential contenders that really would be happy to inherit the biggest mess this country has ever gotten itself into....They have all got be totally senseless or, most likely, they are all totally besotted with the opportunity to finally get their hands on all that wonderful "confetti".
Power and money is the name of their game and the American people will be lied to and manipulated in every way possible until they get it.

Otto from Canada you failed to mention that health care is highly regulated in Canada, doing that here would be hindering competition, so if Canada is so great stay there and maybe we would have more for us.

Bush has officially lost his marbles. So spending money on heath, education, and labor is pointless BUT financing a war that was "completed" 3 years ago is sensible. No wonder the rest of the world can't stand us. I can't wait for "Rapture Research" to be proposed...

The Fed spending is disgusting, however, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Politicians on both sides have been putting pork earmarks into bilsl for years. Its how the lobyist system works in the US today. They make donations, electees give them pork.

Sometimes pork is hidden under the gise of actual need. What makes those payments pork, is the no bid contracts, and nepotism that give federal monies to pre-determined companies/cronies. Those exspenses/services are needed, but probably could have been purchased more efficiently through competition.

The politicians put pork in the fed budget to get re-elected. They point to pork in thier home state/districts and show the locals/constituants exactly what they have done for us/them. We are all to blame. We built a bad ship, and we can't cry when it starts to leak.

Oh my God. He is turning the US into a 3rd world country with his wild out of contol spending and he has the nerve.

2 spending bill veto's and all of a sudden he thinks he is President!!!

Quote:
" ... but there is still some time to make up for it,'' he will say. " A good way to start would be to pass the supplemental war funding ... "

That is just hiralious. He need to be a comedian. The logic is so strange, people will find it entertaining. Bush or whoever wrote his speech must have learnt from this Monty Python scene below : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

Well congress is spending like the plague takes over a school and Bush is speaking from his rear like every other politician in recent years. Man these people in office are retarded. First off you need to solve the cause of the problem not the symptom of the problem. The childrens health bill was kind of excessive and retarded. Everyone just wants free healthcare, but there is and should not be a free healthcare. Should it be cheaper... yes. The problem with healthcare currently is that insurance companies hold control over how much care and the cost of said care is during any one visit. If anyone cared or had thought about that in congress we wouldn't have the healthcare bills as such a problem and we could spend the money more effectively on education.
Now then I also have to say though that the war in Iraq needs to be gradually slowed till we are either out or till we have a permanent base and there are no more troops keeping the inner factions from fighting. (Permanent bases like the ones in Germany and England are always going to have a place). Now then I agree with Mr. Walker that the Republicans and Democrats are retarded and we should get rid of them and to take it a step futher we need to rid ourselves of professional politicians and go back to voting in the guy/gal from the store down the street. In conclusion none of these bills I see going through congress has even touched upon getting our troops out of Iraq in the correct fashion nor are they going to solve any kind of problem that the US has. I also have to say that if we get the childrens health care bill passed it will only make health care costs worse.

"We don't need to pay higher taxes"? Who is this "we" Mike? If you mean the billionaires who are paying a 17% rate I'm not with you. Tax the billionaires to pay their share or at least the same as the middle class. Stop crying about your taxes someone needs to pay for Bush's war.

You are all missing the point. I really don’t care who says it, the fact remains that Congress is being wasteful with my money. Just because Bush made the comment does not mean it is irrelevant. Sure, I would like someone with some more credibility to stand up with him and say yeah, he is right, knock it off. However, right now Bush is the one wielding the veto pen, so at least he has some power to do what needs to be done. Bush’s history, the republicans’ history, congress’s history-none of it matters. What matters is that CONGRESS IS SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY! It has been going on for to long, so knock it off and take some responsibility.

As for the comments, nothing is more ignorant then all of you that refuse to listen the criticism of democrats because it comes from someone you don’t like. Your responses so far have amounted to “but Bush took us into a war that I don’t like so I’m not listening”. You have no idea’s, you have no ability to evaluate your own house, and you will lose another election because once again your candidates have no platform to stand on except “hate Bush, vote for me”.

I agree w/ Brad. It's about time independents took control. You know- people whose loyalty to special interests & good ol' buddies is SECOND to the welfare of the American constituency.
Both sides of this kindergarten squabble are behaving ridiculously. Don't they realize that they are TOYING with the fate an entire nation? And a superpower at that?

Just a reminder. The first few millions of baby boomers will start collecting on January 1, 2008.

Impeach, Impeach!! 1.6 Trillion? Oh my goodness. Do you know how much healthcare, childcare, jobs, food, etc., etc. that could buy? I say "impeach, impeach!" If this country could impeach someone for lying about cheating on his wife, then we can impeach somoeone for ordering an illegal war.

Hey Fiscal Conservative,

If an elderly person with an advanced illness goes to the doctor in America YOU pay for it. It's called Medicare. Medicare already rations care. Medicare is a national healthcare program for the elderly. Stop listening to Rush for your information you will be better informed.

It simply amazes me how anyone can still support him and this administration when examples of his/their incompetence is ground into the faces of every single American every single second of every single minute of every single hour of every single day for the past 7 years. He's like a spoiled rotten, ADHD stricken teenager with 6 credit cards. This is just yet another example on how truly delusional this Bush guy is.

It is sickly comical that Bush goes so far to state that the Congress is wasting money. As has been stated in these multiple comments, he must first pay attention to his wasteful funding of an illegal war. It is doing nothing but killing our young men and women and not to mention the countless Iraqi civilians. Unfortunately, we will never know just how many Iraqis were killed but one is too many.
The bill that was proposed by Congress, which was also supported by over 50 Republicans, is to fund education but also assistance for families concerning medical insurance. It is dispicable that the "richest country in the world" lacks such a necessity, yet the man leading our country is off funding the murder of thousands, upon thousands of human lives. The man is throwing words around attempting to divide this country, yet he says that is what the Congress is doing. He has the maturity of a teenager. Maybe he is dyslexic and means that it is him who is acting like a teenager with a credit card? Keep in mind, the credit card bill is being paid by the American taxpayers.

More stenography from Silva. Take a look and count the paragraphs in his story that are nothing but quotes from Bush. Practically the whole story, with no mention from Silva of the Democratic position on the bill, or any other information that adds depth or perspective. Silva shuts off his tape recorder, phones it in, eats a sandwich and takes a nap.

The Gov't is not there to control your life via tax control. That is the truth about taxation, controlling you and your life from cradle to grave, If they don't do it with taxes, they will do it by forcing you into some Gov't run program. If you were smart enough to make good without their socialism,they will force you under their control via feel good programs

Fiscal Conservative is talking about rationed care as if we don't have it here. In the US, it's based on how much money you have. Not just for acute-care and/or end-of-life situations, but for long term health maintainance and preventative care. We all know that those of us (from any country) who get both quality preventative and acute care tend to live longer. This is a statistical fact. And if you can't afford both, overtime the statistics are against you. Unfortunately, conservatives have decided that doggedly defending the right to the persuit of happiness among those who work in lucrative healthcare/pharmaceutcal industry is more important than the right to life. I myself think that old Jefferson, probably listed the right to life in the Declaration of Independence first because he new that it was a prerequisite to all other rights. But in the upside down world of the Conservatives, this little detail is of no importance.

Of course healthcare for all is but one issue on which the conservatives are on the wrong side for both ethical and economic reasons.

So we will go on protecting the wealthy in the US and watch the EU, Canada and eventually China (probably India, and some others too) eclipse our economy and culture in the this century because they embrace a philosophy of governance and a societal construct that truly recognizes and honors both freedom and justice FOR ALL and distributes wealth and quality of life across society in a pragmatic way that takes into account real-world Common Sense for our times

The non-leaders in the U.S. government are irresponsible, live in a dysfunctional parallel universe and are fully out of touch with the working class. Why does it matter at all what the U.S.G. spends? It’s all denominated in worthless U.S. paper dollars – maybe you have see gold or the Euro lately? How about prices at the pump – do we think the price of petrol is going up? Wrong: the value of the U.S. dollar is going down. 0waldo.

There's nothing wrong with taxes, as long as they're used wisely. "Wise" isn't a word that I'd associate with President Bush or anyone in his administration. Raise taxes -- it's fine with me -- just give me something in return. Healthcare, for example. But NOT an ill-conceived, unprovoked, undeclared, insupportable, unimaginably expensive war.

"The price of these tax increases would not be paid in the halls of Congress – it would be paid in living rooms and shop floors and office buildings across America."

Now replace the words "tax increases" with "soldiers deaths" and you have a perfect statement on King George's reign.

I'm not surprised but I am disappointed that as soon as President Bush criticizes congress for their over the top spending that he is immediately attacked for spending money to protect the citizens of America. I believe that it is ludicrous to compare the price of protection and freedom to the price of a museum. I truly hope that no one honestly thinks that if our troops are withdrawn from overseas that the terrorist threat will somehow disappear.What the terrorists will most certainly perceive as a U.S. defeat will only embolden them to attack us again and when they do I believe 9/11 will pale in comparison to what will come. The President is absolutely right in his decision to fight the war on terror where the terrorists live and not on U.S. soil! As I write this my son is in Iraq doing a job that he knows needs to be done. I would hope that all of congress's tit for tat pandering will not cause him or any other mothers son or daughter to be put in harms way. The American soldier is well trained but all the training in the world is not going to help without sufficient supplies! Anything worth fighting for comes with a cost. Museums and civic centers are just too trivial for times like these. To our Canadian friend I'm happy to hear that your health care plan has met your needs but I hope that you don't ever face any serious health problems. I have many Canadian friends who have had to wait for months to get the treatment that they required and some didn't get it in time. The gears of your health care system are very slow and that is an indisputable fact!

To the Canadian: You may pay only $108 per month for insurance but for me in your country I would have to pay a tax rate of over 40%. It doesnt come anywhere close to making up for the savings I would have from a GOv run Health Insurance. IN America I pay about 29% of my income. $130,000 * the 11% diff is $14,300. I oay roughly $200 a month for my family's health insurance. I would rather keep the $12,000 extra then pay $1200 less in health insurance. Now do you get it yet?

Vinny-

Ho much does your employer kick into your health insurance costs?

Why is anybody even listening to this guy anymore???

L.L. Schultz

Do you think the Dems just invented "earmarks" this year? How much pork was in the budget between 2000 and 2006?

Anyone remember the $223 Million for the "Bridge to nowhere"? An earmark by a Republican Senator to connect a village of 50 with a city of 8,000.

Of course that was a Republican Congress and a Republican president so it was OK.

Wake up... this is nothing New... It's King George who is playing politics and witholding money.

No taxes fantasy.

I just love the Republicans. We want lower taxes. We don't want to pay any more taxes. Ad nauseum.

Funny how the vast majority of the Republicans haven't actually gotten a tax cut of any consequence. Funny how many millionaires are actually complaining how low their taxes are, and how their employees are actually paying more in taxes than they are.

But the funniest thing is the total irresponsibility of the Republicans when it comes to THEIR war. They do everything they can to hide the monetary consequences of this war. Separate budgets, "balanced" budgets and all sorts of other voodoo economics.

Bottom line. Why is it that the Republicans screw up the economy so badly and then complain the loudest when the Democrats come in and pass taxes to cover the money that the Republicans have spent?

Vinny,

You are not looking at the whole picture. Your employer pays about 80% of your health care cost. That comes to about 1000.00 per month that you are not receiving in income. Looks like a wash to me. Also, your employer is less competitive because they are funding healthcare while the competition does not. Your job may be less secure.

I'm not surprised but I am disappointed that as soon as President Bush criticizes congress for their over the top spending that he is immediately attacked for spending money to protect the citizens of America. I believe that it is ludicrous to compare the price of protection and freedom to the price of a museum. I truly hope that no one honestly thinks that if our troops are withdrawn from overseas that the terrorist threat will somehow disappear.

Posted by: L L Schultz | November 13, 2007 2:26 PM

Hey L L,

How are we protecting America's "freedom" by being in Iraq? they DIDN'T ATTACK US ON 9/11, a bunch of guys from Saudi Arabia did, are we going to invade that country too?....no, we wouldn't do that because it would tick off W. and Dark Dick Cheney's oil buddies over there.
The 8-10 Al-Qaeda guys that are in Iraq now weren't there before we invaded and occupied Iraq.

Quit listening to Rush and shut off Sean Insanity and Bill-O, you moron:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vidalia/197882565/

Some interesting reading from the folks at CATO.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/tbb/tbb-0508-24.pdf

Carl, there is nothing interesting from those nitwits at CATO.

What IS interesting, however, is that Chimpy and his Republic party enablers think that blowing $1.6 TRILLION dollars is OK, but health care for its citizens is wasteful. The headline is insulting to teenagers.

Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Congressional Budget Office

Combined U.S. current account and budget deficits as percentage of GDP

Year Combined deficits
1994 4.6%
1995 3.7%
1996 2.9%
1997 1.8%
1998 1.5%
1999 1.8%
2000 1.8%
2001 2.6%
2002 6.1%
2003 8.4%

Enough Said....

Posted by: L L Schultz | November 13, 2007 2:26 PM

Part of your words are practically right out of President Bush's Veteran's Day speech. Which points out the fact that republicans can't think for themselves.

The terrorists have already defeated you, because you live in fear. Not freedom. And that's the way Bush wants it.

The president has successfully brainwashed you and many others on this issue.

The Iraq war was completely unnecessary. And the war itself is what has emboldened the terrorists, who now have the wide open spaces of Iraq that they didn't have before.

The only just war was in Afghanistan and Pakistan (not to mention Saudi Arabia, but oops, Bush/Cheney have oil interests there) where AlQaeda really was.

The leader of the attack on 9/11 is still free because of the administration's misguided and illegal policies.

The terrorists won't bully me into acting out of fear, with death and destruction like President Bush.

Looks like Congress is on the ball considering their current approval rating. For you simpleton cool aid drinkers here are two sources.

http://www.pollingreport.com/CongJob.htm

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/archive/?poll_id=18

I guess the 70% + are the Neo-cons who just don’t agree with raising taxes, paying for: healthcare for illegal’s, Social Security benefits for illegal’s, educating illegal’s, feeding illegal’s etc.

Admirable accomplishment considering Pelosi said her Congress was going to clean house. Seems the only house that’s getting cleaned is her own with the help of her illegal alien constituency. Seems perhaps Bush is right, the illegal’s are doing jobs Americans wont do!! If Congress won’t get the illegal’s to!!

I for one want to congratulate Pelosi for a job well done. Thanks for all your hard work. And by the way good move on the Turkey deal! That’ll show ‘em. I’m assuming you thought that one out didn’t you? While you’re at it, I don’t think gas prices are high enough considering they only jumped up $.31 per gallon since you took over Congress. If you can’t tax my pay check, backdoor me anyway you can. Thanks!

Gas prices:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

the americans who fell for his lies the second, third, fourth (ad nauseum) and voted for him the second time gave him his little "mandate"
there ya go...
we actually voted for Gore, we got this shrub and then we decided we wanted to keep it.
and here we are.. collectively america is reaping what we have sown.

Carl L.

"Enough said . . ."

Oh really.

And what about that "little" item called the War on Terror/Iraq War, which isn't included in any of your numbers?

Who's going to pay for that? Oh I forgot, the Republicans told us that the Iraqi oil revenue will pay for the war. Obviously, we Americans have nothing to worry about.

Carl L.

"Enough said . . ."

Oh really.

And what about that "little" item called the War on Terror/Iraq War, which isn't included in any of your numbers?

Who's going to pay for that? Oh I forgot, the Republicans told us that the Iraqi oil revenue will pay for the war. Obviously, we Americans have nothing to worry about.

Posted by: dogjudge | November 13, 2007 3:28 PM

I think you missed the point Dog... Carl's stats point out the explosion of Pork under Republican congressional leadership... as does the link he posted with a prominent section titled "The Republican Pork Explosion".

dogjudge

If you look at how the DEFICIT (a bad thing) numbers track over time you will see that they declined (a good thing) until we had a Republican congress AND a Republican President.

Then they rose quickly (again, a bad thing).

You will also notince that the dates referenced pre-date Iraq.

I know this is difficult for you demo-sheep to understand but try to read it slow and maybe twice. If you don’t get it have someone read it to you. Good luck!

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very liberal Democrat, and was very much in favor of the redistribution of wealth. She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher taxes on the rich and the addition of more government welfare programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how she was doing in school. Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked, "How is you friend Audrey doing?"

She replied, "Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She is so popular on campus, college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties, and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over."

Her wise father asked his daughter, "Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct a 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA."

The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, "That wouldn't be fair! I have worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!"

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

Travis:

Nice job - use the old apples and oranges

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

Did the other girl go off to war while the daughter got a job at Halliburton? That would really tell the whole story.

Travis Chapman pulls out the old lie that all poor people are lazy folks who don't work hard enough and therefore deserve to suffer.

Yet there are 2.6 million americans working full time year round jobs who do not reach the poverty line on their pay.

These are people who strain and sweat to provide goods and services, yet get little back in reward, other than the sneers and disdain of people like Travis who have theirs and could care less about anyone else.

Posted by: Travis Chapman | November 13, 2007 3:51 PM

That is good- Thanks

I used to be a DEM - voted for Clinton, hated supply side econ..etc..

Then I grew up, bought a home, started a business and am lucky enough to have healthy children that depend on me for everything..

Now- I realize that despite all of the hard work, risk and sacrifice- with a whim this government is able to take what I have earned and redistrubute to whomever they want and for whatever reason ...

When did the government become the answer for everything?

Posted by: Travis Chapman | November 13, 2007 3:51 PM

Thanks, I enjoy good fiction.

It's a ridiculous comparison, however.

To make the assumption that those with less $, are automatically the ones who don't work as hard is pretty silly.

Even as in your story, there are students who try like hell and can't get above a C. While other students, who were blessed with talent, can do minimal and work and get straight A's. It does happen you know. Probably more often than you think.

And haven't you heard of a teacher giving a student, whom he knew was really trying hard, a slight uptick on his grades for the effort?

The point is, you don't throw the ones who are working really hard and just not quite making it "under the bus" with the real slackers. And if the real slackers get a break in the deal, so be it.

My only question is, does anyone really believe that if our troops are withdrawn from overseas that the U,S. will no longer be in danger of a terrorist threat? I do not live in fear but I do live with a realistic view point, one that I have only to open my eyes to see.I don't have to live in fear to know that I don't want the war on terror fought in my backyard. That's not fear it is common sense! I really don't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican , if you honestly think that the terrorist regimes are going to call a truce you don't have a clue what their agenda is. Please try to grasp the concept that they aren't going lay down their arms and call it a day. Please speak to the point that I am addressing and not any ridiculous Dems. this or Reps. that.

Ahh... the fictional story. The only way the Republican world-view makes sense.

It's like legislating per the plotline of a Spongebob Squarepants episode.

...and Bush is like a psychotic with the worlds biggest military,,,,and a credit card.

Disagree?

Well what is with all this 'looking into his eyes' tripe, and
'the Lord told me to do it' religio-babble?

AJF, heartburn, Steve34,
Wow hit a nerve huh; meaning something near the truth. Are you seriously crying about an analogy between sharing wealth and a GPA? Funny and yet scary, you actually want the government to take care of you? Pathetic! Never ceases to amaze me how low people will actually stoop to steal a dime from others that are better off just because you don’t have what they have. Ridiculous but come to expect it from the demo-sheep!

I can see Travis paving his own street and performing his own air traffic control. Bet he is against building codes too.

The millionaires and billionaires actually running this circus are doing such a great job.

Don't forget that Travis has his own fire dept and water supply too.

Duck. Barrel. Blam!

Will somebody please stuff a sock in Bush's mouth, preferably one from a soldier who has been on the battlefront in Iraq. Maybe, then he will get the idea of what war tastes like. He has some nerve, but then again, the American people have allowed this poor excuse for a leader to bamboozle them into war and debt while he and his cronies sit back puffing on their tobacco wrapped in hundred dollar bills laughing at how they got away with billions of dollars of taxpayer money by just waving the American flag and shouting "Boo, We scared you." Ha Ha I can hear Bush and Cheney laughing now.

AJF, heartburn, Steve34,
Wow hit a nerve huh; meaning something near the truth. Are you seriously crying about an analogy between sharing wealth and a GPA? Funny and yet scary, you actually want the government to take care of you? Pathetic! Never ceases to amaze me how low people will actually stoop to steal a dime from others that are better off just because you don’t have what they have. Ridiculous but come to expect it from the demo-sheep!

Posted by: Travis Chapman | November 13, 2007 6:38 PM

Travis- relax, I was agreeing with you...

Travis,

You sound like a right wing fascist. This is a democracy - government of the people, by the people and for the people. The government that is taking care of us is one WE (rich and poor) created. Your vote is no more valuable than a poor man's vote, unless of course you have enough money to buy a presidency. If our government has "umbrella" agencies to care for our fellow Americans who are impoverished, not due to laziness, but due to the economic environment which is currently controlled by the industrial/war/oil complex, it does so because those Americans have as much stake in this country as you rich brats do.

How many of your rich friends or relatives are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan or even served in the military? Or are you just another "pseudo- soldier" like our "illustrious" President and VP who continue to steal from the coffers of the American people - mostly the struggling middle class -to support Halliburton, Blackwater and all the other warmongering supporters of this presidency.

Posted by: bruce | November 13, 2007 12:01 PM

Bruce, I agree wasteful spending should be vetoed.

What's interesting (and, of course, what you left out) is that in 1994, the last time before 2007 when Democrats had control of Congress (and, owing to the Republican control, also the last time they were able to effectively sponsor bills, with or without pork), there were 4,155 pork-barrel projects in ths hopper, totalling $29.11 billion. By 2006, the pork-barrel projects totalled 15,832 for a dollar amount of $71.77 billion. Frankly, I would have thought that someone so obsessed with the bias of the press would be a bit more willing to give both sides of the story.

It's also worth noting that pork-barrel bills IN AND OF THEMSELVES aren't inherently an evil -- they can provide funds for needed projects and can make it easier to get bills passed. What IS evil is when those bills get beyond control.

Posted by: bruce | November 13, 2007 12:01 PM

Bruce, please post stories (and their links) from Townhall.com web site for all of the stories they printed from 2001 - 2006 railing against the pork in Republican budgets.

I'm sure that it will be easy for you to find them, since I'm sure that there are LOTS of them, right?

"...The government that is taking care of us is one WE (rich and poor) created. ..."

Posted by: the truth | November 13, 2007 9:18 PM

This statement exposes the liberal view of government with astonishing clarity...

Government takes CARE of us- ?? what the hell are you talking about? How does the government take care of us- when it earns no money?

Grow up- take care of yourself..

Go ahead, Heartburn, bring out the old republican mantra that the basic American principle is "every man for himslef".

Or better still, you and your cronies go to Iraq and fight the terrorists yourself. The gov't shouldn't take care of them for us, right?

And Travis, I am doing just find, thank you. Nowhere did I say that I want the gov't to take care of me.

But I feel sorry for you if you can't understand that helping the poor is a fundamental principle of America. And the reasons they are poor are completely irrelevant. If one is in need, you don't ask questions.

But since you seem to like unrelated anaolgies, here's one for you.

2 people, both in their 50's develop lung cancer.

One always kept himself in shape, didn't drink or smoke and got cancer by chance.

The other smoked 3 packs a day for 30 years.

According to your theory, we should not treat the smoker. He deserved what he got.

What you seem to keep implying is that "all" poor people are lazy slackers who don't want to work. Isn't that what you are saying?

Did you know there is an economic statistic called "full employment".
See link for more info:

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

It basically means that there is always a certain number of people, regardless of how hard they look for a job, who will not be able to find one.

Republicans, like you, want to just tell them, "Tough Luck".

We prefer to let them know that America is with them, and is here to help in their time of crisis.

Go ahead, Heartburn, bring out the old republican mantra that the basic American principle is "every man for himslef".

Posted by: Steve34 | November 14, 2007 11:20 AM

Steve34- you crack me up! Republican mantra? you mean that whole REPUBLICAN MANTRA in the constitution limiting the federal governments power to only "promoting the general welfare". You are asking the government to PROVIDE the general welfare..big difference.

We (American taxpayers) help enough- if you want to pay more taxes go ahead, I pay way more than I have to now.

It basically means that there is always a certain number of people, regardless of how hard they look for a job, who will not be able to find one

Posted by: Steve34 | November 14, 2007 11:20 AM

I missed this jewel of liberal double talk as well..

Full employment is understood as a condition where unemployment is very low- Where the unemployed labor supply is roughly equal to the amount unfilled vacancies available. Meaning that, anyone seriously looking for a job will have a better than average opportunity to find one. Or from a supply side view ( I know you hate that!) the labor pool(supply) is in a "buyers market" employers (demand) have a smaller labor pool to choose from- essentially creating a environment where labor can demand better pay, benefits etc..

So while we are not really in a full employment environment- we are at very low unemployment economy...

of course all of this will change when the DEMS, and the liberal aganda of "helping everybody- with taxpayer money" get into office and remove all of those tax cuts that have created this labor friendly environment.. you'll be happy then?